Allelic variations of WAK106-E2Fa-DPb1-UGT74E2 module regulate fibre properties in Populus tomentosa.

Wood formation, intricately linked to the carbohydrate metabolism pathway, underpins the capacity of trees to produce renewable resources and offer vital ecosystem services. Despite their importance, the genetic regulatory mechanisms governing wood fibre properties in woody plants remain enigmatic. In this study, we identified a pivotal module comprising 158 high-priority core genes implicated in wood formation, drawing upon tissue-specific gene expression profiles from 22 Populus samples. Initially, we conducted a module-based association study in a natural population of 435 Populus tomentosa, pinpointing PtoDPb1 as the key gene contributing to wood formation through the carbohydrate metabolic pathway. Overexpressing PtoDPb1 led to a 52.91% surge in cellulose content, a reduction of 14.34% in fibre length, and an increment of 38.21% in fibre width in transgenic poplar. Moreover, by integrating co-expression patterns, RNA-sequencing analysis, and expression quantitative trait nucleotide (eQTN) mapping, we identified a PtoDPb1-mediated genetic module of PtoWAK106-PtoDPb1-PtoE2Fa-PtoUGT74E2 responsible for fibre properties in Populus. Additionally, we discovered the two PtoDPb1 haplotypes that influenced protein interaction efficiency between PtoE2Fa-PtoDPb1 and PtoDPb1-PtoWAK106, respectively. The transcriptional activation activity of the PtoE2Fa-PtoDPb1 haplotype-1 complex on the promoter of PtoUGT74E2 surpassed that of the PtoE2Fa-PtoDPb1 haplotype-2 complex. Taken together, our findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of fibre properties in Populus, orchestrated by PtoDPb1, and offer a practical module for expediting genetic breeding in woody plants via molecular design.

Vacuum plasma sprayed porous titanium coating on polyetheretherketone for ACDF improves the osteogenic ability: An in vitro and in vivo study.

Cervical degenerative disease is a common and frequently occurring disease, which seriously affects the health and quality of the life of patients worldwide. Anterior cervical decompression and interbody fusion is currently recognized as the gold standard for the treatment of degenerative cervical spondylosis. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has become the prevailing material for cervical fusion surgery. Although PEEK has excellent biocompatibility, it is difficult to form bone connection at its bone-implant interface due to its low surface hydrophilicity and conductivity. It is widely accepted that Ti has excellent osteogenic activity and biocompatibility. In this study, a Ti-PEEK composite cage was prepared by coating Ti on the surface of a PEEK cage using a vacuum plasma spraying technique to enhance the osteogenic property of PEEK. The Ti-PEEK samples were evaluated in terms of their in vitro cellular behaviors and in vivo osteointegration, and the results were compared to a pure PEEK substrate. The skeleton staining and MTS assay indicated that the MC3T3-E1 cells spread and grew well on the surface of Ti-PEEK cages. The osteogenic gene expression and western blot analysis of osteogenic protein showed upregulated bone-forming activity of MC3T3-E1 cells in Ti-PEEK cages. Furthermore, a significant increase in new bone formation was demonstrated on Ti-PEEK implants in comparison with PEEK implants at 12 weeks in a sheep cervical spine fusion test. These results proved that the Ti-PEEK cage exhibited enhanced osseointegrative properties compared to the PEEK cage both in vitro and in vivo.

