Stretchable, flexible fabric heater based on carbon nanotubes and water polyurethane nanocomposites by wet spinning process.

Wearable heaters are essential for people living in cold regions, but creating heaters that are low-cost, lightweight, and high air permeability poses challenges. In this study, we developed a wearable heater using carbon nanotube/water polyurethane (CNT/WPU) nanocomposite fibers that achieve high extension rate and conductivity. We produced low-cost and mass-produced fibers using the wet spinning. With heat treatment, we increased the elongation rate of the fibers to 1893.8% and decreased the resistivity to 0.07 Ω*m. then wove the fibers into a heating fabric using warp knitting, that resistance is 493 Ω. Achieved a uniform temperature of 58 °C at voltage of 36 V, with a thermal stability fluctuation of -5.0 °C to +6.3 °C when bent from 0° to 360°. Our results show that wearable heaters have excellent flexibility and stretchability, due to nanocomposite fibers and special braided structure, which offer a novel idea for wearable heaters.

Glycogen Metabolism and Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Role of Glycogen Synthase 1 in Regulation of Synovial Inflammation via Blocking AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation.

Objective: To investigate the role of glycogen metabolism in regulating rheumatoid fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS)-mediated synovial inflammation and its underlying mechanism. Methods: FLSs were separated from synovial tissues (STs) obtained from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Glycogen content was determined by periodic acid Schiff staining. Protein expression was analyzed by Western blot or immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. FLS proliferation was detected by EdU incorporation. Migration and invasion were measured by Boyden chamber assay. Results: Glycogen levels and glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1) expression were significantly increased in the ST and FLSs of RA patients. TNF-α or hypoxia induced GYS1 expression and glycogen synthesis in RA FLSs. GYS1 knockdown by shRNA decreased the expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, CCL-2, MMP-1, and MMP-9 and proliferation and migration by increasing AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in RA FLS. AMPK inhibitor or knockdown AMPK could reverse the inhibitory effect of GYS1 knockdown on the inflammatory response in RA FLSs; however, an AMPK agonist blocked RA FLS activity. We further determined that hypoxia-inducible factor-1α mediates TNF-α- or hypoxia-induced GYS1 expression and glycogen levels. Local joint depletion of GYS1 or intraperitoneal administration with an AMPK agonist ameliorated the severity of arthritis in rats with collagen-induced arthritis. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that GYS1-mediated glycogen accumulation contributes to FLS-mediated synovial inflammation in RA by blocking AMPK activation. In our knowledge, this is a first study linking glycogen metabolism to chronic inflammation. Inhibition of GYS1 might be a novel therapeutic strategy for chronic inflammatory arthritis, including RA.

[A 2-year follow-up results of knee arthroscopic synovectomy plus disease modifying antirheumatic drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of knee arthroscopic synovectomy plus disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: A total of 97 RA patients were treated with knee arthroscopic synovectomy plus DMARD after arthroscopy. The control group received only DMARD. The patients were assessed at pre-treatment and 1, 6, 12, 24 month post-treatment. Tender joint count, swollen joint count, morning stiffness, resting pain, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF) and disease activity score (DAS) 28 were observed. RESULTS: Tender joint count, swollen joint count, morning stiffness, resting pain, patient global assessment, physician global assessment and DAS 28 score improved significantly at 1, 6 month post-treatment in the combined treatment group versus the control group. At 2 years post-treatment, there was still significant difference in DAS28 between two groups. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment of knee arthroscopic synovectomy and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs can control the disease activity of RA during an early period. And a long-term efficacy may be maintained.

[Significance of arthroscopy in the diagnosis of unilateral knee arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of arthroscopy in the diagnosis of unilateral knee arthritis of unknown causes. METHODS: During December 2005 to February 2008,74 patients of unilateral knee arthritis of unknown origins were treated with arthroscopy. And magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed for all of them before knee arthroscopy. The diagnosis was made by the synovial appearance in gross examination in arthroscopy combined with synovial pathology, synovial fluid analysis and clinical manifestations. RESULTS: Among these patients, 71 cases were definitely diagnosed and 3 cases had unknown causes. Thirty-nine cases (52.9%) were of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 7 (9.5%) of seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SPA), 7 patients (9.5%) of septic arthritis, 6 patients (8.1%) of RA coexisting gout arthritis, 5 patients (6.5%) of gout arthritis, 5 patients (6.5%) of tuberculosis of knee joint, 1 patient (1.3%) of pigmented villonodular synovitis and 1 patient (1.3%) of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopy provides valuable diagnostic information in unilateral knee arthritis of unknown causes. RA is the major cause of unilateral knee arthritis of unknown causes. Synovial appearance in gross examination in arthroscopy, synovial pathology and crystals are helpful to make a diagnosis.