Biosensing System for Concentration Quantification of Magnetically Labeled E. coli in Water Samples.

Bacterial contamination of water sources (e.g., lakes, rivers and springs) from waterborne bacteria is a crucial water safety issue and its prevention is of the utmost significance since it threatens the health and well-being of wildlife, livestock, and human populations and can lead to serious illness and even death. Rapid and multiplexed measurement of such waterborne pathogens is vital and the challenge is to instantly detect in these liquid samples different types of pathogens with high sensitivity and specificity. In this work, we propose a biosensing system in which the bacteria are labelled with streptavidin coated magnetic markers (MPs-magnetic particles) forming compounds (MLBs-magnetically labelled bacteria). Video microscopy in combination with a particle tracking software are used for their detection and quantification. When the liquid containing the MLBs is introduced into the developed, microfluidic platform, the MLBs are accelerated towards the outlet by means of a magnetic field gradient generated by integrated microconductors, which are sequentially switched ON and OFF by a microcontroller. The velocities of the MLBs and that of reference MPs, suspended in the same liquid in a parallel reference microfluidic channel, are calculated and compared in real time by a digital camera mounted on a conventional optical microscope in combination with a particle trajectory tracking software. The MLBs will be slower than the reference MPs due to the enhanced Stokes' drag force exerted on them, resulting from their greater volume and altered hydrodynamic shape. The results of the investigation showed that the parameters obtained from this method emerged as reliable predictors for E. coli concentrations.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular diseases]. / Przewlekta obturacyjna choroba pluc a choroby uktadu sercowo-naczyniowego.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Patients with COPD are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and lung cancer. Although some of the associations between COPD and atherosclerosis may be the result of common risk factors such as smoking, epidemiological evidence suggest that impaired lung function is a risk factor for increased cardiovascular death, independent of tobacco use. This phenomenon may be related to common genetic predisposition for atherosclerosis and emphysema. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, like atherosclerosis, is a disease of systemic inflammation and may hasten the progression of atherosclerosis and contribute to the higher rate of death in COPD. This article reviews close relationship between COPD and cardiovascular diseases, mainly atherosclerosis. The authors also present some preliminary data suggesting a possible influence of statin therapy on the clinical course of COPD.

[Pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Nadcisnienie plucne i zatorowosé plucna w przewleklej obturacyjnej chorobie pluc.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease associated with high increasing worldwide mortality. COPD-related mortality is probably underestimated because of difficulties associated with identifying the precise cause of death. Respiratory failure is considered the major cause of death in advanced COPD. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases (pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, stroke) are also major causes and in COPD, are leading causes of mortality. The links between COPD and these conditions are not fully understood. However a link through the inflammation pathway has been suggested.