Interleukins in Urine and Blood as Markers of Infection and as Risk Factors for Systemic Conditions.

Interleukins are a diverse group of cytokines that play a crucial role in controlling immune responses and have potential as biomarkers. This mini review evaluates 12 recent papers linking urinary interleukins to both urinary infection and systemic diseases. While measurement of serum interleukins can indicate systemic inflammation, urinary interleukins provide more specific insights into renal or urinary tract inflammation.

Correction: Musa et al. An Electrochemical Screen-Printed Sensor Based on Gold-Nanoparticle-Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide-Carbon Nanotubes Composites for the Determination of 17-β Estradiol. 2023, , 491.

In the original publication [...

A non-faradaic impedimetric biosensor for monitoring of caspase 9 in mammalian cell culture.

Lower yields and poorer quality of biopharmaceutical products result from cell death in bioreactors. Such cell death is commonly associated with programmed cell death or apoptosis. During apoptosis, caspases are activated and cause a cascade of events that eventually lead to cell destruction.

An Electrochemical Screen-Printed Sensor Based on Gold-Nanoparticle-Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide-Carbon Nanotubes Composites for the Determination of 17-β Estradiol.

In this study, a screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with gold-nanoparticle-decorated reduced graphene oxide-carbon nanotubes (rGO-AuNPs/CNT/SPE) was used for the determination of estradiol (E2). The AuNPs were produced through an eco-friendly method utilising plant extract, eliminating the need for severe chemicals, and remove the requirements of sophisticated fabrication methods and tedious procedures. In addition, rGO-AuNP serves as a dispersant for the CNT to improve the dispersion stability of CNTs.

Modelling a dynamic magneto-agglutination bioassay.

The process of developing an end-to-end model of a magneto-immunoassay is described, simulating the agglutination effect due to the specific binding of bacteria to paramagnetic particles. After establishing the properties of the dose-specific agglutination through direct imaging, a microfluidic assay was used to demonstrate changes in the magnetophoretic transport dynamics of agglutinated clusters via transient inductive magentometer measurements. End-to-end mathematical modelling is used to establish the physical processes underlying the assay.

Modeling Peptide Nucleic Acid Binding Enthalpies Using MM-GBSA.

The binding enthalpies of peptide nucleic acid (PNA) homoduplexes were predicted using a molecular mechanics generalized Born surface area approach. Using the nucleic acid nearest-neighbor model, these were decomposed into sequence parameters which could replicate the enthalpies from thermal melting experiments with a mean error of 8.7%.

Propofol detection for monitoring of intravenous anaesthesia: a review.

This paper presents a review of established and emerging methods for detecting and quantifying the intravenous anaesthetic propofol in solution. There is growing evidence of numerous advantages of total intravenous anaesthesia using propofol compared to conventional volatile-based anaesthesia, both in terms of patient outcomes and environmental impact. However, volatile-based anaesthesia still accounts for the vast majority of administered general anaesthetics, largely due to a lack of techniques for real-time monitoring of patient blood propofol concentration.

Classification of the mechanism of toxicity as applied to human cell line ECV304.

The objective of this study was to identify the pattern of cytotoxicity testing of the human cell line ECV304 using three techniques of an ensemble learning algorithm (bagging, boosting and stacking). The study of cell morphology of ECV304 cell line was conducted using impedimetric measurement. Three types of toxins were applied to the ECV304 cell line namely 1 mM hydrogen peroxide (HO), 5% dimethyl sulfoxide and 10 μg Saponin.

Nanoparticle-based 3D membrane for impedimetric biosensor applications.

This paper reports on a comparison between nano-ZnO/CuO and nano-ZnO nitrocellulose membrane biosensors, both of which were fabricated using a simple and inexpensive sonication technique. To produce the nano-ZnO/CuO membranes, the technique involved sonication of 1% (w/v) ZnO and 1% (w/v) CuO nano-crystal colloidal suspensions, with a volume ratio of 1:2. The membranes were analysed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, which showed the gradated distribution of nanoparticles in the membrane.

A non-contact impedimetric biosensing system for classification of toxins associated with cytotoxicity testing.

We report on a novel impedance spectroscopy measurement and data analysis technique for cytotoxicity testing. The technique combines non-contact measurement with real-time impedance data analysis based on the toxin dose dependency of the outputs, making it suitable for high throughput screening. A multi-electrode array was designed and fabricated such that a standard well plate could be positioned above the electrodes, negating the requirement for bespoke culture wells with integrated electrodes.

A Copper Oxide/Zinc Oxide Composite Nano-Surface for Use in a Biosensor.

In this study, biosensors based on zinc oxide⁻copper oxide composite nano-surfaces were prepared using a simple and inexpensive distributed colloidal technique. Combinations of mixed dispersions with volume ratios of 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 ZnO:CuO were compared. The uniform nano-crystalline sensor surfaces on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Raman Spectroscopy.

