Development and validation of a machine learning model to predict imminent new vertebral fractures after vertebral augmentation.

BACKGROUND: Accurately predicting the occurrence of imminent new vertebral fractures (NVFs) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) undergoing vertebral augmentation (VA) is challenging with yet no effective approach. This study aim to examine a machine learning model based on radiomics signature and clinical factors in predicting imminent new vertebral fractures after vertebral augmentation. METHODS: A total of 235 eligible patients with OVCFs who underwent VA procedures were recruited from two independent institutions and categorized into three groups, including training set (n = 138), internal validation set (n = 59), and external validation set (n = 38). In the training set, radiomics features were computationally retrieved from L1 or adjacent vertebral body (T12 or L2) on T1-w MRI images, and a radiomics signature was constructed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm (LASSO). Predictive radiomics signature and clinical factors were fitted into two final prediction models using the random survival forest (RSF) algorithm or COX proportional hazard (CPH) analysis. Independent internal and external validation sets were used to validate the prediction models. RESULTS: The two prediction models were integrated with radiomics signature and intravertebral cleft (IVC). The RSF model with C-indices of 0.763, 0.773, and 0.731 and time-dependent AUC (2 years) of 0.855, 0.907, and 0.839 (p < 0.001 for all) was found to be better predictive than the CPH model in training, internal and external validation sets. The RSF model provided better calibration, larger net benefits (determined by decision curve analysis), and lower prediction error (time-dependent brier score of 0.156, 0.151, and 0.146, respectively) than the CPH model. CONCLUSIONS: The integrated RSF model showed the potential to predict imminent NVFs following vertebral augmentation, which will aid in postoperative follow-up and treatment.

Fabrication and evaluation of Lambda-Cyhalothrin nanosuspoemulsion with pH- and temperature-responsive based on polyethylene wax as carrier.

Using polyethylene wax (PW) as the coating matrix, the lambda-cyhalothrin-PW nanosuspoemulsion (LC-PW) with a particle size of 80-150nm was prepared through high-speed stirring, hot melt emulsification and ultrasonic dispersion. The formulation and composition of the LC-PW were optimized, the morphology of the LC-PW was analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and TEM, and the structure of the LC-PW was characterized by UV and IR. The anti-photolysis test showed that LC-PW had a good anti-photolysis performance. Furthermore, LC-PW could sustainably release Lambda-cyhalothrin, which was pH- and temperature dependent. The insecticidal activity analysis in the greenhouse indicated that the toxic strength between LC-PW and LC-SC (lambda-cyhalothrin-suspension concentrate) to Mythimna separata was similar within the same concentration ranges tested, but the insecticidal duration of LC-PW was significantly longer than LC-SC. Thus, the new type of LC-PW with the properties of anti-photolysis and controlled release is suitable for application in the field as a better insecticide.

Stereoselective Polymerization of an Aromatic Vinyl Monomer to Access Highly Syndiotactic Poly(vinyl alcohol).

Streoregular poly(vinyl alcohol) is hard to obtain because vinyl alcohol is unstable relative to its tautomer acetaldehyde, and the monomer precursor vinyl ester is poisonous to the coordination catalyst. Herein, the coordination polymerization of 2-vinyl-2,1-borazanaphthalene (BN2VN) is reported by the linked or unlinked half-sandwich ligands attached scandium precursors ((FluSiMe3 )Sc(CH2 SiMe3 )2 (THF) (THF = tetrahydrofuran, 1), (FluCH2 CH2 -NHC-R)Sc(CH2 SiMe3 )2 (THF) (R = mesityl 2, i Pr 3, Me 4), and (FluCH2 Py)Sc(CH2 SiMe3 )2 (5) for the first time. Among these precursors, complex 5 converts 600 equivalents of BN2VN into polymer within 5 min to reach an activity as high as 8.99 × 105 g molSc -1 h-1 . The resultant products show excellent syndiotacticity and melting temperatures above 300 °C, which can be transferred to syndiotactic poly(vinyl alcohol) with 90% rr triad content by postpolymerization oxidation.

Visual perturbation impacts upright postural stability in athletes with an acute concussion.

