Apoptotic body based biomimetic hybrid nanovesicles to attenuate cytokine storms for sepsis treatment.

Sepsis is a severe immune response to pathogens that is associated with high mortality rate and a paucity of efficacious treatment options. It is characterized by the hyperactivation of macrophages and the occurrence of cytokine storms. Given the anti-inflammatory properties of M2 macrophages and their derived apoptotic bodies (AB), as well as the specific uptake of these by macrophages, a novel approach was employed to combine AB with artificial liposomes to create apoptotic body based biomimetic hybrid nanovesicles (L-AB).

Effects of low-dose dexamethasone on inflammatory factors in drainage fluid and wound healing after thyroid surgery during perioperative period.

This study explored the effect of perioperative use of low-dose dexamethasone on inflammatory factors in drainage fluid and wound healing after thyroid surgery. In the prospective, double-blinded, randomised controlled study, adults who underwent elective thyroidectomy received 0.1 mg/kg of intravenous dexamethasone or a matching volume of placebo (saline) after induction of general anaesthesia.

[Optimal lower limb alignment and soft tissue balancing strategy for robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty].

Lower limb alignment and soft tissue balance are important factors affecting patient satisfaction, clinical functional outcome, and prosthetic long-term survival rate after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Robot-assisted TKA (rTKA) has the advantages of achieving precise osteotomy and soft tissue balance. However, rTKA under the guidance of classic mechanical alignment principles does not significantly improve the functional outcome after operation.

Revision with Locking Compression Plate by Compression Technique for Diaphyseal Nonunions of the Femur and the Tibia: A Retrospective Study of 54 Cases.

Nonunion after diaphyseal fracture of the femur or the tibia is a common but difficult complication for treatment. Currently, the main treatment modalities include nail dynamization, exchange nailing, and bone transport, but revision with compression plating in these nonunions was rarely reported. To evaluate the outcomes of compression plating in the treatment of femur and tibia shaft nonunions, we retrospectively reviewed 54 patients with diaphyseal nonunion of the tibia or the femur treated with locking compression plate (LCP) by compression technique.

Association of Laminar Airflow During Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty With Periprosthetic Joint Infection.

Importance: Whether laminar airflow (LAF) in the operating room is effective for decreasing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total joint arthroplasty remains a clinically important yet controversial issue.

Objective: To investigate the association between operating room LAF ventilation systems and the risk of PJI in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 6972 consecutive patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty at 2 surgical facilities within a single institution from January 1, 2013, to September 15, 2017, with a minimum of 1 year of follow-up.

PDA/Cu Bioactive Hydrogel with "Hot Ions Effect" for Inhibition of Drug-Resistant Bacteria and Enhancement of Infectious Skin Wound Healing.

Quick and effective sterilization of drug-resistant bacteria inevitably became an ever-growing global challenge. In this study, a multifunctional composite (PDA/Cu-CS) hydrogel mainly composed of polydopamine (PDA) and copper-doped calcium silicate ceramic (Cu-CS) was prepared. It was confirmed that PDA/copper (PDA/Cu) complexing in the composite hydrogel played a key role in enhancing the photothermal performance and antibacterial activity.

Urolithin a attenuates IL-1β-induced inflammatory responses and cartilage degradation via inhibiting the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways in rat articular chondrocytes.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and is one of the most common chronic degenerative joint diseases that causes pain and disability in adults. Urolithin A (UA) has been widely reported for its anti-inflammatory properties in several chronic diseases. However, the effects of UA on OA remain unclear.

Impairment of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with glucocorticoid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head and changes of EPCs after glucocorticoid treatment in vitro.

Background: Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is a severe complication after high-dose glucocorticoid (GC) administration. The pathogenesis of GC-induced ANFH remains unclear. Though the important role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the progression of GC-induced ANFH has been noticed, the effects of GCs on EPCs and the underlying mechanism still need further study.

Two-Stage Exchange Arthroplasty for Periprosthetic Joint Infection: The Rate and Reason for the Attrition After the First Stage.

Background: Two-stage exchange arthroplasty remains a popular surgical treatment for patients with chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Patients who do not receive reimplantation were largely overlooked in the current literature. We aimed at investigating the clinical outcomes of these patients.

A Perioperative Small Dose of Dexamethasone Enhances Postoperative Recovery by Reducing Volume and Inflammatory Contents in Wound Drainage After Thyroid Surgery: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Prospective Study.

Background: The aims of this study were to assess the effect of perioperative dexamethasone on postoperative thyroid surgery recovery using measures of wound drainage volume and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and leukocyte counts.

Materials And Methods: From January to September 2014, healthy patients, aged between 18 and 65 years, had elective thyroid surgery in the tertiary hospital. Eligible patients were randomized into either group D (dexamethasone 0.

Reduction of mitochondrial 3-oxoacyl-ACP synthase (OXSM) by hyperglycemia is associated with deficiency of α-lipoic acid synthetic pathway in kidney of diabetic mice.

