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Demand is strong for sensitive, reliable, and cost-effective diagnostic tools for cancer detection. Accordingly, bead-based biosensors have emerged in recent years as promising diagnostic platforms based on wide-ranging cancer biomarkers owing to the versatility, high sensitivity, and flexibility to perform the multiplexing of beads. This comprehensive review highlights recent trends and innovations in the development of bead-based biosensors for cancer-biomarker detection. We introduce various types of bead-based biosensors such as optical, electrochemical, and magnetic biosensors, along with their respective advantages and limitations. Moreover, the review summarizes the latest advancements, including fabrication techniques, signal-amplification strategies, and integration with microfluidics and nanotechnology. Additionally, the challenges and future perspectives in the field of bead-based biosensors for cancer-biomarker detection are discussed. Understanding these innovations in bead-based biosensors can greatly contribute to improvements in cancer diagnostics, thereby facilitating early detection and personalized treatments.

This study combined optical diffusometry and bead-based immunoassays to develop a novel technique for quantifying the growth of specific microorganisms and achieving rapid AST. Diffusivity rises when live bacteria attach to particles, resulting in additional energy from motile microorganisms. However, when UV-sterilized (dead) bacteria attach to particles, diffusivity declines. The experimental data are consistent with the theoretical model predicted according to the equivalent volume diameter. Using this diffusometric platform, the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the antibiotic gentamicin was tested. The result suggests that the proliferation of bacteria is effectively controlled by gentamicin. This study demonstrated a sensitive (one bacterium on single particles) and time-saving (within 2 h) platform with a small sample volume (~0.5 μL) and a low initial bacteria count (50 CFU per droplet ~ 105 CFU/mL) for quantifying the growth of microorganisms depending on Brownian motion. The technique can be applied further to other bacterial strains and increase the success of treatments against infectious diseases in the near future.

Dysregulation of fatty acid oxidation and accumulation of fatty acids can cause kidney injury. Nifedipine modulates lipogenesis-related transcriptional factor SREBP-1/2 in proximal tubular cells by inhibiting the Adenosine 5‘-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in vitro. However, the mechanisms by which nifedipine (NF) modulates lipotoxicity in vivo are unclear. Here, we examined the effect of NF in a doxorubicin (DR)-induced kidney injury rat model. Twenty-four Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into control, DR, DR+NF, and high-fat diet (HFD) groups. The DR, DR+NF, and HFD groups showed hypertension and proteinuria. Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis showed that NF significantly induced TNF-α, CD36, SREBP-1/2, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase expression and renal fibrosis, and reduced fatty acid synthase and AMPK compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, 18 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who received renal transplants were enrolled to examine their graft fibrosis and lipid contents via transient elastography. Low-density lipoprotein levels in patients with CKD strongly correlated with lipid contents and fibrosis in grafted kidneys (p < 0.05). Thus, NF may initiate lipogenesis through the SREBP-1/2/AMPK pathway and lipid uptake by CD36 upregulation and aggravate renal fibrosis in vivo. Higher low-density lipoprotein levels may correlate with renal fibrosis and lipid accumulation in grafted kidneys of patients with CKD.

Rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is an effective measure in the treatment of infections and the prevention of bacterial drug resistance. However, diverse antibiotic types and bacterial characteristics have formed complicated barriers to rapid diagnosis. To counteract these limitations, we investigated the interactions between antibiotic-treated bacteria and functionalized microbeads in optical diffusometry. The conjugation with bacteria increased the effective microbead complex size, thereby resulting in a temporal diffusivity change. The yielded data were sorted and analyzed to delineate a pattern for the prediction of antimicrobial susceptibility. The outcome showed that a completed rapid AST based on the trend of microbead diffusivity could provide results within 3 h (2 h measurement + 1 h computation). In this research, we studied four bacterial strains, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus, and six antibiotics. Despite the different inhibitory effects caused by various antibiotics, similar trends in diffusivity alteration for all susceptible and resistant cases in the last 40 min of the 2-h measurement period were deduced. In addition, the AST results obtained using optical diffusometry showed good agreement with those acquired from the commercial instrument and conventional culture methods. Finally, we conducted a single-blinded clinical test, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the system reached 92.9%, 91.4%, and 91.8%, respectively. Overall, the developed optical diffusometry showcased rapid AST with a small sample volume (20 μL) and low initial bacterial count (105 CFU/mL). This technique provided a promising way to achieve early therapy against microbial diseases in the future.

Detecting small biological molecules is challenging due to their tiny size, vulnerability, and low concentrations in samples. Bead-based biosensors are frequently used as probes but require tedious processing or expensive instruments. By combining magnetic Janus particles (MJPs) and an electromagnetic device, we successfully built an active diagnostic tool for the rapid sensing of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). We observed that the system can be altered according to particle size, distance between MJPs and the electromagnet, fluid viscosity, and magnetic field strength. By modulating the driving frequency from low (3 Hz) to high (22 Hz), the MJPs gradually lose their synchrony with the external magnetic field after exceeding a certain threshold termed cutoff frequency. The novel sEVs sensing MJP system was characterized through both theoretical and experimental methods, showing reliable performance in identifying the cancer cell OECM-1-derived sEVs using the CD63 surface marker. A decent sEV concentration of 2.9 × 10 9 particles mL −1 was reached and a high specificity was also observed. This approach opens a door for the realization of disease screening, such as cancer, using intact exosomes from body fluids without sophisticated processing. These findings provide insight into the future use of MJPs as point-of-care testing tools for liquid biopsy.

