8 research outputs found
3D Printed Microfluidic Bioreactors Used for the Preferential Growth of Bacterial Biofilms through Dielectrophoresis
No full textA realistic modelling of the way biofilms form and evolve in time requests a dynamic approach. In this study, the proposed route uses continuous-flow bioreactors under controlled flow rates and temperature in the culture medium containing bacteria or fungi. 3D printed, Polylactic acid (PLA), flow-based bioreactors with integrated copper electrodes were used to investigate the effect of dielectrophoresis on the formation and growth of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883 biofilms. Bacterial suspensions of 1McF turbidity have been prepared and circulated through the bioreactors. At the same time, a 30 V potential difference was applied on the system. The effect of the non-uniform electric field induced upon the bacterial cells was determined using quantitative methods, such as an adjusted microtiter plate technique, as well as spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images. The morphology and the surface quality of the biofilms were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. The results show that the different bacterial cells present a positive dielectrophoretic behaviour, with the preferential formation of biofilms in the high field gradient region
Molecular Mechanisms of Neuroinflammation in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Progression
No full textAging is the most prominent risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Aging associates with a chronic inflammatory state both in the periphery and in the central nervous system, the evidence thereof and the mechanisms leading to chronic neuroinflammation being discussed. Nonetheless, neuroinflammation is significantly enhanced by the accumulation of amyloid beta and accelerates the progression of Alzheimer’s disease through various pathways discussed in the present review. Decades of clinical trials targeting the 2 abnormal proteins in Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid beta and tau, led to many failures. As such, targeting neuroinflammation via different strategies could prove a valuable therapeutic strategy, although much research is still needed to identify the appropriate time window. Active research focusing on identifying early biomarkers could help translating these novel strategies from bench to bedside
Incidence and Clinical Implications of Autoimmune Thyroiditis in the Development of Acne in Young Patients
No full textAutoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is on the rise among the population, and is frequently associated with patients with acne vulgaris, especially females aged between 18–55 years old. The connection between the two is not fully elucidated. In this study, 236 patients diagnosed with acne in the dermatological office of the private Pelican Hospital and in few private dermatological offices from Oradea, Romania, during January 2018–December 2020, aged between 12 and 55 years old, were endocrinologically investigated to determine AIT and its influence on the severity of the acne. The values for the thyroid antibodies and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were determined for all of the subjects. The frequency of AIT in the study group was 72% and was associated with severe acne (p < 0.001). Patients with AIT with normal or hypofunction had more frequent severe acne than those with hyperfunction (p < 0.001, p = 0.002). The TSH and anti thyroidperoxidase (TPO) values did not influence the severity of the acne (p = 0.494; p = 0.111), while the anti-TG values were associated with severe acne (p = 0.007). The risk analysis indicated that raised values of anti-TPO (2.91 times greater) correlated with high anti-thyroglobulin (TG) values (4.36 times greater) doubled the risk of developing severe acne in patients. In acne evolution, the existence of AIT involves significant modifications
The Involvement of Neuroinflammation in the Onset and Progression of Parkinson’s Disease
No full textParkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease exhibiting the fastest growth in incidence in recent years. As with most neurodegenerative diseases, the pathophysiology is incompletely elucidated, but compelling evidence implicates inflammation, both in the central nervous system and in the periphery, in the initiation and progression of the disease, although it is not yet clear what triggers this inflammatory response and where it begins. Gut dysbiosis seems to be a likely candidate for the initiation of the systemic inflammation. The therapies in current use provide only symptomatic relief, but do not interfere with the disease progression. Nonetheless, animal models have shown promising results with therapies that target various vicious neuroinflammatory cascades. Translating these therapeutic strategies into clinical trials is still in its infancy, and a series of issues, such as the exact timing, identifying biomarkers able to identify Parkinson’s disease in early and pre-symptomatic stages, or the proper indications of genetic testing in the population at large, will need to be settled in future guidelines
Magnetic resonance used as a differential diagnostic tool between inflammatory cancer of the sigmoid and acute sigmoid diverticulitis
