Quantitative Monitoring Research Articles

Cardiac Amyloid Detection by PET/CT Imaging of Iodine (124I) Evuzamitide (124I-p5+14): A Phase 1/2 Study

BackgroundThe noninvasive detection of cardiac amyloid, as well as deposits in other vital organs, is critical for early diagnosis and quantitative disease monitoring. Positron emission tomography is an intrinsically quantitative imaging modality suitable for high-resolution amyloid detection. ObjectivesThis study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel amyloid-reactive peptide, designated p5+14, labeled with iodine-124 (124I), in patients with diverse types of systemic amyloidosis. MethodsIn a single-site, open label phase 1/2 study (NCT03678259), the safety, biodistribution, and sensitivity of a single intravenous infusion of 124I-evuzamitide was assessed in patients with systemic amyloidosis (n = 50), asymptomatic transthyretin sequence variant carriers (n = 2), and healthy volunteers (n = 5). Subjects were administered 1.4 ± 0.2 mg of 124I-evuzamitide (71.5 ± 12.4 MBq) and positron emission tomography/x-ray computed tomography images acquired at 5.2 hours (Q25-Q75: 4.9-5.4 hours) postinfusion. Images were assessed visually and semi-quantitatively for positive uptake of radiotracer in the heart and other major organs. ResultsUptake of 124I-evuzamitide in the heart and other abdominothoracic organs was consistent with the patient’s clinical presentation and the type of amyloidosis. The patient- and cardiac-associated sensitivity for imaging and clinical observations was 93.6% (95% CI: 82.8%-97.8%) and 96.2% (95% CI: 81.8%-99.8%), respectively. Semi-quantitative uptake of the radiotracer correlated significantly with serum N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide measurements in patients with light chain–associated amyloidosis. Cardiac uptake was not observed in any healthy volunteers. The agent was well tolerated, with 1 drug-related adverse event and no deaths. Conclusions124I-evuzamitide is an amyloid-binding radiotracer capable of detecting cardiac amyloid in patients with high sensitivity.

Automatic discontinuity identification and quantitative monitoring of unstable blocks using terrestrial laser scanning in large landslide during emergency disposal

Automatic discontinuity identification and quantitative monitoring of unstable blocks using terrestrial laser scanning in large landslide during emergency disposal

Small-scale fishery catch composition in Rhodes (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Trammel net and boat-seine experimental fishing samplings were carried out seasonally, over a rocky-sandy and a Posidonia oceanica habitat respectively, in the coastal waters of Rhodes, south-eastern Aegean Sea, Greece, between 2019 and 2020. Fish catch composition, abundance and biomass were investigated as a contribution to the qualitative and quantitative monitoring of the fish assemblages in the artisanal fishery in this Greek marine region most affected by biological invasion. A total of 56 native and 11 alien fish species were captured. Five invasive species Fistularia commersonii, Pterois miles, Siganus rivulatus, Siganus luridus and Lagocephalus sceleratus were recorded using both fishing gear. In trammel nets, the alien to native fish species ratio was 1:2.87 with eight allochthonous species composing 43% of the total abundance and greatly exceeding native species biomass with the most dominant being F. commersonii, P. miles, S. rivulatus and S. luridus. Boat seine samples were dominated by Spicara smaris and Boops boops, which accounted for 84% and 56% of total abundance and biomass, respectively, while the alien to native fish species ratio was 1:5.1. The 10 Lessepsian fish, i.e., fish that have entered the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, identified on a Posidonia seabed represented a small proportion of the total abundance (3.4%), while their biomass reached 17% of the total catch, with a prevalence of F. commersonii. Among alien fish on P. oceanica, S. rivulatus exhibited the greatest abundance, followed by F. commersonii, Parupeneus forsskali and S. luridus, with small but not negligible densities of Pteragogus trispilus and Torquigener flavimaculosus. The abundance of Pterois miles over the rocky-sandy habitat was remarkable. Results indicate a transitional shift in fish catch composition with introduced species competing with natives for food and space (i.e. between introduced siganids and Sparisoma cretense, Sarpa salpa, between the recently introduced P. forsskali and mullids, and between introduced P. miles and scorpaenids), further influenced synergistically by environmental and anthropogenic factors. The Total-Standard length and Total weight-Total length relationships and their applications in fisheries data for the allochthonous fish are briefly discussed.

