Intraosseous injections of platelet rich plasma for knee bone marrow lesions treatment: one year follow-up.

Purpose: Cartilage lesions are usually accompanied by subchondral bone alterations or bone marrow lesions (BMLs). BML associated with joint degeneration and cartilage lesions are considered to be predictors of rapidly progressing OA. Currently no existing treatment can fully halt OA progression.

The diffusion-tensor imaging reveals alterations in water diffusion parameters in acute pediatric concussion.

Wide-spread visualization methods which are computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not sensitive to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, mTBI may cause changes of cerebral microstructure that could be found using diffusion-tensor imaging. The aim of this study is to reveal the impact of acute mTBI (no more than 3 days after trauma) on diffusion parameters in corpus callosum, corticospinal tract, and thalamus in children (aged 14-18).

Multiparametric Optical Bioimaging Reveals the Fate of Epoxy Crosslinked Biomeshes in the Mouse Subcutaneous Implantation Model.

Biomeshes based on decellularized bovine pericardium (DBP) are widely used in reconstructive surgery due to their wide availability and the attractive biomechanical properties. However, their efficacy in clinical applications is often affected by the uncontrolled immunogenicity and proteolytic degradation. To address this issue, we present here multiparametric imaging analysis of epoxy crosslinked DBPs to reveal their fate after implantation.

Structure and properties of helical fibers spun from cellulose solutions in [B]Cl.

Man-made fibers were spun from solutions of cotton and wood cellulose in ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride, [B]Cl). Depending on the concentration, cellulose dissolved in [B]Cl down to macromolecules or nanofibrils. The artificial fibers had a diameter of about 100 nm, were uniform, transparent, helical, and optically active.

Biomechanical properties of the lens capsule: A review.

The lens capsule, a thin specialized basement membrane that encloses the crystalline lens, is essential for both the structural and biomechanical integrity of the lens. Knowing the mechanical properties of the lens capsule is important for understanding its physiological functioning, role in accommodation, age-related changes, and for providing a better treatment of a cataract. In this review, we have described the techniques used for the lens capsule biomechanical testing on the macro- and microscale and summarized the current knowledge about its mechanical properties.

Mammalian Pericardium-Based Bioprosthetic Materials in Xenotransplantation and Tissue Engineering.

Bioprosthetic materials based on mammalian pericardium tissue are the gold standard in reconstructive surgery. Their application range covers repair of rectovaginal septum defects, abdominoplastics, urethroplasty, duraplastics, maxillofacial, ophthalmic, thoracic and cardiovascular reconstruction, etc. However, a number of factors contribute to the success of their integration into the host tissue including structural organization, mechanical strength, biocompatibility, immunogenicity, surface chemistry, and biodegradability.

Ultrashort ssDNA in Retinoblastoma Patients Blood Plasma Detected by a Novel High Resolution HPLC Technique: a Preliminary Report.

A significant population of ultrashort (50-150n) single-stranded DNA fragments were found in exosome-free blood plasma of retinoblastoma patients (6.84 ng mL-1), but not in plasma of healthy donors. An original high resolution HPLC technique has been proposed to reveal and characterize this peculiarity.

Tissue Engineering in Liver Regenerative Medicine: Insights into Novel Translational Technologies.

Organ and tissue shortage are known as a crucially important public health problem as unfortunately a small percentage of patients receive transplants. In the context of emerging regenerative medicine, researchers are trying to regenerate and replace different organs and tissues such as the liver, heart, skin, and kidney. Liver tissue engineering (TE) enables us to reproduce and restore liver functions, fully or partially, which could be used in the treatment of acute or chronic liver disorders and/or generate an appropriate functional organ which can be transplanted or employed as an extracorporeal device.

Digging deeper: structural background of PEGylated fibrin gels in cell migration and lumenogenesis.

Fibrin is a well-known tool in tissue engineering, but the structure of its modifications created to improve its properties remains undiscussed despite its importance, in designing biomaterials that ensure cell migration and lumenogenesis. We sought to uncover the structural aspects of PEGylated fibrin hydrogels shown to contribute to angiogenesis. The analysis of the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data and modeling revealed that the PEGylation of fibrinogen led to the formation of oligomeric species, which are larger at a higher PEG : fibrinogen molar ratio.

Calcium Salt of N-(5-Hydroxynicotinoyl)-L-Glutamic Acid Weakens Depressive-Like Behavior and Parkinsonian Syndrome in Experiment on Rodents.

We studied antidepressant and antiparkinsonian properties of N-(5-hydroxynicotinoyl)-Lglutamic acid calcium salt (Ampasse) in rodents. It was found that Ampasse in a dose of 30 mg/kg exhibited antidepressant activity in the forced swimming test in mice and in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg maximally alleviates the symptoms of parkinsonian syndrome induced by systemic administration of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine in C57Bl/6 mice, and haloperidol-induced catalepsy in rats.

