Determination of creatinine level in patient blood samples by Fourier NIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis in comparison with biochemical assay

In this paper,in vivo spectra from 23 patients'blood samples with various Creatinine(Cr)concentration levels ranging from 0.96 to 12.5 mg/dL were measured using Fourier transform near-infrared spectrometer(FT-NIRS)and spectrum quantitative analysis method.Since Cr undergoes passive filtration,it serves as a key biomarker of kidneys function via the estimation of glomerular filtration rate.Thus,increased blood Cr concentration reflects impaired renal func-tion.After spectra pre processing and outlier exclusion,a spectral model was developed based on partial least squares regression(PLSR)method,wherein Cr concentrations correlated with filtered NIR spectra across several peaks,where Cr is know n to absorb NIR light.Several statistical metrics were applied to estimate the model efficiency during data analysis.Comparison of spectra-derived concentrations to reference Cr measurements by the current gold-standard Jaffe's method held in hospital lab revealed a Cr prediction accuracy of 1.64 mg/dL with good corre-lation of R=0.9.Bland-Altman plots were used to compare between our calculations and ref-erence lab values and reveal minimal bias between the two.The finding presented the potential of FT-NIRS coupled with PLSR technique for Cr determination.

Isolation of Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extensively Drug Resistant (XDR) <i>Salmonella typhi</i>from Blood Samples of Patients Attending Tertiary Medical Centre in Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Objective: Almost all year round occurrence of typhoid fever remains a major public health issue in Bangladesh. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the prevalence of multi-drug resistance Salmonella typhi in Dhaka city. The major objective of this study was to observe the prevalence of multi-drug and Extended drug-resistant patterns of typhoidal Salmonella typhi among the patients attending a tertiary medical center by conventional culture and serologic test. Materials and Methods: Blood was collected by syringe and equally divided between aerobic & anaerobic BacT Alert bottle, 10 mL for paediatrics. Post isolation Salmonella strains were identified and were tested for antibiotic resistance. Results: A total of 600 blood samples of typhoid suspected patients were tested, where 32.5% came out positive, which were identified as Salmonella typhi. These isolates were susceptible to carbapenem drugs but highly resistant to Fluoroquinolones and Aminoglycosides antibiotics. Discussion: It was seen that 73.23% of isolates among male patients were extensively drug-resistant (XDR) meaning that isolates were sensitive against only one or two antibiotics while in the female it was 58.46%. Isolates from Female patients showed higher multi-drug resistant (MDR) (26.15%) isolates resistance to multiple antibiotics in comparison to isolates from the male (16.54%). 87.19% of the strains showed high drug resistance (XDR and MDR). Conclusion: The emergence of XDR and MDR strains of S. typhi in recent years is becoming a significant threat. Although no PAN-Drug resistance (resistant against all tested drugs) was observed in the current study, a high level of XDR and MDR isolates are indicating that the scenario might take place sooner than later.

An AAS Dependent Method for Quantitative Analysis of Essential Trace Elements from Blood Samples of Pakistani Female Breast Cancer Patients

Breast cancer is the second leading cancer in the world. The long-term exposure of some metallic compounds induces different forms of cancer, including breast cancer. Trace elements are essential metals for the physiological functions of the cell on a molecular level and also contribute in treatment of many diseases. The aim of study was to compare the level of essential trace elements, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc in breast cancer patients with normal healthy adult women. Total forty-five patients (age range from 25 - 73 years) were included in this study and divided into three groups according to three different stages of breast cancer including tumor-II, tumor-III and tumor-IV. Blood was collected from all participants after taking history, clinical data and taking consent. However, about fifteen non-cancer healthy women in age range from 26 - 69 years were subjected to this study. The elemental concentrations were determined through atomic absorption spectrophotometer subsequent to microwave-induced acid digestion. The results of Na, K, Zn, Fe, Ca, were observed to decrease in blood samples of breast cancer patients as compared to non-cancer subjects. The results are reliable with other numerous literature reported studies, the efficiency, and deficiency of these trace metals may contribute an important role in the progress of breast cancer.

