Topical lyophilized thrombin application improves wound healing for posterior spinal surgery.

Background: The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) was proposed as a part of the postoperative multimodal analgesic regimen to improve pain management after posterior spinal surgery. However, ESPB might cause more surgical incisional wound exudate and poor wound healing, which might be improved after topical lyophilized thrombin application. Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective study on patients who received posterior spinal surgery between January 2018 and December 2021. These patients were assigned into three groups: group A (general anesthesia), group B (general anesthesia with ESPB), and group C (general anesthesia with ESPB and topical 1000-unit thrombin application). Postoperative outcomes, including times of dressing changes, duration of suture removal, and incisional wound healing, were compared among these groups. Results: Our study included 89 patients, with 48, 20, and 21 patients in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Baseline demographics, height, weight, comorbidities, and operation duration were comparable among the three groups. Group B required statistically significantly more dressing changes and had a prolonged duration of suture removal than group A (9.4 ± 4.7 versus 6.5 ± 2.0 times, 16.2 ± 3.7 versus 14.2 ± 1.4 days, respectively), which could be statistically significantly improved after the thrombin application in group C. Group B also had more frequent poor wound healing (25.0 %), which could also be improved after the thrombin application (0.0 %). Conclusions: ESPB could cause more dressing changes and poor surgical wound healing after posterior spinal surgery, which could be improved by topical lyophilized thrombin powder application.

Reduced production of Ethyl Carbamate in wine by regulating the accumulation of arginine in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Ethyl carbamate (EC), a multisite carcinogenic compound, is naturally produced from urea and ethanol in alcoholic beverages. In order to reduce the content of EC in wine, the accumulation of arginine in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was regulated by genetic modifying genes involved in arginine transport and synthesis pathways to reduce the production of urea. Knockout of genes encoding arginine permease (Can1p) and amino acid permease (Gap1p) on the cell membrane as well as argininosuccinate synthase (Arg1) respectively resulted in a maximum reduction of 66.88% (9.40 µg/L) in EC, while overexpressing the gene encoding amino acid transporter (Vba2) reduced EC by 52.94% (24.13 µg/L). Simultaneously overexpressing Vba2 and deleting Arg1 showed the lowest EC production with a decrease of 68% (7.72 µg/L). The yield of total higher alcohols of the mutants all decreased compared with that of the original strain. Comprehensive consideration of flavor compound contents and sensory evaluation results indicated that mutant YG21 obtained by deleting two allele coding Gap1p performed best in must fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon with the EC content low to 9.40 µg/L and the contents of total higher alcohols and esters of 245.61 mg/L and 41.71 mg/L respectively. This study has provided an effective strategy for reducing the EC in wine.

Polyaniline-graphene based composites electrode materials in supercapacitor: synthesis, performance and prospects.

Supercapacitors (SCs) have become one of the most popular energy-storage devices for high power density and fast charging/discharging capability. Polyaniline is a class of conductive polymer materials with ultra-high specific capacitance, and the excellent mechanical properties will play a key role in the research of flexible SCs. The synergistic effect between polyaniline and graphene is often used to overcome their respective inherent shortcomings, thus the high-performance polyaniline-graphene based nanocomposite electrode materials can be prepared. The development of graphene-polyaniline nanocomposites as electrode materials for SCs depends on their excellent microstructure design. However, it is still difficult to seek a balance between graphene performance and functionalization to improve the weak interfacial interaction between graphene and polyaniline. In this manuscript, the latest preparation methods, research progress and research results of graphene-polyaniline nanocomposites on SCs are reviewed, and the optimization of electrode structures and performances is discussed. Finally, the prospect of graphene-polyaniline composites is expected.

