A large presence/absence variation in the promotor of the ClLOG gene determines trichome elongation in watermelon.

KEY MESSAGE: The ClLOG gene encoding a cytokinin riboside 5'-monophosphate phosphoribohydrolase determines trichome length in watermelon, which is associated with its promoter variations. Trichomes, which are differentiated from epidermal cells, are special accessory structures that cover the above-ground organs of plants and possibly contribute to biotic and abiotic stress resistance. Here, a bulked segregant analysis (BSA) of an F2 population with significant variations in trichome length was undertaken. A 1.84-Mb candidate region on chromosome 10 was associated with trichome length. Resequencing and fine-mapping analyses indicated that a 12-kb structural variation in the promoter of Cla97C10G203450 (ClLOG) led to a significant expression difference in this gene in watermelon lines with different trichome lengths. In addition, a virus-induced gene silencing analysis confirmed that ClLOG positively regulated trichome elongation. These findings provide new information and identify a potential target gene for controlling multicellular trichome elongation in watermelon.

Promoter variations of ClERF1 gene determines flesh firmness in watermelon.

BACKGROUND: Flesh firmness is a critical factor that influences fruit storability, shelf-life and consumer's preference as well. However, less is known about the key genetic factors that are associated with flesh firmness in fresh fruits like watermelon. RESULTS: In this study, through bulk segregant analysis (BSA-seq), we identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) that influenced variations in flesh firmness among recombinant inbred lines (RIL) developed from cross between the Citrullus mucosospermus accession ZJU152 with hard-flesh and Citrullus lanatus accession ZJU163 with soft-flesh. Fine mapping and sequence variations analyses revealed that ethylene-responsive factor 1 (ClERF1) was the most likely candidate gene for watermelon flesh firmness. Furthermore, several variations existed in the promoter region between ClERF1 of two parents, and significantly higher expressions of ClERF1 were found in hard-flesh ZJU152 compared with soft-flesh ZJU163 at key developmental stages. DUAL-LUC and GUS assays suggested much stronger promoter activity in ZJU152 over ZJU163. In addition, the kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) genotyping datasets of RIL populations and germplasm accessions further supported ClERF1 as a possible candidate gene for fruit flesh firmness variability and the hard-flesh genotype might only exist in wild species C. mucosospermus. Through yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual luciferase assay, we found that ClERF1 could directly bind to the promoters of auxin-responsive protein (ClAux/IAA) and exostosin family protein (ClEXT) and positively regulated their expressions influencing fruit ripening and cell wall biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that ClERF1 encoding an ethylene-responsive factor 1 is associated with flesh firmness in watermelon and provide mechanistic insight into the regulation of flesh firmness, and the ClERF1 gene is potentially applicable to the molecular improvement of fruit-flesh firmness by design breeding.

Cryopreserved platelets washed with a dialysis machine for dimethyl sulphoxide removal.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cryopreserved platelets (cPLTs) can be stored for years and are mainly used in military settings. However, the commonly used cryoprotectant dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) has toxic side effects when utilized in high quantities. We developed a novel method to aseptically remove DMSO from thawed cPLTs by dialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One unit of platelets (N = 6) was mixed with 75 mL of 27% DMSO within 4 days after collection and stored at -80°C for 1 week. The platelet counts, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet activity, platelet release, platelet aggregation, platelet metabolism indicators and platelet ultrastructural features (determined by electron microscopy) of the samples at the pre-freeze, post-thaw wash (post-TW) and 24 h post-thaw wash (24-PTW) stages were determined and compared. RESULTS: The DMSO clearance rate from the post-TW platelets was 95.56 ± 1.3%, and the platelet recovery rate after washing was 74.66 ± 6.34%. The total count, activity, release factors, aggregation and thrombolytic ability of the post-TW platelets were lower, whereas the MPV and apoptosis rates were higher compared with those of the pre-freeze platelets. The lactic acid, glucose and potassium ions released from the platelets during washing were filtered away by the dialyser, which significantly reduced their concentration. However, 24-PTW platelets were metabolically active, resulting in a decrease in pH and glucose content and an increase in lactic acid content. The level of potassium ions remained low after 24 h of storage and washing. The pre-freeze platelets maintained their normal disc shape and exhibited an open canalicular system (OCS) and a dense tubular system. The cPLTs appeared irregular after washing, with protruding pseudopodia and an extensive OCS, which increased the release of their contents. CONCLUSION: We developed a novel dialysis method to effectively remove DMSO from cPLTs under aseptic conditions and maintain platelet quality. The clinical efficacy of our method remains to be determined. However, the function of the platelets declined 24 h after washing, making them unsuitable for transfusion.

