A Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant PLD/Cyclophosphamide and Sequential nab-Paclitaxel Plus Dual HER2 Blockade in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant trastuzumab/pertuzumab (HP) plus chemotherapy for HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) achieved promising efficacy. The additional cardiotoxicity still existed. Brecan study evaluated the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD)/cyclophosphamide and sequential nab-paclitaxel based on HP (PLD/C/HP-nabP/HP).

New bioactive peptides from the venom gland of a social hornet Vespa velutina.

Bacterial resistance to drugs is a global problem requiring the urgent development of new antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are excellent candidates for the design of novel antibiotics to combat microbial resistance. In this research, we identified four new peptides (U-VVTX-Vp1a, U-VVTX-Vp1b, U-VVTX-Vp2a, and U-VVTX-Vp2b, respectively) from the venom of Vespa velutina, and tested their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and hemolytic effects.

Ophiopogonin D improves osteointegration of titanium alloy implants under diabetic conditions by inhibition of ROS overproduction via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

A high failure rate of titanium implants in diabetic patients has been indicated in clinical evidences. Excessive oxidative stress at the bone-implant interface plays an important role in the impaired osteointegration under diabetic conditions. While the underlying mechanisms remain unknown and the targeted treatments are urgently needed.

Involvement of FAK-mediated BMP-2/Smad pathway in mediating osteoblast adhesion and differentiation on nano-HA/chitosan composite coated titanium implant under diabetic conditions.

Chitosan (CS)-based hydroxyapatite (HA) composites have emerged as a novel strategy for promoting bone regeneration. Here nanophase HA/CS composite coated porous titanium implants (nCT) were fabricated and their biological behavior under diabetic conditions was investigated. We proposed that the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-mediated BMP-2/Smad pathway played a role in mediating the promotive effect of nCTs on osteoblast adhesion and differentiation under diabetes-induced high reactive oxygen species (ROS) condition.

Reliability of the Footscan® Platform System in Healthy Subjects: A Comparison of without Top-Layer and with Top-Layer Protocols.

The Footscan platform is a useful tool for plantar pressure measurement. However, there is still controversy over whether or not the platform should be covered by top-layer during the test. This study was designed to compare the reliability of the Footscan platform and identify the differences of the foot loading parameters between without top-layer (WOT) and with top-layer (WT) protocols.

Influence of the shape of the micro-finite element model on the mechanical properties calculated from micro-finite element analysis.

Assessing the biomechanical properties of trabecular bone is of major biological and clinical significance for the research of bone diseases, fractures and their treatments. Micro-finite element (µFE) models are becoming increasingly popular for investigating the biomechanical properties of trabecular bone. The shapes of µFE models typically include cube and cylinder.

Normal foot loading parameters and repeatability of the Footscan® platform system.

Background: The Footscan® platform system is one of the most commonly used clinical tools for the measurement of the foot pressure. The present study was designed to assess the repeatability of the system and identify the range of loading parameters observed in the normal foot.

Methods: Measurements were collected from 32 healthy participants, 15 females and 17 males, twice at an interval of 1 week.

Relationship between sample volumes and modulus of human vertebral trabecular bone in micro-finite element analysis.

Micro-finite element (μFE) models have been widely used to assess the biomechanical properties of trabecular bone. How to choose a proper sample volume of trabecular bone, which could predict the real bone biomechanical properties and reduce the calculation time, was an interesting problem. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between different sample volumes and apparent elastic modulus (E) calculated from μFE model.

Optimal sample volumes of human trabecular bone in μCT analysis within vertebral body and femoral head.

Trabecular bones of different skeletal sites have different bone morphologies. How to select an appropriate volume of region of interest (ROI) to reflect the microarchitecture of trabecular bone in different skeletal sites was an interesting problem. Therefore, in this study, the optimal volumes of ROI within vertebral body and femoral head, and if the relationships between volumes of ROI and microarchitectural parameters were affected by trabecular bone morphology were studied.

Pedobarographic Analysis Following Pemberton's Pericapsular Osteotomy for Unilateral Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: An Observational Study.

Successful clinical and radiographic outcomes have been reported in patients with unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) following Pemberton pericapsular osteotomy (PPO). However, residual gait deviations are seen in both the affected and unaffected limbs. To date it is not known whether these deviations result in abnormal plantar pressure in such patients.

Temporal changes of microarchitectural and mechanical parameters of cancellous bone in the osteoporotic rabbit.

This study was aimed at elucidating the temporal changes of microarchitectural and mechanical parameters of cancellous bone in the osteoporotic rabbit model induced by ovariectomy (OVX) combined with glucocorticoid (GC) administration. Osteoporotic (OP) group received bilateral OVX combined with injections of GC, while sham group only received sham operation. Cancellous bone quality in vertebrae and femoral condyles in each group was assessed by DXA, μCT, nanoindentation, and biomechanical tests at pre-OVX and 4, 6, and 8 weeks after injection.

Involvement of bone marrow stem cells in periodontal wound healing.

Objects: To test the hypothesis whether bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) could migrate into the periodontium as the precursor available for the repair of tissue injury.

Methods: A chimeric mouse model was established by transplanting BMSCs derived from red fluorescent protein mouse into irradiated BALB/c mice. Subsequently, a periodontal defect was created beside the maxillary first molar and filled with ceramic bovine bone.