Tissue Injury Research Articles

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP): a revolutionary approach in dermatology and skincare.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) technology has emerged as a revolutionary therapeutic technology in dermatology, recognized for its safety, effectiveness, and minimal side effects. CAP demonstrates substantial antimicrobial properties against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, promotes tissue proliferation and wound healing, and inhibits the growth and migration of tumor cells. This paper explores the versatile applications of CAP in dermatology, skin health, and skincare. It provides an in-depth analysis of plasma technology, medical plasma applications, and CAP. The review covers the classification of CAP, its direct and indirect applications, and the penetration and mechanisms of action of its active components in the skin. Briefly introduce CAP's suppressive effects on microbial infections, detailing its impact on infectious skin diseases and its specific effects on bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. It also highlights CAP's role in promoting tissue proliferation and wound healing and its effectiveness in treating inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and vitiligo. Additionally, the review examines CAP's potential in suppressing tumor cell proliferation and migration and its applications in cosmetic and skincare treatments. The therapeutic potential of CAP in treating immune-mediated skin diseases is also discussed. CAP presents significant promise as a dermatological treatment, offering a safe and effective approach for various skin conditions. Its ability to operate at room temperature and its broad spectrum of applications make it a valuable tool in dermatology. Finally, introduce further research is required to fully elucidate its mechanisms, optimize its use, and expand its clinical applications.

Timing of Fracture Fixation in Ankle Fracture-Dislocations.

Ankle fracture-dislocations may require delayed internal fixation. Our aim was to compare acute open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with delayed ORIF, using external fixation or cast splint in ankle fracture-dislocations. Factors that affect the rates of re-operation and Surgical site infection (SSI) were identified. In this retrospective cohort study, patients were included with open and closed ankle fracture-dislocations treated with ORIF from two large peripheral hospitals and one academic center in the Netherlands. This study included 447 patients with an ankle fracture-dislocation. In the multivariate analysis, the difference between surgery <48 hours compared to bridging with cast or external fixation had no significant influence on unscheduled re-operation or SSI. Higher body mass index (BMI) and open fractures had a significant positive correlation with re-operation while diabetes mellitus (DM) and open fractures correlated with SSI. In patients with open fractures, there was also no significant difference in outcome between acute or delayed internal fixation. We suggest that it is safe to perform primary ORIF on all dislocated ankle fractures if the soft tissue injury allows surgery within 48 hours. When significant swelling is present, patients with well-reduced fractures and with no soft tissue injury could be treated safely with a cast until delayed ORIF is possible.Level of Evidence: Therapeutic level 2B (retrospective cohort study).

The extracellular matrix with a continuous gradient of SDF1α guides the oriented migration of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a crucial role in maintaining cell morphology and facilitating intercellular signal transmission within the human body. ECM has been extensively utilized for tissue injury repair. However, the consideration of factor gradients during ECM preparation has been limited. In this study, we developed a novel approach to generate sheet-like ECM with a continuous gradient of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1α). Briefly, we constructed fibroblasts to overexpress SDF1αfused with the collagen-binding domain (CBD-SDF1α), and cultured these cells on a slanted plate to establish a gradual density cell layer at the bottom surface. Subsequently, excess parental fibroblasts were evenly distributed on the plate laid flat to fill the room between cells. Following two weeks of culture, the monolayer cells were lyophilized to form a uniform ECM sheet possessing a continuous gradient of SDF1α. This engineered ECM material demonstrated its ability to guide oriented migration of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on the ECM sheet. Our simple yet effective method holds great potential for advancing research in regenerative medicine.

