Real Blood Research Articles

Comprehensive Evaluation of the Analytical Efficiency of Combustion Ion Chromatography for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Biological and Environmental Matrices.

Combustion ion chromatography (CIC) has emerged as a valuable tool for determining fluorine content attributable to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in biological and environmental samples. The total organofluorine (TOF) data from CIC complement information obtained by targeted analyses using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) because TOF includes PFAS that may not be captured by targeted techniques. However, the effect of different PFAS types (chain lengths, head groups, etc.) and matrices on combustion efficiency has not been systematically evaluated. Comparison of C4-C12 PFAS using equimolar quantities of fluorine (5.27 nmol F) demonstrated statistically equivalent CIC responses, indicating uniform combustion across chain lengths. Further, signals resulting from combustion times ranging from 7.5 to 15 min were statistically equivalent. However, fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) exhibited losses due to volatility, requiring the use of an activated carbon sorbent to improve analytical signals. Matrix variations exhibited no change in PFAS combustion efficiency across chain lengths in water, blood, and biosolids. Total fluorine results from CIC analysis of real blood and biosolid samples were compared to targeted LC-MS/MS results. This study highlights the strengths and limitations of CIC as an important complement to targeted PFAS analysis and provide guidance for optimizing application-specific conditions and interpreting CIC results.

A new approach to non-enzymatic glucose sensing with real blood sample analysis: Utilizing nickel-cobalt tungstate

A new approach to non-enzymatic glucose sensing with real blood sample analysis: Utilizing nickel-cobalt tungstate

Magnetic Field-Accelerated Nonthermal Plasma Digestion for Field Pretreatment and Determination of Heavy Metals in Biological Samples.

Field analysis of heavy metals in biological samples is essential for assessing their potential threats to human health. The development of portable pretreatment and detection devices is crucial to address this challenge. Herein, a magnetic field-accelerated nonthermal plasma digestion device using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is designed for the rapid and environmentally friendly pretreatment of biological samples and subsequently combined with point discharge-optical emission spectrometry (PD-OES) for sensitive determination of heavy metals. With the assistance of a magnetic field, the DBD plasma digestion of a batch of six samples using a H2O + H2O2 + HNO3 system can be completed within 25-40 min, achieving the digestion efficiencies of 92-99%. The application of magnetic field enhances the electron density, excitation temperature, discharge current, and power of the DBD plasma, thereby reducing the digestion time by 40-69%. The determination of heavy metals in the digestion solution is directly performed using a miniature injection-detector based on hydride generation-PD-OES. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits for Pb, Sb, Sn, and Bi are 2.4-8.2 μg L-1 (0.048-0.16 mg kg-1), with precisions of <5%. The accuracy and practicability of the present device are verified by measuring several certified reference materials, including GBW10023 (laver) and GBW10044 (rice), and real rice, laver, fish, milk, and blood samples. With its advantages of environmental sustainability, short digestion time, compact size, and lightweight design, the present device provides a simple and efficient tool for field analysis of toxic elements in biological samples.

Smartphone based non invasive real time white blood cell counter leveraging blue light and static magnetic field

White blood cells (WBCs), also known as leukocytes, are one of the most significant parts of the immune system. They generate antibodies, protect the body from illnesses, and heal wounds. Accurate estimation of WBCs is key for diagnosing cancer, infections, leukemia, lymphoma, and other diseases. However, the widely used Complete Blood Count (CBC) test presents challenges, including prick anxiety, discomfort, and logistical inconvenience to patients. This study introduces a ubiquous White Blood Cell counting system, UbiWhite, a novel smartphone-based, non-invasive system for real-time WBC counting from fingertip videos. Our system uses optical and magnetic techniques to provide accurate WBC counts without blood extraction. An initial experimentation was carried out on 20 adult participants to verify the system’s effectiveness compared to standard CBC tests (IRB #4051). The developed algorithms exhibit 1.04 and 1.23 RMSE, respectively. Our innovation provides an easy, affordable, and instantaneous solution for monitoring WBCs in various healthcare settings, including homes and critical care units. Additionally, it serves as a beacon of hope for low- and middle-income nations, where access to and affordability of traditional lab tests are limited.

