BACKGROUND: Polycaprolactone/nano-hydroxyapatite composite is a new composite scaffold material prepared based on common bone tissue engineering materials using 3D printing technology. At present, little is reported on the in vitro biocompatibility of the composite material. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cytocompatibility of 3D printed polycaprolactone/nano-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds. METHODS: Polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone/nano-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds were prepared by 3D printing technology to characterize the microstructure, porosity and mechanical properties of the two materials. Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were inoculated on the surface of the 3D-printed polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone/nano-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds. Cell proliferation rate was detected by CCK-8 method. Cell growth on the scaffolds was observed by scanning electron microscopy and Live/Dead cell staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Two kinds of scaffolds had a three-dimensional network and interconnected structure. The fibers were arranged in a regular order and interlaced. There was no gap on the fiber surface, and the fiber spacing and diameter were relatively uniform. There was no significant difference in the porosity between two kinds of scaffolds (P > 0. 05). The elastic modulus of the composite scaffold was higher than that of the simple polycaprolactone scaffold (P < 0. 05). There was no significant difference in cell proliferation between two kinds of scaffolds after 1 day of culture. After 4 and 7 days of culture, cell proliferation on the composite scaffold was significantly faster than that on the simple polycaprolactone scaffold (P < 0. 05). Live/Dead cell staining showed that both polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone/nano-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds had good cytocompatibility and high cell viability. A larger number of cells adhered to the polycaprolactone/nano-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds. Scanning electron microscopy showed that cells grew well on two kinds of scaffolds and distributed on the surface and micropores of the scaffold. The secreted extracellular matrix appeared in filaments and surrounded the cells. These findings suggest that the polycaprolactone/nano-hydroxyapatite composite material prepared by 3D printing technology has abundant pores, exhibit good mechanical properties, and have good cytocompatibility and can be used as a scaffold material for tissue engineering.

OBJECTIVEThis project aims to establish an interactive oral and maxillofacial radiological image annotation database and to analyze its feasibility for implementation into curricula in order to develop a highly effective software for image browsing.

METHODSWe established the interactive image annotation database primarily on the basis of the local network and Foxit Reader. A pilot survey was then conducted to determine the performance of the interactive database. Seventy-six students were asked to complete a structured and open questionnaire related to their perceptions of using the database. Simple numeric quantitative and qualitative analyses were then applied.

RESULTSA total of 542 portable document format (PDF) digital teaching images and corresponding annotated files were collected. The survey revealed that most of the students found the database useful. Approximately 87.50% of the 64 subjects who compelete questionnaire believed that the database was superior to an older system (joint photographic experts group, JPEG) of image browsing.

CONCLUSIONThe integration and sharing of teaching resources and the establishment of an internet-based learning platform is the key to realizing a digital medical teaching system. The established database has high potential in a wide range of practical applications.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis of daratumumab combined with chemotherapy bridging to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) followed by daratumumab and lenalidomide maintenance treatment for primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL).Methods:The clinical data of a patient with primary PCL admitted to the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province in January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, and relevant literatures were reviewed.Results:The patient was diagnosed with primary PCL and treated with daratumumab combined with BD (bortezomib + dexamethasone) for 1 course and BCDD (bortezomib + cyclophosphamide + liposomaldoxorubicin + dexamethasone) for two courses. The patient was treated with daratumumab combined with allo-HSCT after complete remission. The donor cells were successfully implanted and the chimerism rate of donor cells was 94.36% without acute graft-versus-host disease reaction. And then the patient received intermittent maintenance therapy of daratumumab combined with low dose lenalidomide after transplantation, and the current remission period after transplantation reached 4 months.Conclusions:Daratumumab combined with chemotherapy bridging to allo-HSCT followed by daratumumab and lenalidomide may improve the prognosis of primary PCL and prolong survival time.

