Insoluble electrospun membranes for analyte pre-concentration in saliva

Insoluble electrospun membrane based on poly acrylic acid (PAA) crosslinked with ethylene glycol (EG) was prepared. The surface of the crosslinked PAA fibers was then grafted with polyethylenimine (PEI), octyl amine (OA) and EG using carbodiimide or thermal crosslinking to obtain insoluble membranes having anionic, cationic, hydrophobic and neutral characteristics for filtration of biomolecules from saliva. The resulting surface chemistries were confirmed by their respective ATR-FTIR spectra. Differences in fiber morphology and diameters were observed between the membranes. All the membrane variants were tested for their efficacy as solid phase extraction (SPE) matrices in the pre-concentration of ethanol in synthetic saliva, using a microfluidic chip. Gas chromatography assays showed no statistical difference for ethanol in eluents through each of the tested insoluble electrospun membrane variants versus their corresponding controls. Further studies would include the testing of these membranes in the pre-concentration of clinical biomolecules, including drugs of abuse (e.g., cocaine, THC), nutrients (e.g., glucose), proteins (e.g., albumin, HbA1C) and nucleic acids for sample preparation within point of care devices

Automated experiment design for data-efficient verification of parametric Markov decision processes

We present a new method for statistical verification of quantitative properties over a partially unknown system with actions, utilising a parameterised model (in this work, a parametric Markov decision process) and data collected from experiments performed on the underlying system. We obtain the confidence that the underlying system satisfies a given property, and show that the method uses data efficiently and thus is robust to the amount of data available. These characteristics are achieved by firstly exploiting parameter synthesis to establish a feasible set of parameters for which the underlying system will satisfy the property; secondly, by actively synthesising experiments to increase amount of information in the collected data that is relevant to the property; and finally propagating this information over the model parameters, obtaining a confidence that reflects our belief whether or not the system parameters lie in the feasible set, thereby solving the verification problem

Chemically roughened solid silver: A simple, robust and broadband SERS substrate

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates manufactured using complex nano-patterning techniques have become the norm. However, their cost of manufacture makes them unaffordable to incorporate into most biosensors. The technique shown in this paper is low-cost, reliable and highly sensitive. Chemical etching of solid Ag metal was used to produce simple, yet robust SERS substrates with broadband characteristics. Etching with ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) and nitric acid (HNO3) helped obtain roughened Ag SERS substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and interferometry were used to visualize and quantify surface roughness. Flattened Ag wires had inherent, but non-uniform roughness having peaks and valleys in the microscale. NH4OH treatment removed dirt and smoothened the surface, while HNO3 treatment produced a flake-like morphology with visibly more surface roughness features on Ag metal. SERS efficacy was tested using 4-methylbenzenethiol (MBT). The best SERS enhancement for 1 mM MBT was observed for Ag metal etched for 30 s in NH4OH followed by 10 s in HNO3. Further, MBT could be quantified with detection limits of 1 pM and 100 µM, respectively, using 514 nm and 1064 nm Raman spectrometers. Thus, a rapid and less energy intensive method for producing solid Ag SERS substrate and its efficacy in analyte sensing was demonstrated.This work was financially supported by Home Office UK through the SBRI programme of Innovate UK, Grant No. SBRI_HO_202_007 (HOS/14/003). S. Wijesuriya acknowledges the fellowship for her Ph.D. from Brunel Institute for Bioengineering, Brunel University. We also acknowledge the support from Brunel University—RCUK fund for open access publishing

The Hybrid Motor Prototype: Design Details and Demonstration Results

A novel hybrid rotary motor incorporating piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators has been designed and demonstrated. The novelty of this motor was the creation of an electrical resonant circuit, whereby reactive power requirement on the power source is reduced. It was envisioned that the motor would be suitable for low output speed, high torque applications because of its design. This report presents the constructional details of this motor and the results of the demonstration

DIABRISK - SL Prevention of cardio-metabolic disease with life style modification in young urban Sri Lankan's - study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Urban South-Asian's are predisposed to early onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is an urgent need for country specific primary prevention strategies to address the growing burden of cardio-metabolic disease in this population. The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether intensive (3-monthly) lifestyle modification advice is superior to a less-intensive (12 monthly; control group) lifestyle modification advice on a primary composite cardio-metabolic end point in 'at risk' urban subjects aged between 5-40 years.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This is an open randomised controlled parallel group clinical trial performed at a single centre in Colombo, Sri-Lanka. A cluster sampling strategy was used to select a large representative sample of subjects aged between 5-40 years at high risk of T2DM and CVD for the intervention study. We have screened 23,298 (males 47% females 53%) healthy subjects for four risk factors: obesity, elevated waist circumference, family history of diabetes and physical inactivity, using a questionnaire and anthropometry. Those with two or more risk-factors were recruited to the intervention trial. We aim to recruit 4600 subjects for the intervention trial. The primary composite cardio-metabolic end point is; new onset T2DM, impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glycaemia, new onset hypertension and albuminuria, following 5 years of intervention. The effect of the intervention on pre-specified secondary endpoints will also be evaluated. The study will be conducted according to good clinical and ethical practice, data analysis and reporting guidelines.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>DIABRISK-SL is a large population based trial to evaluate the prevalence of diabetes, pre-diabetes and cardio-metabolic risk factors among young urban Sri-Lankans and the effect of a primary prevention strategy on cardio-metabolic disease end points. This work will enable country specific and regional cardio-metabolic risk scores to be derived. Further if the proposed intervention is successful the results of this study can be translated and implemented as a low-cost primary prevention tool in Sri-Lanka and other low/middle income developing countries.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>The trial is registered with the World Health Organisation and Sri-Lanka clinical trial registry number SLCTR/2008/003</p

Should I Take Aspirin? (SITA): RCT of a decision aid for cancer chemoprevention.

Background Australian guidelines recommend that all people aged 50-70 years old consider taking low-dose aspirin to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Aim To determine the effect of a consultation with a researcher in general practice using a decision aid about taking low-dose aspirin to prevent CRC on informed decision-making and low-dose aspirin uptake compared to a general CRC prevention brochure. Design and Setting Individually randomised controlled trial in six general practices in Victoria, Australia, from October 2020 to March 2021. Method Patients aged 50-70 years attending a general practitioner (GP) were recruited consecutively. The intervention was a consultation using a decision aid to discuss taking aspirin to reduce CRC risk; control consultations discussed reducing CRC risk generally. The self-reported co-primary outcomes were informed choices about taking aspirin at one month and low-dose aspirin uptake at six months. Results 261 participants (86% of eligible patients) were randomised into trial arms (129 intervention, 132 control). 17.7% (20/113) of intervention and 7.6% (9/118) control participants reported making an informed choice at one month, an estimated 9.1% (95% CI 0.29% to 18.5) between-arm difference in proportions [odds ratio (OR) 2.47 (97.5% CI:0.94 to 6.52) p=0.074]. The proportions of individuals who reported using aspirin at six months were: 10.2% (12/118) intervention vs 13.8% (16/116) control (estimated between-arm difference: -4.0% (95% CI: -13.5 to 5.5); [OR= 0.68 (97.5% CI:0.27 to 1.70), p= 0.692]. Conclusion The decision aid improved informed decision-making; but has little effect on long-term regular use of aspirin to reduce CRC risk

Sorsby's fundus dystrophy in the British Isles: demonstration of a striking founder effect by microsatellite-generated haplotypes

Sorsby's fundus dystrophy (SFD) has been mapped to a genetic interval of 8 cM between loci D22S275 and D22S278. A total of 15 families, unrelated on the basis of genealogy and expressing the SFD phenotype were identified from a large data base of genetic eye disease families originating from diverse parts of the British Isles. The identification of the same Ser181Cys mutation cosegregating with disease in each family led us to consider the hypothesis of a founder effect being present. In all families studied, the same relatively infrequent allele (occurring in just 11% of the control group) was associated with disease at marker locus D22S280. A highly significant disease-associated haplotype, spanning across 3 cM of the SFD locus, was conserved in 11 of the 15 families (68% of all affected chromosomes); a further extended haplotype spanning up to 7 cM, was identified in 5 families (27% of SFD-associated chromosomes) and possibly represents the ancestral haplotype. This haplotype analysis has refined the TIMP3 gene localization to a 1- to 3-cM interval between marker loci D22S273 and D22S281 and provides strong evidence for a single mutational event being responsible for the majority of SFD identified in the British Isles

Testing the Feasibility and Dietary Impact of a “Produce Prescription” Program for Adults with Undermanaged Type 2 Diabetes and Food Insecurity in Australia

Background: There is growing interest in Food is Medicine programs that incorporate food-based interventions into health care for patients with diet-related conditions. Objectives: We aimed to test the feasibility of a “produce prescription” program and its impact on diet quality for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) experiencing food insecurity in Australia. Methods: We conducted a pre–post intervention study in n = 50 adults experiencing food insecurity with T2D and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥8%. Once enrolled, participants received healthy food boxes weekly free of charge, with the contents sufficient to create 2 meals/d, 5 d/wk for the entire household, over 12 wk. Participants were also provided with tailored recipes and behavioral change support. The primary outcome was change in diet quality assessed by 24-h diet recalls. Secondary outcomes included differences in cardiovascular disease risk factors; blood micronutrients; and feasibility indicators. Differences in the baseline and 12-wk mean primary and secondary outcomes were assessed by paired t tests. Results: Participants were older adults with mean ± SD age 63 ± 9 y (range: 40–87 y), HbA1c 9.8% ± 1.5%, and 46% were female. Overall, 92% completed the final study follow-up for the primary outcome. Compared with baseline, diet quality improved at week 12, with an increase in the mean overall diet quality (Alternate Healthy Eating Index score) of 12.9 (95% CI: 8.7, 17.1; P < 0.001), driven by significant improvements in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, red/processed meat, trans fat, sodium, and alcohol consumption. Blood lipids also improved (total:HDL cholesterol: −0.48; 95% CI: −0.72, −0.24; P < 0.001), and there was significant weight loss (−1.74 kg; 95% CI: −2.80, −0.68 kg, P = 0.002), but no changes in other clinical outcomes. Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the program. Conclusions: These findings provide strong support for an adequately powered randomized trial to assess effects of produce prescription as an innovative approach to improve clinical management among individuals with T2D experiencing food insecurity. This trial was registered at https://anzctr.org.au/ as ACTRN12621000404820