In vitro and in vivo study of antibacterial and anti-encrustation coating on ureteric stents.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the ability of propolis-coated ureteric stents to solve complications, especially urinary tract infections (UTIs) and crusting, in patients with long-term indwelling ureteric stents through antimicrobial and anti-calculus activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polyurethane (PU) ureteric stents were immersed in the ethanol extract of propolis (EEP), a well-known antimicrobial honeybee product, and subjected to chemical, hydrophilic, and seismic tests. The antimicrobial activity of the EEP coating was then examined by in vitro investigation. Proteus mirabilis infection was induced in rats within uncoated and EEP-coated groups, and the infection, stone formation, and inflammation were monitored at various time points. RESULTS: The characterisation results showed that the hydrophilicity and stability of the EEP surface improved. In vitro tests revealed that the EEP coating was biocompatible, could eliminate >90% of bacteria biofilms attached to the stent and could maintain bacteriostatic properties for up to 3 months. The in vivo experiment revealed that the EEP-coating significantly reduced the amount of bacteria, stones, and salt deposits on the surface of the ureteric stents and decreased inflammation in the host tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with clinically used PU stents, EEP-coated ureteric stents could better mitigate infections and prevent encrustation. Thus, this study demonstrated that propolis is a promising natural dressing material for ureteric stents.

Dental Age Estimation in Northern Chinese Han Children and Adolescents Using Demirjian's Method Combined with Machine Learning Algorithms.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the application value of combining the Demirjian's method with machine learning algorithms for dental age estimation in northern Chinese Han children and adolescents. METHODS: Oral panoramic images of 10 256 Han individuals aged 5 to 24 years in northern China were collected. The development of eight permanent teeth in the left mandibular was classified into different stages using the Demirjian's method. Various machine learning algorithms, including support vector regression (SVR), gradient boosting regression (GBR), linear regression (LR), random forest regression (RFR), and decision tree regression (DTR) were employed. Age estimation models were constructed based on total, female, and male samples respectively using these algorithms. The fitting performance of different machine learning algorithms in these three groups was evaluated. RESULTS: SVR demonstrated superior estimation efficiency among all machine learning models in both total and female samples, while GBR showed the best performance in male samples. The mean absolute error (MAE) of the optimal age estimation model was 1.246 3, 1.281 8 and 1.153 8 years in the total, female and male samples, respectively. The optimal age estimation model exhibited varying levels of accuracy across different age ranges, which provided relatively accurate age estimations in individuals under 18 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The machine learning model developed in this study exhibits good age estimation efficiency in northern Chinese Han children and adolescents. However, its performance is not ideal when applied to adult population. To improve the accuracy in age estimation, the other variables can be considered.

A biphasic calcium phosphate/acylated methacrylate gelatin composite hydrogel promotes osteogenesis and bone repair.

PURPOSE/AIM: Bone defects caused by trauma, tumors, congenital malformation, or inflammation are very common in orthopedics. In recent years, mimicking the composition and structure of natural bone tissue has become a hot topic in biomaterial research, with the aim of developing an ideal biomaterial for bone defect transplantation. Here, the feasibility of a biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP)/acylated methacrylate gelatin (GelMA) composite hydrogel to repair bone defects was evaluated in vitro and in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The biocompatibility of a biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP)/acylated methacrylate gelatin (GelMA) composite hydrogel was evaluated by cytoskeleton staining, live/dead cell staining and cell proliferation assays. The in vitro osteogenic activities of the composite hydrogel were evaluated by alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining, as well as osteogenic gene expression analysis at both transcript and protein levels. The in vivo bone repair activities were evaluated using the rat skull defect model. RESULTS: The BCP/GelMA composite hydrogel displayed excellent biocompatibility and promoted osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. In addition, the BCP/GelMA composite hydrogel markedly promoted new bone formation in the rat skull-defect model. CONCLUSIONS: BCP/GelMA composite hydrogel may be an effective artificial material for bone tissue engineering.