Attomolar-sensitive milk fever sensor using 3D-printed multiplex sensing structures

The diagnosis of milk fever or hypocalcemia in lactating cows has a significant economic impact on the dairy industry. It is challenging to identify asymptomatic subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) in transition dairy cows. Monitoring subclinical hypocalcemia in milk samples can expedite treatment and improve the health, productivity, and welfare of dairy cows. In this study, an attomolar-sensitive sensor is developed using extrusion-based 3D-printed sensing structures to detect the ratio of ionized calcium to phosphate levels in milk samples. The unique geometries of the lateral structure of 3D-printed sensors, along with the wrinkled surfaces, provide a limit of detection down to the attomole (138 am) concentration of the target analyte. The calcium-to-phosphate ratio in milk samples not only provides early disease indications but also enables on-site testing. This highly selective test is validated using real milk and blood samples, and the results are compared with those of commercial meters. This fast response (~10 s) low-cost sensor opens a promising tool for the farm-side diagnostic of dairy cows that can promote best practice management of dairy cows.

Innovative approaches in electrochemical sensing for the sensitive and selective label-free detection of vericiguat in real blood samples

Innovative approaches in electrochemical sensing for the sensitive and selective label-free detection of vericiguat in real blood samples

Dual-Amplification Single-Particle ICP-MS Strategy Based on Strand Displacement Amplification-CRISPR/Cas12a Amplification for Homogeneous Detection of miRNA.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate a myriad of biological processes and thus have been regarded as useful biomarkers in biomedical research and clinical diagnosis. The specific and highly sensitive detection of miRNAs is of significant importance. Herein, a sensitive and rapid dual-amplification elemental labeling single-particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) analytical method based on strand displacement amplification (SDA) and CRISPR/Cas12a was developed for miRNA-21 detection. Taking gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the elemental labels, the Au NP probe initially hybridized with linker DNA, forming large aggregates. In the absence of target miRNA-21, large aggregates of AuNPs will produce high pulse signals in spICP-MS detection. In the presence of the target miRNA-21, it triggered the SDA reaction, and the SDA products activated CRISPR/Cas12a's trans-cleavage activity to cleave the linker DNA, resulting in disassembly of the AuNP aggregates. The AuNP aggregates with smaller size displayed lower pulse signals in spICP-MS detection. Under the optimal conditions, a good relationship between the average pulse signal intensity of AuNP aggregates and the concentration of miRNA-21 was obtained in the range of 0.5 fmol L-1-100 pmol L-1 with a quantification limit as low as 0.5 fmol L-1. The developed method was successfully used for determination of miRNA-21 in human breast cancer cell lines (SK-BR-3 and MCF-7) and real blood samples from breast cancer patients. It is versatile, can be adapted to detect other targets by modifying the specific sequence of the SDA template chain that is complementary to the analytes, and offers a promising strategy for detecting various biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity.

Morphological regulation of platinum nanoflowers with high enzyme loading for glucose biosensing and biofuel cells

Morphological regulation of platinum nanoflowers with high enzyme loading for glucose biosensing and biofuel cells

Influence of the orientation of constructed blood vessels during the 3D printing on the measurement of the pseudo-oxygen saturation of an artificial blood substitute using conventional oxygen sensors: a test series

BackgroundThe development of phantoms to reduce animal testing or to validate new instruments or operation techniques is of increasing importance. For this reason, a blood circulation phantom was developed to test a newly designed retractor system with an integrated oxygen sensor. This phantom was used to evaluate the impact of the 3D printed blood vessel on the measurement of the oxygen saturation.MethodsA solution of nickel sulfate and copper sulfate was prepared as a substitute for real blood. The absorption spectra of these solutions were recorded and compared with those of blood. Subsequently, the oxygen sensor used was calibrated to the blood substitute. Additionally, blood vessels with a simplified geometry were designed and manufactured using inverted vat polymerization and an elastic material (Formlabs Elastic 50 A). To determine the orientation during the printing process, various vessels were printed. Measurements to assess the effects of disturbance (rotation of the vessels during measurements) on the sensor readouts were prepared.ResultsThe impact of disturbances was verified through the rotation of the 3D printed vessels. It was demonstrated that a direct measurement on the disturbances led to outliers and higher values. An optimal orientation was determined to be a lateral placement (90° or 270°) of the sensor. Regarding the orientation of the vessels within the printing space, an orientation of 45° yielded the best results, as the individual layers had the least impact on the light emitted and received by the oxygen sensor.ConclusionThe achieved results demonstrate the influence of the orientation of the vessel during 3D printing as well as the influence of the position of the vessel during the measurement using a conventional oxygen sensor.

