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Zuvela E, Matson P. Effect of the technical variability of counting chambers upon the interpretation of sperm concentration results. Reprod Biomed Online 2024; 48:103777. [PMID: 38460281 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.103777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Does the choice of sperm-counting chamber affect the proportion of samples generating results with an erroneous interpretation? DESIGN Laboratories in an external quality assurance programme were sent 141 semen samples over a 12-year period and asked to return the sperm concentration and whether or not the result was abnormal. Only those using 5th edition of the World Health Organization manual (WHO5) interpretation criteria were included. Submissions from specialist fertility laboratories were used to calculate assigned values for each sample. Laboratory50 values determined the sperm concentration at which the laboratories reported a majority transition from abnormal to normal interpretations, i.e. the tipping point, which should coincide with the lower reference limit. RESULTS The median and range of bias from the assigned values of each sample were determined for the Makler (-3.3%; -88.6% to +332.8%), haemocytometer (10.6%; -93.3% to +645.5%), Kova (+65.3%; -71.7% to +581.8%) and Vetriplast (+72.4%; -100.0% to +709.1) chambers. Laboratory50 values for the Makler (17.3 × 106/ml), haemocytometer (13.6 × 106/ml), Kova (10.0 × 106/ml) and Vetriplast chambers (8.8 × 106/ml) reflected the under- and overestimation of the chambers and confirmed a shift in the adjusted lower reference limit then used. The proportion of laboratories reporting erroneous interpretations of the four chambers for oligozoospermic samples were 10.9%, 15.1.%, 40.1% and 44.0%, respectively, and rose as the adjusted lower reference limit decreased. CONCLUSIONS The between-laboratory and within-sample variation for all the chambers was high and remains a concern. The main impact of an increasing bias of the chambers was a lowering of the laboratory50 tipping point, resulting in an under-reporting of abnormal semen samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Zuvela
- External Quality Assurance Schemes for Reproductive Medicine, Northlands, Western Australia, Australia.; City Fertility Perth (formerly Fertility Specialists of WA), Claremont and Applecross, Perth, Western Australia..
| | - Phillip Matson
- External Quality Assurance Schemes for Reproductive Medicine, Northlands, Western Australia, Australia
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Zuvela E, Matson P. Analytical variability and interpretation of results of a 3-category sperm motility assessment: 5 years' of an Australian external quality assurance programme. Reprod Biomed Online 2023; 47:111-119. [PMID: 37068979 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2023.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION How do laboratories perform when assessing sperm motility with a 3-category system and interpreting results as per the fifth edition of the World Health Organization manual (WHO5), and will the use of a 4-category system as per the sixth edition of the WHO manual improve their performance? DESIGN Eighty video recordings of sperm samples were sent to over 200 laboratories spanning a 5-year period for the assessment of progressive motility. The results were reviewed relative to the all-laboratory trimmed mean (ALTM) in terms of the minimum and maximum values reported, the coefficient of variation and the proportion of laboratories indicating an abnormal result. A further 20 video recordings were sent over 1 year, with 6-11 laboratories per distribution adjusting to reporting rapid progressive motility using the 4-category system. RESULTS For the 3-category system, the videos covered a mean assessed progressive motility range of 12.0-81.1%. The mean difference between the minimum and maximum values per sample was 50.3% and the coefficients of variation were negatively correlated with the ALTM (r = -0.87, P < 0.00001). Progressive motility abnormality reporting formed a sigmoid curve, and the inflection point (50% of laboratories identifying an abnormality) gave an ALTM value of 32.01%. Preliminary results for laboratories using the 4-category system showed no performance improvement but the number of laboratories was small. CONCLUSIONS Analytical variation can result in laboratories crossing the clinical cut-off of the lower reference limit for samples whose motility is close to the WHO5 lower reference limit, but is less important for samples with extreme values. The benefits of a 4-category motility system are yet to be shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Zuvela
- External Quality Assurance Schemes for Reproductive Medicine, Northlands, Western Australia, Australia; City Fertility Perth (formerly Fertility Specialists of WA), Claremont and Applecross, Perth, Western Australia.
