Prevalence of intestinal trichomonads in captive non-human primates in China.

Trichomonads are protozoan symbionts with the capacity to infect vertebrates including humans and non-human primates (NHPs), sometimes with pathogenic effects. However, their diversity and prevalence in NHPs in China are poorly understood. A total of 533 fecal samples were collected from captive NHPs in Yunnan Province, China, of which 461 samples from Macaca fascicularis and 72 from Macaca mulatta. Trichomonadidae species were identified using PCR amplification of the ITS-1/5.8S/ITS-2 sequences. The overall prevalence of trichomonads in NHPs was determined to be 11.4% (61/533), with gender, diarrhea, and region identified as potential risk factors for the infections. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis identified three species of trichomonads, i.e., Trichomitopsis minor (n = 45), Pentatrichomonas hominis (n = 11), and Tetratrichomonas sp. (n = 5). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report Trichomitopsis minor infection in NHPs in China. Of note, Pentatrichomonas hominis is generally recognized as a parasitic organism affecting humans. Collectively, our results suggest that NHPs are potential sources of zoonotic trichomonad infections, highlighting the importance of surveillance and control measures to protect human and animal populations.

Title: Prévalence des Trichomonadidae intestinaux chez les primates non humains captifs en Chine. Abstract: Les Trichomonadidae sont des symbiotes protozoaires capables d'infecter les vertébrés, notamment les humains et les primates non humains (PNH), parfois avec des effets pathogènes. Cependant, leur diversité et leur prévalence chez les PNH en Chine sont mal comprises. Au total, 533 échantillons fécaux ont été collectés sur des PNH captifs dans la province du Yunnan, en Chine, dont 461 échantillons de Macaca fascicularis et 72 de Macaca mulatta. Les espèces de Trichomonadidae ont été identifiées par amplification PCR des séquences ITS-1/5.8S/ITS-2. La prévalence globale des Trichomonadidae dans les PNH a été déterminée à 11,4 % (61 / 533) et le sexe, la diarrhée et la région ont été identifiés comme facteurs de risque potentiels d'infection. L'alignement des séquences et l'analyse phylogénétique ont identifié trois espèces de Trichomonadidae, à savoir Trichomitopsis minor (n = 45), Pentatrichomonas hominis (n = 11) et Tetratrichomonas sp. (n = 5). À notre connaissance, il s'agit de la première étude à signaler une infection par Trichomitopsis minor chez les PNH en Chine. Il convient de noter que Pentatrichomonas hominis est généralement reconnu comme un organisme parasitaire affectant les humains. Collectivement, nos résultats suggèrent que les PNH sont des sources potentielles d'infections zoonotiques à Trichomonadidae, soulignant l'importance des mesures de surveillance et de contrôle pour protéger les populations humaines et animales.

Population genetics and genetic variation of Pomacea canaliculata (Gastropoda: Ampullariidae) in China revealed by sequence analyses of three mitochondrial genes.

The Golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, is one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species that is best known for its damage to wetland agriculture. It also acts as an intermediate host of some zoonotic parasites such as Angiostrongylus cantonensis, posing threats to human public health and safety. Despite is being an important agricultural pest, the genetic information and population expansion history of this snail remains poorly understood in China. In this study, we analyzed the genetic variation and population genetics of P. canaliculata populations in seven regions of China based on molecular markers of three mitochondrial (mt) genes. A total of 15 haplotypes were recognized based on single mt cox1, nad1, and nad4, and eight haplotypes were identified using the concatenated genes. High haplotype diversity, moderate nucleotide diversity, low gene flow, and high rates of gene differentiation among the seven P. canaliculata populations were detected. Shanghai and Yunnan populations showed higher genetic flow and very low genetic differentiation. The results of Tajima's D, Fu's F s, and mismatch distribution showed that P. canaliculata did not experience population expansion in China. Genetic distance based on haplotypes suggested that nad1 gene was more conserved than cox1 gene within P. canaliculata. The phylogenetic analyses showed there may be two geographical lineages in the Chinese mainland. The present study may provide a new genetic marker to analyze P. canaliculata, and results support more evidence for studying the genetic distribution of P. canaliculata in China and contribute to a deeper understanding of its population genetics and evolutionary biology.

Aplasia cutis congenita in monozygotic twins.

Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is defined as complete or partial loss or absence of skin at birth and it can occur on any part of the body, but most commonly on the scalp. Single offspring with ACC have been reported in most case reports, but cases in twins are rarely reported. Here, we report two cases of ACC, monozygotic twin boys presented with scattered skin absence over the scalp vertex after birth. All the lesions presented as ulcers with no hair and healed with scars, otherwise, the twins were well developed mentally and physically. In addition, the whole exome sequencing of the twins and their parents might provide diagnosis and classification assistance.

Preparation of co-electrospinning membrane loaded with simvastatin and substance P to accelerate bone regeneration by promoting cell homing, angiogenesis and osteogenesis.

Bone regeneration is a complex process that requires the coordination of various biological events. Developing a tissue regeneration membrane that can regulate this cascade of events is challenging. In this study, we aimed to fabricate a membrane that can enrich the damaged area with mesenchymal stem cells, improve angiogenesis, and continuously induce osteogenesis. Our approach involved creating a hierarchical polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/GEL) co-electrospinning membrane that incorporated substance P (SP)-loaded GEL fibers and simvastatin (SIM)-loaded PCL fibers. The membrane could initiate a burst release of SP and a slow/sustained release of SIM for over a month. In vitro experiments, including those related to angiogenesis and osteogenesis (e.g., migration, endothelial network formation, alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization, and gene expression), clearly demonstrated the membrane's superior ability to improve cell homing, revascularization, and osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, a series of in vivo studies, including immunofluorescence of CD29+/CD90+ double-positive cells and immunohistochemical staining for CD34 and vWF, confirmed the co-electrospinning membrane's ability to enhance MSC migration and revascularization response after five days of implantation. After one month, the Micro-CT and histological (Masson and H&E) results showed accelerated bone regeneration. Our findings suggest that a co-electrospinning membrane with time-tunable drug delivery could advance the development of tissue engineering therapeutic strategies and potentially improve patient outcomes.

Characterization of the fragmented mitochondrial genome of domestic pig louse Haematopinus suis (Insecta: Haematopinidae) from China.

The domestic pig louse Haematopinus suis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) is a common ectoparasite of domestic pigs, which can act as a vector of various infectious disease agents. Despite its significance, the molecular genetics, biology and systematics of H. suis from China have not been studied in detail. In the present study, the entire mitochondrial (mt) genome of H. suis isolate from China was sequenced and compared with that of H. suis isolate from Australia. We identified 37 mt genes located on nine circular mt minichromosomes, 2.9 kb-4.2 kb in size, each containing 2-8 genes and one large non-coding region (NCR) (1,957 bp-2,226 bp). The number of minichromosomes, gene content, and gene order in H. suis isolates from China and Australia are identical. Total sequence identity across coding regions was 96.3% between H. suis isolates from China and Australia. For the 13 protein-coding genes, sequence differences ranged from 2.8%-6.5% consistent nucleotides with amino acids. Our result is H. suis isolates from China and Australia being the same H. suis species. The present study determined the entire mt genome of H. suis from China, providing additional genetic markers for studying the molecular genetics, biology and systematics of domestic pig louse.

Subtyping of Nonhuman Primate-Adapted Cryptosporidium hominis in Macaca Fascicularis and Macaca mulatta in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China.

