[Research progress in Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for partial thickness cartilage loss in medial compartment of knee joint].

Objective: To summarize the research progress of Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in treating partial thickness cartilage loss (PTCL) in the medial compartment of the knee joint, aiming to further clarify the indications and optimize the effectiveness of Oxford UKA. Methods: A comprehensive review of recent domestic and international literature on Oxford UKA for PTCL in the medial compartment of the knee joint was conducted to summarize its application and research advancements. Results: Based on current researches, the main indication for Oxford UKA is full thinckness cartilage loss in the medial compartment of the knee joint. Although it has shown certain effectiveness in treating PTCL in the medial compartment of the knee joint, there are also reports of opposite conclusions. Therefore, there is still controversy over whether Oxford UKA can be chosen for PTCL, and the large-sample and multi-center studies are needed to further clarify the controversy. Studies indicate that accurate preoperative assessment of cartilage damage severity is crucial for selecting appropriate candidates for Oxford UKA to optimize postoperative effectiveness. Conclusion: Oxford UKA may represent an effective treatment for patients with PTCL in the medial compartment of the knee joint. However, strict patient selection and precise preoperative evaluation are essential to ensure surgical success and long-term effectiveness.

Comparison of CT and MRI in the Diagnosis of Liver Tumors: A Retrospective Case-Control Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic value of multi-slice computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in liver tumors. METHODS: Retrospective selection of CT and MRI imaging data from 109 cases of liver tumors treated in our hospital from January 2020 to March 2023. The selection was determined through pathological examination. RESULTS: According to the pathological examination results, 61 cases were benign tumors, and 48 cases were malignant tumors. The hepatic portal flow (HPF), hepatic artery perfusion index (HPI) and hepatic artery perfusion (HAF) of malignant tumors were significantly lower than in benign tumors (P<0.05). The signal enhancement ratio of malignant tumors was significantly higher than in benign tumors, and the peak time was significantly lower than in benign tumors (P<0.05). The sensitivity (97.92%) and accuracy (97.25%) of the combined examination were significantly higher than those of MRI (83.33%, 90.83%) or CT alone (81.25%, 88.99%) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CT and MRI have high application value in the diagnosis and evaluation of liver tumors, and the combination of these two methods can further improve diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy, providing an objective reference for early diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.

Optical, Structural, and Synchrotron X-ray Absorption Studies for GaN Thin Films Grown on Si by Molecular Beam Epitaxy.

GaN on Si plays an important role in the integration and promotion of GaN-based wide-gap materials with Si-based integrated circuits (IC) technology. A series of GaN film materials were grown on Si (111) substrate using a unique plasma assistant molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE) technology and investigated using multiple characterization techniques of Nomarski microscopy (NM), high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD), variable angular spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), Raman scattering, photoluminescence (PL), and synchrotron radiation (SR) near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. NM confirmed crack-free wurtzite (w-) GaN thin films in a large range of 180-1500 nm. XRD identified the w- single crystalline structure for these GaN films with the orientation along the c-axis in the normal growth direction. An optimized 700 °C growth temperature, plus other corresponding parameters, was obtained for the PA-MBE growth of GaN on Si, exhibiting strong PL emission, narrow/strong Raman phonon modes, XRD w-GaN peaks, and high crystalline perfection. VASE studies identified this set of MBE-grown GaN/Si as having very low Urbach energy of about 18 meV. UV (325 nm)-excited Raman spectra of GaN/Si samples exhibited the GaN E2(low) and E2(high) phonon modes clearly without Raman features from the Si substrate, overcoming the difficulties from visible (532 nm) Raman measurements with strong Si Raman features overwhelming the GaN signals. The combined UV excitation Raman-PL spectra revealed multiple LO phonons spread over the GaN fundamental band edge emission PL band due to the outgoing resonance effect. Calculation of the UV Raman spectra determined the carrier concentrations with excellent values. Angular-dependent NEXAFS on Ga K-edge revealed the significant anisotropy of the conduction band of w-GaN and identified the NEXAFS resonances corresponding to different final states in the hexagonal GaN films on Si. Comparative GaN material properties are investigated in depth.

[A prospective comparative study on effectiveness of single versus continuous adductor canal block combined with local infiltration anesthesia in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty].