| | - Phillip Matson
- External Quality Assurance Schemes for Reproductive Medicine, Northlands, Western Australia, Australia
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Sahun M, Privat-Maldonado A, Lin A, De Roeck N, Van der Heyden L, Hillen M, Michiels J, Steenackers G, Smits E, Ariën KK, Jorens PG, Delputte P, Bogaerts A. Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Enveloped and Non-Enveloped Viruses with Non-Thermal Plasma for Hospital Disinfection. ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING 2023; 11:5206-5215. [PMID: 37034498 PMCID: PMC10068876 DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c07622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
As recently highlighted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, viruses have become an increasing burden for health, global economy, and environment. The control of transmission by contact with contaminated materials represents a major challenge, particularly in hospital environments. However, the current disinfection methods in hospital settings suffer from numerous drawbacks. As a result, several medical supplies that cannot be properly disinfected are not reused, leading to severe shortages and increasing amounts of waste, thus prompting the search for alternative solutions. In this work, we report that non-thermal plasma (NTP) can effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2 from non-porous and porous materials commonly found in healthcare facilities. We demonstrated that 5 min treatment with a dielectric barrier discharge NTP can inactivate 100% of SARS-CoV-2 (Wuhan and Omicron strains) from plastic material. Using porcine respiratory coronavirus (surrogate for SARS-CoV-2) and coxsackievirus B3 (highly resistant non-enveloped virus), we tested the NTP virucidal activity on hospital materials and obtained complete inactivation after 5 and 10 min, respectively. We hypothesize that the produced reactive species and local acidification contribute to the overall virucidal effect of NTP. Our results demonstrate the potential of dielectric barrier discharge NTPs for the rapid, efficient, and low-cost disinfection of healthcare materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Sahun
- Plasma
Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine—Antwerp
(PLASMANT), Department of Chemistry, University
of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Angela Privat-Maldonado
- Plasma
Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine—Antwerp
(PLASMANT), Department of Chemistry, University
of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Center
for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision
Oncology Network (IPPON), University of
Antwerp, Universiteitsplein
1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Abraham Lin
- Plasma
Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine—Antwerp
(PLASMANT), Department of Chemistry, University
of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Center
for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision
Oncology Network (IPPON), University of
Antwerp, Universiteitsplein
1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Naomi De Roeck
- Laboratory
for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical,
Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University
of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein
1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lisa Van der Heyden
- Plasma
Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine—Antwerp
(PLASMANT), Department of Chemistry, University
of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Center
for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision
Oncology Network (IPPON), University of
Antwerp, Universiteitsplein
1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Michaël Hillen
- Industrial
Vision Lab (InViLab), Department of Electromechanical Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Johan Michiels
- Virology
Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gunther Steenackers
- Industrial
Vision Lab (InViLab), Department of Electromechanical Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Evelien Smits
- Center
for Oncological Research (CORE), Integrated Personalized & Precision
Oncology Network (IPPON), University of
Antwerp, Universiteitsplein
1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kevin K. Ariën
- Laboratory
for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical,
Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University
of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein
1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
- Virology
Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Philippe G. Jorens
- Department
of Intensive Care Medicine, Antwerp University
Hospital, Wilrijkstraat
10, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
- Laboratory
of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics (LEMP), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Peter Delputte