Spontaneous Resolution and Super-coiling in Xerogels of the Products of Photo-Induced Formose Reaction.

This work addresses the supramolecular self-organization in the xerogels of formose reaction products. The UV-induced formose reaction was held in over-saturated formaldehyde solutions at 70C without a catalyst. The solutions of the obtained carbohydrates were dried on a glass slide, and the obtained xerogels demonstrated a prominent optical activity, while the initial solutions were optically inactive.

G protein-coupled receptors of class A harness the energy of membrane potential to increase their sensitivity and selectivity.

The human genome contains about 700 genes of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) of class A; these seven-helical membrane proteins are the targets of almost half of all known drugs. In the middle of the helix bundle, crystal structures reveal a highly conserved sodium-binding site, which is connected with the extracellular side by a water-filled tunnel. This binding site contains a sodium ion in those GPCRs that are crystallized in their inactive conformations but does not in those GPCRs that are trapped in agonist-bound active conformations.

Oligomeric "Catastrophe Machines" with Thermally Activated Bistability and Stochastic Resonance.

The desire to create nanometer-scale switching devices has motivated an active search for bistate macromolecular systems allowing for sharp conformational transitions in response to stimuli. Using full-atomic simulations, we found particular oligomers of thermosensitive polymers, themselves only a few nanometers in size, that possessed conformational bistability and reacted to power loads as nonlinear mechanical systems, termed "catastrophe machines". We established the bifurcation and hysteresis effects, spontaneous vibrations, and stochastic resonance for these oligomers.

Spectral peculiarity and criticality of a human connectome.

We have performed the comparative spectral analysis of structural connectomes for various organisms using open-access data. Our results indicate new peculiar features of connectomes of higher organisms. We found that the spectral density of adjacency matrices of human connectome has maximal deviation from the one of randomized network, compared to other organisms.

Multiple pathways of charge recombination revealed by the temperature dependence of electron transfer kinetics in cyanobacterial photosystem I.

The kinetics of charge recombination in Photosystem I P-F/F complexes and P-F cores lacking the terminal iron‑sulfur clusters were studied over a temperatures range of 310 K to 4.2 K. Analysis of the charge recombination kinetics in this temperature range allowed the assignment of backward electron transfer from the different electron acceptors to P.

Viscoelastic mapping of cells based on fast force volume and PeakForce Tapping.

Development of fast force volume (FFV), PeakForce Tapping (PFT), and related AFM techniques allow fast acquisition and mapping of a sample's mechanical properties. The methods are well-suited for studying soft biological samples like living cells in a liquid environment. However, the question remains how the measured mechanical properties are related to those acquired with the classical force volume (FV) technique conducted at low indentation rates.

Effect of Non-Thermal Plasma on Proliferative Activity and Adhesion of Multipotent Stromal Cells to Scaffolds Developed for Tissue-Engineered Constructs.

We studied the effect of non-thermal argon plasma on proliferative activity of bone marrow multipotent stromal cells in vitro. Treatment of stromal cell suspension with pure argon did not affect their proliferation. The cells treated with non-thermal argon plasma and explanted in the treatment medium demonstrated growth inhibition by 30-40% in comparison with the control.

Protective Properties of Lanthanum Nitrate against Pathogens with Various Morphological and Functional Properties.

Dose-dependent protective effects of lanthanum nitrate solution and gel were shown on the model of experimental infection caused by a virulent strain of Shigella flexneri 2a or opportunistic bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae in outbred and DBA mice.

Twisting of Fibers Balancing the Gel⁻Sol Transition in Cellulose Aqueous Suspensions.

Cellulose hydrogels and films are advantageous materials that are applied in modern industry and medicine. Cellulose hydrogels have a stable scaffold and never form films upon drying, while viscous cellulose hydrosols are liquids that could be used for film production. So, stabilizing either a gel or sol state in cellulose suspensions is a worthwhile challenge, significant for the practical applications.

Microporous Materials Based on Norbornadiene-Based Cross-Linked Polymers.

New microporous homopolymers were readily prepared from norbornadiene-2,5, its dimer and trimer by addition (vinyl) polymerization of the corresponding monomers with 60⁻98% yields. As a catalyst Pd--heterocyclic carbene complex or Ni(II) 2-ethylhexanoate activated with Na⁺[B(3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃)₄] or methylaluminoxane was used. The synthesized polynorbornenes are cross-linked and insoluble.

Proton leakage across lipid bilayers: Oxygen atoms of phospholipid ester linkers align water molecules into transmembrane water wires.

Up to half of the cellular energy gets lost owing to membrane proton leakage. The permeability of lipid bilayers to protons is by several orders of magnitude higher than to other cations, which implies efficient proton-specific passages. The nature of these passages remains obscure.