Physiological Replication of the Human Glomerulus Using a Triple Culture Microphysiological System.

The function of the glomerulus depends on the complex cell-cell/matrix interactions and replication of this in vitro would aid biological understanding in both health and disease. Previous models do not fully reflect all cell types and interactions present as they overlook mesangial cells within their 3D matrix. Herein, the development of a microphysiological system that contains all resident renal cell types in an anatomically relevant manner is presented.

Microfluidic device facilitates in vitro modeling of human neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis-on-a-chip.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a deadly gastrointestinal disease of premature infants that is associated with an exaggerated inflammatory response, dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, decreased epithelial cell proliferation, and gut barrier disruption. We describe an in vitro model of the human neonatal small intestinal epithelium (Neonatal-Intestine-on-a-Chip) that mimics key features of intestinal physiology. This model utilizes intestinal enteroids grown from surgically harvested intestinal tissue from premature infants and cocultured with human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells within a microfluidic device.

A Novel Microphysiological Colon Platform to Decipher Mechanisms Driving Human Intestinal Permeability.

Background & Aims: The limited availability of organoid systems that mimic the molecular signatures and architecture of human intestinal epithelium has been an impediment to allowing them to be harnessed for the development of therapeutics as well as physiological insights. We developed a microphysiological Organ-on-Chip (Emulate, Inc, Boston, MA) platform designed to mimic properties of human intestinal epithelium leading to insights into barrier integrity.

Methods: We combined the human biopsy-derived leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5-positive organoids and Organ-on-Chip technologies to establish a micro-engineered human Colon Intestine-Chip (Emulate, Inc, Boston, MA).

Lactate as an insidious metabolite due to the Warburg effect.

Although oncogenetics remains a critical component of cancer biology and therapeutic research, recent interest has been taken towards the non-genetic features of tumour development and progression, such as cancer metabolism. Specifically, it has been observed that tumour cells are inclined to preferentially undergo glycolysis despite presence of adequate oxygen. First reported by Otto Warburg in the 1920s, and now termed the 'Warburg effect', this aberrant metabolism has become of particular interest due to the prevalence of the fermentation phenotype in a variety of cancers studied.

Comparison of repositioning accuracy of two commercially available immobilization systems for treatment of head-and-neck tumors using simulation computed tomography imaging.

Purpose: To compare the setup accuracy, comfort level, and setup time of two immobilization systems used in head-and-neck radiotherapy.

Methods And Materials: Between February 2004 and January 2005, 21 patients undergoing radiotherapy for head-and-neck tumors were assigned to one of two immobilization devices: a standard thermoplastic head-and-shoulder mask fixed to a carbon fiber base (Type S) or a thermoplastic head mask fixed to the Accufix cantilever board equipped with the shoulder depression system. All patients underwent planning computed tomography (CT) followed by repeated control CT under simulation conditions during the course of therapy.

Occupation and larynx and hypopharynx cancer: a job-exposure matrix approach in an international case-control study in France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

Objective: To investigate the effect of exposure to occupational agents on the risk of hypopharyngeal/laryngeal cancer.

Methods: Case-control study conducted during 1979-1982 in six centres in South Europe. An occupational history and information on exposure to non-occupational factors were collected for 1010 male cases of hypopharyngeal/ laryngeal cancer as well as for 2176 population controls.

Occupation and larynx and hypopharynx cancer: an international case-control study in France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.

Objective: To estimate risks for laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer associated with occupational titles and industrial activities.

Methods: A multicentre population-based case-control study was conducted in the early 1980s in six southern European areas. Analyses included 1010 male cases and 2176 controls.

Diagnostic changes as a reason for the increase in papillary thyroid cancer incidence in Geneva, Switzerland.

Objective: Several studies have reported upward incidence trends of papillary thyroid cancer. It is unclear whether these trends reflect a real risk increase, by some attributed to iodine supplementation, or an artificial one, due to increased diagnostic activity or changed histological criteria. This study examines if these artificial factors explain the increased papillary thyroid cancer incidence in the Swiss canton of Geneva.