Recent Advances in Electrospinning Techniques for Precise Medicine.

In the realm of precise medicine, the advancement of manufacturing technologies is vital for enhancing the capabilities of medical devices such as nano/microrobots, wearable/implantable biosensors, and organ-on-chip systems, which serve to accurately acquire and analyze patients' physiopathological information and to perform patient-specific therapy. Electrospinning holds great promise in engineering materials and components for advanced medical devices, due to the demonstrated ability to advance the development of nanomaterial science. Nevertheless, challenges such as limited composition variety, uncontrollable fiber orientation, difficulties in incorporating fragile molecules and cells, and low production effectiveness hindered its further application. To overcome these challenges, advanced electrospinning techniques have been explored to manufacture functional composites, orchestrated structures, living constructs, and scale-up fabrication. This review delves into the recent advances of electrospinning techniques and underscores their potential in revolutionizing the field of precise medicine, upon introducing the fundamental information of conventional electrospinning techniques, as well as discussing the current challenges and future perspectives.

Gamma oscillations induced by 40-Hz visual-auditory stimulation for the treatment of acute-phase limb motor rehabilitation after stroke: study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hemiparetic limb dysfunction reaches 85% in stroke patients, emerging as a critical factor influencing their daily lives. However, the effectiveness of current rehabilitation treatments is considerably limited, particularly in patients with upper extremity impairment. This study aims to conduct a prospective clinical trial to validate the safety and effectiveness of gamma oscillations induced by 40-Hz visual-auditory stimulation in treating post-stroke upper limb dysfunction and to explore the relevant mechanisms. METHODS: This trial is a prospective, randomized controlled, double-blind study. All enrolled patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group received intervention through 40-Hz visual-auditory stimulation, while the control group underwent intervention with randomly matched visual-auditory stimulation frequencies. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change in motor function. Secondary efficacy endpoints include motor-evoked potentials, cerebral hemodynamic changes, neural network connectivity, and alterations in synaptic-related genes. Safety evaluation included major adverse events, all-cause mortality, and photosensitive epilepsy. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, after a 14-day treatment period, and during subsequent follow-up visits (at 3 and 6 months) post-treatment. The differences between the two groups will be compared. DISCUSSION: This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of gamma oscillations induced by 40-Hz visual-auditory stimulation in treating patients with upper extremity dysfunction after an acute cerebral stroke. Concurrently, we will explore potential mechanisms, including changes in synaptic-related genes and neural network connectivity. This trial is expected to provide evidence for the effectiveness of this new technique in treating upper extremity dysfunction after a stroke and improving patients' quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study protocol has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) under registration number ChiCTR2300076579 on October 12, 2023.

The effect of partial pulpotomy with iRoot BP Plus in traumatized immature permanent teeth: A randomized prospective controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/AIM: A new bioceramic material iRoot BP Plus has been introduced and reported to have good biocompatibility, sealing ability and antibacterial activity. It has also been reported to be successfully used for procedures such as pulpotomy, pulp floor perforation repair and so on. However, there are only a few reports on the use of iRoot BP Plus in the management of traumatized teeth with an exposed pulp. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of partial pulpotomy with iRoot BP Plus in immature permanent teeth with complicated crown fracture or complicated crown-root fracture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was prospectively designed, and 110 immature permanent teeth with complicated crown fracture or complicated crown-root fracture were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 55). All teeth were clinically and radiographically assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after partial pulpotomy with iRoot BP Plus (experimental group, n = 50) or calcium hydroxide (control group, n = 49) as the pulp capping agent. Eleven cases were lost during follow up, and 99 teeth were finally analysed. RESULTS: There were no intergroup differences in the survival rate, survival time, root length and dentin wall thickness. The calcific bridge was significantly thinner in the iRoot BP Plus group than in the calcium hydroxide group (0.97 ± 0.13 mm vs 1.36 ± 0.12 mm; F = 5.128, P = .029). CONCLUSIONS: iRoot BP Plus may be an effective capping material for partial pulpotomy.

[Effects of different fibre diameter of polypyrrole after direct current stimulation on adhesion and proliferation of cells and bacteria].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of cells'and bacteria's adhesion and proliferation on different fiber diameters of polypyrrole coating with electricity. METHODS: Titanium coated with polypyrrole was divided into no electrical stimulation and stimulation groups, each group had 30-60 nm, 70- 100 nm, 130-170 nm diameters of the fiber. MC3T3 cells and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were inoculated on different fiber diameters of polypyrrole coating with and without electric stimulation. We gave the electrical stimulation group 100 mV for 1 h and every 24 hours gave it 1 h stimulation, and no electrical stimulation group was not managed. We used scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe the cells'and bacteria's morphology. The cells were given 20 mL CCK-8 solutions after 1,3,7 days' cultivation, then incubated for 2 h, the solution was transferred to 96-well plate, we measured the cells' CCK-8 of the 30-60 nm, 70-100 nm, and 130-170 nm groups by Elisa. The cells on different fiber diameters were also stained by live-dead cell staining kit, TritonX-100 and DAPI. We used PBS to wash and glycerin to seal them. The live-dead situation and morphology were tested by co focal microscope. The bacterial were stained by Live/dead baclight bacterial viability kits, we detect the suspension's D of the 30-60 nm, 70-100 nm, and 130-170 nm groups, and also observed the bacteria's survival situation by co focal microscope. RESULTS: The CCK-8 of the cells with direct current stimulation was higher than that of the unpowered group (F=12.248, P=0.006). The smaller the fiber diameter, the better was the cell's adhesion and proliferation (F=9.261, P=0.005). The bacterial suspension's D of the electric group was lower than that of the unpowered group, and the fiber diameter had no significant effect on the bacteria's growth(F=9.641, P=0.036). CONCLUSION: Polypyrrole coating with electricity can promote the cell's proliferation and inhibit the bacteria's proliferation, and the cell growth on small fiber diameter coating is better. There is no difference in the bacterial growth of different fiber diameter coatings.

A framework for the assessment of the spatial and temporal patterns of threatened coastal delphinids.

The massively accelerated biodiversity loss rate in the Anthropocene calls for an efficient and effective way to identify the spatial and temporal dynamics of endangered species. To this end, we developed a useful identification framework based on a case study of locally endangered Sousa chinensis by combining both LEK (local ecological knowledge) evaluation and regional boat-based survey methods. Our study investigated the basic ecological information of Sousa chinensis in the estuaries of eastern Guangdong that had previously been neglected, which could guide the future study and conservation. Based on the statistical testing of reported spatial and temporal dolphins sighting data from fishermen and the ecological monitoring analyses, including sighting rate, site fidelity and residence time estimations, some of the current Sousa chinensis units are likely to be geographically isolated and critically endangered, which calls for much greater conservation efforts. Given the accelerated population extinction rate and increasing budgetary constraints, our survey pattern can be applied in a timely and economically acceptable manner to the spatial and temporal assessment of other threatened coastal delphinids, particularly when population distributions are on a large scale and traditional sampling methods are difficult to implement.