Summary
Cutaneous wounds are among the most common soft tissue injuries and are particularly hard to heal in aging. Caloric restriction (CR) is well documented to extend longevity; pharmacologically, ...profound rejuvenative effects of CR mimetics have been uncovered, especially metformin (MET), resveratrol (RSV), and rapamycin (RAPA). However, locally applied impacts and functional differences of these agents on wound healing remain to be established. Here, we discovered that chronic topical administration of MET and RSV, but not RAPA, accelerated wound healing with improved epidermis, hair follicles, and collagen deposition in young rodents, and MET exerted more profound effects. Furthermore, locally applied MET and RSV improved vascularization of the wound beds, which were attributed to stimulation of adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, the key mediator of wound healing. Notably, in aged skin, AMPK pathway was inhibited, correlated with impaired vasculature and reduced healing ability. As therapeutic approaches, local treatments of MET and RSV prevented age‐related AMPK suppression and angiogenic inhibition in wound beds. Moreover, in aged rats, rejuvenative effects of topically applied MET and RSV on cell viability of wound beds were confirmed, of which MET showed more prominent anti‐aging effects. We further verified that only MET promoted wound healing and cutaneous integrity in aged skin. These findings clarified differential effects of CR‐based anti‐aging pharmacology in wound healing, identified critical angiogenic and rejuvenative mechanisms through AMPK pathway in both young and aged skin, and unraveled chronic local application of MET as the optimal and promising regenerative agent in treating cutaneous wound defects.
It is unclear whether cilostazol instead of aspirin in combination with clopidogrel could prevent in-stent thrombosis in patients with a history of gout undergoing vertebral artery origin stenting. ...Three men (age range, 58–74 years) were diagnosed with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack. Vertebral artery origin stenosis was visible by computed tomographic angiography or digital subtraction angiography. Four bare metal stents were placed in the vertebral artery origin. The patients were administered 100 mg cilostazol orally twice a day and 75 mg clopidogrel orally once a day perioperatively and 100 mg cilostazol orally twice day was administered indefinitely after 3 months. No in-stent stenosis was observed in all of these patients during a follow-up period up to 19 months. Cilostazol plus clopidogrel has the potential to become an alternative to standard dual antiplatelet therapy in vertebral artery origin stenting. A high-quality clinical trial is needed to verify these preliminary findings.
In this work, carbon nitride (C3N4) powder was oxidized by the Hummers oxidation method, and oxidized carbon nitride (O‐C3N4) was obtained. Epoxy (EP) was modified with O‐C3N4, and then carbon fiber ...fabric/epoxy (CF/EP) composites were prepared by hand‐pasting molding. The O‐C3N4 greatly improves the wettability of EP resin, enhances the interface properties of CF/EP composites, and makes the composites have better mechanical properties. The interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) is increased from 51.75 to 59.68 MPa, the tensile strength is increased from 564.54 to 635.39 MPa, the bending strength is increased from 809.64 to 938.81 MPa, and the impact strength is increased from 73.48 to 84.84 kJ/m2. Meanwhile, the dynamic mechanical properties of composites are also significantly improved. The energy storage modulus is increased from 14.9 to 21.4 GPa, with an increase of 43.6%.
Highlights
Developing carbon fiber composites is conducive to industrial applications.
O‐C3N4 effectively improves the mechanical properties of the composite.
O‐C3N4 has the advantages of simple synthesis, low costs, and light color.
O‐C3N4 is rich in oxygen‐containing functional groups.
Mechanical properties of O‐C3N4/CF/EP composites.
In this work, a novel self-writing visible light processing method is employed to fabricate self-propagating polymer waveguide based porous epoxy matrix, which subsequently turns into micro-truss ...structured carbon nanotube (CNT)/epoxy conductive composites through CNT dip-coating. It is discovered that, by illuminating a photosensitive epoxy pre-polymer with intersecting blue LED beams simultaneously for only 15 min, 3D micro-truss structured epoxy matrix with thickness of ∼1.8 mm is obtained. When incorporating CNTs with a low content of 1.20 vol%, the micro-truss structured CNT/epoxy composites exhibit high electrical conductivity of 62.93 S/m. These composites show absorption-dominated shielding mechanism, and high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency (SE) of 34.5 dB is obtained in the X band with 1.20 vol% of CNT. The specific shielding efficiency (SSE) of the CNT/epoxy composites is up to 100 dB cm3 g−1, and the corresponding SSE/t eliminating the effect of thickness is up to 535 dB cm2 g−1, which is much higher than that reported in other studies with the same CNT contents. This work provides a quick and scalable technique to prepare polymer matrix with ordered porous structures, and would also inspire and guide the fabrication of well-ordered porous conductive polymer composites with superior EMI shielding performances.
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Senescence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the related functional decline of osteogenesis have emerged as the critical pathogenesis of osteoporosis in aging. Resveratrol (RESV), a small ...molecular compound that safely mimics the effects of dietary restriction, has been well documented to extend lifespan in lower organisms and improve health in aging rodents. However, whether RESV promotes function of senescent stem cells in alleviating age-related phenotypes remains largely unknown. Here, we intend to investigate whether RESV counteracts senescence-associated bone loss via osteogenic improvement of MSCs and the underlying mechanism.
MSCs derived from bone marrow (BMMSCs) and the bone-specific, senescence-accelerated, osteoblastogenesis/osteogenesis-defective mice (the SAMP6 strain) were used as experimental models.
application of RESV was performed at 100 mg/kg intraperitoneally once every other day for 2 months, and
application of RESV was performed at 10 μM. Bone mass, bone formation rates and osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs were primarily evaluated. Metabolic statuses of BMMSCs and the mitochondrial activity, transcription and morphology were also examined. Mitofilin expression was assessed at both mRNA and protein levels, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-based gene knockdown was applied for mechanistic experiments.
Chronic intermittent application of RESV enhances bone formation and counteracts accelerated bone loss, with RESV improving osteogenic differentiation of senescent BMMSCs. Furthermore, in rescuing osteogenic decline under BMMSC senescence, RESV restores cellular metabolism through mitochondrial functional recovery via facilitating mitochondrial autonomous gene transcription. Molecularly, in alleviating senescence-associated mitochondrial disorders of BMMSCs, particularly the mitochondrial morphological alterations, RESV upregulates Mitofilin, also known as inner membrane protein of mitochondria (Immt) or Mic60, which is the core component of the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS). Moreover, Mitofilin is revealed to be indispensable for mitochondrial homeostasis and osteogenesis of BMMSCs, and that insufficiency of Mitofilin leads to BMMSC senescence and bone loss. More importantly, Mitofilin mediates resveratrol-induced mitochondrial and osteogenic improvements of BMMSCs in senescence.
Our findings uncover osteogenic functional improvements of senescent MSCs as critical impacts in anti-osteoporotic practice of RESV, and unravel Mitofilin as a novel mechanism mediating RESV promotion on mitochondrial function in stem cell senescence.
•DJ-1 knockdown augmented dopaminergic neuron loss and neuroinflammation in PD mice.•DJ-1 knockdown promoted inflammation in BV2 microglia.•Nrf2 suppressed inflammation by downregulating NLRP3.•DJ-1 ...regulated NLRP3 via Nrf2/Trx1 axis.
Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Down-regulation of DJ-1, a PD-associated protein, has been recently found to increase microglial sensitivity to lipopolysaccharides (LPS). However, the role of DJ-1 in microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in PD remains unclear. 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was used to establish a PD model with mice and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) staining was performed to validate the model. Adenovirus strategy and shRNA was employed to knockdown the expression of DJ-1 in mice and BV2 microglia, respectively. Western Blot and quantitative PCR were carried out to determine the expression of cytokines, DJ-1, Nrf2, Trx1 and NRLP3. Immunoprecipitation was used to examine the potential interaction between DJ-1 and Nrf2 or Trx1. Flow cytometry-based Annexin V/7-AAD assay were performed to evaluate cell apoptosis. We found that down-regulation of DJ-1 exacerbated neuroinflammation in PD mice. DJ-1 and Nrf2 knockdown promoted inflammation and cell apoptosis in BV2 microglia, while NLRP3 knockdown had opposite effects. Furthermore, DJ-1 regulated the expression of NLRP3 by upregulating Nrf2/Trx1 axis. Taken together, these data suggested that down-regulation of DJ-1 accelerated microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and cell apoptosis via Nrf2/Trx1/NLRP3 axis. Thus, our results demonstrated the important role of DJ-1 in PD pathogenesis and warranted further investigation of DJ-1 as a therapeutic target for PD.
A novel Mn
4+
activated CaYMgSbO
6
(CYMS) far-red phosphor was synthesized by high temperature solid state reaction. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning ...electron microscopy (FESEM), luminescence spectra, ultraviolet–visible spectra, emission-temperature relationship and internal quantum efficiency (IQE). It is found that CYMS:Mn
4+
phosphor has a strong broad excitation band in the range of 200–550 nm. The sample can be excited by ultraviolet and blue light. There is a wide emission band centered at 688 nm between 600 and 760 nm. The optimum doping concentration of Mn
4+
is approximately 0.2 mol%. In addition, all the Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates of CYMS:0.002Mn
4+
located in the far-red region. The concentration quenching mechanism is the dipole-quadrupole interaction of Mn
4+
activator. The sample has excellent thermal stability (I
423K
/I
298K
= 53.2%). Importantly, the CYMS:0.002 Mn
4+
phosphor has an IQE up to 51.5%. Finally, a 365 nm ultraviolet light emitting diode chip combined with CYMS:0.002 Mn
4+
phosphor was used to fabricate the LED device. All the results indicated that CYMS:Mn
4+
phosphors have potential applications in indoor plant cultivation.
Implant-based breast reconstruction is an important method for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Currently, the most commonly used technique is the biplane technique. However, the high rate of ...postoperative complications, the inability of pockets to accommodate larger implants, and the expensive costs of biological mesh make the development of new surgical methods urgent. The triplane technique for breast reconstruction is an ideal candidate method.
The main local symptoms were breast lump, abnormal breast skin, nipple discharge, and abnormal nipple or areola in 24 patients.
The study included 24 female patients who underwent breast reconstruction using the triplane technique after radical breast cancer surgery.
The surgical procedure involved measuring the dimensions of the breast, designing the incision, and creating a pocket for the implant using the triplane technique, which includes the pectoralis major muscle, the pectoralis major fascia continuing to the rectus abdominis fascia, and the latissimus dorsa muscle fascia continuing to the rectus abdominis fascia. Postoperative follow-up included regular assessments of pain and evaluation of breast appearance.
No cases of postoperative infection were observed in all patients. During the 1-year follow-up period after surgery, 5 patients (20.8%) who needed radiotherapy after mastectomy for cancer showed slight darkening of skin flap pigment after using the triplane technique implant. No cases of exposure or infection of the expanders were reported, and 1 patient underwent expander replacement with a permanent prosthesis. All patients expressed satisfaction with the reconstructed breast shape. The 10 patients (41.7%) experiencing postoperative swelling and pain. However, the pain gradually subsided during the postoperative recovery period. No cases of local recurrence or distant metastasis of breast cancer were observed during the 1-year-follow-up period.
The triplane technique for breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery provides good implant coverage, reduces the risk of complications, and is cost-effective.
A 3D paper-based microfluidic device has been developed for colorimetric determination of selected heavy metals in water samples by stacking layers of wax patterned paper and double-sided adhesive ...tape. It has the capability of wicking fluids and distributing microliter volumes of samples from single inlet into affrays of detection zones without external pumps, thus a range of metal assays can be simply and inexpensively performed. We demonstrate a prototype of four sample inlets for up to four heavy metal assays each, with detection limits as follows: Cu (II) = 0.29 ppm, Ni(II) = 0.33 ppm, Cd (II) = 0.19 ppm, and Cr (VI) = 0.35 ppm, which provided quantitative data that were in agreement with values gained from atomic absorption. It has the ability to identify these four metals in mixtures and is immune to interferences from either nontoxic metal ions such as Na(I) and K(I) or components found in reservoir or beach water. With the incorporation of a portable detector, a camera mobile phone, this 3D paper-based microfluidic device should be useful as a simple, rapid, and on-site screening approach of heavy metals in aquatic environments.
Figure
ᅟ
•ZHS/ZnO/BOB was fabricated by co-precipitation and ultrasonic method.•ZHS/ZnO/BOB displayed high photocatalytic activity towards various pollutants.•ZHS/ZnO/BOB@CFC achieved 98.8% removal efficiency ...towards RhB.•The intermediate product molecules were determined by HRMS.
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ZnSn(OH)6/ZnO/BiOBr (ZHS/ZnO/BOB) and ZHS/ZnO/BOB loaded carbon fiber cloth (CFC) (ZHS/ZnO/BOB@CFC) photocatalysts were successfully prepared by co-precipitation and ultrasonic method. The ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection (UV–vis DR) spectra showed that the absorption edge of ZHS/ZnO/BOB exhibits red-shift to the visible light region, compared with the ZHS/ZnO. The conduction band position (ECB) of ZHS, ZnO, and BOB were calculated to be − 0.12, − 0.22, and 0.36 eV vs. NHE, respectively, according to the Mott-Schottky (M-S) measurement. ZHS/ZnO/BOB presents flower-like spheres assembled from nanosheets. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) tested the specific surface areas of ZHS/ZnO/BOB (21.01 m2 g−1). Based on the photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis, ZHS/ZnO/BOB possesses the strongest ability to inhibit electron-hole pair recombination and the lowest charge transfer resistance, which can be mainly ascribed to the formation of heterojunction among ZHS, ZnO, and BOB. The ZHS/ZnO/BOB exhibits a high photocatalytic degradation activity for rhodamine B (RhB, 97.30%), tetracycline (TC, 83.00%), and levofloxacin (LVX, 74.50%) under 80 min irradiation, respectively. Besides, ZHS/ZnO/BOB@CFC achieved 98.8% removal efficiency towards RhB. Furthermore, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) revealed the possible degradation pathway of RhB during the photocatalysis process. Based on all the above, an easy approach for rational design of ternary photocatalyst towards the degradation of refractory pollutants was proposed.
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