Epidemiological characteristics, spatial clusters and monthly incidence prediction of hand, foot and mouth disease from 2017 to 2022 in Shanxi Province, China.

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infection in the world, and its epidemics result in heavy disease burdens. Over the past decade, HFMD has been widespread among children in China, with Shanxi Province being a severely affected northern province. Located in the temperate monsoon climate, Shanxi has a GDP of over 2.5 trillion yuan. It is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the basic features of HFMD in those areas that have similar meteorological and economic backgrounds to northern China. We aimed to investigate epidemiological characteristics, identify spatial clusters and predict monthly incidence of HFMD. All reported HFMD cases were obtained from the Shanxi Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Overall HFMD incidence showed a significant downward trend from 2017 to 2020, increasing again in 2021. Children aged < 5 years were primarily affected, with a high incidence of HFMD in male patients (relative risk: 1.316). The distribution showed a seasonal trend, with major peaks in June and July and secondary peaks in October and November with the exception of 2020. Other enteroviruses were the predominant causative agents of HFMD in most years. Areas with large numbers of HFMD cases were primarily in central Shanxi, and spatial clusters in 2017 and 2018 showed a positive global spatial correlation. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that hot spots and secondary hot spots were concentrated in Jinzhong and Yangquan in 2018. Based on monthly incidence from September 2021 to August 2022, the mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and root mean square error (RMSE) of the long short-term memory (LSTM) and seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) models were 386.58 vs. 838.25, 2.25 vs. 3.08, and 461.96 vs. 963.13, respectively, indicating that the predictive accuracy of LSTM was better than that of SARIMA. The LSTM model may be useful in predicting monthly incidences of HFMD, which may provide early warnings of HFMD epidemics.

Modulating Anion Nanotraps via Halogenation for High-Efficiency 99TcO4-/ReO4- Removal under Wide-Ranging pH Conditions.

Efficient and sustainable methods for 99TcO4- removal from acidic nuclear waste streams, contaminated water, and highly alkaline tank wastes are highly sought after. Herein, we demonstrate that ionic covalent organic polymers (iCOPs) possessing imidazolium-N+ nanotraps allow the selective adsorption of 99TcO4- under wide-ranging pH conditions. In particular, we show that the binding affinity of the cationic nanotraps toward 99TcO4- can be modulated by tuning the local environment around the nanotraps through a halogenation strategy, thereby enabling universal pH 99TcO4- removal. A parent iCOP-1 possessing imidazolium-N+ nanotraps showed fast kinetics (reaching adsorption equilibrium in 1 min), a high adsorption capacity (up to 1434.1 ± 24.6 mg/g), and exceptional selectivity for 99TcO4- and ReO4- (nonradioactive analogue of 99TcO4-) removal in contaminated water. By introducing F groups near the imidazolium-N+ nanotrap sites (iCOP-2), a ReO4- removal efficiency over 58% was achieved in 60 min in 3 M HNO3 solution. Further, introduction of larger Br groups near the imidazolium-N+ binding sites (iCOP-3) imparted a pronounced steric effect, resulting in exceptional adsorption performance for 99TcO4- under super alkaline conditions and from low-activity waste streams at US legacy Hanford nuclear sites. The halogenation strategy reported herein guides the task-specific design of functional adsorbents for 99TcO4- removal and other applications.

Effects of protease inhibitors on dentin erosion: an in situ study.

