Influence of cadmium and microplastics on physiological responses, ultrastructure and rhizosphere microbial community of duckweed.

The combined contamination of heavy metals and microplastics is widespread in freshwater environments. However, there are few researches on their combined effects on aquatic plants. In this study, the effects of single and combined stress of 0.01 mg L-1 cadmium (Cd), 50 mg L-1 polyethylene and 50 mg L-1 polypropylene for 15 days on the physiological response, ultrastructure and rhizosphere microbial community of duckweed were investigated. The results showed that Cd and microplastics single or combined stress inhibited the growth of duckweed, shortened the root length and decreased the chlorophyll content. Compared with single Cd treatments, the combination of microplastics and Cd increased duckweed growth rate and increased superoxide dismutase activity and malondialdehyde content and reduced chloroplast structural damage, indicating that the combined stress could reduce the toxicity of heavy metals to duckweed. Through the study of rhizosphere microbial diversity, 1381 Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTUs) were identified and rich microbial communities were detected in the duckweed rhizosphere. Among them, the main microbial communities were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria. Compared with Cd single stress, the ACE and chao index of rhizosphere microbial community increased under combined stress, indicating that the diversity and abundance of microbial communities were improved after combined stress treatment. Our study revealed the effects of heavy metals and microplastics on aquatic plants, providing a theoretical basis for duckweed applications in complex water pollution.

[Preparation and effect against cervical cancer invasion in vitro of harmine-loaded photosensitive liposomes].

Despite the development of HPV vaccines and screening programs, cervical cancer is still a serious threat to women's health. Early-stage cervical cancer is mainly treated by surgery. However, considering the serious complications after surgery, hyperthermia is recommended to enhance the effect of chemotherapy, retain the integrity of cervix, improve the treatment effect, which provides a therapeutic basis for the early treatment of cervical cancer. The photosensitive liposomes containing harmine and dye IR-780 were prepared by thin-film dispersion method and separated by Sephadex G-50 dextran gel column. The preparation conditions were optimized as the mass ratio of phospholipid to cholesterol membrane material being 8∶1 and that of drug to lipid being 1∶20. The results of HPLC showed that the encapsulation efficiency of harmine was 55.6%±0.18%. The prepared photosensitive liposomes were round and evenly distributed under transmission electron microscope, with the particle size of(125.2±0.62) nm determined by Marvin particle size analyzer and the Zeta potential of(-2.55±0.76) mV. Additionally, the photosensitive liposomes had the photothermal conversion efficiency, an important property of photothermal agent, of 27.1%±0.86%. The photosensitive liposomes stored at 4 ℃ showed stable encapsulation efficiency in the first 14 days without flocculation. The sulforhodamine B(SRB) assay was employed to determine the inhibitory effect of the liposomes on the proliferation of HeLa cells under near-infrared(NIR) irradiation or not, which showcased stronger inhibitory effect under NIR irradiation. The results of Transwell assay indicated that the prepared liposomes significantly inhibited the invasion and migration of HeLa cells in vitro. The findings of this study provide a basis for the treatment of cervical cancer with harmine.

Timely eradication of HCV viremia by PegIFN/RBV is crucial in prevention of post RFA recurrence in CHC-HCC patients.

BACKGROUND: Secondary prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) who achieve sustained virologic response (SVR) with interferon-based therapy has been proved effective. However, tertiary prevention with PegIFN/RBV therapy of HCC recurrence seems limited effect in CHC-HCC patients post curative therapies. This study aims to investigate the timing and impact of PegIFN/RBV treatment on prevention of HCC recurrence in patients after RFA treatment. METHODS: From 2013 to 2016, a total of 137 CHC-HCC patients from a 508 patient based cohort receiving complete RFA treatment in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center were retrospectively recruited. Pre-RFA patient demographics were analyzed by cox regression analysis for prediction on tumor recurrence. Statistics analysis was performed with SPSS V.20 (IBM, USA). RESULTS: The mean age of the 137 patients were 69.6 year-old and 71.5% of patients were cirrhotic. After propensity score matching, one hundred and two patients were enrolled into the analysis. Fifty-one patients (50%) received PegIFN/RBV therapy and twenty-seven patients (52.9%) achieved SVR. Patients who could achieve SVR had lower tumor recurrence rate than non-SVR and untreated groups (29.6% vs. 66.7% vs. 49.0%, P = 0.030). The effect is more prominent in those achieve SVR prior to compared with after RFA despite not reach statistically significant (26.1% vs. 50.0%, P = 0.334). CONCLUSION: Timely treatment with SVR achievement has the lowest tumor recurrence rate in CHC-HCC patients. Secondary prevention might be even more important than tertiary prevention in CHC patients, especially regarding prevention of post RFA HCC recurrence.

Priming effect of root-applied silicon on the enhancement of induced resistance to the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola in rice.

BACKGROUND: Silicon (Si) can confer plant resistance to both abiotic and biotic stress. In the present study, the priming effect of Si on rice (Oryza sativa cv Nipponbare) against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola and its histochemical and molecular impact on plant defense mechanisms were evaluated. RESULTS: Si amendment significantly reduced nematodes in rice roots and delayed their development, while no obvious negative effect on giant cells was observed. Increased resistance in rice was correlated with higher transcript levels of defense-related genes (OsERF1, OsEIN2 and OsACS1) in the ethylene (ET) pathway. Si amendment significantly reduced nematode numbers in rice plants with enhanced ET signaling but had no effect in plants deficient in ET signaling, indicating that the priming effects of Si were dependent on the ET pathway. A higher deposition of callose and accumulation of phenolic compounds were observed in rice roots after nematode attack in Si-amended plants than in the controls. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the priming effect may partially depend on the production of phenolic compounds and hydrogen peroxide. Further research is required to model the ethylene signal transduction pathway that occurs in the Si-plant-nematode interaction system and gain a better understanding of Si-induced defense in rice.

[Pharmacokinetics of Curcumin Ethosomes in Rats in vitro].

OBJECTIVES: To study the oral phamacokinetics of curcumin ethosomes in rats. METHODS: Pharmacokinetics parameters were detected by DAS 2.1.1 software analysis through data of blood concentrations harvested from HPLC after oral administration of curcumin ethosomes in rats. RESULTS: Analyzed by non-compartmental method, the area under concentration-time curve from 0 to last time [AUC(0-72h)] of curcumin ethosomes was 1.6 times larger than that of free curcumin, the peak concentration (C max) of curcumin ethosomes was 1.5 times higher than that of free curcumin, the relative bioavailability of curcumin ethosomes was 152.2%. The 90% confidential interval of AUC(0-72 h)was 102.2%-128.5%, which was not in standard interval of bioequialence. Analyzed by compartmental method, the AUC(0-72 h)of curcumin ethosomes was 1.4 times larger than that of free curcumin and the relative bioavailability of curcumin ethosomes was 128.2%. CONCLUSION: The curcumin ethosomes can enhance bioavailability, which has a bioinequivalence with free curcumin.

Surface indentation and fluid intake generated by the polymer matrix of Bacillus subtilis biofilms.

Bacterial biofilms are highly structured, surface associated bacteria colonies held together by a cell-generated polymer network known as EPS (extracellular polymeric substance). This polymer network assists in adhesion to surfaces and generates spreading forces as colonies grow over time. In the laboratory and in nature, biofilms often grow at the interface between air and an elastic, semi-permeable nutrient source. As this type of biofilm increases in volume, an accommodating compression of its substrate may arise, potentially driven by the osmotic pressure exerted by the EPS against the substrate surface. Here we study Bacillus subtilis biofilm force generation by measuring the magnitude and rate of deformation imposed by colonies against the agar-nutrient slabs on which they grow. We find that the elastic stress stored in deformed agar is orders of magnitude larger than the drag stress associated with pulling fluid through the agar matrix. The stress exerted by the biofilm is nearly the same as the osmotic pressure generated by the EPS, and mutant colonies incapable of producing EPS exert much lower levels of stress. The fluid flow rate into B. subtilis biofilms suggest that EPS generated pressure provides some metabolic benefit as colonies expand in volume. These results reveal that long-term biofouling and colony expansion may be tied to the hydraulic permeability and elasticity of the surfaces that biofilms colonize.

