Current knowledge for the risk factors of early permanent pacemaker implantation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement and what is next for the primary prevention?

In this editorial,we comprehensively summarized the preoperative risk factors of early permanent pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)among patients with severe aortic stenosis from several renowned clinical studies and focused on the primary prevention of managing the modifiable factors,e.g.,paroxysmal atrial fibrillation before the TAVR.

Is primary transcatheter aortic valve implantation the new normal?

Degenerative calcific aortic valve stenosis(AS)is the most common valvular heart disease in elderly.^[1] It is well documented that symptomatic severe AS follows a malignant course leading to cardiogenic shock(CS).

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgery:4-year survival according to life expectancy

Background In the last years,transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI)indication has expanded to younger and lower risk patients.Consequently,interest in mid and long-term follow up and in the role of life expectancy,as a key factor for selecting the most tailored treatment,has grown.The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the 4-year survival of patients who underwent aortic valve replacement(AVR)vs.TAVI at our department.Methods From September 2017 to December 2020,673 consecutive patients with severe aortic valve stenosis were enrolled for AVR(n=283)or TAVI(n=390).Inclusion criteria was isolated severe aortic stenosis,while exclusion criteria were redo surgery,valve-in-valve procedure and the need for concomitant surgical procedures.Based on the Lee index,patients were divided into four groups according to their 4-year life expectancy.Four-year survival was assessed and reported using the Kaplan-Meier method.A multivariate regression analysis of risk factors for 4-year mortality was performed.Results Four years survival is always superior in the AVR patients(89.8%vs.75.6%,P<0.001).Surgery is associated with a higher incidence of acute kidney injury(23%vs.5.1%,P<0.001),while TAVI is related to a higher incidence of new onset left bundle branch block(0 vs.23.8%,P<0.001),pace-maker implantation(2.5%vs.11.8%,P=0,02)and mild-to-moderate paravalvular leak(0.3%vs.5.4%,P<0.001).The independent risk factors for 4-years mortality are post-procedural AKI,poor mobility and transcatheter procedure.Conclusion In our analysis,4 years survival is always superior in the AVR patients.Life expectancy is a key factor for selecting the most appropriate approach for each patient.A longer follow up is mandatory before extending TAVI indication to patients with a long-life expectancy.

Nursing Care and Causative Analysis of Grade IV Capsular Contracture Following Breast Cancer Expander Implantation

Objective: By observing the treatment and nursing care of a patient with Grade IV capsular contracture following breast cancer expander implantation and subsequent Stage II reconstruction, we aim to analyze the reasons for the formation of capsular contracture after Stage I expander implantation and prevent its recurrence following Stage II reconstruction. Methods: In May 2020, the patient noticed an increase in the size of a breast mass. In August, she underwent AC-THP neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by a “right breast-conserving nipple-areolar subglandular excision + right axillary lymph node dissection + expander implantation” surgery in November 2020. Radiation therapy began in January 2021. During radiation therapy, the patient experienced severe breast hardening, distortion, tenderness, and was diagnosed with Grade IV capsular contracture. To relieve the capsular contracture, the patient underwent a “contracted capsule incision and release procedure + removal of the right breast expander + right breast implantation” surgery in July 2021. Postoperatively, measures were taken to prevent incision infection, emphasizing aseptic techniques, ensuring smooth negative pressure drainage, reducing skin flap tension, monitoring skin flap blood supply, actively preventing subcutaneous effusion and hematoma, and applying appropriate compression dressings. Results: The patient was discharged after the removal of the drainage tube. During the postoperative follow-up at 3 and 6 months, there was no recurrence of capsular contracture, and the breast appeared full, upright, and relatively soft. There were no complications such as hematoma, infection, breast implant rupture, breast sagging, or displacement. The patient had a good outcome without additional financial or surgical burdens. Conclusion: The occurrence of Grade IV capsular contracture in the patient is generally related to infection after Stage I expander implantation, improper compression dressing, excessive saline injection causing content infiltration, and radiation therapy. Therefore, it is recommended to enhance the intraoperative and postoperative prophylactic use of antibiotics after Stage I expander implantation. Intermittent saline injection after surgery, with the amount of saline gradually increasing rather than filling all at once, is advisable. This helps the breast tissue gradually adapt to expansion, reducing the risk of capsular contracture. Postoperatively, patients should be instructed to wear pressure garments and breast elastic bandages while intensifying breast monitoring during radiation therapy and increasing postoperative follow-up.

Delayed endophthalmitis caused by Gordonia bronchialis after intraocular collamer lens implantation

Dear Editor,We report a case of bacterial endophthalmitis following implantation of a Staar intraocular collamer lens(ICL)caused by Gordonia bronchialis.ICL implantation is an effective method to correct myopia which generally offers excellent safety.There are a few reports of ocular infection caused by Gordonia bronchialis,but no ICL-related endophthalmitis has been reported to date.We present the first case of delayed-onset endophthalmitis after ICL implantation caused by Gordonia bronchialis,identified by metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS).

In‑depth proteome characterization of endometrium and extraembryonic membranes during implantation in pig

Background Proteome characterization of the porcine endometrium and extraembryonic membranes is important to understand mother-embryo cross-communication.In this study,the proteome of the endometrium and cho-rioallantoic membrane was characterized in pregnant sows(PS)during early gestation(d 18 and 24 of gestation)and in the endometrium of non-pregnant sows(NPS)during the same days using LC-MS/MS analysis.The UniProtKB database and ClueGO were used to obtain functional Gene Ontology annotations and biological and functional networks,respectively.Results Our analysis yielded 3,254 and 3,457 proteins identified in the endometrium of PS and NPS,respectively;of these,1,753 being common while 1,501 and 1,704 were exclusive to PS and NPS,respectively.In addition,we iden-tified 3,968 proteins in the extraembryonic membranes of PS.Further analyses of function revealed some proteins had relevance for the immune system process and biological adhesion in endometrium while the embryonic chorion displayed abundance of proteins related to cell adhesion and cytoskeletal organization,suggesting they dominated the moment of endometrial remodeling,implantation and adhesion of the lining epithelia.Data are available via Pro-teomeXchange with identifier PXD042565.Conclusion This is the first in-depth proteomic characterization of the endometrium and extraembryonic mem-branes during weeks 3 to 4 of gestation;data that contribute to the molecular understanding of the dynamic environ-ment during this critical period,associated with the majority of pregnancy losses.

Clinical prediction of insufficient vaults after implantable collamer lens implantation

AIM:To determine the factors related to preoperative ocular characters that are predictive of insufficient vault(<250μm)after implantable collamer lens(ICL V4c;STAAR Surgical)implantation.METHODS:The participants underwent ICL surgery and were divided into the low(<250μm)and normal(250-1000μm)vault groups based on the postoperative vault at 3mo.The preoperative biometric parameters and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.The relationship between the 3-month vault values and preoperative ocular parameters were evaluated by Generalized estimating equations.RESULTS:Sixteen(23 eyes)and 36 patients(63 eyes)were in the low and normal vault groups,respectively.All implantation procedures were uneventful with no cataract formation in the early postoperative period.The sulcusto-sulcus lens rise(STSL)and iris ciliary angle(ICA)were correlated with vault at 3mo after surgery.Every 0.1 mm increase in STSL was associated with 38.9μm decrease in the postoperative 3-month vault.A rise of 1 degree in ICA is associated with a reduction of 4μm in vault.CONCLUSION:Eyes with a narrow ciliary sulcus are associated with a higher rate of low vault after ICL implantation,suggesting a need for adjustments to the ICL size in these patients.Evaluating the characteristics of the ciliary sulcus contributes valuable information to predict low vault after surgery.

