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The term liquid biopsy (LB) refers to the use of various biological fluids as a surrogate for neoplastic tissue to achieve information for diagnostic, prognostic and predictive purposes. In the current clinical practice, LB is used for the identification of driver mutations in circulating tumor DNA derived from both tumor tissue and circulating neoplastic cells. As suggested by a growing body of evidence, however, there are several clinical settings where biological samples other than tissue could be used in the routine practice to identify potentially predictive biomarkers of either response or resistance to targeted treatments. New applications are emerging as useful clinical tools, and other blood derivatives, such as circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor RNA, microRNAs, platelets, extracellular vesicles, as well as other biofluids such as urine and cerebrospinal fluid, may be adopted in the near future. Despite the evident advantages compared with tissue biopsy, LB still presents some limitations due to both biological and technological issues. In this context, the absence of harmonized procedures corresponds to an unmet clinical need, ultimately affecting the rapid implementation of LB in clinical practice. In this position paper, based on experts’ opinions, the AIOM–SIAPEC-IAP–SIBIOC–SIF Italian Scientific Societies critically discuss the most relevant technical issues of LB, the current and emerging evidences, with the aim to optimizing the applications of LB in the clinical setting., Highlights • In the current clinical practice LB is used for the identification of driver mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). • New applications in tumors other than non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are emerging as useful clinical tools. • Other blood derivatives, together with other biofluids, are an active field of research and may be adopted in the near future. • Despite the evident advantages, liquid biopsy still presents limitations due to both biological and technological issues. • Standardization of the procedures needs to be addressed to ensure widespread implementation in clinical practice.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is emerging as a global pandemic outbreak. To date, approximately one million deaths and over 32 million cases have been reported. This ongoing pandemic urgently requires an accurate testing device that can be used in the field in a fast manner. Serological assays to detect antibodies have been proven to be a great complement to the standard method of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), particularly after the second week of infection. We have developed a specific and sensitive immunosensor for immunoglobulin detection produced against SARS-CoV-2. Unlike other lateral flow-based assays (LFAs) involving the utilization of multiple antibodies, we have reported a label-free paper-based electrochemical platform targeting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies without the specific requirement of an antibody. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies will interrupt the redox conversion of the redox indicator, resulting in a decreased current response. This electrochemical sensor was proven effective in real clinical sera from patients with satisfactory results. In addition, the proposed format was also extended to antigen detection (the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2), which presents new possibilities for diagnosing COVID-19., Highlights • Electrochemical sensor for COVID-19 diagnostic. • Serological assay for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was demonstrated. • Sensitivity enhancement compared to the traditional LFA devices. • Applicable to real clinical sera with satisfactory results.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a common cause of cancer-related death, due to difficulties in detecting early-stage disease, to its aggressive behaviour, and to poor response to systemic therapy. Therefore, developing strategies for early diagnosis of resectable PC is critical for improving survival. Diabetes mellitus is another major public health problem worldwide. Furthermore, diabetes can represent both a risk factor and a consequence of PC: nowadays, the relationship between these two diseases is considered a high priority for research. New-onset diabetes can be an early manifestation of PC, especially in a thin adult without a family history of diabetes. However, even if targeted screening for patients at higher risk of PC could be a promising approach, this is not recommended in asymptomatic adults with new-onset diabetes, due to the much higher incidence of hyperglycaemia than PC and to the lack of a safe and affordable PC screening test. Prompted by a well-established and productive multidisciplinary cooperation, the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), the Italian Medical Diabetologists Association (AMD), the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE), and the Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) here review available evidence on the mechanisms linking diabetes and PC, addressing the feasibility of screening for early PC in patients with diabetes, and sharing a set of update statements with the aim of providing a state-of-the-art overview and a decision aid tool for daily clinical practice., Highlights • The incidence of PC is increasing and its prognosis is very poor; therefore, early detection is fundamental. • New-onset diabetes may be an early manifestation of PC, often disappearing after its resection. • Screening for PC is not currently recommended among people with new-onset diabetes, due to its high incidence. • Thin subjects >50 years old at the time of diabetes onset, with sudden weight loss and severe hyperglycaemia are at higher risk. • Currently some clinical models are promising for stratifying cancer risk in people with new-onset diabetes.

