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American Kidney Fund Provided More Than $150,000 to Kidney Patients Impacted by Hurricane Ida

American Kidney Fund

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced that it provided more than $150,000 in emergency grants to more than 750 low-income dialysis and kidney transplant patients affected by Hurricane Ida. Generous donations from the public and corporate supporters, including Horizon Therapeutics plc and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., made possible the immediate activation of AKF’s assistance, the only rapid-response program of its kind serving kidney patients impacted by natural disasters. The most common way patients used AKF assistance was to pay for lost or spoiled food that they need for the very strict renal diet, followed by temporary housing, transportation to and from dialysis, home repairs and to replace clothing and personal essentials lost due to the disaster or the need to evacuate with short notice. “Disaster relief grants from the American Kidney Fund help kidney patients to cope with the devastating aftermath of a storm like Hurricane Ida,” said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF President and CEO. “We are thankful to Horizon, Otsuka and our many other supporters for allowing us to provide this emergency assistance, so vulnerable kidney failure patients could focus on staying as healthy as possible after this storm, particularly as we are still in the midst of a deadly pandemic.” AKF covered 100% of the cost of emergency grant processing and check distribution to ensure that the maximum number of patients could receive desperately needed support. AKF’s Disaster Relief Program has been there for kidney patients during every major natural disaster in the past two decades. Charity Navigator listed AKF as one of the highly rated nonprofits providing Hurricane Ida relief. AKF is one of only three nonprofits in the nation to have received the top 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator for 19 consecutive years—every year the organization has been rating nonprofits—giving donors the confidence that their contributions were used to maximum efficiency. ### About the American Kidney Fund The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation’s leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease—from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation’s top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact Details Stefanie Tuck 202-470-1797 +1 978-390-1394 11921 Rockville Pike Suite 300 Rockville, MD 20852 AKF@jpa.com Company Website https://www.kidneyfund.org/

October 06, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

ADDING MULTIMEDIA: FINE HYGIENIC HOLDING ENTERS THE METAVERSE WITH LAUNCH OF FINE ICONIC PACK NFT

Fine Hygienic Holding

Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), the leading wellness group and manufacturer of reusable protective masks and hygienic paper products, has created its first ever NFT (Non-Fungible Token) collectible, an animated digital art piece has gone live for open auction on OpenSea, the marketplace for rare digital items and crypto collectibles, from September 26 until October 14. The Fine Iconic Pack collectible, which will be available to the highest bidder, will include a 17-second digital animated file of the iconic brand plus a physical gold-plated Fine Facial Tissue holder as unlockable content. The digital animated file showcases the transformation of the iconic Fine branding, a much-loved logo familiar to households across the region for over 60 years. FHH CEO James Michael Lafferty said: “Fine Hygienic Holding is a brand of the future, we are not afraid to embrace change as customers will already know through our move into reusable Fine Guard face masks, and other products including hand sanitizers and wipes which incorporate innovative technology. “The launch of the NFT underlines our credentials as a brand of the future. We are confident that there are many potential buyers out there in the region who would be interested in a digital collectible that evokes a sense of nostalgia and heritage, while also showcasing the progress and growth of the business and the virtual world.” The sole owner of the NFT will be granted a royalty-free license to use, copy and display the NFT for personal, non-commercial use, as well as the right to resale the NFT as a digital file. For more information on FHH's NFT auction, visit: https://opensea.io/assets/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/44489654802199576746768233299675622972679876205981352264859019804128938295297/ About Fine Hygienic Holding: Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading wellness groups and the MENA’s leading manufacturer of hygienic products, serves consumers in more than 80 countries around the world. Originally established as a paper manufacturer, FHH has transformed into a wellness company dedicated to enhancing global health and wellbeing. With its commitment to becoming “the shining star of the Arab FMCG business world,” the Group focuses on wellness, sustainability, state-of-the-art production processes, pioneering CSR programs, and award-winning products. The company offers a diverse array of products including sterilized facial tissues, napkins, kitchen towels, toilet paper, baby diapers, adult briefs, jumbo rolls, as well as away-from-home products to accommodate all types of private and public institutions, in addition to innovative personal protective equipment (PPE), long lasting germ protection solutions and natural nutritional supplements. Contact Details Salma Khalifa +971 55 554 1994 salma.k@actionprgroup.com Company Website https://www.finehh.com/