Analysis of the Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Emerging Pollutants in China

Pollutant types are increasing along with the rapid development of society and economy. Some emerging pollutants from chemicals have begun to appear and endanger public and ecosystem health. However, the research and development of emerging pollutant monitoring technology is still in its infancy, with no complete monitoring system in place. This makes it impossible to access and identify the spatial pattern of emerging pollutants. Therefore, this paper reviews the existing quantitative research results on four common emerging pollutants in China’s water environment—namely, endocrine disruptors, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, and microplastics—extracts the quantitative monitoring results of emerging pollutants in the case studies, and outlines the spatial distribution characteristics of emerging pollutants in the water environment. The results show that the emerging pollutants have a large distribution area that has covered most of China. The level of pollution from emerging pollutants correlates with the level of economic development and the pollution level in economically developed regions such as the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region is significantly higher than in other regions. This study provides a reference for the prevention and control of emerging pollutants in China.

Development of a collaborative framework for quantitative monitoring and accumulation prediction of harmful algal blooms in nearshore areas of lakes

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in lakes have been a salient problem of global water environment due to their harmful impacts. Present situation and future tendency of HABs in nearshore areas are more important than those in other areas of lakes, but traditional researches generally ignored this point. This study developed a novel framework aiming to timely and accurately grasp both present conditions and accumulation risks of HABs in nearshore areas of lakes. By designing a quantitative monitoring method, land-based video monitoring devices around lakes were used to obtain present situation of HABs in nearshore areas rapidly, periodically and automatically. On this basis, a coupled simulation model was established to predict accumulation risks of HABs in nearshore areas using five indexes, i.e., shoreline index, chlorophyll-a index, algal bloom index, wind direction index and dynamic index. Experimental results indicated that the accuracy of HAB monitoring in nearshore areas is quite satisfying (85.20%) and the prediction results of HABs accumulation in nearshore areas is reasonable and credible. This study demonstrated a high value of the developed collaborative framework in emergency prevention and control of HABs in lakes.

Perovskite-based photodetector for real-time and quantitative monitoring of sports motion

Reliable monitoring the movement amplitude and dynamics during sports exercise is significant for improving training results and preventing training wound. Here, we present a printed perovskite-based photodetector for real-time and quantitative monitoring of sports motion. The ordered nucleation and growth of perovskite crystals are regulated by the 4-acetamidothiophenol (AMTP) at the interface, which promotes the size of perovskite crystals into the micrometer. Benefiting from the uniformity of the AMTP-regulated MAPbI3, the as-prepared photodetector gives great photocurrent response under indoor light or outdoor light. During the exercise, real-time monitoring sports motion is achieved through detecting the illumination changing of photodetectors attaching on the wrist and ankles. Moreover, twelve kinds of common sports can be quantitatively analyzed with the detection of illumination changing on the photodetector. Such photodetector provides an efficient measurement method of wearable electronics for sports monitoring.

Comparison of metagenomic and targeted methods for sequencing human pathogenic viruses from wastewater.

Most public health initiatives that monitor viruses in wastewater have utilized quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and whole genome PCR sequencing, mirroring techniques used for viral epidemiology in individuals. These techniques require prior knowledge of the target viral genome and are limited to monitoring individual or small groups of viruses. Metagenomic sequencing may offer an alternative strategy for monitoring a broad spectrum of viruses in wastewater, including novel and emerging pathogens. In this study, while amplicon sequencing gave high viral genome coverage, untargeted shotgun sequencing of total nucleic acid samples was unable to detect human pathogenic viruses with enough sensitivity for use in genomic epidemiology. Enrichment of shotgun libraries for respiratory viruses using hybrid-capture technology provided genotypic information on a range of viruses simultaneously, indicating strong potential for wastewater surveillance. This type of targeted metagenomics could be used for monitoring diverse targets, such as pathogens or antimicrobial resistance genes, in environmental samples.

