Ecoflex is a commercial designation for elastomers developed based on the principles of environmental sustainability and flexibility. Various manufacturers offer different types of Ecoflex products with distinct compositions and functions. Among these, the platinum-catalyzed silicone rubber Ecoflex series has demonstrated considerable applicability in various fields of oral medicine due to its excellent flexibility, biocompatibility, stability across a wide temperature range, and tunable mechanical properties. In tissue engineering, it can simulate the mechanical behavior of oral mucosa, and is used in cleft lip surgical training models and preoperative evaluation for temporal bone defect reconstruction. In the field of wearable devices, leveraging its encapsulation protection and flexible characteristics, highly sensitive sensors constructed from Ecoflex can monitor signals such as oral bite force and masticatory muscle activity, thereby aiding in the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorders and postoperative evaluation of cleft lip and palate. Moreover, when combined with bio-waste materials, it promotes the functionalization and sustainability of oral wearable devices.In drug delivery systems, its conformability and controlled-release capability address challenges in localized oral drug administration. Designs such as flexible microneedles and temperature-responsive composite systems provide precise solutions for treating periodontitis and oral ulcers. In minimally invasive surgical instruments, its softness enables the development of soft robots and magnetically controlled microfluidic valves, enhancing surgical safety and precision. In the field of oral rehabilitation, Ecoflex soft liner materials, inspired by the suction cup structure of octopus tentacles, improve denture retention. Their low modulus reduces mucosal irritation, ensuring both comfort and durability. Although Ecoflex shows great potential in biomedical applications, it still faces certain challenges, particularly regarding long-term stability after implantation, mechanical fatigue resistance, and microbial colonization, which require further investigation. In the future, with advancements in 3D printing technology, Ecoflex is expected to achieve more precise clinical translation across multiple fields and drive innovation in intelligent biomaterials.

Organ fibrosis is a chronic tissue injury caused by multiple causes,and the continuous dynamic progression will lead to abnormal organ structure and function.Recent studies have shown that Chinese materia medica can inhibit organ fibrosis by regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway,which holds potential significance for developing anti-fibrosis strategies.This article systematically reviewed the role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the entire process of fibrosis,and summarized the potential mechanisms of Chinese materia medica monomers,drug pairs and compounds that can target and intervene in PI3K/Akt signaling transduction in preventing and treating organ fibrosis,in order to provide reference for the intervention of Chinese materia medica in the PI3K/Akt pathway for the treatment of organ fibrosis.

Organ fibrosis is a chronic tissue injury caused by multiple causes,and the continuous dynamic progression will lead to abnormal organ structure and function.Recent studies have shown that Chinese materia medica can inhibit organ fibrosis by regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway,which holds potential significance for developing anti-fibrosis strategies.This article systematically reviewed the role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the entire process of fibrosis,and summarized the potential mechanisms of Chinese materia medica monomers,drug pairs and compounds that can target and intervene in PI3K/Akt signaling transduction in preventing and treating organ fibrosis,in order to provide reference for the intervention of Chinese materia medica in the PI3K/Akt pathway for the treatment of organ fibrosis.

Objective:To explore the mediating effect of postpartum depression in fathers on their parenting competence and breastfeeding support.Methods:From March to October 2022, convenience sampling was used to select 337 fathers of infants aged 4 to 8 weeks in Wuxi Women and Enfants Care Hospital as the research subject. A survey was conducted using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Chinese version of Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (C-PSOC), and maternal spouse version Partner Breastfeeding Influence Scale (PBIS). Spearman correlation was used to explore the correlation between postpartum depression in fathers and their parenting competence and breastfeeding support, and the PROCESS plugin was used for mediation effect testing.Results:A total of 337 questionnaires were distributed and 337 were collected, including 314 valid questionnaires with an effective response rate of 93.18% (314/337). Among 314 infant fathers, the EPDS, C-PSOC, and maternal spouse version PBIS scores were 3.00 (2.00, 6.00), 66.00 (62.00, 71.00), and 83.00 (74.00, 90.00), respectively. Father's parenting competence was negatively correlated with father's postpartum depression ( r=-0.435, P<0.01), and positively correlated with father's breastfeeding support ( r=0.480, P<0.01). Father's postpartum depression was negatively correlated with father's breastfeeding support ( r=-0.423, P<0.01). The mediating effect analysis showed that the mediating effect of postpartum depression in fathers between parenting competence and breastfeeding support was 0.341, accounting for 39.51% of the total effect. Conclusions:Postpartum depression in fathers is a mediating variable between their parenting competence and their breastfeeding support. Medical and nursing workers should develop perinatal education programs for fathers, enhance their parenting competence, alleviate their negative emotions, and promote their breastfeeding support.