Objective:To document any improvement in the breathing control of stroke survivors with dysarthria after practicing Liuzijue qigong.Methods:A total of 157 stroke survivors with dysarthria and abnormal respiration control were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. Both groups were given traditional breathing training and basic articulation training (including articulatory organ training and speech training). The observation group also received training in Liuzijue qigong. It requires inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth while producing the speech sounds xu, he, hu, si, chui and xi. The training lasted two weeks. Both groups were then evaluated using the modified Frenchay dysarthria assessment. Maximum phonation time, maximum counting ability and volume were also recorded as secondary indexes.Results:After the 2-week intervention, significant improvement was observed in the average scores on all of the indexes, with all of the observation group′s average scores except for volume significantly better than those of the control group. The average volume scores were significantly improved, but not significantly different.Conclusion:Supplementing basic articulation training with Liuzijue qigong can improve respiratory function and the speaking ability of stroke survivors with dysarthria. It is worthy of wider clinical application.

The dimension of the levator hiatus is a possible predictor of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This retrospective study investigated 360 women who went to urogynecological clinic for pelvic floor discomfort. Levator hiatus dimensions were obtained by three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound and results were compared between women with and without significantly objective prolapse (International Continence Society POP quantification, grade 2 or higher). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine valid screening index for detecting abnormal levator hiatus distensibility. Women with significantly objective prolapse had significantly higher levator hiatus dimensions than those without (all P < 0.001). ROC curve analyses confirmed that hiatal area (HA) of 19.5 cm during Valsalva maneuver can be used as single-screening index for abnormal levator hiatus distensibility with sensitivity of 0.80 and specificity of 0.70. In this study, we used a two-step method and achieved higher sensibility (0.80 vs. 0.87) without reducing specificity (0.70 vs. 0.71) compared with a single-screening index method. As a result, we suggest that HA ⩾ 19.5 cm during Valsalva maneuver is an indicator of abnormal levator hiatus distensibility in Chinese women and that the two-step method has higher sensitivity in detecting abnormal distensibility.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Pelvic Floor ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; diagnostic imaging ; ROC Curve ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

Endogenously eliminating the hematoma is a favorable strategy in addressing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study sought to determine the role of retinoid X receptor-α (RXR-α) in the context of hematoma absorption after ICH. Our results showed that pharmacologically activating RXR-α with bexarotene significantly accelerated hematoma clearance and alleviated neurological dysfunction after ICH. RXR-α was expressed in microglia/macrophages, neurons, and astrocytes. Mechanistically, bexarotene promoted the nuclear translocation of RXR-α and PPAR-γ, as well as reducing neuroinflammation by modulating microglia/macrophage reprograming from the M1 into the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, all the beneficial effects of RXR-α in ICH were reversed by the PPAR-γ inhibitor GW9662. In conclusion, the pharmacological activation of RXR-α confers robust neuroprotection against ICH by accelerating hematoma clearance and repolarizing microglia/macrophages towards the M2 phenotype through PPAR-γ-related mechanisms. Our data support the notion that RXR-α might be a promising therapeutic target for ICH.

Endogenously eliminating the hematoma is a favorable strategy in addressing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study sought to determine the role of retinoid X receptor-α (RXR-α) in the context of hematoma absorption after ICH. Our results showed that pharmacologically activating RXR-α with bexarotene significantly accelerated hematoma clearance and alleviated neurological dysfunction after ICH. RXR-α was expressed in microglia/macrophages, neurons, and astrocytes. Mechanistically, bexarotene promoted the nuclear translocation of RXR-α and PPAR-γ, as well as reducing neuroinflammation by modulating microglia/macrophage reprograming from the M1 into the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, all the beneficial effects of RXR-α in ICH were reversed by the PPAR-γ inhibitor GW9662. In conclusion, the pharmacological activation of RXR-α confers robust neuroprotection against ICH by accelerating hematoma clearance and repolarizing microglia/macrophages towards the M2 phenotype through PPAR-γ-related mechanisms. Our data support the notion that RXR-α might be a promising therapeutic target for ICH.
Anilides/pharmacology* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage/drug therapy* ; Hematoma/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Microglia ; Neuroprotection ; PPAR gamma ; Retinoid X Receptor alpha