Progressive enhanced photodynamic therapy and enhanced chemotherapy fighting against malignant tumors with sequential drug release.

During the process of malignant tumor treatment, photodynamic therapy (PDT) exerts poor efficacy due to the hypoxic environment of the tumor cells, and long-time chemotherapy reduces the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy drugs due to the presence of drug-resistant proteins on the cell membranes for drug outward transportation. Therefore, we reported a nano platform based on mesoporous silica coated with polydopamine (MSN@PDA) loading PDT enhancer MnO2, photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) and chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) (designated as DMPIM) to achieve a sequential release of different drugs to enhance treatment of malignant tumors. MSN was first synthesized by a template method, then DOX was loaded into the mesoporous channels of MSN, and locked by the PDA coating. Next, ICG was modified by π-π stacking on PDA, and finally, MnO2layer was accumulated on the surface of DOX@MSN@PDA- ICG@MnO2, achieving orthogonal loading and sequential release of different drugs. DMPIM first generated oxygen (O2) through the reaction between MnO2and H2O2after entering tumor cells, alleviating the hypoxic environment of tumors and enhancing the PDT effect of sequentially released ICG. Afterwards, ICG reacted with O2in tumor tissue to produce reactive oxygen species, promoting lysosomal escape of drugs and inactivation of p-glycoprotein (p-gp) on tumor cell membranes. DOX loaded in the MSN channels exhibited a delay of approximately 8 h after ICG release to exert the enhanced chemotherapy effect. The drug delivery system achieved effective sequential release and multimodal combination therapy, which achieved ideal therapeutic effects on malignant tumors. This work offers a route to a sequential drug release for advancing the treatment of malignant tumors.

Analysis of Biodistribution and in vivo Toxicity of Varying Sized Polystyrene Micro and Nanoplastics in Mice.

Introduction: Studies have shown that microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) could accumulate in the human body and pose a potential threat to human health. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the biodistribution and toxicity of MPs/NPs with different particle sizes comprehensively and thoroughly. Methods: The purpose of this study was to investigate the biodistribution and in vivo toxicity of polystyrene (PS) MPs/NPs with different sizes (50 nm, 100 nm, and 500 nm). The BALB/c mice were given 100 µL of PS50, PS100 and PS500 at the dosage of 1 mg/kg BW or 10 mg/kg BW, respectively, by gavage once a day. After 28 consecutive days of treatment, the biodistribution of differently sized PS MPs/NPs was determined through cryosection fluorescence microscopy and fluorescent microplate reader analysis, and the subsequent effects of differently sized PS MPs/NPs on histopathology, hematology and blood biochemistry were also evaluated. Results: The results showed that the three different sizes of PS MPs/NPs were distributed in the organs of mice, mainly in the liver, spleen, and intestine. At the same time, the smaller the particle size, the more they accumulate in the body and more easily penetrate the tissue. During the whole observation period, no abnormal behavior and weight change were observed. The results of H&E staining showed that no severe histopathological abnormalities were observed in the main organs in the low-dose exposure group, while. Exposure of three sizes of PS MPs/NPs could cause some changes in hematological parameters or biochemical parameters related to heart, liver, and kidney function; meanwhile, there were size- and dose-dependencies. Conclusion: The biological distribution and toxicity of plastic particles in mice were more obvious with the decrease of particle size and the increase of concentration of plastic particles. Compared with MPs, NPs were easier to enter the tissues and produce changes in liver, kidney, and heart functions. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the toxicity of NPs.