Adipose progenitor cells(APCs) represent a prominent stromal cellular component of adipose tissue and are now identified as highly heterogenous populations. However, the role of APCs in regulating systemic metabolism remains unknown. Using single cell RNA-sequencing, we investigated the role of the APC subpopulations in regulating development of type 2 diabetes. CD9 + CD55 low APCs are the novel subset identified in this study, which is significantly increased in type 2 diabetic patients. Transplantation of these cells from type 2 diabetic patients into adipose tissue caused glycemic disturbance in mice. Depletion of pathogenic APCs improved obesity-related glycemic disturbance. Collectively, our data provide deeper insights into human APC functionality and highlights APCs as a potential therapeutic target to combat type 2 diabetes. This study has been published in Nature Communications, 2024, 15(1): 4827.

Human skin self-repairs after trauma and surgery. During this process,the ability of the skin to achieve complete functional regeneration and avoid the formation of fibrosis (scarring) or chronic wounds is a key clinical concern. Studies on wound healing have suggested that several factors affect the process of wound healing,including race,age,wound site,and skin tension. However,the lack of systematic analysis of the complete definition and connotation of skin regeneration and fibrosis,as well as the key links in the regulatory network of wound healing,makes clinical application difficult. In this review,we discuss domestic and international literatures to formu-late the concept of skin regeneration and fibrosis,combine the latest research progress on the physiological and pathological processes of wound healing,and propose the key links of the regulatory network that can potentially affect the outcome of skin wound healing. There-fore,this review provides novel theoretical support for the study of wound healing and suggests innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strat-egies for clinical applications.

