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Practical Laboratory Medicine Mar 2024Sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate (NaF/KOx) tubes has been regarded as the gold-standard tubes for glucose analysis. Even though their ineffectiveness in immediately...
INTRODUCTION
Sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate (NaF/KOx) tubes has been regarded as the gold-standard tubes for glucose analysis. Even though their ineffectiveness in immediately inhibiting glycolysis has been reported in several studies especially in the first 1-4h, they are still used in our clinical biochemistry laboratory for glucose measurement. However, in its absence, only serum separator tubes are employed for glucose measurement. We aim to determine whether serum separator tubes (SSTs) can replace NaF/KOx tubes for laboratory measurement of blood glucose and to assess the stability of glucose concentrations for 3 days period.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
NaF/KOx tube type was the reference method while SSTs type was the candidate method for glucose measurement. A total of 50 paired samples collected separately in NaF/KOx tubes and SSTs from healthy adult participants in the Gambia Adults Reference Intervals Study (GARIS) project were used as the project sample size. Following blood collection and separation, the glucose concentration was measured within 2 h, and at 24h, 42h and 72h time-points. Our data analysis showed no significant difference in the mean glucose concentrations between the reference tube and candidate tube types (Mean difference = 0.06 mmol/L; P = 0.38) recorded in the different timepoints. Using growth trajectory and mixed effects model, the study data further showed no significant change in the glucose concentrations (p = 0.25) for three days period.
CONCLUSIONS
The study confirms that SSTs can produce similar glucose results when employed in the absence of NaF/KOx tubes. Besides, the glucose concentrations were stable in both tubes for three days when the samples were separated within 2 h and refrigerated in 2-8°C.
PubMed: 38313813
DOI: 10.1016/j.plabm.2024.e00360 -
Critical Care Explorations Nov 2023Sepsis is a common and deadly syndrome, accounting for more than 11 million deaths annually. To mature a deeper understanding of the host and pathogen mechanisms...
BACKGROUND
Sepsis is a common and deadly syndrome, accounting for more than 11 million deaths annually. To mature a deeper understanding of the host and pathogen mechanisms contributing to poor outcomes in sepsis, and thereby possibly inform new therapeutic targets, sophisticated, and expensive biorepositories are typically required. We propose that remnant biospecimens are an alternative for mechanistic sepsis research, although the viability and scientific value of such remnants are unknown.
METHODS AND RESULTS
The Remnant Biospecimen Investigation in Sepsis study is a prospective cohort study of 225 adults (age ≥ 18 yr) presenting to the emergency department with community sepsis, defined as sepsis-3 criteria within 6 hours of arrival. The primary objective was to determine the scientific value of a remnant biospecimen repository in sepsis linked to clinical phenotyping in the electronic health record. We will study candidate multiomic readouts of sepsis biology, governed by a conceptual model, and determine the precision, accuracy, integrity, and comparability of proteins, small molecules, lipids, and pathogen sequencing in remnant biospecimens compared with paired biospecimens obtained according to research protocols. Paired biospecimens will include plasma from sodium-heparin, EDTA, sodium fluoride, and citrate tubes.
CONCLUSIONS
The study has received approval from the University of Pittsburgh Human Research Protection Office (Study 21120013). Recruitment began on October 25, 2022, with planned release of primary results anticipated in 2024. Results will be made available to the public, the funders, critical care societies, laboratory medicine scientists, and other researchers.
PubMed: 38304708
DOI: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000000974 -
BDJ Open Feb 2024This pilot study aimed to compare the antimicrobial effect of theobromine, sodium fluoride, and a theobromine-sodium fluoride combination against the following...
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study aimed to compare the antimicrobial effect of theobromine, sodium fluoride, and a theobromine-sodium fluoride combination against the following caries-associated bacteria: Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces naeslundii.
METHODOLOGY
Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested via the broth microdilution method, with suspensions cultured on each microbe's respective selective media. Shapiro-Wilk's was completed and all the data showed normality (p > 0.05), and One-way ANOVA was applied to infer the significant differences in the viable counts between the groups.
RESULTS
All experimental conditions for both S. mutans and A. naeslundii groups resulted in a significantly lower bacterial abundance in comparison to the control medium, without any active antimicrobial agent (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in viable count between the theobromine, fluoride, or combination groups against either microbe (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Theobromine's antimicrobial activity against S. mutans and A. naeslundii was found similar to that of fluoride, whether used independently or in combination. Further testing of theobromine is necessary to assess its role as an alternative anticaries agent.
PubMed: 38302447
DOI: 10.1038/s41405-024-00190-y -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Feb 2024In this work, we constructed a multifunctional composite nanostructure for combined magnetic hyperthermia therapy and magnetic resonance imaging based on and signals....
