Theme Issue on Medical Applications of Biotechnology

2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 478
2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1784) ◽  
pp. 20190192 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Morales-García ◽  
R. G. Bailey ◽  
S. Jana ◽  
J. G. Burgess

The secretion of extracellular polymeric substances provides an evolutionary advantage found in many organisms that can adhere to surfaces and cover themselves in a protective matrix. This ability is found in prokaryotes, archaea and eukaryotes, all of which use functionally similar polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids to form extracellular matrices, mucus and bioadhesive substances. These macromolecules have been investigated from the perspective of polymer biophysics, and theories to help understand adhesion, viscosity and gelling have been developed. These properties can be measured experimentally using straightforward methods such as cell counting as well as more advanced techniques such as atomic force microscopy and rheometry. An integrated understanding of the properties and uses of adhesive macromolecules across kingdoms is also important and can provide the basis for a range of biotechnological and medical applications. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Transdisciplinary approaches to the study of adhesion and adhesives in biological systems’.


1976 ◽  
Vol 15 (02) ◽  
pp. 69-74
Author(s):  
M. Goldberg ◽  
B. Doyon

This paper describes a general data base management package, devoted to medical applications. SARI is a user-oriented system, able to take into account applications very different by their nature, structure, size, operating procedures and general objectives, without any specific programming. It can be used in conversational mode by users with no previous knowledge of computers, such as physicians or medical clerks.As medical data are often personal data, the privacy problem is emphasized and a satisfactory solution implemented in SARI.The basic principles of the data base and program organization are described ; specific efforts have been made in order to increase compactness and to make maintenance easy.Several medical applications are now operational with SARI. The next steps will mainly consist in the implementation of highly sophisticated functions.


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