Controllable Blue Shift and Enhancement Emission during the Gradually Increasing Molecular Weight of Polyacrylamide.

Nonconventional luminescent polymers have become research hotspots due to their advantages such as persistent room temperature phosphorescence (p-RTP) emission and strong film-forming properties. It is proven that the molecular weight (MW) of such luminescent polymers has a significant impact on their emission over a large range, generally with a red shift as the MW increases. Herein, four controllable MW polyacrylamides are prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), and their photoluminescence quantum yield and p-RTP lifetimes gradually increase with the increasing MW. The emission of p-RTP gradually shifts blue with increasing MW, which is likely due to the gradually changing interactions between the electron-rich portion in RAFT reagent and the increasing acrylamide (AM) units in the molecular chain. These can be reasonably explained through small angle X-ray scattering, the clustering-triggered emission (CTE) mechanism, and supported by theoretical calculations. Powder with controllable p-RTP capability has the potential for strategic anti-counterfeiting encryption. The above results not only promote the development of the CTE mechanism toward more precise explanations but also provide new ideas for the preparation of nonconventional luminescent polymers with controllable p-RTP emission performance.

Optimal development of apoptotic cells-mimicking liposomes targeting macrophages.

Macrophages are multifunctional innate immune cells that play indispensable roles in homeostasis, tissue repair, and immune regulation. However, dysregulated activation of macrophages is implicated in the pathogenesis of various human disorders, making them a potential target for treatment. Through the expression of pattern recognition and scavenger receptors, macrophages exhibit selective uptake of pathogens and apoptotic cells. Consequently, the utilization of drug carriers that mimic pathogenic or apoptotic signals shows potential for targeted delivery to macrophages. In this study, a series of mannosylated or/and phosphatidylserine (PS) -presenting liposomes were developed to target macrophages via the design of experiment (DoE) strategy and the trial-and-error (TaE) approach. The optimal molar ratio for the liposome formulation was DOPC: DSPS: Chol: PEG-PE = 20:60:20:2 based on the results of cellular uptake and cytotoxicity evaluation on RAW 264.7 and THP-1 in vitro. Results from in vivo distribution showed that, in the DSS-induced colitis model and collagen II-induced rheumatoid arthritis model, PS-presenting liposomes (PS-Lipo) showed the highest accumulation in intestine and paws respectively, which holds promising potential for macrophage target therapy since macrophages are abundant at inflammatory sites and contribute to the progression of corresponding diseases. Organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney did not exhibit histological alterations such as inflammation or necrosis when exposed to PC-presenting liposomes (PC-Lipo) or PS-Lipo. In addition, liposomes demonstrated hemobiocompatibility and no toxicity to liver or kidney for circulation and did not induce metabolic injury in the animals. Thus, the well-designed PS-Lipo demonstrated the most potential for macrophage target therapy.

Application of lecture-and-team-based learning in stomatology: in-class and online.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate stomatological students' learning efficacy and their attitude towards Lecture-Team-Based Learning (LTBL) on topics regarding the design of removable partial dentures via in-class, online, and both in combination. METHODS: Students from seven distinct grades participated in the course in their fourth academic year (Years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021). Students of Years 2015-2019 attended in-class LTBL, students of Year 2020 attended online LTBL, and students of Year 2021 attended the combination mode. The scores of three examinations were compared, namely, individual readiness assessment test, team readiness assurance test, and individual application test. Visual Analog Scales (VAS) were used for students to self-assess their mastery of prosthodontics knowledge before and after the course. Anonymous questionnaires were delivered to evaluate their satisfaction with LTBL via a Likert scale. RESULTS: In each academic year, the three exam scores were significantly improved as the course progressed and VAS-post scores were significantly higher than VAS-pre scores. The three examination and VAS scores of students in Year 2020 were significantly lower than those in Years 2019 and 2021. Students were highly satisfied with the LTBL course based on the three parameters of knowledge acquisition, teamwork, and classroom atmosphere. CONCLUSION: Students were highly satisfied with the LTBL course and their learning performance was improved as the course progressed both in-class and online. Online LTBL could be adopted when students have to study online, while in-class LTBL could perform better when combined with video records of an online LTBL course.

