We describe the one-pot synthesis, unique geometries and intriguing host–guest properties of a new class of supramolecular macrocycles – biphen[n]arenes (n = 3, 4).

Objective: To evaluate the effects and safety of intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells on patients with knee osteoarthritis by a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were retrieved. An assessment of the risk of bias was done through the Cochrane Collaborative Bias Risk Tool, publication bias was assessed by plotting funnel plots and Egger tests. Pain and functional improvements in patients with knee osteoarthritis were determined by changes in VAS scores and WOMAC scores at baseline and follow-up endpoints. For the evaluation of MRI, the WORMS score and changes in cartilage volume were used. In addition, the number of adverse events in the intervention group and the control group were counted to explore the safety. Results: A total of 10 randomized controlled trials involving 335 patients were included. In the pooled analysis, compared with the control groups, the VAS scores of MSC groups decreased significantly (MD,−19.24; 95% CI: −26.31 to −12.18, P < .00001. All of the WOMAC scores also improved significantly: the total scores (SMD, − 0.66; 95% CI: − 1.09 to −0.23, P = .003), pain scores (SMD, − 0.46; 95% CI: − 0.75 to −0.17, P = .002), stiffness scores (SMD, −0.32; 95% CI: −0.64 to 0.00 P = 0.05), and functional scores (SMD, −0.36; 95% CI: −0.69 to −0.04, P = .03). Two studies with non-double-blind designs were the main source of heterogeneity. In terms of cartilage repair, there was no significant difference in the WORMS score, but there was a significant increase in cartilage volume in the MSC group (SMD, 0.69; 95% CI: 0.25 to 1.13, P = .002). The proportion of patients with adverse events in the MSCs treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (OR, 3.20; 95% CI: 1.50 to 6.83, P = .003). Conclusions: Intra-articular injection of mesenchymal stem cells is effective and safety to relieve pain and improve motor function of patients with knee osteoarthritis in a short term which is different to conclusions of previous study.

No abstract

[1] Previous global models generally simulated high concentrations of 210 Pb in the surface air over China. Measured data of 210 Pb are needed in order to examine the accuracy and performance of the models. We collected the first-ever set of surface air radionuclide measurements of 210 Pb and 7 Be at Guiyang (26.57°N, 106.72°E, 1080 m above sea level) on the east of the Himalayas in Guizhou Province and at Mt. Waliguan (36.29°N, 100.90°E, 3816 m above sea level), a Global Atmosphere Watch station for the World Meteorological Organization, on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau extending from the Himalayas in Qinghai Province, China. These measurements were carefully analyzed for data assurance and quality control and were used for validating models. The patterns for the variations in both measured 210 Pb and 7 Be at the Guiyang site have been shown to be consistent. In this case the increase of 7 Be concentration was the result of the weak subsidence of air developed at the periphery of the high-pressure system. Because of the weak subsidence the boundary layer turbulence could mix the upward transport of 210 Pb, thus increasing 210 Pb concentration. The ratio of 7 Be/ 210 Pb indicated a seasonal variability with rough monthly oscillation. The ratio peaks were in spring and summer when the convective activities were significant. The 210 Pb levels measured at Mt. Waliguan, located at the peak of the mountain, could be attributed to the long-range transport of 222 Rn that decays to 210 Pb, whereas the 7 Be concentration varied directly with the local airflow passing over the site. We found that it was not appropriate to use the ratio of 7 Be/ 210 Pb for analysis of vertical transport exchange processes at the high-altitude Mt. Waliguan site because of the long-range transport of 210 Pb that occurred at the site.

Butylated pillar[5]arene (1) and N,N'-bis(n-butyl)pyromellitic diimide (2) form a 2 : 1 sandwich-type complex external to the walls of the receptor ("exo-wall" complex). The marriage of exo-wall interactions and endo-cavity inclusion provides a new strategy for the construction of supramolecular polymers from unfunctionalized neutral receptors.

No abstract

Hydroxyproline and cysteine have a synergistic effect on both the thermal and mechanical properties of fish collagen hydrogels.

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.