- Laboratory
for Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), Faculty of Pharmaceutical,
Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University
of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein
1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Annemie Bogaerts
- Plasma
Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine—Antwerp
(PLASMANT), Department of Chemistry, University
of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
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Yepez X, Illera AE, Baykara H, Keener K. Recent Advances and Potential Applications of Atmospheric Pressure Cold Plasma Technology for Sustainable Food Processing. Foods 2022; 11:foods11131833. [PMID: 35804648 PMCID: PMC9265751 DOI: 10.3390/foods11131833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In a circular economy, products, waste, and resources are kept in the system as long as possible. This review aims to highlight the importance of cold plasma technology as an alternative solution to some challenges in the food chain, such as the extensive energy demand and the hazardous chemicals used. Atmospheric cold plasma can provide a rich source of reactive gas species such as radicals, excited neutrals, ions, free electrons, and UV light that can be efficiently used for sterilization and decontamination, degrading toxins, and pesticides. Atmospheric cold plasma can also improve the utilization of materials in agriculture and food processing, as well as convert waste into resources. The use of atmospheric cold plasma technology is not without challenges. The wide range of reactive gas species leads to many questions about their safety, active life, and environmental impact. Additionally, the associated regulatory approval process requires significant data demonstrating its efficacy. Cold plasma generation requires a specific reliable system, process control monitoring, scalability, and worker safety protections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Yepez
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador;
- Correspondence:
| | - Alba E. Illera
- Faculty of Science, University of Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos s/n, 09001 Burgos, Spain;
| | - Haci Baykara
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador;
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Center of Nanotechnology Research and Development (CIDNA), Campus Gustavo Galindo, Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador
| | - Kevin Keener
- College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
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Lee CB, Lee KI, Kim YJ, Jang IT, Gurmessa SK, Choi EH, Kaushik NK, Kim HJ. Non-Thermal Plasma Jet-Treated Medium Induces Selective Cytotoxicity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Infected Macrophages. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061243. [PMID: 35740265 PMCID: PMC9219627 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasma-treated media (PTM) serve as an adjuvant therapy to postoperatively remove residual cancerous lesions. We speculated that PTM could selectively kill cells infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and remove postoperative residual tuberculous lesions. We therefore investigated the effects of a medium exposed to a non-thermal plasma jet on the suppression of intracellular Mtb replication, cell death, signaling, and selectivity. We propose that PTM elevates the levels of the detoxifying enzymes, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated serine/threonine kinase and increases intracellular reactive oxygen species production in Mtb-infected cells. The bacterial load was significantly decreased in spleen and lung tissues and single-cell suspensions from mice intraperitoneally injected with PTM compared with saline and untreated medium. Therefore, PTM has the potential as a novel treatment that can eliminate residual Mtb-infected cells after infected tissues are surgically resected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chae Bok Lee
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-747, Korea; (C.B.L.); (K.I.L.); (Y.J.K.); (I.T.J.); (S.K.G.)
| | - Kang In Lee
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-747, Korea; (C.B.L.); (K.I.L.); (Y.J.K.); (I.T.J.); (S.K.G.)
| | - Young Jae Kim
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-747, Korea; (C.B.L.); (K.I.L.); (Y.J.K.); (I.T.J.); (S.K.G.)
| | - In Taek Jang
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-747, Korea; (C.B.L.); (K.I.L.); (Y.J.K.); (I.T.J.); (S.K.G.)
| | - Sintayehu Kebede Gurmessa
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-747, Korea; (C.B.L.); (K.I.L.); (Y.J.K.); (I.T.J.); (S.K.G.)
| | - Eun Ha Choi
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, Seoul 01897, Korea; (E.H.C.); (N.K.K.)
| | - Nagendra Kumar Kaushik
- Plasma Bioscience Research Center, Department of Electrical and Biological Physics, Kwangwoon University, Seoul 01897, Korea; (E.H.C.); (N.K.K.)
| | - Hwa-Jung Kim
- Department of Microbiology & Medical Science, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 301-747, Korea; (C.B.L.); (K.I.L.); (Y.J.K.); (I.T.J.); (S.K.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-42-580-8242
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6
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Priatama RA, Pervitasari AN, Park S, Park SJ, Lee YK. Current Advancements in the Molecular Mechanism of Plasma Treatment for Seed Germination and Plant Growth. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4609. [PMID: 35562997 PMCID: PMC9105374 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma has been used in various fields such as plasma medicine, agriculture, food safety and storage, and food manufacturing. In the field of plasma agriculture, plasma treatment improves seed germination, plant growth, and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, allows pesticide removal, and enhances biomass and yield. Currently, the complex molecular mechanisms of plasma treatment in plasma agriculture are fully unexplored, especially those related to seed germination and plant growth. Therefore, in this review, we have summarized the current progress in the application of the plasma treatment technique in plants, including plasma treatment methods, physical and chemical effects, and the molecular mechanism underlying the effects of low-temperature plasma treatment. Additionally, we have discussed the interactions between plasma and seed germination that occur through seed coat modification, reactive species, seed sterilization, heat, and UV radiation in correlation with molecular phenomena, including transcriptional and epigenetic regulation. This review aims to present the mechanisms underlying the effects of plasma treatment and to discuss the potential applications of plasma as a powerful tool, priming agent, elicitor or inducer, and disinfectant in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryza A. Priatama
- Institute of Plasma Technology, Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, 37 Dongjangsan-ro, Gunsan 54004, Korea; (R.A.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Aditya N. Pervitasari
- Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Korea;
| | - Seungil Park
- Institute of Plasma Technology, Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, 37 Dongjangsan-ro, Gunsan 54004, Korea; (R.A.P.); (S.P.)
| | - Soon Ju Park
- Division of Biological Sciences, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea
| | - Young Koung Lee
- Institute of Plasma Technology, Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, 37 Dongjangsan-ro, Gunsan 54004, Korea; (R.A.P.); (S.P.)
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Rananaware P, Pandit P, Naik S, Mishra M, Keri RS, Brahmkhatri VP. Anti-amyloidogenic property of gold nanoparticle decorated quercetin polymer nanorods in pH and temperature induced aggregation of lysozyme. RSC Adv 2022; 12:23661-23674. [PMID: 36090438 PMCID: PMC9389553 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra03121c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Quercetin is an abundant plant polyphenol effective against several diseases due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Herein, we report novel polymeric quercetin nanorods and the former decorated with gold nanoparticles for the first time. The prepared conjugates quercetin-polyvinylpyrrolidone (Q-PVP) and quercetin-polyvinylpyrrolidone-gold nanoparticles (Q-PVP-Au) were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential measurements. The surface morphology of conjugates was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy. These conjugates exhibit harmonized rod-like morphology with a narrow size distribution. Furthermore, the quercetin conjugates with nanorod morphology exhibited enhanced and prolonged drug release over a long period. The synthesized conjugates were investigated for lysozyme aggregation kinetics. ThT binding assay, fibril size measurement, and electron microscopy results revealed that conjugates could suppress fibrillogenesis in lysozyme. The highest amyloid aggregation inhibition activity (IC50) was obtained against Q-PVP and Q-PVP-Au at 32 μg mL−1 and 30 μg mL−1 respectively. The amyloid aggregate disintegration activity (DC50) obtained against Q-PVP and Q-PVP-Au was 27 μg mL−1 and 29 μg mL−1 respectively. The present quercetin conjugates exhibit enhanced bioavailability and stability. They were potent inhibitors of lysozyme aggregation that may find applications as a therapeutic agent in neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Q-PVP, and Q-PVP-Au conjugates for inhibition of HEWL aggregation.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranita Rananaware
- Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery and Therapeutics (NDT-Lab), Centre for Nano and Material Science, Jain University, Jain Global Campus, Bengaluru 562112, Karnataka, India
| | - Parimal Pandit
- Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery and Therapeutics (NDT-Lab), Centre for Nano and Material Science, Jain University, Jain Global Campus, Bengaluru 562112, Karnataka, India
| | - Seekha Naik
- Neural Developmental Biology Lab, Department of Life Science NIT Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India
| | - Monalisa Mishra
- Neural Developmental Biology Lab, Department of Life Science NIT Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769008, India
| | - Rangappa S. Keri
- Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery and Therapeutics (NDT-Lab), Centre for Nano and Material Science, Jain University, Jain Global Campus, Bengaluru 562112, Karnataka, India
| | - Varsha P. Brahmkhatri
- Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery and Therapeutics (NDT-Lab), Centre for Nano and Material Science, Jain University, Jain Global Campus, Bengaluru 562112, Karnataka, India
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