Effects of chemically reactive species generated in plasma treatment on the physico-chemical properties and biological activities of polysaccharides: An overview

Plasma technology as an advanced oxidation technology, has gained increasing interest to generate numerous chemically reactive species during the plasma discharge process. Such chemically reactive species can trigger a chain of chemical reactions leading to the degradation of macromolecules including polysaccharides. This review primarily summarizes the generation of various chemically reactive species during plasma treatment and their effects on the physico-chemical properties and biological activities of polysaccharides. During plasma treatment, the type of chemically reactive species that play a major role is related to equipment, working gases and types of polysaccharides. The primary chain structure of polysaccharides did not changed much during the plasma treatment, other physico-chemical properties might be changed, such as molecular weight, solubility, hydrophilicity, rheological properties, gel properties, crystallinity, elemental composition, glycosidic bonding, and surface morphology. Additionally, the biological activities of plasma-treated polysaccharides including antibacterial, antioxidant, immunological, antidiabetic activities, and seed germination promotion activities in agriculture could be improved. Therefore, plasma treatment has the potential application in preparing polysaccharides with enhanced biological activities.

Multifunctional chitosan-based hydrogels loaded with iridium nanoenzymes for skin wound repair

Hemostasis, infection, oxidative stress, and inflammation still severely impede the wound repair process. It is significant to develop multifunctional wound dressings that can function as needed in various stages of wound healing. In this study, iridium nanoparticles (IrNPs) with multi-enzyme mimetic activity were complexed with chitosan (CS) and fucoidan (FD) for the first time to make a multifunctional CS/FD/IrNPs hydrogel with excellent antioxidant effect. The hydrogel has excellent physicochemical properties. In particular, the incorporation of IrNPs imparts excellent antioxidant properties to the hydrogel, which could scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the hydrogel shows excellent hemostatic and antibacterial properties. The CS/FD/IrNPs hydrogel performs fast and efficient hemostasis in 21 s. Moreover, the blood loss of the CS/FD/IrNPs hydrogel group was approximately 10% of that in the control group and the antibacterial rate of CS/FD/IrNPs hydrogel against E. coli and S. aureus was up to 95 %. In vivo results demonstrate that CS/FD/IrNPs hydrogel promotes wound healing by attenuating ROS levels, reducing oxidative damage, mitigating inflammation, and accelerating angiogenesis. To summarize, the CS/FD/IrNPs hydrogel system, with hemostatic, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and pro-healing activities, can be a promising and effective strategy for the treatment of clinically difficult-to-heal wounds.

Key structural factors that determine the in vitro enzymatic digestibility of amylose-complexes

The effects of complexing conditions on the formation of amylose-lipid-protein complexes and relationships between structure and digestion of amylose-lipid and amylose-lipid-protein complexes were poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of complexing time (0, 0.5, 2, 4 and 6 h) and temperature (60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 °C) on the structure and in vitro amylolysis of amylose-lauric acid (AM-LA) and amylose-lauric acid-β-lactoglobulin (AM-LA-βLG) complexes, and to understand the relationships between structure and in vitro digestiblity of these complexes. Longer complexing time and higher complexing temperature promoted the formation of greater amounts of the more stable type II crystallites than type I crystallites in both AM-LA and AM-LA-βLG complexes, which in turn decreased the rate and extent of the complexes digestion to a greater extent. Correlation analyses between parameters for structure and digestion kinetics showed that both the quantity of AM-LA and AM-LA-βLG complexes and the quality of their arrangement into V-type crystallites influenced their rate and extent of digestion. This study demonstrates that AM-LA and AM-LA-βLG complexes can be prepared with designed structural and functional properties tailored for various applications.

High-strength alginate fibers wet-spun from pre-crosslinked sodium alginate solutions

