Dual aptamer assay for detection of Acinetobacter baumannii on an electromagnetically-driven microfluidic platform.

Rapid detection of Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) is critical for limiting healthcare-associated infections and providing the best treatment for infected individuals. Herein an integrated microfluidic device for AB diagnosis utilizing a new dual aptamer assay was developed for point-of-care (POC) applications; magnetic beads coated with AB-specific aptamers were used to capture bacteria, and quantum dots (QD) bound to a second aptamer were utilized to quantify the amount of bacteria with a light-emitting diode (LED)-induced fluorescence module integrated into the device. Within a rapid detection of 30 min, a limit of detection of only 100 colony-forming units (CFU)/reaction was obtained, and all necessary microfluidic devices were actuated by a combination of permanent magnets and electromagnets.

A structure-free digital microfluidic platform for detection of influenza a virus by using magnetic beads and electromagnetic forces.

H1N1, a subtype of influenza A virus, has emerged as a global threat in the past decades. Due to its highly infectious nature, an accurate and rapid detection assay is urgently required. Therefore, this study presents a new type of digital microfluidic platform for H1N1 virus detection by utilizing a one-aptamer/two-antibodies assay on magnetic beads.

A sample-to-answer, portable platform for rapid detection of pathogens with a smartphone interface.

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases pose global threats to human health. Although several conventional diagnostic methods have been widely adopted in the clinic, the long turn-around times of "gold standard" culture-based techniques, as well as the limited sensitivity of lateral-flow strip assays, thwart medical progress. In this study, a smartphone-controlled, automated, and portable system was developed for rapid molecular diagnosis of pathogens (including viruses and bacteria) via the use of a colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) approach on a passive, self-driven microfluidic device.

An integrated microfluidic system for on-chip enrichment and quantification of circulating extracellular vesicles from whole blood.

Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs), which can contain a wide variety of molecules such as proteins, messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs), micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) and deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) from cells or tissues of origin, have attracted great interest given their potential to serve as biomarkers that can be harvested in body fluids (i.e., relatively non-invasive).

A microfluidic platform integrated with field-effect transistors for enumeration of circulating tumor cells.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are one of the promising cancer biomarkers whose concentrations are measured not only in the initial diagnostic stages, but also as treatment progresses. However, the existing methods for CTC detection are relatively time-consuming and labor-intensive. In this study, a new microfluidic platform integrated with field-effect transistors (FETs) and chambers for the trapping of CTCs was developed.

A nitrocellulose membrane-based integrated microfluidic system for bacterial detection utilizing magnetic-composite membrane microdevices and bacteria-specific aptamers.

Bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) can cause serious infections, resulting in high mortality if not diagnosed early and treated properly; there is consequently a need for rapid and accurate detection of this bacterial species. Therefore, we developed a new, nitrocellulose-based microfluidic system featuring AB-specific aptamers capable of automating the bacterial detection process via the activity of microfluidic devices composed of magnetic-composite membranes. Electromagnets were used to actuate these microfluidic devices such that the entire diagnostic process could be conducted in the integrated microfluidic system within 40 minutes with a limit of detection as low as 450 CFU per reaction for AB.

A microfluidic chip capable of generating and trapping emulsion droplets for digital loop-mediated isothermal amplification analysis.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a nucleic acid amplification technique that rapidly amplifies specific DNA molecules at high yield. In this study, a microfluidic droplet array chip was designed to execute the digital LAMP process. The novel device was capable of 1) creating emulsion droplets, 2) sorting them into a 30 × 8 droplet array, and 3) executing LAMP across the 240 trapped and separated droplets (with a volume of 0.

Digital quantification of DNA via isothermal amplification on a self-driven microfluidic chip featuring hydrophilic film-coated polydimethylsiloxane.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a DNA amplification approach characterized by high sensitivity and specificity. In "digital LAMP", small quantities of both template DNA and reagents are encapsulated within a droplet or microwell, allowing for analysis of precious nucleic acid samples in shorter amounts of time relative to traditional DNA amplification protocols (e.g.

Pyrogallol abates VSMC migration via modulation of Caveolin-1, matrix metalloproteinase and intima hyperplasia in carotid ligation mouse.

Migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contributes to intimal hyperplasia and other vascular diseases. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) has been recognized as a proliferative inhibitor of VSMCs and is likely to be an important regulator of VSMC migration. The underlying mechanism of pyrogallol on the VSMC migration is not fully understood.

Increased HDAC3 and decreased miRNA-130a expression in PBMCs through recruitment HDAC3 in patients with spinal cord injuries.

The study was performed to investigate the molecular mechanism for SCI patients. The interaction between miRNA-130a and HDAC was demonstrated in PBMCs from SCI patients. Increased HDAC3 and decreased miRNA-130a were observed in PBMCs from AS patients.

[Individualized endovascular treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis: analysis of 168 patients].

Objective: To investigate the effects of individualized endovascular treatment on cerebral venous thrombosis of different types.

Methods: 168 patients with cerebral venous thrombosis underwent individualized endovascular treatment: direct thrombolysis via internal jugular vein in 26 cases, injection of urokinase via common carotid artery in 98 cases, stent angioplasty in venous sinus in 9, simple anticoagulant therapy in 20 cases, and treating combined intracranial hemorrhage simultaneously in 15 cases. Follow-up was conducted for 6-168 months.