Portable Diagnostic Tool Research Articles

Facilitating self-testing with a fast, accurate, and simplified shelf-stable colorimetric LAMP system for Mpox and SARS-CoV-2 detection

The rapid and accurate detection of viral infections is essential for effective disease management and prevention. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) remains the gold standard for viral detection due to its high sensitivity and specificity. However, its limitations—including the need for specialized equipment, trained personnel, and longer processing times—make it impractical for at-home or rapid testing. Although numerous point-of-care assays based on isothermal nucleic acid amplification have been developed, they often lack the simplicity and adaptability required for self-testing in non-laboratory settings such as at home. To address this, we developed and validated the SCOLAR (Shelf-stable Colorimetric LAMP system for Rapid self-testing of viruses) system, a simplified, portable, and accurate diagnostic tool designed for self-testing of Mpox and SARS-CoV-2 infections. The SCOLAR system employs novel lyophilized colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) beads, a customized sample lysis buffer, and smartphone-assisted RGB color analysis for interpreting results. Validation was conducted using 24 mock Mpox skin swabs, 32 wastewater samples, and 104 clinical SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swabs, with comparisons to an in-house qPCR assay. The SCOLAR system demonstrated an analytical sensitivity of below 10 copies/μL for all targets within 15 min. Diagnostic performance for mock Mpox samples exhibited 93.8 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity, while wastewater samples achieved 100 % sensitivity and specificity. SARS-CoV-2 swabs had 96 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity. The system also proved effective for self-testing by untrained individuals. SCOLAR offers a reliable, easy-to-use platform for rapid self-testing, with potential for broader applications in public health strategies to enhance pandemic preparedness and response.

Detection Methods for Pine Wilt Disease: A Comprehensive Review.

Pine wilt disease (PWD), caused by the nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a highly destructive forest disease that necessitates rapid and precise identification for effective management and control. This study evaluates various detection methods for PWD, including morphological diagnosis, molecular techniques, and remote sensing. While traditional methods are economical, they are limited by their inability to detect subtle or early changes and require considerable time and expertise. To overcome these challenges, this study emphasizes advanced molecular approaches such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) coupled with CRISPR/Cas12a, which offer fast and accurate pathogen detection. Additionally, DNA barcoding and microarrays facilitate species identification, and proteomics can provide insights into infection-specific protein signatures. The study also highlights remote sensing technologies, including satellite imagery and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based hyperspectral analysis, for their capability to monitor PWD by detecting asymptomatic diseases through changes in the spectral signatures of trees. Future research should focus on combining traditional and innovative techniques, refining visual inspection processes, developing rapid and portable diagnostic tools for field application, and exploring the potential of volatile organic compound analysis and machine learning algorithms for early disease detection. Integrating diverse methods and adopting innovative technologies are crucial to effectively control this lethal forest disease.

The polk county screening tool screening for detecting subarachnoid hemorrhage

IntroductionThe subarachnoid space in the brain contains crucial blood vessels and cerebrospinal fluid. Aneurysms in these vessels can lead to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a serious stroke subtype with high morbidity and mortality rates. SAH treatment includes procedures like coiling and clipping, but these are available only at comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs), necessitating urgent diagnosis and transfer to specialized facilities.MethodsThis IRB-approved study was conducted by Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) in Florida. PCFR, serving an 850,000-person population, implemented a three-step SAH protocol. The protocol uses both Ottawa SAH criteria and recurring symptoms, such as new-onset seizures and high systolic blood pressure, that were identified by EMS. Acute management included administering labetalol, levetiracetam, and ondansetron.ResultsOf 2175 stroke patients, 80 screened positive for SAH and were eligible for transfer. Patients had a median age of 66, and 33% had an initial systolic BP over 220 mmHg. The interfacility transfer rate dropped from 12.9 to 3.6% after implementing the protocol.ConclusionThe PCFR protocol’s effectiveness suggests its potential for nationwide implementation. Early SAH recognition and prompt transfer to CSCs reduce complications and improve outcomes. Accurate field diagnosis by EMTs can prevent unnecessary transfers and enhance patient care. Future improvements may include portable diagnostic tools and enhanced EMT training to further improve SAH patients’ pre-hospital care.

