ABSTRACT
Embedded printing has emerged as a valuable tool for fabricating complex structures and microfluidic devices. Currently, an ample of amount of research is going on to develop new materials to advance its capabilities and increase its potential applications. Here, we demonstrate a novel, transparent, printable, photocrosslinkable, and tuneable silicone composite that can be utilized as a support bath or an extrudable ink for embedded printing. Its properties can be tuned to achieve ideal rheological properties, such as optimal self-recovery and yield stress, for use in 3D printing. When used as a support bath, it facilitated the generation microfluidic devices with circular channels of diameter up to 30 µm. To demonstrate its utility, flow focusing microfluidic devices were fabricated for generation of Janus microrods, which can be easily modified for multitude of applications. When used as an extrudable ink, 3D printing of complex-shaped constructs were achieved with integrated electronics, which greatly extends its potential applications towards soft robotics. Further, its biocompatibility was tested with multiple cell types to validate its applicability for tissue engineering. Altogether, this material offers a myriad of potential applications (i.e., soft robotics, microfluidics, bioprinting) by providing a facile approach to develop complicated 3D structures and interconnected channels.
ABSTRACT
Embedded printing has emerged as a valuable tool for fabricating complex structures and microfluidic devices. Currently, an ample of amount of research is going on to develop new materials to advance its capabilities and increase its potential applications. Here, we demonstrate a novel, transparent, 3D printable, photocrosslinkable, and tuneable silicone composite that can be utilized as a support bath or an extrudable ink for embedded printing. The proposed silicone composite can be tuned to achieve ideal rheological properties, such as optimal self-recovery and yield stress, for use in 3D printing. When used as a support bath, it facilitated the generation microfluidic devices with circular channels of diameter up to 30 µm. To demonstrate its utility, flow focusing microfluidic devices were fabricated for generation of Janus microrods, which can be easily modified for multitude of applications. When used as an extrudable ink, 3D printing of complex-shaped micro- and macro-constructs were achieved with integrated electronics, which greatly extends its potential applications towards developing complex flexible parts for soft robotics and prosthetics. Further, its biocompatibility was tested with multiple cell types to validate its applicability for medical and tissue engineering use. Altogether, this material offers a myriad of potential applications in material and medical fields by providing a facile approach to develop complicated 3D structures and interconnected channels that can further advance microfluidics and soft-robotics research.
ABSTRACT
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is the triad of nonimmune (Coombs negative) hemolytic anemia, low platelet count, and renal impairment. HUS has been associated with a variety of gastrointestinal malignancies and chemotherapeutic agents. We present a patient with pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine for palliation who developed gemcitabine-induced HUS (GiHUS) which responded to some extent to blood and platelet transfusions. With the increase in the use of gemcitabine therapy for pancreatic and other malignancies, it is essential to accurately and timely diagnose GiHUS to avoid the life-threatening complications.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: According to the World Health Organization, the estimated number of malaria cases in Pakistan is about 1.5 million. Hematological variables like platelets, total leukocyte count (TLC), and hemoglobin (Hb) need to be evaluated to diagnose malaria in suspects. This study aimed to investigate the association between blood group and susceptibility to malaria and effects on platelets, TLC, and Hb. METHODOLOGY: This was a case-control study with a sample size of 446, of which 224 were malarial cases and 222 were controls. A designated questionnaire was developed to know age, gender, malarial strain, Hb, TLC, platelets, and blood group. RESULTS: Of 224 malarial cases, 213 were P. vivax, and 11 were P. falciparum. There were 58 patients with blood group A, 72 with group B, 69 were O and 23 were AB. There was no significant difference in the blood group of controls compared to malarial patients (p > 0.05). Mean Hb level was 11.5mg/dL in malaria patients and 12.5mg/dL in controls. There was significant difference (p<0.01) in the mean platelet count in malarial (11,7000/µL) and control (24,5000/µL) patients. All blood groups showed similar falls in Hb and platelet levels, showing no significant difference among blood groups (p = 0.79 and p = 0.52, respectively). TLC was not significant between malarial and control groups (p = 0.072). Males were two times susceptible to malaria. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant association between the type of blood group and susceptibility to malaria or developing anemia or thrombocytopenia.
