Cardiac patches made of brown adipose-derived stem cell sheets and conductive electrospun nanofibers restore infarcted heart for ischemic myocardial infarction.

Cell sheet engineering has been proven to be a promising strategy for cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction. However, insufficient mechanical strength and low cell retention lead to limited therapeutic efficiency. The thickness and area of artificial cardiac patches also affect their therapeutic efficiency.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell sheets with high expression of hBD3 and CTGF promote periodontal regeneration.

The multi-bacterial environment of the oral cavity makes it hard for periodontal regeneration. As a class of antimicrobial peptide, beta defensin has been found to show broad-spectrum antibacterial ability. In addition, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is demonstrated to play a great role in multi-physiological events such as angiogenesis, wound healing and, more importantly, fibrogenesis.

A New Self-Healing Hydrogel Containing hucMSC-Derived Exosomes Promotes Bone Regeneration.

Background: Fractures are a medical disease with a high incidence, and about 5-10% of patients need bone transplantation to fill the defect. In this study, we aimed to synthesize a new type of coralline hydroxyapatite (CHA)/silk fibroin (SF)/glycol chitosan (GCS)/difunctionalized polyethylene glycol (DF-PEG) self-healing hydrogel and to evaluate the therapeutic effects of this novel self-healing hydrogel as a human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSC)-derived exosome carrier on bone defects in SD rat.

Methods: HucMSCs were isolated from fetal umbilical cord tissue and characterized by surface antigen analysis and pluripotent differentiation .

Identification and characterization of mammaglobin-A epitope in heterogenous breast cancers for enhancing tumor-targeting therapy.

Although targeted therapy has been extensively investigated for breast cancers, a molecular target with broad application is currently unavailable due to the high heterogeneity of these cancers. Mammaglobin-A (Mam-A), which is overexpressed in most breast carcinomas, has been proposed as a promising target. However, the lack of specific targeting moieties due to uncertain binding epitopes hampers further translational study.

IP-10 and RANTES as biomarkers for pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether IP-10 and RANTES plasma levels can be used in diagnosis and monitoring of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).

Methods: Plasma levels of cytokines/chemokines were measured using a Bio-Plex multiplex cytokine assay system in a cohort containing 457 clinically suspected PTB patients including a training set (n = 41)and two independent test sets A (n = 242) and B (n = 174).

Results: Plasma levels of IP-10 and RANTES were significantly higher in PTB patients than healthy controls' in both training and independent test sets (P < 0.

A multiple-antigen detection assay for tuberculosis diagnosis based on broadly reactive polyclonal antibodies.

Objectives: Detection of circulating () antigens is promising in Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. However, not a single antigen marker has been found to be widely expressed in all TB patients. This study is aimed to prepare broadly reactive polyclonal antibodies targeting multiple antigen markers (multi-target antibodies) and evaluate their efficacies in TB diagnosis.

Non-invasive detection of hepatocellular carcinoma serum metabolic profile through surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

The present study aims to identify distinctive Raman spectrum metabolic peaks to predict hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We performed a label-free, non-invasive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) test on 230 serum samples including 47 HCC, 60 normal controls (NC), 68 breast cancer (BC) and 55 lung cancer (LC) by mixing Au@AgNRs with serum directly. Based on the observed SERS spectra, discriminative metabolites including tryptophan, phenylalanine, and etc.

A novel and simple preparative method for uniform-sized PLGA microspheres: Preliminary application in antitubercular drug delivery.

Particle size has been demonstrated as a key parameter influencing the phagocytosis of drug-loaded PLGA microspheres (MS) by the target cells. However, the current preparative methods were either insufficient in controlling the homogeneity of the produced MS, or requires sophisticated and costly equipment. This study aimed to explore a simple and economical method for uniform PLGA MS preparation.

Secreted recombinant human IL-24 protein inhibits the proliferation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma Eca-109 cells in vitro and in vivo.

