Evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of fetal scalp blood sampling: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Fetal scalp blood sampling (FSBS) can be used as an adjunctive test, in the presence of a pathological intrapartum fetal heart rate trace, to provide evidence of fetal acidaemia. The role of FSBS remains controversial, this study evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of FSBS at determining various adverse neonatal outcomes.

Method: A retrospective cohort analysis of FSBS undertaken < 1 h from birth in a single UK centre in 2016 and 2017.

Monitoring changing patterns in HER2 addiction by liquid biopsy in advanced breast cancer patients.

Background: During targeted treatment, HER2-positive breast cancers invariably lose HER2 DNA amplification. In contrast, and interestingly, HER2 proteins may be either lost or gained. To longitudinally and systematically appreciate complex/discordant changes in HER2 DNA/protein stoichiometry, HER2 DNA copy numbers and soluble blood proteins (aHER2/sHER2) were tested in parallel, non-invasively (by liquid biopsy), and in two-dimensions, hence HER2-2D.

Direct competitive assay for HER2 detection in human plasma using Bloch surface wave-based biosensors.

The overexpression and/or amplification of the HER2/neu oncogene has been proposed as a prognostic marker in breast cancer. The detection of the related peptide HER2 remains a grand challenge in cancer diagnosis and for therapeutic decision-making. Here, we used a biosensing device based on Bloch Surface Waves excited on a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) as valid alternative to standard techniques.

Enhanced fluorescence detection of miRNA by means of Bloch surface wave-based biochips.

We report on the use of biochips based on one-dimensional photonic crystals sustaining Bloch surface waves to specifically detect target miRNA that is characteristic of hemorrhagic stroke (miR-16-5p) at low concentration in a buffer solution. The biochips were functionalized with streptavidin and ssDNA oligonucleotides to enable miRNA detection. To discriminate the target miRNA from a non-specific control (miR-101a-3p), we made use of an optical platform developed to work both in label-free and fluorescence detection modes.

An Empirical Approach to Derive Water T from Multiparametric MR Images Using an Automated Pipeline and Comparison With Liver Stiffness.

Background: Water T of the liver has been shown to be promising in discriminating the progressive forms of fatty liver diseases, inflammation, and fibrosis, yet proper correction for iron and lipid is required.

Purpose: To examine the feasibility of an empirical approach for iron and lipid correction when measuring imaging-based T and to validate this approach by spectroscopy on in vivo data.

Study Type: Retrospective.

Intramyocellular Triglyceride Content During the Early Course of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Unlabelled: Intramyocellular lipid content (IMCL) is elevated in insulin-resistant humans, but it changes over time, and relationships with comorbidities remain unclear. We examined IMCL during the initial course of diabetes and its associations with complications. Participants of the German Diabetes Study (GDS) with recent-onset type 1 (n = 132) or type 2 diabetes (n = 139) and glucose-tolerant control subjects (n = 128) underwent 1H-MRS to measure IMCL and muscle volume, whole-body insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps; M-value), and cycling spiroergometry (VO2max).

Multiparametric Longitudinal Profiling of RCAS-tva-Induced PDGFB-Driven Experimental Glioma.

Glioblastomas are incurable primary brain tumors harboring a heterogeneous landscape of genetic and metabolic alterations. Longitudinal imaging by MRI and [F]FET-PET measurements enable us to visualize the features of evolving tumors in a dynamic manner. Yet, close-meshed longitudinal imaging time points for characterizing temporal and spatial metabolic alterations during tumor evolution in patients is not feasible because patients usually present with already established tumors.

Low-Temperature Stability and Sensing Performance of Mid-Infrared Bloch Surface Waves on a One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal.

The growing need for new and reliable surface sensing methods is arousing interest in the electromagnetic excitations of ultrathin films, i.e., to generate electromagnetic field distributions that resonantly interact with the most significant quasi-particles of condensed matter.

Spectral analysis of organic LED emitters' orientation in thin layers by resonant emission on dielectric stacks.

Purposely tailored thin film stacks sustaining surface waves have been utilized to create a unique link between emission angle and wavelength of fluorescent dye molecules. The knowledge of the thin film stack's properties allows us to derive the intrinsically emitted luminescence spectrum as well as to gain information about the orientation of fluorophores from angularly resolved experiments. This corresponds to replacing all the equipment necessary for polarized spectroscopy with a single smart thin film stack, potentially enabling single shot analyses in the future.

Spectral Characterization of Mid-Infrared Bloch Surface Waves Excited on a Truncated 1D Photonic Crystal.

The many fundamental roto-vibrational resonances of chemical compounds result in strong absorption lines in the mid-infrared region (λ ∼ 2-20 μm). For this reason, mid-infrared spectroscopy plays a key role in label-free sensing, in particular, for chemical recognition, but often lacks the required sensitivity to probe small numbers of molecules. In this work, we propose a vibrational sensing scheme based on Bloch surface waves (BSWs) on 1D photonic crystals to increase the sensitivity of mid-infrared sensors.

Genetic Resources of L. in the Garda Trentino Olive Groves Revealed by Ancient Trees Genotyping and Parentage Analysis of Drupe Embryos.

The area of the Garda Lake within the Trentino province (north of Italy) is the northernmost part of Europe where the Mediterranean species L. is traditionally cultivated. 'Casaliva' is claimed as the main variety traditionally grown in the Garda Trentino area (GT) from which a world renowned niche extra virgin olive oil is produced.

