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The effect of air-borne nanoparticles (NPs) on human health is an active area of research, with clinical relevance evidenced by the current COVID-19 pandemic. As in vitro models for such studies, lung-on-a-chip (LOAC) devices can represent key physical and physiological aspects of alveolar tissues. However, widespread adoption of the LOAC device for NP testing has been hampered by low intra-laboratory and inter-laboratory reproducibility. #link# To complement ongoing experimental work, we carried out finite-element simulations of the deposition of NPs on the epithelial layer of a well-established LOAC design. We solved the Navier-Stokes equations for the fluid flow in a three-dimensional domain and studied the particle transport using Eulerian advection-diffusion for fine NPs and Lagrangian particle tracking for coarse NPs. Using [https://www.selleckchem.com/products/cp-91149.html Selleckchem CP-91149] and Frumkin kinetics for surface adsorption and desorption, we investigated NP adsorption under different exercise and breath-holding patterns. Conditions mimicking physical exercise, through changes in air-flow volume and breathing frequency, enhance particle deposition. Puff profiles typical of smoking, with breath-holding between inhalation and exhalation, also increase particle deposition per breathing cycle. Lagrangian particle tracking shows Brownian motion and gravitational settling to be two key factors, which may cooperate or compete with each other for different particle sizes. Comparisons are made with experimental data where possible and they show qualitative and semi-quantitative agreement. These results suggest that computer simulations can potentially inform and accelerate the design and application of LOAC devices for analyzing particulate- and microbe-alveolar interactions.The application of lab-on-a-chip systems to biomedical engineering and medical biology is rapidly growing. Reciprocating micropumps show significant promise as automated bio-fluid handling systems and as active reagent-to-sample mixers. Here, we describe a thorough fluid dynamic analysis of an active micro-pump-mixer designed for applications of preclinical blood analysis and clinical diagnostics in hematology. Using high-speed flow visualization and micro-particle image velocimetry measurements, a parametric study is performed to investigate the fluid dynamics of six discrete modes of micropump operation. With this approach, we identify an actuation regime that results in optimal sample flow rates while concomitantly maximizing reagent-to-sample mixing.3D printed microfluidic devices are made of stiff and easy-to-fatigue materials and hence are difficult to have robust pneumatic valves. In this work, we describe a type of prefabricated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) valves, named the "Luer-lock" valve, which can be incorporated in 3D printed microfluidic devices utilizing the Luer-lock mechanism. Luer-lock design has been adopted for fluidic connections worldwide; it is facile, reliable, and inexpensive. To take advantage of the Luer-lock design, we added "valve ports" to our 3D printed microfluidic devices; prefabricated PDMS valve modules could be embedded into these valve ports, in a leak-free manner, by screwing tight the Luer-locks. In the experiment, we succeeded in fabricating pneumatic valves with a footprint diameter of 0.8 mm and verified the functionality of these valves with a shut-off pressure of 140 mbar and a maximal switching frequency of ∼1 Hz. As a demonstration, we show the serial encoding of core-shell hydrogel microfibers using the Luer-lock valves. Since the Luer-lock valves can be mass-produced and the CAD model of Luer-locks can be easily distributed, we believe that our approach has the potential to be easily adopted by researchers around the globe.Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells detached from the original lesion and getting into the blood and lymphatic circulation systems. They potentially establish new tumors in remote areas, namely, metastasis. Isolation of CTCs and following biological molecular analysis facilitate investigating cancer and coming out treatment. Since CTCs carry important information on the primary tumor, they are vital in exploring the mechanism of cancer, metastasis, and diagnosis. However, CTCs are very difficult to separate due to their extreme heterogeneity and rarity in blood. Recently, advanced technologies, such as nanosurfaces, quantum dots, and Raman spectroscopy, have been integrated with microfluidic chips. These achievements enable the next generation isolation technologies and subsequent biological analysis of CTCs. In this review, we summarize CTCs' separation with microfluidic chips based on the principle of immunomagnetic isolation of CTCs. Fundamental insights, clinical applications, and potential future directions are discussed.<br />The Go Red for Women (GoRedW) campaign aims to increase awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke in women. However, assessing the effects of social campaigns on information-seeking behaviors may be challenging. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of GoRedW using a large sample of unbiased real-world data from Google Trends (GTr) and evaluate the temporal correlation of online search queries for CVD and stroke in women with GoRedW.<br />We conducted a retrospective study using GTr, a public tool from the Google search engine to obtain relative search volumes (RSVs) related to CVD and stroke in women in the period January 2004 to April 2019 in the USA. In addition, trends of GoRedW were compared with those of the well-established Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) campaign.