Graphene-modified CePO4 nanorods effectively treat breast cancer-induced bone metastases and regulate macrophage polarization to improve osteo-inductive ability.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer bone metastasis has become one of the most common complications; however, it may cause cancer recurrence and bone nonunion, as well as local bone defects. METHODS: Herein, In vitro, we verified the effect of bioscaffold materials on cell proliferation and apoptosis through a CCK8 trial, staining of live/dead cells, and flow cytometry. We used immunofluorescence technology and flow cytometry to verify whether bioscaffold materials regulate macrophage polarization, and we used ALP staining, alizarin red staining and PCR to verify whether bioscaffold material promotes bone regeneration. In vivo, we once again studied the effect of bioscaffold materials on tumors by measuring tumor volume in mice, Tunel staining, and caspase-3 immunofluorescence. We also constructed a mouse skull ultimate defect model to verify the effect on bone regeneration. RESULTS: Graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles, hydrated CePO4 nanorods and bioactive chitosan (CS) are combined to form a bioactive multifunctional CePO4/CS/GO scaffold, with characteristics such as photothermal therapy to kill tumors, macrophage polarization to promote blood vessel formation, and induction of bone formation. CePO4/CS/GO scaffold activates the caspase-3 proteasein local tumor cells, thereby lysing the DNA between nucleosomes and causing apoptosis. On the one hand, the as-released Ce3+ ions promote M2 polarization of macrophages, which secretes vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Arginase-1 (Arg-1), which promotes angiogenesis. On the other hand, the as-released Ce3+ ions also activated the BMP-2/Smad signaling pathway which facilitated bone tissue regeneration. CONCLUSION: The multifunctional CePO4/CS/GO scaffolds may become a promising platform for therapy of breast cancer bone metastases.

Effects of a Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitor-Eluting Stent on In-Stent Restenosis.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare changes in the extracellular matrix after implantation of a stent that elutes a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor (GM6001); and to determine the effects of the GM6001-eluting stent upon prevention of in-stent restenosis (ISR). MATERIAL AND METHODS We included 48 Guangxi Bama mini-pigs in this study. A GM6001-eluting stent was placed in one iliac artery and a stent that did not elute GM6001 was placed in the contralateral iliac artery. The iliac arteries were removed at 6 hours as well as 1, 7, 14, 56, 84, and 336 days after stent placement. Arteries were analyzed for morphometry, gelatinase content, different phenotypes of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), collagen content, apoptotic rate, and cell density. RESULTS The vascular lumen areas of the GM6001 group were significantly increased and the neointimal areas were significantly reduced compared with the control group from the 7 days to the 336 days. In the 2 groups, expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 peaked simultaneously, but GM6001-eluting stents inhibited expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the vascular media and neointima (especially around the struts) significantly. In the GM6001 group, expression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2, myosin heavy chain 10 (MYH-10, marker of the proliferative phenotype of VSMCs), collagen content, percentage of apoptotic cells, and cell density were also decreased significantly compared with those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Use of GM6001-eluting stents resulted in persistent and potent inhibition of intimal hyperplasia, an increase in luminal area, and no obvious thrombosis in the arteries of the mini-pigs.

Genetic architecture underlying the lignin biosynthesis pathway involves noncoding RNAs and transcription factors for growth and wood properties in Populus.

Lignin provides structural support in perennial woody plants and is a complex phenolic polymer derived from phenylpropanoid pathway. Lignin biosynthesis is regulated by coordinated networks involving transcription factors (TFs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the genetic networks underlying the lignin biosynthesis pathway for tree growth and wood properties remain unknown. Here, we used association genetics (additive, dominant and epistasis) and expression quantitative trait nucleotide (eQTN) mapping to decipher the genetic networks for tree growth and wood properties in 435 unrelated individuals of Populus tomentosa. We detected 124 significant associations (P ≤ 6.89E-05) for 10 growth and wood property traits using 30 265 single nucleotide polymorphisms from 203 lignin biosynthetic genes, 81 TF genes, 36 miRNA genes and 71 lncRNA loci, implying their common roles in wood formation. Epistasis analysis uncovered 745 significant pairwise interactions, which helped to construct proposed genetic networks of lignin biosynthesis pathway and found that these regulators might affect phenotypes by linking two lignin biosynthetic genes. eQTNs were used to interpret how causal genes contributed to phenotypes. Lastly, we investigated the possible functions of the genes encoding 4-coumarate: CoA ligase and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase in wood traits using epistasis, eQTN mapping and enzymatic activity assays. Our study provides new insights into the lignin biosynthesis pathway in poplar and enables the novel genetic factors as biomarkers for facilitating genetic improvement of trees.

Synthetic nanoparticles camouflaged with biomimetic erythrocyte membranes for reduced reticuloendothelial system uptake.

