Infection-Sensitive SPION/PLGA Scaffolds Promote Periodontal Regeneration via Antibacterial Activity and Macrophage-Phenotype Modulation.

Inflammation caused by a bacterial infection and the subsequent dysregulation of the host immune-inflammatory response are detrimental to periodontal regeneration. Herein, we present an infection-sensitive scaffold prepared by layer-by-layer assembly of Feraheme-like superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) on the surface of a three-dimensional-printed polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) scaffold. The SPION/PLGA scaffold is magnetic, hydrophilic, and bacterial-adhesion resistant. As indicated by gene expression profiling and confirmed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry analysis, the SPION/PLGA scaffold facilitates macrophage polarization toward the regenerative M2 phenotype by upregulating IL-10, which is the molecular target of repair promotion, and inhibits macrophage polarization toward the proinflammatory M1 phenotype by downregulating NLRP3, which is the molecular target of anti-inflammation. As a result, macrophages modulated by the SPS promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) in vitro. In a rat periodontal defect model, the SPION/PLGA scaffold increased IL-10 secretion and decreased NLRP3 and IL-1ß secretion with Porphyromonas gingivalis infection, achieving superior periodontal regeneration than the PLGA scaffold alone. Therefore, this antibacterial SPION/PLGA scaffold has anti-inflammatory and bacterial antiadhesion properties to fight infection and promote periodontal regeneration by immunomodulation. These findings provide an important strategy for developing engineered scaffolds to treat periodontal defects.

Low-Temperature Deposited Amorphous Poly(aryl ether ketone) Hierarchically Porous Scaffolds with Strontium-Doped Mineralized Coating for Bone Defect Repair.

In recent years, the demand for clinical bone grafting has increased. As a new solution for orthopedic implants, polyether ether ketone (PEEK, crystalline PAEK) has excellent comprehensive performance and is practically applied in the clinic. In this research, a noteworthy elevated scheme to enhance the performance of PEEK scaffolds is presented. The amorphous aggregated poly (aryl ether ketone) (PAEK) resin is prepared as the matrix material, which maintains high mechanical strength and can be processed through the solution. So, the tissue engineering scaffolds with multilevel pores can be printed by low-temperature deposited manufacturing (LDM) to improve biologically inert scaffolds with smooth surfaces. Also, the feature of PAEK's solution processing is profitable to uniformly add the functional components for bone repair. Ultimately, A system of orthopedic implantable PAEK material based on intermolecular interactions, surface topology, and surface modification is established. The specific steps include synthesizing PAEK that contain polar carboxyl structures, preparing bioinks and fabricating scaffolds by LDM, preparation of scaffolds with strontium-doped mineralized coatings, evaluation of their osteogenic properties in vitro and in vivo, and investigation on the effect and mechanism of scaffolds in promoting osteogenic differentiation. This work provides an upgraded system of PAEK implantable materials for clinical application.

Signalling pathways underlying pulsed electromagnetic fields in bone repair.

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation is a prospective non-invasive and safe physical therapy strategy for accelerating bone repair. PEMFs can activate signalling pathways, modulate ion channels, and regulate the expression of bone-related genes to enhance osteoblast activity and promote the regeneration of neural and vascular tissues, thereby accelerating bone formation during bone repair. Although their mechanisms of action remain unclear, recent studies provide ample evidence of the effects of PEMF on bone repair. In this review, we present the progress of research exploring the effects of PEMF on bone repair and systematically elucidate the mechanisms involved in PEMF-induced bone repair. Additionally, the potential clinical significance of PEMF therapy in fracture healing is underscored. Thus, this review seeks to provide a sufficient theoretical basis for the application of PEMFs in bone repair.

What happens to the osteoporotic bone mesenchymal stem cells? Evidence from RNA sequencing.

Evidence presented that osteoporosis is closely related to the dysfunction of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). But most studies are insufficient to reveal what actually happens to the osteoporotic BMSCs. In this study, BMSCs were harvested from ovariectomized and sham-operated rats. After checking the characteristics of rat models and stem cells, the BMSCs were carried out for RNA sequencing. Part of the findings were verified that seven mRNAs (Abi3bp, Aifm3, Ccl11, Cdkn1c, Chst10, Id2, Vcam1) were significantly up-regulated in osteoporotic BMSCs while seven mRNAs (Cep63, Fgfr3, Myc, Omd, Pou2f1, Smarcal1, Timm10b) were down-regulated. In addition, potential miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were illustrated. The changes in osteoporotic BMSCs covered a large set of biological processes, including cell viability, differentiation, immunoreaction, bone repairment and estrogen defect. This study enriched the pathophysiological mechanisms of BMSCs and osteporosis, as well as provided dozens of attractive RNA targets for further treatment.