Exploring long-term changes and influencing factors of the upper airway in patients with a skeletal Class II relationship after mandibular advancement with maxillary setback surgery: A comprehensive 2-year follow-up investigation.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to investigate the 2-year postoperative change and influencing factors of the upper airway after mandibular advancement with maxillary setback surgery for patients with a skeletal Class II relationship. METHODS: Fifty-seven participants who underwent mandibular advancement with maxillary setback surgery were enrolled consecutively. Cone-beam computed tomography was performed preoperatively, 3 months postoperatively (T1), and 2 years (T2) postoperatively. All parameters were measured using Dolphin Imaging software (Dolphin Imaging and Management Solutions, Chatsworth, Calif). RESULTS: The total volume (V), minimum cross-sectional area (CSAmin), and glossopharynx increased significantly in both the short-term (V, 13.33%; CSAmin, 33.03%; glossopharynx, 26.73%) and long-term (V, 10.19%; CSAmin, 23.18%; glossopharynx, 18.27%) after the surgery. Mandibular advancement, mandibular width increase, preoperative CSAmin, and body mass index (BMI) significantly affected 2-year postoperative V increases. Mandibular advancement and BMI significantly affected 2-year postoperative glossopharynx increases. Backward movement of point PNS may lead to a reduction of the nasopharynx; however, downward movement of point PNS, upward movement of point A, and increased maxillary width may compensate for this effect by increasing the likelihood of the nasopharynx opening. Furthermore, mandibular body length at T1 is positively associated with relapse rate ([T2 - T1] / T1) of V and CSAmin. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular advancement amount, mandibular width increase, preoperative CSAmin, and BMI are the 4 factors for long-term V changes. Patients with a longer mandibular body length might have a lower relapse rate.

A comparative study of microbial changes in dental plaque before and after single- and multiappointment treatments in patients with severe early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: The status of dental caries is closely related to changes in the oral microbiome. In this study, we compared the diversity and structure of the dental plaque microbiome in children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) before and after general anaesthesia and outpatient treatment. METHODS: Forty children aged 3 to 5 years with S-ECC who had completed whole-mouth dental treatment under general anaesthesia (C1) or in outpatient settings (C2) were selected, 20 in each group. The basic information and oral health status of the children were recorded, and the microbial community structure and diversity of dental plaque before treatment (C1, C2), the day after treatment(C2_0D), 7 days after treatment (C1_7D, C2_7D), 1 month after treatment (C1_1M, C2_1M), and 3 months after treatment (C1_3M, C2_3M) were analysed via 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology. RESULTS: (1) The alpha diversity test showed that the flora richness in the multiappointment group was significantly greater at posttreatment than at pretreatment (P < 0.05), and the remaining alpha diversity index did not significantly differ between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The beta diversity analysis revealed that the flora structures of the C1_7D group and the C2_3M group were significantly different from those of the other time points within the respective groups (P < 0.05). (2) The core flora existed in both the pre- and posttreatment groups, and the proportion of their flora abundance could be altered depending on the caries status of the children in both groups. Leptotrichia abundance was significantly (P < 0.05) lower at 7 days posttreatment in both the single- and multiappointment groups. Corynebacterium and Corynebacterium_matruchotii were significantly more abundant in the C1_1M and C1_3M groups than in the C1 and C1_7D groups (P < 0.05). Streptococcus, Haemophilus and Haemophilus_parainfluenzae were significantly more abundant in the C1_7D group than in the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A single session of treatment under general anaesthesia can cause dramatic changes in the microbial community structure and composition within 7 days after treatment, whereas treatment over multiple appointments may cause slow changes in oral flora diversity.

Quantitation of Atmospheric Suspended Polystyrene Nanoplastics by Active Sampling Prior to Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Plastic has been demonstrated to release nanoplastics (NPs) into the atmosphere under sunlight irradiation, posing a continuous health risk to the respiratory system. However, due to lack of reliable quantification methods, the occurrence and distribution of NPs in the atmosphere remain unclear. Polystyrene (PS) micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) represent a crucial component of atmospheric MNPs. In this study, we proposed a simple and robust method for determining the concentration of atmospheric PS NPs using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Following active sampling, the filter membrane is directly ground and introduced into the Py-GC/MS system to quantify PS NPs. The proposed method demonstrates excellent reproducibility and high sensitivity, with a detection limit as low as down to 15 pg/m3 for PS NPs. By using this method, the occurrence of PS NPs in both indoor and outdoor atmospheres has been confirmed. Furthermore, the results showed that the abundance of outdoor PS NPs was significantly higher than that of indoor samples, and there was no significant difference in NP vertical distribution within a height of 28.6 m. This method can be applied for the routine monitoring of atmospheric PS NPs and for evaluating their risk to human health.