Background: Cryptosporidium spp. are a type of protozoan parasite responsible for causing diarrheal illness worldwide. They infect a broad range of vertebrate hosts, including both non-human primates (NHPs) and humans. In fact, zoonotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis from NHPs to humans is frequently facilitated by direct contact between the two groups. However, there is a need to enhance the information available on the subtyping of Cryptosporidium spp. in NHPs in the Yunnan province of China. Materials and Methods: Thus, the study investigated the molecular prevalence and species of Cryptosporidium spp. from 392 stool samples of Macaca fascicularis (n = 335) and Macaca mulatta (n = 57) by using nested PCR targeting the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA (LSU) gene. Of the 392 samples, 42 (10.71%) were tested Cryptosporidium-positive. Results: All the samples were identified as Cryptosporidium hominis. Further, the statistical analysis revealed that age is a risk factor for the infection of C. hominis. The probability of detecting C. hominis was found to be higher (odds ratio = 6.23, 95% confidence interval 1.73-22.38) in NHPs aged between 2 and 3 years, as compared with those younger than 2 years. Sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) identified six (IbA9 n = 4, IiA17 n = 5, InA23 n = 1, InA24 n = 2, InA25 n = 3, and InA26 n = 18) C. hominis subtypes with "TCA" repeats. Among these subtypes, it has been previously reported that the Ib family subtypes are also capable of infecting humans. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the genetic diversity of C. hominis infection among M. fascicularis and M. mulatta in Yunnan province. Further, the results confirm that both these NHPs are susceptible to C. hominis infection, posing a potential threat to humans.

Mediating and spatial spillover effects of public participation in environmental pollution governance mediated via traditional and new media.

A systematic study of public participation (Pub) in environmental pollution control can facilitate collaborative governance based on multiple factors, and promote the modernization of national governance. Based on the data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2020, this study empirically analyzed the mechanism of Pub in environmental pollution governance. Based on multiple channels, a dynamic spatial panel Durbin model and an intermediary effect model were constructed. The main results are as follows: (1) Pub based on environmental letters and visits have no significant impact on local pollution reduction, while the Baidu search index of environmental pollution has the greatest effect on emission reduction, followed by environmental protection strategies based on the National People's Congress (NPC) and microblogging. (2) Pub not only has a direct positive impact on environmental control through its positive externality but also indirectly reduces environmental treatment by enhancing the intensity of environmental regulation. (3) Pub has a significant spatial spillover effect on environmental control based on geographical attenuation. Excluding environmental legislation, the direct spatial spillover effects of Pub under the networked platform and traditional channels are only significant within 1200 km and 1000 km, respectively, which decrease with increasing geographic distance within this range. When the environmental regulations are considered, the spatial spillover effects of suggestions proposed by NPC and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are significant within 800 km, while the attenuation boundary of Internet complaints, Baidu index, and microblogging public opinion is 1000 km. (4) The impact of Pub on environmental governance varies significantly among regions. Compared with central and western regions, the eastern region showed more effective pollution reduction based on Pub.

Vision-Related Quality of Life in Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma Patients with or without Visual Field Dysfunction.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between visual-related quality of life (VRQoL) and visual field (VF) loss in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Methods: In this case-control study, a total of 79 patients with PACG (with or without VF detects) and 35 healthy controls were included. The patients underwent the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25), clinical examination, and VF testing. VF defects were identified by simplified Hodapp's classification. NEI VFQ-25 scores were compared between the three groups. Results: No significant differences were found in gender, VFQ rating for "composite score" and "color vision" between the three groups. PACG patients with VF loss were most likely to be older and had lower best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalent (SE), mean deviation (MD), and visual field index (VFI), but higher pattern standard deviation (PSD) (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, patients with VF loss had significantly lower NVE-VFQ-25 subscale scores for general health, general vision, ocular pain, near activities, distance activities, social functioning, mental health, role difficulties, dependency, driving, and peripheral vision than PACG patients without VF loss and healthy controls (all P < 0.05). VFI (ß = 1.498, P=0.003) and MD (ß = -3.891, P=0.016) were significantly correlated with Role Difficulties scores. Additionally, PSD was significantly correlated with Peripheral Vision scores (ß = -1.346, P=0.003). Conclusions: PACG patients with VF loss reported lower NEI VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores. VF indices including VFI, MD, and PSD were strongly correlated with VRQoL as assessed by NEI VFQ-25; thus, VRQoL may be significantly impacted by glaucomatous VF defects.

