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Additive manufacturing by selective laser melting (SLM) was used to investigate the effect of powder feedstock on 316L stainless steel properties include microstructure, relative density, microhardness and mechanical properties. Gas atomized SS316L powders of three different particle size distribution were used in this study. Microstructural investigations were done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tensile tests were performed at room temperatures. Microstructure characterization revealed the presence of hierarchical structures consisting of solidified melt pools, columnar grains and multiform shaped sub-grains. The results showed that the SLM sample from the fine powder obtained the highest mechanical properties with ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 611.9 ± 9.4 MPa and yield strength (YS) of 519.1 ± 5.9 MPa, and an attendant elongation (EL) of 14.6 ± 1.9%, and a maximum of 97.92 ± 0.13% and a high microhardness 291 ± 6 HV0.1. It has been verified that the fine powder (~16 μm) could be used in additive manufacturing with proper printing parameters.

The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) significantly limits the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy (RT). Efficient elimination of potential CSCs is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of RT. In this study, we developed a biomimetic hybrid nano-system (PMC) composed of MnCO as the inner core and platelet membrane (PM) as the outer shell. By exploiting the specific recognition properties of membrane surface proteins, PMC enables precise targeting of CSCs. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) was employed using manganese carbonate nanoparticles (MnCO NPs), which generate abundant reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon ultrasound (US) irradiation, thereby impairing CSC self-renewal capacity and eradicating CSCs. Subsequent RT effectively eliminates common tumor cells. Both in vitro cell experiments and in vivo animal studies demonstrate that SDT mediated by PMC synergistically enhances RT to selectively combat CSCs while inhibiting tumor growth without noticeable side effects. Our findings offer novel insights for enhancing the efficacy and safety profiles of RT.

RhoE/Rnd3 is an atypical member of the Rho super-family of proteins, However, the global biological function profile of this protein remains unsolved. In the present study, a RhoE-knockout H9C2 cardiomyocyte cell line was established using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, following which differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the knockout and wild-type cell lines were screened using whole genome expression gene chips. A total of 829 DEGs, including 417 upregulated and 412 downregulated, were identified using the threshold of fold changes ≥1.2 and P<0.05. Using the ingenuity pathways analysis system with a threshold of -Log (P-value)>2, 67 canonical pathways were found to be enriched. Many of the detected signaling pathways, including that of oncostatin M signaling, were found to be associated with the inflammatory response. Subsequent disease and function analysis indicated that apart from cardiovascular disease and development function, RhoE may also be involved in other diseases and function, including organismal survival, cancer, organismal injury and abnormalities, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, and molecular transport. In addition, 885 upstream regulators were enriched, including 59 molecules that were predicated to be strongly activated (Z-score >2) and 60 molecules that were predicated to be significantly inhibited (Z-scores <-2). In particular, 33 regulatory effects and 25 networks were revealed to be associated with the DEGs. Among them, the most significant regulatory effects were 'adhesion of endothelial cells' and 'recruitment of myeloid cells' and the top network was 'neurological disease', 'hereditary disorder, organismal injury and abnormalities'. In conclusion, the present study successfully edited the RhoE gene in H9C2 cells using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and subsequently analyzed the enriched DEGs along with their associated canonical signaling pathways, diseases and functions classification, upstream regulatory molecules, regulatory effects and interaction networks. The results of the present study should facilitate the discovery of the global biological and functional properties of RhoE and provide new insights into role of RhoE in human diseases, especially those in the cardiovascular system.

BackgroundThis study aims to develop a novel process to establish a standardized manufacturing technique of customized esthetic ceramic bracket system (CCB) which could be endowed with individual color and shape to satisfy patients’ individual demands. Material characteristics and mechanical parameters of CCB were evaluated.Subjects and methodsCCB virtual models were designed individually according to patient’s teeth morphology and clinical demands. 3D printing technology, lost-wax technology, and selected glass-ceramic ingots were employed to fabricate CCB. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed to characterize the surface morphology of CCB and commercially available brackets (Clarity Advanced; Crystalline VII; Inspire ICE; Damon Q). Static and kinetic frictional resistance (FR), shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores were recorded. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey’s HSD multiple tests were used for statistical analyses.ResultsMulti-color and multi-transparency raw materials facilitated CCB with a wide range of color options and controllable optical properties to satisfy different esthetic demands of individual orthodontic patients. CCB presented same level of FR as commercially available ceramic brackets did. No significant differences (P ≥ 0.05) of SBS were observed among CCB-ES (treated silane), Clarity Advanced and Crystalline VII groups, and CCB-E (no silane) attained the highest ARI mean score 3. In the preliminary clinical trial, CCB presented excellent color-matching and shape-matching appearances similar to natural teeth, which made it highly invisible from social intercourse distance.ConclusionsCCB were demonstrated to be an applicable labial orthodontic bracket system with optimized esthetics and biomechanics. We envision that it would be an ideal alternative for patients who pursue esthetic orthodontic treatment but were not likely to take lingual appliances or clear aligners.