Interleukin-24 (IL-24) displays cancer-specific apoptosis-inducing properties in a broad spectrum of human tumors without harmful effects on normal cells. The human IL-24 protein is secreted as a glycosylated protein and functions as a pro-Th1 cytokine and a potent antiangiogenic molecule. However, the function of secreted recombinant human IL-24 (srhIL-24) protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells has not been studied.

Identification of Novel RD1 Antigens and Their Combinations for Diagnosis of Sputum Smear-/Culture+ TB Patients.

Rapid and accurate diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is an unresolved problem worldwide, especially for sputum smear- (S-) cases. In this study, five antigen genes including Rv3871, Rv3874, Rv3875, Rv3876, and Rv3879 were cloned from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) RD1 and overexpressed to generate antigen fragments. These antigens and their combinations were investigated for PTB serodiagnosis.

Vitronectin: a promising breast cancer serum biomarker for early diagnosis of breast cancer in patients.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, identification of new biomarkers for early diagnosis and detection will improve the clinical outcome of breast cancer patients. In the present study, we determined serum levels of vitronectin (VN) in 93 breast cancer patients, 30 benign breast lesions, 9 precancerous lesions, and 30 healthy individuals by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Serum VN level was significantly higher in patients with stage 0-I primary breast cancer than in healthy individuals, patients with benign breast lesion or precancerous lesions, as well as those with breast cancer of higher stages.

Generation of monoclonal antibodies against MGA and comparison of their application in breast cancer detection by immunohistochemistry.

Mammaglobin A (MGA) is an organ specific molecular biomarker for metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. However, there are still needs to develop optimal monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to detect MGA expression in breast carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. In this study, we first generated mAbs against MGA.

A PNIPAAm-based thermosensitive hydrogel containing SWCNTs for stem cell transplantation in myocardial repair.

Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) hydrogel was a widely used carrier in therapeutic agent delivery. However, its bioactivities for encapsulated cells were not satisfactory. In the study, we aimed to determine whether modification with single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) could improve the bioactivitis, especially supportive adhesion of PNIPAAm to encapsulated cells and favor their efficacy in myocardial repair.

Promotion of cardiac differentiation of brown adipose derived stem cells by chitosan hydrogel for repair after myocardial infarction.

The ability to restore heart function by replacement of diseased myocardium is one of the great challenges in biomaterials and regenerative medicine. Brown adipose derived stem cells (BADSCs) present a new source of cardiomyocytes to regenerate the myocardium after infarction. In this study, we explored an injectable tissue engineering strategy to repair damaged myocardium, in which chitosan hydrogels were investigated as a carrier for BADSCs.

Distribution and characteristics of telocytes as nurse cells in the architectural organization of engineered heart tissues.

Interstitial Cajal-like cells are a distinct type of interstitial cell with a wide distribution in mammalian organs and tissues, and have been given the name "telocytes". Recent studies have demonstrated the potential roles of telocytes in heart development, renewal, and repair. However, further research on the functions of telocytes is limited by the complicated in vivo environment.

Engineering the heart: evaluation of conductive nanomaterials for improving implant integration and cardiac function.

Recently, carbon nanotubes together with other types of conductive materials have been used to enhance the viability and function of cardiomyocytes in vitro. Here we demonstrated a paradigm to construct ECTs for cardiac repair using conductive nanomaterials. Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were incorporated into gelatin hydrogel scaffolds to construct three-dimensional ECTs.

The spatiotemporal development of intercalated disk in three-dimensional engineered heart tissues based on collagen/matrigel matrix.

Intercalated disk (ID), which electromechanically couples cardiomyocytes into a functional syncitium, is closely related to normal morphology and function of engineered heart tissues (EHTs), but the development mode of ID in the three-dimensional (3D) EHTs is still unclear. In this study, we focused on the spatiotemporal development of the ID in the EHTs constructed by mixing neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with collagen/Matrigel, and investigated the effect of 3D microenvironment provided by collagen/Matrigel matrix on the formation of ID. By histological and immmunofluorescent staining, the spatiotemporal distribution of ID-related junctions was detected.

