[Dominant perforator neurocutaneous flaps for one-staged reconstruction of defects caused by high energy at lower legs, ankles and feet].

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of dominant perforator neurocutaneous flaps for one-staged reconstruction of defects caused by high energy at lower legs, ankles and feet.

Methods: From July 2003 to Feb. 2011, 39 cases, with defects caused by high energy at lower legs, ankles and feet, were retrospectively studied.

Cellulose and collagen derived micro-nano structured scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Scaffold based bone tissue engineering (BTE) has made great progress in regenerating lost bone tissue. Materials of natural and synthetic origin have been used for scaffold fabrication. Scaffolds derived from natural polymers offer greater bioactivity and biocompatibility with mammalian tissues to favor tissue healing, due to their similarity to native extracellular matrix (ECM) components.

Chronic alcoholism-mediated impairment in the medulla oblongata: a mechanism of alcohol-related mortality in traumatic brain injury?

Alcohol-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common condition in medical and forensic practice, and results in high prehospital mortality. We investigated the mechanism of chronic alcoholism-related mortality by examining the effects of alcohol on the synapses of the medulla oblongata in a rat model of TBI. Seventy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either ethanol (EtOH) group, EtOH-TBI group, or control groups (water group, water-TBI group).

Characterization of schwann cells in self-assembled sheets from thermoresponsive substrates.

Schwann cells are the vital glial cells in the development and regeneration of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Recently, Schwann cell transplantation has emerged as one of the attractive candidates in treating demyelinating diseases resulting from the PNS and central nervous system injuries. Schwann cells are usually injected as cell suspensions or transplanted after being seeded on extracellular matrix proteins or biodegradable polymeric scaffolds.

Role of α-synuclein aggregation and the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 pathway in iron-induced neurotoxicity.

Abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Iron is also believed to serve as a major contributor by inducing oxidative stress and α-syn aggregation. Here, we report that down-regulation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) may contribute to iron-induced α-syn aggregation.

Osteoinductive small molecules: growth factor alternatives for bone tissue engineering.

Tissue engineering aims to repair, restore, and regenerate lost or damaged tissues by using biomaterials, cells, mechanical forces and factors (chemical and biological) alone or in combination. Growth factors are routinely used in the tissue engineering approach to expedite the process of regeneration. The growth factor approach has been hampered by several complications including high dose requirements, lower half-life, protein instability, higher costs and undesired side effects.

Prognostic value of blood zinc, iron, and copper levels in critically ill children with pediatric risk of mortality score III.

We aimed to explore the association of blood Zn, Fe, and Cu concentrations and changes in the pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score in critically ill children, to predict prognosis. We included 31 children (22 boys and 9 girls, 1 month to 5 years old), who had been admitted to the intensive care unit of our hospital and who were critically ill according to PRISM score of III. Another 20 children (12 boys, 8 girls, 3 months to 5 years old) who were brought to the hospital for a health checkup were included as controls.

Decreased iron levels in the temporal cortex in postmortem human brains with Parkinson disease.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate alterations in the levels of iron, divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) with the iron-responsive element (IRE), transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), and iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1) in the temporal cortex of human brains with Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: Iron content was measured using an ICP-MS 7500CE detector. IRP1, DMT1+IRE, TfR1, and FPN1 expressions were determined by Western blotting.

Preparation and characterization of vinculin-targeted polymer-lipid nanoparticle as intracellular delivery vehicle.

Intracellular delivery vehicles have been extensively investigated as these can serve as an effective tool in studying the cellular mechanism, by delivering functional protein to specific locations of the cells. In the current study, a polymer-lipid nanoparticle (PLN) system was developed as an intracellular delivery vehicle specifically targeting vinculin, a focal adhesion protein associated with cellular adhesive structures, such as focal adhesions and adherens junctions. The PLNs possessed an average size of 106 nm and had a positively charged surface.

Reducing bacterial colonization of 3-d nanofiber cell scaffolds by hierarchical assembly of microgels and an antimicrobial Peptide.

The hierarchical electrostatic deposition of anionic microgels and a cationic oligopeptide throughout a PCL-chitosan nanofiber scaffold inhibits S. epidermidis colonization of the scaffold interior while promoting osteoblast adhesion, spreading, and proliferation on the scaffold surface.

Self assembled temperature responsive surfaces for generation of cell patches for bone tissue engineering.

One of the major challenges in the fabrication of tissue engineered scaffolds is the ability of the scaffold to biologically mimic autograft-like tissues. One of the alternate approaches to achieve this is by the application of cell seeded scaffolds with optimal porosity and mechanical properties. However, the current approaches for seeding cells on scaffolds are not optimal in terms of seeding efficiencies, cell penetration into the scaffold and more importantly uniform distribution of cells on the scaffold.

Noneluting enzymatic antibiofilm coatings.

We developed a highly efficient, biocompatible surface coating that disperses bacterial biofilms through enzymatic cleavage of the extracellular biofilm matrix. The coating was fabricated by binding the naturally existing enzyme dispersin B (DspB) to surface-attached polymer matrices constructed via a layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition technique. LbL matrices were assembled through electrostatic interactions of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), followed by chemical cross-linking with glutaraldehyde and pH-triggered removal of PMAA, producing a stable PAH hydrogel matrix used for DspB loading.

Radially and axially graded multizonal bone graft substitutes targeting critical-sized bone defects from polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate.

