Use of problem-based learning in orthopaedics education: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Currently, problem-based learning (PBL) has been widely used in many disciplines, but no systematic review has explored the advantages and disadvantages of PBL in orthopaedics education. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Chongqing VIP Database (VIP), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases up to April 2023 to identify for relevant studies. Relevant studies were identified by using specific eligibility criteria, and data were extracted. RESULTS: A total of 51 randomized controlled trials with 4268 patients were included. Compared with traditional education, PBL teaching yielded significantly higher knowledge scores (SMD=1.10, 95% CI: 0.78~1.41, P<0.00001), procedural skill scores and clinical skill scores than traditional teaching (SMD=2.07, 95% CI: 1.61~2.53, P<0.00001; SMD=1.20, 95% CI: 0.88~1.52, P<0.00001). Moreover, the total scores were higher in the PBL teaching group than in the traditional teaching group (MD=5.69, 95% CI: 5.11~6.26, P<0.00001). Students also expressed higher levels of interest and satisfaction in the PBL teaching group than in the traditional teaching group (OR=4.70, 95% CI: 3.20~6.93, P<0.00001; OR=5.43, 95% CI: 3.83~7.69, P<0.00001). However, there was less learning time and higher levels of learning pressure in the PBL teaching group (OR=0.12, 95% CI: 0.06~0.24, P<0.00001; OR=5.95, 95% CI: 3.16~11.23, P<0.00001). CONCLUSION: Current evidence indicates that PBL teaching can increase knowledge scores, procedural skill scores, and clinical skill scores. Students have higher levels of interest in teaching and higher levels of teaching satisfaction in the PBL group. However, students can feel higher levels of study pressure and experience less study time. The findings of the current study need to be further verified in multicentre, double-blind and large-sample RCTs.

Fascicle-Selective Ultrasound-Powered Bidirectional Wireless Peripheral Nerve Interface IC.

This paper presents an innovative, minimally invasive, battery-free, wireless, peripheral nervous system (PNS) neural interface, which seamlessly integrates a millimeter-scale, fascicle-selective integrated circuit (IC) with extraneural recording and stimulating channels. The system also incorporates a wearable interrogator equipped with integrated machine-learning capabilities. This PNS interface is specifically tailored for adaptive neuromodulation therapy, targeting individuals with paralysis, amputation, or chronic medical conditions. By employing a neural pathway classifier and temporal interference stimulation, the proposed interface achieves precise deep fascicle selectivity for recording and stimulation without the need for nerve penetration or compression. Ultrasonic energy harvesters facilitate wireless power harvesting and data reception, enhancing the usability of the system. Key circuit performance metrics encompass a 2.2 µVrms input-referred noise, 14-bit ENOB, and a 173 dB Schreier figure of merit (FOM) for the neural analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Additionally, the ultra-low-power radio-frequency (RF) transmitter boasts a remarkable 1.38 pJ/bit energy efficiency. In vivo experiments conducted on rat sciatic nerves provide compelling evidence of the interface's ability to selectively stimulate and record neural fascicles. The proposed PNS neural interface offers alternative treatment options for diagnosing and treating neurological disorders, as well as restoring or repairing neural functions, improving the quality of life for patients with neurological and sensory deficits.

Advances in the regulation of adipogenesis and lipid metabolism by exosomal ncRNAs and their role in related metabolic diseases.

Exosomes are membrane-bound extracellular vesicles released following the fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) with the cell membrane. Exosomes transport diverse molecules, including proteins, lipids, DNA and RNA, and regulate distant intercellular communication. Noncoding RNA (ncRNAs) carried by exosomes regulate cell-cell communication in tissues, including adipose tissue. This review summarizes the action mechanisms of ncRNAs carried by exosomes on adipocyte differentiation and modulation of adipogenesis by exosomal ncRNAs. This study aims to provide valuable insights for developing novel therapeutics.