Structural variation of GL1 gene determines the trichome formation in Brassica juncea.

KEY MESSAGE: A 448 kb region on chromosome B02 was delimited to be associated with trichome trait in Brassica juncea, in which the BjuVB02G54610 gene with a structural variation of 3 kb structure variation (SV) encoding a MYB transcription factor was predicted as the possible candidate gene. Mustards (Brassica juncea) are allopolyploid crops in the worldwide, and trichomes are essential quality attributes that significantly influence its taste and palpability in vegetable-use cultivars. As important accessory tissues from specialized epidermal cells, trichomes also play an important role in mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, we constructed a F2 segregating population using YJ27 with intensive trichome leaves and 03B0307 with glabrous leaves as parents. By bulked segregant analysis (BSA-seq), we obtained a 2.1 Mb candidate region on B02 chromosome associated with the trichome or glabrous trait formation. Then, we used 13 Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) markers for fine mapping and finally narrowed down the candidate region to about 448 kb in length. Interestingly, among the region, there was a 3 kb sequence deletion that located on the BjuVB02G54610 gene in the F2 individuals with trichome leaves. Genotyping results of F2 populations confirmed this deletion (R2 = 81.44%) as a major QTL. Natural population re-sequencing analysis and genotyping results further validated the key role of the 3 kb structure variation (SV) of insertion/deletion type in trichome development in B. juncea. Our findings provide important information on the formation of trichomes and potential target gene for breeding vegetable mustards.

Extracellular Matrix-Mimetic Peptide Scaffolds Prolonged the Hypothermic Preservation of Stem Cells for Storage and Transportation.

Encouraging advances in both regenerative medicine and tissue engineering with stem cells require a short-term preservation protocol to provide enough time for quality control or the transportation of cell products from manufacturing facilities to clinical destinations. The hypothermic preservation of stem cells under refrigerated conditions (2-8 °C) in their specific culture medium provides an alternative and low-cost method for cryopreservation or commercial preservation fluid for short-term storage. However, most stem cells are vulnerable to hypothermia, which might result in cell damage from the cooling process and the lack of extracellular matrix (ECM). Herein, we report a peptide scaffold cell-culture-medium additive for mimicking in vivo ECM to enhance the storage efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) under hypothermic preservation. Peptide scaffolds exhibit protective effects against hypothermic injury by maintaining the viability, proliferation, migration, and differentiation capabilities of cells. The mechanistic study showed that the peptide scaffold was conducive to maintain mitochondrial function by retaining mitochondrial respiration, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and mass to alleviate intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Moreover, the peptide scaffold also prolonged the survival and retained the multipotency of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) under hypothermic conditions. In conclusion, these results demonstrate a feasible and convenient preservation system for stem cells that has the potential to promote the clinical application of hematopoietic stem cell therapy.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of bunching onion illuminates genome evolution and flavor formation in Allium crops.