Repair and regeneration of critical sized defects via the utilization of polymeric bone graft substitutes are challenges. Here, we introduce radially and axially graded multizonal bone graft substitutes fabricated from polycaprolactone (PCL), and PCL biocomposites with osteoconductive particles, that is, hydroxyapatite (HA), and β-tricalcium phosphate (TCP). The novel bone graft substitutes should provide a greater degree of freedom to the orthopedic surgeon especially for repair of critically sized bone defects.

Imbalanced anti-H1N1 immunoglobulin subclasses and dysregulated cytokines in hospitalized pregnant women with 2009 H1N1 influenza and pneumonia in Shenyang, China.

Influenza virus can cause an acute respiratory illness of variable intensity. In our study, we describe the clinical and immunological characteristics of pregnant and nonpregnant women who were hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 influenza and pneumonia in Shenyang, China, from November 2009 to January 2010. Forty-two female patient infected with H1N1 were divided into groups according to pregnancy.

Comparison of manually shaped and computer-shaped titanium mesh for repairing large frontotemporoparietal skull defects after traumatic brain injury.

Object: The object of this study was to compare the effects and complications of manual and computer-aided shaping of titanium meshes for repairing large frontotemporoparietal skull defects following traumatic brain injury.

Methods: From March 2005 to June 2011, 161 patients with frontotemporoparietal skull defects were observed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the repair materials used for cranioplasty: 83 cases used computer-aided shaping for the titanium mesh, whereas the remaining 78 cases used a manually shaped titanium mesh.

Compare ultrasound-mediated heating and cavitation between flowing polymer- and lipid-shelled microbubbles during focused ultrasound exposures.

This paper compares the efficiency of flowing polymer- and lipid-shelled microbubbles (MBs) in the heating and cavitation during focused ultrasound exposures. Temperature and cavitation activity were simultaneously measured as the two types of shelled MBs and saline flowing through a 3 mm diameter vessel in the phantom with varying flow velocities (0-20 cm/s) at different acoustic power levels (0.6-20 W) with each exposure for 5 s.

[Application of bacterial cultures of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids in children with pulmonary infection].

Objective: To study the value of bacterial cultures of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) in children with pulmonary infection.

Methods: Bacterial cultures sampled from both sputum and BALF were performed on 80 hospitalized children with pulmonary infection between June 2008 and February 2011.Culture results between the two samples were compared.

[Changes of biomechanical properties of soft tissues in underwater corpse for postmortem interval estimation].

Objective: To explore the postmortem changes of biomechanical properties of underwater corpses and value for estimating postmortem interval.

Methods: SD rats were sacrificed by cervical vertebra dislocation and stored in the water at constant temperature. The vessel wall, skin, muscle, small intestine and colon were sampled at different postmortem time points (0h, 6h, 12h, 18h, 24h, 30h, 36h, 42h, 48h, 60h, 72h, 96h, 120h, 144h, 168h, 192h).

TLR4 expression in normal gallbladder, chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder carcinoma.

Background/aims: Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for gallbladder carcinoma. The molecular mechanisms linking inflammation and gallbladder carcinogenesis are incompletely understood. Toll-like receptors are involved in inflammatory response and play an important role in the innate immune system by initiating and directing immune response to pathogens.

The integrated HIV-1 provirus in patient sperm chromosome and its transfer into the early embryo by fertilization.

Complete understanding of the route of HIV-1 transmission is an important prerequisite for curbing the HIV/AIDS pandemic. So far, the known routes of HIV-1 transmission include sexual contact, needle sharing, puncture, transfusion and mother-to-child transmission. Whether HIV can be vertically transmitted from human sperm to embryo by fertilization is largely undetermined.

Altered levels of trace elements in acute lung injury after severe trauma.

Trace element (TE) supplementation can reduce the incidence of multiple organ failure after severe trauma. The lung plays a main role in post-injury multiple organ failure. In the present study, the relationship between TEs and acute lung injury (ALI) post-injury was investigated in a rabbit model of severe trauma with an injury severity score of 27.

In vitro analysis and mechanical properties of twin screw extruded single-layered and coextruded multilayered poly(caprolactone) scaffolds seeded with human fetal osteoblasts for bone tissue engineering.

In vitro culturing and mechanical properties of three types of three-dimensional poly(caprolactone) scaffolds with interconnecting open-foam networks are reported. The scaffolds targeted bone tissue regeneration and were fabricated using twin screw extrusion and coextrusion techniques, for continuous mixing/shaping and formation of single or multilayers with distinct and tailorable porosities and pore sizes. Human fetal preosteoblastic cells, hFOB, were cultured on the extruded and coextruded scaffolds under osteogenic supplements and the samples of the resulting tissue constructs were removed and characterized for cell viability and proliferation using the MTS assay, differentiation, and mineralized matrix synthesis via the alkaline phosphatase, ALP, activity and Alizarin Red staining and cell migration using confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

[Iron and ferritin changes in multiple organs failure after trauma].

Objective: To investigate the changes of iron content in serum and liver, ferritin content in serum, percentage of myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive granulocyte in rabbits after different serious trauma and to explore the relationship between these changes and multiple organ failure (MOF).

Methods: Rabbit trauma models were established. Iron content in serum and liver, ferritin content in serum and the percentage of MPO positive granulocyte were measured at different time after trauma.