Constructing the interconnected porous biomaterials scaffolds with osteogenesis and angiogenesis capacity is extremely important for efficient bone tissue engineering. Herein, we fabricated a bioactive micro-nano composite scaffolds with excellent in vitro osteogenesis and angiogenesis capacity, based on poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) incorporated with micro-nano bioactive glass (MNBG). The results showed that the addition of MNBG enlarged the pore size, increased the compressive modulus (4 times improvement), enhanced the physiological stability and apatite-forming ability of porous PLGA scaffolds. The in vitro studies indicated that the PLGA-MNBG porous scaffold could enhance the mouse bone mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs) attachment, proliferation, and promote the expression of osteogenesis marker (ALP). Additionally, PLGA-MNBG could also support the attachment and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and significantly enhanced the expression of angiogenesis marker (CD31) of HUVECs. The as-prepared bioactive PLGA-MNBG nanocomposites scaffolds with good osteogenesis and angiogenesis probably have a promising application for bone tissue regeneration.

Background: Inflammation has been reported to play an important role in frailty syndrome. The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has recently emerged as an informative marker for systematic inflammation. However, few studies have examined the association between NLR and frailty. This study aims to examine the association between NLR and frailty in community-dwelling older adults.Methods: Community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years in the 2011 (n = 2,354) and 2014 (n = 2,458) waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were included. Frailty status was determined using the 38-item frailty index (FI) and categorized into “robust” (FI ≤ 0.1), “pre-frail” (0.1 < FI ≤ 0.21), or “frail” (FI > 0.21). NLR was calculated using a derived formula: NLR = (white blood cell–lymphocyte)/lymphocyte.Results: A total of 3,267 participants were finally included. In cross-sectional analyses, participants with higher NLR levels had increased likelihood of frailty [the 3^rd quartile: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–1.63; the 4^th quartile: OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.23–2.02) compared with those in the 1^st quartile group. During the 3-year follow-up, 164 of the 1,206 participants, robust or pre-frail at baseline, developed frailty, and 197 of the 562 participants, robust at baseline, developed pre-frailty or frailty. Among the robust and pre-frail participants in 2011, after multivariate adjustment, those in the 4^th quartile group had a higher frailty incidence than those in the 1^st quartile group (OR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.18–3.59). Among the robust participants in 2011, those in the 4^th quartile group also had a higher pre-frailty or frailty incidence than those in the 1^st quartile group (OR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.07–3.55).Conclusion: Among community-dwelling older adults, higher NLR levels were found to be associated with increased odds of prevalent and incident frailty.

Background: Motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome is considered to be a pre-dementia syndrome. Although an increasing number of studies have begun to focus on this syndrome, few investigations have been launched in China. This study was performed to examine the prevalence and correlates of MCR in China.Methods: We included 5,725 adults aged over 60 years from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). MCR was defined as the presence of subjective cognitive complaints and a gait speed ≤20th percentile of the weighted population distribution adjusted for sex and height. The associations among selected modifiable associated factors and clinical measures with MCR were examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the participants, 414 met the criteria for MCR with an overall prevalence 7.29% (95% CI: 6.62–7.96%). MCR was found to be more prevalent among women than men (9.73 vs 4.85%), and more prevalent among participants ≥75 years than those <75 years (7.85 vs 5.23%). After multivariable adjustment, lower or upper extremity functional limitations, activities of daily living (ADL) disabilities, weak grip strength, exhaustion, and history of hypertension were found to be significantly associated with MCR. The multivariate analysis also showed higher levels of cystatin C and C-reactive protein were associated with increased odds for MCR. Conclusions: The present study showed that MCR syndrome is highly prevalent among Chinese community-dwelling older adults, and revealed several factors that were correlated with MCR. Longitudinal studies are warranted to further explore the modifiable risk factors of MCR.

Background: Though motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) share risk factors with disability, whether it predict disability remains understudied.Objectives: This study aims to examine the association between MCR and incident disability.Design: Longitudinal study.Methods: MCR was defined as subjective cognitive complaints and objective slow gait speed. Two subtypes of MCR were defined by whether memory impairment (MI) was also present, MCR-MI and MCR-non-MI. Incident activities of daily living (ADL) disability and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) disability were outcome measures. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent effect of MCR at baseline on the odds of ADL/IADL disability at a 7 year follow-up.Results: Among the subjects who were not disabled at baseline and followed for 7 years, 34.66% reported incident ADL disability, and 31.64% reported incident IADL disability. Compared with participants without MCR at baseline, those with MCR had 58% increased odds of incident ADL disability (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.19–2.09) and 46% increased odds of incident IADL disability (OR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.13–1.88) after 7 years. MCR-non-MI was associated with a 56.63% increased risk of ADL disability and a 34.73% increased risk of IADL disability. MCR-MI was associated with an even higher risk of IADL disability (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.18–3.88).Conclusions: MCR is an independent risk factor for both incident ADL and IADL disability. MCR-MI predicts a higher risk for disability than MCR-non-MI. Early identification of MCR among older adult is recommended and may decrease future risk of disability.

Quality of Nursing Work Life (QNWL) serves as a predictor of a nurse’s intent to leave and hospital nurse turnover. However, QNWL measurement tools that have been validated for use in China are lacking. The present study evaluated the construct validity of the QNWL scale in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted conveniently from June 2012 to January 2013 at five hospitals in Guangzhou, which employ 1938 nurses. The participants were asked to complete the QNWL scale and the World Health Organization Quality of Life abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF). A total of 1922 nurses provided the final data used for analyses. Sixty-five nurses from the first investigated division were re-measured two weeks later to assess the test-retest reliability of the scale. The internal consistency reliability of the QNWL scale was assessed using Cronbach’s α. Test-retest reliability was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Criterion-relation validity was assessed using the correlation of the total scores of the QNWL and the WHOQOL-BREF. Construct validity was assessed with the following indices: χ² statistics and degrees of freedom; relative mean square error of approximation (RMSEA); the Akaike information criterion (AIC); the consistent Akaike information criterion (CAIC); the goodness-of-fit index (GFI); the adjusted goodness of fit index; and the comparative fit index (CFI). The findings demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.912) and test-retest reliability (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.74) for the QNWL scale. The chi-square test (χ² = 13879.60, df [degree of freedom] = 813 P = 0.0001) was significant. The RMSEA value was 0.091, and AIC = 1806.00, CAIC = 7730.69, CFI = 0.93, and GFI = 0.74. The correlation coefficient between the QNWL total scores and the WHOQOL-BREF total scores was 0.605 (p<0.01). The QNWL scale was reliable and valid in Chinese-speaking nurses and could be used as a clinical and research instrument for measuring work-related factors among nurses in China.