Enabling Lignocellulose-Sourced Feedstocks to Fabricate Optical Filters with Desired Blocking Wavelength.

Near-infrared (NIR) filters have broad applications in fields such as information safety and privacy protection and environmental monitoring. Traditional NIR filters primarily rely on complex optical designs and environmentally unfriendly substrates, while lignocellulose-sourced NIR filters do not achieve the desired blocking wavelength and therefore face challenges in various application conditions. In this study, we propose a thickness adjustment strategy to precisely control the blocking wavelength of the NIR optical filters. The obtained optical filters with tailored thickness exhibited selective blocking wavelength in visible region (400-650 nm) as well as a high NIR transmittance (over 90%) and ultralow haze at 1400 nm. Given their selective wavelength blocking and high NIR transmittance, these bioselectors demonstrate potential applications in NIR optical fields, such as data security and privacy protection, presenting a promising advancement in next-generation sustainable NIR optical materials fabricated from all-lignocellulose feedstocks.

Serum apelin as a potential biomarker for infantile hemangiomas.

BACKGROUND: Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are common benign vascular tumors in infants. Apelin, an endogenous cytokine, is implicated in the angiogenesis of neoplastic diseases. We aimed to explore the association between apelin and IHs, providing a foundation for clinical applications. METHODS: We identified differential expression of apelin in proliferative IHs compared to healthy controls (HCs) through bioinformatics analysis of publicly available databases and verified by Immunofluorescence. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify the serum levels of apelin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a cohort of 116 cases of proliferative IHs, 65 cases of capillary malformations (CMs), and 70 HCs. RESULTS: Apelin and APJ (APLNR, apelin receptor) were identified as the significantly upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in proliferative IHs. Immunofluorescence staining indicated high expression of apelin in proliferative IHs, while minimal expression in non-IH lesions. Apelin in IHs was reduced following 6 months of propranolol treatment. Serum apelin levels were significantly higher in the IH group compared to both the CM and HC groups. Moreover, apelin exhibited excellent discriminatory ability in distinguishing IHs from HCs, with an area under the curve (AUC) exceeding 0.90. A positive correlation was observed between the levels of apelin and the size of superficial IHs. The expression profiles of VEGF and apelin in IHs were found to be consistent. CONCLUSIONS: Apelin shows promise as a potential biomarker for IHs. The association between apelin and IH size, as well as its responsiveness to propranolol treatment, indicates its possible utility as a valuable indicator for the therapeutic evaluation of IHs.

Massive secretions in paragonimiasis pleural effusion: a new finding concerning clinical recognition and treatment.

Some paragonimiasis patients in Chongqing, southwest China, have recently exhibited pleural effusions (PEs) with massive viscous secretions. This study aimed to investigate their clinical characteristics, thereby promoting effective treatments. A 3-year retrospective review of paragonimiasis patients who were admitted for nonhomogeneous PEs at Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital was conducted. Epidemiological data, symptoms, laboratory and imaging findings, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. Twenty-eight patients were identified, of which 22 (78.6%) were males and 22 (78.6%) were rural residents. Respiratory (85.7%) and constitutional (57.1%) symptoms were common. Paragonimus-specific ELISA was positive in all patients. Eosinophilia was detected in all patients in peripheral blood and PEs. Irregular hyperdense signals were observed in PEs by chest CT scans (96.4%) and ultrasonography (100.0%). Thoracic closed drainage failed in 10 patients (conservative group) because of tube blockage and was eventually replaced by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Eighteen patients (surgery group) initially underwent VATS, or thoracotomy surgery, without complications. Massive secretions, described as "bean-dregs" or "egg-floccule," were detected intraoperatively, which explained the imaging findings and tube blockage. All patients recovered well after 2-3 courses of postoperative praziquantel treatment. Viscous secretions in paragonimiasis patients warrant great concern. Irregular hyperdense signals in effusions are important characteristics in CT scans and ultrasonography. Treatments such as thoracic closed drainage may fail due to viscous secretions blocking the tube; therefore, surgeries should be considered. In-depth multidisciplinary research may help determine the optimal treatment strategy and reveal the origin of these secretions.