Glaucoma drainage device implantation and cyclophotocoagulation in the management of refractory glaucoma after Descemet-stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty

AIM:To compare the surgical outcomes of glaucoma drainage device implantation(GDI)and trans-scleral neodymium:YAG cyclophotocoagulation(CPC)in the management of refractory glaucoma after Descemetstripping automated endothelial keratoplasty(DSAEK).METHODS:This retrospective study on observational case series enrolled 29 patients who underwent DSAEK and posterior anti-glaucoma surgery(15 with GDI and 14 with CPC).The main outcome measures were intraocular pressure(IOP),glaucoma surgery success rate(defined as IOP of 6–21 mm Hg without additional anti-glaucoma operation),number of glaucoma medications,endothelial graft status,and best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA).RESULTS:The mean follow-up time was 34.1 and 21.0mo for DSAEK or glaucoma surgeries,both for the GDI and CPC groups.Both groups showed significant IOP reduction after glaucoma surgery.The GDI group presented a significantly higher success rate in IOP control than the CPC group(60%vs 21.4%,P=0.03).Both procedures significantly decreased the number of glaucoma medications(P=0.03).Forty percent and 57%of cases in the GDI and the CPC group,respectively,experienced endothelial graft failure during follow-up(P=0.36).Significantly worse BCVA after surgery was observed in the CPC group but not in the GDI group.CONCLUSION:Both GDI and CPC significantly decrease IOP in eyes with glaucoma after DSAEK.GDI is preferable to CPC in refractory glaucoma cases after DSAEK,as it manifests a significantly higher success rate for IOP control,similar endothelial graft failure rate,and relatively preserves BCVA than CPC.

Embryo Transfer Strategies for Women with Recurrent Implantation Failure During the Frozen-thawed Embryo Transfer Cycles:Sequential Embryo Transfer or Double-blastocyst Transfer?

Objective Both sequential embryo transfer(SeET)and double-blastocyst transfer(DBT)can serve as embryo transfer strategies for women with recurrent implantation failure(RIF).This study aims to compare the effects of SeET and DBT on pregnancy outcomes.Methods Totally,261 frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles of 243 RIF women were included in this multicenter retrospective analysis.According to different embryo quality and transfer strategies,they were divided into four groups:group A,good-quality SeET(GQ-SeET,n=38 cycles);group B,poor-quality or mixed-quality SeET(PQ/MQ-SeET,n=31 cycles);group C,good-quality DBT(GQ-DBT,n=121 cycles);and group D,poor-quality or mixed-quality DBT(PQ/MQ-DBT,n=71 cycles).The main outcome,clinical pregnancy rate,was compared,and the generalized estimating equation(GEE)model was used to correct potential confounders that might impact pregnancy outcomes.Results GQ-DBT achieved a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rate(aOR 2.588,95%CI 1.267–5.284,P=0.009)and live birth rate(aOR 3.082,95%CI 1.482–6.412,P=0.003)than PQ/MQ-DBT.Similarly,the clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher in GQ-SeET than in PQ/MQ-SeET(aOR 4.047,95%CI 1.218–13.450,P=0.023).The pregnancy outcomes of GQ-SeET were not significantly different from those of GQ-DBT,and the same results were found between PQ/MQ-SeET and PQ/MQ-DBT.Conclusion SeET relative to DBT did not seem to improve pregnancy outcomes for RIF patients if the embryo quality was comparable between the two groups.Better clinical pregnancy outcomes could be obtained by transferring good-quality embryos,no matter whether in SeET or DBT.Embryo quality plays a more important role in pregnancy outcomes for RIF patients.

Molecular dynamics simulation study of nitrogen vacancy color centers prepared by carbon ion implantation into diamond

Nitrogen vacancy(NV)color centers in diamond have useful applications in quantum sensing andfluorescent marking.They can be gen-erated experimentally by ion implantation,femtosecond lasers,and chemical vapor deposition.However,there is a lack of studies of the yield of NV color centers at the atomic scale.In the molecular dynamics simulations described in this paper,NV color centers are pre-pared by ion implantation in diamond with pre-doped nitrogen and subsequent annealing.The differences between the yields of NV color centers produced by implantation of carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)ions,respectively,are investigated.It is found that C-ion implantation gives a greater yield of NV color centers and superior location accuracy.The effects of different pre-doping concentrations(400–1500 ppm)and implantation energies(1.0–3.0 keV)on the NV color center yield are analyzed,and it is shown that a pre-doping concentra-tion of 1000 ppm with 2 keV C-ion implantation can produce a 13%yield of NV color centers after 1600 K annealing for 7.4 ns.Finally,a brief comparison of the NV color center identification methods is presented,and it is found that the error rate of an analysis utiliz-ing the identify diamond structure coordination analysis method is reduced by about 7%compared with conventional identification+methods.

