The study of viruses traditionally focused on their roles as infectious agents and as tools for understanding cell biology. Recently, however, with the development of structural biology, viruses have now been receiving particular attention in nanotechnology. By chemical methods or by gene modification, viruses have been functionalized as potential building blocks for several applications, such as drug/gene delivery vehicles, advanced vaccine vehicles, and special inorganic or organic nanomaterials. Here we highlight some of the recent progresses in the medical applications of viruses.
Biomedical Research ; trends ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Therapy ; Nanostructures ; Nanotechnology ; trends ; Vaccines ; Viruses

Objective To analyze the related factors of foot blisters caused by long-distance weight-bearing march and to explore the pathogenesis of foot blisters to provide a useful way for the prevention and treatment.Methods After the 300 km march,counted the number who had accomplished the march,and then recorded the number of foot blisters,location of blisters,and abrasion of sole.Collected the data of gender,age,body mass index (BMI),hand dominance,and whether had bliters before the march through questionnaire.And the data were coded for analysis with SPSS 13.0 statistical package.Results The 7 cases who complete the whole march and 17 cases who already had foot blisters before the march were ruled out of the final statistics.Among the remaining 590 cases,there were 554 cases (93.9%)suffered from foot blisters.And there were 1 282 blisters in total,among which the plantar blisters occupied 98% (1 257 cases).The analysis showed that the incidence of foot blisters had no significant correlation with gender,left/right foot,hand dominance,BMI and age.The predilection sites of blisters were the second and third metatarsals (28.2%),the hallux (21.3%),the fifth metatarsal (18.1%),and the calcaneus (15.8%)of the left foot.The predilection sites of blisters were the second and third metatarsals (33.3%),the hallux (22.4%),the fifth metatarsal (18.6%),and the calcaneus (14.5%)of the right foot.In terms of the abrasion of sole,the lateral heel was worn out the most (34.6% on the left and 34.2% on the right).Conclusion The study confirmed that the incidence of foot blisters had no significant correla-tion with gender,left/right foot,hand dominance,BMI and age,which may be affected by the particularity of this march.Most of the foot blisters occurred in the planta,and the predilection sites of blisters were in accord with sites of of the abrasion of sole and the distribution of plantar shear force,which demonstrated the shear force is the most critical factor on the pathogenesis of foot blisters.

BACKGROUND:In recent years,the demand for in vitro maturation of immature oocytes has increased.Oocyte maturation is affected by many factors,among which the selection of medium is particularly important,and there is currently no unified plan. OBJECTIVE:To compare the in vitro maturation of germinal vesicle stage oocytes with different maturation media and to investigate its effects on oocyte quality and developmental potential. METHODS:Germinal vesicle oocytes were matured in G-1TM PLUS medium,CZB medium and M16 medium,and mature oocytes in vivo were used as control group to compare in vitro fertilization and early embryo development among various groups.The immunofluorescence method was used to evaluate mitochondrial function in mature oocytes of each group.Calcium oscillation was detected by confocal microscopy real-time imaging system. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant difference in the first polar body ejection rate among the three groups(P>0.05).(2)The rate of in vitro fertilization was higher in the G-1TM PLUS group(52.86±11.24)%than that in the M16 group(37.76±6.70)%and the CZB group(30.62±5.51)%.The blastocyst rate was lower in the CZB group(36.23±6.63)%than that in the control group(78.16±4.17)%,G-1TM PLUS group(55.75±7.63)%and M16 group(53.36±6.33)%.(3)Compared with the control group,the length-to-width ratio of the spindle in the CZB group increased(P<0.005).(4)The mitochondrial function of the CZB group was worse than that of the control group,G-1TM PLUS group and M16 group,and abnormal mitochondrial agglutination occurred in the CZB group.(5)The frequency of calcium oscillations in the CZB and M16 groups was significantly higher than that in the G1 and control groups.In conclusion,during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes,in vitro maturation rate was not significantly different among G-1TM PLUS,CZB and M16 media,but the G-1TM PLUS medium had a higher rate of fertilization and blastocyst formation.

Sarcopenia, referred to as myopenia, is a systemic syndrome characterized by decreased muscle mass and muscle strength, and decline of motor function.The elderly are a high incidence group of myopenia.With the aging of the world's population becoming increasingly severe, the incidence rate of sarcopenia has also increased, which has brought a heavy burden to the elderly family and society, and has become an important social health problem for the elderly.At present, there are more and more researches on sarcopenia, but the pathogenic factors of sarcopenia are complex and diverse.The prevention and treatment of sarcopenia still need to be further explored and studied.The establishment of an ideal animal model is the key premise and basis for the related research of sarcopenia.In this paper, the different modeling methods, advantages and disadvantages as well as the scope of application of sarcopenia animal models are described, which can provide reference and help for the subsequent animal experimental research of sarcopenia.

Objective To investigate biomechanical characteristics of femoral neck fracture with different reduction qualities. Methods Three cases of Sawbones artificial femoral models were selected, and two cases of Pauwel III femoral neck fracture were modeled. Three cannulated screws were inserted into the models in the form of inverted triangle to fix the fracture. Two cases maintained different reduction qualities (defined as Model 1 and Model 2). In the 3 third case, no modeling operation was performed (defined as intact model). Then the strain gauges were respectively pasted on regions of interest of the 3 femoral models. Finally, the femur model was applied with the vertical load on mechanical testing machine. Results When the displacement of femoral head reached 4 mm, the average load of intact model, Model 1 and Model 2 was (236.30±5.35), (196.57±3.56), (69.50±2.95) N, showing significant differences. When the displacement of femoral head reached 5 mm, the average load of intact model, Model 1 and Model 2 was (276.7±3.40)，(232.93±2.64)，(80.83±4.54) N, showing significant differences. Conclusions The lower the reduction quality of the femoral neck fracture, the weaker the ability of the femur to bear stress, the higher the probability of nonunion, re-fracture and femoral head necrosis in the process of postoperative rehabilitation.