Efficacy and Safety of Conservative Treatment Compared With Surgical Treatment for Thoracolumbar Fracture With Score 4 Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity (TLICS): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. OBJECTIVE: The clinical outcomes, radiologic outcome, and complications were compared between surgical treatment and conservative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with a Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity (TLICS) score of 4. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The thoracolumbar fracture is the main reason leading to the spinal cord injury. Some studies suggested that the treatment of TLICS=4 is a "gray zone." Hence, the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment and conservative treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with scores 4 TLICS was still debated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP Database (VIP), and Wan Fang Database was performed up to October 2021. Relevant studies were identified using specific eligibility criteria and data was extracted and analyzed based on primary and secondary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies involving 555 patients were included (3 randomized controlled trials and 7 retrospective studies). There was no significant difference of hospital time (standardized mean difference=0.24, 95% CI: -1.50 to 1.97, P=0.79) and Oswestry Disability Index (mean difference=2.97, 95% CI: -1.07 to 7.01, P=0.15) between surgery and nonsurgery. The length of returning to work was shorter in surgical treatment (standardized mean difference=1.27, 95% CI: 0.07-2.46, P=0.04). Visual Analog Scale in surgical treatment was lower at 1, 3, and 6 months (respectively, P<0.00001, P=0.003, and P=0.02). However, there existed no significant difference between surgical treatment and nonsurgical treatment at 12 and >24 months (respectively, P=0.18 and 0.17). Cobb angle was lower in surgical treatment at postoperative at 6, 12, and >24 months (respectively, P=0.005, P<0.00001, P=0.002, and P=0.0002). Finally, the surgical treatment had a lower incidence of complications (odds ratio=3.89, 95% CI: 1.90-7.94, P=0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence recommended that surgical treatment is superior to conservative treatment of TLICS score of 4 at the early follow-up. Surgical treatment had lower Cobb angle, Visual Analog Scale scores, and complications compared with a nonsurgical TLICS score of 4. However, these findings needed to be verified further by multicenter, double-blind, and large-sample randomized controlled trials.

Flexible Gel-Free Multi-Modal Wireless Sensors With Edge Deep Learning for Detecting and Alerting Freezing of Gait Symptom.

Freezing of gait (FoG) is a debilitating symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). This work develops flexible wearable sensors that can detect FoG and alert patients and companions to help prevent falls. FoG is detected on the sensors using a deep learning (DL) model with multi-modal sensory inputs collected from distributed wireless sensors. Two types of wireless sensors are developed, including: 1) a C-shape central node placed around the patient's ears, which collects electroencephalogram (EEG), detects FoG using an on-device DL model, and generates auditory alerts when FoG is detected; 2) a stretchable patch-type sensor attached to the patient's legs, which collects electromyography (EMG) and movement information from accelerometers. The patch-type sensors wirelessly send collected data to the central node through low-power ultra-wideband (UWB) transceivers. All sensors are fabricated on flexible printed circuit boards. Adhesive gel-free acetylene carbon black and polydimethylsiloxane electrodes are fabricated on the flexible substrate to allow conformal wear over the long term. Custom integrated circuits (IC) are developed in 180 nm CMOS technology and used in both types of sensors for signal acquisition, digitization, and wireless communication. A novel lightweight DL model is trained using multi-modal sensory data. The inference of the DL model is performed on a low-power microcontroller in the central node. The DL model achieves a high detection sensitivity of 0.81 and a specificity of 0.88. The developed wearable sensors are ready for clinical experiments and hold great promise in improving the quality of life of patients with PD. The proposed design methodologies can be used in wearable medical devices for the monitoring and treatment of a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases.

Controlling Isomerization of Photoswitches to Modulate 2D Logic-in-Memory Devices by Organic-Inorganic Interfacial Strategy.

Logic-in-memory devices are a promising and powerful approach to realize data processing and storage driven by electrical bias. Here, an innovative strategy is reported to achieve the multistage photomodulation of 2D logic-in-memory devices, which is realized by controlling the photoisomerization of donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs) on the surface of graphene. Alkyl chains with various carbon spacer lengths (n = 1, 5, 11, and 17) are introduced onto DASAs to optimize the organic-inorganic interfaces: 1) Prolonging the carbon spacers weakens the intermolecular aggregation and promotes isomerization in the solid state. 2) Too long alkyl chains induce crystallization on the surface and hinder the photoisomerization. Density functional theory calculation indicates that the photoisomerization of DASAs on the graphene surface is thermodynamically promoted by increasing the carbon spacer lengths. The 2D logic-in-memory devices are fabricated by assembling DASAs onto the surface. Green light irradiation increases the drain-source current (Ids ) of the devices, while heat triggers a reversed transfer. The multistage photomodulation is achieved by well-controlling the irradiation time and intensity. The strategy based on the dynamic control of 2D electronics by light integrates molecular programmability into the next generation of nanoelectronics.