OBJECTIVE: The impact that visual perturbation has on upright postural stability in an athlete with a concussion has not been established. The present study aimed to characterize the influence that visual perturbation stimuli have on upright balance among athletes with acute concussions. DESIGN: A 2X2X2 repeated measure designed was used. METHOD: The present study examined the influence visual perturbation has on individuals suffering from an acute concussion. Fourteen participants (7 with a concussion and 7 matched controls) underwent various balance assessments with and without visual perturbation. RESULTS: Overall, athletes with acute concussions demonstrated impairments in balance 24-48 hours following a concussion. However, when assessed using a visual perturbation task, athletes with acute concussions demonstrated improved balance, while control subjects did not show any significant changes during the same visual perturbation task. CONCLUSION: An athlete's ability to disregard visual perturbation stimuli is imperative for successful participation in sports. Due to the observed alterations in balance when given a visual perturbation task, it is suggested that athletes with acute concussions place more attention on the balance task and may disregard other less meaningful tasks.

Plasticicumulans lactativorans sp. nov., a polyhydroxybutyrate-accumulating gammaproteobacterium from a sequencing-batch bioreactor fed with lactate.

A bacterial consortium that accumulated more than 90 % (w/w) polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from lactate was selected in a laboratory-scale bioreactor with a 'feast-famine' regime. Bacterial strain YD(T), representing a dominant species in this enrichment, was isolated and characterized. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate is a member of the class Gammaproteobacteria, forming an independent phylogenetic lineage. The closest relative of the isolate was Plasticicumulans acidivorans TUD-YJ37(T), with 94 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Strain YD(T) was an obligate aerobe with large, ovoid, Gram-negative cells, motile by means of a polar flagellum. It utilized a relatively broad spectrum of substrates (e.g. carbohydrates, fatty acids) as carbon and energy sources. The temperature range for growth was 20-45 °C, with an optimum at 40 °C; the pH range was pH 6.0-8.0, with an optimum at pH 7.0. The major respiratory lipoquinones were Q-8 (91 %) and Q-7 (9 %). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and an unidentified aminolipid. The predominant fatty acids in the membrane polar lipids were C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.5 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, the isolate is proposed to represent a novel species in the genus Plasticicumulans, for which the name Plasticicumulans lactativorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YD(T) ( = DSM 25287(T) = NCCB 100398(T)).

Computational simulation and preparation of fluorescent magnetic molecularly imprinted silica nanospheres for ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin sensing.

A magnetic molecularly imprinted fluorescent sensor for the sensitive and convenient determination of ciprofloxacin or norfloxacin in human urine was synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Both cadmium telluride quantum dots and ferroferric oxide nanoparticles are introduced into the polymer for the rapid separation and detection of the target molecules. The synthesized molecularly imprinted polymers were applied to detect ciprofloxacin or its structural analog norfloxacin in human urine with the detection limit 130 ng/mL. A computational study was developed to evaluate the template-monomer geometry and interaction energy in the polymerization mixture to determine the reaction molar ratio of the template and monomer molecules.

Environmental profiles, hazard identification, and toxicological hallmarks of emerging tire rubber-related contaminants 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone.

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is commonly used in rubber compounds as antioxidants to protect against degradation from heat, oxygen, and ozone exposure. This practice extends the lifespan of rubber products, including tires, by preventing cracking, aging, and deterioration. However, the environmental consequences of waste generated during rubber product use, particularly the formation of 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q) through the reaction of 6PPD with ozone, have raised significant concerns due to their detrimental effects on ecosystems. Extensive research has revealed the widespread occurrence of 6PPD and its derivate 6PPD-Q in various environmental compartments, including air, water, and soil. The emerging substance of 6PPD-Q has been shown to pose acute mortality and long-term hazards to aquatic and terrestrial organisms at concentrations below environmentally relevant levels. Studies have demonstrated toxic effects of 6PPD-Q on a range of organisms, including zebrafish, nematodes, and mammals. These effects include neurobehavioral changes, reproductive dysfunction, and digestive damage through various exposure pathways. Mechanistic insights suggest that mitochondrial stress, DNA adduct formation, and disruption of lipid metabolism contribute to the toxicity induced by 6PPD-Q. Recent findings of 6PPD-Q in human samples, such as blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, underscore the importance of further research on the public health and toxicological implications of these compounds. The distribution, fate, biological effects, and underlying mechanisms of 6PPD-Q in the environment highlight the urgent need for additional research to understand and address the environmental and health impacts of these compounds.

Electrochemiluminescence aptasensing method for ultrasensitive determination of lipopolysaccharide based on CRISPR-Cas12a accessory cleavage activity.