Astrosense – a Printed Wearalbe Electrochemical Sensor for Monitoring Cortisol in Sweat during Human Spaceflight

The In Space Manufacturing of sensors and electronics can directly addresses the logistic challenge for long-duration human spaceflight missions by reducing mission logistics mass, increase reliability, mitigate risk, while also offering a high degree of customization and tailorability. This manufacturing approach relies on additive manufacturing technologies, due to its versatility, low power consumption, automation, fast manufacturing time with low waste generation, and ability to print a variety of materials. To ensure the health and safety of crew members, developing human health portable diagnostic tools that can be manufactured during long duration missions is necessary to ensure that the crew members are monitored in real time so that countermeasures can be deployed as soon as possible. Here we report the development of Astrosense (Figure 1), a wearable wireless and fully printed platform that integrates several sensors, including, electrochemical sensor for the detection of cortisol in sweat, temperature, CO2 and humidity sensors, as well as, the required hardware required to control each individual sensor.Astrosense consists of two sections, a reusable, and a disposable section. The reusable section contains the CO2,temperature, humidity sensor, the potentiostat that controls the cortisol sensor and the printed antennas for data transmission. The cortisol sensor, sweat harvest component and printed batteries will be located on the disposable section of Astrosense, so that they can be easily replaced once the sensor is either saturated, degraded or when the batteries need to be replaced. The disposable section will interfase with the reusable section of Astrosense through several medical grade adhesives and pogo pins. This allows for the easy replacement of the cortisol sensor as well as mounting and dismounting of the device on the human skin. Figure 1

Harnessing the power of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) based microfluidics for next-generation molecular diagnostics.

CRISPR-based (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-based) technologies have revolutionized molecular biology and diagnostics, offering unprecedented precision and versatility. However, challenges remain, such as high costs, demanding technical expertise, and limited quantification capabilities. To overcome these limitations, innovative microfluidic platforms are emerging as powerful tools for enhancing CRISPR diagnostics. This review explores the exciting intersection of CRISPR and microfluidics, highlighting their potential to revolutionize healthcare diagnostics. By integrating CRISPR's specificity with microfluidics' miniaturization and automation, researchers are developing more sensitive and portable diagnostic tools for a range of diseases. These microfluidic devices streamline sample processing, improve diagnostic performance, and enable point-of-care applications, allowing for rapid and accurate detection of pathogens, genetic disorders, and other health conditions. The review discusses various CRISPR/Cas systems, including Cas9, Cas12, and Cas13, and their integration with microfluidic platforms. It also examines the advantages and limitations of these systems, highlighting their potential for detecting DNA and RNA biomarkers. The review also explores the key challenges in developing and implementing CRISPR-driven microfluidic diagnostics, such as ensuring robustness, minimizing cross-contamination, and achieving robust quantification. Finally, it highlights potential future directions for this rapidly evolving field, emphasizing the transformative potential of these technologies for personalized medicine and global health.

Versatility and stability of melamine foam-based biosensors (f-ELISA) using antibodies, nanobodies, and peptides as sensing probes

Macroporous three-dimensional (3D) framework structured melamine foam-based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (f-ELISA) biosensors were developed for rapid, reliable, sensitive, and on-site detection of trace amount of biomolecules and chemicals. Various ligands can be chemically immobilized onto the melamine foam, which brings in the possibility of working with antibodies, nanobodies, and peptides, respectively, as affinity probes for f-ELISA biosensors with improved stability. Different chemical reagents can be used to modify the foam materials, resulting in varied reactivities with antibodies, nanobodies, and peptides. As a result, the f-ELISA sensors produced from these modified foams exhibit varying levels of sensitivity and performance. This study demonstrated that the chemical reagents used for immobilizing antibodies, nanobodies, and peptides could affect the sensitivities of the f-ELISA sensors, and their storage stabilities under different temperatures varied depending on the sensing probes used, with f-ELISA sensors employing nanobodies as probes exhibiting the highest stability. This study not only showcases the versatility of the f-ELISA system but also opens new avenues for developing cost-effective, portable, and user-friendly diagnostic tools with optimized sensitivity and stability.