[Influence of the alveolar bone height on stress distribution of post and core restored maxillary premolar].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stress distribution of post and core restored maxillary premolar with reduced alveolar bone support. METHODS: Cone-beam CT based 3D finite element models of post and core restored maxillary premolar were established, with 3 different alveolar bone support. Group I (control) simulated a clinical situation without horizontal bone loss. In group II, a horizontal bone loss of 25% and in group III of 50% were simulated. Both cast-metal post and prefabricated-fiber post were used. The influence of the alveolar bone height was investigated through three-dimensional elastic finite element static analyses by comparison of the resulting stress field, under vertical and oblique load. Local stress measures were introduced to allow for the assessment of tooth fracture. RESULTS: The von Mises stress value (vertical/oblique) on dentin were measured as follows: group I-gold=22.570/66.354, group I-fiber=16.480/58.103; group II-gold=27.690/95.192, group II-fiber=18.260/68.452; group III-gold=37.363/135.010, group III-fiber=24.291/110.170. CONCLUSION: For post and core restored teeth with horizontal bone loss, the alveolar bone support may affect the stress distribution under vertical and oblique load. Reduction of the alveolar bone support may lead to severely increased stress concentration in the root dentin.

Non-interference delivery of Ce6 and DOX in NIR light-responsive liposomes for synergetic cervical cancer therapy.

Multi-model combination treatment of malignant tumors can make up for the shortcomings of single treatment through multi-target and multi-path to achieve more ideal tumor treatment effect. However, the mutual interference of different drugs in the delivery processin vivoand the difficulty of effective drug accumulation in tumor cells are the bottlenecks of combined therapy. To this project, light-responsive liposomes loading doxorubicin (DOX) and chlorin e6 (Ce6) (DOX-Ce6-Lip) without mutual interference were engineered by thin film hydration method. This kind of nano-drug delivery system increased the drugs concentration accumulated in tumor sites through enhanced permeability and retention effect, and reduced the toxic and side effects of drugs on normal tissuesin vivo. In addition, after entering the tumor cells, Ce6 produced a large number of reactive oxygen species under 660 nm NIR laser irradiation, which further oxidized the unsaturated fatty acid chain in the liposomes and caused the collapse of the liposomes, thus realizing the stimulus-responsive release of Ce6 and DOX. The concentrations of DOX and Ce6 in the tumor cells rapidly reached the peak and achieved a more effective combination of chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Consequently, DOX-Ce6-Lip followed by 660 nm NIR irradiation achieved an efficient tumor growth inhibition of 71.90 ± 3.14%, indicating the versatile potential of chemotherapy and PDT. In conclusion, this study provides a delivery scheme for drugs with different solubilities and an effectively combined anti-tumor therapy method.

Giant Cell Tumor and Giant Cell Reparative Granuloma of Bone of the Head: CT and MR Imaging Findings.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the features and differentiation of Giant Cell Reparative Granuloma (GCRG) and Giant Cell Tumor (GCT) of the head on CT and MRI. METHODS: This retrospective study included six patients with histopathology-confirmed head GCRG and 5 patients with histopathology-confirmed head GCT. All images were independently reviewed by two radiologists. The growth pattern, bone changes, MRI signal intensity, enhancement patterns and other image features were recorded. All patients received CT scans and MR images. RESULTS: All the lesions were located centrally in the bone. Osteolytic bone destruction and expansive growth patterns were observed on CT images. Four of six cases broke the cortical bone with residual cortical bone, and the last two showed a thin cortex in GCRG. Five cases broke the cortical bone with residual cortical bone in GCT. There were enhancing septations in GCT lesions on contrast- enhanced T1-Weighted Images (T1WI) while enhancing septations were not present in GCRG cases. The size of GCT lesions was larger than that of GRCG. GCRG and GCT showed iso-low signals on T1WI and iso-high signals on T2-Weighted Images (T2WI). There was a case with cystic or necrotic lesions in each of the two types of lesions. Osteolytic bone destruction and expansive growth patterns were observed in GCTs and GCRGs. CONCLUSION: The size of the GRCG lesion was smaller than that of the GCT. The presence of enhancing septations and the size of the lesion may distinguish GCTs from GCRG.

