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Analytical Chemistry Dec 2013A sensitive and easy method was developed for the detection of the cardiac marker troponin I using magnetic immunoassay and ubiquitous pH meters. Monoclonal...
A sensitive and easy method was developed for the detection of the cardiac marker troponin I using magnetic immunoassay and ubiquitous pH meters. Monoclonal antibody-functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle clusters (MNCs) were synthesized to capture troponin in human serum, and MNC-troponin complexes were magnetically isolated using a permanent magnet. These complexes were subsequently conjugated to polyclonal antibody-functionalized acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and dispersed in acetylcholine (Ach) solution. As the Ach was hydrolyzed to choline and acetic acid, the pH of the solution decreased, and the resulting pH change was measured in real time using a pH meter. The sensitivity of detection of this assay was found to be 10 pg/mL of troponin in human serum after 10 min of the hydrolysis reaction. Further, the pH change could be determined with the naked eye from the color change of a pH indicator strip.
Topics: Biomarkers; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrolysis; Immunoassay; Limit of Detection; Myocardium; Troponin I
PubMed: 24229314
DOI: 10.1021/ac403329w -
Physiotherapy Theory and Practice Dec 2020: The 10-meter walk test (10MWT) is commonly used to reflect a walking speed, health status, and functional ability of many individuals. However, the test is currently...
: The 10-meter walk test (10MWT) is commonly used to reflect a walking speed, health status, and functional ability of many individuals. However, the test is currently applied using various timing protocols and distance covered that may affect data interpretation with a standard value, and comparisons among the studies. : This study investigated the influence of timing protocols and distance covered on the outcomes of the 10MWT in 78 participants who walked at various speeds, including healthy adults (n = 33), healthy elderly (n = 29), and clinical samples with impaired walking ability (walked slower than 0.8 m/s, n = 16). : The participants were timed while they walked (1) over a 10-meter walkway using static and flying starts; and (2) over 4 and 10 meters using a flying start. The comparisons for outcomes of the timing protocols (static and flying starts), and distance covered (4 and 10 meters) for each group of participants was executed using the dependent samples t-test. : A walking speed using a static start was slower than that using a flying start approximately 0.05-0.11 m/s for each group (p < 0.001). On the contrary, the outcomes of a flying start over 4 and 10 meters showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). : The findings clearly confirmed the influence of timing protocols on the outcomes of the 10MWT in individuals with various walking speeds, and a flying start over 4 meters in the middle of a 10-meter walkway can be applied as an alternative protocol of the 10MWT when area limits.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Walk Test; Walking Speed
PubMed: 30704332
DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2019.1570577 -
Toxins May 2021Risks of sociality, including competition and conspecific aggression, are particularly pronounced in venomous invertebrates such as arachnids. Spiders show a wide range... (Review)
Review
Risks of sociality, including competition and conspecific aggression, are particularly pronounced in venomous invertebrates such as arachnids. Spiders show a wide range of sociality, with differing levels of cannibalism and other types of social aggression. To have the greatest chance of surviving interactions with conspecifics, spiders must learn to assess and respond to risk. One of the major ways risk assessment is studied in spiders is via venom metering, in which spiders choose how much venom to use based on prey and predator characteristics. While venom metering in response to prey acquisition and predator defense is well-studied, less is known about its use in conspecific interactions. Here we argue that due to the wide range of both sociality and venom found in spiders, they are poised to be an excellent system for testing questions regarding whether and how venom use relates to the evolution of social behavior and, in return, whether social behavior influences venom use and evolution. We focus primarily on the widow spiders, , as a strong model for testing these hypotheses. Given that successful responses to risk are vital for maintaining sociality, comparative analysis of spider taxa in which venom metering and sociality vary can provide valuable insights into the evolution and maintenance of social behavior under risk.
Topics: Animals; Cannibalism; Courtship; Risk Assessment; Social Behavior; Social Learning; Spider Venoms; Spiders
PubMed: 34071320
DOI: 10.3390/toxins13060388 -
Journal of Diabetes Science and... Sep 2017Many governments and insurers are driving down the cost of medical devices, including glucose meters, by the central management of purchasing decisions. We report...
BACKGROUND
Many governments and insurers are driving down the cost of medical devices, including glucose meters, by the central management of purchasing decisions. We report patients' responses to an "enforced" change in brand of glucose meter, one year after the introduction of a national sole supplier arrangement for funded glucose meters and strips.
METHOD
Specialist diabetes clinic attendees from two geographical locations completed a questionnaire one year after the final meter changeover date. In the first location, consecutive patients were asked to complete a glucose meter satisfaction questionnaire during their clinic visit. In the second location, this questionnaire was mailed to clinic attendees. Responses to open questions were analyzed thematically.
RESULTS
Response rates were 85% and 31% from the first and second locations, respectively and 378 questionnaires were suitable for analysis, 309 from the first and 69 from the second location. Insulin users composed 90% of participants. Results from the two locations were broadly similar. Most participants adapted well to the changeover, however 36% reported ongoing dissatisfaction with their "new" meter. The commonest concern, expressed by 23% of participants, related to meter accuracy and precision.
CONCLUSIONS
One year after glucose meter changeover, a third of participants expressed dissatisfaction with their meter, with many participants describing a failure to adapt to the sole supplier arrangement. Providing a choice of meters and strips, ideally from two or more brands that have demonstrable differences in technical and ergonomic features, is likely to produce higher overall patient satisfaction than is a sole supplier arrangement.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Government Regulation; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; New Zealand; Patient Satisfaction
PubMed: 28617624
DOI: 10.1177/1932296817693016 -
The Journal of the Acoustical Society... Feb 2006The performance of autocorrelation-based meter induction was tested with two large collections of folk melodies, consisting of approximately 13 000 melodies for which...
The performance of autocorrelation-based meter induction was tested with two large collections of folk melodies, consisting of approximately 13 000 melodies for which the correct meters were available. The performance was measured by the proportion of melodies whose meter was correctly classified by a discriminant function. Furthermore, it was examined whether including different melodic accent types would improve the classification performance. By determining the components of the autocorrelation functions that were significant in the classification it was found that periodicity in note onset locations was the most important cue for the determination of meter. Of the melodic accents included, Thomassen's melodic accent was found to provide the most reliable cues for the determination of meter. The discriminant function analyses suggested that periodicities longer than one measure may provide cues for meter determination that are more reliable than shorter periodicities. Overall, the method predicted notated meter with an accuracy reaching 96% for binary classification and 75% for classification into nine categories of meter.
Topics: Auditory Perception; Discriminant Analysis; Humans; Music; Pitch Perception; Time Factors; Time Perception; Voice; Voice Quality
PubMed: 16521777
DOI: 10.1121/1.2146084 -
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Feb 2023Exosome plays a crucial role in regulating intercellular communication during atherosclerosis development. However, sensitive and portable exosome detection remains a...
Exosome plays a crucial role in regulating intercellular communication during atherosclerosis development. However, sensitive and portable exosome detection remains a huge challenge. Herein, a personal glucose meter (PGM)-based exosomes detection approach has been proposed that allows detection of exosomes with a high sensitivity and reproducibility. In this method, a catch probe, which is composed of CD63 aptamer and blocker sequence, is utilized for the specific identification of exosomes. The blocker sequence binds with H probe to initiate the Exo-III-assisted signal recycles to generate numerous DNAzyme sequences. Under the assistance of the substrate, DNAzyme forms its active secondary structure to generate gap site in substrate, releasing a linker to conjugate sucrase to streptavidin magnetic beads (SMBs). After removing unbound sucrase, the SMB-linker-sucrase complex is used to catalyze sucrose to glucose, which can be read by PGMs. Based on this, the method exhibits a wide detection range and a low limit of detection, holding a promising prospect for the analysis of exosomes and screening atherosclerosis.
Topics: Glucose; DNA, Catalytic; Exosomes; Reproducibility of Results; Sucrase; Biosensing Techniques; Aptamers, Nucleotide
PubMed: 36219333
DOI: 10.1007/s12010-022-04171-5 -
Journal of Diabetes Science and... Jan 2012Monitoring blood glucose levels is an integral part of routine diabetes management. To minimize the risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens during monitoring, the...
BACKGROUND
Monitoring blood glucose levels is an integral part of routine diabetes management. To minimize the risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens during monitoring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that glucose meters be disinfected after each use whenever they are used to test multiple patients. The objective of this study is to assess the compatibility of some common disinfectants with certain blood glucose meter systems.
METHODS
We tested six disinfectants for adverse impact on meter performance or the exterior meter surfaces. The disinfectants tested were 0.525% sodium hypochlorite, 20% 2-propanol and 10% ethanol, 17.2% isopropanol, 55% isopropanol, 70% isopropanol, and hydrogen peroxide. To assess meter performance, we tested OneTouch® Ultra® blood glucose monitoring systems with control solution before and after application of either water or disinfectant. To assess the effect on exterior meter surfaces, we performed a soaking test to simulate long-term exposure to disinfectant.
RESULTS
Paired t-test results showed that the control solution data associated with disinfectant and with water application were not significantly different for each meter type. However, most of the meter types were adversely affected by hydrogen peroxide and/or by the higher concentrations of alcohol-based disinfectants.
CONCLUSIONS
Although none of the six disinfectants affected meter performance, hydrogen peroxide and isopropanol >20% adversely affected the exterior surfaces of the tested meters. When complying with CDC instructions for meter disinfection, users should use caution and choose disinfectants that have been validated by the meter manufacturer.
