detection-exosomal-biomarker-electric-field-induced-release

Detection of Exosomal Biomarker by Electric Field-induced Release and Measurement (EFIRM)

Exosomes are microvesicular structures that play a mediating role in intercellular communication. It is of interest to study the internal cargo of ...

University of California, Los Angeles

The synchronous wing depressor muscles of the hawkmoth Manduca sexta undergo large amplitude motions at lengths that lie entirely on the ascending region of their twitch length-tension curve. Moreover, these muscles bear a striking functional resemblance to mammalian cardiac muscle in both the shape of their length-tension curve and in their working length range. Although operation on the ascending region of the twitch length-tension curve sacrifices maximal force, it does permit the generation of larger forces at greater strains. In the case of cardiac muscle, this mechanical behavior is critical for accommodating the increasing stresses associated with greater ventricular filling. Similar characteristics in moth flight muscle suggest an analogous regulatory mechanism for skeletal muscles performing repetitive oscillatory work; the strong length dependence of force over their working length range should give the wing depressors the capacity to generate larger forces as wing stroke amplitude increases. These results support the notion that the length-tension relationship of muscle can be tuned to function in locomotor muscles.

Cardiac-like behavior of an insect flight muscle.

To assess the extent to which the power output of a synchronous insect flight muscle is maximized during flight, we compared the maximum potential power output of the mesothoracic dorsolongitudinal (dl1) muscles of Manduca sexta to their power output in vivo. Holding temperature and cycle frequency constant at 36 degrees C and 25 Hz, respectively, we varied the phase of activation, mean length and strain amplitude. Under in vivo conditions measured in tethered flight, the dl1 muscles generated only 40-67% of their maximum potential power output. Compared to the in vivo phase of activation, the phase that maximized power output was advanced by 12% of the cycle period, and the length that maximized power output was 10% longer than the in vivo operating length.

Submaximal power output from the dorsolongitudinal flight muscles of the hawkmoth Manduca sexta.

Previous studies have shown tau pathology in the inferior colliculus (IC) and superior colliculus (SC) in Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, it has not been compared to other tauopathies, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), or characterized with respect to progression of tau pathology in AD. The main purpose of this study was to investigate frequency, neuroanatomical selectivity and disease specificity of tau pathology in visual and auditory nuclei (SC and lateral geniculate body (LGB); IC and medial geniculate body (MGB), respectively). We measured phospho-tau burden with immunohistochemistry and image analysis in 26 cases of AD, 37 PSP and 11 normal controls. Tau burden was also assessed in two unrelated brainstem nuclei (substantia nigra (SN) and pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN)) of the same cases. We found tau burden to be greater in the SC of PSP compared to AD and controls. Conversely, tau burden was greater in the IC of AD compared to PSP and controls. The MGB and LGB had sparse tau pathology in both AD and PSP. This disease selectivity parallels known deficits in visual reflexes in PSP and auditory reflexes in AD. Tau burden was greater in the SC, IC, and PPN in both PSP and AD compared to controls, and greater in the SN in PSP compared to AD and controls. Although present at early Braak neurofibrillary tangle stages, the SC, IC, PPN and SN did not accumulate tau consistently until later stages. These findings support a concept of tau pathology affecting the brainstem at mid-to-late stage AD.

Disease specificity and pathologic progression of tau pathology in brainstem nuclei of Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a leading cause of death in the United States affecting approximately 670,000 individuals. Due to the prevalence of CHF related issues, it is prudent to seek out methodologies that would facilitate the prevention, monitoring, and treatment of heart disease on a daily basis. This paper describes WANDA (Weight and Activity with Blood Pressure Monitoring System); a study that leverages sensor technologies and wireless communications to monitor the health related measurements of patients with CHF. The WANDA system is a three-tier architecture consisting of sensors, web servers, and back-end databases. The system was developed in conjunction with the UCLA School of Nursing and the UCLA Wireless Health Institute to enable early detection of key clinical symptoms indicative of CHF-related decompensation. This study shows that CHF patients monitored by WANDA are less likely to have readings fall outside a healthy range. In addition, WANDA provides a useful feedback system for regulating readings of CHF patients.

A remote patient monitoring system for congestive heart failure.

The authors report the cause of and risk factors for mortality in infants with Robin sequence and identify characteristics associated with quality-of-life outcomes.

Article	Year
Cardiac-like behavior of an insect flight muscle. The Journal of experimental biology\| PubMed ID: 15184517	2004
Submaximal power output from the dorsolongitudinal flight muscles of the hawkmoth Manduca sexta. The Journal of experimental biology\| PubMed ID: 15579560	2004
Disease specificity and pathologic progression of tau pathology in brainstem nuclei of Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy. Neuroscience letters\| PubMed ID: 21236314	2011
A remote patient monitoring system for congestive heart failure. Journal of medical systems\| PubMed ID: 21611788	2011
Robin sequence: mortality, causes of death, and clinical outcomes. Plastic and reconstructive surgery\| PubMed ID: 25357033	2014

Michael Tu

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