Novel method for highly multiplexed gene expression profiling of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) captured from the blood of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Enumeration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has proven clinical significance for monitoring patients with metastatic cancers. Multiplexed gene expression profiling of CTCs is a potential tool for assessing disease status and monitoring treatment response. The Parsortix technology enables the capture and harvest of CTCs from blood based on cell size and deformability.

A Multi-Center Clinical Study to Harvest and Characterize Circulating Tumor Cells from Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Using the Parsortix PC1 System.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) captured from the blood of cancer patients may serve as a surrogate source of tumor material that can be obtained via a venipuncture (also known as a liquid biopsy) and used to better understand tumor characteristics. However, the only FDA-cleared CTC assay has been limited to the enumeration of surface marker-defined cells and not further characterization of the CTCs. In this study, we tested the ability of a semi-automated device capable of capturing and harvesting CTCs from peripheral blood based on cell size and deformability, agnostic of cell-surface markers (the Parsortix PC1 System), to yield CTCs for evaluation by downstream techniques commonly available in clinical laboratories.

Malignancy Assessment Using Gene Identification in Captured Cells Algorithm for the Prediction of Malignancy in Women With a Pelvic Mass.

Objective: To evaluate the detection of malignancy in women with a pelvic mass by using multiplexed gene expression analysis of cells captured from peripheral blood.

Methods: This was an IRB-approved, prospective clinical study. Eligible patients had a pelvic mass and were scheduled for surgery or biopsy.

Stacking Machine Learning Algorithms for Biomarker-Based Preoperative Diagnosis of a Pelvic Mass.

Objective: To identify the most predictive parameters of ovarian malignancy and develop a machine learning (ML) based algorithm to preoperatively distinguish between a benign and malignant pelvic mass.

Methods: Retrospective study of 70 predictive parameters collected from 140 women with a pelvic mass. The women were split into a 3:1 "training" to "testing" dataset.

Volatile organic compounds at two oil and natural gas production well pads in Colorado and Texas using passive samplers.

Unlabelled: A pilot study was conducted in application of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Methods 325A/B variant for monitoring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) near two oil and natural gas (ONG) production well pads in the Texas Barnett Shale formation and Colorado Denver-Julesburg Basin (DJB), along with a traffic-dominated site in downtown Denver, CO.

Regulation of plasmid-encoded isoprene metabolism in Rhodococcus, a representative of an important link in the global isoprene cycle.

Emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) form an important part of the global carbon cycle, comprising a significant proportion of net ecosystem productivity. They impact atmospheric chemistry and contribute directly and indirectly to greenhouse gases. Isoprene, emitted largely from plants, comprises one third of total VOCs, yet in contrast to methane, which is released in similar quantities, we know little of its biodegradation.

Serum levels of the ovarian cancer biomarker HE4 are decreased in pregnancy and increase with age.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish normal ranges for human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) serum levels in healthy women.

Study Design: HE4 levels were measured in healthy women and analyzed by age, menopausal status, and pregnancy status. Upper 95th percentiles were determined for normal ranges.

Serum HE4 levels are less frequently elevated than CA125 in women with benign gynecologic disorders.

Objective: The human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is a novel biomarker for ovarian cancer. This study measured the HE4 and CA125 levels in women with benign gynecological disorders.

Study Design: Sera were obtained from women prior to surgery for a pelvic mass and HE4 and CA125 levels were determined.

Characterization of a feedback-resistant mevalonate kinase from the archaeon Methanosarcina mazei.

The mevalonate pathway is utilized for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids in many bacterial, eukaryotic, and archaeal organisms. Based on previous reports of its feedback inhibition, mevalonate kinase (MVK) may play an important regulatory role in the biosynthesis of mevalonate pathway-derived compounds. Here we report the purification, kinetic characterization, and inhibition analysis of the MVK from the archaeon Methanosarcina mazei.

Facility fence-line monitoring using passive samplers.

In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) executed a year-long field study at a refinery in Corpus Christi, TX, to evaluate the use of passive diffusive sampling technology for assessing time-averaged benzene concentrations at the facility fence line.