October 06, 2021 07:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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FINE HYGIENIC HOLDING BECOMES FIRST MIDDLE EAST-BASED FMCG COMPANY TO ENTER THE METAVERSE WITH LAUNCH OF FINE ICONIC PACK NFT

Fine Hygienic Holding

Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), the leading wellness group and manufacturer of reusable protective masks and hygienic paper products, has become the first Middle East-based FMCG company to create its own NFT (Non-Fungible Token) collectible. The Fine Iconic Pack collectible, an animated digital art piece, has gone live for open auction on OpenSea, the marketplace for rare digital items and crypto collectibles, for a limited time only, from September 26 until October 14. The collectible, which will be available to the highest bidder, will include a 17-second digital animated file of the iconic brand plus a physical gold-plated Fine Facial Tissue holder as unlockable content. The digital animated file showcases the transformation of the iconic Fine branding, a much-loved logo familiar to households across the region for over 60 years. FHH CEO James Michael Lafferty said: “Fine Hygienic Holding is a brand of the future, we are not afraid to embrace change as customers will already know through our move into reusable Fine Guard face masks, and other products including hand sanitizers and wipes which incorporate innovative technology. “The launch of the NFT underlines our credentials as a brand of the future. We are confident that there are many potential buyers out there in the region who would be interested in a digital collectible that evokes a sense of nostalgia and heritage, while also showcasing the progress and growth of the business and the virtual world.” The sole owner of the NFT will be granted a royalty-free license to use, copy and display the NFT for personal, non-commercial use, as well as the right to resale the NFT as a digital file. For more information on FHH’s NFT auction, visit: https://opensea.io/assets/0x495f947276749ce646f68ac8c248420045cb7b5e/44489654802199576746768233299675622972679876205981352264859019804128938295297/ About Fine Hygienic Holding:Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading wellness groups and the MENA’s leading manufacturer of hygienic products, serves consumers in more than 80 countries around the world. Originally established as a paper manufacturer, FHH has transformed into a wellness company dedicated to enhancing global health and wellbeing. With its commitment to becoming “the shining star of the Arab FMCG business world,” the Group focuses on wellness, sustainability, state-of-the-art production processes, pioneering CSR programs, and award-winning products. The company offers a diverse array of products including sterilized facial tissues, napkins, kitchen towels, toilet paper, baby diapers, adult briefs, jumbo rolls, as well as away-from-home products to accommodate all types of private and public institutions, in addition to innovative personal protective equipment (PPE), long lasting germ protection solutions and natural nutritional supplements. Contact Details Action PR Salma Khalifa +971 55 554 1994 salma.k@actionprgroup.com Company Website https://www.finehh.com/

