Recent advancement in sensitive detection of carcinoembryonic antigen using nanomaterials based immunosensors

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a prominent cancer biomarker that allows for early diagnosis of various cancers. Present immunoassays techniques help quantify such target molecules in test samples via anti-antibody reaction. Despite their rapid usage, conventional immunoassay techniques demonstrate several limitations that can be easily overcome by employing nanomaterials in sensing assays. Thus, nanomaterial-based immunosensors have gained steady attention from the scientific community owing to their high specificity and low detection limit. Various nanomaterials like platinum, gold, silver and carbon exhibit exceptional properties have allowed promising results in the detection and diagnostics of CEA. Thus, the present review aims to explore the significance and the recent developments of nanomaterial-based biosensors for detecting CEA biomarkers with high sensitivity, selectivity, and specificity. After a brief introduction, we discussed the fundamentals of immunosensors immobilization strategies and common nanomaterials. In the next section, we highlighted the recent advances in the common immunosensors detection approaches for CEA alone and simultaneous detection of CEA with other biomarkers detection. Finally, we concluded the review by discussing the future perspectives of this promising field of biomarkers detection

Recent Advances in Anticancer Activity of Novel Plant Extracts and Compounds from Curcuma longa in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Among all forms of cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. There are several treatment options for HCC ranging from loco-regional therapy to surgical treatment. Yet, there is high morbidity and mortality. Recent research focus has shifted towards more effective and less toxic cancer treatment options. Curcumin, the active ingredient in the Curcuma longa plant, has gained widespread attention in recent years because of its multifunctional properties as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer agent. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar was performed for studies reporting incidence of HCC, risk factors associated with cirrhosis and experimental use of curcumin as an anti-cancer agent. RESULTS: This review exclusively encompasses the anti-cancer properties of curcumin in HCC globally and it’s postulated molecular targets of curcumin when used against liver cancers. CONCLUSIONS: This review is concluded by presenting the current challenges and future perspectives of novel plant extracts derived from C. longa and the treatment options against cancers

Advances in nanomaterial-based immunosensors for prostate cancer screening

Prostate cancer is one of the most common health hazards for men worldwide, specifically in Western countries. Rapid prostate cancer screening by analyzing the prostate-specific antigen present in male serum has brought about a sharp decline in the mortality index of this disease. Immunoassay technology quantifies the target analyte in the sample using the antigen-antibody reaction. Immunoassays are now pivotal in disease diagnostics, drug monitoring, and pharmacokinetics. Recently, immunosensors have gained momentum in delivering better results with high specificity and lower limit of detection (LOD). Nanomaterials like gold, silver, and copper exhibit numerous exceptional features and their use in developing immunosensors have garnered excellent results in the diagnostic field. This review highlights the recent and different immunoassay techniques used to detect prostate-specific antigens and discusses the advances in nanomaterial-based immunosensors to detect prostate cancer efficiently. The review also explores the importance of specific biomarkers and nanomaterials-based biosensors with good selectivity and sensitivity to prostate cancer

Fourth-generation glucose sensors composed of coppernanostructures for diabetes management: A critical review

More than five decades have been invested in understanding glucose biosensors. Yet, this immensely versatile field has continued to gain attention from the scientific world to better understand and diagnose diabetes. However, such extensive work done to improve glucose sensing devices has still not yielded desirable results. Drawbacks like the necessity of the invasive finger pricking step and the lack of optimization of diagnostic interventions still need to be considered to improve the testing process of diabetic patients. To upgrade the glucose-sensing devices and reduce the number of intermediary steps during glucose measurement, fourth-generation glucose sensors (FGGS) have been introduced. These sensors, made using robust electrocatalytic copper nanostructures, improve diagnostic efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This review aims to present the essential scientific progress in copper nanostructure-based FGGS in the past ten years (2010 – present). After a short introduction, we presented the working principles of these sensors. We then highlighted the importance of copper nanostructures as advanced electrode materials to develop reliable real-time FGGS. Finally, we cover the advantages, shortcomings, and prospects for developing highly sensitive, stable, and specific FGGS

Role of clomiphene citrate in anovulation and hormonal imbalance of patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