Green synthesized CaO decorated ternary CaO/g-C3N4/PVA nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode for enhanced electrochemical detection of caffeic acid

A highly selective, sensitive caffeic acid (CA) detection based on calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO NPs) derived from extract of Moringa oleifera leaves decorated graphitic carbon nitride covalently grafted poly vinyl alcohol (CaO/g-C3N4/PVA) nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was studied. A facile sonochemical method was adapted to synthesis nanomaterials and characterized by HR-TEM (High resolution transmission electron microscopy), FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), FE-SEM (Field emission scanning electron microscopy), EDX (Energy dispersive X-ray analysis), Mapping and BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis, and electrochemical techniques. The nanocomposite modified GCE exhibited an excellent catalytic performance to the oxidation of CA under optimized conditions owing to better electron transfer efficiency, conductivity and high surface area of the electrode material. The present electrochemical sensor showed high selectivity towards the determination of 10 µM CA in the presence of 100-fold higher concentrations of interferents. The modified CA sensor exhibited a wide sensing linear range from 0.01 µM to 70 µM and the detection limit (LOD) was found to be 0.0024 µM (S/N = 3) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer saline (PBS) as a supporting electrolyte at pH 7.0. The fabricated CA sensor provides an excellent stability, reproducibility and selectivity for the determination of CA. The modified CA sensor was applied to real blood plasma samples and obtained good recovery (97.6-100.1%) results.

The Church and Violence During Multiparty Elections in Kenya from 1992 to 2017

Violence fastened with the passion of religion predominantly continues cloaking the world at an alarming rate because violence does not only belong to everyone but it is also at the heart of the consecrated. It is no surprise therefore that violence in Kenya recurs virtually during every election resulting into polarization and tensions along religious and ethnic affiliations or both. The purpose of this paper was to examine the relationship between the Church and violence during multiparty politics in Kenya. This paper analyzed the role the church played in specific violent events during multiparty politics since 1992 up to 2017 in Kenya. In this regard the study responded to the question; what was the role of the church in the violent events during elections in multiparty politics since 1992 in Kenya? To answer this question the study investigated the role of the church in the specific violence which occurred during elections in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2013 and 2017 election years in Kenya inferring that their roles influenced the occurrence of violence from time to time. The study was conducted through qualitative research method using historical research designs. The study established that the churches in Kenya played various roles in the violence; some of the churches kept quiet as violence flourished in their areas of jurisdiction because they conceived it as punitive and ungodly and in that way, they were in coordinated efforts; while some other churches condoned and extenuated circumstances that led to violent acts because they had a passive attitude towards the government authority having been part and parcel of it in calling for social changes; whereas some churches were not only complicit but endorsed and exhorted violence particularly by blessing youth warriors before going to fight in ethnic violence, believing that it was their religious duty to extirpate injustices and subdue evil in the sinful world using strategic acts of violence as necessary means of deterring large acts of violence and that they had the divine authority to legitimize violence so as to uproot the political evils bedeviling Kenya. In view of all these, the study concluded that the churches were metaphysically, morally, politically and criminally culpable for the violence during multiparty politics in Kenya. Consequently the study maintains that the church in Kenya, like it is with religion in general, is intrinsically violent in the version of a raging cosmic battle between “order” and “disorder” akin to the cosmic war theory as advanced by Mark Juergensmeyer. Often it is the boundary between ‘this world’ and the ‘other world’ that is blurred by church during electioneering period so that the supposedly cosmic battle becomes a real war when people shed real blood and die. The study recommends that it is important to understand the dynamics of the roles played in violence by other religious organization in multi religious nations like Kenya. The degree to which other faiths influence political views in Kenya with regard to election violence is critical. The issue of how the church can mitigate against the cyclic political violence in Kenya kept on evocating in the study. It is important to understand the remedies that the church can put in place to alleviate violence during elections in Kenya.

Polemic, Diatribe, and Farce: Jaina Postures vis-à-vis Sectarian Others in the Kannada Texts of Nayasēna, Brahmaśiva, and Vṛttavilāsa

The Deccan in the first half of the second millennium is marked by political and religious ferment. The Cōḻas, Gaṅgas, Rāṣṭrakūṭas, and Cāḷukyas are contesting its mundane territory, while the Śaivas, Jainas, and Vaiṣṇavas are contesting its spiritual geography. Unlike the interactions of the earthly rulers which spill real blood, the bloodshed of the spiritual gurus is merely metaphorical. But, the animosity driving their interactions is no less intense, for survival is at stake for them just as it is for their secular counterparts. In this essay, I explore the Jaina point of view in sectarian contestations between the twelfth and the fourteenth centuries through the texts of three Kannada authors: Dharmāṁṛtam of Nayasēna (1112CE), Samayaparīkṣe of Brahmaśiva (c.1200CE), and Dharmaparīkṣe of Vṛttavilāsa (c.1360CE). My objective is to identify the sectarian ‘other’ that these authors address, dispute with and vilify, and to explore the changing nature of this sectarian ‘other’ and the shifting attitudes of these authors towards their opponents.