Facing the severe problem of microplastic pollution, there is an urgent need to develop biodegradable fibers to replace the petrochemical fibers. Sodium alginate, a biomass polysaccharide, has gained widespread attentions recently for the fiber manufacture. However, the limited mechanical strength of alginate fibers restricts their usages as load-bearing fabrics and reinforcement fibers. Here, we develop a novel strategy to prepare alginate multifilaments using pre-crosslinked sodium alginate solutions. The increase in the pre-crosslinking ratio effectively hinders the disentanglement of sodium alginate chains at high stretches, causing an increase in the shear viscosity of the solution ascertained from the capillarity-driven thinning process from 4.5 Pa·s to 9.9 Pa·s and facilitating the high alignment and orientation of sodium alginate chains. The resultant fibers possess a breaking strength of 474 MPa, elongation at break of 16 %, Young's modulus of 14.4 GPa, and toughness of 51.8 MJ/m3, exceeding most biomass fibers without reinforcement additives. The high orientation degree of 0.865 and high spinnability of alginate multifilaments enable their applications in multi-channel encryption fabrics that exhibit distinct information under various optical conditions. This rheological regulation of spinning solutions provides a facile yet effective strategy to enhance the mechanical performance and broaden application scenarios of alginate fibers.

Comparative analysis of millet bran nanocelluloses with various morphologies: Revealing differences in the formation mechanism and structure characteristics

To investigate the differences of nanocelluloses with various morphologies, ammonium persulphate (APS) oxidation, H3PO4 dissolution and regeneration, and ball milling combined with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) as a medium were applied to isolate cellulose nanocrystals (MCNCs), cellulose nanospheres (MCNSs) and cellulose fibrils (MCNFs) from millet bran. The structure, properties, and formation mechanism of three nanocelluloses were comparatively investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic force microscope, scanning electronic microscope, and emulsifying ability evaluation. MCNCs had needle-like structures due to the removal of amorphous regions, MCNFs appeared fibrous structures due to swelling and mechanical force, and MCNSs displayed spherical structures through self-assembly. MCNCs and MCNFs were confirmed to exhibit cellulose I structures with crystallinities of 61.24 % and 50.09 %, respectively. MCNSs showed the highest crystallinity of 68.41 % with a cellulose II structure. MCNFs and MCNSs exhibited higher initial decomposition temperatures, while MCNCs showed the highest residual mass. MCNFs suspension showed the highest apparent viscosity, while MCNSs suspension demonstrated superior dispersion. MCNSs-emulsion displayed the smallest droplet size, and MCNFs-emulsion exhibited the highest viscosity. This study reveals the formation mechanisms and relationship between morphologies and properties of three millet bran nanocelluloses, providing a theoretical basis for their application.

Ion channels of cold transduction and transmission

Thermosensation requires the activation of a unique collection of ion channels and receptors that work in concert to transmit thermal information. It is widely accepted that transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) activation is required for normal cold sensing; however, recent studies have illuminated major roles for other ion channels in this important somatic sensation. In addition to TRPM8, other TRP channels have been reported to contribute to cold transduction mechanisms in diverse sensory neuron populations, with both leak- and voltage-gated channels being identified for their role in the transmission of cold signals. Whether the same channels that contribute to physiological cold sensing also mediate noxious cold signaling remains unclear; however, recent work has found a conserved role for the kainite receptor, GluK2, in noxious cold sensing across species. Additionally, cold-sensing neurons likely engage in functional crosstalk with nociceptors to give rise to cold pain. This Review will provide an update on our understanding of the relationship between various ion channels in the transduction and transmission of cold and highlight areas where further investigation is required.

Automating surgical procedure extraction for society of surgeons adult cardiac surgery registry using pretrained language models

Objective

Surgical registries play a crucial role in clinical knowledge discovery, hospital quality assurance, and quality improvement. However, maintaining a surgical registry requires significant monetary and human resources given the wide gamut of information abstracted from medical records ranging from patient co-morbidities to procedural details to post-operative outcomes. Although natural language processing (NLP) methods such as pretrained language models (PLMs) have promised automation of this process, there are yet substantial barriers to implementation. In particular, constant shifts in both underlying data and required registry content are hurdles to the application of NLP technologies.

Materials and Methods

In our work, we evaluate the application of PLMs for automating the population of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STSs) adult cardiac surgery registry (ACS) procedural elements, for which we term Cardiovascular Surgery Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (CS-BERT). CS-BERT was validated across multiple satellite sites and versions of the STS-ACS registry.

Results

CS-BERT performed well (F1 score of 0.8417 ± 0.1838) in common cardiac surgery procedures compared to models based on diagnosis codes (F1 score of 0.6130 ± 0.0010). The model also generalized well to satellite sites and across different versions of the STS-ACS registry.

