Metallic Materials for Bone Repair.

Repair of large bone defects caused by trauma or disease poses significant clinical challenges. Extensive research has focused on metallic materials for bone repair because of their favorable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and manufacturing processes. Traditional metallic materials, such as stainless steel and titanium alloys, are widely used in clinics.

Immunomodulatory effect of Ti-Cu alloy by surface nanostructure synergistic with Cu release.

The inflammatory response induced by implant/macrophage interaction has been considered to be one of the vital factors in determining the success of implantation. In this study, TiCuNO coating with an immunomodulatory strategy was proposed for the first time, using nanostructured TiCuNO coating synthesized on Ti-Cu alloy by oxygen and nitrogen plasma-based surface modification. It was found that TiCuNO coating inhibited macrophage proliferation but stimulated macrophage preferential activation and presented an elongated morphology due to the surface nanostructure.

Malignant and Benign Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in a Single Center: Value of Clinical and Ultrasound Features for the Diagnosis of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Compared With Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the combined use of ultrasonography and clinical features for the differentiation of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) from benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors (BPNST) and to compare the efficacy of ultrasonography with that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: This retrospective study included 28 MPNSTs and a control group of 57 BPNSTs. All patients underwent an ultrasound scan using the Logiq E9 (GE Health Care, Milwaukee, WI) or EPIQ7 equipment (Philips Medical System, Bothell, WA).

HSP90, as a functional target antigen of a mAb 11C9, promotes stemness and tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Identification of promising targeted antigens that exhibited cancer-specific expression is a crucial step in the development of novel antibody-targeted therapies. We here aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activity of a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) 11C9 and identify the antibody tractable target in the hepatocellular cancer stem cells (HCSCs).

Methods: The identification of the targeted antigen was conducted using SDS-PAGE, western blot, mass spectrometry, and co-immunoprecipitation.

Carboxypeptidase E is a prognostic biomarker co-expressed with osteoblastic genes in osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare primary malignant bone tumor in adolescents and children with a poor prognosis. The identification of prognostic genes lags far behind advancements in treatment. In this study, we identified differential genes using mRNA microarray analysis of five paired OS tissues.

Spinal cord perfusion is associated with microstructural damage in cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty.

Objectives: To investigate the association between spinal cord perfusion and microstructural damage in CSM patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty using MR dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) techniques.

Methods: A follow-up cohort study was conducted with 53 consecutively recruited CSM patients who had undergone cervical laminoplasty 12-14 months after the surgery from April 2016 to December 2016. Twenty-one aged-matched healthy volunteers were recruited as controls.

Temporal trends in mortality of tuberculosis attributable to high fasting plasma glucose in China from 1990 to 2019: a joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort analysis.

Background: Nowadays, high fasting plasma glucose (HFPG) has been identified as the important risk factor contributing to the increased burden of diseases. But there remains a lack of research on tuberculosis (TB) mortality specifically attributable to HFPG. Thus, this study aims to explore the long-term trends in HFPG-related TB mortality in China from 1990 to 2019.

Reduction-responsive nucleic acid nanocarrier-mediated miR-22 inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway for the treatment of patient-derived tumor xenograft osteosarcoma.

miRNAs are important regulators of gene expression and play key roles in the development of cancer, including osteosarcoma. During the development of osteosarcoma, the expression of miR-22 is significantly downregulated, making miR-22 as a promising therapeutic target against osteosarcoma. To design and fabricate efficient delivery carriers of miR-22 into osteosarcoma cells, a hydroxyl-rich reduction-responsive cationic polymeric nanoparticle, TGIC-CA (TC), was developed in this work, which also enhanced the therapeutic effects of Volasertib on osteosarcoma.

Fatigue behavior of biodegradable Zn-Li binary alloys in air and simulated body fluid with pure Zn as control.

Zn-Li-based alloys have drawn great attention as promising candidates for load-bearing sites, such as intramedullary nails and bone plates. They possess high monotonic strength (over 500MPa) and better pitting resistance with lithium-rich layers acting as barriers for corrosion attack under (quasi-)static conditions. However, their response to dynamic loadings such as fatigue is still unknown.

Lactate modulates iron metabolism by binding soluble adenylyl cyclase.

Overproduction of lactate (LA) can occur during exercise and in many diseases such as cancers. Individuals with hyperlactatemia often display anemia, decreased serum iron, and elevated hepcidin, a key regulator of iron metabolism. However, it is unknown whether and how LA regulates hepcidin expression.

Kinome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens revealed PLK1 as a therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor, tending to be aggressive and recurrent. The therapeutic development for treating osteosarcoma has been largely hampered by the lack of effective and specific targets. Using kinome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens, we systematically revealed a cohort of kinases essential for the survival and growth of human osteosarcoma cells, in which Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) appeared as a specific prominent hit.

A natural polymer-based hydrogel with shape controllability and high toughness and its application to efficient osteochondral regeneration.

Hydrogels prepared from sustainable natural polymers have broad prospects in the biological field. However, their poor mechanical properties and challenges in achieving shape control have limited their application. Herein, a novel preforming dual-effect post-enhancing method is proposed to address these issues.

[Identification of core pathogenic genes and pathways in elderly osteoporosis based on bioinformatics analysis].

Using bioinformatics methods to analyze the core pathogenic genes and related pathways in elderly osteoporosis. From November 2020 and August 2021, eight elderly osteoporosis patients who received treatment and five healthy participants who underwent physical examinations in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital were selected as subjects. The expression level of RNA in the peripheral blood of eight elderly osteoporosis patients and five healthy participants was collected for high-throughput transcriptome sequencing and analysis.

Vacancy Augmented Piezo-Sonosensitizer for Cancer Therapy.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has been widely reported as a noninvasive and high-penetration therapy for cancer; however, the design of an efficient sonosensitizer remains an urgent need. To address this issue, molybdenum disulfide nanoflowers (MoS NF) as piezo-sonosensitizers and introduced sulfur vacancies on the MoS NF (Sv-MoS NF) to improve their piezoelectric property for cancer therapy are designed. Under ultrasonic mechanical stress, the Sv-MoS NF resulted in piezoelectric polarization and band tilting, which enhanced the charge carrier separation and migration.

Transcriptomic and proteomic studies of condylar ossification of the temporomandibular joint in porcine embryos.

Background: The ossification mechanism of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyle remains unclear in human embryo. The size and structure of TMJ, shape of articular disc and the characteristics of omnivorous chewing in the pig are similar to those of humans. The pig is an ideal animal for studying the mechanism of ossification of the TMJ condyle during the embryonic period.

Can the parkland grading scale predict the difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy? A new approach to validation.

Background: The Parkland Grading Scale (PGS) is an intraoperative grading scale to stratify gallbladder disease severity during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). We evaluated the usefulness of the PGS in predicting the difficulty levels of LC procedures using a novel approach.

Methods: A total of 261 patients diagnosed with cholelithiasis and cholecystitis who underwent LC were assessed.

Cytosolic JNK-dependent microtubule reassembly protects Jurkat leukemia cells from selenite-induced apoptosis.

Background: Selenite at high dosage exhibits great potential in curing tumors. It has been shown that selenite inhibits tumor growth through regulation of microtubule dynamics, however, the exact underlying mechanisms remained to be fully elucidated.

Methods & Results: Western blots were carried out to evaluate expression level of different molecules.

Muscle size and density are independently associated with death after hip fracture: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Mortality following hip fracture is high and incompletely understood. We hypothesize that hip musculature size and quality are related to mortality following hip fracture. This study aims to investigate the associations of hip muscle area and density from hip CT with death following hip fracture as well as assess the dependence of this association on time after hip fracture.

Injectable chondroitin sulfate-grafted self-antioxidant hydrogels ameliorate nucleus pulposus degeneration against overactive inflammation.

Overactive inflammatory cascade accompanied by oxidative stress in the nucleus pulposus exacerbates intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). Hydrogels have been demonstrated to be promising in treating IVDD, yet they remain less efficacious in the case of anti-inflammation associated with antioxidation. In this study, we designed an injectable self-antioxidant hydrogel (HA/CS) with enhanced inflammation inhibitory performance for delivering chondroitin sulfate (CS) with well-documented anti-inflammatory property to treat IVDD.

A contact-polymerizable hemostatic powder for rapid hemostasis.

The immediate control of a hemorrhage is crucial for reducing fatalities in critical situations such as battlefields, traffic accidents, natural disasters, . Most existing commercial hemostatic powders have weak adhesion capability and poor biodegradability, restricting their clinical use. In this paper, a new poly(ethylene glycol)-di(cyanoacrylate) (CA-PEG-CA)-based hemostatic powder with tissue-contact-triggered strong adhesion and controlled fast degradation is proposed.

ERK-estrogen receptor α signaling plays a role in the process of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes protecting against ovariectomy-induced bone loss.

Background: Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC-Exos) are considered as candidates for osteoporosis (OP) therapy. Estrogen is critical in the maintenance of bone homeostasis. However, the role of estrogen and/or its receptor in BMSC-Exos treatment of OP, as well as its methods of regulation during this process remain unclear.

Characterization and role exploration of ferroptosis-related genes in osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), viewing as a degenerative aseptic inflammatory disease, is characterized by joint pain and inflammation that significantly affects the quality of patients' life, especially for the elder. Although rapid progress has been achieved in elucidating the underlying mechanisms of OA occurrence and progression, there is still a lack of effective clinical therapeutics for OA patients. Currently the most common treatments including drug therapy and surgical operations are not very satisfactory in majority of cases, so it is worthy to explore new remedies.

Effect of Percutaneous Kyphoplasty on the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The effect of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) or rather polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) on adjacent intervertebral discs is still controversial. The evidence from experimental study to clinical study presents bipolar conclusions. In this study, we investigated the effect of PKP on adjacent intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).