Objective: To compare the early analgesic effects and the impact on knee joint function recovery after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) between single adductor canal block (SACB) and continuous adductor canal block (CACB) combined with local infiltration anesthesia (LIA) using a prospective study. Methods: The patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted between April 2022 and December 2023 were enrolled as a subject. Among them, 60 patients met the selection criteria and were enrolled in the study. They were randomly assigned to the SACB group or CACB group in a ratio of 1:1 using a random number table method. There was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05) in terms of age, gender, height, body mass, body mass index, affected side, and preoperative resting visual analogue scale (VAS) score and active VAS score, Oxford knee score (OKS), and American Hospital of Special Surgery (HSS) score. All patients received multimodal analgesia management using LIA combined with SACB or CACB. The operation time, pain related indicators (resting and activity VAS scores, number and timing of breakthrough pain, opioid consumption), joint function related indicators (quadriceps muscle strength, knee range of motion, OKS score, and HSS score), as well as postoperative block complications and adverse events were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results: There was no significant difference in the operation time between the two groups ( P<0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up with a follow-up time of (9.70±4.93) months in the SACB group and (12.23±5.05) months in the CACB group, and the difference was not significant ( P>0.05). The CACB group had a significant lower resting VAS score at 24 hours after operation compared to the SACB group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in resting and active VAS scores between the two groups at other time points ( P>0.05). The CACB group had a significantly lower incidence of breakthrough pain compared to the SACB group [9 cases (30.00%) vs. 17 cases (56.67%); P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the timing of breakthrough pain occurrence and opioid consumption between the two groups ( P>0.05). Four cases in the SACB group and 7 cases in the CACB group experienced adverse events, with no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups ( P>0.05). The CACB group had significantly better knee joint mobility than the SACB group at 1 and 2 days after operation ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in knee joint mobility on 0 day after operation and quadriceps muscle strength and OKS and HSS scores at different time points ( P>0.05). Conclusion: In UKA, the analgesic effects and knee joint function recovery are similar when compared between LIA combined with SACB and LIA combined with CACB. However, SACB is simpler to perform and can avoid adverse events such as catheter displacement and dislocation. Therefore, SACB may be a better choice.

Comparison of short-term efficacy analysis of medium-rectal cancer surgery with robotic natural orifice specimen extraction and robotic transabdominal specimen extraction.

BACKGROUND: With the development of minimally invasive technology, the trauma caused by surgery get smaller, At the same time, the specimen extraction surgery through the natural orifice is more favored by experts domestically and abroad, robotic surgery has further promoted the development of specimen extraction surgery through the natural orifice. The aim of current study is to compare the short-term outcomes of robotic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSES ) and transabdominal specimen extraction(TRSE ) in median rectal cancer surgery. METHODS: From January 2020 to January 2023, 87 patients who underwent the NOSES or TRSE at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University were included in the study, 4 patients were excluded due to liver metastasis. Of these, 50 patients were in the TRSE and 33 patients in the NOSES. Short-term efficacy was compared in the two groups. RESULTS: The NOSES group had less operation time (P < 0.001), faster recovery of gastrointestinal function (P < 0.001), shorter abdominal incisions (P < 0.001), lower pain scores(P < 0.001). lower Inflammatory indicators of the white blood cell count and C-reactive protein content at 1, 3, and 5 days after surgery (P < 0.001, P = 0.037). There were 9 complications in the NOSES group and 11 complications in the TRSE group(P = 0.583). However, there were no wound complications in the NOSES group. The number of postoperative hospital stays seems to be same in the two groups. And there was no significant difference in postoperative anus function (P = 0.591). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that NOSES and TRSE can achieve similar radical treatment effects, NOSES is a feasible and safe way to take specimens for rectal cancer surgery in accordance with the indication for NOSES.

Production of recombinant human long-acting IL-18 binding protein: inhibitory effect on ulcerative colitis in mice.

Interleukin-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is a natural IL-18 inhibitor in vivo, which can effectively neutralize IL-18 and inhibit the inflammatory signaling pathway induced by IL-18, thus playing an anti-inflammatory role. Traditional production methods primarily rely on eukaryotic animal cell expression systems, which often entail complex processes, lower yields, and increase production costs. In this study, we present a novel approach for expressing IL-18BP fusion protein using the Escherichia coli (E. coli) system. The N-terminal segment of IL-18BP was fused with the small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) tag, enabling soluble expression, while the C-terminal segment was fused with the human IgG1 Fc fragment to prolong its in vivo lifespan. Through screening, we obtained a high-expression engineering strain from a single colony and developed optimized protocols for fermentation and purification of the recombinant SUMO-IL-18BP-Fc protein. The SUMO tag was subsequently cleaved using SUMO protease, and the purified recombinant human IL-18BP-Fc (rhIL-18BP-Fc) exhibited a purity exceeding 90% with a yield of 1 g per liter of bacterial solution. The biological activities and underlying mechanisms of rhIL-18BP-Fc were evaluated using cell lines and a mouse model. Our results demonstrated that rhIL-18BP-Fc effectively inhibited IL-18-stimulated IFN-γ production in KG-1a cells in vitro and ameliorated DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. In conclusion, we successfully employed the SUMO fusion system to achieve high-level production, soluble expression, and prolonged activity of rhIL-18BP-Fc in E. coli. These findings lay the groundwork for future large-scale industrial production and pharmaceutical development of rhIL-18BP-Fc protein. KEY POINTS: • Effective expression, fermentation, and purification of bioactive rhIL-18BP-Fc protein in E. coli. • The rhIL-18BP-Fc protein has a great potential for the therapy of ulcerative colitis by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors.

Extensive spinal epidural abscess due to Streptococcus intermedius: a case report treated conservatively and literature review.

Purpose: To describe the clinical significance of prompt, adequate, and targeted intravenous antibiotic (IV antibiotic) therapy in the successful management of spinal epidural abscess (SEA) associated with Streptococcus intermedius (S. intermedius) infection. Case description: SEA is a rare, but catastrophic infection that may result in a high risk of permanent neurological disability. A 52-year-old Chinese female patient was presented to the emergency department due to 2 years of low back pain and 3 days of decreased muscle strength in the extremities. The blood culture confirmed the presence of S. intermedius infection, and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated widespread epidural abscesses in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine canal. Empirical IV antibiotic therapy with vancomycin was promptly initiated, with meropenem and moxifloxacin added subsequently based on blood culture results. After 5 days of IV antibiotic treatment, the patient's blood culture became negative. 6 weeks later, a follow-up MRI showed a decrease in the size of the abscess. The patient's muscle strength was mostly restored after 2 months of IV antibiotic treatment. Conclusion: Repeat examinations or gadolinium-enhanced MRI should be considered when initial MRI findings are not diagnostic of SEA. For extensive SEA caused by Streptococcus intermedius infection, surgery may be non-essential, and the judicious antibiotic selection and adequate treatment duration are pivotal for successful conservative management. Furthermore, for patients who are not amenable to surgery, a comprehensive evaluation of their condition and meticulous implementation of a precise pharmacological regimen holds noteworthy clinical significance.

Stratifin Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Modulating the Wnt/ß-Catenin Pathway.

Abnormal stratifin (SFN) expression is closely related to the progression of several human cancers, but the potential roles of SFN in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that SFN was upregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues and was positively associated with tumor size, poor differentiation, Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage, and vascular invasion. In addition, high expression levels of SFN were associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival. Biologically, downregulation of SFN suppressed tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. However, overexpression of SFN promoted cell proliferation, EMT, invasion, and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, overexpression of SFN activated the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway by promoting Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3ß) phosphorylation, decreasing ß-catenin phosphorylation, promoting ß-catenin transport into the nucleus, and enhancing the expression of c-Myc, whereas depletion of SFN inhibited the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. In addition, TOPFlash/FOPFlash reporter assays showed that overexpression or downregulation of SFN obviously increased or decreased, respectively, the activity of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Our results indicated that SFN plays an important role in HCC, possibly providing a prognostic factor and therapeutic target for HCC.

Comparison of robotic-assisted and laparoscopic-assisted natural orifice specimen extraction surgery in short-terms outcomes of middle rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is becoming less invasive as technology advances. Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) ushered in a new era of minimally invasive techniques. At the same time, NOSES is gaining popularity in the world. With their distinct advantages, surgical robots have advanced the development of NOSES. The aim of current study was to compare the short-term outcomes between robotic-assisted NOSES and laparoscopic-assisted NOSES for the treatment of middle rectal cancer. METHODS: Patients with middle rectal cancer who underwent robotic-assisted or laparoscopic-assisted NOSES at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2020 and June 2022 had their clinicopathological data collected retrospectively. 46 patients were enrolled in the study: 23 in the robotic group and 23 in the laparoscopic group. Short-term outcomes and postoperative anal function in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the clinicopathological data between the two groups. The robotic group had less intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.04), less postoperative abdominal drainage (p = 0.02), lower postoperative white blood cell counts (p = 0.024) and C-reactive protein levels (p = 0.017), and shorter catheter removal time when compared to the laparoscopic group (p = 0.003). Furthermore, there were no significant difference in mean operative time (159 ± 31 min vs 172 ± 41 min) between the robotic and laparoscopic groups (p = 0.235), but time to naked the rectum (86.4 ± 20.9 min vs. 103.8 ± 31.5 min p = 0.033) and time of digestive tract reconstruction (15.6 ± 3.88 min vs. 22.1 ± 2.81 min p < 0.01) in the robotic group were significantly shorter than laparoscopic group. The robotic group had lower postoperative Wexner scores than the laparoscopic group. CONCLUSIONS: This research reveals that combining a robotic surgical system and NOSES results in superior outcomes, with short-term outcomes preferable to laparoscopic-assisted NOSES.

[Research progress of anterior cutaneous nerve injury and repair in knee arthroplasty].

Objective: To summarize the research progress of anterior cutaneous nerve injury and repair in knee arthroplasty. Methods: The relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years was reviewed and summarized from the anatomy of anterior cutaneous nerve, nerve injury grade, clinical manifestations, prevention and treatment of anterior cutaneous nerve. Results: The anterior cutaneous nerve injury is a common complication of knee arthroplasty. Because the anterior cutaneous nerve branches are many and thin, and mainly run between the first and second layers of fascia, this level is often ignored during surgical exposure. In addition, the knee arthroplasty does not routinely perform the exploration and repair of the cutaneous nerve. So the anterior cutaneous nerve injury is difficult to avoid, and can lead to postoperative skin numbness and knee pain. At present, studies have explored the feasibility of preventing its occurrence from the aspects of improved incision and intraoperative separation of protective nerve. There is no effective prevention and treatment measures for this complication. For patients with skin numbness after knee arthroplasty, the effectiveness of drug treatment is not clear. Local nerve block or nerve excision can be used to treat patients with painful symptoms after knee arthroplasty considering cutaneous pseudoneuroma. Conclusion: Knee arthroplasty is widely used and anterior cutaneous nerve injury is common in clinic. In the future, more high-quality clinical studies are needed to further explore the prevention and treatment measures of this complication and evaluate the clinical benefits obtained.

Transvaginal versus transabdominal specimen extraction surgery for right colon cancer: A propensity matching study.

Background: The transvaginal route for specimen extraction is considered ideal for colorectal surgery, but its safety is still questioned. There has been little research on transvaginal natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) in the right hemicolectomy. As a result, we conducted a study comparing transvaginal NOSES to traditional transabdominal specimen extraction surgery. Patients and methods: Data on female patients who underwent radical right hemicolectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2015 and December 2020 were collected retrospectively. A total of 847 patients were compliant, with 51 undergoing the transvaginal specimen extraction surgery (NOSES) group and 796 undergoing the transabdominal specimen extraction surgery (TISES) group. A propensity score matching method (1:2) was used to balance the clinicopathological characteristics of the two groups. Results: Finally, 138 patients were enrolled in our study, with 46 in the NOSES group and 92 in the TISES group. Compared to the TISES group, the NOSES group had less intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.036), shorter time to first flatus (p < 0.001), shorter time to first liquid diet (p < 0.001), lower postoperative white blood cell counts (p = 0.026), lower C-reactive protein levels (p = 0.027), and lower visual analog scale (VAS) scores (p < 0.001). Regarding the quality of life after surgery, the NOSES group had better role function (p < 0.01), emotional function (p < 0.001), and improved symptoms of postoperative pain (p < 0.001) and diarrhea (p = 0.024). The scar satisfaction was significantly higher in the NOSES group than in the TISES group. Overall survival and disease-free survival in two groups were similar. Conclusion: The short-term results of transvaginal NOSES were superior to conventional transabdominal specimen extraction surgery. At the same time, transvaginal NOSES could improve the abdominal wall appearance and quality of life. The long-term survival was similar in the two surgical approaches. Therefore, transvaginal NOSES is worthy of our implementation and promotion.

[Application and research progress of dexamethasone in the perioperative period of joint arthroplasty and arthroscopic surgery].

Objective: To review the application and research progress of dexamethasone in the perioperative period of joint arthroplasty and arthroscopic surgery. Methods: The relevant domestic and foreign literature in recent years was extensively reviewed. The application status and therapeutic effect of dexamethasone in the perioperative period of joint arthroplasty and arthroscopic surgery were summarized. Results: Studies have shown that intravenous administration of 10-24 mg dexamethasone before or/and within 24-48 hours after operation can reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting, and reduce the consumption of opioids in patients after hip and knee arthroplasties with high safety. The duration of nerve block during arthroscopic surgery can be prolonged by perineural injecting local anesthetics and 4-8 mg dexamethasone, but the effect of postoperative analgesia is still controversial. Conclusion: Dexamethasone is widely used in joint and sports medicine. It has the effects of analgesia, antiemetic, and prolonging the time of nerve block. In the future, high-quality clinical studies on the application of dexamethasone in shoulder, elbow, and ankle arthroplasties and arthroscopic surgery are needed, and more attention should be paid to the long-term safety of dexamethasone.

A nomogram and risk classification system forecasting the cancer-specific survival of lymph- node- positive rectal cancer patient after radical proctectomy.

Background: The aim of the study was to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting cancer-specific survival (CSS) in lymph- node- positive rectal cancer patients after radical proctectomy. Methods: In this study, we analyzed data collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2015. In addition, in a 7:3 randomized design, all patients were split into two groups (development and validation cohorts). CSS predictors were selected via univariate and multivariate Cox regressions. The nomogram was constructed by analyzing univariate and multivariate predictors. The effectiveness of this nomogram was evaluated by concordance index (C-index), calibration plots, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Based on the total score of each patient in the development cohort in the nomogram, a risk stratification system was developed. In order to analyze the survival outcomes among different risk groups, Kaplan-Meier method was used. Results: We selected 4,310 lymph- node- positive rectal cancer patients after radical proctectomy, including a development cohort (70%, 3,017) and a validation cohort (30%, 1,293). The nomogram correlation C-index for the development cohort and the validation cohort was 0.702 (95% CI, 0.687-0.717) and 0.690 (95% CI, 0.665-0.715), respectively. The calibration curves for 3- and 5-year CSS showed great concordance. The 3- and 5-year areas under the curve (AUC) of ROC curves in the development cohort were 0.758 and 0.740, respectively, and 0.735 and 0.730 in the validation cohort, respectively. Following the establishment of the nomogram, we also established a risk stratification system. According to their nomogram total points, patients were divided into three risk groups. There were significant differences between the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups (p< 0.05). Conclusions: As a result of our research, we developed a highly discriminatory and accurate nomogram and associated risk classification system to predict CSS in lymph-node- positive rectal cancer patients after radical proctectomy. This model can help predict the prognosis of patients with lymph- node- positive rectal cancer.

Error assessment and correction for extrusion-based bioprinting using computer vision method.

299Bioprinting offers a new approach to addressing the organ shortage crisis. Despite recent technological advances, insufficient printing resolution continues to be one of the reasons that impede the development of bioprinting. Normally, machine axes movement cannot be reliably used to predict material placement, and the printing path tends to deviate from the predetermined designed reference trajectory in varying degrees. Therefore, a computer vision-based method was proposed in this study to correct trajectory deviation and improve printing accuracy. The image algorithm calculated the deviation between the printed trajectory and the reference trajectory to generate an error vector. Furthermore, the axes trajectory was modified according to the normal vector approach in the second printing to compensate for the deviation error. The highest correction efficiency that could be achieved was 91%. More significantly, we discovered that the correction results, for the first time, were in a normal distribution instead of a random distribution.

[Research progress on analgesic effect of adductor canal block after knee arthroplasty].

Objective: To summarize the research progress of the analgesic effect of adductor canal block (ACB) applied to knee arthroplasty, in order to find the ACB mode that can obtain better effectiveness. Methods: The research progress of the analgesic effect of ACB after knee arthroplasty was reviewed by widely consulting the related literature on ACB at home and abroad in recent years. Results: In recent years, multimodal analgesia has become the mainstay of postoperative pain management after knee arthroplasty. Among these, ACB replaces the once "gold standard" femoral nerve block (FNB) by offering comparable and effective analgesia with better preservation of quadriceps function. It is generally safe and efficient to use 0.2% ropivacaine ACB with initial loading doses of 15-30 mL and continual loading doses of less than 8 mL/hour to give analgesia comparable to FNB with minimal impact on lower extremity muscular strength. However, the risk of patient falls must still be taken into consideration by medical staff. Adjuvants like dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone used in ACB can increase the analgesic duration and postoperative analgesic impact. As a perineural adjunct for ACB, 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine may strike a balance between safety and analgesic efficacy. Conclusion: ACB is a safe and effective analgesia method after knee arthroplasty. The adductor canal anatomy, the optimum blocking strategy and blocking site of ACB are all hotly debated and still require additional study due to the significant variety of the nerve structures in adductor canal.

Angle-Dependent Raman Scattering Studies on Anisotropic Properties of Crystalline Hexagonal 4H-SiC.

Raman scattering spectroscopy (RSS) has the merits of non-destructiveness, fast analysis, and identification of SiC polytype materials. By way of angle-dependent Raman scattering (ADRS), the isotropic characteristics are confirmed for c-face 4H-SiC, while the anisotropic properties of a-face 4H-SiC are revealed and studied in detail via combined experiments and theoretical calculation. The variation functional relationship of the angle between the incident laser polarization direction and the parallel (perpendicular) polarization direction was well established. The selection rules of wurtzite 4H-SiC are deduced, and the intensity variations of the A1, E2, and E1 Raman phonon modes dependent on the incident angle are calculated, and well-matched with experimental data. Raman tensor elements of various modes are determined.

Role and molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in preventing cardiotoxicity associated with chemoradiotherapy.

Cardiotoxicity is a serious complication of cancer therapy. It is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors and is associated with a variety of factors, including oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and abnormal myocardial energy metabolism. A number of studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can mitigate chemoradiotherapy-associated cardiotoxicity via these pathways. Therefore, this study reviews the effects and molecular mechanisms of TCM on chemoradiotherapy-related cardiotoxicity. In this study, we searched PubMed for basic studies on the anti-cardiotoxicity of TCM in the past 5 years and summarized their results. Angelica Sinensis, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, Danshinone IIA sulfonate sodium (STS), Astragaloside (AS), Resveratrol, Ginsenoside, Quercetin, Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD), Shengxian decoction (SXT), Compound Danshen Dripping Pill (CDDP), Qishen Huanwu Capsule (QSHWC), Angelica Sinensis and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge Ultrafiltration Extract (AS-AM),Shenmai injection (SMI), Xinmailong (XML), and nearly 60 other herbs, herbal monomers, herbal soups and herbal compound preparations were found to be effective as complementary or alternative treatments. These preparations reduced chemoradiotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity through various pathways such as anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress, regulation of apoptosis and autophagy, and improvement of myocardial energy metabolism. However, few clinical trials have been conducted on these therapies, and these trials can provide stronger evidence-based support for TCM.

Medical high-entropy alloy: Outstanding mechanical properties and superb biological compatibility.

Medical metal implants are required to have excellent mechanical properties and high biocompatibility to handle the complex human environment, which is a challenge that has always existed for traditional medical metal materials. Compared to traditional medical alloys, high entropy alloys (HEAs) have a higher design freedom to allow them to carry more medical abilities to suit the human service environment, such as low elastic modulus, high biocompatible elements, potential shape memory capability. In recent years, many studies have pointed out that bio-HEAs, as an emerging medical alloy, has reached or even surpassed traditional medical alloys in various medical properties. In this review, we summarized the recent reports on novel bio-HEAs for medical implants and divide them into two groups according the properties, namely mechanical properties and biocompatibility. These new bio-HEAs are considered hallmarks of a historic shift representative of a new medical revolution.

Computer Vision-Aided 2D Error Assessment and Correction for Helix Bioprinting.

Bioprinting is an emerging multidisciplinary technology for organ manufacturing, tissue repair, and drug screening. The manufacture of organs in a layer-by-layer manner is a characteristic of bioprinting technology, which can also determine the accuracy of constructs confined by the printing resolution. The lack of sufficient resolution will result in defect generation during the printing process and the inability to complete the manufacture of complex organs. A computer vision-based method is proposed in this study to detect the deviation of the printed helix from the reference trajectory and calculate the modified reference trajectory through error vector compensation. The new printing helix trajectory resulting from the modified reference trajectory error is significantly reduced compared with the original helix trajectory and the correction efficiency exceeded 90%.