From the microspheres to scaffolds: advances in polymer microsphere scaffolds for bone regeneration applications.

The treatment and repair of bone tissue damage and loss due to infection, tumours, and trauma are major challenges in clinical practice. Artificial bone scaffolds offer a safer, simpler, and more feasible alternative to bone transplantation, serving to fill bone defects and promote bone tissue regeneration. Ideally, these scaffolds should possess osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and osseointegrative properties.

Longitudinal Changes in Kidney Solute Clearance in a Prospective Cohort of Patients Initiating Chronic Hemodialysis.

Introduction: Longitudinal changes in residual kidney function have not been well-examined in patients starting chronic hemodialysis (HD).

Methods: We analyzed urine volume and kidney solute clearances from timed urine collections and corresponding plasma samples from 42 patients randomized to incremental HD ( = 21) and conventional HD ( = 21) in the TwoPlus pilot study. Samples were collected before HD initiation (baseline); and at 6, 12, 24, and 48 weeks.

Carbon quantum dots-modified Z-scheme BiOCl/NiAl-LDH for significantly boosting photocatalytic CO reduction.

Photocatalytic reduction of CO to high-energy products is an effective way to utilize solar energy and mitigate the greenhouse effect. In this paper, a series of CQDs/BiOCl/NiAl-LDH (C/BOC/LDH) photocatalysts were prepared via a one-pot hydrothermal method, demonstrated excellent photocatalytic CO reduction performance. In the case of only water without any photosensitizer and sacrificial agent, the CO production rate on C/0.

Safety and efficacy of Endovascular Management of high-grade blunt renal injury.

Objectives: To provide data on the safety and efficacy of renal arterial embolization (RAE) in patients with high-grade blunt renal injury.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen patients with high-grade blunt renal injury (AAST grades IV-V) admitted to our hospital from July 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed in this study. Their clinical success rate and complications were investigated accordingly.

Fabrication of a ternary NiS/ZnInS/g-CN photocatalyst with dual charge transfer channels towards efficient H evolution.

As a renewable green energy, hydrogen has received widespread attention due to its huge potential in solving energy shortages and environment pollution. In this paper, a one-step solvothermal method was applied to grow ultra-thin g-CN (UCN) nanosheets and NiS nanoparticles on the surface of ZnInS (ZIS). A ternary NiS/ZnInS/ultra-thin-g-CN composite material with dual high-speed charge transfer channels was constructed for the advancement of the photocatalytic H generation.

Fabrication of a dual S-scheme BiOI/g-CN/BiOCl heterojunction with enhanced visible-light-driven performance for phenol degradation.

S-scheme heterostructure can facilitate the separation of carriers while maintain outstanding redox capacity. A series of ternary BiOI/g-CN/BiOCl photocatalytic system was triumphantly synthesized via oil bath method in this work and used in photocatalytic degradation of phenol. The optimal TOC removal rate reached up to 93.

A scalable coaxial bioprinting technology for mesenchymal stem cell microfiber fabrication and high extracellular vesicle yield.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising candidates for regenerative medicine; however, the lack of scalable methods for high quantity EV production limits their application. In addition, signature EV-derived proteins shared in 3D environments and 2D surfaces, remain mostly unknown. Herein, we present a platform combining MSC microfiber culture with ultracentrifugation purification for high EV yield.

The Regenerative Role of Gelatin in PLLA Electrospun Membranes for the Treatment of Chronic Massive Rotator Cuff Injuries.

Failing to regenerate native tendon tissue in chronic massive rotator cuff tears (CMRCTs) results in high retear rates after surgery. Gelatin is a hydrolyzed form of collagen which is bioactive and biocompatible. This study intends to investigate the suitability of integrating gelatin to poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) fibrous membranes for promoting the healing of CMRCTs.

MMP-9 as a Biomarker for Predicting Hemorrhagic Strokes in Moyamoya Disease.

