Nanoproteomic Approach for Isolation and Identification of Potential Biomarkers in Human Urine from Adults with Normal Weight, Overweight and Obesity

Enzymatic Methods for Salivary Biomarkers Detection: Overview and Current Challenges

Early detection is a key factor in patient fate. Currently, multiple biomolecules have been recognized as biomarkers. Nevertheless, their identification is only the starting line on the way to their implementation in disease diagnosis. Although blood is the biofluid par excellence for the quantification of biomarkers, its extraction is uncomfortable and painful for many patients. In this sense, there is a gap in which saliva emerges as a non-invasive and valuable source of information, as it contains many of the biomarkers found in blood. Recent technological advances have made it possible to detect and quantify biomarkers in saliva samples. However, there are opportunity areas in terms of cost and complexity, which could be solved using simpler methodologies such as those based on enzymes. Many reviews have focused on presenting the state-of-the-art in identifying biomarkers in saliva samples. However, just a few of them provide critical analysis of technical elements for biomarker quantification in enzymatic methods for large-scale clinical applications. Thus, this review proposes enzymatic assays as a cost-effective alternative to overcome the limitations of current methods for the quantification of biomarkers in saliva, highlighting the technical and operational considerations necessary for sampling, method development, optimization, and validation.

Porous Inorganic Materials for Bioanalysis and Diagnostic Applications

Porous inorganic materials play an important role in adsorbing targeted analytes and supporting efficient reactions in analytical science. The detection performance relies on the structural properties of porous materials, considering the tunable pore size, shape, connectivity, etc. Herein, we first clarify the enhancement mechanisms of porous materials for bioanalysis, concerning the detection sensitivity and selectivity. The diagnostic applications of porous material-assisted platforms by coupling with various analytical techniques, including electrochemical sensing, optical spectrometry, and mass spectrometry, etc., are then reviewed. We foresee that advanced porous materials will bring far-reaching implications in bioanalysis toward real-case applications, especially as diagnostic assays in clinical settings.

The Association Between Obesity and Social Isolation as Well as Loneliness in the Adult Population: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

Obesity is associated with adverse health outcomes and can result in feelings of loneliness or social isolation, for example due to stigmatization. These factors are in turn associated with morbidity and mortality. Thus far, a systematic review is lacking with regard to the association between obesity, social isolation and loneliness. Therefore, our aim was to fill this gap in knowledge.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three established electronic databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, as well as CINAHL) were searched. Observational studies examining the link between obesity and loneliness or social isolation were included. Disease-specific samples were excluded.

RESULTS

In sum, six studies have been included. While some studies point to an association between obesity and increased loneliness levels, it should be acknowledged that findings are mixed. Study quality was quite high.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review showed that the literature is inconclusive and incomplete. Further research is required to shed further light on these associations. Moreover, studies from countries outside Europe, based on longitudinal data and using objective assessments of obesity, are urgently required. Gender differences should be further explored.