Automated model discovery for textile structures: The unique mechanical signature of warp knitted fabrics

Textile fabrics have unique mechanical properties, which make them ideal candidates for many engineering and medical applications: They are initially flexible, nonlinearly stiffening, and ultra-anisotropic. Various studies have characterized the response of textile structures to mechanical loading; yet, our understanding of their exceptional properties and functions remains incomplete. Here we integrate biaxial testing and constitutive neural networks to automatically discover the best model and parameters to characterize warp knitted polypropylene fabrics. We use experiments from different mounting orientations, and discover interpretable anisotropic models that perform well during both training and testing. Our study shows that constitutive models for warp knitted fabrics are highly sensitive to an accurate representation of the textile microstructure, and that models with three microstructural directions outperform classical orthotropic models with only two in-plane directions. Strikingly, out of 214=16,384 possible combinations of terms, we consistently discover models with two exponential linear fourth invariant terms that inherently capture the initial flexibility of the virgin mesh and the pronounced nonlinear stiffening as the loops of the mesh tighten. We anticipate that the tools we have developed and prototyped here will generalize naturally to other textile fabrics–woven or knitted, weft knit or warp knit, polymeric or metallic–and, ultimately, will enable the robust discovery of anisotropic constitutive models for a wide variety of textile structures. Beyond discovering constitutive models, we envision to exploit automated model discovery for the generative material design of wearable devices, stretchable electronics, and smart fabrics, as programmable textile metamaterials with tunable properties and functions. Our source code, data, and examples are available at https://github.com/LivingMatterLab/CANN. Statement of significanceTextile structures are rapidly gaining popularity in many biomedical applications including tissue engineering, wound healing, and surgical repair. A precise understanding of their unique mechanical properties is critical to tailor them to their specific functions. Here we integrate mechanical testing and machine learning to automatically discover the best models for knitted polypropylene fabrics. We show that warp knitted fabrics possess a complex symmetry with three distinct microstructural directions. Along these, the behavior is dominated by an exponential linear term that characterize the initial flexibility of the virgin mesh and the nonlinear stiffening as the loops of the fabric tighten. We expect that our technology will generalize naturally to other fabrics and enable the robust discovery of complex anisotropic models for a wide variety of textile structures.

Multifunctional Hydrogel Microneedle Patches Modulating Oxi-inflamm-aging for Diabetic Wound Healing.

Oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and immune senescence are important pathologic factors in diabetic wound nonhealing. This study loads taurine (Tau) into cerium dioxide (CeO2) to develop CeO2@Tau nanoparticles with excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. To enhance the drug penetration efficiency in wounds, CeO2@Tau is encapsulated in gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel to prepare CeO2@Tau@Hydrogel@Microneedle (CTH@MN) patch system. Microneedle technology achieves precise and efficient delivery of CeO2@Tau, ensuring their deep penetration into the wound tissue for optimal efficacy. Rigorous in vitro and in vivo tests have confirmed the satisfactory therapeutic effect of CTH@MN patch on diabetic wound healing. Mechanistically, CTH@MN attenuates oxidative damage and inflammatory responses in macrophages by inhibiting the ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway. Meanwhile, CTH@MN activated autophagy-mediated anti-aging activity, creating a favorable immune microenvironment for tissue repair. Notably, in a diabetic mouse wound model, the multifunctional CTH@MN patch significantly promotes wound healing by systematically regulating the oxidation-inflammation-aging (oxi-inflamm-aging) pathological axis. In conclusion, the in-depth exploration of the CTH@MN system in this study provides new strategies and perspectives for treating diabetic non-healing wounds.

Haloxylon salicornicum Phytochemicals Suppress NF-kB, iNOS and Pro-inflammatory Cytokines in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Macrophages.

Haloxylon salicornicum is traditionally used for the treatment of several disorders associated with inflammation. Despite it is a defense response against tissue injury and infections, inflammation can become a chronic condition that can negatively impact the body. This study investigated the effect of H. salicornicum phytochemicals nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cytokines release by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged macrophages in vitro. The binding affinity of the tested phytochemical towards NF-κB and iNOS was investigated using molecular docking. Ten compounds (four coumarins, three sterols and three flavonoids) were isolated from the ethanolic extract of H. salicornicum. Treatment of LPS-challenged macrophages with the compounds resulted in remarkable decrease in NF-κB p65 and iNOS mRNA abundance. All compounds suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6) from macrophages challenged with LPS. Molecular docking revealed the ability of the isolated phytochemicals to bind NF-κB p65 and iNOS. In conclusion, H. salicornicum is a rich source of phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of H. salicornicum phytoconstituents is mediated via their ability to modulate NF-κB and iNOS, and suppress the release of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 from macrophages.