October 06, 2021 02:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time

National Poll Shows Public Trust in Big Tech is Falling Fast

Public Affairs Council

A new Public Affairs Council/Morning Consult poll finds the pharmaceutical industry has remained the least-trusted sector in American business — despite supplying life-saving COVID-19 vaccines for hundreds of millions of people. It has now ranked last of nine sectors for five straight years. But the sector with the sharpest drop in trust over the past five years is the technology industry, which has seen its trust ranking slip from first place to sixth place. The annual Public Affairs Pulse survey of 2,199 adults, conducted Sept. 2-6, 2021, explores the intersection of business, government and society. In addition to the trust deficit, this year’s poll examines racism in America, reliable sources of political news, the most highly valued democratic principles, and who should take the lead on vaccine mandates. Business sector trust rankings Technology, considered the most trustworthy sector in the U.S. as recently as 2017, has dropped to sixth place out of nine industries rated. Thirty-two percent (32%) now consider the tech sector to be less trustworthy than other industries. Forty-six percent (46%) of the public say pharmaceutical companies are less trustworthy than other major companies. Only 13% believe they are more trustworthy. The pharmaceutical sector is also considered the most under-regulated industry, with 40% saying it has too little regulation. The health insurance industry is the next lowest-ranking sector, with 41% calling it less trustworthy than other industries. It is right behind pharmaceuticals on the list of the most under-regulated sectors. The public has the most trust in the Food & Beverage sector with just 14% saying it is less trustworthy than other industries and 21% saying it is more trustworthy. “These low-trust rankings remind me of the old saying, ‘No good deed goes unpunished,’” said Public Affairs Council President Doug Pinkham. “Despite the efforts of the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries to protect the public from the pandemic, and though their scores did improve over last year, deep-rooted distrust is slow to change.” Are Democrats becoming more pro-business? While 51% of Democrats trust political information they receive from major companies, only 44% of Republicans trust political information from Corporate America. When it comes to promoting COVID-19 vaccinations, 78% of Democrats support corporate efforts but only 42% of Republicans support such efforts. While 65% of Democrats approve when the business community speaks out against racism, only 28% of Republicans favor those actions. Racism is getting worse, and companies aren’t making a major impact Despite growing support for Black Lives Matter and changes in corporate diversity practices, 40% of Americans believe the U.S. is becoming more racist. Only 13% think it is becoming less racist. Seventy-one percent (71%) of Americans consider racism a somewhat or very serious problem. Only 8% believe racism is not at all serious. While Democrats are more likely to be pessimistic about racism, more than twice as many Republicans (33%) believe racism is getting worse than believe it is getting better (15%). Just 22% of the public say major companies are playing a positive role in reducing racism (down from 28% last year), and 18% say they are playing a negative role (up from 14%). Strong majority of Americans support free and fair elections When asked about the value of actions to promote democratic rights, Americans give the highest ratings to support of free and fair elections (74%) and freedom of speech (72%). Just 59% believe protecting freedom of the press is very important to the country. The strongest support for freedom of the press comes from Americans aged 65 and older. Among 18-34-year-olds, however, only 50% consider protecting freedom of the press to be very important. Just 26% of Americans say Congress is doing a good or excellent job of supporting democracy compared to 41% who say the same about President Biden. People trust “friends and family” for political news For 73% of the public, friends and family are the most trusted source of political news. The next most trusted sources are trade and professional associations (44%) and businesses (43%). Only 41% trust the news media for political information, and more than half of Americans (52%) have “not too much” or no trust in political information coming from the news media. While 66% of Democrats trust the news media, only 26% of Independents and 23% of Republicans do so. Other notable findings A slim majority of Americans say vaccines should be mandated at the federal (36%) or state level (16%). More than one in three people (36%) oppose mandates at either level. Significantly more Republicans (57%) than Democrats (15%) or Independents (42%) oppose mandatory vaccinations. When it comes to financing political campaigns, 71% find self-funded campaigns acceptable, 68% approve of contributions from individual citizens and 53% approve of PAC contributions. Further down the list of choices are super PACs (39%) and using federal tax dollars (34%). Visit our website to view the full Public Affairs Pulse survey results: pac.org/pulse About the Public Affairs Council Both nonpartisan and nonpolitical, the Public Affairs Council is the leading global association for public affairs professionals. The Council’s mission is to advance the field of public affairs and to provide its 700 member companies, nonprofits and universities with the executive education and expertise they need while maintaining the highest ethical standards. Learn more at pac.org. Contact Details Curley Company for the Public Affairs Council Lydia Niles +1 773-677-5327 lydia@curleycompany.com Company Website https://pac.org/

October 05, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

American Kidney Fund Endorses New Race-Free Approach to Diagnose Kidney Disease

American Kidney Fund

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today issues the following statement in response to A Unifying Approach for GFR Estimation: Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Disease: “AKF is firmly committed to reducing inequities in all phases of a patient’s kidney disease journey. Consistent with this commitment, we commend the NKF/ASN Task Force for undergoing a very thoughtful, transparent and data-driven process, and for gathering input from the kidney community—including AKF’s Medical Advisory Committee—to develop a recommendation for GFR estimation that eliminates race, ultimately a step towards eradicating the ‘othering’ of people of color in medicine. “Currently, Black Americans are four times more likely than white Americans to have kidney failure, yet are less likely to receive kidney transplants. We are hopeful the proposed change in GFR estimation will lead to earlier diagnoses of kidney disease for Black Americans particularly, and improve opportunities to slow down the progression to kidney failure. “Operationalizing the Task Force’s recommendations quickly, and adding the use of confirmatory testing, like cystatin C and other markers that are yet to be identified, must be top priorities. In addition, there is still a need to follow the research and continuously evolve GFR estimation and kidney function measurement as one step towards elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in kidney disease. “Keeping patients at the forefront of discussions about the change in GFR estimation is paramount. A crucial next step will be to develop comprehensive transition and education materials for patients about the new GFR equation and its impact on chronic kidney disease (CKD) care. AKF stands ready to work with patients and stakeholders to integrate the GFR estimation-related changes into current programs as we partner to achieve health equity across the CKD continuum. AKF will continue to build education and awareness programs to incorporate changes that are aligned with our mission of fighting kidney disease on all fronts and helping people live healthier lives.” ### About the American Kidney Fund The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation’s leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease—from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation’s top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact Details Stefanie Tuck 202-470-1797 +1 978-390-1394 11921 Rockville Pike Suite 300 Rockville, MD 20852 AKF@jpa.com Company Website https://www.kidneyfund.org/

October 05, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Independence Blue Cross and US Digestive Health Sign New Five-Year Agreement

US Digestive Health

Independence Blue Cross (Independence) and US Digestive Health today announced a new five-year agreement which went into effect January 1, 2021. The agreement demonstrates the commitment of Independence and US Digestive Health to work together to ensure that Independence members and US Digestive Health patients are receiving gastroenterology care in the most appropriate, high-quality, and cost-effective settings. “We are pleased with this new long-term agreement which will give our members access to US Digestive Health to help prevent, treat and cure digestive disorders,” said Richard L. Snyder, M.D., Executive Vice President of Facilitated Health Networks, and Chief Medical Officer at Independence. “The new agreement will allow us to collaborate on innovative programs that are focused on high-quality, cost-effective care.” “By entering into a five-year partnership, US Digestive Health and Independence Blue Cross will ensure access to world-class gastroenterology care for members across the region,” said Jerry Tillinger, Chief Executive Officer of US Digestive Health. “With 96 GI physicians across the Commonwealth, this agreement will allow us to continue bringing affordable, cutting-edge gastroenterology services to all of our Pennsylvania communities.” About US Digestive Health US Digestive Health oversees a network of 140 gastroenterology providers and has 26 locations, 13 ambulatory surgery centers, and more than 700 total employees in Pennsylvania. They are at the forefront of the rapidly advancing science of digestive health, bringing new insight into the care, treatment, and prevention of digestive health disorders. Contact Details Noah Ramagano nramagano@usdhealth.com Company Website https://usdigestivehealth.com

October 05, 2021 07:56 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Virgin Money London Marathon using Restrata technology to help keep elite athletes COVID-Safe

