138 results match your criteria: "Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy[Affiliation]"

Contactless photoplethysmography for assessment of small fiber neuropathy.

Front Physiol

August 2023

Biophotonics Laboratory, Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia.

Chronic pain is a prevalent condition affecting approximately one-fifth of the global population, with significant impacts on quality of life and work productivity. Small fiber neuropathies are a common cause of chronic pain, and current diagnostic methods rely on subjective self-assessment or invasive skin biopsies, highlighting the need for objective noninvasive assessment methods. The study aims to develop a modular prototype of a contactless photoplethysmography system with three spectral bands (420, 540, and 800 nm) and evaluate its potential for assessing peripheral neuropathy patients via a skin topical heating test and spectral analyses of cutaneous flowmotions.

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Biodegradable Magnesium (Mg) implants are promising alternatives to permanent metallic prosthesis. To improve the biocompatibility and with the aim of degradation control, we provided Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) of pure Mg implant in silicate-based solution with NaOH (S1 250 V) and Ca(OH) (S2 300 V). Despite the well-structured surface, S1 250 V implants induced enormous innate immunity reaction with the prevalence of neutrophils (MPO+) and M1-macrophages (CD68+), causing secondary alteration and massive necrosis in the peri-implant area in a week.

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The present study demonstrates a strategy for preparing porous composite fibrous materials with superior biocompatibility and antibacterial performance. The findings reveal that the incorporation of PEG into the spinning solutions significantly influences the fiber diameters, morphology, and porous area fraction. The addition of a hydrophilic homopolymer, PEG, into the Ch/PLA spinning solution enhances the hydrophilicity of the resulting materials.

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Fabry disease (FD) is a multisystemic X-linked lysosomal storage disease that presents with angiokeratomas (AKs). Our objective was to investigate the clinical and morphologic features of AKs and to present two experimental techniques, multispectral imaging (MSI) and non-linear microscopy (NLM). A thorough dermatological examination was carried out in our 26 FD patients and dermoscopic images ( = 136) were evaluated for specific structures.

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In dogs and cats, bacterial skin infections (pyoderma and otitis externa) are a common cause for visiting the veterinary clinic. The most frequent skin pathogens are , , , and , often requiring different therapeutic antibiotic protocols. Unfavorably, existing diagnostics based on cytology cannot reveal bacterial species but only bacterial shapes such as cocci or rods.

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Rapid identification of effective antibiotic treatment is crucial for increasing patient survival and preventing the formation of new antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to preventative antibiotic use. Currently utilized "gold standard" methods require 16-24 h to determine the most appropriate antibiotic for the patient's treatment. The proposed technique of laser speckle imaging with subpixel correlation analysis allows for identifying dynamics and changes in the zone of inhibition, which are impossible to observe with classical methods.

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Quantum dots can modify the properties of the whispering gallery mode resonators (WGMRs) used in various potential applications. A deposition of a suitable nanomaterial for the surface functionalization of WGMRs allows for the achievement of high quality (Q) factors. Here, we show that the WGMR surface can be functionalized using quantum dots.

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Skin temperature changes can be used to assess peripheral perfusion in circulatory shock patients. However, research has been limited to point measurements from acral parts of the body. Infrared thermography allows non-invasive evaluation of temperature distribution over a larger surface.

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Maxillary sinus augmentation is a commonly used procedure for the placement of dental implants. However, the use of natural and synthetic materials in this procedure has resulted in postoperative complications ranging from 12% to 38%. To address this issue, we developed a novel calcium deficient HA/β-TCP bone grafting nanomaterial using a two-step synthesis method with appropriate structural and chemical parameters for sinus lifting applications.

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The appearance of biological molecules, so-called biomarkers in body fluids at abnormal concentrations, is considered a good tool for detecting disease. Biomarkers are usually looked for in the most common body fluids, such as blood, nasopharyngeal fluids, urine, tears, sweat, etc. Even with significant advances in diagnostic technology, many patients with suspected infections receive empiric antimicrobial therapy rather than appropriate treatment, which is driven by rapid identification of the infectious agent, leading to increased antimicrobial resistance.

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Towards Electrochemical Sensor Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polypyrrole for the Detection of Bacteria-.

Polymers (Basel)

March 2023

Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko Str. 24, LT-03225 Vilnius, Lithuania.

Detecting bacteria--is an essential healthcare and food industry issue. The objective of the current study was to apply platinum (Pt) and screen-printed carbon (SPCE) electrodes modified by molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) in the design of an electrochemical sensor for the detection of . A sequence of potential pulses was used to perform the electrochemical deposition of the non-imprinted polypyrrole (NIP-Ppy) layer and -imprinted polypyrrole (MIP-Ppy) layer over SPCE and Pt electrodes.

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Dental implants have become a routine, affordable, and highly reliable technology to replace tooth loss. In this regard, titanium and its alloys are the metals of choice for the manufacture of dental implants because they are chemically inert and biocompatible. However, for special cohorts of patients, there is still a need for improvements, specifically to increase the ability of implants to integrate into the bone and gum tissues and to prevent bacterial infections that can subsequently lead to peri-implantitis and implant failures.

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Electrochemical Immunosensor for the Determination of Antibodies against Prostate-Specific Antigen Based on ZnO Nanostructures.

Int J Mol Sci

March 2023

NanoTechnas-Center of Nanotechnology and Materials Science, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko St. 24, LT-03225 Vilnius, Lithuania.