Rapid and portable quantification of HIV RNA via a smartphone-enabled digital CRISPR device and deep learning

For the 29.8 million people in the world living with HIV/AIDS and receiving antiretroviral therapy, it is crucial to monitor their HIV viral loads. To this end, rapid and portable diagnostic tools that can quantify HIV RNA are critically needed. We report herein a rapid and quantitative digital CRISPR-assisted HIV RNA detection assay that has been implemented within a portable smartphone-based device as a potential solution. Specifically, we first developed a fluorescence-based reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA)-CRISPR assay that can efficiently detect HIV RNA at 42 °C. We then implemented this assay within a commercial stamp-sized digital chip, where RNA molecules were quantified as strongly fluorescent digital reaction wells. The isothermal reaction condition and the strong fluorescence in the digital chip simplified the design of thermal and optical modules, allowing us to engineer a palm-size device measuring 70 × 115 × 80 mm and weighing less than 0.6 kg. We also capitalized the smartphone by developing a custom app to control the device, perform the digital assay, and capture fluorescence images throughout the assay using the smartphone's camera. Moreover, we trained and verified a deep learning-based algorithm for analyzing fluorescence images and identifying positive digital reaction wells with high accuracy. Using our smartphone-enabled digital CRISPR device, we successfully detected as low as 75 copies of HIV RNA in just 15 min, showing its potential toward monitoring of HIV viral loads and aiding the global effort to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Application of a Video Head Impulse Test in the Diagnosis of Vestibular Neuritis.

In patients presenting in the emergency department with acute vertigo, a rapid and accurate differential diagnosis is crucial, as posterior circulation strokes can mimic acute vestibular losses, leading to inappropriate treatment. The diagnosis of vestibular neuritis is made based on the clinical manifestation and a bedside otoneurological assessment. In the clinical examination, an evaluation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex is the key element; however, the accuracy of the bedside head impulse test depends on the clinician's experience. Thus, new diagnostic methods are needed to objectify and facilitate such rapid vestibular evaluations. The aim of our paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the video head impulse test's application in the diagnosis of vestibular neuritis. Numerous studies have reported advantages that make this method helpful in detailed otoneurological evaluations; in contrast to the bedside head impulse test, it enables an analysis of all six semicircular canals function and records the covert corrective saccades, which are invisible to the naked eye. As a portable and easy diagnostic tool, it is known to improve the diagnostic accuracy in patients with acute vertigo presenting in the emergency department. Moreover, as it evaluates the vestibulo-ocular reflex across different frequencies, as compared to caloric tests, it can be used as an additional test that is complementary to videonystagmography. Recently, several papers have described the application of the video head impulse test in follow-up and recovery evaluations in patients with vestibular neuritis.

Biominerals and Bioinspired Materials in Biosensing: Recent Advancements and Applications.

Inspired by nature's remarkable ability to form intricate minerals, researchers have unlocked transformative strategies for creating next-generation biosensors with exceptional sensitivity, selectivity, and biocompatibility. By mimicking how organisms orchestrate mineral growth, biomimetic and bioinspired materials are significantly impacting biosensor design. Engineered bioinspired materials offer distinct advantages over their natural counterparts, boasting superior tunability, precise controllability, and the ability to integrate specific functionalities for enhanced sensing capabilities. This remarkable versatility enables the construction of various biosensing platforms, including optical sensors, electrochemical sensors, magnetic biosensors, and nucleic acid detection platforms, for diverse applications. Additionally, bioinspired materials facilitate the development of smartphone-assisted biosensing platforms, offering user-friendly and portable diagnostic tools for point-of-care applications. This review comprehensively explores the utilization of naturally occurring and engineered biominerals and materials for diverse biosensing applications. We highlight the fabrication and design strategies that tailor their functionalities to address specific biosensing needs. This in-depth exploration underscores the transformative potential of biominerals and materials in revolutionizing biosensing, paving the way for advancements in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and other critical fields.

