Development of a cellulose-based prosthetic mesh for pelvic organ prolapse treatment: In vivo long-term evaluation in an ewe vagina model.

The use of vaginal surgical mesh to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP) has been associated with high rates of mesh-related complications. In the present study, we prepared new kinds of meshes based on bacterial cellulose (BC) and collagen-coated BC (BCCOL) using a laser cutting method and perforation technique. The mechanical properties of pre-implanted BC meshes, including breaking strength, suture strength and rigidity, were equal to or exceeded those of available clinically used polypropylene meshes. An in vitro cellular assay revealed that BCCOL meshes exhibited enhanced biocompatibility by increasing collagen secretion and cell adhesion. Both BC and BCCOL meshes only caused weak inflammation and were surrounded by newly formed connective tissue composed of type I collagen after implantation in a rabbit subcutaneous model for one week, demonstrating that the novel mesh is fully biocompatible and can integrate into surrounding tissues. Furthermore, a long-term (ninety days) ewe vaginal implantation model was used to evaluate foreign body reactions and suitability of BC and BCCOL meshes as vaginal meshes. The results showed that the tissue surrounding the BC meshes returned to its original physiology as muscle tissue, indicating the excellent integration of BC meshes into the surrounding tissues without triggering severe local inflammatory response post-implantation. The collagen coating appeared to induce a chronic inflammatory response due to glutaraldehyde remnants. The present exploratory research demonstrated that the developed BC mesh might be a suitable candidate for treating POP.

Management of delayed encephalopathy after CO poisoning: An evidence-based narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% to 30% patients develop delayed encephalopathy after acute CO poisoning (DEACMP). No specific treatment is available and poor prognosis is a characteristic of this disease. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of all therapies that have been tried in randomized controlled trial (RCT) for DEACMP. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of the Cochrane, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. RESULTS: Overall, 4 RCTs were identified in our study. Both hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation were effective in DEACMP, and MSC seemed to be superior to HBO. The addition of dexamethasone, N-butylphthalide, or XingZhi-YiNao granules into HBO, or butylphthalide into MSC could achieve better neurological recovery in DEACMP patients but did not significantly increase the incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: Several therapies have shown positive results in treating DEACMP and need to be proven by further studies.

[Correlation of prostate-specific antigen with the progression and metastasis of human prostate cancer].

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a biomarker for the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer and involved in the development of prostate cancer and/or its progression from the localized to the metastatic stage. This review presents an overview of the roles of PSA in promoting the progression and metastasis of human prostate cancer and its underlying mechanisms, including its serine protease activity, interaction with the cellular membrane receptor, and suppression of specific immune responsiveness, and also points out some of the key problems to be solved.

Highly sensitive and selective fluorescent chemosensor for Ni(2+) based on a new poly(arylene ether) with terpyridine substituent groups.

A new poly(arylene ether) (PAET) with terpyridine substituent groups has been synthesized which shows a turn-off fluorescent response in the presence of Ni(2+) over other cations and allows discrimination of these cations from each other on the basis of the extent of quenching.

Identification and functional analyses of polymorphism haplotypes of protein phosphatase 2A-Aα gene promoter.

The serine-threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a heterotrimeric enzyme family that plays an essential regulatory role in cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. Mutations in the genes encoding PP2A-Aα/ß subunits are associated with tumorigenesis and other human diseases. To explore whether genetic variations in the promoter region of the PP2A-Aα gene (PPP2R1A) and their frequent haplotypes in the Han Chinese population have an impact on transcriptional activity, we collected DNA samples from 63 healthy Chinese donors and searched for genetic variations in the 5'-flanking promoter region of PPP2R1A (PPP2R1Ap). Haplotypes were characterized by Haploview analysis and individual subcloning. A set of molecular and functional experiments was performed using reporter genes and electrophoretic mobility shifting assay (EMSA). Seven genetic variations were identified within the promoter locus (2038bp) of PPP2R1A. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns and haplotype profiles were analyzed using the identified genetic variants. Using serially truncated human PPP2R1A promoter luciferase constructs, we found that a 685bp (-448nt to +237nt) fragment around the transcription start site (TSS) was the core promoter region. Individual subcloning revealed the existence of six haplotypes in this proximal promoter region of PPP2R1Ap. Using luciferase reporter assays, we found that different haplotypes bearing different variant alleles exhibit distinct promoter activities. The EMSA revealed that the -241 -/G variant influences DNA-protein interactions involving the transcription factor NF-κB, which may regulate the activity of the PPP2R1A proximal promoter. Our findings suggest that functional genetic variants in the proximal promoter of the PP2A-Aα gene and their haplotypes are critical in the regulation of transcriptional activation.