A Colloidal-Quantum-Dot Integrated U-Shape Micro-Light-Emitting-Diode and Its Photonic Characteristics.

A special micro LED whose light emitting area is laid out in a U-like shape is fabricated and integrated with colloidal quantum dots (CQDs). An inkjet-type machine directly dispenses the CQD layer to the central courtyard-like area of this U-shape micro LED. The blue photons emitted by the U-shape mesa with InGaN/GaN quantum wells can excite the CQDs at the central courtyard area and be converted into green or red ones. The U-shape micro LEDs are coated with Al2O3 by an atomic layer deposition system and exhibit moderate external quantum efficiency (6.51% max.) and high surface recombination because of their long peripheries. Low-temperature measurement also confirms the recovery of the external quantum efficiency due to lower non-radiative recombination from the exposed surfaces. The color conversion efficiency brought by the CQD layer can be as high as 33.90%. A further continuous CQD aging test, which was evaluated by the strength of the CQD emission, under current densities of 100 A/cm2 and 200 A/cm2 injected into the micro LED, showed a lifetime extension of the unprotected CQD emission up to 1321 min in the U-shape device compared to a 39 min lifetime in the traditional case, where the same CQD layer was placed on the top surface of a squared LED.

Novel therapeutic activities of dragon blood from palm tree Daemonorops draco for the treatment of chronic diabetic wounds.

BACKGROUND: The clinical efficacy of Jinchuang Ointment, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in treating chronic non-healing diabetic wounds has been demonstrated over the past decades. Both in vitro and in vivo angiogenic activities have been reported for its herbal ingredients, including dragon blood from the palm tree Daemonorops draco and catechu from Uncaria gambir Roxb. Additionally, crude extracts of dragon blood have exhibited hypoglycemic effects not only in animal studies but also in cell-based in vitro assays. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that crude dragon blood extract promotes the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes. Partially purified fractions of dragon blood crude extract significantly enhance the expression of muscle cell differentiation-related genes such as myoG, myoD, and myoHC. Our results also demonstrate that crude extracts of dragon blood can inhibit platelet-derived growth factor-induced PAI-1 expression in primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells, thereby favoring changes in hemostasis towards fibrinolysis. Consistent with previous reports, reduced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) accelerates wound healing. However, further separation resulted in a significant loss of both activities, indicating the involvement of more than one compound in these processes. Stem cells play a crucial role in muscle injury repair. Neither dragon blood nor catechu alone stimulated the proliferation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)-immortalized and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. Interestingly, the proliferation of both types of stem cells was observed when crude extracts of dragon blood and catechu were present together in the stem cell growth medium. CONCLUSIONS: Dragon blood from D. draco offers multifaceted therapeutic benefits for treating chronic nonhealing diabetic wounds from various perspectives. Most drugs in Western medicine consist of small molecules with defined ingredients. However, this is not the case in TCM, as the activities of dragon blood reported in this study. Surprisingly, the activities documented here align with descriptions in ancient Chinese medical texts dating back to A.D. 1625.

Light regulates nuclear detainment of intron-retained transcripts through COP1-spliceosome to modulate photomorphogenesis.

Intron retention (IR) is the most common alternative splicing event in Arabidopsis. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the major role of IR in gene expression regulation. The impacts of IR on plant growth and development and response to environments remain underexplored. Here, we found that IR functions directly in gene expression regulation on a genome-wide scale through the detainment of intron-retained transcripts (IRTs) in the nucleus. Nuclear-retained IRTs can be kept away from translation through this mechanism. COP1-dependent light modulation of the IRTs of light signaling genes, such as PIF4, RVE1, and ABA3, contribute to seedling morphological development in response to changing light conditions. Furthermore, light-induced IR changes are under the control of the spliceosome, and in part through COP1-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of DCS1, a plant-specific spliceosomal component. Our data suggest that light regulates the activity of the spliceosome and the consequent IRT nucleus detainment to modulate photomorphogenesis through COP1.

Cytotoxic glutarimide-containing polyketides isolated from Streptomyces sp. JCM 4793.

