Artificial Intelligence-Based Portable Bioelectronics Platform for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis with Multi-nucleotide Probe Assay for Clinical Decisions.

In the context of the recent pandemic, the necessity of inexpensive and easily accessible rapid-test kits is well understood and need not be stressed further. In light of this, we report a multi-nucleotide probe-based diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 using a bioelectronics platform, comprising low-cost chemiresistive biochips, a portable electronic readout, and an Android application for data acquisition with machine-learning-based decision making. The platform performs the desired diagnosis from standard nasopharyngeal and/or oral swabs (both on extracted and non-extracted RNA samples) without amplifying the viral load. Being a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-free hybridization assay, the proposed approach offers inexpensive, fast (time-to-result: ≤ 30 min), and early diagnosis, as opposed to most of the existing SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis protocols recommended by the WHO. For the extracted RNA samples, the assay accounts for 87 and 95.2% test accuracies, using a heuristic approach and a machine-learning-based classification method, respectively. In case of the non-extracted RNA samples, 95.6% decision accuracy is achieved using the heuristic approach, with the machine-learning-based best-fit model producing 100% accuracy. Furthermore, the availability of the handheld readout and the Android application-based simple user interface facilitates easy accessibility and portable applications. Besides, by eliminating viral RNA extraction from samples as a pre-requisite for specific detection, the proposed approach presents itself as an ideal candidate for point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis.

An audit of transfusion reaction monitoring and reporting at a cancer hospital in Pakistan - a step towards haemovigilance.

OBJECTIVE: To monitor the frequencies of different adverse transfusion reactions and to assess the compliance of clinical staff with the process of sending proper transfusion reaction workup within the specified time. METHODS: The retrospective audit was conducted at the blood bank of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised all transfusion reaction forms received from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018. The forms were analysed for type of blood component, time in which it was received by the blood bank, whether or not the form was completely filled, whether or not all required samples were provided, and the type of reaction. RESULTS: Of the 12,787 units dispensed and transfused, 50(0.39%) transfusion reactions were noted. Allergic was the most frequent type 24(48%). Red cells accounted for 38(76%) of the reactions. In 58(95%) cases, reaction forms were completely filled. Blood bags in 36(59%) and post-transfusion ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid samples in 35(57.3%) cases were received at blood bank within 2 hours of reaction. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of transfusion reactions was found to be low as there was good compliance with procedures on the part of the clinical staff.

Evaluation of LFT and serum iron in obstructive jaundice due to choledocholithiasis and carcinoma head of pancreas.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive jaundice is caused due to obstruction to the biliary flow via the biliary system. The most common benign condition causing this obstruction is Choledocholithiasis and the most common malignant cause is Carcinoma head of pancreas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 cases of Choledocholithiasis and 40 cases of Carcinoma head of pancreas were included in this study. Liver function tests and serum iron and its related parameters were estimated in both the groups and were statistically compared. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in Total bilirubin, Direct bilirubin, Alkaline phosphatase and 5’Nucleotidase was seen among Group 2 cases when compared to Group 1 cases. Serum iron levels showed a statistically significant decrease among Group 2 cases when compared to Group 1 cases. DISCUSSION: Early evaluation of obstructive jaundice to establish the etiology is crucial to avoid secondary pathological changes. Liver function tests provide a simple and non-invasive means of diagnosis. In this study it is observed that the magnitude of alteration of LFT is higher in Carcinoma head of pancreas when compared to Choledocholithiasis thus differentiating the two. Serum iron levels are elevated in hepatocellular injury and as there is hepatocellular injury in obstructive jaundice, serum iron levels were estimated in both the groups of patients. However serum iron levels were within the normal range but the mean value was lower in the group 2 compared to group 1 which demands further study in this field.