INFORMATION:
Sweet coating for sour bones
2021-02-12
(Press-News.org) Osteoporosis is a leading global health challenge. Besides its own adverse effects, it also impairs the function of bone implants - normally made of a metal called titanium (Ti). Because there is less bone than normal in the implantation site, the implants could easily loosen, and persistent inflammation often accompanies.
Recently, Chinese scientists from the University of Macau and Nanjing University, in collaboration with National Dental Centre Singapore, invent a bioactive coating that can be chemically linked onto normal Ti surface. This coating, made from a chemically-modified glycan (a string of sugars), can sequentially turn on and off inflammation on bone implants. When applied under osteoporotic conditions, it first turns on "good inflammation" by instructing host macrophages to release the molecules that can activate bone cells and promote healing; when the bone cells grow and function to an extent, they naturally secrete an enzyme, called alkaline phosphatase, to cut the chemically-modified glycan from the Ti surface. This "sugar-coated bullets" can specifically kill macrophages to turn off "bad inflammation" for better healing and higher safety.
The lead contact and corresponding author of this paper, Prof Chunming Wang at the University of Macau, said: "Interestingly, these macrophages to be killed in the latter part of this healing process, are exactly the guys who have made the major contribution to release pro-bone forming cytokines in the earlier stage. So, we described this design as a 'bridge-burning' strategy." He indicates that this coating's main advantage is to maximize the power of the limited number of bone cells around the implants under osteoporosis.
The co-corresponding author, Prof Lei Dong at Nanjing University, added that under these pathological conditions it is unrealistic to sharply increase the number or stimulate the function of bone cells around the implants to achieve better bone-implant integration. "Our method harnesses the inherent power of immune responses to enhance implanting efficacy, without using complicated methods that might bring about safety issues. "
Based on this coating's favourable performance in a rat osteoporosis model, both investigators anticipate next-stage research to be carried out in larger animals. This study was published on 10 Feb 2021 in Advanced Functional Materials, a premier journal in materials science, and selected to feature on the Front Cover of the issue.
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
NIH experts discuss SARS-CoV-2 viral variants
2021-02-12
WHAT:
The rise of several significant variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has attracted the attention of health and science experts worldwide. In an editorial published in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, experts from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, outline how these variants have arisen, concerns about whether vaccines currently authorized for use will continue to protect against new variants, and the need for a global approach to fighting SARS-CoV-2 as it spreads and acquires additional mutations.
The article was written by NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.; John R. Mascola, ...
Electric transmission operators could benefit from temperature-dependent resource adequacy modeling
2021-02-12
How much does a power system's reliability depend on the temperature? Electric power system generator resource adequacy modeling is designed to help determine capacity requirements for electric power system operators across the United States. While calculating resource adequacy requirements has been done for a century, it requires ongoing attention as the generation mix is constantly expanding and changing. A new paper contributes to these ongoing reliability considerations by using a unique data set to determine how both low and high temperatures reduce the reliability of coal, gas, diesel, hydroelectric, and nuclear power generators and thus affect the amount of generation markets should contract for.
The paper, "Resource Adequacy Implications ...
Study shows airborne particulate matter is also contaminated with tobacco smoke-driven particulates
2021-02-12
In a courtesy call to HE the President of Malta at San Anton Palace on Thursday, February 11, 2021, Dr Noel Aquilina from the Department of Chemistry, accompanied by Professor Emmanuel Sinagra, Head of the Department of Chemistry and Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Malta, presented the findings of a landmark study. This study shows and confirms that airborne particulate matter (PM), apart from several toxic components, is also contaminated with tobacco smoke-driven particulates.
After 30 years, Dr Noel Aquilina, alongside world renowned tobacco smoke-related researchers, ...
Citizens versus the internet
2021-02-12
The Internet has revolutionized our lives - whether in terms of working, finding information or entertainment, connecting with others, or shopping. The online world has made many things easier and opened up previously unimaginable opportunities. At the same time, it presents both individuals and societies with major challenges: The underlying technologies do not necessarily serve users' best interests.
"We're interested in questions such as: How can we create online environments that respect human autonomy and promote truth? And what can people themselves do to avoid being ...
Scientists identify how harmless gut bacteria "turn bad"
2021-02-12
An international team of scientists has determined how harmless E. coli gut bacteria in chickens can easily pick up the genes required to evolve to cause a life-threatening infection. Their study, published in Nature Communications, warns that such infections not only affect the poultry industry but could also potentially cross over to infect humans.
E. coli is a common bacterium that lives in the intestines of most animals, including humans. It is usually harmless when it stays in the gut, however it can become very dangerous if it invades the bloodstream, causing ...
UrFU Mathematician's new methods for solving optimal control problem of objects
2021-02-12
"We are surrounded by a huge number of systems - biological, technical, economic, which we can influence, which we can control. The task is to do it optimally, for example, reaching the desired point with a minimum of effort, resources, and time, - explains Prof. Yurii Averboukh. - From a mathematical point of view, the task is narrowed down to the theory of optimal control. A classic example of this theory is moon landing: fuel consumption optimization enables to increase cargo volumes transported to the moon".
A special section of optimal control theory is the theory of differential games. It studies the control ...
Instant death from heart attack more common in people who do not exercise
2021-02-12
Sophia Antipolis, 12 February 2021: An active lifestyle is linked with a lower chance of dying immediately from a heart attack, according to a study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1
Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally and prevention is a major public health priority. The beneficial impact of physical activity in stopping heart disease and sudden death on a population level is well documented. This study focused on the effect of an active versus sedentary lifestyle on the immediate course of a heart attack - an area with ...
Algorithm that performs as accurately as dermatologists
2021-02-12
A study has now been presented that boosts the evidence for using AI solutions in skin cancer diagnostics. With an algorithm they devised themselves, scientists at the University of Gothenburg show the capacity of technology to perform at the same level as dermatologists in assessing the severity of skin melanoma.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and its results are the work of a research group at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
The study was conducted at Sahlgrenska University ...
New study identifies the main genetic causes of autoimmune Addison's disease
2021-02-12
Novel genetic associations could pave the way for early interventions and personalized treatment of an incurable condition.
Scientists from the University of Bergen (Norway) and Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) have discovered the genes involved in autoimmune Addison's disease, a condition where the body's immune systems destroys the adrenal cortex leading to a life-threatening hormonal deficiency of cortisol and aldosterone.
Groundbreaking study
The rarity of Addison's disease has until now made scanning of the whole genome for clues to the disease's genetic origins difficult, as this method normally requires many thousands of study participants. However, by combining the world's two largest ...
Antitumoral effects of LXR activation
2021-02-12
Tumor cells are able to avoid the attack of the immune system through several mechanisms. For instance, these can secrete factors that turn macrophages -cells in the immune system- into dual action agents that contribute to the tumor progress and will protect it from immune body defences: these become, thus, the tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).
An article published in the journal Cancer Research describes a new molecular mechanism that counteracts the immunosupressive action of these macrophaes to boost tumor growth, and brings knowledge of potential interest for the design of future therapeutical options against cancer. The preclinical study is led by the tenure-track 2 lecturer Annabel Valledor, from the Faculty ...