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Cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction (MI) are among the major causes of death worldwide. Although intramyocardial injection of hydrogels can effectively enhance the ventricular wall, this approach is limited because of its restriction to the poor vascularization in the infarcted myocardium. Here, we reported a new type of hydrogel composed of alginate (ALG) and hyaluronic acid (HA) with lyophilized platelet-rich fibrin (Ly-PRF) for releasing abundant growth factors to realize their respective functions. The results of in vitro studies demonstrated favorable mechanical property and release ability of ALG-HA with Ly-PRF. When injected into the infarcted myocardium, this composite hydrogel preserved heart function and the Ly-PRF within the hydrogel promoted angiogenesis and increased vascular density in both infarcted and border zone, which rescued the ischemic myocardium. These beneficial effects were also accompanied by macrophage polarization and regulation of myocardial fibrosis. Moreover, the autologous origin of Ly-PRF with ALG-HA hydrogel offers myriad advantages including safety profile, easiness to obtain and cost-effectiveness. Overall, this study demonstrated the versatile therapeutic effects of a novel composite hydrogel ALG-HA with Ly-PRF, which optimizes a promising vascularized substitution strategy for improving cardiac function after MI., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Alginate (ALG) alone has a limited vascularized ability in vivo. • ALG with 20% hyaluronic acid (HA) could attenuate LV remodeling and promote angiogenesis. • ALG-HA with lyophilized platelet-rich fibrin (Ly-PRF) could make further improvement in angiogenesis. • The Ly-PRF is promising for further clinical application because of autologous source and definite therapeutic effects.

Smart polymeric coatings with early corrosion self-warning and damage self-repairing characteristics have garnered tremendous interest due to their ability to sense corrosion reactions and repair coating defects. However, tracking the repair process and its underlying protection mechanism is highly challenging. Herein, we report the construction of a novel composite coating by incorporating multifunctional nanosensors (graphene oxide-zeolitic imidazole frameworks loaded with 1,10-phenanthroline) into a thermo-responsive polyurethane. Under damaging events, the localized acidity derived from metal corrosion stimulates the decomposition of the nanosensors to produce 1,10-phenanthroline and benzimidazole. The generated ferrous ions are rapidly sensed by the released 1,10-phenanthroline to produce a conspicuous red color, which warns of the corrosion occurrence. In profiting from the photothermal effect of graphene oxide, the composite coating exhibits efficient crack closure behavior under near-infrared light irradiation. Morphology observation indicates that a coating scratch (about 30 μm wide) almost closed with 20 s of irradiation. The photothermally activated crack closure combined with benzimidazole inhibition endows the prepared coating with superior self-repairing performance. Interestingly, the change in color intensity around the coating defect can assist in tracking the repair process. Therefore, this work provides a novel strategy to visualize microscopic behaviors during damage and repair processes.

The original Tb3+-induced hyaluronic nano-poached eggs (THNE) integrates the advantages of superior lanthanide luminescence, the unique shape of nano-poached eggs, and non-toxicity, for the sensing of Fe3+ in aqueous surroundings.

A novel l-histidine based ionic liquid (LHIL) was developed and successfully synthesized. Its structure was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

AIM: To observe the surgical effects of slanted bilateral lateral recession (S-BLR) versus conventional bilateral lateral recession (C-BLR) in convergence insufficiency intermittent exotropia (CI-IXT). METHODS: Using a randomized, double-blind, prospective design, 22 patients with CI-IXT who were admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from July 2019 to December 2020 were included. Patients were randomly divided into either S-BLR or C-BLR group for their subsequent strabismus surgery. All patients were followed up for 12mo. Near deviation, distant deviation, and near-distance difference (NDD) were measured in all patients. RESULTS: Twelve months after surgery, NDD improvement was 10 (8, 13) prismatic degrees (PD) in S-BLR group and 3 (1, 6) PD in C-BLR group (P=0.011). The near deviation of S-BLR group was 0 (-2, 2) PD, while that of C-BLR group was -4 (-6, -3) PD (P=0.005). Before and after surgery, the difference in the distant deviation between the two groups was not statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference in near stereopsis between the two groups (P=0.380) at 12mo. The success rate at 12mo after operation was 90.91% and 72.73% in the two groups (P=0.280). CONCLUSION: CI-IXT patients treated with S-BLR have better surgical outcomes than those treated with C-BLR, which indicates S-BLR is a safe and effective operation pattern.

Identification and localization of parathyroid glands (PGs) remains a challenge for surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of intraoperative near-infrared autofluorescence (NIRAF) imaging to detect PGs in thyroid and parathyroid diseases. Seventy-six patients undergoing surgery for thyroid or parathyroid diseases between July 9, 2020 and August 20, 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Intraoperative carbon nanoparticle (CN) negative imaging and handheld NIRAF imaging were successively performed for each patient. Of 206 PGs that needed to be identified for surgery, 162 were identified by NIRAF imaging, with a theoretical rate of identification of 78.64%. This was higher than the rate of identification with CN negative imaging, which was 75.73%. The number of PGs identified by NIRAF imaging and CN negative imaging did not differ significantly in either total thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy. In addition, the autofluorescence (AF) intensity of secondary parathyroid adenoma was weaker than that of normal PGs. NIRAF imaging is potentially a more efficient tool for identification of PGs than CN negative imaging, with a shorter learning curve and lower risk. It may not be well-suited to secondary hyperthyroidism or adenoma, but it was more efficient at identifying excised specimens than visual identification by a surgeon.

This study demonstrates that a luminescent Tb

The objectives of this study were to investigate the status and influence factors of caregiver's quality of life (QOL) on caring for patients with chronic wound during COVID‐19 epidemic. A prospective cross‐sectional study of 83 informal caregivers was included. The characteristics of informal caregivers as well as their QOL assessment by the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI) were measured, respectively. Single‐factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were carried out to explore the independent influence factors of QOL of caregiver on caring for patient with chronic wound. 62.65% of the caregivers were female with a mean age of (54.24 ± 12.6) years, and 34.9% of the caregivers were parents. The mean FDLQI score was 13.01 ± 7.53 at a high level. The following variables influenced the FDLQI scores of caregivers: self‐care ability of patients, patient's satisfaction of home‐based wound care, and home‐based wound care need of caregivers. The model was able to explain 29.9% of variance in QOL of caregiver (F = 6.561, P = .000, R 2 = 0.299, adjusted R 2 = 0.253). In conclusion, the impact of chronic wound disease on the QOL of caregivers is heavy during COVID‐19 epidemic. Wound professionals are suggested to pay attention to wound care need at home and QOL of caregiver on caring for patients with chronic wound during COVID‐19 epidemic and develop tailored wound health education and support programme in order to improve the QOL of caregivers.

Metal substrates beneath polymeric coatings are susceptible to localized corrosion, which could result in lifetime reduction and catastrophic failure without timely repair treatment. In situ detection of corrosion and repair coating defects are in high demand yet challenging to fulfill so far. Herein, we report a smart polymeric coating by integrating nanosensors into the coating matrix, which is capable of efficient corrosion sensing and active anticorrosion protecting. The nanosensors were constructed by zeolitic imidazolate framework encapsulated with the polyethylene glycol-tannic acid complex. The morphology, chemical constitution, and stimulus responsiveness of nanosensors were systematically analyzed. The generation of local corrosion beneath coating can be promptly sensed and reported by a conspicuous purple color derived from tannic-iron ion coordinates. Meanwhile, local electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results proved that the metal degradation process at the defected interface can be largely inhibited, exhibiting active anticorrosion property. Furthermore, the constructed smart coating possessed superior impermeability and long-term protective performance under simulated seawater and harsh salts spray conditions. This feasible and effective strategy based on simple nanosensors to engineer smart coatings paves a new way to develop high environmental adaptability protective materials with protecting, corrosion sensing, and self-healing functions.

With the increasing insight into molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular disease, a promising solution involves directly delivering genes, cells, and chemicals to the infarcted myocardium or impaired endothelium. However, the limited delivery efficiency after administration fails to reach the therapeutic dose and the adverse off-target effect even causes serious safety concerns. Controlled drug release via external stimuli seems to be a promising method to overcome the drawbacks of conventional drug delivery systems (DDSs). Microbubbles and magnetic nanoparticles responding to ultrasound and magnetic fields respectively have been developed as an important component of novel DDSs. In particular, several attempts have also been made for the design and fabrication of dual-responsive DDS. This review presents the recent advances in the ultrasound and magnetic fields responsive DDSs in cardiovascular application, followed by their current problems and future reformation.

A novel photoelectrode system based on one-dimensional g-C3N4 porous nanofibers (1D-p-g-C3N4) heterostructured with 2D-RGO was fabricated by hydrogen bonding self-assembly technology in combination with heat treatment and electrodeposition process. Ascribed to the one-dimensional porous morphology of g-C3N4 and its heterojunction with RGO, the separation efficiency of the photoinduced electrons and holes was dramatically enhanced, leading to its superior PEC cathodic protection performance for 304 stainless steel. Under visible light illumination, the 1D/2D p-g-C3N4@RGO photoelectrode exhibited a photoinduced current density of 10.1 μA cm−2 and a photoinduced polarized potential of − 480 mV, which is 6 and 2.5 times that of g-C3N4, respectively.

BackgroundParathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare but often lethal malignancy for which staging system, prognostic indicators, and treatment guidelines are still not established. We aimed to explore the prognostic parameters and construct a nomogram for cancer-specific survival (CSS) of PC.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 604 PC patients in the SEER database from 2001 through 2018 was performed. All the cases were randomly assigned to the training cohort (n = 424) or the validation cohort (n = 180) at a ratio of 7:3. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression model were applied to estimate the CSS and risk factors, and a nomogram was constructed. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram in CSS were assessed by concordance index (C-index), the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and the calibration curve.ResultsAge at diagnosis > 70 years [hazard ratio (HR): 3.55, 95% CI: 1.07–11.78, p = 0.039] and tumor size > 35 mm (HR 4.22, 95% CI: 1.67–10.68, p = 0.002) were associated with worse CSS. Compared with distant metastasis, localized (HR 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06–0.47, p = 0.001) and regional lesions (HR 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07–0.66, p = 0.007) showed an improved CSS rate. Parathyroidectomy was the recommended treatment (p = 0.02). The C-index of the nomogram was 0.826, and the AUC for 5-, 10-, and 15-year CSS was 83.7%, 79.7%, and 80.7%, respectively. The calibration curve presented good agreement between prediction by nomogram and actual observation.ConclusionAge at diagnosis > 70 years, tumor size > 35 mm, and distant metastasis were independent risk factors for PC-specific mortality. Parathyroidectomy was currently the most recommended treatment for PC. This nomogram provided individualized assessment and reliable prognostic prediction for patients with PC.

The unique properties of self-healing materials hold great potential in the field of biomedical engineering. Although previous studies have focused on the design and synthesis of self-healing materials, their application in in vivo settings remains limited. Here, we design a series of biodegradable and biocompatible self-healing elastomers (SHEs) with tunable mechanical properties, and apply them to various disease models in vivo, in order to test their reparative potential in multiple tissues and at physiological conditions. We validate the effectiveness of SHEs as promising therapies for aortic aneurysm, nerve coaptation and bone immobilization in three animal models. The data presented here support the translation potential of SHEs in diverse settings, and pave the way for the development of self-healing materials in clinical contexts., The unique properties of self-healing materials hold great potential in the field of biomedical engineering. Here, the authors designed a series of biodegradable and biocompatible self-healing elastomers with tunable mechanical properties, and apply them to various disease models in vivo, including aortic aneurism, bone fracture and nerve amputation.

BACKGROUND: Intraglandular dissemination is one of the metastatic pathways of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, few studies have assessed the impact of intraglandular dissemination among patients with PTC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential correlation between intraglandular dissemination and various clinicopathological parameters in PTC patients. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of 1,043 consecutive PTC patients in Wuhan Union Hospital from 1 June 2020 to 1 May 2021. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of intraglandular dissemination. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis with a matching ratio of 1:2 and a caliper value of 0.05 was used to compare the clinicopathological differences between groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to quantify the association between intraglandular dissemination and cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis. RESULTS: In total, 117 and 204 PTC patients with and without intraglandular dissemination, respectively, were successfully matched. The LN metastasis rate of PTC patients with intraglandular dissemination (88%) was significantly higher than that of patients without intraglandular dissemination (67.2%; P0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intraglandular dissemination is a risk factor for LN metastasis in PTC, which suggests a need for more thorough LN dissection and closer follow-up in these patients. This finding may provide reliable reference data for the risk stratification of patients with PTC.

Ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) has well-established potent antitumor activity; yet, the effects of G-Rh2 on immune and metabolism regulation in cancer treatment, especially non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. We showed that G-Rh2 had a synergistic antitumor effect with cyclophosphamide (CY) on mice with NSCLC, and improved the immune deficiency caused by CY. Consistently, G-Rh2 exhibited no inhibitory effect on tumor growth of T cells-deficient nude mice. Furthermore, G-Rh2 treatment triggered the oxidative decomposition of fatty acid (FA), suppressed FA synthesis, increased ketone level, and decreased glucocorticoid (CORT) secretion. G-Rh2 significantly down-regulated the expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN). Of note, in liver-specific FASN knockout mice G-Rh2 failed to show the same immune enhancement effects. Further mechanistic exploration revealed that G-Rh2 suppressed the expression and nuclear translocation of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), and disturbed the SREBP-1–FASN interaction in vitro.

Nanocontainers with controlled release properties have been used in self-healing coatings for many years. However, the spontaneous leakage of the small molecular weight inhibitors from the nanocontainers promoted the development of nanovalves or gatekeepers to control inhibitor release. Herein, we demonstrate a facile method to encapsulate corrosion inhibitor in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with the help of tannic acid complexes, which endow the inhibitor loaded MSNs with pH-controlled release function. Commercial water-borne alkyd coating impregnated with 2 wt% of benzotriazole-loaded nanocontainers presented significant self-healing effect after 20 days of immersion in 0.1 M NaCl solution from both released benzotriazole and tannic acid as confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and microscopy. The impedance modulus of coating with nanocontainers increased from 4.7 × 104 Ω cm2 to 1.8 × 105 Ω cm2 after 15 days of immersion.

Graphene quantum dots sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays (GQDs/TNAs) are fabricated via a modified electrophoretic deposition (MEPD) method, in which TNAs were pretreated by silane coupling agent. The influences of GQDs on the morphology, optical property and photocathodic protection performance of the hybrid GQDs/TNAs were investigated. By varying the time of MEPD, appropriate quantity of GQDs can be well attached to the inner walls and tube entrance of TNAs. Compared with the bare TNAs and GQDs/TNAs prepared by impregnation-precipitation and conventional EPD method, the GQDs/TNAs acquired at 15 min exhibits excellent visible-light response and enhanced photocathodic protection of the coupled 304 stainless steel. A higher photocurrent density of 800 μA cm−2 is achieved and the open-circuit potential shifts to a more negative value of 740 mV under white-light irradiation. The improved performance is attributed to GQDs, which is not only a green photosensitizer, but also a superb mediator for fast separation and transfer of the photogenerated charge.

Wound dressings composed of natural polymers, such as type I collagen, possess good biocompatibility, water holding capacity, air permeability, and degradability, and can be used in wound repair. However, due to the persistent oxidative stress in the wound area, the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts might be suppressed, leading to poor healing. Thus, collagen-containing scaffolds are not suitable for accelerated wound healing. Antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is known to reduce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and has been widely used in the clinic. Theoretically, the carboxyl group of NAC allows loading of graphene oxide (GO) for sustained release and may also enhance the mechanical properties of the collagen scaffold, making it a better wound-dressing material. Herein, we demonstrated an innovative approach for a potential skin-regenerating hybrid membrane using GO incorporated with collagen I and NAC (N-Col-GO) capable of continuously releasing antioxidant NAC. Methods: The mechanical stability, water holding capacity, and biocompatibility of the N-Col-GO hybrid membrane were measured in vitro. A 20 mm rat full-skin defect model was created to evaluate the repair efficiency of the N-Col-GO hybrid membrane. The vascularization and scar-related genes in the wound area were also examined. Results: Compared to the Col only scaffold, N-Col-GO hybrid membrane exhibited a better mechanical property, stronger water retention capacity, and slower NAC release ability, which likely promote fibroblast migration and proliferation. Treatment with the N-Col-GO hybrid membrane in the rat wound model showed complete healing 14 days after application which was 22% faster than the control group. HE and Masson staining confirmed faster collagen deposition and better epithelization, while CD31 staining revealed a noticeable increase of vascularization. Furthermore, Rt-PCR demonstrated decreased mRNA expression of profibrotic and overexpression of anti-fibrotic factors indicative of the anti-scar effect. Conclusion: These findings suggest that N-Col-GO drug release hybrid membrane serves as a better platform for scarless skin regeneration.

Polymeric coatings with long life, strong environmental adaptability and high durability are of great significance for practical applications. This work presents a facial strategy to construct a smart nanocomposite coating with excellent shielding, corrosion self-diagnosing and self-repairing functions by integrating nanocontainers into epoxy resin. The nanocontainers were synthesized through decorating the hydroxyapatite sheets with zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (HA-ZIF), which were employed to encapsulate corrosion probe phenanthroline (Phen). The service condition of the composite coating can be diagnosed. With the occurrence of localized corrosion, Phen molecules timely released and reacted with the metal ions to form conspicuous red color at damaged sites, achieving real time corrosion diagnosing function. Given the stimulus responsive property of ZIF, the corrosion propagating process can be significantly inhibited by the released benzimidazole inhibitors. As contrast of the traditional nanocontainers applied for anticorrosion coating, the inhibitors were used directly to synthesis the HA-ZIF nanocontainer rather than subsequent loading, which greatly improved inhibitors content in nanocontainers. Moreover, the impermeability, the core characteristic, of composite coating has been remarkably enhanced by the presence of HA sheets, ensuring its long-term protective performance. Importantly, the integrating multi functions in one coating is realized by the ingeniously designed nanocontainers. It is envisioned that this facial and feasible strategy provides insights in improving the longevity, functionality and reliability of protective coatings.