Suppression of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) uptake is one of the most challenging tasks in nanomedicine. Coating stratagems using polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), have led to great success in this respect. Nevertheless, recent observations of immunological response toward these synthetic polymers have triggered a search for better alternatives. In this work, natural red blood cell (RBC) membranes are camouflaged on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles for reducing the RES uptake. In vitro macrophage uptake, in vivo biodistribution and pharmacokinetic studies demonstrate that the RBC membrane is a superior alternative to the current gold standard PEG for nanoparticle 'stealth'. Furthermore, we systematically investigate the in vivo potential toxicity of RBC membrane-coated nanoparticles by blood biochemistry, whole blood panel examination and histology analysis based on animal models. The combination of synthetic nanoparticles and natural cell membranes embodies a novel and biomimetic nanomaterial design strategy and presents a compelling property of functional materials for a broad range of biomedical applications.

In situ modulation of dendritic cells by injectable thermosensitive hydrogels for cancer vaccines in mice.

Attempts to develop cell-based cancer vaccines have shown limited efficacy, partly because transplanted dendritic cells (DCs) do not survive long enough to reach the lymph nodes. The development of biomaterials capable of modulating DCs in situ to enhance antigen uptake and presentation has emerged as a novel method toward developing more efficient cancer vaccines. Here, we propose a two-step hybrid strategy to produce a more robust cell-based cancer vaccine in situ. First, a significant number of DCs are recruited to an injectable thermosensitive mPEG-PLGA hydrogel through sustained release of chemoattractants, in particular, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Then, these resident DCs can be loaded with cancer antigens through the use of viral or nonviral vectors. We demonstrate that GM-CSF-releasing mPEG-PLGA hydrogels successfully recruit and house DCs and macrophages, allowing the subsequent introduction of antigens by vectors to activate the resident cells, thus, initiating antigen presentation and triggering immune response. Moreover, this two-step hybrid strategy generates a high level of tumor-specific immunity, as demonstrated in both prophylactic and therapeutic models of murine melanoma. This injectable thermosensitive hydrogel shows great promise as an adjuvant for cancer vaccines, potentially providing a new approach for cell therapies through in situ modulation of cells.

Realistic Nanoplastics Induced Pulmonary Damage via the Crosstalk of Ferritinophagy and Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

The smaller size fraction of plastics may be more substantially existing and detrimental than larger-sized particles. However, reports on nanoplastics (NPs), especially their airborne occurrences and potential health hazards to the respiratory system, are scarce. Previous studies limit the understanding of their real respiratory effects, since sphere-type polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles differ from NPs occurring in nature with respect to their physicochemical properties. Here, we employ a mechanical breakdown method, producing NPs directly from bulk plastic, preserving NP properties in nature. We report that among four relatively high abundance NP materials PS, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene (PE) with a size of 100 nm, PVC induced slightly more severe lung toxicity profiles compared to the other plastics. The lung cytotoxicity of NPs is higher than that of commercial PS NPs and comparable to natural particles silicon dioxide (SiO2) and anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2). Mechanistically, BH3-interacting domain death agonist (Bid) transactivation-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4)-mediated ferritinophagy or ferroptosis are likely common mechanisms of NPs regardless of their chemical composition. This study provides relatively comprehensive data for evaluating the risk of atmospheric NPs to lung health.

Preparation, pharmacokinetics and anti-obesity effects on dogs of nuciferine liposomes.

BACKGROUND: Nuciferine (NUC), a natural compound extracted from lotus leaves, has been proven to have anti-obesity effects. However, the development and application of NUC as an anti-obesity drug in dogs are hindered due to its poor water solubility and low bioavailability. OBJECTIVE: To promote the development of NUC-related products for anti-obesity in dogs, this study prepared NUC into a liposome formulation and evaluated its characteristics, pharmacokinetics in dogs, and anti-obesity effects on high-fat diet dogs. METHODS: NUC liposomes were prepared by the ethanol injection method, using NUC, egg lecithin, and ß-sitosterol as raw materials. The characteristics and release rate in vitro of liposomes were evaluated by particle size analyser and dialysis method, respectively. The pharmacokinetics in dogs after oral administration of NUC-liposomes was carried out by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Moreover, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of NUC-liposomes on obese dogs fed with a high-fat diet. RESULTS: NUC-liposome was successfully prepared, with an EE of (79.31 ± 1.06)%, a particle size of (81.25 ± 3.14) nm, a zeta potential of (-18.75 ± 0.23) mV, and a PDI of 0.175 ± 0.031. The cumulative release rate in vitro of NUC from NUC-liposomes was slower than that of NUC. The T1/2 and relative bioavailability of NUC-liposomes in dogs increased, and CL reduced compared with NUC. In addition, the preventive effect of NUC-liposomes on obesity in high-fat diet dogs is stronger than that of NUC. CONCLUSIONS: The liposome formulation of NUC was conducive to improve its relative bioavailability and anti-obesity effect in dogs.

Neurological impairment is crucial for tire rubber-derived contaminant 6PPDQ-induced acute toxicity to rainbow trout.

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine quinone (6PPDQ) has attracted significant attention due to its highly acute lethality to sensitive salmonids. However, studies investigating the mechanisms underlying its acute toxicity have been lacking. In this work, we demonstrated the sensitivity of rainbow trout to 6PPDQ-induced mortality. Moribund trout exhibited significantly higher brain concentrations of 6PPDQ compared to surviving trout. In an in vitro model using human brain microvascular endothelial cells, 6PPDQ can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and enhance blood-brain barrier permeability without compromising cell viability. The time spent in the top of the tank increased with rising 6PPDQ concentrations, as indicated by locomotion behavior tests. Furthermore, 6PPDQ influenced neurotransmitter levels and mRNA expression of neurotransmission-related genes in the brain and exhibited strong binding affinity to target neurotransmission-related proteins using computational simulations. The integrated biomarker response value associated with neurotoxicity showed a positive linear correlation with trout mortality. These findings significantly contribute to filling the knowledge gap between neurological impairments and apical outcomes, including behavioral effects and mortality, induced by 6PPDQ.

Lipid peroxidation is another potential mechanism besides pore-formation underlying hemolysis of tentacle extract from the jellyfish Cyanea capillata.

This study was performed to explore other potential mechanisms underlying hemolysis in addition to pore-formation of tentacle extract (TE) from the jellyfish Cyanea capillata. A dose-dependent increase of hemolysis was observed in rat erythrocyte suspensions and the hemolytic activity of TE was enhanced in the presence of Ca2+, which was attenuated by Ca2+ channel blockers (Diltiazem, Verapamil and Nifedipine). Direct intracellular Ca2+ increase was observed after TE treatment by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and the Ca2+ increase could be depressed by Diltiazem. The osmotic protectant polyethylenglycol (PEG) significantly blocked hemolysis with a molecular mass exceeding 4000 Da. These results support a pore-forming mechanism of TE in the erythrocyte membrane, which is consistent with previous studies by us and other groups. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), an important marker of lipid peroxidation, increased dose-dependently in rat erythrocytes after TE treatment, while in vitro hemolysis of TE was inhibited by the antioxidants ascorbic acid-Vitamin C (Vc)-and reduced glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, in vivo hemolysis and electrolyte change after TE administration could be partly recovered by Vc. These results indicate that lipid peroxidation is another potential mechanism besides pore-formation underlying the hemolysis of TE, and both Ca2+ channel blockers and antioxidants could be useful candidates against the hemolytic activity of jellyfish venoms.

The geno-toxicological impacts of microplastic (MP) exposure on health: mechanistic pathways and research trends from a Chinese perspective.

Due to their large-scale manufacture and widespread application, global concern regarding microplastics (MPs) has been increasing rapidly over the past decade, in particular their potential genotoxicity. The genome is constantly exposed to genotoxic insults that can lead to accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage, cell death, inflammation or genetic regulation which in turn can have consequences for health, such as the induction of carcinogenesis. In this review, we presented a comprehensive landscape of the effects of MPs on genotoxicity including the molecular mechanisms. Followed by the MP research trend analysis from a global viewpoint including the comparative research between China and USA and point out that scientists should continue to substantially contribute to the field of MPs through more extensive academic investigation, global cooperation, and the development of novel control methods. Challenges are also discussed. Overall, this review provides insights into the genotoxic effects of MPs on human health and related research trends in this field.