Real-time visualization the pH fluctuations of living cells with a ratiometric near-infrared fluorescent probe

In situ real-time quantitative monitoring pH fluctuation in complex living systems is vitally significant. In the current work, a ratiometric near-infrared (NIR) probe (MCyOH) was developed to confront this challenge. MCyOH exhibited good sensitivity, photostability, reversibility, and an ideal pKa (pKa = 6.65). Ratiometric character of MCyOH is beneficial to accuracy detect the pH fluctuations in living cells under different stimulation. The observations showed that intracellular pH was decreased when HepG2 cells under oxidative stress or starvation conditions. In particular, HepG2 cells was acidulated after addition of ethanol, however, the acidification phenomenon was attenuated or disappeared when HepG2 cells preincubated with disulfiram or fomepizole. Finally, MCyOH was successfully applied to observe the increasement of intracellular pH when HepG2 cells treated with fomepizole individually. Overall, MCyOH would be a practical candidate to explore pH-associated physiological and pathological varieties.

Identification and characterization of CHO host-cell proteins in monoclonal antibody bioprocessing.

Host-cell proteins (HCPs)are the foremost class of process-related impurities to be controlled and removed in downstream processing steps in monoclonal antibody (mAb) manufacturing. However, some HCPs may evade clearance in multiple purification steps and reach the final drug product, potentially threatening drug stability and patient safety. This study extends prior work on HCP characterization and persistence in mAb process streams by using mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods to track HCPs through downstream processing steps for seven mAbs that were generated by five different cell lines. The results show considerable variability in HCP identities in the processing steps but extensive commonality in the identities and quantities of the most abundant HCPs in the harvests for different processes. Analysis of HCP abundance in the harvests shows a likely relationship between abundance and the reproducibility of quantification measurements and suggests that some groups of HCPs may hinder the characterization. Quantitative monitoring of HCPs persisting through purification steps coupled with the findings from the harvest analysis suggest that multiple factors, including HCP abundance and mAb-HCPinteractions, can contribute to the persistence of individual HCPs and the identification of groups of common, persistent HCPs in mAb manufacturing.

Ratiometric upconversion luminescence sensing platform for visual monitoring of antiarrhythmic drug level in serum

Arrhythmia seriously threatens life and health, it requires long-term use of antiarrhythmic drugs such as mexiletine and needs to monitor the dosage of drugs in the body to ensure efficacy and avoid serious side effects. Here, we designed a sensing platform for real-time visual monitoring of drug efficacy using a ratiometric upconversion probe, which overcomes the fluorescence background interference in the serum, and improves the resolution and accuracy of visual detection. By combining lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with readily available organic dyes, an efficient upconversion nanoprobe was constructed under the reaction mechanism of internal filtration effect (IFE) to realize the quantitative detection of mexiletine in serum. Due to the addition of mexiletine, the characteristic emission peak of the probe at 540 nm changes, while the fluorescence intensity at 655 nm is unchanged. Therefore, the visual detection of mexiletine in serum is realized according to the fluorescence intensity changes of I540/I655. In addition, the designed sensing platform is combined with a smartphone to realize real-time visualization and quantitative monitoring of mexiletine, and the detection limits in fluorescence and colorimetric modes are as low as 55.6 nM and 469.75 nM respectively, consequently resulting in sensitive monitoring the effective dosage of drugs in the serum. The proposed detection platform provides a new sensing strategy for the visual determination of antiarrhythmic drugs and an instant device to warn the treatment process of the disease immediately.