Prognostic Value of the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients Treated with Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to have prognostic value in several common cancers. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of NLR in patients with advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 158 patients with advanced ESCC who received dCRT from January 2012 to December 2018. The NLR for different treatment stages was calculated based on laboratory test results. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) method and Cox proportional regression model were used to analyse the relationship between NLR and overall survival (OS). Results: The mean NLR of 158 patients with ESCC was 3.403 ± 2.479. The pre-treatment NLR cut-off was 4.839, and patients were divided into the low NLR group (NLR < 4.839) and the high NLR group (NLR ≥ 4.839). NLR in patients with ESCC was related to N stage (P < 0.05). The KM analysis showed that the median OS of all enrolled patients was 29.3 months, the median OS periods of patients in the high and low NLR groups were 15.6 and 35.8 months, respectively, and the OS of the low NLR group was better than that of the high NLR group (P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, NLR was an independent prognostic factor that affects the prognosis of patients with ESCC receiving dCRT. Furthermore, patients who maintained a high NLR before and after treatment showed worse clinical outcomes than the other groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that NLR can effectively assess the prognosis of patients with advanced ESCC undergoing dCRT.

Efficacy and Safety of Lumbar Dynamic Stabilization Device Coflex for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate evidence for the comparison of lumbar dynamic stabilization device Coflex (Surgalign, Deerfield, IL) with posterior lumbar fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis). METHODS: Relational databases were searched to October 2022. The main outcome measures included operation time, Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA), visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), total complications, and adjacent segment degeneration (ASD). Statistical analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration). RESULTS: A total of 26 studies were included. The main results of this meta-analysis showed lumbar dynamic stabilization device Coflex had shorter operation time (mean difference [MD] -50.77 min, 95% CI -57.24 to -44.30, P < 0.00001), less intraoperative blood loss (MD -122.21 mL, 95% CI -129.68 to -94.74, P < 0.00001), and shorter hospital stays (MD -3.21 days, 95% CI -4.04 to -2.37, P < 0.00001). What's more, the JOA score and ODI score were higher in the Coflex group during early follow-up. Yet, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups with the extension of follow-up time. Moreover, the Coflex group had a lower VAS score than fusion treatment (P < 0.00001). Finally, the Coflex group had lower total complications rate (P = 0.03), lower ASD rate (P = 0.001), and higher range of motion (P < 0.00001), but there was no significant difference in reoperation rate and internal fixation problems rate. CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests that lumbar dynamic stabilization device Coflex is superior to posterior lumbar fusion in early follow-up. However, considering that the dynamic stabilization device group also has its limitations, these findings need to be further verified by multicenter, double-blind, and large-sample randomized controlled trials.

Platelet-rich plasma promotes peripheral nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury.

The effect of platelet-rich plasma on nerve regeneration remains controversial. In this study, we established a rabbit model of sciatic nerve small-gap defects with preserved epineurium and then filled the gaps with platelet-rich plasma. Twenty-eight rabbits were divided into the following groups (7 rabbits/group): model, low-concentration PRP (2.5-3.5-fold concentration of whole blood platelets), medium-concentration PRP (4.5-6.5-fold concentration of whole blood platelets), and high-concentration PRP (7.5-8.5-fold concentration of whole blood platelets). Electrophysiological and histomorphometrical assessments and proteomics analysis were used to evaluate regeneration of the sciatic nerve. Our results showed that platelet-rich plasma containing 4.5-6.5- and 7.5-8.5-fold concentrations of whole blood platelets promoted repair of sciatic nerve injury. Proteomics analysis was performed to investigate the possible mechanism by which platelet-rich plasma promoted nerve regeneration. Proteomics analysis showed that after sciatic nerve injury, platelet-rich plasma increased the expression of integrin subunit ß-8 (ITGB8), which participates in angiogenesis, and differentially expressed proteins were mainly enriched in focal adhesion pathways. Additionally, two key proteins, ribosomal protein S27a (RSP27a) and ubiquilin 1 (UBQLN1), which were selected after protein-protein interaction analysis, are involved in the regulation of ubiquitin levels in vivo. These data suggest that platelet-rich plasma promotes peripheral nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury by affecting angiogenesis and intracellular ubiquitin levels.

Design of a Sleep Modulation System with FPGA-Accelerated Deep Learning for Closed-loop Stage-Specific In-Phase Auditory Stimulation.

