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Viruses Jun 2024The serological surveillance of bluetongue in bulk tank milk is an efficient and cost-effective method for the early detection of bluetongue virus incursions in...
The serological surveillance of bluetongue in bulk tank milk is an efficient and cost-effective method for the early detection of bluetongue virus incursions in unvaccinated free areas of the disease. In addition, the availability of standardized and reliable reagents and refined diagnostic procedures with high sensitivity and specificity are essential for surveillance purposes. However, no available reference materials for bluetongue virus serological surveillance in bulk tank milk exist. This study shows the production and characterization of reference material for the implementation of a commercially available bluetongue milk ELISA test in official laboratories, as well as the evaluation of a procedure to increase the sensitivity in samples with low levels of antibodies. This procedure, based on milk protein concentration, allowed us to notably increase the ELISA test's analytical sensitivity, which is useful for milk samples from farms with low within-herd prevalence or pools of bulk tank milk samples. The standardized milk reference material produced here, together with the evaluated procedure to improve analytical sensitivity, could be applied as tools to ensure an accurate diagnosis by official laboratories in bluetongue unvaccinated free areas.
Topics: Animals; Milk; Bluetongue; Bluetongue virus; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sheep; Cattle; Milk Proteins; Antibodies, Viral; Serologic Tests; Reference Standards; Female
PubMed: 38932207
DOI: 10.3390/v16060915 -
Viruses May 2024We have been encouraging practicing gynecologists to adopt molecular diagnostics tests, PCR, and cancer biomarkers, as alternatives enabled by these platforms, to...
We have been encouraging practicing gynecologists to adopt molecular diagnostics tests, PCR, and cancer biomarkers, as alternatives enabled by these platforms, to traditional Papanicolaou and colposcopy tests, respectively. An aliquot of liquid-based cytology was used for the molecular test [high-risk HPV types, (HR HPV)], another for the PAP test, and one more for p16/Ki67 dual-stain cytology. A total of 4499 laboratory samples were evaluated, and we found that 25.1% of low-grade samples and 47.9% of high-grade samples after PAP testing had a negative HR HPV-PCR result. In those cases, reported as Pap-negative, 22.1% had a positive HR HPV-PCR result. Dual staining with p16/Ki67 biomarkers in samples was positive for HR HPV, and 31.7% were also positive for these markers. Out of the PCR results that were positive for any of these HR HPV subtypes, n 68.3%, we did not find evidence for the presence of cancerous cells, highlighting the importance of performing dual staining with p16/Ki67 after PCR to avoid unnecessary colposcopies. The encountered challenges are a deep-rooted social reluctance in Mexico to abandon traditional Pap smears and the opinion of many specialists. Therefore, we still believe that colposcopy continues to be a preferred procedure over the dual-staining protocol.
Topics: Humans; Female; Mexico; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Papillomavirus Infections; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Papanicolaou Test; Biomarkers, Tumor; Papillomaviridae; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; Vaginal Smears; Colposcopy; Gynecology; Adult; Middle Aged; Ki-67 Antigen; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Early Detection of Cancer; Private Practice
PubMed: 38932179
DOI: 10.3390/v16060887 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Salivary pH is one of the crucial biomarkers used for non-invasive diagnosis of intraoral diseases, as well as general health conditions. However, standard pH sensors...
Salivary pH is one of the crucial biomarkers used for non-invasive diagnosis of intraoral diseases, as well as general health conditions. However, standard pH sensors are usually too bulky, expensive, and impractical for routine use outside laboratory settings. Herein, a miniature hydrogel sensor, which enables quick and simple colorimetric detection of pH level, is shown. The sensor structure was manufactured from non-toxic hydrogel ink and patterned in the form of a matrix with 5 mm × 5 mm × 1 mm individual sensing pads using a 3D printing technique (bioplotting). The authors' ink composition, which contains sodium alginate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and bromothymol blue indicator, enables repeatable and stable color response to different pH levels. The developed analysis software with an easy-to-use graphical user interface extracts the R(ed), G(reen), and B(lue) components of the color image of the hydrogel pads, and evaluates the pH value in a second. A calibration curve used for the analysis was obtained in a pH range of 3.5 to 9.0 using a laboratory pH meter as a reference. Validation of the sensor was performed on samples of artificial saliva for medical use and its mixtures with beverages of different pH values (lemon juice, coffee, black and green tea, bottled and tap water), and correct responses to acidic and alkaline solutions were observed. The matrix of square sensing pads used in this study provided multiple parallel responses for parametric tests, but the applied 3D printing method and ink composition enable easy adjustment of the shape of the sensing layer to other desired patterns and sizes. Additional mechanical tests of the hydrogel layers confirmed the relatively high quality and durability of the sensor structure. The solution presented here, comprising 3D printed hydrogel sensor pads, simple colorimetric detection, and graphical software for signal processing, opens the way to development of miniature and biocompatible diagnostic devices in the form of flexible, wearable, or intraoral sensors for prospective application in personalized medicine and point-of-care diagnosis.
