Periodic evaluation by trained specialists helps provide comprehensive care, including transcranial Doppler examinations to identify children at risk for primary stroke, plus assessments for other parenchymal organ damage as patients become teens and adults. Treatment approaches that previously highlighted acute vaso-occlusive events are now evolving to the

concept of preventive therapy. Liberalized use of blood transfusions and Selleckchem PF00299804 early consideration of hydroxyurea treatment represent a new treatment paradigm for SCA management.”
“Cells implement functions through the computation of biological information that is often mediated by genetic regulatory networks. To reprogram cells with novel capabilities, a vast set of synthetic gene circuits has recently been created. These include simple modules, such as feedback circuits, feed-forward loops, ultrasensitive networks, band-pass filters, logic gate

operators and others, with each carrying a specific information processing functionality. More advanced cellular computation can also be achieved by assembling multiple simple processing modules into integrated computational cores. Further, when coupled with other modules such as sensors GPCR Compound Library and actuators, integrated processing circuits enable sophisticated biological functionalities at both intra- and intercellular

levels. Engineered genetic information processing circuits are transforming our ability to program cells, offering us extraordinary opportunities to explore biological mechanisms Selleck VX-680 and to address real-world challenges. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2013, 5:273287. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1216 Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest. These authors contributed equally to the work. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.”
“Living cells are a fascinating demonstration of nature’s most intricate and well-coordinated micromechanical objects. They crawl, spread, contract, and relax-thus performing a multitude of complex mechanical functions. Alternatively, they also respond to physical and chemical cues that lead to remodeling of the cytoskeleton. To understand this intricate coupling between mechanical properties, mechanical function and force-induced biochemical signaling requires tools that are capable of both controlling and manipulating the cell microenvironment and measuring the resulting mechanical response. In this review, the power of microfluidics as a functional tool for research in cell mechanics is highlighted.