The Allium genus is cultivated globally as vegetables, condiments, or medicinal plants and is characterized by large genomes and strong pungency. However, the genome evolution and genomic basis underlying their unique flavor formation remain poorly understood. Herein, we report an 11.27-Gb chromosome-scale genome assembly for bunching onion (A. fistulosum). The uneven bursts of long-terminal repeats contribute to diversity in genome constituents, and dispersed duplication events largely account for gene expansion in Allium genomes. The extensive duplication and differentiation of alliinase and lachrymatory factor synthase manifest as important evolutionary events during flavor formation in Allium crops. Furthermore, differential selective preference for flavor-related genes likely lead to the variations in isoalliin content in bunching onions. Moreover, we reveal that China is the origin and domestication center for bunching onions. Our findings provide insights into Allium genome evolution, flavor formation and domestication history and enable future genome-assisted breeding of important traits in these crops.

A natural mutation of the NST1 gene arrests secondary cell wall biosynthesis in the seed coat of a hull-less pumpkin accession.

Hull-less pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo L.) are naturally occurring novel variants known as oilseed or naked-seeded pumpkins, and are characterized by the absence of a normal lignified seed coat. Due to a specialized seed coat structure, these variants serve as a good model for studying seed coat formation and simplify the processing of pumpkin seeds. However, causal genes for this hull-less trait still remain unknown. Here, by bulked segregant analysis and fine mapping, we found that mutation of a single gene, NAC SECONDARY WALL THICKENING PROMOTING FACTOR 1 (NST1), accounts for the hull-less trait. A 14-bp sequence insertion in the CpNST1 gene causes premature termination of CpNST1 translation, leading to lack of secondary cell wall (SCW) biosynthesis in hull-less seed coats. In situ hybridization analysis provided further evidence for the role of CpNST1 in pumpkin seed coat SCW biosynthesis. Interestingly, through secondary cell wall compositional analysis, we found that the main SCW components differed among cell layers in the seed coat. RNA-seq analysis indicated an upstream role of CpNST1 in the SCW biosynthesis network. Collectively, our findings provide mechanistic insight into seed coat SCW biosynthesis, and a target gene for breeders to introduce this hull-less trait for commercial exploitation.

An allelic variant in the ACS7 gene promotes primary root growth in watermelon.

KEY MESSAGE: Gene mining in a C. lanatus × C. amarus population revealed one gene, ACS7, linked to primary root elongation in watermelon. Watermelon is a xerophytic crop characterized by a long primary root and robust lateral roots. Therefore, watermelon serves as an excellent model for studying root elongation and development. However, the genetic mechanism underlying the primary root elongation in watermelon remains unknown. Herein, through bulk segregant analysis we identified a genetic locus, qPRL.Chr03, controlling primary root length (PRL) using two different watermelon species (Citrullus lanatus and Citrullus amarus) that differ in their root architecture. Fine mapping revealed that xaa-Pro dipeptidase and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase 7 (ACS7) are candidate regulators of the primary root growth. Allelic variation in the delimited region among 193 watermelon accessions indicated that the long-root alleles might only exist in C. amarus. Interestingly, the discrepancy in PRL among the C. amarus accessions was clearly associated with a nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism variant within the ACS7 gene. The ACS7 expression and ethylene levels in the primary root tips suggested that ethylene is a negative regulator of root elongation in watermelon, as supported by the application of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC, the ethylene precursor) or 2-aminoethoxyvinyl glycine (AVG, an ACS inhibitor). To the best of our knowledge, these findings provide the first description of the genetic basis of root elongation in watermelon. The detected markers of the ACS7 gene will facilitate marker-assisted selection for the PRL trait to improve water and nutrient use efficacy in watermelon and beyond.

Improvement of irradiation-induced fibroblast damage by α2-macroglobulin through alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction.

