Differences in left ventricular cardiomyocyte loss induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia between spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats.

Rationale: Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is thought to induce several cardiovascular effects in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). However, the effects of CIH on patients with long-standing hypertension are unknown.

Purpose: This prospective study aimed to investigate the influence of combined OSA and hypertension on cardiomyocyte death.

Performing microchannel temperature cycling reactions using reciprocating reagent shuttling along a radial temperature gradient.

This study develops a novel temperature cycling strategy for executing temperature cycling reactions in laser-etched poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) microfluidic chips. The developed microfluidic chip is circular in shape and is clamped in contact with a circular ITO heater chip of an equivalent diameter. Both chips are fabricated using an economic and versatile laser scribing process.