Correlations of PCBs, DIOXIN, and PBDE with TSH in Children's Blood in Areas of Computer E-waste Recycling

Objective To study correlations of polychlorinated biphenyls （PCBs）, DIOXIN, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers （PBDE） with thyroid stimulating hormone（TSH） in children, and assess the impact on children＇s health. Methods Three hundred and sixty nine children aged from 6 to 8, including 195 from Luqiao, the computer E‐waste recycling area, and 174 from Longyou, the control area, were selected for this investigation to elucidate the correlation of PCBs, DIOXIN, and PBDE with TSH in children’s blood samples. The children had a physical examination and their blood levels of PCBs, DIOXIN, PBDE, and TSH were detected after sample collection. Results In the E‐waste recycling area, the contents of PCBs, PBDE, DIOXIN, and TSH in the blood samples of children were 484.00±84.86 ng·g ‐1 lipid weight, 664.28±262.38 ng·g ‐1 lipid weight, 26.00±19.58 ng·g ‐1 lipid weight and 1.88±0.42 μIU/mL （serum） respectively, while in the control area, the PCBs, PBDE, DIOXIN, and TSH contents were 255.38±95 ng·g ‐1 lipid weight, 375.81±262.43 ng·g ‐1 lipid weight, 39.64±31.86 ng·g ‐1 lipid weight, and 3.31±1.04 μIU/mL respectively. Conclusion The health status of children in the control area are better than that in the contaminated area. Among children who are exposed to persistent organic pollutants, the pollutant content increases significantly in their serum, and the distribution of TSH levels in their bodies are also affected.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detecting Syphilis Dry Blood Spot Samples

Objective:To explore the feasibility of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)in detecting syphilis dry blood spots.Methods:Based on dry blood spot samples,laboratory linear dial,laboratory basic dial,laboratory interference dial,and laboratory precision dial were constructed.The linear range,sensitivity,specificity,precision and other performances of ELISA for detecting syphilis dry blood spot samples were comprehensively evaluated,and the stability of dry blood spot samples at 37℃was detected.In addition,112 suspected syphilis antibody-positive plasma samples were selected as the control,and dry blood spot samples were prepared accordingly.The clinical sensitivity,clinical specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of dry blood spot samples and plasma samples in ELISA for syphilis detection were compared,and the consistency and correlation between the two samples were analyzed by the Kappa consistency test and Spearman rank correlation analysis.Results:The results of the linear analysis showed that the serial dilution of dry blood spot samples in ELISA for syphilis antibody ranged from 23to 27,and there was a good linear range[R2=0.9862(P<0.05)].Sensitivity and specificity analysis showed that the positive coincidence rate and negative coincidence rate of the two detection methods were 100%(15/15).The results of the interference dial test showed that ELISA based on dry blood spot samples could accurately detect 6 syphilis antibody samples from 18samples,and the detection accuracy rate was 100.00%(6/6).The results of the precision test showed that the RSD of syphilis antibody detection in dry blood spot samples with different dilution times(23,25and 27)was 0.24%to 3.87%between spots,0.06%to4.07%between batches and 0.49%to 3.88%between days.Within 7 days,the inter-day RSD of dry blood spots with different dilution times(23,25,27)were 0.27%,0.65%and 0.95%,respectively.The clinical sensitivity,clinical specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of dry blood spot samples in ELISA detection of syphilis antibody were 96.00%(72/75),100.00%(37/37),100.00%(72/72)and 92.50%,respectively.The results of the Kappa consistency test and Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that the Kappa value of the two methods was 0.941(P<0.01),and the correlation coefficientρbetween the S/CO ratios of the two methods was 0.211(P<0.01).The comparison of S/CO ratio results showed that the distribution characteristics of the S/CO ratio between the two methods were similar,and the ratio distribution was relatively concentrated.Conclusion:using dry blood spot samples to perform ELISA for syphilis detection has good precision,strong anti-interference ability and excellent stability.Although false-positive results appear in weak positive samples,it still has a high application value in ELISA for syphilis antibody detection,which can provide an important reference for disease diagnosis.

Trends in Antimicrobial Resistance against Enterobacteriaceae Strains Isolated from Blood： A 10-year Epidemiological Study in China's Mainland （2004-2014）

Background：Antimicrobial resistance is a serious problem that compromises the empirical treatment of infections,resulting in a lack of effective antibiotics and high medical expenses.Here,we aimed to monitor the trends in antimicrobial resistance among Enterobacteriaceae isolated from blood samples in China's Mainland.Methods：A total of 2240 Enterobacteriaceae isolates from blood were collected from hospitalized patients at 19 tertiary hospitals between October 2004 and June 2014.The minimum inhibitory concentrations of all isolates were determined using the agar dilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute 2016 guidelines.Results：The most commonly isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli,compromising 47.0% （1053/2240） of the total isolates,followed byKlebsiella spp.（26.3%）,Sahnonella spp.（10.4%）,and Enterobacter spp.（9.2%）.The detection rates of extended-spectrum β-lactamases （ESBLs） among E.coli were 68.9% （2004-2005）,73.2% （2007-2008）,67.9% （2009-2010）,72.6% （2011-2012）,and 58.4% （2013-2014）,whereas those in ESBL-producing Klebsiellapneumoniae were slightly decreased （75.9%,50.0%,41.4%,40.2%,and 43.0%,respectively）.Carbapenems were the most potent agents against the Enterobacteriaceae isolates,followed by moxalactam,tigecycline,and amikacin.However,there was a decrease in the susceptibility rates for carbapenems in all species,particularly K.pneumoniae （decreased by 10.6% for imipenem） and Enterobacter aerogenes （decreased by 2 l.1% for imipenem）.Reviving antibiotics （tigecycline and polymyxins） showed good in vitro activity against Enterobacteriaceae.Conclusions：The activity of antibiotics against Enterobacteriaceae isolated from blood was decreased overall.Large proportions of ESBL-producing isolates were identified among E.coli and Klebsiella spp.Carbapenem-resistant isolates have become a major challenge in the treatment of infections.

Magnetic covalent organic framework nanospheres-based miRNA biosensor for sensitive glioma detection

Sensitive detection and accurate diagnosis/prognosis of glioma remain urgent challenges.Herein,dispersed magnetic covalent organic framework nanospheres(MCOF)with uniformed Fe3O4 nano-assembly as cores and high-crystalline COF as shells were prepared by monomer-mediated in-situ interface growth strategy.Based on the unique interaction between MCOF and hairpin DNA,a fluorescent signal amplified miRNA biosensor was constructed.It could realize the sensitive detection of miRNA-182 in different matrixes,where the detection limit,linearity range and determination coefficient(R^(2))in real blood samples reached 20 fM,0.1 pM-10 pM and 0.991,respectively.Also,it possessed good stability and precision as observed from the low intra-day/inter-day RSD and high extraction recovery.As a result,it could quantify miRNA-182 in serum of glioma patients,the concentration of which was significantly higher than that of healthy people and obviously decreased after surgery.Finally,a proof-of-concept capillary chip system using this biosensor was proposed to realize the visualized detection of miRNA-182 in microsample.These findings suggest a robust way for sensitive detection and accurate diagnosis/prognosis of glioma.

Effect of acupressure on procedural pain before heel lancing in neonates

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of acupressure applied to UB60 and K3 acupuncture points in order to relieve the procedural pain caused by heel lancing blood sampling process in the term newborns.METHODS:The data were collected by using the Information Form and the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale.Acupressure applied for 3 min before heel lancing blood sampling in the newborns in the experimental group(n=31).No intervention was applied to newborns in the control group(n=32).RESULTS:A significant difference was found between mean scores of the newborns in the control and acupressure group in favor of the acupressure group in terms of heart rate during and after the procedure,oxygen saturation before,during and after the procedure,duration of crying during and after the procedure(P<0.05).It was found that there was a significant difference between groups in terms of Neonatal Infant Pain Scale mean scores during(P=0.001)and after the procedure(P<0.05),and the difference was found to be in favor of the acupressure group.CONCLUSION:As a result,acupressure was found to be an effective method in relieving pain caused by heel lancing blood sampling in newborns.