Comparative quantifications and morphological monitoring of the topical treatment approach for onychomycosis-affected in vivo toenail using optical coherence tomography: A case study

Onychomycosis is one of the most common toenail fungal infections that affect the quality of life of many patients. Long-term and noninvasive monitoring of morphological changes of onychomycosis-affected nail plate aids the medication process and provides comfort for patients. However, existing medical and dermatological imaging methods have various types of limitations in nail investigation due to low resolution, lack of volumetric data, the necessity of highly trained personnel for image analysis, and the variety of protocols. In this study, qualitative monitoring-based quantitative assessments were performed to assess the morphological changes of onychomycosis-affected toenail for 15 consecutive weeks using high-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT). Layer intensity and surface roughness measuring algorithms were applied to two-dimensional OCT cross-sectional images to detect gradual changes in the morphological structure of the diseased toenail. A depth intensity profile and the angle formed between the nail plate and nail fold were also used to analyze the thickness and shape of the toenail plates, respectively. The quantitative and morphological monitoring results revealed significant changes in the toenail structure before and during the treatment process, confirming the healing of the diseased toenail. Therefore, the proposed noninvasive optical analysis approach can be applied to monitor nail abnormalities and evaluate the process of diseased toenail medication.

Comparative performance of stimpod electromyography with mechanomyography for quantitative neuromuscular blockade monitoring.

The purpose of this study was to compare the Stimpod electromyograph neuromuscular blockade monitor to mechanomyography, which is widely considered to be the reference standard. The Stimpod electromyograph was used with its designated electrode array on the same hand as the mechanomyograph. Pairs of train-of-four measurements were recorded every 0.5-2min. When the train-of-four count was zero on the electromyograph monitor, pairs of post tetanic count measurements were recorded every 2.5min, instead of train-of-four measurements. Measurements were recorded from immediately after induction of anesthesia until just before emergence. Stimulation current was set to 60 mA with a duration of 200 microsec. The mechanomyography recording system recorded each twitch waveform for analysis. High resolution electromyograph waveforms were also recorded using a datalogger accessory provided by the manufacturer, facilitating inspection of individual waveforms. The administration of neuromuscular blocking drugs was left up to the discretion of the anesthesia care team. Twenty-three patients contributed 1,088 data pairs suitable for analysis. Bland-Altman analysis of 415 pairs of train-of-four ratios showed a bias of 0.028 and limits of agreement of -0.18 and 0.24. Two hundred seventy-three train-of-four count data pairs were compared by Cohen's quadratically weighted kappa which was calculated to be 0.44, indicating moderate agreement. Three hundred thirty-eight post tetanic count data pairs were compared by Cohen's quadradically weighted kappa which was calculated to be 0.80, indicating substantial agreement. The electromyograph produced results that were comparable to the mechanomyograph.

Resolving the variability in habitat use by juvenile small pelagic fish in a major tidal system by continuous echosounder measurements

Shallow coastal areas are important nurseries for larvae and juveniles of many fish species. However, empirical data on small pelagic fish (SPF) in such regions are lacking, and temporal variability in abundance and habitat use by SPF are unknown. Given the critical role of SPF as a trophic link, their commercial value and their sensitivity to climate variability, there is a need for a quantitative and high-resolution monitoring method. We deployed a bottom-mounted echosounder, combined with a water current profiler, to examine the temporal variation in density, vertical distribution and movement behaviour of SPF in the Marsdiep, a dynamic tidal inlet between the North Sea and the Wadden Sea. The acoustic setup provided year-round records of fish density distribution in the water column every 90 min. Monthly fish samples were collected to help interpret acoustic observations. Our analyses indicated that the Marsdiep is a migration gateway for SPF from the North Sea into the Wadden Sea, particularly for juvenile herring and sprat. We observed clear seasonality with high fish densities from mid-spring to early autumn. Fish typically used the upper half of the water column. Swimming behaviour was primarily driven by currents. Yet, during outgoing tide, SPF resisted the outflowing current, suggesting efforts to remain in the Wadden Sea, supporting the hypothesis that the Wadden Sea serves as a preferred nursery area for SPF. Our high frequency, multi-seasonal and vertically resolved observations provide unique insight into the use of the Marsdiep by SPF. Furthermore, potential applications of autonomous echosounder moorings are discussed.