Human skin self-repairs after trauma and surgery. During this process,the ability of the skin to achieve complete functional regeneration and avoid the formation of fibrosis (scarring) or chronic wounds is a key clinical concern. Studies on wound healing have suggested that several factors affect the process of wound healing,including race,age,wound site,and skin tension. However,the lack of systematic analysis of the complete definition and connotation of skin regeneration and fibrosis,as well as the key links in the regulatory network of wound healing,makes clinical application difficult. In this review,we discuss domestic and international literatures to formu-late the concept of skin regeneration and fibrosis,combine the latest research progress on the physiological and pathological processes of wound healing,and propose the key links of the regulatory network that can potentially affect the outcome of skin wound healing. There-fore,this review provides novel theoretical support for the study of wound healing and suggests innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strat-egies for clinical applications.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of adult human liver-derived stem cell exosomes (HLSC-exo) intravenously injected at different time points against acute liver injury induced by concanavalin A (ConA) in mice. Methods HLSC-exo was extracted by differential centrifugation. Western blot was used to measure the expression of the marker proteins CD9 and CD63, and nanoparticle tracking analysis was used to investigate particle size distribution. A total of 56 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into blank control group, ConA model group, and HLSC-exo treatment group. The ConA model group and the HLSC-exo treatment group were further divided into 3-, 6-, and 12-hour subgroups according to the interval between phosphate buffer or HLSC-exo injection and ConA injection. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured, and the gross morphology and histopathology of the liver were compared between groups. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t -test was used for further comparison between two groups. Results HLSC-exo was a membranous vesicle with a diameter of 90-110 nm, with a clear saucer-like structure under an electron microscope and marked expression of its specific marker proteins CD9 and CD63. In the blank control group, the levels of ALT and AST were 31.81±6.74 U/L and 69.75±8.30 U/L, respectively. Compared with the blank control group, the 3-, 6-, and 12-hour ConA model groups had significant increases in the levels of ALT and AST (all P < 0.001); compared with the 3-and 6-hour ConA model groups, the 3-and 6-hour HLSC-exo treatment groups had significant reductions in the levels of ALT and AST (225.58±115.59 U/L vs 1989.32±347.67 U/L, 1174.71±203.30 U/L vs 2208.33±349.96 U/L, 303.53±126.68 U/L vs 2534.27±644.72 U/L, 1340.70±262.56 U/L vs 2437.13±288.13 U/L, all P < 0.001); compared with the 6-hour HLSC-exo treatment group, the 3-hour HLSC-exo treatment group had significantly greater reductions ( P < 0.001). In the blank group, the levels of IL-10 and TNF-α were 313.51±10.97 pg/ml and 476.05±7.31 pg/ml, respectively. Compared with the blank control group, the 3-, 6-, and 12-hour ConA model groups had a significant reduction in the level of IL-10 (all P < 0.001); compared with the 3-and 6-hour ConA model groups, the 3-and 6-hour HLSC-exo treatment groups had a significant increase in the level of IL-10(331.61±10.46 pg/ml vs 266.20±8.15 pg/ml, 288.13±10.74 pg/ml vs 264.41±9.12 pg/ml, both P < 0.001); compared with the 6-hour HLSC-exo treatment group, the 3-hour HLSC-exo treatment group had a significantly greater increase ( P < 0.001). Compared with the blank control group, the 3-, 6-, and 12-hour ConA model groups had a significant increase in the level of TNF-α (all P < 0.001); compared with the 3-and 6-hour ConA model groups, the 3-and 6-hour HLSC-exo treatment groups had a significant reduction in the level of TNF-α (478.26±12.99 pg/ml vs 551.31±17.70 pg/ml, 515.58±7.18 pg/ml vs 556.21±11.15 pg/ml, both P < 0.001); compared with the 6-hour HLSC-exo treatment group, the 3-hour HLSC-exo treatment group had a significantly greater reduction ( P < 0.001). Compared with the 3-and 6-hour ConA model groups in terms of the gross morphology and histopathology of the liver, the 3-and 6-hour HLSC-exo treatment groups had a significant reduction in the degree of hepatocyte necrosis, and the 3-hour HLSC-exo treatment group had a basically complete lobular structure, with sporadic spotty necrosis; the 12-hour HLSC-exo treatment group had no significant improvement in hepatocyte necrosis compared with the 12-hour ConA model group. Conclusion Intravenous injection of adult HLSC-exo can alleviate acute liver injury induced by ConA in mice, and injection at 3 hours in advance has the most significant protective effect. Regulation of cytokines is one of the important mechanisms for HLSC-exo to alleviate liver injury.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between preoperative mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and postoperative delirium (POD) in the patients undergoing total knee/hip arthroplasty.Methods:A total of 625 patients, aged 50-90 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, undergoing total knee and hip arthroplasty under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia from September 2021 to February 2022, were included.One day before surgery, the cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale.The patients were divided into non-MCI group (NMCI group) and MCI group according to the diagnostic criteria of MCI.The concentrations of amyloid beta 40 (Aβ40), amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), total tau protein (T-tau) and phosphorylated tau protein (P-tau) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The development of POD was assessed on 1-7 days after operation.The relationship between MCI and POD and relationship of concentrations of β40, Aβ42, T-tau and P-tau in CSFA, Aβ40/T-tau ratio, Aβ42/P-tau ratio and Aβ42/T-tau ratio with POD and MCI were analyzed using binary logistic regression.Results:Compared with NMCI group, the incidence of POD was significantly increased, the concentrations of Aβ42 and Aβ40 in CSF, Aβ40/T-tau ratio, Aβ42/P-tau ratio and Aβ42/T-tau ratio were decreased, and T-tau and P-tau concentrations in CSF were increased in MCI group ( P<0.05).The results of logistic regression analysis showed that before and after adjusting for confounding factors, increased MCI and concentrations of P-tau and T-tau in CSF were the risk factors for POD, and increased concentrations of Aβ42 and Aβ40 in CSF, Aβ40/T-tau ratio, Aβ42/P-tau ratio and Aβ42/T-tau ratio were protective factors for POD ( P<0.05); elevated concentrations of P-tau and T-tau in CSF were risk factors for MCI before and after adjusting for confounding factors, and increased concentrations of Aβ4 in CSF, Aβ40/T-tau ratio, Aβ42/P-tau ratio, and Aβ42/T-tau ratio were protective factors for MCI after adjusting for confounding factors ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative MCI are risk factors for POD in the patients undergoing total knee/hip arthroplasty.

A new definition of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has recently been proposed. We aim to examine the associations of MAFLD, particularly its discordance from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with the progression of elevated brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and albuminuria in a community-based study sample in Shanghai, China. After 4.3 years of follow-up, 778 participants developed elevated baPWV and 499 developed albuminuria. In comparison with the non-MAFLD group, the multivariable adjusted odds ratio (OR) of MAFLD group for new-onset elevated baPWV was 1.25 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.55) and 1.35 (95% CI 1.07-1.70) for albuminuria. Participants without NAFLD but diagnosed according to MAFLD definition were associated with higher risk of incident albuminuria (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.07-2.94). Patients with MAFLD with high value of hepamet fibrosis score or poor-controlled diabetes had higher risk of elevated baPWV or albuminuria. In conclusion, MAFLD was associated with new-onset elevated baPWV and albuminuria independently of body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Individuals without NAFLD but diagnosed as MAFLD had high risk of albuminuria, supporting that MAFLD criteria would be practical for the evaluation of long-term risk of subclinical atherosclerosis among fatty liver patients.
Humans ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Albuminuria ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/diagnosis* ; Vascular Stiffness ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology*