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.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects about 9.3% of the population globally. Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of DM, owing to its promotion of oxidative stress, β-cell dysfunction, and insulin resistance. HHcy can result from low status of one-carbon metabolism (OCM) nutrients (e.g., folate, choline, betaine, vitamin B6, B12), which work together to degrade homocysteine by methylation. The etiology of HHcy may also involve genetic variation encoding key enzymes in OCM. This review aimed to provide an overview of the existing literature assessing the link between OCM nutrients status, related genetic factors, and incident DM. We also discussed possible mechanisms underlying the role of OCM in DM development and provided recommendations for future research and practice. Even though the available evidence remains inconsistent, some studies support the potential beneficial effects of intakes or blood levels of OCM nutrients on DM development. Moreover, certain variants in OCM-related genes may influence metabolic handling of methyl-donors and presumably incidental DM. Future studies are warranted to establish the causal inference between OCM and DM and examine the interaction of OCM nutrients and genetic factors with DM development, which will inform the personalized recommendations for OCM nutrients intakes on DM prevention.

Background The community is the main place for people's daily activities. A livable environment will improve the subjective well-being of residents. Objective To understand the current status of subjective well-being of residents in Pudong, Shanghai, and explore the impact of community environmental factors on residents' subjective well-being. Methods Using quota sampling, 6000 permanent residents from 12 sub-districts or towns in Pudong, Shanghai were selected to participate in an questionnaire survey. The questionnaire included three parts: participants' basic information, community environmental factors (neighborhood aesthetics, fitness environment, public service and security, natural environment), and subjective well-being. Using a multiple regression model, the influence of community environmental factors on the subjective well-being of residents was analyzed. Results A total of 5887 questionnaires were recovered, and the valid recovery rate was 98.1%. The subjective well-being score of the survey respondents was (7.03±1.61) points. There was no statistical difference in the subjective well-being score of study subjects of different gender and marital status groups; while those with different ages, education levels, occupations, and self-evaluated economic status showed statistical differences in their subjective well-being score (P<0.05). The multiple logistic regression analysis results showed that after controlling general demographic characteristics, with the low level as the control group (according predetermined cut-off values of 33.3% and 66.7%, the community environmental factors were divided into high-, medium-, and low-level groups), the OR values of subjective well-being of the high- and medium-level neighborhood aesthetics groups were 1.393 (95%CI: 1.173-1.654) and 1.235 (95%CI: 1.080-1.412); the OR values of the high- and medium-level fitness environment groups were 2.297 (95%CI: 1.929-2.734) and 1.349 (95%CI: 1.166-1.560); the OR values of the high- and medium-level public service and security groups were 1.101 (95%CI: 0.943-1.285) and 1.039 (95%CI: 0.905-1.193); the OR values of the high- and medium-level natural environment groups were 4.248 (95%CI: 3.321-5.434) and 1.652 (95%CI: 1.374-1.986), respectively. Conclusion Community environment factors could affect residents' subjective well-being, and good neighborhood aesthetics, fitness environment, natural environment have positive effects.

Objective:To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor on the radiosensitivity of human non-small cell lung cancer cells and its possible mechanism.Methods:Human non-small cell lung cancer cells H1299 were cultured in vitro. CCK-8 was used to detect the toxic effects of erlotinib on H1299 cells, IC 50 and IC 20 were calculated, and IC 20 was utilized as the drug concentration for subsequent experiments. The colony formation assay was performed to identifiy the effect of X-ray combined with erlotinib on H1299 cells, the radiosensitivity parameters were calculated, and the cell survival curves were delineated. Flow cytometry was conducted to detect the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway and apoptosis-related proteins. Results:Erlotinib exerted inhibitory effect upon the proliferation of H1299 cells, IC 50 was calculated as 27.3 μmol/L, and 3.3 μmol/L for IC 20. X-ray combined with IC 20 concentration of erlotinib could reduce the cloning ability of H1299, increased the proportion of G 0/G 1 phase and G 2/M phase, decreased the proportion of S phase, aggravated cell apoptosis, down-regulated the expression of pEGFR and pAKT proteins, and up-regulated the expression of apoptosis-related proteins including Active Caspase 3 and Cleaved PARP. Conclusions:Erlotinib exerts a radiosensitizing effect on H1299. The possible mechanism is that erlotinib combined with radiation can suppress the EGFR/PI3K/AKT pathway, reduce the ability of repairing cell damage, change cell growth cycle and induce cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the utility of plasma procalcitonin (PCT) as an early predictor for postoperative complications in patients who underwent elective pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).Methods Clinical data of 87 patients who underwent elective PD in Changhai Hospital from March.1, 2016 to Dec.31, 2016 were collected.The general data, postoperative recovery, serum PCT level and white blood cell (WBC) count before, 1 d, 3 d and 5 d after PD were recorded.ROC curve was drawn and AUC was calculated to determine the cutoff value, sensitivity and specificity.Patients were divided into complication group (n=42) and noncomplication group (n=45) based on the occurrence of post-operative complications, and the comparisons between the two groups were performed.Results There were no significant differences on the age, gender, diabetes, obstructive jaundice, laboratory tests including PCT, operative time, blood loss volume during surgery and tumor type between the two groups, which were comparable.Complication group had longer hospitalization than noncomplication group (24 d vs 15 d,P<0.001), and the differences were statistically significant.In complication group, 18 patients had pancreatic fistula, 13 had peritoneal infection, 7 had gastric empty dysfunction, 8 had bleeding, 2 had bile fistula and 2 had incision infection after PD.The postoperative plasma PCT level in patients with gastric empty dysfunction, bleeding, bile fistula and incision infection was not statistically different from those in noncomplication group (all P>0.05), but the plasma PCT level in patients with pancreatic fistula and peritoneal infection on 3 d and 5 d after PD was significantly higher than those in noncomplication group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05).The combination of plasma PCT and WBC on 3 d and 5 d after PD was superior to PCT or WBC alone in predicting pancreatic fistula (sensitivity 88.9%, 72.7%;specificity 68.5%, 78.2%) and abdominal infection (sensitivity 100%, 100%;specificity 45.9%, 44.4%).Conclusions Plasma PCT could predict the occurrence of abdominal infection and pancreatic fistula after PD.The combination of PCT and WBC might be more valuable in predicting abdominal infection and pancreatic fistula.

Objective To explore the moderating and mediating roles of psychological capital in the associations of effort?reward imbalance and overcommitment with job burnout among iron?steel workers. Methods Totally 1 700 male iron?steel workers from an iron and steel company were enrolled for the study. A set of questionnaires that included demographic and working factors,the Maslach Burnout Inventory?General Survey,the Ef?fort?reward Imbalance Scale and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire,as well as perceived work environment was distributed to the subjects. A to?tal of 1 254 effective respondents(73.76%)were collected. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was performed to explore moderating role,and as?ymptotic and resampling strategies were used to detect mediating role. Results There was no moderating role of psychological capital on the associa?tion between effort?reward imbalance and job burnout. Psychological capital had significant and positive moderating roles on the associations of over?commitment with emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Psychological capital showed significant mediating role in the associations of effort?reward im?balance with emotional exhaustion and cynicism,and the proportion of mediating role was 5.84%and 18.75%,respectively. Conclusion In work?ers with high level of psychological capital,emotional exhaustion and cynicism would be significantly increased with overcommitment,and there is a weak increasing trend of emotional exhaustion and cynicism in workers with low level of psychological capital. Effort?reward imbalance could lead to emotional exhaustion and cynicism through the reduction of psychological capital of iron?steel workers.