Stage at diagnosis of colorectal cancer through diagnostic route:Who should be screened?

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a global health concern,with advanced-stage diagnoses contributing to poor prognoses.The efficacy of CRC screening has been well-established;nevertheless,a significant proportion of patients remain unscreened,with>70%of cases diagnosed outside screening.Although identifying specific subgroups for whom CRC screening should be particularly recommended is crucial owing to limited resources,the association between the diagnostic routes and identification of these subgroups has been less appreciated.In the Japanese cancer registry,the diagnostic routes for groups discovered outside of screening are primarily categorized into those with comorbidities found during hospital visits and those with CRC-related symptoms.AIM To clarify the stage at CRC diagnosis based on diagnostic routes.METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study using a cancer registry of patients with CRC between January 2016 and December 2019 at two hospitals.The diagnostic routes were primarily classified into three groups:Cancer screening,follow-up,and symptomatic.The early-stage was defined as Stages 0 or I.Multivariate and univariate logistic regressions were exploited to determine the odds of early-stage diagnosis in the symptomatic and cancer screening groups,referencing the follow-up group.The adjusted covariates were age,sex,and tumor location.RESULTS Of the 2083 patients,715(34.4%),1064(51.1%),and 304(14.6%)belonged to the follow-up,symptomatic,and cancer screening groups,respectively.Among the 2083 patients,CRCs diagnosed at an early stage were 57.3%(410 of 715),23.9%(254 of 1064),and 59.5%(181 of 304)in the follow-up,symptomatic,and cancer screening groups,respectively.The symptomatic group exhibited a lower likelihood of early-stage diagnosis than the follow-up group[P<0.001,adjusted odds ratio(aOR),0.23;95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.19-0.29].The likelihood of diagnosis at an early stage was similar between the follow-up and cancer screening groups(P=0.493,aOR for early-stage diagnosis in the cancer screening group vs follow-up group=1.11;95%CI=0.82-1.49).CONCLUSION CRCs detected during hospital visits for comorbidities were diagnosed earlier,similar to cancer screening.CRC screening should be recommended,particularly for patients without periodical hospital visits for comorbidities.

Diagnostic delay in inflammatory bowel diseases in a German population

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis is key to prevent bowel damage in inflammatory bowel disease(IBD).Risk factor analyses linked with delayed diagnosis in European IBD patients are scarce and no data in German IBD patients exists.AIM To identify risk factors leading to prolonged diagnostic time in a German IBD cohort.METHODS Between 2012 and 2022,430 IBD patients from four Berlin hospitals were enrolled in a prospective study and asked to complete a 16-item questionnaire to determine features of the path leading to IBD diagnosis.Total diagnostic time was defined as the time from symptom onset to consulting a physician(patient waiting time)and from first consultation to IBD diagnosis(physician diagnostic time).Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for each time period.RESULTS The total diagnostic time was significantly longer in Crohn’s disease(CD)compared to ulcerative colitis(UC)patients(12.0 vs 4.0 mo;P<0.001),mainly due to increased physician diagnostic time(5.5 vs 1.0 mo;P<0.001).In a multivariate analysis,the predominant symptoms diarrhea(P=0.012)and skin lesions(P=0.028)as well as performed gastroscopy(P=0.042)were associated with longer physician diagnostic time in CD patients.In UC,fever was correlated(P=0.020)with shorter physician diagnostic time,while fatigue(P=0.011)and positive family history(P=0.046)were correlated with longer physician diagnostic time.CONCLUSION We demonstrated that CD patients compared to UC are at risk of long diagnostic delay.Future efforts should focus on shortening the diagnostic delay for a better outcome in these patients.

Clinical diagnostic advances in intestinal anastomotic techniques:Hand suturing,stapling,and compression devices

The development of intestinal anastomosis techniques,including hand suturing,stapling,and compression anastomoses,has been a significant advancement in surgical practice.These methods aim to prevent leakage and minimize tissue fibrosis,which can lead to stricture formation.The healing process involves various phases:hemostasis and inflammation,proliferation,and remodeling.Mechanical staplers and sutures can cause inflammation and fibrosis due to the release of profibrotic chemokines.Compression anastomosis devices,including those made of nickel-titanium alloy,offer a minimally invasive option for various surgical challenges and have shown safety and efficacy.However,despite advancements,anastomotic techniques are evaluated based on leakage risk,with complications being a primary concern.Newer devices like Magnamosis use magnetic rings for compression anastomosis,demonstrating greater strength and patency compared to stapling.Magnetic technology is also being explored for other medical treatments.While there are promising results,particularly in animal models,the realworld application in humans is limited,and further research is needed to assess their safety and practicality.

