Next Generation Sequencing Analysis of Total Small Noncoding RNAs from Low Input RNA from Dried Blood Sampling
Pirritano et al.
The finding, in our words
This study validates a method for sequencing small noncoding RNAs from dried blood spots using low input RNA, which could enable remote monitoring and large cohort studies by allowing high-quality RNA sampling at home or in low-resource settings.
A paraphrase to the Library’s standard, never the abstract. The source is one link away and is always the authority.
Merck describes a digitally enabled, patient-centric trial initiative that combines outpatient PK/PD sampling with digital biomarkers and smart dosing technologies to improve exposure-response understanding and reduce patient burden, while acknowledging adoption challenges.
Dockendorf et al., Clinical and translational science · source ↗
The study found reasonable agreement between finger-prick dried blood spot CRP measurements and venous reference assays in 100 rheumatoid arthritis patients, particularly at low to mid-range CRP values, and showed that weekly self-collected DBS CRP monitoring improved flare detection specificity to 72.7% compared with 54.5% for minimal sampling, supporting decentralised microsampling for remote arthritis management.
In a 20-person proof-of-concept pilot among veterans with HIV, remote self-collection of dried blood spots for phosphatidylethanol monitoring was feasible and acceptable, with high return and analysis rates and positive feedback; a small first step toward decentralised alcohol biomarker monitoring rather than proof of it.
Sheinfil et al., Journal of substance use and addiction treatment (paywalled) · source ↗
In an adolescent with cerebral palsy undergoing a home-based, remotely supervised sprint-intensity interval training intervention, dried blood spot testing demonstrated a 37.8% reduction in triglycerides and a 15.4% improvement in total cholesterol to HDL ratio. This illustrates how remote microsampling can support decentralized metabolic monitoring in pediatric disability rehabilitation.
Microsampling enables less invasive, patient-centric self-collection of capillary blood for remote monitoring of metabolites and lipids, overcoming conventional venipuncture constraints. Recent device innovations address dried blood spot limitations, particularly haematocrit and volume variations, expanding decentralised applications in population health, drug discovery and multi-omics research.