Effects of manual lymphatic drainage on total knee replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Total knee joint replacement (TKR) is an effective method for the treatment of severe knee osteoarthritis. With an increasing number of surgeries, complications such as lower limb edema, pain, and limited mobility have caused a heavy burden. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) may be a solution to solve the problem. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of MLD in reducing knee edema, pain, and improving range of motion (ROM) in patients after TKR. METHODS: A search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIPs, WanFang database, and Google Scholar from inception to June 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effects of MLD and non-MLD (or another physiotherapy) on improving knee edema, pain, and ROM after TKR were included. Stata 16.0 was used for meta-analysis. GRADE was used to assess the quality of evidence. RESULTS: In total, 7 RCTs with 285 patients were identified. There were no significant differences found in the ROM of knee flexion (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.22, 0.28, P = 0.812) and the ROM of knee extension (SMD= -0.30, 95%CI: -0.64, 0.04, P = 0.084). No differences were observed in the lower extremity circumference after TKR (SMD= -0.09, 95%CI: -0.27, 0.09, P = 0.324). For postoperative pain, there was no significant advantage between the MLD and non-MLD groups (SMD= -0.33, 95%CI: -0.71, 0.04, P = 0.083). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the current evidence from RCTs, manual lymphatic drainage is not recommended for the rehabilitation of patients following total knee replacement.

Urethral Microenvironment Adapted Sodium Alginate/Gelatin/Reduced Graphene Oxide Biomimetic Patch Improves Scarless Urethral Regeneration.

The nasty urine microenvironment (UME) is an inherent obstacle that hinders urethral repair due to fibrosis and swelling of the oftentimes adopted hydrogel-based biomaterials. Here, using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) along with double-freeze-drying to strengthen a 3D-printed patch is reported to realize scarless urethral repair. The sodium alginate/gelatin/reduced graphene oxide (SA/Gel/rGO) biomaterial features tunable stiffness, degradation profile, and anti-fibrosis performance. Interestingly, the 3D-printed alginate-containing composite scaffold is able to respond to Ca2+ present in the urine, leading to enhanced structural stability and strength as well as inhibiting swelling. The investigations present that the swelling behaviors, mechanical properties, and anti-fibrosis efficacy of the SA/Gel/rGO patch can be modulated by varying the concentration of rGO. In particular, rGO in optimal concentration shows excellent cell viability, migration, and proliferation. In-depth mechanistic studies reveal that the activation of cell proliferation and angiogenesis-related proteins, along with inhibition of fibrosis-related gene expressions, play an important role in scarless repair by the 3D-printed SA/Gel/rGO patch via promoting urothelium growth, accelerating angiogenesis, and minimizing fibrosis in vivo. The proposed strategy has the potential of resolving the dilemma of necessary biomaterial stiffness and unwanted fibrosis in urethral repair.

Mechanisms of microbial-driven changes in soil ecological stoichiometry around gold mines.

In this study, we used soils with different pollution and nutrient levels (non-polluted S1, highly polluted low-nutrient S2, and highly polluted high nutrient S3) around the gold mine tailing ponds, and combined with metabolic limitation modeling and macro-genomics approaches, aiming to investigate the relationship between soil microbial composition and soil eco-chemometrics characteristics under heavy metal stress. The results showed that heavy pollution resulted in reduced SOC, TN, microbial biomass, and with C- and P- acquisition (BG, CBH, ALP) as well as nitrogen limitation of soil microbial metabolism in soils (S2, S3). Further analysis by macrogenomics showed that heavy metal contamination led to an increase in α-microbial diversity and altered the composition of microbial communities in the soil. The cycling of C, N, and P nutrients was altered by affecting the relative abundance of Anaeromyxobacter, Steroidobacter, Bradyrhizobium, Acidobacterium, Limnochorda (predominantly in the Ascomycetes and Acidobacteria phyla), with the most pronounced effect on the composition of microorganisms synthesizing C-acquiring enzymes, and heavy metals and pH were the main influences on ecological stoichiometry. The results of this study are useful for understanding the sustainability of ecological remediation in heavy metal contaminated areas and for developing ecological restoration strategies.

