BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

Objective:To explore the current status of rumination in inpatients with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) under the disease coping mechanism, and analyzing its influencing factors.Methods:From March 2021 to December 2022, 267 mPCa inpatients at the Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University were selected as the study subject using convenience sampling. The survey was conducted using the General Information Questionnaire, Chinese Version of Event Relate Rumination Inventory (C-ERI), Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and Social Support Revalued Scale (SSRS), and the factors influencing the rumination in patients were analyzed.Results:This study collected 260 valid questionnaires, with an effective response rate of 97.4% (260/267). The total score of rumination in 260 mPCa patients was (31.08±6.46), with invasive rumination and purposeful rumination scores of (14.13±4.44) and (16.95±4.55), respectively. The initial prostate-specific antigen index, confrontation medical coping modes were the influencing factors of invasive rumination in mPCa patients ( P<0.05). The initial prostate-specific antigen index, course of disease, social support, and confrontation medical coping style were the influencing factors of purposeful rumination in mPCa patients ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The rumination of mPCa patients is above the medium level, and is influenced by multiple factors under the disease coping mechanism. Clinical medical and nursing staff should combine the clinical situation and characteristics of mPCa patients, provide personalized interventions as early as possible, and assist patients in improving their positive cognitive processing abilities.

Objective:To observe any effect of percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) combined with electro-acupuncture on detrusor overactivity after a spinal cord injury.Methods:Forty spinal cord injury survivors with neurogenic detrusor overactivity were randomly assigned to a control group or an observation group, each of 20. Both groups received routine bladder training and electro-acupuncture modulating 3 sacral spinal nerves. The observation group also received 20 minutes of bilateral PTNS five times a week for 8 weeks. The frequency was 10Hz with a pulse width of 200μs. Before and after the treatment, both groups′ urination frequency, incontinence and average daily urine volume were assessed using a urodynamics analyzer, bladder diaries and an incontinence quality of life questionnaire (I-QOL).Results:After treatment, the average involuntary detrusor contraction volume (IDCV), maximum detrusor pressure at filling time (P det·max), bladder compliance (BC), residual volume and the TL value of the electromyogram of the urethral sphincter (LgTLR) had all improved significantly in both groups. The 1st IDCV, BC and LgTLR of the observation group were then significantly better than in the control group, on average, with the average P det·max and residual volume significantly lower than in the control group. The average daily single urine output and I-QOL score of both groups had increased significantly, while the average daily urination frequency and frequency of urinary incontinence had decreased significantly. Both were again significantly better in the observation group. Conclusion:Combining percutaneous electrical stimulation of the tibial nerves with electro-acupuncture can effectively inhibit detrusor overactivity after a spinal cord injury, reducing urinary incontinence.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of systemic immune-inflammation index(SII)and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)level in elderly patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)developing contrast-induced acute kidney injury(CIAKI)after PCI.Methods A total of 1085 elderly STEMI patients undergoing emergency PCI in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2018 to March 2023 were consecutively recruited as a training set,and another 287 elderly STEMI pa-tients receiving emergency PCI in the East Branch of the Affiliated Hospital from January 2021 to June 2023 were included as a verification set.According to the diagnostic criteria of CIAKI,they were divided into CIAKI group(n=95)and non-CIAKI group(n=990).Based on the results of restricted cubic spline(RCS)analysis,the patients from the training set were assigned into low-risk subgroup(n=292),moderate-risk group(n=515)and high-risk group(n=278).Multivari-ate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors of CIAKI in elder-ly STEMI patients after PCI,and ROC curve was plotted to analyze the predictive value of combi-nation of SII and NT-proBNP.The risk of CIAKI was compared among the patients at different risk grades.Results Age,SII,baseline serum creatinine,NT-proBNP,fasting blood glucose and use of diuretics were independent risk factors for CIAKI after primary PCI in elderly STEMI patients(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The AUC value of SII combined with NT-proBNP in predicting CIAKI was 0.801(95％CI:0.761-0.842,P＜0.01),with a sensitivity of 83.2％and a specificity of 67.5％,both superior to that of SII or NT-proBNP alone.RCS analysis revealed an increased risk of CIAKI at SII ≥1084.97 × 109/L and NT-proBNP ≥296.12 ng/L.The incidence of CIAKI was increased with the increase of risk grades(1.71％vs 6.41％vs 20.50％).Conclusion SII and NT-proBNP are independent risk factors for CIAKI after emergency PCI in elderly STEMI pa-tients.And their combination has better predictive value for CIAKI.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of microRNA-148a-3p (miR-148a-3p) in lung adenocarcinoma and analyze the effect and mechanism of miR-148a-3p on radiotherapy sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells by targeting the protein core 1β13-galactosyltransferase 1(C1GALT1). Methods Seventy-six patients' tumor tissues from lung adenocarcinoma tissue microarrays and lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line were selected for the study. The miR-148a-3p in situ hybridizations (ISH) and C1GALT1 immunohistochemical staining were performed on the tissue microarrays to analyze the correlations of miR-148a-3p expression with clinical pathology, prognosis and C1GALT1 expression in the tumor tissues of the 76 patients with lung adenocarcinoma. A549 cells were transfected with miR-148a-3p overexpression plasmid by using cell transfection technique; the clone formation assay was used to detect the sensitivity of the transfected cells for radiotherapy after receiving 2 Gy radiotherapy; the protein expression level of cellular C1GALT1 was detected by western blot; the targeted regulatory relationship between miR-148a-3p and C1GALT1 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment; the mechanism of miR-148a-3p regulating the sensitivity of A549 cells to radiotherapy was analyzed by co-transfection technique. Results Low expression of miR-148a-3p in 76 cases of lung adenocarcinoma tissues was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.012); the prognosis of patients with high expression of miR-148a-3p was significantly better than that of patients with low expression of miR-148a-3p (P=0.005); there was a significant negative correlation between the expression of miR-148a-3p and C1GALT1 in lung adenocarcinoma tissues (P=0.023). Multivariate analysis showed that low expression of miR-148a-3p, T staging and lymph node metastasis were the independent risk factors for prognosis. Clone formation experiment showed that the number of clone formation in the miR-148a-3p overexpression group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.001); western blot result showed that overexpression of miR-148a-3p was able to significantly down-regulate the level of C1GALT1 protein in cells (P < 0.001). Dual luciferase reporter gene experiment showed that miR-148a-3p was able to regulate the expression of C1GALT1 by binding to the 3'UTR of C1GALT1. Functional rescue experiment showed that C1GALT1 could partially offset the radiosensitization effect of miR-148a-3p. Conclusion Low expression of miR-148a-3p in lung adenocarcinoma is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, high expression of C1GALT1 and poor prognosis, and miR-148a-3p can enhance the radiosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells by negatively regulating the expression of C1GALT1.

