Preparation and properties of polyvinyl alcohol/N-succinyl chitosan/lincomycin composite antibacterial hydrogels for wound dressing.

Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric networks capable of absorbing large amounts of water or biological fluids with the properties resembling natural living tissues. Herein, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/N-succinyl chitosan (NSCS)/lincomycin hydrogels for wound dressing were prepared by the freezing/thawing method, then characterized by FTIR, SEM, and TGA. The compression strength, swelling behavior, water retention capacity, antibacterial activity, drug release and cytotoxicity were systematically investigated. The results showed that the introduction of NSCS remarkably enhanced the swelling capacity, leading to the maximum swelling ratio of 19.68 g/g in deionized water. The optimal compression strength of 0.75 MPa was achieved with 30 % NSCS content.Additionally, the incorporation of lincomycin brought a remarkable antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Specifically, 77.71 % of Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited with 75 µg/mL lincomycin, while the MTT assay demonstrated the nontoxic nature of the composite hydrogels. In summary, this PVA/NSCS/lincomycin hydrogel showed promising potential for wound dressing.

Silencing of microRNA-3175 represses cell proliferation and invasion in prostate cancer by targeting the potential tumor-suppressor SCN4B.

MicroRNA-3175 (miR-3175) expression is upregulated in prostate cancer, but its roles and the underlying mechanisms in prostate cancer cell growth and invasion need to be elucidated. This study aimed to uncover the roles of miR-3175 in regulating cell growth and migration, as well as the expression of its predicted target gene cardiac sodium channel ß4-subunit gene (SCN4B). Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and/or western blotting techniques were used to measure miR-3175 and SCN4B expression levels in prostate cancer cells. Inhibitor or mimics transfections were used to overexpress or silence miR-3175 in prostate cancer cells. MTT and Edu assays were applied to assess cell viability. Scratch assay and transwell chambers were used to examine cell migration and invasion abilities. The interaction between miR-3175 and SCN4B was determined by means of luciferase gene reporter, RT-qPCR, and western blotting assays. The results showed that miR-3175 expression was increased and SCN4B expression was decreased in prostate cancer cell lines as compared with normal human prostatic epithelial cells. Compared with the control group, knockdown of miR-3175 resulted in strong inhibitions of cell growth, migration, invasion, and N-cadherin expression, together with an increase in E-cadherin expression. In addition, knockdown of miR-3175 dramatically increased the luciferase activity of the luciferase vector of SCN4B, and increased SCN4B expression. Together, this study illustrated that downregulation of miR-3175 repressed the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells, which might be induced by SCN4B downregulation.

Isoflurane Preconditioning Protects the Myocardium Against Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury by Upregulating GRM1 Expression.

BACKGROUND: Reduction in myocardial I/R injury has become the key to the therapy of ischemic cardiovascular disease. Isoflurane (ISO) preconditioning can mimic the major potent protective mechanisms and attenuate ischemia injury. Nevertheless, the mechanisms involved in the cardioprotective effects afforded by isoflurane preconditioning have never been evaluated systematically. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into an ISO preconditioning group and control group. The size of the infarcted region was measured, and comparisons between ISO preconditioning and control animals were made. The metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1(GRM1) expression levels in all groups were determined by quantitative PCR. GRM1 protein expression and DNA damage relative protein γ-H2AX were measured by western blot analysis. The oxidative stress was detected by immunofluorescence after staining with the Dihydroethidium (DHE). RESULTS: ISO preconditioning significantly reduced the IR induced infarct volumes and reversed the GRM1 protein expression level in I/R induced myocardial injury. Moreover, ISO preconditioning has a protective effect in reducing the I/R induced DNA damage and oxidative stress. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study have demonstrated that the expression of GRM1 provides a protective role in ISO preconditioning against I/R-induced myocardial infarction by reducing the oxidative stress and DNA damage.

Lanthanum and Neodymium Doped Barium Ferrite-TiO2/MCNTs/poly(3-methyl thiophene) Composites with Nest Structures: Preparation, Characterization and Electromagnetic Microwave Absorption Properties.

