NFC-enabled potentiostat and nitrocellulose-based metal electrodes for electrochemical lateral flow assay.

Rapid detection of pathogens at the point-of-need is crucial for preventing the spread of human, animal and plant diseases which can have devastating consequences both on the lives and livelihood of billions of people. Colorimetric, lateral flow assays consisting of a nitrocellulose membrane, are the preferred format today for low-cost on-site detection of pathogens. This assay format has, however, historically suffered from poor analytical performance and is not compatible with digital technologies.

CDDO-Im ameliorates osteoarthritis and inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis in mice via enhancing Nrf2-dependent autophagy.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent chronic degenerative joint disease with few treatment options. The pathogenesis of OA is characterized by sustained inflammation, oxidative stress and chondrocyte apoptosis that eventually lead to cartilage degradation and joint dysfunction. In the present study, we identified a synthetic triterpenoid CDDO-Im(1-[2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9(11)-dien-28-oyl] imidazole) as an activator of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) that displayed strong anti-OA effects.

[SP13786 Inhibits the Migration and Invasion of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell A549 by Supressing Stat3-EMT via CAFs Exosomes].

Background: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is one of the surface markers of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and is closely related to the malignant characterization of CAFs. SP13786 is a specific micromolecule inhibitor of FAP and this study is to investigate the effects and mechanism of SP13786 on the migration and invasion of A549 cells through regulating exosomes of CAFs.

Methods: CAFs and paracancerous fibroblasts (PTFs) were isolated and subcultured from freshly resected lung adenocarcinoma tissues and paracancerous normal tissues separately.

One pot synthesis of zwitteronic 99mTc doped ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles for SPECT/T1-weighted MR dual-modality tumor imaging.

In this study, we have synthesized Tc intrinsically labeled ultrasmall magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with zwitterionic surface coating (Tc-ZW-USIONPs) via one pot synthesis using sulfobetains functionalized poly (acrylic acid) as stabilizer and NaTcO and SnCl as additives. The commercialization of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner made the combination use of Tc and iron oxide nanoparticles attracting much attention. Direct doping radioisotope into nanoparticles has the advantages of excellent radiochemical stability and no restriction on the surface functionalization.

Three-dimensional finite-element analysis of aggravating medial meniscus tears on knee osteoarthritis.

Background: The biomechanical change during the medial meniscus damage in the process of knee osteoarthritis has not been explored. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of aggravating medial meniscus degenerative tear on the progress of knee osteoarthritis through the finite-element simulation method.

Methods: The three-dimensional digital model of a total-knee joint was obtained using a combination of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography images.

Early osteointegration evaluation of porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds designed based on triply periodic minimal surface models.

Background: The graded porous structures were designed using triply periodic minimal surfaces models to mimic the biomechanical properties of bone. The mechanical properties and bone formation ability were evaluated to explore the feasibility of the design method in bone tissue engineering.

Methods: The scaffolds were designed using a P-surface with different pore sizes.

Effect of degenerative and radial tears of the meniscus and resultant meniscectomy on the knee joint: a finite element analysis.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the biomechanics on the knee components caused by degenerative and radial meniscal tears and resultant meniscectomy.

Methods: A detailed finite element model of the knee joint with bones, cartilages, menisci and main ligaments was constructed from a combination of computed tomography and magnetic resonance images. Degenerative and radial tears of both menisci and resultant medial meniscectomy were used and two different kinds of simulations, the vertical and the anterior load, mimicking the static stance and slight flexion simulations, were applied on the model.

Stability evaluation of anterior external fixation in patient with unstable pelvic ring fracture: a finite element analysis.

Background: The pelvic ring fractures (PRF) are commonly induced by the high-energy impact and will lead to unstable and sever injures. This study is aimed to explore the stability of anterior external fixation in treating pelvis fracture and evaluate the possibility for these kinds of patients to reduce bedridden time.

Methods: A patient with Tile B3 pelvis fracture was chosen in the research and the corresponding digital model was reconstructed according to the CT images and 3D scanning.

The biomechanical changes of load distribution with longitudinal tears of meniscal horns on knee joint: a finite element analysis.

Background: Meniscal horns are important structures of meniscus, and longitudinal tears of these places could significantly change the load distribution among the knee joint. Few studies concerned the stress concentrated on bones, which may induce the osteonecrosis of subchondral bone. The goal of this study was to construct a finite element (FE) model with high fidelity of the knee joint and evaluate the biomechanical changes of load distribution of components after longitudinal tears of the horns of meniscus.