There are different characteristics of BC in developing countries and developed countries. We intended to study the factors which influence the survival and prognosis of BC between southern China and the United States. ( a ) To study the two groups BC patients in southern China from 2001 to 2016 and SEER database from 1975 to 2016. (b) To register, collect and analyze the clinicopathological features and treatment information. Our study found that there are significant differences in tumor size, positive lymph node status and KI-67 between southern China and SEER cohort ( P  < 0.000). The positive lymph node status may be one of the causes of difference of morbidity and mortality of BC patients in China. Furthermore, the differences in treatment methods may also account for the differences between China and seer databases.

This study is aimed to investigate the role of androgen receptor (AR) in regulating oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells migration. Tumors from 23 patients with OSCC and five OSCC cell lines were used for analyzing AR expression. The effects of AR agonist and antagonist were used to examine the role of AR in regulating the migration of OSCC cells. Ten of 23 tumors from patients with OSCC were AR positive. There was no significant difference in total EGFR (tEGFR) expression between AR-positive tumors and AR-negative tumors. However, the expression of phosphorylated EGFR (pEGFR) in AR-positive tumors was significantly higher than that in AR-negative tumors ( <0.01). Stimulation of AR by dihydrotestosterone in SCC9 (AR-positive OSCC cell) caused an increase in pEGFR and pAKT expression and promoted cell migration without changed tEGFR expression, whereas treatment with bicalutamide led to a decrement in pEGFR expression and pAKT and inhibited cell migration. No effects were found in SCC25 cell line (AR-negative) either treated by dihydrotestosterone or bicalutamide. Furthermore, SCC9 cell line treated by EGF or cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor) significantly promoted or inhibited cell migration. Our data indicate that OSSC tumors and OSCC cell lines express AR which is critical for promoting cell migration by increasing EGFR phosphorylation.

In this work, a visible-light-controlled drug release platform was constructed for localized and prolonged drug release based on two-layer titania nanotubes (TNTs) fabricated using by an in situ voltage up-anodization process. The visible-light photocatalytic activity is improved by loading Ag onto the TNTs by NaBH4 reduction. Then, the TNTs containing Ag nanoparticles were modified with dodecanethiol (NDM) to create a hydrophobic layer. To demonstrate the visible-light-controlled drug release, the Zn2+ release behavior of the samples was investigated. In the initial 12 h, TNTs without NDM displayed a faster release rate with 29.4% Zn2+ release, which was more than three times that of the TNTs with NDM (8.7% Zn2+ release). Upon visible-light illumination, drug release from the sample coated with NDM was shown to increase due to the photocatalytic decomposition of NDM. The amount of released Zn2+ for this sample increased up to 71.9% within 12 h, indicating visible-light-controlled drug release. This drug release system may exhibit promising application as a localized, prolonged drug delivery platform.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were treated with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) dose-dependently and time-dependently. Together they caused a strong synergistic effect on the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, with lower concentrations of each factor being enough to show the synergistic promotion (50 ng BMP-2/ml, 1 ng VEGF/ml and 10 ng bFGF/ml). When both VEGF and bFGF were added in the early proliferating stage (the first 7 days) and BMP-2 was added in the late differentiation stage (the last 7 days), osteogenic differentiation of MSCs could be enhanced more effectively.

In the present study, the effects of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on regulation of rat osteoblast (ROB) maturation in vitro were investigated. It was found that the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of ROBs were all dose-dependently increased at particular times in the case of treatment with only one growth factor. To investigate the effects of combined treatment, ROBs were treated with either a single application of a relatively high dose of each growth factor, or binary/triple combined applications of relatively low doses of the growth factors. Osteogenic differentiation was significantly promoted in the triple combination treatment of BMP-2, VEGF and bFGF compared with the single or binary combination treatments. The optimal timing of the triple combination to enhance osteogenesis was also tested. When bFGF and VEGF were added in the early stage, and BMP-2 and VEGF were added in the late stage, osteogenic differentiation of ROBs could be enhanced more effectively. These results could be used to construct bone tissue engineering scaffolds that release growth factors sequentially.

Purpose: Statins are commonly prescribed medications that potently reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular events. Preclinical studies suggested statins also possess cancer chemopreventive properties. However, the clinical studies provided contradictory results as to whether statins influence the risk of pancreatic cancer. Herein, we present this meta-analysis to assess the association between statin use and risk of pancreatic cancer. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search up to August 2011 for the eligible studies. Pooled relative risk (RR) estimates and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the inverse-varianceweighted random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were conducted where data were available. Heterogeneity was assessed by the Cochran's Q test and the I² statistic. Results: We included 16 studies that involving 1,692,863 participants and 7,807 pancreatic cancer cases. Pooled results only indicated a non-significant decrease of pancreatic cancer risk among all statin users (RR 0.89; 95 % CIs, 0.74-1.07). Similar results were obtained in the subgroup analyses of the long-term (more than 4 years) follow-up (RR 0.94, 0.81-1.08) and statin use (RR 0.97, 0.76-1.23), and a null association was found between lipophilic statin use and pancreatic cancer risk (RR 1.03, 0.92-1.16). No evidence of publication bias was observed in the present meta-analysis. However, significant heterogeneity was detected among all studies (p < 0.00001, I² = 81 %). Conclusions: In conclusion, our results suggest that there is no association between statin use and pancreatic cancer risk, when statins are taken at daily doses for cardiovascular event prevention.