An ultra-high-density protein microarray for high throughput single-tier serological detection of Lyme disease

Anti-Ha Antisynthetase Syndrome: A Case Report

Anti-synthetase syndrome (ASyS) is a rare systemic autoimmune myopathy characterized by the involvement of muscles, lungs, and joints, in addition to Raynaud's phenomenon, "mechanics' hand," and fever. Laboratory ASyS is defined by the positivity of anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase autoantibodies, of which anti-Jo-1 is the most common. Herein, we reported an ASyS defined by an anti-Ha autoantibody, which has rarely been described in the literature. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, we reported the first case of anti-Ha ASyS in Brazil.

Label-Free Multiplexed Microfluidic Analysis of Protein Interactions Based on Photonic Crystal Surface Mode Imaging

High-throughput protein assays are crucial for modern diagnostics, drug discovery, proteomics, and other fields of biology and medicine. It allows simultaneous detection of hundreds of analytes and miniaturization of both fabrication and analytical procedures. Photonic crystal surface mode (PC SM) imaging is an effective alternative to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging used in conventional gold-coated, label-free biosensors. PC SM imaging is advantageous as a quick, label-free, and reproducible technique for multiplexed analysis of biomolecular interactions. PC SM sensors are characterized by a longer signal propagation at the cost of a lower spatial resolution, which makes them more sensitive than classical SPR imaging sensors. We describe an approach for designing label-free protein biosensing assays employing PC SM imaging in the microfluidic mode. Label-free, real-time detection of PC SM imaging biosensors using two-dimensional imaging of binding events has been designed to study arrays of model proteins (antibodies, immunoglobulin G-binding proteins, serum proteins, and DNA repair proteins) at 96 points prepared by automated spotting. The data prove feasibility of simultaneous PC SM imaging of multiple protein interactions. The results pave the way to further develop PC SM imaging as an advanced label-free microfluidic assay for the multiplexed detection of protein interactions.

Experimental investigation and ANN modelling on CO2 hydrate kinetics in multiphase pipeline systems

Gas hydrates are progressively becoming a key concern when determining the economics of a reservoir due to flow interruptions, as offshore reserves are produced in ever deeper and colder waters. The creation of a hydrate plug poses equipment and safety risks. No current existing models have the feature of accurately predicting the kinetics of gas hydrates when a multiphase system is encountered. In this work, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are developed to study and predict the effect of the multiphase system on the kinetics of gas hydrates formation. Primarily, a pure system and multiphase system containing crude oil are used to conduct experiments. The details of the rate of formation for both systems are found. Then, these results are used to develop an A.I. model that can be helpful in predicting the rate of hydrate formation in both pure and multiphase systems. To forecast the kinetics of gas hydrate formation, two ANN models with single layer perceptron are presented for the two combinations of gas hydrates. The results indicated that the prediction models developed are satisfactory as R² values are close to 1 and M.S.E. values are close to 0. This study serves as a framework to examine hydrate formation in multiphase systems.

A focused review on Lyme disease diagnostic testing: An update on serology algorithms, current ordering practices, and practical considerations for laboratory implementation of a new testing algorithm

Lyme borreliosis or Lyme disease (LD) is the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the United States. Diagnosing LD can be challenging as symptoms can be nonspecific and the ability of laboratory tests to detect infection varies based on the duration of infection and the methodology used. To date, serology testing is the primary laboratory tool employed to aid in diagnosing LD. Since the mid-1990's, a two-tiered algorithm has been recommended for the optimization of specificity while maintaining high sensitivity. This mini-review aims to provide an overview of LD diagnostic testing in North America, with an emphasis on serologic algorithms, in particular the modified two-tiered testing (MTTT) algorithm, along with a discussion on provider ordering patterns and practical considerations for implementation of MTTT.