Label-free detection of Aβ-42: a liquid crystal droplet approach for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.

This study introduces a biosensor based on liquid crystals (LC) designed to detect the Aβ-42 biomarker, commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease. The sensor utilizes LC droplets created using a PEI/Tween-20 surfactant mixture, arranged radially in an aqueous solution. These droplets are coated with the Aβ1-16 antibody, enabling the detection of the Aβ1-42 biomarker. The key advantage of this biosensor lies in its ability to directly translate the antigen-antibody interaction into a change in the molecular orientation of the LC droplets, simplifying the detection process by removing additional procedural steps. Specifically, this immunoassay induces a transformation in the nematic droplets orientation from radial to bipolar upon successful antigen binding. When only the Aβ1-16 antibody coated the LC droplets, no change in orientation was detected, confirming the reaction's specificity. The orientation shift in the LC droplets indicates the formation of an immunocomplex between the Aβ1-16 antibody and the Aβ1-42 antigen. The LC droplet immunoassay effectively detected Aβ1-42 antigen concentrations ranging from 45 to 112.5 μM, with the Aβ1-16 antibody immobilized on the droplets at a concentration of 1 μg mL-1. These findings suggest that the LC microdroplets' orientational behavior can be harnessed to develop a biosensor for the in vivo detection of various proteins or pathogens in a PBS aqueous medium. Owing to its label-free nature and distinct optical signaling, this LC droplet-based immunoassay holds promise for further development into a cost-effective, portable diagnostic tool.

Physics-informed neural network for fast prediction of temperature distributions in cancerous breasts as a potential efficient portable AI-based diagnostic tool

This work presents the development of a novel Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) method for fast forward simulation of heat transfer through cancerous breast models. The proposed PINN method combines deep learning and physical principles to predict the temperature distributions in breast tissues and identify potential abnormal regions indicating the presence of tumors. The PINN model is normally trained by physics in terms of the residuals of the heat transfer equation, as well as boundary conditions with and without datasets of surface thermal imaging data concerning cancerous breast tissues, which can be used for future inverse thermal modeling to calculate tumor sizes and locations. The model is validated by comparing its predictions with those obtained by traditional Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for various cases. The comparison validates the PINN model as an accurate and fast method for thermal modeling and breast cancer diagnostic tool as the PINN simulation is found to be around 12 times faster than its FEM counterpart. The utilization of deep learning and physical principles in a diagnostic tool provides a non-invasive and safer alternative for breast self-examination compared to traditional methods such as mammography. These findings hold promise for the ongoing development of a new portable Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool for the early detection of breast cancer in breast self-examination as promoted by WHO, which is crucial for reducing mortality rates of breast cancer in the world.

Exploring the Use of Lung Ultrasonography to Assess Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Scoping Review

Objective: Lung ultrasonography (LUS) is a safe, quick, and portable diagnostic tool, which can accurately detect postoperative pulmonary complications, postsurgically, without ionizing radiation. The aim of this scoping review was to map the evidence base regarding the use of LUS to assess cardiac surgery patients. Materials and Methods: The JBI methodology was used to conduct this particular scoping review. Results: In total, 90 publications were identified and of those, 73 were research studies, six were narrative reviews, and 11 were narrative, opinion, and text articles. The studies that were included were predominantly observational cohorts and aimed to determine or compare LUS diagnostic ability, prognostic ability, or both. The LUS methods used with patients were heterogeneous and variably reported. Conclusion: Despite an increasing number of studies since 2014, standardized protocols for the use of LUS are yet to be widely adopted and remain an important area for further work. Future research should consider exploring perceptions and experiences of LUS, the use of LUS in treatment outcome measurement, and use by nonphysician health care professionals.