LA (alpha-Lipoic acid) deficiency represents a risk factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications as synthetic LA is routinely used in the treatment of the complications in patients. The mechanism underlying LA deficiency remains elusive in the diabetic conditions. In the present study, we investigated the synthetic pathway of LA in both type 1 and 2 diabetic mice.

Downregulation of N‑Myc inhibits neuroblastoma cell growth via the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway.

Neuroblastoma, one of the most common types of cancer in childhood, is commonly treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. However, prognosis and survival remain poor for children with high‑risk neuroblastoma. Therefore, the identification of novel, effective therapeutic targets is necessary.

In Vivo Targeted, Responsive, and Synergistic Cancer Nanotheranostics by Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Synergistic High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation and Chemotherapy.

As one of the most representative noninvasive therapeutic modalities, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) has shown great promise for cancer therapy, but its low therapeutic efficacy and biosafety significantly hinder further extensive clinical translation and application. In this work, we report on the construction of a multifunctional theranostic nanoplatform to synergistically enhance the HIFU-therapeutic efficacy based on nanomedicine. A targeted and temperature-responsive theranostic nanoplatform (PFH/DOX@PLGA/FeO-FA) has been designed and fabricated for efficient ultrasound/magnetic resonance dual-modality imaging-guided HIFU/chemo synergistic therapy.

Ultrasound molecular imaging with cRGD-PLGA-PFOB nanoparticles for liver fibrosis staging in a rat model.

Hepatic fibrosis is the only chronic liver disease process that can be reversed. Developing non-invasive and effective methods to quantitatively assess the degree of liver fibrosis is of great clinical significance and remains a major challenge. The key factors in hepatic fibrosis pathogenesis are the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells that subsequently express integrin αβ.

A new method to locate the radial head "safe zone" on computed tomography axial views.

Purpose: Direct location of the "safe zone" on a CT axial view is impossible because the radial head is circular in shape. Previous "safe zone" location methods are not appropriate if the physician is unable to visualize the actual radial head. This study aims to introduce a new method to locate the "safe zone" on CT.

Down-Regulation of Protein Kinase C-ε by Prolonged Incubation with PMA Inhibits the Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

Background/aims: Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) exerts a pleiotropic effect on the growth and differentiation of various cells. Protein kinase Cs (PKCs) plays a central role in mediating the effects of PMA on cells. The present study investigated whether the down-regulation of protein kinase C-ε (PKC-ε) is involved in the inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation caused by prolonged PMA incubation.

An Innovative Intra-articular Osteotomy in the Treatment of Posterolateral Tibial Plateau Fracture Malunion.

Posterolateral tibial plateau fractures are not uncommon and the diagnosis can be easily missed. The treatment is technically demanding, which can easily lead to malunion of the posterolateral tibial plateau fracture. Here, we describe an innovative intra-articular osteotomy for the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fracture malunion.

Association between cystatin C and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in elderly Chinese patients.

Background: Approximately 50 % of patients with heart failure have a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Cystatin C has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular events. This study was carried out to investigate whether cystatin C is associated with cardiac function and cardiac diastolic properties in elderly Chinese HFpEF patients.

Two Micrometer Continuous-Wave Thulium Laser Treating Primary Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Is It Feasible? A Randomized Prospective Study.

Background And Objective: Until now, various laser types have been used in the treatment of bladder cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of 2 μm continuous-wave (CW) thulium laser in treating primary non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Methods: A comparative (randomized prospective) interventional study was conducted in our center.

Combination of modified free vascularized fibular grafting and reverse Less Invasive Stabilization System (LISS) for the management of femoral neck nonunion in patients thirty years of age or younger.

Femoral neck nonunion (FNN) is a potential complication in patients with displaced femoral neck fractures, occurring in 33%. This may lead to early hip dysfunction or arthroplasty. Combination of modified free vascularized fibular grafting (FVFG) and a reverse LISS may provide a reasonable means to salvage a painless, functional and native hip.

Involvement of neuronal TGF-β activated kinase 1 in the development of tolerance to morphine-induced antinociception in rat spinal cord.

Background And Purpose: Tolerance induced by morphine and other opiates remains a major unresolved problem in the clinical management of pain. There is now good evidence for the importance of MAPKs in morphine-induced antinociceptive tolerance. A member of the MAPK kinase kinase family, TGF-β activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is the common upstream kinase of MAPKs.

Does modulation of spinal N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor by pre-activation accelerate the development of morphine tolerance?

Repeated morphine administration usually leads to a number of neuroadaptive processes, including tolerance and sensitization. However, research has shown that the induction and maintenance of central sensitization is dependent on N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) activation. Chronic morphine exposure has been shown to result in spinal sensitization and activation of spinal NMDARs.

[Pathologic characteristics of pseudohyperplastic prostatic adenocarcinoma].

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features of 30 cases of pseudohyperplastic prostatic adenocarcinoma (PHPA).

Methods: Eight hundred and sixty cases of ultrasound-guided prostatic needle biopsy and 46 cases of radical prostatectomy specimens collected during the period from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2006 were retrieved from the archival files. The incidence, morphology, pathologic differential diagnosis, tumor volume, preferred location and Gleason's score were studied.