Codelivery of TGF-ß1 and anti-miR-141 by PLGA microspheres inhibits progression of intervertebral disc degeneration.

BACKGROUND: Cervical and lumbar pain is usually caused by degeneration of the nucleus pulposus (NP). As a powerful therapeutic strategy, tissue engineering can effectively restore the normal biological properties of the spinal unit. Previous studies suggested that poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres are effective carriers of cells and biomolecules in NP tissue engineering. This study aims to explore the therapeutic effect of PLGA microspheres coloaded with transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and anti-miR-141 on intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). METHODS: PLGA microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, a laser particle size analyzer, and laser confocal microscopy. The in vitro release rate of biomolecules from the microspheres was analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and agarose gel electrophoresis. The rat NP cells (NPCs) treated with the solutions released from microspheres for different lengths of time were assigned to a control group (Ctrl), an empty PLGA microsphere group (Mock microsphere, MS), a TGF-ß1-loaded PLGA microsphere group (TMS), an anti-miR-141-loaded PLGA microsphere group (AMS), and an anti-miR-141 + TGF-ß1-loaded PLGA microsphere group (ATMS). The proliferation and apoptosis of NPCs were observed by alamar blue and flow cytometry. The gene and protein expression of cartilage markers COL2A1 and ACAN were observed by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The rat model of IDD was established by tail puncture. Rats were divided into a control group (Ctrl), a mock operation group (Mock), a TGF-ß1 microsphere group (TMS), an anti-miR-141 microsphere group (AMS), and an anti-miR-141 + TGF-ß1 microsphere group (ATMS). The degree of rat tail IDD was assessed in each group through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), safranin O-fast green staining, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. RESULTS: PLGA microspheres were stably coloaded and could sustainably release TGF-ß1 and anti-miR-141. The results of in vitro cell experiments showed that the release solution of PLGA microspheres significantly enhanced the proliferation of NPCs without inducing their apoptosis and significantly upregulated cartilage markers in NPCs. The effect of microspheres was greater in the ATMS group than that in the TMS group and AMS group. In vivo experiments showed that IDD could be effectively inhibited and reversed by adding microspheres coloaded with TGF-ß1 and/or anti-miR-141, and the effect was greatest in the ATMS group. CONCLUSION: PLGA microspheres coloaded with TGF-ß1 and anti-miR-141 can reverse IDD by inhibiting the degeneration of NPCs.

A catalog of bacterial reference genomes from cultivated human oral bacteria.

The oral cavity harbors highly diverse communities of microorganisms. However, the number of isolated species and high-quality genomes is limited. Here we present a Cultivated Oral Bacteria Genome Reference (COGR), comprising 1089 high-quality genomes based on large-scale aerobic and anaerobic cultivation of human oral bacteria isolated from dental plaques, tongue, and saliva. COGR covers five phyla and contains 195 species-level clusters of which 95 include 315 genomes representing species with no taxonomic annotation. The oral microbiota differs markedly between individuals, with 111 clusters being person-specific. Genes encoding CAZymes are abundant in the genomes of COGR. Members of the Streptococcus genus make up the largest proportion of COGR and many of these harbor entire pathways for quorum sensing important for biofilm formation. Several clusters containing unknown bacteria are enriched in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, emphasizing the importance of culture-based isolation for characterizing and exploiting oral bacteria.

Efficacy confirmation of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in the treatment of periodontitis via topical administration and active ingredients screening.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Periodontal disease is a complex inflammatory disease that seriously affects peoples' lives. Scutellaria radix (SR) is traditionally used as a folk medicine to clear away heat and dampness, purge fire and detoxification. Although it has been extensively used as a medicinal plant to treat a variety of inflammatory illnesses, the efficacy and active ingredient for topical administration in the treatment of periodontitis is unknown. AIM OF STUDY: The aim of this study was to screen and validate the active ingredients in SR for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A ligature-induced periodontitis in rats was used to investigate the efficacy of topical administration of SR for the treatment of periodontitis, and the active fraction was screened after separation of the aqueous extract of SR into fractions of different polarities using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell model. Chromatographic fingerprints were established for 18 batches of SR by high performance liquid chromatography. The potential active components were screened using spectral effect relationship analysis and the target cell extraction method. RESULTS: SR has good efficacy in the topical treatment of periodontitis, according to animal experiments. Five active ingredients were screened out and their anti-inflammatory activity was confirmed in vitro. CONCLUSION: The main active compounds in the treatment of periodontitis via topical administration of SR were found and this provides an experimental basis for further studies on the pharmacodynamic material basis of SR, as well as reference for the comprehensive evaluation of SR quality and the development of substitute resources.

Ultrasmall zirconium carbide nanodots for synergistic photothermal-radiotherapy of glioma.

Glioma is characterized by highly invasive, progressive, and lethal features. In addition, conventional treatments have been poorly effective in treating glioma. To overcome this challenge, synergistic therapies combining radiotherapy (RT) with photothermal therapy (PTT) have been proposed and extensively explored as a highly feasible cancer treatment strategy. Herein, ultrasmall zirconium carbide (ZrC) nanodots were successfully synthesized with high near-infrared absorption and strong photon attenuation for synergistic PTT-RT of glioma. ZrC-PVP nanodots with an average size of approximately 4.36 nm were prepared by the liquid exfoliation method and modified with the surfactant polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), with a satisfactory absorption and photothermal conversion efficiency (53.4%) in the near-infrared region. Furthermore, ZrC-PVP nanodots can also act as radiosensitizers to kill residual tumor cells after mild PTT due to their excellent photon attenuating ability, thus achieving a significant synergistic therapeutic effect by combining RT and PTT. Most importantly, both in vitro and in vivo experimental results further validate the high biosafety of ZrC-PVP NDs at the injected dose. This work systematically evaluates the feasibility of ZrC-PVP NDs for glioma treatment and provides evidence of the application of zirconium-based nanomaterials in photothermal radiotherapy.

An Ultrahigh Linear Sensitive Temperature Sensor Based on PANI:Graphene and PDMS Hybrid with Negative Temperature Compensation.

The detection of human body temperature is one of the important indicators to reflect the physical condition. In order to accurately judge the state of the human body, a high-performance temperature sensor with fast response, high sensitivity, and good linearity characteristics is urgently needed. In this paper, the positive temperature characteristics of graphene-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite with high sensitivity were studied. Besides, doping polyaniline (PANI) with special negative temperature characteristics as the temperature compensation of the composite finally creatively solved the problem of sensor nonlinearity from the material level. Thus, the PANI:graphene and PDMS hybrid temperature sensor with extraordinary linearity and high sensitivity is realized by establishing the space-gap model and mathematical theoretical analysis. The prepared sensor exhibits high sensitivity (1.60%/°C), linearity (R2 = 0.99), accuracy (0.3 °C), and time response (0.7 s) in the temperature sensing range of 25-40 °C. Based on this, the fabricated temperature sensor can combine with the read-out circuit and filter circuit with a high-precision analog digital converter (ADC) to monitor real-time skin temperature, ambient temperature, and respiratory rate, et al. This high-performance temperature sensor reveals its great potential in electronic skin, disease diagnosis, medical monitoring, and other fields.

Intraocular pharmacokinetics of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents by intraoperative subretinal versus intravitreal injection in silicone oil-filled eyes of proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a randomized controlled pilot study.