This study was conducted to see the effects of Clomiphene Citrate on fertility hormones estrogen, progesterone, LH, FSH in patients with infertility associated with polycystic ovary syndrome. For this study fifty infertile patients with PCOS who were given treatment with clomiphene citrate (50–150mg/day for 5 days). For Ovarian response ovulation was monitored by transvaginal ultrasonography and serum levels of FSH, LH, progesterone, estrogen was also estimated by using ELISA methods

Fabrication of a nickel sulfide/nickel oxide heterostructure for efficient electrochemical oxidation of methanol

As low-cost anode catalysts for the electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol, a nickel sulfide/nickel oxide (NiS/NiO) heterostructure deposited on Ni foam and its counterparts nickel sulfide (NiS) and nickel oxide (NiO) are presented in this study along with their synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical evaluation. With the use of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Brauner-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, the synthesized NiS and NiO were analyzed. The NiS/NiO/Ni foam was found to be a highly efficient and stable electrocatalyst, which initiated the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) at an amazingly low potential of 0.34 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The NiS/NiO electrocatalyst outperformed its counterparts (NiS and NiO) under the same electrochemical circumstances, offering a current density of 837 mA cm−2 at 0.6 V in 0.8 M methanol in alkaline media. The composite was studied further by varying NiS and NiO composite concentrations, methanol concentration, and the scan rate. Among the composites, NiS0.7/NiO0.3@Ni foam displayed the highest current density and lowest onset potential. The results were further validated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It was discovered that NiS0.7/NiO0.3@Ni foam had the lowest charge transfer resistance among all the tested composite materials, as well as NiS and NiO. This innovation offers a desirable, highly effective, stable, and suitable non-noble metal electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation

Non-enzymatic glucose sensors composed of trimetallic CuO/Ag/NiO based composite materials

Abstract The escalating risk of diabetes and its consequential impact on cardiac, vascular, ocular, renal, and neural systems globally have compelled researchers to devise cost-effective, ultrasensitive, and reliable electrochemical glucose sensors for the early diagnosis of diabetes. Herein, we utilized advanced composite materials based on nanoporous CuO, CuO/Ag, and CuO/Ag/NiO for glucose detection. The crystalline structure and surface morphology of the synthesized materials were ascertained via powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The electro-catalytic properties of the manufactured electrode materials for glucose electro-oxidation in alkaline conditions were probed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques. Notably, the CuO/Ag/NiO electrode material exhibited exceptional performance as a non-enzymatic glucose sensor, displaying a linear range of 0.001–5.50 mM, an ultrahigh sensitivity of 2895.3 μA mM−1 cm−2, and a low detection limit of 0.1 μM. These results suggest that nanoporous CuO/Ag/NiO-based composite materials are a promising candidate for early diagnosis of hyperglycemia and treatment of diabetes. Furthermore, non-enzymatic glucose sensors may pave the way for novel glucometer markets

Frequency and predictors of non-adherence to lifestyle modifications and medications after coronary artery bypass grafting: A cross-sectional study

Background: Non-adherence to dietary recommendations, exercise and prescribed drug regimens, in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), is a major health care issue worldwide. Aims and objectives: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the frequency and predictors of non-adherence to lifestyle changes and medication among CHD patients after undergoing CABG surgery. Method: The sample of this cross sectional descriptive study was 265 patients who underwent isolated primary CABG. Participants who met the eligibility criteria were provided with a pre-coded questionnaire 4 weeks or more after surgery. Adherence was assessed on the basis of patient's self-report. Significance of results was analyzed using Chi square test. Results: Roughly half of the patients were non-adherent to dietary recommendations (n = 120, 45.3%) and exercise (n = 109, 41.1%) while about one third (n = 69, 26%) were non-adherent to prescribed medications. Unwillingness to adopt a new lifestyle and more than one social gathering per week, were found to be statistically significant predictors of non-adherence to diet (p-values < 0.001). Reluctance to follow exercise regimen, busy schedule, and fear that exercise will aggravate heart issues were commonly reported as reasons for non-compliance to exercise. As for non-adherence to medication, forgetfulness, affordability of drugs and too many medications to take were important predictors. Conclusion: Non-adherence to lifestyle modifications and medication is an emerging problem worldwide. It is essential for medical health professionals to discuss these predictors and address them individually. Our findings highlight the need for a healthy physician and patient relationship