We report herein the synthesis of a novel nest structured electromagnetic composite through in-situ chemical polymerization of 3-methyl thiophene (3MT) in the presence of the BaFe11.92(LaNd)0.04O19-TiO2 (BFTO) nanoparticles and MCNTs. As an absorbing material, the BFTO/MCNTs/P3MT/wax composites were prepared at various loadings of BFTO/MCNTs/P3MT (0.2:0.10:1.0 ~ 0.2:0.30:1.0), and they exhibited strong microwave absorption properties in the range of 1.0-18 GHz. When the loading of BFTO/MCNTs/P3MT is 0.2:0.30:1.0, the composite has a strongest absorbing peak at 11.04 GHz, and achieves a maximum absorbing value of -21.56 dB. The absorbing peak position moves to higher frequencies with the increase of MCNTs content. The mechanism for microwave absorption of these composites has been explained in detail.

Clinical laboratory urine analysis: comparison of the UriSed automated microscopic analyzer and the manual microscopy.

BACKGROUND: Several automated urine sediment analyzers have been introduced to clinical laboratories. Automated microscopic pattern recognition is a new technique for urine particle analysis. We evaluated the analytical and diagnostic performance of the UriSed automated microscopic analyzer and compared with manual microscopy for urine sediment analysis. METHODS: Precision, linearity, carry-over, and method comparison were carried out. A total of 600 urine samples sent for urinalysis were assessed using the UriSed automated microscopic analyzer and manual microscopy. RESULTS: Within-run and between-run precision of the UriSed for red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC) were acceptable at all levels (CV < 20%). Within-run and between-run imprecision of the UriSed testing for cast, squamous epithelial cells (EPI), and bacteria (BAC) were good at middle level and high level (CV < 20%). The linearity analysis revealed substantial agreement between the measured value and the theoretical value of the UriSed for RBC, WBC, cast, EPI, and BAC (r > 0.95). There was no carry-over. RBC, WBC, and squamous epithelial cells with sensitivities and specificities were more than 80% in this study. CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial agreement between the UriSed automated microscopic analyzer and the manual microscopy methods. The UriSed provides for a rapid turnaround time.

[Evidence for determining the safe surgical margin for pleomorphic adenoma of parotid gland].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the treatment outcomes, complications and histopathologic features between conventional parotidectomy and functional regional parotidectomy in the treatment for pleomorphic adenoma of parotid gland and to provide clinical, and pathological evidence for determining the safe surgical margin. METHODS: Of 109 patients, 60 patients received conventional parotidectomy and 49 patients received functional regional parotidectomy. The rates of tumor recurrence and complications were compared between the groups of patients. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the incidence of tumor recurrence, the facial paralysis and sialosyrinx between two groups. The rates of Frey's syndrome, numbness of auricular region, and facial asymmetry were 30.0%, 61.7%, and 38.3% in the patients with conventional parotidectomy respectively, while the rates were 6.1%, 30.6%, and 8.2% in the patients with functional regional parotidectomy, with significant statistically difference, respectively (P < 0.05). Of 109 patients, 33 with incomplete capsule, 29 with capsule penetration, 25 with pseudopodia, and 13 with satellite nodules. There was no significant difference in the depth of tumor infiltration between two groups of patients. For the tumor smaller than 2 cm, the depth of infiltration in conventional group was from 0.061 to 1.122 mm, functional group was from 0.442 to 3.127 mm (Z = -1.093, P = 0.057); for the tumors between 2 - 4 cm, the depth in conventional group was from 0.081 to 7.908 mm, functional group was from 0.082 to 6.632 mm (Z = -0.214, P = 0.831); for the tumor larger than 4 cm, the depth of infiltration was from 0.340 to 8.476 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional parotidectomy, functional regional parotidectomy has good outcomes and less complications. The surgical margins of pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland should be determined by the size of tumor. The 1 cm-surgical margins are safe for the tumors less than 4 cm, and the tumors more than 4 cm should be treated with superficial parotidectomy.