Potentiating humoral and cellular immunity using a novel hybrid polymer-lipid nanoparticle adjuvant for HBsAg-VLP vaccine.

Aluminium adjuvants are commonly used in vaccines to stimulate the immune system, but they have limited ability to promote cellular immunity which is necessary for clearing viral infections like hepatitis B. Current adjuvants that do promote cellular immunity often have undesired side effects due to the immunostimulants they contain. In this study, a hybrid polymer lipid nanoparticle (HPLNP) was developed as an efficient adjuvant for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine to potentiate both humoral and cellular immunity. The HPLNP is composed of FDA approved polyethylene glycol-b-poly (L-lactic acid) (PEG-PLLA) polymer and cationic lipid 1, 2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP), and can be easily prepared by a one-step method. The cationic optimised vaccine formulation HBsAg/HPLNP (w/w = 1/600) can maximise the cell uptake of the antigen due to the electrostatic adsorption between the vaccine nanoparticle and the cell membrane of antigen-presenting cells. The HPLNP prolonged the retention of the antigen at the injection site and enhanced the lymph node drainage of antigen, resulting in a higher concentration of serum anti-HBsAg IgG compared to the HBsAg group or the HBsAg/Al group after the boost immunisation in mice. The HPLNP also promoted a strong Th1-driven immune response, as demonstrated by the significantly improved IgG2a/IgG1 ratio, increased production of IFN-γ, and activation of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. Importantly, the HPLNP demonstrated no systemic toxicity during immunisation. The advantages of the HPLNP, including good biocompatibility, easy preparation, low cost, and its ability to enhance both humoral and cellular immune responses, suggest its suitability as an efficient adjuvant for protein-based vaccines such as HBsAg-VLP. These findings highlight the promising potential of the HPLNP as an HBV vaccine adjuvant, offering an alternative to aluminium adjuvants currently used in vaccines.

SCL14 Inhibits the Functions of the NAC043-MYB61 Signaling Cascade to Reduce the Lignin Content in Autotetraploid Populus hopeiensis.

Whole-genome duplication often results in a reduction in the lignin content in autopolyploid plants compared with their diploid counterparts. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying variation in the lignin content in autopolyploid plants remains unclear. Here, we characterize the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying variation in the lignin content after the doubling of homologous chromosomes in Populus hopeiensis. The results showed that the lignin content of autotetraploid stems was significantly lower than that of its isogenic diploid progenitor throughout development. Thirty-six differentially expressed genes involved in lignin biosynthesis were identified and characterized by RNA sequencing analysis. The expression of lignin monomer synthase genes, such as PAL, COMT, HCT, and POD, was significantly down-regulated in tetraploids compared with diploids. Moreover, 32 transcription factors, including MYB61, NAC043, and SCL14, were found to be involved in the regulatory network of lignin biosynthesis through weighted gene co-expression network analysis. We inferred that SCL14, a key repressor encoding the DELLA protein GAI in the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway, might inhibit the NAC043-MYB61 signaling functions cascade in lignin biosynthesis, which results in a reduction in the lignin content. Our findings reveal a conserved mechanism in which GA regulates lignin synthesis after whole-genome duplication; these results have implications for manipulating lignin production.

Is insufficient sleep duration a risk indicator for periodontal disease? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether people who achieved <7 h of sleep were more likely to develop periodontal disease (PD). SOURCES: We executed electronic searches in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library, as well as a manual search of articles published by leading journals in related fields, for observational studies, published in English from 1 January 1966 to 31 March 2021.which evaluated the relationship between sleep duration and PD. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) quality evaluation scale was used for the cross-sectional studies, and the random effects model was used to summarize the effect sizes in the included studies with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of six cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria, totaling 107,777 participants, of which 69,773 had PD. The results of the present indicated that shorter sleep duration (<7 h) is significantly associated with PD (Odd ratio [OR], 1.19; 95% CI, 1.16-1.23; p < 0.001; I2 , 0.0%, I2 interval, 0%-75%). The strength of the sensitivity analysis and cumulative meta-analysis confirmed the reliability of the results. CONCLUSION: Although the inclusion of only six studies makes it difficult to explore whether there is a publication bias, we found that insufficient sleep duration was closely related to PD, and we therefore speculated that getting enough sleep may help prevent PD.

