Effect of Yang-Warming and Kidney-Tonifying Prescription on Expression of Osteogenic and Angiogenic Factors and H-Type Vascular Markers in Steroid-Induced Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Head in Rabbits

Objective: To investigate the effect of Yang-warming and Kidney-tonifying Prescription (YKP) on the treatment of steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH) in rabbits. And to further explore whether its therapeutic mechanism is related to the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF (angiogenic factors), BMP2 and Osterix (osteogenic factor), CD31 (type H vascular marker) and MMP13 (bone destruction-related factor). Methods: Twenty-seven healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into a normal group, model group, traditional Chinese medcine (TCM) group (clinical equivalent dose group of YKP), miR-130a inhibitor group and TCM + inhibitor group. The SANFH model was established by combining horse serum with methylprednisolone. After the model is successfully established, TCM group was given 6.44 g/kg·d YKP by gavage, and the miR-130a gene inhibitor group was intraperitoneally injected with 25 mg/kg miR-130a inhibitor, locked nucleic acid (LNA)-anti-miR-130a. TCM + inhibitor group was treated with YKP intragastrically and miR-130a inhibitor intraperitoneally. The rabbits in the normal group and the model group were intragastrically administered with normal saline 10 ml/d. Once a day for 4 weeks. The avascular necrosis was detected by HE staining. The contents of HIF-1α, VEGF, BMP2 and Osterix in rabbit tissues were detected by qRT-PCR kit, and the expression of CD31 and MMP13 was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results: In the normal group, the surface of the cartilage layer of the femoral head was smooth, the bone trabeculae were intact and densely arranged, the cells of each layer were neatly arranged, the morphology of the bone cells, the chondrocytes and the adipocytes were normal. In the model group, cartilage surfaces of the femoral head showed exfoliative cracks. The bone trabecular structure was loose and incomplete, chondrocytes, osteoblasts and bone marrow cells were significantly reduced, and the number of empty bone traps was significantly increased. In the TCM-treated group, more chondrocytes, thicker cartilage layer, and more regular bone trabeculae were detected as compared to model rabbits. In contrast, the cartilage layer was thinner, the destruction and fracture of bone trabeculae was more serious, chondrocytes and osteocytes were decreased as compared to model group. The expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, BMP2, and Osterix in the model group decreased significantly as compared to the normal group (P Conclusion: YKP can regulate the expression of angiogenic-related factors (VEGF and HIF-α), osteogenic-related factors (BMP2 and Osterix), and H-type vascular marker CD31, resulting in increased expressions of VEGF, HIF-α, BMP2, and Osterix, which promote intra-femoral head revascularization. Meanwhile, YKP decreased the expression of bone-destruction-related factor MMP13, thus enhancing the ability of bone tissue to repair itself. Regulation of these molecules’ expression may be one of the mechanisms of YKP in the treatment of hormonal femoral head necrosis.

Late spring cold reduces grain number at various spike positions by regulating spike growth and assimilate distribution in winter wheat

Late spring cold(LSC) occurred in the reproductive period of wheat impairs spike and floret differentiation during the reproductive period,when young spikelets are very cold-sensitive.However,under LSC,the responses of wheat spikelets at various positions,leaves,and stems and the interactions between them at physiological levels remain unclear.In the present study,two-year treatments at terminal spikelet stage under two temperatures(2 C,-2 C) and durations(1,2,and 3 days) were imposed in an artificial climate chamber to compare the effects of LSC on grain number and yield in the wheat cultivars Yannong 19(YN19,cold-tolerant) and Xinmai 26(XM26,cold-sensitive).The night temperature regimes were designed to reproduce natural temperature variation.LSC delayed plant growth and inhibited spike and floret differentiation,leading to high yield losses in both cultivars.LSC reduced dry matter accumulation(DMA,g) in spikes,stems,and leaves,reducing the DMA ratios of the spike to leaf and spike to stem.Plant cell wall invertase(CWINV) activity increased in upper and basal spikelets in YN19,whereas CWINV increased in middle spikelets in XM26.Under LSC,soluble sugar and glucose were transported and distributed mainly in upper and basal spikelets for glume and rachis development,so that spike development was relatively complete in YN19,whereas the upper and basal spikelets were severely damaged and most of the glumes in middle spikelets were relatively completely developed in XM26,resulting in pollen abortion mainly in upper and basal spikelets.The development of glumes and rachides was influenced and grain number per spike was decreased after LSC,with kernels present mainly in middle spikelets.Overall,reduced total DMA and dry matter partitioning to spikes under LSC results in poor spikelet development,leading to high losses of grain yield.

MXene的原位转化与应用

MXene即二维过渡金属碳化物、氮化物或碳氮化物,是一类新兴的二维材料,具有广阔的应用前景。层状结构的MXene具有丰富的表面端基官能团(—F,—O和—OH),与第二相材料具有广泛的兼容性,在构建多功能、高性能杂化材料时展现出巨大潜能。本文以Ti_(3)C_(2)MXene为例,归纳了基于MXene的原位转化的杂化材料(原位衍生、金属离子杂化和MOF材料杂化)的制备以及转化机理,总结了MXene杂化材料在能源存储(锂硫电池、超级电容器和氢能存储)、传感和催化领域的应用,指出了MXene原位转化研究中尚待解决的问题,同时展望了未来的发展方向。

Robust magnetic laccase-mimicking nanozyme for oxidizing o-phenylenediamine and removing phenolic pollutants

In this study, we report a novel magnetic biomimetic nanozyme(Fe3O4@Cu/GMP(guanosine5′-monophosphate)) with high laccase-like activity, which could oxidize toxic ophenylenediamine(OPD) and remove phenolic compounds.The magnetic laccase-like nanozyme was readily obtained via complexed Cu2+and GMP that grew on the surface of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles.The prepared Fe3O4@Cu/GMP catalyst could be magnetically recycled for at least five cycles while still retaining above 70% activity.As a laccase mimic,Fe3O4@Cu/GMP had more activity and robust stability than natural laccase for the oxidization of OPD.Fe3O4@Cu/GMP retained about 90% residual activity at 90℃ and showed little change at pH 3–9, and the nanozyme kept its excellent activity after long-term storage.Meanwhile, Fe3O4@Cu/GMP had better activity for removing phenolic compounds, and the removal of naphthol was more than 95%.Consequently, the proposed Fe3O4@Cu/GMP nanozyme shows potential for use as a robust catalyst for applications in environmental remediation.

Novel 3D Printed Modular Hemipelvic Prosthesis for Successful Hemipelvic Arthroplasty： A Case Study

In this study, in order to prevent the failure of hemipelvic arthroplasty using a patient-specific Computer-Aided Design （CAD） and Additive Manufacturing （AM） approach, a new design for modular hemipelvic prosthesis was developed. Moreover, the biomechanical properties of the new design were determined. The 3D printed pelvic prosthesis with a sacrum portion that completely matches the back surface of the patient＇s sacrum offers more potential for bone ingrowth between the host bone and prosthesis. The new approach integrated the capabilities of digital medical imaging techniques, CAD and metal AM to realize a modular hemipelvic prosthesis. The patient＇s pelvic Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine （DICOM） data were imported into Mimics software to construct a digital representative patient model for design of the prosthesis. A physical model was obtained using a Stereolithography （SLA） 3D printer for preoperative planning. The final customized implant was designed by using UG NX 10.0 software. Then a surgically modular hemipelvic prosthesis was fabricated from the Ti6Al4V titanium alloy by electron beam melting technology. The operation was performed according to the preoperative planning. The outcome of the operation was good at the 6-month follow-up. Also, the stress distribution and the relative micromotion revealed positive results based on a finite element model built to detect prosthesis stability. The 3D printed modular hemipelvic prosthesis provided good resolution for the failure of hemipelvic arthroplasty. Personal customization will be important in future surgeries aiming at improving the anatomy and function of the implant.