Analytical model for power dissipation in cell membranes in suspensions exposed to electric fields

Due to interaction among cells, it is too complex to build an exactanalytical model for the power dissipation within the cell membrane in suspensions exposed toexternal fields. An approximate equivalence method is proposed to resolve this problem. Based on theeffective medium theory, the transmembrane voltage on cells in suspensions was investigated by theequivalence principle. Then the electric field in the cell membrane was determined. Finally,analytical solutions for the power dissipation within the cell membrane in suspensions exposed toexternal fields were derived according to the Joule principle. The equations show that theconductive power dissipation is predominant within the cell membrane in suspensions exposed todirect current or lower frequencies, and dielectric power dissipation prevails at high frequenciesexceeding the relaxation frequency of the exposed membrane.

Hepatitis C virus RNA kinetics:Drug efficacy and the rate of HCV-infected cells loss

TO THE EDITOR We read the study by Medeiros-Filho et al with much interest. The study shed light on early HCV RNA kinetics in conjunction with liver cirrhosis, different genotypes （gen-1 vs gen-3） of HCV and sustained viral response （SVR） rates. In particular, Medeiros-Filho et al showed that the HCV RNA first phase decline, under interferon-or （IFN） and ribavirin therapy,