Synthesis of manganese phosphate hybrid nanoflowers by collagen-templated biomineralization

Construction of protein–inorganic hybrid materials with hierarchical nanostructures is critical for the creation of advanced multi-functional materials. We herein for the first time report the synthesis of protein–manganese phosphate hybrid nanomaterials by environmentally amiable biomineralization approach. We have demonstrated that collagen provides an excellent biotemplate to modulate the morphology of the hybrid materials, leading to exquisite nanoflowers with branched petals. In this time-dependent biomineralization process, collagen played an essential role in the production of protein–manganese phosphate hybrid materials by inducing the nucleation of manganese phosphates to form a scaffold as well as serving as a glue to hold the petals together. The as-prepared CL–Mn₃(PO₄)₂ nanoflowers exhibited good catalytic activity towards water oxidation. The unique (Gly–X–Y)_n amino acid sequences and triple helix structure may provide extraordinary capability for collagen to create hybrid nanomaterials via collagen-templated biomineralization. The single-size and high purity may endow recombinant collagen as a powerful strategy to establish superior biotemplates. This facile and green approach to produce collagen–manganese phosphate hybrid nanoflowers greatly advances our capability to construct manganese phosphates-based functional materials.

Collagen provides an excellent biotemplate to modulate the morphology of manganese phosphate hybrid nanomaterials, leading to exquisite nanoflowers with branched petals.     

Recovery and separation of phosphorus as dicalcium phosphate dihydrate for fertilizer and livestock feed additive production from a low-grade phosphate ore

With the rapid increase in the world population, the global demand for food production has been increasing steeply. This increase has resulted in an increased demand for phosphorus crop fertilizers and livestock feed additives. Considering recent predictions that the global reserves of high-grade phosphorus resources would deplete within 15 years, new initiatives have begun to utilize low-grade resources to ensure sustainable supply of this essential nutrient. The main challenge with the use of low-grade resources is the difficulty with the efficient and economical separation of phosphorus from the other constituent elements, such as iron, aluminum, and magnesium. Most previous studies on the adoption of low-grade phosphate ores have focussed on ore beneficiation processes which are expensive, complex, and in some cases inefficient. In this study, we develop an integrated process for the direct recovery and separation of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate for fertilizer and livestock feed additive production from a low-grade (2.0 wt% P) iron-rich (19.7 wt% Fe) phosphate ore. The process combines leaching using dilute sulfuric acid (0.29 M) and selective precipitation using calcium oxide. During selective precipitation, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used as a stabilizing agent to prevent iron and phosphorus co-precipitation. This process can be operated as a closed loop, allowing the recovery and recycling of both water and EDTA, while eliminating the production of liquid waste. The developed process achieves around 70% phosphorus recovery as an industrial-grade (19 wt% P) dicalcium phosphate dihydrate product with minimal iron, magnesium, and aluminum contamination, while also producing value-added calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) and iron/magnesium byproducts. This process enables economical and sustainable recovery of phosphorus from low-grade ores, which can address the rising global demand for food production.

A closed loop process was developed to extract phosphorus as dicalcium phosphate dihydrate from a low-grade ore for fertilizers and livestock feed additive production.     

Evaluating children's literature as a source for patient education

Children's literature can be used to educate patients about illness, surgery, and hospitalization. However, nurses must evaluate popular literature for developmental appropriateness and content accuracy. Developmental considerations for selecting appropriate children's literature as patient education material include cognitive abilities, language development, and children's literary preferences. Content accuracy is judged based on current practice. Twenty-three children's books addressing surgery and hospitalization were reviewed by the senior author. A seven-step process was utilized to determine the appropriateness of each piece of children's literature reviewed. Based on the review, four common content inaccuracies were identified: (a) the depiction of nurses and their roles, (b) parental visitation policies, (c) preoperative preparation requirements, and (d) the depiction of inpatient surgeries that are currently performed on an outpatient basis. Only four of the 23 books reviewed were recommended to prepare children for surgery in the authors' community. The process of reviewing a book is demonstrated using the example of Curious George Goes to the Hospital.     

Normal bone marrow as a source of granulocytes for transfusion

A method for obtaining granulocytes for transfusion by direct aspiration of bone marrow from normal donors is described. The bone marrow is the major storage reserve for granulocytes with as many as 60 times more granulocytes than in the peripheral blood. With current methods of leukapheresis from peripheral blood, steroids, hydroxyethyl starch, and anticoagulants are given to the donor and his processed blood is returned. Bone marrow aspiration spares the donor such treatment. In addition, no costly machine is necessary and the whole procedure takes less than 2 hours. Due to minimum manipulation, cell viability is not impaired. Furthermore, some committed granulocyte stem cells, as well as nonmature granulocytes, are transfused. These cells have the potential to mature to efficient phagocytes in the patient's circulation.     

新型多孔β-磷酸三钙作为骨组织工程支架材料的评价

背景: 新型多孔β-磷酸三钙是采用适当配方和独特工艺制成,其气孔率(75±10)%,球型孔>80%,微孔<20%,孔与孔的沟通率达100%,力学强度>2MPa.目的: 评价新型多孔β-磷酸三钙作为骨组织工程支架材料的应用效果.设计、时间及地点: 对比观察实验,于200-07/2006-03在南方医科大学组织工程实验室完成.材料: 6月龄新西兰大白兔12只,制备左侧桡骨1.5cm大段骨与骨膜缺损.多孔β-磷酸三钙为法国bio-lu公司产品.方法: 将兔骨髓间充质干细胞诱导为成骨细胞,与β-磷酸三钙复合培养,倒置相差显微镜和扫描电镜下观察细胞的生长情况,MTT法测定细胞增殖情况判断其细胞相容性.通过不同含量的β-磷酸三钙浸提液对细胞增殖的影响检验其细胞毒性.主要观察指标: 对β-磷酸三钙进行细胞相容性与细胞毒性检测.术后2,6,12周分别取材进行组织学检查,放射性核素骨扫描测定,X射线片检查,观察骨缺损部位的修复情况.结果: 新型多孔β-磷酸三钙细胞黏附性好,细胞毒性为0级.组织学、影像学和放射性核素骨扫描显示能够修复兔桡骨的大段骨缺损,且体内降解速率与骨的形成速率一致.结论: 新型多孔β-磷酸三钙是一种细胞相容性好的骨组织工程支架材料,修复兔桡骨大段骨缺损的效果良好.     

Antibodies as a source of analytical errors

This review discusses the interference in clinical chemical analysis caused by autoantibodies and by antibodies to foreign antigens. The nature of these disturbances, their occurrence, prevalence, and detection, the different ways in which they are manifested, the clinical consequences of the failure to recognize such interference, and finally methods for avoiding these disturbances are discussed. Interference by cold agglutinins in the automatic determination of the erythrocyte count, interference by cryoglobulins in the determination of the leukocyte count, and EDTA-induced thrombocyte agglutination are well documented as sources of error in the analysis of haematological parameters. Enzyme determinations may be affected by the occurrence of macro-complexes of the measured enzyme with immunoglobulins. This type of interference, for example, may occur in the determination of amylase and creatine kinase. Immunoassays for the determination of hormones or tumour markers are sensitive to autoantibodies and heterophilic antibodies. The former are particularly important in the determination of thyroid hormones, where the interference is method-dependent. In several immunoassays, interference by heterophilic antibodies can be abolished by the addition of non-immune serum. Finally, rheumatoid factors, antibodies administered for therapeutic purposes, and monoclonal gammopathies are possible sources of interference in the determination of various analytes.     

Peripheral blood as a source of stem cells for regenerative medicine

Converging evidence indicates that peripheral blood (PB) contains stem cells (SCs) with multidifferentiation potential, thus representing a potential source for regenerative medicine in several human disorders, as has also been confirmed by promising results obtained in several preliminary clinical trials. In addition to the classic haematopoietic SCs, PB also harbours endothelial progenitor cells, mesenchymal SCs, tissue-committed SCs and monocyte-like SCs. In spite of a series of different names and/or definitions, a large overlap seems to exist among surface markers, functions and origin of these different SC types. This review analyses the different subsets of SCs described in PB, the different hypotheses suggested to explain their origin, and the possible mechanisms that provide the basis for their biological potential.     

Peripheral blood as a source of stem cells for regenerative medicine

Converging evidence indicates that peripheral blood (PB) contains stem cells (SCs) with multidifferentiation potential, thus representing a potential source for regenerative medicine in several human disorders, as has also been confirmed by promising results obtained in several preliminary clinical trials. In addition to the classic haematopoietic SCs, PB also harbours endothelial progenitor cells, mesenchymal SCs, tissue-committed SCs and monocyte-like SCs. In spite of a series of different names and/or definitions, a large overlap seems to exist among surface markers, functions and origin of these different SC types. This review analyses the different subsets of SCs described in PB, the different hypotheses suggested to explain their origin, and the possible mechanisms that provide the basis for their biological potential.     

Headache as the sole presentation of cerebral venous thrombosis: a prospective study

Headache is the most frequent presenting symptom of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), most commonly associated with other manifestations. It has been described as its only clinical presentation in 15 % of patients. There is no typical pattern of headache in CVT. The objective of this study was to study the characteristics of headache as the sole manifestation of CVT. From a prospective study of 30 consecutive patients diagnosed with CVT over 18 months, we selected those who presented with headache only: they had a normal neurological examination, no papilloedema and no blood or any parenchymal lesion on CT scan. All were submitted to a systematic etiological workup and a structured questionnaire about the characteristics of headache was provided. Headache was the sole manifestation of CVT in 12 patients; it was diffuse or bilateral in the majority. Seven patients referred worsening with sleep/lying down, Valsalva maneuvers or straining. There was no association between the characteristics of headache and extension of CVT. Time from onset to diagnosis was significantly delayed in these patients presenting only with headache. In our series, 40 % of patients presented only with headache. There was no uniform pattern of headache apart from being bilateral. There was a significant delay of diagnosis in these patients. Some characteristics of headache should raise the suspicion of CVT: recent persistent headache, thunderclap headache or pain worsening with straining, sleep/lying down or Valsalva maneuvers even in the absence of papilloedema or focal signs.