Lateral flow assay of pathogenic viruses and bacteria in healthcare.

Healthcare-associated pathogenic viruses and bacteria can have a serious impact on human health and have attracted widespread global attention. The lateral flow assay is a unidirectional detection based on the binding of a target analyte and a bioreceptor on the device lateral flow. With incredible advantages over traditional chromatographic methods, such as rapid detection, ease of manufacture and cost effectiveness, these test strips are increasingly considered the ideal form for point-of-care applications.

Synthesis of PNIPAAm-P4VP Microgel as Draw Agent in Forward Osmosis by RAFT Polymerization and Reverse Suspension Polymerization to Improve Water Flux.

Microgels have unique and versatile properties allowing their use in forward osmosis areas as a draw agent. In this contribution, poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) was synthesized via RAFT polymerization and then grafted to a poly(-Isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) crosslinking network by reverse suspension polymerization. P4VP was successfully obtained by the quasiliving polymerization with the result of nuclear magnetic resonance and gel permeation chromatography characterization.

Zwitterionic Copolymer-Regulated Interfacial Polymerization for Highly Permselective Nanofiltration Membrane.

A highly permselective nanofiltration membrane was engineered via zwitterionic copolymer assembly regulated interfacial polymerization (IP). The copolymer was molecularly synthesized using single-step free-radical polymerization between 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and 2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride (AEMA) (P[MPC--AEMA]). The dynamic network of P[MPC--AEMA] served as a regulator to precisely control the kinetics of the reaction by decelerating the transport of piperazine toward the water/hexane interface, forming a polyamide (PA) membrane with ultralow thickness of 70 nm, compared to that of the pristine PA (230 nm).

Short-term outcomes of radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma using cone-beam computed tomography for planning and image guidance.

Background: Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a minimally invasive alternative to hepatectomy for treating tumour recurrence. RFA is often performed using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and/or ultrasonography. In recent years, angiographic systems with flat panel image detectors and advanced image reconstruction algorithms have broadened the clinical applications of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), including RFA.

Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect Transistor-Based Chemical and Biological Sensors.

Chemical and biological sensors have attracted great interest due to their importance in applications of healthcare, food quality monitoring, environmental monitoring, etc. Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based field-effect transistors (FETs) are novel sensing device configurations and are very promising for their potential to drive many technological advancements in this field due to the extraordinary electrical properties of CNTs. This review focuses on the implementation of CNT-based FETs (CNTFETs) in chemical and biological sensors.

Optimal postoperative adjuvant treatment strategy for HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion: a propensity score analysis.

Background: Microvascular invasion (MVI) is the most important risk factor associated with early postoperative recurrence in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant treatment for preventing recurrence in HCC patients with MVI has not been assessed. This study investigated the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in HCC patients with MVI.

Amperometric biosensing system directly powered by button cell battery for lactate.

The development of new signal systems for electrical biosensors could provide exciting new opportunities for biomedical analysis, pollutant monitoring, and explosive detection. The signal systems for commercial portable sensors involve the integration of a battery and a circuit conditioning system to power an amperometric biosensor. However, this increases the size and complexity of the entire system.

Dual-phase Cone-beam CT-based Navigation Imaging Significantly Enhances Tumor Detectability and Aids Superselective Transarterial Chemoembolization of Liver Cancer.

Rationale And Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of a dual-phase cone-beam computed tomography (DP-CBCT)-based navigation imaging during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a perspective randomized study.

Materials And Methods: Forty-two patients with HCC (39 men, 57 ± 9 years, 13 first-time TACE) underwent TACE using three-dimensional image guidance with automatic detection of tumor-feeding vessels computed from DP-CBCT (early and delayed arterial phases). Forty-nine other patients with HCC (44 men, 55 ± 12 years, 14 first-time TACE) were treated conventionally using digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy is associated with improved survival in hepatocellular carcinoma with microvascular invasion.

Purpose: Limited studies have compared the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant therapies in HCC patients with microvascular invasion (MVI). In this study we assess the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant conservative therapy (CT), trans-catheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiotherapy (RT) in HCC patients with MVI.

Results: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients in the RT group have significantly improved RFS (RT vs TACE: = 0.

Lactate dehydrogenase is a prognostic indicator in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by sorafenib: results from the real life practice in HBV endemic area.

Purpose: Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which was an indirect marker of hypoxia, was a potentially prognostic factor in several malignancies. There is a lack of evidence about the prognostic value of serum LDH level in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving sorafenib treatment from hepatitis B virus endemic areas.

Materials And Methods: A total of 119 HBV-related HCC patients treated by sorafenib from a Chinese center were included into the study.

Concurrent sorafenib therapy extends the interval to subsequent TACE for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Objectives: To compare the impact of concurrent TACE + sorafenib versus TACE alone on overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). A secondary goal was to determine if sorafenib use increases the interval between courses of TACE.

Methods: This study enrolled 150 patients with uHCC from June 2011 to June 2014, including 50 treated with TACE + sorafenib and 100 treated with TACE alone.

[Biodegradation Characteristics and Kinetics of p-nitrophenol by Strain Arthrobacter sp. CN2].

To investigate the application potential of the p-nitrophenol-degrading bacterium Arthrobacter sp. CN2 in practice, the effects of pH, salinity and additional carbon source were determined, and the degradation kinetics of p-nitrophenol was analyzed. Strain CN2 could degrade p-nitrophenol efficiently in a wide range of pH (7.

Efficacy and adverse events of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in combination with sorafenib in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to assess the association between the efficacy and adverse events (AEs) of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with sorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Between July 2008 and May 2011, 50 patients with unresectable HCC were enrolled and assigned to receive TACE combined with sorafenib in the present study. The primary outcomes were considered as time to disease progression (TTP) and sorafenib-related AEs.

[Value of multi-slice helical CT in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions].

Objective: To investigate the value of multi-slice helical CT in the differentiation of benign from malignant thyroid lesions.

Methods: The multi-slice helical CT images of 72 patients with 82 thyroid lesions were prospectively studied. The CT features including the margin, density of the lesion and cervical lymph node enlargement were evaluated double-blindly.