Biodiesel production and properties estimation from food waste and domestic wastewater by Rhodosporidium toruloides.

Producing biodiesel from food waste (FW) would benefit both environment and economy. Current study investigated biodiesel production from food waste and domestic wastewater by utilizing the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides under non-sterile condition. The potential of biolipid production from the mixture of effluents of existing local FW treatment facilities and domestic wastewater was firstly evaluated. Then, to increase the nutrient recovery efficiency, FW hydrolysis process by crude enzymes produced from solid FWs by Aspergillus oryzae was introduced and the conditions were further optimized. The optimized hydrolysis process resulted in reducing sugar (RS) yield of 251.81 ± 8.09 mg gdryFW-1 and free amino nitrogen (FAN) yield of 7.70 ± 0.74 mg gdryFW-1 while waste oil with the RS yield of 93.54 ± 0.01 mg gdryFW-1 was easily separated without solvent usage. Compared to the hydrolysate only used, when mixed with domestic wastewater, the results showed obvious enhancement on biomass yield, biolipid yield, and wastewater treatment efficiency. The maximum biolipid yield was 29.80 ± 0.50 mg gdryFW-1 and the estimated quality of biodiesel produced from the biolipid met both EN 14214 and ASTM D6751 standards.

Preparation and Anti-Lung Cancer Activity Analysis of Guaiacyl-Type Dehydrogenation Polymer.

In this paper, guaiacyl dehydrogenated lignin polymer (G-DHP) was synthesized using coniferin as a substrate in the presence of ß-glucosidase and laccase. Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) determination revealed that the structure of G-DHP was relatively similar to that of ginkgo milled wood lignin (MWL), with both containing ß-O-4, ß-5, ß-1, ß-ß, and 5-5 substructures. G-DHP fractions with different molecular weights were obtained by classification with different polar solvents. The bioactivity assay indicated that the ether-soluble fraction (DC2) showed the strongest inhibition of A549 lung cancer cells, with an IC50 of 181.46 ± 28.01 µg/mL. The DC2 fraction was further purified using medium-pressure liquid chromatography. Anti-cancer analysis revealed that the D4 and D5 compounds from DC2 had better anti-tumor activity, with IC50 values of 61.54 ± 17.10 µg/mL and 28.61 ± 8.52 µg/mL, respectively. Heating electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HESI-MS) results showed that both the D4 and D5 were ß-5-linked dimers of coniferyl aldehyde, and the 13C-NMR and 1H-NMR analyses confirmed the structure of the D5. Together, these results indicate that the presence of an aldehyde group on the side chain of the phenylpropane unit of G-DHP enhances its anticancer activity.

Exploration of the Linkages between Lignin and Carbohydrates in Kraft Pulp from Wheat Straw Using a 13C/2H Isotopic Tracer.

To further our understanding of the change in association between lignin and carbohydrates after kraft pulping, isotope-labeled kraft pulp (KP) was prepared using 13C and D double-isotope-labeled wheat straw, and it was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis and ionic liquid treatment to explore the linkages between lignin and carbohydrate complexes in wheat straw. Isotope abundance determination showed that 13C and D abundances in the experimental groups were substantially higher than those in the control group, indicating that the injected exogenous coniferin-[α-13C], coniferin-[γ-13C], and d-glucose-[6-D2] were effectively absorbed and metabolized during wheat internode growth. Solid-state CP/MAS 13C-NMR spectroscopy showed that lignin was mainly linked to polysaccharides via acetal, benzyl ether, and benzyl ester bonds. Kraft pulp (KP) from the labeled wheat straw was degraded by cellulase. The obtained residue was fractionated using the ionic liquid DMSO/TBAH to separate the cellulose-lignin complex (KP-CLC) and xylan-lignin complex (KP-XLC). X-ray diffractometer determination showed that the KP-CLC regenerated cellulose type II from type I after the ionic liquid conversion. The 13C-NMR spectrum of Ac-En-KP-CLC showed that the cellulose-lignin complex structure was chemically bonded between the lignin and cellulose through acetal and benzyl ether bonds. The 13C-NMR spectrum of En-KP-XLC showed a lignin-hemicellulose complex structure, wherein lignin and xylan were chemically bonded by benzyl ether and acetal bonds. These results indicate that the cross-linking between lignin and carbohydrates exists in lignocellulosic fibers even after kraft pulping.