Topics: Colorimetry; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Saliva; Hydrogels; Humans; Biosensing Techniques
PubMed: 38931525
DOI: 10.3390/s24123740 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Optical tracking of head pose via fiducial markers has been proven to enable effective correction of motion artifacts in the brain during magnetic resonance imaging but...
Optical tracking of head pose via fiducial markers has been proven to enable effective correction of motion artifacts in the brain during magnetic resonance imaging but remains difficult to implement in the clinic due to lengthy calibration and set up times. Advances in deep learning for markerless head pose estimation have yet to be applied to this problem because of the sub-millimetre spatial resolution required for motion correction. In the present work, two optical tracking systems are described for the development and training of a neural network: one marker-based system (a testing platform for measuring ground truth head pose) with high tracking fidelity to act as the training labels, and one markerless deep-learning-based system using images of the markerless head as input to the network. The markerless system has the potential to overcome issues of marker occlusion, insufficient rigid attachment of the marker, lengthy calibration times, and unequal performance across degrees of freedom (DOF), all of which hamper the adoption of marker-based solutions in the clinic. Detail is provided on the development of a custom moiré-enhanced fiducial marker for use as ground truth and on the calibration procedure for both optical tracking systems. Additionally, the development of a synthetic head pose dataset is described for the proof of concept and initial pre-training of a simple convolutional neural network. Results indicate that the ground truth system has been sufficiently calibrated and can track head pose with an error of <1 mm and <1°. Tracking data of a healthy, adult participant are shown. Pre-training results show that the average root-mean-squared error across the 6 DOF is 0.13 and 0.36 (mm or degrees) on a head model included and excluded from the training dataset, respectively. Overall, this work indicates excellent feasibility of the deep-learning-based approach and will enable future work in training and testing on a real dataset in the MRI environment.
Topics: Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Head; Head Movements; Neural Networks, Computer; Fiducial Markers; Calibration; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Deep Learning; Brain; Artifacts
PubMed: 38931521
DOI: 10.3390/s24123737 -
Microorganisms Jun 2024Biofilm formation is a serious problem that relatively often causes complications in orthopedic surgery. Biofilm-forming pathogens invade implanted foreign bodies and... (Review)
Review
Modern Microbiological Methods to Detect Biofilm Formation in Orthopedy and Suggestions for Antibiotic Therapy, with Particular Emphasis on Prosthetic Joint Infection (PJI).
Biofilm formation is a serious problem that relatively often causes complications in orthopedic surgery. Biofilm-forming pathogens invade implanted foreign bodies and surrounding tissues. Such a condition, if not limited at the appropriate time, often requires reoperation. This can be partially prevented by selecting an appropriate prosthesis material that prevents the development of biofilm. There are many modern techniques available to detect the formed biofilm. By applying them we can identify and visualize biofilm-forming microorganisms. The most common etiological factors associated with biofilms in orthopedics are: , coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS), and spp., whereas Gram-negative bacilli and spp. also deserve attention. It seems crucial, for therapeutic success, to eradicate the microorganisms able to form biofilm after the implantation of endoprostheses. Planning the effective targeted antimicrobial treatment of postoperative infections requires accurate identification of the microorganism responsible for the complications of the procedure. The modern microbiological testing techniques described in this article show the diagnostic options that can be followed to enable the implementation of effective treatment.
PubMed: 38930580
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061198 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is one of the leading cardiovascular causes of morbidity, mortality, and use of medical resources. After the introduction by... (Review)
Review
Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is one of the leading cardiovascular causes of morbidity, mortality, and use of medical resources. After the introduction by international guidelines of the same level of recommendation to non-invasive imaging techniques in CCS evaluation, a large debate arose about the dilemma of choosing anatomical (with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA)) or functional imaging (with stress echocardiography (SE), cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), or nuclear imaging techniques) as a first diagnostic evaluation. The determinant role of the atherosclerotic burden in defining cardiovascular risk and prognosis more than myocardial inducible ischemia has progressively increased the use of a first anatomical evaluation with CCTA in a wide range of pre-test probability in CCS patients. Functional testing holds importance, both because the role of revascularization in symptomatic patients with proven ischemia is well defined and because functional imaging, particularly with stress cardiac magnetic resonance (s-CMR), gives further prognostic information regarding LV function, detection of myocardial viability, and tissue characterization. Emerging techniques such as stress computed tomography perfusion (s-CTP) and fractional flow reserve derived from CT (FFRCT), combining anatomical and functional evaluation, appear capable of addressing the need for a single non-invasive examination, especially in patients with high risk or previous revascularization. Furthermore, CCTA in peri-procedural planning is promising to acquire greater importance in the non-invasive planning and guiding of complex coronary revascularization procedures, both by defining the correct strategy of interventional procedure and by improving patient selection. This review explores the different roles of non-invasive imaging techniques in managing CCS patients, also providing insights into preoperative planning for percutaneous or surgical myocardial revascularization.
PubMed: 38929984
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123450 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024: Patients with liver pathology benefit from image-guided interventions. Training for interventional procedures is recommended to be performed on liver phantoms until a...
: Patients with liver pathology benefit from image-guided interventions. Training for interventional procedures is recommended to be performed on liver phantoms until a basic proficiency is reached. In the last 40 years, several attempts have been made to develop materials to mimic the imaging characteristics of the human liver in order to create liver phantoms. There is still a lack of accessible, reproducible and cost-effective soft liver phantoms for image-guided procedure training. : Starting from a CT-scan DICOM file, we created a 3D-printed liver mold using InVesalius (Centro de Tecnologia da informação Renato Archer CTI, InVesalius 3 open-source software, Campinas, Brazil) for segmentation, Autodesk Fusion 360 with Netfabb (Autodesk software company, Fusion 360 2.0.19426 with Autodesk Netfabb Premium 2023.0 64-Bit Edition, San Francisco, CA, USA) for 3D modeling and Stratasys Fortus 380 mc 3D printer (Stratasys 3D printing company, Fortus 380 mc 3D printer, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Using the 3D-printed mold, we created 14 gelatin-based liver phantoms with 14 different recipes, using water, cast sugar and dehydrated gelatin, 32% fat bovine milk cream with intravenous lipid solution and technical alcohol in different amounts. We tested all these phantoms as well as ex vivo pig liver and human normal, fatty and cirrhotic liver by measuring the elasticity, shear wave speed, ultrasound attenuation, CT-scan density, MRI signal intensity and fracture force. We assessed the results of the testing performed, as well as the optical appearance on ultrasound, CT and MRI, in order to find the best recipe for gelatin-based phantoms for image-guided procedure training. : After the assessment of all phantom recipes, we selected as the best recipe for transparent phantoms one with 14 g of gelatin/100 mL water and for opaque phantom, the recipes with 25% cream. : These liver gelatin-based phantom recipes are an inexpensive, reproducible and accessible alternative for training in image-guided and diagnostic procedures and will meet most requirements for valuable training.
PubMed: 38929969
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123440 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine May 2024Chest pain is a prevalent reason for emergency room referrals and presents diagnostic challenges. The physician must carefully differentiate between cardiac and...
BACKGROUND
Chest pain is a prevalent reason for emergency room referrals and presents diagnostic challenges. The physician must carefully differentiate between cardiac and noncardiac causes, including various vascular and extracardiovascular conditions. However, it is crucial not to overlook serious conditions such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and early discharge management become difficult when traditional clinical criteria, ECG, and troponin values are insufficient. Recently, the focus has shifted to a "multi-marker" approach to improve diagnostic accuracy and prognosis in patients with chest pain.
METHODS
This observational, prospective, single-center study involved, with informed consent, 360 patients presenting to the emergency department with typical chest pain and included a control group of 120 healthy subjects. In addition to routine examinations, including tests for hsTnI (Siemens TNIH kit), according to the 0-1 h algorithm, biochemical markers sST2 (tumorigenicity suppression-2) and suPAR (soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) were also evaluated for each patient. A 12-month follow-up was conducted to monitor outcomes and adverse events.