Closed-loop sleep modulation is an emerging research paradigm to treat sleep disorders and enhance sleep benefits. However, two major barriers hinder the widespread application of this research paradigm. First, subjects often need to be wire-connected to rack-mount instrumentation for data acquisition, which negatively affects sleep quality. Second, conventional real-time sleep stage classification algorithms give limited performance. In this work, we conquer these two limitations by developing a sleep modulation system that supports closed-loop operations on the device. Sleep stage classification is performed using a lightweight deep learning (DL) model accelerated by a low-power field-programmable gate array (FPGA) device. The DL model uses a single channel electroencephalogram (EEG) as input. Two convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are used to capture general and detailed features, and a bidirectional long-short-term memory (LSTM) network is used to capture time-variant sequence features. An 8-bit quantization is used to reduce the computational cost without compromising performance. The DL model has been validated using a public sleep database containing 81 subjects, achieving a state-of-the-art classification accuracy of 85.8% and a F1-score of 79%. The developed model has also shown the potential to be generalized to different channels and input data lengths. Closed-loop in-phase auditory stimulation has been demonstrated on the test bench.

A 21.3%-Efficiency Clipped-Sinusoid UWB Impulse Radio Transmitter With Simultaneous Inductive Powering and Data Receiving.

An ultra-wide-band impulse-radio (UWB-IR) transmitter (TX) for low-energy biomedical microsystems is presented. High power efficiency is achieved by modulating an LC tank that always resonates in the steady state during transmission. A new clipped-sinusoid scheme is proposed for on-off keying (OOK)-modulation, which is implemented by a voltage clipper circuit with on-chip biasing generation. The TX is designed to provide a high data-rate wireless link within the 3-5 GHz band. The chip was fabricated in 130 nm CMOS technology and fully characterized. State-of-the-art power efficiency of 21.3% was achieved at a data-rate of 230 Mbps and energy consumption of 21pJ/b. A bit-error-rate (BER) of less than 10 -6 was measured at a distance of 1 m without pulse averaging. In addition, simultaneous wireless powering and VCO-based data transmission are supported. A potential extension to a VCO-free all-wireless mode to further reduce the power consumption is also discussed.

Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS): A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aim: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of electroacupuncture for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP Database (VIP), and Wan Fang Database up to May 2022 for relevant studies. Relevant studies were identified by using specific eligibility criteria and data were extracted. Results: A total of 26 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 1,698 patients were included. Compared with routine treatment, electroacupuncture treatment had lower visual analog scale (VAS) score [mean difference = -0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.11 to -0.47, P < 0.00001], and the symptom severity scale and function status scale in electroacupuncture group were significantly lower than the control group (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.006). Moreover, the electrophysiological parameters in the electroacupuncture group were better than the control group. The electroacupuncture group had higher total effective rate than the control group (odds ratio = 4.94, 95% CI: 3.44-7.08, P < 0.00001). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis indicated that electroacupuncture had lower VAS score, higher total effective rate, a lower the scores of symptoms and function and electroacupuncture had better electrophysiological parameters. However, these findings needed to be verified further by multicenter, double-blind, and large-sample RCTs.

Activation of HIF-1α/VEGF-A pathway by deferoxamine ameliorates retinal hypoxia in a rat subarachnoid hemorrhage model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with sustained vasoconstriction in retinal vessels and vasoconstriction leads to retinal ischemia and hypoxia. Our previous finding also revealed the changes in hypoxia-related elements in the retina after SAH, further lending weight to the hypothesis that retinal vasospasm and hypoxia after SAH. Deferoxamine is a high-affinity iron chelator with reported neuroprotective effects against stroke. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of deferoxamine on retinal hypoxia after SAH. METHODS: SAH was established and deferoxamine was injected intraperitoneally for 3 days in the treatment group. To detect retinal new vessels, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31) was labeled by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the effects of deferoxamine on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were revealed by western blot analysis. RESULTS: The immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining of CD31 revealed a marked increase in new vessels in the retinal ganglion cell layer after deferoxamine treatment. By western blot analysis, HIF-1α and VEGF-A increased gradually in the first day and then rebounded to a new level on day 7. A deferoxamine-induced increase in HIF-1α/VEGF-A expression was also confirmed by western blot. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that modulating the application of deferoxamine may offer therapeutic approaches to alleviate retinal complications after SAH.

