Acetylated nanocellulose reinforced hydroxypropyl starch acetate realizing polypropylene replacement for green packaging application.

The use of natural starch as a replacement for petroleum-based packaging materials is limited due to its poor processability, weak mechanical properties, and strong moisture sensitivity. To address these limitations, this study adopts molecular design of hydroxypropylation and acetylation to sequentially modify natural starch, and material design of introducing acetylated cellulose nanofibers (ACNF) into the starch matrix to reinforce the material. Hydroxypropylation decreased the interaction force between the starch molecular chains, thereby reducing the glass transition temperature.

3D printing and biocompatibility study of a new biodegradable occluder for cardiac defect.

Objective: To fabricate a biodegradable occluder for heart defect using the three-dimensional (3D) printing technique and evaluate its biosafety in an animal model.

Methods: Occluder samples were made by 3D printing technique using the self-developed lactide-sanya methyl carbonate-glycolide (PLLA-TMC-GA) co-polymer or PLTG as the bio-material. The biocompatibility (cytological and hematological) of the materials was evaluated by cytotoxicity experiments, hemolysis test, dynamic blood clotting test, and platelet adhesion test.

HSPA9 overexpression inhibits apoptin-induced apoptosis in the HepG2 cell line.

Apoptin, a small protein derived from chicken anemia virus, possesses the capacity to specifically kill tumor cells while leaving normal cells intact. Previous studies have indicated that the subcellular localization of apoptin appears to be crucial for this tumor-selective activity. Apoptin resides in the cytoplasm of normal cells; however, in cancer cells it translocates into the nucleus.

PTD4-apoptin protein and dacarbazine show a synergistic antitumor effect on B16-F1 melanoma in vitro and in vivo.

PTD4-apoptin protein enters cells and harbors tumor-selective cell death activity. Dacarbazine is the mainstay of treatment for malignant melanoma. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of PTD4-apoptin protein and/or dacarbazine in mouse B16-F1 and human A875 and SK-MEL-5 melanoma cells in vitro and by means of a mouse B16-F1 melanoma model in vivo.

TFPI or uPA-PAI-1 complex affect cell function through expression variation of type II very low density lipoprotein receptor.

Very low density lipoprotein receptors (VLDLR) including type I and type II are known to affect cell functions by binding to its extracellular ligands. However, the effect of these ligands on VLDLR expression remains elusive. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and urokinase plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (uPA-PAI-1) complex, two ligands of VLDLR, were used to examine their effects on VLDLR expression.

Proteomic analysis of the triglyceride-rich lipoprotein-laden foam cells.

In hypertriglyceridaemic individuals, atherosclerogenesis is associated with the increased concentrations of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and VLDL-associated remnant particles. In vitro studies have suggested that VLDL induces foam cells formation. To reveal the changes of the proteins expression in the process of foam cells formation induced by VLDL, we performed a proteomic analysis of the foam cells based on the stimulation of differentiated THP-1 cells with VLDL.

Disseminated cutaneous infection with Mycobacterium kansasii: genotyping versus phenotyping.

Mycobacterium kansasii is a common and virulent pathogen. However, primary cutaneous M kansasii infection has rarely been reported, totaling to only 34 cases since 1965. This low incidence has not been explained, but probably is due to difficulty in culture or phenotyping.