Polydopamine coating promotes early osteogenesis in 3D printing porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds.

Background: Titanium implants are widely used in orthopedic and dental for more than 30 years. Its stable physicochemical properties and mechanical strength are indeed appropriate for implantation. However, the Bioinertia oxidized layer and higher elastic modulus often lead to the early implantation failure.

Inhibition of pyroptosis attenuates -induced bone injury in traumatic osteomyelitis.

Background: Osteomyelitis is a severe bone infection and typically leads to progressive bone resorption, destruction and dysfunction. Pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death involved in various infectious diseases. However, the identification of pyroptosis and the role it plays in osteomyelitis remains to be clarified.

Biomechanical analysis of the effect of medial meniscus degenerative and traumatic lesions on the knee joint.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the degenerative medial meniscus and traumatic lesions on the biomechanical behavior of the knee. An elaborate three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the total knee joint containing bones, articular cartilages, main ligaments, and menisci was developed from a combination of magnetic resonance images and computed tomography. Three types of meniscus tears were employed to represent the degenerative and traumatic lesions.

The effectiveness of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells therapy for knee osteoarthritis in pigs.

Background: Intraarticular injection of the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has shown to be successful for treating osteoarthritis (OA). Nevertheless, many studies have been focusing on autologous MSCs. The following study investigates the safety and effectiveness of intraarticular injection of allogenic MSCs in a pig OA model.

Evaluation of a polyvinyl alcohol-alginate based hydrogel for precise 3D bioprinting.

In this study, we designed a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-alginate based hydrogel and evaluated its cytocompatibility and printability. The samples were fabricated by 3D printing using a freeze-thaw process. The scanning electron microscope, material testing machine, rheometer, and cell counting kit-8 assay were used to examine the morphology, mechanical properties, rheological properties, and cytocompatiblity of the scaffolds, respectively.

Research progress of the relationship between pyroptosis and disease.

Pyroptosis, characterized by proinflammation, has been defined as a new type of programmed cell death in recent years. Inflammasomes are activated by the corresponding pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPS), followed up by the cleavage of pro-interleukin-1β (pro-IL-1β), pro-interleukin-18 (pro-IL-18) and gasdermin D. The N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D gives rise to the destruction of cell membrane, leading to cell rupture as well as the efflux of proinflammatory cytokines.

Egr1 deficiency disrupts dynamic equilibrium of chondrocyte extracellular matrix through PPARγ/RUNX2 signaling pathways.

Background: This study is to investigate the effect of Egr1 on the mineralization and accumulation of chondrocyte extracellular matrix.

Methods: The femoral heads of patients of various heights were collected. Egr1 knockout mice were used.

Zhuangguguanjie formulation protects articular cartilage from degeneration in joint instability-induced murine knee osteoarthritis.

Zhuangguguanjie formulation (ZG) can provide noticeable relief from joint pain in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the underlying mechanism has not been fully described. Male C57BL/6 mice were administered either ZG or normal saline (NS) following surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM).

Fenofibrate decreases the bone quality by down regulating Runx2 in high-fat-diet induced Type 2 diabetes mellitus mouse model.

Background: This study is to investigate the effect of fenofibrate on the bone quality of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mouse model.

Methods: T2DM mouse model was induced by high-fat-diet, and the mice were treated with fenofibrate (100 mg/kg) (DIO-FENO) or PBS (DIO-PBS) for 4 weeks. The bone microstructure and biomechanical properties of femora were analyzed by micro-CT and 3-Point bending test.

Knockdown of Ggps1 in chondrocyte expedites fracture healing by accelerating the progression of endochondral ossification in mice.

Bone fracture healing is achieved through the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells, while bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) contribute to endochondral ossification. During fracture healing, mesenchymal progenitor cells first form a cartilaginous blastema that becomes vascularized to recruit precursor cells of osteoblasts through the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2)/Smad-dependent Runx2 pathway. Statins deplete geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), which participates in the regulation of BMSCs differentiation, through the inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase, leading to impaired protein geranylgeranylation, which strongly impacts the bone synthesis induced by Bmp2.

Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling suppresses bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by attenuating the expression of TGF-β1 and FGF-2.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disorder of unknown etiology, which is characterized by alterations in alveolar epithelium function, fibroblast activation, and increased extracellular matrix deposition. Recent studies have demonstrated that PF is associated with uncontrolled production of cytokines after lung injury. In the present study, we found that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) were both upregulated in bleomycin-induced fibrotic lung tissue and primary murine alveolar epithelial Type II (ATII) cells treated with bleomycin.