RNA Coating Promotes Peri-Implant Osseointegration.

In addition to transmitting and carrying genetic information, RNA plays an important abiotic role in the world of nanomaterials. RNA is a natural polyanionic biomacromolecule, and its ability to promote osteogenesis by binding with other inorganic materials as an osteogenic induction agent was discovered only recently. However, whether it can promote osseointegration on implants has not been reported. Here, we investigated the effect of the RNA-containing coating materials on peri-implant osseointegration. Total RNA extracted from rat muscle tissue was used as an osteogenic induction agent, and hyaluronic acid (HA) was used to maintain its negative charge. In simulated body fluids (SBF), in vitro studies demonstrated that the resulting material encouraged calcium salt deposition. Cytological experiments showed that the RNA-containing coating induced greater cell adhesion and osteogenic differentiation in comparison to the control. The results of animal experiments showed that the RNA-containing coating had osteoinductive and bone conduction activities, which are beneficial for bone formation and osseointegration. Therefore, the RNA-containing coatings are useful for the surface modification of titanium implants to promote osseointegration.

Infectious factors in myocarditis: a comprehensive review of common and rare pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Myocarditis is a significant health threat today, with infectious agents being the most common cause. Accurate diagnosis of the etiology of infectious myocarditis is crucial for effective treatment. MAIN BODY: Infectious myocarditis can be caused by viruses, prokaryotes, parasites, and fungi. Viral infections are typically the primary cause. However, some rare opportunistic pathogens can also damage heart muscle cells in patients with immunodeficiencies, neoplasms and those who have undergone heart surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This article reviews research on common and rare pathogens of infectious myocarditis, emphasizing the complexity of its etiology, with the aim of helping clinicians make an accurate diagnosis of infectious myocarditis.

Bacteroid cerium oxide particles promote macrophage polarization to achieve early vascularization and subsequent osseointegration around implants.

The establishment of an osseointegration is crucial for the long-term stability and functionality of implant materials, and early angiogenesis is the key to successful osseointegration. However, the bioinertness of titanium implants affects osseointegration, limiting their clinical application. In this study, inspired by the rapid polarization of macrophages following the phagocytosis of bacteria, we developed bacteroid cerium oxide particles; these particles were composed of CeO2 and had a size similar to that of Bacillus (0.5 µ m). These particles were constructed on the implant surfaces using a hydrothermal method. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the particles effectively decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in macrophages (RAW264.7). Furthermore, these particles exerted effects on M1 macrophage polarization, enhanced nitric oxide (NO) secretion to promote vascular regeneration, and facilitated rapid macrophage transition to the M2 phenotype. Subsequently, the particles facilitated human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) migration. In vivo studies showed that these particles rapidly stimulated innate immune responses in animal models, leading to enhanced angiogenesis around the implant and improved osseointegration. In summary, the presence of bacteroid cerium oxide particles on the implant surface regulated and accelerated macrophage polarization, thereby enhancing angiogenesis during the immune response and improving peri-implant osseointegration.

The application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in emergent airway management - a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Emergent airway occurrences pose a significant threat to patient life. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been proven to be an effective method for managing emergent airways. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients receiving ECMO as an adjunct for emergent airway management from January 2018 to December 2022 at the People's Hospital of Zhongshan City. We collected the basic information of the patients, their blood gas data before and after ECMO, the related parameters of ECMO, and the outcome and then analyzed and summarized these data. RESULTS: Six patients, with an average age of 51.0(28-66) years, received veno-venous (VV)- ECMO as an adjunct due to emergent airway issues. The average ECMO support duration was 30.5(11-48) hours. All six patients were successfully weaned off ECMO support, with five (83.3%) being successfully discharged after a hospital stay of 15.5(7-55) days. All six patients underwent VV-ECMO through femoral-internal jugular vein cannulation. Among these, five patients, whose airway obstruction was due to hemorrhage, underwent a non-anticoagulant ECMO strategy with no recorded thrombotic events. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid establishment of ECMO support is aided by the establishment of a standardized ECMO initiation protocol and the formation of a multidisciplinary rapid-response ECMO team, which is particularly crucial for emergent airway management. When airway obstruction results from hemorrhagic factors, the early adoption of a non-anticoagulant ECMO strategy can be considered when implementing VV-ECMO.

