Superior biological performance and osteoinductive activity of Si-containing bioactive bone regeneration particles for alveolar bone reconstruction

Bone grafting materials for repair of alveolar bone deficits have improved markedly in recent years, increasing the applicability and success of oral implantology. The long-term success rate of dental implant surgery is strongly dependent on the quality and stability of residual bone tissue. Therefore, reconstruction of resorbed alveolar bone is a challenge for clinicians. In the present study, we have developed bioactive bone regeneration particles (BRPs) using amorphous calcium phosphate and 58S bioglass as raw materials. The structural characteristics, biocompatibility, and osteoinductivity of these BRPs were compared to commercially available bovine spongy bone (BSB) without organic components. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that BRPs were composed of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and calcium silicate in the form of hexagonal crystals, while BSB was mainly hydroxyapatite (HA) arranged in orderly nano-sized crystals. The viability of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) cultured in BRP-containing medium was roughly equal to that of hBMSCs in control medium. Moreover, hBMSCs in BRP medium exhibited greater proliferation rates, substrate attachment, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red staining intensity, and expression levels of osteogenic-related genes (COL-I, OCN, Runx-2, ALP, BSP) than hBMSCs in BSB medium, indicating the superior osteoinductivity of BRPs. Silicon ions released from BRPs during cell culture were crucial for these enhanced biological properties. BRPs also demonstrated superior osteoconduction and osteoinduction properties for bone defect repair, suggesting promise for alveolar bone repair surgery

2D Materials-based platforms for electroanalysis applications

A new class of nanomaterials called "2D materials" (2DMs) is attracting recently the electrochemical sensing field due to the unique physicochemical properties associated to their chemical structure, formed by ultra-thin layers. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the electroanalysis area using 2DMs giving first a brief overview on the structure, synthesis and properties of these materials followed by the analysis of their advantages while used in the development of electrochemical sensors

Body mass index and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction mediated by diastolic blood pressure status?

Background: The “obesity paradox” has been elucidated in patients with heart failure (HF). Current guidelines introduce a target diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 70 mmHg in HF patients. Due to reduced coronary perfusion, low DBP has a deleterious impact on cardiovascular outcomes. This present study aimed to assess the relationship between BMI and adjudicated clinical outcomes in HFpEF patients according to the status of DBP. Methods: We analyzed the data in 1749 HFpEF patients from the Americas of the TOPCAT (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist) Trial. The population was stratified by DBP (<70 mmHg, and ≥70 mmHg) and BMI strata (normal weight, overweight, and obesity). Cox proportional hazards models and competing-risks regression analysis were performed. Results: At baseline, the median BMI and DBP were 32.9 kg/m2 (interquartile range 28.0–38.5 kg/m2) and 70 mmHg (interquartile range 62–80 mmHg), respectively. In the multivariable analysis, obesity was associated with better survival rates in the total HFpEF population (all-cause death: HR = 0.439, 95% CI 0.256–0.750; and cardiovascular death: HR = 0.378, 95% CI 0.182–0.787). In patients with DBP<70 mmHg, obesity was not significantly associated with reduced risks for all-cause death (HR = 0.531, 95% CI: 0.263–1.704) and cardiovascular death (HR = 0.680, 95% CI: 0.254–1.819). However, multivariate analyses for cardiovascular death (HR = 0.339, 95% CI: 0.117–0.983) and all-cause death (HR = 0.389, 95% CI: 0.156–0.969) were significant in patients with DBP≥70 mmHg. Nevertheless, there were no interactions between DBP and BMI. Conclusions: The obesity paradox was observed in patients with HFpEF, regardless of DBP strata (<70 mmHg, and ≥70 mmHg)