OBJECTIVE: This in situ study aimed to evaluate the effects of the inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cysteine cathepsins on dentin erosion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten volunteers participated in this study. Each volunteer wore an intraoral appliance containing 4 dentin specimens subjected to different treatments: deionized water as a control, 1 mM 1,10-phenanthroline (an MMP inhibitor), 50 µM E-64 (a cysteine cathepsin inhibitor), and 1 mM 1,10-phenanthroline + 50 µM E-64. The specimens were dipped in 5 ml of the respective solutions for 30 min at room temperature and then exposed to in vivo erosive challenges by rinsing with 150 ml of a cola drink (4 × 5 min/day) for 7 days. The substance loss of the specimens was measured by profilometry. The transverse sections of the specimens were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Thereafter, the demineralized organic matrix (DOM) of the specimens was removed using type I collagen enzyme and assessed by performing profilometry. The differences in substance loss and DOM thickness among the groups were analyzed by one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni's test at a level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: Protease inhibitors significantly reduced substance loss in comparison to that of the control group (all P < 0.05). A significantly thicker DOM was observed for the specimens treated with protease inhibitors than for the control specimens (all P < 0.05). No significant differences in substance loss or DOM thickness were found among the MMP inhibitor, cysteine cathepsin inhibitor, and MMP + cysteine cathepsin inhibitor groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of MMP and cysteine cathepsin inhibitors was shown to increase the acid resistance of human dentin, which may be due to the preservation of the DOM. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The application of protease inhibitors could be considered an appropriate preventive strategy for dentin erosion.

Rotational vertebral artery occlusion in a patient with basilar invagination.

Basilar invagination (BI) is a congenital or acquired craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomaly with odontoid process superiorly migrating into the foramen magnum. Compression of neural structures is the most relevant complication of BI. However BI is also a rare cause of ischemic stroke. In this case we reported a 30-year-old female with BI who developed recurrent ischemic stroke in posterior circulation. Before the onset of ischemic stroke, she didn't present neck pain or clinical signs of lower cranial nerve dysfunction, brainstem compression or transient ischemic attack. At first she suffered from sudden onset of left-sided hemidysesthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging from a local hospital revealed an acute infarction in the right thalamus. Cerebral MR angiography was unremarkable at that time. The tip of the odontoid process had protruded into the foramen magnum and could be observed at the level of the lower medulla, but unfortunately it was ignored by the clinicians and the radiologists. She was given antiplatelet therapy and the sensory disturbance disappeared gradually. However she experienced a recurrence in the pontine and midbrain region 2 months later. At this time she was transferred to our hospital, and reconstructed computed tomography of cervical spine demonstrated basilar invagination, atlanto-axial dislocation, and atlanto-occipital assimilation. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) revealed a dominant right vertebral artery (VA) and a redundant loop in its third segment. Dynamic cerebral angiogram demonstrated that the patient had a Bow Hunter's type phenomenon, with dynamic occlusion of the right dominant VA during contralateral head turn. This case highlighted the necessary of hemodynamic evaluation in asymptomatic basilar invagination.

Preparation and Characterization of a Photo-Crosslinked Methacryloyl-Collagen Composite Film to Promote Corneal Nerve Regeneration via Surface Grafting of Taurine Molecules.

Blindness is frequently caused by corneal abnormalities, and corneal transplantation is the most effective treatment method. It is extremely important to develop high-quality artificial corneas because there are not enough donor corneas accessible for cornea transplantation. One of the most-often utilized materials is collagen, which is the primary component of natural cornea. Collagen-based corneal repair materials have good physicochemical properties and excellent biocompatibility, but how to promote the regeneration of the corneal nerve after keratoplasty is still a big challenge. In this research, in order to promote the growth of nerve cells on a collagen (Col) substrate, a novel collagen-based material was synthesized starting from the functionalization of collagen with unsaturated methacryloyl groups that three-dimensionally photopolymerize to a 3D network of chemically crosslinked collagen (ColMA), onto which taurine molecules were eventually grafted (ColMA-Tr). The physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of the Col, ColMA and ColMA-Tr films were evaluated. By analyzing the results, we found that all the three samples had good moisture retention and aq high covalent attachment of methacryloyl groups followed by their photopolymerization improved the mechanical properties of the ColMA and ColMA-Tr. Most importantly, compared with ColMA, the taurine-modified collagen-MA film significantly promoted the growth of nerve cells and corneal epithelial cells on its surface. Our preliminary results suggest that this novel ColMA-Tr film may have potential use in cornea tissue engineering in the future.

Specific surface modification of liposomes for gut targeting of food bioactive agents.

