An approach to assess quality of life through biometric monitoring in cancer patients

Cancer is a serious disease that causes significant disability and suffering, so naturally Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is a major concern of patients, families and clinicians. This paper intends to relate biometric indices, in terms of HRV metrics, with self-perceived HRQoL from patients with lymphoma. Patients (N = 12) answered FACT questionnaire and used a smartband that collected biometrical data in real-time along the chemotherapy treatment. Our results revealed that Physical Well-Being, Total, Lymphoma subscale and FACT-Lym Trial Outcome domains seem to have a similar pattern that HRV metrics across the treatment cycles. In specific, the FACT domains and the HRV metrics have the lowest average levels on the first cycle and seem to increase along the following cycles (3rd and 6th cycles). This approach of continuous assessment of HRQoL will enable a better accuracy and more supported clinical decision.QVida+: Estimação Contínua de Qualidade de Vida para Auxílio Eficaz à Decisão Clínica, funded by European Structural funds (FEDER-003446), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 202

Strategies at Bioreactor Scale for the Production of Recombinant Proteins in Yarrowia lipolytica

Recombinant protein production represents a multibillion-dollar market. Therefore, it constitutes an important research field both in academia and industry. The use of yeast as cell factory presents several advantages such as ease of genetic manipulation, growth at high cell density, and possibility of posttranslational modifications. Yarrowia lipolytica is considered as one of the most attractive hosts due to its ability to metabolize raw substrate, to express genes at high level, and to secrete protein in large amounts. In the recent years, several reviews were dedicated to genetic tools developed for this purpose. Although the construction of efficient cell factory for recombinant protein synthesis is important, the development of an efficient process for protein production constitutes an equally vital aspect. Indeed, a sports car could not drive fast on a gravel road. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive snapshot of process tools to consider for recombinant protein production in bioreactor using Y. lipolytica as a cell factory, in order to facilitate the decision-making for future strain and process engineering