PurposeIn recent years, second-look transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) has been recommended for patients with stage T1 bladder cancer after the initial TURBT for restaging and deciding the subsequent treatment. However, we believe that second-look TURBT has therapeutic benefits, such as low incidence of recurrence and progression. Therefore, we compare the differences in long-term outcome between patients who did and did not accept second-look TURBT for stage T1 bladder cancer.MethodsWe assessed 504 patients diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma who underwent initial TURBT between January 2012 and December 2016 at a single medical center; of these patients, 177 were diagnosed with T1 bladder cancer during the initial TURBT, and we excluded no muscle from the specimen in the initial TURBT. The patients were categorized into groups 1 and 2 based on the acceptance of second-look TURBT, which was performed within 4–14 weeks after the initial TURBT. Group 1 underwent second-look TURBT, but group 2 did not. Both groups were followed-up for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and the risk factors for recurrence and progression were analyzed.ResultsIn total, 93 (52.5%) patients in group 1 underwent second-look TURBT, and 84 (47.5%) in group 2 did not. The 2-year RFS rates were 74.6% and 60.0% and the PFS rates were 91.2% and 87.5% in groups 1 and 2, respectively.ConclusionThis study demonstrated higher recurrence-free and progression-free survival rates for patients who underwent second-look TURBT. This result emphasizes the importance of second-look TURBT in stage T1 bladder cancer not only for restaging but also for therapeutic benefit.

Successful treatments against bacterial infections depend on antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). However, conventional AST requires more than 24 h to obtain an outcome, thereby contributing to high patient mortality. An antibiotic therapy based on experiences is therefore necessary for saving lives and escalating the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Accordingly, a fast and effective drug screen is necessary for the appropriate administration of antibiotics. The mixed pathogenic nature of infectious diseases emphasizes the need to develop an assay system for polymicrobial infections. On this basis, we present a novel technique for simultaneous and quantitative monitoring of co-cultured microorganisms by coupling optical diffusometry with bead-based immunoassays. This simple integration simultaneously achieves a rapid AST analysis for two pathogens. Triple color particles were simultaneously recorded and subsequently analyzed by functionalizing different fluorescent color particles with dissimilar pathogen-specific antibodies. Results suggested that the effect of the antibiotic, gentamicin, on co-cultured Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was effectively distinguished by the proposed technique. This study revealed a multiplexed and time-saving (within 2 h) platform with a small sample volume (~0.5 μL) and a low initial bacterial count (50 CFU per droplet, ~10 5  CFU/mL) for continuously monitoring the growth of co-cultured microorganisms. This technique provides insights into timely therapies against polymicrobial diseases in the near future.

Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) is one of the methods currently used to prevent overdistention of the bladder in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction (NBD). It is also helpful in preventing urinary tract infection and retaining the function of the bladder. Voiding diary and social behavior are necessary for the patients to maintain their physical and mental health, nevertheless there are currently no good assistant systems to help them achieve these goals. In this study, we propose a CIC assistant system with the functions of recording and tracking the voided volume and accessible lavatory. The aim of this study is to assess the effects from the 12 patients who joined the proposed system. Information collected from participants included their demographics, past medicals, injury characteristics, current and past bladder managements, and any NBD related complications. The results indicate that most patients felt relieved that they could know the voided volume and track their history easily. Moreover, the accessible lavatory function of the proposed system could reduce time consumption by 43.1% in finding the suitable lavatory, thus the desire and willingness of patients to travel increased from 25% to 75% after using the system. The proposed system could help doctors with clinical diagnoses, and help patients to understand more about the history of their catheterization volume and time period. This study provided essential information and design for future investigation.

The current study aimed to report on the perioperative and long-term oncological outcomes of patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy. Between January 2012 and December 2018, 207 patients were diagnosed with muscle invasive bladder cancer at our center, among whom 61 underwent radical cystectomy with a mean follow-up duration of 45.7 months. Postoperative complications were graded based on the Clavien–Dindo classification within 90 days after radical cystectomy. Disease-free survival and overall survival rates were determined according to tumor stage. Risk factors for perioperative complications, recurrence, and survival were assessed. The patients ( n  = 61) had a mean hospital stay of 20.9 days, with urinary diversion (23%), infection (18%), and blood transfusion (11.4%) being the most common complications following radical cystectomy. All complications were classified below Clavien–Dindo classification grade 3, most of which were controlled by conservative treatment. Re-operation within 90 days was required in 7 patients (11.5%) for enterolysis or cystorrhaphy, with no reported mortality after radical cystectomy. Carefully selected patients who underwent radical cystectomy, especially those with a Charlson Comorbidity Index of 0, 1, and 2 and clinical stage of T2 and T3, demonstrated better oncological outcomes compared to those who underwent trimodal therapy. The current study showed that adequately selected patients who underwent radical cystectomy had better oncological outcome compared to those who underwent trimodal therapy. The risk factors for perioperative complications included diabetes mellitus, male sex, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, and betel nut consumption.

This study combined optical diffusometry and bead-based immunoassays to develop a novel technique for quantifying the growth of specific microorganisms and achieving rapid AST. Diffusivity rises when live bacteria attach to particles, resulting in additional energy from motile microorganisms. However, when UV-sterilized (dead) bacteria attach to particles, diffusivity declines. The experimental data are consistent with the theoretical model predicted according to the equivalent volume diameter. Using this diffusometric platform, the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the antibiotic gentamicin was tested. The result suggests that the proliferation of bacteria is effectively controlled by gentamicin. This study demonstrated a sensitive (one bacterium on single particles) and time-saving (within 2 h) platform with a small sample volume (~0.5 ML) and a low initial bacteria count (50 CFU per droplet ~ 105 CFU/mL) for quantifying the growth of microorganisms depending on Brownian motion. The technique can be applied further to other bacterial strains and increase the success of treatments against infectious diseases in the near future.