A novel method for liquid-phase extraction of cell-free DNA for detection of circulating tumor DNA.

Low yields of extracted cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from plasma limit continued development of liquid biopsy in cancer, especially in early-stage cancer diagnostics and cancer screening applications. We investigate a novel liquid-phase-based DNA isolation method that utilizes aqueous two-phase systems to purify and concentrate circulating cfDNA. The PHASIFY MAX and PHASIFY ENRICH kits were compared to a commonly employed solid-phase extraction method on their ability to extract cfDNA from a set of 91 frozen plasma samples from cancer patients.

Diagnostic Specificity of Cerebral Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Punctate White Matter Lesion Assessment in a Preterm Sheep Fetus Model.

Recent studies, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess white matter injury in preterm brains, increasingly recognize punctate white matter lesions (PWML) as the primary lesion type. There are some papers showing the relationship between the size and number of PWML and the prognosis of infants. However, the histopathological features are still unknown.

Bioengineering functional smooth muscle with spontaneous rhythmic contraction in vitro.

Oriented smooth muscle layers in the intestine contract rhythmically due to the action of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) that serve as pacemakers of the intestine. Disruption of ICC networks has been reported in various intestinal motility disorders, which limit the quality and expectancy of life. A significant challenge in intestinal smooth muscle engineering is the rapid loss of function in cultured ICC and smooth muscle cells (SMC).

A method for detecting rash and fever illness-associated viruses using multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

In this study, a new multiplex RT-PCR method for detecting various viral genes in patients with rash and fever illnesses (RFIs) was constructed. New primer sets were designed for detection of herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1 and 2), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The newly designed and previously reported primer sets were used to detect 13 types of RFI-associated viruses by multiplex RT-PCR assay systems.

Development of Functional Microfold (M) Cells from Intestinal Stem Cells in Primary Human Enteroids.

Background & Aims: Intestinal microfold (M) cells are specialized epithelial cells that act as gatekeepers of luminal antigens in the intestinal tract. They play a critical role in the intestinal mucosal immune response through transport of viruses, bacteria and other particles and antigens across the epithelium to immune cells within Peyer's patch regions and other mucosal sites. Recent studies in mice have demonstrated that M cells are generated from Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells (ISCs), and that infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium increases M cell formation.

Mouse model of endoscopically ablated enteric nervous system.

Background: Current transgenic animal models of Hirschsprung disease are restricted by limited survival and need for special dietary care. We used small animal colonoscopy to produce chemically ablated enteric nervous system in the distal colon and rectum of normal mice.

Materials And Methods: Adult C57BL/6 mice underwent colonoscopy with submucosal injection of 75-100 μL of saline (n = 2) or 0.

Orthogonally oriented scaffolds with aligned fibers for engineering intestinal smooth muscle.

Controlling cellular alignment is critical in engineering intestines with desired structure and function. Although previous studies have examined the directional alignment of cells on the surface (x-y plane) of parallel fibers, quantitative analysis of the cellular alignment inside implanted scaffolds with oriented fibers has not been reported. This study examined the cellular alignment in the x-z and y-z planes of scaffolds made with two layers of orthogonally oriented fibers.

Early osteogenic differentiation of mouse preosteoblasts induced by collagen-derived DGEA-peptide on nanofibrous phage tissue matrices.

Specific biochemical and physical cues in tissue extracellular matrices play a critical role in regulating cellular growth processes and their fate. We report initial responses of bone stem cells induced by collagen-derived DGEA-peptides on nanofibrous M13 phage tissue matrices. We constructed genetically engineered M13 phage with DGEA-peptide displayed in high density on the major coat proteins and biomimetic nanofibrous tissue-like matrices in two and three dimensions.