Electrospun Nanofibrous Conduit Filled with a Collagen-Based Matrix (ColM) for Nerve Regeneration.

Traumatic nerve defects result in dysfunctions of sensory and motor nerves and are usually accompanied by pain. Nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) are widely applied to bridge large-gap nerve defects. However, few NGCs can truly replace autologous nerve grafts to achieve comprehensive neural regeneration and function recovery. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) sponge-filled nanofibrous NGC (sf@NGC) resembling the structure of native peripheral nerves was developed. The conduit was fabricated by electrospinning a poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) membrane, whereas the intraluminal filler was obtained by freeze-drying a collagen-based matrix (ColM) resembling the extracellular matrix. The effects of the electrospinning process and of the composition of ColM on the physicochemical performance of sf@NGC were investigated in detail. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of the PLGA sheath and ColM were evaluated. The continuous and homogeneous PLGA nanofiber membrane had high porosity and tensile strength. ColM was shown to exhibit an ECM-like architecture characterized by a multistage pore structure and a high porosity level of over 70%. The PLGA sheath and ColM were shown to possess stagewise degradability and good biocompatibility. In conclusion, sf@NGC may have a favorable potential for the treatment of nerve reconstruction.

High energy density flexible Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitors with conductive cotton fabric constructed by rGO/CNT/PPy nanocomposite.

Fiber-shaped energy-storage devices for high energy and power density are crucial to power wearable electronics. In this work, reduced graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes/polypyrrole (GCP-op) cotton fabric with the optimal performance is prepared via a facile and cost-effective dipping-drying together with chemical polymerization approach. The structural characterizations confirm that the GCP-op cotton fabric has been successfully attached with numerous nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes, which can serve as a channel for electronical transfer. And GCP-op cotton fabric electrode displays admirable areal specific capacitance with 8397 mF cm-2at 1 mA cm-2. By combining GCP-op cathode with zinc anode, a GCP-op//PAM/ZnCl2//Zn flexible Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitor (FZHSC) is produced with 2 M polyacrylamide/ZnCl2(PAM/ZnCl2) hydrogel as the gel electrolyte. The FZHSC has superior cycle stability of 88.2%, outstanding energy density of up to 158µWh cm-2and power density at 0.5 mW cm-2. The remarkable performance proves that PPy-based material can provide more options for design and fabricate high energy flexible Zn-ion hybrid supercapacitors.

Trimetallic MOF-derived CoFeNi/Z-P NC nanocomposites as efficient catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction.

We used sodium hydroxide-mediated approach and tannic acid etching to prepare hollow structured trimetallic MOF-derived CoFeNi/Z-P NC nanocomposites. Remarkably, the resulting CoFeNi/Z-P NC nanocomposites have large specific surface area and mesoporous structure, making their active sites more accessible and mass transfer more effective. More complex trimetallic components provide greater possibilities for further improving electrocatalytic performance. The CoFeNi/Z-P NC nanocomposites demonstrate notable enhancements for the OER, and 10 mA cm-2 current density is achieved at a low overpotential of 244 mV, with a low Tafel slope of 66.2 mV dec-1 and have good stability in alkaline solutions. In addition, as a cathode material for overall alkaline water splitting, CoFeNi/Z-P NC is better than RuO2 with longer cycling stability.

