Verification of a clinical decision support system for the diagnosis of headache disorders based on patient-computer interactions: a multi-center study.

Background: Although headache disorders are common, the current diagnostic approach is unsatisfactory. Previously, we designed a guideline-based clinical decision support system (CDSS 1.0) for diagnosing headache disorders.

Rapid fabrication of a microdevice with concave microwells and its application in embryoid body formation.

Here, we report a novel method for the fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane microdevices with complicated 3-D structures, such as concave and crater shapes, using an easily machined polymethyl methacrylate mold combined with a one-step molding process. The procedure presented here enables rapid preparation of complex 3-D microstructures varying in shape and dimensions. To regulate embryoid body (EB) formation, we fabricated a microfluidic device with an array of concave microwells and found that EBs growing in microwells maintained their shape, viability, and a high degree of homogeneity.

Design and implementation of the first nationwide, web-based Chinese Renal Data System (CNRDS).

Background: In April 2010, with an endorsement from the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese Society of Nephrology launched the first nationwide, web-based prospective renal data registration platform, the Chinese Renal Data System (CNRDS), to collect structured demographic, clinical, and laboratory data for dialysis cases, as well as to establish a kidney disease database for researchers and policy makers.

Methods: The CNRDS program uses information technology to facilitate healthcare professionals to create a blood purification registry and to deliver an evidence-based care and education protocol tailored to chronic kidney disease, as well as online forum for communication between nephrologists. The online portal https://www.

General and reliable quantitative measurement of fluorescence resonance energy transfer using three fluorescence channels.

In this paper, we describe a comprehensive general system adapted for quantitative fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurement using signals from three channels of a fluorescence instrument. The general FRET measurement system involves two established methods, as well as two novel approaches. Unlike the previous measurements, which can be taken correctly only when the quantity of the acceptor is greater than or equal to that of the donor, one of our novel methods can overcome this obstacle and take quantitative FRET measurements when the donor is in excess of the acceptor.

Use of cellular electrical impedance sensing to assess in vitro cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs in a human kidney cell nephrotoxicity model.

Nephrotoxicity is one of the major concerns for anticancer drug safety because most drugs are metabolized and excreted by the kidneys. Convenient tools able to perform rapid in vitro cytotoxicity analysis and identify drug side effects in kidney cells during early phases of drug discovery could be beneficial to drug development programs. Here we developed an electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing system (ECIS) capable of continuously measuring the dosage and time response of human proximal tubular epithelial (HK2) cells exposed to four drugs throughout the experimental period.

[Effect of backwashing on dominant microorganism stabilization of BEAC filter controlled by the biological factors].

Six kinds of dominant microorganism used for the bioenhancement activated carbon(BEAC) filter were investigated for the study of backwashing effect on microorganism stabilization. The pilot plant results showed the average biomass loss was 15.47% when only water backwashing invited during the start-up period and air-water scour backwashing invited during stabilization operation period.