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Failed skin wound healing, through delayed wound healing or wound dehiscence, is a global public health issue that imposes significant burdens on individuals and society. Although the application of growth factor is an effective method to improve the pace and quality of wound healing, the clinically approved factors are limited. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) demonstrates promising results in wound healing by promoting collagen deposition and cell migration, but its application is limited by potentially inhibitory effects when administered continuously and locally. Through partially replacing and repeating the amino acid domains of PTH(1–34), we previously designed a novel PTH analog, PTH(3–34)(29–34) or MY-1, and found that it avoided the inhibitory effects of PTH while retaining its positive functions. To evaluate its role in wound healing, MY-1 was encapsulated in liposomes and incorporated into the methacryloyl gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel, through which an injectable nanocomposite hydrogel (GelMA–MY@Lipo, or GML) was developed. In vitro studies revealed that the GML had similar properties in terms of the appearance, microstructure, functional groups, swelling, and degradation capacities as the GelMA hydrogel. In vitro drug release testing showed a relatively more sustainable release of MY-1, which was still detectable in vivo 9 days post-application. When the GML was topically applied to the wound areas of rat models, wound closure as well as tensile strength were improved. Further studies showed that the effects of GML on wound repair and tensile strength were closely related to the promotion of fibroblast migration to the wound area through the controlled release of MY-1. Mechanically, MY-1 enhanced fibroblast migration by activating PI3K/AKT signaling and its downstream molecule, Rac1, by which it increased fibroblast aggregation in the early stage and resulting in denser collagen deposition at a later time. Overall, these findings demonstrated that the nanocomposite hydrogel system promoted skin wound healing and increased tensile strength, thus offering new potential in the treatment of wound healing.

Background The management of extensive volar soft tissue defects in multiple fingers remains challenging for plastic surgeons. To date, although various types of flaps have been developed as reconstruction options, the applications remain limited by the shortcomings of bloated appearance, insufficient flap area, prolonged treatment time, persistent donor complications, and the sharply increased surgical complexity with the increased number of injured fingers. The superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap avoids the shortcomings of conventional flaps whilst allowing harvesting as a single-pedicle multiple-lobed form, rendering it the standout first-tier flap procedure in the repair of multiple soft tissue defects. To date, SCIP flaps with 1–4 lobes have been successfully applied, but a flap with more lobes for soft tissue defects in five fingers has not been documented. Herein, we report our experience of a single-pedicle five-lobed SCIP flap for the reconstruction of extensive soft tissue defects in digits 1–5. Case presentation Two male patients were admitted after a crush injury to digits 1–5 on the left hand, which necessitated flap transfer to repair the defects after debridement. The single-pedicled five-lobed SCIP flap was designed and harvested according to the perforator distribution of the superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA) and the shapes of the defects. After flap coverage, the artery pedicle of the flap was anastomosed to the superficial palmar arch artery or digital artery by end-to-side anastomosis, while the veins were anastomosed to the accompanied veins by end-to-end anastomosis. Post-operative examination revealed the successful survival of the SCIP flap. During follow-up, the color and texture of the flaps were close to the normal finger skin, while only linear scars remained in the donor site. The patients reported no post-operative discomfort at the donor site and were satisfied with the appearance and functionality of the reconstructed fingers. Conclusion Our study confirms that the SCIP flap can be harvested into a single-pedicle five-lobed form in clinical practice and indicates that the SCIP flap for addressing tissue defects in five fingers represents a simplified method with excellent contour, thus meeting the requirements of both functionality and aesthetics.