Discussion and Conclusions

This study provides evidence that PLMs can be used to extract the more common cardiac surgery procedure variables in the STS-ACS registry, potentially reducing need for expensive human annotation and wide scale dissemination. Further research is needed for rare procedural variables which suffer from both lack of data and variable documentation quality.

Development of an electronic health record-integrated patient-reported outcome-based shared decision-making dashboard in oncology

Objectives

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) describe a patient's unique experiences with disease or treatment, yet effective use of this information during clinical encounters remains challenging. This project sought to build a PRO based dashboard within the electronic health record (EHR), prioritizing interpretability and utility of PROs for clinical decision-making.

Materials and Methods

Codesign principles were used to define the goal, features, and visualization of the data elements on the dashboard. Codesign sessions occurred between February 2019 and May 2020 and involved a diverse group of stakeholders. Pilot evaluation of dashboard usability was performed with patients and clinicians not involved in the codesign process through qualitative interviews and the Systems Usability Scale.

Results

The dashboard was placed into a single tab in the EHR and included select PROM scores, clinical data elements, and goals of care questions. Real-time data analytics and enhanced visualization of data was necessary for the dashboard to provide meaningful feedback to clinicians and patients for decision-making during clinic visits. During soft launch, the dashboard demonstrated "good" usability in patients and clinicians at 3 and 6 months (mean total SUS score >70).

Discussion

The current dashboard had good usability and made PRO scores more clinically understandable to patients and clinicians. This paper highlights the development, necessary data elements, and workflow considerations to implement this dashboard at an academic cancer center.

Conclusion

As the use of PROs in clinical care is increasing, patient- and clinician-centered tools are needed to ensure that this information is used in meaningful ways.

A mindful approach to complications: Brief review of the literature and practical guide for the surgeon

Patient complications and adverse outcomes are inherent to surgical practice and training. In addition to the impact on patients, there are profound and well-documented impacts of complications on surgeons, surgical trainees, and surgical teams. This manuscript reviews the literature regarding mindfulness-based practices and the associated mitigation of the adverse impact of complications. These mindfulness-based practices prepare surgeons for complications by improving mental and cognitive resilience facilitating more effective management of complications that avoids undue psychological and emotional stress. Practical recommendations are provided for the practicing surgeon from providers experienced in mindfulness-based training and preparation.

The supramolecular processing of liposomal doxorubicin hinders its therapeutic efficacy in cells

The successful trajectory of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (e.g., Doxil, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) as an anticancer nanodrug in clinical applications is contradicted by in vitro cell viability data that highlight its reduced efficacy in promoting cell death compared with non-encapsulated doxorubicin. No reports to date have provided a mechanistic explanation for this apparently discordant evidence. Taking advantage of doxorubicin intrinsic fluorescence and time-resolved optical microscopy, we analyze the uptake and intracellular processing of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin (L-DOX) in several in vitro cellular models. Cell entry of L-DOX was found to lead to a rapid (seconds to minutes), energy- and temperature-independent release of crystallized doxorubicin nanorods into the cell cytoplasm, which then disassemble into a pool of fibril-shaped derivatives capable of crossing the cellular membrane while simultaneously releasing active drug monomers. Thus, a steady state is rapidly established in which the continuous supply of crystal nanorods from incoming liposomes is counteracted by a concentration-guided efflux in the extracellular medium of fibril-shaped derivatives and active drug monomers. These results demonstrate that liposome-mediated delivery is constitutively less efficient than isolated drug in establishing favorable conditions for drug retention in the cell. In addition to explaining previous contradictory evidence, present results impose careful rethinking of the synthetic identity of encapsulated anticancer drugs.

Co-stimulation of CD28/CD40 signaling molecule potentiates CAR-T cell efficacy and stemness

CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T (CD19CAR-T) cells have achieved promising outcomes in relapsed/refractory B cell malignancies. However, recurrences occur due to the loss of CAR-T cell persistence. We developed dual T/B cell co-stimulatory molecules (CD28 and CD40) in CAR-T cells to enhance intense tumoricidal activity and persistence. CD19.28.40z CAR-T cells promoted pNF-κB and pRelB downstream signaling while diminishing NFAT signaling upon antigen exposure. CD19.28.40z CAR-T cells demonstrated greater proliferation, which translated into effective anti-tumor cytotoxicity in long-term co-culture assay. Repetitive weekly antigen stimulation unveiled continuous CAR-T cell expansion while preserving central memory T cell subset and lower expression of exhaustion phenotypes. The intrinsic genes underlying CD19.28.40z CAR-T cell responses were compared with conventional CARs and demonstrated the up-regulated genes associated with T cell proliferation and memory as well as down-regulated genes related to apoptosis, exhaustion, and glycolysis pathway. Enrichment of genes toward T cell stemness, particularly SELL, IL-7r, TCF7, and KLF2, was observed. Effective and continuing anti-tumor cytotoxicity in vivo was exhibited in both B cell lymphoblastic leukemia and B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma xenograft models while demonstrating persistent T cell memory signatures. The functional enhancement of CD37.28.40z CAR-T cell activities against CD37+ tumor cells was further validated. The modification of dual T/B cell signaling molecules remarkably maximized the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy.

Differential network analysis reveals the key role of the ECM-receptor pathway in α-particle-induced malignant transformation

Space particle radiation is a major environmental factor in spaceflight, and it is known to cause body damage and even trigger cancer, but with unknown molecular etiologies. To examine these causes, we developed a systems biology approach by focusing on the co-expression network analysis of transcriptomics profiles obtained from single high-dose (SE) and multiple low-dose (ME) α-particle radiation exposures of BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells. First, the differential network and pathway analysis based on the global network and the core modules showed that genes in the ME group had higher enrichment for the extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction pathway. Then, collagen gene COL1A1 was screened as an important gene in the ME group assessed by network parameters and an expression study of lung adenocarcinoma samples. COL1A1 was found to promote the emergence of the neoplastic characteristics of BEAS-2B cells by both in vitro experimental analyses and in vivo immunohistochemical staining. These findings suggested that the degree of malignant transformation of cells in the ME group was greater than that of the SE, which may be caused by the dysregulation of the ECM-receptor pathway.

Unbiased plasma profiling using pre-selected RNA aptamer pools predicts mortality in COVID-19 and identifies protein risk factors

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic demands effective prognostic tools for precise risk evaluation and timely intervention. This study utilized the APTASHAPE technology to profile plasma proteins in COVID-19 patient samples. Employing a highly diverse 2'-fluoro-protected RNA aptamer pool enriched toward proteins in the plasma samples from COVID-19 patients, we performed a single round of parallel selection on the derivation cohort and identified 93 discriminatory aptamers capable of distinguishing COVID-19 and healthy plasma samples. A subset of these aptamers was then used to predict 30-day mortality with high sensitivity and specificity in a validation cohort of 165 patients. We predicted 30-day mortality with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.91 in females and 0.68 in males. Affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry analysis of the aptamer-targeted proteins identified potential biomarkers associated with disease severity, including complement system components. The study demonstrates the APTASHAPE technology as an unbiased approach that not only aids in predicting disease outcomes but also offers insights into gender-specific differences, shedding light on the nuanced aspects of COVID-19 pathophysiology. In conclusion, the findings highlight the promise of APTASHAPE as a valuable tool for estimating risk factors in COVID-19 patients and enabling stratification for personalized treatment management.

Pegvaliase-induced immediate hypersensitivity reaction after the discontinuation of antihistamine therapy in a patient with phenylketonuria - Case report

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism, resulting from the deficient activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase that converts Phe to tyrosine in the liver, leading to elevated levels of Phe. Pegvaliase is an innovative and effective enzyme replacement therapy for reducing Phe concentration, but it has been associated with severe drug-induced hypersensitivity adverse events (HAEs). Limited data is available on the management of these HAEs, thus, we aimed to present a case report of a successful management strategy. The patient was a 28-year-old Caucasian male with classical PKU, who was otherwise healthy. Due to poor metabolic control, the pegvaliase treatment was initiated. The titration phase was uneventful, with transient and mild side effects, localized to the injection site. After the patient was on a maintenance dose of pegvaliase and had no reactions to the drug, we discontinued the H1-antihistamine. In the following days, within minutes after receiving the pegvaliase injection, an acute hypersensitivity reaction occurred that required emergency treatment. H1-antihistamine treatment was reintroduced. Four days after the incident he received pegvaliase under medical supervision and did not experience any symptoms. In conclusion, cautious reintroduction of pegvaliase in a hospital setting can be safely performed after HAE due to the discontinuation of H1-antihistamines. HAEs could be successfully mitigated by scheduling daily antihistamines administration closer to the pegvaliase injection. This approach can enable PKU patients to maintain their access to an effective and quality-of-life-improving therapy.

Changes in mucosa‑associated lymphoid tissue 1 predicts therapeutic response and survival in patients with advanced melanoma receiving programmed cell death‑1 inhibitor monotherapy

Advanced melanoma is an aggressive and dangerous form of skin cancer, and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are recommended treatment options for patients with advanced melanoma. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 (MALT1) impairs CD8+ T-cell activation to induce immune escape, leading to a reduction in the antitumor effect of PD-1 inhibitors. The present study aimed to assess the prognostic implication of MALT1 in patients with advanced melanoma receiving PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy. Blood MALT1 levels were assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR in 20 healthy controls (HCs) after enrollment and in 49 patients with advanced melanoma before (T0), as well as 2 months (T1) and 4 months after (T2) PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy. The maximum level of MALT1 in HCs (3.100) was used as the cut-off in patients with advanced melanoma. MALT1 levels at T0 were significantly increased in patients with advanced melanoma compared with in HCs (P<0.001). In patients with advanced melanoma, MALT1 was significantly decreased from T0 to T2 (P<0.001). Objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 28.6 and 59.2%, respectively. MALT1 levels at T1 were significantly negatively associated with overall therapeutic response (P=0.001), ORR (P=0.009) and DCR (P=0.004). MALT1 levels at T2 were significantly inversely associated with overall therapeutic response (P=0.021) and ORR (P=0.036). Moreover, MALT1 levels >3.100 at T0 (P=0.027) and T1 (P=0.045) were significantly associated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS), and MALT1 levels >3.100 at T1 were significantly associated with a poor overall survival (OS; P=0.022). Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that MALT1 levels at T0 (>3.100 vs. ≤3.100) were significantly associated with a poor PFS [hazard ratio (HR)=2.248; P=0.037], and MALT1 levels at T1 (>3.100 vs. ≤3.100) were significantly associated with a poor OS (HR=4.332; P=0.007). In conclusion, MALT1 levels are reduced following PD-1 treatment, and a high MALT1 level is associated with a poor therapeutic response and shorter survival in patients with advanced melanoma receiving PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy.

Splenocytes and thymocytes migration patterns between lymphoid organs in pregnancy

Background

Cell migration is essential for the immune system and is frequently analyzed in adult non-pregnant animals but poorly explored in pregnant animals. However, a physiologic increased size in the spleen and periaortic lymph nodes had been reported in pregnant mice.

Methods

Using a mouse model, we transferred PKH26-stained thymocytes and splenocytes from pregnant or non-pregnant animals to receptor mice in the presence or absence of pregnancy. Percentage of PKH-26 cells and Mean Fluorescence Intensity were calculated. Non-parametric ANOVA analysis was performed.

Results

We detected that the percentage of PKH26+ thymocytes in the spleen, lymph nodes, and peripheral blood is higher in females than in males (p = 0.039). Our results showed a similar frequency of thymocytes and splenocytes from pregnant and non-pregnant mice located in receptor lymphoid organs (p > 0.05). Also, the location of marked cells was similar during the perinatal period (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The mobility of thymocytes and splenocytes in pregnant and non-pregnant mice is similar. Therefore, we suggest that the larger size of the spleen and periaortic lymph nodes noted previously in pregnant mice could result from the retention of leukocytes in the secondary lymphoid organs.

Generation of chicken-based IgY polyclonal antibodies against Dendroaspis polylepis and preclinical evaluation of envenomation-neutralizing efficacy vis-à-vis selected commercial antivenoms

The Black mamba, D. polylepis, is one of the many venomous snakes found in Kenya, and known to account for some snakebite incidents. The Kenyan Ministry of Health data reveals annual 15,000 snakebites occurrences. Also, 1 in 15 people in Kenya gets bitten by a snake, and tragically, 1 in 147 of these individuals die of snakebite yearly. Traditionally, antivenoms for treatment are produced from horse or sheep but have complicated and expensive production issues. Alternative production approaches, such as using IgY antibodies derived from chicken egg yolks, may overcome disadvantages with traditional antivenom manufacturing techniques. In this current study, D. polylepis specific IgY polyclonal antibodies were purified from the egg yolks of chickens immunized with D. polylepis venom. These antibodies were subsequently assessed for their in-vivo neutralizing capacity vis-à-vis commercial antivenoms, PANAF-Premium and VINS. The IgY antibodies were purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and affinity-chromatography, with quality and specificity determined by SDS-PAGE and ELISA. The LD50 of D. polylepis was found to be 0.54 mg/kg in chicks, and 0.34 mg/kg in mice, respectively. Pool of extracted IgY yielded 2.8 mg/mL concentration. Purified IgY under non-reducing and reducing conditions on SDS-PAGE exhibited a single-protein band of about 183 kDa and two bands (67 kDa and 25 kDa), respectively. The minimum-edematogenic dose was 0.05 μg. Anti-D. polylepis IgY antibodies and two antivenoms demonstrated the capacity to neutralize the toxic activities of D. polylepis venom. This study confirms a successful IgY generation against Black mamba venom for the first time, and observed toxic effects of the venom as well as neutralizing capacity of antivenoms.

Pembrolizumab-induced vasculitis demonstrated by FDG-PET/CT

A 76-year-old man with a history of malignant pleural mesothelioma treated with pembrolizumab underwent FDG-PET/CT for restaging. The images demonstrated FDG uptake overlying the right hepatic and splenic artery, which were new from the previous FDG-PET/CT 2.5 years prior before the patient started pembrolizumab, suspicious for vasculitis. A follow-up MRI supported the diagnosis with evidence of celiac, splenic, common hepatic, and right hepatic artery involvement. Pembrolizumab was discontinued and the patient received a short course of oral glucocorticoids. Subsequent FDG-PET/CT performed 14 months after initiation of treatment for vasculitis demonstrated resolution of vasculitis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors can cause vasculitis, which can be recognized on FDG-PET/CT and lead to appropriate treatment.

Advancing indocyanine green fluorescence flap perfusion assessment via near infrared signal quantification

Introduction

Intraoperative indocyanine green fluorescence angiography (ICGFA) perfusion assessment has been demonstrated to reduce complications in reconstructive surgery. This study sought to advance ICGFA flap perfusion assessment via quantification methodologies.

Method

Patients undergoing pedicled and free flap reconstruction were subjected to intraoperative ICGFA flap perfusion assessment using either an open or endoscopic system. Patient demographics, clinical impact of ICGFA and outcomes were documented. From the ICGFA recordings, fluorescence signal quality, as well as inflow/outflow milestones for the flap and surrounding (control) tissue were computationally quantified post hoc and compared on a region of interest (ROI) level. Further software development intended full flap quantification, metric computation and heatmap generation.

Results

Fifteen patients underwent ICGFA assessment at reconstruction (8 head and neck, 6 breast and 1 perineum) including 10 free and 5 pedicled flaps. Visual ICGFA interpretation altered on-table management in 33.3% of cases, with flap edges trimmed in 4 and a re-anastomosis in 1 patient. One patient suffered post-operative flap dehiscence. Laparoscopic camera use proved feasible but recorded a lower quality signal than the open system.Using established and novel metrics, objective ICGFA signal ROI quantification permitted perfusion comparisons between the flap and surrounding tissue. Full flap assessment feasibility was demonstrated by computing all pixels and subsequent outputs summarisation as heatmaps.

Conclusion

This trial demonstrated the feasibility and potential for ICGFA with operator based and quantitative flap perfusion assessment across several reconstructive applications. Further development and implementation of these computational methods requires technique and device standardisation.

Red dragon fruit-soy protein isolate biofilm: UV-blocking, antioxidant & improved mechanical properties for sustainable food packaging

In this study, an active biofilm was developed by incorporating red dragon fruit peel (RDF) extract into soy protein isolate (SPI) film matrix for sustainable food packaging. The addition of betalain-rich-RDF extract (1-7 wt%) significantly improved UV-blocking and antioxidant properties of the film compared to the control film. As wt% of RDF-extract increased, water vapor permeability, water solubility, and elongation at break decreased by 1.06 × 10-10 g m m-2 s-1 Pa-1, 34.25%, and 133.25%, respectively. On the other hand, Tensile strength increased significantly (P < 0.05) by 78.76%. FTIR results confirmed the intermolecular interaction between RDF extract and SPI through hydrogen bonding, while XRD result showed a decrease in the crystallinity degree of the film with RDF extract addition. However, no significant change in the TGA curve between extract-incorporated SPI films was observed. SEM analysis revealed that SPI B and SPI D films had a more compact and denser structure than the control film, while AFM analysis showed an increase in Ra and Rq values representing higher surface roughness of SPI D film. SPI D film also significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the weight loss and increased total soluble solids of freshly cut apples over 7-day storage period.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-024-05940-2.

Role of AMIGO2 in cancer progression: Novel insights (Review)

Adhesion molecule with IgG-like domain 2 (AMIGO2) is a novel scaffold protein initially identified in cerebellar granule neurons, and inhibits apoptosis of neurons. It is also widely expressed in various malignant tumors, including gastric cancer, colorectal carcinoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma. During the past decades, it has been revealed that AMIGO2 can act as an oncogene, participating in tumor occurrence and development, for example by inhibiting apoptosis, accelerating cell proliferation, migration and adhesion, and promoting tumor metastasis and drug resistance. The present review discusses the recent advancements regarding AMIGO2 in the field of cancer, emphasizing its related molecular mechanisms to identify novel therapeutic strategies targeting AMIGO2 for cancer treatment in the future.

Torque moments and stress analysis in two passive self-ligating brackets across different incisor inclinations: A 3-dimensional finite element study

Objective

To compare torque expression characteristics between rectangular slot (0.022″ x 0.028″) Damon Q passive self-ligating brackets (Ormco, Glendora, Calif) and square slot (0.021″ x 0.021″) Pitts 21 brackets (OC Orthodontics) using 0.019″ x 0.025″ Stainless Steel and 0.020″ x 0.020" Titanium Molybdenum alloy wires at various incisal inclinations using finite element analysis. The null hypothesis was that there were no differences in torque expression in both tested groups.

Methods

Reporting guidelines for in-silico studies using finite element analysis in medicine (RIFEM) were used. Damon Q and Pitts 21 brackets were scanned and 3D models generated. Brackets were placed on a 3-D model of a maxillary central incisor with its long axis inclined at 0⁰,5⁰,10⁰,15⁰ and 20⁰ to the occlusal plane. Final 0.019″ x 0.025″ SS and 0.020″ x 0.020" TMA archwires were inserted into slots of both tested brackets. Geometric models were converted into finite element models. Material properties were assigned for involved structures with automatic meshing performed by software. Torque movements were simulated with the FE program Ansys Space claim R 22.

Results

Torque moment values, torque expression and Von - Mises stress was higher in Pitts 21 than Damon Q at all inclination angles. There was a gradual increase in the magnitude of values with decrease in incisal inclination.

Conclusion

Square slot passive self-ligating brackets show superior torque expression characteristics as compared to rectangular wire-rectangular slot combinations. The FEM results should be validated with in-vivo studies in order to confirm the findings.

[Retracted] Emodin alleviates gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer by inhibiting MDR1/P‑glycoprotein and MRPs expression

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.12030.].

Impact of high-pressure processing on the bioactive compounds of milk - A comprehensive review

High-pressure processing (HPP) is a promising alternative to thermal pasteurization. Recent studies highlighted the effectivity of HPP (400-600 MPa and exposure times of 1-5 min) in reducing pathogenic microflora for up to 5 logs. Analysis of modern scientific sources has shown that pressure affects the main components of milk including fat globules, lactose, casein micelles. The behavior of whey proteins under HPP is very important for milk and dairy products. HPP can cause significant changes in the quaternary (> 150 MPa) and tertiary (> 200 MPa) protein structures. At pressures > 400 MPa, they dissolve in the following order: αs2-casein, αs1-casein, k-casein, and β-casein. A similar trend is observed in the processing of whey proteins. HPP can affect the rate of milk fat adhering as cream with increased results at 100-250 MPa with time dependency while decreasing up to 70% at 400-600 MPa. Some studies indicated the lactose influencing casein on HP, with 10% lactose addition in case in suspension before exposing it to 400 MPa for 40 min prevents the formation of large casein micelles. Number of researches has shown that moderate pressures (up to 400 MPa) and mild heating can activate or stabilize milk enzymes. Pressures of 350-400 MPa for 100 min can boost the activity of milk enzymes by up to 140%. This comprehensive and critical review will benefit scientific researchers and industrial experts in the field of HPP treatment of milk and its effect on milk components.

Graphical abstract