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Special Issue "Point-of-Care Diagnostics Technology and Applications"

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A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Point-of-Care Diagnostics and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 11332

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yan-Ren Lin

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Guest Editor

Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, 135 Nanshsiao Street, Changhua 500, Taiwan
Interests: emergency and critical medicine; big data analysis; biochemical engineering; biosensors and chip development for critical care

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Point-of-care (POC) diagnosis have the potential to be applied in various clinical investigations, not only for chronic diseases (or cancers), but also emergency or critical conditions. Historically, some studies found that POC technologies were very suitable for early type of biomarker or organ evaluation. In specimen testing, these technologies can be used for the design of virus gene fragment/antibodies, biomarkers of cancer cells, and enzymes of organs detections. For emergency applications, they can be used in bedside POC ultrasound evaluations or critical data testing. For example, POC-related biosensors or small testing machines are applied in ambulances or emergency rooms for cardiac enzymes testing when evaluating patients with myocardial infraction. In recent studies, we found that the process of POC diagnostics was evaluated using new applications (i.e., using electrochemical immunosensors, physical/chemical micro-channel systems, aerosol particles analysis). Therefore, POC-related topics have become very popular, especially in clinical medicine as well as biochemical and biological technologies. In this Special Issue, we aim to provide an opportunity to widely introduce your related research. We are seeking your high-quality, original research and review articles that focus on the field of “Point-of-Care Diagnostics Technology and Applications”.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

POC-related diagnostics, technologies, and applications;
POC material science and basic studies;
POC in clinical medicine;
Critical, emergency, extremely environment applications;
Cell, animal, or human studies for achieving POC development;
The future applications of POC.

Dr. Yan-Ren Lin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

point-of-care (POC)
clinical medicine
detection
emergency
critical

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of a 3-Item Health Index in Predicting Mortality Risk: A 12-Year Follow-Up Study

and

Diagnostics 2023, 13(17), 2801; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13172801 - 29 Aug 2023

Viewed by 345

Abstract

This study was carried out using a large cohort (N = 4265; 416 deceased) of older, community-dwelling adults from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). The study compared the performance of a new 3-item health index (HI) with two existing measures, the 32-item frailty index (FI) and the frailty phenotype (FP), in predicting mortality risk. The HI was based on the objective measurement of resting-state systolic blood pressure sample entropy, sustained attention reaction time performance, and usual gait speed. Mortality data from a 12-year follow up period were analyzed using Cox proportional regression. All data processing was performed using MATLAB and statistical analysis using STATA 15.1. The HI showed good discriminatory power (AUC = 0.68) for all-cause mortality, similar to FI (AUC = 0.68) and superior to FP (AUC = 0.60). The HI classified participants into Low-Risk (84%), Medium-Risk (15%), and High-Risk (1%) groups, with the High-Risk group showing a significant hazard ratio (HR) of 5.91 in the unadjusted model and 2.06 in the fully adjusted model. The HI also exhibited superior predictive performance for cardiovascular and respiratory deaths (AUC = 0.74), compared with FI (AUC = 0.70) and FP (AUC = 0.64). The HI High-Risk group had the highest HR (15.10 in the unadjusted and 5.61 in the fully adjusted models) for cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. The HI remained a significant predictor of mortality even after comprehensively adjusting for confounding variables. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the 3-item HI in predicting 12-year mortality risk across different causes of death. The HI performed similarly to FI and FP for all-cause mortality but outperformed them in predicting cardiovascular and respiratory deaths. Its ability to classify individuals into risk groups offers a practical approach for clinicians and researchers. Additionally, the development of a user-friendly MATLAB App facilitates its implementation in clinical settings. Subject to external validation in clinical research settings, the HI can be more useful than existing frailty measures in the prediction of cardio-respiratory risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Diagnostics Technology and Applications)

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Open AccessArticle

Painless Capillary Blood Collection: A Rapid Evaluation of the Onflow Device

Vanessa Tiyamike Msolomba

Kegomoditswe Mathobela

and

Diagnostics 2023, 13(10), 1754; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13101754 - 16 May 2023