Osteon-mimetic 3D nanofibrous scaffold enhances stem cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation for bone regeneration.

The scaffold microstructure is important for bone tissue engineering. Failure to synergistically imitate the hierarchical microstructure of the components of bone, such as an osteon with concentric multilayers assembled by nanofibers, hinders the performance for guiding bone regeneration. Here, a 2D bilayer nanofibrous membrane (BLM) containing poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) composite membranes in similar compositions (PCL15 and PCL20), but possessing different degrees of shrinkage, was fabricated via sequential electrospinning. Upon incubation in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (37 °C), the 2D BLM spontaneously deformed into a 3D shape induced by PCL crystallization within the PLGA matrix, and the PCL15 and PCL20 layer formed a concave and convex surface, respectively. The 3D structure contained curved multilayers with an average diameter of 776 ± 169 µm, and on the concave and convex surface the nanofiber diameters were 792 ± 225 and 881 ± 259 nm, respectively. The initial 2D structure facilitated the even distribution of seeded cells. Adipose-derived stem cells from rats (rADSCs) proliferated faster on a concave surface than on a convex surface. For the 3D BLM, the osteogenic differentiation of rADSCs was significantly higher than that on 2D surfaces, even without osteogenic supplements, which resulted from the stretched cell morphology on the curved sublayer leading to increased expression of lamin-A. After being implanted into cranial defects in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, 3D BLM significantly accelerated bone formation. In summary, 3D BLM with an osteon-like structure provides a potential strategy to repair bone defects.

The effect of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) conduit loading insulin-like growth factor 1 modified by a collagen-binding domain on peripheral nerve injury in rats.

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) exists widely and seriously affects patients' daily lives. However, the effect of nerve repair is still limited, and only 50% of patients can recover useful functions. To overcome these obstacles, collagen-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) conduits loaded with CBD-IGF-1 were designed and tested in vitro and in vivo. The physical characterization of the conduit was tested by scanning electron microscopy, and the static water contact angle, release rate, and nerve regeneration ability of the conduit were verified in a rat sciatic nerve injury model. The results showed that the PLGA/col/CBD-IGF-1 conduit had a rough surface and good hydrophilicity. CBD-IGF-1 could be released slowly from the PLGA/col/CBD-IGF-1 conduit. In the in vivo experiment, gait analysis and electrophysiological evaluation showed that the sciatic functional index and electrophysiological parameters were best in the group treated with the PLGA/col/CBD-IGF-1 conduit. The pathological examination results for the sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius muscle in the group treated with the PLGA/col/CBD-IGF-1 conduit were better than those in the other three groups. In short, this study demonstrated the beneficial effects of CBD-IGF-1 in nerve regeneration. The PLGA/col/CBD-IGF-1 conduit has therapeutic potential for use in the treatment of PNI.

Cell Infiltrative Inner Connected Porous Hydrogel Improves Neural Stem Cell Migration and Differentiation for Functional Repair of Spinal Cord Injury.

The disadvantages of cell-adaptive microenvironments and cellular diffusion out of the lesion have limited hydrogel-based scaffold transplantation treatment for neural connectivity, leading to permanent neurological disability from spinal cord injury. Herein, porous GelMA scaffold was prepared, in which the inner porous structure was optimized. The average pore size was 168 ± 71 µm with a porosity of 77.1%. The modulus of porous hydrogel was 593 ± 4 Pa compared to 1535 ± 85 Pa of bulk GelMA. The inner connected porous structure provided a cell-infiltrative matrix for neural stem cell migration and differentiation in vitro and eventually enhanced neuron differentiation and hindlimb strength and movement of animals in in vivo experiments. Furthermore, inflammation response and apoptosis were also alleviated after implantation. This work demonstrated that the porous hydrogel with appropriately connected micropores exhibit favorable cellular responses compared with traditional non-porous GelMA hydrogel. Taken together, our findings suggest that porous hydrogel is a promising scaffold for future delivery of stem cells and has prospects in material design for the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Aptamer-functionalized quercetin thermosensitive liposomes for targeting drug delivery and antitumor therapy.

