We aimed to evaluate the materials based on 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride/methyl methacrylate tri-n-butylborane (Super-bond [SB]) and nano hydroxyapatite (naHAp) for the repair of perforation at pulp chamber floor (PPF) in vitro and in vivo models. SB and naHAp were mixed in the mass ratio of 10% or 30% to produce naHAp/SB. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (HPDLSCs) were cultured on resin discs of SB or naHAp/SB to analyze the effects of naHAp/SB on cell adhesion, proliferation, and cementoblastic differentiation. A rat PPF model was treated with SB or naHAp/SB to examine the effects of naHAp/SB on the healing of defected cementum and periodontal ligament (PDL) at the site of PPF. HPDLSCs were spindle-shaped and adhered to all resin discs. Changing the resin from SB to naHAp/SB did not significantly alter cell proliferation. Both 10% and 30% naHAp/SB were more effective than SB in promoting cementoblastic differentiation of HPDLSCs. In the rat PPF model, 30% naHAp/SB was more effective than SB in promoting the formation Sharpey\'s fiber-like structures with expression of the PDL-related marker and cementum-like structures with expression of cementum-related markers. In conclusion, 30% naHAp/SB can be the new restorative material for PPF because it exhibited the abilities of adhering to dentin and healing of defected periodontal tissue.

Both chemodynamic therapy and photodynamic therapy, based on the production of reactive oxygen (ROS), have excellent potential in cancer therapy. However, the abnormal redox homeostasis in tumor cells, especially the overexpressed glutathione (GSH) could scavenge ROS and reduce the anti-tumor efficiency. Therefore, it is essential to develop a simple and effective tumor-specific drug delivery system for modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and achieving synergistic therapy at the tumor site. In this study, self-assembled nanoparticles (named CDZP NPs) were developed using copper ion (Cu2+), doxorubicin (Dox), zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and a trace amount of poly(2-(di-methylamino)ethylmethacrylate)-poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA-PHB-PDMAEMA) through chelation, π-π stacking and hydrophobic interaction. These triple factor-responsive (pH, laser and GSH) nanoparticles demonstrated unique advantages through the synergistic effect. Highly controllable drug release ensured its effectiveness at the tumor site, Dox-induced chemotherapy and ZnPc-mediated fluorescence (FL) imaging exhibited the distribution of nanoparticles. Meanwhile, Cu2+-mediated GSH-consumption not only reduced the intracellular ROS elimination but also produced Cu+ to catalyze hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and generated hydroxyl radicals (˙OH), thereby enhancing the chemodynamic and photodynamic therapy. Herein, this study provides a green and relatively simple method for preparing multifunctional nanoparticles that can effectively modulate the TME and improve synergetic cancer therapy.

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Shigellosis, an acute gastroenteritis infection caused by Shigella species, remains a public health burden in developing countries. Recently, many outbreaks due to Shigella sonnei multidrug-resistant strains have been reported in high-income countries, and the lack of an effective vaccine represents a major hurdle to counteract this bacterial pathogen. Vaccine candidates against Shigella sonnei are under clinical development, including a Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA)-based vaccine. The mechanisms by which GMMA-based vaccines interact and activate human immune cells remain elusive. Our previous study provided the first evidence that both adaptive and innate immune cells are targeted and functionally shaped by the GMMA-based vaccine. Here, flow cytometry and confocal microscopy analysis allowed us to identify monocytes as the main target population interacting with the S. sonnei 1790-GMMA vaccine on human peripheral blood. In addition, transcriptomic analysis of this cell population revealed a molecular signature induced by 1790-GMMA mostly correlated with the inflammatory response and cytokine-induced processes. This also impacts the expression of genes associated with macrophages\' differentiation and T cell regulation, suggesting a dual function for this vaccine platform both as an antigen carrier and as a regulator of immune cell activation and differentiation.

ChatGPT is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology that was released for public use in November 2022. Its rapid adoption has raised questions about capabilities, limitations, and risks. This article presents an overview of ChatGPT, and it highlights the current state of this technology for the medical field. The article seeks to provide a balanced perspective on what the model can and cannot do in three specific domains: clinical practice, research, and medical education. It also provides suggestions on how to optimize the use of this tool.

The identification of weak-affinity ligands targeting membrane proteins is of great interest in Fragment-Based Drug Design (FBDD). Recently, miniaturized weak affinity chromatography (WAC) has been proposed as a valuable tool to study interactions between small ligands and wild-type membrane proteins embedded in so-called nanodisc biomimetic membranes immobilized on GMA-co-EDMA monoliths in situ-synthesized in capillary columns (less than one microliter in volume). In this proof-of-concept study, the achievable affinity range was limited to medium affinity (low micromolar range). The present work investigates different strategies to extend the affinity range towards low affinities, either by increasing the density of membrane proteins on the chromatographic support or by reducing non-specific interactions with the monolith. The combination of the use of a new and more hydrophilic monolithic support (poly(DHPMA-co-MBA)) and a multilayer nanodisc grafting process (up to three layers) allows a significant increase in the membrane protein density by a more than three-fold factor (up to 5.4 pmol cm-1). Such an increase in protein density associated with reduced non-specific interactions makes it possible to extend the range of detectable affinity, as demonstrated by the identification and characterization of affinities of very low-affinity ligands (Kd values of several hundred micromolar) for the adenosine receptor AA2AR used as a model protein, which was not possible before. The affinity was confirmed by competition experiments.

