In spite of a current increasing trend in the development of miniaturized, standalone point-of-care (PoC) biosensing platforms in the literature, the actual implementation of such systems in the field is far from being a reality although deeply needed. In the particular case of the population screenings for local or regional diseases related to specific pathogens, the diagnosis of the presence of specific antibodies could drastically modify therapies and even the organization of public policies. The aim of this work was to develop a fast, cost-effective detection method based on the manipulation of functionalized magnetic beads for an efficient diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), looking for the presence of anti-pigeon antigen antibodies (APAA) in a patient’s serum. We presented a Diagnostic Biosensor Method (DBM) in detail, with validation by comparison with a traditional high-throughput platform (ELISA assay). We also demonstrated that it was compatible with a microfluidic chip that could be eventually incorporated into a PoC for easy and broad deployment using portable optical detectors. After standardization of the different reaction steps, we constructed and validated a plastic chip that could easily be scaled to high-volume manufacturing in the future. The solution proved comparable to conventional ELISA assays traditionally performed by the clinicians in their laboratory and should be compatible with other antibody detection directly from patient samples.

Aim: The availability of subcutaneous (SC) trastuzumab has introduced a practical alternative to traditional intravenous (IV) delivery for HER2-positive breast cancer. Beyond clinical equivalence, the shift toward SC administration offers the possibility of reorganizing workflow, reducing the pressure on infusion units and improving the treatment experience for both patients and healthcare professionals. This study provides real-world evidence from a large public oncology hospital in Mexico City, examining how SC and IV trastuzumab compare in everyday practice with respect to treatment times, resources use and the perceptions of patients and staff. Materials & methods: A prospective time and motion study was conducted to compare the efficiency and operational impact of SC and IV routes of trastuzumab administered as monotherapy in women with HER2-positive breast cancer at a public hospital in Mexico City. Sixty administrations (30 SC and 30 IV) were analyzed, recorded in real time using a digital system specifically developed for this study. The system documented waiting times, preparation, administration and time spent in the treatment room. Resource utilization was estimated based on the average number of supplies required for each route. In addition, patients and healthcare personnel completed structured questionnaires on comfort, satisfaction and overall experience. Results: Treatment using the SC route was noticeably shorter. Compared with the IV route, median chair time and overall procedure duration dropped by close to 94%, and treatment room occupancy decreased by approximately 83%. This route also required fewer materials and avoided the drug loss due to weight-based IV dosing. Patients described the SC injection as more comfortable and less fatiguing, while healthcare professionals noted less physical effort, lower stress levels and a more manageable workflow. Conclusion: In a routine public oncology setting with limited resources, the use of SC trastuzumab was associated with clear advantages in terms of efficiency and the treatment experience while also mitigating the workload of infusion areas. These results provide practical, context-specific evidence that could help healthcare systems to improve the organization of oncology services and make better use of scarce hospital resources.

Advances in the knowledge of the neuroendocrine system are closely related to the development of cellular imaging and labeling techniques. This synergy ranges from the staining techniques that allowed the first characterizations of the anterior pituitary gland, its relationship with the hypothalamus, and the birth of neuroendocrinology; through the development of fluorescence microscopy applications, specific labeling strategies, transgenic systems, and intracellular calcium sensors that enabled the study of processes and dynamics at the cellular and tissue level; until the advent of super-resolution microscopy, miniscopes, optogenetics, fiber photometry, and other imaging methods that allowed high spatiotemporal resolution and long-term three-dimensional cellular activity recordings in living systems in a conscious and freely moving condition. In this review, we briefly summarize the main contributions of cellular imaging techniques that have allowed relevant advances in the field of neuroendocrinology and paradigm shifts that have improved our understanding of the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary axes. The development of these methods and equipment is the result of the integration of knowledge achieved by the integration of several disciplines and effort to solve scientific questions and problems of high impact on health and society that this system entails.