Lab test

Performing conventional mechanical characterization techniques on soft materials can be challenging due to issues such as limited sample volumes and clamping difficulties. Deep indentation and puncture is a promising alternative as it is an information-rich measurement with the potential to be performed in a high-throughput manner. Despite its promise, the method lacks standardized protocols, and open questions remain about its possible limitations. Addressing these shortcomings is vital to ensure consistent methodology, measurements, and interpretation across samples and labs...

Leukocyte count is routinely performed for diagnostic purposes and is rapidly emerging as a significant biomarker for a wide array of diseases. Additionally, leukocytes have demonstrated considerable promise in novel cell-based immunotherapies. However, the direct retrieval of leukocytes from whole blood is a significant challenge due to their low abundance compared to erythrocytes. Here, we introduce a microfluidic-based platform that isolates and recovers leukocytes from diluted whole blood in a single step...

This case report describes necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in an infant with a history of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). TTTS is a volume imbalance where the anastomosis at the vascular equator between the two placentae shifts from the donor to the recipient twin. This causes a higher risk for NEC, a marked inflammation caused by bacterial infection into the intestinal wall, from prematurity and intestinal hypoperfusion. Complications include sepsis, bowel necrosis, perforation, peritonitis, and death...

Genetically modified (GM) food is still highly controversial nowadays. Due to the disparate policies and attitudes worldwide, demands for a rapid, cost-effective and user-friendly GM crop identification method are increasingly significant for import administration, market supervision, etc. However, as the most-recognized methods, nucleic acid-based identification approaches require bulky instruments, long turn-around times and trained personnel, which are only suitable in laboratories. To fulfil the urgent needs of on-site testing, we develop a point-of-care testing platform that is able to identify 12 types of GM crops in less than 40 minutes without using laboratory settings...

While there are various aspects of platelet biology that can be studied in the lab (i.e. adhesion, degranulation, integrin activation), the master test for platelet function is that which gives a measure of the platelet aggregation capacity upon stimulation with an agonist. Platelet function testing is necessary for the diagnosis of platelet disorders and the monitoring of patients receiving anti-platelet treatments. Furthermore, it becomes relevant in the quality control of platelet concentrates for transfusion purposes, especially considering the global concern about long term storage, other forms of storage (i...

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To demonstrate the impact of individual exercise training on the course of the disease, exercise tolerance and quality of life (QoL) in patients over 75 years after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Study included octogenarians after ACS randomly assigned into two groups: a training group (ExT) subjected to individualized physical training and a control group (CG) with standard recommendations for activity...

Under stress, parents tend to use more controlling feeding behaviors toward their children (Berge et al., 2017; Doan et al., 2022; Loth et al., 2016). However, the majority of prior work focuses on subjective reports of stress, and there is a dearth of research examining parental physiological stress and its impact on feeding behaviors. In the current study, we examined how parental physiological stress reactivity would influence their feeding behaviors under mild stress in a lab-based setting. Parents (n = 83, 50 % females) and their children (59% female, Mage =42 months, SD=4...

Solar dehydration processes, implemented with NIR sensors, were studied. The research plan was divided into phases to achieve specific objectives. Phase 1: laboratory tests on micro plants; phase 2: scale transposition tests on small-sized plants - pilot scale; phase 3: tests on commercial systems already in use by Italian SMEs. The realisation of the scheduled activities started with the design, programming, and positioning of NIR sensor for data collection and configuration optimization. NIR spectra were collected in reflectance mode (900-1700 nm) using the MicroNIR1700™ or the MicroNIR On-site W™ (VIAVI Solutions Italia S...

PREMISE: During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, all laboratory work was suspended, and we were obliged to work from home, causing delays in our research. As the disruption to supply chains made it difficult to obtain our regular lab supplies, we were obliged to search for substitutes. We became familiar with a plastic material known as biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) that is widely used in the food industry for wrapping or storing fruits, vegetables, and meat. BOPP is easily dissolved in organic solvents such as xylenes, acetone, or thinner, but these reagents are very toxic, flammable, and can cause nausea in some users...

BACKGROUND: Many data were published about Long-Covid prevalence, very few about the findings of new cardiac alterations (NCA) in COVID-19-recovered people. ARCA-post-COVID is an observational study designed to investigate the prevalence of NCA in patients recovered from Covid-19.Methods: from June 2020 to December 2022, we enrolled 502 patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV2 and a subsequent negative one. We performed anamnesis, lab-test, and routine cardiological tests (ECG, Holter, TTE)...