(Invited) Translational Applications of Nanostructured Biosensors: Diagnostics at the Point of Care

Development of diagnostic devices with clinically relevant sensitivity and rapidity is highly desirable for decreasing the delay between diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic inefficiency permeates multiple medical fields including infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (both recognized by WHO among paramount threats and research priorities). Molecular detection is also central to cancer, where therapies are often out of step with disease complexity and progression. The respective challenges may be addressed through the application of nanomaterial and high-throughput devices that offer unique advantages. In Mahshid Lab, we develop novel paradigms in point of care diagnosis via synergistically combining innovative nanostructured sensors with fluidic sample delivery systems and biomolecular assay capabilities (Nano/Bio diagnostic devices).From an engineering perspective, the lab seeks to use the remarkable intrinsic properties of novel nanomaterials, to render them capable of sensing the specific biomolecules. Such miniaturized sensors could be integrated with automated lab-chip devices and deployed to diagnose molecular changes in biological systems and in disease such as cancer (by targeting new cancer biomarkers) or to detect infectious agents in biological samples, e.g. in blood, saliva and urine. From a health industry perspective, we target the advancement of the automated and portable tools for in-field testing, remote locations and hospitals in close collaboration with clinicians to validate the devices with clinical samples. In particular and in the context of infectious disease, Mahshid lab has developed SALIVERA analogous to a qPCR, and NFluidEX analogous to a glucometer, that enabled rapid portable automated monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patient saliva and antibodies in patient blood, respectively. In the context of cancer, Mahshid lab has developed MoSERS, anon-chip approach for molecular profiling of extracellular vesicles (a new cancer biomarker)on-chip approach for molecular profiling of extracellular vesicles (a new cancer biomarker)in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of glioblastoma patients. The proposed hybrid devices are capable of working with small sample volumes and precise dosing of reagents, enabling the transition to a portable diagnostic tool.

Surfactant-regularized liquid crystal aptasensor for optical monitoring of prostate-specific antigen: Appropriate for health care monitoring

BackgroundHighly sensitive and accurate monitoring of disease biomarkers is of substantial importance for early clinical diagnostic aims. Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies of the male genitourinary system. It is of great significance to fabricate accurate and reliable diagnostic assay for prostate cancer disease. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a prostate cancer biomarker secreted from the prostate epithelial cells. In this study, a tag-free aptasensor is introduced for the ultrasensitive determination of PSA ultralow levels by incorporating liquid crystal (LC) molecules at the surfactant-regularized interface. MethodRelying on the orientational changes of LCs at the surfactant-arranged interface, PSA can be detected by the LC aptasensor. The optical vision of the aptasensor background changes from colorful to dark by forming the aptamer-PSA complex that induces the re-arrangement of LC molecules from disordered to homeotropic direction. ResultsThe aptasensor can monitor PSA in the concentration range of 1–1200 pg mL−1 with a detection limit of 0.148 pg mL−1. Besides, PSA levels can be monitored in the real human serum samples by using the LC aptasensor. ConclusionThe developed aptasensor benefits the superiorities of low cost, simplicity, easy-to-carry, operator-free, and great sensitivity, making it novel as a portable diagnostic tool. With the capability to quantify PSA in real human serum samples, the LC aptasensor is efficient in the field of health care monitoring.

Microfluidic-LAMP chip for the point-of-care detection of gene-deleted and wild-type African swine fever viruses and other four swine pathogens.

Different pathogens causing mixed infection are now threatening the pig industry in the context of the African Swine Fever (ASF) circulating especially in China, and it is crucial to achieving the early diagnosis of these pathogens for disease control and prevention. Here we report the development of a rapid, portable, sensitive, high-throughput, and accurate microfluidic-LAMP chip detection system for simultaneous detection and differentiation of gene-deleted type and wild-type African swine fever virus (ASFV), pseudorabie virus (PRV), porcine parvovirus (PPV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRSV). The newly developed system was shown to be sensitive with detection limits of 101 copies/μl for ASFV-MGF505-2R/P72, PPV, and PCV2, 102 copies/μl for ASFV-CD2v, PRV, and PRRSV. The system was highly specific (100%) and stable (C.V.s < 5%) in its ability to detect different pathogens. A total 213 clinical samples and 15 ASFV nucleic acid samples were collected to assess the performance of the detection system, showing highly effective diagnosis. Altogether, the developed microfluidic-LAMP chip system provides a rapid, sensitive, high-throughput and portable diagnostic tool for the accurate detection of multiple swine pathogens.

A smartphone integrated paper (SIP)-based platform for rapid and on-site screening of urinary tract infections

We present a smartphone integrated paper (SIP)-based system that enables accurate screening of urinary tract infections (UTIs) by directly identifying white blood cells (WBCs) in human urine samples. The SIP platform mainly consists of a paper-based capillaric filter and a smartphone-integrated fluorescence microscope. A paper filtration device allows a low-cost, simple method for selectively dying and isolating target WBCs in urine with more than 95% collection efficiency using capillary action through paper layers with several different pore sizes without extra pumps and tubes typically required for fluidic actuation in microfluidic systems. Furthermore, an integrated smartphone can be conveniently used for fluorescence imaging of the stained WBCs and microscopic analysis to rapidly provide UTI diagnostic results at the point of care without the need of bulky laboratory equipment and specialized training. The fabrication process for the SIP platform is simple and cost-effective, being beneficial for resource-limited field applications. We have experimentally demonstrated the capability of the SIP for isolation of target WBCs in a urine solution (more than 95% selectivity) using the paper capillaric filter, the effectiveness of the smartphone microscope for fluorescence imaging of urine solutions with 14.4 × magnification over a field of view of ∼12.25 mm2, the reliability of the platform’s cell counting with the 96.67% sensitivity and 100% specificity, and successful differentiation of the real urine samples between UTI patient and healthy person. The entire screening processes from filtration to quantification of WBCs in real human urine samples were rapidly completed within 10 min, showing its potential for point-of-care applications. The SIP technology provides a low-cost, rapid, and portable UTI diagnostic tool that can improve the access of accurate test results to developing areas and thus reduce suffering by speeding up therapy timelines.

Free-flow biomolecular concentration and separation of proteins and nucleic acids using teíchophoresis

The ability to preconcentrate, separate, and purify biomolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, is an important requirement for the next generation of portable diagnostic tools for environmental monitoring and disease detection. Traditionally, such pretreatment has been accomplished using large, centralized liquid- or solid-phase extraction equipment, which can be time-consuming and requires many processing steps. Here, we present a newly developed electrokinetic concentration technique, teíchophoresis (TPE), to concentrate and separate proteins, and to concentrate nucleic acids. In TPE, a free-flowing sample is exposed to a perpendicular electric field in the vicinity of a mass-impermeable conductive wall and a conductive terminating electrolyte (TE), which creates a high electric field strength zone between the lower mobility sample and the no-flux barrier. Unlike a similar electrokinetic concentration method, isotachophoresis (ITP), TPE does not require a leading electrolyte (LE), yet still enables a continuous field-driven electrophoretic ion migration across the channel and a free-flowing biomolecular concentration at the conductive wall. Here, we demonstrate the use of free-flow TPE (FFTPE) to manipulate biomolecular samples containing proteins or nucleic acids. We first use TPE to drive a 6.6-fold concentration increase of avidin-FITC, and also demonstrate protein separation and stacking between ovalbumin-fluorescein and BSA-AlexaFluor 555, both without the use of a conventional LE. Further, we utilize TPE to perform a 21-fold concentration increase of nucleic acids. Our results show that TPE is biocompatible with both proteins and nucleic acids, requires only 10 V DC, produces no significant sample pH changes during operation, and demonstrates that this method can be used as an effective sample pretreatment to prepare biological samples for downstream analysis in a continuous free-flowing microfluidic channel.