Restrata

As the Virgin Money London Marathon returns to the city’s streets this Sunday, Restrata, a global contact tracing specialist, will be helping to keep the elite runners COVID-Safe with their cutting-edge technology. Already adopted by businesses and venues, as well as being used at international sporting tournaments, Restrata Platform is now being used to help ensure the world’s top marathoners arrive at the starting line in Greenwich for the 41 st London Marathon. In addition to daily Covid testing, the 100 elite athletes scheduled to take part in the Virgin Money London Marathon, including defending champion and world record holder, Brigid Kosgei, as well as their support staff, are wearing a Restrata tag in the elite hotel. This device means that if a positive case of Covid is recorded, it’s fast and simple to identify who else has shared the same space, at the same time, so that the necessary safety measures can be put in place to prevent any spread of the virus. Restrata Platform was initially designed to protect workers in the energy and industrial sector and ensure their safety. Having been further developed and successfully implemented at cricket tournaments for the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Indian Premier League (IPL) and the English Cricket Board (ECB), Restrata is proud to be part of bringing back large-scale sporting events in a safe, controlled way. Botan Osman, CEO, Restrata, comments: “Supporting the Virgin Money London Marathon this year is incredibly exciting for Restrata. As an international business much of our work is carried out overseas, so with the final stage of the race just a short sprint from our London office, and being a Londoner myself, this project is close to our hearts. “Helping to keep the elite team and their support staff safe with Restrata Platform and our contact tracing technology will ensure that the runners enter the race in top form and with 100% confidence. We're delighted to be able to support Hugh Brasher and his team in staging such a prestigious sporting event.” Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events, adds: “London Marathon Events is delighted to be working with Restrata to ensure we have accurate data to keep our elite athletes safe and healthy as they prepare for the Virgin Money London Marathon. “In this uncertain world, the Restrata technology gives us certainty in planning for some incredible racing between our elite athletes and para-athletes on Sunday 3 October at the 41st London Marathon.” About Restrata Founded in 2006, Restrata has been a pioneer in smart tech solutions that help multi-nationals safeguard their people, strategic assets, and physical infrastructure in some of the most challenging operating environments in the world. Restrata Platform is an integrated safety, security, and mobility cloud-based software. It is designed to manage the safety of people across sites, offices, and countries around the globe. In response to the pandemic, Restrata developed a COVID-Safe module within the Platform, creating a technology-enabled bio-secure environment for the safe return to operations in any industry. The Restrata Platform is already operational across offices, companies, venues, and international tournaments around the world. And in our uncertain world, The Restrata Platform can flex to address most safety and security concerns, leaving you and your workforce as protected and resilient as possible. restrata.com About the London Marathon The London Marathon was first held on 29 March 1981 and the millionth finisher in the history of the event crossed the line in 2016. The 40th Race took place on Sunday 4 October 2020 with elite races on a biosecure closed-loop circuit around St James's Park and 37,966 runners around the world running the virtual Virgin Money London Marathon on the course of their choice any time from 00:00:00 to 23:59:59 BST. Participants were able to download the Virgin Money London Marathon app powered by TCS to record their run. All finishers received a New Balance finisher's t-shirt and medal. In 2019 the Virgin Money London Marathon raised £66.4 million for charity, setting a new Guinness World Record for an annual one-day charity fundraising event for a 13th successive year. This brought the total raised for charity since 1981 to more than £1 billion. London Marathon Events gifts its surplus each year to The London Marathon Charitable Trust. Since 1981, The London Marathon Charitable Trust has awarded grants totalling in excess of £93 million to more than 1,490 projects in London and across the UK. Contact Details Fox Agency Chloe Murray +44 7961 116568 chloe@fox.agency Company Website https://www.restrata.com

October 01, 2021 05:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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What You Need to Know About Medicare Annual Enrollment

YourUpdateTV

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period is almost here — the time (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) when people can select or make changes to their Medicare coverage for the year ahead. Recently, Rick Dunlop, Health Plan CEO at UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss tips and resources on finding the right plan. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/TDXd22jLN2k The need for clear information on Medicare is great and growing as more than 10,000 Americans turn 65 each day. It is estimated that by 2030, more than 80 million Americans will be eligible for Medicare. People should be aware of their options and what different Medicare plans can offer. With Medicare, it's always a good idea to understand the basics first. Learn about the different parts of Medicare—Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D—how your Initial Enrollment Period works, the different Medicare coverage options, and how to enroll. There are several options when it comes to Medicare and choosing coverage. You can get Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, either through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, but you have other choices to consider too. You may need Part D prescription drug coverage if you take medications regularly. You may decide you want the ease of an all-in-one plan that may also offer extra benefits like dental, vision and fitness, and look to get a Medicare Advantage plan. Or, you may consider a Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) plan to help with out-of-pocket costs not paid by Original Medicare. For more information, visit gettoknowmedicare.com About Rick Dunlop: Rick Dunlop is a Health Plan CEO with UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, the largest business dedicated to serving the health and well-being needs of seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries. More people choose UnitedHealthcare for their Medicare coverage than any other insurer. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

September 30, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hong Kong Baptist University invents novel cell sensor for rapid and low-cost screening of drug-resistant bacteria

