Development of Neural Cells and Spontaneous Neural Activities in Engineered Brain-Like Constructs for Transplantation.

Stem cell transplantation has demonstrated efficacy in treating neurological disorders by generating functional cells and secreting beneficial factors. However, challenges remain for current cell suspension injection therapy, including uncontrollable cell distribution, the potential for tumor formation, and limited ability to treat spatial defects. Therefore, implants with programmable cell development, tailored 3D structure, and functionalized biomaterials have the potential to both control cell distribution and reduce or heal spatial defects. Here, a biomimetic material system comprising gelatin, alginate, and fibrinogen has been developed for neural progenitor cell constructs using 3D printing. The resulting constructs exhibit excellent formability, stability, and developmental functions in vitro, as well as biocompatibility and integration into the hippocampus in vivo. The controllability, reproducibility, and material composition of the constructs show potential for use in personalized stem cell-based therapies for defective neurological disorders, neural development research, disease modeling, and organoid-derived intelligent systems.

The clinical role of combined circulating complement C1q and AIP for CAD with LDL-C level below 1.8mmol/L.

BACKGROUND: In the past few years, circulating complement C1q involvement in atherosclerosis has garnered growing research interest in addition to the emerging recognition of the novel lipid marker named atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Nevertheless, among patients experiencing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels less than 1.8mmol/L, the interplay between C1q combined with the AIP for coronary artery disease (CAD) is ambiguous. METHODS: Patients were stratified into a non-CAD and CAD group according to their coronary angiography. The association between C1q in conjunction with the AIP and CAD was explored using restricted cubic spline analyses and logistic regression models. To assess how it predicted, a receiver operating characteristic analysis was undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 7270 patients comprised 1476 non-CAD patients and 5794 patients diagnosed with CAD were analyzed. A comparison of the two groups showed that the C1q levels were notably higher compared to the CAD group, while AIP exhibited an inverse trend. Across quartiles of C1q, the AIP demonstrated a decline with increasing C1q levels, and significant differences were observed between the groups. A correlation analysis underscored a notable negative correlation between the two variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed significant associations between CAD and the C1q quartile groups/AIP. Furthermore, compared with the Q4 group, a decrease in the C1q levels corresponded to an escalation in CAD risk, with the odds ratio rising from 1.661 to 2.314. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, there appears to be a notable positive correlation between the combination of C1q with the AIP and CAD.