Artificial Lipids and Macrophage Membranes Coassembled Biomimetic Nanovesicles for Antibacterial Treatment.

Tissue bacterial infections are a major pathological factor in many diseases. Effects on this aspect are in focus for the development of coordinated therapeutic strategies for bacterial killing and anti-inflammation. Here, inspired by the biodetoxification capacity of immune cells, multifunctional biomimetic nanovesicles (MϕM-LPs) that are co-assembled by macrophage membranes and artificial lipids to deliver antibiotics for treating bacterial infections, are presented. The macrophage membrane endows the MϕM-LPs with the capacity of lipopolysaccharide and inflammatory cytokine neutralization, while the artificial lipid membrane can be further engineered to increase the fluidity and anchor to bacteria. In addition, the MϕM-LPs can deliver sufficient ciprofloxacin with controllable release to accomplish an excellent antibacterial activity and biodetoxification capacity in vitro. Based on these advantages, it is demonstrated in a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) focal infection, that a single injection of the biomimetic nanovesicles can effectively anchor to and eliminate S. aureus in the infected tissue and reduce inflammatory cytokine levels. Thus, the tissue regeneration and collagen deposition can be accelerated. These results indicate the potential values of integrating natural and artificial membrane materials as a multifunctional biomimetic drug delivery system to treat bacterial infections.

Two New Coordination Polymers: Selective Detection of Cu(II) Ion and Treatment Activity on Inner Ear Damage.

In the current study, on the basis of 1,3,5-tris(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)benzene (timb), a designed tripodal connector, two new transition metal coordination polymers (CPs), {[Cu4(timb)2(Br-IPA)4]·5H2O}n (1) and {[Zn(timb)0.5(NH2-IPA)]·4H2O}n (2) have been generated with the mixed ligand method by the reaction between the timb and corresponding metal salts in the existence of dissimilar functional isophthalic acid (H2IPA) ligands. Furthermore, the Zn(II)-based complex 2 displays high sensitivity in the detection of Cu(II) ion in water. The neural stem cells proliferation after treated via compounds was detected with Cell Counting Kit-8 detection assay. And the real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was carried out for the investigation of the differentiation function of the neural stem cells after the compound 1 treatment and compound 2 treatment. Further, molecular docking simulations confirmed that the biological activity that has been observed from experiments were from the carboxyl group on the Cu complex, in contrast, the imidazole groups were only used for binding with the Cu metal ion to retain the complex structure.

Tunable Photoluminescence Properties of Microcrystalline Cellulose with Gradually Changing Crystallinity and Crystal Form.

Nonconventional luminogens with persistent room temperature phosphoresce (p-RTP) are attracting increasing attention owing to their momentous significance and diverse technical applications in optoelectronic and biomedical. So far, the p-RTP emission of some amorphous powders or single crystals has been studied in depth. The p-RTP emission of amorphous and fully crystalline states and their emission properties are widely divergent, while the difference of their p-RTP emission mechanism is still controversial. The relevance between crystallinity change and p-RTP properties is rarely studied. Furthermore, there is almost no research on the photoluminescence (PL) property change and emission mechanism under the crystal form transformation of semi-crystalline polymer. Herein, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is chosen as a model compound to explore its crystallinity and the change in luminescence during the crystal form transformation to make up for this gap. By precisely adjusting the crystallinity and crystal cellulose conversion of MCC, the changing trend of quantum efficiency, and p-RTP lifetime is consistent with the change of crystallinity, and the cellulose I may be more beneficial to PL emission than cellulose II. Clustering-triggered emission mechanism can reasonably explain these interesting photophysical processes, which also can be supported by single-crystal analysis and theoretical calculations.

Overexpression of HIF-1alpha in Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote the Repair of Mandibular Condylar Osteochondral Defect in a Rabbit Model.

