Detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) by SERS-based immunomagnetic optofluidic device

https://kent-islandora.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/node/14388/83895-thumbnail.jpgThe isolation and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has great potential for non-invasive biopsy. In this study, a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) method was developed using magnetic nanoparticles and a solid SERS-active substrate integrated with an external field-assisted microfluidic device to efficiently isolate CTCs from blood samples. A new SERS substrate was used, developed by physically modifying the surface with a femtosecond laser, sputtering the active SERS layer and chemically modifying the surface with anti-EpCAM antibodies. Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe2O3) were coated with SERS active metal and then modified with para-mercaptobenzoic acid (p-MBA), which acts simultaneously as a Raman reporter and a linker with anti-EpCAM antibodies. The sensitive immune recognition of tumor cells is aided by the introduction of a controlled external magnetic field into the microfluidic chip. The integration of the SERS-active platform and p-MBA labeled immuno-Ag@Fe2O3 nanostructures with the microfluidic device ensures lower demand for samples and analytes, precise operation, increases the reproducibility of spectral responses and enables miniaturization and portability of the presented approach. We used four target tumor cell lines with relatively large (human prostate metastatic adenocarcinoma cells (LNCaP)), medium (adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549)), weak (human prostate tumor line (PC3)) and no expression of EpCAM (tumor cells) cervical cancer (HeLa)) to estimate the detection limits on the basis of constructed calibration curves blood samples from lung cancer patients were used to validate the developed method.[1] M. Czaplicka, K. Niciński, A. Nowicka, T. Szymborski i A. Kamińska, Cancers, 2020, 12 (3315), 1-21. </ol

The Secondary Metabolites Profile in Horse Chestnut Leaves Infested with Horse-Chestnut Leaf Miner

Natural defensive substances synthesized by plants that could replace synthetic pesticides in the protection of plants against insect invasions are constantly being sought. The study assessed changes in the qualitative and quantitative composition of secondary metabolites in horse chestnut leaves collected in different locations and differing in the sensitivity of the plant to the invasion by the horse-chestnut leaf miner. An attempt was made to identify compounds that are most responsible for the increased plant resistance to this threat. Additionally, changes in the anatomy of chestnut leaves affected by the pest were presented. It was noticed that the trees differed in the composition of secondary metabolites already in the initial growing season, which should be related to the influence of habitat conditions. The analysis of the profile of the compounds in non-infested and infested horse chestnut leaves revealed a clear response of the plant to the stress factor, i.e., the foraging of the horse-chestnut leaf miner. Catechins seem to be compounds involved in plant resistance. The leaf anatomy showed enhanced accumulation of phenolic compounds at the pest foraging sites. Hypertrophy and thickened and cracked cell walls of the spongy parenchyma were visible in the vicinity of the mines

Brivaracetam in the Treatment of Patients with Epilepsy—First Clinical Experiences

ObjectivesTo assess first clinical experiences with brivaracetam (BRV) in the treatment of epilepsies.MethodsData on patients treated with BRV from February to December 2016 and with at least one clinical follow-up were collected from electronic patient records. Data on safety and efficacy were evaluated retrospectively.ResultsIn total, 93 patients were analyzed; 12 (12.9%) received BRV in monotherapy. The mean duration to follow-up was 4.85 months (MD = 4 months; SD = 3.63). Fifty-seven patients had more than one seizure per month at baseline and had a follow-up of more than 4 weeks; the rate of ≥50% responders was 35.1% (n = 20) in this group, of which five (8.8%) patients were newly seizure-free. In 50.5% (47/93), patients were switched from levetiracetam (LEV) to BRV, of which 43 (46.2%) were switched immediately. Adverse events (AE) occurred in 39.8%, with 22.6% experiencing behavioral and 25.8% experiencing non-behavioral AE. LEV-related AE (LEV-AE) were significantly reduced by switching to BRV. The discontinuation of BRV was reported in 26/93 patients (28%); 10 of those were switched back to LEV with an observed reduction of AE in 70%. For clinical reasons, 12 patients received BRV in monotherapy, 75% were seizure–free, and previous LEV-AE improved in 6/9 patients. BRV-related AE occurred in 5/12 cases, and five patients discontinued BRV.ConclusionBRV seems to be a safe, easy, and effective option in the treatment of patients with epilepsy, especially in the treatment of patients who have psychiatric comorbidities and might not be good candidates for LEV treatment. BRV broadens the therapeutic spectrum and facilitates personalized treatment