Key genes of inflammation and Crohn’s disease severity identified via bioinformatics and clinical specimen analysis

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a nonspecific inflammatory disease of digestive tract with limited known biomarkers. We aimed to identify potential molecules involved in CD severity. Weighted gene co-expression network and differentially expressed gene analyses were used to explore hub genes associated with inflammation and involved in pathological processes of CD in the GSE83448 cohort. The expression and relationship of genes with clinical characteristics in normal and CD intestinal mucosa were validated in GSE208303 and our research cohorts. Five genes related to disease and inflammation were identified in the clinically significant modules that were differentially expressed in healthy controls and CD patients. Among them, solute carrier family 39 member 5 (SLC39A5) expression was reduced in CD tissues compared with that in normal tissues; low SLC39A5 expression was associated with CD-simplifying endoscopic score and stenosis. Furthermore, we broadened the bioinformatic threshold with qRT-PCR verification and western blot, and found that the expressions of cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily S member 1 (CYP2S1), fatty acid 2-hydroxylase (FA2H), fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1), and Rho family GTPase 3 (RND3) were reduced in CD tissues. Therefore, SLC39A5, CYP2S1, FA2H, FABP1, and RND3 may be novel biomarkers for CD and associated with severity. Highlights SLC39A5 expression was reduced in CD tissues. Low SLC39A5 expression was associated with CD-simplifying endoscopic score and stenosis. CYP2S1, FA2H, FABP1, and RND3 were reduced in CD tissues

Fabrication and Application of Photocatalytic Composites and Water Treatment Facility Based on 3D Printing Technology

Currently, the degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater by photocatalytic technology has attracted great attention. In this study, a new type of 3D printing material with photocatalytic activity was first prepared to print a water treatment equipment, and then a layer of silver-loaded TiO2 was coated on the equipment to further improve the catalytic degradation performance. The composite filaments with a diameter of 1.75 ± 0.05 mm were prepared by a melt blending method, which contained 10 wt% of modified TiO2 and 90 wt% of PLA. The silver-loaded TiO2 was uniformly coated on the equipment through a UV-curing method. The final results showed that those modified particles were uniformly dispersed in the PLA matrix. The stable printing composite filaments could be produced when 10 wt% TiO2 was added to the PLA matrix. Moreover, the photocatalytic degradation performance could be effectively improved after 5 wt% of silver loading was added. This novel facility showed good degradability of organic compounds in wastewater and bactericidal effect, which had potential applications for the drinking water treatment in the future

PCL/Collagen/UA Composite Biomedical Dressing with Ordered Microfiberous Structure Fabricated by a 3D Near-Field Electrospinning Process

In this work, a functionalized polycaprolactone (PCL) composite fiber combining calf-type I collagen (CO) and natural drug usnic acid (UA) was prepared, in which UA was used as an antibacterial agent. Through 3D near-field electrospinning, the mixed solution was prepared into PCL/CO/UA composite fibers (PCUCF), which has a well-defined perfect arrangement structure. The influence of electrospinning process parameters on fiber diameter was investigated, the optimal electrospinning parameters were determined, and the electric field simulation was conducted to verify the optimal parameters. The addition of 20% collagen made the composite fiber have good hydrophilicity and water absorption property. In the presence of PCUCF, 1% UA content significantly inhibited the growth rate of Gram-positive and negative bacteria in the plate culture. The AC-PCUCF (after crosslinking PCUCF) prepared by crosslinking collagen with genipin showed stronger mechanical properties, water absorption property, thermal stability, and drug release performance. Cell proliferation experiments showed that PCUCF and AC-PCUCF had no cytotoxicity and could promote cell proliferation and adhesion. The results show that PCL/CO/UA composite fiber has potential application prospects in biomedical dressing