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.

Evaluation of 1, 5 -Anhydroglucitol as a Biomarker for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Patients without Overt Nephropathy

1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) is a non-fasting glycemic marker that responds to hyperglycemia excursions. The reduction in serum levels of 1,5-AG is associated with an increase in postprandial glycemia and glycosuria, phenomena that increase the risk and severity of diabetic complications. The objective is to assess the ability of 1,5-AG to discriminate type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients without overt kidney disease, for screening or diagnostic purposes. The Human Research Ethics Committee of Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) approved the project. Serum samples from 567 individuals classified as healthy subjects (n = 291) and T2D (n = 276) with moderate glycemic control (HbA1c of 7-8%), matched by gender, were analyzed. Serum 1,5-AG levels were measured using an automated enzymatic method (GlycoMark, Inc.). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for 1,5-AG showed sensibility of 65.3% and specificity of 91.1% to detect T2D at cut-off point of 92 µmol/L. The results were similar to the groups' discrimination by glycemia (sensibility/specificity, 62.2%; 89.0%) at cut-off point of 6.3 mmol/L. HbA1c was the best discriminator (sensibility/specificity, 87.4%; 94.2%) at a cut-off point of 5.8% (40 mmol/mol). The serum 1,5-AG concentration was not able to discriminate T2D in the presence of moderate glycemic control with no overt nephropathy.

Caracterização dos distúrbios da regulação ácido-base: uma abordagem didática e intuitiva / Characterization of acid-base regulation disorders: a didactic and intuitive approach

Em humanos, o pH sanguíneo é mantido em uma faixa estreita, entre 7,35 e 7,45. Diferentes mecanismos bioquímicos, de forma harmônica, atuam para a manutenção do pH fisiológico. Múltiplos processos patológicos podem promover alterações no pH e nos gases sanguíneos, caracterizando acidose (pH <7,35) ou alcalose (pH >7,45). A ruptura da homeostasia do pH é identificada pela medição do pH, pressão parcial de dióxido de carbono (pCO2), concentração do bicarbonato (HCO3-) e, adicionalmente, com a pressão de oxigênio (pO2) em sangue arterial, processo descrito como gasometria arterial. Este artigo revisa os principais elementos associados a compreensão das alterações e tem como objetivo central apresentar uma abordagem didática e intuitiva para a caracterização destes distúrbios; e também comenta sobre ferramentais digitais destinadas a interpretações das alterações da gasometria arterial que também são abordados, como programas para computadores em ambiente web e aplicativos para telefonia móvel.

In humans, blood pH is kept in a narrow range, between 7.35 to 7.45. Different biochemical mechanisms, in a harmonic way, act to maintain the physiological pH. Multiple pathological processes can promote changes in pH and blood gases, characterizing acidosis (pH <7.35) or alkalosis (pH> 7.45). The rupture of pH homeostasis is identified by measuring pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), bicarbonate concentration (HCO3 - and, in addition, with the pressure of oxygen (pO2) in arterial blood, a process described as gasometry arterial. This article reviews the main elements associated with the understanding of acid-base changes and aims to present a didactic and intuitive approach to the characterization of these disorders; and also comments on digital tools for the interpretation of alterations in arterial blood gases are also covered, such as programs for computers in a web environment and applications for mobile phone.

Virulence characteristics and antimicrobial resistance of Aeromonas veronii biovar sobria 312M, a clinical isolate.

Aeromonas are bacteria widely distributed in the environment, and some species are able to cause infections in humans, of which diarrhea is the most common. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance associated characteristics in A. veronii biovar sobria strain 312M isolated from diarrheal stools. For this, the genome sequencing and phenotypical tests were performed. The draft genome annotation revealed several complete pathways associated with carbon metabolism and a mucin-desulfating sulfatase which may contribute to intestine colonization, and a large number of virulence-associated genes encoding structures associated with adhesion, toxins, and secretion systems. The strain exhibited swimming and swarming motility, biofilm formation, and hemolytic activity. It was resistant to ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Although a cphA gene encoding a narrow-spectrum carbapenase was identified in the strain genome, no carbapenemase activity was detected in the antimicrobial susceptibility test. When compared with other A. veronii with complete genomes, the main differences in virulence characteristics are related to lateral flagella and type III and VI secretion systems; the antimicrobial resistance spectrum also varied among strains. The results indicated that A. veronii biovar sobria 312M presents high virulence potential and resistance to limited classes of antimicrobials.

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.

Pre-analytical phase management: a review of the procedures from patient preparation to laboratory analysis.

The pre-analytical phase encompasses all the procedures before the start of laboratory testing. This phase of the testing process is responsible for the majority of the laboratory errors, since the related procedures involve many sorts of non-laboratory professionals working outside the laboratory setting, thus without direct supervision by the laboratory staff. Therefore, either correct organization or management of both personnel and procedures that regard blood specimen collection by venipuncture are of fundamental importance, since the various steps for performing blood collection represent per se sources of laboratory variability. The aim of this (non-systematic) review addressed to healthcare professionals is to highlight the importance of blood specimen management (from patient preparation to laboratory analyses), as a tool to prevent laboratory errors, with the concept that laboratory results from inappropriate blood specimens are inconsistent and do not allow proper treatment nor monitoring of the patient.

Effects of vigorous mixing of blood vacuum tubes on laboratory test results.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of tubes mixing (gentle vs. vigorous) on diagnostic blood specimens collected in vacuum tube systems by venipuncture. DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood was collected for routine coagulation, immunochemistry and hematological testing from one hundred volunteers into six vacuum tubes: two 3.6 mL vacuum tubes containing 0.4 mL of buffered sodium citrate (9NC) 0.109 mol/L: 3.2 W/V%; two 3.5 mL vacuum tubes with clot activator and gel separator; and two 3.0 mL vacuum tubes containing 5.9 mg K(2)EDTA (Terumo Europe, Belgium). Immediately after the venipuncture all vacuum tubes (each of one additive type) were processed through two different procedures: i) Standard: blood specimens in K(2)EDTA- or sodium citrate-vacuum tubes were gently inverted five times whereas the specimens in tubes with clot activator and gel separator were gently inverted ten times, as recommended by the manufacturer; ii) Vigorous mix: all blood specimens were shaken up vigorously during 3-5s independently of the additive type inside the tubes. The significance of the differences between samples was assessed by Student's t-test or Wilcoxon ranked-pairs test after checking for normality. The level of statistical significance was set at P<0.05. RESULTS: No significant difference (P<0.05) was detected between the procedures for all tested parameters. Surprisingly only a visual alteration (presence of foam on the top) was shown by all the tubes mixed vigorously before centrifugation (Fig. 1 A, B and C). Moreover the serum tubes from vigorous mixing procedure shows a "blood ring" on the tube top after stopper removal (Fig. 1 D). CONCLUSION: Our results drop out a paradigm suggesting that the incorrect primary blood tubes mixing promotes laboratory variability. We suggest that similar evaluation should be done using other brands of vacuum tubes by each laboratory manager.