Blocking stanniocalcin 2 reduces sunitinib resistance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) has been identified as a prognostic marker in renal cell carcinoma. However, the role of STC2 in renal cell carcinoma is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between high expression of STC2 and sunitinib resistance in cells and the underlying mechanism. Through GEPIA platform analysis based on TCGA database, it showed that the expression of STC2 in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) was significantly higher than that in the normal population. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting detected significantly higher expression levels of STC2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) cells than that in normal renal cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) determined whether there is a high secretion of STC2 in ccRCC cells. The sunitinib resistance could be significantly reduced by STC2 neutralizing antibody but aggravated by the addition of recombinant human STC2 in ccRCC cells. Sunitinib suppressed STC2 expression and secretion, destroyed lysosomal acidic pH, and accumulated in the cells. However, STC2 neutralizing antibody can reduce the accumulation of sunitinib in cells to improve the inhibitory efficiency of sunitinib on cell proliferation. This study suggested STC2 could serve as a potential novel target for the treatment of ccRCC, anti-STC2 antibody might be an option of immunotherapy in the future.

Application of Polydioxanone Sutures in the Nuss Procedure.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The Nuss procedure is the most common surgical repair for pectus excavatum (PE). Surgical steel wires are used in some modifications of the Nuss procedure to attach one or both ends of a support bar to the ribs. During follow-up, wire breakage was found in some cases. Patients with wire breakage may undergo prolonged bar removal surgery and may be exposed to excessive radiation.In this study, we had a series of patients who received polydioxanone suture (PDS) fixations instead of steel wires. This retrospective study was conducted to explore the differences between these two fixation materials in the incidence of related complications and efficacies. Furthermore, we attempted to observe whether the two materials lead to similar surgical efficacy in the Nuss procedure, whether they have divergent effects on the bar removal surgery, and whether PDS can reduce the risks due to steel wire breakage as expected. METHODS: We retrospectively studied PDS and surgical steel wires as fixation materials for the Nuss procedure in children with congenital PE and reviewed the outcomes and complications. A total of 75 children who had undergone Nuss procedure repairs and bar removals from January 2013 to December 2019 were recruited to participate in this study. They were divided into three groups: the PDS group, the unbroken wire (UBW) group, and the broken wire (BW) group, according to the fixation materials and whether the wires had broken or not. Moreover, we selected the duration of operation (DO), intraoperative blood loss (BL), bar displacement (BD), postoperative pain score (PPS), and incision infection as the risk indicators and the postrepair Haller index (HI) as the effectiveness indicator. These indicators were statistically compared to determine whether there were differences among the three groups. RESULTS: One BD occurred in the PDS and BW groups while none took place in the UBW group. No incision infection was found in any of the groups. The PDS group had the shortest DO, while the DO in the UBW group was shorter than that in the BW group (p < 0.05). BL in the PDS group was less than that in the other two groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, no difference was observed in BL between the BW and UBW groups (p > 0.05). The PPS of the PDS group was less than that of the BW group (p < 0.05), whereas no differences were found between the other two groups. No statistical difference emerged in HI among the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: PDS fixation results in a similar repair outcome and shows certain advantages in the DO, BL, and PPS; also, PDSs are safe and effective in the Nuss procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Synthesis and Antibacterial Properties of Oligomeric Dehydrogenation Polymer from Lignin Precursors.

