scholarly journals PRESCIENT: platform for the rapid evaluation of antibody success using integrated microfluidics enabled technology

Lab on a Chip ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1628-1638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A. Wippold ◽  
Han Wang ◽  
Joseph Tingling ◽  
Julian L. Leibowitz ◽  
Paul de Figueiredo ◽  
...  

Identifying antibodies (Abs) that neutralize infectious agents is the first step for developing therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostic tools for these infectious agents.

The control of infectious diseases in the main food-producing animals is considered and the main factors involved in the epizootiology of disease are presented. The properties of infectious agents and their natural history together with factors that influence the spread and development of disease are summarized. The factors in intensive animal husbandry that affect the occurrence of infectious disease and its control are considered. These include population density, population movement, management, hygiene and genetic constitution of the host. They encourage the appearance of new diseases, changes in the character of established diseases and the development of pathogenicity in infectious agents that were previously of no importance. Intensive animal husbandry has also increased the importance of multifactorial disease, which includes diseases that require more than one infectious agent or one or more infectious agents plus other factors for their cause. The methods of control of infectious disease currently available are described and the success and difficulties of their control on a global, national and local (farm or enterprise) basis are considered. Examples of diseases of global importance where national and world programmes of control and eradication have been of varying success are described. Examples of diseases that are enzootic throughout the world and the procedures used for their control are also described. The technological opportunities for the improvement of the control of infectious disease in the future are discussed. It is considered that developments in molecular biology and immunology will provide improvements in diagnostic tools and will revolutionize the development of animal resistance to disease and the production and use of vaccines.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Ilaria Buja ◽  
Erika Sabella ◽  
Anna Grazia Monteduro ◽  
Maria Serena Chiriacò ◽  
Silvia Rizzato ◽  
...  

Phytopathological adversities are often attributable to human activities (as a consequence of the globalization of trade or tourism mass, changes in common agricultural practices and climate change), resulting in food losses due to pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc. For this reason, we are developing lab-on-chip devices as diagnostic tools to identify and manage phytopathological problems caused by infectious agents capable of spreading in agro-ecosystems, such as the Xylella fastidiosa epidemic in Puglia [1] or other bacteriosis and virosis such as Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3).  [...]


Author(s):  
A. W. Fetter ◽  
C. C. Capen

Atrophic rhinitis in swine is a disease of uncertain etiology in which infectious agents, hereditary predisposition, and metabolic disturbances have been reported to be of primary etiologic importance. It shares many similarities, both clinically and pathologically, with ozena in man. The disease is characterized by deformity and reduction in volume of the nasal turbinates. The fundamental cause for the localized lesion of bone in the nasal turbinates has not been established. Reduced osteogenesis, increased resorption related to inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane, and excessive resorption due to osteocytic osteolysis stimulated by hyperparathyroidism have been suggested as possible pathogenetic mechanisms.The objectives of this investigation were to evaluate ultrastructurally bone cells in the nasal turbinates of pigs with experimentally induced atrophic rhinitis, and to compare these findings to those in control pigs of the same age and pigs with the naturally occurring disease, in order to define the fundamental lesion responsible for the progressive reduction in volume of the osseous core.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celeste R. Helling ◽  
Jamila Minga

A comprehensive augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) evaluation is critical to providing a viable means of expressive communication for nonverbal people with complex communication needs. Although a number of diagnostic tools are available to assist AAC practitioners with the assessment process, there is a need to tailor the evaluation process to the specific communication needs of the AAC user. The purpose of this paper is to provide a basis for developing an effective and clinically driven framework for approaching a user-tailored AAC evaluation process.


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 89-99
Author(s):  
Michael F. Vaezi

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a commonly diagnosed condition often associated with the typical symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation, although it may present with atypical symptoms such as chest pain, hoarseness, chronic cough, and asthma. In most cases, the patient's reduced quality of life drives clinical care and diagnostic testing. Because of its widespread impact on voice and swallowing function as well as its social implications, it is important that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) understand the nature of GERD and its consequences. The purpose of this article is to summarize the nature of GERD and GERD-related complications such as GERD-related peptic stricture, Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma, and laryngeal manifestations of GERD from a gastroenterologist's perspective. It is critical that SLPs who work with a multidisciplinary team understand terminology, diagnostic tools, and treatment to ensure best practice.


