prevalence and phenotypes of age related macular degeneration in eyes with high myopia

n/

Molecular surveillance reveals the presence of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions in Plasmodium falciparum parasite populations in Uganda, 2017–2019

Abstract Background Histidine-rich protein-2 (HRP2)-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are the only RDTs recommended for malaria diagnosis in Uganda. However, the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein 2 and 3 (pfhrp2 and pfhrp3) gene deletions threatens their usefulness as malaria diagnostic and surveillance tools. The pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions surveillance was conducted in P. falciparum parasite populations in Uganda. Methods Three-hundred (n = 300) P. falciparum isolates collected from cross-sectional malaria surveys in symptomatic individuals in 48 districts of eastern and western Uganda were analysed for the presence of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes. Presence of parasite DNA was confirmed by PCR amplification of the 18s rRNA gene, msp1 and msp2 single copy genes. Presence or absence of deletions was confirmed by amplification of exon1 and exon2 of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 using gene specific PCR. Results Overall, pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 gene deletions were detected in 29/300 (9.7%, 95% CI 6.6–13.6%) parasite isolates. The pfhrp2 gene was deleted in 10/300 (3.3%, 95% CI 1.6–6.0%) isolates, pfhrp3 in 9/300 (3.0%, 95% CI 1.4–5.6%) while both pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 were deleted in 10/300 (3.3%, 95% CI 1.6–6.0%) parasite isolates. Proportion of pfhrp2/3 deletions was higher in the eastern 14.7% (95% CI 9.7–20.0%) compared to the western region 3.1% (95% CI 0.8–7.7%), p = 0.001. Geographical location was associated with gene deletions aOR 6.25 (2.02–23.55), p = 0.003. Conclusions This is the first large-scale survey reporting the presence of pfhrp2/3 gene deletions in P. falciparum isolates in Uganda. Roll out of RDTs for malaria diagnosis should take into consideration the existence of pfhrp2/3 gene deletions particularly in areas where they were detected. Periodic pfhrp2/3 surveys are recommended to inform future decisions for deployment of alternative RDTs

Graphene-Based Nanocomposites for Energy Storage

Since the first report of using micromechanical cleavage method to produce graphene sheets in 2004, graphene/graphene-based nanocomposites have attracted wide attention both for fundamental aspects as well as applications in advanced energy storage and conversion systems. In comparison to other materials, graphene-based nanostructured materials have unique 2D structure, high electronic mobility, exceptional electronic and thermal conductivities, excellent optical transmittance, good mechanical strength, and ultrahigh surface area. Therefore, they are considered as attractive materials for hydrogen (H2) storage and high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors, rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion batteries, Li–sulfur batteries, Li–air batteries, sodium (Na)-ion batteries, Na–air batteries, zinc (Zn)–air batteries, and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), etc., as they can improve the efficiency, capacity, gravimetric energy/power densities, and cycle life of these energy storage devices. In this article, recent progress reported on the synthesis and fabrication of graphene nanocomposite materials for applications in these aforementioned various energy storage systems is reviewed. Importantly, the prospects and future challenges in both scalable manufacturing and more energy storage-related applications are discussed

Extracellular Water to Total Body Water Ratio in Septic Shock Patients Receiving Protocol-Driven Resuscitation Bundle Therapy

(1) Bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a rapid, simple, and noninvasive tool for evaluating the metabolic status and for assessing volume status in critically ill patients. Little is known, however, the prognostic value of body composition analysis in septic shock patients. This study assessed the association between parameters by body composition analysis and mortality in patients with septic shock in the emergency department (ED). (2) Data were prospectively collected on adult patients with septic shock who underwent protocol-driven resuscitation bundle therapy between December 2019 and January 2021. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. (3) The study included 261 patients, the average ratio of extracellular water (ECW) to total body water (TBW) was significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors (0.414 vs. 0.401, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ECW/TBW ≥ 0.41 (odds ratio (OR), 4.62; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.31–9.26, p < 0.001), altered mental status (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.28–6.46, p = 0.010), and lactate level (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.12–1.37, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with 30-day mortality in patients with septic shock. (4) ECW/TBW ≥ 0.41 may be associated with 30-day mortality in patients with septic shock receiving protocol-driven resuscitation bundle therapy in the ED

Photoacoustic/ultrasonic dual-mode endoscopic system compatible with clinical video endoscope

We have developed a 3-mm diameter catheter-based photoacoustic/ultrasonic dual-mode endoscope. We successfully demonstrated its intra-instrument channel workability for the 3.7-mm diameter instrument channel of a clinical video endoscope using an in vivo swine esophagus model. Developing such a flexible and narrow diameter PAE probe compatible with current clinical video endoscopes has been an important research topic in biomedical photoacoustics because it allows a clinician to more freely apply related probe when a suspicious tissue is found. The presented system is expected to be an important technical platform for a successful clinical translation of the combined photoacoustic and ultrasonic dual-mode imaging technique to endoscopy

Detection of α‑Thrombin with Platelet Glycoprotein Ibα (GP1bα) for the Development of a Coagulation Marker

The detection of prothrombotic markers is crucial for understanding thromboembolism and assessing the effectiveness of anticoagulant drugs. α-Thrombin is a marker that plays a critical role in the coagulation cascade process. However, the detection of this enzymatic molecule was hindered by the absence of an efficient modality in the clinical environment. Previously, we reported that one α-thrombin interacts with two α-chains of glycoprotein Ib (GPIbα), i.e., multivalent protein binding (MPB), using bioresponsive hydrogel nanoparticles (nanogels) and optical microscopy. In this study, we demonstrated that GPIbα-mediated platforms led to the highly sensitive and quantitative detection of α-thrombin in various diagnostic systems. Initially, a bioresponsive nanogel-based surface plasmon resonance (nSPR) assay was developed that responds to the MPB of α-thrombin to GPIbα. The use of GPIbα for the detection of α-thrombin was further validated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which is a gold-standard protein detection technique. Additionally, GPIbα-functionalized latex beads were developed to perform latex agglutination (LA) assays, which are widely used with hospital diagnostic instruments. Notably, the nSPR and LA assays exhibited a nearly 1000-fold improvement in sensitivity for α-thrombin detection compared to our previous optical microscopy method. The superiority of our GPIbα-mediated platforms lies in their stability for α-thrombin detection through protein–protein interactions. By contrast, assays relying on α-thrombin enzymatic activity using substrates face the challenge of a rapid decrease in postsample collection. These results suggested that the MPB of α-thrombin to GPIbα is an ideal mode for clinical α-thrombin detection, particularly in outpatient settings

First in vivo rat colorectum imaging result of the integrated photoacoustic and ultrasonic endoscopic mini-probe system

We have successfully acquired first in vivo images from a rat colorectum by using the 3.0-mm outer diameter integrated photoacoustic and ultrasonic endoscopic mini-probe system that we introduced in 2019 ABC conference. As previously presented, the system featured the ~1.8-m long torque coil-based proximal actuation mechanism, which enables intra-instrument channel use, and the quasi-optical-resolution photoacoustic imaging capability. In the recent progress, we could confirm that, although the ultrasound image provided deeper imaging, only the photoacoustic image revealed a high-resolution microvasculature distributed in the rat colorectum. The result suggests that our technique could provide more convincing information in relation to the diagnosis of various types of gastrointestinal cancers based on the photoacoustically added vasculature information