Although fabrication of colorimetric paper-based analytical devices (PADs) has drawn increasing attention recently, the signal readout method is still a crucial challenge on the way to practical exploitations. We herein introduce an integration of digital image processing with a model PAD for easing and improving the signal readout procedure. The colorimetric detection mechanism of PAD relies on in-situ induced yellowish silver nanoparticles via the interaction of silver ions, poly(vinyl alcohol), and ammonia with isoniazid. The observed color value is related with the concentration of isoniazid. The proposed algorithm is based on mathematical morphology recognition, and minimizes the errors arising from manual area selection. Besides, it allows the recognition of both circle and square shapes in 96-well plate and A4 size array designs. Since this algorithm automatically provides the blank-corrected numerical matrixes and image profiles of red, green and blue channels, further investigations such as outlier classification, construction of regression/prediction models and calculation of detection limit can be easily performed. Comparison of signal readout results of the developed algorithm with ImageJ software demonstrates significant improvements in analysis speed, reproducibility, accuracy and color values. Therefore, application of the proposed algorithm is promising as a robust technique for practical applications.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-04T12:39:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-07-15 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan JSPS KAKENHI Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) This article presents results of a pulsed UV laser method for the simultaneous reduction of graphite oxide (GO) and patterning of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). This direct laser writing method was applied to the fabrication of graphene-based, in-plane interdigitated micro-supercapacitors (mu-SCs), prepared on free-standing GO paper (10 mu m thick). The electrochemical performance of mu-SCs was studied using two different electrolytes (KOH and NaCl). The results from cyclic voltammetry measurements exhibited typical electrical double layer behavior, with specific capacitances of 9.3 mu F/cm(2) and 13.8 mu F/cm(2) (at a scan rate of 10 mV/s) for KOH and NaCl electrolytes, respectively. The mu-SCs exhibited good performance, with retention of 95% of the original capacitance values after 3400 charge-discharge cycles. When compared to devices obtained by conventional lithographic techniques, the laser fabrication of planar mu-SCs is faster, cost-effective and scalable. We believe this one-step and environmentally friendly laser-assisted method to be a good alternative for the fabrication of flexible energy storage devices. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Toyohashi Univ Technol, Dept Elect & Elect Informat Engn, 1-1 Hibarigaoka,Tempaku Cho, Toyohashi, Aichi 4418580, Japan Ctr Informat Technol Renato Archer CTI, BR-13069901 Campinas, SP, Brazil Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Ctr Semicond Components & Nanotechnol CCS Nano, BR-13083870 Campinas, SP, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Phys, Fac Sci & Technol, BR-19060900 Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil CUHP, Sch Phys & Mat Sci, Dharamshala 176215, HP, India Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Inst Chem, Dept Analyt Chem, POB 6154, BR-13084974 Campinas, SP, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Phys, Fac Sci & Technol, BR-19060900 Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan: P18063 JSPS KAKENHI: 18H03841 JSPS KAKENHI: 18F18063 FAPESP: 2017/22186-0 FAPESP: 2013/14262-7

Multichannel intraluminal impedance pH (MII-pH) monitoring currently represents the gold standard diagnostic technique for the detection of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER), since it allows to quantify and characterize all reflux events and their possible relation with symptoms. Over the last ten years, thanks to its strengths and along with the publication of several clinical studies, its worldwide use has gradually increased, particularly in infants and children. Nevertheless, factors such as the limited pediatric reference values and limited therapeutic options still weaken its current clinical impact. Through an up-to-date review of the available scientific evidence, our aim was to produce a position paper on behalf of the working group on neurogastroenterology and acid-related disorders of the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SIGENP) on MII-pH monitoring technique, indications and interpretation in pediatric age, in order to standardise its use and to help clinicians in the diagnostic approach to children with GER symptoms.

