Urinary Biomarkers and Point-of-Care Urinalysis Devices for Early Diagnosis and Management of Disease: A Review

Urine Test Strip Quantitative Assay with a Smartphone Camera

Urine test strips for urinalysis are a common diagnostic tool with minimal costs and are used in various situations including homecare and hospitalization. The coloration scaled by the naked eye is simple, but it is suitable for semiquantitative analysis only. In this paper, a colorimetric assay is developed based on a smartphone digital camera and urine test strips. Assays of pH, albumin, glucose, and lipase activity were performed as a tool for the diagnosis of aciduria, alkaluria, glycosuria, proteinuria, and leukocyturia. The RGB color channels were analyzed in the colorimetric assay, and the assay exerted good sensitivity, and all the particular diagnoses proved to be reliable. The limits of detection for glucose (0.11 mmol/L), albumin (0.15 g/L), and lipase (2.50 U/μL) were low enough to cover the expected physiological concentration, and the range for pH was also satisfactory. The urine test strips with a camera as an output detector proved applicability to spiked urine samples, and the results were also well in comparison to the standard assays which confirms the practical relevance of the presented findings.

Nucleic Acid Aptamer-Based Biosensors: A Review

Aptamers, short strands of either DNA, RNA, or peptides, known for their exceptional specificity and high binding affinity to target molecules, are providing significant advancements in the field of health. When seamlessly integrated into biosensor platforms, aptamers give rise to aptasensors, unlocking a new dimension in point-of-care diagnostics with rapid response times and remarkable versatility. As such, this review aims to present an overview of the distinct advantages conferred by aptamers over traditional antibodies as the molecular recognition element in biosensors. Additionally, it delves into the realm of specific aptamers made for the detection of biomarkers associated with infectious diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolomic and neurological disorders. The review further elucidates the varying binding assays and transducer techniques that support the development of aptasensors. Ultimately, this review discusses the current state of point-of-care diagnostics facilitated by aptasensors and underscores the immense potential of these technologies in advancing the landscape of healthcare delivery.

Deciphering the human urine matrix: a new approach to simultaneously quantify the main ions and organic compounds by ion chromatography/mass spectrometry (IC-MS)

Analyzing the composition of (human) urine plays a major role in the fields of biology and medicine. Organic molecules (such as urea, creatine) and ions (such as chloride, sulfate) are the major compounds present in urine, the quantification of which allows for the diagnosis of a subject's health condition. Various analytical methods have been reported for studying urine components and validated on the basis of known and referenced compounds. The present work introduces a new method able to simultaneously determine both major organic molecules and ions contained in urine, by combining ion chromatography using a conductimetric detector with mass spectroscopy. The analysis of organic and ionized compounds (anionic and cationic) was achieved in double injections. For quantification, the standard addition method was used. Human urine samples were pre-treated (diluted and filtered) for IC-CD/MS analysis. The analytes were separated in 35 min. Calibration ranges (0-20 mg.L-1) and correlation coefficients (> 99.3%) as well as detection (LODs < 0.75 mg.L-1) and quantification (LOQs < 2.59 mg.L-1) limits were obtained for the main organic molecules (lactic, hippuric, citric, uric, oxalic acids, urea, creatine, and creatinine) and ions (chloride, sulfate, phosphate, sodium, ammonium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) contained in urine. The intra- and inter-day accuracies of the analytes consistently ranged from 0.1 to 5.0%, and the precision was within 4.0%. For all analytes, no significant matrix effects were observed, and recoveries ranged from 94.9 to 102.6%. Finally, quantitative results of analytes were obtained from 10 different human urine samples.

Perceived Use Cases, Barriers, and Requirements for a Smart Health-Tracking Toilet Seat: Qualitative Focus Group Study

BACKGROUND

Smart bathroom technology offers unrivaled opportunities for the automated measurement of a range of biomarkers and other data. Unfortunately, efforts in this area are mostly driven by a technology push rather than market pull approach, which decreases the chances of successful adoption. As yet, little is known about the use cases, barriers, and desires that potential users of smart bathrooms perceive.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate how participants from the general population experience using a smart sensor-equipped toilet seat installed in their home. The study contributes to answering the following questions: What use cases do citizens see for this innovation? and What are the limitations and barriers to its everyday use that they see, including concerns regarding privacy, the lack of fit with everyday practices, and unmet expectations for user experience?

METHODS

Overall, 31 participants from 30 households participated in a study consisting of 3 (partially overlapping) stages: sensitizing, in which participants filled out questionnaires to trigger their thoughts about smart bathroom use and personal health; provotyping, in which participants received a gentle provocation in the form of a smart toilet seat, which they used for 2 weeks; and discussion, in which participants took part in a web-based focus group session to discuss their experiences.

RESULTS

Participants mostly found the everyday use of the toilet, including installation and dismantling when necessary, to be relatively easy and free of complications. Where complications occurred, participants mentioned issues related to the design of the prototype, technology, or mismatches with normal practices in using toilets and hygiene. A broad range of use cases were mentioned, ranging from signaling potentially detrimental health conditions or exacerbations of existing conditions to documenting physical data to measuring biomarkers to inform a diagnosis and behavioral change. Participants differed greatly in whether they let others use, or even know about, the seat. Ownership and control over their own data were essential for most participants.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that participants felt that a smart toilet seat could be acceptable and effective, as long as it fits everyday practices concerning toilet use and hygiene. The range of potential uses for a smart toilet seat is broad, as long as privacy and control over disclosure and data are warranted.