Galangin prevents gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity by modulating oxidative damage, inflammation and apoptosis in rats.

The well-known antibiotic gentamicin (GEN) works well against a variety of pathogenic bacteria, nevertheless its therapeutic use might be limited by the possibility of nephrotoxicity. The naturally occurring flavonoid galangin (GAL) has several interesting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study evaluated the nephroprotective effect of GAL on GEN-induced renal injury. Rats received GAL for 14 days and GEN from day 8 to day 14. There was a significant increase in serum urea and creatinine along with several histopathological changes in the kidney following GEN administration. GEN-treated rats also showed increased levels of kidney MDA and NO, and decreased GSH content and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Rats received GEN also demonstrated increased NF-κB p65, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in the kidney. GAL remarkably prevented tissue injury, attenuated MDA and NO levels, improved antioxidants, and decreased levels of inflammatory mediators in the kidney of GEN-treated rats. Furthermore, GEN-administrated rats exhibited increased Bax and caspase-3 with concomitant decline in Bcl-2 levels in the kidney, an effect that GAL attenuated. In conclusion, GAL prevents GEN-induced nephrotoxicity by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis and augmenting antioxidant defense, suggesting its therapeutic potential against drug nephrotoxicity.

Maxillofacial Trauma in Females: A Retrospective Study.

Maxillofacial trauma in females is not widely reported. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and the patterns of maxillofacial injuries in females and to determine the differences in these patterns among different causes. This retrospective study analyzed several variables, including demographic, social, injury-related, and treatment-related variables, and compared these variables in relation to the main etiologies of maxillofacial trauma. The main etiologies of maxillofacial injuries involving females were assault, followed by road traffic accidents, and falls. There were significant differences in relation to the 3 etiologies in age groups (P= 0.002) and marital status (P< 0.0001). There were significantly more soft tissue injuries in the assault group compared with the other groups (P= 0.007). Associated injuries were significantly more with injuries caused by road traffic accidents (P= 0.0009). Most females were victims of assault and violence. There were significant differences in relation to the etiology of trauma in terms of age groups, marital status, types of injury, and associated injuries. Most of the assaults were due to domestic violence.

The role of 3D cinematic rendering in the evaluation of upper extremity trauma.

Traumatic upper extremity injuries are a common cause of emergency department visits, comprising between 10-30% of traumatic injury visits. Timely and accurate evaluation is important to prevent severe complications such as permanent deformities, ischemia, or even death. Computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography (CTA) are the favored non-invasive imaging techniques for assessing upper extremity trauma, playing a crucial role in both the treatment planning and decision-making processes for such injuries. In CT postprocessing, a novel 3D rendering method, cinematic rendering (CR), employs sophisticated lighting models that simulate the interaction of multiple photons with the volumetric dataset. This technique produces images with realistic shadows and improved surface detail, surpassing the capabilities of volume rendering (VR) or maximal intensity projection (MIP). Considering the benefits of CR, we demonstrate its use and ability to achieve photorealistic anatomic visualization in a series of 11 cases where patients presented with traumatic upper extremity injuries, including bone, vascular, and skin/soft tissue injuries, adding to diagnostic confidence and intervention planning.

Structural extracellular matrix-mediated molecular signaling in wound repair and tissue regeneration

Structural extracellular matrix-mediated molecular signaling in wound repair and tissue regeneration

The Efficacy of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) on Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Literature Review.

Diabetes mellitus is a complex disorder that requires continuous management to control blood sugar levels and prevent complications. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are the most common complication in diabetic patients. A popular therapy modality with considerable advantages in the management of diabetic foot ulcers today is negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). This study aimed to review related articles about the efficacy as well as the complications or adverse effects of using NPWT on the healing of DFUs. Searching English databases from PubMed, Ebscohost, Proquest and Science Direct was done to identify relevant citations published between January 2017 and January 2022. A combination of terms was used with the boolean formulation of "negative pressure wound therapy OR NPWT" OR "vacuum-assisted closure or VAC" AND "diabetic foot ulcers OR diabetic foot wound" AND "wound healing" AND "Conventional dressings" and map terms were also used for the subject heading. Some potentially relevant citations of articles from the bibliographies are also reviewed. This study included 8 related articles consisting of 6 RCTs, 1 cohort study and 1 Quasy experimental study. There were various methodological techniques for using NPWT and outcome measures among studies. The results of this literature review showed that NPWT was more efficacious than the other conventional or advanced moist dressings. This therapy revealed a faster healing time with complete wound healing and formation of granulation tissue and reduction in wound size. The complications or adverse effects of NPWT, such as amputation rate, bleeding and pain, were not different from conventional or advanced moist dressings, though. NPWT was more efficacious than other conventional or advanced moist dressings for the healing of DFUs. However, complications or adverse effects of using this therapy showed no significant difference with other conventional or advanced moist dressings.