CONTEXT: α2-Macroglobulin (α2-M) is believed to be a potential anti-irradiation agent, but related mechanisms remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the irradiation protective effect of α2-M. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 10 Gy dose of irradiation was used to damage human skin fibroblasts. The influence of α2-M (100 µg/mL) on the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of fibroblasts was observed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), wound healing, transwell, and flow cytometry. Malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and catalase was measured using related ELISA kits. The levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and calcium were detected using flow cytometry. The expression of transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2) was investigated through western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: High purity of α2-M was isolated from Cohn fraction IV. α2-M significantly increased cell proliferation, migration, invasion, but suppressed cell apoptosis after irradiation. The promotion of cell proliferation, migration and invasion by α2-M exceeded over 50% compared group irradiation. The increased cell ratio in the S phase and decreased cell ratio in the G2 phase induced by irradiation were remarkably reversed by α2-M. α2-M markedly suppressed the increased oxidative stress level caused by irradiation. The mitochondrial damage induced by irradiation was improved by α2-M through inhibiting mitochondrial membrane potential loss, calcium and TRPM2 expression. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: α2-M significantly promoted the decreased fibroblast viability and improved the mitochondria dysfunction caused by irradiation. α2-M might present anti-radiation effect through alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction caused by irradiation. This study could provide a novel understanding about the improvement of α2-M on irradiation-induced injury.

Prognostic Factors and Treatments Efficacy in Spontaneous Spinal Epidural Hematoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is an uncommon but serious condition with a high morbidity rate. Although SSEH is related to numerous risk factors, its etiology remains unclear. There is a paucity of data on its prognostic factors. We aim to evaluate prognostic factors for SSEH in this study. METHOD: A retrospective study was performed on patients who were admitted for SSEH in 3 academic neurosurgical centers from January 2010 to June 2021. Clinical parameters, including clinical condition on admission, anticoagulants use, imaging modality, the timing and type of surgery performed, and outcomes, were collected. Prognostic factors were analyzed. The Frankel scale was used to assess the clinical condition. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients with SSEH were retrieved from medical records, with a mean age of 51.3 years. Eighty-three patients (79%) complained of acute onset of severe neck or back pain. Eighty-two patients (78%) suffered from moderate to severe neurologic deficits (Frankel scale A-C). Anticoagulation usage was found in 20% of cases. Lower thoracic spine (p = 0.046), use of anticoagulants (p = 0.019), sphincter function disfunction (p = 0.008), severe neurologic deficits at admission (p < 0.001), and rapid deterioration (<1 hour, p = 0.004) were found to be associated with poor outcomes. Surgical decompression was performed in 74 (70%) cases. The univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative severe neurologic deficits (p = 0.005) and extended paraplegia time (>12 hours, p = 0.004) were independent adverse prognostic factors. The univariate analysis revealed that lower thoracic spine location (p = 0.08) and rapid progression (<6 hours, p = 0.005) were correlated with poor prognosis, but the multivariate analysis failed to identify them as independent prognostic factors. DISCUSSION: Adverse prognostic factors for SSEH might include thoracic segment location, use of anticoagulation, severe neurologic deficits on admission, sphincter dysfunction, and rapid progression. Preoperative neurologic deficit and extended paraplegia time were strongly correlated with the prognosis in the subset of patients who underwent surgical decompression. Timely surgical decompression is recommended for patients with moderate/severe neurologic deficits or progressive neurologic deterioration.

Phenotypic and Functional Characterizations of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Isolated From Human Cranial Bone Marrow.

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that were originally isolated from bone marrow. In contrast to long bone-derived MSCs that have been extensively characterized, our knowledge regarding to MSCs isolated from flat bones (e.g., cranial bones) remain less clear. In this study, MSCs were purified from human cranial bone marrow (CB-MSCs) and their transdifferentiation capacity and immunomodulatory functions were further characterized. Phenotypic analysis of CB-MSCs demonstrated high expression of CD73, CD90, and CD105 while negative for CD14, CD34, and HLA-DR. Further in vitro differentiation assay shown that CB-MSCs capable of differentiating into cell types of mesenchymal origin (i.e., adipocytes, osetoblasts, and chondrocytes) and collectively, these results indicated that cells isolated from cranial bone marrow in this study are bona fide MSCs according to the minimal criteria proposed by the International Society for Cellular Therapy. Following in vitro expansion, single colony-derived CB-MSCs (scCB-MSCs) were obtained and confocal microscopy analysis further revealed functional heterogeneity within primary CB-MSCs. Specifically, obtained scCB-MSCs exhibited GABA progenitor features, as determined by olig2 and nestin. As expect, scCB-MSCs were readily induced to differentiate into GABAergic neuron-like cells. Furthermore, immunomodulatory roles of scCB-MSCs were evaluated following co-culture with human peripheral blood lymphocytes and results shown that co-culturing with scCB-MSCs significantly suppressed lymphocyte proliferation and promoted differentiation of lymphocytes into regulatory T cells but not Th1/Th17 phenotype. Overall, our results indicated that CB-MSCs exhibited clonal heterogeneity with marked propensity to differentiate into neural-like cells and this might represent promising candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Prevalence and Genetic Analysis of ß-Thalassemia in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of the Yunnan Province, China.

Background: ß-Thalassemia is the most common monogenetic hemolytic hemoglobin-associated disease in the south of China; the distribution of genetic mutations associated with this condition varies according to geographic regions. This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of ß-thalassemia-associated mutations across different ethnic groups in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of the Yunnan Province, China. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 4723 participants (15-45 years old) who volunteered for thalassaemia screening from the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture from May 2017 to October 2020. Cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis was used to screen for ß-thalassemia carriers. Genotypic analyses was performed using polymerase chain reaction-based reverse dot blotting and DNA sequencing. Results: The overall prevalence of ß-thalassemia in the study population was 2.01%. The genotypic analyses showed the presence of four types of mutations in the ß-globin gene: CD26 (GAG→AAG), CD56 (GGC→GAC), IVS-II-81 (C→T), and CD121 (GAA→CAA). In contrast to previous studies from other regions of Yunnan Province, our results showed that the prevalence of CD26 mutations was significantly higher than that of the other mutations. Conclusion: Our data suggests that the Dali Autonomous Prefecture is an area with a high prevalence of ß-thalassemia. Moreover, CD26 was the only ß-thalassemia mutation that we have detected. Moreover, the vast majority of the ß-thalassemia mutations observed were CD26.

An Optimized Method for Adipose Stromal Vascular Fraction Isolation and its Application in Fat Grafting.

BACKGROUND: The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) derived from adipose tissue contains heterogeneous cell populations and has enormous potential for clinical therapy. There are two main methods for SVF isolation: enzymatic isolation and mechanical isolation, both of which have shortcomings. In this study, optimized conditions for the isolation of high-quality SVF were established, and applications in fat grafting were evaluated. METHODS: Adipose tissue was chopped into small pieces and then ground into an erosive shape using a syringe. The pieces were digested with 0.15% type II collagenase for 35 min at 37 °C. After centrifugation, the pellets were resuspended in DMEM and passed through a 100-µm strainer. The filtered cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The fat graft was enriched with isolated SVF and subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice. Three weeks after transplantation, grafts were isolated, and H&E staining, immunocytochemistry, and western blotting were conducted. RESULTS: The harvested SVF cells reached > 2 × 106/ml of adipose tissue within 90 min of operation. The number of CD34+ ADSCs in our SVF pellets was > 6 × 105/ml of adipose tissue, which has the potential for differentiating into osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. Freshly collected adipose tissue is better for SVF isolation, and isolated SVF should also be kept at 4 °C and used as soon as possible. SVF may promote revascularization after fat grafting. The adipose tissue of an SVF co-transplanted group had an integral structure, clear capillaries, and higher VEGF expression. SVF co-transplantation inhibited adipose cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Our study provides an efficient procedure for SVF isolation, its application in fat grafting, and possible underlying mechanisms. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Prognostic Value of Combined Lactate Dehydrogenase, C-Reactive Protein, Cancer Antigen 153 and Cancer Antigen 125 in Metastatic Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC), especially metastatic BC, is one of the most lethal diseases in women. CA 125 and CA 15-3 are commonly used indicators for diagnosis and prognosis of BC. Some serological indicators, such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein (CRP), can also be used to assess the prognosis and progression in BC. METHODS: Univariate Cox regression analysis and LASSO regression analysis were performed to identify prognostic factors and build prognostic models. We distributed the patients into 2 groups based on the median risk score, analyzed prognosis by Kaplan-Meier curve, and screened independent prognostic factors by multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULT: We identified 4 indicators-LDH, CRP, CA 15-3, and CA 125-related to the prognosis in BC and established a prognostic model. The high LDH group showed worse overall survival (OS) than low LDH group (P = .017; hazard ratio (HR), 1.528; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.055-2.215). The high CRP group showed worse OS than low CRP group (P = .004; HR, 1.666; 95% CI, 1.143-2.429). The high CA153 group showed worse OS than low CA 15-3 group (P=.011; HR, 1.563; 95% CI, 1.075-2.274). The high CA 125 group showed worse OS than low CA 125 group (P = .021; HR, 1.499; 95% CI, 1.031-2.181). The area under the curve for risk score was .824, Ki-67 was .628, age was .511, and grade was .545. Risk score was found to be an independent prognostic factor using multivariate Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSION: We successfully established an optimization model by combining 4 prognosis-related indicators to assess the prognosis in patients with metastatic BC.