Glutarimide-containing polyketides usually exhibit anti-fungi activity, which was well exampled by cycloheximide. In our work, three new polyketide structures, 12-amidestreptimidone (1), 12-carboxylstreptimidone (2) and 3-(5S,8R)-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl-2'-methoxy-2'-oxoethyl)-8,10-dimethyl-7-oxododeca-5-hydroxy-9E,11-diolefin (3) were isolated from Streptomyces sp. JCM 4793. 3 without the glutarimide moiety is not active against fungi as expected, while 1 bearing the amide moiety is much more active than its carboxylic form 2. Here we report the isolation, structural elucidation, antifungal activity, and proposed biosynthesis pathway of 1-3.

Genome assembly of Ottelia alismoides, a multiple-carbon utilisation aquatic plant.

OBJECTIVES: Ottelia Pers. is in the Hydrocharitaceae family. Species in the genus are aquatic, and China is their centre of origin in Asia. Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers., which is distributed worldwide, is a distinguishing element in China, while other species of this genus are endemic to China. However, O. alismoides is also considered endangered due to habitat loss and pollution in some Asian countries. Ottelia alismoides is the only submerged macrophyte that contains three carbon dioxide-concentrating mechanisms, i.e. bicarbonate (HCO3-) use, crassulacean acid metabolism and the C4 pathway. In this study, we present its first genome assembly to help illustrate the various carbon metabolism mechanisms and to enable genetic conservation in the future. DATA DESCRIPTION: Using DNA and RNA extracted from one O. alismoides leaf, this work produced ∼ 73.4 Gb HiFi reads, ∼ 126.4 Gb whole genome sequencing short reads and ∼ 21.9 Gb RNA-seq reads. The de novo genome assembly was 6,455,939,835 bp in length, with 11,923 scaffolds/contigs and an N50 of 790,733 bp. Genome assembly completeness assessment with Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs revealed a score of 94.4%. The repetitive sequence in the assembly was 4,875,817,144 bp (75.5%). A total of 116,176 genes were predicted. The protein sequences were functionally annotated against multiple databases, facilitating comparative genomic analysis.

Exit wave reconstruction of a focal series of images with structural changes in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images can capture the atomic-resolution details of the dynamically changing structure of nanomaterials. Here, we propose a new scheme and an improved reconstruction algorithm to reconstruct the exit wave function for each image in a focal series of HRTEM images to reveal structural changes. In this scheme, the wave reconstructed from the focal series of images is treated as the initial wave in the reconstruction process for each HRTEM image. Additionally, to suppress noise at the frequencies where the signal is weak due to the modulation of the lens transfer function, a weight factor is introduced in the improved reconstruction algorithm. The advantages of the new scheme and algorithms are validated by using the HRTEM images of a natural specimen and a single-layer molybdenum disulphide. This algorithm enables image resolution enhancement and lens aberration removal, while potentially allowing the visualisation of the structural evolution of nanostructures.

Biomechanical Comparisons of All-Suture Suspensory Button versus Interference Screw for Inlay Subpectoral Bicep tenodesis.

BACKGROUND: All-suture buttons (ASB) and interference screw (IS) are commonly utilized in the inlay subpectoral biceps tendon tenodesis. However, the biomechanical characteristics of these two methods have not been compared directly. The aim of present study was to compare the biomechanical properties of ASB versus IS for inlay subpectoral biceps tendon tenodesis in a human cadaveric model. METHODS: Sixteen fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders were randomly divided into two experimental inlay biceps tenodesis groups: ASB or IS. After tenodesis, every specimen was preloaded at 5 N for 2 minutes, followed with a cyclic loading test from 5 to 70 N for 500 load cycles. Then the load-to-failure test was performed. Afterwards, the humerus was placed in a cylinder tube and secured with anchoring cement. Lastly, a two-point bending test was performed to determine the strength of the humerus. Destructive axial force was applied, and the failure strength and displacement were recorded. RESULTS: No difference in stiffness was observed between the two groups (ASB=27.4 ± 3.5 N/mm vs IS= 29.7 ± 3.0 N/mm; P=.270). Cyclic displacement was significantly greater in the ASB group (6.8 ± 2.6 mm) than the IS group (3.8 ± 1.1 mm; P=.021). In terms of failure load, there were no statistical differences among the two groups (P=.234). The ASB group was able to withstand significantly greater displacement (11.9 ± 1.6 mm) before failure than the IS group (7.8 ± 1.5mm; P=.001). During the humeral bending test, the ASB group exhibited significantly greater maximal load (2354.8 ± 285.1 N vs 2086.4 ± 296.1 N; P=.046) and larger displacement (17.8 ± 2.8mm vs 14.1± 2.8 mm; P=.027) before fracture. CONCLUSIONS: In inlay subpectoral bicep tenodesis, ASB fixation appears to offer comparable stiffness and failure load to that of IS fixation. Additionally, the ASB group exhibited greater resistance to load and displacement before humeral fracture. However, the ASB group did demonstrate increased cyclic displacement compared to IS group.