Viewed by 1524

Abstract

Blood-based diagnostics are critical for many medical decisions, but mostly rely on venepuncture, which can be inconvenient and painful. The Onflow Serum Gel (Loop Medical SA, Vaud, Lausanne, Switzerland) is a novel blood collection device that utilises needle-free technology to collect capillary blood. In this pilot study, 100 healthy participants were enrolled and provided two Onflow collected specimens and one venous blood specimen. Five chemistry analytes (AST, ALT, LDH, potassium, creatinine) and haemolysis were measured per specimen, and laboratory analyte results were compared. Onflow was found to be more acceptable than venepuncture with lower pain ratings, and 96.5% of participants would use the Onflow method again. All phlebotomists (100%) found Onflow intuitive and user-friendly, with ~1 mL of Onflow blood successfully collected from 99% of participants in <12 min (mean: 6 min, 40 s) and 91% collected on the first attempt. ALT and AST analytes showed no difference in performance, while creatinine generated a negative bias (−5.6 µmol/L), and increased variability was noted with potassium (3.6%CV) and LDH (6.7%CV), although none were clinically relevant. These differences may be due to 35% of Onflow collected specimens having “mild” haemolysis. Onflow is a promising alternative blood collection device that should now be evaluated in participants with expected abnormal chemistries and as an option for self-collection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Diagnostics Technology and Applications)

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Open AccessArticle

Salivary ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Coupled with Support Vector Machine Classification for Screening of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Douglas Carvalho Caixeta

Murillo Guimarães Carneiro

Ricardo Rodrigues

Deborah Cristina Teixeira Alves

Luís Ricardo Goulart

Thúlio Marquez Cunha

Foued Salmen Espindola

Rui Vitorino

and

Robinson Sabino-Silva

Diagnostics 2023, 13(8), 1396; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13081396 - 12 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1156

Abstract

The blood diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM) is highly accurate; however, it is an invasive, high-cost, and painful procedure. In this context, the combination of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and machine learning techniques in other biological samples has been used as an alternative tool to develop a non-invasive, fast, inexpensive, and label-free diagnostic or screening platform for several diseases, including DM. In this study, we used the ATR-FTIR tool associated with linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and a support vector machine (SVM) classifier in order to identify changes in salivary components to be used as alternative biomarkers for the diagnosis of type 2 DM. The band area values of 2962 cm⁻¹, 1641 cm⁻¹, and 1073 cm⁻¹ were higher in type 2 diabetic patients than in non-diabetic subjects. The best classification of salivary infrared spectra was by SVM, showing a sensitivity of 93.3% (42/45), specificity of 74% (17/23), and accuracy of 87% between non-diabetic subjects and uncontrolled type 2 DM patients. The SHAP features of infrared spectra indicate the main salivary vibrational modes of lipids and proteins that are responsible for discriminating DM patients. In summary, these data highlight the potential of ATR-FTIR platforms coupled with machine learning as a reagent-free, non-invasive, and highly sensitive tool for screening and monitoring diabetic patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Diagnostics Technology and Applications)

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Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Factors Affecting Neutralizing Antibody Production after COVID-19 Vaccination Using Newly Developed Rapid Point-of-Care Test

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Diagnostics 2022, 12(8), 1924; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12081924 - 09 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1969

Abstract

(1) Objective: To investigate the factors that affect rates of neutralizing antibody production and duration after vaccination using the newly developed SARS-CoV-2 POCT. (2) Methods: The production of immunoglobulin and neutralizing antibody in clinical subjects who completed various vaccines was analyzed using the POCT, the semi-quantitative was interpreted by measurement application, and the quantified neutralizing antibody titers were using the ELISA. (3) Results: According to the clinical performance analysis of the POCT, the clinical sensitivity and the specificity were 96.8% (90/93) and 97.7% (167/171), respectively, for the S1 RBD IgG antibody. The clinical sensitivity was 92.22% (83/90), and the clinical specificity was 100.00% (174/174) for neutralizing antibodies. Factors influencing antibody production were analyzed using the whole blood of the five types of second-completed vaccinators (N = 736, 20–80 years old). General and neutralizing antibody and showed significant differences in age (p < 0.0001), vaccine type (p < 0.0001), inoculation interval (p < 0.0001), pain score (p < 0.0001), diabetes (p < 0.0001), and hypertension (p = 0.002). The gender (p = 0.021) and chronic fatigue (p = 0.02) did not show the significance. (4) Conclusions: An acquisition of immunoglobulin and neutralizing antibody varies according to vaccine type, age, days after vaccination, pain degree after vaccination, and underlying diseases. The POCT used in this study will be utilized for clinical recommendations such as deciding whether to receive additional vaccines through the immediate rapid determination of neutralizing antibody generation in the clinical site. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Diagnostics Technology and Applications)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Review on the Advancements of Stethoscope Types in Chest Auscultation

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Diagnostics 2023, 13(9), 1545; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13091545 - 25 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2297

Abstract

Stethoscopes were originally designed for the auscultation of a patient’s chest for the purpose of listening to lung and heart sounds. These aid medical professionals in their evaluation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as in other applications, such as listening to bowel sounds in the gastrointestinal system or assessing for vascular bruits. Listening to internal sounds during chest auscultation aids healthcare professionals in their diagnosis of a patient’s illness. We performed an extensive literature review on the currently available stethoscopes specifically for use in chest auscultation. By understanding the specificities of the different stethoscopes available, healthcare professionals can capitalize on their beneficial features, to serve both clinical and educational purposes. Additionally, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the unique application of digital stethoscopes for telemedicine. Thus, the advantages and limitations of digital stethoscopes are reviewed. Lastly, to determine the best available stethoscopes in the healthcare industry, this literature review explored various benchmarking methods that can be used to identify areas of improvement for existing stethoscopes, as well as to serve as a standard for the general comparison of stethoscope quality. The potential use of digital stethoscopes for telemedicine amidst ongoing technological advancements in wearable sensors and modern communication facilities such as 5G are also discussed. Based on the ongoing trend in advancements in wearable technology, telemedicine, and smart hospitals, understanding the benefits and limitations of the digital stethoscope is an essential consideration for potential equipment deployment, especially during the height of the current COVID-19 pandemic and, more importantly, for future healthcare crises when human and resource mobility is restricted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Diagnostics Technology and Applications)

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Open AccessReview

A Review of the Nucleic Acid-Based Lateral Flow Assay for Detection of Breast Cancer from Circulating Biomarkers at a Point-of-Care in Low Income Countries

Busiswa Dyan

Palesa Pamela Seele

Amanda Skepu

Phumlane Selby Mdluli

Salerwe Mosebi

and

Nicole Remaliah Samantha Sibuyi

Diagnostics 2022, 12(8), 1973; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12081973 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1949

Abstract

The current levels of breast cancer in African women have contributed to the high mortality rates among them. In South Africa, the incidence of breast cancer is also on the rise due to changes in behavioural and biological risk factors. Such low survival rates can be attributed to the late diagnosis of the disease due to a lack of access and the high costs of the current diagnostic tools. Breast cancer is asymptomatic at early stages, which is the best time to detect it and intervene to prevent high mortality rates. Proper risk assessment, campaigns, and access to adequate healthcare need to be prioritised among patients at an early stage. Early detection of breast cancer can significantly improve the survival rate of breast cancer patients, since therapeutic strategies are more effective at this stage. Early detection of breast cancer can be achieved by developing devices that are simple, sensitive, low-cost, and employed at point-of-care (POC), especially in low-income countries (LICs). Nucleic-acid-based lateral flow assays (NABLFAs) that combine molecular detection with the immunochemical visualisation principles, have recently emerged as tools for disease diagnosis, even for low biomarker concentrations. Detection of circulating genetic biomarkers in non-invasively collected biological fluids with NABLFAs presents an appealing and suitable method for POC testing in resource-limited regions and/or LICs. Diagnosis of breast cancer at an early stage will improve the survival rates of the patients. This review covers the analysis of the current state of NABLFA technologies used in developing countries to reduce the scourge of breast cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Diagnostics Technology and Applications)

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Other

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Open AccessCase Report

When a Rapid Accurate Diagnosis Changes Therapeutic Approach: Recognizing Acute Abdominal Pain with Ascites as a Possible Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Szu-Cheng Huang

Yi-Ling Chan

Hao-Tsai Cheng

Zhong Ning Leonard Goh

Yon-Cheong Wong

Chen-Ken Seak

Joanna Chen-Yeen Seak

Chih-Huang Li

Hsien-Yi Chen

and

Chen-June Seak

Diagnostics 2022, 12(11), 2605; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12112605 - 27 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1206

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multi-organ autoimmune disease which rarely presents with peritoneal involvement. As such, its diagnosis in the emergency department (ED) based on a clinical presentation of gastrointestinal symptoms is extremely challenging. Yet, reaching such a diagnosis in the ED is crucial for avoiding unnecessary surgical intervention and initiating early glucocorticoid therapy to maximise patient outcomes. Here, we report a case of newly diagnosed SLE in a 28-year-old lady who presented atypically and unusually with abdominal pain and ascites. She required extensive but methodical investigations, and was eventually diagnosed with lupus mesenteric vasculitis with underlying newly diagnosed SLE in the ED. The patient was promptly treated with methylprednisolone resulting in marked clinical improvement. Emergency physicians should be mindful of abdominal pain with ascites as an extremely rare but important clinical presentation of SLE. Early diagnosis and commencement of glucocorticoid therapy in these patients are crucial in halting disease progression and averting the need for surgical intervention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Point-of-Care Diagnostics Technology and Applications)

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