Meta-Analysis of Effects of Early Palliative Care on Health-Related Outcomes Among Advanced Cancer Patients.

Background: Early palliative care (PC) has received more attention for improving health-related outcomes for advanced cancer patients in recent years, but the results of previous studies are inconsistent.

Objectives: This study aimed to use meta-analysis and trial sequence analysis to evaluate the effect of early PC on health-related outcomes of advanced cancer patients.

Methods: All English publications were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to March 2023, with a restriction that the study type was a randomized controlled trial.

Factors Associated With Parenting Stress in Parents of Children With Nephrotic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Limited empirical studies were identified to quantify parenting stress in parents of children with nephrotic syndrome (NS). This cross-sectional study aimed to address this gap by examining the prevalence and factors associated with parenting stress. Two hundred two Chinese parents of children with NS were investigated by using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSCS), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and a demographic questionnaire.

Preparation and evaluation of a biomimetic scaffold with porosity gradients in vitro.

A novel biodegradable scaffold based on mimetic a natural bone tissue morphology with a porosity gradient structure was prepared in this paper. The result of surface morphology indicated that a graded porous structure was formed in the fabricated scaffold, where the dense layer (0%) was connected with the most porous layer (60%) by a middling porous layer (30%). To evaluate the degradability, graded porous scaffolds compared with homogeneous scaffolds were placed into a Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH = 7.

Application of K/Sr co-doped calcium polyphosphate bioceramic as scaffolds for bone substitutes.

Ion doping is one of the most important methods to modify the properties of bioceramics for better biodegrade abilities, biomechanical properties, and biocompatibilities. This paper presents a novel ion doping method applied in calcium polyphosphate (CPP)-based bioceramic scaffolds substituted by potassium and strontium ions (K/Sr) to form (K/Sr-CPP) scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration. The microstructure and crystallization of the scaffolds were detected by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.

Delivery of demineralized bone matrix powder using a thermogelling chitosan carrier.

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) powder is widely used for bone regeneration due to its osteoinductivity and osteoconductivity. However, difficulties with handling, its tendency to migrate from graft sites, and lack of stability after surgery can sometimes limit the clinical utility of this material. In this work, the possibility of using a thermogelling chitosan carrier to deliver DBM powder was assessed.

A novel alkali metals/strontium co-substituted calcium polyphosphate scaffolds in bone tissue engineering.

Our purpose of this study is to develop potassium or sodium/strontium co-substituted calcium polyphosphate (K/Sr-CPP or Na/Sr-CPP) bioceramics in application of bone repairing scaffold. The incorporation of K, Na, and Sr into CPP substrate via a calcining-sintering process was confirmed by X-ray diffractometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. In vitro degradation study of co-substituted CPP indicated the incorporation of alkali metal elements promoted the degradability of CPP, and the scanning electron microscope showed the apatite-like minerals were precipitated on the surface of co-substituted CPP.

A novel strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate/erythromycin/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite for bone tissue engineering.

It is our goal to develop bactericidal bone scaffolds with osteointegration potential. In this study, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) coating (7%) was applied to an erythromycin (EM)-impregnated strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate (SCPP) scaffold using a simple slurry dipping method. MicroCT analysis showed that PVA coating reduced the average pore size and the percentage of pore interconnectivity to some extent.

[Preparation and properties of calcium polyphosphate-based composite scaffold for bone tissue engineering].

Calcium polyphosphate (CPP) is a new type of degradable material for bone repair, yet it is fragile and is not so controllable in regard to degradation. For increasing biological activity and close proximity to natural bone structure, in this experiment, we chose chitosan (CS) and its derivative carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) as the extracellular matrix structure for the organic phase. Aldehyde sodium alginate (ADA) was used as natural cross-linker.

[Recent progress of researches on scaffolds for tissue engineered meniscus].

Tissue engineered meniscus provides a novel approach for the treatment of severe meniscus injury. The researches on scaffold for tissue engineered meniscus is an essential element. The researches on scaffolds for tissue engineered meniscus, including natural biomaterials and synthetic polymer, have made great advances in recent years.