Retrospective Investigation and Research on Fall Events Among Hospitalized Patients in the Rehabilitation Department.

Objective: We investigated the clinical characteristics, fall outcomes, and related factors of falls in patients who were hospitalized in the rehabilitation department, and explored strategies to reduce the incidence of falls and prevent falls in patients. Methods: Data from 60 patients who fell in the rehabilitation department between 2016 and 2021 were analyzed for clinical characteristics, associated factors, incidence of falls, injuries, and patient demographics. Under the random stratified sampling method, 60 patients who did not fall during the same period were selected as the control group, and relevant data was collected. Measurement data were compared using an independent sample t-test. Enumeration data were compared using chi-squared (χ2) test was employed to compare these data between the two groups. Non-parametric data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Factors potentially influencing falls were scrutinized through both univariate and binary logistic regression analyses. Results: The median annual incidence of falls among patients who were hospitalized in the rehabilitation department was 0.04%, while the overall fall injury rate was 60%. Falls were most prevalent within 30 days of hospitalization (71.67%). The most common fall-related condition was craniocerebral disease (83.33%). The incidents of falls location of fall were mainly reported in nearby areas of rehabilitation ward (70%). Most accidents occurred between 7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 3:01 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (63.33%), and dyskinesia was the most common cause of falls (71.67%). There were 39 patients (65.00%) with Barthel Index (BI) scores ranging between 40-60. Conclusion: Patients in the rehabilitation department had a greater incidence of falls and fall injuries. Within 30 days of admission, patients with moderately dependent craniocerebral disorders and dyskinesia frequently experienced falls during typical daytime shifts in areas characterized by endemic conditions.

Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of Numerical Pain Rating Scale and Global Rating of Change in Tibetan musculoskeletal trauma patients.

Tibetan-speaking patients seeking care in predominantly Mandarin-speaking healthcare settings frequently face communication barriers, leading to potential disparities and difficulties in accessing care. To address this issue, we translated, culturally adapted, and validated the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Global Rating of Change (GRoC) into Tibetan (NPRS-Tib and GRoC-Tib), aiming to facilitate cross-linguistic and cross-cultural interactions while examining potential challenges in the adaptation process. Using standard translation-backward translation methods, expert review, pilot testing, and validation through a cross-sectional study with a short-term longitudinal component, we engaged 100 Tibetan patients with musculoskeletal trauma for psychometric validation, including 37 women (aged 22-60 years, mean age 39.1 years). The NPRS-Tib and GRoC-Tib exhibited outstanding psychometric properties, with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of 0.983 for NPRS-Tib indicating superb test-retest reliability, and expert review confirming good content validity for both instruments. A Spearman's correlation coefficient (Rho) of -0.261 (P = 0.0087) revealed a significant, albeit weak, correlation between changes in NPRS-Tib scores and GRoC-Tib scores. The adaptation process also presented notable challenges, including translation discrepancies from translators' diverse backgrounds and levels of expertise, ambiguity in scale options, and the lack of established tools for criterion validity assessment in Tibetan.

Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan decoction ameliorates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via modulating the gut microbiota.

