Integrated Photothermal-Pyroelectric Biosensor for Rapid and Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Convergence of Theoretical Research and Commercialization.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) survivors face a high risk of mortality as a result of increasing heart failure and irreparable myocardial injury. New portable methods for immediate diagnosis must be developed to provide patients with daily warnings. Herein, the development of a dual-mode photothermal-pyroelectric output system based on a point-of-care platform for rapid AMI detection is reported. Termed as Integrated Photothermal-Pyroelectric Biosensor for AMI (IPPBA), the method leverages cascade enzymatic amplification to convert the target signal into a thermal and pyrooelectric conversion of the testing process by delicate pyroelectric pervokite NaNbO3 nanocubes modified microelectrodes for sensitive detection of cTnI protein in whole blood. In addition, the mechanism of the proposed pyroelectric bioassay model is explored in depth based on in situ variable temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) lattice change statistics and density function theory (DFT) calculations. With standard samples and under optimized experimental conditions, the proposed IPPBA platform exhibits excellent signal stability and ultra-low detection limit (0.05 ng mL-1 ) for the target cTn I. With further developments in digital technology (e.g., 5G signaling protocols, fully automated systems), the integrated digital bio-testing platform IPPBA is fully capable of accomplishing positive and timely diagnosis of AMI.

A multicenter study of using carbon nanoparticles to show sentinel lymph nodes in early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node metastasis occurs in approximately 10% of early gastric cancer. Preoperative or intra-operative identification of lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer is crucial for surgical planning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using carbon nanoparticles to show sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in early gastric cancer. METHODS: A multicenter study was performed between July 2012 and November 2014. Ninety-one patients with early gastric cancer identified by preoperative endoscopic ultrasonography were recruited. One milliliter carbon nanoparticles suspension, which is approved by Chinese Food and Drug Administration, was endoscopically injected into the submucosal layer at four points around the site of the primary tumor 6-12 h before surgery. Laparoscopic radical resection with D2 lymphadenectomy was performed. SLNs were defined as nodes that were black-dyed by carbon nanoparticles in greater omentum and lesser omentum near gastric cancer. Lymph node status and SLNs accuracy were confirmed by pathological analysis. RESULTS: All patients had black-dyed SLNs lying in greater omentum and/or lesser omentum. SLNs were easily found under laparoscopy. The mean number of SLNs was 4 (range 1-9). Carbon nanoparticles were around cancer in specimen. After pathological analysis, 10 patients (10.99%) had lymph node metastasis in 91 patients with early gastric cancer. SLNs were positive in 9 cases and negative in 82 cases. In pathology, carbon nanoparticles were seen in lymphatic vessels, lymphoid sinus, and macrophages in SLNs. When SLNs were positive, cancer cells were seen in lymph nodes. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of black-dyed SLNs in early gastric cancers were 90, 100, and 98.9 %, respectively. No patient had any side effects of carbon nanoparticles in this study. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to use carbon nanoparticles to show SLNs in early gastric cancer. Carbon nanoparticles suspension is safe for submucosal injection.

Prognostic value of different amounts of cancer stem cells in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in the amount of cancer stem cells in different breast cancer subtypes. METHODS: THE SPECIMENS OF BREAST CANCER TISSUES WERE DIVIDED INTO FIVE GROUPS: group A (luminal A type), B (luminal B type), C (HER-2 + type), D (basal-like type) and E (normal-like type) according to their molecular subtypes. The cancer stem cell spheres in each group were measured through colony formation method, and then the relations of the amount of cancer stem cells with the subtypes of breast cancer were analyzed. RESULTS: The numbers of cancer stem cell spheres in group A and B were (1.1±0.2)/1,000 cells and (1.3±0.1)/1,000 cells, respectively, and this had no significant difference (P>0.05). The number of cancer stem cell spheres in group C was (8.6±1.0)/1,000 cells, which was significantly higher than that in group A and B (both P<0.05). The numbers of cancer stem cell spheres in group D and E were (22.4±1.2)/1,000 cells and (17.7±2.0)/1,000 cells, respectively, and this was statistically similar (P>0.05) but either was significantly higher than that in the other three groups (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer tissues of different molecular subtypes contain varying amounts of cancer stem cells, and this may have certain significance for predicting the prognosis of breast cancer.

[Long-term complications after liver transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the long-term complications after liver transplantation. METHODS: Totally 85 living patients who received liver transplantation from December 30th 1998 to May 28th 2002 in Tianjin First Central Hospital were followed up till October 2007. Liver and kidney functions, blood drug levels, blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood fat were recorded and ultrasound imaging was performed during follow-up. RESULTS: At the end of the study, most patients had experienced one or more complications of prolonged immunosuppressant treatment, including posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (21.18%, 18/85), hypertension (10.59%, 9/85), renal impairment (8.24%, 7/85), hyperlipemia (7.06%, 6/85), hyperuricaemia (7.06%, 6/85), denovo malignancy (2.35%, 2/85), new-onset hepatitis C (7.06%, 6/ 85), recurrent hepatitis B (5.56%, 4/72). CONCLUSION: Recipients of liver transportation often suffers long-term complications, which should be carefully managed to improve their quality of life.