PURPOSE: The self-repair ability of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) cartilage is limited. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) may induce stem cells to promote chondrogenic repair. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the effect of HIF-1alpha overexpression in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) combined with collagen scaffolds on the repair of TMJ condylar osteochondral defects in a rabbit model. METHODS: Osteochondral defects of 3-mm diameter × 2-mm depth were created at the right side of the mandibular condyle in 40 New Zealand white rabbits. The defect sites were treated with simple empty, collagen scaffolds (COL), BMSCs/COL, and HIF-1alpha overexpression BMSCs/COL groups. The histomorphologic features of condylar cartilage were monitored by gross examination, safranin O-fast green staining (Solarbio, Beijing, China), and immunohistochemical staining. The changes in subchondral bone were examined by microcomputed tomography. Immunofluorescence staining was used to trace the transplanted BMSCs in vivo. RESULTS: At 12 weeks postimplantation, histologic staining showed that the osteochondral defects in the simple empty and COL groups were mainly filled with fibrous tissue, whereas the BMSCs/COL and HIF-1alpha overexpression BMSCs/COL groups repaired the defect with fibrocartilage. Furthermore, the cartilage was better organized in the HIF-1alpha overexpression BMSCs/COL group compared with the BMSCs/COL group. Microcomputed tomography showed that osteochondral defects can cause abnormal hyperosteogeny in subchondral bone, and the transplantation of BMSCs, especially HIF-1alpha overexpression BMSCs, may alleviate osteosclerosis. Immunofluorescence staining showed that HIF-1alpha overexpression can promote the survival of transplanted BMSCs. CONCLUSIONS: The transplantation of HIF-1alpha overexpression BMSCs combined with a COL scaffold promotes cartilaginous repair of condylar cartilage and inhibits subchondral bone sclerosis in TMJ condylar osteochondral defect rabbits.

Accurate Treatment of Condylar Fracture Assisted by Three-Dimensional Prototype and Bioresorbable Plates.

PURPOSE: Although open treatments of condylar fracture have become the conventional treatment option, the accuracy is often not guaranteed. The purpose of this study was to improve the accuracy of fracture reduction assisted by three-dimensional (3D) prototype and bioresorbable plates in the treatment of condylar fractures. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. Patients with condylar fractures were treated by surgery from October 2017 to November 2019 at School of Stomatology of China Medical University (Shenyang, China). The patients in the experimental group were treated with 3D-prototype and fixed with absorbable plates. Patients in the control group were treated routinely reduction and fixed with absorbable plates. Primary predictor variables were surgical treatment. Primary outcome was accurate reduction. Secondary outcomes were postoperative efficacy including maximum mouth opening, occlusal status, lateral excursion movements, and patient satisfaction. Other variables of interest included age, sex, type of patients. Continuous variables are reported as mean ± standard deviation. χ2 test and t test were used for analysis. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 48 patients (65 sides) who were treated surgically (25 men, 23 women; mean age, 39.50 year; range, 17 to 65 year) ; 27 patients (38 sides) were treated with the 3D-prototype approach and 21 patients (27 sides) were treated with the traditional approach. All 48 patients completed reduction and fixation of fractures. Preoperative and postoperative CT comparisons showed that 4 patients did not achieve accurate reduction, all in the control group, of which 3 patients had occlusal disorder. All patients in the experimental group achieved accurate reduction, of which 1 patient had occlusal disorder. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that using 3D prototype for bending the bioresorbable plate is an effective method for accurate treatment of condylar fracture.

Genotype and functional correlates of disease phenotype in deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2).

