SynopsisOn heating in DSC, samples of UHMWPE show a single, fairly sharp, melting endotherm which may be increased to a peak temperature of 147°C and 77% crystallinity by annealing at elevated temperatures. An irreversible conversion of nascent to folded crystals, between 134 and 142"C, was observed by heating nascent UHMWPE powder in the calorimeter. In the presence of n-hexatriacontane, the melting endotherm of UHMWPE was depressed and broadened and the conversion of nascent to melt-crystallized polyethylene facilitated on heating. A melt-crystallized mixture of ordinary linear polyethylene (HDPE) and UHMWPE was not resolved on remelting. After annealing this mixture for 12 h at 130°C, HDPE was fractionated and the melting of UHMWPE was sharpened. Crystals of UHMWPE, prepared from dilute solution in xylene, show a single sharp melting endotherm and high crystallinity, but the melting peak is reduced in temperature compared to nascent crystallized powder.

Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) have the ability to influence immune response, and hence are key cell sources for tissue repair and regeneration. In this study we explored the effect of continuous passage on the immunomodulatory properties of hADSCs to provide some advises for large-scale production of hADSCs for clinical applications. We found that after continuous passage, the specific surface markers expression levels as well as the adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation capacities of hADSCs had no obvious changes. However, the secretion levels of IL-10 and HGF reduced dramatically along with passage numbers. Furthermore, the INF-γ level was found higher in which medium peripheral blood mononuclear cells were co-cultured with hADSCs with higher passage numbers. Also, the in vivo experiments showed that the peritonitis model mice, which were injected with higher passage numbers of hADSCs, tended to have higher levels of inflammation. All these together indicated that continuous passage has only minor effect on the cell phenotypes but will impair the immunomodulatory properties of hADSCs. This suggests that hADSCs could be prepared by continuous passage, but only those cells of lower passage numbers would be ideal therapeutic tools.

No abstract

Peripherally-induced neuropathic pain (pNP) is a kind of NP that is common, frequent, and difficult to treat. Tuina, also known as massage and manual therapy, has been used to treat pain in China for thousands of years. It has been clinically proven to be effective in the treatment of pNP caused by cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, etc. However, its analgesic mechanism is still not clear and has been the focus of research. In this review, we summarize the existing research progress, so as to provide guidance for clinical and basic studies. The analgesic mechanism of tuina is mainly manifested in suppressing peripheral inflammation by regulating the TLR4 pathway and miRNA, modulating ion channels (such as P2X3 and piezo), inhibiting the activation of glial cells, and adjusting the brain functional alterations. Overall, tuina has an analgesic effect by acting on different levels of targets, and it is an effective therapy for the treatment of pNP. It is necessary to continue to study the mechanism of tuina analgesia.