BACKGROUND: Mastitis, a pervasive and detrimental disease in dairy farming, poses a significant challenge to the global dairy industry. Monitoring the milk somatic cell count (SCC) is vital for assessing the incidence of mastitis and the quality of raw cow's milk. However, existing SCC detection methods typically require large-scale instruments and specialized operators, limiting their application in resource-constrained settings such as dairy farms and small-scale labs. To address these limitations, this study introduces a novel, smartphone-based, on-site SCC testing method that leverages smartphone capabilities for milk somatic cell identification and enumeration, offering a portable and user-friendly testing platform...

Perspective taking is theorized to help sustain satisfying social relationships by promoting prorelationship responses that reduce harmful negative behaviors in relationship interactions. The present studies provide the first tests of whether perspective taking predicts less negative behavior within couples' daily and lab-based conflict interactions. In Study 1, individuals ( N = 77) rated their perspective taking and their own and partner's hurtful, critical, and distancing behavior each day for 14 days. In Study 2, couples ( N = 78 dyads) completed the same daily measures for 21 days...

Despite much progress, image processing remains a significant bottleneck for high-throughput analysis of microscopy data. One popular platform for single-cell time-lapse imaging is the mother machine, which enables long-term tracking of microbial cells under precisely controlled growth conditions. While several mother machine image analysis pipelines have been developed in the past several years, adoption by a non-expert audience remains a challenge. To fill this gap, we implemented our own software, MM3, as a plugin for the multidimensional image viewer napari...

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a severe orthopedic issue that, if left untreated, can result in lasting nerve and muscle damage or even necessitate amputation. The association between admission laboratory blood test indicators and the occurrence of ACS in patients with tibial diaphysis fractures is currently a subject of debate. The objective of this research was to identify the contributing factors for ACS in individuals suffering from tibial diaphysis fractures. In this retrospective study, we collected data on a total of 705 individuals from our hospital, comprising 86 ACS patients and 619 non-ACS patients with tibial diaphysis fractures...

The study of relationship closeness has a long history in psychology and is currently expanding across the social sciences, including economics. Estimating relationship closeness requires appropriate tools. Here, we introduce and test a tool for estimating relationship closeness: 'IOS11 '. The IOS11 scale has an 11-point response scale and is a refinement of the widely used Inclusion-of-Other-in-the-Self scale. Our tool has three key features. First, the IOS11 scale is easy to understand and administer...

The Bone-Marrow derived Dendritic Cell (BMDC) test is a promising assay for identifying sensitizing chemicals based on the 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine) principle. This study expanded the BMDC benchmarking to various in vitro, in chemico, and in silico assays targeting different key events (KE) in the skin sensitization pathway, using common substances datasets. Additionally, a Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) model was developed to predict the BMDC test outcomes for sensitizing or non-sensitizing chemicals...

OBJECTIVE: In systemic lupus erythematosus, poor disease outcomes occur in young adults, patients identifying as Black or Hispanic, and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. These identities and social factors differentially shape care access and quality that contribute to lupus health disparities in the US. Thus, our objective was to measure markers of care access and quality, including rheumatology visits (longitudinal care retention) and lupus-specific serology testing, by race and ethnicity, neighborhood disadvantage, and geographic context...

PURPOSE: gustatory ability is a marker of health not routinely tested in the medical practice. The current study wants to assess whether taste strips can be useful to monitor taste function from home. METHODS: we performed simple sensory tests in lab setting vs. unassisted testing at home, and compared the results with self-reports ability to taste and smell. Using paper strips impregnated with sweet, bitter, salty, or sour tastants, and with two trigeminal stimuli (capsaicin, tannins) in high and low concentrations, we assessed gustatory and trigeminal function in 74 participants (47 women) in the lab, where paper strips were administered by an experimenter, and in 77 participants (59 women) at home, where they self-administered the test...

Dehydrated alginate beads formulated with copper were synthesized and tested as a feed additive to influence the microbiota in finishing pigs and potentially use them as a preharvest intervention to reduce fecal pathogen shedding. The efficacy of the copper beads was tested in vitro and in vivo. In vitro , Salmonella was significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced when in contact with the copper beads solution for up to 6 h, with a 5.4 log CFU/mL reduction over the first hour. Chemical analysis of the soak solutions demonstrated the beads delivered their copper payload gradually over the same period the bactericidal effect was observed...

BACKGROUND: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a severe condition with poor outcomes and high mortality. IRRAflow® (IRRAS AB) is a new technology introduced to accelerate IVH clearance by minimally invasive wash-out. The IRRAflow® system performs active and controlled intracranial irrigation and aspiration with physiological saline, while simultaneously monitoring and maintaining a stable intracranial pressure (ICP). We addressed important aspects of the device implementation and intracranial lavage...