This study was conducted in order to investigate the association of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 levels with phenotypes of moyamoya disease (MMD). This study included plasma samples from 84 MMD patients. The clinical variables of these patients were reviewed from the medical record.

A NiS co-catalyst decorated ZnInS/g-CN type-II ball-flower-like nanosphere heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Promoting the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and enhancing the charge carrier transfer are critical in photocatalysis. In our work, a ball-flower-like NiS/ZnInS/g-CN photocatalyst fabricated by a hydrothermal method exhibited superior performance for photocatalytic water splitting. The optimized 2.

Biocompatible and biodegradable scaffold based on polytrimethylene carbonate-tricalcium phosphate microspheres for tissue engineering.

Biocompatible polymers and drug delivery vehicles have been driving development in bone regeneration. However, most bone scaffolds show poor degradation and proliferation. In this study, a composite microsphere scaffold was prepared using vancomycin hydrochloride(VH)-loaded polytrimethylene carbonate(PTMC) microsphere (PTMC-VH).

Applications of marine collagens in bone tissue engineering.

For decades, collagen has been among the most widely used biomaterials with several biomedical applications. Recently, researchers have shown a keen interest in collagen obtained from marine sources because of its biocompatibility, biodegradability, ease of extractability, safety, low immunogenicity, and low production costs. A wide variety of marine collagen-based scaffolds have been developed for bone tissue engineering, and these scaffolds display excellent biological effects.

Practical Experience of Endoscope Reprocessing and Working-Platform Disinfection in COVID-19 Patients: A Report from Guangdong China during the Pandemic.

Background: No consensus exists regarding which procedures should be performed to disinfect endoscopes and working platforms after COVID-19 patients have undergone endoscopy.

Methods: We analyzed the disinfection quality of endoscopes and working platforms after 11 COVID-19 patients had undergone endoscopy.

Conclusions: For endoscopic preprocessing at the bedside, a key disinfection step is using a multienzyme stock solution.

Recent Progress of Transition Metal Phosphides for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution can effectively alleviate the troublesome global energy crisis by converting solar energy into the chemical energy of hydrogen. In order to realize efficient hydrogen generation, a variety of semiconductor materials have been extensively investigated, including TiO , CdS, g-C N , metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and others. In recent years, to achieve higher photocatalytic performance and reach the level of large-scale industrial applications, photocatalysts decorated with transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have shone brightly because of their low cost, stable physical and chemical properties, and substitution for precious metals of TMPs.

Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Bilayer-Like Structural Graphene Quantum Dots/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Hybrids.

In order to improve the thermoelectric properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), bilayer-like structures of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and SWCNTs films (b-GQDs/SWCNTs) were prepared by directly coating GQDs on the surface of SWCNTs films. Compared to pristine SWCNT films (p-SWCNTs), the electrical conductivity of b-GQDs/SWCNTs increased while their Seebeck coefficient decreased. The special interface structure of GQDs and SWCNTs can not only improve carrier transport to increase electrical conductivity but also scatter phonons to reduce thermal conductivity.

Hsa_circ_0003159 inhibits gastric cancer progression by regulating miR-223-3p/NDRG1 axis.

Background: Abnormally expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in the development and treatment of gastric cancer (GC). Previous study has reported that hsa_circ_0003159 is expressed in GC. However, the role and mechanism of hsa_circ_0003159 in GC progression remain unclear.

Temperature Dependence of the Pore Structure in Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)/Graphene Composite Membrane Probed by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy.

In this paper, graphene was introduced in the PVDF to improve the thermal stability of the pore structure, which is the key feature for the membrane applied for the thermo-osmotic energy conversion (TOEC) process. The PVDF/graphene composite membranes were characterized by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a water contact angle measurement, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It was found that the composite membranes exhibited improved surface hydrophobicity.