Exploring non-invasive diagnostics for metabolic dysfunctionassociated fatty liver disease

The population with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)is increasingly common worldwide.Identification of people at risk of progression to advanced stages is necessary to timely offer interventions and appropriate care.Liver biopsy is currently considered the gold standard for the diagnosis and staging of MAFLD,but it has associated risks and limitations.This has spurred the exploration of non-invasive diagnostics for MAFLD,especially for steatohepatitis and fibrosis.These non-invasive approaches mostly include biomarkers and algorithms derived from anthropometric measurements,serum tests,imaging or stool metagenome profiling.However,they still need rigorous and widespread clinical validation for the diagnostic performance.

Urinary exosomal microRNA-145-5p and microRNA-27a-3p act as noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for diabetic kidney disease

BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease(DKD),characterized by increased urinary microalbumin levels and decreased renal function,is the primary cause of end-stage renal di-sease.Its pathological mechanisms are complicated and multifactorial;Therefore,sensitive and specific biomarkers are needed.Urinary exosome originate from diverse renal cells in nephron segments and partially mirror the pathological changes in the kidney.The microRNAs(miRNAs)in urinary exosome are remark-ably stable and highly tissue-specific for the kidney.METHODS Type 2 diabetic mellitus(T2DM)patients were recruited from the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University and were divided into two groups:DM,diabetic pa-tients without albuminuria[urinary albumin to creatinine ratio(UACR)<30 mg/g]and DKD,diabetic patients with albuminuria(UACR≥30 mg/g).Healthy subjects were the normal control(NC)group.Urinary exosomal miR-145-5p,miR-27a-3p,and miR-29c-3p,were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The correlation between exosomal miRNAs and the clinical in-dexes was evaluated.The diagnostic values of exosomal miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p in DKD were determined using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis.Biological functions of miR-145-5p were investigated by performing RESULTS Urinary exosomal expression of miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p was more upregulated in the DKD group than in the DM group(miR-145-5p:4.54±1.45 vs 1.95±0.93,P<0.001;miR-27a-3p:2.33±0.79 vs 1.71±0.76,P<0.05)and the NC group(miR-145-5p:4.54±1.45 vs 1.55±0.83,P<0.001;miR-27a-3p:2.33±0.79 vs 1.10±0.51,P<0.001).The exosomal miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p positively correlated with albuminuria and serum creatinine and negatively correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate.miR-27a-3p was also closely related to blood glucose,gly-cosylated hemoglobin A1c,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.ROC analysis revealed that miR-145-5p had a better area under the curve of 0.88[95%confidence interval(CI):0.784-0.985,P<0.0001]in diagnosing DKD than miR-27a-3p with 0.71(95%CI:0.547-0.871,P=0.0239).Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the target genes of miR-145-5p were located in the actin filament,cytoskeleton,and extracellular exosome and were involved in the pathological processes of DKD,including apoptosis,inflammation,and fibrosis.CONCLUSION Urinary exosomal miR-145-5p and miR-27a-3p may serve as novel noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers or promising therapeutic targets for DKD.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease:Navigating terminological evolution,diagnostic frontiers and therapeutic horizon-an editorial exploration

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD),once known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),represents a spectrum of liver disorders characterized by lipid accumulation within hepatocytes.The redefinition of NAFLD in 2023 marked a significant reposition in terminology,emphasizing a broader understanding of liver steatosis and its associated risks.MASLD is now recognized as a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis,hepatocellular carcinoma,and systemic complications such as cardiovascular diseases or systemic inflammation.Diagnostic challenges arise,particularly in identifying MASLD in lean individuals,necessitating updated diagnostic protocols and investing in non-invasive diagnostic tools.Therapeutically,there is an urgent need for effective treatments targeting MASLD,with emerging pharmacological options focusing on,among others,carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.Additionally,understanding the roles of bile acid metabolism,the microbiome,and dietary interventions in MASLD pathogenesis and management holds promise for innovative therapeutic approaches.There is a strong need to emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts in understanding,diagnosing,and managing MASLD to improve physicians’approaches and patient outcomes.

