Centrifugal Microfluidics Traps for Parallel Isolation and Imaging of Single Cells.

Analysis at the single cell level has becoming an increasingly important procedure to diagnose cancer tissue biopsies. These tissue samples are often heterogeneous and consist of 1000-15,000 cells. We study the use of centrifugal microfluidics to isolate single cells into micro chambers.

Microfluidic Immiscible Phase Filtration System for the Isolation of Small Numbers of Cells from Whole Blood.

Isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has generated clinical and academic interest due to the important role that CTCs play in cancer metastasis and diagnosis. Here, we present a PDMS and glass prototype of a microfluidic device for the immunomagnetic, immiscible phase filtration based capture, and isolation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, from various sample matrices including PBS-based buffer, blood plasma, and unprocessed whole blood. Following optimization of surface energy of an oil-water interface, microfluidic geometry, and bead-binding kinematics, our microfluidic device achieved 95 ± 4% recovery of target cells from PBS-based buffer with 95% purity, 90 ± 3% recovery of target cells from blood plasma and recovery of ~70 ± 5% from unprocessed whole blood with purity >99% with 1 ml blood samples with 1,000 spiked target cells.

A Microfluidics Workflow for Sample Preparation for Next-Generation DNA Sequencing.

Next-generation sequencing technology requires amplified, short DNA fragments with known end sequences. Samples must undergo processing steps, including extraction and purification of genomic DNA (gDNA), fragmentation, end repair, adapter ligation, and amplification, to prepare a sequencing library. The process of sample preparation requires careful control of temperature and buffer conditions, as well as the stringent removal of contaminants.

A talin mutant that impairs talin-integrin binding in platelets decelerates αIIbβ3 activation without pathological bleeding.

Tight regulation of integrin affinity is critical for hemostasis. A final step of integrin activation is talin binding to 2 sites within the integrin β cytoplasmic domain. Binding of talin to a membrane-distal NPxY sequence facilitates a second, weaker interaction of talin with an integrin membrane-proximal region (MPR) that is critical for integrin activation.

Talin and kindlin: the one-two punch in integrin activation.

Abstract Proper cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts mediated by integrin adhesion receptors are important for development, immune response, hemostasis and wound healing. Integrins pass trans-membrane signals bidirectionally through their regulated affinities for extracellular ligands and intracellular signaling molecules. Such bidirectional signaling by integrins is enabled by the conformational changes that are often linked among extracellular, transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains.

Loss of Purkinje cells in the PKCgamma H101Y transgenic mouse.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 14 (SCA14) is an autosomal, dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in PKCgamma. The objective of this study was to determine effects of PKCgamma H101Y SCA14 mutation on Purkinje cells in the transgenic mouse. Results demonstrated that wild type PKCgamma-like Purkinje cell localization of HA-tagged PKCgamma H101Y mutant proteins, altered morphology and loss of Purkinje cells were observed in the PKCgamma H101Y SCA14 transgenic mouse at four weeks of age.

Is telemetry monitoring necessary in low-risk suspected acute chest pain syndromes?

Background: Non-ICU telemetry monitoring has proven to be a valuable resource for patients suspected of having an acute myocardial infarction. While a significant number of patients are admitted to these units, the actual incidence of events or interventions is low.

Objective: To identify a subset of patients in whom telemetry monitoring does not alter management.