Surface demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft followed by reimplantation in a failed mandibular dental implant.

The removal of a failed implant with high torque causes significant damage to the surrounding tissue, compromising bone regeneration and subsequent osseointegration in the defect area. Here, we report a case of carrier screw fracture followed by immediate implant removal, bone grafting and delayed reimplantation. A dental implant with a fractured central carrier screw was removed using the bur-forceps technique. The resulting three-wall bone defect was filled with granular surface demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (SD-FDBA). Cone-beam computerized tomography was performed at 1 week, 6 months and 15 months postoperatively and standardized for quantitative evaluation. The alveolar bone width and height at 15 months post-surgery were about 91% of the original values, with a slightly lower bone density, calculated using the gray value ratio. The graft site was reopened and was found to be completely healed with dense and vascularized bone along with some residual bone graft. Reimplantation followed by restoration was performed 8 months later. The quality of regenerated bone following SD-FDBA grafting was adequate for osseointegration and long-term implant success. The excellent osteogenic properties of SD-FDBA are attributed to its human origin, cortical bone-like structure, partly demineralized surfaces and bone morphogenetic protein-2-containing nature. Further investigation with more cases and longer follow-up was required to confirm the final clinical effect.

Nanoscale Borate Coating Network Stabilized Iron Oxide Anode for High-Energy-Density Bipolar Lithium-Ion Batteries.

High-capacity metal oxides based on non-toxic earth-abundant elements offer unique opportunities as advanced anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). But they often suffer from large volumetric expansion, particle pulverization, extensive side reactions, and fast degradations during cycling. Here, an easy synthesis method is reported to construct amorphous borate coating network, which stabilizes conversion-type iron oxide anode for the high-energy-density semi-solid-state bipolar LIBs. The nano-borate coated iron oxide anode has high tap density (1.6 g cm-3 ), high capacity (710 mAh g-1 between 0.5 - 3.0 V, vs Li/Li+ ), good rate performance (200 mAh g-1 at 50 C), and excellent cycling stability (≈100% capacity resention over 1,000 cycles at 5 A g-1 ). When paired with high-voltage cathode LiCoO2 , it enables Cu current collector-free pouch-type classic and bipolar full cells with high voltage (7.6 V with two stack layers), achieving high energy density (≈350 Wh kg-1 ), outstanding power density (≈6,700 W kg-1 ), and extended cycle life (75% capacity retention after 2,000 cycles at 2 C), superior to the state-of-the-art high-power LIBs using Li4 Ti5 O12 anode. The design and methodology of the nanoscale polyanion-like coating can be applied to other metal oxides electrode materials, as well as other electrochemical materials and devices.

ATF3 Regulates Osteogenic Function by Mediating Osteoblast Ferroptosis in Type 2 Diabetic Osteoporosis.

Purpose: Osteoporosis is a complication of type 2 diabetes, and it is characterized by reduced bone mass, augmented bone fragility, and increased risk of fracture, thus reducing patient quality of life, especially in the elderly. Ferroptosis has been implicated in the pathological process of type 2 diabetic osteoporosis (T2DOP), but the specific underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study clarified the role of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in T2DOP and explored its specific regulatory mechanism, providing a new treatment target for T2DOP. Methods: We cultured hFob1.19 cells in high glucose (HG, 35 mM) and knocked down ATF3 using short hairpin RNA (shRNA). We then measured cell viability, assessed morphology, quantified the expression of ATF3 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), detected the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxides, and determined the osteogenic function of osteoblasts. Cystine/glutamate antiporter (system Xc-) activity was evaluated by determining the expression of SLC7A11 and the levels of glutathione (GSH) and extracellular glutamate. We constructed a T2DOP rat model and observed the effect of ATF3 on ferroptosis and T2DOP by knocking down ATF3 using small interfering RNA (siRNA). Then, we evaluated the levels of iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, and bone turnover in serum, detected the expression of ATF3, SLC7A11, and GPX4 in bone tissues, and assessed bone microstructure using microcomputed tomography. Results: ATF3 expression was increased in osteoblasts under HG condition and in T2DOP rats. Inhibiting the function of ATF3 increased GPX4 levels and reduced the accumulation of ROS and lipid peroxides. These changes inhibited the ferroptosis of osteoblasts and improved osteogenic function. In addition, HG induced ATF3 upregulation, resulting in decreased SLC7A11 expression and lower levels of intracellular GSH and extracellular glutamate. Conclusion: Osteoblast ferroptosis under HG conditions is induced by ATF3-mediated inhibition of system Xc- activity, and these events contribute to T2DOP pathogenesis.

SP1-mediated up-regulation of lncRNA TUG1 underlines an oncogenic property in colorectal cancer.

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) taurine up-regulated gene 1 (TUG1) acts as tumor-promoting factor in colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which the transcription factor specificity protein 1 (SP1) regulates TUG1 and microRNAs (miRs)/mRNAs in the context of CRC, which has not been fully studied before. Expression patterns of TUG1 and SP1 were determined in clinical CRC samples and cells, followed by identification of their interaction. Next, the functional significance of TUG1 in CRC was investigated. An in vivo CRC model was established to validate the effect of TUG1. The results demonstrated that TUG1 and SP1 were highly-expressed in CRC, wherein SP1 bound to the TUG1 promoter and consequently, positively regulated its expression. Silencing of TUG1 caused suppression of CRC cell growth and promotion of cell apoptosis. TUG1 could bind to miR-421 to increase KDM2A expression, a target gene of miR-421. TUG1 could activate the ERK pathway by impairing miR-421-targeted inhibition of KDM2A. Additionally, SP1 could facilitate the tumorigenesis of CRC cells in vivo by regulating the TUG1/miR-421/KDM2A/ERK axis. Altogether, the current study emphasizes the oncogenic role of TUG1 in CRC, and illustrates its interactions with the upstream transcription factor SP1 and the downstream modulatory axis miR-421/KDM2A/ERK, thus offering novel insights into the cancerogenic mechanism in CRC.

A healing promoting wound dressing with tailor-made antibacterial potency employing piezocatalytic processes in multi-functional nanocomposites.

Developing a novel antibiotics-free antibacterial strategy is essential for minimizing bacterial resistance. Materials that not only kill bacteria but also promote tissue healing are especially challenging to achieve. Inspired by chemical conversion processes in living organisms, we develop a piezoelectrically active antibacterial device that converts ambient O2 and H2O to ROS by piezocatalytic processes. The device is achieved by mounting nanoscopic polypyrrole/carbon nanotube catalyst multilayers onto piezoelectric-dielectric films. Under stimuli by a hand-held massage device, the sterilizing rates for S. aureus and E. coli reach 84.11% and 94.85% after 10 minutes of operation, respectively. The antibacterial substrate at the same time preserves and releases drugs and presents negligible cytotoxicity. Animal experiments demonstrate that daily treatment for 10 minutes using the device effectively accelerates the healing of infected wounds on the backs of mice, promoting hair follicle generation and collagen deposition. We believe that this report provides a novel design approach for antibacterial strategies in medical treatment.

Assembling Iron Oxide Nanoparticles into Aggregates by Li3PO4: A Universal Strategy Inspired by Frogspawn for Robust Li-Storage.

The poor ionic conductivity of transition metal oxides (TMOs) is a huge obstacle to their practical application as anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Although good performance can be harvested by constructing nanostructures, some other foundmental issues including low tap density and serious electrolyte consumption come along. Herein, inspired by frogspawn, we propose a universal strategy of using lithium salts to assemble TMO nanoparticles into large aggregates to improve their Li+ conductivity. In such a frogspawn-like structure, lithium salt networks can not only realize the rapid transmission of Li+ but also alleviate the volume change during the charging/discharging process. When Li3PO4 is applied to assemble iron oxides nanoparticles, aggregates with size over 1 µm and tap density up to 1.33 g cm-3 can be obtained, which even hasve an ionic conductivity up to 9.61 × 10-5 S cm-1. Fe3O4 was also introduced through reduction to boost electron transfer. Consequently, this carbon-free composite delivered a capacity up to 896 mA h g-1 even after 1000 cycles at 5 A g-1, which can also be maintained under high mass loading. When using lithium salts such as Li2SO4, Li2CO3, LiBO2, and LiCl, the corresponding composites also showed similar performance. This strategy is also effective for TMOs such as NiO, Co3O4, and ZnO, demonstrating the universality of this frogspawn-inspired design.

Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Protect Human Gingival Fibroblasts from Porphyromonas gingivalis Invasion and Inflammatory Stimulation.

INTRODUCTION: Modulating the inflammatory response of human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs) is important for the control of periodontal inflammation because it is a key event in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Here, we aimed to determine whether polyglucose sorbitol carboxymethyl ether (PSC)-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) protect hGFs against invasion and inflammatory stimulation by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). METHODS: First, we determined the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of PSC-SPIONs. Then, their effects on invasion of hGFs by P. gingivalis were evaluated by counting invading P. gingivalis, fluorescence staining, and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of PSC-SPIONs on inflammation in hGFs induced by P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide was evaluated by measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting of key indicator molecules. The effects of dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)-coated SPIONs and the free form of PSC alone were also tested and compared with those of PSC-SPIONs. RESULTS: PSC-SPIONs (25 µg/mL) are cytocompatible with hGFs and exhibit no antimicrobial effects on P. gingivalis. However, they inhibit invasion of hGFs by P. gingivalis at 15 µg/mL. They also decrease ROS production and inflammatory cytokine secretion by hGFs at 5, 15, and 25 µg/mL, by downregulating activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway. Furthermore, PSC alone does not inhibit inflammation, while DMSA-SPIONs do. This indicates that the nanosize effects of PSC-SPIONs, rather than their coating material, play the dominant role in their anti-inflammatory activity. CONCLUSION: PSC-SPIONs protect hGFs against P. gingivalis invasion and inflammatory stimulation. Thus, they have potential for clinical application in control of periodontal inflammation.

Utilization of Interfacial Charge Storage toward Ultra-high Capacity: Li2SO4 Sealed Micron Sized Iron Oxides as Anode for Lithium Batteries.

The interfacial charge storage is derived from spin-polarized electrons stored on the surface of iron metal nanoparticles, and reasonable utilization can achieve a capacity far beyond the traditional conversion mechanism. Generally, iron oxide is easy to crack, pulverize, and fall off due to its poor conductivity and large volume change during cycling, and causes serious side reactions with the electrolyte. Herein, this pulverization phenomenon was intentionally utilized to in situ form nano-sized iron particles and create a large number of Fe/Li2O interfaces. Specifically, a Li+ conductor like Li2SO4 was utilized to seal micron sized iron oxides and also work as an aggregation barrier. Thus, the in situ formed nanoparticles were separated from the electrolyte and could provide huge capacity through interfacial charge storage. Therefore, the specific capacity of this unique composite continues to rise upon activation cycling and finally reaches 1708 mA h g-1, which is more than twice its theoretical capacity based on the conversion mechanism. The gradually increasing interfacial charge storage capacity was also directly confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy tests. This novel strategy provides new opportunities for the design and commercialization of advanced energy storage systems.

Open Reduction and Internal Fixation Strategy For Treatment of Comminuted Mandibular Fracture.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment strategy of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for comminuted mandibular fracture (CMF). METHODS: Clinical studies about CMF were collected. Detailed information was extracted, and data were analyzed and merged from included articles. RESULTS: Twelve studies, including 338 patients with CMF, were reported. A total of 256 patients receive ORIF among these 338 patients, and exhibited followed characteristics: ORIF usually were performed several days after injury; the extraoral approach for ORIF was used for 103 patients among 205 patients who received ORIF with definite information about surgical approach; titanium mesh, or reconstruction plate, combined with mini-plates was used in 17 and 194 patients, respectively; intermaxillary fixation (IMF) usually persisted about 1 to 3 weeks after ORIF; most patients exhibited satisfactory effect without serious complications, and the complication rate varied from 0 to 42%. CONCLUSIONS: ORIF strategy for treatment of CMF including: ORIF was a priority choice for CMF. ORIF usually was performed at several days after injury. Reconstruction plate, or titanium mesh, combined with mini-plates was recommended for ORIF surgery. After ORIF, IMF usually was recommended for about 1 to 3 weeks.

Magnesium-Based Whitlockite Bone Mineral Promotes Neural and Osteogenic Activities.

Nerves spread throughout human bone minerals and play an important role in regulating osteogenic homeostasis. However, whether the distributive nerves can sense bone minerals and the role of bone minerals in nerve outgrowth are still unclear. We hypothesized that a natural magnesium-containing bone mineral, whitlockite (WH), the second most abundant bone mineral in the human body, could simultaneously promote both osteogenic and neural activities. To verify the hypothesis, both WH and hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles were synthesized, and their characterization was completed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of WH on neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in 2D and 3D culture was examined by immunostaining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The secretion of calcitonin gene-related polypeptide (CGRP) was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The neural and osteogenic differentiation in a preosteoblasts and NPCs coculture system was examined by immunostaining and qRT-PCR. The results showed that WH promotes the gene and protein expression of neuronal specific marker (MAP-2 and ßIII-tubulin) in 2D and 3D culture systems. In addition, the neurite length in the WH group was significantly longer than in other groups. Furthermore, both neural differentiation and osteogenic differentiation were simultaneously enhanced in the WH group in the coculture system. Thus, this study demonstrated the simultaneous stimulatory effect of WH bone mineral on neural and osteogenic activities, which provided WH as a valuable material for bone regeneration.

Metabolic Interaction between Ammonia and Baicalein.

Ammonia is treated as a primary waste product of cellular metabolism in vivo and can contribute to the alteration of neurotransmission, oxidative stress, and cerebral edema and astrocyte swelling when its concentration in the brain is high. The objective of this study was to determine whether bioactive polyphenol baicalein had the capacity to trap ammonia in vitro and in vivo. Under in vitro conditions, baicalein rapidly reacted with ammonia to generate two monoaminated products and one diaminated product under different reaction times. These three major aminated products were purified from the reaction mixture, and their structures were characterized as 5-NH2-baicalein, 6-NH2-baicalein, and 5,6-di-NH2-baicalein based on the analysis of their HR-MS and 1D- and 2D-NMR data. In mice, both 5-NH2-baicalein and 6-NH2-baicalein were detected in 24 h fecal and urine samples collected from mice treated with baicalein (200 mg/kg) through oral gavage, and 6-NH2-baicalein was also detected in mouse plasma and brain samples collected at 0.5 h after baicalein treatment. Significant amounts of 6-NH2-baicalein were detected in all mouse samples including feces, urine, plasma, and brain. The levels of 6-NH2-baicalein in feces and urine were significantly higher than those of 5-NH2-baicalein. Furthermore, the average level of 6-NH2-baicalein was very close to that of baicalein (3.62 vs 3.77 ng/g) in mouse brain, suggesting it is possible that baicalein has the capacity to be absorbed rapidly into the circulation system and then cross the blood-brain barrier into the brain to detoxify ammonia in the blood and brain. In conclusion, this study confirmed that baicalein, a flavonoid with a vic-trihydroxyl structure on the A-ring, has the potential to detoxify ammonia and treat ammonia-associated chronic diseases.

Are facet joint parameters risk factors for recurrent lumbar disc herniation? A pilot study in a Chinese population.

Recurrent lumbar disc herniation (rLDH) is one of the major problems when surgically treating patients with LDH. Data on previous studies investigated the associations between facet joint parameters and rLDH appear only rarely in the literature. This study's objective was to evaluate the association between facet joint parameters [facet orientation (FO) and facet tropism (FT)] and rLDH. From June 2005 to January 2014, 346 patients having single-level lumbar disc herniation (LDH), who underwent surgery, were included in this study. We divided the patients into the recurrent group (R group) and the nonrecurrent group (N group). According to 25%, 50% and 75% quantiles of FO, all the cases were divided into 4 subgroups (＜42°, 42～45°, 46～49°, and ＞49°). Cases were divided into 3 groups according to different range of FT (＜3°, 3～4° and ＞4°). The relationships between the facet joint parameters and rLDH were evaluated. All cases in the study were followed up for more than 5 years postoperatively. The recurrence rates of different FO groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001). With the decrease of FO, the risk of rLDH increases continuously. Also, there were statistically significant recurrence rates in different FT groups (P < 0.001), which showed the incidence of rLDH increases gradually with the increase of FT. Facet joint parameters significantly influence the biomechanics of the corresponding segment. Facet joint parameters may play a more important role in the pathogenesis of rLDH.

Renewable P-type zeolite for superior absorption of heavy metals: Isotherms, kinetics, and mechanism.

Zeolite is a characteristic material for removing heavy metals exhibiting by low tolerance quantities. It is particularly desirable although challenging to cultivate an unmodified and reusable zeolite for eradicating heavy metals with great capacity. Herein, we sought out and firstly synthesized the uniform octahedral zeolite Na6Al6Si10O32·12H2O for heavy metal ions trap, proven extraordinarily effective decontamination of M2+ (Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+). The maximum capacities of Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ were 649, 210, 90 and 88 mg/g, and the distribution coefficients (Kd) was ~108 mL/g for Pb2+ which emphasized the superior effectiveness of Na6Al6Si10O32·12H2O contrasted with other zeolites. Rapid adsorption was observed that Pb2+ concentration (7.5 ppm) was reduced to 0.6 ppb in 2 min. The removal mechanism was ascribed to the ion exchange and hydroxyl groups thereby affording high adsorption capacity. We also investigated the heavy metal removal of zeolite 13X and 4A for comparison and concluded the determining factor affecting absorption capacity. The removal rate of Pb remained at 97% even after five regeneration recycles. The zeolite was therefore promising for practical water purification and industrialization.

ZnO-Templated Selenized and Phosphorized Cobalt-Nickel Oxide Microcubes as Rapid Alkaline Water Oxidation Electrocatalysts.

Oxygen electrocatalysis is of remarkable significance for electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies, together with fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and water splitting devices. Substituting noble metal-based electrocatalysts by decidedly effective and low-cost metal-based oxygen electrocatalysts is imperative for the commercial application of these technologies. Herein, a novel strategy is presented to fabricate selenized and phosphorized porous cobalt-nickel oxide microcubes by using a sacrificial ZnO spherical template and the resulting microcubes are employed as an oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst. The selenized samples manifest desirable and robust OER performance, with comparable overpotential at 10 mA cm-2 (312 mV) as RuO2 (308 mV) and better activity when the current reaches 13.7 mA cm-2 . The phosphorized samples exhibit core-shell structure with low-crystalline oxides inside amorphous phosphides, which ensures superior activity than RuO2 with the same overpotential (at 10 mA cm-2 ) yet lower Tafel slope. Such a surface doping method possibly will provide inspiration for engineering electrocatalysts applied in water oxidation.

Quantitative Analysis and Anti-inflammatory Activity Evaluation of the A-Type Avenanthramides in Commercial Sprouted Oat Products.

Avenanthramides (AVAs) are unique phytochemicals in oat that contain two distinct groups of compounds. The first group is constituted by N-cinnamoylanthranilic acids with a single double bond (referred to as C type), and the other group is constituted by N-avenalumoylanthranilic acids with two double bonds (referred to as A type). C-type AVAs have been reported with their chemical profiles and levels in commercial oat products as well as their bioactivities. However, the accurate levels of A-type AVAs in commercial sprouted oat products and their bioactivity are still unknown. In this study, we purified seven A-type AVAs from sprouted oat bran and characterized their structures with corresponding mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance data. Among them, five compounds were isolated from oat bran for the first time. The purified A-type AVAs were used as authentic standards to establish the chemical profile of A-type AVAs in oat and to quantify the levels of all individual A-type AVAs in six commercial sprouted oat products using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The total A-type AVA contents in the various oat products ranged from 7.85 to 133.3 µg/g. Furthermore, the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by A- and C-type AVAs in macrophages were compared. The most abundant A-type AVAs (2pd, 2cd, and 2fd) have similar anti-inflammatory activity to the major C-type AVAs (2p, 2c, and 2f). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the bioactivity of A-type AVAs.

GRM4 inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human osteosarcoma cells through interaction with CBX4.

In recent years, the survey of metabolic glutamate receptor 4 (GRM4) in tumor biology has been gradually concerned. There are currently few studies on GRM4 in osteosarcoma, and the biological function is not clear. Analysis of TCGA database showed that there was no substantial deviation in the expression of GRM4 between osteosarcoma and normal tissues. In the subsequent experiments, there is no significant difference in either mRNA or protein levels among immortalized human osteoblasts and various osteosarcoma cells. With the overexpression of GRM4, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were inhibited obviously. It was further revealed that GRM4 can interact with CBX4 to restrict the nuclear localization of CBX4 and affect the transcriptional activity of HIF-1α. This is the evidence supporting the interaction between GRM4 and CBX4, which could inhibit the malignant behavior of osteosarcoma cells through the GRM4/CBX4/HIF-1α signaling pathway.