Numerous studies have supported that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan decoction (LG) has been clinically used to treat NAFLD, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. This study investigated the therapeutic effect and mechanisms of LG in mice with NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet (HD). An HD-induced NAFLD mice model was established to evaluate the efficacy of LG followed by biochemical and histopathological analysis. Metagenomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics were used to explore the structure and metabolism of the gut microbiota. LG significantly improved hepatic function and decreased lipid droplet accumulation in HD-induced NAFLD mice. LG reversed the structure of the gut microbiota that is damaged by HD and improved intestinal barrier function. Meanwhile, the LG group showed a lower total blood bile acids (BAs) concentration, a shifted BAs composition, and a higher fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration. Furthermore, LG could regulate the hepatic expression of genes associated with the primary BAs biosynthesis pathway and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway. Our study suggested that LG could ameliorate NAFLD by altering the structure and metabolism of gut microbiota, while BAs and SCFAs are considered possible mediating substances. IMPORTANCE: Until now, there has still been no study on the gut microbiota and metabolomics of Ling-Gui-Zhu-Gan decoction (LG) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mouse models. Our study is the first to report on the reshaping of the structure and metabolism of the gut microbiota by LG, as well as explore the potential mechanism underlying the improvement of NAFLD. Specifically, our study demonstrates the potential of gut microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and blood bile acids (BAs) as mediators of LG therapy for NAFLD in animal models. Based on the results of transcriptomics, we further verified that LG attenuates NAFLD by restoring the metabolic disorder of BAs via the up-regulation of Fgf15/FXR in the ileum and down-regulation of CYP7A1/FXR in the liver. LG also reduces lipogenesis in NAFLD mice by mediating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, which then contributes to reducing hepatic inflammation and improving intestinal barrier function to treat NAFLD.

Host proteins interact with viral elements and affect the life cycle of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus H7N9.

Host-virus interactions can significantly impact the viral life cycle and pathogenesis; however, our understanding of the specific host factors involved in highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus H7N9 (HPAI H7N9) infection is currently restricted. Herein, we designed and synthesized 65 small interfering RNAs targeting host genes potentially associated with various aspects of RNA virus life cycles. Afterward, HPAI H7N9 viruses were isolated and RNA interference was used to screen for host factors likely to be involved in the life cycle of HPAI H7N9. Moreover, the research entailed assessing the associations between host proteins and HPAI H7N9 proteins. Twelve key host proteins were identified: Annexin A (ANXA)2, ANXA5, adaptor related protein complex 2 subunit sigma 1 (AP2S1), adaptor related protein complex 3 subunit sigma 1 (AP3S1), ATP synthase F1 subunit alpha (ATP5A1), COPI coat complex subunit alpha (COP)A, COPG1, heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 1A (HSPA)1A, HSPA8, heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), RAB11B, and RAB18. Co-immunoprecipitation revealed intricate interactions between viral proteins (hemagglutinin, matrix 1 protein, neuraminidase, nucleoprotein, polymerase basic 1, and polymerase basic 2) and these host proteins, presumably playing a crucial role in modulating the life cycle of HPAI H7N9. Notably, ANXA5, AP2S1, AP3S1, ATP5A1, HSP90A1, and RAB18, were identified as novel interactors with HPAI H7N9 proteins rather than other influenza A viruses (IAVs). These findings underscore the significance of host-viral protein interactions in shaping the dynamics of HPAI H7N9 infection, while highlighting subtle variations compared with other IAVs. Deeper understanding of these interactions holds promise to advance disease treatment and prevention strategies.

Engineering Phage Nanocarriers Integrated with Bio-Intelligent Plasmids for Personalized and Tunable Enzyme Delivery to Enhance Chemodynamic Therapy.

Customizable and number-tunable enzyme delivery nanocarriers will be useful in tumor therapy. Herein, a phage vehicle, T4-Lox-DNA-Fe (TLDF), which adeptly modulates enzyme numbers using phage display technology to remodel the tumor microenvironment (TME) is presented. Regarding the demand for lactic acid in tumors, each phage is engineered to display 720 lactate oxidase (Lox), contributing to the depletion of lactic acid to restructure the tumor's energy metabolism. The phage vehicle incorporated dextran iron (Fe) with Fenton reaction capabilities. H2O2 is generated through the Lox catalytic reaction, amplifying the H2O2 supply for dextran iron-based chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Drawing inspiration from the erythropoietin (EPO) biosynthetic process, an EPO enhancer is constructed to impart the EPO-Keap1 plasmid (DNA) with tumor hypoxia-activated functionality, disrupting the redox homeostasis of the TME. Lox consumes local oxygen, and positive feedback between the Lox and the plasmid promotes the expression of kelch ECH Associated Protein 1 (Keap1). Consequently, the downregulation of the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2, in synergy with CDT, amplifies the oxidative killing effect, leading to tumor suppression of up to 78%. This study seamlessly integrates adaptable T4 phage vehicles with bio-intelligent plasmids, presenting a promising approach for tumor therapy.

Molecularly thin, two-dimensional all-organic perovskites.

Recently, the emergence of all-organic perovskites with three-dimensional (3D) structures has expanded the potential applications of perovskite materials. However, the synthesis and utilization of all-organic perovskites in 2D form remain largely unexplored because the design principle has not been developed. We present the successful synthesis of a metal-free 2D layered perovskite, denoted as the Choi-Loh van der Waals phase (CL-v phase), with the chemical formula A2B2X4, where A represents a larger-sized cation compared to B and X denotes an anion. The CL-v phase exhibits a van der Waals gap enabled by interlayer hydrogen bonding and can be exfoliated or grown as molecularly thin 2D organic crystals. The dielectric constants of the CL-v phase range from 4.8 to 5.5 and we demonstrate their potential as gate dielectrics for thin-film transistors.

[Application of antibiotic bone cement-coated plates internal fixation for primary treating Gustilo type â ¢B tibiofibular open fracture].

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of using antibiotic bone cement-coated plates internal fixation technology as a primary treatment for Gustilo type ⅢB tibiofibular open fractures. Methods: The clinical data of 24 patients with Gustilo type ⅢB tibiofibular open fractures who were admitted between January 2018 and December 2021 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 18 males and 6 females, aged from 25 to 65 years with an average age of 45.8 years. There were 3 cases of proximal tibial fracture, 6 cases of middle tibial fracture, 15 cases of distal tibial fracture, and 21 cases of fibular fracture. The time from injury to emergency surgery ranged from 3 to 12 hours, with an average of 5.3 hours. All patients had soft tissue defects ranging from 10 cm×5 cm to 32 cm×15 cm. The time from injury to skin flap transplantation for wound coverage ranged from 1 to 7 days, with an average of 4.1 days, and the size of skin flap ranged from 10 cm×5 cm to 33 cm×15 cm. Ten patients had bone defects with length of 2-12 cm (mean, 7.1 cm). After emergency debridement, the tibial fracture end was fixed with antibiotic bone cement-coated plates, and the bone defect area was filled with antibiotic bone cement. Within 7 days, the wound was covered with a free flap, and the bone cement was replaced while performing definitive internal fixation of the fracture. In 10 patients with bone defect, all the bone cement was removed and the bone defect area was grafted after 7-32 weeks (mean, 11.8 weeks). The flap survival, wound healing of the affected limb, complications, and bone healing were observed after operation, and the quality of life was evaluated according to the short-form 36 health survey scale (SF-36 scale) [including physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores] at 1 month, 6 months after operation, and at last follow-up. Results: All 24 patients were followed up 14-38 months (mean, 21.6 months). All the affected limbs were successfully salvaged and all the transplanted flaps survived. One case had scar hyperplasia in the flap donor site, and 1 case had hypoesthesia (grade S3) of the skin around the scar. There were 2 cases of infection in the recipient area of the leg, one of which was superficial infection after primary flap transplantation and healed after debridement, and the other was sinus formation after secondary bone grafting and was debrided again 3 months later and treated with Ilizarov osteotomy, and healed 8 months later. The bone healing time of the remaining 23 patients ranged from 4 to 9 months, with an average of 6.1 months. The scores of PCS were 44.4±6.5, 68.3±8.3, 80.4±6.9, and the scores of MCS were 59.2±8.2, 79.5±7.8, 90.0±6.6 at 1 month, 6 months after operation, and at last follow-up, respectively. The differences were significant between different time points ( P<0.05). Conclusion: Antibiotic bone cement-coated plates internal fixation can be used in the primary treatment of Gustilo type ⅢB tibiofibular open fractures, and has the advantages of reduce the risk of infection in fracture fixation, reducing complications, and accelerating the functional recovery of patients.

Luteolin-7-O-ß-d-glucuronide Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemic Injury: Involvement of RIP3/MLKL Signaling Pathway.

Luteolin-7-O-ß-d-glucuronide (LGU) is a major active flavonoid glycoside compound that is extracted from Ixeris sonchifolia (Bge.) Hance, and it is a Chinese medicinal herb mainly used for the treatment of coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, cerebral infarction, etc. In the present study, the neuroprotective effect of LGU was investigated in an oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) model and a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. In vitro, LGU was found to effectively improve the OGD-induced decrease in neuronal viability and increase in neuronal death by a 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate assay, respectively. LGU was also found to inhibit OGD-induced intracellular Ca2+ overload, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decrease. By Western blotting analysis, LGU significantly inhibited the OGD-induced increase in expressions of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIP3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). Moreover, molecular docking analysis showed that LGU might bind to RIP3 more stably and firmly than the RIP3 inhibitor GSK872. Immunofluorescence combined with confocal laser analyses disclosed that LGU inhibited the aggregation of MLKL to the nucleus. Our results suggest that LGU ameliorates OGD-induced rat primary cortical neuronal injury via the regulation of the RIP3/MLKL signaling pathway in vitro. In vivo, LGU was proven, for the first time, to protect the cerebral ischemia in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, as shown by improved neurological deficit scores, infarction volume rate, and brain water content rate. The present study provides new insights into the therapeutic potential of LGU in cerebral ischemia.

The impact of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-143 toothpaste on gingivitis and oral microbiota in adults: a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the oral health benefits of heat-killed Lacticaseibacillus paracasei GMNL-143, particularly its potential in oral microbiota alterations and gingivitis improvement. METHODS: We assessed GMNL-143's in vitro interactions with oral pathogens and its ability to prevent pathogen adherence to gingival cells. A randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial was performed on gingivitis patients using GMNL-143 toothpaste or placebo for four weeks, followed by a crossover after a washout. RESULTS: GMNL-143 showed coaggregation with oral pathogens in vitro, linked to its surface layer protein. In patients, GMNL-143 toothpaste lowered the gingival index and reduced Streptococcus mutans in crevicular fluid. A positive relationship was found between Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and gingival index changes, and a negative one between Campylobacter and gingival index changes in plaque. CONCLUSION: GMNL-143 toothpaste may shift oral bacterial composition towards a healthier state, suggesting its potential in managing mild to moderate gingivitis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ID NCT04190485 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ ); 09/12/2019, retrospective registration.

Exosomal miR-9-5p derived from iPSC-MSCs ameliorates doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by inhibiting cardiomyocyte senescence.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used for tumor treatment. Nonetheless its clinical application is heavily limited by its cardiotoxicity. There is accumulated evidence that transplantation of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-EXOs) can protect against Dox-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). This study aimed to examine the cardioprotective effects of EXOs isolated from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs (iPSC-MSCs) against DIC and explore the potential mechanisms. EXOs were isolated from the cultural supernatant of human BM-MSCs (BM-MSC-EXOs) and iPSC-MSCs (iPSC-MSC-EXOs) by ultracentrifugation. A mouse model of DIC was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Dox followed by tail vein injection of PBS, BM-MSC-EXOs, or iPSC-MSC-EXOs. Cardiac function, cardiomyocyte senescence and mitochondrial dynamics in each group were assessed. In vitro, neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes (NMCMs) were subjected to Dox and treated with BM-MSC-EXOs or iPSC-MSC-EXOs. The mitochondrial morphology and cellular senescence of NMCMs were examined by Mitotracker staining and senescence-associated-ß-galactosidase assay, respectively. Compared with BM-MSC-EXOs, mice treated with iPSC-MSC-EXOs displayed improved cardiac function and decreased cardiomyocyte mitochondrial fragmentation and senescence. In vitro, iPSC-MSC-EXOs were superior to BM-MSC-EXOs in attenuation of cardiomyocyte mitochondrial fragmentation and senescence caused by DOX. MicroRNA sequencing revealed a higher level of miR-9-5p in iPSC-MSC-EXOs than BM-MSC-EXOs. Mechanistically, iPSC-MSC-EXOs transported miR-9-5p into DOX-treated cardiomyocytes, thereby suppressing cardiomyocyte mitochondrial fragmentation and senescence via regulation of the VPO1/ERK signal pathway. These protective effects and cardioprotection against DIC were largely reversed by knockdown of miR-9-5p in iPSC-MSC-EXOs. Our results showed that miR-9-5p transferred by iPSC-MSC-EXOs protected against DIC by alleviating cardiomyocyte senescence via inhibition of the VPO1/ERK pathway. This study offers new insight into the application of iPSC-MSC-EXOs as a novel therapeutic strategy for DIC treatment.

