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Medical Diagnostics (medical + diagnostics)
Selected AbstractsTwo-dimensional protein separation in microfluidic devicesELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 5 2009Hong Chen Abstract Proteomics is emerging as an important tool in modern drug discoveries and medical diagnostics. One of the techniques used in proteomics studies is 2-DE. The process of the conventional 2-DE is time-consuming and it has substandard reproducibility. Many efforts have been made to address the limitations, with an aim for fast separation and high resolution. In this paper, we reviewed the work on achieving 2-DE in microfluidic devices, including individual dimension in one channel, two dimensions in two intersected channels, and 2-D separation in a large number of channels. We also discussed the need for integrating microvalves within 2-DE devices to prevent different separation media from contaminating with each other. Although more efforts are required to match the performance of conventional 2-DE in a slab gel, microfluidics-based 2-D separation has a potential to become an alternative in the future. [source] Apoptotic effect of cyanobacterial extract on rat hepatocytes and human lymphocytesENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Joanna Mankiewicz Abstract Toxic cyanobacterial blooms are an increasing problem in Poland. The production of cyanobacterial toxins and their presence in drinking and recreational waters represent a growing danger to human and animal health. This is connected with the increase of cyanobacterial biomass caused by excessive eutrophication of the water ecosystem. There is evidence that cyanobacterial hepatotoxins can act as a potent promoter of primary liver cancer. The apoptotic effect of microcystins in Polish cyanobacterial bloom samples on rat hepatocytes and human lymphocytes was observed using light and fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and electrophoretic analysis. The incubation time needed to observe the first morphological apoptotic changes in hepatocytes was approximately 30 min; however, the characteristic biochemical changes in DNA were not observed even after 120 min. In lymphocyte cultures the morphological changes characteristic for apoptosis were observed after 24 h of incubation and a 48-h incubation was found to be optimal for analysis of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, which is one of the main biochemical hallmarks of programmed cell death. These cells are an easily isolated and inexpensive material for medical diagnostics. Therefore the apoptotic changes, together with the clastogenic effect seen in lymphocyte cultures, are proposed as a future analytical method for these toxins. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Environ Toxicol 16: 225,233, 2001 [source] Designed Fabrication of Silica-Based Nanostructured Particle Systems for Nanomedicine Applications,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 23 2008Yuanzhe Piao Abstract Suitably integrating multiple nanomaterials into nanostructured particle systems with specific combinations of properties has recently attracted significant attention in the research community. In particular, numerous particle systems have been designed and fabricated by integrating diverse materials with monodispersed silica nanoparticles. One or more distinct nanomaterials can be assembled on, encapsulated within, or integrated both inside and on the surface of silica nanoparticles using different chemistries and techniques to create multifunctional nanosystems. Research on these particle systems for biomedical applications has progressed rapidly during recent years due to the synergistic advantages of these complexes compared to the use of single components. This feature article surveys recent research progress on the fabrication strategies of these nanoparticle systems and their applications to medical diagnostics and therapy, thereby paving the way for the emerging field of nanomedicine. [source] The Synthesis and Assembly of Polymeric Microparticles Using MicrofluidicsADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 41 2009Dhananjay Dendukuri Abstract The controlled synthesis of micrometer-sized polymeric particles bearing features such as nonspherical shapes and spatially segregated chemical properties is becoming increasingly important. Such particles can enable fundamental studies on self-assembly and suspension rheology, as well as be used in applications ranging from medical diagnostics to photonic devices. Microfluidics has recently emerged as a very promising route to the synthesis of such polymeric particles, providing fine control over particle shape, size, chemical anisotropy, porosity, and core/shell structure. This progress report summarizes microfluidic approaches to particle synthesis using both droplet- and flow-lithography-based methods, as well as particle assembly in microfluidic devices. The particles formed are classified according to their morphology, chemical anisotropy, and internal structure, and relevant examples are provided to illustrate each of these approaches. Emerging applications of the complex particles formed using these techniques and the outlook for such processes are discussed. [source] Porous epoxies by reaction induced phase separation of removable alcohols: Control of spheroidal pore size by mass fraction, cure temperature, and reaction rate,JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Robert J. Klein Abstract Porous organic and inorganic