Transcriptional responses consistent with perturbation in dermo-epidermal homeostasis in septic sole ulceration

The aim of this study was to evaluate transcriptional changes in sole epidermis and dermis of bovine claws with septic sole ulceration of the lateral claw. Assessment included changes in transcripts orchestrating epidermal homeostatic processes including epidermal proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, and cell signaling. Sole epidermis and dermis was removed from region 4 of lesion-bearing lateral and lesion-free medial claws of pelvic limbs in multiparous, lactating Holstein cows. Control sole epidermis and dermis was obtained from region 4 of lateral claws of normal pelvic limbs. Transcript abundances were evaluated by real-time QPCR and relative expression analyzed by ANOVA. Relative to normal lateral claws, sole epidermis and dermis in ulcer-bearing claws exhibited downregulation of genes associated with growth factors, growth factor receptors, activator protein 1 (AP-1) and proto-oncogene (CMYC) transcription components, cell cycle elements, lateral cell-to-cell signaling elements and structures of early and late keratinocyte differentiation. These changes were accompanied by upregulation of pro-inflammatory transcripts interleukin 1 α (IL1A), interleukin1 β (IL1B), interleukin 1 receptor 1 (IL1R1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2), the inflammasome components NOD like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), pyrin and caspase recruitment domain (PYCARD), and caspase-1 interleukin converting enzyme (CASPASE), the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9), and anti-inflammatory genes interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) and interleukin1 receptor 2 (IL1R2). Transcript abundance varied across epidermis and dermis from the ulcer center, margin and epidermis and dermis adjacent to the lesion. Sole epidermis and dermis of lesion-free medial claws exhibited changes paralleling those in the adjacent lateral claws in an environment lacking inflammatory transcripts and downregulated IL1A, interleukin 18 (IL18), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFA) and NOS2. These data imply perturbations in signal pathways driving epidermal proliferation and differentiation are associated with, but not inevitably linked to epidermis and dermis inflammation. Further work is warranted to better define the role of crushing tissue injury, sepsis, metalloproteinase activity, and inflammation in sole ulceration.

Role of interleukin 6 polymorphism and inflammatory markers in outcome of pediatric Covid- 19 patients

BackgroundIL-6 polymorphisms were associated to viral infection outcomes through affection of IL-6 production and it is an early indicator of tissue injury and systemic inflammatory response. The study aimed to determine whether genetic IL-6 polymorphisms, serum interleukin-6 level and inflammatory markers (Presepsin, CXCL-10, C3, and C4) are associated with the prediction of disease severity in pediatric COVID-19 patients and its possible use as a prognostic tool in pediatric patients admitted to hospital.MethodsThis prospective cohort study was conducted on 150 children with COVID-19. Patients were divided according to the severity of infection into four groups: group I (mild) 67 cases; group II (moderate) 53 cases, group III (severe) 17 cases and group IV (critical) 14 cases. Serum Interleukin 6, CXCL-10, Presepsin, renal and liver functions, electrolytes, C3, C4, ferritin, and D dimer serum levels were assessed in all patients. The Kruskal Wallis test used to compare parametric quantitative data between studied groups and Mann Whitney test for each pair of groups. Non-parametric quantitative data was compared between studied groups using a one-way ANOVA test and post-hoc Bonferroni analysis for each pair of groups.ResultsGroup I: 35 males and 32 females with a median age of 16 months. Group II: 17 males and 35 females with a median age of 13 months. Group III: 6 males and 11 females with a median age of 12 months and group IV: 3 males and 11 females with a median age of 12 months. There was no statistical difference between the studied groups regarding gender and age. Serum levels of IL- 6, serum ferritin; D-dimer, Presepsin and CXCL 10 were significantly higher in both severe and critical groups than the other 2 groups (mild and moderate). ROC curve analysis showed that interleukin-6 and Presepsin were good markers for prediction of severity of COVID-19 among the diseased children. For severe cases, the sensitivity of interleukin-6 was 76.47% and specificity was 92.31%. For critical cases, the sensitivity of interleukin-6 was 71.43% and specificity was 82.35%. The sensitivity of Presepsin was 76.47% and specificity was 88.46% in severe cases. For critical cases, the sensitivity of Presepsin was 78.57% and specificity of 91.2%. There was significant difference in IL-6 572 allelic among moderate cases with the most frequent 42.3% for genotype (GC) and allelic among severe cases with the most frequent 47.1% for genotype (GC). Significant difference in IL-6 174 allelic among critical cases with the most frequent 78.6% for genotype (CC).ConclusionsChildren whom expressed GC genotypes of IL6 (-572G > C) polymorphism are at a considerably higher risk of developing a severe disease. This risk is significantly larger in the severe group of children than in children in critical condition who have GC genotypes of IL6 (-174 G > C) polymorphism. While IL6 (-597G > A) polymorphism has no role in COVID 19 severity in children.

Mechanisms of radiation-induced tissue damage and response.

Radiation-induced tissue injury (RITI) is the most common complication in clinical tumor radiotherapy. Due to the heterogeneity in the response of different tissues to radiation (IR), radiotherapy will cause different types and degrees of RITI, which greatly limits the clinical application of radiotherapy. Efforts are continuously ongoing to elucidate the molecular mechanism of RITI and develop corresponding prevention and treatment drugs for RITI. Single-cell sequencing (Sc-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool in uncovering the molecular mechanisms of RITI and for identifying potential prevention targets by enhancing our understanding of the complex intercellular relationships, facilitating the identification of novel cell phenotypes, and allowing for the assessment of cell heterogeneity and spatiotemporal developmental trajectories. Based on a comprehensive review of the molecular mechanisms of RITI, we analyzed the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks of different types of RITI in combination with Sc-seq and summarized the targeted intervention pathways and therapeutic drugs for RITI. Deciphering the diverse mechanisms underlying RITI can shed light on its pathogenesis and unveil new therapeutic avenues to potentially facilitate the repair or regeneration of currently irreversible RITI. Furthermore, we discuss how personalized therapeutic strategies based on Sc-seq offer clinical promise in mitigating RITI.

Monotropein alleviates acute pulmonary embolism in rats by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway

Objective This study examines the therapeutic potential of monotropein (Mon) in a rat model of acute pulmonary embolism (APE), aiming to elucidate its mechanistic role and provide new insights for APE treatment. Methods: Thirty Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 6 per group): sham, Mon (40 mg/kg), APE, APE + 20 mg/kg Mon, and APE + 40 mg/kg Mon. APE was induced via autologous thrombus infusion in all groups except sham and Mon-only groups. We assessed blood gas parameters, lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio, and oxidative stress markers. Additionally, excised lung tissues underwent evaluation for serum inflammatory factors via ELISA, apoptotic cells via TUNEL assay, and protein expression via Western blot. Results: Compared to the sham group, APE-induced rats exhibited significantly elevated blood oxygen levels and increased pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-8. Mon treatment effectively mitigated these APE-induced changes, reducing blood oxygen concentration and downregulating IL-1β and TNF-α levels. Furthermore, Mon demonstrated anti-apoptotic effects by decreasing cleaved caspase-3 and Bax protein levels while upregulating Bcl-2 expression. Mon also suppressed nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation by inhibiting the phosphorylation levels of p65/RelA and IκBα proteins, while the total protein level of IκBα was increased with Mon treatment. Conclusion: Mon effectively ameliorated lung tissue injury in APE rats by inhibiting apoptosis, attenuating inflammatory responses, and alleviating oxidative stress. These beneficial effects appear to be mediated through modulation of the NF-κB pathway, suggesting Mon as a promising therapeutic candidate for APE treatment.