Facile and inexpensive fabrication of zinc oxide based bio-surfaces for C-reactive protein detection.

The paper reports a biosensor formed from antibody coated ZnO nano-crystals which has been prepared using a rapid and inexpensive fabrication method which utilises colloidal dispersion enhanced using sonication. This technique was used to prepare highly ordered and uniform nano-crystalline sensor surfaces on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using 0.5%, 1% and 5% concentrations of zinc oxide nano-crystal suspensions.

Influence of betaine and arginine supplementation of reduced protein diets on fatty acid composition and gene expression in the muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue of cross-bred pigs.

The isolated or combined effects of betaine and arginine supplementation of reduced protein diets (RPD) on fat content, fatty acid composition and mRNA levels of genes controlling lipid metabolism in pig m. longissimus lumborum and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were assessed. The experiment was performed on forty intact male pigs (Duroc×Large White×Landrace cross-breed) with initial and final live weights of 60 and 93 kg, respectively.

An inexpensive, fast and sensitive quantitative lateral flow magneto-immunoassay for total prostate specific antigen.

We describe the detection characteristics of a device the Resonant Coil Magnetometer (RCM) to quantify paramagnetic particles (PMPs) in immunochromatographic (lateral flow) assays. Lateral flow assays were developed using PMPs for the measurement of total prostate specific antigen (PSA) in serum samples. A detection limit of 0.

Combined effects of dietary arginine, leucine and protein levels on fatty acid composition and gene expression in the muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue of crossbred pigs.

The cumulative effects of dietary arginine, leucine and protein levels on fat content, fatty acid composition and mRNA levels of genes controlling lipid metabolism in pig longissimus lumborum muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were investigated. The experiment was performed on fifty-four intact male pigs (Duroc × Pietrain × Large White × Landrace crossbred), with a live weight ranging from 59 to 92 kg. The pigs were randomly assigned to one of six experimental treatments (n 9).

Differential effects of reduced protein diets on fatty acid composition and gene expression in muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue of Alentejana purebred and Large White × Landrace × Pietrain crossbred pigs.

The present study assessed the effect of pig genotype (fatty v. lean) and dietary protein and lysine (Lys) levels (normal v. reduced) on intramuscular fat (IMF) content, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) deposition, fatty acid composition and mRNA levels of genes controlling lipid metabolism.

Novel immunoassay technique for rapid measurement of intracellular proteins using paramagnetic particles.

Magnetic immunoassays have been shown to have similar detection limits to conventional immunoassays, with the advantage of reduced total assay time. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that an integrated lysis and measurement system could be used to quantitatively measure intracellular target molecules using prostate specific antigen as a model analyte. The system described utilises the inherent physical properties of paramagnetic particles for both cell lysis and antigen quantification in the same vessel.

The dual role of paramagnetic particles for integrated lysis and measurement in a rapid immunoassay for intracellular proteins.

A novel, integrated lysis and immunoassay methodology and system for intracellular protein measurement are described. The method uses paramagnetic particles both as a lysis agent and assay label resulting in a rapid test requiring minimal operator intervention, the test being homogeneous and completed in less than 10 min. A design study highlights the critical features of the magnetic detection system used to quantify the paramagnetic particles and a novel frequency-locked loop-based magnetometer is presented.

Magnetizable antibody-like proteins.

Use of paramagnetic particles to isolate molecules or cells from complex media is well established. Typically, particles are manufactured and coated with a biological molecule that confers specific biorecognition. Incubation of particles with sample and exposure to magnetic fields isolates the species of interest.

Use of external magnetic fields to reduce reaction times in an immunoassay using micrometer-sized paramagnetic particles as labels (magnetoimmunoassay).

The paper presents a rapid immunoassay system capable of quantifying analyte in complex biological and environmental media. Antibody-coated micrometer-sized paramagnetic particles are used as labels in an assay in which they bind quantitatively with an analyte and capture antibody molecules immobilized on a polyester disk to form a sandwich assay. The assay is performed in a simple reaction vessel, and reactions between labels, analyte, and antibodies are accelerated by positioning magnets alternately above and below the vessel.

Rapid electrochemical detection and identification of catalase positive micro-organisms.

The rapid detection and identification of bacteria has application in a number of fields, e.g. the food industry, environmental monitoring and biomedicine.

A novel predictive model of outcome in de novo AML based on S-phase activity and proliferative response of blast cells to haemopoietic growth factors.

This study assesses whether the kinetic response of AML cells to HGFs might help to predict initial clinical outcome of treatment in de novo AML in association with age, FAB type and karyotype. Best subset regression analysis indicated optimal variables to develop models to predict prognosis. High S-phase in surviving cells following 7 days incubation in SFM, resistance to stimulation by G+GM-CSF and poor karyotype taken in combination correctly predicted outcome in 83% of patients.