Therapeutic approaches focused on the inflammatory microenvironment are currently gaining more support, as biomolecules involved in the inflammatory colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor microenvironment are being explored. We analyzed tumor and paired normal tissue samples from CRC patients (n = 22) whom underwent tumor resection surgery. We assessed 39 inflammation-involved biomolecules (multiplex magnetic bead-based immunoassay), CEA and CA19-9 (ELISA assay) and the tissue expression levels of occludin and also pErk, STAT1 and STAT3 transcriptional factors (western blot). Tumor staging has been established by histopathological evaluation of HE stained tumor tissue sections. We report 32 biomarkers displaying statistically significant differences in tumor vs. control. Additionally, positive statistical biomarker correlations were found between MMP2–IL8 and BAFF–IL8 (Pearson correlation coefficients > 0.751), while APRIL–MMP2, APRIL–BAFF and APRIL–IL8 were negatively correlated (correlation coefficients < − 0.650). While APRIL, BAFF, IL8 and MMP2 did not modulate with tumor stage, they were inversely related to the immune infiltrate level and CD163 tissue expression. We conclude that the significantly decreased APRIL and increased BAFF, IL8 and MMP2 expression were tumor-specific and deserve consideration in the development of new treatments. Also, the positive correlation between Chitinase 3-like 1 and IL8 (0.57) or MMP2 (0.50) suggest a role in tumor growth and metastasis pathways.

The collective organization of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) influences significantly their hyperthermic properties, relevant for their in vitro and in vivo applications. We report a systematic investigation of the effects of the concentration and the static bias direct current (DC) magnetic field superposed over the alternating magnetic field (AMF), both in a parallel and perpendicular configuration, on the specific absorption rate (SAR) by using zinc ferrite MNPs. The nonmonotonic dependence of the SAR on the concentration, with a maximum at very small concentrations (c ≤ 0.1 mgFe/mL), followed by a minimum at 0.25 mgFe/mL, and the second maximum of 3.3 kW/gFe at around 1 mgFe/mL, was explained by the passage of the MNPs from a single particle behavior to a collective one and the role of the dipolar interactions. By superposing a static 10 kA/m bias DC field on the AMF we obtained an increase in the SAR for both parallel and perpendicular orientations, up to 4285 W/g_Fe and 4070 W/g_Fe, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental proof of a significant enhancement of the SAR produced by a perpendicular DC field. The effect of the DC field to increase the SAR is accompanied by an increase in the hyperthermia coercive field (H_cHyp) for both configurations. No enhancement of the DC fields was noticed for the MNPs immobilized in a solid matrix but the DC field increases the H_cHyp only in the parallel configuration. This translates into a higher SAR value for the perpendicular configuration as compared to the parallel configuration. These results have practical applications for magnetic hyperthermia.

The need for performant analytical methodologies to assess mycotoxins is vital, given the negative health impact of these compounds. Biosensors are analytical devices that consist of a biological element for recognizing the analyte and a transducer, which translates the biorecognition event into a signal proportional to the analyte concentration. The biorecognition elements can be enzymes, antibodies, or DNA fragments. The modalities of detection can be optical, electrochemical, thermal, or mass-sensitive. These analytical tools represent viable alternatives to laborious, expensive traditional methods and are characterized by specificity given by the biorecognition element, sensitivity, fast response, portability, multi-modal detection, and the possibility of in situ application. The present paper focuses on a comprehensive view, enriched with a critical, comparative perspective on mycotoxin assay using biosensors. The use of different biorecognition elements and detection modes are discussed comparatively. Nanomaterials with optical and electrochemical features can be exploited in association with a variety of biorecognition elements. Analytical parameters are reviewed along with a broad range of applications.

Nanomaterials’ special features enable their extensive application in chemical and biochemical nanosensors for food assays; food packaging; environmental, medicinal, and pharmaceutical applications; and photoelectronics. The analytical strategies based on novel nanomaterials have proved their pivotal role and increasing interest in the assay of key food components. The choice of transducer is pivotal for promoting the performance of electrochemical sensors. Electrochemical nano-transducers provide a large active surface area, enabling improved sensitivity, specificity, fast assay, precision, accuracy, and reproducibility, over the analytical range of interest, when compared to traditional sensors. Synthetic routes encompass physical techniques in general based on top–down approaches, chemical methods mainly relying on bottom–up approaches, or green technologies. Hybrid techniques such as electrochemical pathways or photochemical reduction are also applied. Electrochemical nanocomposite sensors relying on conducting polymers are amenable to performance improvement, achieved by integrating redox mediators, conductive hydrogels, and molecular imprinting polymers. Carbon-based or metal-based nanoparticles are used in combination with ionic liquids, enhancing conductivity and electron transfer. The composites may be prepared using a plethora of combinations of carbon-based, metal-based, or organic-based nanomaterials, promoting a high electrocatalytic response, and can accommodate biorecognition elements for increased specificity. Nanomaterials can function as pivotal components in electrochemical (bio)sensors applied to food assays, aiming at the analysis of bioactives, nutrients, food additives, and contaminants. Given the broad range of transducer types, detection modes, and targeted analytes, it is important to discuss the analytical performance and applicability of such nanosensors.

The purpose of this study was to determine the link between insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), progesterone (PROG), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and glucose (GLU) and pregnancy probability after the first artificial insemination (AI) and during the first 100 days in milk (DIM), during the critical transition period. We determined levels of serum IGF-1, PROG, NEFA, BHB, and GLU in Holstein dairy cows via ELISA, using blood samples collected 7 days before parturition (DAP) until 21 days postparturition (DPP). The group was split into cows diagnosed pregnant at 100 DIM (PREG) and those that did not conceive at 100 and 150 DIM (NPREG). Serum IGF-1 and PROG median levels at 7 DAP were significantly higher in PREG vs. NPREG (p = 0.029), the only statistically significant differences across the subgroups. At 7 DAP, IGF-1 levels within the initial group showed a strong negative correlation with PROG (r = −0.693; p = 0.006), while for the PREG subgroup, the IGF-1 levels exhibited a very strong positive correlation with GLU (r = 0.860; p = 0.011) and NEFA (r = 0.872; p = 0.013). IGF-1 and PROG levels detected at 7 DAP may be useful to predict pregnancy at 100 DIM. The positive correlation of NEFA and GLU levels during the transition period demonstrates that the initial group is not in NEB; thus, the NEFA level was not a decisive factor for reproduction success.

Leptomeningeal metastases (LM) are a rare but rapidly fatal complication defined by the spread of tumor cells within the leptomeninges and the subarachnoid space, found in approximately 10% of patients with HER2-positive breast cancers. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy of local treatment with intrathecal Trastuzumab (IT) added to systemic treatment. The oncologic outcome of 14 patients with HER2-positive LM is reported. Seven received IT, and seven received standard of care (SOC). The mean number of IT cycles administered was 12.14 ± 4.00. The response rate to CNS after IT treatment + SOC was 71.4%, and three patients (42.8%) obtained durable responses lasting more than 12 months. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) after LM diagnosis was six months, and the median overall survival (mOS) was ten months. The mean values of the PFS in favor of IT therapy (10.6 mo vs. 6.6 mo) and OS (13.7 vs. 9.3 mo) suggest a non-negligible investigation direction in the sense of exploiting intrathecal administration as a possible treatment modality in these patients. Adverse events reported were local pain related to intrathecal administration and one case of arachnoiditis, hematoma, and CSF fistulae. Intrathecal administration of Trastuzumab, alongside systemic treatment and radiotherapy, might improve oncologic outcomes in LM HER2-positive breast cancer with manageable toxicity.