Limb Salvage and Treatment of Posttraumatic Lymphedema in a Mangled Lower Extremity

Summary: Post traumatic lymphedema (PTL) is a known complication of extremity trauma that is detrimental to limb form and function, healing, and quality of life. In cases of complex lower extremity trauma with vascular and extensive soft tissue injury, the risk of PTL is increased. However, many trauma patients are lost to follow-up, making the risk and potential management of these patients’ lymphedema difficult to characterize. The purpose of this report is to describe the successful surgical management of PTL secondary to significant lower extremity trauma requiring complex limb salvage reconstruction. A 43-year-old woman involved in a motorcycle accident presented with a Gustilo IIIB right tibial fracture and single-vessel leg. She underwent successful limb salvage with serial debridement, bony fixation, creation of an arteriovenous loop with a contralateral saphenous vein graft, and a chimeric latissimus dorsi-serratus anterior muscle flap. At the 5-month follow-up, she presented with significant right lower extremity lymphedema. She underwent lymphovenous bypass surgery guided by preoperative indocyanine green lymphography, which resulted in a 62% improvement in functional outcome measures, eliminated her prior need for compression garments and inability to wear regular shoes, and sustained improvement at two years follow-up. This case illustrates a near circumferential traumatic defect reconstructed with a muscle flap and successful delayed lymphatic reconstruction with lymphovenous bypass in the same patient.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence, Etiology, Demographics, and Treatment of Craniomaxillofacial Trauma.

To compare the incidence, etiology, demographics, and treatment of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) trauma before, during, and after COVID-19. Retrospective cohort. Eighty-three health care organizations across the United States. The TriNetX Research Network identified 77,977,880 patients during 2017 to 2022. CMF fractures and soft tissue injuries during March to August of each year, aligning with the 2020 pandemic lockdown, were analyzed. In 2020, compared to immediately prepandemic in 2019, there were significant reductions of -17.5% in facial fractures and -19.0% in soft tissue injuries (P < .001). Conversely, in 2021, both injury types increased by +16.7% and +16.3%, respectively, compared to 2020 (P < .001). Changes in injury mechanisms in 2020 included significant decreases in athletic injuries (-57.6%), falls (-16.8%), assaults (-15.5%), motor vehicle collisions (-8.7%), and pedestrian accidents (-6.9%) (P < .01), while off-road vehicle (+48.4%), bicycle (+16.2%), and motorcycle (+8.9%) accidents increased (P < .01). The 10- to 14- and 5- to 9-year-old age groups experienced the most substantial reductions in facial fractures (-39.7% and -29.9%, respectively) and soft tissue injuries (-29.2% and -28.3%, respectively) in 2020 compared to 2019 (P < .001). Operative management of fractures and soft tissue injuries dropped by -20.3% and -12.4%, respectively, in 2020 versus 2019, and then rebounded with +15.8% and +14.6% increases in 2021 compared to 2020 (P < .001). In 2022, compared to prepandemic rates of 2019, there were fewer patients with facial fractures (-2.8%), soft tissue injuries (-4.5%), and operative repairs (-6.9% for fractures, -1.2% for soft tissue injuries) (P < .03). CMF trauma decreased in 2020, with subsequent years showing a rebound to levels slightly below those immediately prior to pandemic onset. Changes in etiology, demographics, and treatment highlight the complex dynamics of traumatic injuries during periods of societal disruption.

Pharmacological antagonism of Ccr2+ cell recruitment to facilitate regenerative tendon healing.