[Preparation and bio-evaluation of tissue engineered scaffold based on decellularized whole heart extracellular matrix].

Objective: To investigate a method for preparing decellularized rat heart scaffold, and to detect and evaluate the decellularized scaffold.

Methods: The decellularized rat heart scaffold was prepared by retrograde perfusion with a combination of enzymatic and Triton X-100 detergent methods to remove the populations of resident cells, and then the decellularized scaffold was observed by gross, toluidine blue staining, HE staining, scanning electron microcope (SEM), Alcian blue staining, and immunohistochemisty staining to evaluate the structure and essential component of extracellular maxtix (ECM) in the scaffold.

Results: Tissue engineered scaffold based on decellularized whole heart ECM was successfully prepared, which maintained not only the gross morphology of the heart, but also the intact vascular structure and ultrastructural conformation that certified by toluidine blue staining, HE staining, and SEM analyses.

A chitosan-glutathione based injectable hydrogel for suppression of oxidative stress damage in cardiomyocytes.

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is closely associated with myocardial infarction. The oxidative stress damage caused by ROS in grafted cells and host cells presents a major obstacle for successful myocardial repairs in cardiac tissue engineering. Previous injectable biomaterials in use of myocardial repairs typically lack consideration of their antioxidant properties.

Synthesis of agarose-graft-poly[3-dimethyl (methacryloyloxyethyl) ammonium propanesulfonate] zwitterionic graft copolymers via ATRP and their thermally-induced aggregation behavior in aqueous media.

A novel polysaccharide-based zwitterionic copolymer, agarose-graft-poly[3-dimethyl (methacryloyloxyethyl) ammonium propanesulfonate] (agarose-g-PDMAPS) with UCST, depending both on hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction, was synthesized by ATRP, and its aggregation behavior in aqueous media was investigated in detail. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, and gel-permeation chromatography were performed to characterize the copolymer. Thermosensitive behaviors of the copolymers in water, NaCl, and urea solution were tracked by ultraviolet, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy analysis.

The tumourigenicity of iPS cells and their differentiated derivates.

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) provides a promising seeding cell for regenerative medicine. However, iPSC has the potential to form teratomas after transplantation. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the tumorigenic risks of iPSC and all its differentiated derivates prior to use in a clinical setting.

Immunohistochemical characterization and functional identification of mammary gland telocytes in the self-assembly of reconstituted breast cancer tissue in vitro.

Telocyte (TC) as a special stromal cell exists in mammary gland and might play an important role in the balance of epithelium-stroma of mammary gland. Considering that different types of breast interstitial cells influence the development and progression of breast cancer, TCs may have its distinct role in this process. We here studied the roles of TCs in the self-assembly of reconstituted breast cancer tissue.

[Cordyceps sinensis enhances lymphocyte proliferation and CD markers expression in simulated microgravity environment].

This study was aimed to explore the effect of cordyceps sinensis enhancing lymphocyte proliferation and surface CD marker expression in simulated microgravity environment. The splenic lymphocytes were separated from mice and cultured in the rotary cell culture system simulated microgravity environment. The cells were treated with different concentration of cordyceps sinensis solution (0, 6.

Transplantation of co-microencapsulated hepatocytes and HUVECs for treatment of fulminant hepatic failure.

Purpose: Microencapsulated hepatocytes might solve immunological rejection, broadening a new perspective for the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). However, the transplantation of microcapsulated hepatocytes is limited by low cell viability. Nevertheless, the co-microencapsulation of hepatocytes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) may make the treatment of FHF more promising.

[Effect of lentinan against immunosuppression of lymphocytes cultured in simulated microgravity environment].

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of lentinan on the immune function of splenic lymphocytes in rotary cell culture system (RCCS) microgravity environment. The splenic lymphocytes from mice were separated and cultured in the normal gravity and the microgravity environments. The cells were treated with lentinan solution (0, 10, 20 and 40 µg/ml).