FRET-Created Traffic Light Immunoassay Based on Polymer Dots for PSA Detection.

There have been enormous efforts for developing the next generations of fluorometric lateral flow immunochromatographic strip (ICTS) owing to the great advances in fluorescent materials in these years. Here we developed one type of fluorometric ICTS based on ultrabright semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) in which the traffic light-like signals were created by energy transfer depending on the target concentration. This platform was successfully applied for qualitatively rapid screening and quantitatively precise analysis of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in 10 min from merely one drop of the whole blood sample. This FRET-created traffic light ICTS possesses excellent specificity and an outstanding detection sensitivity of 0.32 ng/mL for PSA. Moreover, we conducted proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate its potential for multiplexed detection of cancer biomarkers at the same time in an individual test strip by taking advantage of the traffic light signals. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first model of a traffic light-like immunoassay test strip based on Pdots with multiplexing ability. These results would pave an avenue for designing the next generation of point-of-care diagnostics.

Multiplexed Detection of Tumor Markers with Multicolor Polymer Dot-Based Immunochromatography Test Strip.

There have been ongoing efforts to develop more sensitive and fast quantitative screening of cancer markers by use of fluorometric immunochromatographic test strips (ICTS) since the remarkable advances in fluorescent nanomaterials. Semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) have recently emerged as a new type of biocompatible fluorescent probe with extraordinary brightness which is suitable for biological and clinical use. Here, we developed Pdot-based ICTS for quantitative rapid screening of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), α-fetoprotein (AFP), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 10 min. Through use of the ultrahigh fluorescence brightness of Pdots, this immunosensor enabled much better detection sensitivity (2.05, 3.30, and 4.92 pg/mL for PSA, AFP, and CEA, respectively), in which the detection limit is at least 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of conventional fluorometric ICTS. Furthermore, we performed proof-of-concept experiments for simultaneous determination of multiple tumor markers in a single test strip. These results demonstrated that this Pdot-based ICTS platform is a promising candidate for developing new generations of point-of-care diagnostics. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of Pdot-based ICTS with multiplexing capability.

[Epidemiological survey of high-risk human papillomavirus among 2501 woman].

OBJECTIVE: To survey the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) in woman in Guangzhou during the period from 2013 to 2014. METHODS: A total of 2501 women in Guangzhou seeking medical attention in our hospital underwent high-risk HPV genotype screening of cervical specimens using real-time PCR. RESULTS: The prevalence of high-risk HPV infection among the women was 14.85% (146/983) in the year 2013, similar to the rate of 14.56% (221/1518) in 2014 (Χ(2)=0.041, P=0.839); no significant differences were found in the high-risk HPV infection rates between different age groups in either 2013 (Χ(2)=2.916, P=0.572) or 2014 (Χ(2)=6.494, P=0.165). The constituent ratio of the 13 types of high-risk HPV showed no significant difference between 2013 and 2014 (Χ(2)=11.872, P=0.452). The 13 HPV genotypes detected, listed in a descending order of the constituent ratios, included HPV-52, -16, -58, -56, -39, -51, -68, -59, -31, -35, -18, -33 and -45 in 2013, and were HPV-52, -16, -58, -68, -18, -51, -56, -39, -31, -33, -59, -35 and-45 in 2014. CONCLUSION: We report a high prevalence of high-risk HPV among women in Guangzhou, which suggests the necessity of screening for high-risk HPV-DNA among women at all ages for prevention and early detection of cervical cancer.

[The diagnostic value of fluorescence quantitative PCR in screening of influenza A virus].

AIM: To discuss the the diagnostic value of fluorescence quantitative PCR in screening of influenza A virus. METHODS: Influenza A virus RNA in 150 cases of suspected influenza patients with throat swab was measured by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR. The white blood cell count was measured by XT-1800 automated hematology analyzer in patients' anticoagulant EDTA whole blood. 45 cases of influenza A virus RNA-positive patients were detected with influenza A virus core protein by colloidal gold. RESULTS: In 150 patients, 54 cases were detected influenza A virus RNA positive, the positive rate was 36%.The 54 cases of influenza A virus RNA-positive patients were detected with influenza A virus core protein by colloidal gold, the results were all negative.The white blood cell count is (6.81+/-2.12) x 10(9)/L in the influenza A virus RNA-positive patients, and (6.64+/-3.13) x 10(9)/L for the negative cases. White blood cell count in patients with influenza A and non-influenza patients have no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR in the detection of influenza A virus RNA has a better positive rate, its sensitivity and specificity are better than colloidal gold and white blood cell count, and it can be screened quickly and efficiently in patients with influenza to prevent disease outbreaks.

[Study on the clinical use of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) colloidal gold diagnostic strip].

OBJECTIVE: To test the sensitivity and specificity of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) colloidal gold diagnostic strip as compared with RIA-AFP diagnostic kit. METHODS: Double blind method was used to test sera from 426 healthy people and 1567 patients selected in two general hospitals and a cancer hospital. Each serum was measured by RIA-AFP and AFP colloidal gold diagnostic strip on the same day. RIA-AFP diagnostic results was identified as true positive or negative. RESULTS: Among 426 healthy people, all the RIA-AFP test showed negative result (serum AFP concentration less than 25 IU/ml), but the AFP colloidal gold diagnostic strip had 1.88% false positive. When comparing the result from 1567 patients measured by RIA-AFP, the sensitivity and specificity of AFP colloidal gold diagnostic strip were 99.3%, and 97.2%, respectively. The crude correspondence rate between the two diagnostic regents was 97.6%. CONCLUSION: AFP colloidal gold diagnostic strip showed very good result and could be used as a screening diagnostic kit in clinic and hospital settings.