Improvement in osteogenesis, vascularization, and corrosion resistance of titanium with silicon-nitride doped micro-arc oxidation coatings.

Titanium (Ti) implants have been widely used for the treatment of tooth loss due to their excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, modifying the biological properties of these implants to increase osteointegration remains a research challenge. Additionally, the continuous release of various metal ions in the oral microenvironment due to fluid corrosion can also lead to implant failure. Therefore, simultaneously improving the bioactivity and corrosion resistance of Ti-based materials is an urgent need. In recent decades, micro-arc oxidation (MAO) has been proposed as a surface modification technology to form a surface protective oxide layer and improve the comprehensive properties of Ti. The present study doped nano silicon nitride (Si3N4) particles into the Ti surface by MAO treatment to improve its corrosion resistance and provide excellent osteoinduction by enhancing alkaline phosphatase activity and osteogenic-related gene expression. In addition, due to the presence of silicon, the Si3N4-doped materials showed excellent angiogenesis properties, including the promotion of cell migration and tubule formation, which play essential roles in early recovery after implantation.

Survey on the tourist satisfaction of rural homestay based on the theory of importance-performance analysis.

Guilin rural homestays are an important support for rural tourism destinations, serving not only as accommodation but also as a representative of the local culture of the town. To improve satisfaction with rural homestays among tourists, enhance destination attractiveness, and better meet tourist demands for accommodation conditions, this study combines literature and network text analysis to construct an evaluation index system for Guilin rural homestay tourist satisfaction. The data collected by a questionnaire survey based on importance-performance analysis (IPA) are analyzed. The results show that actual tourist satisfaction with the experience in the 21 indexes is lower than the pre-consumption expectation, due to the imperfect facilities, lack of special service development, relative optimization of basic road construction, and the need for improvement in the internal and external environment, among other factors. Through the improvement of the above factors, the satisfaction of tourists to the rural homestay can be improved.

Three-dimensional deep neural network for automatic delineation of cervical cancer in planning computed tomography images.

PURPOSE: Radiation therapy is an essential treatment modality for cervical cancer, while accurate and efficient segmentation methods are needed to improve the workflow. In this study, a three-dimensional V-net model is proposed to automatically segment clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk (OARs), and to provide prospective guidance for low lose area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 130 CT datasets were included. Ninety cases were randomly selected as the training data, with 10 cases used as the validation data, and the remaining 30 cases as testing data. The V-net model was implemented with Tensorflow package to segment the CTV and OARs, as well as regions of 5 Gy, 10 Gy, 15 Gy, and 20 Gy isodose lines covered. The auto-segmentation by V-net was compared to auto-segmentation by U-net. Four representative parameters were calculated to evaluate the accuracy of the delineation, including Dice similarity coefficients (DSC), Jaccard index (JI), average surface distance (ASD), and Hausdorff distance (HD). RESULTS: The V-net and U-net achieved the average DSC value for CTV of 0.85 and 0.83, average JI values of 0.77 and 0.75, average ASD values of 2.58 and 2.26, average HD of 11.2 and 10.08, respectively. As for the OARs, the performance of the V-net model in the colon was significantly better than the U-net model (p = 0.046), and the performance in the kidney, bladder, femoral head, and pelvic bones were comparable to the U-net model. For prediction of low-dose areas, the average DSC of the patients' 5 Gy dose area in the test set were 0.88 and 0.83, for V-net and U-net, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to use the V-Net model to automatically segment cervical cancer CTV and OARs to achieve a more efficient radiotherapy workflow. In the delineation of most target areas and OARs, the performance of V-net is better than U-net. It also offers advantages with its feature of predicting the low-dose area prospectively before radiation therapy (RT).

Impaired robust interhemispheric function integration of depressive brain from REST-meta-MDD database in China.

BACKGROUND: Recently, functional homotopy (FH) architecture, defined as robust functional connectivity (FC) between homotopic regions, has been frequently reported to be altered in MDD patients (MDDs) but with divergent locations. METHODS: In this study, we obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) data from 1004 MDDs (mean age, 33.88 years; age range, 18-60 years) and 898 matched healthy controls (HCs) from an aggregated dataset from 20 centers in China. We focused on interhemispheric function integration in MDDs and its correlation with clinical characteristics using voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) devised to inquire about FH patterns. RESULTS: As compared with HCs, MDDs showed decreased VMHC in visual, motor, somatosensory, limbic, angular gyrus, and cerebellum, particularly in posterior cingulate gyrus/precuneus (PCC/PCu) (false discovery rate [FDR] q < 0.002, z = -7.07). Further analysis observed that the reduction in SMG and insula was more prominent with age, of which SMG reflected such age-related change in males instead of females. Besides, the reduction in MTG was found to be a male-special abnormal pattern in MDDs. VMHC alterations were markedly related to episode type and illness severity. The higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score, the more apparent VMHC reduction in the primary visual cortex. First-episode MDDs revealed stronger VMHC reduction in PCu relative to recurrent MDDs. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed a significant VMHC reduction in MDDs in broad areas, especially in PCC/PCu. This reduction was affected by gender, age, episode type, and illness severity. These findings suggest that the depressive brain tends to disconnect information exchange across hemispheres.

High proportion strontium-doped micro-arc oxidation coatings enhance early osseointegration of titanium in osteoporosis by anti-oxidative stress pathway.

The excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under osteoporosis precipitates a microenvironment with high levels of oxidative stress (OS). This could significantly interfere with the bioactivity of conventional titanium implants, impeding their early osseointegration with bone. We have prepared a series of strontium (Sr)-doped titanium implants via micro-arc oxidation (MAO) to verify their efficacy and differences in osteoinduction capabilities under normal and osteoporotic (high OS levels) conditions. Apart from the chemical composition, all groups exhibited similar physicochemical properties (morphology, roughness, crystal structure, and wettability). Among the groups, the low Sr group (Sr25%) was more conducive to osteogenesis under normal conditions. In contrast, by increasing the catalase (CAT)/superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreasing ROS levels, the high Sr-doped samples (Sr75% and Sr100%) were superior to Sr25% in inducing osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells and the M2 phenotype polarization of RAW264.7 cells, thus enhancing early osseointegration. Furthermore, the results of both in vitro cell co-culture and in vivo studies also showed that the high Sr-doped samples (especially Sr100%) had positive effects on osteoimmunomodulation under the OS microenvironment. Ultimately, the collated findings indicated that the high proportion Sr-doped MAO coatings were more favorable for osteoporosis patients in implant restorations.

Effects of titanium with different micro/nano structures on the ability of osteoblasts to resist oxidative stress.

Excessive accumulation of oxidative intermediates in the elderly significantly aggravates bone degradation and hinders the osseointegration of topological titanium (Ti) implants. Thus, it is of great significance to evaluate the antioxidant and osteoinduction capabilities of various nano, micro or micro/nano-composite structures under oxidative stress (OS) microenvironment. In this study, we discovered that 110 nm titania nanotubes (TNTs) enhanced the adsorption of fibronectin (FN) proteins onto smooth and rough titanium surfaces to varying degrees. Compared with Ti and 30 nm TNTs (T30) groups, cells on 110 nm TNTs (T110), microstructure/30 nm TNTs (M30) and microstructure/110 nm TNTs (M110) had smaller area, lower reactive oxygen species (ROS), and better proliferation/osteogenic differentiation abilities under OS condition, but there was no significant difference among the three groups. In addition, combined with our previous study, we suggested that T110, M30 and M110 resistance to OS was also strongly associated with the high expression of FN-receptor integrin α5 or ß1. All the findings indicated that the micro/nano-composed structures (M30 & M110) had similar anti-oxidation and osteogenesis abilities to T110, which provided guidance for the application of different titanium implants with different topologies in the elderly.

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Characteristics of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli among Healthy Chickens from Farms and Live Poultry Markets in China.

