Article
Immunology
Dung Nguyen, Julie Xiao, Peter Simmonds, Abigail Lamikanra, Valerie Odon, Jeremy Ratcliff, Alain Townsend, David J. Roberts, Heli Harvala
Summary: Convalescent plasma collected during the early stages of the pandemic showed reduced neutralizing capacity against the Alpha variant, emphasizing the importance of assessing its potency against currently circulating strains before clinical use. Titers of neutralizing antibodies in samples collected before and after the emergence of novel strains of SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated reduced potency against the Alpha variant, with significantly decreased efficacy against the Beta variant. Comparisons of different neutralization tests indicated a good correlation between antibody titers and strain variation, supporting the use of simpler assays for evaluating convalescent plasma efficacy against emerging strains of the virus.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Spectroscopy
Junbin Cai, Meirong Dong, Yongsheng Zhang, Yixiang Chen, Youcai Liang, Jidong Lu
Summary: The study found that species abundant in volatile matter in coal would preferentially vaporize under laser irradiation, influencing the characteristics of the plasma. The vaporization of coal increased with the volatile content.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART B-ATOMIC SPECTROSCOPY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hanne Frederiksen, Marianna Krause, Niels Jorgensen, Anders Rehfeld, Niels E. Skakkebaek, Anna-Maria Andersson
Summary: Recent studies have found that some chemical UV filters can mimic the effects of progesterone in human sperm and are present in men's seminal fluid. Benzophenone (BP), benzophenone-1 (BP-1), and benzophenone-3 (BP-3) are the most frequently detected UV filters in seminal fluid, albeit at levels one to two orders of magnitude lower than those in urine.
JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Naruhito Otani, Kazuhiko Nakajima, Kaori Ishikawa, Kaoru Ichiki, Yoshiko Yoda, Takashi Ueda, Yoshio Takesue, Takuma Yamamoto, Susumu Tanimura, Masayuki Shima, Toshiomi Okuno
Summary: In this study, antibody titers to influenza vaccine strains were measured in healthy volunteers over multiple seasons. The results showed significant differences in antibody titers for certain strains between seasons, indicating variation in cross-immunity. The consistency of antibody positivity varied between seasons, particularly for the B/Victoria strain. Assessment of antibody titers and consistency can provide valuable information on vaccine effectiveness.
Article
Virology
Bastian Fischer, Christoph Lichtenberg, Lisa Muller, Jorg Timm, Johannes Fischer, Cornelius Knabbe
Summary: The determination of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of convalescent plasma therapy. A novel ELISA-based surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) is shown to be suitable for easily measuring the inhibition-capability of NAbs in plasma. By comparing and combining results from different assays, high-titer plasma samples can be reliably detected while reducing the risk of misidentification.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Nasibeh Karimi, Razieh Dalirfardouei, Tomas Dias, Jan Lotvall, Cecilia Lasser
Summary: This study reveals the presence of multiple subpopulations of extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying different tetraspanins in both plasma and serum. The sampling methods and centrifugation protocols used for blood can impact EV analysis results.
JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hagen M. Gegner, Thomas Naake, Aurelien Dugourd, Torsten Mueller, Felix Czernilofsky, Georg Kliewer, Evelyn Jaeger, Barbara Helm, Nina Kunze-Rohrbach, Ursula Klingmueller, Carsten Hopf, Carsten Mueller-Tidow, Sascha Dietrich, Julio Saez-Rodriguez, Wolfgang Huber, Rudiger Hell, Gernot Poschet, Jeroen Krijgsveld
Summary: Metabolomic and proteomic analyses of human plasma and serum samples have the potential to advance our understanding of disease biology. However, pre-analytical factors such as temperature and time can impact the integrity of the samples and there is a need for standardized operating procedures to ensure reliable data.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Dennis M. Timmerman, Ad J. M. Gillis, Michal Mego, Leendert H. J. Looijenga
Summary: The study found that isolating microRNAs from plasma or serum had little impact on the results, and both blood products can be used. The bead-based method is more stable and suitable for small samples, while the total RNA method is more sensitive due to larger starting volume.
