Efficacy and safety of single-branched stent graft in the treatment of type B aortic dissection: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Background: Thoracic aortic endovascular repair (TEVAR) is the most commonly employed method for treating type B aortic dissection (TBAD). One of the primary challenges in TEVAR is the reconstruction of the left subclavian artery (LSA). Various revascularization strategies have been utilized, including branch stent techniques, fenestration techniques, chimney techniques, and hybrid techniques.

Patterns of deep fine root and water utilization amongst trees, shrubs and herbs in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts.

Introduction: Seasonal droughts will become more severe and frequent under the context of global climate change, this would result in significant variations in the root distribution and water utilization patterns of plants. However, research on the determining factors of deep fine root and water utilization is limited.

Methods: We measured the fine root biomass and water utilization of trees, shrubs and herbs, and soil properties, light transmission, and community structure parameters in subtropical pine plantations with seasonal droughts.

Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations on structures of high-density and low-density water: a comparison of the SCAN meta-GGA and PBE GGA functionals.

Using Born-Oppenheimer ab initio molecular dynamics (BOAIMD) simulations, the high-density water (HDW) and low-density water (LDW) structures based on SCAN meta-GGA are compared with those based on PBE GGA. Compared with Car-Parrinello ab initio molecular dynamics (CPAIMD) simulations, BOAIMD simulations can produce more accurate results because no fictitious electron mass is introduced. At each state point, our simulations continue for 100 ps after the system reached equilibrium, which is the longest ab initio simulations of liquid water reported so far and can ensure an accurate statistical average.

Functional poly(ε-caprolactone) based materials: preparation, self-assembly and application in drug delivery.

Recent advances in synthesis of functional poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) and its self-assembly behavior, as well as application in drug delivery have been reviewed. Three strategies including end group functionalization, postpolymerization modification and new monomer preparation have been summarized to show possibilities for PCL derivatives. Complex architectures like cyclic and multi-arm PCL have been emphasized.

Surface properties of amino-functionalized poly(ε-caprolactone) membranes and the improvement of human mesenchymal stem cell behavior.

In this study, a series of membranes with different amino group densities were prepared to investigate the surface properties of the novel poly(γ-amino-ε-caprolactone-co-ε-caprolactone) (NPCL) copolymer synthesized by our laboratory. Meanwhile, the human mesenchymal stem cells' (hMSCs) behavior on those membranes was examined. The molecular characteristics of the NPCL copolymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Fine tuning micellar core-forming block of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) amphiphilic copolymers based on chemical modification for the solubilization and delivery of doxorubicin.

This study aimed to optimize poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL)-based amphiphilic block copolymers for achieving a better micellar drug delivery system (DDS) with improved solubilization and delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). First, the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters between DOX and the core-forming segments [i.e.