Improved Mesenchymal Stem Cell Viability in High-Stiffness, Translational Cartilage Matrix Hydrogels.

Scaffolds made from cartilage extracellular matrix are promising materials for articular cartilage repair, attributed to their intrinsic bioactivity that may promote chondrogenesis. While several cartilage matrix-based scaffolds have supported chondrogenesis and/or , it remains a challenge to balance the biological response (e.g.

TMS-induced modulation of brain networks and its associations to rTMS treatment for depression: a concurrent fMRI-EEG-TMS study.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) is an established intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), yet the underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain not fully understood. This study employs an integrative approach that combines TMS with concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG), aimed at assessing the acute/immediate effects of TMS on brain network dynamics and their correlation with clinical outcomes. Our study demonstrates that TMS acutely modulates connectivity within vital brain circuits, particularly the cognitive control and default mode networks.

Developing a Virtual Model of the Rhesus Macaque Inner Ear.

A virtual model of the rhesus macaque inner ear was created in the present study. Rhesus macaques have been valuable in cochlear research; however, their high cost prompts a need for alternative methods. Finite Element (FE) analysis offers a promising solution by enabling detailed simulations of the inner ear.

MetaPhenotype: A Transferable Meta-Learning Model for Single-Cell Mass Spectrometry-Based Cell Phenotype Prediction Using Limited Number of Cells.

Single-cell mass spectrometry (SCMS) is an emerging tool for studying cell heterogeneity according to variation of molecular species in single cells. Although it has become increasingly common to employ machine learning models in SCMS data analysis, such as the classification of cell phenotypes, the existing machine learning models often suffer from low adaptability and transferability. In addition, SCMS studies of rare cells can be restricted by limited number of cell samples.

Hydrogels in the clinic: An update.

Hydrogels have been used in the clinic since the late 1980s with broad applications in drug delivery, cosmetics, tissue regeneration, among many other areas. The past three decades have witnessed rapid advances in the fields of polymer chemistry, crosslinking approaches, and hydrogel fabrication methods, which have collectively brought many new hydrogel products, either injectable or non-injectable, to clinical studies. In an article published in 2020 entitled "Hydrogels in the clinic", we reviewed the clinical landscape and translational challenges of injectable hydrogels.

Beta-Band Cortico-Muscular Phase Coherence in Hemiparetic Stroke.

Following a stroke, compensation for the loss of ipsilesional corticospinal and corticobulbar projections, results in increased reliance on contralesional motor pathways during paretic arm movement. Better understanding outcomes of post-stroke contralesional cortical adaptation outcomes may benefit more targeted post-stroke motor rehabilitation interventions. This proof-of-concept study involves eight healthy controls and ten post-stroke participants.

Utilizing Pseudo Color Image to Improve the Performance of Deep Transfer Learning-Based Computer-Aided Diagnosis Schemes in Breast Mass Classification.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of using morphological information in classifying suspicious breast lesions. The widespread use of deep transfer learning can significantly improve the performance of the mammogram based CADx schemes. However, digital mammograms are grayscale images, while deep learning models are typically optimized using the natural images containing three channels.

Design of thermally programmable 3D shape memory polymer-based devices tailored for endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Despite recent technological advancements in endovascular embolization devices for treating intracranial aneurysms (ICAs), incomplete occlusion and aneurysm recanalization remain critical challenges. Shape memory polymer (SMP)-based devices, which can be manufactured and tailored to patient-specific aneurysm geometries, possess the potential to overcome the suboptimal treatment outcome of the gold standard: endovascular coiling. In this work, we propose a highly porous patient-specific SMP embolic device fabricated via 3D printing to optimize aneurysm occlusion, and thus, improve the long-term efficacy of endovascular treatment.

Osteochondral Regeneration With Anatomical Scaffold 3D-Printing-Design Considerations for Interface Integration.

There is a clinical need for osteochondral scaffolds with complex geometries for restoring articulating joint surfaces. To address that need, 3D-printing has enabled scaffolds to be created with anatomically shaped geometries and interconnected internal architectures, going beyond simple plug-shaped scaffolds that are limited to small, cylindrical, focal defects. A key challenge for restoring articulating joint surfaces with 3D-printed constructs is the mechanical loading environment, particularly to withstand delamination or mechanical failure.

Tract-specific magnetization transfer ratio provides insights into the severity of degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study's goal is to report whether Magnetization Transfer Ratio (MTR) can evaluate the severity of white matter (WM) injury in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Setting: Laureate Institute of Brain Research, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA.

Localized ablative immunotherapy enhances antitumor immunity by modulating the transcriptome of tumor-infiltrating Gamma delta T cells.

Gamma delta T cells (γδT cells) play crucial roles in the immune response against tumors, yet their functional dynamics under different cancer therapies remain poorly understood. Laser Ablative Immunotherapy (LAIT) is a novel cancer treatment modality combining local photothermal therapy (PTT) and intratumoral injection of an immunostimulant, N-dihydrogalactochitosan (glycated chitosan, GC). LAIT has been shown to induce systemic antitumor immune responses in pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, eradicating both treated local tumors and untreated distant metastases.

Large area kidney imaging for pre-transplant evaluation using real-time robotic optical coherence tomography.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to image microstructures of human kidneys. However, current OCT probes exhibit inadequate field-of-view, leading to potentially biased kidney assessment. Here we present a robotic OCT system where the probe is integrated to a robot manipulator, enabling wider area (covers an area of 106.

Photothermal therapy improves the efficacy of topical immunotherapy against melanoma.

Background: Melanoma is an aggressive cancer with poor response to traditional therapies. A combination of photothermal therapy and topical immunotherapy may enhance elimination of melanoma..

Development and Assessment of Multiple Illumination Color Fourier Ptychographic Microscopy for High Throughput Sample Digitization.

In this study, we proposed a multiplexed color illumination strategy to improve the data acquisition efficiency of Fourier ptychography microscopy (FPM). Instead of sequentially lighting up one single channel LED, our method turns on multiple white light LEDs for each image acquisition via a color camera. Thus, each raw image contains multiplexed spectral information.

Utilizing a Pathomics Biomarker to Predict the Effectiveness of Bevacizumab in Ovarian Cancer Treatment.

The purpose of this investigation is to develop and initially assess a quantitative image analysis scheme that utilizes histopathological images to predict the treatment effectiveness of bevacizumab therapy in ovarian cancer patients. As a widely accessible diagnostic tool, histopathological slides contain copious information regarding underlying tumor progression that is associated with tumor prognosis. However, this information cannot be readily identified by conventional visual examination.

Cervical spinal cord morphometrics in degenerative cervical myelopathy: quantification using semi-automated normalized technique and correlation with neurological dysfunctions.

Background Context: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is characterized by spinal cord atrophy. Accurate estimation of spinal cord atrophy is key to the understanding of neurological diseases, including DCM. However, its clinical application is hampered by difficulties in its precise and consistent estimation due to significant variability in spinal cord morphometry along the cervical spine, both within and between individuals.

Corrigendum: High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation for upper extremity rehabilitation in moderate-to-severe ischemic stroke: a pilot study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.

Sustained delivery of celecoxib from nanoparticles embedded in hydrogel injected into the biopsy cavity to prevent biopsy-induced breast cancer metastasis.

Purpose: We have previously reported that protracted Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity in bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) infiltrating into biopsy wounds adjacent to the biopsy cavity of breast tumors in mice promotes M2-shift of macrophages and pro-metastatic changes in cancer cells, effects which were suppressed by oral administration of COX-2 inhibitors. Thus, local control of COX-2 activity in the biopsy wound may mitigate biopsy-induced pro-metastatic changes.

Methods: A combinatorial delivery system-thermosensitive biodegradable poly(lactic acid) hydrogel (PLA-gel) incorporating celecoxib-encapsulated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (Cx-NP/PLA-gel)-was injected into the biopsy cavity of Py230 murine breast tumors to achieve local control of COX-2 activity in the wound stroma.

Understanding nanoparticle-liver interactions in nanomedicine.

Introduction: Understanding the interactions between administered nanoparticles and the liver is crucial for developing safe and effective nanomedicines. As the liver can sequester up to 99% of these particles due to its major phagocytic role, understanding these interactions is vital for clinical translation.

Areas Covered: This review highlights recent studies on nanoparticle-liver interactions, including the influence of nanoparticle physicochemical properties on delivery, strategies to enhance delivery efficiency by modulating liver Kupffer cells, and their potential for treating certain hepatic diseases.

3D finite element modeling of earplug-induced occlusion effect in the human ear.

Poor utilization of earplugs among military personnel may be due to discomfort caused by the occlusion effect (OE). The OE occurs when an earplug occludes the ear canal, thereby changing bone conduction (BC) hearing and amplifying physiological noises from the wearer. There is a need to understand and reduce the OE in the human ear.

Exploring and Analyzing the Systemic Delivery Barriers for Nanoparticles.

Most nanomedicines require efficient delivery to elicit diagnostic and therapeutic effects. However, en route to their intended tissues, systemically administered nanoparticles often encounter delivery barriers. To describe these barriers, we propose the term "nanoparticle blood removal pathways" (NBRP), which summarizes the interactions between nanoparticles and the body's various cell-dependent and cell-independent blood clearance mechanisms.

A Neoteric Feature Extraction Technique to Predict the Survival of Gastric Cancer Patients.

Background: At the time of cancer diagnosis, it is crucial to accurately classify malignant gastric tumors and the possibility that patients will survive.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the feasibility of identifying and applying a new feature extraction technique to predict the survival of gastric cancer patients.

Methods: A retrospective dataset including the computed tomography (CT) images of 135 patients was assembled.

Primary Human Breast Cancer-Associated Endothelial Cells Favor Interactions with Nanomedicines.

Cancer nanomedicines predominately rely on transport processes controlled by tumor-associated endothelial cells to deliver therapeutic and diagnostic payloads into solid tumors. While the dominant role of this class of endothelial cells for nanoparticle transport and tumor delivery is established in animal models, the translational potential in human cells needs exploration. Using primary human breast cancer as a model, the differential interactions of normal and tumor-associated endothelial cells with clinically relevant nanomedicine formulations are explored and quantified.