No full textSigmoid diverticulitis is a common disease characterized by a well-standardized diagnostic approach and treatment. Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy worldwide, irrespective of gender. In 2020, CRC global-related mortality rate was estimated at 935 173 cases, with an incidence of 9.3% in men and 9.5% in women. The diagnosis of acute diverticulitis is always made by performing a contrast-enhanced-computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen. Current diagnosis guidelines do not recommend the use of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for further and more precise assessment of a suspected sigmoid diverticulitis diagnosed by CT. Early lower-gastrointestinal (lower-GI) endoscopy is rarely conducted; thus, the diagnosis delay could have a negative impact over the oncological outcome of the disease. Few and scarce data can be found related to this issue, with only a recent Swedish study paying attention towards early identification of neoplastic disease residing on a background of sigmoid diverticulitis, facilitated by MRI. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of systematically performing an abdominal MRI included in the primary assessment of acute diverticulitis already diagnosed by CT, in order to argument in favor of an early lower-GI endoscopy where a positive MRI for neoplasia is found
Study of the Influence of the Dielectrophoretic Force on the Preferential Growth of Bacterial Biofilms in 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices
No full textUnderstanding the effect of different electric potentials upon the preferential formation of biofilms inside microfluidic devices could represent a step forward in comprehending the mechanisms that govern biofilm formation and growth. 3D printed microfluidic devices were used to investigate the influence of the dielectrophoretic forces on the formation and growth of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 biofilms. Bacterial suspensions of 2.5 McF were pushed through microfluidic channels while simultaneously applying various potential differences between 10 and 60 V. The overall electric field distribution within the channel was simulated using the COMOSL software. The effect of the electric potential variation on the preferential biofilm formation was determined using an adjusted microtiter plate technique, as well as a qualitative method, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). SEM images were used to describe the morphology of the biofilm surface. The conclusions show that the dielectrophoretic forces, resulting due to inhomogeneity of the electric field, have more visible effects upon the cells up to 40 V. Above this magnitude, due to a more homogenous distribution of the electric field, the formation and growth of the biofilm become more uniform. At around 60 V, the distance between the high electric gradient regions decreases, leading to an almost uniform distribution of the electric field and, therefore, to a shift from dielectrophoretic to electrophoretic forces acting upon the bacterial cells
An Evidence-Based Update on the Potential Association between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
No full textLymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) represents an uncommon disorder characterized by cystic lung destruction and chronic respiratory failure. Lung damage caused by various mechanisms may represent a hypothesis for studying the association between LAM and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is the most prevalent autoinflammatory rheumatic disease and may affect the lungs as an extra-articular manifestation. Despite their distinct clinical presentations, the pathophysiology of both disorders includes dysregulated immunological function, abnormal cellular development, and inflammation. Current research suggests a potential relationship between RA and LAM, as some RA patients have been reported to develop LAM. However, the association of RA and LAM raises important therapeutic dilemmas. For this reason, the trajectory of a patient who was identified in our medical records as suffering from both LAM and RA, treated with many novel molecules and biological therapy, but with a negative outcome due to respiratory and multiorgan failure, has been exemplified. The delay in the diagnosis of LAM is due to a correlation between RA and LAM, worsening the vital prognosis and also hindering pulmonary transplantation. In addition, extensive research is essential for understanding the potential connection between these two disorders and discovering any similar mechanisms involved that may underlie their occurrence. This may contribute to the development of new therapeutic options that target shared pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of RA and LAM
Easy and Affordable: A New Method for the Studying of Bacterial Biofilm Formation
No full textBackground: Bacterial biofilm formation (BBF) proves itself to be in the spotlight of microbiology research due to the wide variety of infections that it can be associated with, the involvement in food spoilage, industrial biofouling and perhaps sewage treatment. However, BBF remains difficult to study due to the lack of standardization of the existing methods and the expensive equipment needed. We aim to describe a new inexpensive and easy to reproduce protocol for a 3D-printed microfluidic device that can be used to study BBF in a dynamic manner. Methods: We used the SolidWorks 3D CAD Software (EducationEdition 2019–2020, Dassault Systèmes, Vélizy-Villacoublay, France) to design the device and the Creality3D Ender 5 printer (Shenzhen Creality 3D Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, China) for its manufacture. We cultivated strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For the biofilm evaluation we used optical coherence tomography (OCT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and crystal violet staining technique. Results: Based on the analysis, Enterococcus faecalis seems to produce more biofilm in the first hours while Pseudomonas aeruginosa started to take the lead on biofilm production after 24 h. Conclusions: With an estimated cost around €0.1285 for one microfluidic device, a relatively inexpensive and easy alternative for the study of BBF was developed
