Sustainable Production of Microcrystalline and Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Textile Waste Using HCl and NaOH/Urea Treatment.

Bio-nanomaterials are gaining increasing attention due to their renewable and eco-friendly characteristics. Among these, nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) stands out as one of the most advanced materials for applications in food, healthcare, composite production, and beyond. In this study, NCC was successfully extracted from cotton-based textile waste using a combination of chemical and mechanical methods.

Identifying the best candidate for focal therapy: a comprehensive review.

Background: Despite the evidence supporting the use of focal therapy (FT) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa), considerable variability exists in the patient selection criteria across current studies. This study aims to review the most recent evidence concerning the optimal approach to patient selection for FT in PCa.

Methods: PubMed database was systematically queried for studies reporting patient selection criteria in FT for PCa before December 31, 2023.

A ring resonators optical sensor for multiple biomarkers detection.

In the recent years, the number of Point-Of-Care-Tests (POCTs) available for clinical diagnostic has steadily increased. POCTs provide a near-patient testing with the potential to generate a result quickly so that appropriate treatment can be implemented, leading to improved clinical outcomes compared to traditional laboratory testing. Technological advances, such as miniaturization of sensors and improved instrumentation, have revolutionized POCTs, enabling the development of smaller and more accurate devices.

Optimization of Surface Functionalizations for Ring Resonator-Based Biosensors.

Liquid biopsy is expected to become widespread in the coming years thanks to point of care devices, which can include label-free biosensors. The surface functionalization of biosensors is a crucial aspect that influences their overall performance, resulting in the accurate, sensitive, and specific detection of target molecules. Here, the surface of a microring resonator (MRR)-based biosensor was functionalized for the detection of protein biomarkers.

Innovative Detection of Biomarkers Based on Chemiluminescent Nanoparticles and a Lensless Optical Sensor.

The identification and quantification of biomarkers with innovative technologies is an urgent need for the precise diagnosis and follow up of human diseases. Body fluids offer a variety of informative biomarkers, which are traditionally measured with time-consuming and expensive methods. In this context, lateral flow tests (LFTs) represent a rapid and low-cost technology with a sensitivity that is potentially improvable by chemiluminescence biosensing.

Second TURB, restaging TURB or repeat TURB in primary T1 non-muscle invasive bladder cancer: impact on prognosis?

Purpose: A re-transurethral resection of the bladder (re-TURB) is a well-established approach in managing non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) for various reasons: repeat-TURB is recommended for a macroscopically incomplete initial resection, restaging-TURB is required if the first resection was macroscopically complete but contained no detrusor muscle (DM) and second-TURB is advised for all completely resected T1-tumors with DM in the resection specimen. This study assessed the long-term outcomes after repeat-, second-, and restaging-TURB in T1-NMIBC patients.

Methods: Individual patient data with tumor characteristics of 1660 primary T1-patients (muscle-invasion at re-TURB omitted) diagnosed from 1990 to 2018 in 17 hospitals were analyzed.

Functional surfaces for exosomes capturing and exosomal microRNAs analysis.

Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles well-studied both as cell signaling elements and as source of highly informative biomarkers, in particular microRNAs. Standard techniques for exosome isolation are in general scarcely efficient and give low purity vesicles. New techniques combining microfluidics with suitable functionalized surfaces could overcome these disadvantages.

Different Strategies for the Microfluidic Purification of Antibiotics from Food: A Comparative Study.

The presence of residual antibiotics in food is increasingly emerging as a worrying risk for human health both for the possible direct toxicity and for the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the context of food safety, new methods based on microfluidics could offer better performance, providing improved rapidity, portability and sustainability, being more cost effective and easy to use. Here, a microfluidic method based on the use of magnetic microbeads specifically functionalized and inserted in polymeric microchambers is proposed.

Prognosis of Primary Papillary Ta Grade 3 Bladder Cancer in the Non-muscle-invasive Spectrum.

Background: Ta grade 3 (G3) non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is a relatively rare diagnosis with an ambiguous character owing to the presence of an aggressive G3 component together with the lower malignant potential of the Ta component. The European Association of Urology (EAU) NMIBC guidelines recently changed the risk stratification for Ta G3 from high risk to intermediate, high, or very high risk. However, prognostic studies on Ta G3 carcinomas are limited and inconclusive.

T1G1 Bladder Cancer: Prognosis for this Rare Pathological Diagnosis Within the Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Spectrum.

Background: The pathological existence and clinical consequence of stage T1 grade 1 (T1G1) bladder cancer are the subject of debate. Even though the diagnosis of T1G1 is controversial, several reports have consistently found a prevalence of 2-6% G1 in their T1 series. However, it remains unclear if T1G1 carcinomas have added value as a separate category to predict prognosis within the non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) spectrum.

On-Chip Purification of Tetracyclines Based on Copper Ions Interaction.

Antibiotics are widely used to both prevent and treat bacterial diseases as well as promote animal growth. This massive use leads to the presence of residual antibiotics in food with severe consequences for human health. Limitations and regulations on the tolerated amount of antibiotics in food have been introduced and analytical methods have been developed.

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein detection through a plasmonic D-shaped plastic optical fiber aptasensor.