In this study, an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensing method was developed for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) determination based on CRISPR-Cas12a accessory cleavage activity. Tris (2,2'-bipyridine) dichlororuthenium (II) (Ru(bpy)32+) was adsorbed on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) coated with a mixture of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and Nafion film via electrostatic interaction. The obtained ECL platform (Ru(bpy)32+/AuNP/Nafion/GCE) exhibited strong ECL emission. Thiol-functionalized single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) was modified with a ferrocenyl (Fc) group and autonomously assembled on the ECL platform of Ru(bpy)32+/AuNP/Nafion/GCE via thiol-gold bonding, resulting in the quenching of ECL emission. After hybridization of the LPS aptamer strand (AS) with its partial complementary strand (CS), the formed double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) could activate CRISPR-Cas12a to indiscriminately cleave ssDNA-Fc on the surface of Ru(bpy)32+/AuNP/Nafion/GCE, resulting in recovery of the ECL intensity of Ru(bpy)32+ due to the increasing distance between Fc and the electrode surface. The combination of LPS and AS suppressed the formation of dsDNA, inhibited the activation of CRISPR-Cas12a, and prevented further cleavage of ssDNA-Fc. This mechanism aided in upholding the integrity of ssDNA-Fc on the surface of the electrode and was combined with ECL quenching induced by the target. The ECL intensity decreased linearly as the concentration of LPS increased from 1 to 50,000 pg/mL and followed a logarithmic relationship. This method exhibited a remarkably low detection limit of 0.24 pg/mL, which meets the requirement for low-concentration detection of LPS in the human body. The proposed method demonstrates the capacity of CRISPR-Cas12a to perform non-specific cutting of single-stranded DNA and transform the resultant cutting substances into changes in the ECL signal. By amalgamating this approach with the distinct identification abilities of LPS and its aptamers, a simple, responsive, and discriminatory LPS assay was established that holds immense significance for clinical diagnosis.

Risk factors of postoperative airway obstruction complications in children with oral floor mass.

The aim of the present study was to explore the risk factors of postoperative airway complications in children with oral floor mass. The first choice of auxiliary examination method for children with oral floor mass is also proposed. This retrospective study included 50 children with floor-of-mouth (FOM) masses. Medical records were reviewed, and information on age of onset, functional impacts present, age at consultation, imaging findings, history of preoperative aspiration, pathology findings, properties of biopsied fluid, treatment modality, postoperative outcomes, and operation were recorded. A total of 20 patients exhibited functional impacts such as difficulty in breathing and feeding. Ultrasound examination was performed in 28 cases; and magnetic resonance imaging, in 38 cases. The diagnosis was lymphatic malformation in 12 cases, developmental cyst in 29 cases, and solid mass in 7 cases. There were 28 cases of surgical resection, 9 cases underwent multiple puncture volume reduction followed by surgery, 11 cases treated using sclerotherapy injection, and 1 case treated using sclerotherapy injection and surgical resection. Young age, functional impact, and high grade of lymphatic duct malformation increased the risk of surgical treatment. B-scan ultrasound is the first choice for the diagnosis of FOM masses in children.

Classification specific lymphatic malformations management on head and neck in children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the outcomes from surgical and nonsurgical treatments for head and neck lymphatic malformations (LMs) in children. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-eight patients were divided into a surgical group (22) and a nonsurgical group (36). The surgical group contained microcystic LMs in the tongue treated by surgery or with sclerotherapy. The nonsurgical group contained macrocystic and mixed LMs in floor of the mouth, neck, face, submandibular region, maxillofacial region and neck treated by sclerotherapy or with microwave ablation (MWA). RESULTS: In the surgical group, the mean follow-up time was 44 ± 15.3 months. At last follow-up, 15 LMs (68.2%) were completely controlled, 3 LMs (13.6%) were stable without need for further treatment, and 4 LMs (18.2%) were persistent. In the nonsurgical group, the median follow-up time was 23.5 months (13.0, 32.8). At last follow-up, 28 LMs (77.8%,) have a volume reduction rate of >50%, and 6 LMs (16.7%.) have the complication. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is suitable for microcystic LMs in the early stage with clear boundary and becomes limited for them in the late stages due to diffuse lesions. Sclerotherapy is effective for macrocystic and mixed LMs. Sclerotherapy with MWA is exceptionally effective for large cystic LMs with multiple compartments.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of recombinant human erythropoietin-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres in rats.

