Lab-on-a-Chip Device for Rapid Measurement of Vitamin D Levels

Determining the value of early measurement of interleukin-10 in predicting the absence of brain lesions in CT scans of patients with mild traumatic brain injury

Blood-based biomarkers were recently proposed as predictors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes. This would be a critical step forward since the majority of TBI events are mild and structural brain damage in this group may be missed by current brain imaging methods. We sought to determine the performance of early measurement of interleukin-10 (IL-10) to distinguish computed tomography (CT)-positive from negative patients with mild TBI. We designed a single-center prospective observational study, which enrolled consecutive patients classed with mild TBI according to Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] scores and appearance of at least one clinical symptom. Serum IL-10 levels were measured <3 h post hospital admission. The performance of IL-10 levels in correctly classifying patients was evaluated. IL-10 levels were significantly higher in the group with positive CT scans (p < 0.001). With sensitivity set at 100%, the specificity of IL-10 was only 38.1%. However, the specificities of IL-10 for prediction of negative and positive cases increased to 59% and 49%, respectively, when both parameters were assessed within 90 min of admission. For mild TBI patients between 36 and 66 years, classification performance increased significantly at the 100% sensitivity level with a specificity of 93%. Our results suggest that IL-10 may be an easily accessible clinically useful diagnostic biomarker that can distinguish between mild TBI patients with and without structural brain damage with higher effectiveness when lower times of blood sampling are employed and patients are between 36 and 66 years of age.

A Comprehensive Study: Traditional and Cutting-Edge Analytical Techniques for the Biomarker Based Detection of the Micronutrients & POC Sensing Directions for Next-Generation Diagnostic

Micronutrient deficiency is wide spread and highly affects morbidity, mortality, and well-being of human beings. Micronutrient deficiency gradually manifests into diseases, which effects pathophysiology directly or indirectly. There is an imprecision in the diagnosis of micronutrient deficiency because of two causes; the selection of the standard biomarker and the diagnostic technique used. In appropriate diagnosis could increase the severity of the disorder. Instead of a single a combination of biomarkers can give more stringent results for micronutrient testing. Several traditional analytical techniques are used for diagnosis but HPLC, ELISA & LCMS/MS are most sensitive and reliable methods used by CLSIA-certified labs. However, these techniques require well-equipped, centralized laboratory facilities. The diagnostic era moves toward the Point of Care Testing (POCT), a boon in emerging diagnostics, breaking all paradigms of traditional analytical techniques. POCT led us toward the development of biosensors, which encompasses many techniques like paper-based sensors, microfluidic chip, wearable devices, and smartphone-assisted diagnostics, which become more popular diagnostic tools. This outlook summarizes the micronutrients like vitamins A, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12 C, D, and E and Minerals like iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, and sodium; along with its biomarkers, analytical techniques, and point of care innovation in micronutrients.

Early Detection and Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: Future Perspectives

Alzheimer's disease affects approximately 6% of people over the age of 65 years. It is characterized as chronic degeneration of cortical neurons, with loss of memory, cognition and executive functions. As the disease progresses, it is accompanied by accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in key areas of the brain, leading to a loss of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, along with changes in the levels of essential neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and glutamate. Individuals with concomitant diseases such as depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disorders have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, and those who have a healthier diet and partake in regular exercise and intellectual stimulation have a lower risk of developing the disorder. This chapter describes the advances made in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease as this could help to improve outcomes for the patients by facilitating earlier treatment.