Liposomes have become a research hotspot in recent years as food delivery systems with attractive properties, including the bilayer structure assembled like the cell membrane, reducing the side-effect and improving environmental stability of cargos, controlling release, extending duration of functional ingredients, and high biodegradable and biocompatible abilities in the body. However, the conventional liposomes lack stability during storage and are weak in targeted absorption in the gastrointestinal track. At present, surface modification has been approved to be an effective platform to shield these barricades and help liposomes deliver the agents safely and effectively to the ideal site. In this review, the gastrointestinal stability of conventional liposomes, cargo release models from liposomes, and the biological fate of the core materials after release were emphasized. Then, the strategies in both physical and chemical perspectives to improve the stability and utilization of liposomes in the gastrointestinal tract, and the emerging approaches for improving gut targeting by specifically modified liposomes and the intestinal receptors relative to liposomes/cargos absorption were highlighted. Last but not the least, the safety, challenges, and opportunities for the improvement of liposomal bioavailability were also discussed to inspire new applications of liposomes as oral carriers.

Slim the face or not: 3D change of facial soft and hard tissues after third molars extraction: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Whether slim the face or not after removed third molars is the concern of some orthodontic treatment candidates. The aim of this article is to explore the volume changes of facial soft and hard tissues after third molars extraction, as well as develop a reproducible clinical protocol to precisely assess facial soft tissue volume change. METHODS: A non-randomized, non-blind, self-controlled pilot study was conducted. 24 adults aged 18-30 had ipsilateral third molars extracted. The body weight change was controlled within 2 kg. Structured light scans were taken under a standardized procedure pre-extraction (T0), three (T1), and six (T2) months post-extraction; CBCTs were taken at T0 and T2. The projection method was proposed to measure the soft tissue volume (STV) and the soft tissue volume change (STVC) by the Geomagic software. The hard tissue volume change (HTVC) was measured in the Dragonfly software. RESULTS: The final sample size is 23, including 5 males (age 26.6 ± 2.5 years) and 18 females (age 27.3 ± 2.5 years). The HTVC was - 2.33 ± 0.46ml on the extraction side. On the extraction side, the STV decreased by 1.396 (95% CI: 0.323-2.470) ml (P < 0.05) at T1, and increased by 1.753 (95% CI: -0.01-3.507) ml (P = 0.05) at T2. T2 and T0 had no difference (P > 0.05). The inter and intra-raters ICC of the projection method was 0.959 and 0.974. There was no correlation between the STVC and HTVC (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: After ipsilateral wisdom teeth extraction, the volume of hard tissue on the extraction side reduces, and the volume of facial soft tissue does not change evidently. However, further research with large sample size is still needed. The STV measurement has excellent repeatability. It can be extended to other interested areas, including forehead, nose, paranasal, upper lip, lower lip and chin, which is meaningful in the field of orthodontics and orthopedics. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR, ChiCTR1800018305 (11/09/2018), http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=28868 .

Evidence for Plant-Conserved Region Mediated Trimeric CESAs in Plant Cellulose Synthase Complexes.

Higher plants synthesize cellulose using membrane-bound, six-lobed cellulose synthase complexes, each lobe containing trimeric cellulose synthases (CESAs). Although molecular biology reports support heteromeric trimers composed of different isoforms, a homomeric trimer was reported for in vitro studies of the catalytic domain of CESA1 of Arabidopsis (AtCESA1CatD) and confirmed in cryoEM structures of full-length CESA8 and CESA7 of poplar and cotton, respectively. In both structures, a small portion of the plant-conserved region (P-CR) forms the only contacts between catalytic domains of the monomers. We report inter-subunit lysine-crosslinks that localize to the small P-CR, negative-stain EM structure, and modeling data for homotrimers of AtCESA1CatD. Molecular dynamics simulations for AtCESA1CatD trimers based on the CESA8 cryoEM structure were stable and dependent upon a small set of residue contacts. The results suggest that homomeric CESA trimers may be important for the synthesis of primary and secondary cell walls and identify key residues for future mutagenic studies.

