Layer-by-Layer Polymer Functionalization Improves Nanoparticle Penetration and Glioblastoma Targeting in the Brain.

Glioblastoma is characterized by diffuse infiltration into surrounding healthy brain tissues, which makes it challenging to treat. Complete surgical resection is often impossible, and systemically delivered drugs cannot achieve adequate tumor exposure to prevent local recurrence. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) offers a method for administering therapeutics directly into brain tumor tissue, but its impact has been limited by rapid clearance and off-target cellular uptake.

Chromosome-Aware Phylogenomics of Assassin Bugs (Hemiptera: Reduvioidea) Elucidates Ancient Gene Conflict.

Though the phylogenetic signal of loci on sex chromosomes can differ from those on autosomes, chromosomal-level genome assemblies for nonvertebrates are still relatively scarce and conservation of chromosomal gene content across deep phylogenetic scales has therefore remained largely unexplored. We here assemble a uniquely large and diverse set of samples (17 anchored hybrid enrichment, 24 RNA-seq, and 70 whole-genome sequencing samples of variable depth) for the medically important assassin bugs (Reduvioidea). We assess the performance of genes based on multiple features (e.

Weapon performance drives weapon evolution.

Many sexually selected traits function as weapons, and these weapons can be incredibly diverse. However, the factors underlying weapon diversity among species remain poorly understood, and a fundamental hypothesis to explain this diversity remains untested. Although weapons can serve multiple functions, an undeniably important function is their role in fights.

The evolution of autotomy in leaf-footed bugs.

Sacrificing body parts is one of many behaviors that animals use to escape predation. This trait, termed autotomy, is classically associated with lizards. However, several other taxa also autotomize, and this trait has independently evolved multiple times throughout Animalia.

Integrative taxonomy reveals two sympatric species of the genus Eucriotettix Hebard, 1930 (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae).

Limno-terrestrial pygmy grasshoppers are mostly recognised using morphology but characters used are not always clear-cut for species identification. From a faunistic survey in Singapore, Eucriotettix were collected and two new species are identified and described here: E. guentheri sp.

Ultrahigh-Density 256-Channel Neural Sensing Microsystem Using TSV-Embedded Neural Probes.

Highly integrated neural sensing microsystems are crucial to capture accurate signals for brain function investigations. In this paper, a 256-channel neural sensing microsystem with a sensing area of 5 × 5 mm is presented based on 2.5-D through-silicon-via (TSV) integration.

Evolution of the assassin's arms: insights from a phylogeny of combined transcriptomic and ribosomal DNA data (Heteroptera: Reduvioidea).

Assassin bugs (Reduvioidea) are one of the most diverse (>7,000 spp.) lineages of predatory animals and have evolved an astounding diversity of raptorial leg modifications for handling prey. The evolution of these modifications is not well understood due to the lack of a robust phylogeny, especially at deeper nodes.

Reduvius frommeri, a new species of Reduviidae from the Western United States (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), with a synopsis of the Nearctic species of Reduvius Fabricius.

The rate of discovery of new species of Reduviidae (Insecta: Heteroptera) from North America has slowed in the 21 century. This is not surprising, given the conspicuousness and large distribution ranges of many Nearctic assassin bug species that are often collected using general insect collecting techniques. Nevertheless, biodiversity discovery in Nearctic Reduviidae is ongoing.

A double-sided, single-chip integration scheme using through-silicon-via for neural sensing applications.

We present a new double-sided, single-chip monolithic integration scheme to integrate the CMOS circuits and MEMS structures by using through-silicon-via (TSV). Neural sensing applications were chosen as the implementation example. The proposed heterogeneous device integrates standard 0.

2.5D heterogeneously integrated microsystem for high-density neural sensing applications.

Heterogeneously integrated and miniaturized neural sensing microsystems are crucial for brain function investigation. In this paper, a 2.5D heterogeneously integrated bio-sensing microsystem with μ-probes and embedded through-silicon-via (TSVs) is presented for high-density neural sensing applications.

Placental site nodule (PSN): an uncommon diagnosis with a common presentation.

Placental site nodule (PSN) is a rare benign lesion of the intermediate trophoblast which is thought to represent incomplete involution of the placental implantation site. PSN usually presents as menorrhagia, intermenstrual bleeding or an abnormal Pap smear. PSN is benign, but it is important to distinguish it from the other benign and malignant lesions like decidua, placental polyp, exaggerated placental site and placental site trophoblastic tumour.

Evolutionary history of assassin bugs (insecta: hemiptera: Reduviidae): insights from divergence dating and ancestral state reconstruction.

Assassin bugs are one of the most successful clades of predatory animals based on their species numbers (∼6,800 spp.) and wide distribution in terrestrial ecosystems. Various novel prey capture strategies and remarkable prey specializations contribute to their appeal as a model to study evolutionary pathways involved in predation.

Polymerase chain reaction detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in suboptimally preserved vectors and comparative infection rates 2007-2010 in Escondido, Southern California.

We investigate the effect of specimen preservation on reliable detection of infection rates of the Chagas disease agent Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in the Californian endemic vector Triatoma protracta (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) by using polymerase chain reaction. Infection rates in suboptimally preserved specimens (dry or low-percentage ethanol) were found to be not significantly different from optimally preserved samples. Based on our samples, the infection rate of vectors in one population in Escondido, San Diego County, has not changed significantly between 2007 and 2010.

Gene expression of TRK neurotrophin receptors in advanced neuroblastomas in Singapore--a pilot study.

The clinical hallmark of neuroblastoma is heterogeneity. Biologically, ploidy and N-Myc amplification are currently the only 2 features used to define risk group and to determine therapy. Tyrosine kinase neurotrophin receptors (Trks, including TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC) are important in the clinical and biological behavior of neuroblastomas.

Infection rates of Triatoma protracta (Uhler) with Trypanosoma cruzi in Southern California and molecular identification of trypanosomes.

We report Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates of the native kissing bug Triatoma protracta in southern California. The rates are within the historically reported range, but differ significantly between the two sites (19% in Escondido and 36% in Glendora). Identification of T.

Derivation and characterization of human fetal MSCs: an alternative cell source for large-scale production of cardioprotective microparticles.

The therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation are increasingly thought to be mediated by MSC secretion. We have previously demonstrated that human ESC-derived MSCs (hESC-MSCs) produce cardioprotective microparticles in pig model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury. As the safety and availability of clinical grade human ESCs remain a concern, MSCs from fetal tissue sources were evaluated as alternatives.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumour of the vagina in an 8 year old girl.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a rare mesenchymal tumor with an unpredictable natural history. We present the first reported case of PEComa of the vagina diagnosed in an 8-year-old girl. This was initially diagnosed on biopsy as an embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, and the patient underwent 3 cycles of chemotherapy according to the Mesenchymal Malignant Tumour 1989 protocol.

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis: ovarian cancer presenting as an amnesic syndrome.

Background: Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (PLE) is a rare neurologic manifestation of malignancy. Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis typically presents with short-term memory loss, seizures, or other limbic system abnormalities. The majority of PLE cases are associated with lung and testicular cancer.