This study introduces an unexplored method to synthesize and program liquid-crystalline elastomers (LCEs) based on a two-stage thiol–acrylate Michael addition and photopolymerization (TAMAP) ...reaction. This methodology can be used to program permanently-aligned monodomain samples capable of “hands-free” shape switching as well as offer spatio-temporal control over liquid-crystalline behaviour. LCE networks were shown to have a cytocompatible response at both stages of the reaction.
Crystalline biominerals do not resemble faceted crystals. Current explanations for this property involve formation via amorphous phases. Using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) ...spectroscopy and photoelectron emission microscopy (PEEM), here we examine forming spicules in embryos of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus sea urchins, and observe a sequence of three mineral phases: hydrated amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC · H₂O)→ dehydrated amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) → calcite. Unexpectedly, we find ACC · H₂O-rich nanoparticles that persist after the surrounding mineral has dehydrated and crystallized. Protein matrix components occluded within the mineral must inhibit ACC · H₂O dehydration. We devised an in vitro, also using XANES-PEEM, assay to identify spicule proteins that may play a role in stabilizing various mineral phases, and found that the most abundant occluded matrix protein in the sea urchin spicules, SM50, stabilizes ACC · H₂O in vitro.
The outcome of regenerative procedures could be augmented by enhancing the biological performances of stem cells prior to their transplantation. The current study aimed to investigate whether hypoxic ...preconditioning through stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) could enhance the angio-/vasculogenic properties of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). HIF-1α expression in SHED under normoxia was stabilized by silencing the expression of prolyl hydroxylase domain–containing protein 2 (PHD2) via lentiviral small hairpin RNA. This in turn significantly increased the expression of an angiogenic factor: vascular endothelial growth factor. Conditioned medium of HIF-1α-stabilized SHED increased the migration and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), indicating enhanced paracrine signaling of SHED following PHD2 knockdown (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the coculture of HIF-1α-stabilized SHED with HUVECs directly and in fibrin beads demonstrated significantly longer vascular sprouts through juxtacrine and paracrine effects (P < 0.05). When HIF-1α-stabilized SHED were added to a preformed HUVEC vascular tube network on Matrigel, it not only stabilized the vessels, as shown by the increased thickness (P < 0.05) and junctional area (P < 0.01) of tubes, but also gave rise to new sprouting (P < 0.01). This observation, with the morphologic changes and increased CD31 expression, suggested that HIF-1α stabilization enhanced the endothelial differentiation capacity of SHED through autocrine signaling. In vivo Matrigel plug assay demonstrated that HIF-1α-stabilized SHED alone could give rise to a vasculature that was significantly higher than that of control SHED ± HUVECs and similar to that of HIF-1α-stabilized SHED + HUVECs. In addition to vasculogenesis by endothelial differentiation, HIF-1α-stabilized SHED recruited host blood vessels into the implant by exerting a significant paracrine effect. Taken together, our results confirmed that HIF-1α-stabilized SHED could replace the function of HUVECs and act as the sole cell source of vascularization. Thus, targeting PHD2 to stabilize HIF-1α expression is an appealing strategy that enables the use of a single cell source for achieving vascularized tissue regeneration.
Wolbachia influence the fitness of their invertebrate hosts. They have effects on reproductive incompatibility and egg production. Although the former are well characterized, the mechanistic basis of ...the latter is unclear. Here, we investigate whether apoptosis, which has been implicated in fecundity in model insects, influences the interaction between fecundity and Wolbachia in the planthopper Laodelphax striatellus. Wolbachia‐infected females produced about 30% more eggs than uninfected females. We used the terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TDT)‐mediated dUTP‐digoxigenin nick end labeling staining to visualize apoptosis. Microscopic observations indicated that the Wolbachia strain wStri increased the number of ovarioles that contained apoptotic nurse cells in both young and aged adult females. The frequency of apoptosis was much higher in the infected females. The increased fecundity appeared to be a result of apoptosis of nurse cells, which provide nutrients to the growing oocytes. In addition, cell apoptosis inhibition by caspase messenger RNA interference in Wolbachia‐infected L. striatellus markedly decreased egg numbers. Together, these data suggest that wStri might enhance fecundity by increasing the number of apoptotic cells in the ovaries in a caspase‐dependent manner. Our findings establish a link between Wolbachia‐induced apoptosis and egg production effects mediated by Wolbachia, although the way in which the endosymbiont influences caspase levels remains to be determined.
The protection and sustainable utilization of natural resources are among the most pressing global problems of the 21st century. Taxol is a well-known anticancer agent with a unique active mechanism, ...mainly isolated from the slow-growing yew tree, which has achieved the status of "blockbuster drug" due to its popularity in the treatment of cancers. However, the source of Taxol has always been a primary concern, because its content in the plant is extremely low. In this review, we introduce the advances in exploring alternative Taxol sources aside from total synthesis, including Taxol from nursery cultivated
Taxus
, semi-synthesis of Taxol, Taxol from
Taxus
cell culture, production of Taxol by synthetic biology, Taxol from the endophytic fungi and Taxol from other non-
Taxus
plants. The future perspective of Taxol production is also discussed.
The protection and sustainable utilization of natural resources are among the most pressing global problems of the 21st century.
Summary
Background
Children with asthma and atopic diseases have an increased risk of depression or anxiety. Each of these diseases has strong genetic and environmental components; therefore, it ...seems likely that there is a shared liability rather than causative risk.
Objective
To investigate the existence and nature of familial aggregation for the comorbidity of atopic diseases and depression or anxiety.
Methods
Participants came from the Childhood and Adolescent Twin Study in Sweden (CATSS), n = 14 197. Current and ever asthma, eczema, hay fever and food allergy were reported by parents. Internalizing disorders were identified using validated questionnaires. Familial co‐aggregation analysis compared monozygotic (MZ) twins and same‐sex dizygotic (DZ) twins for atopic disease in 1 twin with internalizing disorder in the other to test for genetic liability. Several familial liability candidates were also tested including parental education, recent maternal psychological stress, childhood family trauma and parental country of birth.
Results
Familial co‐aggregation analysis found that if 1 twin had at least 1 current atopic disease the partner twin was at risk of having an internalizing disorder regardless of their own atopic status (adjusted OR 1.22 (95% CI 1.08, 1.37). Similar results were found for each atopic disease ever and current. MZ associations were not higher than DZ associations, suggesting that the liability is not genetic in nature. Including other familial candidates to the models made little difference to effect estimates.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
Atopic diseases and depression or anxiety tend to occur together in families; therefore, when treating for 1 disease, the physician should consider comorbidity in both the individual and the individual's siblings. We did not find evidence to support a genetic explanation for comorbidity, and further exploration is needed to disentangle the environmental and epigenetic reasons for familial aggregation.
This paper presents an electrochemical machining method in which three stainless steel tubes as cathode tools move towards workpiece parts with space trajectories and electrolyte is ejected from the ...outlets of the tool tube walls to the workpiece to electrochemically produce three blisk channels simultaneously. The shape and structures of cathode tool tubes are optimized numerically and experimentally for distributing the electrolyte flow more uniformly. A special experimental system with synchronous motion of three tool tubes has been developed. Experimental results indicate that three channels can be produced at one time with good quality and high efficiency.
Objectives
We aimed to update data on the prevalence and incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the Medicare population and describe associated outcomes.
Methods
This observational study ...used Medicare 20% random sample data 2007–2016 to estimate SLE prevalence and incidence 2009–2016. The study population included patients aged ≥18 years (stratified by <65 and ≥65 years) with Medicare fee-for-service coverage. The SLE definition was based on a published and validated algorithm. All-cause death, hospitalizations, and kidney disease incidence were defined for a prevalent SLE cohort 2011–2015. Unadjusted event rates during 5-year follow-up were reported per 100 patient-years.
Results
The study included > 5 million eligible patients for each year 2009–2016. There were 19,518 (10,898, aged ≥65; 8620, aged <65) in 2016, extrapolated to 97,590 (54,490 aged ≥65; 43,100 aged <65) in the overall 2016 Medicare population. Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence rates (per 100,000 Medicare population) ranged from 301.1 in 2009 to 366.6 in 2016, all ages, and 184.0–239.9, ≥65 years. There were 2614 (1844 aged ≥65; 770 aged <65) incident patients in 2016; age-/sex-adjusted incidence rates (per 100,000 Medicare population) ranged from 46.9 in 2009 to 49.0 in 2016, all ages, and 37.5–40.8, ≥65. Five-year unadjusted mortality, elderly vs. younger, was 8.8 vs. 3.8, morbidity 34.5 vs. 32.4, and kidney disease incidence 19.8 vs. 18.0 per 100 patient-years.
Conclusions
Prevalence rates steadily increased while incidence was relatively stable 2009–2016. Our data should be interpreted with caution due to our elderly study population.
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