Ultra-structural morphology analysis of human cranial bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells during neural differentiation.

Neural differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells has been widely studied. However, a comparative characterization of ultrastructural changes during neural differentiation has not been performed. In this study, we conducted scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis to show the morphological changes in mesenchymal stromal cells upon induction of neural differentiation. In addition, transmission electron microscopy results demonstrated ultrastructural differences between human cranial bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells and iliac crest bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells. We propose that enriched microvesicles in cranial bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells may be responsible for the increased efficiency of neural differentiation.

Long Non-coding RNA RP11-395G23.3 Acts as a Competing Endogenous RNA of miR-124-3p to Regulate ROR1 in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most aggressive human malignancies with poor prognosis. However, the underlying mechanisms of ATC remain to be elucidated. Recently, increasing studies have focused on competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to discover valuable biomarkers for the diagnosis of ATC. The present study identified 705 differentially expressed mRNAs and 47 differentially expressed lncRNAs. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were also conducted. Additionally, an lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA network was constructed which included 1103 regulatory relations. The upregulation of RP11-395G23.3 in ATC cells was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In the loss of function assays, results suggested silencing of RP11-395G23.3 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. Mechanically, RP11-395G23.3 could increase ROR1 via sponging miR-124-3p as a ceRNA. Moreover, ROR1 expression was decreased with the downregulation of RP11-395G23.3, but was rescued by the co-transfection of the miR-124-3p inhibitor in ATC cells. Our research suggested that the RP11-395G23.3/miR-124-3p/ROR1 axis potentially acted as a potential target for the diagnosis of ATC.

Effect of Warm Acupuncture Combined with Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Transplantation on Cartilage Tissue in Rabbit Knee Osteoarthritis.

The current study was designed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of warm acupuncture combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) transplantation on cartilage tissue injury in rabbit knee osteoarthritis (KOA). In the study, 50 rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups: blank group, KOA group, warm acupuncture group, BMSCs group, and warm acupuncture combined with BMSCs group. After warm acupuncture combined with BMSCs, the Modified Lequesne MG knee joint assessment scale was used to evaluate the degree of knee joint behavior, the Taiping Peng method generally observed the histomorphology changes of KOA rabbit cartilage, and hematoxylin-eosin staining, safranin O green staining, and toluidine blue staining were conducted to evaluate the extent of cartilage tissue pathology. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy and TUNEL staining were used to observe cell apoptosis, and immunohistochemistry and qPCR analysis were used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and mRNA. Results showed that administration of warm acupuncture combined with BMSCs recovered the joint function and significantly decreased Lequesne MG score. The degree of cartilage tissue pathological damage has been improved, cartilage ultrastructure degeneration has recovered, peripheral blood vessels have mild edema, blood supply has gradually recovered, and even small amounts of red blood cells have appeared. In addition, warm acupuncture combined with BMSCs treatment suppressed chondrocyte apoptosis in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis by reduced TUNEL-positive chondrocytes and simultaneously reversed the mRNA expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3. These results indicate that warm acupuncture combined with BMSCs transplantation has a potential protective effect on rabbit KOA, which may be mediated by inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis.