Background Re-epithelialization is important in the process of wound healing. Various methods have been identified to expedite the process, but their clinical application remains limited. While parathyroid hormone (PTH) has shown promising results in wound healing due to its role in promoting collagen deposition and cell migration, application is limited by its potentially inhibitive effects when being continuously and locally administrated. Herein, we developed a novel PTH analog, Human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) (3–34/29–34) (henceforth MY-1), by partially replacing and repeating the amino acid sequences of hPTH (1–34), and evaluated its effect on skin wound re-epithelialization. Methods CCK-8, colony formation unit assay, and Ki67 immunofluorescent staining were performed to evaluate the effect of MY-1 on HaCaT cell proliferation. Then, wound scratch assay, Transwell assay and lamellipodia staining were carried out to evaluate the effect of MY-1 on cell migration. Moreover, the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were measured using qPCR and western blot analysis. For in-vivo drug delivery, gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel was employed to load the MY-1, with the physicochemical characteristics evaluated prior to its application in wound models. Then, MY-1’s role in wound healing was determined via acute skin wound models. Finally, the mechanism that MY-1 activated was also detected on HaCaT cells and in-vivo wound models. Results In-vitro, MY-1 accelerated the migration and EMT of HaCaT cells, while having little effect on cell proliferation. GelMA and MY-1-incorporated GelMA hydrogels showed similar physicochemical characteristics and were used in the in-vivo studies, where the results revealed that MY-1 led to a stronger re-epithelialization by inducing basal keratinocyte migration and EMT. Further studies on in-vivo wound models and in-vitro HaCaT cells revealed that MY-1 regulated cell migration and EMT through activating PI3K/AKT signaling. The parathyroid hormone type 1 receptor (PTHR1), the main receptor of PTH, was found to be the upstream of PI3K/AKT signaling, through interfering PTHR1 expression with a small interference RNA following detection of the PI3K/AKT activation. Conclusion Collectively, our study demonstrated that MY-1 accelerates skin wound re-epithelialization by inducing keratinocyte migration and EMT via PTHR1-PI3K/AKT axis activation. 8WeJxjiMKQ-SAupiANbiq5 Video Abstract

Background Traditionally known for bone regeneration, the Ilizarov technique's effectiveness in nerve reconstruction, particularly for extensive nerve damage, has yet to be widely recognized. Case presentation This report presents a case study and proposes the innovative use of the Ilizarov technique for reconstructing extended nerve defects. In this study, we reviewed a 43‐year‐old male diagnosed with an open fracture of the right tibia combined with soft tissue injury resulting in a mangled injury in which a large part of his right tibial bone and nerve were lost. The patient was cured and the sensorimotor function was recovered after distraction osteogenesis by the Ilizarov technique, which is a unique application of this technique to repair a substantial long nerve defect, a rare occurrence in medical literature. It highlights the method of nerve lengthening, which is achieved by attaching the nerve stump to the bone stump. This approach allows for significant nerve regeneration and ensures a stable progression of the nerve, as the bone stump acts as a carrier, overcoming the challenges of direct nerve lengthening. Conclusions The adaptability and effectiveness of the Ilizarov technique in a new area suggests the need to reconsider traditional approaches to complex nerve reconstruction. Placing this case within the context of current medical knowledge underscores the potential of this technique to revolutionize the treatment of extended nerve defects, offering hope for improved outcomes in challenging scenarios. This study demonstrates successful tissue regeneration through distraction osteogenesis via the Ilizarov technique. Particularly noteworthy is our innovative approach to nerve lengthening, where we attach the nerve stump to the bone stump, thus promoting substantial nerve regeneration and ensuring steady progress. This technique effectively addresses common challenges associated with direct nerve lengthening.

The empirical research shows that the log-return of stock price in finance market rejects the normal distribution and admits a subclass of the asymmetric distribution. Hence, the pricing problem of stock loan is investigated under the assumption that the log-return of stock price follows the CGMY process in this work. Under this framework, the pricing model of stock loan can be described by a free boundary condition problem of space-fractional partial differential equation (FPDE). First of all, in order to change the original model defined in a fixed domain, a penalty term is introduced, and then a first order fully implicit difference schemes is developed. Secondly, based on the numerical scheme, we prove the stock loan value generated by our method does not fall below the value obtained when the contract of stock loan is exercised early. Finally, the numerical experiments are implemented and the impacts of key parameters in the CGMY model on the value and optimal redemption price of stock loan are analyzed, and some reasonable explanation should be given.

