Mechanical performance of graphenex/poly(ether ketone ketone) composite sheets by hot pressing.

Polymer composites are gradually replacing traditional metal materials in the fields of aviation, aerospace, automotive and medicine due to their corrosion resistance, light weight and high strength. Moulding technology and organization morphology of polymer composite are key elements affecting the quality of products and their application, so a vacuum hot pressing process for graphenex/poly(ether ketone ketone) (PEKK) (x = 0%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%) composite powders is explored with particularly designed moulding parameters to achieve high conductive properties and good mechanical properties in graphene/PEKK composite sheet with thickness of 1.25 mm and diameter of 80 mm. The vacuum environment ensures that the graphene is not oxidized by air during hot pressing molding, which is essential for achieving conductive property in the graphene/PEKK composite; The hot pressing temperature of each graphene/PEKK composite powder is higher than glass transition temperature but lower than melting temperature, which ensures the graphene/PEKK composite powders is fully compacted and then graphene is fully lapped in the composite sheet. In addition, the graphene/PEKK composite sheet shows conductive property when the graphene content increases to 3wt%, and then the conductivity of the composites increases and then decreases with a peak value at 5wt% with increasing graphene content. By comparing the mechanical properties and microstructure morphology of the graphene/PEKK composite sheets, it was obtained that graphene content has an obvious effect on the mechanical properties of the composites, e.g., the mechanical properties will be increased as the graphene content increasing when graphene content is more than 3%. The graphene distribution law of the composite material with different graphene contents is analysed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Autophagy deficiency promotes lung metastasis of prostate cancer via stabilization of TWIST1.

PURPOSE: The role of autophagy in prostate cancer metastasis remains controversial, and the effects of the autophagy-related gene ATG5 on prostate cancer metastasis are poorly understood. This study aims to explore the effects of ATG5 on prostate cancer metastasis and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: The metastatic characteristics of LNCaP and DU145 cells were assessed by NOD/SCID mouse experiments, western blot, transwell assay, and wound-healing assay. Double membrane autophagic vesicle observation and the adenovirus-expressing mCherry-GFP-LC3B fusion protein were used to assess the autophagic characteristics of LNCaP and DU145 cells. The role of p62 in the accumulation of TWIST1 was confirmed by western blot under different conditions. The lentivirus particles of shATG5, NOD/SCID mice experiments, western blot, transwell assay, and wound-healing assay were used to confirm the role of ATG5 in TWIST1 accumulation and prostate cancer cell metastasis. RESULTS: We identified a stabilizing effect of p62 on TWIST1 in the autophagic regulation of EMT and prostate cancer metastasis. The loss of ATG5 in DU145 cells resulted in autophagy deficiency and p62 accumulation, which stabilized TWIST1 and increased the TWIST1 level in prostate cancer cells, and eventually promoted EMT and metastasis. In comparison, LNCaP cells with regular ATG5 expression and autophagy status retained remarkable epithelial cell characteristics and had limited metastatic characteristics. Similar results were also found in wild-type LNCaP cells and LNCaP cells with stable ATG5 interference. CONCLUSIONS: Our research revealed ATG5-mediated autophagy as a key mechanism that controls the metastasis of prostate cancer by regulating p62 abundance and TWIST1 stabilization.

[Efficacy of high-voltage long-duration pulsed radiofrequency treatment in patients with neuralgia resulting from failed back surgery syndrome].

Objective: To explore the efficacy and safety of high-voltage long-duration pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment in patients with neuralgia resulting from failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). Methods: The clinical data of 58 patients diagnosed with neuralgia resulting from FBSS in the Department of Pain Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital from January 2017 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment method. Experimental group (n=28) underwent high-voltage long-duration PRF therapy, using ultrasound and X-ray guidance to target the spinal nerve of the affected side, while control group (n=30) was applied with the standard pulsed radiofrequency therapy. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) before treatment and at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months after treatment were recorded. Meanwhile, postprocedural complications and adverse reactions were also collected. Results: VAS, ODI, SF-36 and PHQ-9 scores at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months after treatment were significantly improved in both groups compared with their respective pre-treatment baseline scores (all P<0.01). The differences of VAS, ODI, and PHQ-9 scores between the two groups were not statistically significant at 1 month after treatment (all P>0.05). However, VAS, ODI, and PHQ-9 scores were lower in experiment group than those in control group at 6 months after treatment (all P<0.05). The marked improvement rate and total effective rate at 6 months after treatment in experiment group was 78.6% (22/28) and 92.9% (26/28), respectively, which were higher than that of control group [60.0% (18/30) and 83.3% (25/30), respectively], but the differences were not statistically significant (both P>0.05). No serious complications occurred during the whole period of treatment. Conclusions: Both treatments can effectively relieve the lower limb neuralgia. High-voltage long-term PRF has better efficacy and longer duration than standard PRF.

