Unraveling RNA contribution to the molecular origins of bacterial surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) signals.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is widely utilized in bacterial analyses, with the dominant SERS peaks attributed to purine metabolites released during sample preparation. Although adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nucleic acids are potential molecular origins of these metabolites, research on their exact contributions remains limited. This study explored purine metabolite release from E. coli and RNA integrity following various sample preparation methods. Standard water washing generated dominant SERS signals within 10 s, a duration shorter than the anticipated RNA half-lives under starvation. Evaluating RNA integrity indicated that the most abundant ribosomal RNA species remained intact for hours post-washing, whereas messenger RNA and transfer RNA species degraded gradually. This suggests that bacterial SERS signatures observed after the typical washing step could originate from only a small fraction of endogenous purine-containing molecules. In contrast, acid depurination led to degradation of most RNA species, releasing about 40 times more purine derivatives than water washing. Mild heating also instigated the RNA degradation and released more purine derivatives than water washing. Notably, differences were also evident in the dominant SERS signals following these treatments. This work provides insights into SERS-based studies of purine metabolites released by bacteria and future development of methodologies.

Preservation of red blood cell antigenicity in a new storage solution in vitro.

INTRODUCTION: Red blood cell (RBC) storage solution is used for suspending and preserving RBCs for later use in in vitro immunohematology testing. Proper RBC preservation is crucial for obtaining accurate results in RBC phenotyping and pretransfusion antibody screening tests. Haemolysis or RBC antigen degradation during storage can result in inaccurate RBC phenotyping, thereby decreasing the sensitivity of pretransfusion antibody screening and identification assays. The conventional RBC storage solutions usually contain adenosine, adenine, and antibiotics. We designed an RBC storage solution and determined whether it could preserve RBC integrity for 70 days. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The new storage solution has a different formula from that of the conventional solution-in particular, it is strengthened with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The extent of haemolysis and hemagglutination reactivity of the RBC antigen systems, Rh, Duffy, Kidd, Lewis, MNS, P1, and the rare antigen Mia (which has a low prevalence antigen in most parts of the world but a higher prevalence in Taiwan), in the new RBC storage solution was compared with that of the conventionally preserved RBC storage solution. RESULTS: The RBCs preserved in the new solution for 70 days retained a similar haemolysis grade as those preserved in the control solution for 28 days. Although both solutions largely preserved RBC antigenicity, the decline in RBC hemagglutination scores in new solution often occurred later than that in the control solution in most antigen phenotyping assays, especially labile antigens such as D, P1, and M. CONCLUSION: The new solution reduces haemolysis more effectively and preserves antigenicity throughout the 70-day storage period. Moreover, Mia antigen is more stable in the experimental group.

Proactive Consultation by a Clinical Pathologist Prevents Diagnostic Delay in Hematological Malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic difficulties in hematological malignancies may lead to unacceptably prolonged help-seeking to diagnostic interval as well as increased complications and poor outcomes. Proactive consultation by a clinical pathologist (PCCP) may help clinical diagnosis and therapeutic strategy. Hence, the aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of PCCP on the help-seeking to diagnostic interval in hematological cancer cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January to November, 2015, abnormal results of hematological laboratory testing with added laboratory comment were selectively screened out, and patients with such abnormalities in hematological laboratory testing and accompanied laboratory comment with PCCP were enrolled. RESULTS: A total of 125 aberrant results of hematological laboratory testing were given with accompanied laboratory comments with PCCP and 40.8% (n=51) of these patient-oriented comments had an effect on clinical diagnosis and therapeutic strategy. Twelve of the subjects belonged to newly diagnosed hematological malignancies with the assistance of PCCP, and the help-seeking to diagnostic interval was also shortened from 42 days to 26 days in chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL), from 83 days to 11 days in multiple myeloma (MM), and from 128 days to 15 days in myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN). During the monitoring interval, neither complication events nor deaths were reported in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: It was seemingly that PCCP prevented diagnostic delay in hematological malignancies via shortening the help-seeking to diagnostic interval, particularly in CLL, MM and MDS/MPN cases. PCCP can be considered to play an essential role in prompt establishment of diagnosis in hematological malignancies for those who newly present.

Blastocystis hominis infection in long-term care facilities in Taiwan: prevalence and associated clinical factors.

Blastocystis hominis is probably the most common protozoan found in the human gut worldwide. In Taiwan, the prevalence of B. hominis infection is yet to be determined but is expected to be relatively higher among foreign workers. No data is available on the prevalence of B. hominis infection in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. This study included 713 subjects (552 residents and 161 care workers) from ten long-term care facilities in Taiwan who completed stool microscopic examinations with Merthiolate-iodine-formalin stain technique. The prevalence rate of blastocystosis was the highest among foreign and domestic care workers followed by residents (12.2%, 4.6%, and 2.7%, respectively). Older age (p = 0.04) and lower educational level (p = 0.008) were significantly associated with blastocystosis among care workers. Among residents, B. hominis infection was negatively associated with prolonged use of antibiotics within 3 months prior to examination (p = 0.05) and positively associated with tracheostomy in-place (p = 0.028). In conclusion, B. hominis infection was the most prevalent intestinal parasitic infection among both care workers and residents of long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Use of antibiotics was negatively associated with B. hominis infection among residents. Additionally, appropriate preventive measures should be implemented to older care workers with lesser educational attainment in order to reduce the risk of blastocystosis infection.