A bifunctional agent for efficient imaging of PD-L1 and antimelanoma activity

Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-L1 lead to challenging patterns of efficacy and toxicity. Herein, by focusing on tracing the molecular biomarker of response to efficacy, we formulated a central hypothesis for the construction of theranostic functional monoclonal antibody incorporation with tracing ability based on fluorescence turn-on and controllable release strategies. Functional atezolizumab was constructed by in situ assembly of both biorthogonal group and controllable release group. The theranostic monoclonal antibodies achieved quantitative monitoring of PD-L1 on cells with different expression levels through biorthogonal light-up fluorescence, followed by the release of atezolizumab in combination with high tumor reduction conditions to promote immune activation. The combination of bio-orthogonal reaction-driven fluorescence turn-on and tumor microenvironment-responsive controllable release afforded theranostic bifunctional monoclonal antibodies for the detection of PD-L1 and combination therapy. Remarkably, these novel theranostics might be used as probes for fluorescent imaging and simultaneously achieving potent antitumor efficacy.

Recurrence of the Neuromuscular Blockade after the Sugammadex Administration after Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression: A Report of 3 Cases

Three elderly patients received sugammadex after confirmation of train-of-four (TOF) stimulation at the end of the surgery. They presented opioid-induced respiratory depression accompanied by severe acidosis postoperatively. Even after the reversal of opioid intoxication with naloxone, the respiration did not recover, and TOF revealed recurrent paralysis. Two of three cases completely recovered after additional sugammadex administration, but remnant 1 case without sugammadex transferred to intensive care unit with intubated status. Even if the recommended dose of sugammadex is administered, there can be recurrent neuromuscular blockade by complicated reasons. Continuous quantitative neuromuscular monitoring may be needed to prevent these unusual situations.

Validation of satellite imagery for quantitative population assessment and monitoring of Atlantic walrus

Monitoring animal population abundance and distribution is essential for conservation and management. Recent advances in very high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery allow for unprecedented detection and identification of animals, offering a potential alternative to conventional methods of population assessment such as aerial surveys. Here, we compare satellite and aerial survey images of a terrestrial walrus haul-out site in the Canadian High Arctic taken 1.5 h apart. While the 30-cm resolution of the commercially available satellite image was insufficient to reliably count individual walruses visually, a manual digitization method successfully identified and delineated image areas confirmed visually to have walrus. Estimates of numbers of hauled out walrus obtained by multiplying the detected area by a range of densities in the aerial image (231) agreed well with actual counts in 35 and 55 mm aerial images (217–240). Potential applications of this approach include quantitative abundance estimation or more simple monitoring of presence/absence over large expanses of remote areas that are logistically difficult to cover using survey aircraft.

A real-time quantitative acceleration monitoring method based on triboelectric nanogenerator for bridge cable vibration

Real-time monitoring of vibration acceleration of civil infrastructure is imperative for effective management and safe operation of structures. Although the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) shows potential for self-powered sensing, it faces challenges in correlating limited experimental electrical amplitudes to structural responses, thereby hindering comprehensive performance analysis of civil infrastructure. Herein, a self-driven acceleration TENG sensor (A-TENG) is designed and manufactured, comprising an outer shell and an inner mass-spring-damper system. By establishing a sensing model based on vibration theory and the TENG mechanism, the electrical signals generated by the sensors can be correlated with structural acceleration, enabling self-driven real-time quantitative characterization. Indoor and on-site experiments demonstrate that the A-TENG sensor is capable of continuously monitoring the acceleration profile with excellent consistency compared to commercial sensors. The non-contact free-standing sliding mode design and ultra-lightweight construction of the A-TENG sensor (∼8 g) enhance its start-up sensitivity (∼0.1 m/s2), long-term stability (∼30,000 loading cycles) while minimizing mass interference. The proposed sensing theory renders a novel approach to offering complete time-domain information, which is vital for the precise analysis of structural behavior. This work facilitates understanding of self-driven sensors utilizing TENG technology and provides a useful tool for long-term real-time quantitative structural health monitoring.

