Cytoskeleton Dependent Mobility Dynamics of FcγRIIA Facilitates Platelet Haptotaxis and Capture of Opsonized Bacteria.

Platelet adhesion and spreading at the sites of vascular injury is vital to hemostasis. As an integral part of the innate immune system, platelets interact with opsonized bacterial pathogens through FcγRIIA and contribute to host defense. As mechanoscavangers, platelets actively migrate and capture bacteria via cytoskeleton-rich, dynamic structures, such as filopodia and lamellipodia.

Reduced platelet forces underlie impaired hemostasis in mouse models of -related disease.

-related disease patients with mutations in the contractile protein nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA display, among others, macrothrombocytopenia and a mild-to-moderate bleeding tendency. In this study, we used three mouse lines, each with one point mutation in the gene at positions 702, 1424, or 1841, to investigate mechanisms underlying the increased bleeding risk. Agonist-induced activation of mutant platelets was comparable to controls.

Ex vivo anticoagulants affect human blood platelet biomechanics with implications for high-throughput functional mechanophenotyping.

Inherited platelet disorders affecting the human platelet cytoskeleton result in increased bleeding risk. However, deciphering their impact on cytoskeleton-dependent intrinsic biomechanics of platelets remains challenging and represents an unmet need from a diagnostic and prognostic perspective. It is currently unclear whether ex vivo anticoagulants used during collection of peripheral blood impact the mechanophenotype of cellular components of blood.

Role of Platelet Cytoskeleton in Platelet Biomechanics: Current and Emerging Methodologies and Their Potential Relevance for the Investigation of Inherited Platelet Disorders.

Cytoskeleton is composed of more than 100 proteins and represents a dynamic network of the cellular cytoplasm. Cytoskeletal functions include spatial organization of cellular components, structural connection of the cell with external environment, and biomechanical force generation. Cytoskeleton takes part, at different levels, in all phases of platelet biogenesis: megakaryocyte (MK) differentiation, MK maturation, and platelet formation.

Quantifying single-platelet biomechanics: An outsider's guide to biophysical methods and recent advances.

Platelets are the key cellular components of blood primarily contributing to formation of stable hemostatic plugs at the site of vascular injury, thus preventing excessive blood loss. On the other hand, excessive platelet activation can contribute to thrombosis. Platelets respond to many stimuli that can be of biochemical, cellular, or physical origin.

Firm but fair policies for staff vacations and holidays.

Paid holiday and vacations are a wonderful employee benefit for your staff. However, without some firm policies in place that anticipate and avoid problems, holidays and vacations can backfire in a medical practice and become a source of problems both for the practice and for the staff. This article provides concrete tips for reducing vacation and holiday conflicts and particularly for structuring a firm-but-fair vacation policy for new employees.

Becoming a better delegator.

Most medical practice managers know that delegation is a useful practice management tool to streamline both personal and practice efficiency. However, delegation is often underused, misused, and misunderstood. What, precisely, should be delegated in a medical practice and to whom? What are some of the obstacles to successful delegation, and how can the astute medical practice manager identify and overcome them? Which tasks should not be delegated? Finally, why do members of the professional practice staff sometimes resist delegation? In this article, the author provides answers to these intriguing questions, as well as a useful self-quiz to rate delegation skills.

Gathering useful opinions about the job applicant.

Getting people to talk to you about former employees' job performance can be like pulling teeth. It seems that everyone these days is afraid of saying the wrong thing and having even innocent remarks come back to haunt them. Most people say nothing.

Verifying a job applicant's factual credentials.

Nearly one-third of all job applicants may make unjustified claims, exaggerate, omit important information, or lie in their resumes, employment applications, or interviews. Checking credentials before you hire is the best way to protect your staff and patients and to save time, money, and effort. In this article, the author identifies the most common job application lies and pinpoints the three most common resume/application red flags.