Noninvasive Injectable Optical Nanosensor-Hydrogel Hybrids Detect Doxorubicin in Living Mice.

While the tissue-transparent fluorescence of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) imparts substantial potential for use in non-invasive biosensors, development of non-invasive systems is yet to be realized. Here, we investigated the functionality of a SWCNT-based nanosensor in several injectable SWCNT-hydrogel systems, ultimately finding SWCNT encapsulation in a sulfonated methylcellulose hydrogel optimal for detection of ions, small molecules, and proteins. We found that the hydrogel system and nanosensor signal were stable for several weeks in live mice.

Combining adhesive and nonadhesive injectable hydrogels for intervertebral disc repair in an ovine discectomy model.

Background: Intervertebral disc (IVD) disorders (e.g., herniation) directly contribute to back pain, which is a leading cause of global disability.

COVID-19 pandemic-related anxiety, stress, and depression among teachers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: As millions of teachers have been forced to rely upon remote teaching due to the closure of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is particularly important to understand the extent to which teacher's psychological wellbeing has been affected by this global health crisis.

Objective: The aim of this comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis was twofold: 1) ascertain the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression among teachers during the COVID-19 outbreak; 2) identify the associated factors of these psychological wellbeing domains of the teachers.

Online teaching self-efficacy during COVID-19: Changes, its associated factors and moderators.

Unlabelled: Online teaching transition during COVID-19 school lockdown elicited challenges for teachers and schools across the globe. The existing literature on the impact of COVID-19 in the education sector is predominantly descriptive and focused on the difficulties faced by teachers during the process of transferring into online teaching, mainly in the higher education sector. This study adopted a mixed-method design to examine online teaching self-efficacy (TSE) during COVID-19, its associated factors and moderators.

Development of a two-part biomaterial adhesive strategy for annulus fibrosus repair and ex vivo evaluation of implant herniation risk.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation causes pain and disability, but current discectomy procedures alleviate pain without repairing annulus fibrosus (AF) defects. Tissue engineering strategies seal AF defects by utilizing hydrogel systems to prevent recurrent herniation, however current biomaterials are limited by poor adhesion to wetted tissue surfaces or low failure strength resulting in considerable risk of implant herniation upon spinal loading. Here, we developed a two-part repair strategy comprising a dual-modified (oxidized and methacrylated) glycosaminoglycan that can chemically adsorb an injectable interpenetrating network hydrogel composed of fibronectin-conjugated fibrin and poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) to covalently bond the hydrogel to AF tissue.

Treatment with a platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist improves hemodynamics and reduces epinephrine requirements, in a lethal rodent model of anaphylactic shock.

Background: In some cases, anaphylactic shock (AS) is still lethal, despite rapid use of epinephrine. High doses of epinephrine are associated with severe complications. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is secreted in massive amounts during AS, and a high plasma level is correlated with increased AS severity.

Composite biomaterial repair strategy to restore biomechanical function and reduce herniation risk in an ex vivo large animal model of intervertebral disc herniation with varying injury severity.

Back pain commonly arises from intervertebral disc (IVD) damage including annulus fibrosus (AF) defects and nucleus pulposus (NP) loss. Poor IVD healing motivates developing tissue engineering repair strategies. This study evaluated a composite injectable IVD biomaterial repair strategy using carboxymethylcellulose-methylcellulose (CMC-MC) and genipin-crosslinked fibrin (FibGen) that mimic NP and AF properties, respectively.

Injectable cellulose-based hydrogels as nucleus pulposus replacements: Assessment of in vitro structural stability, ex vivo herniation risk, and in vivo biocompatibility.

Current treatments for intervertebral disc degeneration and herniation are palliative only and cannot restore disc structure and function. Nucleus pulposus (NP) replacements are a promising strategy for restoring disc biomechanics and height loss. Cellulose-based hydrogel systems offer potential for NP replacement since they are stable, non-toxic, may be tuned to match NP material properties, and are conducive to cell or drug delivery.

Injectable, redox-polymerized carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels promote nucleus pulposus-like extracellular matrix elaboration by human MSCs in a cell density-dependent manner.

Low back pain is a major cause for disability and is closely linked to intervertebral disc degeneration. Mechanical and biological dysfunction of the nucleus pulposus in the disc has been found to initiate intradiscal degenerative processes. Replacing or enriching the diseased nucleus pulposus with an injectable, stem cell-laden biomaterial that mimics its material properties can provide a minimally invasive strategy for biological and structural repair of the tissue.

Thermoresponsive, redox-polymerized cellulosic hydrogels undergo in situ gelation and restore intervertebral disc biomechanics post discectomy.

Back and neck pain are commonly associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Structural augmentation of diseased nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue with biomaterials could restore degeneration-related IVD height loss and degraded biomechanical behaviors; however, effective NP replacement biomaterials are not commercially available. This study developed a novel, crosslinked, dual-polymer network (DPN) hydrogel comprised of methacrylated carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and methylcellulose (MC), and used in vitro, in situ and in vivo testing to assess its efficacy as an injectable, in situ gelling, biocompatible material that matches native NP properties and restores IVD biomechanical behaviors.

Downregulation of Heat Shock Protein 70 Impairs Osteogenic and Chondrogenic Differentiation in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) show promise for bone and cartilage regeneration. Our previous studies demonstrated that hMSCs with periodic mild heating had enhanced osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation with significantly upregulated heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). However, the role of HSP70 in adult tissue regeneration is not well studied.

Anaesthetic hypersensitivity reactions in France between 2011 and 2012: the 10th GERAP epidemiologic survey.

Background: Immediate hypersensitivity reactions during anaesthesia are rare but potentially life-threatening. The epidemiology changes with time and evolving professional practice, and hence needs to be monitored. Our objective was to follow this epidemiology.

HPV immunisation and cervical screening--confirmation of changed performance of cytology as a screening test in immunised women: a retrospective population-based cohort study.

Background: To document the effect of bivalent HPV immunisation on cervical cytology as a screening test and assess the implications of any change, using a retrospective analysis of routinely collected data from the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme (SCSP).

Methods: Data were extracted from the Scottish Cervical Call Recall System (SCCRS), the Scottish Population Register and the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. A total of 95 876 cytology records with 2226 linked histology records from women born between 1 January 1988 and 30 September 1993 were assessed.

HPV immunisation and increased uptake of cervical screening in Scottish women; observational study of routinely collected national data.

Background: To measure the uptake of first invitation to cervical screening by vaccine status in a population-based cohort offered HPV immunisation in a national catch-up campaign.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of routinely collected data from the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme. Data were extracted and linked from the Scottish Cervical Call Recall System, the Scottish Population Register and the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Development of crosslinked methylcellulose hydrogels for soft tissue augmentation using an ammonium persulfate-ascorbic acid redox system.

Hydrogels composed of methylcellulose are candidate materials for soft tissue reconstruction. Although photocrosslinked methylcellulose hydrogels have shown promise for such applications, gels crosslinked using reduction-oxidation (redox) initiators may be more clinically viable. In this study, methylcellulose modified with functional methacrylate groups was polymerized using an ammonium persulfate (APS)-ascorbic acid (AA) redox initiation system to produce injectable hydrogels with tunable properties.

Lower crosslinking density enhances functional nucleus pulposus-like matrix elaboration by human mesenchymal stem cells in carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels.

Engineered constructs represent a promising treatment for replacement of nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue. Recently, photocrosslinked hydrogels comprised of methacrylated carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were shown to support chondrogenic differentiation of encapsulated human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and promote accumulation of NP-like extracellular matrix (ECM). The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of CMC crosslinking density, by varying macromer concentration and modification (i.

Cellular Models of Aggregation-dependent Template-directed Proteolysis to Characterize Tau Aggregation Inhibitors for Treatment of Alzheimer Disease.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a degenerative tauopathy characterized by aggregation of Tau protein through the repeat domain to form intraneuronal paired helical filaments (PHFs). We report two cell models in which we control the inherent toxicity of the core Tau fragment. These models demonstrate the properties of prion-like recruitment of full-length Tau into an aggregation pathway in which template-directed, endogenous truncation propagates aggregation through the core Tau binding domain.

Duration of TGF-β3 Exposure Impacts the Chondrogenic Maturation of Human MSCs in Photocrosslinked Carboxymethylcellulose Hydrogels.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation can be caused by both degeneration and traumatic injury, ultimately resulting in back pain or sciatica due to disc protrusion. Replacement of the nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue during surgical intervention post herniation could improve the long-term stability of the functional spinal unit. Tissue engineering strategies may potentially restore both biological and mechanical function of the NP.

Reduction of low- and high-grade cervical abnormalities associated with high uptake of the HPV bivalent vaccine in Scotland.

Background: In Scotland, a national HPV immunisation programme began in 2008 for 12- to 13-year olds, with a catch-up campaign from 2008 to 2011 for those under the age of 18. To monitor the impact of HPV immunisation on cervical disease at the population level, a programme of national surveillance was established.

Methods: We analysed colposcopy data from a cohort of women born between 1988 and 1992 who entered the Scottish Cervical Screening Programme (SCSP) and were aged 20-21 in 2008-2012.

Injectable carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels for soft tissue filler applications.

Disease, trauma and aging all lead to deficits in soft tissue. As a result, there is a need to develop materials that safely and effectively restore areas of deficiency. While autogenous fat is the current gold standard, hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are commonly used.

Functional nucleus pulposus-like matrix assembly by human mesenchymal stromal cells is directed by macromer concentration in photocrosslinked carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is associated with several pathophysiologic changes of the IVD, including dehydration of the nucleus pulposus (NP). Tissue engineering strategies may be used to restore both biological and mechanical function of the IVD following removal of NP tissue during surgical intervention. Recently, photocrosslinked carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrogels were shown to support chondrogenic, NP-like extracellular matrix (ECM) elaboration by human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) when supplemented with TGF-β3; however, mechanical properties of these constructs did not reach native values.

Influence of HPV type on prognosis in patients diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer.

While much is known about the influence of HPV type on the progression of pre-invasive cervical lesions, the impact of HPV type on cervical cancer prognosis is less evidenced. Thus, we assessed the impact of HPV type on the survival of women diagnosed with cervical cancer. A total of 370 cases of cervical cancer were assessed.

Characterization of mechanics and cytocompatibility of fibrin-genipin annulus fibrosus sealant with the addition of cell adhesion molecules.

There is an unmet clinical need for a biomaterial sealant capable of repairing small annulus fibrosus (AF) defects. Causes of these defects include painful intervertebral disc herniations, microdiscectomy procedures, morbidity associated with needle puncture injury from discography, and future nucleus replacement procedures. This study describes the enhancements of a fibrin gel through genipin crosslinking (FibGen) and the addition of the cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), fibronectin and collagen.