The lignin precursors of coniferin and syringin were synthesised, and guaiacyl-type and guaiacyl-syringyl-type oligomeric lignin dehydrogenation polymers (DHP and DHP-GS) were prepared with the bulk method. The carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that both DHP-G and DHP-GS contained ß-O-4, ß-5, ß-ß, ß-1, and 5-5 substructures. Extraction with petroleum ether, ether, ethanol, and acetone resulted in four fractions for each of DHP-G (C11-C14) and DHP-GS (C21-C24). The antibacterial experiments showed that the fractions with lower molecular weight had relatively strong antibacterial activity. The ether-soluble fractions (C12 of DHP-G and C22 of DHP-GS) had strong antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus. The C12 and C22 fractions were further separated by preparative chromatography, and 10 bioactive compounds (G1-G5 and GS1-GS5) were obtained. The overall antibacterial activities of these 10 compounds was stronger against E. coli than S. aureus. Compounds G1, G2, G3, and GS1, which had the most significant antibacterial activities, contained ß-5 substructures. Of these, G1 had the best antibacterial activity. Its inhibition zone diameter was 19.81 ± 0.82 mm, and the minimum inhibition concentration was 56.3 ± 6.20 µg/mL. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) showed that the antibacterial activity of G1 was attributable to a phenylcoumarin dimer, while the introduction of syringyl units reduced antibacterial activity.

Cadmium induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration of renal cancer cells by increasing PGE2 through a cAMP/PKA-COX2 dependent mechanism.

Environmental or occupational exposure of Cadmium (Cd) is concerned to be a threat to human health. The kidney is main target of Cd accumulation, which increases the risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In addition, low content of Cd had been determined in kidney cancer, however, the roles of presence of Cd in renal tumors progression are still unclear. The present study is proposed to determine the effect of low-dose Cd exposure on the renal cancer cells and aimed to clarify the underlying mechanisms. The cell viability, cytotoxicity, and the migratory effect of low-dose Cd on the renal cancer cells were detected. Moreover, the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS), Ca2+, and cyclic AMP (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA)-cyclooxygenase2 (COX2) signaling, as well as COX2 catalytic product prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on cell migration and invasion were identified. Our results suggested that low dose Cd exposure promoted migration of renal cancer Caki-1 cells, which was not dependent on Cd-induced ROS and intracellular Ca2+ levels. Cd exposure induced cAMP/PKA-COX2, which mediated cell migration and invasion, and decreased expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker, E-cadherin, but increased expressions of N-cadherin and Vimentin. Moreover, Cd-induced secretion of PGE2 feedback on activation of cAMP/PKA-COX2 signaling, also promoted EMT, migration and invasion of renal cancer Caki-1 cells. This study might contribute to understanding of the mechanism of Cd-induce progression of renal cancer and future studies on the prevention and therapy of renal cell carcinomas.

Elucidation of the Structure of Lignin-Carbohydrate Complexes in Ginkgo CW-DHP by 13C-2H Dual Isotope Tracer.

To elucidate the chemical linkages between lignin and carbohydrates in ginkgo cell walls, 13C-2H-enriched cell wall-dehydrogenation polymers (CW-DHP) were selectively prepared with cambial tissue from Ginkgo biloba L. by feeding D-glucose-[6-2H2], coniferin-[α-13C], and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) inhibitor. The abundant detection of 13C and 2H confirmed that D-glucose-[6-2H2] and coniferin-[α-13C] were involved in the normal metabolism of ginkgo cambial cells that had been effectively labelled with dual isotopes. In the ginkgo CW-DHP, ketal and ether linkages were formed between the C-α of lignin side chains and carbohydrates, as revealed by solid state CP/MAS 13C-NMR differential spectroscopy. Furthermore, the DMSO/TBAH ionic liquids system was used to fractionate the ball-milled CW-DHP into three lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) fractions: glucan-lignin complex (GL), glucomannan-lignin complex (GML), and xylan-lignin complex (XL). The XRD determination indicated that the cellulose type I of the GL was converted into cellulose type II during the separation process. The molecular weight was in the order of Ac-GL > Ac-GML > XL. The 13C-NMR and 1H-NMR differential spectroscopy of 13C-2H-enriched GL fraction indicated that lignin was linked with cellulose C-6 by benzyl ether linkages. It was also found that there were benzyl ether linkages between the lignin side chain C-α and glucomannan C-6 in the 13C-2H-enriched GML fraction. The formation of ketal linkages between the C-α of lignin and xylan was confirmed in the 13C-2H-enriched XL fraction.

Long non-coding RNA FAM66C is associated with clinical progression and promotes cell proliferation by inhibiting proteasome pathway in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in men, and the identification of novel oncogenes is clinically valuable for early screening, prevention and treatment. Recently, the studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the development and progression of cancers including prostate cancer. The present study aims to identify a novel lncRNA that correlated with the survival time of prostate cancer patients and try to explore its biological functions in prostate cancer cells. After analysing the prostate carcinoma dataset of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the lncRNA FAM66C was screened with its expression highly correlated with patient survival time, tumour stage and Gleason pattern. Real-time PCR showed that FAM66C highly expressed in prostate cancer cells, and knockdown FAM66C by siRNAs resulted in significant inhibition of cell growth. Furthermore, the results indicated that FAM66C promoted cell growth due to increasing cell proliferation but not decreasing cell apoptosis. In addition, FAM66C activated the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling to promote cell proliferation. The result of Western Blotting and lysosomal acidity detection showed that knockdown FAM66C increased the protein ubiquitination and the lysosomal acidity. Moreover, inhibition of proteasome pathway could increase the activation of EGFR-ERK signalling and cell proliferation. Taken together, these results suggested that lncRNA FAM66C activate EGFR-ERK signalling to promote cell proliferation by inhibiting proteasome pathway in prostate cancer. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: We demonstrated that lncRNA FAM66C was associated with clinical progression. In addition, highly expressed lncRNA FAM66C in prostate cancer cell lines promoted cell proliferation. Moreover, lncRNA FAM66C activate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling to promote cell proliferation by inhibiting proteasome pathway in prostate cancer. This study might provide lncRNA FAM66C as a potential therapeutic target gene of prostate cancer.

Calcimimetic compound NPS R-467 protects against chronic cadmium-induced mouse kidney injury by restoring autophagy process.

In the kidney, disturbance of calcium homeostasis can cause renal hemodynamic changes, leading to glomerulonephritis, tubular damage and renal vascular disease, and thus promotes the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metals proved to induce disturbances of calcium homeostasis and nephrotoxicity. Calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) is abundantly expressed in the kidney and plays an important role in maintaining body calcium homeostasis. Our previous study suggested that the activation of CaSR could act as a protective pathway to reduce Cd-induced cytotoxicity in renal proximal tubular cells. However, its application in animal models, its treatment efficacy and underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, an in vivo animal model (ICR male mouse, n = 5) subjected to Cd-induced nephrotoxicity was used in this study. In the present study, the results indicated that long-term (4 weeks) but not short-term (7 days) Cd exposure induced kidney injury, including induced glomerular atrophy, renal proximal tubule damage, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level, elevated urine protein quantity, and upregulated kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1). It was further observed that chronic Cd exposure induced inhibition of autophagy flux, which triggered kidney apoptosis and injury. However, NPS R-467 restored Cd-inhibited autophagy flux and reduced Cd-induced kidney apoptosis and injury. Finding from this study indicated that activation of CaSR in prevention from nephrotoxicity and kidney injury caused by Cd, which might be helpful for the treatment of clinical CKD.

Spiritual Well-Being as a Predictor of Emotional Impairment Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability, with injuries classified as mild in severity being the most frequently sustained. While the majority of patients recover within 3 months post-injury, many individuals continue to experience debilitating emotional sequelae several months after the injury. While spiritual well-being has been shown to carry protective benefits against both depression and anxiety in the general population, it has not been investigated as a protective factor in this population. The aim of this study was to investigate whether spiritual well-being leads to a reduction in anxious and depressive symptomatology following mild TBI (mTBI). The Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Spiritual Well-Being Scale were administered to a sample of 83 litigating examinees who had undergone neuropsychological testing to assess their present functioning secondary to mTBI. The existential well-being (EWB) subscale significantly predicted depressive symptomatology. These findings support the role of EWB as contributory factor related to depressive symptomatology following mTBI. Rehabilitation practitioners should consider treatment paradigms that address EWB as a primary contributor to reduce depressive symptomatology, which may ultimately lead to improved functional ability.

Counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are regarded as prospective solar cells for the next generation of photovoltaic technologies and have become research hotspots in the PV field. The counter electrode, as a crucial component of DSSCs, collects electrons from the external circuit and catalyzes the redox reduction in the electrolyte, which has a significant influence on the photovoltaic performance, long-term stability and cost of the devices. Solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, as well as the structure, principle, preparation and characterization of counter electrodes are mentioned in the introduction section. The next six sections discuss the counter electrodes based on transparency and flexibility, metals and alloys, carbon materials, conductive polymers, transition metal compounds, and hybrids, respectively. The special features and performance, advantages and disadvantages, preparation, characterization, mechanisms, important events and development histories of various counter electrodes are presented. In the eighth section, the development of counter electrodes is summarized with an outlook. This article panoramically reviews the counter electrodes in DSSCs, which is of great significance for enhancing the development levels of DSSCs and other photoelectrochemical devices.

New Ca2+ based anticancer nanomaterials trigger multiple cell death targeting Ca2+ homeostasis for cancer therapy.

Calcium ion (Ca2+) is a necessary element for human and Ca2+ homeostasis plays important roles in various cellular process and functions. Recent reaches have targeted on inducing Ca2+ overload (both intracellular and transcellular) for tumor therapy. With the development of nanotechnology, nanoplatform-mediated Ca2+ overload has been safe theranostic model for cancer therapy, and defined a special calcium overload-induced tumor cell death as "calcicoptosis". However, the underlying mechanism of calcicoptosis in cancer cells remains further identification. In this review, we summarized multiple cell death types due to Ca2+ overload that induced by novel anticancer nanomaterials in tumor cells, including apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. We reviewed the roles of these anticancer nanomaterials on Ca2+ homeostasis, including transcellular Ca2+ influx and efflux, and intracellular Ca2+ change in the cytosolic and organelles, and connection of Ca2+ overload with other metal ions. This review provides the knowledge of these nano-anticancer materials-triggered calcicoptosis accompanied with multiple cell death by regulating Ca2+ homeostasis, which could not only enhance their efficiency and specificity, but also enlighten to design new cancer therapeutic strategies and biomedical applications.

Reconstructed wood with high water stability from bark cellulose and corncob lignin.

Natural wood has been highly valued for thousands of years due to its excellent strength, low density, and ease of processing. However, its poor water stability, which leads to swelling and deformation, limits its competitiveness. In response, we designed a reconstructed wood through a process involving pretreatment, TEMPO oxidation, lignin self-assembly, lignin melting, and densification. In this material, cellulose serves as the skeleton, while lignin with a phenylpropyl structure acts as both a filler and binder. The resulting wood exhibits outstanding water stability, with no changes after 60 days of water immersion and a water absorption rate as low as 8.32 %. This stability is achieved through the densification of lignin, which is enhanced by lignin melting and pressure during self-assembly. The reconstructed wood not only offers excellent water stability but also boasts superior UV resistance and thermal stability. Additionally, it can be hot-pressed into straws within a mold, providing better water stability and tensile strength compared to paper straws. This reconstructed wood, made from natural wood and corncob, is biodegradable and environmentally friendly, offering a new approach to wood water stability strategies.

Visualizing the bibliometrics of the inflammatory mechanisms in intervertebral disc degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) constitutes a crucial pathological foundation for spinal degenerative diseases (SDD) and stands as a primary contributor to both low back pain (LBP) and disability. The progression of IVDD is linked to structural and functional alterations in tissues, where an imbalance in the inflammatory microenvironment can induce extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, senescence, and apoptosis. This imbalance is a key pathomechanism in the disease's development, gaining considerable attention in recent years. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of publications pertaining to the inflammatory mechanisms of IVDD to quantitatively assess current research hotspots and directions. METHODS: In this study, we queried the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database covering the period from January 1, 2001, to November 7, 2023. Content in this area was analyzed and visualized using software such as Citespace, Vosviewer, and the bibliometrix package. RESULTS: Findings indicate a consistent annual increase in the number of publications, highlighting the widespread attention garnered by research on the inflammatory mechanisms of IVDD. In terms of journal research, Spine emerged with the highest number of publications, along with significantly elevated total citations and average citations compared to other journals. Regarding country analysis, China led in the number of publications, while the USA claimed the highest number of citations and total link strength. Institutional analysis revealed Sun Yat-sen University as having the highest number of publications and total link strength, with Thomas Jefferson University securing the highest total citations. Author analysis identified Ohtori, S. with the highest number of publications, Risbud, M.V. with the highest number of citations, and Inoue, G. with the highest total link strength, all of whom have made significant contributions to the field's development. Citation and co-citation analyses indicated that highly cited documents primarily focused on classical studies exploring inflammatory mechanisms in IVDD pathogenesis. Keyword analysis showcased the ongoing research hotspot as the further investigation of mechanisms and treatment studies. Recent years have seen a shift towards exploring pyroptosis, necrotic apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, oxidative stress, and bacterial infection, among other mechanisms. In terms of treatment, alongside traditional monomer, drug, and compound therapies for IVDD, research is increasingly concentrating on stem cell therapy, exosomes, hydrogels, and scaffolds. CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis of research on inflammatory mechanisms in IVDD provides insights into the current status, hotspots, and potential future trends. These findings can serve as a valuable reference and guide for researchers in the field.

Research Advances in Neuroblast Migration in Traumatic Brain Injury.

Neuroblasts were first derived from the adult mammalian brains in the 1990s by Reynolds et al. Since then, persistent neurogenesis in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampus and subventricular zone (SVZ) has gradually been recognized. To date, reviews on neuroblast migration have largely investigated glial cells and molecular signaling mechanisms, while the relationship between vasculature and cell migration remains a mystery. Thus, this paper underlines the partial biological features of neuroblast migration and unravels the significance and mechanisms of the vasculature in the process to further clarify theoretically the neural repair mechanism after brain injury. Neuroblast migration presents three modes according to the characteristics of cells that act as scaffolds during the migration process: gliophilic migration, neurophilic migration, and vasophilic migration. Many signaling molecules, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), affect vasophilic migration, synergistically regulating the migration of neuroblasts to target areas along blood vessels. However, the precise role of blood vessels in the migration of neuroblasts needs to be further explored. The in-depth study of neuroblast migration will most probably provide theoretical basis and breakthrough for the clinical treatment of brain injury diseases.

IVD fibrosis and disc collapse comprehensively aggravate vertebral body disuse osteoporosis and zygapophyseal joint osteoarthritis by posteriorly shifting the load transmission pattern.

BACKGROUND: Disuse is a typical phenotype of osteoporosis, but the underlying mechanism has yet to be identified in elderly patients. Disc collapse and intervertebral disc (IVD) fibrosis are two main pathological changes in IVD degeneration (IDD) progression, given that these changes affect load transmission patterns, which may lead to disuse osteoporosis of vertebral bodies and zygapophyseal joint (ZJ) osteoarthritis (ZJOA) biomechanically. METHODS: Clinical data from 59 patients were collected retrospectively. Patient vertebral bony density, ZJOA grade, and disc collapse status were judged via CT. The IVD fibrosis grade was determined based on the FA measurements. Regression analyses identified potential independent risk factors for osteoporosis and ZJOA. L4-L5 numerical models with and without disc collapse and IVD fibrosis were constructed; stress distributions on the bony endplate (BEP) and zygapophyseal joint (ZJ) cartilages were computed in models with and without disc collapse and IVD fibrosis. RESULTS: A significantly lower disc height ratio and significantly greater FA were recorded in patients with ZJOA. A significant correlation was observed between lower HU values and two parameters related to IDD progression. These factors were also proven to be independent risk factors for both osteoporosis and ZJOA. Correspondingly, compared to the intact model without IDD. Lower stress on vertebral bodies and greater stress on ZJOA can be simultaneously recorded in models of disc collapse and IVD fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: IVD fibrosis and disc collapse simultaneously aggravate vertebral body disuse osteoporosis and ZJOA by posteriorly shifting the load transmission pattern.