Preparation, characterization, and anticancer effects of an inclusion complex of coixol with ß-cyclodextrin polymers.

CONTEXT: Coix [Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. mayuen (Roman.) Stapf (Poaceae)], a crop of medicinal and edible significance, contains coixol, which has demonstrated anticancer properties. However, the limited solubility of coixol restricts its potential therapeutic applications. OBJECTIVE: This study prepared a water-soluble coixol-ß-cyclodextrin polymer (CDP) inclusion compound and evaluated its anticancer effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The coixol-CDP compound was synthesized through a solvent-stirring and freeze-drying technique. Its coixol content was quantified using HPLC, and its stability was tested under various conditions. The anticancer effects of the coixol-CDP compound (4.129, 8.259, 16.518, and 33.035 mg/L for 24, 48, and 72 h) on the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells were evaluated using an MTT assay; cell morphology was examined by Hoechst nuclear staining; apoptosis and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry; and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins was assessed by Western blots. RESULTS: The water-soluble coixol-CDP inclusion compound was successfully prepared with an inclusion ratio of 86.6% and an inclusion yield rate of 84.1%. The coixol content of the compound was 5.63% and the compound remained stable under various conditions. Compared to coixol alone, all 24, 48, and 72 h administrations with the coixol-CDP compound exhibited lower IC50 values (33.93 ± 2.28, 16.80 ± 1.46, and 6.93 ± 0.83 mg/L) in A549 cells; the compound also showed stronger regulatory effects on apoptosis-related proteins. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: These findings offer a new perspective for the potential clinical application of Coix in NSCLC therapy and its future research.

Correlations Among Clinical Phenotypes, Radiological Examination Indexes, and Hearing Status in Congenital Microtia.

Microtia is a congenital malformation of the external ear that often presents with other anatomical abnormalities and ipsilateral hearing loss (HL). The aim of this study was to present the correlation among important phenotypic abnormalities in microtia and their relationship with HL in a clinical population in China. In this study, a retrospective analysis was conducted on 307 patients diagnosed with microtia who visited the Department of Auricular Reconstruction of the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, for surgical auricle reconstruction from April 2021 to April 2022. Standardized classification of ear malformations, craniofacial CT scans, and pure tone audiometric data were collected, and statistical analyses were performed using the rank sum test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The results showed that group differences between ear malformation and variations in the development of mandible, external auditory canal (EAC), and mastoid pneumatization were statistically significant and each had a positive correlation. Among them, the correlation between development of ear and EAC was the most significant (Ρ=0.72). Besides, the severity of HL (97% were conductive) was positively correlated with ear and EAC dysplasia with or without mandibular hypoplasia. Based on the statistical analysis of the correlation between ear malformation and HL, the authors strongly recommend that facial phenotype reconstruction and hearing improvement of microtia should be considered comprehensively, regardless of whether children with microtia show HL or not, early diagnosis of audiology evaluation and appropriate intervention measures should be implemented.

Generation Mechanism of Persistent Free Radicals in Lignocellulose-Derived Biochar: Roles of Reducible Carbonyls.

Persistent free radicals (PFRs) in biochar can influence biochar reactivity, promoting organic contaminant degradation or even causing certain toxic impacts. However, the PFR generation mechanism is not still well understood. An investigation of the relationship between PFR formation and the chemical structure of biochar is essential for understanding the PFR formation mechanism. Our in situ measurement results showed that PFR intensities increased from 0-509.5 to 146-5678 a.u. after being pyrolyzed at 300 °C for 60 min. The significant positive correlation between PFR intensities and the peak areas of C═O and aromatic C═C groups indicated that the generation of PFRs was highly dependent on the C═O and aromatic C═C structures. The reduction of biochars by KBH4 resulted in a 32.2 ± 2.49% decrease in the C═O content and a relative increase in the C-O content, while other physicochemical properties did not change. Thus, the observed 49.3% decrease in PFR signals after this reduction suggested that the reducible C═O groups, possibly in aldehydes, aromatic ketones, and quinones, were closely associated with PFRs in biochars. This study provides an in situ insight into the PFR generation mechanism and guides the corresponding biochar design and property manipulation.

Surgical Result and Identification of FGFR2 Variants Using Whole-Exome Sequencing in a Chinese Family With Crouzon Syndrome.

ABSTRACT: Crouzon syndrome is considered as one of the most common craniosynostosis syndromes with a prevalence of 1 in 65,000 individuals, and has a close relationship with variants in fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. Here the authors described a Crouzon syndrome case, which was asked for surgery treatment for the symptom of multisuture craniosynostosis. Mild midfacial retrusion, larger head circumference, proptosis, pseudo-prognathism, and dental malposition could also be found obviously. Then fronto-orbital advancement and cranial cavity expansion were performed to the child. After whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing, gene variants in the exons 2 and 3 of FGFR2 were detected. And protein tyrosine 105 replaced by cysteine in the extracellular region of FGFR2 was also detected. After operation, she presented a satisfactory anterior plagiocephaly and scaphocephaly correction, and the result was satisfied by surgeons and her parents. Variants detected using WES have further research prospect.

A Two-Stage Training Program for Auricular Framework Fabrication Practicing Using Three-Dimensional Printing Silicone Ribs and Porcine Costal Cartilage.

BACKGROUND: The manufacture of cartilage framework is a key element in the success of total ear reconstruction. Appropriate training can improve cartilage curving and fabricating skills, which is especially helpful for the novice clinicians. Based on threedimensional printing silicone model and porcine rib cartilage, the authors have designed a 2-stage training program to improve skills and cosmetic cognition for ear reconstruction. METHODS: The training program includes 2 successive stages. In the first stage, trainees completed observation of framework fabrication, design and sculpturing practice on silicone rib models. Porcine costal cartilages are used for fabrication in the second stage. After that, the framework was put in a latex glove connected with a suction to simulate the skin cover procedure in operation. RESULTS: At the end of the training program, all trainees could fabricate an ear-shaped cartilage framework successfully. Their cosmetic cognitions of the ear have also improved. CONCLUSIONS: Based on three-dimensional printing silicone model and porcine rib cartilage, the authors have designed a 2-stage training program to improve trainee's carving techniques and cosmetic cognition for ear reconstruction. The authors believe that this training program is helpful in training, practicing and teaching activities of framework fabrication in total ear reconstruction.

Revision Operation of the Unsatisfactory Microtia Reconstruction With Autologous Costal Cartilage.

BACKGROUND: Revision operation of the unsatisfactory microtia reconstruction is 1 of the most difficult revision operations in plastic surgery. This study discussed the cases about revision operation of the unsatisfactory or failed ear reconstruction using autologous costal cartilage and residual. METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of all consecutive patients who underwent secondary total ear reconstruction from 2013 to 2020 was reviewed. Demographic data and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients with microtia met the inclusion criteria. The age of the patients who underwent secondary reconstruction ranged 6 to 56 years. The follow-up duration was from 1 to 8 years. Primary reconstruction using costal cartilage was performed in 34 cases, and Medpor (porous high-density polyethylene) were used in 2 cases. All 36 cases were treated with costal cartilage as the revision. One-stage revision was performed in 27 cases, including scaffold covered by superficial temporal fascia flap in 9 cases, retroauricular fascia flap in 12 cases and superficial temporal plus retroauricular fascia flap in 5 cases. Nine cases were renovated with expanders by stages, of which 8 cases were covered by retroauricular fascia and 1 case was covered by expanded skin flap. Complications occurred in 2 cases, and 1 patient was not satisfied with the partial scaffold repair. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of revision operation of ear reconstruction with costal cartilage is satisfactory, and different methods of ear reconstruction are indicated in different operation conditions, and the revision surgery requires adequate preoperative evaluation.Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Benefits and challenges with diagnosing chronic and late acute GVHD in children using the NIH consensus criteria.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and late acute graft-versus-host disease (L-aGVHD) are understudied complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children. The National Institutes of Health Consensus Criteria (NIH-CC) were designed to improve the diagnostic accuracy of cGVHD and to better classify graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) syndromes but have not been validated in patients <18 years of age. The objectives of this prospective multi-institution study were to determine: (1) whether the NIH-CC could be used to diagnose pediatric cGVHD and whether the criteria operationalize well in a multi-institution study; (2) the frequency of cGVHD and L-aGVHD in children using the NIH-CC; and (3) the clinical features and risk factors for cGVHD and L-aGVHD using the NIH-CC. Twenty-seven transplant centers enrolled 302 patients <18 years of age before conditioning and prospectively followed them for 1 year posttransplant for development of cGVHD. Centers justified their cGVHD diagnosis according to the NIH-CC using central review and a study adjudication committee. A total of 28.2% of reported cGVHD cases was reclassified, usually as L-aGVHD, following study committee review. Similar incidence of cGVHD and L-aGVHD was found (21% and 24.7%, respectively). The most common organs involved with diagnostic or distinctive manifestations of cGVHD in children include the mouth, skin, eyes, and lungs. Importantly, the 2014 NIH-CC for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome perform poorly in children. Past acute GVHD and peripheral blood grafts are major risk factors for cGVHD and L-aGVHD, with recipients ≥12 years of age being at risk for cGVHD. Applying the NIH-CC in pediatrics is feasible and reliable; however, further refinement of the criteria specifically for children is needed.

Development of a Novel Anesthesia Airway Management Robot.

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation has attracted increasing attention for air management in general anesthesia. This work proposes a novel robot equipped with two snake arms and a mask-fastening mechanism to facilitate trachea airway management for anesthesia as well as deep sedation and to improve surgical outcomes. The two snake arms with supporting terminals have been designed to lift a patient's jaw with design optimization, and the mask-fastening mechanism has been utilized to fasten the mask onto a patient's face. The control unit has been developed to implement lifting and fastening force control with safety and robustness. Loading experiments on the snake arm and tension experiments on the mask-fastening mechanism have been performed to investigate and validate the performances of the proposed anesthesia airway management robot. Experiments on a mock person have also been employed to further verify the effectiveness and reliability of the developed robot system. As an early study of an anesthesia airway management robot, it was verified as a valid attempt to perform mask non-invasive positive pressure ventilation technology by taking advantage of a robotic system.

Components and Persistent Free Radicals in the Volatiles during Pyrolysis of Lignocellulose Biomass.

Persistent free radicals (PFRs) may cause negative impacts to human health and the environment because of the induced reactive oxygen species. We expect that PFRs could be generated in the condensable volatiles formed during lignocellulose biomass pyrolysis. Elucidating the structural origin and the formation mechanism of PFRs is important for an in-depth understanding of air pollutants from the pyrolysis or combustion of lignocellulose biomass. This work selected rice straw and pine sawdust to represent agricultural and forest biomass residues. The pyrolysis mechanism, volatile components, and PFR generation were discussed based on the analysis of thermogravimetry-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-mass spectrometry (MS), pyrolysis-gas chromatography/MS, and electron spin resonance (ESR). Levoglucosan, furans, and 2-methoxyphenols were the main pyrolytic compounds for cellulose (CL), hemicellulose (HC), and lignin (LG), respectively. Obvious ESR signals were detected in the condensable volatiles of LG, while no ESR signals were detected for those of CL and HC. Higher ESR signals were detected in lignocellulose with a higher content of LG. Therefore, LG was the main structural basis to generate PFRs in lignocellulose condensable volatiles, mostly attributed to the methoxyphenol components. This study provides useful information regarding the generation mechanisms of and the structures related to PFRs, which is essential to understand the risks of lignocellulose pyrolytic volatiles.

Reaction of Substituted Phenols with Lignin Char: Dual Oxidative and Reductive Pathways Depending on Substituents and Conditions.

Biomass chars are known to be intrinsically redox-reactive toward some organic compounds, but the mechanisms are still unclear. To address this, a char made anoxically at 500 °C from dealkaline lignin was reacted either in the fresh state or after 180-day aging in air with p-nitrophenol (NO2-P), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (CHO-P), phenol (H-P), or p-methoxyphenol (MeO-P). The reactions were carried out under oxic or anoxic conditions. Degradation occurred in all cases. Both oxidation and reduction products were identified, with yields dependent on the presence or absence of air during reaction or storage. They included oligomers, amines, and ring-hydroxylated compounds, among others. Exposure to air suppressed sorption, annihilated reducing sites, and provided a source of reactive oxygen species that assisted degradation. Sorption suppression was due to the incorporation of hydrophilic groups by chemisorption of oxygen, and possibly blockage of sites by products. Fresh char has comparable electron-donating and accepting capacity, whereas there is a preponderance of electron-accepting over donating capacity in aged char. Under anoxic conditions, both oxidation and reduction occurred. Under oxic conditions or after aging in air, oxidation predominated, and linear free energy relationships were found between the rate constant and the Hammett or Brown substituent electronic parameter or the standard electrode potential of the phenol. The results demonstrate that chars possess heterogeneous redox activities depending on reaction pairs, reaction conditions, and aging.

Degradation of p-Nitrophenol by Lignin and Cellulose Chars: H2O2-Mediated Reaction and Direct Reaction with the Char.

Chars and other black carbons are reactive toward certain compounds. Such reactivity has been attributed to reduction of O2 by persistent free radicals in the solid to H2O2, which then back-reacts with the solid to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS; especially HO•). We studied the decomposition of p-nitrophenol (PNP) by pure lignin and cellulose chars aged in moist air or a vacuum at room temperature for up to a month. In air, the chars chemisorbed oxygen, a portion of which was liberated as H2O2 when the char was submerged in water. The evolved H2O2 was simultaneously decomposed by the char. PNP reacted predominantly in the sorbed state and only reduction products (phenol, catechol) were identified. Aging the char in air sharply (within hours) reduced H2O2-producing capacity and free radical concentration, but more gradually reduced PNP decay rate over the month-long period. PNP decay was only modestly suppressed (12-30%) by H2O2 removal (catalase), and had little effect on the free radical signal (<6 radicals annihilated per 1000 PNP reacted). Contrasting with previous studies, the results show that direct reaction of PNP with char predominates over H2O2-dependent reactions, and the vast majority of direct-reacting sites are nonradical in character. Nonradical sites are also responsible in part for H2O2 decomposition; in fact, H2O2 pretreatment depleted PNP reactive sites. Lignin char was generally more reactive than cellulose char. The Fe impurity in lignin played no role. The results are relevant to the fate of pollutants in black carbon-rich environments and the use of carbons in remediation.

Detecting free radicals in biochars and determining their ability to inhibit the germination and growth of corn, wheat and rice seedlings.

Biochar can benefit human society as a carbon-negative material and soil amendment. However, negative biochar impacts on plant germination and growth have been observed, and they have not been fully explained. Therefore, protocols to avoid these risks cannot be proposed. We hypothesized that the free radicals generated during charring may inhibit plant germination and growth. Significant electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals were observed in the biochars derived from several types of common biomass (corn stalk, rice, and wheat straws) and the major biopolymer components of biomass (cellulose and lignin), but not in the original materials, suggesting the ubiquitous presence of free radicals in biochars. EPR signal intensity increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature, and it was dominantly contributed by oxygen centered in the mixture of oxygen- and carbon-centered free radicals as the temperature increased. The free radicals in biochars induced strong ·OH radicals in the aqueous phase. Significant germination inhibition, root and shoot growth retardation and plasma membrane damage were observed for biochars with abundant free radicals. Germination inhibition and plasma membrane damage were not obvious for biochars containing low free radicals, but they were apparent at comparable concentrations of conventional contaminants, such as heavy metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The potential risk and harm of relatively persistent free radicals in biochars must be addressed to apply them safely.

Lanthanum hydroxide@cellulose membranes with tunable pore sizes for selective removal of dyes with the same charges.

Adsorptive membranes for the efficient separation of dyes with the same charges are quite desirable. Herein, a novel membrane of lanthanum hydroxide/cellulose hydrogel coated filter paper (LC) was prepared through a facile strategy of dip-coating followed by freeze-shaping. With the aid of cellulose gel, the generated La(OH)3 achieved fine dispersion. In addition, the pore size of LC membrane could be regulated by altering the cellulose concentration or the lanthanum chloride dosage, which was crucial for its water flux. In particular, the obtained membrane possessed a high water flux (128.4 L m-2 h-1) and a high dye rejection (97.2 %) for anionic Congo red (CR) only driven by the gravity, which outperformed many previously reported membranes. More intriguingly, its dye rejection for anionic methyl orange (MO) was only 0.9 %, exhibiting high selectivity for dyes with the same charges. Single-solute adsorption experiments indicated that the CR adsorption on the membrane was best fitted by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, and it followed the Langmuir monolayer adsorption mechanism.

Comparative analysis of fracture characteristics between rock and rock-like materials.

In order to investigate the characteristics of rock and rock-like materials during the fracture process, notched semi-circular bending (SCB) experiments of 3 rocks and 2 rock-like materials were conducted in this paper. The process of the crack mouth opening was measured with a clip gauge. Acoustic emission was used to analyze the damage and failure mode of the specimens. Meanwhile, the fracture process zone (FPZ) was analyzed with the digital image correlation (DIC). Finally, the differences in the fracture process between rocks and rock-like materials were observed with a polarized microscope, and the formation mechanism of FPZ was discussed. The results indicate that the sequence from brittleness to plasticity is gypsum, marble, granite, concrete and fine sandstone. The crack opening velocity of gypsum, marble, and granite reaches 0.02-0.025 mm/s, far exceeding that of sandstone and concrete at 0.003 mm/s and 0.005 mm/s. The stronger the brittleness of geomaterials, the less significant their acoustic emission effect. Only a few acoustic emissions occur during the fracture process of gypsum with 8 hits. Its fracture occurs instantaneously rather than through a process of damage to fracture and the failure mode is tensile failure. Sandstone has the strongest plasticity, with a large count of acoustic emissions before and after fracture, with a hit number of 5062, which is 630 times of pure gypsum. The fracture is a process of damage accumulation with 94% of sandstone, 89% of concrete, 80% of granite, and 60% of marble showing a tensile and shear failure mode except gypsum. In addition, the stronger the brittleness of geomaterials, the smaller their FPZ size. The FPZ of gypsum is only about 3 mm, which can be considered as lacking, while other materials are about 6-11 mm. The formation of FPZ depends on whether an interlocking structure can be formed inside the material, which is related to the base material and crystalline or aggregate particle size.

Morphologic Variability of Bone and Soft Tissue in Microtia With Hemifacial Microsomia.

Objective: Microtia patients with hemifacial microsomia (HFM) have a host of distinct anatomical disorder of skeletal and soft tissue asymmetries. The purpose of this study was to assess soft tissue discrepancies in microtia patients with HFM and their correlation with skeletal discrepancies. Methods: A total of 42 patients were enrolled and studied prospectively using a 3-dimensional superimposition and color mapping of the soft and hard tissues. Mirroring techniques created perfectly symmetric models for comparison. Differences between affected and normal sides were evaluated in 5 areas: retroauricular mastoid, malar, maxillary frontal, mandibular frontal, and gonion areas. Pearson correlations were used to assess the relationship between skeletal and soft tissue asymmetry. Results: Hard tissue asymmetry ranged from 0.79 mm (mandibular frontal) to 1.29 mm (malar), while soft tissue asymmetry ranged from 1.34 mm (maxillary frontal) to 5.26 mm (retroauricular mastoid). Correlations between skeletal and soft tissue asymmetry varied, with the strongest correlation observed at the retroauricular mastoid area and the weakest at the maxillary frontal area. Conclusion: There was a high correlation between bone and soft tissue hypoplasia at the retroauricular mastoid area, while the other evaluated areas showed poor correlation between skeletal and soft tissue asymmetries. Clinicians should assess each component separately for optimal treatment planning in microtia patients with HFM.

Structure and Mechanical Performance of Biomimetic Costal Cartilage Models for Ear Framework Handcrafting Simulation.

SUMMARY: Ear framework handcrafting simulation using costal cartilage models is crucially important for ear reconstruction surgery education. Fabrication of proper models that are mechanically and structurally comparable to their native counterparts is an unmet challenge. The authors developed structure and mechanical performance biomimetic costal cartilage models for practicing and simulating handcrafting of ear frameworks. High-tensile silicone and three-dimensional techniques were used to fabricate biomimetic models. The models well-replicated the three-dimensional structure of human costal cartilage. Comprehensive mechanical tests showed that high-tensile silicone models had stiffness, hardness, and suture retention ability similar to those of their native counterparts, and they were distinctly superior to commonly used materials for costal cartilage simulation. This model satisfied surgeons and contributed to creation of outstanding ear frameworks. The recreated models were used in ear framework handcrafting workshops. Novices' surgical simulation performance with different models was compared and analyzed. People who used high-tensile silicone models have greater progress and confidence after training. Using high-tensile silicone costal cartilage models is an excellent choice for practicing and simulating the fabrication of ear frameworks manually. The models benefit practitioners and students in practicing handcrafting ear frameworks and surgical skills.

The molecular markers provide complementary information for biochar characterization before and after HNO3/H2SO4 oxidation.

Biochar inevitably goes through long-term aging under biotic and abiotic processes in the environment, which results in various changes in its physicochemical properties. However, the traditional characterization methods based on particle separation cannot effectively monitor biochar in complex matrixes. Molecular markers, especially benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCAs), can be used to directly identify the source and properties of biochar. In this study, biochars were prepared using corn straw (CS) and pinewood (PW) and were oxidized with HNO3/H2SO4 to simulate the aging processes. Molecular markers of lignin-derived phenols showed that PW has more vanillyl unit and thus more stable than CS. The overall BPCAs content and the relative content of mellitic acid (B6CA) both increased with pyrolysis temperature, indicating increased aromatic condensation/aromaticity. The pristine CS biochar has a higher BPCAs content compared to PW biochar. HNO3/H2SO4 treatment greatly decreased the lignin components and more vanillyl and cinnamyl units were removed from CS biochar than PW biochar. In addition, BPCAs contents decreased by 41-60 mg/g for CS biochar, while increased by 86-133 mg/g for PW biochar after HNO3/H2SO4 oxidation. This is owing to the release of the condensed aromatic structures in CS biochars, but the concentration of the condensed aromatic structures in PW biochars after oxidation. These results showed that PW biochars are more stable than CS biochars. The application of the molecular markers can help understanding the dynamic change of biochar in the environment.

Individual earmuff during reconstruction of the auricle.

BACKGROUND: Auricular reconstruction represents one of the most demanding challenges in craniofacial surgery. But some of the complications may be stimulated by trauma or continuing pressures. Therefore, earmuff is important to the reconstructed ears as a protective guard. The widely used traditional earmuff was designed by Tanzer and Chaisson. We renovated a more comfortable and much safer individual earmuffs using a low-temperature thermoplastic splint. METHODS: The low-temperature thermoplastic splint was softened by hot water at 60°C to 70°C. Afterward, the low-temperature thermoplastic splint was stretched over an oval plaster mold. Then, it was fabricated, followed by trimming of the excess material, leaving a quarter-inch flange attached to the cup. Individualized adjustment of the earmuff was performed by immersing in hot water at 60°C to 70°C. When intenerated, it was placed around the reconstructed ear for 10 to 15 minutes until completion of shaping could be achieved. Finally, the earmuff was fixed with elastic band, which was based on the size of child's head circumference and could be adjusted for the patient's comfort. RESULTS: The individualized earmuff was applied in more than 400 patients after surgery of microtia reconstruction. Such individualized earmuffs are proved to provide sufficient protection, while leaving no major problems. CONCLUSIONS: The individual earmuff provides effective protection, secure fit, and comfort for the reconstructed ear.

Photo-aging of polyvinyl chloride microplastic in the presence of natural organic acids.

In this study, a new photo-aging pathway in the aquatic environments and the underlying transformation mechanism were described for polyvinyl chloride microplastic (PVC-MP). Our results indicated that the photo-aging of PVC-MP was strongly dependent on particle size and the aging reaction could be facilitated in the presence of low-molecular-weight organic acid (LMWOA) and LMWOA-Fe(III) complex under simulated and natural sunlight irradiation and ambient conditions. The hydroxyl radical (OH•) generated from the photolysis of LMWOA or its ferric complexes played a dominant role in enhancing PVC-MP degradation. In situ Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopic techniques and theoretical calculations further confirmed that C-Cl bond cleavage and formation of polyene and carbonyl underwent on the PVC-MP surface, especially in the presence of LMWOA and LMWOA-Fe(III). Moreover, PVC-MP surface oxidation also led to the increase of the specific surface area and affinity towards water as indicated by the results of scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller tests and contact angles for water, which would further enhance the adsorption of polar contaminants on PVC-MP and thus increase the health risk of PVC-MP on aquatic organisms.

What happens to an acellular scar matrix after implantation in vivo? A histological and related molecular biology study.

It has been established that scar acellular matrices (AMs), which allow cell proliferation, have similar characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate the repair effect of scar AMs on animals, thus providing a reference for clinical application. Selected mature and immature scar AMs were implanted into animals, and then a negative control group was set for comparison. The effect of scar AMs on wound healing was observed through tissue staining, RT-qPCR, and immunohistochemistry. The materials showed milder inflammation and faster extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition than the negative control group. The ECM deposition and new vessels increased over time. However, the arrangement of ECM in mature scar AM was more regular than in immature scar AM and the negative control group, and more new vessels grew in the mature scar AM group than in the immature scar AM group and negative control group over the same period. The transforming growth factor-ß level was elevated at one month, two months, and six months. COLA1 and vimentin levels all peaked at six months. Matrix metalloproteinase and TIMP1 were also elevated at different months. Collectively, scar AMs can effectively promote wound healing and vascularization. Mature scar AMs have a better regeneration effect.