Biomedical Technology最新文献

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of orthopedic insoles, specifically three-dimensional (3D)-printed orthopedic insoles, for treatment of symptomatic flexible flatfoot in school-age children.

Methods

A systematic review of PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from database inception to March 2024 was conducted to determine additional studies. This single-center study included 38 participants, including 20 who chose ordinary orthopedic insoles and 18 who chose 3D printed orthopedic insoles, presented from January 2021 to December 2022. Pain symptom relief was compared between the two groups after 1 year of follow-up.

Results

A systematic review identified an additional six publications, involving 206 samples, and meta-analysis indicated that the force-bearing area, arch index, and heel valgus angle after treatment were 0.74 (95 ​% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–1.01), 0.20 (95 ​% CI: 0.03–1.35), and 0.10 (95 ​% CI: 0.03–0.28) of those before treatment, respectively. The 1-year follow-up study revealed that because of its good comfort, 3D printed orthopedic insole can significantly improve the wearing time of both male (P ​< ​0.001) and overweight participants (P ​< ​0.001) and significantly reduce the pain score (P ​= ​0.032).

Conclusions

Orthotic insoles are effective in helping the recovery of flexible flatfoot. Among them, the 3D-printed orthopedic insoles have a better effect on relieving pain symptoms and have a great development potential.

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disorder of the reproductive tract, affecting approximately 10 ​% of women. The symptoms of this condition are vague and not correlated with the disease's stage. These associated symptoms significantly impact women's overall well-being. The etiology of endometriosis remains inadequately understood, with coelomic metaplasia, lymphatic and vascular dissemination being regarded as additional hypotheses in addition to the retrograde menstruation theory. Endometriosis is primarily treated with drug therapy and surgical intervention, but the recurrence rate of symptoms after five years remains approximately 50 ​%. Therefore, the advancement of more effective and safe therapies for the treatment of endometriosis is of paramount importance. In this review, we introduce the utilization of photodynamic therapy, hyperthermia, gene therapy, immunotherapy, stem cell therapy, nanotechnology, and micron technology in the management of endometriosis. The objective is to provide novel research perspectives for therapeutic approaches and facilitate future clinical translation to enhance patient outcomes.

Ischemic stroke (IS), a major cause of death and disability globally, requires innovative therapeutic approaches due to its complex pathology. Nature medicine (NM) offers promising treatments through its bioactive compounds, which target the multifaceted nature of stroke-induced damage. However, the clinical application of NM is limited by challenges in bioavailability and specificity. This review article presents an advanced perspective on integrating nanotechnology with NM to create potent nanodelivery systems for ischemic stroke treatment. We highlight the pathological underpinnings of ischemic stroke, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and discuss how NM compounds offer targeted mitigation strategies. By incorporating nanodelivery platforms, such as liposomes and nanoparticles, these NM -based treatments can achieve enhanced targeting, solubility, and controlled release, significantly improving therapeutic outcomes while reducing side effects. Despite promising developments, the translation of nano-enhanced NM into clinical practice faces obstacles, including manufacturing scalability, regulatory approval, and safety evaluations. This review emphasizes the potential of combining nanotechnology with NM to advance ischemic stroke therapy, calling for integrated research efforts to overcome existing barriers and fully realize the clinical benefits of this innovative approach.

In recent years, the incidence of cosmetic injection-induced botulism has remarkably increased due to the frequent usage of botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A). To mimic and investigate this new clinical type of botulism, we established a novel animal model and evaluated the therapeutic potential of a new drug. Firstly, we injected BoNT/A into the gastrocnemius of rats to induce partial paralysis of the remaining limbs. Then, the intoxicated rats were treated with 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP) at different stages of the disease and the forelimbs grasping strength (FGS) was evaluated. We showed that, at the sublethal dose, the FGS began to decrease at 6.00 ​± ​1.86 ​h after injection in rats, from 2.28 ​± ​0.19 ​N to 1.51 ​± ​0.18 ​N, while the FGS declined appeared earlier (4.29 ​± ​0.42 ​h) at the lethal dose, from 2.30 ​± ​0.20 ​N to 1.20 ​± ​0.16 ​N. Treatment with 3,4-DAP respectively at the time of the symptoms onset or 7 days after injection both can temporarily reverse the symptoms of muscle paralysis, indicating that 3,4-DAP may be an effective approach to relieve botulism. Overall, this study provides an available rat model and a promising therapeutic strategy for cosmetic injection-induced botulism.

