Magnetoelastic Biosensor Design: an Experimental Study of Sensor Response and Performance

This article presents the results of an investigation into the development and characterization of polyclonal antibody immobilized magnetoelastic biosensors. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer technique was employed for antibody (specific to Salmonella. sp) immobilization on rectangular shaped strip magnetoelastic sensors. Biosensor performance was investigated by exposing to graded concentrations (5×101 through 5×108 cfu/ml) of Salmonella typhimurium solutions in a flow through mode. Bacterial binding to the antibody on the sensor surfaces changed the resonance parameters, and these changes were quantified by the sensor’s resonance frequency shift. Biosensor response towards S. typhimurium was measured in different liquid samples (water, fat free milk and apple juice) and as well as in the presence of extraneous microorganisms (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes). Biosensor performance was characterized by evaluating mechanical merit factor (Q-value) in different liquids, specificity towards various bacterial species and also the thermal stability of biosensor was investigated at different temperatures 25, 45 and 65 °C

Talactoferrin in Severe Sepsis: Results From the Phase II/III Oral tAlactoferrin in Severe sepsIS Trial

OBJECTIVE: Talactoferrin alfa is a recombinant form of the human glycoprotein, lactoferrin, which has been shown to have a wide range of effects on the immune system. This phase II/III clinical trial compared talactoferrin with placebo, in addition to standard of care, in patients with severe sepsis.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Talactoferrin in Severe Sepsis: Results From the Phase II/III Oral tAlactoferrin in Severe sepsIS Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Talactoferrin alfa is a recombinant form of the human glycoprotein, lactoferrin, which has been shown to have a wide range of effects on the immune system. This phase II/III clinical trial compared talactoferrin with placebo, in addition to standard of care, in patients with severe sepsis. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase II/III clinical study. SETTING: Seventy-seven centers in 10 countries. PATIENTS: Adult (> 18 yr) patients admitted to one of the participating centers with severe sepsis who were receiving antimicrobial therapy and able to take liquid medication by mouth or feeding tube. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to receive either talactoferrin (1.5 g, 15 mL) or placebo three times a day orally or by another enteral route for 28 days or until ICU discharge. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The study was terminated after 305 patients had been enrolled (153 talactoferrin and 152 placebo) because of futility and safety concerns identified by the Data Safety Monitoring Board. There were no significant differences between groups in baseline characteristics including age, sex, site of infection, and severity scores. Twenty-eight-day mortality was higher in talactoferrin-treated patients although this difference was not statistically significant (24.8% vs 17.8% placebo; p = 0.117). The difference was largely the result of differences in patients with shock (talactoferrin, 33/105 [31.4%] vs placebo, 21/104 [20.2%]; p = 0.064); no mortality difference was seen in patients without shock (talactoferrin, 5/48 [10.4%] vs placebo, 6/48 [12.5%]; p = 0.806). In-hospital (43/153 [28.1%] vs 27/152 [17.8%]; p = 0.037) and 3-month (46/153 [30.1%] vs 31/152 [20.4%]; p = 0.036) mortality rates were significantly higher in talactoferrin-treated patients than in patients in the placebo group. The occurrence of treatment-related adverse or serious adverse events was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of oral talactoferrin was not associated with reduced 28-day mortality in patients with severe sepsis and may even be harmful. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01273779