Osteoarthritis is a common disease character with progressive destruction of cartilage. MicroRNA (miR)-140-3p was validated as a biomarker for osteoarthritis. However, the mechanism by which ...miRNA-140-3p regulates osteoarthritis remains unclear. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the potential function of miRNA-140-3p during the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. MiRNA-140-3p expression in tissue and CHON-001 chondrocyte cells was determined with quantitative real time (qRT)-PCR. In vitro osteoarthritis model was established by treatment of the chondrocyte cells CHON-001 with interleukin (IL)-1β. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured with cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) apoptosis assay, respectively. Protein expressions were evaluated using Western blot. The target gene of miR-140-3p was predicted using Targetscan and miRDB. MiR-140-3p was downregulated in knee tissue from patients with osteoarthritis. IL-1β inhibited the proliferation of CHON-001 cells via inducing apoptosis. In addition, IL-1β significantly inhibited the expressions of collagen II and aggrecan and increased the level of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)13. However, the effects of IL-1β could be ameliorated by the addition of miR-140-3p mimics. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay demonstrated CXCR4 as a target gene of miR-140-3p. IL-1β-induced upregulation of CXCR4 could be blocked by miR-140-3p mimics. Our study indicated that miR-140-3p could suppress the progression of osteoarthritis by directly targeting CXCR4. Therefore, miR-140-3p might serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Designing targeted-delivering and stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an appealing method, especially, targeting delivery of photosensitizers to mitochondria as the most ...sensitive cellular organelles to reactive oxygen species (ROS) could significantly enhance the therapeutic efficacy of PDT. In this study, we synthesized triphenylphosphonium bonded PEG-NH2 (TPP-PEG-NH2) and bridged to chlorin e6 (Ce6) via thioketal (TK) linkage to obtain red light-triggered, amphiphilic copolymer (TPP-PEG-TK-Ce6), which could self-assemble into micelles with an average size of 160 nm and zeta potential of +20.1 mV. The in vitro release behavior of TPP-PEG-TK-Ce6 nanocarriers showed a light-activated way and was dependent on the H2O2 concentration. TPP-PEG-TK-Ce6 nanocarriers exhibited high cytotoxicity against C6 cells with illumination. Confocal laser scanning microscopy observation indicated that TPP-PEG-TK-Ce6 nanocarriers were efficiently internalized into the mitochondrion of C6 cells, released Ce6 via light activated. By contrast, in the case of TPP-PEG-NH2 directly bonded Ce6 (TPP-PEG-Ce6) nanocarriers, little Ce6 was found in the mitochondrion. The stronger fluorescence in the mitochondrion of TPP-PEG-TK-Ce6 nanocarriers originated from the mitochondrial-targeting capability of TPP and the cleavage of TK linkages activated by light irradiation, which greatly improved the cellular uptake of TPP-PEG-TK-Ce6 nanocarriers and released more Ce6 in the mitochondrion. This work provided a facile strategy to improve PDT efficacy.
Replacement of flammable liquid electrolytes with gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) is a promising route to improve the safety of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). However, polymer‐based electrolytes have ...limited suitability at low/high temperatures due to the instability of the polymer at high temperatures and the low ionic conductivity of the gel state at low temperatures. Herein, an integrated design of electrodes/fibrous GPEs modified with graphene oxide (GO) is reported. Due to the integrated structure of electrodes/GPEs, the strong interface affinity between electrodes and GPEs ensures that the GPEs spun on electrodes do not shrink at high temperatures (160–180°C), thus preventing a short circuit of electrodes. Moreover, after GO modification, oxygen‐containing functional groups of GO can accelerate Li+ transport of GO‐GPEs even at a low temperature of −15°C. When these GPEs are applied to flexible LIBs, the LIBs show excellent electrochemical performance, with satisfactory cycling stability of 82.9% at 1 C after 1000 cycles at 25°C. More importantly, at a high temperature of 160°C, the LIBs can also discharge normally and light the green light‐emitting diode. Furthermore, at a low temperature of −15°C, 92.7% of its room‐temperature capacity can be obtained due to the accelerated Li+ transport caused by GO modification, demonstrating the great potential of this electrolyte and integrated structure for practical gel polymer LIB applications.
A safety‐reinforced and high‐performance flexible lithium‐ion battery is assembled by the integrated design of electrodes/fibrous gel polymer electrolyte. The flexible battery shows stable electrochemical performance from −15°C to 80°C and presents excellent safety characteristics even in extremely harsh conditions, such as on being cut, bent, or even under high temperatures.
To explore the effectiveness of free-style perforator pedicled propeller flap to repair the wound after extensive resection of skin malignant tumor on the thigh.
Between December 2016 and June 2019, ...12 patients with skin malignant tumor on the thigh were treated. There were 9 males and 3 females, aged from 8 to 65 years (median, 38.5 years). The etiologies included basal cell carcinoma in 3 cases, squamous cell carcinoma in 7 cases, fibrosarcoma in 1 case, and malignant melanoma in 1 case. The disease duration ranged from 5 months to 10 years (median, 7.5 years). Color Doppler ultrasound was used to detect and mark at least one perforator vessel before operation. After extensive resection, the size of wound ranged from 5.0 cm×3.5 cm to 8.5 cm×6.5 cm. In the range of 1-3 cm from the edge of the lesion, the perforator vessels were explored again from the deep surface of the deep fascia to confirm and mark. The perforator vessel with diameter greater than 0.5 mm and closest to the edge of the lesion was taken as
To explore the suitable division of male genitalia subunits and the effectiveness of large-area perineum defect repair under its guidance.
According to the anatomical and functional characteristics ...of male genitalia, the subunit division scheme was proposed: area Ⅰ, glans penis; area Ⅱ, body of penis; area Ⅲ, scrotum; area Ⅳ, scrotum. Between April 2017 and July 2019, 12 patients with large genitalia defects were treated, with an average age of 60.9 years (range, 57-66 years) and an average disease duration of 2.7 years (range, 2-5 years). The defect area involved area Ⅰ in 1 case, area Ⅱ in 7 cases, area Ⅲ in 5 cases, and area Ⅳ in 8 cases; the size of area ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 23 cm×16 cm. The causes of defect included 3 cases of trauma, 6 cases of Paget disease, 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 1 case of spindle cell tumor. According to the design of the corresponding repair scheme, the main repair methods were to rotate and advance the skin flap and pedicled skin flap in the same area. When the def
The multi-dimensional carbon materials are incorporated into the polydimethylsiloxane matrix to construct a flexible pressure-sensitive film with micro-patterns array on the surface (P-HCF). The ...P-HCF sensor demonstrated high sensitivity of 26.6 kPa−1 in a wide linear sensing range (20 Pa − 600 kPa) for monitoring physiological signals. Additionally, the sensor is integrated into the wearable device for human–machine interfaces.
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•Micro-nano hybrid-structured conductive film with arched micro pattern array.•The flexible pressure sensors with multistage sensing.•The sensors demonstrate outstanding linear sensitivity and wide sensing range.•The pressure sensors sensitive to health monitoring and human-machine interfaces.
Flexible pressure sensors have promising applications in wearable electronic devices. However, fabricating flexible pressure sensors with wide linear range and high sensitivity remain a great challenge. Herein, a micro-nano hybrid conductive elastomer film based on carbon materials with arched micro-patterns array on surface (P-HCF) is developed to show expected sensing properties through a sustainable route. The 1D carbon fibers (CFs) and 0D carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) were incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix to construct a 3D conductive network consisting of physical contact and tunneling effect among carbon materials to improve the sensing range and sensitivity. The arched micro-patterns of the P-HCF, which is designed mimicking the human fingerprints, influences the pressure distribution inside the material, giving rise to a linear sensitivity over the whole sensing range. Finite element analysis (FEA) method is investigated to simulate and analyze the compression process. The P-HCF sensor exhibits both a high sensitivity of 26.6 kPa−1 and an exceptionally wide linear range of 20 Pa − 600 kPa. The devices were demonstrated in monitoring artery pulses, assisting in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease, and analyzing gait for healthcare. Furthermore, the sensors are integrated into complex devices to realize pressure distribution detection, controlling manipulator, and operating PC games. The attainment of excellent pressure sensing performance of the P-HCF, potentially initiates vast applications in health monitoring and human-machine interfaces.
Purpose
The aim of this study was to clarify the association of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft bending angle and graft maturity of autograft and allograft tendons using high-resolution ...MRI.
Methods
Patients with unilateral ACL reconstruction were invited to participate in this study, and they were examined using a 3.0-T MRI scan at 3, 6 and 12 months after the operation. Anatomic single-bundle ACL reconstruction was performed on 48 patients using the trans-portal technique, including 28 with autograft hamstring tendons and 20 with allograft tendons. To evaluate graft healing, the signal/noise quotient (SNQ) was measured in four regions of interest (ROIs) of the femoral tunnel, proximal, midsubstance and distal ACL grafts. The graft bending angle was defined as the angle between the femoral bone tunnel and the line connecting the femoral and tibial tunnel apertures. Graft SNQ and graft bending angle were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, and the association between SNQ and the average graft bending angle was analyzed.
Results
Generally, the mean graft bending angle of this cohort increased gradually with time. The SNQ value of each graft region increased from 3 to 6 months and then decreased from 6 to 12 months. In the whole cohort, the graft bending angle had a significant positive association with graft SNQ in the femoral tunnel or proximal site. In the allograft subgroup, the graft bending angle had a significant positive association with the graft SNQ in the femoral tunnel or proximal site at 6 months after surgery, while there was no association between the graft bending angle and SNQ at 12 months. In the autograft subgroup, the graft bending angle had a significant positive association with graft SNQ in the femoral tunnel or proximal site at 12 months after surgery.
Conclusion
Generally, the graft bending angle was correlated with a high signal intensity of the proximal graft in the early postoperative period for allograft tendons and in the late postoperative period for allograft tendons. This suggests that the biomechanical effect from the graft bending angle on graft healing may be different for allografts and autografts after ACL reconstruction.
Level of evidence
III.
Avulsion of the scalp is a rare destructive event worldwide. Before the emergence of microsurgery, skin transplantation, flap transplantation, greater omentum transplantation, and other methods were ...once widely used. However, replantation offers the optimum reconstruction.
Six cases of complete avulsion injury of a large scalp treated from May 2017 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Under the microsurgery technology, the wound was cleaned and explored, and the appropriate arteriovenous anastomosis was selected. Preoperative blood preparation and skin preparation were actively performed. Postoperative strict nursing and observation of the blood supply of replanted scalp were performed. Regular outpatient follow-up after discharge was performed.
Replantation was successful in 5 cases and failed in 1 case, and in 1 case the occipital scalp (approximately 10% of the scalp area) died and crusted 2 months after the operation. After 6 to 24 months of follow-up, all patients were satisfied with the reconstructed appearance.
Superb microsurgical technique and more detailed anatomical knowledge are the key conditions for successful complete scalp avulsion replantation. Compared with other methods, successful replantation can achieve the best aesthetic and functional results.
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