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 29 September 2021 - A research team led by scientists at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has developed a novel cell sensor with a barcode-like micro-channel structure that enables rapid and low-cost screening of drug-resistant bacteria. The invention could potentially be used on a large-scale in resource-limited situations such as frequent safety screenings of water, food and public facilities, as well as urgent surveys of massive samples during an infectious disease outbreak, particularly in developing countries. A research paper on the novel invention was published in the international academic journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics. A research team led by Dr Ren Kangning, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry at HKBU (left), designed a fully automatic, microscope-free antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) system. It enables rapid and low-cost screening of drug-resistant bacteria by scanning the "barcode" on the cell sensor with a mobile app, which is shown by Chan Chiu-wing, a member of the research team and a PhD student of the Department of Chemistry at HKBU (right). The cell sensor with a barcode-like micro-channel structure comprises two main parts: a cell culture zone and a "barcode" cell sensor. A rapid and low-cost testing approach Antibiotics are often used to treat bacterial infections, but the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have created the problem of drug resistance. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is used to determine which antibiotics can effectively inhibit the growth of a certain type of bacteria effectively. However, conventional AST methods are too slow, as they require 16 to 24 hours for results, while modern rapid ASTs are expensive and require elaborated laboratory equipment. A rapid and cost-effective strategy is therefore needed to screen bacterial samples onsite, with advanced laboratory testing arranged only for those suspected of containing drug-resistant bacteria. In response to this need, a research team led by Dr Ren Kangning, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry at HKBU designed a fully automatic, microscope-free AST system. It comprises two main parts: a cell culture zone and a "barcode" cell sensor. The cell culture zone consists of a set of micro-channels filled with fluids that contain cell culture media as well as different concentrations of the antibiotic. The "barcode" cell sensor contains an array of "adaptive linear filters" arranged in parallel that resembles a "barcode" structure. Users can finish the onsite screening within three hours by scanning the "barcode" with a mobile app developed by the researchers, and it will indicate whether any drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria is present in the sample. Quantity of bacteria represented by bar length When conducting AST with the system, bacterial samples will be injected into and incubated in the cell culture zone. Bacteria in the test sample inside the micro-channels show different proliferation rates depending on different concentrations of the antibiotic. After completion of the culture period, the bacterial cells will flow through the "adaptive linear filters". The cells will not accumulate around the nanopores on the sidewalls of the micro-channels, instead they will be driven down by the fluid and be collected from the end of the micro-channels. The accumulated cells will then form visible vertical bars, the lengths of which are proportional to the quantity of bacteria cells cultured under the different concentrations of the antibiotic. A cell phone equipped with a macro-lens can then be used to photograph the "barcode" created by the AST. The image will be analysed automatically by the mobile app. Results consistent with conventional AST After the culture period, if all the "bars" of the cell sensor have similar lengths, it means the tested antibiotic cannot inhibit the growth of the bacteria, and thus the bacterial sample is resistant to the tested antibiotic. If the length of the "bars" is in general inversely proportional to the concentration of the antibiotic in the micro-channels, it shows that the tested antibiotic is generally effective at prohibiting the growth of the bacteria, and thus the bacteria is not drug-resistant. When two adjacent "bars" show a sharp difference in terms of length, it indicates that the antimicrobial effect of the antibiotic leaps when its concentration reaches a particular level. The research team tested E. coli and S. aureus with the "barcode" cell sensor and the results were consistent with those of the conventional AST. The test can be completed in three hours, which is much faster than the conventional AST. Microfluidic approaches developed by other researchers can also attain comparable speed, but they rely on expensive instruments for analysis in general. Potential for use in resource-limited regions "Our 'barcode' testing system is a promising new tool in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. We hope that it will benefit the routine screening of drug-resistant bacteria in the food industry, public areas and healthcare facilities as it does not require advanced clinical facilities or professional testing skills," said Dr Ren. The "barcode" cell sensor has a low production cost, and it is estimated to be below one US dollar per piece. The research team has filed a patent application for the "barcode" cell sensor. "We plan to develop our invention into a portable AST instrument, and ultimately, we hope it can be used in resource-limited regions," Dr Ren added. Apart from researchers from HKBU's Department of Chemistry, the research team of the "barcode" cell sensor also included scientists from the Department of Computer Science at HKBU and the School of Medicine at Stanford University. #HongKongBaptistUniversity #HKBU Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office, HKBU Winnie Shum +852 3411 5262 winnieshum@hkbu.edu.hk Company Website https://www.hkbu.edu.hk/

September 29, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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