RESULTS
We identified two groups of patients: a positive one (112 patients) with high levels of hsTnI, sST2 > 24.19 ng/mL, and suPAR > 2.9 ng/mL, diagnosed with ACS; and a negative one (136 patients) with low levels of hsTnI, suPAR < 2.9 ng/mL, and sST2 < 24.19 ng/mL. During the 12-month follow-up, no adverse events were observed in the negative group. In the intermediate group, patients with hsTnI between 6 ng/L and the ischemic limit, sST2 > 29.1 ng/mL and suPAR > 2.9 ng/mL, showed the highest probability of adverse events during follow-up, while those with sST2 < 24.19 ng/mL and suPAR < 2.9 ng/mL had a better outcome with no adverse events at 12 months.
CONCLUSION
Our data suggest that sST2 and suPAR, together with hsTnI, may be useful in the prognosis of cardiovascular patients with ACS, providing additional information on endothelial damage. These biomarkers could guide the clinical decision on further diagnostic investigations. In addition, suPAR and sST2 emerge as promising for event prediction in patients with chest pain. Their integration into the standard approach in PS could facilitate more efficient patient management, allowing safe release or timely admission based on individual risk.
PubMed: 38929785
DOI: 10.3390/jpm14060564 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024Chronic endometritis (CE) is an inflammatory pathologic condition of the uterine mucosa characterized by unusual infiltration of CD138(+) endometrial stromal plasmacytes... (Review)
Review
Chronic endometritis (CE) is an inflammatory pathologic condition of the uterine mucosa characterized by unusual infiltration of CD138(+) endometrial stromal plasmacytes (ESPCs). CE is often identified in infertile women with unexplained etiology, tubal factors, endometriosis, repeated implantation failure, and recurrent pregnancy loss. Diagnosis of CE has traditionally relied on endometrial biopsy and histopathologic/immunohistochemistrical detection of ESPCs. Endometrial biopsy, however, is a somewhat painful procedure for the subjects and does not allow us to grasp the whole picture of this mucosal tissue. Meanwhile, fluid hysteroscopy has been recently adopted as a less-invasive diagnostic modality for CE. We launched the ARCHIPELAGO (ARChival Hysteroscopic Image-based Prediction for histopathologic chronic Endometritis in infertile women using deep LeArninG mOdel) study to construct the hysteroscopic CE finding-based prediction tools for histopathologic CE. The development of these deep learning-based novel models and computer-aided detection/diagnosis systems potentially benefits infertile women suffering from this elusive disease.
Topics: Humans; Female; Deep Learning; Endometritis; Hysteroscopy; Chronic Disease; Infertility, Female; Endometrium
PubMed: 38929589
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060972 -
Posterior-Only T11 Vertebral Column Resection for Pediatric Congenital Kyphosis Surgical Correction.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2024: Congenital kyphosis is a spinal deformity that arises from the inadequate anterior development or segmentation of the vertebrae in the sagittal plane during the...
: Congenital kyphosis is a spinal deformity that arises from the inadequate anterior development or segmentation of the vertebrae in the sagittal plane during the initial embryonic stage. Consequently, this condition triggers atypical spinal growth, leading to the manifestation of deformity. Concurrently, other congenital abnormalities like renal or cardiac defects within the gastrointestinal tract may co-occur with spinal deformities due to their shared formation timeline. In light of the specific characteristics of the deformity, the age range of the patient, deformity sizes, and neurological conditions, surgical intervention emerges as the optimal course of action for such cases. The selection of the appropriate surgical approach is contingent upon the specific characteristics of the anomaly. : This investigation illustrates the utilization of a surgical posterior-only strategy for correcting pediatric congenital kyphoscoliosis through the implementation of a vertebral column resection method along with spine reconstruction employing a mesh cage. The individual in question, a 16-year-old female, exhibited symptoms such as a progressive rib hump, shoulder asymmetry, and back discomfort. Non-invasive interventions like bracing proved ineffective, leading to the progression of the spinal curvature. After the surgical procedure, diagnostic imaging displayed a marked enhancement across all three spatial dimensions. After a postoperative physical assessment, it was noted that the patient experienced significant enhancements in shoulder alignment and rib hump prominence, with no discernible neurological or other adverse effects. : Surgical intervention is considered the optimal approach for addressing such congenital anomalies. Typically, timely surgical intervention leads to favorable results and has the potential to halt the advancement of deformity and curvature enlargement.
Topics: Humans; Kyphosis; Female; Adolescent; Thoracic Vertebrae; Treatment Outcome; Scoliosis
PubMed: 38929517
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060897