A high reticulocyte count is a risk factor for the onset of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Cross-sectional and prospective studies of data of 310,091 individuals from the UK Biobank.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) poses a considerable health risk. Nevertheless, its risk factors are not thoroughly comprehended, and the association between the reticulocyte count and MASLD remains uncertain. This study aimed to explore the relationship between reticulocyte count and MASLD.

Erratum to: Black phosphorus nanosheets and paclitaxel encapsulated hydrogel for synergistic photothermal-chemotherapy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1515/nanoph-2021-0089.].

MR-BOIL: Causal inference in one-sample Mendelian randomization for binary outcome with integrated likelihood method.

Mendelian randomization is a statistical method for inferring the causal relationship between exposures and outcomes using an economics-derived instrumental variable approach. The research results are relatively complete when both exposures and outcomes are continuous variables. However, due to the noncollapsing nature of the logistic model, the existing methods inherited from the linear model for exploring binary outcome cannot take the effect of confounding factors into account, which leads to biased estimate of the causal effect.

Effect of Pressure and Temperature on Densification in Electric Field-Assisted Sintering of Inconel 718 Superalloy.

Electric field-assisted sintering has ubiquitous merits over conventional sintering technology for the fabrication of difficult-to-deform materials. To investigate the effect of sintering pressure and temperature on the densification of Inconel 718 superalloy, a numerical simulation model was established based on the Fleck-Kuhn-McMeeking (FKM) and Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman (GTN) models, which covers a wide range of porosity. At a sintering pressure below 50 MPa or a sintering temperature below 950 °C, the average porosity of the sintered superalloy is over 0.

Multi-UAV Area Coverage Based on Relative Localization: Algorithms and Optimal UAV Placement.

This paper is concerned with relative localization-based optimal area coverage placement using multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is assumed that only one of the UAVs has its global position information before performing the area coverage task and that ranging measurements can be obtained among the UAVs by using ultra-wide band (UWB) sensors. In this case, multi-UAV relative localization and cooperative coverage control have to be run simultaneously, which is a quite challenging task.

A graphene oxide polymer brush based cross-linked nanocomposite proton exchange membrane for direct methanol fuel cells.

Functional polymer brush modified graphene oxide (FPGO) with functional linear polysiloxane brushes was synthesized surface precipitation polymerization (sol-gel) and chemical modification. Then, FPGO was covalently cross-linked to the sulfonated polysulfone (SPSU) matrix to obtain novel SPSU/FPGO cross-linked nanocomposite membranes. Meanwhile, SPSU/GO composite membranes and a pristine SPSU membrane were fabricated as control groups.

A combination of GDNF and hUCMSC transplantation loaded on SF/AGs composite scaffolds for spinal cord injury repair.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe trauma for which no effective treatment is currently available. In this study, a composited treatment system was prepared using a silk fibroin/alginates/glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (SF/AGs/GDNF) scaffold seeded with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) and the combined therapeutic effects of the composite scaffold to repair SCI rats were evaluated. The use of SF as a scaffold material could act as a biomimetic platform allowing neurons to properly accommodate and rebuild the target tissue.

[Preparation and in vitro drug release behavior of a novel matrine-loading chitosan/glycerol film].

Objective: To prepare a drug-loading film using chitosan and carboxymethyl chitosan as the carrier materials for delivering matrine to oral ulcers.

Methods: Matrine-loading films using chitosan or carboxymethyl chitosan as the carrier materials were prepared by solution casting method and orthogonal experiment at room temperature. The mechanical properties, surface morphology and drug-loading capacity of the drug-loading film were characterized using tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), swelling test and in vitro drug release test.

MicroRNA-21 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis in H₂O₂-stimulated rat spinal cord neurons.

Oxidative stress can alter the expression level of microRNAs (miRNAs) and has a role in oxidative damage generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). While previous studies have demonstrated that miR‑146a, miR‑21 and miR‑150 are essential for ROS production in heart disease, the role of these miRNAs in spinal cord injuries has not yet been examined. The present study focused on examining the role of miR‑146a, miR‑21 and miR‑150 during H2O2 stimulation in rat neuronal spinal cord (RN‑sc) cells.

Enhanced mechanical properties and blood compatibility of PDMS/liquid crystal cross-linked membrane materials.

A novel polydimethylsiloxane/liquid crystal cross-linked membrane (PDMS/LC) was prepared by using PDMS containing vinyl groups and LCs containing unsaturated linkages as matrix materials. Mechanical properties, liquid crystalline performance and blood compatibility of the PDMS/LC cross-linked membrane containing different LC contents and LC groups were investigated, respectively. The results showed that mechanical properties of the membrane increased more significantly than those of pure PDMS membranes.

Polysaccharides-based nanoparticles as drug delivery systems.

Natural polysaccharides, due to their outstanding merits, have received more and more attention in the field of drug delivery systems. In particular, polysaccharides seem to be the most promising materials in the preparation of nanometeric carriers. This review relates to the newest developments in the preparation of polysaccharides-based nanoparticles.

Surface modification of poly(L-lactic acid) by entrapment of chitosan and its derivatives to promote osteoblasts-like compatibility.

Surface modification of biomaterials has been adopted over the years to improve their biocompatibility. In this study, aiming to promote hydrophilicity and to introduce natural recognition sites onto poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) films, chitosan and its derivatives, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and N-methylene phosphonic chitosan (NPC), were used to modify the surface of PLLA films by an entrapment method. The surface properties of original and modified PLLA films were measured by using water contact angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Heparin/chitosan nanoparticle carriers prepared by polyelectrolyte complexation.

In this study, novel nanoparticles were prepared by polyelectrolyte complexation between heparin and chitosan on simple and mild conditions. The size, polydispersity, zeta potential, and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized. Entrapment studies of the nanoparticles were conducted using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein.