A Versatile Platform to Generate Shell-Cross-Linked Uniform Π-Conjugated Nanofibers with Controllable Length, High Morphological Stability, and Facile Surface Tailorability.

Living crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA) has emerged as an efficient route to generate π-conjugated-polymer-based nanofibers (CPNFs) with promising applications from photocatalysis to biomedicine. However, the lack of efficient tools to endow CPNFs with morphological stability and surface tailorability becomes a frustrating hindrance for expanding application spectrum of CPNFs. Herein, a facile strategy to fabricate length-controllable OPV-based (OPV = oligo(p-phenylenevinylene)) CPNFs containing a cross-linked shell with high morphological stability and facile surface tailorability through the combination of living CDSA and thiol-ene chemistry by using OPV5 -b-PNAAM32 (PNAAM = poly(N-allyl acrylamide)) as a model is reported. Uniform fiber-like micelles with tunable length can be generated by self-seeding of living CDSA. By taking advantage of radical thiol-ene reaction between vinyls of PNAAM corona and four-arm thiols, the shell of micelles can be cross-linked with negligible destruction of structure of vinylene-containing OPV core. The resulting micelles show high morphological stability in NaCl solution and PBS buffer, even upon heating at 80 °C. The introduced extra thiol groups in the cross-linked shell can be further employed to install extra functional moieties via convenient thiol-Michael-type reaction. Given the negligible cytotoxicity of resulting CPNFs, this strategy opens an avenue to fabricate various CPNFs of diverse functionalities for biomedicine.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic dental alignment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study is to systematically summarize the available evidence regarding low-level laser therapy (LLLT) speed-up effect on dental alignment in comprehensive orthodontic treatment. An extensive electronic search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus up to February 20, 2023. The Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form were used by two authors independently to assess the risk of bias (RoB). Statistical analysis was performed by Review Manager 5.3. The eight eligible trials were reviewed and included in qualitative synthesis. Four studies reported the overall time of leveling and alignment (OLAT, days), enabling a synthesizing of the data. The meta-analysis results showed that LLLT significantly reduced the overall time of leveling and alignment compared to control group (MD=-30.36, 95% CI range -41.50 to -19.22, P<0.0001), with moderate heterogeneity (χ2=4.10, P=0.25, I2=27%). Based on the data available, statistically significant evidence with moderate risk of bias suggests that LLLT may have a positive effect on accelerating dental alignment. However, due to the differences in intervention strategy and evaluating method, the conclusions should be interpreted with caution.

Sustained local delivery of high-concentration vancomycin from a hybrid biodegradable, antibiotic-eluting, nanofiber-loaded endovascular prosthesis for treatment of mycotic aortic aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular repair for mycotic aortic aneurysm (MAA) is a less invasive alternative to open surgery, although the placement of a stent graft in an infected environment remains controversial. In this study, we developed hybrid biodegradable, vancomycin-eluting, nanofiber-loaded endovascular prostheses and evaluated antibiotic release from the endovascular prostheses both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Poly(D,L)-lactide-co-glycolide and vancomycin were dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol. This solution was electrospun into nanofibrous tubes, which were mounted onto commercial vascular stents and endovascular aortic stent grafts. In vitro antibiotic release from the nanofibers was characterized using an elution method and high-performance liquid chromatography. Antibiotic release from the hybrid stent graft was analyzed in a three-dimensional-printed model of a circulating MAA. The in vivo drug release characteristics were examined by implanting the antibiotic-eluting stents in the abdominal aorta of New Zealand white rabbits (n = 15). RESULTS: The in vitro study demonstrated that the biodegradable nanofibers and the nanofiber-loaded stent graft provided sustained release of high concentrations of vancomycin for up to 30 days. The in vivo study showed that the nanofiber-loaded stent exhibited excellent biocompatibility and released high concentrations of vancomycin into the local aortic wall for 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed biodegradable vancomycin-eluting nanofibers significantly contribute to the achievement of local and sustainable delivery of antibiotics to the aneurysm sac and the aortic wall, and these nanofibers may have therapeutic applications for MAAs.

Active Targeted Nanoparticles for Oral Administration of Gastric Cancer Therapy.

Gastric carcinogenesis is a commonly diagnosed type of cancer and has a dismal prognosis because of the rate at which it aggressively spreads and because of the lack of effective therapies to stop its progression. This study evaluated a type of oral drug delivery system of a potential target-activated nanosizer comprising a fucose-conjugated chitosan and polyethylene glycol-conjugated chitosan complex with gelatin containing encapsulated green tea polyphenol extract epigallocatechin-3-gallate, allowing oral administration of the drug through a site-specific release in gastric cancer cells. The results demonstrated that the nanoparticles effectively reduced drug release within gastric acids and that a controlled epigallocatechin-3-gallate release inhibited gastric cancer cell growth, induced cell apoptosis, and reduced vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression. Furthermore, in vivo assay results indicated that the prepared epigallocatechin-3-gallate-loaded fucose-chitosan/polyethylene glycol-chitosan/gelatin nanoparticles significantly affected gastric tumor activity and reduced gastric and liver tissue inflammatory reaction in an orthotopic gastric tumor mouse model.

[Importance of salivary gland focus score in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between labial salivary gland focus score (FS) and severity of Sjögren's syndrome patients. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2010, a total of 77 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were recruited to undergo minor salivary gland biopsy, Schirmer's test, unstimulated whole salivary flow, organ function and serological test. Focus score was calculated for all biopsy samples. And the correlation between focus score and serological test and organ function damage was evaluated. RESULTS: Their pathological examinations revealed focal lymphocytic sialadenitis (n = 62), 10 cases with non-specific or sclerosing chronic sialadenitis (n = 10) and normal features (n = 5). Among 62 cases with focal lymphocytic sialadenitis, 46 cases had FS ≥ 1 and another 16 FS < 1. The median FS was 2.4 ± 2.5 . FS ≥ 1 was strongly associated with unstimulated whole salivary flow rates and ocular staining score (P < 0.05), but not significantly with dry mouth or eyes. FS was significantly correlated with serum immunoglobin G (IgG), immunoglobin M (IgM) and rheumatoid factor level (P < 0.05). Those with positive anti-SSA had higher FS level than those with negative anti-SSA antibody (P < 0.05). In addition, FS level was not significantly associated with organ function damage. CONCLUSION: Prior to determining FS, distinguishing focal lymphocytic sialadenitis from other types of sialadenitis is essential in assessing salivary gland biopsy. And the FS level might be associated with disease activity and positive anti-SSA. No correlation exists between FS and organ function damage.

Effects of low-level laser therapy on orthodontic miniscrew stability: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Miniscrews as auxiliary anchorage devices in orthodontic treatment have definite advantages and efficacy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the scientific evidence including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) to support the application of low-level laser therapy to improve miniscrews stability in orthodontic treatment. METHODS: An extensive literature research was conducted with the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and ScienceDirect without language limitations. All searches were inclusive until June 2020. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess the risk of bias (RoB) in the included RCTs. RESULTS: Through the electronic searches, 428 titles and abstracts were identified. From these, 4 articles were retrieved for review, and 3 of these met the inclusion criteria. Two RCTs reported increased miniscrews stability with low-intensity laser therapy, but the other one reported no difference. Except one study assessed as "high risk of bias" the other two were rated as "low risk of bias". CONCLUSION: There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the effectiveness of LLLT for improvement of miniscrew stability. Further studies with a better study design, reliable evaluation method, comprehensive evaluation intervals and appropriate loading protocol are required to provide more reliable evidence for the clinical application of LLLT.

Correlation analysis of upper airway morphology in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and anatomically small retruded mandibles.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between upper airway morphology and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with anatomically small retruded mandibles. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with small retruded mandibles underwent polysomnography and airway computed tomography. The airway morphology parameters and sleep assessment were compared between the patients with or without OSA. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with OSA, according to polysomnography, had a higher distance between the hyoid bone and mandibular plane (HMP), lateral dimension (LAT)/anteroposterior dimension (AP), but lower minimum cross-sectional area (mCSA), AP, surface area, volume, avgCSA, and airway uniformity (U). The apnea-hypopnea index had negative correlations with mCSA, AP, surface area, volume, avgCSA, and U, and had a positive correlation with HMP and LAT/AP. CONCLUSION: OSA is common among patients with small retruded mandibles and is associated with a more compressed upper airway shape and longer HMP.

[Effect of Different Cationic Polyacrylamide Organic Dehydrating Agents on Sludge Dewatering Performance].

To study the effect of different cationic polyacrylamide organic dehydrating agents on sludge dewatering performance, eight commercially available cationic polyacrylamides of the same series with different properties were used. Based on the different cationic degree, they were named 9101, 9102, 9103, 9104, 9106, 9108, 9110, and 9112, respectively. Their properties were characterized by instruments and chemical analysis, and the indexes of sludge after treatment were also measured. The results showed that the properties of the eight organic dehydrants were different, among which the charge density, cationicity, viscosity, and Zeta potential had homologous trends, which all increased gradually from 9101 to 9112. The four indexes of 9112 were as high as 2.98 meq·L-1, 17.42%, 85.07 mPa·s, and 67.10 mV, respectively. The dewatering performance of sludge was improved by improving the specific resistance of filtration (SRF), floc properties, viscosity, Zeta potential, the bound water content, and the distribution of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) after dosing organic dewatering agents. The results showed that the viscosity, charge density, cationic degree, and Zeta potential of the dewatering agents had a great influence on the sludge dewatering performance. The SRF of sludge was negatively correlated with the viscosity of the organic dewatering agent, and the correlation coefficient was as high as 0.92025, indicating that the sludge dewatering performance was improved mainly through the adsorption bridging effect of the organic dewatering agent in sludge dewatering.

Three-Dimensional Printing of Scaffolds with Synergistic Effects of Micro-Nano Surfaces and Hollow Channels for Bone Regeneration.

The 3D printing technology with unique strategies for accurate fabrication of biomaterials in regenerative medicine has been widely applied in bone regeneration. However, the traditional 3D printing scaffolds are only stacked by solid struts without any hollow channel structures, which limits the new bone tissue formation. In this study, a special 3D scaffold with hollow channels and a micro-nano surface was prepared by a modified 3D printing strategy combined with the hydrothermal treatment approach. By regulating the reaction solution of hydrothermal treatment, the micro-nano structures formed on the surface of scaffolds can be successfully controlled. Moreover, the scaffolds have the ability to facilitate the attachment and proliferation of BMSCs after culturing for 1, 3, and 7 days in vitro. Interestingly, the in vivo results demonstrated that the hollow channels and the micro-nano surface present synergistic effects on bone regeneration. They both boost the new bone formation in femur defects in rabbits for 12 weeks after operation. The study demonstrates a 3D scaffold with special surface microstructures and hollow struts that can overcome the shortages of most traditional scaffolds and meanwhile improve the bioactivity of biomaterials for bone tissue engineering.

[Study on the changes of soft and hard tissue before and after early treatment of Classâ ¡skeletal malocclusion with Twin-block appliance].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of early correction with Twin-block appliance on soft and hard tissues of patients with Class Ⅱ skeletal malocclusion. METHODS: Sixty patients with Angle Class Ⅱ skeletal malocclusion were prospectively selected. The patients were divided into 2 groups, 30 cases in each group, by random number table method. Patients in the experimental group were treated with a Twin-block appliance combined with straight wire appliance, while patients in the control group were treated with a straight wire appliance. The soft and hard tissue indexes(SNA, SNB, ANB, U1-NA angle, U1-NA distance, L1-NB distance, L1-NB angle, U1-L1) before, and 12 months after treatment were measured. Soft tissue measurement indicators included UL-U1, LL-L1, over jet, overbite, E-upper-lip from the upper lip to the E-line, and the lower lip to the E-line, changes in the vertical distance (E-lower-lip), the dip angle of the sulcus, and the thickness of the soft tissue. SPSS 25.0 software package was used for statistical analysis of the data. RESULTS: U1-NA, U1-NA, L1-NB, L1-NB, overjet, overbite, E-upper-lip, and E-lower-lip were significantly less than the control group at 12 months and 36 months after treatment in the experimental group(P<0.05). U1-L1, nasolabial angle, sulcus angle, and soft tissue thickness of the experimental group were significantly greater than those of the control group(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Twin-block appliance combined with straight wire appliance can significantly improve the relationship between the jaw and the soft and hard tissues of patients with Class Ⅱ skeletal malocclusion, and the long-term effect is good.

Evaluation of pharyngeal airway volume for different dentofacial skeletal patterns using cone-beam computed tomography.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Understanding of the three-dimensional airway space in three skeletal patterns is important in orthodontic treatment. This study investigated differences between the volume of pharyngeal airway sections and the smallest cross-sectional area in three skeletal patterns by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 90 patients were collected to measure total pharyngeal airway volume (TP), velopharyngeal airway volume (VP), glossopharyngeal airway volume (GP), oropharyngeal airway volume (OP), hypopharyngeal airway volume (HP), and the smallest cross-sectional areas (SCA) of the upper respiratory tract as well as other relevant anatomical structures. The mean values differences between classes were analyzed using ANOVA. Pearson's test was used to compare classes in terms of the correlations between different factors. RESULTS: Patients in skeletal classes I and III exhibited significantly higher SCA values (322.6 mm2and 344.5 mm2 respectively) than those in skeletal class II (240.8 mm2). Subjects from skeletal classes I and III exhibited significantly higher values of VP, HP, and OP than those in skeletal class II. Skeletal classes I and III exhibited significantly higher TP values (31190.1 mm3 and 30696.2 mm3, respectively) than those in skeletal class II (22386.0 mm3). Non-significant relationships were discovered between pharyngeal airway and skeletal pattern. Conversely, significant relationships were found between TP and gender, ANB, SNB, hyoid and pogonion positions. CONCLUSION: The skeletal class II has smaller airway volume than those in skeletal class I and III. The pharyngeal airway volumes could serve as a guide in differentiating the different skeletal classes in clinical settings.

Incidence of malignancy in primary Sjogren's syndrome in a Chinese cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence of malignancies in a cohort of Chinese patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and to identify the risk factors of malignancy in pSS patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out in 1320 pSS patients who were recruited in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1990 to 2005 and were followed up for an average of 4.4 years. Among them, 29 patients developed malignancies. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated along with 95% CIs. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients with and without malignancies, as well as patients with haematological and non-haematological tumours. RESULTS: Of the pSS patients, 2.2% developed malignancies during follow-up. Total SIR and SIR for lymphoma were 3.25 and 48.1, respectively. Different types of malignancy were observed including eight lymphomas, two myeloid myelomas and 19 solid tumours, which consisted of invasive thymoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma, hepatoma, squamous cell carcinoma of tongue, uterine cervix cancer, renal carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of parotid gland. Risk factor analysis showed that lymphadenopathy, enlargement of parotid glands, monoclonal immunoglobulin and absence of hypergammaglobulinaemia were correlated with malignancies. CONCLUSIONS: The current study confirms the increased incidence of lymphoma in Chinese patients with pSS, with the majority of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Associations between pSS and other malignant tumours such as myeloid myeloma, mouth cancer, breast cancer and thymoma need to be further observed.

[Single- and two-layer gradient centrifugation in sperm separation: comparison and appraisal].

OBJECTIVE: To appraise the effect of single- and two-layer Percoll density gradient centrifugation in sperm separation. METHODS: Twenty semen specimens underwent single-(50%) and two-layer (90% and 45%) density gradient centrifugation, respectively. The sperm class analyzer (SCA) was used to analyze sperm density, motility and dynamic parameters and round cell density before and after the treatment. RESULTS: After separation, the sperm recovery rate of the single-layer method was (65.5 +/- 12.8)%, significantly higher than that of the two-layer method (P < 0.01). The percentages of grade a sperm of the single- and two-layer method were significantly higher than pre-treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), that of the single-layer was significantly lower than that of the two-layer method (P < 0.05), but the percentage of grade c sperm of the former was significantly higher than that of the latter (P < 0.05). Compared with pre-treatment, the percentage of grade a + b sperm of the two-layer method was significantly higher (P < 0.05), while that of the single-layer method showed no significant difference (P > 0.05), and the round cell density of both the methods was significantly lower (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), with no significant differences between the two methods (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The single-layer method yields a higher rate of sperm recovery and causes little change in the sperm motility, while the two-layer method effects a lower rate and significantly improves sperm motility. Both the methods can efficiently separate sperm from round cells, and each has its own advantages and its application value in in vitro treatment of sperm.

Sulfur dioxide signaling molecule-responsive polymeric nanoparticles.

Stimuli-responsive polymer nano-capsules toward a specific signaling molecule show great potential in the fabrication of smart and efficient controlled/targeted drug vehicles. Herein, we design and synthesize a PEG45-b-PVPOP14 diblock copolymer (PEG = poly(ethylene glycol) and PVPOP = poly(4-vinylphenyl 4-oxopentanoate), the subscripts representing the number of repeat units of each block) with levulinate-protected phenol side groups. The PEG45-b-PVPOP14 diblock copolymer could self-assemble to form large compound micelles in aqueous media. Since the core of the large compound micelles formed contains both hydrophilic PEG and hydrophobic PVPOP domains, this kind of micelle is able to load both hydrophobic and hydrophilic species within the core. The ester moiety of levulinate-protected phenol can be selectively cleaved upon incubation with a sulfite, a derivative of SO2 in aqueous media, to give phenol groups. Thus, the sulfite exhibits the ability to alter the amphiphilicity and further the self-assembled behavior of PEG45-b-PVPOP14. The release of payloads in the core of micelles can be accelerated by triggering of the sulfite. Significantly, the nano-capsule of PEG45-b-PVPOP14 shows specific response to the sulfite (SO2) with slight interference of other bio-species, such as Cys, GSH and Hcy. As far as we are aware, this is the first example of a nano-capsule with sulfite (SO2) specific responsiveness. We envisage that this polymer model could broaden the scope of biological signaling molecule responsive macromolecular systems and provide a new platform to fabricate SO2-responsive biomedicine materials.

Biomimetic Asymmetric Polymer Brush Coatings Bearing Fencelike Conformation Exhibit Superior Protection and Antifouling Performance.

Antifouling surfaces with optimized conformation and compositional heterogeneities are presented with the goal of improving the efficacy of surface protection. The approach exploits the adhesive group (thiol or catechol chain end) to anchor asymmetric polymer brushes (APBs) bearing amphiphilic side chains with synergistic nonfouling and fouling-release abilities onto the surface. The conformation of the APB surface is close to the fencelike structure, which mimics lubricating protein lubricin, endowing the surface with capacity of enhanced protection and antiadhesivity, even facing the high compression of fouling. By utilizing a poly(Br-acrylate-alkyne) macroagent comprising alkynyl and 2-bromopropionate groups, we prepared a series of APB surfaces based on polyacrylate-g-poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) (PA-g-PEO/PPFMA) APBs to explore the influence of the content of the fluorinated segment and bioinspired topological polymer chemistry on their antifouling performance. The APB surfaces can not only provide compositional heterogeneities of PEO and fluorinated segments in each side chain but also give a high surface coverage because of the characteristic of high grafting density of macromolecular brushes. It was found for the first time, as far as we are aware, the fencelike APB surface shows excellent antifouling performance with less protein adsorption (up to 91% off) and cell adhesion (up to 84% off) in comparison with the controlled substrate under relatively long incubation time.

3D printing of Haversian bone-mimicking scaffolds for multicellular delivery in bone regeneration.

The integration of structure and function for tissue engineering scaffolds is of great importance in mimicking native bone tissue. However, the complexity of hierarchical structures, the requirement for mechanical properties, and the diversity of bone resident cells are the major challenges in constructing biomimetic bone tissue engineering scaffolds. Herein, a Haversian bone-mimicking scaffold with integrated hierarchical Haversian bone structure was successfully prepared via digital laser processing (DLP)-based 3D printing. The compressive strength and porosity of scaffolds could be well controlled by altering the parameters of the Haversian bone-mimicking structure. The Haversian bone-mimicking scaffolds showed great potential for multicellular delivery by inducing osteogenic, angiogenic, and neurogenic differentiation in vitro and accelerated the ingrowth of blood vessels and new bone formation in vivo. The work offers a new strategy for designing structured and functionalized biomaterials through mimicking native complex bone tissue for tissue regeneration.

Brain activation patterns during unilateral premolar occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the characteristics of brain activation during unilateral premolar occlusion. METHODS: Functional magnetic resonance imaging was collected from 10 healthy volunteers during occlusion of the left first premolar (L1), left second premolar (L2), and right first premolar (R1). The brain activation patterns were analyzed, and the primary sensorimotor cortex, supplementary motor area, insula, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex were chosen as regions of interest. RESULTS: Single premolar occlusion activated the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, cerebellum, thalamus, frontal lobe, hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, and parietal lobe. The brain areas showing activation during single premolar occlusion were similar to those activated by chewing. The activation pattern of L1 was more similar to that of L2 than R1. No significant left and right hemisphere differences in signal intensity were detected within the regions of interest. CONCLUSION: Brain activation patterns from two ipsilateral premolars were more similar than the pattern from a contralateral premolar.

Lithium-containing biomaterials stimulate bone marrow stromal cell-derived exosomal miR-130a secretion to promote angiogenesis.

The chemical signals of biomaterials could influence bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs)-endothelial cells (ECs) communication during vascularized bone regeneration. However, the underlying mechanisms still remain unknown. Exosomes, a series of extracellular vesicles, have recently emerged as potential paracrine mediators in cell-cell communication. However, whether exosomes and exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the chemical signals of biomaterials-modulated BMSCs-ECs communication are unknown. Hence, in the present study, a model Li-incorporated bioactive glass ceramic (Li-BGC) was applied to explore the chemical signals of biomaterials mediated cell-cell communication between BMSCs and ECs. Our results showed that Li-BGC directly promoted the pro-angiogenic capability of HUVECs in vitro and new blood vessel ingrowth in vivo. Moreover, Li-BGC activated Wnt/ß-catenin, AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways, while AKT signaling pathway might function as the upstream of Wnt/ß-catenin and NF-κB signaling pathways. More importantly, Li-BGC further facilitated the pro-angiogenic capacity of HUVECs by eliciting the expression of exosomal pro-angiogenic miR-130a in BMSCs-derived exosomes, which subsequently leading to the downregulation of PTEN protein and activation of AKT pathway, ultimately resulting in the elevated proliferation, migration and tube formation of endothelial cells, as well as the upregulated expression of pro-angiogenic genes. Our findings may provide new insights into the regulatory roles of the chemical signals of biomaterials in BMSCs-ECs communication via stimulating exosomal miR-130a secretion and PTEN/AKT signaling pathway in the angiogenic process of bone remodelling.

[Lung involvement of primary Sjögren's syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence, clinical manifestations and immunological features of lung involvement in patients of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS: Five hundred twenty-two patients with pSS in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 1985 and 2005 were screened retrospectively for lung involvement by either the abnormalities of chest imaging, lung function or the pulmonary artery systolic pressure estimated by ultrasonic echocardiogram > or = 40 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), excluding infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease and other diseases. The difference was compared between patients with and without lung involvement. All patients fulfilled the 2002 international classification (criteria) for pSS. RESULTS: (1) The incidence of lung involvement in pSS was 42.3% (221/522) and occurred from 0 to 384 months (median, 48 months) after onset, while 25.2% occurred before the diagnosis of pSS. Only 47.1% of the patients showed respiratory symptoms. The average age of onset was older in patients with lung involvement than in those without lung involvement [(43 +/- 13) yr vs (37 +/- 14) yr, t = -5.445, P = 0.000]. Incidences of dry mouth (89.6% vs 81.1%, chi2 = 7.145, P = 0.008), dry eyes (78.7% vs 66.4%, chi2 = 9.472, P = 0.002) and rampant caries (55.2% vs 42.2%, chi2 = 8.647, P = 0.003) were higher in patients with lung involvement than those without. There was no significant difference in sex ratio between the two groups. (2) Interstitial lung disease was the most common lung involvement and occurred in 23.2% of the patients. Pulmonary artery hypertension in 12.5%, multiple pulmonary bullae in 9.2%, pleural effusion in 6.0% and multiple pulmonary nodules in 5.6%. (3) The major histopathological patterns were nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (5/11 cases), lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (3/11 cases). (4) Incidences of Ranaud' s phenomenon (26.7% vs 13.0%, chi2 = 15.77, P = 0.000 ), low-grade fever (20.4% vs 13.0%, chi2 = 5.175, P = 0.023), arthrosis (29.4% vs 21.6%, chi2 = 4.164, P = 0.041), anti-U1RNP (18.2% vs 11.2%, 2 = 5.069, P = 0.024) and hypergammaglobulinemia (51.6% vs 39.5%, chi2 = 6.597, P = 0.01) were higher in patients with lung involvement than in those without. The incidence of renal tubule acidosis was lower in patients with lung involvement than in those without (5.4% vs 12.6% chi2 = 7.616, P = 0.006). (5) The death incidence in pSS with pulmonary involvement was 5.5 times higher than in those without. The most frequent cause of death was infection (64.3%), especially pulmonary infection. CONCLUSION: Lung involvement in pSS is common. As it is an important factor related to the prognosis of this disease, chest X-ray, HRCT, lung function and ultrasonic echocardiogram after the diagnosis are suggested.

3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds: From bone tissue engineering to tumor therapy.

Toward the aim of personalized treatment, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has been widely used in bone tissue engineering owing to its advantage of a fast, precise, and controllable fabrication process. Conventional bioceramic scaffolds are mainly used for bone tissue engineering; however, there has been a significant change in the application of bioceramic scaffolds during the past several years. Therefore, this review focuses on 3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds with different compositions and hierarchical structures (macro, micro, and nano scales), and their effects on the mechanical, degradation, permeability, and biological properties. Further, this review highlights 3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds for applications extending from bone tissue regeneration to bone tumor therapy. This review emphasizes recent developments in functional 3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds with the ability to be used for both tumor therapy and bone tissue regeneration. Considering the challenges in bone tumor therapy, these functional bioceramic scaffolds have a great potential in repairing bone defects induced by surgery and kill the possibly residual tumor cells to achieve bone tumor therapy. Finally, a brief perspective regarding future directions in this field was also provided. The review not only gives a summary of the research developments in bioceramic science but also offers a new therapy strategy by extending multifunctions of traditional biomaterials toward a specific disease. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This review outlines the development tendency of 3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds for applications ranging from bone tissue regeneration to bone tumor therapy. Conventional bioceramic scaffolds are mainly used for bone tissue engineering; however, there has been a significant change in the application of bioceramic scaffolds during the past several years. Therefore, this review focuses on 3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds with different compositions and hierarchical structures (macro, micro, and nano scales), and their effects on the mechanical, degradation, permeability, and biological properties. Further, this review highlights 3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds for applications extending from bone tissue regeneration to bone tumor therapy. This review emphasizes recent developments in the functional 3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds with the ability to be used for both bone tumor therapy and bone tissue regeneration.