Chemo-thermotherapy, as a promising cancer combination therapy strategy, has attracted widespread attention. In this study, a novel aptamer functionalized thermosensitive liposome encapsulating hydrophobic drug quercetin was fabricated as an efficient drug delivery system. This aptamer-functionalized quercetin thermosensitive liposomes (AQTSL) combined the merits of high-loading yield, sustained drug release, long-term circulation in the body of PEGylated liposomes, passive targeting provided by 100-200 nm nanoparticles, active targeting and improved internalization effects offered by AS1411 aptamer, and temperature-responsive of quercetin release. In addition, AQTSL tail vein injection combined with 42 °C water bath heating on tumor site (AQTSL + 42 °C)treatment inhibited the tumor growth significantly compared with the normal saline administration (p< 0.01), and the inhibition rate reached 75%. Furthermore, AQTSL + 42 °C treatment also slowed down the tumor growth significantly compared with QTSL combined with 42 °C administration (p< 0.05), confirming that AS1411 decoration on QTSL increased the active targeting and internalization effects of the drug delivery system, and AS1411 aptamer itself might also contribute to the tumor inhibition. These data indicate that AQTSL is a potential carrier candidate for different hydrophobic drugs and tumor targeting delivery, and this kind of targeted drug delivery system combined with temperature responsive drug release mode is expected to achieve an ideal tumor therapy effect.

A novel cone-beam CT scanning technique for measuring periodontal soft tissues in the esthetic area.

PURPOSE: This study investigated and tested a novel cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning technique capable of obtaining clear contours of soft tissues in the esthetic area. METHODS: Twenty-three periodontally healthy participants underwent this novel CBCT scanning technique. Soft tissue morphological parameters were measured on the CBCT images obtained. Intraoral clinical data were also collected at the same locations, and the accuracy of the CBCT method was tested. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range [IQR]) of the supracrestal gingival tissue thickness as 0.91 (0.73-1.13) mm, and the thickness of the central incisors was significantly greater than that of the canines (P < 0.05). The median (IQR) of keratinized tissue thickness was 0.73 (0.55-0.91) mm, which also showed a significantly greater thickness in the central incisors than in the canines (P < 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis suggested that CBCT could be accurate for measuring soft tissues in the esthetic area. CONCLUSION: The novel CBCT technique described yields clear contours of soft tissues in the esthetic area without the need for auxiliary tools. Moreover, measurements of soft tissue morphological parameters on CBCT appear to be accurate.

[Clinical evaluation of gingival composite resin restoring cervical defects in anterior teeth].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effects of gingival composite resin used for restoring cervical defects in anterior teeth. METHODS: Eighty cervical defects of anterior teeth were involved. Firstly, they were restored with simulated restorations using only tooth colored composite resin. Then, the simulated restorations were removed and the defects were restored with simulated restorations using gingival composite resin combined with tooth colored composite resin. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was employed to survey the patient satisfaction with the esthetic results of the two methods. The defects were filled with gingival composite resin and tooth colored composite resin.Then, longitudinal clinical evaluation were made at 1-week, 6-month, 1-year and 2-year recalls respectively using modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. RESULTS: Simulated restorations made of gingival composite resin and tooth colored composite resin obtained more satisfaction in overall impression, gingival position and tooth contour than simulated restorations simply made of tooth colored composite resin (P<0.1). In the longitudinal clinical evaluation, no significant differences among the recalls were found in color match,restoration morphology, marginal adaptation, marginal discoloration, secondary caries or pulp sensitivity (P>0.1). CONCLUSION: Using gingival composite resin in restoring cervical defects in anterior teeth achieved not only satisfactory treatment effect but also ideal esthetic results.