Selective and Efficient Photoextraction of Aqueous Cr(VI) as a Solid-State Polyhydroxy Cr(V) Complex for Environmental Remediation and Resource Recovery.

Aqueous hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) treatment and chromium resource recovery toward Cr-containing wastes are of significant importance and necessity to both wastewater remediation and resource recovery. Herein, via mild photoreaction conditions with isopropanol (IPA) as an electron donor, a catalyst-free strategy for aqueous Cr(VI) extraction to form an insoluble polyhydroxy Cr(V) complex is developed for the first time. Aqueous Cr(VI) with concentration from 5 to 150 ppm can be efficiently extracted with high selectivity even in the presence of coexisting ions, and the total Cr concentration in residue solution can be as low as 0.5 ppm. The Cr resource could be efficiently recovered as pure Cr2O3 by calcinating the resulting Cr(V) precipitate. Outstanding extraction efficiency could be realized with various IPA concentrations (1.3-12.0 mol/L) by coordinately tuning the pH value to promote the formation of Cr(VI)-IPA ester. The formed ester undergoes intramolecular electron transition under visible light irradiation, resulting in a polyhydroxy solid-state Cr(V) intermediate complex. The controlled pH value blocks further reduction of Cr(V) to soluble Cr(III); thus the insoluble Cr(V) intermediate complex is stabilized thermodynamically under ambient conditions. Because of its electric neutrality property and the strong intermolecule interaction via hydrogen bonds, a dioxo-bridged di-nuclear Cr(V) complex {Cr2(µ-O)2(OH)4[OCH(CH3)2]2} is finally precipitated as the main product. Satisfactory extraction and recovery of Cr from chromium-plating wastewater and discarded stainless steel verify that this approach is ideal for both one-step purification of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater and selective resource recovery from Cr-containing solid wastes in practical application.

Highly Conformal Polymers for Ambulatory Electrophysiological Sensing.

Stable ambulatory electrophysiological sensing is widely used for smart e-healthcare monitoring, clinical diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases, treatment of neurological diseases, and intelligent human-machine interaction. As the favorable signal interaction platform of electrophysiological sensing, the conformal property of on-skin electrodes is an extremely crucial factor that can affect the stability of long-term ambulatory electrophysiological sensing. From the perspective of materials, to realize conformal contact between electrodes and skin for stable sensing, highly conformal polymers are in great demand and attracting ever-growing attention. This review focuses on the recent progress of highly conformal polymers for ambulatory electrophysiological sensing, including their synthetic methods, conformal property, and potential applications. Specifically, three main types of highly conformal polymers for stable long-term electrophysiological signals monitoring are proposed, including nature silk fibroin based conformal polymers, marine mussels bioinspired conformal polymers, and other conformal polymers such as zwitterionic polymers and polyacrylamides. Furthermore, the future challenges and opportunities in preparing highly conformal polymers for on-skin electrodes are also highlighted.

Effect of Different Anesthesia and Puncture Methods of Percutaneous Kyphoplasty on More Than 90-Year-Old Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture: Advantages of the ERAS Concept.

Background: Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) is an effective minimally invasive technique for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) in recent years. This study focuses on the analysis of PKP surgery and anesthesia in osteoporotic vertebral facture patients over 90 years old with the concept of "enhanced recovery after surgery." Methods: This study reviewed 239 patients who were diagnosed with OVF retrospectively between October 2015 and June 2019. According to the method of anesthesia, these patients were divided into Group A (n = 125) and Group B (n = 114). According to the pedicle puncture approach, these patients were divided into Group C (n = 102) and Group D (n = 137). The anterior vertebral height (AVH) and local kyphosis angle (LKA) were used to evaluate the degree of vertebral damage and restoration. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were used for assessing functional outcomes. Some parameters were used to assess the perioperative conditions such as operation time, amount of bone cement perfusion, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, anesthesia recovery time, time out of the bed, hospital stay, hospitalization cost, and complications. Results: The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), anterior vertebral height (AVH), and local kyphosis angle (LKA) 1 day, 1 year after surgery, and at the last follow-up all showed significant improvement (P < 0.05) in comparison with those before surgery both in Groups A and B and Groups C and D. The ODI 1 day after surgery was significantly better in Group B than Group A (P < 0.05). Compared with Group B, Group A required longer time of anesthesia, operation time, anesthesia recovery time, time to get out of bed, and length of hospital stay and more hospitalization costs (P < 0.05). Group D required longer operation time, longer time to get out of bed, more bone cement volume, fluoroscopy time, and more operation hospitalization costs compared with Group C (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We recommend unilateral puncture under local anesthesia for OVF in the patients aged over 90 from the perspective of rapid recovery.