In this work, we constructed a multifunctional composite nanostructure for combined magnetic hyperthermia therapy and magnetic resonance imaging based on and signals. First, iron oxide nanocubes with a benchmark heating efficiency for magnetic hyperthermia were assembled within an amphiphilic polymer to form magnetic nanobeads. Next, poly(acrylic acid)-coated inorganic sodium gadolinium fluoride nanoparticles were electrostatically loaded onto the magnetic nanobead surface via a layer-by-layer approach by employing a positively charged enzymatic-cleavable biopolymer. The positive-negative multilayering process was validated through the changes occurring in surface ζ-potential values and structural characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. These nanostructures exhibit an efficient heating profile, in terms of the specific absorption rates under clinically accepted magnetic field conditions. The addition of protease enzyme mediates the degradation of the surface layers of the nanostructures with the detachment of gadolinium nanoparticles from the magnetic beads and exposure to the aqueous environment. Such a process is associated with changes in the relaxation time and contrast and a parallel decrease in the signal. These structures are also nontoxic when tested on glioblastoma tumor cells up to a maximum gadolinium dose of 125 μg mL, which also corresponds to a iron dose of 52 μg mL. Nontoxic nanostructures with such enzyme-triggered release mechanisms and signal enhancement are desirable for tracking tumor microenvironment release with remote -guidance and magnetic hyperthermia therapy actuation to be done at the diseased site upon verification of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided release.
Topics: Contrast Media; Gadolinium; Nanostructures; Hyperthermia, Induced; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Peptide Hydrolases
PubMed: 38295315
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c13914 -
Heliyon Jan 2024The development of remineralizing smart biomaterials is a contemporary approach to caries prevention. The present study aimed at formulation preparation and...
The development of remineralizing smart biomaterials is a contemporary approach to caries prevention. The present study aimed at formulation preparation and characterization of a thermoresponsive oral gel based on poloxamer and chitosan loaded with sodium fluoride (NaF) and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) to treat demineralization. The chemical structure and morphology of the formulation were characterized using FTIR and FESEM-EDS tests. Hydrogel texture, rheology, and stability were also examined. The hydrogel was in a sol state at room temperature and became gel after being placed at 37 °C with no significance different in gelation time with the formulation without nHA and NaF as observed by -test. The FTIR spectrum of nHA/NaF/chitosan-based hydrogel indicated the formation of physical crosslinking without any chemical interactions between the hydrogel components. The FESEM-EDS results demonstrated the uniform distribution of each element within the hydrogel matrix, confirming the successful incorporation of nHA and NaF in the prepared gel. The hardness, hydrogel's adhesiveness, and cohesiveness were 0.9 mJ, 1.7 mJ, and 0.37, respectively, indicating gel stability and the acceptable retention time of hydrogels. The formulation exhibited a non-Newtonian shear-thinning pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior with absolute physical stability. Within the limitation of in vitro studies, nHA/NaF/chitosan-based forming gel demonstrated favorable properties, which could be trasnsorm into a gel state in oral cavity due to poloxamer and chitosan and can prevent dental caries due to nHA and NaF. We propose this formulation as a promising dental material in tooth surface remineralization.
PubMed: 38293392
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24217 -
Annals of Nuclear Medicine Mar 2024Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that commonly presents with polyarthritis but can have multisystemic involvement and complications, leading... (Review)
Review
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that commonly presents with polyarthritis but can have multisystemic involvement and complications, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of RA continues to be challenging due to its varied clinical presentations. In this review article, we aim to determine the potential of PET/CT to assist in the diagnosis of RA and its complications, evaluate the therapeutic response to treatment, and predict RA remission. PET/CT has increasingly been used in the last decade to diagnose, monitor treatment response, predict remissions, and diagnose subclinical complications in RA. PET imaging with [F]-fluorodeoxyglucose ([F]-FDG) is the most commonly applied radiotracer in RA, but other tracers are also being studied. PET/CT with [F]-FDG, [F]-NaF, and other tracers might lead to early identification of RA and timely evidence-based clinical management, decreasing morbidity and mortality. Although PET/CT has been evolving as a promising tool for evaluating and managing RA, more evidence is required before incorporating PET/CT in the standard clinical management of RA.
Topics: Humans; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiopharmaceuticals
PubMed: 38277115
DOI: 10.1007/s12149-023-01896-z -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jan 2024Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are referred to radioactive I (RAI) therapy and post-therapy I whole-body scintigraphy (WBS) to identify local and/or...
BACKGROUND
Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are referred to radioactive I (RAI) therapy and post-therapy I whole-body scintigraphy (WBS) to identify local and/or remote metastases. Positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging with F-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) or F-sodium fluoride (NaF) may also be used with these patients for the evaluation of bone metastases. We compared the role of F-NaF PET/CT and F-FDG-PET/CT in patients with DTC and documented bone metastases at post-therapy WBS.
METHODS
Ten consecutive DTC patients with iodine avid bone metastasis at post-therapy WBS referred to F-NaF PET/CT and F-FDG PET/CT were studied. The findings of the three imaging procedures were compared for abnormal detection rates and concordance.
RESULTS
At post-therapy I WBS, all patients had skeletal involvement with a total of 21 bone iodine avid lesions. At F-FDG PET/TC, 19 bone lesions demonstrated increased tracer uptake and CT pathological alterations, while 2 lesions did not show any pathological finding. At F-NaF PET/CT, the 19 bone lesions detected at F-FDG PET/TC also demonstrated abnormal tracer uptake, and the other 2 bone iodine avid foci did not show any pathological finding.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with DTC, F-NaF PET/CT did not obtain more information on the metastatic skeletal involvement than post-therapy I WBS and F-FDG PET/CT.