Controlling sustained statins release in multi-layered composite scaffolds for healing of osteoporotic bone defects.

The risk of fragility fracture sharply increases due to the decreased bone mineral density and toughness in patients with osteoporosis (OP). The local use of bone tissue scaffolds with both mechanical stability and drug-delivery functionality is one of the key strategies for the efficient curing of OP. In this work, we reported a layer-by-layer constructing strategy to fabricate 3-D composite bone tissue scaffolds (eSTPS) by assembling ß-tri­calcium phosphate (ß-TCP)/polycaprolactone (PCL) microchips and lovastatin-loaded nanofiber membranes (eLOV/PCL). The eSTPS scaffolds show a strong and suited compressive strength as well as long-term delivery of lovastatin. The in vitro tests indicate well biocompatibility and alkaline phosphatase activity of the scaffolds. The eSTPS scaffolds were implanted into the femur of OP modeled rabbits. After 12 weeks curing, the bone parameters are significantly improved, meanwhile ingrowth of new bone and vascular-like tissue were observed. These results suggest the eSTPS scaffolds to be a promising candidate for the local treatment of OP.

Rabies Virus Exploits Cytoskeleton Network to Cause Early Disease Progression and Cellular Dysfunction.

Rabies virus (RABV) is a cunning neurotropic pathogen and causes top priority neglected tropical diseases in the developing world. The genome of RABV consists of nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P), matrix protein (M), glycoprotein (G), and RNA polymerase L protein (L), respectively. The virus causes neuronal dysfunction instead of neuronal cell death by deregulating the polymerization of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton and subverts the associated binding and motor proteins for efficient viral progression. These binding proteins mainly maintain neuronal structure, morphology, synaptic integrity, and complex neurophysiological pathways. However, much of the exact mechanism of the viral-cytoskeleton interaction is yet unclear because several binding proteins of the actin-microtubule cytoskeleton are involved in multifaceted pathways to influence the retrograde and anterograde axonal transport of RABV. In this review, all the available scientific results regarding cytoskeleton elements and their possible interactions with RABV have been collected through systematic methodology, and thereby interpreted to explain sneaky features of RABV. The aim is to envisage the pathogenesis of RABV to understand further steps of RABV progression inside the cells. RABV interacts in a number of ways with the cell cytoskeleton to produce degenerative changes in the biochemical and neuropathological trails of neurons and other cell types. Briefly, RABV changes the gene expression of essential cytoskeleton related proteins, depolymerizes actin and microtubules, coordinates the synthesis of inclusion bodies, manipulates microtubules and associated motors proteins, and uses actin for clathrin-mediated entry in different cells. Most importantly, the P is the most intricate protein of RABV that performs complex functions. It artfully operates the dynein motor protein along the tracks of microtubules to assist the replication, transcription, and transport of RABV until its egress from the cell. New remedial insights at subcellular levels are needed to counteract the destabilization of the cytoskeleton under RABV infection to stop its life cycle.

Synthesis of Ce/Gd@HA/PLGA Scaffolds Contributing to Bone Repair and MRI Enhancement.

It is important for future clinical applications to design and synthesize multipurpose scaffolding materials for bone tissue engineering with high osteogenic induction and MRI capability. In the present study, we synthesized Ce/Gd@HA by co-doping Ce3+ and Gd3+ into hydroxyapatite (HA) using a hydrothermal synthesis method, and then Ce/Gd@HA composites were synthesized by combining Ce/Gd@HA nanoparticles with polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) to investigate whether implanted Ce/Gd@HA/PLGA composites could promote osteoblast viability, leading to tibia repair of the rats and enhance MRI. The measurement results contain X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) showing that HA doped with Ce3+ and Gd3+ was still a hexagonal crystal with high crystallinity. The synthesized Ce/Gd@HA/PLGA composites have a structure and obvious magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) capability. The in vitro experimental results indicated that Ce/Gd@HA/PLGA composites significantly promoted the performance of MC3T3-E1 cells, containing proliferation, adhesion, and osteogenic differentiation capacities. These include the improvement of alkaline phosphatase activity, enhancement of mineral deposition, and upregulation of OCN and COL-1 gene expression. The in vivo experimental results demonstrated that the Ce/Gd@HA/PLGA composites significantly improved the healing rate of rat bone defects. The MRI images indicated that the Ga-doped composites were observed in the MRI T1 sequence in rats. The aforementioned results suggested that Ce/Gd@HA/PLGA composites not only effectively promoted bone formation but also enhanced MRI capability. The composites synthesized in this study have great potential in bone regeneration with an extensive application in bone tissue engineering.

