A collagen(Col)/nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) biological composite bone scaffold with double multi-level interface reinforcement

IntroductionBone scaffold is expected to possess excellent mechanical and biological properties similar to natural bone tissues. In this study, we aimed to prepare a biomineralized Col and hydroxyapatite composite scaffold consisting of biomimetic bone components and multi-level bionic bone structure to strengthen its mechanical properties.MethodsWe prepared a Col/nano-hydroxyapatite biological composite scaffold with multi-level structure (from nanofibers to micron bionic bone motif to bionc bone scaffold) of biomimetic bone tissue, and biomineralized the scaffold in simulated body fluid (SBF) preheated to 37 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscope, were used to characterize the biomineralized products.ResultsMorphological study confirmed in situ deposition of nHA in the multi-scale hierarchical structure of the biomineralized scaffold. We explored the biomineralization nucleation mechanism of the scaffolds at the atomic level based on the first principles and the mechanisms for growth of mineralized nHA crystal array in its multi-scale structure, and how the double multiscales structure strengthened the mechanical properties of the material.ConclusionsThis synthetic bone scaffold, with bionic bone composition and double multi-level interface reinforcement, provides a new strategy for synthesizing bioactive bone scaffolds with enhanced biomechanical properties.     

基于骨组织工程的静电纺纳米纤维

通过模仿天然骨的成分、结构特性对材料进行设计与调控,获得新型仿生人工骨修复材料,这已成为骨修复材料发展的主要趋势之一。静电纺纳米纤维具有可调控的纳米结构、高孔隙率和大比表面积,可以模拟天然细胞外基质的结构和生物功能,被广泛应用于骨组织工程。本文提供一个基于骨组织工程的静电纺纳米纤维的全面概述。首先简要介绍了骨组织工程,并讨论了静电纺原理、参数和典型设备。随后,讨论了静电纺纳米纤维的表面改性方法,并通过关注最具代表性的实例重点介绍了与静电纺纳米纤维和静电纺纳米纤维增强复合材料的应用最相关的最新进展。此外,本综述展望了静电纺纳米纤维未来发展的挑战、机遇以及新方向。     

马骨骼的承力机理研究

应用三维激光扫描仪、Pixform和ANSYS等软件建立了马掌骨和跖骨的三维有限元模型,分析了马掌骨的承力机理,研究证明生物体骨骼是一种等强度优化模型.在静态压力载荷下,斜椭圆孔模型更优,这正符合马跖骨代谢孔的形位特征,说明了生物体承力结构的进化合理性.     

Unwrapping microcomputed tomographic images for measuring cortical osteolytic lesions in the 5T2 murine model of myeloma treated by bisphosphonate

Multiple myeloma is due to the proliferation of malignant plasma cells which increase the number of osteoclasts leading to trabecular and cortical bone osteolysis. The 5T2MM murine model reproduces the human disease and microcomputed tomography is a precise tool to investigate bone loss. Bisphosphonates (zoledronic acid or pamidronate) are used in preventing osteolysis. However, loss of cortical bone in not possible to quantify by histomorphometry on histological sections or microCT images.Osteolysis was studied in mice grafted with the 5THL subline to see if one drug was more active after 10 weeks. Mice were distributed into 4 groups: control, untreated, treated with pamidronate or with zoledronic acid. The left femurs were embedded undecalcified and sectioned at 7 μm. The right tibias and femurs were analyzed by microCT and trabecular morphometric parameters were obtained. Cortical bone osteolysis was analyzed by developing a new algorithm to unwrap microCT sections of the cortices, allowing measurement of the number of perforations, porosity and mean perforation area.The bisphosphonates had no significant effect on the tumor growth as evidence by the absence of effect on the M-protein level. Cortical perforations were evidenced on histological sections and their number seemed to be reduced by both bisphosphonates. MicroCT was used to quantify the trabecular bone: a bone loss was evidenced in the untreated myeloma group and both bisphosphonates appeared equal to preserve trabecular mass. However, the number and size of cortical perforations cannot be determined on 3D models. Unwrapping microCT images provided flat images allowing a precise determination of cortical perforations. Pamidronate did not reduce the number and size of cortical perforations but significantly reduced porosity. Zoledronic acid appeared significantly superior and considerably reduced all parameters.Unwrapping microCT image is a new method allowing the measurement of cortical perforations in bone malignancies, a parameter that cannot be measured correctly on 2D histological sections.     

长链非编码RNA UCA1 在胃癌组织中的表达及其效应分析

目的 分析胃癌组织特征长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）表达谱,并探讨长链非编码RNA UCA1 在胃癌中的表达及效 应。方法 采用基因芯片检测6 例胃癌患者的肿瘤组织及癌旁正常组织LncRNA表达水平,分析胃癌组织特征lncRNA 表达谱,进一步通过定量PCR 检测40 例胃癌及其对应的癌旁正常组织中UCA1的表达并分析淋巴结转移、肿块大小、细胞分化程度及病理分期等临床病理特征的关系。在此基础上,利用siRNA 下调AGS 胃癌细胞内UCA1 表达水平,利用CCK-8 试剂盒检测UCA1干预对胃癌细胞增殖能力的影响。结果 LncRNA 基因芯片检测到胃癌组织1 021条差异＞2倍的lncRNA（P＜0.05）,定量PCR 验证明显差异表达的UCA1在胃癌组织中的表达显著高于正常组织（P＜0.01）。此外,临床病理相关分析显示,UCA1表达水平还与胃癌的细胞分化程度及病理分期相关。分化低的胃癌组织中UCA1表达水平明显高于中、高分化的胃癌组织（P＜0.05）;病理分期Ⅲ/Ⅳ期胃癌组织的UCA1 表达水平明显高于Ⅰ/Ⅱ期的标本（P＜0.05）。此外,下调UCA1 胃癌细胞表达可明显抑制细胞增殖。结论 异常表达的lncRNA 参与了胃癌的发生、发展,其中肿瘤组织上调表达的UCA1是胃癌重要的促癌基因。     

Evaluation of peroxide initiators for radical polymerization‐based self‐healing applications

The suitability of various peroxide initiators for a radical polymerization‐based self‐healing system is evaluated. The initiators are compared using previously established criteria in the design of ring opening metathesis polymerization‐based self‐healing systems. Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) emerges as the best performing initiator across the range of evaluation criteria. Epoxy vinyl ester resin samples prepared with microcapsules containing BPO exhibited upwards of 80% healing efficiency in preliminary tests in which a mixture of acrylic monomers and tertiary amine activator was injected into the crack plane of the sample after the initial fracture. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2698–2708, 2010     

Controlling the evolution of polypropylene microstructure during melt free radical modification using zinc dithiocarbamate with different N-substituted groups

The effects of zinc dithiocarbamates on degradation and branching of polypropylene (PP) were studied during melt radical modification using a tri-functional monomer (trimethylol propane triacrylate (TMPTA)). High-temperature size-exclusion chromatography (HT-SEC) coupled with differential refractive index detector (DRI), light scattering detector (LSD) and viscometer detector (VD) and rotational rheometry were used to analyse the microstructure of modified PP samples. The chemical structure of the N-substituted group showed an important influence in controlling the evolution of PP microstructure during melt radical reaction. The chain cleavage of PP was controlled in the presence of zinc N, N-dimethyldithiocarbamate (ZDMC), and a substantial long chain branched (LCB) fraction was formed. Without co-agent, the molecular weight of PP decreased measurably, and only a minor LCB fraction was formed. Importantly, considerable amounts of highly branched (microgel and hyperbranched) structures were formed in this case.     

A new approach to long QT syndrome mutation detection by Sequenom MassARRAY® system

Congenital long QT syndrome is an inherited cardiac disorder characterized by a prolonged QT interval and polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias that could result in recurrent syncope, seizures or sudden death as the most dramatic event. Until now QT interval mutations have been described in 12 genes, where the majority of mutations reside in three genes KCNQ1, KCNH2, and SCN5A. Diagnosis and prognosis are directly related with the gene and mutation involved. We have developed a diagnostic approach for long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome based on published mutations and Sequenom MassArray^® system. Three diagnostic tests have been developed, oriented to each of the three most prevalent genes in the long QT syndrome. A total of 433 mutations are analyzed in 38 multiplex reactions, allowing their detection in about 48 h. Tests were validated on 502 samples from individuals with different clinical conditions and family history. The average call rates obtained for each of the tests were 93, 83, and 73% in KCNQ1, KCNH2, and SCNA, respectively. Sequenom MassARRAY mutation detection is a reliable, highly flexible, and cost‐efficient alternative to conventional methods for genetic testing in long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome, facilitating flexible upgrades of the version of the test presented here with the inclusion of new mutations.     

Berry-Esséen Bounds for Long Memory Moving Averages via Stein's Method and Malliavin Calculus

Using the Stein method on Wiener chaos introduced in Nourdin and Peccati [10], we prove Berry-Esséen bounds for long memory moving averages.