Sequence-dependent synergistic cytotoxicity of icotinib and pemetrexed in human lung cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Recent Clinical trials of administration of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in combination with standard first-line chemotherapy have failed to improve survival in patients with advanced NSCLC, However, the sequential treatment with EGFR-TKIs and chemotherapy is expected to improve survival of NSCLC. The aim of this study is to test the antiproliferative effect of pemetrexed combined with icotinib in different sequences on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines to determine the optimal combination schedule, and subsequently elaborated the potential mechanisms.

Methods: Six human lung cancer cell lines with wild-type or mutant EGFR gene were exposed to pemetrexed and icotinib combined in different sequences.

Kaempferol inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of liver cancer HepG2 cells by down-regulation of microRNA-21.

Liver cancer is one of the most common and lethal cancers in human digestive system, which kills more than half a million people every year worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the effects of kaempferol, a flavonoid compound isolated from vegetables and fruits, on hepatic cancer HepG2 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, as well as microRNA-21 (miR-21) expression. Cell viability was detected using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay.

PEDOT:PSS/graphene quantum dots films with enhanced thermoelectric properties via strong interfacial interaction and phase separation.

The typical conductive polymer of PEDOT:PSS has recently attracted intensive attention in thermoelectric conversion because of its low cost and low thermal conductivity as well as high electrical conductivity. However, compared to inorganic counterparts, the relatively poor thermoelectric performance of PEDOT:PSS has greatly limited its development and high-tech applications. Here, we report a dramatic enhancement in the thermoelectric performance of PEDOT:PSS by constructing unique composite films with graphene quantum dots (GQDs).

Knockdown of Urothelial Carcinoma-Associated 1 Suppressed Cell Growth and Migration Through Regulating miR-301a and CXCR4 in Osteosarcoma MHCC97 Cells.

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Accumulating evidence has highlighted the critical role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in various cancers. The present study aimed to explore the role of lncRNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) in cell growth and migration in MHCC97 cells and its underlying mechanism.

In situ investigation of bismuth nanoparticles formation by transmission electron microscope.

Bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles are prepared by using NaBi(MoO) nanosheets in the beam of electrons emitted by transmission electron microscope. The formation and growth of Bi nanoparticles are investigated in situ. The sizes of Bi nanoparticles are confined within the range of 6-10nm by controlling irradiation time.

Comparing Mechanical Bowel Preparation With Both Oral and Systemic Antibiotics Versus Mechanical Bowel Preparation and Systemic Antibiotics Alone for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection After Elective Colorectal Surgery: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials.

Background: The discussion on the role of mechanical bowel preparation and oral antibiotics in elective colorectal surgery is still ongoing.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether oral systemic antibiotics with mechanical bowel preparation are superior to systemic antibiotics and mechanical bowel preparation for prophylaxis of bacterial infection during elective colorectal operation.

Data Sources: Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched using the terms oral, antibiotics/antimicrobial, colorectal/rectal/colon/rectum, and surgery/operation.

Characterization and Gas Sensitivity of Polyaniline/Coral-Like SnO2 Hybrid Material Prepared by In Situ Polymerization.

A PANI/coral-like mesoporous SnO2 hybrid material was fabricated using in situ polymerization method at 0-5 degrees C. The coral-like mesoporous SnO2 was synthesized by controlling the hydrolysis of SnCl4 and subsequent removal of the templates by calcination in air. The obtained PANI/coral-like mesoporous SnO2 hybrid material was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, TEM and SEM.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Gas-Sensing Properties of Mesoporous Nanocrystalline Sn(x)Ti(1-x)O2.

A nanocomposite mesoporous material composed by SnO2 and TiO2 with the size of -5-9 nm were prepared via a facile wet-chemical approach combining with an annealing process. The microstructure of obtained Sn(x)Ti(1-x)O2 powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray Photo-electronic Spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and nitrogen adsorption-desorption experiment. The gas sensing performances to several gases of the mesoporous material were studied.