AIM: To characterize the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of the recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres in rats. METHODS: The rhEPO-loaded microspheres were prepared using a solid-in-oil-in-water emulsion method. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the rhEPO-loaded microspheres were evaluated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The serum rhEPO level was determined with ELISA. The level of anti-rhEPO antibody in the serum was measured to assess the immunogenicity of rhEPO released from the microspheres. RESULTS: rhEPO was almost completely released from the PLGA microspheres in vitro, following zero-order release kinetics over approximately 30 d. After intramuscular injection (10,000 or 30,000 IU rhEPO/kg) in the rats, the serum rhEPO concentration reached maximum levels on d 1, then decreased gradually and was maintained at nearly steady levels for approximately 4 weeks. Furthermore, the release of rhEPO from the PLGA microspheres was found to be controlled mainly by a dissolution/diffusion mechanism. A good linear correlation (R(2)=0.98) was obtained between the in vitro and in vivo release data. A single intramuscular injection of the rhEPO-loaded PLGA microspheres (10,000 or 30,000 IU rhEPO/kg) in the rats resulted in elevated hemoglobin and red blood cell concentrations for more than 28 d. Moreover, the immunogenicity of rhEPO released from the PLGA microspheres was comparable with that of the unencapsulated rhEPO. CONCLUSION: The results prove the feasibility of using the PLGA-based microspheres to deliver rhEPO for approximately 1 month.

Iron ion and sulfasalazine-loaded polydopamine nanoparticles for Fenton reaction and glutathione peroxidase 4 inactivation for enhanced cancer ferrotherapy.

Ferroptosis shows promising potential in tumor treatment; however, factors that compromise the efficiency of the Fenton catalyst have limited its therapeutic effectiveness. We developed a polydopamine-based nanoplatform constructed with ferric ion and sulfasalazine-loaded nanoparticles (Fe(III)PP@SAS NPs) for dual-functional ferrotherapy strategy of "sword and shield" through enhanced Fenton reaction and inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), respectively. Both the Fenton reaction-based hydroxyl radical (·OH) production and sulfasalazine-driven GPX4 inhibition induced ferroptotic cell death, thus achieving synergistic cancer therapy. Near-infrared light irradiation and acidic tumor microenvironment enhanced the release of ferric ions and sulfasalazine from the Fe(III)PP@SAS NPs. In addition, the released iron ions underwent valence state change due to Fenton reaction and thus provided a supplementary T1-weighted signal for in situ visualization of the tumor based on magnetic resonance imaging. The Fe(III)PP@SAS NPs exhibited high pro-ferroptosis performance by utilizing ·OH radicals as a "sword" to attack cancer cells and the GPX4 inhibitor to break down the "shield" of cancer cells, thus showing potential for cancer treatment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Several strategies of cancer therapy based on ferroptosis have emerged in recent years, which have provided new insights into designing materials for therapeutic applications. The antitumor efficacy of ferroptosis is, however, still unsatisfactory, mainly because of insufficient intracellular pro-ferroptotic stimuli. In the current study, we report a multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform, namely Fe(III)PP@SAS, with three-fold synergistic effect; this nanoplatform has excellent theranostic potential with multifunctional ferrotherapy.

The impact of packaging recyclable ability on environment: Case and scenario analysis of polypropylene express boxes and corrugated cartons.

With the push for sustainable design strategies, recyclable packaging is widely favored by the public in the express delivery industry due to its potential for lowering environmental burden and solving climatic challenges. The goal of this paper was to quantify and integrate the environmental footprints of polypropylene hollow board express box (PPH-EB) and establish evaluation model between the recyclable ability and environment performance (EMRE) based on life cycle assessment. This work was carried out by multiple indicators to avoid environmental problem-shifting, and corrugated cartons express box (C-EB) was taken as control objects. The results show that integrated index of PPH-EB is 94.42% lower than that of C-EB. Industrial Water Use (IWU), Primary Energy Demand (PED) and SO2 are major factors affecting results of PPH-EB, which mainly come from polypropylene particles and water resource consumption from recycle process. The most obvious advantage of PPH-EB compared with C-EB is the nearly 1700 times difference in normalized COD index caused by direct emission of paper preparation process. Scenario analysis showed that integrated index of PPH-EB was lower than that of traditional corrugated cartons after more than twice of use, but if the recycling times of PPH-EB continued to increase, the effect on reducing environmental burden was no longer significant. Therefore, although the recyclable times plays a role in decreasing the environmental impact, it is not a permanent strategy. In the design stage of the recyclable express box, the recyclable ability should be reasonably designed through EMRE, so as to minimize the environmental burden.

