Acute downregulation of emerin alters actomyosin cytoskeleton connectivity and function.

Fetal lung fibroblasts contribute dynamic infrastructure for the developing lung. These cells undergo dynamic mechanical transitions, including cyclic stretch and spreading, which are integral to lung growth in utero. We investigated the role of the nuclear envelope protein emerin in cellular responses to these dynamic mechanical transitions.

Sensitizing drug-resistant cancer cells from blood using microfluidic electroporator.

Direct assessment of patient samples holds unprecedented potential in the treatment of cancer. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in liquid biopsies are a rapidly evolving source of primary cells in the clinic and are ideal candidates for functional assays to uncover real-time tumor information in real-time. However, a lack of routines allowing direct and active interrogation of CTCs directly from liquid biopsy samples represents a bottleneck for the translational use of liquid biopsies in clinical settings.

Inhibition of HDAC6 Activity Protects Against Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherogenesis : A Role for HDAC6 Neddylation.

We previously reported that histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) has an important role in endothelial cell (EC) function . However, whether HDAC6 plays a role in atherogenesis and the mechanism(s) that control HDAC6 activity/expression in response to atherogenic stimuli are unclear. The goals of this study were to determine whether HDAC6 inhibitor tubacin attenuates atherogenesis and to elucidate specific molecular mechanism(s) that regulate endothelial HDAC6 expression/activity.

Inertial Microfluidics Enabling Clinical Research.

Fast and accurate interrogation of complex samples containing diseased cells or pathogens is important to make informed decisions on clinical and public health issues. Inertial microfluidics has been increasingly employed for such investigations to isolate target bioparticles from liquid samples with size and/or deformability-based manipulation. This phenomenon is especially useful for the clinic, owing to its rapid, label-free nature of target enrichment that enables further downstream assays.

Apocrine Carcinoma of the Groin Possibly Associated with Extramammary Paget's Disease.

Apocrine carcinoma is a rare malignancy with invasive potential. It presents as painless, slow-growing, firm or cystic, red nodules with focal ulcerations. The tumor is capable of hematogenous dissemination to the liver, lungs, and bone as well as lymphatic spread.

A case of pachydermodactyly.

Pachydermodactyly (PDD) is a rare, benign form of digital fibromatosis and this is characterized by asymptomatic soft tissue swelling that affects the lateral aspects of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the fingers. Although the etiology of PDD is unknown, the possibility of repetitive minor trauma by habitual or compulsive habits of interlacing the fingers or rubbing of the fingers has been suggested as a cause by several authors. We experienced a 14-year-old boy who was diagnosed as having PDD by the clinical manifestations and this was supported by a radiological study and the routine laboratory tests.

Imiquimod as an adjuvant treatment measure for desmoplastic trichoepithelioma.

Desmoplastic trichoepithelioma is a rare benign adnexal tumor. Although it is a benign lesion, patients often want to treat it due to cosmetic concerns when it occurs in an easily visible site. For our two cases, topical 5% imiquimod was an attractive treatment option as it is applied by the patients themselves and it has minimal side effects, including leaving no scar.

Pulmonary metastasis of Basal cell carcinoma.

Although basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer, it rarely metastasizes. Metastatic basal cell carcinoma may, therefore, initially elude diagnosis and management. We describe the case of a patient with a metastatic basal cell carcinoma present in the lungs.

An open, randomized, comparative clinical and histological study of imiquimod 5% cream versus 10% potassium hydroxide solution in the treatment of molluscum contagiosum.

Background: Although molluscum contagiosum (MC) resolves spontaneously, there are several reasons to treat this dermatological disorder.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 5% imiquimod cream versus 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution in treating MC, and to propose the mechanism of cure by observing the histological findings.

Methods: Imiquimod or KOH were applied by the patient or a parent 3 days per week until all lesions cleared.