BACKGROUND: Deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2) is a syndrome with pleiotropic manifestations including vasculitis and hematologic compromise. A systematic definition of the relationship between adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) mutations and clinical phenotype remains unavailable. OBJECTIVE: We sought to test whether the impact of ADA2 mutations on enzyme function correlates with clinical presentation. METHODS: Patients with DADA2 with severe hematologic manifestations were compared with vasculitis-predominant patients. Enzymatic activity was assessed using expression constructs reflecting all 53 missense, nonsense, insertion, and deletion genotypes from 152 patients across the DADA2 spectrum. RESULTS: We identified patients with DADA2 presenting with pure red cell aplasia (n = 5) or bone marrow failure (BMF, n = 10) syndrome. Most patients did not exhibit features of vasculitis. Recurrent infection, hepatosplenomegaly, and gingivitis were common in patients with BMF, of whom half died from infection. Unlike patients with DADA2 with vasculitis, patients with pure red cell aplasia and BMF proved largely refractory to TNF inhibitors. ADA2 variants associated with vasculitis predominantly reflected missense mutations with at least 3% residual enzymatic activity. In contrast, pure red cell aplasia and BMF were associated with missense mutations with minimal residual enzyme activity, nonsense variants, and insertions/deletions resulting in complete loss of function. CONCLUSIONS: Functional interrogation of ADA2 mutations reveals an association of subtotal function loss with vasculitis, typically responsive to TNF blockade, whereas more extensive loss is observed in hematologic disease, which may be refractory to treatment. These findings establish a genotype-phenotype spectrum in DADA2.

Progress in the catalytic glycolysis of polyethylene terephthalate.

This paper briefly reviews the development history of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the recycling of PET. As one of the most promising way to degrade PET into oligomers and monomers that can be used for the production of high-quality PET, catalytic glycolysis is highlighted in this review. The developments on metal salt, metal oxide and ionic solvent catalysts for glycolysis of PET are systematically summarized, besides, the proposed catalytic mechanisms of ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are presented. The metallic catalysts show high catalytic performance but causing serious environmental pollution and high waste treatment costs, thereby it is proposed that metal-free catalysts, especially ILs and DESs can be the "greener" alternatives to address the PET waste problem. Additionally, the studies related to the glycolysis kinetics are discussed in this review, showing the results that PET glycolysis process consists of heterogeneous and homogeneous depolymerization, and different models should be used to investigate different depolymerization stages in order to obtain a more realistic picture.

Juvenile Onset Splenomegaly and Oculopathy Due to Germline Mutation in ALPK1.

ROSAH syndrome was recently identified as an autosomal dominant systemic disorder due to mutations in ALPK1. It was characterized by retinal dystrophy, optic nerve edema, splenomegaly, anhidrosis, and migraine headache. We collected and summarized the clinical data of two patients with juvenile onset splenomegaly and oculopathy. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was adapted for genetic analysis. Mutations in ALPK1 were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Besides juvenile oculopathy and splenomegaly, both patients had intermittent fever and anhidrosis. Patient 2 also experienced recurrent upper respiratory infections in her infancy and developed dental and nail problems in childhood. Elevated TNF-α was their prominent laboratory features. Both patients were found to have a previously reported mutation, c.710C>T, p. T237M (NM_001102406) in ALPK1. Anti-TNF treatment of adalimumab was applied to patient 1, after which her optic disc edema in the left eye continued and the visual acuity deteriorated further. Patient 1 underwent elective splenectomy due to concern for spontaneous rupture of the spleen. Up to date, 18 patients of ROSAH syndrome have been reported. The clinical manifestations were relatively homogeneous, prominently presenting with juvenile onset oculopathy and splenomegaly. As it mainly involves ocular fundus, severe oculopathy deeply affects the quality of life and prognosis of ROSAH patients. Now little has been known about its treatment. As a newly recognized inherited systemic disorder, ROSAH syndrome needs to be paid more attention to, especially for those with juvenile onset splenomegaly and oculopathy.

Enhanced antitumor efficacy in colon cancer using EGF functionalized PLGA nanoparticles loaded with 5-Fluorouracil and perfluorocarbon.