A synthetic diagnostics platform for microwave imaging diagnostics in tokamaks

Interpreting experimental diagnostics data in tokamaks,while considering non-ideal effects,is challenging due to the complexity of plasmas.To address this challenge,a general synthetic diagnostics(GSD)platform has been established that facilitates microwave imaging reflectometry and electron cyclotron emission imaging.This platform utilizes plasma profiles as input and incorporates the finite-difference time domain,ray tracing and the radiative transfer equation to calculate the propagation of plasma spontaneous radiation and the external electromagnetic field in plasmas.Benchmark tests for classical cases have been conducted to verify the accuracy of every core module in the GSD platform.Finally,2D imaging of a typical electron temperature distribution is reproduced by this platform and the results are consistent with the given real experimental data.This platform also has the potential to be extended to 3D electromagnetic field simulations and other microwave diagnostics such as cross-polarization scattering.

Polarimeter–interferometer diagnostic using terahertz solid-state sources for fluctuation measurements on Keda Torus e Xperiment(KTX)

A multi-channel polarimeter-interferometer has been developed on the Keda Torus eXperiment(KTX)for the study of equilibrium dynamics and internal magnetic fluctuations.A three-wave technique based on terahertz solid-state sources(-650 GHz)is applied for simultaneous measurements of electron density and Faraday rotation angle.The output power of the microwave source is 2 mW.Faraday rotation effect using a rotating wave plate is tested with phase noise less than 0.8°,and the density phase noise is less than 0.9°.Measurement of Faraday rotation angle and density for discharges on KTX have demonstrated high sensitivity to internal MHD activities.

Addressing diagnostic delays in inflammatory bowel diseases in Germany

Inflammatory bowel diseases(IBDs),including Crohn's disease(CD)and ulcerative colitis,are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract that necessitate timely diagnosis to prevent complications and improve patient outcomes.Despite advancements in medical knowledge and diagnostic techniques,significant diagnostic delays persist,particularly in CD.The study by Blüthner et al,published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology,elucidates the diagnostic delays experienced by German patients with IBD and identifies key risk factors contributing to these delays.

Evaluation of a Rapid Diagnostic Test, Boson Biotech SARS CoV-2 Ag, for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Gabon

1) Background: Rapid and acurate diagnostic testing for case identification, quarantine, and contact tracing is essential for managing the COVID 19 pandemic. Rapid antigen detection tests are available, however, it is important to evaluate their performances before use. We tested a rapid antigen detection of SARS-CoV-2, based on the immunochromatography (Boson Biotech SARS-CoV-2 Ag Test (Xiamen Boson Biotech Co., Ltd., China)) and the results were compared with the real time reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (Gold standard) results;2) Methods: From November 2021 to December 2021, samples were collected from symptomatic patients and asymptomatic individuals referred for testing in a hospital during the second pandemic wave in Gabon. All these participants attending “CTA Angondjé”, a field hospital set up as part of the management of COVID-19 in Gabon. Two nasopharyngeal swabs were collected in all the patients, one for Ag test and the other for RT-PCR;3) Results: A total of 300 samples were collected from 189 symptomatic and 111 asymptomatic individuals. The sensitivity and specificity of the antigen test were 82.5% [95%CI 73.8 - 89.3] and 97.9 % [95%CI 92.2 - 98.2] respectively, and the diagnostic accuracy was 84.4% (95% CI: 79.8 - 88.3%). The antigen test was more likely to be positive for samples with RT-PCR Ct values ≤ 32, with a sensitivity of 89.8%;4) Conclusions: The Boson Biotech SARS-CoV-2 Ag Test has good sensitivity and can detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially among symptomatic individuals with low viral load. This test could be incorporated into efficient testing algorithms as an alternative to PCR to decrease diagnostic delays and curb viral transmission.

Development of D_α band symmetrical visible optical diagnostic for boundary reconstruction on EAST tokamak

To investigate the potential of utilizing visible spectral imaging for controlling the plasma boundary shape during stable operation of plasma in future tokamak, a D_α band symmetric visible light diagnostic system was designed and implemented on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak(EAST). This system leverages two symmetric optics for joint plasma imaging. The optical system exhibits a spatial resolution less than 2 mm at the poloidal cross-section, distortion within the field of view below 10%, and relative illumination of 91%.The high-quality images obtained enable clear observation of both the plasma boundary position and the characteristics of components within the vacuum vessel. Following system calibration and coordinate transformation, the image coordinate boundary features are mapped to the tokamak coordinate system. Utilizing this system, the plasma boundary was reconstructed, and the resulting representation showed alignment with the EFIT(Equilibrium Fitting) results. This underscores the system's superior performance in boundary reconstruction applications and provides a diagnostic foundation for boundary shape control based on visible spectral imaging.

Development of a diagnostic nomogram for alpha-fetoproteinnegative hepatocellular carcinoma based on serological biomarkers

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.Serum biomarkers play an important role in the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.Because a certain percentage of HCC patients are negative for alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC is essential to improve the detection rate of HCC.AIM To establish an effective model for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC based on serum tumour biomarkers.METHODS A total of 180 HCC patients were enrolled in this study.The expression levels of GP73,des-γ-carboxyprothrombin(DCP),CK18-M65,and CK18-M30 were detected by a fully automated chemiluminescence analyser.The variables were selected by logistic regression analysis.Several models were constructed using stepwise backward logistic regression.The performance of the models was compared using the C statistic,integrated discrimination improvement,net reclassification improvement,and calibration curves.The clinical utility of the nomogram was assessed using decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS The results showed that the expression levels of GP73,DCP,CK18-M65,and CK18-M30 were significantly greater in AFP-negative HCC patients than in healthy controls(P<0.001).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GP73,DCP,and CK18-M65 were independent factors for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC.By comparing the diagnostic performance of multiple models,we included GP73 and CK18-M65 as the model variables,and the model had good discrimination ability(area under the curve=0.946)and good goodness of fit.The DCA curves indicated the good clinical utility of the nomogram.CONCLUSION Our study identified GP73 and CK18-M65 as serum biomarkers with certain application value in the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC.The diagnostic nomogram based on CK18-M65 combined with GP73 demonstrated good performance and effectively identified high-risk groups of patients with HCC.

Progress of the bolometer diagnostic system on EAST

Measurements of the total radiated power and its spatial distribution are crucial for fusion research.On the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak(EAST),both the metal foil resistive bolometer and the absolute extreme ultraviolet(AXUV)photodiodes have been used to quantify the radiated power.This article introduces the latest improvement of the bolometer diagnostic system on EAST.It also details the successful design and installation of new divertor AXUV cameras,which are dedicated to the investigation of divertor physics.The shielding components of the bolometer detector have been refined,and the article provides a detailed exposition of the double shielding structures that have been verified as effective in microwave shielding.Additionally,the changes in the radiated power distribution in the divertor region during the plasma detachment process are measured using the divertor AXUV camera.Finally,the radiated power measured by the AXUV detector and metal foil resistive bolometer are compared,and different detector performances are presented.

Advancing public health preparedness:Establishment of Nipah virus molecular diagnostic test at the National Reference Laboratory,Sri Lanka

Objective:To establish Nipah virus diagnostic capabilities at the National Reference Laboratory in Sri Lanka using the NIV Pune real-time PCR kit.Methods:Strict safety precautions were adhered during testing due to the high pathogenicity of the Nipah virus,with all diagnostics conducted in a BSL2+laboratory at the Medical Research Institute in Sri Lanka.RNA extraction was performed using the QIAamp Viral RNA Mini kit.The NIV Pune in-house real-time PCR kit was employed,following established primer/probe sequences and controls.The assay was validated using the Rotor-Gene Q Series Real-time PCR platform.Results:The validation run of the Nipah virus real-time PCR test demonstrated robust performance,with positive controls consistently detecting Nipah RNA at a Ct value of 21.50±0.01.Negative controls confirmed assay specificity with an external negative control which was also used as an extraction control and showed no interference.The internal control exhibited stable behavior,enhancing confidence in PCR results.The qPCR analysis graph illustrated the successful detection of internal and positive controls,validating the reliability of the assay.Conclusions:Establishing Nipah virus diagnostic capabilities in Sri Lanka signifies a proactive and collaborative response to the persistent global health threat.

