Ultrasensitive detection of NSE employing a novel electrochemical immunosensor based on a conjugated copolymer.

In the current study a simple and highly specific label-free impedimetric neuron specific enolase (NSE) immunosensor based on a copolymer matrix-coated disposable electrode was designed and tested. The copolymer matrix was prepared using a very conductive EDOT monomer and semi-conductive thiophene-bearing epoxy groups (ThEp), and the combination of the two monomers enhanced the conductivity and protein loading capacity of the electrode surface. The P(ThEp-co-EDOT) copolymer matrix was prepared via a drop-casting process and anti-NSE recognition biomolecules were immobilized directly on the epoxy groups of the copolymer. After the coupling of NSE molecules on the P(ThEp-co-EDOT) copolymer matrix-coated electrode surface, the charge transfer resistance (Rct) of the biosensor changed dramatically. These changes in Rct were proportional to the NSE molecule amounts captured by anti-NSE molecules. Under optimized experimental conditions, the increment in the Rct value was proportional to the NSE concentration over a range of 0.01 to 25 pg mL-1 with a detection limit (LOD) of 2.98 × 10-3 pg mL-1. This copolymer-coated electrode provided a lower LOD than the other biosensors. In addition, the suggested electrochemical immuno-platform showed good selectivity, superior reproducibility, long-term stability, and high recovery of NSE in real serum (95.64-102.20%) and saliva (95.28-105.35%) samples. These results showed that the present system had great potential for electrochemical biosensing applications.

A new immunosensing platform based on conjugated Poly(ThidEp-co-EDOT) copolymer for resistin detection, a new obesity biomarker.

The design of a novel electrochemical impedimetric biosensor for label-free analysis of resistin, a biomarker for obesity, is reported. For the fabrication of the immunosensor, a novel approach composed of electrochemical copolymerization of double epoxy groups-substituted thiophene (ThidEp) and 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers was utilized. Anti-resistin antibodies were covalently attached to the copolymer-coated electrode. The capture of resistin antigens by anti-resistin antibodies caused significant variations in charge transfer resistance (Rct) because of the immunoreactions between these proteins. Under optimum experimental variables, the changes in impedance signals were employed for the determination of resistin antigen concentration, and the prepared immunosensor based on conjugated copolymer illustrated a wide linear range between 0.0125 and 22.5 pg/mL, a low detection limit (LOD) of 3.71 fg/mL, and a good sensitivity of 1.22 kΩ pg-1mL cm2. The excellent analytical performance of the resistin immunosensor in terms of selectivity, sensitivity, repeatability, reproducibility, storage stability, and low detection limit might be attributed to the conductive copolymer film layer generation on the disposable indium tin oxide (ITO) platform. The capability of this system for the determination of resistin in human serum and saliva samples was also tested. The immunosensor results were in accordance with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results. The matrix effects of human serum and saliva were also investigated, and the proposed immunosensor displayed good recovery ranging from 95.91 to 106.25%. The engineered immunosensor could open new avenues for obesity monitoring.

A Review on Radar-Based Human Detection Techniques.

Radar systems are diverse and used in industries such as air traffic control, weather monitoring, and military and maritime applications. Within the scope of this study, we focus on using radar for human detection and recognition. This study evaluated the general state of micro-Doppler radar-based human recognition technology, the related literature, and state-of-the-art methods. This study aims to provide guidelines for new research in this area. This comprehensive study provides researchers with a thorough review of the existing literature. It gives a taxonomy of the literature and classifies the existing literature by the radar types used, the focus of the research, targeted use cases, and the security concerns raised by the authors. This paper serves as a repository for numerous studies that have been listed, critically evaluated, and systematically classified.

Relationship between microbiota awareness, nutrition literacy, and health literacy among adolescents.

Background/aim: Microbiota awareness, nutritional literacy, and health literacy levels in adolescents have a significant impact on their health and well-being. This research was conducted to examine the relationship between microbiota awareness, nutrition literacy, and health literacy in adolescents. Material and methods: This research was structured with a descriptive-correlational design. The study population comprised adolescents aged 10-19 years, living in Türkiye (n = 739), between June 2022 and February 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0, G*Power 3.1, and R programming language 4.1.3. Results: The total effect of the health literacy variable on nutritional literacy was 0.2311, and this was statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval (CI) (p < 0.05). In terms of the health literacy variable, the direct effect of the nutrition literacy variable on the microbiota awareness variable was 0.2888, and this was statistically significant at the 95% CI (p < 0.05). In terms of the nutritional literacy variable, the direct effect of the health literacy variable on the microbiota awareness variable was 0.1707, and this was statistically significant at the 95% CI (p < 0.05). Nutrition literacy had a partial mediating role in the effect of health literacy on microbiota awareness (lower limit CI: 0.045; upper limit CI: 0.0894). The most accurate prediction of machine learning approaches to predict microbiota awareness was made with random forest with shapley additive explanations values, and the most important variable that should be in the model to predict the microbiota awareness variable was the nutrition literacy variable. Conclusion: Microbiota awareness increased as health literacy and nutrition literacy increased. In the machine learning approach prediction, the most important variables affecting microbiota awareness were health literacy and nutritional literacy. Longitudinal studies on microbiota awareness are recommended.

A novel electrochemical impedance immunosensor for the quantification of CYFRA 21-1 in human serum.

A sensitive, simple, and reliable immunosensor was constructed to detect the lowest alteration of a fragment of cytokeratin subunit 19 (CYFRA 21-1), a protein lung carcinoma biomarker. The proposed immunosensor was manufactured with a carbon black C45/polythiophene polymer-containing amino terminal groups (C45-PTNH2) conductive nanocomposite, resulting in an excellent, biocompatible, low-cost, and electrically conductive electrode surface. Anti-CYFRA 21-1 biorecognition molecules were attached to the electrode thanks to the amino terminal groups of the used PTNH2 polymer with a relatively simple procedure. All electrode surfaces after modifications were characterized by electrochemical, chemical, and microscopic techniques. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was also utilized for the evaluation of the analytical feature of the immunosensor. The charge transfer resistance of the immunosensor signal was correlated with the CYFRA 21-1 concentration in the concentration range 0.03 to 90 pg/mL. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of the suggested system were 4.7 fg/mL and 14.1 fg/mL, respectively. The proposed biosensor had favorable repeatability and reproducibility, long storage stability, excellent selectivity, and low cost. Furthermore, it was applied to determine CYFRA 21-1 in commercial serum samples, and satisfactory recovery results (98.63-106.18%) were obtained. Thus, this immunosensor can be offered for clinical purposes as a rapid, stable, low-cost, selective, reproducible, and reusable tool.

The effect of intercultural sensitivity and ethnocentrism on health tourism awareness level in nurses: Analysis with machine learning approach.

PURPOSE: In this study, the effects of intercultural sensitivity and ethnocentrism on health tourism awareness levels in nurses were examined. DESIGN AND METHODS: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey between November 2022 and March 2023. Intercultural sensitivity scale, ethnocentrism scale, and health tourism awareness scale were used to collect the data. R programming language 4.1.3, G*Power 3.1 and SPSS-22 program were used in the analysis of the study. RESULTS: This study was conducted with 386 nurses. Intercultural sensitivity has a positive and significant effect on health tourism awareness levels (ß = 0.141; t(384) = 2.784, p = 0.006). Ethnocentrism has a positive and significant effect on health tourism awareness levels (ß = 0.184; t(384) = 3.659, p = 0.001). Random Forest regression was found to be the best performing algorithm among the machine learning algorithms for predicting the Health Tourism Awareness variable. Looking at the contributions of the variables to the model, according to the SHAP value (Shapley Additive Explanations), it was seen that the most important variable that should be in the model to predict the health tourism awareness variable is the ethnocentrism variable. CONCLUSION: It was determined that as the level of intercultural sensitivity and ethnocentrism of nurses increased, their awareness of health tourism increased. Longitudinal studies on health tourism awareness in nurses are recommended.