The Effect of Genetic Variation on the Sensitivity to Opioid Analgesics in Patients With Postoperative Pain: An Updated Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Responsiveness to opioid analgesics differs among patients with acute postoperative pain. OBJECTIVE: Our study presents the most recent evidence on the effect of genetic variations on postoperative pain, opioid consumption, nausea, and vomiting in patients treated with opioids. STUDY DESIGN: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms and opioids administered to patients with acute postoperative pain. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published from February 1, 2014, through December 31, 2021. RESULTS: Added to the previous meta-analysis, 39 studies (a total of 7,455 patients) were included in the final meta-analysis. Highlights of the findings include: 1) human µ-opioid receptor gene 118G allele carriers required more opioids during the first postoperative 24 hours (standard mean difference [SMD] = -0.27; 95% CI,-0.40 to -0.14; P < 0.0001) and 48 hours (SMD = -0.52; 95% CI, -0.83 to -0.20; P = 0.001), and reported higher pain scores during the first 24 hours but not at the 48-hour postoperative period (SMD = -0.09, 95% CI, -0.15 to -0.03; P = 0.002) compared to homozygous 118AA patients. 2) patients with the CYP3A4 *1G allele required fewer opioids during the first 24-hour postoperative period (SMD = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.05 to 1.14; P = 0.03) compared to patients with the homozygous CYP3A4*1/*1 allele. 3) Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily B member-1 (ABCB1) 3435T allele carriers required more opioids during the 48-hour postoperative period (SMD = -0.21; 95% CI, -0.38 to -0.04; P = 0.02) compared to homozygous CC carriers. 4) Catechol-O-methyl transferase 158A allele carriers required fewer opioids during the first 24-hour postoperative period (SMD = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.51; P = 0.0004) compared to homozygous GG carriers. No significant differences were observed in patients with CYP2D6*10 and ABCB1 G2677A/T genetic polymorphisms. LIMITATIONS: Several loci were not analyzed in detail due to insufficient clinical data. Furthermore, nongenetic factors that affected analgesic efficacy and the clinical outcome of postoperative pain were not discussed and were not the aim of this meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In combination with previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses, our results indicate that the A118G allele variant of OPRM1 and the *1*1G allele variant of CYP3A4 have a profound influence on individual differences in opioid reactivity in patients with postoperative pain. Our results, together with the identification of additional single nucleotide polymorphisms in future studies, may provide a theoretical basis for precise clinical analgesia. KEY WORDS: Single nucleotide polymorphism, postoperative pain, opioid, meta-analysis.

Hydrogels for 3D bioprinting in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine: Current progress and challenges.

Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a promising and innovative biomanufacturing technology, which can achieve precise position controlling of cells and extracellular matrix components, and further create complex and functional multi-cellular tissues or organs in a 3D environment. Bioink in the form of the cell-loaded hydrogel is most commonly used in bioprinting, and it is vital to the process of bioprinting. The bionic scaffold should possess suitable mechanical strength, biocompatibility, cell proliferation, survival, and other biological characteristics. The disadvantages of natural polymer hydrogel materials include poor mechanical properties as well as low printing performance and shape fidelity. Over the past years, a series of synthetic, modified, and nanocomposite hydrogels have been developed, which can interact through physical interactions, chemical covalent bond crosslinking, and bioconjugation reactions to change the characteristics to satisfy the requirements. In this review, a comprehensive summary is provided on recent research regarding the unique properties of hydrogel bioinks for bioprinting, with optimized methods and technologies highlighted, which have both high-value research significance and potential clinical applications. A critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each hydrogel-based biomaterial ink is presented at the beginning or end of each section, alongside the latest improvement strategies employed by current researchers to address their respective shortcomings. Furthermore, we propose potential repair sites for each hydrogel-based ink based on their distinctive repair features, while reflecting on current research limitations. Finally, we synthesize and analyze expert opinions on the future of these hydrogel-based bioinks in the broader context of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, offering valuable insights for future investigations.

Lightweight polyurethane composite foam for electromagnetic interference shielding with high absorption characteristic.