Successful tendon healing requires sufficient deposition and remodeling of new extracellular matrix at the site of injury, with this process mediating in part through fibroblast activation via communication with macrophages. Moreover, resolution of healing requires clearance or reversion of activated cells, with chronic interactions with persistent macrophages impairing resolution and facilitating the conversion to fibrotic healing. As such, modulation of the macrophage environment represents an important translational target to improve the tendon healing process. Circulating monocytes are recruited to sites of tissue injury, including the tendon, via upregulation of cytokines including Ccl2, which facilitates recruitment of Ccr2+ macrophages to the healing tendon. Our prior work has demonstrated that Ccr2-/- can modulate fibroblast activation and myofibroblast differentiation. However, this approach lacked temporal control and resulted in healing impairments. Thus, in the current study we have leveraged a Ccr2 antagonist to blunt macrophage recruitment to the healing tendon in a time-dependent manner. We first tested the effects of Ccr2 antagonism during the acute inflammatory phase and found that this had no effect on the healing process. In contrast, Ccr2 antagonism during the early proliferative/granulation tissue period resulted in significant improvements in mechanical properties of the healing tendon. Collectively, these data demonstrate the temporally distinct impacts of modulating Ccr2+ cell recruitment and Ccr2 antagonism during tendon healing and highlight the translational potential of transient Ccr2 antagonism to improve the tendon healing process.

Phlorotannins contribute to the ameliorative bioactivities of Ecklonia maxima-derived bioproduct in salt-stressed Solanum lycopersicum

Seaweed-derived bioproducts are increasingly being deployed as an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to crop management under stressful growth conditions including salinity. The bioactivities of seaweed-derived extracts are linked to the presence of diverse groups of bioactive compounds. In the present study, the phlorotannins present in the seaweed Ecklonia maxima and Kelpak®, an E. maxima-derived bioproduct were quantified and identified. Three phlorotannins were identified in E. maxima, namely eckol, 2-phloroeckol and dibenzodioxin-fucodiphloroethol. Eckol (589.11–822.54 μg l−1) and dibenzodioxin-fucodiphloroethol (85–895 μg l−1) were present in Kelpak®. Phlorotannin bioactivity was investigated in tomato seedlings grown under NaCl-induced salinity stress. The seedlings treated with either individual phlorotannins (ie. Eckol or a fraction containing 2-phloroeckol and dibenzodioxin-fucodiphloroethol) or Kelpak® resulted in a reprogramming of biomass allocation as indicated by an increased root-to-shoot ratio. Phlorotannin and Kelpak® treatments induced the accumulation of antioxidants with an attendant augmentation of the antioxidant capacities and inhibition of membrane damage in the NaCl-stressed seedlings. Kelpak® treatment induced an increase in abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation and phlorotannin treatments lowered the ABA content of the stressed seedlings. These results demonstrated that phlorotannins contributed to the ameliorative actions of Kelpak®. The more potent effects of Kelpak®, in comparison to phlorotannins, in improving dry matter accumulation, ABA content, antioxidative properties and inhibiting tissue injury of the salt-stressed tomato seedlings may be attributed to the presence of other bioactive components in the Kelpak® product.

Activation of the AMPK/Nrf2 pathway ameliorates LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and reducing inflammation

BackgroundNumerous diseases-related acute lung injury (ALI) contributed to high mortality. Currently, the therapeutic effect of ALI was still poor. The detailed mechanism of ALI remained elusive and this study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of ALI.MethodThis study was performed to expose the molecular mechanisms of AMPK/Nrf2 pathway regulating oxidative stress in LPS-induced AMI mice. The mouse ALI model was established via intraperitoneal injection of LPS, then the lung tissue and blood samples were obtained, followed by injection with Dimethyl fumarate (DMF). Finally, Western blot, HE staining, injury score, lung wet/dry ratio, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ELISA were used to elucidate the mechanism of AMPK/Nrf2 pathway in LPS -induced acute lung injury by mediating oxidative stress.ResultsThe lung tissue injury score was evaluated, showing higher scores in the model group compared to the AMPK activator and control groups. DCFH-DA indicated that LPS increased ROS production, while AMPK activator DMF reduced it, with the model group exhibiting higher ROS levels than the control and AMPK activator groups. The lung wet/dry ratio was also higher in the model group. Western blot analysis revealed LPS reduced AMPK and Nrf2 protein levels, but DMF reversed this effect. ELISA results showed elevated IL-6 and IL-1β levels in the model group compared to the AMPK activator and control groups.Conclusion:ConclusionActivating the AMPK/Nrf2 pathway can improve LPS-induced acute lung injury by down-regulation of the oxidative stress and corresponding inflammatory factor level.