Jianyi Xie, Lingxuan Tang, Wangzheqi Zhang, Changli Wang
{"title":"The MicroRNA network in sepsis: from biomarker discovery to novel targeted therapeutic strategies.","authors":"Jianyi Xie, Lingxuan Tang, Wangzheqi Zhang, Changli Wang","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2561071","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2561071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sepsis is a life-threatening multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome triggered by infection and mediated by host immune dysregulation. Its complex pathophysiological mechanisms and the lack of effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches make it a major challenge for the global healthcare system. As key molecules in post-transcriptional gene regulation, microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in immune dyshomeostasis, inflammatory storms, and organ damage during sepsis, and have emerged as a research focus in this field in recent years. This review summarizes the research progress of miRNAs in sepsis, with a focus on their expression characteristics, regulatory mechanisms, and clinical translational value. miRNAs regulate inflammatory responses by targeting core signaling pathways such as the Toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. The specific mechanisms include: blocking upstream pathway activation by targeting TLR ligands or adaptor proteins; directly regulating NF-κB subunits to inhibit the transcription of pro-inflammatory genes; modulating negative feedback loops; and interacting with other signaling cascades. Furthermore, certain miRNAs act as both key regulators of immune responses and potential diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers. In terms of organ damage, miRNAs display organ-specific characteristics by working as specific regulatory molecules in sepsis-associated cardiac, hepatic, and cerebral injuries. They affect organ function by targeting pathways such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT). In terms of clinical translational value, miRNAs derived from human serum/plasma have shown significant potential in sepsis diagnosis, treatment guidance, and prognosis prediction. By dissecting the regulatory network of miRNAs in sepsis, this review not only provides a theoretical basis for understanding the complex pathophysiology of sepsis but also identifies key directions for developing miRNA-based precision diagnostic and therapeutic strategies (e.g. combined detection of multiple biomarkers and targeted delivery systems). It is anticipated to offer novel solutions for improving the prognosis of sepsis patients and reducing mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"261-286"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145205699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Guidelines for diagnosing and differentiating infection with antifungal-resistant <i>Trichophyton indotineae</i> from other dermatophytoses.","authors":"Ali Abdul Hussein S Al-Janabi","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2551649","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2551649","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This review attempts to find a crucial set of criteria that can be applied to diagnose infections caused by <i>Trichophyton indotineae</i>, based on laboratory and clinical characteristics derived from other studies. <i>T. indotineae</i> has emerged as a new species from the anthropophilic <i>Trichophyton mentagrophytes</i> and <i>Trichophyton interdigitale</i>. The close relationship between <i>T. indotineae</i> and these two species makes it difficult to distinguish them based on morphological and physiological features. Resistance to terbinafine was first observed in <i>T. indotineae</i>, and later to other antifungals, which increased the treatment failure rate in several dermatophytoses. In conclusion; identifying criteria specific to infections with <i>T. indotineae</i> can provide a framework for physicians to readily diagnose such infections and distinguish them from other dermatophytoses. Categorization guidelines for all diagnostic characteristics of <i>T. indotineae</i> and its infection can make a forward step in prescribing effective therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"135-146"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144945800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Blaise Clarke, Charlotte Carment-Baker, Christine Bruce, Kattreen Hanna, George M Yousef
{"title":"Large scale implementation of DP for clinical diagnoses: experience, challenges, and lessons learned.","authors":"Blaise Clarke, Charlotte Carment-Baker, Christine Bruce, Kattreen Hanna, George M Yousef","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2549309","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2549309","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Implementing DP on a large scale is a complex, multi-dimensional process that requires strategic planning, technological adaptation, and change management. We provide a detailed account of the full-scale implementation of DP at the University Health Network (UHN), a multi-site tertiary clinical center in Canada, highlighting practical lessons learned, ongoing challenges, and mitigation strategies.