Kinetically and thermodynamically controlled one-pot growth of gold nanoshells with NIR-II absorption for multimodal imaging-guided photothermal therapy.

Since the successful clinical trial of AuroShell for photothermal therapy, there is currently intense interest in developing gold-based core-shell structures with near-infrared (NIR) absorption ranging from NIR-I (650-900 nm) to NIR-II (900-1700 nm). Here, we propose a seed-mediated successive growth approach to produce gold nanoshells on the surface of the nanoscale metal-organic framework (NMOF) of UiO-66-NH (UiO = the University of Oslo) in one pot. The key to this strategy is to modulate the proportion of the formaldehyde (reductant) and its regulator / oxidative product of formic acid to harness the particle nucleation and growth rate within the same system.

Investigation of macrophage polarization in herniated nucleus pulposus of patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

Macrophage infiltration and polarization during lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LDH) have attracted increased attention but their role remains unclear. To explore macrophage polarization in herniated nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue of patients with LDH and investigate the association between cell frequency and different clinical characteristics or symptoms, we conducted a retrospective study by analyzing NP tissue samples from 79 patients. Clinical features and symptoms, using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI), were collected.

Macrophage polarization regulates intervertebral disc degeneration by modulating cell proliferation, inflammation mediator secretion, and extracellular matrix metabolism.

Macrophage infiltration and polarization have been increasingly observed in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD). However, their biological roles in IDD are still unrevealed. We harvested conditioned media (CM) derived from a spectrum of macrophages induced from THP-1 cells, and examined how they affect nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) , by studying cell proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, and pro-inflammation expression; and by injection CM in a rat IDD model.

M2 macrophage-conditioned medium inhibits intervertebral disc degeneration in a tumor necrosis factor-α-rich environment.

Inflammation is the primary pathological phenomenon associated with disc degeneration; the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) plays a crucial role in this pathology. The anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects of M2 macrophages on nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) progression remain unknown. Here, M2 conditioned medium (M2CM) was harvested and purified from human acute monocytic leukaemia cell line (THP-1) cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages, respectively; it was used for culturing human NPCs and a mouse intervertebral disc (IVD) organ culture model.

[Research progress on mechanism of arbuscular common mycorrhizal networks in plant-plant interactions].

Plant-plant interactions is one of the key field in ecology, which is important for the efficient nutrient utilization, productivity improvement, and plant community assembly. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are important plant mutualistic microorganisms that connect plant roots to form common mycelial networks (CMNs), which play major roles in transferring nutrients and water and regu-lating plant community dynamics. Recent studies demonstrated that these CMNs could act as conduits for transmitting disease and aphid-induced signals among plants, and activating chemical defence in uninfested neighboring plants.

Co-culturing nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells with notochordal cell-rich nucleus pulposus explants attenuates tumor necrosis factor-α-induced senescence.

Background: Cell therapy for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) faces serious barriers since tissue-specific adult cells such as nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) have limited proliferative ability and poor regenerative potential; in addition, it is difficult for exogenous adult stem cells to survive the harsh environment of the degenerated intervertebral disc. Endogenous repair by nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSCs) has recently shown promising regenerative potential for the treatment of IDD. Notochordal cells (NCs) and NC-conditioned medium (NCCM) have been proven to possess regenerative ability for the treatment of IDD, but this approach is limited by the isolation and passaging of NCs.

Cellular response of calcium phosphate bone substitute containing hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate.

Purpose: This study developed calcium phosphate bone substitutes and their microstucture and in vitro cell response were evaluated in comparison with commercial hydroxyapatite (HA).

Materials: HA powder was ball-milled and then sintered to transfer into the calcium phosphate bulks (CPB). The density, hardness, and microstructure of the CPB were investigated.

Effect of electrical discharging on formation of nanoporous biocompatible layer on Ti-6Al-4V alloys.

Purpose: In this study, the electrical discharge machining (EDM) was formed on the surface of the Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) specimen.

Materials: The properties of adhesion and proliferation of MG-63 cells were evaluated the interactions between the EDM-treated layer and cells.

Results: The incorporation of oxygen roughened the EDM-treated specimen surface on a microscale, where the nanoscale pores were superimposed.

[Progress on application of traditional Chinese medicine in hemopoietic stem cell transplantation].

The pertinent literature on application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in hemopoietic stem cell transplantation was summarized, it indicated that the intervention of TCM could raise the mobilization effect, speed up the hemopoiesis and immunologic reconstruction after transplantation, decrease the incidence of complications, and prolong the life span of patients, showing a preliminary achievement.

Clinical study on effect of Astragalus Injection and its immuno-regulation action in treating chronic aplastic anemia.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Astragalus Injection (, AI) and its immuno-regulatory action in treating chronic aplastic anemia (CAA).

Methods: Sixty patients with CAA were randomly assigned to two groups equally, both were treated with Stanozolol three times a day, 2 mg each time through oral intake, but AI was given additionally to the patients in the treated group once a day via intravenous dripping. All were treated for 15 days as one therapeutic course and the whole medication lasted for more than 4 months totally, with follow-up adopted.