Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) in label-free characterization of erythrocyte membranes and extracellular vesicles at the nano-scale and molecular level.

The manuscript presents the potential of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) for label-free characterization of extracellular microvesicles (EVs) and their isolated membranes derived from red blood cells (RBCs) at the nanoscale and at the single-molecule level, providing detection of a few individual amino acids, protein and lipid membrane compartments. The study shows future directions for research, such as investigating the use of the mentioned techniques for the detection and diagnosis of diseases. We demonstrate that SERS and TERS are powerful techniques for identifying the biochemical composition of EVs and their membranes, allowing the detection of small molecules, lipids, and proteins.

Sulfhemoglobin under the spotlight - Detection and characterization of SHb and HbFe-SH.

Sulfhemoglobinemia is an incurable disease caused by an overdose of sulfur-containing drugs with oxidizing properties. Its diagnosis remains hindered due to the similarity of symptoms to other pathological state - methemoglobinemia, as well as contradictory information on the structure and characteristics of sulfhemoglobin. Herein, we present sulfhemoglobinemia model on living functional human erythrocytes, designed to recreate processes which could take place in a patient body in order to complement missing information and highlight distinctiveness of two hemoglobin (Hb) adducts formed after interaction with sulfur donors.

Comparison of biosimilar Tigerase and Pulmozyme in long-term symptomatic therapy of patients with cystic fibrosis and severe pulmonary impairment (subgroup analysis of a Phase III randomized open-label clinical trial (NCT04468100)).

Background: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) need costly medical care and adequate therapy with expensive medicinal products. Tigerase® is the first biosimilar of dornase alfa, developed by the lead Russian biotechnology company GENERIUM. The aim of the manuscript to present post hoc sub-analysis of patients' data with cystic fibrosis and severe pulmonary impairment of a larger comparative study (phase III open label, prospective, multi-centre, randomized study (NCT04468100)) of a generic version of recombinant human DNase Tigerase® to the only comparable drug, Pulmozyme®.

Effect of Canakinumab vs Placebo on Survival Without Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Patients Hospitalized With Severe COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Effective treatments for patients with severe COVID-19 are needed.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of canakinumab, an anti-interleukin-1β antibody, in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial was conducted at 39 hospitals in Europe and the United States.

Spectroscopic Signature of Red Blood Cells in a D-Galactose-Induced Accelerated Aging Model.

This work presents a semi-quantitative spectroscopic approach, including FTIR-ATR and Raman spectroscopies, for the biochemical analysis of red blood cells (RBCs) supported by the biochemical, morphological and rheological reference techniques. This multi-modal approach provided the description of the RBC alterations at the molecular level in a model of accelerated aging induced by administration of D-galactose (D-gal), in comparison to natural aging. Such an approach allowed to conclude that most age-related biochemical RBC membrane changes (a decrease in lipid unsaturation and the level of phospholipids, or an increase in acyl chain shortening) as well as alterations in the morphological parameters and RBC deformability are well reflected in the D-gal model of accelerated aging.