In this paper, we present a microfluidic chip that is capable of measuring electrical conductance through gap junction channels in a 2-dimensional cell sheet. The chip utilizes a tri-stream laminar flow to create a non-conductive sucrose gap between the two conducting solutions so that electrical current can pass across the sucrose gap only through the cells. Using the chip, we tested the effec...

experiments. DSGhas been found to interact intracelluarly with Hsc70, a constitutively expressed memberof the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70) family4), but the mechanism of action of DSGstill requires further explanation. We have used methyldeoxyspergualin (MeDSG) for in vitro culture studies of DSG, because it is more stable to hydrolysis than DSG but still possesses a similar immunosuppressive...

A lthough studies of oral sucrose solution for procedure related pain in neonates have been subjected to a meta-analysis and a systematic review, several problems have been noted, and only one small trial focused on the role of oral sucrose for preterm venepuncture. We therefore performed a randomised, double blinded, placebo controlled, crossover trial of 25% sucrose solution in healthy preter...

OBJECTIVE To compare complications of third and second generation oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). METHODS In a randomized clinical trial from October 2007 to October 2008, 100 healthy women of reproductive age referred to Amir Hospital Family Planning Clinic and some heath centers in Semnan, Iran were randomized in 2 equal groups. They received either a third generation OCP (150 microgram de...

The hypothesis that the nexus is a specialized structure allowing current flow between cell interiors is corroborated by concomitant structural changes of the nexus and changes of electrical coupling between cells due to soaking in solutions of abnormal tonicity. Fusiform frog atrial fibers are interconnected by nexuses. The nexuses, desmosomes, and regions of myofibrillar attachment of this mu...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the limitations of the double sucrose gap voltage clamp technique in the determination of tension-voltage relationships for frog atrial muscle. Tension-voltage relationships were determined under two conditions. In one case we determined both the tension response and slow inward current associated with an apparent step depolarization (step-clamp) as a f...