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T17:34:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-07-01 In the recent past, wildfires have received much attention both by science and by the media, especially in relation to deforestation, degradation and climate change and when affecting fire-sensitive ecosystems. On the other hand, fire is a natural process in many ecosystems, in particular those to be considered fire-dependent; here, maintaining natural fire regimes is important to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services. In many regions of the world we are still in the need for a better understanding of fire effects on plant populations, communities and ecosystems. For instance, responses of individuals and populations to heat and fire can differ among distinct fire-prone ecosystems, and community level responses often vary depending on historical disturbance regimes or the fire regime as such. Effects on ecosystem processes, e.g. on carbon cycles, can vary greatly in scale and are even more difficult to predict. This adds up to uncertainties regarding appropriate fire management strategies, both in fire-prone and fire-sensitive ecosystems. Here, we introduce a set of opinion papers on fires in Brazil and a forthcoming Virtual Special Issue of Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants on Fire and vegetation, with contributions expected from a broad range of topics related to fire, plants, and vegetation. This special issue will contribute to the development not only of more knowledge on fire effects on plants and vegetation, but also to advances in fire management policies in different ecosystems around the world. The main issue, after all, is to go beyond simple classification of fires as 'good' or 'bad', but rather to develop strategies to deal with changing fire regimes and their effects in a dynamic world increasingly modified by human actions. Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Dept Bot, Av Bento Goncalves 9500, BR-91501970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Univ Fed Minas Gerais, Ctr Ecol Synth & Conservat, Dept Genet Ecol & Evolucao, Av Antonio Carlos 6627, BR-31270901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, Dept Biol, Via Acesso Prof Paulo Donato Castellane S-N, BR-14884000 Jaboticabal, Brazil TU Bergakad Freiberg, Inst Biosci, Leipziger Str 29, D-09599 Freiberg, Germany Univ Estadual Paulista, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, Dept Biol, Via Acesso Prof Paulo Donato Castellane S-N, BR-14884000 Jaboticabal, Brazil

A major application of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (mu PADs) includes the field of point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. It is important for POC diagnostics to possess properties such as ease-of-use and low cost. However, mu PADs need multiple instruments and fabrication steps. In this study, two different chemicals (Hexamethyldisilazane and Tetra-ethylorthosilicate) were used, and three different methods (heating, plasma treatment, and microwave irradiation) were compared to develop mu PADs. Additionally, an inkjet-printing technique was used for generating a hydrophilic channel and printing certain chemical agents on different regions of a modified filter paper. A rapid and effective fabrication method to develop mu PADs within 10 min Was introduced using an inkjet-printing technique in conjunction with a microwave irradiation method. Environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used for morphology characterization and determining the surface chemical compositions of the modified filter paper, respectively. Contact angle measurements were used to fulfill the hydrophobicity of the treated filter paper. The highest contact angle value (141 degrees +/- 1) was obtained using the microwave irradiation method over a period of 7 min, when the filter paper was modified by TEOS. Furthermore, by using this method, the XPS results of TEOS-modified filter paper revealed Si2p (23%) and Si-O bounds (81.55%) indicating the presence of Si-O-Si bridges and Si(OEt) groups, respectively. The ESEM results revealed changes in the porous structures of the papers and decreases in the pore sizes. Washburn assay measurements tested the efficiency of the generated hydrophilic channels in which similar water penetration rates were observed in the TEOS-modified filter paper and unmodified (plain) filter paper. The validation of the developed mu PADs was performed by utilizing the rapid urease test as a model test system. The detection limit of the developed mu PADs was measured as 1 unit ml(-1) urease enzyme in detection zones within a period of 3 min. The study findings suggested that a combination of microwave irradiation with inkjet-printing technique could improve the fabrication method of mu PADs, enabling faster production of mu PADs that are easy to use and cost-effective with long shelf lives. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gait analysis is recognized as a useful assessment tool in the field of human movement research. However, doubts remain on its real effectiveness as a clinical tool, i.e. on its capability to change the diagnostic-therapeutic practice. In particular, the conditions in which evidence of a favorable cost-benefit ratio is found and the methodology for properly conducting and interpreting the exam are not identified clearly. To provide guidelines for the use of Gait Analysis in the context of rehabilitation medicine, SIAMOC (the Italian Society of Clinical Movement Analysis) promoted a National Consensus Conference which was held in Bologna on September 14th, 2013. The resulting recommendations were the result of a three-stage process entailing i) the preparation of working documents on specific open issues, ii) the holding of the consensus meeting, and iii) the drafting of consensus statements by an external Jury. The statements were formulated based on scientific evidence or experts’ opinion, when the quality/quantity of the relevant literature was deemed insufficient. The aim of this work is to disseminate the consensus statements. These are divided into 13 questions grouped in three areas of interest: 1) General requirements and management, 2) Methodological and instrumental issues, and 3) Scientific evidence and clinical appropriateness. SIAMOC hopes that this document will contribute to improve clinical practice and help promoting further research in the field.