Topics: 1-Propanol; 2-Propanol; Blood Chemical Analysis; Blood Glucose; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Disinfectants; Disinfection; Efficiency; Equipment and Supplies; Ethanol; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Sodium Hypochlorite; Water
PubMed: 22401326
DOI: 10.1177/193229681200600111 -
Technology and Health Care : Official... 2023Peak expiratory flow meters (PEFMs) have emerged as primary tools used for diagnosing and monitoring a range of respiratory diseases including asthma and chronic...
BACKGROUND
Peak expiratory flow meters (PEFMs) have emerged as primary tools used for diagnosing and monitoring a range of respiratory diseases including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the performance of these meters will thus impact disease evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was therefore to assess the technical performance of mechanical and electronic PEFMs commonly used in clinical practice.
METHODS
The accuracy, repeatability, airflow resistance, frequency response, and linearity of five electronic and seven mechanical PEFMs were measured using a standard flow/volume simulator in accordance with nine A-waveforms and three B-waveforms defined in ISO 23747:2015 issued by the International Standards Organization (ISO).
RESULTS
The accuracy, repeatability, linearity, airflow resistance, and frequency response pass rates for these 12 different PEFM brands were 41.67%, 75.00%, 50.00%, 75.00%, and 25.00%, respectively. Just 16.67% (2/12) of the tested PEFMs met all evaluated criteria, whereas the remaining PEFMs partially met these criteria. There were no significant differences between the two tested PEFM types in the low flow rate waveform test (P> 0.05), although there were significant differences in the medium and high flow rate waveform test (P< 0.05). In addition, the overall PEFMs test had poor accuracy and good repeatability, although most of the repeatability errors occurred in the BTPS state.
CONCLUSION
PEFMs commonly used in clinical settings exhibit variable technical performance, and relevant departments need to strengthen PEFM quality control and management in China.
Topics: Humans; Spirometry; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Respiratory Function Tests; Lung; Asthma
PubMed: 35988228
DOI: 10.3233/THC-220122 -
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory... Sep 2013Monitoring of blood glucose in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients is important in maintaining normoglycaemia and reducing the risk of hypoglycaemia....
BACKGROUND
Monitoring of blood glucose in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients is important in maintaining normoglycaemia and reducing the risk of hypoglycaemia. Point-of-care testing (POCT) glucose meters provide short turnaround times but some have been reported to be affected by haematocrit interference and other biochemical or biological substances in their accuracy and performance. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of a new POCT glucose meter in a challenging preterm neonatal population.
METHODS
The new Nova Biomedical StatStrip™ (Nova Biomedical) was tested on 159 heparinised whole blood samples from NICU patients obtained for blood gas analysis. Accuracy (bias) of the meter and analytical interferences were evaluated by comparing the results of the meter with the results of the blood gas analyser routinely used for glucose measurements in this NICU setting.
RESULTS
The results of the StatStrip glucose meter correlated very well with the reference routine method across a wide glucose concentration range (13-389 mg/dL) and were not affected by the level of haematocrit, by sample pH or by medication.
CONCLUSIONS
The StatStrip meter showed good clinical accuracy and performance for measuring and monitoring glucose levels in NICU patients, with special respect to preterm infants, and therefore can act as a perfect alternative to a blood gas analyser for measuring blood glucose in NICU patients.
Topics: Blood Glucose; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Point-of-Care Systems; Reagent Strips
PubMed: 23612555
DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2012-0864 -
Clinical Hemorheology and... Sep 2016To measure static and dynamic changes of retinal vessels in response to normobaric hypoxia (NH, study A) and hypobaric hypoxia (HH, study B).
PURPOSE
To measure static and dynamic changes of retinal vessels in response to normobaric hypoxia (NH, study A) and hypobaric hypoxia (HH, study B).
METHODS
Study A included 10 healthy individuals exposed to a simulated altitude of 5500 meters in a NH chamber; study B included 17 individuals studied after ascent to 3000-meter altitude. Retinal vessel diameter, response to flicker light, retinal oxygen saturation and retinal venous pressure were measured at baseline, under the corresponding hypoxia condition. The effects of macitentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, were examined in study B.
RESULTS
The mean age of participants was 34.6±9.3 years in study A and 36.7±10.8 years in study B. Retinal arterial and venous diameter increased, arterial and venous response to flicker light decreased, while retinal oxygen saturation remained stable under both experimental conditions. Retinal venous pressure increased in six individuals after ascent to 3000 meters and normalized after macitentan treatment. The occurrence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) correlated only with the decrease of arterial constriction after ascent to 3000 meters.
CONCLUSIONS
Retinal arterial and venous vessels react to NH and HH with a diameter increase and an impaired response to flicker light. Macitentan was capable to normalize the increased retinal venous pressure observed at high altitudes.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Altitude; Cell Hypoxia; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Retinal Vessels; Young Adult
PubMed: 26890235
DOI: 10.3233/CH-162041