An In-House-Built and Light-Emitting-Diode-Based Photodynamic Therapy Device for Enhancing Verteporfin Cytotoxicity in a 2D Cell Culture Model.

This paper describes a novel, simple, and low-cost device to perform in vitro photodynamic therapy (PDT) assays, named the PhotoACT. The device was built using a set of conventional programmable light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a liquid crystal display (LCD) module, and a light sensor connected to a commercial microcontroller board. The box-based structure of the prototype was made with medium-density fiberboards (MDFs). The internal compartment can simultaneously allocate four cell culture multiwell microplates. As a proof of concept, we studied the cytotoxic effect of the photosensitizer (PS) verteporfin against the HeLa cell line in two-dimensional (2D) culture. HeLa cells were treated with increasing concentrations of verteporfin for 24 h. The drug-containing supernatant medium was discarded, the adherent cells were washed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and drug-free medium was added. In this study, the effect of verteporfin on cells was examined either without light exposure or after exposure for 1 h to light using red-green-blue (RGB) values of 255, 255, and 255 (average fluence of 49.1 ± 0.6 J/cm2). After 24 h, the cell viability was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Experimental results showed that exposure of cells treated with verteporfin to the light from the device enhances the drug's cytotoxic effect via a mechanism mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the use of the prototype described in this work was validated by comparing the results with a commercial PDT device. Thus, this LED-based photodynamic therapy prototype represents a good alternative for in vitro studies of PDT.

d-GDM: A mobile diagnostic decision support system for gestational diabetes

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of the study is to describe a portable and convenient software to facilitate the diagnostics of gestational (GDM) and pre-gestational diabetes (PGDM). Materials and methods An open source software, d-GDM, was developed in Java. The integrated development environment Android Studio was used as the Android operational system. The software for GDM diagnosis uses the criteria endorsed by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group, modified by the World Health Organization. Results GDM diagnosis criteria is not simple to follow, therefore, errors or inconsistencies in diagnosis are expected and could delay the appropriate treatment. The d-GDM, was developed to assist GDM diagnosis with precision and consistency diagnostic reports. The open source software can be manipulated conveniently. The operator requires information regarding the gestational period and selects the appropriate glycaemic marker options from the menu. During operation, pressing the button "diagnosticar" on the screen will present the diagnosis and information for the follow up. d-GDM is available in Portuguese or English and can be downloaded from the Google PlayStore. A responsive web version of d-GDM is also available. The usefulness and accuracy of d-GDM was verify by field tests involving 22 subjects and 5 mobile phone brands. The approval regards user-friendliness and efficiency were 95% or higher. The GDM diagnosis were 100% correct, in this pilot test. d-GDM is a user-friendly, free software for diagnosis that was developed for mobile devices. It has the potential to contribute and facilitate the diagnosis of gestational diabetes for healthcare professionals.

d-GDM: A mobile diagnostic decision support system for gestational diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to describe a portable and convenient software to facilitate the diagnostics of gestational (GDM) and pre-gestational diabetes (PGDM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An open source software, d-GDM, was developed in Java. The integrated development environment Android Studio was used as the Android operational system. The software for GDM diagnosis uses the criteria endorsed by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group, modified by the World Health Organization. RESULTS: GDM diagnosis criteria is not simple to follow, therefore, errors or inconsistencies in diagnosis are expected and could delay the appropriate treatment. The d-GDM, was developed to assist GDM diagnosis with precision and consistency diagnostic reports. The open source software can be manipulated conveniently. The operator requires information regarding the gestational period and selects the appropriate glycaemic marker options from the menu. During operation, pressing the button "diagnosticar" on the screen will present the diagnosis and information for the follow up. d-GDM is available in Portuguese or English and can be downloaded from the Google PlayStore. A responsive web version of d-GDM is also available. The usefulness and accuracy of d-GDM was verify by field tests involving 22 subjects and 5 mobile phone brands. The approval regards user-friendliness and efficiency were 95% or higher. The GDM diagnosis were 100% correct, in this pilot test. d-GDM is a user-friendly, free software for diagnosis that was developed for mobile devices. It has the potential to contribute and facilitate the diagnosis of gestational diabetes for healthcare professionals.