PURPOSE: Intraoperative subretinal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections have been used clinically in some case, but the pharmacokinetic characteristics have not yet been determined. In this pilot study, we investigate the pharmacokinetic parameters of anti-VEGF agents by intraoperative subretinal or intravitreal injection in silicone oil (SiO)-filled eyes of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). METHODS: Randomized controlled trial including 13 patients (16 eyes) with PDR underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with SiO tamponade and randomly received a subretinal (8 eyes) or intravitreal (8 eyes) conbercept injection (0.5 mg/0.05 ml) intraoperatively. Aqueous humour (AH) was obtained on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th, 21st and 28th day after the injection. Drug concentrations in the AH were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The last best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was examined 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The clearance rate of anti-VEGF agents by subretinal injection was reduced in vitrectomized eyes with SiO tamponade (p < 0.05). With the same drug dose, subretinal injection (5.49 ± 6.11 µg/ml) resulted in higher drug concentrations in the AH when compared with intravitreal injection (0.42 ± 0.46 µg/ml, p = 0.001) 4 weeks after the treatment. The mean residence time last (MRT0-t ) by subretinal injection (11.57 ± 0.83 days) was significantly longer than the mean MRT0-t by intravitreal injection (7.10 ± 1.00 days, p < 0.001). A self-paired analysis showed that subretinal injection led to the BCVA improvement by +28.59 letters 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.028) while the BCVA did not improve significantly by intravitreal injection (p = 0.715). CONCLUSIONS: The drug maintenance phase was prolonged by intraoperative subretinal injection in SiO-filled eyes of PDR. The results suggest that subretinal injection might be a valuable treatment option for the management of PDR.

[Outcomes of posterior C(1-2) fusion for atlantoaxial instability or dislocation using pedicle screws of atlas and axis].

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze and evaluate the results of treatment for atlantoaxial instability or dislocation employing pedicle screws of atlas and axis. METHODS: Thirty-one patients (23 male and 8 female) with atlantoaxial instability or dislocation were stabilized using pedicle screws of atlas and axis between May 2005 to January 2008. The patients ranged in age from 17 to 67 years (mean 43.5 years). Patients consisted of chronic odontoid fracture in 17, Os odontoideum in 8, fresh odontoid fracture in 4, transverse ligament rupture in 1, rheumatoid arthritis in 1. Clinical features included neck pain in 31; restricted neck movement in 28, varying degrees of spastic quadriparesis in 19. All patients underwent posterior C(1) to C(2) pedicle screw fixation. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss, complications were recorded, neurological and radiographic studies were carried. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 13 months. Operative time averaged 2.5 h. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 300 ml. A patient had postoperative wound infection and was treated conservatively with antibiotics and local wound care. A patient developed pulmonary artery embolism and got well with anticoagulation. Satisfactory stability was achieved in all cases with no vascular and C(2) neuralgia. Average JOA score in 19 cases increased at final follow-up (P < 0.01). Solid fusion was achieved in 29 cases, fusion rate was 93.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Stabilization of atlantoaxial complex via pedicle screws of atlas and axis has advantages of intraoperative restoration, easier placement of screw, solid fixation. It is a safe and effective treatment modality for posterior C(1-2) fusion.

Formation of CO2 bubbles in epoxy resin coatings: A DFT study.

The epoxy resin coating is a fundamental species with epoxy resins used as main components to form the final film. Unexpectedly, bulky CO2 bubbles that occasionally appeared during the curing process of epoxy resin coatings might destroy the final film properties. With an attempt to thoroughly understand the formation mechanism of CO2 bubbles and further propose countermeasures to control them, Density Function Theory (DFT) in this paper was employed to calculate the absorption process, the curing reaction and the formation mechanism of CO2 bubbles. The gas phase basicity (GB) values and pKa values of common amine curing agents were calculated. The total Gibbs free energies difference of the curing reactions between polluted curing agents and epoxy resins were calculated according to a thermodynamic cycle. Whether in gas phase or resin phase, the energetically negative ΔGsolv indicated that the curing reactions might occur spontaneously and CO2 molecules would be separated and released from amine molecules. The total Gibbs free energy calculations also revealed that the re-absorption of CO2 by the curing system was energetically unfavorable. Thus, the formation mechanism of CO2 bubbles of epoxy resin coatings could be summarize in three steps: (1) Carbon dioxide pollutes accidentally the curing agents. (2) CO2 molecules are gradually released as the curing process occurs. (3) CO2 molecules are collected to form big bubbles which can lead to seriously surface and/or internal defects. Finally, based on practical experiences three tips were proposed to control CO2 bubbles. The present results not only evidenced the nature of the unexpected bubbles of epoxy resin coatings, but also additionally paved to the way to full utilization of the formation mechanism to improve the epoxy coatings' properties.