The effect of the prior flow velocity on the structural organization of aggregated erythrocytes in the quiescent blood

Usually, investigations of erythrocyte aggregation at rest are focused on effects of the strength of erythrocyte-erythrocyte attractive interactions and the volume fraction of the cells, whereas the role of prior flow velocity has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of this study is to fill this gap. The main conclusions extracted from time records of the complex admittance of blood are as follows: (1) Dispersion of blood in a prior flow into discrete aggregates increases the mesh size of network, which, as has been recently shown, is formed in the quiescent blood. (2) If the energy of the flow field is sufficient to prevent the formation of face-to-side intercellular links, so that the dispersed phase consists of linear rouleaux, changes in the mesh size correlate positively with the length of rouleaux. (3) At slower prior flow velocities, the cells are combined into branched aggregates. As the degree of branching increases, the effect becomes less important. (4) The effects of the length of linear rouleaux and the degree of branching of ramified aggregates on the mesh size are qualitatively similar for suspensions with different aggregating media. (5) Erythrocytes suspended in strongly aggregating media form at low flow conditions a network-like structure. In this case, unlike high and moderate prior flow regimes, the mesh size of RBC network at rest is less than that formed after the stoppage of completely dispersed blood.     

Dynamic Phosphorus: Thiolate Exchange Cascades with Higher Phosphorothioates

In this study, we introduce phosphorus, a pnictogen, as an exchange center for dynamic covalent chemistry. Cascade exchange of neutral phosphorotri- and -tetrathioates with thiolates is demonstrated in organic solvents, aqueous micellar systems, and in living cells. Exchange rates increase with the pH value, electrophilicity of the exchange center, and nucleophilicity of the exchangers. Molecular walking of the dynamic phosphorus center along Hammett gradients is simulated by the sequential addition of thiolate exchangers. Compared to phosphorotrithioates, tetrathioates are better electrophiles with higher exchange rates. Dynamic phosphorotri- and -tetrathioates are non-toxic to HeLa Kyoto cells and participate in the dynamic networks that account for thiol-mediated uptake into living cells.     

Evaluation of the accuracy of hTERT gene aberrant methylation using electrochemical hybridization assay and liquid-based cytology in screening for oral squamous cell carcinoma

In order to improve the survival rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients, a reliable diagnostic method for early OSCC detection is required that is minimally invasive, less burdensome to the patient, and has high sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, we performed the detection of abnormal methylation at three locations in the hTERT promoter region of oral exfoliated cells by employing the ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide (FND)-based electrochemical hybridization assay (FND-EHA) using three types of DNA probe-immobilized electrodes. We also performed liquid cytology using oral exfoliated cells and compared these obtained data to evaluate whether FND- EHA can be used as an OSCC screening system. The results showed a good correlation between this method and conventional OSCC screening, and cytology. In addition, FND-EHA was also able to determine samples that had been ambiguously determined by liquid cytology. This indicates that FND-EHA may be useful as an OSCC screening system.