We report on an artificially intelligent
nanoarray based on molecularly modified gold nanoparticles and a random
network of single-walled carbon nanotubes for noninvasive diagnosis and classification of a number of diseases from exhaled breath. The performance of this
artificially intelligent nanoarray was clinically assessed on breath
samples collected from 1404 subjects having one of 17 different disease
conditions included in the study or having no evidence of any disease
(healthy controls). Blind experiments showed that 86% accuracy could
be achieved with the artificially intelligent nanoarray, allowing
both detection and discrimination between the different disease conditions
examined. Analysis of the artificially intelligent nanoarray also
showed that each disease has its own unique breathprint, and that
the presence of one disease would not screen out others. Cluster analysis
showed a reasonable classification power of diseases from the same
categories. The effect of confounding clinical and environmental factors
on the performance of the nanoarray did not significantly alter the
obtained results. The diagnosis and classification power of the nanoarray
was also validated by an independent analytical technique, i.e., gas chromatography linked with mass spectrometry. This analysis found that 13 exhaled
chemical species, called volatile organic compounds, are associated with certain diseases, and the composition
of this assembly of volatile organic compounds differs from one disease
to another. Overall, these findings could contribute to one of the
most important criteria for successful health intervention in the
modern era, viz. easy-to-use, inexpensive (affordable), and miniaturized
tools that could also be used for personalized screening, diagnosis,
and follow-up of a number of diseases, which can clearly be extended
by further development.
We present a pilot study that aims to examine the possibility to easily and noninvasively detect and discriminate females with ovarian cancer (OC) from females that have no tumor(s) and from females that have benign genital tract neoplasia, using exhaled breath samples. The study is based on clinical samples and data from 182 females, as follows: 48 females with OC, 48 tumor-free controls and 86 females with benign gynecological neoplasia. Analysis of the breath samples with gas chromatography linked with mass spectrometry shows that decanal, nonanal, styrene, 2-butanone and hexadecane could serve as potential volatile markers for OC. Analysis of the same samples with tailor-made nanoarrays shows good discrimination between females with OC and females that have either no tumor or benign genital tract neoplasia (71% for accuracy, sensitivity and specificity). Conversely, the nanoarray output shows excellent discrimination between the OC patients and the tumorfree controls (79% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 89% accuracy). These results suggest that the nanoarray approach might be useful to avoid unnecessary complicated or expensive tests for tumor-free females in case of a negative result. In the case of positive result, the test will indicate with high probability the presence of OC.
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin that causes cytotoxicity through oxidative damage to its target organs. The liver is the first target of AFB1 damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of selenium on AFB1-induced hepatic mitochondrial damage in ducklings using molecular biological and histopathological techniques. Aflatoxin was administered via intragastric intubation (0.1 mg/kg body weight), daily for 21 days. The experimental group also received intragastric sodium selenite (1 mg/kg body weight), while the control group was given the same volume of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Sequence analysis of the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region showed that AFB1 induced damage. All AFB1-administrated ducklings were identified as having D-loop mitochondrial DNA mutations. Mutations were detected in two ducklings that had received both AFB1 and selenium. Mitochondrial swelling assays showed that opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pores was increased in ducklings that had received AFB1 for 14 and 21 days (P < 0.05). Selenium significantly attenuated these adverse effects of AFB1. After AFB1 exposure, histological alterations were observed, including fat necrosis, steatosis, and formation of lymphoid nodules with infiltrated lymphocytes. These histological abnormalities were also attenuated by treatment with selenium. The overall data indicated that selenium exerts a potent protective effect against AFB1-induced hepatic mitochondrial damage, possibly through its antioxidant activity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.