In order to reduce the harmful effects of synthetic non-biodegradable hydrogel, biopolymers have attracted attention, particularly for use in slow-release fertilizers. The current attempt intends to develop a hydrogel from biopolymers for sustainable release of water and nutrients in soil. Here, guar gum is used as a polysaccharide, MMA as a monomer, KPS as an initiator, and Polylactic acid as a cross-linker. Further investigation is done to study synthesized hydrogel in the development of wheat crop. Biodegradation study shows that it\'s environmentally favorable and degradable, contributing nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. Fertilizer release studies in soil and water show that the timing of the nutrient release is delayed, improving soil water holding capacity and retention studies. The agronomic parameters show that fertilizers-loaded hydrogel has a positive effect on physiological, morphological characteristics like shoot length, root length, number of shoots and roots, shoot weight and root weight, chlorophyll content, and most notably, fruiting efficiency is enhanced as compared with commercially available hydrogel. ATR-FTIR, SEM-EDX, TGA-DTA, and XRD analysis used to confirm successful loading of fertilizers and biodegradation of hydrogel. The encouraging findings suggested that this hydrogel could be used as a multifunctional, fertilizers-loaded hydrogel in crop production.

Introduction: Tissue conditioners have been widely used in various clinical applications in dentistry, such as treating inflamed alveolar ridges, temporarily relining partial and complete dentures, and the acquisition of functional impressions for denture fabrication. This study aimed to investigate the mechanical properties of the most prevalent tissue conditioner materials on the market, including Tissue Conditioners (TC), Visco Gel (VG), and FITT (F). Materials and Methods: The three tissue conditioners, TC, VG, and F, were assessed based on the parameters mentioned above. The following tests were performed based on the ISO 10139-1 and ISO 10139-2 requirements: Shore A hardness, denture plate adhesion, sorption, water solubility, and contraction after 1 and 3 days in water. Additional tests are described in the literature, such as ethanol content and gelling time. The tests were carried out by storing the materials in water at 37 °C for 7 days. Results: The gel times of all tested materials exceeded 5 min (TC = 300 [s], VG = 350 [s]). In vitro, phthalate-free materials exhibited higher dissolution in water after 14 days (VG = -260.78 ± 11.31 µg/mm2) compared to F (-76.12 ± 7.11 µg/mm2) and experienced faster hardening when stored in distilled water (F = 33.4 ± 0.30 Sh. A, VG = 59.2 ± 0.60 Sh. A). They also showed greater contractions. The connection of all materials to the prosthesis plate was consistent at 0.11 MPa. The highest counterbalance after 3 days was observed in TC = 3.53 ± 1.12%. Conclusions: Materials containing plasticizers that are not phthalates have worse mechanical properties than products containing these substances. Since phthalates are not allowed to be used indefinitely in medical devices, additional research is necessary, especially in vivo, to develop safe materials with superior functional properties to newer-generation alternatives. In vitro results often do not agree fully with those of in vivo outcomes.

The hard template method for the preparation of monodisperse mesoporous silica microspheres (MPSMs) has been established in recent years. In this process, in situ-generated silica nanoparticles (SNPs) enter the porous organic template and control the size and pore parameters of the final MPSMs. Here, the sizes of the deposited SNPs are determined by the hydrolysis and condensation rates of different alkoxysilanes in a base catalyzed sol-gel process. Thus, tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS), tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), tetrapropyl orthosilicate (TPOS) and tetrabutyl orthosilicate (TBOS) were sol-gel processed in the presence of amino-functionalized poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (p(GMA-co-EDMA)) templates. The size of the final MPSMs covers a broad range of 0.5-7.3 µm and a median pore size distribution from 4.0 to 24.9 nm. Moreover, the specific surface area can be adjusted between 271 and 637 m2 g-1. Also, the properties and morphology of the MPSMs differ according to the SNPs. Furthermore, the combination of different alkoxysilanes allows the individual design of the morphology and pore parameters of the silica particles. Selected MPSMs were packed into columns and successfully applied as stationary phases in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the separation of various water-soluble vitamins.

This study investigated the effect of 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) in methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer on the adhesion of tri-n-butylborane (TBB)-initiated resins (MDP/MMA-TBB resins) to human enamel. Enamel surface conditions were either polished only or phosphatized surfaces. The 1.0, 1.7, and 2.0 mol% MDP/MMA-TBB resins, 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4-META)/MMA-TBB resin and MMA-TBB resin were prepared as luting materials. The shear bond strength was determined before and after thermocycles, and the results were compared using non-parametric statistical analyses (each, n=15). The MDP/MMA-TBB resins showed significantly better bond durability to enamel than other resins with or without etching. The 1.7 and 2.0 mol% MDP/MMA-TBB resins were suggested to be the optimum MDP concentrations from pre- and post-thermocycling results for the non-etched specimens. The TBB initiator resin including MDP was shown to be effective in bonding to human enamel, and this effect was enhanced in combination with phosphate treatment.