Construction of Lactobacillus casei ghosts by Holin-mediated inactivation and the potential as a safe and effective vehicle for the delivery of DNA vaccines.

Background: Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty bacterial cell envelopes generated by releasing the cellular contents. In this study, a phage infecting Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 (L. casei 393) was isolated and designated Lcb.

Molecular pathogenesis of fracture nonunion.

Unlabelled: Fracture nonunion, a serious bone fracture complication, remains a challenge in clinical practice. Although the molecular pathogenesis of nonunion remains unclear, a better understanding may provide better approaches for its prevention, diagnosis and treatment at the molecular level. This review tries to summarise the progress made in studies of the pathogenesis of fracture nonunion.

Examining the effect of reoccurring disturbances on population persistence with application to marine mammals.

We develop a two-state Markov chain to describe the effect of reoccurring disturbances on a population that is modeled by discrete-time matrix model. The environment is described by three parameters that define the magnitude of impact of a disturbance, the average duration of impact of a disturbance, and the average time between disturbances. We derive an approximation for the stochastic growth rate in order to examine how these three parameters affect population growth.

Osteogenesis, vascularization and osseointegration of a bioactive multiphase macroporous scaffold in the treatment of large bone defects.

Bone grafting remains the method of choice for the majority of surgeons in the treatment of large bone defects, since it fills spaces and provides support to enhance biological bone repair. Recently, we have reported our research on a bioactive multiphase macroporous scaffold with interconnected porous structures and nano-crystal surface microstructures that can release bioactive ions. Moreover, we demonstrated the excellent in vitro biological activity of the scaffold.

Transcriptome Profiling of Panc-1 Spheroid Cells with Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells Properties Cultured by a Novel 3D Semi-Solid System.

Background/aims: Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest human malignancies, the lethality of which may be attributed to the presence of pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs), a small subpopulation of cells existing within pancreatic tumor with high carcinogenesis. Therefore, it is crucial to establish an efficient enrichment and culture system of PCSCs and identify the key genes involved in the regulation of PCSCs. The three-dimensional (3D) liquid suspension mammosphere culture system has been established for enrichment and culture of PCSCs in vitro as the cell spheres are likely to originate from individual cell clone, but it has been challenged because the cell spheroids could be a result of cell aggregation.

1-Methyl-D-tryptophan Reduces Tumor CD133 cells, Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κβp65 while Enhances Lymphocytes NF-κβ2, STAT3, and STAT4 Pathways in Murine Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

1-Methyl-D-tryptophan (1-MT) is extensively utilized in preclinical trials to deplete indoleamine 2,3-dioxigenase (IDO) activity and kynurenine pathway. Since IDO related signaling pathways aren't well understood, some clinical reports affirmed IDO inhibiting therapeutic significance. Therefore, we did use direct tumor autologous antigens vaccination and 1-MT without chemotherapy to explore biological mechanisms and immunomodulations of 1-MT that motivate antitumor responses.

Radiosensitizing effects of Sestrin2 in PC3 prostate cancer cells.

Objectives: The stress-responsive genes of Sestrin family are recognized as new tumor suppressor genes in breast carcinoma, however, the function of Sestrin family in human prostate cancer is not clear. Ionizing radiation (IR) is known to induce Sestrin gene expression in breast cancer cells. However, the response of Sestrin to IR has not been reported in PC3 prostate cancer cells.

CXCR1/Akt signaling activation induced by mesenchymal stem cell-derived IL-8 promotes osteosarcoma cell anoikis resistance and pulmonary metastasis.

The loss of appropriate cell adhesion normally induces apoptosis via a process termed anoikis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the cancer microenvironment on the anoikis resistance and pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcoma (OS) cells, and to evaluate the critical role of the interleukin (IL)-8/C-X-C chemokine receptor (CXCR) 1/Akt-signaling pathway in these processes. Metastatic OS subtype cells, which did or did not interact with MSC-conditioned medium (MSC-CM) in vitro, were isolated from the pulmonary site and named Saos2-lung-M.

Mesenchymal stem cells and porous β-tricalcium phosphate composites prepared through stem cell screen-enrich-combine(-biomaterials) circulating system for the repair of critical size bone defects in goat tibia.

Background: Efficacious bone substitute is essential for the treatment of a critical size bone defect. Currently, the bone substitutes commonly used in clinical practice lack osteogenic capacity and the therapeutic efficacy is not ideal. Herein, a novel stem cell screen-enrich-combine(-biomaterials) circulating system (SECCS) was introduced to provide the substitutes with osteogenic ability.

A novel electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer system of luminol-graphene quantum dot composite and its application in HO detection.

Luminol-nitrogen doped graphene quantum dot (luminol-NGQDs) nanocomposite was synthesized and a novel electrochemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) process occurred between luminol as the donor and NGQDs as the acceptor in the composite. This ECL-RET effect helped luminol-NGQDs composite produced an anodic ECL signal without coreactants. The ECL-RET mechanism was also studied based on the fluorescence spectra, the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) spectra.

TIMP3 Overexpression Improves the Sensitivity of Osteosarcoma to Cisplatin by Reducing IL-6 Production.

Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer in children and adolescents. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs)-3 inhibit matrix metalloproteinases to limit extracellular matrix degradation. Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug used to cure osteosarcoma.

IL-13 may be involved in the development of CAD via different mechanisms under different conditions in a Chinese Han population.