A Flexible and Ultra-Highly Sensitive Tactile Sensor through a Parallel Circuit by a Magnetic Aligned Conductive Composite.

The development of flexible electronic skins with high performance and multifunctional sensing capabilities is of great significance for applications ranging from healthcare monitoring to artificial intelligence. To mimic and surpass the high-gauge-factor sensing properties of human skin, structure design and appropriate material selection of sensors are both essentially required. Here, we present an efficient, low-cost fabrication strategy to construct an ultra-highly sensitive, flexible pressure sensor by embedding the aligned nickel-coated carbon fibers (NICFs) in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. Our design substantially contributes to ultrahigh sensitivity through the parallel circuit formed by aligned NICFs as well as surface spinosum microstructure molded by sandpaper. As a result, the sensor exhibits excellent sensitivity (15 525 kPa-1), a fast response time (30 ms), and good stability over 3000 loading-unloading cycles. Furthermore, these superior sensing properties trigger applications in water quality and wave monitoring in conjunction with mechanical flexibility and robustness. As a precedent for adjusting the sensitivities of the sensor, the NICFs/PDMS sensor provides a promising method for multiscenario healthcare monitoring, multiscale pressure spatial distribution, and human-machine interfacing.

Polyhydroxybutyrate production from lactate using a mixed microbial culture.

In this study we investigated the use of lactate and a lactate/acetate mixture for enrichment of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) producing mixed cultures. The mixed cultures were enriched in sequencing batch reactors (SBR) that established a feast-famine regime. The SBRs were operated under conditions that were previously shown to enable enrichment of a superior PHB producing strain on acetate (i.e., 12 h cycle length, 1 day SRT and 30°C). Two new mixed cultures were eventually enriched from activated sludge. The mixed culture enriched on lactate was dominated by a novel gammaproteobacterium. This enrichment can accumulate over 90 wt% PHB within 6 h, which is currently the best result reported for a bacterial culture in terms of the final PHB content and the biomass specific PHB production rate. The second mixed culture enriched on a mixture of acetate and lactate can produce up to 84 wt% PHB in just over 8 h. The predominant bacterial species in this culture were Plasticicumulans acidivorans and Thauera selenatis, which have both been reported to accumulate large amounts of PHB. The data suggest that P. acidivorans is a specialist on acetate conversion, whereas Thauera sp. is a specialist on lactate conversion. The main conclusion of this work is that the use of different substrates has a direct impact on microbial composition, but has no significant effect on the functionality of PHB production process.

How well do integrated 3D models predict alveolar defects after treatment with clear aligners?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the accuracy of integrated models (IMs) constructed by pretreatment cone-beam computed tomography (pre-CBCT) in diagnosing alveolar defects after treatment with clear aligners. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pre-CBCT and posttreatment cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans from 69 patients who completed nonextraction treatment with clear aligners were collected. The IMs comprised anterior teeth in predicted positions and alveolar bone from pre-CBCT scans. The accuracy of the IMs for identifying dehiscences or fenestrations was evaluated by comparing the means of the defect volumes, absolute mean differences, and Pearson correlation coefficients with those measured from post-CBCT scans. Defect prediction accuracy was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values. Factors possibly affecting changes in mandibular alveolar defects were analyzed using a mixed linear model. RESULTS: The IM measurements showed mean deviations of 2.82 ± 9.99 mm3 for fenestrations and 3.67 ± 9.93 mm3 for dehiscences. The absolute mean differences were 4.50 ± 9.35 mm3 for fenestrations and 5.17 ± 9.24 mm3 for dehiscences. The specificities of the IMs were higher than 0.8, whereas the sensitivities were both lower (fenestration = 0.41; dehiscence = 0.53). The positive predictive values were unacceptable (fenestration = 0.52; dehiscence = 0.62), and the overall reliability was low (<0.80). Molar distalization and proclination were positively correlated with significant increases in alveolar defects at the mandibular incisors after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Alveolar defects after clear aligner treatment cannot be simulated accurately by IMs constructed from pre-CBCT. Caution should be taken in the treatment of crowding with proclination and molar distalization for the safety of alveolar bone at the mandibular incisors.

UV-Protective, Self-Cleaning, and Antibacterial Nanofiber-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Self-Powered Human Motion Monitoring.

Equipping wearable electronics with special functions will endow them with more additional values and more comprehensive practical performance. Here, we report an ultraviolet (UV)-protective, self-cleaning, antibacterial, and self-powered all-nanofiber-based triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered sensing, which is fabricated with Ag nanowires (NWs)/TPU nanofibers and the TiO2@PAN networks through a facile electrospinning method. Due to the added TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), the TENG presents excellent UV-protective performance, including the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of ∼204, the transmittance of UVA (TUVA) of ∼0.0574%, and the transmittance of UVB (TUVB) ∼0.107%. Furthermore, under solar lighting for 25 min, most surface contamination can be degraded, and the decreased power output would be recovered. Owing to the coupled effects of TiO2 NPs and Ag NWs, the TENG shows excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Due to the micro-to-nano hierarchical porous structure, the all-nanofiber-based TENG can serve as self-powered pedometers for detecting and tracking human motion behaviors. As a multifunctional self-powered device, the TENG prompts various applications in the fields of micro/nanopower sources, human movement monitoring, and human-machine interfaces, potentially providing an alternative energy solution and a multifunctional interactive platform for the next-generation wearable electronics.

[Effect of NaCl in outer water phase on the characteristics of BSA-loaded PLGA sustained-release microspheres fabricated by a solid-in-oil-in-water emulsion technique].

The aim of this study is to investigate the critical factor affecting the properties of PLGA microspheres fabricated by a solid-in-oil-in-water (S/O/W) emulsion technique with BSA as a model protein. Prior to encapsulation, the BSA microparticles were fabricated by a modified freezing-induced phase separation method. The microparticles were subsequently encapsulated into PLGA microspheres by S/O/W emulsion method, then Motic BA200 biological microscope, confocal laser scanning microscope, scanning electron microscope were used to observe the structure of S/O/W emulsion and PLGA microspheres. The protein content extracted or released from BSA microspheres was measured by Bradford protein assay method. It was found that NaCl added in the outer aqueous phase effectively suppressed material exchange between the inner and outer phase of S/O/W emulsion. Then, the structure and permeability of obtained microspheres were influenced. As a result, with the increase of NaCl concentration in the outer aqueous phase, the encapsulation efficiency of microspheres significantly increased from 60% to more than 85%, the burst release of microspheres reduced from 70% to 20%, and the particle size decreased from 103 microm to 62 microm. Furthermore, the rehydration of encapsulated protein was also retarded and then integrity of BSA was successfully protected during encapsulation process. In vitro release test showed that BSA released from PLGA microspheres in a sustained manner for more than 30 days.

[Characteristic expression of apoptotic genes in epulis].

PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristic expression of apoptotic genes in epulis. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with epulis were recruited in this study, and related tumor and normal gingival tissues were collected. Six pairs of samples were used for PCR array analysis of apoptosis, and the other thirty pairs of samples were used for qRT-PCR replication. The expression levels of related genes were calculated with internal reference gene delta ΔΔCt. The data were analyzed with SPSS 17.0 software package. RESULTS: Compared with the normal gingival tissues, the expression levels of AIFM1, BCL2, BCL2L1, BCL2L2, BFAR, BIRC2, BIRC3, BIRC6, BNIP2, BNIP3, CD40LG, and XIAP were significantly increased in the gingival tissues, while the expression level of TNFRSF25 was decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Over-expression of anti-apoptotic genes in Bcl-2 family and IAP family inhibits apoptosis of gingival tissues, which eventually causes epulis.

A breathable, biodegradable, antibacterial, and self-powered electronic skin based on all-nanofiber triboelectric nanogenerators.

Mimicking the comprehensive functions of human sensing via electronic skins (e-skins) is highly interesting for the development of human-machine interactions and artificial intelligences. Some e-skins with high sensitivity and stability were developed; however, little attention is paid to their comfortability, environmental friendliness, and antibacterial activity. Here, we report a breathable, biodegradable, and antibacterial e-skin based on all-nanofiber triboelectric nanogenerators, which is fabricated by sandwiching silver nanowire (Ag NW) between polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). With micro-to-nano hierarchical porous structure, the e-skin has high specific surface area for contact electrification and numerous capillary channels for thermal-moisture transfer. Through adjusting the concentration of Ag NW and the selection of PVA and PLGA, the antibacterial and biodegradable capability of e-skins can be tuned, respectively. Our e-skin can achieve real-time and self-powered monitoring of whole-body physiological signal and joint movement. This work provides a previously unexplored strategy for multifunctional e-skins with excellent practicability.