In this paper, we consider the generalized Hodgkin-Huxley model introduced by Austin in [1]. This model describes the propagation of an action potential along the axon of a neuron at the scale of ion channels. Mathematically, this model is a fully-coupled Piecewise Deterministic Markov Process (PDMP) in infinite dimensions. We introduce two time scales in this model in considering that some ion...

Microparticles are membrane vesicles released from many different cell types. There are two mechanisms that can result in their formation, cell activation and apoptosis. In these two mechanisms, different pathways are involved in microparticle generation. Microparticle generation seems to be a well regulated process. Microparticles vary in size, phospholipid and protein composition. They have a...

Kaya et al.’s [1] case report entitled “Granulocytic sarcoma after stem-cell transplantation in a child with biphenotypic leukemia” gives me an opportunity to remind physicians that short-course megadose methylprednisolone (MDMP; daily, 30 mg/kg for 3 days then 20 mg/kg for 4 days) has been effectively used in the treatment of granulocytic sarcoma (GS) [2-4]. With this treatment, extramedullary...

Biocompatibility improvements for blood contacting materials are of increasing interest for implanted devices and interventional tools. The current study focuses on inorganic (titanium, titanium nitride, titanium oxide) as well as diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating materials on polymer surfaces (thermoplastic polyurethane), deposited by magnetron sputtering und pulsed laser deposition at room te...

Single-cell experiments show that gene expression is stochastic and bursty, a feature that can emerge from slow switching between promoter states with different activities. In addition to slow chromatin and/or DNA looping dynamics, one source of long-lived promoter states is the slow binding and unbinding kinetics of transcription factors to promoters, i.e. the non-adiabatic binding regime. Her...

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis. Because cell-derived microparticles support coagulation and inflammation, they may be involved in atherogenesis. We characterized circulating microparticles both in patients with uncomplicated, well-regulated type 2 diabetes and in healthy subjects, as well as their relationship with coagulation and metabolic control. ...

Thrombin exerts pleiotropic effects on endothelial cells, including the release of microparticles (EMPs) that disseminate and exchange information with vascular cells. Nevertheless, the mechanisms leading to their generation are not elucidated. We performed microarray analysis to identify genes involved in EMP release by the endothelial cell line HMEC-1 in response to thrombin. We identified a ...

Considerable interest for cell-derived microparticles has emerged, pointing out their essential role in haemostatic response and their potential as disease markers, but also their implication in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes. They derive from different cell types including platelets - the main source of microparticles - but also from red blood cells, leukocytes and en...

Methods The study included 407 non-pregnant women with high risk for toxoplasmosis, presented to the Infectious Diseases Clinic in Oradea in the period 01.01.2009-31.12.2012. By MEIA (Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay) performed in Bioclinica laboratories, values of Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies were determined and by EIA (Enzyme Immunoassay), the values of IgA Toxoplasma antibodies, as well...

This study develops a new solvent-compatible microfluidic chip based on phenol formaldehyde resin (PFR). In addition to its solvent-resistant characteristics, this microfluidic platform also features easy fabrication, organization, decomposition for cleaning, and reusability compared with conventional chips. Both solvent-dependent (e.g., polycaprolactone) and nonsolvent-dependent (e.g., chitosa...