C6 ceramide motivates the anticancer sensibility induced by PKC412 in preclinical head and neck squamous cell carcinoma models.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (anti-HNSCC) cell activity by C6 ceramide and multikinase inhibitor PKC412. Experiments were performed on HNSCC cell lines (SQ20B and SCC-9) and primary human oral carcinoma cells. Results showed that PKC412 inhibited HNSCC cell proliferation without provoking apoptosis activation. Cotreatment of C6 ceramide significantly augmented PKC412-induced lethality in HNSCC cells. PKC412 decreased Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation in HNSCC cells, facilitated with cotreatment of C6 ceramide. In contrast, exogenous expression of a constitutively active Akt restored Akt-mTOR activation and attenuated lethality by the cotreatment. We propose that Mcl-1 is a primary resistance factor of PKC412. The cytotoxicity of PKC412 in HNSCC cells was potentiated with Mcl-1 short hairpin RNA knockdown, but was attenuated with Mcl-1 overexpression. Intriguingly, C6 ceramide downregulated Mcl-1 in HNSCC cells. In vivo, PKC412 oral administration inhibited SQ20B xenograft tumor growth in severe combined immunodeficient mice. The antitumor activity of PKC412 was further sensitized with coadministration of liposomal C6 ceramide. Together, we suggest that PKC412 could be further studied as a promising anti-HNSCC strategy, alone or in combination with C6 ceramide.

Shape-recovery of implanted shape-memory devices remotely triggered via image-guided ultrasound heating.

Shape-memory materials hold great potential to impart medical devices with functionalities useful during implantation, locomotion, drug delivery, and removal. However, their clinical translation is limited by a lack of non-invasive and precise methods to trigger and control the shape recovery, especially for devices implanted in deep tissues. In this study, the application of image-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) heating is tested. Magnetic resonance-guided HIFU triggered shape-recovery of a device made of polyurethane urea while monitoring its temperature by magnetic resonance thermometry. Deformation of the polyurethane urea in a live canine bladder (5 cm deep) is achieved with 8 seconds of ultrasound-guided HIFU with millimeter resolution energy focus. Tissue sections show no hyperthermic tissue injury. A conceptual application in ureteral stent shape-recovery reduces removal resistance. In conclusion, image-guided HIFU demonstrates deep energy penetration, safety and speed.

Predictive factors analysis of cesarean scar pregnancy treated by local injection of Lauromacrogol combined with curettage.

To explore factors related to local injection of Lauromacrogol combined with curettage in the treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy. A total of 24 successful and 8 unsuccessful cases were included. The age, gravidity, parity, times of cesarean section, interval from the last cesarean section, preoperative human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), HCG on the first day after operation, decreasing rate of HCG on the first day after operation, average diameter of gestational sac, and preoperative vaginal bleeding days were analyzed. There were no significant differences of age, gravidity, parity, previous cesarean section times between groups. The differences of preoperative HCG, HCG on the first day after operation, the decreasing rate of HCG, gestational sac diameter, preoperative vaginal bleeding days were statistically significant between groups. The interval from the last cesarean section and the decreasing rate of HCG were protective factors, while the mean diameter of gestational sac and period of vaginal bleeding before operation were risk factors for the success of the treatment. The mean diameter of gestational sac owned the best predictive value.

Unexpected difficult airway due to severe upper tracheal distortion: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Difficult airway is a significant cause of anesthesia-associated death and disability. Currently, physical examinations of thyromental distance, mouth opening, Mafampaii classification, etc. combined with X-ray, computed tomography (CT), and other imaging technologies are mainly used to evaluate difficult airways. However, in many special cases, i.e., emergency surgery, imaging examinations cannot be completed preoperatively. Such patients' airway can only be evaluated through general physical examination, which inevitably increases the likelihood of an unexpected difficult airway during anesthesia. CASE SUMMARY: We report a rare case of difficult intubation because of severe upper trachea distortion after induction. Emergency holmium laser lithotripsy was performed under transurethral ureteroscopy because the patient had anuria for 4 d and a creatinine level of 890 µmol/L. Due to the urgency of the condition, chest radiography or chest CT was not examined before surgery and the anesthesiologist did not evaluate the airway adequately, resulting in an unexpected difficult airway. CONCLUSION: The incidence of tracheal malformation and tracheal stenosis is extremely low, but the risk of hypoxia and even death due to difficult airways is extremely high for such patients. It is recommended to complete preoperative imaging examinations of the airway. For life-threatening emergency patients, a pre-anesthesia reassessment should be performed and surgeons should be prepared to prevent and manage the difficult airway.

