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Polylactic acid (PLA) has inherent drawbacks, such as its amorphous structure, which affect its mechanical and barrier properties. The use of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) mixed with PLA for the production of composites has been chosen as a solution to the above problems. A PLA/NFC composite was produced by solution casting. Before use, the cellulose was modified using a silane coupling agent. The composite films were investigated via X-ray diffraction, as well as by mechanical, physical, thermal analyses and by differential scanning calorimeter. The crystallinity was four times that of pure PLA and the water vapor transmission rate decreased by 76.9% with the incorporation of 10 wt% of NFC. The tensile strength of PLA/NFC blend films increased by 98.8% with the incorporation of 5 wt% of NFC. The study demonstrates that the addition of NFC improved the properties of PLA. This provides a solid foundation for the enhancement of the performance of PLA products.

Background and objectives: Chronic nonspecific back pain is a common clinical disease typically treated by ultrasound-guided spinal injection. This minimally invasive treatment targets the posterior ramus of the spinal nerve (PRSN). The target of the medial branch is clear, but there is unclear target for the intermediate and lateral branches. This study attempted to observe the distribution of PRSN in the dorsal region of transverse process to provide a more detailed anatomical basis for treating spinal pain.Methods: The present study was conducted on 16 transverse processes of six adult male embalmed corpses. The dorsal area of the transverse process was divided into three equal zones, which are zone I, zone II and zone III from inside to outside. The origin, distribution, quantity, transverse diameter, and relationship with the bone structure of the PRSN on the transverse process were observed.Results: Sixty PRSNs were found in the lumbar of six cadavers, of which 48 were divided into three branches, and 12 PRSNs were divided into two branches. The intermediate branch is mainly distributed in zone I, and the lateral branch is mainly distributed in zone II. Twenty-nine communicating branches were found in 48 adjacent segments of six specimens, all of which originated from the intermediate branch of the previous segment and connected with the lateral branch of the next segment.Conclusion: This anatomical study describing the PRSN may have important clinical significance for spinal surgeons. Understanding the bony localization targets of the PRSN and the links between the PRSNs may benefit patients with low back pain who receive spinal injections.

Emerging evidence suggests that atherosclerosis, one of the leading phenotypes of cardiovascular diseases, is a chronic inflammatory disease. During the atherosclerotic process, immune cells play critical roles in vascular inflammation and plaque formation. Meanwhile, gastrointestinal disorder is considered a risk factor in mediating the atherosclerotic process. The present study aimed to utilize sivelestat, a selective inhibitor of neutrophil elastase, to investigate its pharmacological benefits on atherosclerosis and disclose the gastrointestinal–vascular interaction. The activation of intestinal neutrophil was increased during atherosclerotic development in Western diet-fed ApoE-/- mice. Administration of sivelestat attenuated atherosclerotic phenotypes, including decreasing toxic lipid accumulation, vascular monocyte infiltration, and inflammatory cytokines. Sivelestat decreased intestinal permeability and endotoxemia in atherosclerotic mice. Mechanistically, sivelestat upregulated the expression of zonula occludens-1 in the atherosclerotic mice and recombinant neutrophil elastase protein-treated intestinal epithelial cells. Meanwhile, treatment of sivelestat suppressed the intestinal expression of inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB activity. In contrast, administration of lipopolysaccharides abolished the anti-atherosclerotic benefits of sivelestat in the Western diet-fed ApoE-/- mice. Further clinical correlation study showed that the circulating endotoxin level and intestinal neutrophil elastase activity were positively correlated with carotid intima-medial thickness in recruited subjects. In conclusion, sivelestat had pharmacological applications in protection against atherosclerosis, and intestinal homeostasis played one of the critical roles in atherosclerotic development.

Many environmental and pathogenic insults induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in animals, especially in aquatic ecosystems, where these factors are crucial for life. In penaeid shrimp, pathogens and environmental stressors induce hemocyanin expression, but the involvement of hemocyanin in ER stress response is unknown. We demonstrate that in response to pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Streptococcus iniae), hemocyanin, ER stress proteins (Bip, Xbp1s, and Chop), and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) are induced to alter fatty acid levels in Penaeus vannamei. Interestingly, hemocyanin interacts with ER stress proteins to modulate SREBP expression, while ER stress inhibition with 4-Phenylbutyric acid or hemocyanin knockdown attenuates the expression of ER stress proteins, SREBP, and fatty acid levels. Contrarily, hemocyanin knockdown followed by tunicamycin treatment (ER stress activator) increased their expression. Thus, hemocyanin mediates ER stress during pathogen challenge, which consequently modulates SREBP to regulate the expression of downstream lipogenic genes and fatty acid levels. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism employed by penaeid shrimp to counteract pathogen-induced ER stress.

Background: Nucleic acid detection and CT scanning have been reported in COVID-19 diagnosis. Here, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of IgM and IgG testing for the diagnosis of highly suspected COVID-19.Methods: A total of 63 patients with suspected COVID-19 were observed, 57 of whom were enrolled (24 males and 33 females). The selection was based on the diagnosis and treatment protocol for COVID-19 (trial Sixth Edition) released by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. Patients were divided into positive and negative groups according to the first nucleic acid results from pharyngeal swab tests. Routine blood tests were detected on the second day after each patient was hospitalized. The remaining serum samples were used for detection of novel coronavirus-specific IgM/IgG antibodies.Results: The rate of COVID-19 nucleic acid positivity was 42.10%. The positive detection rates with a combination of IgM and IgG testing for patients with COVID-19 negative and positive nucleic acid test results were 72.73 and 87.50%, respectively.Conclusions: We report a rapid, simple, and accurate detection method for patients with suspected COVID-19 and for on-site screening for close contacts within the population. IgM and IgG antibody detection can identify COVID-19 after a negative nucleic acid test. Diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19 might be improved by nucleic acid testing in patients with a history of epidemic disease or with clinical symptoms, as well as CT scans when necessary, and serum-specific IgM and IgG antibody testing after the window period.