Reusable, polyethylene glycol-structured microfluidic channel for particle immunoassays

A microfluidic channel made entirely out of polyethylene glycol (PEG), not PEG coating to silicon or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface, was fabricated and tested for its reusability in particle immunoassays and passive protein fouling, at relatively high target concentrations (1 mg ml-1). The PEG devices were reusable up to ten times while the oxygen-plasma-treated polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) device could be reused up to four times and plain PDMS were not reusable. Liquid was delivered spontaneously via capillary action and complicated bonding procedure was not necessary. The contact angle analysis revealed that the water contact angle on microchannel surface should be lower than ~60°, which are comparable to those on dried protein films, to be reusable for particle immunoassays and passive protein fouling

Increased pulsatility index of the basilar artery is a risk factor for neurological deterioration after stroke: a case control study

Background : Higher pulsatility of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is known to be associated with stroke progression. We investigated whether pulsatility index (PI) of the basilar artery (BA) can predict neurological deterioration (ND) after acute cerebral infarction. Methods : A total of 708 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who had undergone transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography were included. ND was defined as an increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores by two or more points after admission. The patients were categorized into quartiles according to BA PI. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine whether BA PI is independently associated with ND. Results : BA PI was well correlated with the right (n = 474, r2 = 0.573, P < 0.001) by Pearson correlation analysis although MCA PI could not be measured from right MCA (n = 234, 33.05%) and left MCA (n = 252, 35.59%) by TCD owing to insufficient temporal bone window. Multivariable logistic regression analysis including age, sex, cerebral atherosclerosis burden, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at admission, and the proportion of patients with current smoking status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation revealed that the higher BA PI (odds ratio, 3.28; confidence interval, 1.07–10.17; P = 0.038) was independently associated with ND. Conclusions : BA PI, which would be identified regardless of temporal window, could predict ND among acute stroke patients.The work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2017R1D1A1B03029909, NRF-2019R1F1A1059455) and by the Korean Society of Hypertension (2019). The funding has no role in design, collection, analysis, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; and in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication

Association between red blood cell storage duration and clinical outcome in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: a retrospective study

Background: Prolonged storage of red blood cells (RBCs) leads to fundamental changes in both the RBCs and the storage media. We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between the RBC age and in-hospital and long-term postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass. Methods: The electronic medical records of 1,072 OPCAB patients were reviewed and information on the transfused RBCs and clinical data were collected. The effects of RBCs age (mean age, oldest age of transfused RBCs, any RBCs older than 14 days) on various in-hospital postoperative complications and long-term major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events over a mean follow-up of 31 months were investigated. Correlations between RBCs age and duration of intubation, intensive care unit, or hospital stay, and base excess at the first postoperative morning were also analyzed. Results: After adjusting for confounders, there was no relationship between the RBCs age and in-hospital and long-term clinical outcomes except for postoperative wound complications. A significant linear trend was observed between the oldest age quartiles of transfused RBCs and the postoperative wound complications (quartile 1 vs. 2, 3 and 4: OR, 8.92, 12.01 and 13.79, respectively; P for trend = 0.009). The oldest transfused RBCs showed significant relationships with a first postoperative day negative base excess (P = 0.021), postoperative wound complications (P = 0.001), and length of hospital stay (P = 0.008). Conclusions: In patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass, the oldest age of transfused RBCs were associated with a postoperative negative base excess, increased wound complications, and a longer hospital stay, but not with the other in-hospital or long-term outcomes.Peer Reviewe

Enzymatic synthesis of chlorogenic acid glucoside using dextransucrase and its physical and functional properties

Chlorogenic acid, a major polyphenol in edible plants, possesses strong antioxidant activity, anti-lipid peroxidation and anticancer effects. It used for industrial applications; however, this is limited by its instability to heat or light. In this study, we, for the first time synthesized chlorogenic acid glucoside (CHG) via transglycosylation using dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides and sucrose. CHG was purified and its structure determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and matrix-associated laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. The production yield of CHG was 44.0% or 141 mM, as determined by response surface methodology. CHG possessed a 65% increase in water solubility and a 2-fold browning resistance and it displayed stronger inhibition of lipid peroxidation and of colon cancer cell growth by MTT assay, compared to chlorogenic acid. Therefore, this study may expand the industrial applications of chlorogenic acid as water-soluble or browning resistant compound (CHG) through enzymatic glycosylation

Second-Line Irinotecan, Leucovorin, and 5-Fluorouracil for Gastric Cancer Patients after Failed Docetaxel and S-1

Background. This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and toxicities of second-line chemotherapy with irinotecan, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in metastatic gastric cancer (MGC) patients previously treated with docetaxel and S-1 with or without oxaliplatin (DS/DOS). Patients and Methods. We reviewed the data of patients who had previously been treated with first-line DS/DOS and received biweekly irinotecan-based chemotherapy (FOLFIRI/IFL) between October 2004 and November 2011. Results. A total of 209 cycles were administered to 35 patients, with a median of 4 (range, 1–22) cycles each. The overall response rate in 29 response-assessable patients was 17.2%, including 2 complete and 3 partial responses. The median progression-free and overall survivals were 3.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82–5.80) months and 6.24 (95% CI, 1.44–11.04) months, respectively. The major grade 3/4 toxicity was neutropenia (8.6%). Conclusion. FOLFIRI/IFL chemotherapy showed modest antitumour activity and tolerable toxicities in DS/DOS-treated MGC patients

Second-Line Irinotecan, Leucovorin, and 5-Fluorouracil for Gastric Cancer Patients after Failed Docetaxel and S-1

Background. This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy and toxicities of second-line chemotherapy with irinotecan, leucovorin, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in metastatic gastric cancer (MGC) patients previously treated with docetaxel and S-1 with or without oxaliplatin (DS/DOS). Patients and Methods. We reviewed the data of patients who had previously been treated with firstline DS/DOS and received biweekly irinotecan-based chemotherapy (FOLFIRI/IFL) between October 2004 and November 2011. Results. A total of 209 cycles were administered to 35 patients, with a median of 4 (range, 1-22) cycles each. The overall response rate in 29 response-assessable patients was 17.2%, including 2 complete and 3 partial responses. The median progression-free and overall survivals were 3.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82-5.80) months and 6.24 (95% CI, 1.44-11.04) months, respectively. The major grade 3/4 toxicity was neutropenia (8.6%). Conclusion. FOLFIRI/IFL chemotherapy showed modest antitumour activity and tolerable toxicities in DS/DOS-treated MGC patients