Mechanically active small intestinal submucosa hydrogel for accelerating chronic wound healing.

The treatment of chronic wounds is still a challenge worldwide. Here, inspired by mechanically induced embryonic wound healing, we design a mechanically active small intestinal submucosa based hydrogel (SIS-PNIPAm). The mechanical activity, biocompatibility, and bioactivity (angiogenesis and immunoregulation) of the SIS-PNIPAm hydrogel enable the fast healing of diabetic rat full-thickness wounds.

High bonding strength between zirconia and composite resin based on combined surface treatment for dental restorations.

Zirconia is the preferred material for dental restorations; however, dental restorations are usually affected by zirconia fractures due to chipping and delamination of the veneer ceramic. One effective solution for repairing chemically inert zirconia frameworks is to strongly chemically bond them with the composite resin via surface modification. Thus, the bonding strength between the zirconia and composite resin determines the performance of dental restoration. Herein, we investigate the shear bond strength between zirconia ceramic and two ceramic repair systems before and after thermal cycling based on different surface pretreatments, including air-abrasion and a novel silane coupling agent. When treated with combined sandblasting, novel silane and 10-methacryloyloxydecyl hydrogen phosphate act as a bonding agent for the zirconia surface, and the maximum shear bond strength achieves 27.5 MPa, as measured by a universal testing machine through the average of 16 separate measurements. The results show that the combined treatment resists the interface damage caused by expansion and contraction during thermal cycling. The long-term bond durability is due to the micro-mechanical bond force formed by resin and ceramic, and the chemical bonds of Zr-O-Si at the interface. Results indicate that selective pretreating the surface results in high bond strength between the zirconia and the composite resin, which is meaningful to optimize dental restoration.

Enhanced bonding strength between lithium disilicate ceramics and resin cement by multiple surface treatments after thermal cycling.

All-ceramic restoration has become a popular technology for dental restoration; however, the relative bond strength between the ceramic and resin limits its further application. Long-term high bond strength, especially after thermal cycling, is of great importance for effective restoration. The effect of physical and/or chemical surface treatments on bonding durability is seldom reported. To overcome this problem, we investigate the bond strength between lithium disilicate ceramics (LDC) and two kinds of resin cements before and after thermal cycling for a variety of surface treatments including hydrofluoric acid, two kinds of silane and a combined effect. The shear bond strength in every group is characterized by universal mechanical testing machine averaged by sixteen-time measurements. The results show that when treated with HF and a mixed silane, the LDC surface shows maximum bonding strengths of 27.1 MPa and 23.3 MPa with two different resin cements after 5000 thermal cycling, respectively, indicating an excellent ability to resist the damage induced by cyclic expansion and contraction. This long-term high bond strength is attributed to the combined effect of micromechanical interlocking (physical bonding) and the formation of Si-O-Si and -C-C- at the interface (chemical bonding). This result offers great potential for enhancing bond strength for all-ceramic restoration by optimizing the surface treatment.

[A clinical study of paclitaxel combined with FOLFOX4 regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and the toxicity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and FOLFOX4 (5-fluorouracil/leucovorin combined and oxaliplatin) regimen for advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with cTNM stage III or IV (M0) gastric cancer were enrolled and 39 were randomized into the treatment arm (n=39, paclitaxel combined with FOLFOX4 regimen neoadjuvant chemotherapy every two weeks in each cycle) and control group (n=39). Clinical response was evaluated with RECIST criteria after 3 cycles. Patients in experimental group received surgery after 2-4 weeks and postoperative chemotherapy of 3 cycles of the original regimen. When disease progressed, postoperative chemotherapy regimen was changed into ECF regimen. The control group of 39 patients received surgery within 2 weeks and postoperative chemotherapy of 6 cycles of paclitaxel combined with FOLFOX4 regimen. RESULTS: The clinical response rate was 66.7% in the treatment arm. The R0 resection rate (59.0%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (P=0.025) and the number of lymph node metastasis in the treatment arm(3.23±2.80) was significantly lower than that in the control group (5.79±2.69, P=0.001). There were no significant differences in postoperative complication rate (5.1% vs. 2.6%) and the number of lymph node dissection (19.69±2.95 vs. 20.59±3.22) between the two groups (P>0.05). The median survival time and 2-year survival rate in the treatment arm [(27.10±2.32) months and 59.0%] was significantly higher than that in the control group[(18.20±1.30) months and 28.2%] (P=0.001, P=0.006). Cox regression multivariable analysis showed that tumor differentiation, R0 resection, lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors. Adverse reaction of chemotherapy, mainly hematological adverse reactions, and peripheral nerve toxicity, were tolerable. No significant differences were noted between the two groups in adverse reactions (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of paclitaxel combined with FOLFOX4 as neoadjuvant chemotherapy is high. Patients tolerance and compliance are satisfactory. It can improve in patients with advanced gastric cancer the R0 resection rate, reduce lymph node metastasis and improve survival.