Platelet 3D Preservation Using a Novel Biomimetic Nanofiber Peptide for Reduced Apoptosis and Easy Storage.

Human platelets (PLTs) are vulnerable to unfavorable conditions, and their adequate supply is limited by strict transportation conditions. We report here that PLTs preserved under three-dimensional (3D) conditions using novel biomimetic nanofiber peptides showed reduced apoptosis compared with classical PLTs stored at 22 °C and facilitated the storage and transportation of PLTs. The mechanism of PLT 3D preservation involves the formation of cross-links and a 3D nanofibrous network by a self-assembled peptide scaffold material at physiological conditions after initiation by triggers in plasma. PLTs adhere to the surface of the nanofibrous network to facilitate the 3D distribution of PLTs. The 3D microstructure, rheological properties, and effect on the inflammatory response and hemolysis were evaluated. Compared to traditional PLTs stored at 22 °C, PLTs subjected to 3D preservation showed similar morphology, number, aggregation activity, and reduced apoptosis. The detection of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels demonstrated that both reduced intracellular and mitochondrial ROS levels were correlated with reduced apoptosis. This study reveals a new 3D preservation method for PLTs based on the use of novel biomimetic nanofiber peptides that presents an attractive opportunity for various biomedical applications.

Direct Hydrothermal Deposition of Antimony Triselenide Films for Efficient Planar Heterojunction Solar Cells.

Antimony selenide (Sb2Se3) has attracted increasing attention in photovoltaic applications due to its unique quasi-one-dimensional crystal structure, suitable optical band gap with a high extinction coefficient, and excellent stability. As a promising light-harvesting material, the available synthetic methods for the fabrication of a high-quality film have been quite limited and seriously impeded both the fundamental study and the efficiency improvement. Here, we developed a facile and low-cost hydrothermal method for in situ deposition of Sb2Se3 films for solar cell applications. In this process, we apply KSbC4H4O7 and Na2SeSO3 as the antimony and selenium sources, respectively, in which thiourea (TU) serves as an additive to suppress the formation of Sb2O3 impurities. As a result, improved phase purity and enhanced crystallinity of the Sb2Se3 film are thus obtained, along with decreased trap states. Finally, the planar heterojunction Sb2Se3 solar cell delivered a power conversion efficiency of 7.9%, which is thus far the highest reported efficiency among solution-processed Sb2Se3 solar cells. This simple procedure and efficiency achievement demonstrate the great potential of the hydrothermal deposition process for the fabrication of high-efficiency Sb2Se3 solar cells.

Sequential Coevaporation and Deposition of Antimony Selenosulfide Thin Film for Efficient Solar Cells.

Antimony selenosulfide (Sb2 (S,Se)3 ) is an emerging low-cost, nontoxic solar material with suitable bandgap and high absorption coefficient. Developing effective methods for fabricating high-quality films would benefit the device efficiency improvement and deepen the fundamental understanding on the optoelectronic properties. Herein, equipment is developed that allows online introduction of precursor vapor during the reaction process, enabling sequential coevaporation of Sb2 Se3 and S powders for the deposition of Sb2 (S,Se)3 thin films. With this unique ability, it is revealed that the deposition sequence manipulates both the interfacial properties and optoelectronic properties of the absorber film. A power conversion efficiency of 8.0% is achieved, which is the largest value in vapor-deposition-derived Sb2 (S,Se)3 solar cells. The research demonstrates that multi-source sequential coevaporation is an efficient technique to fabricate high-efficiency Sb2 (S,Se)3 solar cells.