BACKGROUND: Tumor recurrence and metastasis occur at a high rate in patients with colon cancer. Identification of effective strategies for the treatment of colon cancer is critical. Recently, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has been shown to have potential as a broad therapeutic drug delivery system. We designed a dual-loaded nanoparticle drug delivery system to overcome the limitations of chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat colon cancer. METHODS: We developed epidermal growth factor (EGF) functionalized PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) co-loaded with 5-fluorouracil (5Fu) and perfluorocarbon (PFC) (EGF-PLGA@5Fu/PFC) for targeted treatment of colon cancer. CCK-8 assay, Hoechst33342 staining and flow cytometry were performed to investigate the functions of EGF-PLGA@5Fu/PFC NPs in SW620 cells. Beside, animal experiment, histological analysis and immunofluorescence staining were adopted to further confirm the role of EGF-PLGA@5Fu/PFC NPs in vivo. RESULTS: The findings showed that EGF-PLGA@5Fu /PFC NPs had an average size 200 nm and a 5Fu-loading efficiency of 7.29%. Furthermore, in vitro release was pH-sensitive. Targeted EGF-PLGA@5Fu/PFC NPs exhibited higher cellular uptake than non-targeted NPs into colon cancer cells. In addition, EGF-PLGA@5Fu/PFC NPs suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis in SW620 cells to a greater extent than non-targeted NPs. In tumor xenografted mice, EGF-PLGA@5Fu/PFC NPs suppressed tumor growth more effectively than 5Fu, PLGA@5Fu or PLGA@5Fu/PFC NPs. Histopathological analysis further demonstrated that EGF-targeted NPs inhibited tumor growth to a greater extent than non-targeted or non-NP treatments. The improved therapeutic outcomes observed in this study were due to relief of tumor hypoxia by transport of oxygen by PFC to the tumors. CONCLUSION: We constructed a biocompatible nanodrug delivery system based on functionalized nanoparticles that provided a novel strategy for selective delivery of chemotherapy drugs to tumors.

Open Reduction Effects of Digitally Treating Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Fractures With Bio-Resorbable Materials.

PURPOSE: The application of bio-resorbable plates in craniomaxillofacial surgery is increasing because of the advantage of avoiding secondary surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of osteosynthesis with prebent bio-resorbable plates for treating zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We implemented a prospective case series composed of patients with ZMC fractures who underwent treatment at the School of Stomatology at China Medical University. Bio-resorbable plates were used for fracture fixation. The fractures were stabilized with bio-resorbable plates prebent on a 3-dimensionally printed skull model with the fractures reduced using virtual simulation. The primary outcome variable was the stability rate of reduced bone segments. Other study variables were mouth opening, occlusion, paresthesia or anesthesia in the infraorbital nerve region (PAIN), and diplopia. Outcome variables were determined by calculating stability rates of reduced bone segments, resolution rates of postoperative restricted mouth opening, malocclusion, PAIN, and diplopia. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 11 patients recruited between November 2016 and September 2018. All surgical procedures were successful, with no severe complications. The stability rate of reduced bone segments from different mechanical buttress regions was 100%. Satisfactory postoperative stability of bio-resorbable plates was obtained in all cases. The resolution rates of postoperative restricted mouth opening and malocclusion were 75 and 100%, respectively. PAIN and diplopia symptoms resolved in 50 and 100% of cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that osteosynthesis with bio-resorbable plates prebent on a 3-dimensionally printed skull model, designed by virtual simulation, works well for patients with ZMC fractures. Future studies should focus on the broader applications of these findings in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Evaluation of the Effect of Bioresorbable Plates and Screws in the Treatment of Condylar Fractures, Assisted by Digital Preoperative Planning.

PURPOSE: Although bioresorbable materials have begun to be applied in the clinic, they are used primarily in children with fractures; thus, there are few reports of their application for treatment of condylar fractures. This study evaluated the effect of the application of bioresorbable plates and screws for patients with condylar fractures, assisted by digital preoperative planning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective interventional study. The sample was composed of 46 patients treated at the School of Stomatology of the China Medical University (Shenyang, China) from October 2016 through May 2018 for condylar fractures alone or in combination with other facial fractures. All patients underwent confirmatory preoperative computed tomography (CT) to obtain Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format data for preoperative designing. By digital designing, the authors confirmed operative plans for each patient. All 46 patients underwent bioresorbable osteosynthesis and underwent repeat CT on postoperative day 3. Postoperative clinical assessments included postoperative positions of the fracture segments, maximal mouth opening, lateral excursion movements, occlusal status, and patient satisfaction. These variables were used to assess postoperative efficacy. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 46 patients who had open reduction with internal fixation on 52 sides. At the 3-month follow-up visit, the proportions of patients who were satisfied with the results and who achieved stable occlusion, appropriate maximal mouth opening, and flexible lateral excursion movement were 97, 100, 66, and 95%, respectively. One patient sustained postoperative displacement of a condylar fracture fragment, as confirmed by repeated CT. He was lost to follow-up at 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that open reduction treatment of condylar fractures implanted with bioresorbable materials in combination with digital preoperative designing is an effective method for managing patients in clinical practice.