Active Doppler monitoring of de novo cavitation induced by a dual-mode pulsed high-intensity focused ultrasound array

Pulsed high-intensity focused ultrasound (pHIFU) is capable of inducing inertial cavitation in tissues without the need for microbubbles or other ultrasound contrast agents, thereby permeabilizing the tissue to enhance passive diffusion of systemically administered therapeutic agents. Here, we report on the use of ultrafast, synchronous power Doppler imaging to spatially map cavitation activity and resulting tissue disruption in ex vivo and invivo porcine tissues using a dual-mode imaging-therapy linear pHIFU array. The array (64 elements, aperture 51.2 mm × 14 mm, frequency 1.0MHz, 40% bandwidth) was driven by a power-enhanced Verasonics V1 system to deliver a series of 1 ms pulses at a 1% duty cycle while electronically scanning the pHIFU focus over an azimuthal range of ±1 cm. Plane wave Doppler ensembles were captured immediately after each pHIFU pulse to map the distribution and characteristics of the remnants of cavitation bubbles. The degree of resulting tissue disruption was assessed by histology and was correlated with cumulative Doppler power contours computed over the exposure region. The results show that ultrafast synchronous power Doppler is a promising approach for real-time quantitative monitoring of cavitational therapies. [Work supported by NIH R01EB023910 and T32DK007742.]

Recent advances in biosensors for real time monitoring of pH, temperature, and oxygen in chronic wounds.

Chronic wounds are among the major healthcare issues affecting millions of people worldwide with high rates of morbidity, losses of limbs and mortality. Microbial infection in wounds is a severe problem that can impede healing of chronic wounds. Accurate, timely and early detection of infections, and real time monitoring of various wound healing biomarkers related to infection can be significantly helpful in the treatment and care of chronic wounds. However, clinical methodologies of periodic assessment and care of wounds require physical visit to wound care clinics or hospitals and time-consuming frequent replacement of wound dressing patches, which also often adversely affect the healing process. Besides, frequent replacements of wound dressings are highly expensive, causing a huge amount of burden on the national health care systems. Smart bandages have emerged to provide in situ physiochemical surveillance in real time at the wound site. These bandages integrate smart sensors to detect the condition of wound infection based on various parameters, such as pH, temperature and oxygen level in the wound which reduces the frequency of changing the wound dressings and its associated complications. These devices can continually monitor the healing process, paving the way for tailored therapy and improved quality of patient's life. In this review, we present an overview of recent advances in biosensors for real time monitoring of pH, temperature, and oxygen in chronic wounds in order to assess infection status. We have elaborated the recent progress in quantitative monitoring of several biomarkers important for assessing wounds infection status and its detection using smart biosensors. The review shows that real-time monitoring of wound status by quantifying specific biomarkers, such as pH, temperature and tissue oxygenation to significantly aid the treatment and care of chronic infected wounds.

In-situ quantitative prediction of pesticide residues on plant surface by ATR-FTIR technique coupled with chemometrics

Pesticide residues on plant surfaces pose a severe threat to food security, yet most research has focused on monitoring the liquid matrix, with few reports conducting in-situ analysis of the residues. This study was the first to attempt to utilize portable attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) for in-situ characterization of broad-spectrum fungicide boscalid residues on plant surfaces. ATR-FTIR scanning of tomato fruits with pre-determined concentrations of boscalid residues was conducted without any pre-treatment, and the obtained spectra were then processed using chemometrics methods. The results demonstrated a negative correlation between the residual concentrations and their corresponding absorption intensities of several well-resolved peaks from the spectra, resulting in a high accuracy of 93.33% for the classification model created by probabilistic neural network (PNN) coupled with principal component analysis (PCA). By employing correlation analysis and the interval partial least squares method (iPLS), quantitative analysis was conducted on the wavenumber ranges of 1000–1800 cm−1 and 2700–2900 cm−1 from the spectra. The regression model, established through partial least squares regression (PLSR), demonstrated exceptional performance with an R2 value of 0.80, RMSE of 1.02 μg/cm2, RPD of 2.0, and RPIQ of 2.1 for validation. Meanwhile, the detection limit (LOD) of the model was calculated as 3.06 μg/cm2. This report highlights the potential of using portable ATR-FTIR for conducting qualitative and quantitative monitoring of pesticide residues both in-situ and on-site. It also provides references for other measuring techniques.