SERS assisted sandwich immunoassay platforms for ultrasensitive and selective detection of human Thyroglobulin.

We developed an immunoassay platform for the detection of human Thyroglobulin (Tg) to be integrated with fine-needle aspiration biopsy for early detection of lymph node metastases in thyroid cancer patients. The sensing platform detects Tg by a sandwich immunoassay involving a self-assembled surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate assisted by functionalized gold nanoparticles that provide additional Raman signal amplification and improved molecular specificity. Specifically, the SERS-active substrates were functionalized with Tg Capture antibodies and fabricated either on-chip or on optical fiber tips by nanosphere lithography. Gold nanoparticles were functionalized with Detection antibodies and conjugated with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid, which serves as a Raman reporter. The sandwich assay platform was validated in the planar configuration and a detection limit as low as 7 pg/mL was successfully achieved. Careful morphological examination of the SERS substrates before and after Tg measurements further assessed the effective capture of nanoparticles and correlated the average nanoparticle coverage with the Tg concentration obtained by SERS measurements. The sandwich assay was successfully demonstrated on washout fluids of fine needle aspiration biopsies from cancer patients and confirmed the high specificity of the proposed methodology when complex biological matrices are considered. Finally, SERS optrodes were fabricated and successfully used to detect Tg concentration by applying the same bio-recognition strategy and Raman interrogation through an optical fiber. This opens the possibility of transferring the Tg detection approach to the optical fiber tip to develop point-of-care platforms that can be directly integrated into fine needle aspiration biopsies.

DHT and IGF-1 in peripheral blood lymphocytes: new markers for the biological passport of athletes.

We performed a pilot study using human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) as a novel system to identify new biomarkers of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) abuse in sport. First, to obtain a gene signature, we treated cultures of lymphocytes from sedentary males with three doses of 0.237 microg/ml DHT, each of which is 80-fold the physiological concentration in young adult male serum, at days 0, 2 and 4, or with a single dose of 1.25 microg/ml IGF-1, which is 5-fold the physiological concentration in young adult male serum. We then used the Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 microarray to identify a gene signature related to DHT or IGF-1 administration. Gene expression was evaluated after 7 and 21 days of DHT treatment, and after 24 h, 72 h and 7 days of IGF-1 treatment. Microarray analysis yielded a list of genes whose expression was altered after DHT or IGF-1 treatment. Among these we selected the genes that are most representative of the pathways associated with skeletal and muscular disorders using the IPA bioinformatics tool. We identified six (IDO1, CXCL13, CCL1, GZMB, VDR and IL2RA) and two (FN1 and RAB31) genes that were up-regulated in lymphocytes from sedentary subjects after 7 days of DHT and IGF-1 treatment, respectively. The expression of these genes in lymphocytes from differently trained athletes was either down-regulated or similar to that in lymphocytes from sedentary subjects. This finding suggests that up-regulation was due to the drug and not to physical exercise. In conclusion, we demonstrate that PBL can be useful in anti-doping checks, and we describe new biomarkers of DHT and IGF-1 abuse which can be included in the Athlete's Biological Passport.

Groshong PICC and home care: an opportunity. Clinical experience after the first 200 implants.

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC) represent an alternative for critical patient care, and are safer to implant in home patients. The authors report on their experience with the first 200 4 Fr Groshong PICC implanted during the last 18 months. The procedure can be easily applied at home (98% successful implant rate), without the need for fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance. Moreover, the authors believe that the X-ray control after implant is not strictly necessary. After 11,570 days/catheters, only 5 devices were explanted because of complications: 4 because of sepsis and peripheral phlebitis, and the last was explanted by another medical staff for unclear reasons. The complications needing no explanation were a total of 32: for 12 of them the external portion of tube was damaged during use, while for the other 20 the internal clots were resolved with forced flushing. The authors conclude that Groshong PICC can be considered the gold standard for home care management of critical patients, taking into account the quality of pure silicon, the presence of a valve and the specially-made closed-tip.

[Comparison between extradural morphine and lysine acetylsalicylate in the treatment of postoperative pain]. / Confronto tra morfina extradurale e acetilsalicilato di lisina (ASL) nel trattamento del dolore post-operatorio.

We have compared the analgesic properties in post-operative pain using Morphine (3 mg) injected in the extradural space and I.V. Lysine acetil salicilate (ASL) (1.8 g). Extradural morphine is much more effective in eliminating pain and in prolonging the analgesia. Insignificant the side effect for both treatments. The authors underline the possibility of dependence with extradural morphine especially in those cases when morphine is repeated more than 2-3 times.