scholarly journals Blood plasma miR‐20a‐5p expression as a potential non‐invasive diagnostic biomarker of male infertility: A pilot study

Andrology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 1256-1264
Author(s):  
Gianmartin Cito ◽  
Maria Elisabetta Coccia ◽  
Francesca Salvianti ◽  
Rossella Fucci ◽  
Rita Picone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Male Infertility ◽  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Diagnostic Biomarker ◽  
Non Invasive

Non-Invasive Distinction of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease using Urinary Volatile Organic Compound Analysis: Early Results

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh P. Arasaradnam ◽  
Michael McFarlane ◽  
Emma Daulton ◽  
Erik Westenbrink ◽  
Nicola O’Connell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background & Aims: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the commonest cause of chronic liver disease in the western world. Current diagnostic methods including Fibroscan have limitations, thus there is a need for more robust non-invasive screening methods. The gut microbiome is altered in several gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders resulting in altered, unique gut fermentation patterns, detectable by analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urine, breath and faeces. We performed a proof of principle pilot study to determine if progressive fatty liver disease produced an altered urinary VOC pattern; specifically NAFLD and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH).Methods: 34 patients were recruited: 8 NASH cirrhotics (NASH-C); 7 non-cirrhotic NASH; 4 NAFLD and 15 controls. Urine was collected and stored frozen. For assay, the samples were defrosted and aliquoted into vials, which were heated to 40±0.1°C and the headspace analyzed by FAIMS (Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectroscopy). A previously used data processing pipeline employing a Random Forrest classification algorithm and using a 10 fold cross validation method was applied.Results: Urinary VOC results demonstrated sensitivity of 0.58 (0.33 - 0.88), but specificity of 0.93 (0.68 - 1.00) and an Area Under Curve (AUC) 0.73 (0.55 -0.90) to distinguish between liver disease and controls. However, NASH/NASH-C was separated from the NAFLD/controls with a sensitivity of 0.73 (0.45 - 0.92), specificity of 0.79 (0.54 - 0.94) and AUC of 0.79 (0.64 - 0.95), respectively.Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that urinary VOCs detection may offer the potential for early non-invasive characterisation of liver disease using 'smell prints' to distinguish between NASH and NAFLD.

Non-invasive monitoring of the activities of daily living of elderly people at home – a pilot study of the usage of domestic appliances

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 231-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Corte Franco ◽  
Floriane Gallay ◽  
Marc Berenguer ◽  
Christine Mourrain ◽  
Pascal Couturier
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Invasive Monitoring ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Domestic Appliances ◽  
At Home

scholarly journals Mammary Gland Pathology Subsequent to Acute Infection with Strong versus Weak Biofilm Forming Staphylococcus aureus Bovine Mastitis Isolates: A Pilot Study Using Non-Invasive Mouse Mastitis Model

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. e0170668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jully Gogoi-Tiwari ◽  
Vincent Williams ◽  
Charlene Babra Waryah ◽  
Paul Costantino ◽  
Hani Al-Salami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Bovine Mastitis ◽  
Non Invasive

Pilot Study on Using Innovative Counting Peaks Method for Assessment Purposes of the EEG Data Recorded from a Single-Channel Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interface

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Browarska ◽  
Jaroslaw Zygarlicki ◽  
Mariusz Pelc ◽  
Michal Niemczynowicz ◽  
Malgorzata Zygarlicka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Single Channel ◽  
Brain Computer Interface ◽  
Computer Interface ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Eeg Data

MicroRNA expression in infertile men: its alterations and effects

Zygote ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (05) ◽  
pp. 263-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Kiani ◽  
Mohammad Salehi ◽  
Asghar Mogheiseh
Keyword(s):  
Male Infertility ◽  
Testicular Biopsy ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Mirna Regulation ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Diagnostic Biomarkers ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Different Types

SummaryInfertility is an important reproductive health problem, and male infertility is especially important in more than half of infertility cases. Due to the importance of genetic factors in this condition, analysis of semen alone is not enough to recognize men with idiopathic infertility. A molecular non-invasive investigation is necessary to gain valuable information. Currently, microRNAs (miRNAs) are being used as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. miRNAs, single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules, act as post-transcriptional gene silencing regulators either by inhibition or repression of translation. Changes in the regulation of miRNAs have been investigated in several different types of male infertility, therefore the biological role of miRNA and gene targets has been defined. The purpose of this study was to review recent research on the altered expression of miRNA in semen, sperm, and testicular biopsy samples in infertile males with different types of unexplained infertility. Changes in miRNA regulation were investigated using microarray and the miRNA levels were confirmed by real-time qRT-PCR. This review explains why creating a non-invasive diagnostic method for male infertility is necessary and how changes in miRNA expression can be used as new diagnostic biomarkers in patients with differing spermatogenic and histopathologic injury.

scholarly journals Investigating the dynamics of Leishmania antigen in the urine of patients with visceral leishmaniasis: a pilot study

F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1514
Author(s):  
Prakash Ghosh ◽  
Israel Cruz ◽  
Albert Picado ◽  
Thomas Edwards ◽  
Md. Anik Ashfaq Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Treatment Monitoring ◽  
Urine Samples ◽  
Urinary Antigen ◽  
Antigen Concentration ◽  
Elisa Kit ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Antigen Elisa

Background: Detection of Leishmania antigens in the urine provides a non-invasive means of diagnosis and treatment monitoring of cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Leishmania antigen load in the urine may vary between different time-points within a day, thus influencing the performance of antigen-detection tests. Methods: We investigated the dynamics of Leishmania antigen in urine collected at three different time points (08:00, 12:00 and 16:00 hours). All urine samples collected were tested with the Leishmania Antigen ELISA (VL ELISA) kit, produced by Kalon Biological Ltd., UK. Results: The median concentration of Leishmania antigen in urine collected at 08:00 (2.7 UAU-urinary antigen units/ml) was higher than at 12:00 (1.7 UAU/ml) and at 16:00 (1.9 UAU/ml). These differences were found to be statistically significant (08:00 vs. 12:00, p=0.011; 08:00 vs. 16:00, p=0.041). Conclusion: This pilot study indicates that the Leishmania antigen concentration is higher in urine samples collected in the morning, which has important implications when the VL ELISA kit or other tests to detect Leishmania antigen in urine are used for diagnosis of VL and treatment monitoring.

scholarly journals Optical Coherence Elastography for Non-Invasive Monitoring of Tumor Elasticity under Chemotherapy: Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.A. Plekhanov ◽  
E.V. Gubarkova ◽  
A.A. Sovietsky ◽  
V.Y. Zaitsev ◽  
L.A. Matveev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Invasive Monitoring ◽  
Optical Coherence ◽  
Non Invasive

scholarly journals Targeting the Autonomic Nervous System Balance in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianna H. Prim ◽  
Sangtae Ahn ◽  
Maria I. Davila ◽  
Morgan L. Alexander ◽  
Karen L. McCulloch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Alpha Oscillations ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation

AbstractBackgroundChronic low back pain (CLBP) is characterized by an alteration in pain processing by the central nervous system that may affect autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance. Heart rate variability (HRV) reflects the balance of parasympathetic and sympathetic ANS activation. In particular, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) solely reflects parasympathetic input and is reduced in CLBP patients. Yet, it remains unknown if non-invasive brain stimulation can alter ANS balance in CLBP patients.ObjectiveTo evaluate if non-invasive brain stimulation modulates the ANS, we analyzed HRV metrics collected in a previously published study of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for the modulation of CLBP through enhancing alpha oscillations. We hypothesized that tACS would increase RSA.MethodsA randomized, crossover, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot study was conducted to investigate the effects of 10Hz-tACS on metrics of ANS balance calculated from electrocardiogram (ECG). ECG data were collected for 2 minutes before and after 40 minutes of 10Hz-tACS or sham stimulation.ResultsThere were no significant changes in RSA or other frequency-domain HRV components from 10Hz-tACS. However, exploratory time-domain HRV analysis revealed a significant increase in the standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN) for 10Hz-tACS relative to sham.Conclusion(s)Although tACS did not significantly increase RSA, we found in an exploratory analysis that tACS modulated an integrated HRV measure of both ANS branches. These findings support the further study of how the ANS and alpha oscillations interact and are modulated by tACS.

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