Slice-layer COFs-aerogel: a regenerative dispersive solid-phase extraction adsorbent for determination of ultra-trace quinolone antibiotics.

A novel type of three-dimensional network structure, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) aerogel, was fabricated and applied to dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) of quinolone antibiotics (QAs). Density functional theory (DFT) was applied to investigate the possible interaction mechanism and results confirmed that the strong adsorption affinity is attributed to the intralayer hydrogen bonds and π-π interaction. Furthermore, a sensitive analytical method based on COFs-aerogel for determining quinolone antibiotics residues in water and honey samples was developed and HPLC-MS/MS was used for sample detection and quantification. Under the optimal conditions, COFs-aerogel exhibited a wide linearity (0.1-500 ng∙L-1), low limits of detection (0.02-0.06 ng∙L-1), and good precision (RSD ˂ 10%) for selected QAs. A preliminary practical application of the developed method was proved by the efficient detection of quinolone antibiotics in water and food samples with good recoveries (68.2-104% and 64.0-100% for water and honey samples, respectively). Combining the experimental data with theoretical calculation, results illustrated that COFs-aerogel holds a great potential to capture contaminants and address environmental and food safety issues.

New insights into autophagy in inflammatory subtypes of asthma.

Asthma is a heterogeneous airway disease characterized by airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. Autophagy is a self-degrading process that helps maintain cellular homeostasis. Dysregulation of autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases. In the context of asthma, autophagy has been shown to be associated with inflammation, airway remodeling, and responsiveness to drug therapy. In-depth characterization of the role of autophagy in asthma can enhance the understanding of the pathogenesis, and provide a theoretical basis for the development of new biomarkers and targeted therapy for asthma. In this article, we focus on the relationship of autophagy and asthma, and discuss its implications for asthma pathogenesis and treatment.

Biomimetic Mineralized Fiber Bundle-Inspired Scaffolding Surface on Polyetheretherketone Implants Promotes Osseointegration.

The stress shielding effect caused by traditional metal implants is circumvented by using polyetheretherketone (PEEK), due to its excellent mechanical properties; however, the biologically inert nature of PEEK limits its application. Endowing PEEK with biological activity to promote osseointegration would increase its applicability for bone replacement implants. A biomimetic study is performed, inspired by mineralized collagen fiber bundles that contact bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) on the native trabecular bone surface. The PEEK surface (P) is first sulfonated with sulfuric acid to form a porous network structure (sP). The surface is then encapsulated with amorphous hydroxyapatite (HA) by magnetron sputtering to form a biomimetic scaffold that resembles mineralized collagen fiber bundles (sPHA). Amorphous HA simulates the composition of osteogenic regions in vivo and exhibits strong biological activity. In vitro results show that more favorable cell adhesion and osteogenic differentiation can be attained with the novelsurface of sPHA than with SP. The results of in vivo experiments show that sPHA exhibits osteoinductive and osteoconductive activity and facilitates bone formation and osseointegration. Therefore, the surface modification strategy can significantly improve the biological activity of PEEK, facilitate effective osseointegration, and inspire further bionic modification of other inert polymers similar to PEEK.

Correlation analysis of TGF-ß1, MMP-9, TIMP-1, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in refractory chronic rhinosinusitis: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential correlation of transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), Interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in refractory chronic rhinosinusitis. METHODS: A total of 150 participants were retrospectively included in this study from August 2018 to February 2020. The people enrolled were equally allocated into refractory group (patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis), chronic group (patients with chronic rhinosinusitis), and control group (normal people). The level of TGF-ß1, MMP-9, TIMP-1, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α were recorded. The unconditional multivariate binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors affecting refractory chronic rhinosinusitis. RESULTS: The Davos score, T&T olfactometer threshold test, and Lund-Mackay CT scores in refractory group were significantly higher than the chronic group (P<0.05). The level of TGF-ß1, MMP-9, TIMP-1, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α in the refractory group were significantly higher than the chronic group and the control group (all P<0.05). Similarly, the level of the above mentioned indexes in the chronic group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). The Davos score, T&T olfactometer threshold test score, Lund-Mackay CT score, and the level of TGF-ß1, MMP-9, TIMP-1, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α positively correlated with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis. Moreover, the unconditional multivariate binary logistic regression showed that the influencing factors of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis included TGF-ß1, MMP-9, TIMP-1, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study provide evidence for TGF-ß1, MMP-9, TIMP-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, and TNF-α as the influencing factors of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis.