Transcapsular scleral fixation of the standard capsular tension ring and in-the-bag intraocular lens implantation for severely subluxated lenses

AIM:To present a technique of transcapsular scleral fixation of the standard capsular tension ring(CTR)through equatorial capsulotomy and in-the-bag intraocular lens(IOL)implantation in subluxated lenses.METHODS:This retrospective consecutive case series included patients with subluxated lenses by more than 180 degrees who underwent lens extraction,transcapsular scleral fixation of the standard CTR through equatorial capsulotomy,in-the-bag IOL implantation and with at least 6mo follow-up.Preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),intraocular pressure(IOP),complications,and postoperative IOL tilt and decentration were recorded.RESULTS:Nine eyes of 7 patients with a mean followup of 11.0±3.7mo were included in this study.The BCVA was significantly improved from 0.64±0.22 logMAR preoperatively to 0.21±0.19 logMAR postoperatively(P<0.001).The IOP was within the normal range postoperatively.The mean tilt of the IOL was 4.30°±2.31°(range,1.0°to 8.9°)and the mean decentration of the IOL was 0.37±0.12 mm(range,0.14 to 0.50 mm).No visually threatened intraoperative and postoperative complications were detected during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION:This is a safe and effective surgical technique for managing patients with severely subluxated lenses.It has achieved favorable outcomes with fewer surgical manipulations and less need for advanced capsular support devices.

Direct Synthesis of Layer-Tunable and Transfer-Free Graphene on Device-Compatible Substrates Using Ion Implantation Toward Versatile Applications

Direct synthesis of layer-tunable and transfer-free graphene on technologically important substrates is highly valued for various electronics and device applications.State of the art in the field is currently a two-step process:a high-quality graphene layer synthesis on metal substrate through chemical vapor deposition(CVD)followed by delicate layer transfer onto device-relevant substrates.Here,we report a novel synthesis approach combining ion implantation for a precise graphene layer control and dual-metal smart Janus substrate for a diffusion-limiting graphene formation to directly synthesize large area,high quality,and layer-tunable graphene films on arbitrary substrates without the post-synthesis layer transfer process.Carbon(C)ion implantation was performed on Cu-Ni film deposited on a variety of device-relevant substrates.A well-controlled number of layers of graphene,primarily monolayer and bilayer,is precisely controlled by the equivalent fluence of the implanted C-atoms(1 monolayer~4×10^(15)C-atoms/cm^(2)).Upon thermal annealing to promote Cu-Ni alloying,the pre-implanted C-atoms in the Ni layer are pushed toward the Ni/substrate interface by the top Cu layer due to the poor C-solubility in Cu.As a result,the expelled C-atoms precipitate into a graphene structure at the interface facilitated by the Cu-like alloy catalysis.After removing the alloyed Cu-like surface layer,the layer-tunable graphene on the desired substrate is directly realized.The layer-selectivity,high quality,and uniformity of the graphene films are not only confirmed with detailed characterizations using a suite of surface analysis techniques but more importantly are successfully demonstrated by the excellent properties and performance of several devices directly fabricated from these graphene films.Molecular dynamics(MD)simulations using the reactive force field(ReaxFF)were performed to elucidate the graphene formation mechanisms in this novel synthesis approach.With the wide use of ion implantation technology in the microelectronics industry,this novel graphene synthesis approach with precise layer-tunability and transfer-free processing has the promise to advance efficient graphene-device manufacturing and expedite their versatile applications in many fields.