Chicken products and chickens with colibacillosis are often reported to be a suspected source of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) causing several diseases in humans. Such pathogens in healthy chickens can also contaminate chicken carcasses at the slaughter and then are transmitted to humans via food supply; however, reports about the ExPEC in healthy chickens are still rare. In this study, we determined the prevalence and characteristics of ExPEC isolates in healthy chickens in China. A total of 926 E. coli isolates from seven layer farms (371 isolates), one white-feather broiler farm (78 isolates) and 17 live poultry markets (477 isolates from yellow-feather broilers) in 10 cities in China, were isolated and analyzed for antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes. The molecular detection of ExPEC among these healthy chicken E. coli isolates was performed by PCRs, and the serogroups and antibiotic resistance characteristics of ExPEC were also analyzed. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used to analyze the genetic relatedness of these ExPEC isolates. We found that the resistance rate for each of the 15 antimicrobials tested among E. coli from white-feather broilers was significantly higher than that from brown-egg layers and that from yellow-feather broilers in live poultry markets (p < 0.05). A total of 22 of the 926 E. coli isolates (2.4%) from healthy chickens were qualified as ExPEC, and the detection rate (7.7%, 6/78) of ExPEC among white-feather broilers was significantly higher than that (1.6%, 6/371) from brown-egg layers and that (2.1%, 10/477) from yellow-feather broilers (p < 0.05). PFGE and MLST analysis indicated that clonal dissemination of these ExPEC isolates was unlikely. Serogroup O78 was the most predominant type among the six serogroups identified in this study, and all the six serogroups had been frequently reported in human ExPEC isolates in many countries. All the 22 ExPEC isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) and the resistance rates to ampicillin (100%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (100%) were the highest, followed by tetracycline (95.5%) and doxycycline (90.9%). blaCTX-M was found in 15 of the 22 ExPEC isolates including 10 harboring additional fosfomycin resistance gene fosA3. Notably, plasmid-borne colistin resistance gene mcr-1 was identified in six ExPEC isolates in this study. Worryingly, two ExPEC isolates were found to carry both mcr-1 and blaNDM, compromising both the efficacies of carbapenems and colistin. The presence of ExPEC isolates in healthy chickens, especially those carrying mcr-1 and/or blaNDM, is alarming and will pose a threat to the health of consumers. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mcr-1-positive ExPEC isolates harboring blaNDM from healthy chickens.

Preparation of Zirconium Hydrogen Phosphate Coatings on Sandblasted/Acid-Etched Titanium for Enhancing Its Osteoinductivity and Friction/Corrosion Resistance.

BACKGROUND: Sandblasted/acid-etched titanium (SLA-Ti) implants are widely used for dental implant restoration in edentulous patients. However, the poor osteoinductivity and the large amount of Ti particles/ions released due to friction or corrosion will affect its long-term success rate. PURPOSE: Various zirconium hydrogen phosphate (ZrP) coatings were prepared on SLA-Ti surface to enhance its friction/corrosion resistance and osteoinduction. METHODS: The mixture of ZrCl4 and H3PO4 was first coated on SLA-Ti and then calcined at 450°C for 5 min to form ZrP coatings. In addition to a series of physiochemical characterization such as morphology, roughness, wettability, and chemical composition, their capability of anti-friction and anti-corrosion were further evaluated by friction-wear test and by potential scanning. The viability and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells on different substrates were investigated via MTT, mineralization and PCR assays. RESULTS: The characterization results showed that there were no significant changes in the morphology, roughness and wettability of ZrP-modified samples (SLA-ZrP0.5 and SLA-ZrP0.7) compared with SLA group. The results of electrochemical corrosion displayed that both SLA-ZrP0.5 and SLA-ZrP0.7 (especially the latter) had better corrosion resistance than SLA in normal saline and serum-containing medium. SLA-ZrP0.7 also exhibited the best friction resistance and great potential to enhance the spreading, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. CONCLUSION: We determined that SLA-ZrP0.7 had excellent comprehensive properties including anti-corrosion, anti-friction and osteoinduction, which made it have a promising clinical application in dental implant restoration.