Structural and Solution Speciation Studies on fac-Tricarbonylrhenium(I) Complexes of 2,2'-Bipyridine Analogues.

In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of 12 novel rhenium(I) complexes with the general formula fac-[Re(CO)3(NN)X]n+ where (NN) is a 2,2'-bipyridine analogue ligand, X = Cl-, Br-, or H2O, and n = 0 or 1, focusing on their speciation in an aqueous solution. The prepared organorhenium complexes are stable in a wide pH range in an aqueous solution, and no release of the bidentate ligands or the carbonyl ligands was observed. The stability of the complexes in various biologically relevant matrices (cell culture medium and real blood serum) was also demonstrated. However, the simultaneous substitution of the halido ligand by water and slow hydrolysis of the ester bonds in the ligands were observed, affecting both the solubility and the lipophilicity of the compounds. The aqua complexes became more lipophilic in the presence of chloride ions, while the hydrophilicity increased significantly with time due to the hydrolysis of the ester bonds, which probably contributed to their weak pharmacological activity. The results also showed kinetically hindered aqueous solvation of the halido complexes and low chloride ion affinity of the aqua complexes. The deprotonation of the coordinated aqua ligand in the complexes occurs in the pH = 7-10 range, leading to significant formation (18-30%) of hydroxido species at pH = 7.4. The halido complexes showed somewhat higher cytotoxicity (IC50 = 60-99 μM) on human colon adenocarcinoma cancer cells (Colo205 and Colo320) than the corresponding aqua complexes (IC50 > 100 μM). In all cases, no antibacterial effect was observed (MIC > 100 μM), but some of the complexes showed moderate antiviral activity (IC50 ∼ 50 μM) on Herpes simplex virus 2.

Dual quenching ECL strategy based on AgInZnS quantum dots and a new co-reaction promoter oxygen vacancy-modified P5AIn/TiO2 for sensitive CEA detection

Dual quenching ECL strategy based on AgInZnS quantum dots and a new co-reaction promoter oxygen vacancy-modified P5AIn/TiO2 for sensitive CEA detection

Electrochemical immunosensor based on PtNPs/MoS2@rGO composite for the detection of alpha-fetoprotein in human serum.

An electrochemical biosensor was created to identify the liver cancer marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) by employing nanocomposite materials. Acombination of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was selected as the substrate material for the sensor to prepare the PtNPs/MoS2@rGO electrochemical immunosensor. Among them, rGO has strong conductivity and MoS2 provides a large surface area for the anchoring of PtNPs for better attachment to the hybridized nanomaterials. Meanwhile, PtNPs exhibit consistent biocompatibility and excellent electrocatalytic activity. PtNPs also attach to hybrid nanomaterials and bind the antibody via the Pt-S bond, thereby furnishing the antibody with multiple binding sites for enhanced antibody adhesion. The immunosensor achieved ultra-sensitive AFP detection by exploiting the specific antigen-antibody binding. The structure and morphology of the PtNPs/MoS2@rGO composites were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy, and the sensor was electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS). Under optimized conditions, using differential pulse voltammetry the biosensordetected AFP in serum within a linear range of 1 ~ 105pg/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.9989, and a detection limit of 0.12pg/mL (S/N = 3). The method offers a new approach for the ultrasensitive detection of serum AFP and is extremely selective, accurate, and precisewith a relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 6%. It has been successfully appliedto the analysisof real human blood samples.

