Hiroki Doi

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the blood-sampling performance of an automatic fingertip blood-sampling system with a fingertip vessel-puncture function (FBS-FV) and to examine the relationship between sampled blood volume and fingertip blood-vessel image features. METHODS: To obtain a consistent blood volume for testing, the FBS-FV selects and punctures near a large blood based on fingertip blood-vessel imaging and promotes bleeding by alternately pressing and releasing the fingertip. A blood-sampling experiment was conducted with 18 participants (men and women in their 20 to 60 s). Puncture accuracy, blood volume, and image features (relative brightness at the puncture position V and brightness change due to compression C) were analyzed. Multiple regression was applied to assess the predictive value of V and C for blood volume. RESULTS: (1) The deviation between the target and actual puncture positions was less than 1 mm, indicating high accuracy. (2) The proportion of blood samples obtained using the FBS-FV that exceeded the target volume (650 μL) was 42%, which was lower than in a previous experiment where the puncture position selected by the FBS-FV was manually punctured and blood was sampled. (3) Multiple regression analysis using image features V and C yielded coefficients of determination of 0.64 and 0.41 for high- and low-volume groups, respectively, suggesting that the possibility of predicting blood volume using these variables. CONCLUSION: The FBS-FV demonstrated precise puncture performance and potential for predicting blood volume using image features. Further optimization of the FBS-FV's compression control might improve the consistency of blood sampling.

This study investigated the anti-tumor effects of andrographolide, a diterpene lactone derived from Andrographis paniculata, on T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells. Andrographolide induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity and morphological changes in the T-ALL cell line Jurkat cells, including cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation. Mechanistically, andrographolide triggers apoptosis through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and cytochrome c release. These effects were reversed by the ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), indicating that andrographolide induces apoptosis through a ROS-dependent apoptotic pathway. In contrast, NAC treatment did not reverse cytarabine- and vincristine-induced apoptosis or the ROS-dependent apoptotic pathway in Jurkat cells. Intriguingly, andrographolide also induced ferroptosis, as evidenced by increased expression of the ferroptosis marker fatty acid-CoA ligase 4 and ultrastructural changes such as reduced mitochondrial area and disappearance of cristae. These effects were likewise reversed by NAC, further implicating ROS in the ferroptotic process. In MOLT-4 cells, where andrographolide suppressed viability, increased Annexin V positivity and ROS levels, and upregulated FACL4 expression in a NAC-sensitive manner. Unlike cytarabine and vincristine, andrographolide did not significantly alter cell cycle distribution. In conclusion, andrographolide induces both apoptosis and ferroptosis in T-ALL cells via ROS-dependent mechanisms that are distinct from those of conventional chemotherapeutic agents. These dual actions position andrographolide as a candidate for standalone or combination therapy in T-ALL.