Myocardial Scar on Surface ECG: Selvester Score, but Not Fragmentation, Predicts Response to CRT.

Purpose: Myocardial scar is directly related to the response to CRT after implantation. The extent of myocardial scar can be detected not only by cardiac magnetic resonance but also by two electrocardiographic scores: fragmented QRS (fQRS) and Selvester score (SSc). The aim of our study is to compare the role of baseline SSc and fQRS in predicting response to CRT in a cohort of heart failure patients with true left bundle branch block (LBBB).

Bioassay engineering: a combined label-free and fluorescence approach to optimize HER2 detection in complex biological media.

We report on the combined label-free/fluorescence use of one-dimensional photonic crystals to optimize cancer biomarker detection in complex biological media. The optimization of the assay working parameters permits us to maximize the final response of the biosensor. The detection approach utilizes a sandwich assay, in which one-dimensional photonic crystals sustaining Bloch surface waves are modified with monoclonal antibodies in order to guarantee high specificity during biological recognition.

Agronomic or contentious land change? A longitudinal analysis from the Eastern Brazilian Amazon.

Since 1984, nearly 1,000 people have been killed in the Brazilian Amazon due to land conflicts stemming from unequal distribution of land, land tenure insecurity, and lawlessness. During this same period, the region experienced almost complete deforestation (< 8% forest cover by 2010). Land conflict exacts a human toll, but it also affects agents' decisions about land use, the subject of this article.

PET/MRI enables simultaneous quantification of β-cell mass and function.

Non-invasive imaging of β-cells represents a desirable preclinical and clinical tool to monitor the change of β-cell mass and the loss of function during pre-diabetic stages. Although it is widely accepted that manganese (Mn) ions are actively gated by voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCC) in response to glucose metabolism, little is known on its specificity for quantification of islet β-cell function using Mn and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). On the other hand, glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) represents a validated target for the estimation of β-cell mass using radiolabeled exendin-4 (Ex4) and positron emission tomography (PET).

Study of fluid dynamics at the boundary wall of a microchannel by Bloch surface waves.

Understanding how a fluid flows at the boundaries when it is confined at the microscale/nanoscale is crucial for a broad range of engineering and biology applications. We propose an experimental technique based on Bloch surface waves sustained by a one-dimensional photonic crystal to evaluate the speed of the contact line, i.e.

Real-Time Study of the Adsorption and Grafting Process of Biomolecules by Means of Bloch Surface Wave Biosensors.

A combined label-free and fluorescence surface optical technique was used to quantify the mass deposited in binary biomolecular coatings. These coatings were constituted by fibronectin (FN), to stimulate endothelialization, and phosphorylcholine (PRC), for its hemocompatibility, which are two properties of relevance for cardiovascular applications. One-dimensional photonic crystals sustaining a Bloch surface wave were used to characterize different FN/PRC coatings deposited by a combination of adsorption and grafting processes.

Label-Free Monitoring of Human IgG/Anti-IgG Recognition Using Bloch Surface Waves on 1D Photonic Crystals.

Optical biosensors based on one-dimensional photonic crystals sustaining Bloch surface waves are proposed to study antibody interactions and perform affinity studies. The presented approach utilizes two types of different antibodies anchored at the sensitive area of a photonic crystal-based biosensor. Such a strategy allows for creating two or more on-chip regions with different biochemical features as well as studying the binding kinetics of biomolecules in real time.

Bloch surface wave enhanced biosensor for the direct detection of Angiopoietin-2 tumor biomarker in human plasma.

Quantitative detection of angiogenic biomarkers provides a powerful tool to diagnose cancers in early stages and to follow its progression during therapy. Conventional tests require trained personnel, dedicated laboratory equipment and are generally time-consuming. Herein, we propose our developed biosensing platform as a useful tool for a rapid determination of Angiopoietin-2 biomarker directly from patient plasma within 30 minutes, without any sample preparation or dilution.

Impact of shoulder dystocia, stratified by type of manoeuvre, on severe neonatal outcome and maternal morbidity.

Background: Shoulder dystocia is an uncommon and unpredictable obstetric emergency. It is associated with significant neonatal, maternal and medico-legal consequences.

Aim: To ascertain the impact shoulder dystocia has on severe neonatal and maternal outcomes specific to the type of manoeuvre.

Bloch Surface Waves Biosensors for High Sensitivity Detection of Soluble ERBB2 in a Complex Biological Environment.

We report on the use of one-dimensional photonic crystals to detect clinically relevant concentrations of the cancer biomarker ERBB2 in cell lysates. Overexpression of the ERBB2 protein is associated with aggressive breast cancer subtypes. To detect soluble ERBB2, we developed an optical set-up which operates in both label-free and fluorescence modes.

Design rules for combined label-free and fluorescence Bloch surface wave biosensors.

We report on the fabrication and physical characterization of optical biosensors implementing simultaneous label-free and fluorescence detection and taking advantage of the excitation of Bloch surface waves at a photonic crystal's truncation interface. Two types of purposely designed one-dimensional photonic crystals on molded organic substrates with micro-optics were fabricated. These crystals feature either high or low finesse of the Bloch surface wave resonances and were tested on the same optical readout system.