Gelatin-based nanofiber membranes loaded with curcumin and borneol as a sustainable wound dressing.

Infection is a huge obstacle to wound healing. Thus, to enhance the healing of infected wounds, wound dressings that permit the dual delivery of antimicrobials and antioxidants are highly desirable. In this study, a series of gelatin-based nanofiber membranes with different curcumin contents were fabricated via solution electrospinning. The obtained membranes were characterized in terms of their morphologies, in addition to their physical, mechanical, and in vitro properties. The results showed that the membranes maintained an integrated morphology, excellent water absorption capability, satisfactory mechanical properties, and a high dissolution rate of curcumin. The addition of curcumin and borneol conferred the membranes the ability to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and eliminate free radicals. Furthermore, cytocompatibility testing using the L929 cell line confirmed the excellent biocompatibility of the membranes. These gelatin-based nanofiber membranes loaded with curcumin and borneol can therefore be considered as promising materials for dressing wounds. Moreover, the use of biodegradable polymers and environmentally sustainable production techniques in this system render it suitable for the commercial manufacture of composite membranes.

All-Organic Conductive Biomaterial as an Electroactive Cell Interface.

Various attractive materials are being used in bioelectronics recently. In this paper, hydroxymethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT-OH) has been in situ integrated and polymerized on the surface of the regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) film to construct a biocompatible electrode. In order to improve the efficiency of in situ polymerization, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was adopted as surfactant to construct a well-organized and stable poly(hydroxymethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT-OH) coating, whereas ammonium persulfate was used as oxidant. The effects of dosages of surfactant and oxidant, initial pH value, and monomer concentration on the polymerization were studied. Under the optimal conditions, the RSF/PEDOT-OH film exhibited a square resistance of 3.28 × 105 Ω corresponding to a conductance of 6.1 × 10-3 S/cm. Scanning electron microscope images indicated that PEDOT-OH was deposited uniformly on the surface of the RSF film with SDS. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that interactions existed between the peptide linkages of silk fibroin (SF) macromolecules and PEDOT-OH. The RSF/PEDOT-OH film displayed favorable electrochemical stability, biocompatibility, and fastness. This study provides a feasible method to endow conductivity to RSF materials in various forms. In addition, the conductive layer and biocompatible silk substrate make the RSF/PEDOT-OH biomaterial highly suitable for potential applications in bioelectric devices, sensors, and tissue engineering.

Enzyme-mimetic catalyst-modified nanoporous SiO2-cellulose hybrid composites with high specific surface area for rapid H2O2 detection.

Mesoporous silica-cellulose hybrid composites were prepared by surface sol-gel coating process on nature cellulose substance. The template CTAB (hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium Bromide) in the silica film can be removed by extraction to obtain high specific surface area (80.7 m(2) g(-1)), which is 2 orders of magnitude higher than that of raw cellulose. In the following, the enzyme-mimetic catalyst and chromogenic agent were introduced onto the hybrid system. Just as the peroxidase, the resultant hybrid material exhibits extraordinary sensitivity for the H2O2 and shows an immediate and obvious color change. The detection limit is about 1 µmol L(-1) by the naked eye.

[Balloon inflating and cement filling for treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head: a three-dimensional infinite-element study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biomechanical changes of balloon inflating and cement filling in avascular necrosis of the femoral head using finite-element analysis. METHODS: The procedure of percutaneous balloon inflating and cement filling was simulated in fresh specimen of human femoral head. CT scan and three-dimensional reconstruction were used to establish the three-dimensional model of the femoral head. The physiological load was analyzed using three-dimensional finite element model to simulate the load and calculate stress on the hip during walking. Finite element analysis was performed on the avascular necrosis model and balloon inflating and bone cement filling model to measure the Von-Mises force at the top, neck and weight-bearing area of the femoral head. Another 8 fresh specimens of femoral head necrosis of human were obtained to stimulate balloon inflating and bone cement filling procedures, and the displacement of the femoral head under different loads was recorded before and after the procedures. RESULTS: After bone cement filling in the necrosis area, the load reduced significantly in the weight-bearing area of the femoral head, and the load distribution became more uniform at the femoral neck and the top of the head. The anti-deformation ability of the necrosis femoral head increased after bone cement filling. The infinite-element analysis and specimen biomedical test showed similar results. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous balloon inflating and bone cement filling in the necrosis area can change the biomechanics mechanism of the femoral head and neck, improve the supporting capacity under load, and prevent the progression of head collapse.