9391 Clinical Accuracy Of Continuous Glucose Monitoring In Post-kidney Transplant Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Disclosure: Q. Aziz: None. K. Batra: None. S. Fatima: None. J. Splinter: None. A.L. Champion: None. A.M. Kumar: None. K.E. Izuora: Research Investigator; Self; Novo Nordisk. Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices provide real time blood glucose data to guide therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication of diabetes which can eventually lead to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Kidney transplant is a treatment option for ESRD and patients who undergo kidney transplant are exposed to anti-rejection therapy, including high-dose steroids, resulting in significant fluctuations in blood glucose. Having a reliable system for monitoring blood glucose continuously, such as a CGM, can provide valuable information to guide optimal diabetes management. Objective This study aims to compare the clinical accuracy of the CGM data with the Point of Care Testing (POCT) glucose values as a reference among post kidney transplant patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methodology This study was conducted at an academic medical center from September 2023 to January 2024, enrolling subjects ≥ 18 years, diagnosed with T2DM , admitted for kidney transplant. Following informed consent, a blinded CGM (Freestyle Libre Pro®) was applied. We collected all POCT and serum glucose values and downloaded corresponding CGM glucose data. Using matched pairs between CGM and POCT glucose values, bias and absolute relative differences (ARD) were calculated. Based on the ARD, the Clarke error grid (CEG) analysis was conducted to quantify the clinical accuracy of CGM and POCT by assigning glucose data points into 5 zones A, B, C, D, and E. Summary statistics for numeric variables included mean and standard deviation, whereas categorical variables were described as counts and proportions. All analyses were performed using SAS, 9.4 version. Results: A total of 22 subjects were analyzed after excluding one patient due to CGM malfunction. Subjects were 58±9.69 years old, and 82% were males. The mean body mass index was 30±6.41 kg/m2 and mean HbA1c was 6.7 ± 1.07%, at baseline. The mean duration of diabetes and ESRD were 19±10.6 years and 3±2.27 years respectively. Average CGM wear time was 76±24.5 hours. The CEG comparing CGM values with POCT values showed 83.79% values in zone A, 15.29% in zone B (combined =99.08%) with the Mean Absolute Relative Difference (MARD) of 13.24%. The CEG comparing CGM values with serum glucose showed 83.1% values in zone A, 16.9% in zone B (combined =100%) with the MARD of 13.10%. Conclusion: Our results indicate that CGM values are comparable to the POCT and serum glucose values in post kidney transplant patients with T2DM receiving high dose steroids. Therefore, use of CGMs should be considered as a useful tool, providing timely information to guide prompt interventions and improve outcomes in this patient population. Presentation: 6/3/2024

COMPARISON OF CREATININE DEIMINASE IMMOBILIZATION METHODS FOR DESIGN OF POTENTIOMETRIC BIOSENSORS FOR CREATININE DETECTION

The main analytical characteristics of the potentiometric biosensor based on creatinine deiminase were investigated when working with model samples, and comparison for various enzyme immobilization methods was made. It was found that all sensors are characterized by a similar operating range, response time and high operational stability. At the same time, the sensitivity of the biosensor to creatinine was 2 times higher for the option of immobilization in a drop of glutaraldehyde. Storage stability was high for all immobilization methods, with the exception of immobilization in glutaraldehyde vapors, when the value of the sensor response dropped by 50% after 100 days of storage. The dependences on the experimental conditions were typical for enzyme biosensors and did not depend on the enzyme immobilization method. The linear range of creatinine determination is quite suitable for further work with real blood samples and dialysis fluid when diluted 10 times.

Novel enzyme cascade colorimetric nanosensing platform based on 3D diatomic nanozymes synergistically enhancing peroxidase-like activity for the detection of xanthine

Novel enzyme cascade colorimetric nanosensing platform based on 3D diatomic nanozymes synergistically enhancing peroxidase-like activity for the detection of xanthine

Enhancing flexibility of smart bioresorbable vascular scaffolds through 3D printing using polycaprolactone and polylactic acid

Enhancing flexibility of smart bioresorbable vascular scaffolds through 3D printing using polycaprolactone and polylactic acid

Alcohol-based hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents and ultrasound-assisted liquid phase microextraction followed by GC-MS for the extraction and analysis of organophosphorus pesticides in the blood of farmers.

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) are a group of pesticides that are most widely used in the agricultural sector, and farmers are exposed to these chemicals more than other members of society. In this work, an environmentally friendly, simple, and safe ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (USA-DLLME) method using alcohol-based hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDESs) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) was developed for the extraction and determination of OPPs in the blood of farmers studied in Ravansar cohort. DESs synthesized from thymol as hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and aliphatic alcohols as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) have been used as extractants. Under optimal experimental conditions, the reproducibility of the method based on 7 replicate measurements of 10 µg L-1 of OPPs in blood samples was in the range of 1.4-3.8%. The method showed a linearity in the range of 0.01-150 µg L-1. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were between 0.003 and 0.02 µg L-1 and 0.01-0.05 µg L-1, respectively. The matrix effect and accuracy of the method were confirmed by spiking different amounts of OPPs in real blood samples and obtaining relative recoveries in the range of 91-112%. The results showed that the concentration of OPPs in the case group was significantly higher than in the control group, which is because the case group was exposed to OPPs during the spraying of agricultural products.