This study aims to explore the changes in the vitreous proteomics of form deprivation myopia (FDM) in guinea pigs, in order to reveal the molecular mechanisms involved in the onset and development of myopia. The myopia model in guinea pigs was successfully established by covering one eye of the guinea pigs with a latex bead sac for 4 weeks. This study used 4D data-independent acquisition proteomics technology to analyze vitreous body samples from both the FDM group and the control group. The goal of the proteomics analysis was to identify differences in protein expression within the vitreous body of FDM guinea pigs. Myopia was successfully induced in the FDM group after 4 weeks of modeling. A total of 6298 proteins were identified, among which 348 were differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), with 81 upregulated and 267 downregulated. These DEPs were subjected to in-depth bioinformatics analyses, including Gene Ontology, the Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. These analyses revealed significant involvement in cellular processes, metabolic pathways, biological regulation, cytoskeletal organization, and cell movement. Our results indicate that calcium signaling plays a critical role in mediating eye changes associated with form deprivation, which may bear similarities to mechanisms observed in neurodegenerative diseases. A total of 348 DEPs related to the development and progression of myopia were identified. These changes involve key biological processes, including protein degradation, cell adhesion, and transport, especially alterations in calcium signaling pathways. Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is an important biological marker of FDM, which was confirmed by Western blot, immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Our study found clear differences in the expression of proteins in the vitreous during the development of myopic guinea pigs, especially those related to calcium signaling pathway. Our study offers new insights into the pathogenesis of myopia, particularly changes related to protein metabolism pathways.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, claiming countless lives and posing a formidable health challenge. Extensive efforts have been dedicated to combating this disease, including the development of innovative biomaterials for blood vessel stents, drug delivery and imaging diagnosis. These advancements have substantially addressed issues such as patient rejection and blood contamination. In this review, we begin by outlining the prevalence and various forms of CVD. Subsequently, we delve into advanced biomaterials—including synthetic biomaterials, natural biomaterials, and hybrid biomaterials—and medical instruments used in the treatment or alleviation of CVD, discussing their advantages and limitations. Finally, we offer insights into future prospects and strategies for refining these technologies and instruments moving forward.

Polyaryletherketones (PAEKs) are a family of durable, multifunctional, thermoplastic biopolymers. This article first provides necessary context and thorough information regarding the mechanical, physical, chemical, crystalline, and shape memory properties of PAEKs as well as critical details regarding manufacturing. Additionally, it provides an update on the clinical and biomedical uses of PAEKs by summarizing the most recent and groundbreaking applications of these thermopolymers. PAEKs have been used clinically in fields including orthopedics, craniofacial and cardiothoracic surgery, as well as cardiovascular and dental medicine. Other applications include tissue engineering, post-surgical antibiotic delivery, antimicrobial applications, anti-cancer drug delivery, and 3D printing. Of importance, PAEKs have comparable mechanical strength and elastic modulus to human bone, which enable PAEKs to serve as a viable alternative to metal-based implants. Given their remarkable properties, and ability to be specifically and rapidly manufactured through 3D printing, PAEKs will continue to be a subject of biomedical research and serve a vital role in medical applications.

Nanotechnology has enormous promise for a wide range of applications in biology. Nanoparticles (NPs) have the benefit of improving bioactivity, decreasing toxicity, allowing for precision targeting, and modulating the release profile of encapsulated compounds. Nanomaterials' unique qualities, such as their tiny size, biocompatibility, and ability to cross cell membranes for drug administration, make them useful in a variety of biological applications. Selenium (Se), a critical trace element, stands out among these nanoparticles due to its specific bioactivities in nano forms. Selenium is incorporated into Selenoproteins such as selenocysteine (Sec), which play an important role in maintaining physiological redox balance via oxidoreductase activity, a critical enzymatic process. In the field of medication delivery, selenium-based devices have been designed to transport pharmaceuticals to specific locations. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) appear to be a suitable platform for delivering medications to their desired sites. Selenium's medicinal potential has been thoroughly investigated, including its efficacy against various cancer cells, microbial pathogens, viral infections, neuroprotective properties, diabetic control, oxidative stress, and inflammation-mediated illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis. Notably, due to selenium's extraordinary involvement in immune system regulation, SeNPs have an edge over other nanoparticles. SeNPs phytosynthesis offers an appealing alternative to standard physical and chemical processes, featuring biocompatibility and environmental friendliness. This paper gives an overview of SeNPs' biological uses and emphasizes recent advances in the field.