Due to the rapid growth of electronic equipment technology, efficient electromagnetic shielding materials are needed for equipment and human protection. Among them, foam shielding materials with absorption as the primary mechanism have higher application value than highly reflective materials. Highly absorbing shielding materials can reduce the secondary pollution caused by electromagnetic wave reflection. In this study, we added Fe3O4@Polyvinyl alcohol (Fe3O4@PVA) and graphene oxide@silver (GO@Ag) into the polyurethane (PU) matrix and constructed Fe3O4@PVA and GO@Ag/PU composite foam by foaming. Fe3O4@PVA and GO@Ag form an excellent network structure in the PU foam skeleton, significantly improving its electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) and mechanical properties. The shielding effectiveness reached 30.9 dB with a specific EMI SE (SSE) of 274.9 dB × cm3 × g-1 at a Fe3O4@PVA filling of 7 wt%, where the electromagnetic wave absorption accounted for more than 80 % of the total EMI SE, proving absorption as the primary shielding mechanism. The results show that Fe3O4, as a ferromagnet, has both the dielectric loss of ferroelectric materials and the hysteresis loss of ferromagnetic materials in electromagnetic shielding, effectively improving the wave absorption performance of composite shielding materials. Therefore, this work provides a promising idea for efficient and lightweight wave-absorbing shielding materials in aerospace, portable electronic devices and lightweight wearable devices.

Application of 3D printed pelvic fracture related urethra and surrounding tissue as preoperative planning model.

OBJECTIVE: Urethral stenosis caused by pelvic fracture urethral injury (PFUI) is a complex urological disease, especially for the redo cased. However, to find the proximal end of the posterior urethra, and to avoid injury to the rectum and to forecast to remove the inferior pubic margin are two key points for a successful surgery. These steps can be challenging for even the most experienced urologists. This study is to describe a new technique for understanding the three-dimensional (3D) anatomy of the urethra, which will also aid in surgical planning and simplify urethroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three patients underwent routine urethroscopy, X ray urethrography and contrast CT urethrography. The 3D images were then reconstructed, and the data were transmitted to a 3D printer. 3D models were printed with polyacrylic acid to simulate the anatomical structure and relationship of urethral stenosis with pubic symphysis and rectum. Various diagnosis methods were compared with the condition in surgery. The patients and trainee questionnaires were performed. RESULTS: Three models of urethral CT were obtained. These models were presented to patients and trainee doctors along with routine urethroscopy, urethrography, and urethral CT. The scores of patients and trainee question forms demonstrated that the 3D printed urethral stenosis model of pelvic fracture has obvious advantages in urethral adjacency and ease of understanding. The 3D printed urethras were easy to show the pubic symphysis and simulate its excision and exposure of urethra. The model could show the precise distance from urethra to rectum to prevent the rectum injury in surgery. CONCLUSIONS: 3D printing technology can be applied to the preoperative evaluation of urethral stenosis caused by PFUI. It can be auxiliary to understand the anatomical structure of the posterior urethra, the direction of urethral displacement, protecting the rectum and the forecasting for pubectomy. It is especially helpful for the accurate preoperative planning of some complex urethral stenosis and redo cases.

Significance of strictly defined idiopathic tricuspid regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: Moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is known to cause right ventricular (RV) failure and death. Although TR is traditionally classified as primary or secondary, recently, a new class of TR called idiopathic TR has been proposed, with varying definitions among different studies. METHODS: The data were retrospectively collected for the period of January to June 2018 for 8711 patients from the patient cohort of the National Cheng Kung University Hospital echocardiography laboratory. A total of 670 patients (7.7%) with moderate-to-severe TR were included. Idiopathic TR was diagnosed strictly using a new systematic approach. RESULTS: The distribution of significant TR included 74 (11.0%) primary TR cases, 48 (7.2%) with pacemaker-related TR, 267 (39.9%) with left heart disease, 24 (3.6%) with congenital heart disease, 6 (0.9%) with RV myopathy, 105 (15.7%) with pulmonary hypertension, and 146 (21.8%) with idiopathic TR. The mean age in primary and idiopathic TR groups was older ( p = 0.004), with lower estimated pulmonary pressure ( p < 0.001), higher RV fraction area change (FAC, p < 0.001), and tricuspid annulus systolic velocity (S', p = 0.004) compared with functional TR group. Multivariate analysis showed that idiopathic TR ( p = 0.002) and primary TR ( p = 0.008) had better RV FAC than functional TR. CONCLUSION: Idiopathic TR was associated with better RV function than the other secondary TRs. Thus, idiopathic TR should be strictly defined and regarded as a distinct type of TR.