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) has important functions in atherosclerosis, but its role in coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. Here, we studied the genetic role of IL-13 in CAD in a Chinese Han population using tag SNPs covering the whole IL13 gene (i.e.

Quantitative determination of residual 1,4-dioxane in three-dimensional printed bone scaffold.

Background/objective: A novel porous scaffold poly (lactide--glycolide) and tricalcium phosphate (PLGA/TCP) was developed by three-dimensional printing technology for bone defect repair. As a Class 2 solvent with less severe toxicity, content of residual 1,4-dioxane in this newly developed scaffold should be rigorously controlled when it is translated to clinical use. In this study, a headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (HS-GC-MS) method and related testing protocol were developed for quantitative determination of 1,4-dioxane in the PLGA/TCP composite scaffolds.

Bacteria-Targeting Nanoparticles with Microenvironment-Responsive Antibiotic Release To Eliminate Intracellular Staphylococcus aureus and Associated Infection.

Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus) is a causative agent in life-threatening human diseases that afflict millions of people annually. Traditional antibiotic treatments are becoming less efficient because S.

Postoperative infection caused by Acinetobacter baumannii misdiagnosed as a free-living amoeba species in a humeral head hemiarthroplasty patient: a case report.

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is ubiquitous, facultative intracellular, and opportunistic bacterial pathogen. Its unique abilities allow it to survive in a diverse range of environments, including health care settings, leading to nosocomial infections. And its exceptional ability to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics leaves few drug options for treatment.

Defective Circulating Regulatory B Cells in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background/aims: Newly identified IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (Bregs) have been shown to play an important role in the suppression of immune responses. Chronic immune activation participates in the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) but whether Bregs are involved in its development remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the circulating frequency and function of Bregs in DCM.

Biodegradable macroporous scaffold with nano-crystal surface microstructure for highly effective osteogenesis and vascularization.

Using the hydrothermal calcination method, bovine cancellous bone was transformed into a degradable macroporous scaffold with a nano-crystal surface microstructure, capable of releasing bioactive ions. Compared with the control group, the presence of the nano-crystal microstructure of the material scaffold significantly promoted the gene expression of adhesion proteins including integrin and vinculin, thus facilitating attachment, spreading, proliferation and focal adhesion formation of MC3T3-E1 cells on the surface of the scaffold. Additionally, the release of active magnesium and calcium ions from the scaffold promoted expression of osteogenic genes and formation of calcium nodules in osteoblasts.

Mg-based bone implants show promising osteoinductivity and controllable degradation: A long-term study in a goat femoral condyle fracture model.

In this work, the in vivo biocompatibility and biodegradation behavior of Mg-Nd-Zn-Zr alloy (denoted as JDBM) screws were studied using a goat femoral condyle fracture model. Blood analysis indicates that the liver and kidney functions of goats were not affected by JDBM, JDBM coated with brushite (denoted as JDBM-DCPD) and PLA implants. Radiographic analysis shows that JDBM-DCPD screw has lower degradation rate than JDBM.

Loss enhanced spin Hall effect of transmitted light through anisotropic epsilon- and mu-near-zero metamaterial slab.

Spin Hall effect of light (SHEL) is prosperous in precision metrology and quantum information processing. In normal situations, the inevitable loss of material will greatly weaken SHEL, which is a major constraint to its potential applications. We first report the loss enhanced SHEL through epsilon and mu-near-zero (EMNZ) metamaterial slab by anisotropic configuration of epsilon and mu tensors.

Engineering 3D approaches to model the dynamic microenvironments of cancer bone metastasis.

Cancer metastasis to bone is a three-dimensional (3D), multistep, dynamic process that requires the sequential involvement of three microenvironments, namely, the primary tumour microenvironment, the circulation microenvironment and the bone microenvironment. Engineered 3D approaches allow for a vivid recapitulation of in vivo cancerous microenvironments in vitro, in which the biological behaviours of cancer cells can be assessed under different metastatic conditions. Therefore, modelling bone metastasis microenvironments with 3D cultures is imperative for advancing cancer research and anti-cancer treatment strategies.

Characterization and antioxidant activities of polysaccharides from thirteen boletus mushrooms.

Water-soluble polysaccharides were extracted from the caps and stipes of thirteen boletus mushrooms representing five different species collected in Southwest China. Investigations of their structures and antioxidant activities allowed an evaluation of structure-function relationships. The polysaccharides were composed mainly of the monosaccharides arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose.

Antidiabetic activities of polysaccharides from Anoectochilus roxburghii and Anoectochilus formosanus in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Six polysaccharides were extracted from different parts (whole plants, roots and leaves) of Anoectochilus roxburghii and Anoectochilus formosanus (ARPs, ARPs-1, ARPs-2, AFPs, AFPs-1 and AFPs-2). Their primary characteristics were identified and their antidiabetic activities were evaluated in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Root polysaccharides (ARPs-1and AFPs-1) and leaf polysaccharides (ARPs-2 and AFPs-2) were distinct from each other in terms of the Mws, monosaccharide compositions and functional groups.

Adverse drug events in Chinese pediatric inpatients and associated risk factors: a retrospective review using the Global Trigger Tool.

Understanding the epidemiology and risk factors of adverse drug events (ADEs) in pediatric inpatient is essential if we are to prevent, reduce or ameliorate the harm experienced. The Global Trigger Tool (GTT) is a method of retrospective medical record review that measures harm in hospitalized children. We employed a three-stage retrospective chart review of random samples of 1800 pediatric inpatients discharged from January 2013 to December 2015.