<br />RSVs increased for queries of GoRedW and all searched terms for CVD but not for stroke in women during February compared to other months of the year without active campaign. The strong pattern with peaks of tampaigns and interventions. Our study showed an increase in the RSVs for queries of GoRedW and all CVD terms which correlated with the active campaign months over a 15-year period.<br />Coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention are frequently and increasingly performed worldwide. Although catheters for coronary angiography are considered as single-use devices, some people still question this decision. This study evaluated the structural characteristics and thermal stability of new and reprocessed catheters.<br />Five catheters (Judkins left) of the same brand and manufacturer were selected for each analysis. We evaluated new catheters, catheters reprocessed once (first), twice (second), thrice (third), and seven times (seventh). link2 The optical analyses of the proximal, middle and distal parts of the catheters were performed by magnifying glass. Besides, thermogravimetric analyses were done.<br />After reprocessing, the crushing, color changes, folds, dents, deformations, and lumen narrowing were observed; the stainless-steel framework, the external tortuosity, the interlaced mesh of stainless-steel wires and loss of polymeric material were visualized. Thermogravimetric analysis showed lost of mass of the catheters.<br />This study demonstrated that the structural integrity and mass of catheters are lost with reprocessing. These findings may be caused by several steps of reprocessing; however, regardless of which step or steps were responsible, the presence of structural integrity loss leads to the recommendation of not reusing this type of device.<br />This study demonstrated that the structural integrity and mass of catheters are lost with reprocessing. These findings may be caused by several steps of reprocessing; however, regardless of which step or steps were responsible, the presence of structural integrity loss leads to the recommendation of not reusing this type of device.<br />Ischemic cardiomyopathy is the most frequent etiology of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and a result of ventricular structural, functional and electrical remodeling. T peak to end (Tpe) interval is an electrocardiographic parameter that represents repolarization heterogeneity and had prognostic value for ventricular arrhythmia. Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy face a significant burden of arrhythmias. Mechanical dispersion is a functional remodeling parameter that can be measured by time to peak longitudinal strain using speckle tracking echocardiography. link3 This study aimed to assess the relationship between Tpe interval with time to peak longitudinal strain in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients.<br />This study was conducted with an observational analytical cross-sectional design. Ischemic cardiomyopathy subjects were included at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, from August to October 2019. Tpe interval was measured manually with the tangential method. Time to peak longitudinal strain was measured using speckle tracking echocardiography. The correlation between Tpe interval and time to peak longitudinal strain was analyzed using Pearson correlation.<br />A total of 30 subjects were included in this study. The average age was 58 ± 8 years old, and the average left ventricular ejection fraction was 27±5.5%. The average of Tpe interval was 83.4 ± 7.62 ms, and the average time to peak longitudinal strain was 93.13 ± 34.51 ms. The Pearson correlation test showed a significant weak positive correlation (r = 0.386, 95% confidence interval 0.029 - 0.743, P = 0.018) between Tpe interval and time to peak longitudinal strain in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients.<br />There was a significant weak positive correlation between Tpe interval and time to peak longitudinal strain in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients.<br />There was a significant weak positive correlation between Tpe interval and time to peak longitudinal strain in ischemic cardiomyopathy patients.<br />Arterial stiffness is a process resulting in deterioration of hemodynamic function of the aorta, a decrease in its compliance and elasticity, caused by the proportional change of components of the extracellular matrix. Although many researches have been done to determine the etiologies of myocardial ischemia in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease, none of them has investigated the relation between the parameters of aortic stiffness and the myocardial ischemia documented by the exercise stress test. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the difference of aortic stiffness parameters between the groups separated by exercise stress test result as positive and negative ischemic findings in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease.<br />The present study included 79 patients who were admitted to Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology with complaint of chest pain. Forty patients (21 women and 19 men) have ischemic findings on the exercise electrocardiography (between the two groups. Biochemical parameters were found similar between the two groups. Only low-density lipoprotein levels were slightly higher in patients with negative exercise stress test result (139 vs. 123 mg/dL, P = 0.02).<br />There is no finding supporting that the aortic stiffness identifies the patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease but with signs of myocardial ischemia and further investigation of other causes of myocardial ischemia is required.<br />There is no finding supporting that the aortic stiffness identifies the patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease but with signs of myocardial ischemia and further investigation of other causes of myocardial ischemia is required.