Preparation and characterization of nonfouling polymer brushes on poly(ethylene terephthalate) film surfaces.

In this study, a surface grafting of nonfouling poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMA) on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was carried out via surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) to improve hemocompatibility of polymer based biomaterials. To do this, the coupling agent with hydroxyl groups for the ATRP initiator was first anchored on the surface of PET films using photochemical method, and then these hydroxyl groups were esterified by bromoisobutyryl bromide, from which PET with various main chain lengths of PEGMA was prepared. The structures and properties of modified PET surfaces were investigated using water contact angle (WAC), ATR-FTIR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM).

In vitro study in the endothelial cell compatibility and endothelialization of genipin-crosslinked biological tissues for tissue-engineered vascular scaffolds.

To overcome the cytotoxicity of the chemical reagents used to fix bioprostheses, genipin, a naturally occurring crosslinking agent, was used to fix biological tissues in present study. We prepared the biological vascular scaffolds through cell extraction and fixing the porcine thoracic arteries with 1% (by w/v) genipin solution for 3 days, and then examined their mechanical properties and microstructures; glutaraldehyde- and epoxy-fixed counterparts were used as controls. HUVECs were seeded on the type I collagen-coated surface of different modified acellular vascular tissues (fixed with different crosslinking agents), and the growths of HUVECs on the specimens were demonstrated by means of MTT test, the secretion of PGI2 and vWF by HUVECs on the various specimens was also measured.

In vivo study of porous strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate scaffolds for bone substitute applications.

The purpose of this study was to investigate in vivo biocompatibility and osteogenesis as well as degradability of the porous strontium-doped calcium polyphosphate (SCPP) scaffolds as a biomaterial for bone substitute applications. The evaluation was performed on a rabbit model over a period of 16 weeks by histology combined with image analysis, X-ray microradiography and immunohistochemistry methods. The histological and X-ray microradiographic results showed that the SCPP scaffold exhibited good biocompatibility and extensive osteoconductivity with host bone.

[The hydrophilicity and cell affinity of polylactic acid containg bionic function group of phosphorylcholine].

A series of novel biodegradable and bionic functional polymers, PLLA-PC-PLLA, were synthesized using L-lactide ring-opening polymerization by L-a-Glycerophosphorylcholine (PC) from nature source. The hydrophilicity of the polymers was investigated. The results made known that, as PC group was brought into the backbone of PLLA, PLLA-PC-PLLA gained much better hydrophilicity than did PLLA, and polar phosphatidylcholines probably transferred to the sample surface in aqueous environment.

Behavior of endothelial cells regulated by a dynamically changed microenvironment of biodegradable PLLA-PC.

The influence of PLLA-PC membranes on the behavior of vascular ECs is studied. It was found that the membranes were not cytotoxic. The cell adhesion and spread on PLLA-PC 30/1 were initially depressed.

The study on the degradation and mineralization mechanism of ion-doped calcium polyphosphate in vitro.

Doping with different trace elements can significantly change the original degradability, mineralization, and biological properties of bone repair material. According to the fundamental research on prepared calcium polyphosphate (CPP) as a bone repair material by our group, this article began further exploration on the effect of doping different trace elements (K, Na, Mg, Zn, Sr) into CPP on its degradability and mineralization soaking in simulated body fluids. The results indicated that doped elements significantly changed the lattice parameters and cell volume of crystal, resulted in different types of crystal defect and surface charge distribution, and consequently changed the original degradability and mineralization of CPP.

[Effect of processing parameters on the degradation of calcium polyphosphate bioceramic for bone tissue scaffolds].

This study was undertaken to elucidate the degradation regularity of calcium polyphosphate (CPP) scaffolds with different preparation parameters. CPP scaffolds with different main crystalline phases were prepared by controlling the particle size of the calcining stuff and the calcining heat. Specimens were soaked into Tris-buffer solution and simulated body fluid (SBF) for 60 days.

