Engineering Titanium-Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Enhanced Antibacterial and Wound Healing Efficacy.

External factors often lead to predictable damage, such as chemical injuries, burns, incisions, and wounds. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics at wound sites underscores the importance of developing hydrogel composite systems with inorganic nanoparticles possessing antibacterial properties to treat infected wounds and expedite the skin regeneration process. In this study, a promising TiO2-HAp@PF-127@CBM inorganic and organic integrated hydrogel system was designed to address challenges associated with bacterial resistance and wound healing. The synthesized TiO2-hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocomposites were coated with an FDA-approved PluronicF-127 polymer and combined with a carbomer hydrogel (CBM) to accomplish the final product. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibit enhanced biocompatibility against L929 and HUVECs and cell proliferation effects. To mitigate oxidative stress caused by TiO2-induced reactive oxygen species in dark environments for effective antibacterial effects, HAp promotes cell proliferation, expediting wound skin layer formation. CBM binds to inorganic nanoparticles, facilitating their gradual release and promoting wound healing. The reduced inflammation and enhanced tissue regeneration observed in the TiO2-HAp@PF-127@CBM group suggest a favorable environment for wound repair. These results align with prior findings highlighting the biocompatibility and wound-healing properties of titanium-HAp-based materials. The ability of the TiO2-HAp@PF-127@CBM hydrogel dressing to promote granulation tissue formation and facilitate epidermal regeneration underscores its potential for promoting antibacterial effects and wound healing applications.

Actin Filament-Associated Protein 1-Like 1 Mediates Proliferation and Survival in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND The actin filament-associated protein (AFAP) family consists of 3 novel adaptor proteins: AFAP1, AFAP1L1, and AFAP1L2/XB130. Although evidence shows that AFAP1 and AFAP1L2 play an oncogenic role, the effect of AFAP1L1 on tumor cell behavior has not been fully elucidated, and it remains unknown whether AFAP1L1 could be a prognostic marker and/or therapeutic target of lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS Human A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells were used in this study. AFAP1L1 gene was knocked down by AFAP1L1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) transfection. Cell proliferation was analyzed using Celigo image cytometry and MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay, cell cycle progression was assessed with flow cytometry, and cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry after annexin-n staining. The PathScan intracellular signaling array was used to investigate cancer-related signaling proteins influenced by knocking down AFAP1L1 in A549. RESULTS AFAP1L1 gene expression was successfully inhibited by the AFAP1L1-shRNA transfection. Cell proliferation was inhibited and cell proportions in G1 and G2/M phases were increased, and cell apoptosis was increased in the AFAP1L1-shRNA transfected cells as compared with negative control shRNA transfected cells. Using the PathScan intracellular signaling array, we found that downregulation of AFAP1L1 significantly activated P38 and caspase 3, and inhibited PRAS40 activation. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that AFAP1L1 promotes cell proliferation, accelerates cell cycle progression, and prevents cell apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Therefore, AFAP1L1 might play an oncogenic role in NSCLC.

Preoperative misdiagnosis analysis and accurate distinguish intrathymic cyst from small thymoma on computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of computed tomography (CT) in preoperative diagnosis of intrathymic cyst and small thymoma, and determine the best CT threshold for distinguish intrathymic cyst from small thymoma. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 30 patients (17 intrathymic cyst and 13 small thymoma) who had undergone mediastinal masses resection (with diameter less than 3 cm) under thoracoscope between January 2014 and July 2015 at our hospital. Clinical and CT features were compared and receiver-operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis was performed. RESULTS: The CT value of small thymoma [39.5 HU (IQR, 33.7-42.2 HU)] was significantly higher than intrathymic cyst [25.8 HU (IQR, 22.3-29.3 HU), P=0.004]. When CT value was 31.2 HU, it could act as a threshold for identification of small thymoma and intrathymic cyst (the sensitivity and specificity was 92.3% and 82.4%, respectively). The ΔCT value of enhanced CT value with the non-enhanced CT value was significantly different between small thymoma [18.7 HU (IQR, 10.9-19.0 HU)] and intrathymic cyst [4.3 HU (IQR, 3.0-11.7 HU), P=0.04]. The density was more homogenous in intrathymic cyst than small thymoma, and the contour of the intrathymic cyst was more smoothly than small thymoma. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CT scans could help clinicians to identify intrathymic cyst and small thymoma, and we recommend 31.2 HU as the best thresholds. Contrast-enhanced CT scans is useful for further identification of the two diseases.