PubMed: 38276075
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020569 -
ACS Synthetic Biology Feb 2024We engineered HEK293T cells with a transgene encoding tetracycline-inducible expression of a nuclease incorporating a translocation signal. We adapted the unmodified...
We engineered HEK293T cells with a transgene encoding tetracycline-inducible expression of a nuclease incorporating a translocation signal. We adapted the unmodified and nuclease-engineered cell lines to grow in suspension in serum-free media, generating the HEK293TS and NuPro-2S cell lines, respectively. Transient transfection yielded 1.19 × 10 lentiviral transducing units per milliliter (TU/mL) from NuPro-2S cells and 1.45 × 10 TU/mL from HEK293TS cells. DNA ladder disappearance revealed medium-resident nuclease activity arising from NuPro-2S cells in a tetracycline-inducible manner. DNA impurity levels in lentiviral material arising from NuPro-2S and HEK293TS cells were undetectable by SYBR Safe agarose gel staining. Direct measurement by PicoGreen reagent revealed DNA to be present at 636 ng/mL in lentiviral material from HEK293TS cells, an impurity level reduced by 89% to 70 ng/mL in lentiviral material from NuPro-2S cells. This reduction was comparable to the 23 ng/mL achieved by treating HEK293TS-derived lentiviral material with 50 units/mL Benzonase.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Lentivirus; Genetic Vectors; HEK293 Cells; Transfection; DNA; Tetracycline; Mammals; Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride
PubMed: 38266181
DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00682 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jan 2024: Caredyne ZIF-C is a novel, capsule-mixed zinc-containing prototype glass ionomer cement (GIC). Zinc ions are reported to inhibit root dentin demineralization, dentin... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
: Caredyne ZIF-C is a novel, capsule-mixed zinc-containing prototype glass ionomer cement (GIC). Zinc ions are reported to inhibit root dentin demineralization, dentin collagen degradation, bacterial growth, acid production, and in vitro bacterial biofilm formation. However, the effectiveness of GICs against initial root caries lesions is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of GICs, especially the new zinc-containing Caredyne ZIF-C GIC, as tooth-coating materials in patients with initial active root caries. : A total of 58 lesions in 47 older adults (age > 65 years) were randomly allocated to one of the following three groups: Caredyne ZIF-C, Fuji VII (a conventional GIC), and sodium fluoride (NaF). All the lesions were treated with the assigned materials without removing the infected dentin, and the rates of dental plaque attachment and coating material fall-out were evaluated after 3, 6, and 12 months. The failure rate was defined as the number of teeth that needed restoration due to caries progression. : The plaque attachment rates tended to be lower in the material-coated root surfaces than in the healthy exposed root surfaces after 3, 6, and 12 months, although the differences among the three groups were not significant. Moreover, the coating material fall-out rate tended to be lower in the Caredyne ZIF-C group than in the Fuji VII group. There was no significant difference in the failure rate among the three groups at the 12 months mark. : Though this pilot study offers a new direction for suppressing the progression of initial active root caries by controlling plaque attachment using GICs including Caredyne ZIF-C, clinical studies with a larger sample size are needed.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Root Caries; Pilot Projects; Dental Caries; Health Status; Zinc
PubMed: 38256410
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60010150 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023The primary goal of this experiment is to examine the effectiveness of strain PAR as a rhizobacterium that promotes plant growth in mitigating the negative effects of...
The primary goal of this experiment is to examine the effectiveness of strain PAR as a rhizobacterium that promotes plant growth in mitigating the negative effects of fluoride-induced stress in tomato ( Mill.) plants. A total of 16 rhizobacterial strains were tested for plant growth-promoting (PGP) attributes, with isolates S1, S2, and S3 exhibiting different characteristics. Furthermore, growth kinetics studies revealed that these isolates were resilient to fluoride stress (10, 20, 40, and 80 ppm), with isolate S2 exhibiting notable resilience compared to the other two strains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed isolate S2 as strain PAR. Physiological analyses demonstrated that strain PAR had a beneficial impact on plant properties under fluoride stress, comprising seed germination, root length, shoot height, relative water content, and leaf area, the strain also impacted the buildup of glycine betaine, soluble sugar, and proline, demonstrating its significance in enhancing plant stress tolerance. In strain PAR-treated plants, chlorophyll content increased while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased, indicating enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and less oxidative stress. The strain modified antioxidant enzyme action (catalase, ascorbate, glutathione reductase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), which contributed to improved stress resilience. Mineral analysis revealed a decrease in sodium and fluoride concentrations while increasing magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron levels, emphasizing the strain's significance in nutrient management. Correlation and principal component analysis revealed extensive correlations between physiological and biochemical parameters, underscoring strain PAR's multifaceted impact on plant growth and stress response. This study offers valuable information on effectively utilizing PGPR, particularly strain PAR, in fluoride-contaminated soils for sustainable agriculture. It presents a promising biological strategy to enhance crop resilience and productivity.
PubMed: 38239735
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1330071