Preparation and endothelialization of decellularised vascular scaffold for tissue-engineered blood vessel.

The proliferation of cells on the decellularised tissues fixed by chemical crosslinking agent is retarded for cytotoxicity of crosslinked tissues. To overcome this disadvantage, we prepared the decellularised vascular scaffold through fixing the porcine thoracic arteries with 40 mL/L ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE), and reduced the cytotoxicity of this scaffold by treating it with lysine and coating it with type I collagen, finally endothelialized it in vitro. The EGDE-fixed porcine thoracic arteries were examined morphologically.

[Structure and performance of calcium polyphosphate for bone tissue engineering].

Porous calcium polyphosphate (CPP) has shown promise of tissue engineered implant application because of the biocompatibility and biodegradation. CPP with different polymerization degree were prepared by controlling the calcining time, and its polymerization degree could be calculated by developed method in this paper. Different crystal types CPP were prepared by quenching from the melt and crystallization of amorphous CPP.

[Progress in study of self-assembling peptides].

Self-assembly of peptides is ubiquitous in the body of creatures. The molecules of peptides combine with each other to form proteins with different functions through self-assembly. The formation of a specific conformation of one type of protein is owing to the self-assembly of its compositive amino acids.

[Research on intelligent controlled drug delivery with polymer].

The intelligent controlled drug delivery systems are a series of the preparations including microcapsules or nanocapsules composed of intelligent polymers and medication. The properties of preparations can change with the external stimuli such as pH value, temperature, chemical substance, light, electricity and magnetism. According to this properties, the drug delivery can be intelligently controlled.

[Advances in research on calcium polyphosphate bioceramic for bone tissue engineering scaffold].

Bone tissue engineering is a novel, developing and challenging science which provides a new way to repair bone lost from injury and disease. Porous calcium polyphosphate bioceramic is one kind of absorptable bioceramic. Owing to its fine biocompatibility and degradability, more and more pieces of research wark have been carried out in bone tissue engineering, and because of its special characteristics, calcium polyphosphate bioceramic is regarded as a promising material for solving the problem of how to match the degradation velocity of scaffold with the velocity of cell growth.

[Effect of RGD peptide on adhesive stability of human umbilical vein endothelial cell on polyethylene terephthalate surface].

In this study for exploring the effect of RGD peptide on adhesive stability of endothelial cells biomaterial surface, all materials were divided into three groups, RGD group (PET covalently grafted synthetic RGD peptides), control group (PET precoated with fibronectin) and blank group (Non-coated surface). Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were seeded on the materials, then adhesive stability of HUVECs on the varied PET surfaces was observed under steady flow condition, and effects of shear stress and shear time on adherent cells were compared. The results showed that the resistance adherent endothelial cells to detachment by flow was shear stress and shear time dependent.

[The advance in researches for biomedical intelligent polymer materials].

The properties of biomedical intelligent polymer materials can be changed obviously when there is a little physical or chemical change in external condition. They are in the forms of solids, solutions and polymers on the surface of carrier, including aqueous solution of hydrophilic polymers, cross-linking hydrophilic polymers (i.e.

[Biocompatibility study of the UV surface modified Dacron material].

The enzyme histochemistry method was used in this experiment to study the biocompatibility of the UV surface modified Dacron. The activity of the enzymes such as ALP, ACP, NADHD and LDH in the tissue surrounding both the modified and unmodified materials after a certain implantation period was semiquantitatively measured. The results showed that the biocompatibility of the surface modified Dacron was as good as that of the unmodified one.

[The advance of bioactive peptide RGD in the research of bone regeneration].

Clinically, there has been so far no effective way to repair the bone-missing of large extent due to gash, infection and removal of tumor. The solution of this problem can be assisted by the addition of bioactive substances to substrate materials, because the growth of peripheral tissue and the fiber tissue growing the materials can be induced to the direction of bone-tissue by these biomaterials with bioactive peptides. The peptide Arg-Gly-Asp is the point between the integrin which comes from membrane and the ligand.