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Objective: Melanoma is major medical challenge and being able to monitor treatment response is critical. This study aimed to use molecular profiling of Asian patients with advanced melanoma who were receiving treatment with checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) to identify novel biomarkers of tumor response. Methods: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using tumor specimens collected from 178 Asian patients with metastatic melanoma receiving CPIs. The NGS data and clinical-pathological factors were analyzed for potential genetic biomarkers of tumor response to CPI treatment. Results: The most common melanoma subtype was acral melanoma (40%), followed by cutaneous melanoma (32%), mucosal melanoma (26%), and others (2%). For calculation of treatment efficacy, 164 of the patients could be evaluated. The overall response rate was 45.7%, of which 41 cases exhibited complete responses (25.0%) and 34 showed partial responses (20.7%). There were no significant differences in tumor responses based on melanoma subtype (P ¼ 0.295). Genetically, NRAS mutations, TP53 mutations, and NF2 deletions were significantly associated with resistance to CPIs (P < 0.05). In contrast, MYC and RPS6KB1 amplifications were associated with responsiveness to CPIs (P < 0.05). Median progression-free survival (PFS) for patients treated with CPIs was 5.9 months (95% CI, 3.8-8.05 months). Univariate analysis identified TP53 and BRAF mutations, NF2 deletions, and BIRC2 amplifications as poor prognostic factors for PFS (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study determined the integrated genomic profiles of Asian patients with metastatic melanoma receiving CPIs and identified candidate biomarkers that reflected treatment outcomes.

In this work, we designed, fabricated and tested a disposable, flow-through amperometric sensor for free chlorine determination in water. The sensor is based on the principle of an electrochemical cell. The substrate, as well as the top microfluidic layer, is made up of a polymer material. The advantages include; (a) disposability from low cost; (b) stable operation range from three-electrode design; (c) fluidic interconnections that provide on line testing capabilities; and (d) transparent substrate which provides for future integration of on-chip optics. The sensor showed a good response and linearity in the chlorine concentration ranging from 0.3 to 1.6 ppm, which applies to common chlorination process for drinking water purification.

In this work, we designed, fabricafed and tested a low cost, disposable, flow-fhrough sensor fo determine the amounf of free chlorine in wafer. The whole sensor cell combining electrodes and a fluidic channel is micromachined on a chemically-inert fransparenf cyclic olefin copolymer substrate. The advantages are (a) disposability from low cost (6) wide operafion range from three-elecfrode design (c) easy electrical andfluidic inferconnecfionfrom a chip format, compared fo previous. works The sensor showed a good response and linearity in the chlorine concenfrafion ;ranging from 1.5 fo 8 ppm, which applies fo common chlorinaiion process