As a new member of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family, the novel polyester poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (P(3HB-4HB-3HHx)) was produced by recombinant Aeromonas hydrophila 4AK4 and used for the first time to test its biocompatibility. It was shown that P(3HB-4HB-3HHx) had higher hydrophobicity, surface energy, and rougher surface than the well-studied polymers poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx). Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) attached better on P(3HB-4HB-3HHx) film than on tissue culture plates (TCPs), PLA film, and PHBHHx film. MSC proliferation on P(3HB-4HB-3HHx) film was 126% higher than that on TCPs, 84% higher than that on PHBHHx film, and 312% higher than that on PLA film (p < 0.01). P(3HB-4HB-3HHx) also supported osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. Previous studies found that all PHA materials tested were either less than or equal to TCPs for supporting cell growth. Among all PHA materials tested, P(3HB-4HB-3HHx) was the only PHA material to significantly promote cell proliferation compared with TCPs. P(3HB-4HB-3HHx) could be exploited for applications in bone tissue engineering.

Objective: To investigate the effect of WeChat follow-up management of infants who underwent ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair on parents' disease knowledge and quality of life.Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 40) or a control group (n = 40). The intervention group was followed up with WeChat, while the control group was followed up using a traditional method. The disease knowledge, mental state, and quality of life of the two groups of parents were analyzed and compared.Results: During the 3-month follow-up period, the PedSQL (PedsQL family impact module) results showed that the overall score in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The parents in the intervention group were better at managing "emotion control," "worry," and "family communication" than those in the control group. The results of the LKQCHD (Leuven congenital heart disease knowledge questionnaire) showed that the parents in the intervention group had a higher mastery of "basic knowledge and treatment of congenital heart disease," "related complications," and "postoperative rehabilitation" than those in the control group. Conclusion:Knowledge education and psychological counseling for parents of children who underwent VSD repair through WeChat follow-up management can effectively improve parents' knowledge, relieve their anxiety and sadness, and improve their quality of life. K E Y W O R D Sdisease knowledge, quality of life, VSD, WeChat | METHODSThis study was approved by the Ethics Committee of our university and followed the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. In addition, the parents of the patients signed informed consent forms before participating in the study. | SAMPLE SIZE CALCULATIONBased on the mean (group A = 70.03, group B = 63.95) and the standard deviation (7.80) of the total impact score in the presurvey, with α = .05, two-tailed and a power of 90%, the sample size of the two groups was 36, calculated by PASS 23.0. Considering a 10% drop rate, we included 40 samples in each group. | RESEARCH DESIGNThis study was a prospective randomized controlled study conducted at a provincial hospital in China. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age <6 months; (2) a diagnosis of unrestricted VSD; (3) successful completed surgical treatment; (4) the parents were the primary caregivers; and (5) the parents had smartphones and could use the WeChat platform correctly. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) complications with other heart diseases requiring concurrent surgery; (2) other vital organ diseases; and (3) the parents refusing to participate in the study. Clinical data and family data of 80infants with VSD from January 2020 to September 2020 were collected. The patients' and parents' data are listed in Table 1.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of quercetin and evaluate its protective effect on articular cartilage in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), by intervening the p38 pathway. The target factors of quercetin protecting articular cartilage in patients with OA were predicted scientifically and analyzed to predict the possible pathways by using network pharmacology. A pathway predicted to be closely associated with osteoarthritis was chosen for experimental verification in in vitro cells. The optimal intervention drug concentrations were selected by the of Cell Cycle Kit-8 assay, osteoarthritis and inflammatory factors relevant to osteoarthritis, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, were tested by of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of relevant proteins and mRNA of the p38 signaling pathway was tested by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting, following quercetin intervention. It was found that quercetin, at the concentration of 100 umol/l, can decrease inflammatory factors relevant to OA, inhibit the expression of p38, matrix metalloprotease 13 and ADAMTS in the pathway, and promote the expression of collagen Ⅱ. Therefore, it is postulated that quercetin can lower the expression of inflammatory factors in cartilage for the prevention and treatment of OA, and the expression level of relevant factors can be changed positively by blocking the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Thus, quercetin can promote the repair of degenerative chondrocytes and protect articular chondrocytes.