Rapid and Visual RPA-Cas12a Fluorescence Assay for Accurate Detection of Dermatophytes in Cats and Dogs.

Dermatophytosis, an infectious disease caused by several fungi, can affect the hair, nails, and/or superficial layers of the skin and is of global significance. The most common dermatophytes in cats and dogs are Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Wood’s lamp examination, microscopic identification, and fungal culture are the conventional clinical diagnostic methods, while PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and qPCR (Quantitative PCR) are playing an increasingly important role in the identification of dermatophytes. However, none of these methods could be applied to point-of-care testing (POCT). The recent development of the CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) based diagnostic platform promises a rapid, accurate, and portable diagnostic tool. In this paper, we present a Cas12a-fluorescence assay to detect and differentiate the main dermatophytes in clinical samples with high specificity and sensitivity. The Cas12a-based assay was performed with a combination of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA). The results could be directly visualized by naked eyes under blue light, and all tested samples were consistent with fungal culture and sequencing results. Compared with traditional methods, the RPA-Cas12a-fluorescence assay requires less time (about 30 min) and less complicated equipment, and the visual changes can be clearly observed with naked eyes, which is suitable for on-site clinical diagnosis.

Toward the development of a polarimetric tool to diagnose the fibrotic human ventricular myocardium.

.SignificanceOptical polarimetry is an emerging modality that effectively quantifies the bulk optical properties that correlate with the anisotropic structural properties of cardiac tissues. We demonstrate the application of a polarimetric tool for characterizing healthy and fibrotic human myocardial tissues efficiently with a high degree of accuracy.AimThe study was aimed to characterize the myocardial tissues from the left ventricle and right ventricle of control and diseased subjects. The diseased subjects were composed of two groups: with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and with myxomatous valve (MV) disease.ApproachA portable, affordable, and accurate linear polarization-based diagnostic tool is developed to measure the degree of linear polarization (DOLP) of the myocardial tissues while working at a wavelength of 850 nm.ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the polarimetric tool in distinguishing the control group from the RHD group were found to be 73.33%, 76.92%, and 75%, respectively, and from the MV group were 91.6%, 62.5%, and 80%, respectively, which demonstrates the efficacy of the polarimetric tool to distinguish the healthy myocardial tissues from diseased tissues.ConclusionsWe have successfully developed a polarimetric tool that can aid cardiologists in characterizing the myocardial tissues in conjunction with endomyocardial biopsy. This work should be followed up with experiments on a large cohort of control and diseased subjects. We intend to create and develop a probe to quantify the DOLP of in vivo heart tissue during surgery.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing: A Comprehensive Review of Currently Used Methods.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major threat to public health globally. Accurate and rapid detection of resistance to antimicrobial drugs, and subsequent appropriate antimicrobial treatment, combined with antimicrobial stewardship, are essential for controlling the emergence and spread of AMR. This article reviews common antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods and relevant issues concerning the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Although accurate, classic technologies used in clinical microbiology to profile antimicrobial susceptibility are time-consuming and relatively expensive. As a result, physicians often prescribe empirical antimicrobial therapies and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Although recently developed AST systems have shown advantages over traditional methods in terms of testing speed and the potential for providing a deeper insight into resistance mechanisms, extensive validation is required to translate these methodologies to clinical practice. With a continuous increase in antimicrobial resistance, additional efforts are needed to develop innovative, rapid, accurate, and portable diagnostic tools for AST. The wide implementation of novel devices would enable the identification of the optimal treatment approaches and the surveillance of antibiotic resistance in health, agriculture, and the environment, allowing monitoring and better tackling the emergence of AMR.