Article
Oncology
Alexandra Kalmar, Orsolya Galamb, Gitta Szabo, Orsolya Pipek, Anna Medgyes-Horvath, Barbara K. Bartak, Zsofia B. Nagy, Krisztina A. Szigeti, Sara Zsigrai, Istvan Csabai, Peter Igaz, Bela Molnar, Istvan Takacs
Summary: By analyzing tissue biopsies and plasma-derived cfDNA samples, we found that liquid biopsy using whole-exome sequencing and targeted sequencing is a suitable and potentially preferred method for genetic characterization of colorectal cancer patients in the future.
Article
Environmental Studies
Zhiwei Zhao, Lijun Tang, Yunlei Ma, Yueyan Wu, Shiqi Lin, Zefan Wu, Zheng Zhou, Xinyi Wang, Xinjian Wang
Summary: This paper explores seafarers' experience of fatigue during and after the pandemic. Through a multi-phase mixed methods research design, including surveys and interviews, the study reveals that seafarers reported higher levels of fatigue after the pandemic due to intensified ship inspection regime and policy updates. However, it also suggests that fatigue risk can be managed in both periods through implementing fatigue risk management policies and practices. The paper concludes with policy and management implications for improving seafarers' occupational health and safety.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aniko Zeold, Gyongyver Orsolya Sandor, Anna Kiss, Andras Aron Soos, Tamas Tolgyes, Attila Bursics, Akos Szucs, Laszlo Harsanyi, Agnes Kittel, Andras Gezsi, Edit I. Buzas, Zoltan Wiener
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EV) are considered a potential diagnostic tool for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with PDAC patient-derived organoids serving as an ideal in vitro model for studying human cancers. The miRNA composition of EVs varies among patients, but there are common miRNA sets in matched organoids and blood plasma samples. Levels of miR-21 and miR-195 in PDAC blood EVs are elevated compared to healthy controls, suggesting a potential biomarker for the disease.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Ana Barbosa, Pedro Pinto, Ana Peixoto, Joana Guerra, Manuela Pinheiro, Catarina Santos, Carla Pinto, Carla Escudeiro, Carla Bartosch, Rui Santos, Andreia Brandao, Joao Silva, Manuel R. Teixeira
Summary: Genetic testing for somatic alterations in ovarian cancer patients can be effectively done through ctDNA analysis, with potential implications for targeted therapy. This study highlights the importance of using NGS-based ctDNA testing to stratify patients and predict treatment outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Julia Debik, Sylvia Hetlelid Isaksen, Magnus Strommen, Manfred Spraul, Hartmut Schaefer, Tone F. Bathen, Guro F. Giskeodegard
Summary: This study systematically investigated the effect of delayed centrifugation on metabolite and lipoprotein levels in blood samples and found that metabolites are more sensitive to the delay, while lipoproteins are minimally affected. Additionally, plasma was shown to be more stable for metabolites, while lipoprotein subfractions were equally stable in both types of matrices.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Connor D. C. Buchanan, Cody A. C. Lust, Jessie L. Burns, Lyn M. Hillyer, Sean A. Martin, Gary A. Wittert, David W. L. Ma
Summary: The study analyzed the levels of fatty acids in matched plasma and serum samples, finding a strong positive correlation between major plasma and serum fatty acids in both absolute and relative terms. This indicates that studies reporting plasma or serum fatty acid analyzed by GLC-FID can be compared with one another.
PROSTAGLANDINS LEUKOTRIENES AND ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
David Mabwa, Ketankumar Gajjar, David Furniss, Roberta Schiemer, Richard Crane, Christopher Fallaize, Pierre L. Martin-Hirsch, Francis L. Martin, Theordore Kypraios, Angela B. Seddon, Sendy Phang
Summary: This study demonstrates the discrimination of endometrial cancer from benign controls using mid-infrared spectroscopy of dried plasma or serum samples. Different spectral data ranges have an impact on discrimination results, and good classification performance can still be achieved even when a section of the bio-fingerprint region is removed.