[Medpor plus titanic mesh implant in the repair of orbital blowout fractures].

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of porous polyethylene (Medpor) plus titanic mesh sheets in the repair of orbital blowout fractures. METHODS: A total of 20 patients underwent open surgical reduction with the combined usage of Medpor and titanic mesh. And they were followed up for average period of 14.5 months (range: 9 - 18). RESULTS: There is no infection or extrusion of medpor and titanic mesh in follow-up periods. There was no instance of decreased visual acuity at post-operation. And all cases of enophthalmos were corrected. The post-operative protrusion degree of both eyes was almost identical at less than 2 mm. The movement of eye balls was satisfactory in all directions. Diplopia disappeared in 18 cases with a cure rate of 90%, 1 case improved and 1 case persisted. CONCLUSION: Medpor plus titanic mesh implant is a safe and effective treatment in the repair of orbital blow out fractures.

[Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in PM2.5 Under Winter Haze Conditions in Central China: A Case Study of Huanggang, Hubei Province].

To explore the pollution characteristics and potential health risks of heavy metals in PM2.5 on haze days in Central China, PM2.5 samples were collected from the Huanggang monitoring station, a regional observation point in Central China, between January 13 and 24, 2018. The contents of Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sn, and Pb in PM2.5 were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS), and the enrichment factor method was used to determine the potential risk based on the exposure model recommended by the Environmental Protection Administration(EPA). The results showed that during the observation period, the concentrations of Zn in PM2.5 were highest, and the concentrations of the carcinogens As and Cd were higher than the secondary standard limits of China's ambient air quality standard(GB 3095-2012), with 70% of these elemental concentrations accounting for the largest proportion in the middle haze period. The enrichment factor analysis showed that Cd, Sn, Co, Pb, and Zn were the most abundant elements, especially during the middle haze period, and were mostly derived from transportation and coal combustion. The results of the human health risk assessment showed that exposure via hand-mouth feeding was the main non-carcinogenic risk, and the exposure and non-carcinogenic risks of children were significantly higher than those of adults. Pb poses a non-carcinogenic risk to children, while heavy metals in PM2.5 pose no non-carcinogenic risks to adults and carcinogenic heavy metals pose no carcinogenic risks.

A self-doping conductive polymer hydrogel that can restore electrical impulse propagation at myocardial infarct to prevent cardiac arrhythmia and preserve ventricular function.

Following myocardial infarction (MI), necrotic cardiomyocytes (CMs) are replaced by fibroblasts and collagen tissue, causing abnormal electrical signal propagation, desynchronizing cardiac contraction, resulting in cardiac arrhythmia. In this work, a conductive polymer, poly-3-amino-4-methoxybenzoic acid (PAMB), is synthesized and grafted onto non-conductive gelatin. The as-synthesized PAMB-G copolymer is self-doped in physiological pH environments, making it an electrically active material in biological tissues. This copolymer is cross-linked by carbodiimide to form an injectable conductive hydrogel (PAMB-G hydrogel). The un-grafted gelatin hydrogel is prepared in a similar manner as a control. Both test hydrogels not only provide an optimal matrix for CM adhesion and growth but also maintain CM morphology and functional proteins. The conductivity of PAMB-G hydrogel is ca. 12 times higher than that of gelatin hydrogel. Microelectrode array analyses reveal that a heart placed on the PAMB-G hydrogel has a higher field potential amplitude than that placed on the gelatin hydrogel and can pass current from one heart to excite another heart at a distance. The injection of PAMB-G hydrogel into the scar zone following an MI in a rat heart improves electrical impulse propagation over that in a heart that has been treated with gelatin hydrogel, and synchronizes heart contraction, leading to preservation of the ventricular function and reduction of cardiac arrhythmia, demonstrating its potential for use in treating MI.