Effect of capsule treatment on visual acuity and quality after phacoemulsification lens implantation in myopic patients with cataract

BACKGROUND Cataracts pose a significant clinical burden due to their complex pathogenesis.In recent years,an increase in cataracts coexisting with myopia has heightened the incidence of retinopathy and posterior vitreous detachment.Additionally,symptoms of ocular axis elongation,lens nucleus hardening,and vitreous liquefaction have become more prevalent.While conventional extracapsular cataract extraction is commonly employed,it often yields suboptimal visual outcomes.Subsequent advancements in cataract phacoemulsification and lens implantation surgeries have gained widespread acceptance for their ability to improve refraction and significantly improve uncorrected visual acuity.AIM To investigate the effect of capsular treatment after phacoemulsification lens implantation in myopic patients with cataract.METHODS We selected 110 patients(with 134 eyes)with myopia and cataracts treated.These patients were categorized into two groups:an observation group(57 patients with 70 eyes)and a control group(53 patients with 64 eyes).The control group underwent cataract phacoemulsification and lens implantation,while the observation group received a refined capsular treatment based on the control group’s procedure.We assessed the differences in visual acuity and quality between the two groups before and after surgery.RESULTS At six months post-operation,the observation group exhibited significantly improved far vision,intermediate vision,near vision,lower objective scattering index,higher Modulation transfer function cut-off frequency,and overall vision metrics at different contrast levels(100%,20%and 9%)compared to the control group(P<0.05).The total score of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire in the observation group at 6 months after operation was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).No significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions was observed between the observation group and control group(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Capsular treatment demonstrates efficacy in improving visual acuity and quality after phacoemulsification lens implantation in myopic patients with cataracts,warranting its clinical application.

Effects of systematic cardiac rehabilitation training in elderly patients with unstable angina following cardiac stent implantation

BACKGROUND Coronary stent implantation is usually used to treat unstable angina to alleviate stenosis or occlusion,promoting blood flow restoration and alleviating symptoms such as myocardial ischemia.And postoperative cardiac rehabilitation is essential for enhancing recovery and prognosis.Nevertheless,conventional rehabilitation lacks specificity,particularly for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and poor compliance,rendering it less effective.AIM To investigate the effects of systematic cardiac rehabilitation training in elderly patients with unstable angina following coronary stenting intervention.METHODS A retrospective enrollment was conducted comprising fifty-four elderly patients with unstable angina pectoris who underwent systematic cardiac rehabilitation training after receiving coronary intervention as the rehabilitation group,while fifty-three elderly patients who received basic nursing and rehabilitation guidance measures after coronary intervention were assigned to the control group.Differences in Seattle Angina Questionnaire scores,survival quality(SF-36)scores,cardiopulmonary exercise function assessment index,echocardiographic cardiac function index,and adverse cardiovascular events were compared between the two groups.RESULTS After intervention,the rehabilitation group observed greater VO2 Max,maximum metabolic equivalent,eft ventricular ejection fraction,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and smaller left ventricular end-systolic diameter.And the rehabilitation group observed greater scores of physical activity limitation,stable angina pectoris,treatment satisfaction,and SF-36 score.The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in the two groups,showed no significant difference.CONCLUSION Systematic cardiac rehabilitation following coronary stenting in elderly patients with unstable angina pectoris can enhance cardiac function recovery,consequently enhancing both quality of life and cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance.

Clinical Effect Analysis of Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Implantation for Correcting High Myopia and Astigmatism

Objective:To explore the corrective effect of posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation with phakic eyes in the treatment of high myopia and astigmatism.Methods:From May 2023,the hospital began to collect the case data of diagnosis and treatment of high myopia and astigmatism.By May 2024,310 cases were included,all of which were treated with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.The visual acuity,astigmatism and axial position of the intraocular lens were observed before and after treatment.Results:At different time points after the operation,the patient’s vision was significantly improved compared with that before the operation(P<0.05),and the vision level was equal to or greater than the best-corrected vision before the operation.At different time points after the operation,the average rotation of the intraocular lens was less than 5 degrees.Astigmatism was significantly lower than that before the operation(P<0.05).After the operation,the intraocular pressure increased in 11 cases,accounting for 3.55%,with no adverse complications such as lens turbidity,glare and obvious halo occurring.Conclusion:The posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation with phakic eyes has an ideal correction effect in the treatment of high myopia and astigmatism,which can effectively improve the vision level of patients and reduce the degree of astigmatism,and has high effectiveness and safety.

Effects of Continuous Precision Nursing Model on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Behavior and Cardiac Function in Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Angiography and Stent Implantation

Objective:To explore the impact of a continuous precision nursing model on patients’Knowledge,Attitudes,and Practices(KAP)and cardiac function during the nursing process of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angiography and stent implantation.Methods:Ninety patients who underwent percutaneous coronary angiography and stent implantation in our hospital from April 2022 to April 2023 were selected and randomly divided into the control group(45 cases),in which routine nursing support was carried out during the treatment process,and the observation group(45 cases),in which continuous precision nursing model was carried out during the treatment process.Comparisons were made between the two groups of patients on their KAP,cardiac function,and quality of life during recovery.Results:There was no difference in the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),cardiac output(CO),and cardiac index(CI)levels before intervention.After the intervention,the levels of cardiac function in the observation group were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).There was no difference in the Exercise of Self-Care Agency(ESCA)self-care ability scale scores before the intervention.After the intervention,the observation group had higher ESCA scores than the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Implementation of a continuous precision nursing model in the care of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angiography and stent implantation improved the patient’s cardiac function,and KAP,and promoted recovery.

Systemic modulation of skeletal mineralization by magnesium implant promoting fracture healing: Radiological exploration enhanced with PCA-based machine learning in a rat femoral model

The clinical application of magnesium(Mg)and its alloys for bone fractures has been well supported by in vitro and in vivo trials.However,there were studies indicating negative effects of high dose Mg intake and sustained local release of Mg ions on bone metabolism or repair,which should not be ignored when developing Mg-based implants.Thus,it remains necessary to assess the biological effects of Mg implants in animal models relevant to clinical treatment modalities.The primary purpose of this study was to validate the beneficial effects of intramedullary Mg implants on the healing outcome of femoral fractures in a modified rat model.In addition,the mineralization parameters at multiple anatomical sites were evaluated,to investigate their association with healing outcome and potential clinical applications.Compared to the control group without Mg implantation,postoperative imaging at week 12 demonstrated better healing outcomes in the Mg group,with more stable unions in 3D analysis and high-mineralized bridging in 2D evaluation.The bone tissue mineral density(TMD)was higher in the Mg group at the non-operated femur and lumbar vertebra,while no differences between groups were identified regarding the bone tissue volume(TV),TMD and bone mineral content(BMC)in humerus.In the surgical femur,the Mg group presented higher TMD,but lower TV and BMC in the distal metaphyseal region,as well as reduced BMC at the osteotomy site.Principal component analysis(PCA)-based machine learning revealed that by selecting clinically relevant parameters,radiological markers could be constructed for differentiation of healing outcomes,with better performance than 2D scoring.The study provides insights and preclinical evidence for the rational investigation of bioactive materials,the identification of potential adverse effects,and the promotion of diagnostic capabilities for fracture healing.

A tantalum-containing zirconium-based metallic glass with superior endosseous implant relevant properties

Zirconium-based metallic glasses(Zr-MGs)are demonstrated to exhibit high mechanical strength,low elastic modulus and excellent biocompatibility,making them promising materials for endosseous implants.Meanwhile,tantalum(Ta)is also well known for its ideal corrosion resistance and biological effects.However,the metal has an elastic modulus as high as 186 GPa which is not comparable to the natural bone(10–30 GPa),and it also has a relative high cost.Here,to fully exploit the advantages of Ta as endosseous implants,a small amount of Ta(as low as 3 at.%)was successfully added into a Zr-MG to generate an advanced functional endosseous implant,Zr58Cu25Al14Ta3 MG,with superior comprehensive properties.Upon carefully dissecting the atomic structure and surface chemistry,the results show that amorphization of Ta enables the uniform distribution in material surface,leading to a significantly improved chemical stability and extensive material-cell contact regulation.Systematical analyses on the immunological,angiogenesis and osteogenesis capability of the material are carried out utilizing the next-generation sequencing,revealing that Zr_(58)Cu_(25)Al_(14)Ta_(3)MG can regulate angiogenesis through VEGF signaling pathway and osteogenesis via BMP signaling pathway.Animal experiment further confirms a sound osseointegration of Zr_(58)Cu_(25)Al_(14)Ta_(3)MG in achieving better bone-implant-contact and inducing faster periimplant bone formation.

Deep brain implantable microelectrode arrays for detection and functional localization of the subthalamic nucleus in rats with Parkinson’s disease

The subthalamic nucleus(STN)is considered the best target for deep brain stimulation treatments of Parkinson’s disease(PD).It is difficult to localize the STN due to its small size and deep location.Multichannel microelectrode arrays(MEAs)can rapidly and precisely locate the STN,which is important for precise stimulation.In this paper,16-channel MEAs modified with multiwalled carbon nanotube/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)(MWCNT/PEDOT:PSS)nanocomposites were designed and fabricated,and the accurate and rapid identification of the STN in PD rats was performed using detection sites distributed at different brain depths.These results showed that nuclei in 6-hydroxydopamine hydrobromide(6-OHDA)-lesioned brains discharged more intensely than those in unlesioned brains.In addition,the MEA simultaneously acquired neural signals from both the STN and the upper or lower boundary nuclei of the STN.Moreover,higher values of spike firing rate,spike amplitude,local field potential(LFP)power,and beta oscillations were detected in the STN of the 6-OHDA-lesioned brain,and may therefore be biomarkers of STN localization.Compared with the STNs of unlesioned brains,the power spectral density of spikes and LFPs synchronously decreased in the delta band and increased in the beta band of 6-OHDA-lesioned brains.This may be a cause of sleep and motor disorders associated with PD.Overall,this work describes a new cellular-level localization and detection method and provides a tool for future studies of deep brain nuclei.

Additively manufactured Ti–Ta–Cu alloys for the next-generation load-bearing implants

Bacterial colonization of orthopedic implants is one of the leading causes of failure and clinical complexities for load-bearing metallic implants. Topical or systemic administration of antibiotics may not offer the most efficient defense against colonization, especially in the case of secondary infection, leading to surgical removal of implants and in some cases even limbs. In this study, laser powder bed fusion was implemented to fabricate Ti3Al2V alloy by a 1:1 weight mixture of CpTi and Ti6Al4V powders. Ti-Tantalum(Ta)–Copper(Cu) alloys were further analyzed by the addition of Ta and Cu into the Ti3Al2V custom alloy. The biological,mechanical, and tribo-biocorrosion properties of Ti3Al2V alloy were evaluated. A 10 wt.% Ta(10Ta) and 3 wt.% Cu(3Cu) were added to the Ti3Al2V alloy to enhance biocompatibility and impart inherent bacterial resistance. Additively manufactured implants were investigated for resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus strains of bacteria for up to 48 h. A 3 wt.% Cu addition to Ti3Al2V displayed improved antibacterial efficacy, i.e.78%–86% with respect to CpTi. Mechanical properties for Ti3Al2V–10Ta–3Cu alloy were evaluated, demonstrating excellent fatigue resistance, exceptional shear strength, and improved tribological and tribo-biocorrosion characteristics when compared to Ti6Al4V. In vivo studies using a rat distal femur model revealed improved early-stage osseointegration for alloys with10 wt.% Ta addition compared to CpTi and Ti6Al4V. The 3 wt.% Cu-added compositions displayed biocompatibility and no adverse infammatory response in vivo. Our results establish the Ti3Al2V–10Ta–3Cu alloy’s synergistic effect on improving both in vivo biocompatibility and microbial resistance for the next generation of load-bearing metallic implants.