Clinical significance of B7-H3 expression in circulating CD4CD25 T cells, CD14 monocytes, and plasma for the progression of HIV infection.

Background: B7-H3 is an important immune checkpoint molecule that plays a negative role in immune regulation. This study was aimed to explore B7-H3 expression in HIV-infected patients and its clinical significance.

Methods: To explore the expression and clinical significance of B7-H3 in HIV-infected patients, we investigated the B7-H3 expression pattern and the correlation of B7-H3 expression with clinical parameters of HIV-infected patients with different levels of CD4 T cells.

First trimester placental mesenchymal stem cells improve cardiac function of rat after myocardial infarction via enhanced neovascularization.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the most critical heart disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely used as a therapy for AMI for several years. The human placenta has emerged as a valuable source of transplantable cells of mesenchymal origin that can be used for multiple cytotherapeutic purposes.

Induction of autophagy protects human dental pulp cells from lipopolysaccharide-induced pyroptotic cell death.

The NOD-like receptor protein 3/caspase-1 inflammasome can be activated in human dental pulp tissue and fibroblasts; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to treat dental pulp cells to establish an inflammation model. Cell viability was examined by sulforhodamine B assay.

Facile preparation of a strong chitosan-silk biocomposite film.

Chitosan-silk biocomposite films with nanofibrous structures have been prepared by facile solution casting of chitosan and silk co-dissolved in formic acid. The morphology, structure and mechanical properties of the chitosan-silk biocomposite were characterized by SEM, FTIR, TG-DSC, and mechanical testing. The results demonstrate that the prepared biocomposite films with a chitosan-silk ratio of 3:1 shows a high tensile strength of 97.

The biological functions of LGR5 in promoting non-small cell lung cancer progression.

Background: The Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5), which is used as a marker of adult stem cells and colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs), is closely associated with the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to identify the clinical significance and biological function of LGR5 in NSCLC.

Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied to detect the expression of LGR5 and stemness-related genes in 22 NSCLC patients, and the clinical significance of LGR5 in NSCLC progression was estimated by statistical analysis.

Clinical Significance of B7-H3 Expression During the Progression of Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

B7-H3, one of the costimulatory members participating in checkpoint pathway, has been shown to be upregulated after hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. To further explore the clinical significance of dynamic B7-H3 expression during the progression of HBV infection, we systematically investigated the expression pattern of B7-H3 and the correlation of B7-H3 expression with the ratio of T lymphocyte subsets and clinical parameters at different stages in the course of the disease. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay data showed that soluble form of B7-H3 (sB7-H3) was positively correlated with the frequency of T cells in acute hepatitis B (AHB), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and hepatocellular carcinoma patients with HBV infection (HBV-HCC).

A novel silk fibroin nanofibrous membrane for guided bone regeneration: a study in rat calvarial defects.

A novel membrane for guided bone regeneration (GBR), constituting silk fibroin (SF) nanofiber from native silk nanofibril solution, was prepared by electrospinning process. Another barrier membrane, a collagen-type membrane (Bio-Gide®), was used as a comparative sample. Twelve healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study.

Amniotic fluid stem cells provide considerable advantages in epidermal regeneration: B7H4 creates a moderate inflammation microenvironment to promote wound repair.

The current treatments for severe skin injury all involve skin grafting. However, there is a worldwide shortage of donor skin tissue. In this study, we examined the advantages of using human amniotic fluid stem (hAFS) cells in skin wound healing.

Facile fabrication of robust silk nanofibril films via direct dissolution of silk in CaCl2-formic acid solution.

In this study, we report for the first time a novel silk fibroin (SF) nanofibrous films with robust mechanical properties that was fabricated by directly dissolving silk in CaCl2-formic acid solution. CaCl2-FA dissolved silk rapidly at room temperature, and more importantly, it disintegrated silk into nanofibrils instead of separate molecules. The morphology of nanofibrils crucially depended on CaCl2 concentrations, which resulted in different aggregation nanostructure in SF films.