</p><p><p>A phased implementation approach was adopted, involving pre-implementation planning, procurement, infrastructure development, and optimized validation protocols. Significant focus was placed on technical considerations, including system interoperability, storage capacity, and image quality. Procurement was structured to ensure vendor neutrality and long-term sustainability.A critical component of the implementation was \"change management\", addressing resistance to change through extensive training, real-time troubleshooting, utilizing \"super users\" as change champions. Attention was paid to pathologist office configuration.</p><p><p>A dual workflow model, with simultaneous access to both glass and digital slides, facilitated smoother transition. As of this writing all histopathology H&E cases and tissue hematopathology are being scanned. Efforts to implement digital liquid hematopathology and cytopathology are ongoing.</p><p><p>The financial implications of DP implementation were evaluated, including direct and indirect costs. While initial investments in scanners, storage, and software infrastructure were substantial, long-term savings are anticipated through increased efficiency, reduced physical slide storage, enhanced workload distribution and the integration of AI-based tools.</p><p><p>Continuous monitoring and feedback were established to assess system performance and address emerging challenges. Scalability and future applications of DP remain a priority. The adoption of AI-driven pathology tools, remote diagnostics, and cross-institutional data sharing are anticipated to further enhance the value of DP. UHN's experience underscores the importance of a structured, multidisciplinary approach to DP implementation.</p><p><p>Our experience offers a realistic and evolving roadmap for institutions considering DP adoption. We provide practical guidance, highlight persistent challenges and emphasize the importance of continuous evaluation and adaptation.</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"109-123"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144991745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Regulatory mechanisms and emerging diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities of non-coding RNAs in tumorigenesis: a pan-cancer perspective.","authors":"Doblin Sandai, Zengkan Du, Haoling Zhang, Qi Sun","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2555278","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2555278","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of functional transcripts that are not translated into proteins and primarily include microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). In recent years, as therapeutic challenges such as tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance have become increasingly prominent, ncRNAs have emerged as pivotal targets in cancer mechanistic research and precision intervention strategies due to their central roles in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Given the limitations of conventional treatments, inadequate early detection methods, and significant inter-individual variability, elucidating the regulatory functions of ncRNA networks have become an urgent imperative for advancing cancer diagnosis and treatment. This review systematically integrates the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in key oncogenic processes from a pan-cancer perspective, including cell proliferation, cell cycle control, apoptosis evasion, metastatic activation, and resistance reprogramming, while highlighting their hub-like roles in multi-pathway crosstalk,the application of ncRNA in cancer diagnosis and its role in treatment and prognosis. Furthermore, future research must strive for breakthroughs in areas such as the optimization of nanodelivery systems, AI-driven target identification, and dynamic multi-omics integration, with the ultimate goal of achieving the systematic translation of ncRNAs into actionable strategies for personalized precision medicine-transforming \"functional transcriptional regulation\" into \"targetable therapeutic intervention.\"</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"147-203"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analytical considerations and clinical utility of plasma phosphorylated Tau217.","authors":"Hans Frykman","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2551648","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2551648","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Blood-based biomarkers are an easily available and practical tool for Alzheimer's disease (AD) screening and diagnosis. Plasma phosphorylated Tau217 (p-tau217) is the front-runner candidate for AD diagnosis due to its strong correlation with core AD pathology determined either by cerebrospinal fluid biomarker (CSF) and positron emission tomography (PET) or postmortem examination. While plasma p-tau217 is firmly associated with AD pathology, it is crucial to evaluate its performance in distinguishing AD from mixed pathologies, as brain autopsies have shown the coexisting of AD pathology with other related types of dementia. Moreover, the measurement of AD biomarkers will be a crucial element in defining eligibility for disease-modifying treatment in clinical practice. Moreover, plasma p-tau217 is a highly efficacious biomarker in the early detection of Aβ pathology, making it a feasible test for AD screening in clinical practice. Several assays, including the ALZpath p-tau217 assay and the Fujirebio plasma p-tau217 assay, have been made commercially available for research use. A few studies analytically and clinically have validated these immunoassays as laboratory diagnostic tests for AD diagnosis and differentiating from non-AD neurodegenerative disorders in clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"124-134"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145063611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yana Kaliberda, Anna Wajda, Magdalena Węglarska, Agnieszka Paradowska-Gorycka
{"title":"Modern techniques used in the diagnosis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases.","authors":"Yana Kaliberda, Anna Wajda, Magdalena Węglarska, Agnieszka Paradowska-Gorycka","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2528869","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2528869","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Laboratory diagnostics of diseases have improved significantly with modern laboratory techniques offering greater accuracy, earlier detection, and opportunities for personalized diagnosis. This review highlights the key techniques used in the diagnostics of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Detection of autoantibodies is the basis for modern laboratory diagnostics of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Immunofluorescent analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, chemiluminescent immunoassay, and immunoblotting are nowadays common methods for differential diagnostics, screening, and monitoring the progression of autoimmune diseases. Polymerase chain reaction methods allow the identification of genetic markers associated with autoimmune disorders, which facilitates early diagnosis. Next Generation Sequencing allows for comprehensive analysis of genetic variants, identifying novel biomarkers, and furthering our understanding of disease mechanisms. Diagnostics and treatment are now approaching personalized medicine based mainly on modern molecular discoveries. Such an approach aims to determine disease risk, tailor treatment to individual patient needs, improve safety and efficacy, and reduce treatment costs. This review covers essential laboratory techniques for diagnosing autoimmune rheumatic diseases and aims to serve as a reliable resource for clinicians, including rheumatologists, and researchers.</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"12-27"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144642026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based microbial detection: a review of FDA-authorized tests and future perspectives.","authors":"Austin Jin, Maggie Deng, He S Yang, Zejuan Li","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2542808","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2542808","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has emerged as a rapid and accessible alternative to traditional polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for nucleic acid amplification in research, significantly enhancing pathogen detection in infectious disease diagnostics. This review aims to bridge the gap in the literature regarding the real-world applications of LAMP assays and their potential to improve infectious disease diagnostics across various healthcare settings. We evaluated the current landscape of United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized LAMP-based microbial tests, categorizing 30 such tests and detailing their regulatory pathways, such as 510(k) clearance and Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We comprehensively examine the technical characteristics of LAMP assays, including sample collection, nucleic acid extraction, amplification processes, signal detection, device automation, and their analytical and clinical performance. We highlight the versatility of LAMP assays in diagnostic applications and their growing role in rapid infectious disease. We discuss the advantages and limitations of LAMP technology and identify future directions for its development in infectious disease diagnostics. By analyzing FDA-authorized LAMP-based microbial tests, this review aims to guide healthcare professionals and support future research and product development, ultimately improving patient care.</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"57-79"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144834407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Guardians on call: neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells in arthritis pathogenesis.","authors":"Navita Sharma, Jasika Bashal, Basma Bouchefra, Vinod Chandran, Ali Abdul-Sater, Katerina Oikonomopoulou","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2539133","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2539133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Several immune/inflammatory components have been associated with arthritis. The role of monocytes/macrophages in inflammatory arthritis has been explored over the last years; however, the role of other myeloid cells, such as neutrophils and dendritic cells, in driving the pathophysiology of arthritis is largely overlooked. In this article, we aim to discuss literature pointing to the role of these immune cells in inflammatory arthritis and emphasize the multiple and dynamic phenotypic roles these cells can hold either in the persistence or in the resolution of inflammation. We also highlight the interactions between neutrophils, macrophages, and/or dendritic cells in the arthritic joint space. We further discuss pathways and features that may be of importance for characterizing neutrophils and dendritic cells, the phenotype of which can be \"reprogrammed\" to direct the resolution of inflammation efficiently in the arthritic joint. Identifying novel and patient-tailored approaches for addressing persistent or recurrent inflammation through these cellular pathways, might address unmet needs in arthritis management. Types of arthritides discussed in this review include osteoarthritis, spondyloarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Brief reference to the role of these immune cells in the acute gouty inflammation is also included.</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"28-56"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145174079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Charlotte Delrue, Marijn M Speeckaert, Sander De Bruyne
{"title":"Deep learning algorithms and Raman spectroscopy in the clinical laboratory setting.","authors":"Charlotte Delrue, Marijn M Speeckaert, Sander De Bruyne","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2549305","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2549305","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Raman spectroscopy is an important diagnostic method that extracts molecular-level information from biological specimens, with distinct potential for disease diagnoses. However, its clinical application has been limited by the challenges associated with spectral interpretation. Deep learning (DL) represents an important new approach in which selected Raman spectroscopy experiments can be automated, offering the potential for higher classification accuracy. This paper highlights recent efforts toward the integration of Raman spectroscopy and DL for medical applications and elaborates on key DL models, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTMs), and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), which can collect relevant features, denoise spectra, and provide enhanced diagnostic value from biological specimens. The use of DL in Raman spectroscopy has produced impressive results in cancer diagnosis, bacterial identification, and viral diagnostics. Therefore, this paper provides an organized introduction to explore existing DL architectures used in Raman spectroscopy, their advantages and limitations, and opportunities for clinical applications. Collectively, DL with Raman spectroscopy provides a unique approach for noninvasive and reliable diagnostics.</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"80-108"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144945868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond newborn screening: the role of reverse cascade testing in familial disease detection.","authors":"Amy Gaviglio, Kostantinos Petritis, Veronica Tagi, Alessandra Vasco, Alessia Mauri, Gianvincenzo Zuccotti, Elvira Verduci, Cristina Cereda, Simona Ferraro","doi":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2527288","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10408363.2025.2527288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the past 60 years, preventative public health screening programs have evolved since their inception and now include newborn screening (NBS) aimed at identifying infants after birth for a number of rare, congenital, inherited diseases. Most of the conditions detected through NBS are autosomal recessive disorders or exhibit X-linked inheritance, meaning that family members of individuals with these conditions have a higher risk for being either affected or obligate heterozygotes. For example, the X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) in the screening panel identifies affected newborns and asymptomatic relatives through subsequent testing. Thus, NBS becomes a gateway to family-wide prevention, through the application of reverse cascade testing (RCS). In this paper we examined the scenarios where RCS may be appropriate. Accordingly, we have identified a list of criteria assessing whether a NBS disease would benefit from RCS: (1) autosomal recessive or X-linked inheritance; (2) high carrier rates, (3) variable expressivity, (4) mild or late-onset forms; and (5) association with diagnostic delays and recent addition to the screening panel. More than one criterion usually needs to be met for a disease to benefit from RCS. We have identified a list of diseases and highlighted the potential benefits of RCS: X-ALD, Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Pompe disease. There are additional scenarios within NBS where disease maternal conditions (3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency and carnitine uptake deficiency) or nutritional maternal conditions (vitamin B12 deficiency) may cause a screen-positive NBS result. Whenever a maternal nutritional deficiency is a potential reason for a positive NBS, this is indicative of a non-inherited condition that may require treatment in the newborn owing to possible neurological damage and delay in normal growth in newborns with certain secondary deficiencies. For these cases RCS is recommended, as the mother's status may put her at risk for future adverse events (i.e. cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders, hepatic involvement, and neurodegeneration). The RCS-NBS strategy discussed in this paper offers a set of criteria against which diseases can be assessed for the potential need for RCS. Implementation of this strategy requires several considerations including educational needs, ethical issues, uptake of testing, logistics and costs for this expanded screening and counseling, and availability of appropriate specialists for ongoing management.</p>","PeriodicalId":10760,"journal":{"name":"Critical reviews in clinical laboratory sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144648714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}