Two competing simplicial irreversible epidemics on simplicial complex.

Higher-order interactions have significant implications for the dynamics of competing epidemic spreads. In this paper, a competing spread model for two simplicial irreversible epidemics (i.e., susceptible-infected-removed epidemics) on higher-order networks is proposed. The simplicial complexes are based on synthetic (including homogeneous and heterogeneous) and real-world networks. The spread process of two epidemics is theoretically analyzed by extending the microscopic Markov chain approach. When the two epidemics have the same 2-simplex infection rate and the 1-simplex infection rate of epidemic A ( λ) is fixed at zero, an increase in the 1-simplex infection rate of epidemic B ( λ) causes a transition from continuous growth to sharp growth in the spread of epidemic B with λ. When λ > 0, the growth of epidemic B is always continuous. With the increase of λ, the outbreak threshold of epidemic B is delayed. When the difference in 1-simplex infection rates between the two epidemics reaches approximately three times, the stronger side obviously dominates. Otherwise, the coexistence of the two epidemics is always observed. When the 1-simplex infection rates are symmetrical, the increase in competition will accelerate the spread process and expand the spread area of both epidemics; when the 1-simplex infection rates are asymmetrical, the spread area of one epidemic increases with an increase in the 1-simplex infection rate from this epidemic while the other decreases. Finally, the influence of 2-simplex infection rates on the competing spread is discussed. An increase in 2-simplex infection rates leads to sharp growth in one of the epidemics.

Synthesis of Prussian Blue Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial, Antiinflammation and Antitumor Applications.

In recent years, Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs), also named Prussian blue nano-enzymes, have been shown to demonstrate excellent multi-enzyme simulation activity and anti-inflammatory properties, and can be used as reactive oxygen scavengers. Their good biocompatibility and biodegradability mean that they are ideal candidates for in vivo use. PBNPs are highly efficient electron transporters with oxidation and reduction activities. PBNPs also show considerable promise as nano-drug carriers and biological detection sensors owing to their huge specific surface area, good chemical characteristics, and changeable qualities, which might considerably increase the therapeutic impact. More crucially, PBNPs, as therapeutic and diagnostic agents, have made significant advances in biological nanomedicine. This review begins with a brief description of the synthesis methods of PBNPs, then focuses on the applications of PBNPs in tissue regeneration and inflammation according to the different properties of PBNPs. This article will provide a timely reference for further study of PBNPs as therapeutic agents.

Similarities and differences between rat and mouse chondrocyte gene expression induced by IL-1ß.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent degenerative joint disease. In vitro experiments are an intuitive method used to investigate its early pathogenesis. Chondrocyte inflammation models in rats and mice are often used as in vitro models of OA. However, similarities and differences between them in the early stages of inflammation have not been reported. OBJECTIVE: This paper seeks to compare the chondrocyte phenotype of rats and mice in the early inflammatory state and identify chondrocytes suitable for the study of early OA. METHODS: Under similar conditions, chondrocytes from rats and mice were stimulated using the same IL-1ß concentration for a short period of time. The phenotypic changes of chondrocytes were observed under a microscope. The treated chondrocytes were subjected to RNA-seq to identify similarities and differences in gene expression. Chondrocytes were labelled with EdU for proliferation analysis. Cell proliferation-associated proteins, including minichromosome maintenance 2 (MCM2), minichromosome maintenance 5 (MCM5), Lamin B1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and Cyclin D1, were analysed by immunocytochemical staining, cell immunofluorescence, and Western blots to verify the RNA-seq results. RESULTS: RNA-seq revealed that the expression patterns of cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and collagen were similar between the rat and mouse chondrocyte inflammation models. Nonetheless, the expression of proliferation-related genes showed the opposite pattern. The RNA-seq results were further verified by subsequent experiments. The expression levels of MCM2, MCM5, Lamin B1, PCNA, and Cyclin D1 were significantly upregulated in rat chondrocytes (P < 0.05) and mouse chondrocytes (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings, the rat chondrocyte inflammation model may help in the study of the early pathological mechanism of OA.

