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Biological fluid collection to identify and analyze different disease markers is a routine and normal procedure in health care settings. Body fluids are as varied as urine, blood, mucus, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), tears, semen, etc. The volumes of the collected fluids range from micro liters (e.g., tears, CSF) to tens and hundreds of milliliters (blood, urine, etc.). In some manifestations, a disease marker (particularly protein markers) can occur in trace amounts, yet the fluids collected are in large volumes. To identify these trace markers, cumbersome methods, expensive instruments, and trained personnel are required. We developed an easy method to rapidly capture, concentrate, and identify protein markers in large volumes of test fluids. This method involves the utilization of two antibodies recognizing two different epitopes of the protein biomarker. Antibody-1 helps to capture and concentrate the biomarker and Antibody-2 adsorbed or conjugated to nanogold beads will detect the biomarker. This method was validated in capturing and detecting lipocalin type prostaglandin-D2 synthase, a marker in urine that implicates diabetic nephropathy. A one-step collection, concentration, and detection device was designed based on this method. This device can replace many of the normal body fluid collection devices such as tubes and containers. A one-step fluid collection and biomarker capture and concentration device for rapid diagnosis of diseases has tremendous advantage in terms of cost and providing timely results.

Local anesthetics are widely used as an intraosseous injection particularly in the field of dentistry. Occasionally, large doses of anesthetics are injected to elicit the desired effect during many surgical procedures. In this study we examined the effect of a local anesthetic, lidocaine, on osteoblasts as there are only a few reports on the effect of local anesthetics directly on bone cells. Our results showed that physiological as well as supra physiological concentrations of lidocaine cause cell death. At low concentrations, lidocaine was found to enhance both proliferation of osteoblasts and bone matrix production. In addition, low concentration of lidocaine increased the expression of osteocalcin, a key regulator in the signaling pathway of bone matrix production. Our results show that lidocaine has a biphasic effect on osteoblasts and low concentrations of this anesthetic may assist in bone matrix production. This preliminary study can lead to the therapeutic usage of intraosseous lidocaine as a bone strengthening agent.

Recurrent dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disk is caused by many factors. Dislocation can result in an acute or chronic closed lock condition. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction is often presented with otalgia symptoms. Other aural symptoms such as deafness, tinnitus, pressure/blockage, and vertigo are also commonly presented together with TMJ dysfunction (Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1980;5:23-36). However, pruritus associated with TMJ dysfunction in the inner ear has never been reported in the literature. We report a case history of TMJ dysfunction and associated inner ear pruritus, which are both resolved by eminectomy.

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