Ultrafast pulse-dilation framing camera and its application for time-resolved X-ray diagnostic

An ultrafast framing camera with a pulse-dilation device,a microchannel plate(MCP)imager,and an electronic imaging system were reported.The camera achieved a temporal resolution of 10 ps by using a pulse-dilation device and gated MCP imager,and a spatial resolution of 100μm by using an electronic imaging system comprising combined magnetic lenses.The spatial resolution characteristics of the camera were studied both theoretically and experimentally.The results showed that the camera with combined magnetic lenses reduced the field curvature and acquired a larger working area.A working area with a diameter of 53 mm was created by applying four magnetic lenses to the camera.Furthermore,the camera was used to detect the X-rays produced by the laser-targeting device.The diagnostic results indicated that the width of the X-ray pulse was approximately 18 ps.

The Diagnostic Validity of Preterm Delivery in Adolescent Girls Based on Neonatal Clinical Assessment

Introduction: Pregnant adolescents are at an elevated risk of premature delivery. In the context of low levels of education and limited resources, several difficulties are encountered in determining gestational age. These include a lack of knowledge of the date of the last menstrual period, failure to perform first-trimester ultrasound, and absence of an electroencephalogram. In such circumstances, the utilisation of a morphological score, analogous to the Finnstrom score, to ascertain gestational age would appear to be a more accessible and straightforward approach. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of the Finnström score in newborns of teenage mothers, where the date of the last menstrual period may be subject to inaccuracy, in order to validate the diagnosis of preterm delivery. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional design of 87 newborns of teenage mothers, multicenter, conducted in the city of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with prospective data collection. Results: This study involved 87 newborns born to adolescent mothers. The incidence of premature delivery, as determined by the date of the last menstrual period, was observed to be 17.6% among teenage girls and 5.3% among adults. As indicated by the Finnström morphological score and early ultrasound dating, the incidence of preterm delivery was notably elevated, at 32.2% and 37.7%, respectively. The correlation between gestational age according to the date of the last menstrual period and gestational age according to early ultrasound dating was low (0.338), while there was a satisfactory correlation between gestational age according to the Finnström morphological score and early ultrasound dating (0.828). Conclusion: The Finnström morphological score represents a valuable tool for accurately determining gestational age, thereby validating the diagnosis of preterm delivery in adolescents, who are prone to inaccuracies in determining the date of the last menstrual period. It is therefore recommended that this score be evaluated in our setting, where access to ultrasound is sometimes still problematic.

Evaluation of urea breath test as a diagnostic tool for Helicobacter pylori infection in adult dyspeptic patients

In this editorial,we discuss the article in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.The article conducts a meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of the urea breath test(UBT),a non-invasive method for detecting Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection in humans.It is based on radionuclide-labeled urea.Various methods,both invasive and non-invasive,are available for diagnosing H.pylori infection,inclu-ding endoscopy with biopsy,serology for immunoglobulin titers,stool antigen analysis,and UBT.Several guidelines recommend UBTs as the primary choice for diagnosing H.pylori infection and for reexamining after eradication therapy.It is used to be the first choice non-invasive test due to their high accuracy,specificity,rapid results,and simplicity.Moreover,its performance remains unaffected by the distribution of H.pylori in the stomach,allowing a high flow of patients to be tested.Despite its widespread use,the performance characteristics of UBT have been inconsistently described and remain incompletely defined.There are two UBTs available with Food and Drug Administration approval:The 13C and 14C tests.Both tests are affordable and can provide real-time results.Physicians may prefer the 13C test because it is non-radioactive,compared to 14C which uses a radioactive isotope,especially in young children and pregnant women.Although there was heterogeneity among the studies regarding the diagnostic accuracy of both UBTs,13C-UBT consistently outperforms the 14C-UBT.This makes the 13C-UBT the preferred diagnostic approach.Furthermore,the provided findings of the meta-analysis emphasize the significance of precise considerations when choosing urea dosage,assessment timing,and measurement techniques for both the 13C-UBT and 14C-UBT,to enhance diagnostic precision.

Urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori infection in adult dyspeptic patients: A meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection has been well-established as a significant risk factor for several gastrointestinal disorders.The urea breath test(UBT)has emerged as a leading non-invasive method for detecting H.pylori.Despite numerous studies confirming its substantial accuracy,the reliability of UBT results is often compromised by inherent limitations.These findings underscore the need for a rigorous statistical synthesis to clarify and reconcile the diagnostic accuracy of the UBT for the diagnosis of H.pylori infection.AIM To determine and compare the diagnostic accuracy of 13C-UBT and 14C-UBT for H.pylori infection in adult patients with dyspepsia.METHODS We conducted an independent search of the PubMed/MEDLINE,EMBASE,and Cochrane Central databases until April 2022.Our search included diagnostic accuracy studies that evaluated at least one of the index tests(^(13)C-UBT or ^(14)C-UBT)against a reference standard.We used the QUADAS-2 tool to assess the methodo-logical quality of the studies.We utilized the bivariate random-effects model to calculate sensitivity,specificity,positive and negative test likelihood ratios(LR+and LR-),as well as the diagnostic odds ratio(DOR),and their 95%confidence intervals.We conducted subgroup analyses based on urea dosing,time after urea administration,and assessment technique.To investigate a possible threshold effect,we conducted Spearman correlation analysis,and we generated summary receiver operating characteristic(SROC)curves to assess heterogeneity.Finally,we visually inspected a funnel plot and used Egger’s test to evaluate publication bias.endorsing both as reliable diagnostic tools in clinical practice.CONCLUSION In summary,our study has demonstrated that ^(13)C-UBT has been found to outperform the ^(14)C-UBT,making it the preferred diagnostic approach.Additionally,our results emphasize the significance of carefully considering urea dosage,assessment timing,and measurement techniques for both tests to enhance diagnostic precision.Nevertheless,it is crucial for researchers and clinicians to evaluate the strengths and limitations of our findings before implementing them in practice.

Advancing healthcare through laboratory on a chip technology:Transforming microorganism identification and diagnostics

In a recent case report in the World Journal of Clinical Cases,emphasized the crucial role of rapidly and accurately identifying pathogens to optimize patient treatment outcomes.Laboratory-on-a-chip(LOC)technology has emerged as a transformative tool in health care,offering rapid,sensitive,and specific identification of microorganisms.This editorial provides a comprehensive overview of LOC technology,highlighting its principles,advantages,applications,challenges,and future directions.Success studies from the field have demonstrated the practical benefits of LOC devices in clinical diagnostics,epidemiology,and food safety.Comparative studies have underscored the superiority of LOC technology over traditional methods,showcasing improvements in speed,accuracy,and portability.The future integration of LOC with biosensors,artificial intelligence,and data analytics promises further innovation and expansion.This call to action emphasizes the importance of continued research,investment,and adoption to realize the full potential of LOC technology in improving healthcare outcomes worldwide.

A Review on Diagnostic Phytoliths for the Application in Paleovegetation Reconstruction and Environmental Archaeology in East Asia

Phytoliths are extensively utilized as an archaeobotanical indicator in paleovegetation reconstruction and environmental archaeology. Over the past two decades, numerous phytolith morphotypes, particularly those exhibiting diagnostic morphological features and over representative of source plants at the genus and species levels, were discovered and reported. These advancements have significantly contributed to phytolith-based vegetation reconstruction on different timescales, enhanced our understanding of prehistoric plant utilization, and elucidated cultivation and domestication processes of key crops in ancient agriculture. However, there are still inconsistencies and misunderstandings regarding the morphological characteristics of diagnostic phytoliths in various plant groups. This review highlighted the standardization in the classification and description of phytolith morphotypes, and summarized the advancements in phytolith morphology research over the past two decades. Morphological illustrations of diagnostic phytoliths from various plant groups, particularly key crops and their relatives from dryland and rice agriculture in East Asia, were presented as references for phytolith identification and application. Finally, this review proposes future directions for phytolith morphological studies, emphasizing the comprehensive consideration of anatomical structure and morphometric parameters, as well as the need for extensive research on modern plant phytoliths and control experiments on phytolith growth.