Identification of thrombin as a key regulator of chondrocyte catabolic activity through RNA-Seq and experimental verification.

The present study was designed to explore the relationship between thrombin and catabolic activity in chondrocytes. Primary rat chondrocytes were cultured for 24 h with rat serum (RS), rat plasma (RP), or rat plasma supplemented with thrombin (RPT). RNA-sequencing was then performed. Cell proliferation was analyzed by EdU uptake, CCK-8 assays and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of proliferation-related genes. Heatmaps were used to visualize differences in gene expression. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses of up- and down-regulated differentially expressed genes were conducted. Molecular probes were used to label the endoplasmic reticulum in chondrocytes from three treatment groups. Immunofluorescence and Safranin O staining were used to assess type II collagen (Col2a1) expression and proteoglycan synthesis, whereas Lox expression was assessed by immunocytochemistry. The expression of enzymes involved in the synthesis and maturation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and chemokines were measured by qPCR while matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) levels were evaluated by Western blotting. Relevant nodules were selected through further PPI network analyses. A total of 727 and 1162 genes were up- and down-regulated based on the Venn diagrams comparison among groups. Thrombin was thus able to promote chondrocyte proliferation and a shift towards fibrotic morphology, while upregulating MMPs and chemokines linked to ECM degradation. In addition, thrombin decreased the enzyme expression involved in the synthesis and maturation of ECM.

Electrospun nanoyarn and exosomes of adipose-derived stem cells for urethral regeneration: Evaluations in vitro and in vivo.

Regeneration of urethral defects has been difficult in the clinic. To address it, the collagen/ poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (P(LLA-CL)) nanoyarn scaffold delivering adipose-derived stem cells' exosomes (ADSC-exos) was fabricated. The multipotential differentiation potential of ADSCs were confirmed by Adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay shows that 50% concentration of ADSC-exos nanoyarn scaffold dramatically enhanced the cell viability of fibroblasts. The ADSC-exos nanoyarn scaffold for human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) and human urethral scar fibroblasts (HSFs) shows good biocompatibility: theproduction of inflammatory factors IL-6 and Col 1A1 was less, indicating that ADSC-exos had the minimal inflammatory effect of cells. Besides, the cells on the ADSC-exos nanoyarn scaffold did not appear to contribute to DNA damage in the same way as the normal cell's growth did. The HFFs seeding on the ADSC-exos nanoyarn scaffold shows a typical morphology of extending outwards. Urethral repair with ADSC-exos nanoyarn scaffold did not lead to either a sign of urethral stricture or scar formation after 4 weeks post-surgery. The deposition of collagen was less and the epithelial cells formed multiple layer epithelium. The treatment of ADSC-exos stimulated epithelization and vascularization. And the transition from an inflammatory state to a regenerative state was promoted. The ADSC-exos-treated group did not promote the over-proliferation of fibroblasts and the expression of Collagen I. Therefore, the ADSC-exos nanoyarn scaffold has evident, positive effects on wound healing and tissue fibrosis inhibition.

Enhancement in external quantum efficiency of light-emitting diode based on colloidal silicon nanocrystals.

Herein, we report an enhanced red emission from colloidal silicon nanocrystals (c-Si NCs) solution-processed light-emitting diode. c-Si NCs were synthesized by facile femtosecond laser ablation. Based on the structural characterization and opto-electrics properties analysis, both photoluminescence and electroluminescence arise from the radiative recombination of carriers due to quantum confined effect. The optical power density and highest external quantum efficiency have been obtained to be 0.79 mW cm-2and âˆ¼6.6%, respectively. These results indicate that Si NCs are very attractive as a potential optical source for future integrated chips.