Erratum: "miR-182 promotes cell proliferation and invasion by inhibiting APC in melanoma".

[This corrects the article on p. 1900 in vol. 11, PMID: 31938296.].

Evaluation of Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration: A Critical Review of Literature.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a common disease in clinic, and the regeneration process of peripheral nerve tissue is slow, and patients with PNI often suffer from the loss of nerve function. At present, related research on the mechanism of peripheral nerve regeneration has become a hot spot, and scholars are also seeking a method that can accelerate the regeneration of peripheral nerve. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a platelet concentrate extracted from autologous blood by centrifugation, which is a kind of bioactive substance. High concentration of platelets can release a variety of growth factors after activation, and can promote the proliferation and differentiation of tissue cells, which can accelerate the process of tissue regeneration. The application of PRP comes from the body, there is no immune rejection reaction, it can promote tissue regeneration with less cost, it is,therefore, widely used in various clinical fields. At present, there are relatively few studies on the application of PRP to peripheral nerve regeneration. This article summarizes the literature in recent years to illustrate the effect of PRP on peripheral nerve regeneration from mechanism to clinical application, and prospects for the application of PRP to peripheral nerve.

Inhibition of TRPA1 Attenuates Oxidative Stress-induced Damage After Traumatic Brain Injury via the ERK/AKT Signaling Pathway.

Neuron apoptosis is a feature of secondary injury after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Evidence implies that excess calcium (Ca2+) ions and reactive oxidative species (ROS) play critical roles in apoptosis. In reaction to increased ROS, the anti-oxidative master transcription factor, Transient receptor potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) allows Ca2+ ions to enter cells. However, the effect of TBI on the expression of TRPA1 and the role of TRPA1 in TBI are unclear. In the present study, TBI in the mouse brain was simulated using the weight-drop model. The process of neuronal oxidative stress was simulated in HT22 neuronal cells by treatment with hydrogen peroxide. We found that TRPA1 was significantly upregulated in neurons at 24 h after TBI. Neuronal apoptosis was increased in the in vivo and in vitro models; however, this increase was reduced by the functional inhibition of TRPA1 in both models. After TBI, TRPA1 was upregulated via nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2) in neurons. TRPA1-mediated neuronal apoptosis after TBI might be achieved in part through the CaMKII/AKT/ERK signaling pathway. To sum up, TBI-triggered TRPA1 upregulation in neurons is mediated by Nrf2 and the functional blockade of TRPA1 attenuates neuronal apoptosis and improves neuronal dysfunction, partially mediated through the activation of the calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) extracellular regulated kinase (ERK)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. Our results suggest that functional blockade of TRPA1 might be a promising therapeutic intervention related to ROS and Nrf2 in TBI.

Metal Nanoparticles@Covalent Organic Framework@Enzymes: A Universal Platform for Fabricating a Metal-Enzyme Integrated Nanocatalyst.

Cascade catalysis that combines chemical catalysis and biocatalysis has received extensive attention in recent years, especially the integration of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) with enzymes. However, the compatibility between MNPs and enzymes, and the stability of the integrated nanocatalyst should be improved to promote the application. Therefore, in this study, we proposed a strategy to space-separately co-immobilize MNPs and enzymes to the pores and surface of a highly stable covalent organic framework (COF), respectively. Typically, Pd NPs that were prepared by in situ reduction with triazinyl as the nucleation site were distributed in COF (Tz-Da), and organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) was immobilized on the surface of Tz-Da by a covalent method to improve its stability. The obtained integrated nanocatalyst Pd@Tz-Da@OPH showed high catalytic efficiency and reusability in the cascade degradation of organophosphate nerve agents. Furthermore, the versatility of the preparation strategy of COF-based integrated nanocatalyst has been preliminarily expanded: (1) Pd NPs and OPH were immobilized in the triazinyl COF (TTB-DHBD) with different pore sizes for cascade degradation of organophosphate nerve agent and the particle size of MNPs can be regulated. (2) Pt NPs and glucose oxidase were immobilized in COF (Tz-Da) to obtain an integrated nanocatalyst for efficient colorimetric detection of phenol.