2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (03) ◽  
pp. 94-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. Musholt ◽  
T. J. Musholt

SummaryAim: Thyroid nodules > 1 cm are observed in about 12% of unselected adult employees aged 18–65 years screened by ultrasound scan (40). While intensive ultrasound screening leads to early detection of thyroid diseases, the determination of benign or malignant behaviour remains uncertain and may trigger anxieties in many patients and their physicians. A considerable number of thyroid resections are consecutively performed due to suspicion of malignancy in the detected nodes. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) has been recommended for the assessment of thyroid nodules to facilitate detection of thyroid carcinomas but also to rule out malignancy and thereby avoid unnecessary thyroid resections. However, cytology results are dependent on experience of the respective cytologist and unfortunately inconclusive in many cases. Methods: Molecular genetic markers are already used nowadays to enhance sensitivity and specificity of FNAB cytology in some centers in Germany. The most clinically relevant molecular genetic markers as pre-operative diagnostic tools and the clinical implications for the intraoperative and postoperative management were reviewed. Results: Molecular genetic markers predominantly focus on the preoperative detection of thyroid malignancies rather than the exclusion of thyroid carcinomas. While some centers routinely assess FNABs, other centers concentrate on FNABs with cytology results of follicular neoplasia or suspicion of thyroid carcinoma. Predominantly mutations of BRAF, RET/PTC, RAS, and PAX8/PPARγ or expression of miRNAs are analyzed. However, only the detection of BRAF mutations predicts the presence of (papillary) thyroid malignancy with almost 98% probability, indicating necessity of oncologic thyroid resections irrespective of the cytology result. Other genetic alterations are associated with thyroid malignancy with varying frequency and achieve less impact on the clinical management. Conclusion: Molecular genetic analysis of FNABs is increasingly performed in Germany. Standardization, quality controls, and validation of various methods need to be implemented in the near future to be able to compare the results. With increasing knowledge about the impact of genetic alterations on the prognosis of thyroid carcinomas, recommendations have to be defined that may lead to individually optimized treatment strategies.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (04) ◽  
pp. 212-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Jovic ◽  
M. Hollenstein ◽  
P. Degiacomi ◽  
M. Gautschi ◽  
A. Ferrández ◽  
...  

SummaryThe activated partial thromboplastin time test (aPTT) represents one of the most commonly used diagnostic tools in order to monitor patients undergoing heparin therapy. Expression of aPTT coagulation time in seconds represents common practice in order to evaluate the integrity of the coagulation cascade. The prolongation of the aPTT thus can indicate whether or not the heparin level is likely to be within therapeutic range. Unfortunately aPTT results are highly variable depending on patient properties, manufacturer, different reagents and instruments among others but most importantly aPTT’s dose response curve to heparin often lacks linearity. Furthermore, aPTT assays are insensitive to drugs such as, for example, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and direct factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors among others. On the other hand, the protrombinase-induced clotting time assay (PiCT®) has been show to be a reliable functional assay sensitive to all heparinoids as well as direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs). So far, the commercially available PiCT assay (Pefakit®-PiCT®, DSM Nutritional Products Ltd. Branch Pentapharm, Basel, Switzerland) is designed to express results in terms of units with the help of specific calibrators, while aPTT results are most commonly expressed as coagulation time in seconds. In this report, we describe the results of a pilot study indicating that the Pefakit PiCT UC assay is superior to the aPTT for the efficient monitoring of patients undergoing UFH therapy; it is also suitable to determine and quantitate the effect of LMWH therapy. This indicates a distinct benefit when using this new approach over the use of aPPT for heparin monitoring.


Phlebologie ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (02) ◽  
pp. 104-111
Author(s):  
J. L. Villavicencio

Summary Objective: To increase awareness on the severe impact of the nutcracker syndrome in women with undiagnosed disease. Patients and methods: We reviewed the medical literature and analyzed six representative series with 73 patients with nutcracker syndrome. Women with left flank pain, dyspareunia, dysuria, dysmenorrhea, micro- or macrohaematuria and pelvic congestion symptoms, should be carefully investigated for evidence of meso aortic left renal vein compression. A good number of our colleagues do not believe in the existence of the nutcracker syndrome and send these patients in a long pilgrimage in search of someone who can help them to get relief to their pain. New and improved imaging techniques can assist in the diagnosis but retrograde reno-gonadal phlebography and renocaval gradient are the most reliable diagnostic tools. Results: Among an assortment of treatment techniques, renal vein transposition and endovenous stenting were the two most commonly used procedures. There are no long term studies on renal vein stenting in children and young adults. Its use in these cases should be carefully considered. The nutcracker syndrome may present with pelvic congestion symptoms and its diagnosis missed. The patient's age, severity of symptoms and haemo dynamic renal studies should guide the treatment. Conclusion: An increased awareness of the existence of the nutcracker syndrome may prevent many unfortunate undiagnosed women from spending many months and often years of suffering.


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