In this study, ZnO nanostructures with different types of morphologies and particle sizes were evaluated and applied for the development of an immunosensor. The first material was composed of spherical, polydisperse nanostructures with a particle size in the range of 10-160 nm. The second was made up of more compact rod-like spherical nanostructures with the diameter of these rods in the range of 50-400 nm, and approximately 98% of the particles were in the range of 20-70 nm.

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In 51 lesions from 15 patients with the inflammatory skin condition chronic graft-versus-host-disease, hyperspectral imaging accurately delineated active erythema and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The method was validated by dermatologist-approved confident delineations of only definitely affected and definitely unaffected areas in photographs. A prototype hyperspectral imaging system acquired a 2.

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Numerical Studies of the Impact of Electromagnetic Field of Radiation on Valine.

Materials (Basel)

February 2023

Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy, Vilnius University, 10257 Vilnius, Lithuania.

We present the results of numerical calculations of the effect of an electromagnetic field of radiation on valine, and compare them to experimental results available in the literature. We specifically focus on the effects of a magnetic field of radiation, by introducing modified basis sets, which incorporate correction coefficients to the s-, p- or only the p-orbitals, following the method of anisotropic Gaussian-type orbitals. By comparing the bond length, angle, dihedral angles, and condense-to-atom-all electrons, obtained without and with the inclusion of dipole electric and magnetic fields, we concluded that, while the charge redistribution occurs due to the electric field influence, the changes in the dipole momentum projection onto the y- and z- axes are caused by the magnetic field.

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Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for the Determination of Cancer Biomarkers.

Int J Mol Sci

February 2023

Department of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko Str. 24, LT-03225 Vilnius, Lithuania.

Biomarkers can provide critical information about cancer and many other diseases; therefore, developing analytical systems for recognising biomarkers is an essential direction in bioanalytical chemistry. Recently molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been applied in analytical systems to determine biomarkers. This article aims to an overview of MIPs used for the detection of cancer biomarkers, namely: prostate cancer (PSA), breast cancer (CA15-3, HER-2), epithelial ovarian cancer (CA-125), hepatocellular carcinoma (AFP), and small molecule cancer biomarkers (5-HIAA and neopterin).

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The microbial colony growth is driven by the activity of the cells located on the edges of the colony. However, this process is not visible unless specific staining or cross-sectioning of the colony is done. Speckle imaging technology is a non-invasive method that allows visualization of the zones of increased microbial activity within the colony.

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Effect of camera distance and angle on color of diverse skin tone-based standards in smartphone photos.

J Biophotonics

June 2023

Department of Dermatology, Vanderbilt Dermatology Translational Research Clinic, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Accurate and reproducible color capture is vital in medical photography. Camera distance and angle are particularly important as they are highly variable in a clinical setting. To account for variability in illumination, camera technology, and geometric effects, color standards are often used for color correction.

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Novel therapies and innovation for systemic sclerosis skin ulceration.

Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol

December 2022

US Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Dermatology Service and Research Service, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Biophotonics Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA.

Skin ulceration is an important cause of morbidity in systemic sclerosis and can occur at anytime during disease progression. Incident disease cohorts are important for understanding whether skin ulceration represents active vasculopathy versus resultant damage. Biomarkers for skin ulcer pathogenesis, both serum and imaging, are under investigation to elucidate the functional consequences of the structural abnormalities.

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In this paper, the frequency-temperature dependence of the conductivity and dielectric permittivity of nc-TiZrC+α-C (0.0 ≤ ≤ 1.0) nanocomposites produced by dual-source magnetron sputtering was determined.

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Non-Expert Markings of Active Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Photographs: Optimal Metrics of Training Effects.

J Digit Imaging

February 2023

Dermatology Service and Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA.

Lack of reliable measures of cutaneous chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) remains a significant challenge. Non-expert assistance in marking photographs of active disease could aid the development of automated segmentation algorithms, but validated metrics to evaluate training effects are lacking. We studied absolute and relative error of marked body surface area (BSA), redness, and the Dice index as potential metrics of non-expert improvement.

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Photonic sensor to detect rapid changes in CRP levels.

J Biophotonics

January 2023

Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland.

One of the most important biomarkers used to determine inflammation is C-reactive protein (CRP). Its level, when it is within the range that does not define inflammation, informs about the risk of cardiovascular events. If the norm is exceeded and inflammation is detected in the body, CRP level can increase 1000 times within a few hours.

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Counting Monkeypox Lesions in Patient Photographs: Limits of Agreement of Manual Counts and Artificial Intelligence.

J Invest Dermatol

February 2023

Dermatology Service and Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Dermatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Electronic address:

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Determination of rSpike Protein by Specific Antibodies with Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode Modified by Electrodeposited Gold Nanostructures.

Biosensors (Basel)

August 2022

NanoTechnas-Center of Nanotechnology and Materials Science, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Naugarduko Str. 24, LT-03225 Vilnius, Lithuania.

In this research, we assessed the applicability of electrochemical sensing techniques for detecting specific antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike proteins in the blood serum of patient samples following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Herein, screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) with electrodeposited gold nanostructures (AuNS) were modified with L-Cysteine for further covalent immobilization of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins (rSpike). The affinity interactions of the rSpike protein with specific antibodies against this protein (anti-rSpike) were assessed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods.

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