Effect of Surgical Mask on Setup Error in Head and Neck Radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: With the widespread prevalence of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), cancer patients are suggested to wear a surgical mask during radiation treatment. In this study, cone beam CT (CBCT) was used to investigate the effect of surgical mask on setup errors in head and neck radiotherapy. METHODS: A total of 91 patients with head and neck tumors were selected. CBCT was performed to localize target volume after patient set up. The images obtained by CBCT before treatment were automatically registered with CT images and manually fine-tuned. The setup errors of patients in 6 directions of Vrt, Lng, Lat, Pitch, Roll and Rotation were recorded. The patients were divided into groups according to whether they wore the surgical mask, the type of immobilization mask used and the location of the isocenter. The setup errors of patients were calculated. A t-test was performed to detect whether it was statistically significant. RESULTS: In the 4 groups, the standard deviation in the directions of Lng and Pitch of the with surgical mask group were all higher than that in the without surgical mask group. In the head-neck-shoulder mask group, the mean in the Lng direction of the with surgical mask group was larger than that of the without surgical mask group. In the lateral isocenter group, the mean in the Lng and Pitch directions of the with surgical mask group were larger than that of the without surgical mask group. The t-test results showed that there was significant difference in the setup error between the 2 groups (p = 0.043 and p = 0.013, respectively) only in the Lng and Pitch directions of the head-neck-shoulder mask group. In addition, the setup error of 6 patients with immobilization open masks exhibited no distinguished difference from that of the patients with regular immobilization masks. CONCLUSION: In the head and neck radiotherapy patients, the setup error was affected by wearing surgical mask. It is recommended that the immobilization open mask should be used when the patient cannot finish the whole treatment with a surgical mask.

NFAT5 directs hyperosmotic stress-induced fibrin deposition and macrophage infiltration via PAI-1 in endothelium.

Although stress can significantly promote atherosclerosis, the underlying mechanisms are still not completely understood. Here we successfully unveiled that high salt-induced nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (NFAT5) control the endothelial-dependent fibrinolytic activity and the inflammatory adhesion-related molecules expression through regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). We first observed that high salt diets instigated the expression of NFAT5 and PAI-1 in the endothelium which brought about the fibrin deposition and macrophage infiltration in the atherosclerotic arteries of ApoE-/- mice. Overexpression of NFAT5 increased PAI-1-mediated antifibrinolytic activity and activated inflammatory adhesion-related genes in endothelial cells. Knockdown of NFAT5 by siRNA inhibited the expression of PAI-1, antifibrinolytic and adhesive molecules. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that high salt intake significantly promoted the binding of NFAT5 to PAI-1 promoter (TGGAATTATTT) in endothelial cells. Our study identified that NFAT5 has great potential to activate the PAI-1-mediated fibrinolytic dysfunction and inflammatory cell adhesion, thus promoting high salt-induced atherosclerosis disease.

Dual-Peptide-Functionalized Nanofibrous Scaffolds Recruit Host Endothelial Progenitor Cells for Vasculogenesis to Repair Calvarial Defects.

Vasculogenesis (de novo formation of vessels) induced by endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is requisite for vascularized bone regeneration. However, there exist few available options for promoting vasculogenesis within artificial bone grafts except for exogenous EPC transplantation, which suffers from the source of EPC, safety, cost, and time concerns in clinical applications. This study aimed at endogenous EPC recruitment for vascularized bone regeneration by using a bioinspired EPC-induced graft. The EPC-induced graft was created by immobilizing two bioactive peptides, WKYMVm and YIGSR, on the surface of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/poliglecaprone (PGC) nanofibrous scaffolds via a polyglycolic acid (PGA)-binding peptide sequence. Remarkable immobilization efficacy of WKYMVm and YIGSR peptides and their sustained release (over 14 days) from scaffolds were observed. In vivo and in vitro studies showed robust recruitment of EPCs, which subsequently contributed to early vasculogenesis and ultimate bone regeneration. The dual-peptide-functionalized nanofibrous scaffolds proposed in this study provide a promising therapeutic strategy for vasculogenesis in bone defect repair.