Objective:To observe any effects of contralateral repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the swallowing motor cortex on the swallowing and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:A total of 83 stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into an ipsilesional stimulation group ( n=22), a contralesional stimulation group ( n=21), a bilateral stimulation group ( n=20), and a control group ( n=20). In addition to their conventional dysphagia training, those in the three stimulation groups received 3Hz rTMS while the control group was given fake stimulation. The treatment was administered daily for 20 minutes, 6 days a week, for 5 consecutive weeks. Before and after the treatment, swallowing function was assessed videofluoroscopically and using the Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS). The oral and pharyngeal stages of swallowing were evaluated using the videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS). Brain stem conduction was assessed using BAEPs. Results:After treatment the average DOSS scores of all 4 groups were significantly better than before the treatment. The average DOSS scores of the contralesional and bilateral sti-mulation groups were then significantly better than those of the other two groups. The sub-item and total VDS scores of all 4 groups had decreased significantly, but the average score of the bilateral stimulation group was significantly lower than the control group′s average. Ipsilesional stimulation significantly improved the VDS sub-item scores for the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, laryngeal elevation, and pharyngeal transit time compared with the control group. In the contralesional stimulation group the average total score and the VDS sub-item scores for apraxia, premature bolus loss, oral transit times, the triggering of pharyngeal swallowing, vallecular residue, laryngeal elevation, coating on the pharyngeal wall, and pharyngeal transit time were significantly lower than those of the control group, on average. After the treatment the latencies of BAEP waves I, III and V and the I-III, III-V and I-V interpeak intervals had decreased significantly in all four groups, but the average latencies and intervals of the bilateral and contralesional groups were significantly shorter than those of the control group. The latencies and intervals of the bilateral stimulation group were then significantly shorter than those in the ipsilesional stimulation group on average. The average latency of wave V in the bilateral stimulation group (6.53±0.73ms) was significantly shorter than that in the contralesional stimulation group after the treatment.Conclusion:Bilateral rTMS over the swallowing motor cortex combined with conventional dysphagia training can significantly improve the swallowing of dysphagic stroke survivors.