materials with both random and controlled microstructures have utility in a variety of fields including catalysis, sensors, separations, optical platforms, tissue engineering, hydrogen storage, micro-electronics, medical diagnostics, as well as other applications. This work highlights a simple and general technique for tuning the pore size in crosslinking polymeric systems by adding a solvent poragen that phase separates during the curing process (reaction induced phase separation). The pore size can be controlled over large length scales ranging from microns to well below 100 nanometers. In this system an amine cured epoxy resin was reacted in the presence of the sacrificial poragen octadecanol, which is removed by vacuum-assisted evaporation once the epoxy components have reacted to form a solid, porous matrix. The importance of the present approach is based on the simplicity of the chemical formulation, the ease by which other epoxide or amine chemistries may be substituted for the two reactive components, and the control of pore size down to the nanometer scale by the addition of a small amount of catalyst. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source] Consulting the source code: prospects for gene-based medical diagnosticsJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue S741 2001U. Landegren Abstract. Landegren U (Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden) Gene-based diagnostics (Internal Medicine in the 21st Century). J Intern Med 2000; 248: 271,276. Gene-based diagnostics has been slow to enter medical routine practice in a grand way, but it is now spurred on by three important developments: the total genetic informational content of humans and most of our pathogens is rapidly becoming available; a very large number of genetic factors of diagnostic value in disease are being identified; and such factors include the identity of genes frequently targeted by mutations in specific diseases, common DNA sequence variants associated with disease or responses to therapy, and copy number alterations at the level of DNA or RNA that are characteristic of specific diseases. Finally, improved methodology for genetic analysis now brings all of these genetic factors within reach in clinical practice. The increasing opportunities for genetic diagnostics may gradually influence views on health and normality, and on the genetic plasticity of human beings, provoking discussions about some of the central attributes of genetics. [source] Efficient estimation of three-dimensional curves and their derivatives by free-knot regression splines, applied to the analysis of inner carotid artery centrelinesJOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES C (APPLIED STATISTICS), Issue 3 2009Laura M. Sangalli Summary., We deal with the problem of efficiently estimating a three-dimensional curve and its derivatives, starting from a discrete and noisy observation of the curve. This problem is now arising in many applicative contexts, thanks to the advent of devices that provide three-dimensional images and measures, such as three-dimensional scanners in medical diagnostics. Our research, in particular, stems from the need for accurate estimation of the curvature of an artery, from image reconstructions of three-dimensional angiographies. This need has emerged within the AneuRisk project, a scientific endeavour which aims to investigate the role of vessel morphology, blood fluid dynamics and biomechanical properties of the vascular wall, on the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms. We develop a regression technique that exploits free-knot splines in a novel setting, to estimate three-dimensional curves and their derivatives. We thoroughly compare this technique with a classical regression method, local polynomial smoothing, showing that three-dimensional free-knot regression splines yield more accurate and efficient estimates. [source] Laser induced fluorescence model of human goiterLASER PHYSICS LETTERS, Issue 3 2008Z.V. Jaliashvili Abstract Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) with wide area surveillance for resected thyroid tissue solid chunks is presented. The characteristic LIF spectra of goiter were established. The state of tissue at each point represents a superposition of normal and pathology states. To our knowledge two co-existing pathological effects were observed optically for the first time. It is demonstrated that the LIF spectral functions and their intensities well-labeled such areas and represent a good tool for medical diagnostics of goiter and for the definition of the degree of abnormality and geometrical sizes of these areas. (© 2008 by Astro Ltd., Published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA) [source] Discussion on optical integration in Lab-on-a-Chip microsystems for medical diagnosticsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 3 2003Stanislas KrawczykArticle first published online: 5 FEB 200 Abstract We present here a comprehensive description of the state-of-the-art in the field of Lab-on-a-Chip microsystems and emphasize the role of integration of optical components into the chip. Some of our concepts in this area are also mentioned. Optical integration will potentially allow building up more complex and more efficient Lab-on-a-Chip analyzers with improved autonomy. Lab-on-a-Chip microsystems with integrated optoelectronic components are expected to be of great importance for the development of new medical diagnostic instruments for point-of-care applications. [source] | |||||||||||||