Masquelet combined with free-flap technique versus the Ilizarov bone transport technique for severe composite tibial and soft-tissue defects.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of bone and soft-tissue defects after open fractures remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the Masquelet technique combined with the free-flap technique (MFFT) versus the Ilizarov bone transport technique (IBTT) for the treatment of severe composite tibial and soft-tissue defects. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the data of 65 patients with tibial and soft-tissue defects and Gustilo type IIIB/C open fractures treated at our hospital between April 2015 and December 2021. The patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment method: group A (n = 35) was treated with the MFFT and internal fixation, and group B (n = 30) was treated with the IBTT. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 28 months (range 13-133 months). Complete union of both soft-tissue and bone defects was achieved in all cases. The mean bone-union times were 6 months (range 3-12 months) in group A and 11 months (range 6-23 month) in group B, with a significant difference between the two groups (Z = -4.11, P = 0.001). The mean hospital stay was 28 days (range 14-67 d) in group A which was significantly longer than the mean stay of 18 days (range 10-43 d) in group B (Z = -2.608, P = 0.009). There were no significant differences in the infection rate between group A (17.1 %) and group B (26.7%) (χ2 = 0.867, P = 0.352). The Total Physical Health Scores were 81.51 ± 6.86 (range 67-90) in group A and 75.83±16.14 (range 44-98) in group B, with no significant difference between the two groups (t = 1.894, P = 0.063). The Total Mental Health Scores were significantly higher in group A (90.49 ± 6.37; range 78-98) than in group B (84.70 ± 13.72; range 60-98) (t = 2.232, P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: Compared with IBTT, MFFT is a better choice of treatment for open tibial and soft-tissue defects with Gustilo IIIB/C fractures. IBTT is the preferred option when the tibial bone defect is large or if the surgeon's expertise in microsurgery is limited.

Hypoglycemic effects of dracorhodin and dragon blood crude extract from Daemonorops draco.

BACKGROUND: Dragon blood is a red fruit resin from the palm tree Daemonorops draco and is a herbal ingredient used in the traditional Chinese medicine, "Jinchuang Ointment," which is used to treat non-healing diabetic wounds. According to the Taiwan Herbal Pharmacopeia, the dracorhodin content in dragon blood should exceed 1.0%. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that dracorhodin and dragon blood crude extracts can stimulate glucose uptake in mouse muscle cells (C2C12) and primary rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RSMC). Dracorhodin is not the only active compound in dragon blood crude extracts from D. draco. Next, we orally administered crude dragon blood extracts to male B6 mice. The experimental group displayed a decreasing trend in fasting blood glucose levels from the second to tenth week. In summary, crude extracts of dragon blood from D. draco demonstrated in vivo hypoglycemic effects in B6 male mice. CONCLUSIONS: We provide a scientific basis "Jinchuang ointment" in treating non-healing wounds in patients with diabetes.

[Experience of Providing Intensive Rehabilitation Care to a School-Aged Child With Living-Donor Lobar Lung Transplantation].

The post-operative intensive care experience of a school-aged child who received living-donor bilateral lobar lung transplantation due to acute respiratory distress syndrome and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is discussed in this paper. The patient received lungs donated by her parents in a "living-donor bilateral lobar lung transplantation" due to severe lung function impairment. The patient felt anxious due to her long-term hospitalization for preoperative evaluation, various invasive treatments, and postoperative rehabilitation. During the care period from October 25th, 2022, to December 29th, 2022, the author collected data via direct care, interviews, medical record reviews, and interactions with the patient and her family. An assessment of the patient's physical, mental, and social integrity was made, and the collected data were organized and analyzed to identify health issues such as lack of activity endurance, imbalanced nutrition below bodily requirements, and anxiety. After the lung transplantation operation, the interdisciplinary team worked collaboratively to develop a care plan to improve cardiopulmonary endurance and enhance the quality of care for the patient through early care and rehabilitation via proactive care. This care plan included encouraging the patient and her parents to express their fears and feelings and using flashcards to teach them about dietary management and the proper performance of lung rehabilitation. These measures encouraged the parents to engage in care, properly prepare for discharge care, and receive care education. As this is the first case of living-donor lobar lung transplantation in Taiwan, this valuable nursing experience is expected to provide future care teams with a reference on the related nursing process and care experience for similar cases.