A specific aptameric sequence has been immobilized on short polyethyleneglycol (PEG) interface on gold nano-film deposited on a D-shaped plastic optical fiber (POFs) probe, and the protein binding has been monitored exploiting the very sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein has been specifically used to develop an aptasensor. Surface analysis techniques coupled to fluorescence microscopy and plasmonic analysis have been utilized to characterize the biointerface.

Functionalization of TiO sol-gel derived films for cell confinement.

The neuroscience field has increased enormously over the last decades, achieving the possible real application of neuronal cultures not only for reproducing neural architectures resembling in vivo tissues, but also for the development of functional devices. In this context, surface patterning for cell confinement is crucial, and new active materials together with new protocols for preparing substrates suitable for confining cells, guiding their processes in the desired configuration are extremely appreciated. Here, TiO sol-gel derived films were selected as proof-of-concept materials to grow neurons in suitable confined configurations, taking advantage of the biocompatible properties of modified TiO substrates.

Rapid Nickel-based Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles from Different Biological Fluids.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous structures that cells massively release in extracellular fluids. EVs are cargo of cellular components such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids that can work as a formidable source in liquid biopsy studies searching for disease biomarkers. We recently demonstrated that nickel-based isolation (NBI) is a valuable method for fast, efficient, and easy recovery of heterogeneous EVs from biological fluids.

European Association of Urology (EAU) Prognostic Factor Risk Groups for Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) Incorporating the WHO 2004/2016 and WHO 1973 Classification Systems for Grade: An Update from the EAU NMIBC Guidelines Panel.

Background: The European Association of Urology (EAU) prognostic factor risk groups for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) are used to provide recommendations for patient treatment after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). They do not, however, take into account the widely used World Health Organization (WHO) 2004/2016 grading classification and are based on patients treated in the 1980s.

Objective: To update EAU prognostic factor risk groups using the WHO 1973 and 2004/2016 grading classifications and identify patients with the lowest and highest probabilities of progression.

Microenvironment Molecular Profile Combining Glycation Adducts and Cytokines Patterns on Secretome of Short-term Blood-derived Cultures during Tumour Progression.

Cancer cells are known to secrete many bioactive factors acting both with paracrine and autocrine mechanisms by which they condition the surrounding microenvironment. At the same time, the intracytoplasmic metabolic activities microenvironment influences the profile of this secretion. It is well known that cancer cells exhibit prevalent glycolytic metabolism and a more oxidative atmosphere compared to their healthy counterparts; this metabolic phenotype promotes glycate adducts formation and secretion.

Neuronal firing modulation by a membrane-targeted photoswitch.

Optical technologies allowing modulation of neuronal activity at high spatio-temporal resolution are becoming paramount in neuroscience. In this respect, azobenzene-based photoswitches are promising nanoscale tools for neuronal photostimulation. Here we engineered a light-sensitive azobenzene compound (Ziapin2) that stably partitions into the plasma membrane and causes its thinning through trans-dimerization in the dark, resulting in an increased membrane capacitance at steady state.

Does Vaginal Wall Surgical Trauma During Hybrid Transvaginal NOTES Nephrectomy Have Traumatic Effects On Sexual Functions? A Prospective Study.

Background: Surgical trauma due to vaginal wall incision to extract the specimen during transvaginal hybrid Natural-Orifices-Transluminal-Endoscopic-Surgery (NOTES) nephrectomy can result in sexual dysfunction and have traumatic psychological impacts. We evaluated the alteration of sexual functions in the postoperative period.

Methods: Patients who underwent a transvaginal NOTES nephrectomy were prospectively enrolled.

Photofabrication of polymeric biomicrofluidics: New insights into material selection.

We propose a versatile method to evaluate the suitability of polymers for the fabrication of microfluidic devices for biomedical applications, based on the concept that the selection and the design of convenient materials should involve different properties depending on the final microfluidic application. Here polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is selected as biological model and target microfluidic reaction. A class of photocured siloxanes is introduced as device building polymers and copolymerization is adopted as strategy to finely tune and optimize the final material properties.

Papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUN-LMP): Still a meaningful histo-pathological grade category for Ta, noninvasive bladder tumors in 2019?

Background: Papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUN-LMP) was introduced as a noninvasive, noncancerous lesion and a separate grade category in 1998. Subsequently, PUN-LMP was reconfirmed by World Health Organization (WHO) 2004 and WHO 2016 classifications for urothelial bladder tumors.

Objectives: To analyze the proportion of PUN-LMP diagnosis over time and to determine its prognostic value compared to Ta-LG (low-grade) and Ta-HG (high-grade) carcinomas.

Prototyping a memristive-based device to analyze neuronal excitability.

Many efforts have been spent in the last decade for the development of nanoscale synaptic devices integrated into neuromorphic circuits, trying to emulate the behavior of natural synapses. The study of brain properties with the standard approaches based on biocompatible electrodes coupled to conventional electronics, however, presents strong limitations, which in turn could be overcame by the in-situ growth of neuronal networks coupled to memristive devices. To meet this challenging task, here two different chips were designed and fabricated for culturing neuronal cells and sensing their electrophysiological activity.