Nano-drug delivery system with enhanced tumour penetration and layered anti-tumour efficacy.

The low delivery efficiency of nano-drugs and limited tumour penetration are still huge challenges in treating solid tumours. Herein, we developed a pH-responsive nano-drug delivery system, CALS/PDMA@DOX, with a size conversion-layered delivery function. The system is composed of a pH-responsive cationic liposome loaded with DOX (CALS) and a polyamidoamine dendrimer loaded with DOX (PAMAM@DOX) modified with 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride (PDMA@DOX) using electrostatic adsorption. In the tumour microenvironment, the positively-charged large-size CALS and the positively-charged small-size PAMAM@DOX were dissociated to exert anti-tumour effects. CALS preferentially targeted tumour angiogenesis endothelial cells. Because of its small size and positive charge, PAMAM@DOX showed excellent tumour penetration. Significant tumour suppression by the system in vivo was confirmed in a 4T1 tumour xenograft mouse model. This pH-triggered size-switching layered delivery nanosystem is a safe and effective cancer treatment delivery platform that improves drug permeability and therapeutic efficacy.

Endoscopic percutaneous suture lateralization with syringe needles for neonatal bilateral vocal cord paralysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the novel technique of percutaneous endoscopic suture lateralization for bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP) in neonates from Shenzhen, China, and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the operation. METHODS: In this retrospective case series, we present four neonates with BVCP diagnosed within 3 days after birth from Shenzhen Children's Hospital. All had stridor, respiratory distress and hypoxemia requiring respiratory support at diagnosis. Endoscopic vocal fold lateralization was performed under general anesthesia using 3.0 mm endotracheal intubation through the improved technique of percutaneous needle-directed placement of a 4-0 Prolene suture, without the use of specialized equipment. A 4-0 Prolene wire was led out through two 10 ml syringe needles, the left vocal cord was fully moved and fixed under the skin with endoscopy monitoring. RESULTS: Overall, 3/4 of the patients showed clinical improvement in stridor and dyspnea 2-3 weeks after the operation and avoided a tracheostomy, two of them could breathe and feed normally when they were discharged from hospital, and one patient had a weak ability to suck but could breathe normally. The last patient had to undergo a tracheotomy due to the poor improvement in respiratory distress. None of the babies experienced any complications from this surgery, but case four presented with a series of complications and other problems in postoperative care related to the tracheostomy. At the last follow-up (mean 8 months), complete function of the bilateral vocal cords was acquired in case two (6 months) and partial function of the vocal cords was acquired in case one (13 months), with the other cases still experiencing paralysis. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic percutaneous suture lateralization may be a reversible, effective and minimally invasive primary treatment for neonatal BVCP. Most of neonates with BVCP undergoing this procedure avoided a tracheotomy.

Pott Puffy Tumor Caused by Dental Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review.

ABSTRACT: Pott puffy tumor (PPT), first described by Sir Percivall Pott in 1760, is a rare clinical entity characterized by a subperiosteal abscess associated with osteomyelitis of the frontal bone caused by direct or hematogenous spread. Although rare in this modern age of antibiotics, this tumor usually occurs as a complication of sinusitis. Moreover, intracranial complications such as subdural abscess, meningitis, sinus thrombosis, or brain abscess can occur concomitantly with the underlying sinusitis, despite the administration of antibiotics. Herein, we present the case of a 48-year-old man who was diagnosed with PPT using computed tomography and treated medically and surgically. The infection remained uncontrollable after surgery and drain removal, owing to the persistence of the original dental focus of the infection. This case highlights the importance of treating the source of the infection in addition to the local area of inflammation, to facilitate complete infection control in PPT.