Highly selective and sensitive sandwich immunosensor platform modified with MUA-capped GNPs for detection of spike Receptor Binding Domain protein: A precious marker of COVID 19 infection.

A label-free electrochemical biosensing system as a suitable analysis technique for COVID 19 specific spike receptor-binding domain protein (RBD) was developed with an aim to facilitate the diagnosis of coronavirus. A novel production procedure for the fabrication of gold nanoparticles (GNPs)-capped 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) modified bioelectrode was presented and its application potential for RBD biosensing was examined. The bioelectrode fabrication protocol was based on covalent ester linking formation between hydroxylated ITO electrode and GNPs-capped MUA (GNPs@MUA) with carboxyl ends. For this aim, spherical GNPs were prepared and characterized with scanning-transmission electron microscopy (S-TEM), UV-vis, and Raman spectroscopy. The synthesized GNPs were functionalized with MUA yielding Au-S bonds. Then, covalent immobilization of anti-RBD antibodies on the GNPs@MUA was performed with the help of carbodiimide coupling chemistry. The assembly processes of GNPs@MUA, anti-RBD antibodies and RBD antigens were characterized electrochemical, chemical and morphological techniques. GNPs@MUA was used as immobilization environment and provided the most effective surface design for target immunosensor. The resulting immunosensor is further applied to the impedimetric detection of RBD and it displayed a linear response to RBD antigen in the linear range of 0.002-100 pg mL-1 with a limit of detection of 0.577 fg mL-1 and sensitivity of 0.238 kohmpgmL-1 cm-2. The fabricated immunosensor had a good repeatability, long storage, stability and a reusable property after simple regeneration process. Furthermore, it was successfully employed for selective determination of RBD in artificial nasal secretion samples.

Previous Catheter Ablation Predicts In-Hospital Restoration of Sinus Rhythm in Patients Presenting with Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation-The Retrospective HAMBURG-AF Study.

Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrythmia of the human heart. Patients mostly present highly symptomatic with dyspnea and tachycardia and have a disproportionate risk of developing heart failure or stroke events. We aimed to evaluate the determinants of early conversion into sinus rhythm during initial stay at the emergency department of a large tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: A total of 1384 subjects with recent-onset AF were recruited between October 2014 and April 2017. Patients with longstanding AF were excluded, resulting in a total of 935 patients for the present analysis. Results: In multivariate adjusted logistic regression analyses, previous catheter ablation therapy was a strong predictor of conversion in sinus rhythm during the stay in the emergency department, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.87 (95% CI 2.40, 6.54; p < 0.001). In contrast, existing antiarrhythmic medication showed no association with facilitated conversion [OR 0.89 (95%CI 0.65, 1.20); p = 0.44]. Likewise, conventional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes) were also not associated with conversion during hospital stay. Conclusion: This is the first report on the relevance of previous ablation therapy for early restoration of sinus rhythm in recent-onset AF. Although catheter ablation is associated with relevant risk of late recurrence of atrial fibrillation, it seems to have a large benefit for patients with recent-onset AF.

Implantable loop recorder monitoring in patients with cryptogenic stroke - Detection and treatment of different clinically relevant arrhythmias.

AIMS: Implantable loop recorders (ILR) are recommended to detect atrial fibrillation (AF) in cases of cryptogenic stroke. However, real life data besides controlled trials are rare. Aim of the study was the detection of atrial fibrillation with a special focus on other arrhythmias according to criteria defined in earlier clinical trials. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 64 patients with cryptogenic stroke who underwent ILR implantation between 4/2014 and 1/2018. The primary endpoint was the detection of atrial fibrillation, significant bradycardia (<40 bpm) or tachycardia (>150 bpm). ILR interrogation was performed after implantation and 6, 12 and 24 months thereafter. RESULTS: Mean patients age was 65.4 ± 12 years, 50% were male. Mean follow-up duration was 419.2 ± 309 days. One death occurred during follow-up. 23 patients (35.9%) experienced a symptomatic clinical neurological or cardiac event during follow-up. Overall rate of detected arrhythmias was 35% (23/64). The most frequent arrhythmia was atrial fibrillation which was observed in 16 patients (25%). 6 of 16 patients presenting with atrial fibrillation had no clinical symptoms. Bradycardias requiring subsequent pacemaker implantations were detected in 9.4%. A ventricular tachycardia was observed in one patient (1.6%). CONCLUSION: In this group of patients with cryptogenic stroke the rate of arrhythmic events was high. Besides a high rate of atrial fibrillation (25%), an unexpectedly high rate of bradyarrhythmias (9.4%) occurred in our patient collective. Since many of those episodes were clinically asymptomatic, the ILR helps to detect and treat those clinically silent arrhythmias.

Bleeding risk of submuscular ICD implantation with continued oral anticoagulation versus heparin bridging therapy.

Recent studies have shown that subcutaneous or subfascial pacemaker- and ICD implantation with continued oral anticoagulation therapy is associated with lower risk for bleeding complications, when compared to heparin bridging strategies. However, ICD generators are often implanted submuscularly. We therefore compared the bleeding risk with continued phenprocoumon therapy vs. heparin bridging in patients receiving submuscular ICD implantation. Between 01/2013 and 12/2013, 104 patients with need for oral anticoagulation received submuscular ICD or CRT-D implantation in our institution. 46 patients were implanted under continued phenprocoumon therapy while 58 patients received heparin bridging for implantation procedure. All ICD generators were placed submuscularly. The primary outcome of the study was clinically significant bleeding or device pocket hematoma with need for surgical revision. Mean patients age was 63.7 years, 72.1% were male. In patients with heparin bridging therapy, preoperative INR prior to ICD implantation was 1.2 ± 0.31 while in the group of patients on continued phenprocoumon therapy, mean pre-OP INR was 2.4 ± 0.47. In heparin bridging group, 8 (13.8%) patients experienced a clinically relevant pocket hematoma, while only 1 (2.2%) patient on continued phenprocoumon therapy needed surgical revision for pocket hematoma (P = 0.04). No further bleeding complications or clinically relevant pericardial effusion was observed in any of the groups and no perioperative thromboembolic event occurred. Submuscular ICD implantation under continued phenprocoumon therapy was safe and feasible. Compared to patients with heparin bridging therapy, those with continued phenprocoumon therapy had a lower incidence of clinically relevant bleeding complications.

Implantable loop recorder monitoring after concomitant surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF): insights from more than 200 continuously monitored patients.

Different follow-up methods have been used to report success rates after AF ablation. Recent studies have shown that intermittent rhythm monitoring underestimates the actual AF recurrence rate. We therefore report our experience with continuous rhythm monitoring by implantable loop recorder (ILR) in a large patient cohort. Between 09/2008 and 12/2012, 343 cardiac surgical patients underwent concomitant surgical AF ablation. ILR implantation was performed in 206 patients. ILR interrogation was accomplished at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Successful ablation was defined as AF Burden <0.5 %. Primary outcome of the study was freedom from AF at 12-month follow-up. Mean patient's age was 70.5 ± 7.4 years. No major ablation- or ILR-related complications occurred. In 4 patients (1.9 %) ILR had to be explanted due to ILR-related wound infection (n = 2) or chronic pain (n = 2). Survival rate at 1-year follow-up was 96.6 %. Freedom from AF rate after 1-year follow-up was 68.5 and 63.6 % off antiarrhythmic drugs, respectively. Statistically significant predictors for successful ablation at 1-year follow-up were smaller LA diameter, shorter duration of AF and preoperative paroxysmal AF. Demographic data, indication for surgery, lesion set and used energy source had no impact on freedom from AF after 1 year. Continuous ILR monitoring after concomitant surgical AF ablation was safe and feasible, with registered freedom from AF rate of 68.5 % at 1-year follow-up. Thus continuous rhythm monitoring provides reliable outcome data and helps to guide antiarrhythmic therapy.

