USP32 is an active, membrane-bound ubiquitin protease overexpressed in breast cancers.

USP32, on chromosomal band 17q23.1-17q23.2, is a highly conserved but uncharacterized gene that gave rise during evolution to a well-known hominoid-specific proto-oncogene, USP6.

Soluble CD40L (CD154) is increased in patients with shock.

Objective: Recent data suggest that soluble CD40L (sCD40L) plays an important role in murine sepsis. The aim of the present study was to determine plasma levels of CD40L in critically ill patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and shock, with and without sepsis.

Design: A prospective observational one-centre cohort study in a mixed-bed ICU of an university hospital.

miRNAs and cancer: New research developments and potential clinical applications.

miRNAs are small non-protein coding transcripts that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to the 3' UTRs (untranslated regions) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The number of newly discovered miRNAs and our understanding of their biological roles continue to grow. In addition to their roles in important biological processes such as development, differentiation, proliferation and cell death, deregulated expression of miRNAs has been implicated in a wide range of pathologies, especially in cancer.

An investigation of microRNAs mapping to breast cancer related genomic gain and loss regions.

Various regions of amplification or loss are observed in breast tumors as a manifestation of genomic instability. To date, numerous oncogenes or tumor suppressors on some of these regions have been characterized. An increasing body of evidence suggests that such regions also harbor microRNA genes with crucial regulatory roles in cellular processes and disease mechanisms, including cancer.

A parylene-based dual channel micro-electrophoresis system for rapid mutation detection via heteroduplex analysis.

A new dual channel micro-electrophoresis system for rapid mutation detection based on heteroduplex analysis was designed and implemented. Mutation detection was successfully achieved in a total separation length of 250 microm in less than 3 min for a 590 bp DNA sample harboring a 3 bp mutation causing an amino acid change. Parylene-C was used as the structural material for fabricating the micro-channels as it provides conformal deposition, transparency, biocompatibility, and low background fluorescence without any surface treatment.