Phase transition induced by an external electric field as a buffer to facilitate the initial decomposition of a series of catenated nitrogen energetic systems: a first-principles study.

The effect of an external electric field on the crystal and electronic structures, Hirshfeld surfaces, hydrogen-bonding network, mechanical properties, vibrational properties and initial decomposition mechanisms of a series of chain-catenated Nx (x = 4, 8, 10) energetic crystals was investigated via a first-principles study. The results indicate that the response behaviors to the external electric field show a great dependence on the nitrogen chain length and the intensity of the external electric field. The critical points of the phase transition were found and are embodied in various properties of all the compounds. Analysis of the electronic structures shows the increasing ability of the electron transition, thereby leading to possible subsequent decomposition reactions. The studies on Hirshfeld surfaces and the hydrogen-bonding network suggest that the external electric field can modify and tune the spatial distribution of the hydrogen-bonding network, thereby affecting the physicochemical properties. Our comprehensive analysis based on the mechanical properties, vibrational features and initial decomposition mechanism reveals that the external electric field can weaken the trigger bonds, reduce the thermal stability, and initiate decomposition. Our findings provide insights into the comprehensive understanding of the effects of an external electric field on energetic materials, especially for polynitrogen chain-catenated and even all-nitrogen compounds.

Functional group modified 1D interpenetrated metal-organic frameworks on perfluorooctanoic acid adsorption: Experimental and theoretical calculation study.

Functional groups modified metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) was synthesized via a pre-tailor method and served as an adsorbent for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) removal. The material was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and N2 sorption-desorption. Monte Carlo simulation and molecular dynamics are derived to predict the possible molecular packing and adsorption mechanism. The Hirshfeld surface with reduced density gradient analysis demonstrates that PFOA is adsorbed on MOF-X mainly affected by van der Waals interactions and steric effects. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated on the basis of a static experiment. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm were fitted well to characterize adsorption process. Hereinto, amino-modified MOFs reached the highest adsorption efficiency and the maximum capacity was 185.6 mg/g. Combing the experimental data with theoretical simulation, results indicated that functional group modification is an effective approach to alter the crystal structure and then affect the adsorptive properties of MOFs.

Long non-coding RNA PTAR inhibits apoptosis but promotes proliferation, invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells by binding miR-101.

In this study, the expression of PTAR in cervical cancer tissues and cells was quantified by real-time PCR. Then, the roles of PTAR in HeLa cell proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed by a CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively.The effects of PTAR on cell migration and invasion were checked by Transwell and wound healing assays.The effect of PTAR on HeLa cell apoptosis was analyzed using annexin V/FITC staining. Finally, the interaction between PTAR and miR-101 in uterine cancer was verified through a dual-luciferase reporter assay and correlation analysis. The results showed that PTAR expression was aberrantly ascended in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines (Caski, SW756, SiHa, C33A and HeLa cells). Overexpressed PTAR could promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion in HeLa cells, which were suppressed by PTAR knockdown. Moreover, cell cycle progression stalled at the G1-G0 phase could be released with PTAR overexpression. The transfection of a PTAR vector inhibited apoptosis, while si-PTAR transfection increased apoptosis. Furthermore, PTAR could act as an endogenous sponge by directly binding to miR-101 and downregulating miR-101 expression. In conclusion, lncRNAPTAR plays a vital role and may be an effective target for the diagnosis and therapy of cervical cancer.

Fabrication of thermoresponsive metal-organic nanotube sponge and its application on the adsorption of endocrine-disrupting compounds and pharmaceuticals/personal care products: Experiment and molecular simulation study.

Thermoresponsive metal-organic nanotube modified (MONT-pNIPAM, pNIPAM = poly N-isopropylacrylamide) sponge was synthesized using the dip-coating method and served as an adsorbent for endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) and pharmaceuticals/personal care products (PPCPs) removal. The material was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and N2 sorption-desorption. Nonlinear regression-based equations were derived to optimize pH and ionic strength during process. Though thermoresponsive polymer phase transition between dissolve and aggregate, realizing the adsorption tunnel "ON-OFF" under the temperature control. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated on the basis of a static experiment. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm were fitted well to characterize adsorption. At an initial concentration of 50 mg L-1, maximum adsorption capacity were 128 mg/g, 184 mg/g and partition coefficient were 1.09 mg g-1 µM-1, 1.13 mg g-1 µM-1 for dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and parachlorometaxylenol (PCMX), respectively. The density-functional theory (DFT) was applied to calculate the interaction energy and investigate the possible mechanism. Combining the experimental data with theoretical calculation, results demonstrated that the MONT-pNIPAM sponge was a highly efficient adsorbent material that was suitable for the removal of EDCs/PPCPs from water.

Comparative risk of new-onset hyperkalemia for antihypertensive drugs in patients with diabetic nephropathy: A Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Several randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the risk of hyperkalemia of antihypertensive drugs on diabetic nephropathy, yet the results are conflicting. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for RCTs investigating the risk of antihypertensive drugs on hyperkalemia in diabetic nephropathy from inception to May 31, 2020. Direct comparative meta-analysis showed that the proportion of patients with hyperkalemia was significantly higher in the ARB, aldosterone antagonist, renin inhibitor group than in the placebo group. Moreover, the risk of hyperkalemia in the ARB group was higher than that in the CCB group. Network meta-analysis showed the risk of hyperkalemia in the ARB, aldosterone antagonist, and renin inhibitor group was higher than in the placebo group, but there was no statistical difference between the CCB, ACEI, ß blocker, endothelin inhibitor, and diuretic groups than in the placebo group. The possibility of antihypertensive drugs in risk of hyperkalemia being the worst treatment was aldosterone antagonist (98.8%), followed by ARB (73.8%), renin inhibitor (63.8%), diuretic (53.1%), ACEI (46.9%), ß blocker (36.8%), endothelin inhibitor (35.2%), placebo (27.1%), and finally CCB (14.3.1%). Therefore, aldosterone antagonist seems worse than other antihypertensive drugs in the risk of hyperkalemia in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

[Effect of Gegen Qinlian Decoction and it's different compatibility groups on gut microbiota in rats with acute enteritis based on high-throughput sequencing].

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Gegen Qinlian(GGQL) Decoction and its different compatibility groups on gut microbiota in rats with acute enteritis, and to explore the efficacy of GGQL Decoction in improving acute enteritis and gut microbiota. Male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive control group(SASP), GGQL decoction group, Glycyrrhizae-free group(QGC), Puerariae-free group(QGG), Qinlian-free group(QQL), and Qinlian group(QL). The pathological sections and detection indexes of the rats were observed before and after modeling and administration. After 7 days of administration, fecal samples from 24 rats were collected and Illumina Miseq platform was used for high-throughput sequencing. From the anti-inflammatory and pharmacodynamic indicators, the effect was the most obvious in GGQL Decoction group, QGC group, QGG group and QL group(P<0.05). The alpha diversity and beta diversity showed that there were significant differences in the composition of intestinal flora in each group. As compared with the model group, the increased abundance and diversity of the flora caused by acute inflammation could be down-regulated in all groups except QQL group(P<0.05). The differential bacteria were explored by using LEfSe analysis, and the results showed that Bifidobacterium and other beneficial bacteria only appeared in the normal group. As compared with the normal group, Lactobacillus was significantly reduced(P<0.01), and Bacteroides, Flavonifractor and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 were up-regulated in model group(P<0.05, P<0.01). As compared with the model group, the number of Akkermansia was significantly increased(P<0.05), and the number of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 associated with intestinal inflammatory diseases was decreased in the GGQL Decoction group, QGC group and QL group. QGC group and QQL group caused the up-regulation of Ruminococcaceae and induced enrichment of Desulfovibrio which could lead to colon cell toxicity; QGG group caused the up-regulation of Proteobacteria and Burkhonderiales. The study suggests that the GGQL Decoction may play a role in the treatment of acute enteritis partially through improving the intestinal barrier, regulating the immune response and the structure of gut microbiota.

DFT studies on nitrogen-rich pyrazino [2, 3-e] [1, 2, 3, 4] tetrazine-based high-energy density compounds.

By using the density functional theory method, we investigated the heats of formation (HOFs), electronic structure, detonation properties, thermal stability and sensitivity for a set of pyrazino [2, 3-e] [1, 2, 3, 4] tetrazine derivatives with different substituents and different numbers of N-oxides. Our findings reveal that the HOFs of the derivatives decrease dramatically with the increasing number of N-oxides. The effects of the substituents on the HOMO-LUMO gaps are coupled with those of the N-oxides. The calculated detonation properties point out that -NF2, -ONO2 and an increasing number of N-oxides are very helpful for improving the detonation performance of the designed derivatives. The bond dissociation energies of the weakest bonds indicate that a majority of our designed compounds have better thermal stability. The -NH2 group is very useful to decrease the free space value. Most of the derivatives have higher h50 values compared with parent molecules. Considering the sensitivity, thermal stability and detonation performance, four compounds could be considered as potential candidates of high-energy density compounds.

Ultrasensitive strips for the quadruple detection of nitrofuran metabolite residues.

In this biosensor system, metabolite residues were derived by using a previous B-CBA synthesis method to label a biotin moiety for enrichment by streptavidin coated magnetic beads. Antibodies specific for derivatives were conjugated with carboxyl-modified barcode DNAs which were used as templates for strand displacement amplification (SDA). The assay can detect trace levels of 7.20 ppt of SEM, 11.58 ppt of AHD, 7.24 ppt of AOZ and 2.31 ppt of AMOZ, respectively.

Effect of a Topical Combination of Latanoprost and Pranoprofen on Intraocular Pressure and the Ocular Surface in Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients.

OBJECTIVE: A prospective study was performed to observe the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) eyedrops on intraocular pressure (IOP) and the ocular surface in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients treated with 0.005% latanoprost eyedrops. METHODS: Forty-eight subjects were randomized into two study groups (NSAID and control). Latanoprost was continued for 10 weeks in all subjects. At the end of week 4, pranoprofen was added in the NSAID group, and treatment lasted for 4 weeks, whereas patients in the control group were treated with latanoprost alone. IOP was measured in both groups every 2 weeks, and the changes in the ocular surface in the NSAID group were evaluated once a month. RESULTS: Pranoprofen addition resulted in a decrease in IOP in the NSAID group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). After pranoprofen was discontinued, IOP significantly increased in the NSAID group (p < 0.01), remaining approximately at the same IOP as when they were being treated with latanoprost alone. During the same examination, no significant variations in IOP were found in the control group. Patients who were treated with latanoprost alone showed gradual improvements in ocular surface symptom scores and conjunctival hyperemia scores during the first four weeks of treatment (p < 0.01). When pranoprofen eyedrops were added, ocular surface symptom scores decreased (p < 0.01), but conjunctival hyperemia scores did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS: For POAG patients treated with latanoprost, the combination of pranoprofen can not only significantly enhance the latanoprost-induced IOP-lowering effect but also relieve the uncomfortable ocular symptoms caused by latanoprost.

Development of an optical gas leak sensor for detecting ethylene, dimethyl ether and methane.

In this paper, we present an approach to develop an optical gas leak sensor that can be used to measure ethylene, dimethyl ether, and methane. The sensor is designed based on the principles of IR absorption spectrum detection, and comprises two crossed elliptical surfaces with a folded reflection-type optical path. We first analyze the optical path and the use of this structure to design a miniature gas sensor. The proposed sensor includes two detectors (one to acquire the reference signal and the other for the response signal), the light source, and the filter, all of which are integrated in a miniature gold-plated chamber. We also designed a signal detection device to extract the sensor signal and a microprocessor to calculate and control the entire process. The produced sensor prototype had an accuracy of ±0.05%. Experiments which simulate the transportation of hazardous chemicals demonstrated that the developed sensor exhibited a good dynamic response and adequately met technical requirements.