Epidermal growth factor receptor in CRC patients in the era of the RAS.

The aim of this study was to investigate EGFR expression patterns and the effect of EGFR expression on stage, prognosis and response to conventional chemotherapy agents other than monoclonal antibodies in CRC patients. This study included 59 metastatic CRC patients. The expression of EGFR was quantified by immunochemistry in biopsy specimens that were obtained before treatment was initiated. The cases were considered to be positive for EGFR if >1% of the tumor cells had complete circumferential membranous staining. The median age of the patients was 54.6 years, and 59% of the patients were male. Twenty-six patients presented with stage IV disease, and the remaining patients developed distant metastasis during follow-up. Fifty-one patients were treated with regimens containing irinotecan. The numbers of patients with EGFR expression in the primary tumors, the metastatic lymph nodes and the normal colonic tissue were 34 (65.4%), 10 (76.9%) and 34 (65.4%) respectively. The initial disease stage and lymph node stage were correlated with EGFR expression (p<0.05). Additionally, EGFR positivity was correlated with a statistically significant reduction in the response rate to chemotherapy, the overall survival (21 vs. 28 months) and the progression-free survival (15 vs. 22 months) in metastatic patiens treated with chemotherapy other than targeted therapies. In conclusion, EGFR expression in correlated with stage in all CRC patients and response to chemotherapy and survival in metastatic CRC patients.

Evaluation of human error in oil spill risk in tanker cargo handling operations.

Cargo handling operations on board tankers pose a significant threat to the cleanliness and health of the ocean ecosystem. Incidents originating from these operations are often attributed to human error, as widely acknowledged. Therefore, it is crucial to control the human factor involved in these operations to enhance ship safety and foster a sustainable, clean marine environment. To tackle this problem, this paper presents a novel model that identifies the causal factors behind oil spills resulting from crew failure in these operations. To attain this, fuzzy Bayesian network (FBN) approach is used in this study to analyse the probabilistic correlations among the causal elements that are disclosed qualitatively and quantitatively. Sensitivity analyses and validation procedures are carried out to enhance the accuracy of results. Eliminating errors in cargo calculation is of paramount importance as research has shown that such errors lead to the largest impact on spill during loading and discharging (L&D) operations. The study's findings offer valuable insights into the causes of L&D operation-related spills. Ship management companies, the loss-prevention division of Protection and Indemnity Clubs (P&I), and regulatory bodies may employ the research results to prevent spill repetitions and protect the marine environment.

Label-Free Electrochemical Immunosensor Based on Conjugated Polymer Film Coated Disposable Electrode for Ultrasensitive Determination of Resistin Potential Obesity Biomarker.

A new label-free immunosensor was designed for sensitive detection of resistin obesity biomarker in human biological fluids. To construct a sensing interface, the monomer of double epoxy groups-substituted thiophene (TdiEpx) was synthesized for the fabrication of the biosensing system. A disposable indium tin oxide sheet was first modified by electrochemical polymerization of the TdiEpx monomer, and this robust and novel surface was characterized using different spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses. The double epoxy ends were linked to the amino ends of anti-resistin, and they served as binding points for the covalent binding of biomolecules. The double epoxy ends present in each TdiEpx monomer ensured an extensive surface area, which improved the quantity of attached anti-resistin. The determination of resistin antigen was based on the specific coupling of resistin with anti-resistin, and this interaction hindered the electron transfer reaction. The immunosensor introduced a wide linear range of 0.0125-15 pg/mL, a low detection limit of 4.17 fg/mL, and an excellent sensitivity of 1.38 kohm pg mL-1 cm2. In this study, a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay spectrophotometric method was utilized as a reference technique for the quantitative analysis of resistin in human serum and saliva samples. Both measurements in clinical samples displayed correlations and high-correlation coefficients. In addition, this immunosensor had good storage stability, acceptable repeatability and reproducibility, high specificity, and good accuracy. The proposed immunosensor provided a simple and versatile impedimetric immunosensing platform and a promisingly sensitive way for clinical applications.

Carboxyethylsilanetriol-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles as an Ultrasensitive Immunoplatform for Electrochemical Magnetosensing of Cotinine.

In the present study, an innovative and simple electrochemical magneto biosensor based on carboxyethylsilanetriol-modified iron oxide (Fe3O4) magnetic nanoparticles was designed for ultrasensitive and specific analysis of cotinine, an important marker of smoking. Anticotinine antibodies were covalently immobilized on carboxylic acid-modified magnetic nanoparticles, and the cotinine-specific magnetic nanoparticles created a specific surface on the working electrode surface. The use of magnetic nanoparticles as an immobilization platform for antibodies provided a large surface area for antibody attachment and increased sensitivity. In addition, the advantages of the new immobilization platform were reusing the working electrode numerous times, recording repeatable and reproducible signals, and reducing the necessary volume of biomolecules. The specific interaction between cotinine and cotinine-specific antibody-attached magnetic nanoparticles restricted the electron transfer of the redox probe and changed the impedimetric response of the electrode correlated to the concentration of cotinine. The magneto biosensor had a wide detection range (2-300 pg/mL), a low LOD (606 fg/mL), and an acceptable recovery (97.24-105.31%) in real samples. In addition, the current biosensor's measurement results were in good agreement with those found by the standard liquid chromatography (HPLC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. These results showed that a simple impedimetric immunosensing platform was generated for the cotinine analysis.

Prediction of human error probability in helicopter to ship transfer operation under an evidential reasoning extended CREAM approach.

Although the helicopter to ship transfer operation is rarely applied in ports around the world, some of the hub ports have encouraged it. The operational process poses challenges to safety due to the nature of the work to be completed by the ship crew. This article performs a systematic human error prediction to ensure safe helicopter to ship transfer operations under different circumstances since the human factor is becoming a significant contributor to maritime accidents. To accomplish this, the article addresses a cognitive reliability and error analysis method (CREAM) under the evidential reasoning (ER) approach. In the proposed approach, the CREAM provides a comprehensive human error prediction tool and ER is capable of supporting experts' judgment in decision-making. The findings of the research show that 'Secure the loose objects within or adjacent to the operating area' poses a high human error probability (4.50E-02) during helicopter to ship transfer operations.

Enhancing shipboard oil pollution prevention: Machine learning innovations in oil discharge monitoring equipment.

Maritime operations face significant challenges in environmental stewardship, particularly in managing oil discharges from tankers as mandated by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex I, Regulation 34. Traditional Oil Discharge Monitoring Equipment (ODME) methods rely on manual decision-making, often failing to accurately identify MARPOL-defined no-go zones, estimate operation completion times, and recommend course alterations during decanting operations. This study introduces a novel approach by integrating advanced machine learning techniques-Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM)-to enhance ODME operations. Specifically, these models automate the identification of no-go zones and optimize operational decisions, leading to a 99 % accuracy rate in compliance with MARPOL regulations and an operational time estimation error margin of <1 %. Unlike traditional methods, our approach leverages large datasets and real-time GPS (Global Positioning System) data, significantly reducing human error and enhancing both environmental compliance and operational efficiency. To our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically address the application of machine learning to decanting operations under MARPOL Annex I, marking a significant advancement in maritime environmental management.

Segmentation and classification of skin burn images with artificial intelligence: Development of a mobile application.

AIM: This study was conducted to determine the segmentation, classification, object detection, and accuracy of skin burn images using artificial intelligence and a mobile application. With this study, individuals were able to determine the degree of burns and see how to intervene through the mobile application. METHODS: This research was conducted between 26.10.2021-01.09.2023. In this study, the dataset was handled in two stages. In the first stage, the open-access dataset was taken from https://universe.roboflow.com/, and the burn images dataset was created. In the second stage, in order to determine the accuracy of the developed system and artificial intelligence model, the patients admitted to the hospital were identified with our own design Burn Wound Detection Android application. RESULTS: In our study, YOLO V7 architecture was used for segmentation, classification, and object detection. There are 21018 data in this study, and 80% of them are used as training data, and 20% of them are used as test data. The YOLO V7 model achieved a success rate of 75.12% on the test data. The Burn Wound Detection Android mobile application that we developed in the study was used to accurately detect images of individuals. CONCLUSION: In this study, skin burn images were segmented, classified, object detected, and a mobile application was developed using artificial intelligence. First aid is crucial in burn cases, and it is an important development for public health that people living in the periphery can quickly determine the degree of burn through the mobile application and provide first aid according to the instructions of the mobile application.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Cancer, Depression, Vitamin D Deficiency, and Obesity: An Observational Study.

Objective: Studies aiming at illuminating the complex relationships between cancer, obesity, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) deficiency, and body fat percentage are ongoing. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between 25-OHD deficiency, visceral fat tissue, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in cancer patients. Methods: This study was conducted from 2013 to 2022. Patients' demographic data, such as age, sex, and body mass index (BMI), and laboratory parameters, including prealbumin, albumin, calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, 25-OHD, magnesium, hemoglobin, fat percentage, and C-reactive protein, were recorded. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to determine depression levels. Results: A total of 223 colon cancer patients aged 19-84 undergoing chemotherapy at our clinic were included in this prospective study. The male patients' mean BMI was 22.91 ± 3.74 kg/m2, whereas that of the female patients was 26.17 ± 3.75 kg/m2. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean total Beck Depression Inventory score was 13 ± 9. In this patient population, 105 (47.09%) patients had minimal depression, 69 (30.94%) had mild depression, 35 (15.70%) had moderate depression, and 14 (6.28%) had severe depression. The Beck Depression Inventory score was negatively and strongly associated with BMI and moderately and negatively associated with albumin levels. Conclusion: This study reveals a significant correlation between 25-OHD levels and the Beck Depression Inventory scores among cancer patients. We believe that 25-OHD levels may be used to determine the presence of depressive symptoms in cancer patients. However, further comprehensive multicentre studies are needed to draw more definitive conclusions.

A Simple and Low-Cost Electrochemical Immunosensor for Ultrasensitive Determination of Calreticulin Biomarker in Human Serum.

An early on time detection of breast cancer significantly affects the treatment process and outcome. Herein, a new label-free impedimetric biosensor is developed to determine the lowest change in the level of calreticulin (CALR), which is a new biomarker of breast carcinoma. The proposed immunosensor is fabricated by using reduced graphene oxide/amino substituted polypyrrole polymer (rGO-PPyNH2 ) nanocomposite modified disposable electrode. The anti-CALR antibodies are first attached on the rGO-PPyNH2 nanocomposite coated electrode through glutaraldehyde crosslinking; the CALR antigens are then immobilized with the addition of CALR antigens to form an immunocomplex on the sensing surface. This immunocomplex induces considerably larger interfacial electron transport resistance (Rct ). The variation in the Rct has a linear relationship with CALR level in the detection range of 0.025 to 75 pg mL-1 , with a detection limit of 10.4 fg mL-1 . The suggested biosensor shows high selectivity to CALR, good storage stability (at least 5 weeks) and suitable reproducibility results as shown in quality control chart. The designed immunosensor is utilized to analyze CALR levels in human sera with satisfying results. This immunosensor provides a novel way for the clinical determination of CALR and other cancer biological markers.