LncRNA PCAT-1 promotes the progression of osteosarcoma via miR-508-3p/ZEB1 axis.

OBJECTIVE: Osteosarcoma (OS) is an adolescent idiopathic malignancy with a poor prognosis. Accumulating evidence has verified that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were implicated in the initiation and development of various tumors. We aimed to clarify the functions and underlying mechanism of lncRNA PCAT-1 in OS progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RT-qPCR was performed to examine the relative expressions of PCAT-1, miR-508-3p and ZEB1 in OS tissues or cells. The proliferation capacities of OS cells with different transfection were detected by CCK-8 assays. Transwell assays were carried out to determine the functions of PCAT-1 and miR-508-3p in OS cell migration and invasion. Moreover, bioinformatical analysis and Luciferase reporter assay were applied to verify the association between PCAT-1 and miR-508-3p, miR-508-3p and ZEB1. RESULTS: Data of current study revealed that PCAT-1 was markedly upregulated in OS, which indicated poor prognosis of OS patients. CCK-8 and transwell assays indicated that PCAT-1 upregulation could promote OS cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Additionally, we found that miR-508-3p was a direct target of PCAT-1, and PCAT-1 regulated the development of OS via decreasing miR-508-3p and activating its target gene ZEB1. CONCLUSIONS: All data demonstrated that PCAT-1 promoted OS progression, and miR-508-3p/ZEB1 axis was implicated in the functional roles of PCAT-1 in OS, suggesting that PCAT-1/miR-508-3p/ZEB1 might serve as candidate therapeutic targets for OS patients.

[Analysis of anxiety, depression and related factors in patients with chronic lumbocrural pain before minimally invasive surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate anxiety and/or depression status of patients with chronic lumbocrural pain, and to further analyze related risk factors of anxiety and/or depression . METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the medical data of patients who suffered from chronic lumbocrural pain caused by lumbar disc herniation and/or lumbar spinal stenosis and received minimally invasive surgery from March 2018 to April 2018. General data (including age, gender, education levels, past history, sleep order and medical insurance), numeric rating scale(NRS), Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA) back pain scale and hospital anxiety and depression scale(HADS) were collected for analysis. The basic demographic data and clinic data were analyzed, possible related risk factors associated were analyzed by univariate analysis, and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was further used to find the relative independent risk factors and included all the predictive variables with P values less than 0.05 as covariates. RESULTS: A total of 91 patients met the inclusion criteria and finished this study, the mean HADS score for anxiety was 8.1±4.2, 48(52.7%) respondents were screened positive for anxiety, while the rest 43(47.3%) patients had negative anxiety state, the mean HDDS score for depression was 6.9±4.9, 38(41.8%) respondents were screened positive for depression, and the rest 53(58.2%) patients were not depressed, and 56(61.5%) patients experienced anxiety or depression. There were significant difference in sleep disorder, JOA score and leg NRS score between the patients with and without anxiety(P<0.05), and the significant differences were also found in age, sleep disorder and JOA score between the patients with and without depression(P<0.05), Logistic regression analysis further showed that the JOA score and sleep disorder were risk factors for anxiety, and the JOA score was risk factor for depression. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic lumbocrural pain are often accompanied by anxiety and/or depression before minimally surgery, the low JOA score and sleep disturbance increased the risk of presenting anxiety, and the low JOA score increased the risk of developing depression. It is necessary to evaluate mental status and related risk factors before surgery.

Combined therapy of infusion of DC from rats with higher expression of IDO and CD40L on rejection post heart transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) can inhibit rejection of graft via inducing T cell apoptosis. CD40L monoclonal antibody (mAb) inhibits T cell activation. However, the effects of the combination of infusion of dendritic cell (DC) from IDO over-expressed donor mice and CD40L mAb on the treatment of graft rejection after heart transplantation have not been reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Allogeneic heart transplantation mouse model was established. Recipient mice were divided into three groups, including control group, IDO group (in which DC donors received adenoviral vector of IDO) and combined therapy group (which received both IDO over-expressed DC infusion and CD40L mAb injection post transplantation). Survival time and cardiac function were observed, with IDO expression being quantified. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to analyze T cell apoptosis, while enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to test the levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). RESULTS: IDO expression was significantly elevated in both IDO and combined therapy groups, with enhanced T cell apoptosis compared to control group (p < 0.05). Both groups had better survival time and cardiac functions compared to control group, along with increased IL-10/IL-6 expression and suppressed INF-γ and IL-2 expression (p < 0.05). However, combined therapy had a better efficiency compared to IDO group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combined therapy of high IDO expressed mouse DC perfusion with CD40L mAb can elongate the survival time of recipient heart and inhibit rejection reaction via facilitating T cell apoptosis. Meanwhile, combined therapy could also regulate the expression of some immune suppressant factors and mediate the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance.