Porcine pericardium crosslinked with POSS-PEG-CHO possesses weakened immunogenicity and anti-calcification property.

Valvular heart disease (VHD) poses a thorny problem in cardiovascular diseases. The most effective treatment for VHD is heart valve replacement. Biological heart valve (BHV) is more favored than mechanical heart valve due to the maturity of transcatheter heart valve replacement (THVR) and the absence of the need for lifelong anticoagulant use.

OsMYB67 Knockout Promotes Rice Heading and Yield by Facilitating Copper Distribution in Panicles.

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient required for rice flowering and seed setting. Here, we identified that Cu-induced R2R3-MYB transcription factor, OsMYB67, acts as a negative regulator that controls rice heading and yield production by affecting Cu distribution in panicles. OsMYB67 was constitutively expressed, with the highest expression in the roots.

Magnesium Ion-Doped Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses Loaded with Gallic Acid Against Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Affecting the Biological Functions of Multiple Cells.

Introduction: Excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) can result in additional death of myocardial cells. The rapid clearance of ROS after reperfusion injury and intervention during subsequent cardiac repair stages are crucial for the ultimate recovery of cardiac function.

Methods: Magnesium-doped mesoporous bioactive glasses were prepared and loaded with the antioxidant drug gallic acid into MgNPs by sol-gel method.

Transcription factor OsSNAC1 positively regulates nitrate transporter gene expression in rice.

Nitrogen (N) is a critical factor for crop growth and yield. Improving N use efficiency (NUE) in agricultural systems is crucial for sustainable food production. However, the underlying regulation of N uptake and utilization in crops is not well known.

High Levels of Zinc Affect Nitrogen and Phosphorus Transformation in Rice Rhizosphere Soil by Modifying Microbial Communities.

Due to global industrialization in recent decades, large areas have been threatened by heavy metal contamination. Research about the impact of excessive Zn on N and P transformation in farmland has received little attention, and its mechanism is still not completely known. In this study, we planted rice in soils with toxic levels of Zn, and analyzed the plant growth and nutrient uptake, the N and P transformation, enzyme activities and microbial communities in rhizosphere soil to reveal the underlying mechanism.

Survival improvement and prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma: analysis of the SEER database.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidences have been increasing in the United States. This study aimed to examine temporal trend of HCC survival and determine prognostic factors influencing HCC survival within the U.S.

High level of zinc triggers phosphorus starvation by inhibiting root-to-shoot translocation and preferential distribution of phosphorus in rice plants.

Since the urbanization and industrialization are wildly spread in recent decades, the concentration of Zn in soil has increased in various regions. Although the interactions between P and Zn has long been recognized, the effect of high level of Zn on P uptake, translocation and distribution in rice and its molecular mechanism are not fully understood. In this study, we conducted both hydroponic culture and field trial with different combined applications of P and Zn to analyze the rice growth and yield, the uptake, translocation and distribution of P and Zn, as well as the P- and Zn-related gene expression levels.

Comparison of Platinum/S-1 and Platinum/5-Fluorouracil as First-Line Chemotherapy for Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: A Meta-Analysis Based on Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Platinum/S-1 (PS) and platinum/5-fluorouracil (PF) as first-line chemotherapies are extensively used for the treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (AGC); however, there is no definite consensus on which regimen is best. In our meta-analysis, we compared PS with PF in terms of their efficacy and safety in AGC patients.

Methods: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and CNKI were systematically searched for pertinent literature.

Comparison of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and microwave ablation (MWA) are regarded as effective therapies for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted this study to compare the efficiency and safety of TACE combined with RFA (TR group) or MWA (TM group). PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Ovid Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched.

Proton-pump inhibitor and amoxicillin-based triple therapy containing clarithromycin versus metronidazole for Helicobacter pylori: A meta-analysis.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the important risk factors of gastric related diseases and antibiotic therapy has become an effective treatment. At present, proton-pump inhibitor and amoxicillin-based triple therapy, including clarithromycin (PAC) and metronidazole (PAM), are two commonly used first-line therapies for H.

Biofunctionalization of decellularized porcine aortic valve with OPG-loaded PCL nanoparticles for anti-calcification.

Decellularized valve stents are widely used in tissue-engineered heart valves because they maintain the morphological structure of natural valves, have good histocompatibility and low immunogenicity. However, the surface of the cell valve loses the original endothelial cell coverage, exposing collagen and causing calcification and decay of the valve in advance. In this study, poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles loaded with osteoprotegerin (OPG) were bridged to a decellularized valve using a nanoparticle drug delivery system and tissue engineering technology to construct a new anti-calcification composite valve with sustained release function.

Surface biofunctionalization of the decellularized porcine aortic valve with VEGF-loaded nanoparticles for accelerating endothelialization.

The original intention for building a tissue-engineered heart valve (TEHV) was to simulate a normal heart valve and overcome the insufficiency of the commonly used heart valve replacement in the clinic. The endothelialization of the TEHV is very important as the endothelialized TEHV can decrease platelet adhesion and delay the valvular calcification decline process. In this work, we encapsulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles.

Nanotubular TiO regulates macrophage M2 polarization and increases macrophage secretion of VEGF to accelerate endothelialization via the ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT pathways.

Background: Macrophages play important roles in the immune response to, and successful implantation of, biomaterials. Titanium nanotubes are considered promising heart valve stent materials owing to their effects on modulation of macrophage behavior. However, the effects of nanotube-regulated macrophages on endothelial cells, which are essential for stent endothelialization, are unknown.

Knockdown of PSMC3IP suppresses the proliferation and xenografted tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most frequent malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Proteasome 26S subunit ATPase 3 interacting protein (PSMC3IP) is an oncogene in breast cancer, while its role in HCC remains unclear. Here, we found that PSMC3IP was critical for the cell proliferation and tumorigenic capacity of HCC cells.

Promotion of adhesion and proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells on decellularized valves by covalent incorporation of RGD peptide and VEGF.

Tissue engineered heart valve is a promising alternative to current heart valve surgery, for its capability of growth, repair, and remodeling. However, extensive development is needed to ensure tissue compatibility, durability and antithrombotic potential. This study aims to investigate the biological effects of multi-signal composite material of polyethyl glycol-cross-linked decellularized valve on adhesion and proliferation of endothelial progenitor cells.

Promoting endothelialization on decellularized porcine aortic valve by immobilizing branched polyethylene glycolmodified with cyclic-RGD peptide: an in vitro study.

We functionally modify a decellularized porcine aortic valve using a novel complex biologically active cyclic- (c)-RGD modified with branched polyethylene glycol (PEG), namely, c-RDG-PEG. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) adhesion and proliferation were detected for up to 8 d after seeding on the scaffold. (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (D2O) showed signal peaks at 7.

Tissue engineering of heart valves: PEGylation of decellularized porcine aortic valve as a scaffold for in vitro recellularization.

Background: Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) has attracted broad interest for tissue engineering applications. The aim of this study was to synthesize 4-arm -PEG-20kDa with the terminal group of diacrylate (4-arm-PEG-DA) and evaluate its dual functionality for decellularized porcine aortic valve (DAV) based on its mechanical and biological properties.

Methods: 4-arm-PEG-DA was synthesized by graft copolymerization of linear PEG 20,000 monomers, and characterized by IR1H NMR and 13C NMR; PEGylation of DAV was achieved by the Michael addition reaction between propylene acyl and thiol, its effect was tested by uniaxial planar tensile testing, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).