Effect of Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) Hemicellulose Structure on the Properties of Hemicellulose-Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Film.

Hemicellulose is the second most abundant natural polysaccharide and a promising feedstock for biomaterial synthesis. In the present study, the hemicellulose of loblolly pine was obtained by the alkali extraction-graded ethanol precipitation technique, and the hemicellulose-polyvinyl alcohol (hemicellulose-PVA) composite film was prepared by film casting from water. Results showed that hemicellulose with a low degree of substitution is prone to self-aggregation during film formation, while hemicellulose with high branching has better compatibility with PVA and is easier to form a homogeneous composite film. In addition, the higher molecular weight of hemicellulose facilitates the preparation of hemicellulose-PVA composite film with better mechanical properties. More residual lignin in hemicellulose results in the better UV shielding ability of the composite film. This study provides essential support for the efficient and rational utilization of hemicellulose.

Face morphogenesis is promoted by Pbx-dependent EMT via regulation of Snail1 during frontonasal prominence fusion.

Human cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is a common craniofacial abnormality caused by impaired fusion of the facial prominences. We have previously reported that, in the mouse embryo, epithelial apoptosis mediates fusion at the seam where the prominences coalesce. Here, we show that apoptosis alone is not sufficient to remove the epithelial layers. We observed morphological changes in the seam epithelia, intermingling of cells of epithelial descent into the mesenchyme and molecular signatures of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Utilizing mouse lines with cephalic epithelium-specific Pbx loss exhibiting CL/P, we demonstrate that these cellular behaviors are Pbx dependent, as is the transcriptional regulation of the EMT driver Snail1. Furthermore, in the embryo, the majority of epithelial cells expressing high levels of Snail1 do not undergo apoptosis. Pbx1 loss- and gain-of-function in a tractable epithelial culture system revealed that Pbx1 is both necessary and sufficient for EMT induction. This study establishes that Pbx-dependent EMT programs mediate murine upper lip/primary palate morphogenesis and fusion via regulation of Snail1. Of note, the EMT signatures observed in the embryo are mirrored in the epithelial culture system.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty versus kyphoplasty for the treatment of neurologically intact osteoporotic Kümmell's disease.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and kyphoplasty (PKP) have been widely used to treat neurologically intact osteoporotic Kümmell's disease (KD), but it is still unclear which treatment is more advantageous. Our study aimed to compare and investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of PVP and PKP in the treatment of KD. METHODS: The relevant data that 64 patients of neurologically intact osteoporotic KD receiving PVP (30 patients) or PKP (34 patients) were analyzed. Surgical time, operation costs, intraoperative blood loss, volume of bone cement injection, and fluoroscopy times were compared. Occurrence of cement leakage, transient fever and re-fracture were recorded. Universal indicators of visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were evaluated separately before surgery and at 1 day, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and the final follow-up after operation. The height of anterior edge of the affected vertebra and the Cobb's angle were assessed by imaging. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for at least 24 months. The volume of bone cement injection, intraoperative blood loss, occurrence of bone cement leakage, transient fever and re-fracture between two groups showed no significant difference. The surgical time, the operation cost and fluoroscopy times of the PKP group was significantly higher than that of the PVP group. The post-operative VAS, ODI scores, the height of the anterior edge of the injured vertebrae and kyphosis deformity were significantly improved in both groups compared with the pre-operation. The improvement of vertebral height and kyphosis deformity in PKP group was significantly better than that in the PVP group at every same time point during the follow-up periods, but the VAS and ODI scores between the two groups showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: PVP and PKP can both significantly alleviate the pain of patients with KD and obtain good clinical efficacy and safety. By contrast, PKP can achieve better imaging height and kyphosis correction, while PVP has the advantages of shorter operation time, less radiation volume and operation cost.