The bubble motion behavior and the inclusion removal during the argon injection processing through the down leg of an Ruhrstahl–Heraeus (RH) unit have been investigated using physical modelling, numerical simulating, and theoretical calculations. From the results obtained, it was found that the micro-bubbles generated by argon injection through the down leg can be sent to the ladle below by the downward liquid steel. Increasing the up-leg argon flow rate and decreasing the down-leg argon flow rate as well as the gas nozzle size are beneficial to produce small and dispersed bubbles. Increasing the down-leg argon flow rate would favor an increase of bubble number density. When the up-leg volume argon flow rate is 161 m3/h, the bubbles experience a longer exposure in the vertical direction: for the conditions of the argon nozzle diameter ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 mm and the down-leg argon flow rate from 120 to 1200 mL/min, the largest sinking depth of the bubbles can be controlled to surpass 2.44 m—that is, the lowermost bubbles are close to the bottom of the ladle. The largest spreading length of the bubbles in the horizontal direction is from 0.93 to 2.03 m under all the conditions, corresponding to 32 to 71 pct of the ladle diameter. The down-leg has a large space to set many argon nozzles. Increasing the total down-leg flow rate by the layout of adding the number of the argon nozzles can significantly improve the bubble dispersion and number density. Using the argon injection through down-leg technique can remove nearly all the 50 μm diameters inclusions. The removal efficiency of the inclusions with diameter of 20 μm reaches 55 pct. For the 10 μm diameters inclusions, the removal efficiency is over 10 pct.

Purpose This study aims to investigate whether and how artificial intelligence (AI) awareness affects work withdrawal. Design/methodology/approach This survey garners participation from a total of 305 hotel employees in China. The proposed hypotheses are examined using Hayes’s PROCESS macro. Findings The results indicate that AI awareness could positively affect work withdrawal. Negative work-related rumination and emotional exhaustion respectively mediate this relationship. Furthermore, negative work-related rumination and emotional exhaustion act as chain mediators between AI awareness and work withdrawal. Practical implications Given the growing adoption of AI technology in the hospitality industry, it is imperative that managers intensify their scrutiny of the psychological changes experienced by frontline service employees and allocate more resources to mitigating the impact of AI on their work withdrawal. Originality/value This study contributes to the burgeoning literature on AI by elucidating the chain mediating roles of negative work-related rumination and emotional exhaustion. It also makes a significant forward in examining mediating mechanisms, notably the chain-mediated mechanism, through which AI awareness impacts employee outcomes.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) represents a complex cluster of metabolic disorders primarily characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperuricemia. Diet and functional ingredients play a pivotal role in seeking non-pharmacological strategies to prevent and ameliorate MS. Astaxanthin (AST), a carotenoid found in various marine organisms, exhibits exceptional antioxidant properties and holds great promise as a natural compound that improves MS. This article introduces the basic properties of AST, including its absorptance and metabolic pathways, along with various isomers. Most importantly, we comprehensively review the effects and mechanisms of AST on improving the primary components of MS. These mechanisms primarily involve regulating signal transduction, transport, or metabolic pathways within the body, as well as influencing intestinal microbiota and metabolites, thereby exerting positive effects on metabolism and inhibiting the occurrence of MS. This review emphasizes the potential efficacy of AST in managing MS. However, more studies are needed to confirm the clinical effect of AST on MS and reveal potential molecular mechanisms.

A novel hierarchically N-doped porous carbon material (NP) has been prepared using potassium citrate as the carbon source and urea as the nitrogen source by a facile one-step carbonization method. The resulting NP materials possess two important characteristics: (1) They have abundant nitrogen contents (up to 11.03%) and (2) they exhibit, in relation to porous carbon without urea doping (narrow micropore size), a wider mesopore size. The NP materials exhibit an excellent acetone adsorption capacity; a highest value of 1058 mg g−1 (15 °C) was provided by carbon material prepared in the case of urea/potassium citrate = 1 and 800 °C, which is 158.6% higher than that of the N-free material. The total pore volume, especially the mesoporous volume, was the key factor to determine acetone adsorption under relative high pressure due to the presence of a multilayer adsorption based on adsorption isotherm models. Meanwhile, nitrogen functional groups promoted adsorption process at relative low pressure, and density functional theory results further confirm nitrogen-containing functional groups enhance adsorption interaction between carbon surface and acetone molecule through the hydrogen bonding interaction. This study paves a new way to develop a novel hierarchically N-doped porous carbon with controllable well-developed porosity for the adsorption applications.