Morphological Aesthetics Assessment of the Predicted 3D Simulation Results and the Actual Results of Breast Augmentation.

BACKGROUND: Although three-dimensional (3D) simulations are becoming more common in preoperative breast augmentation planning, this does not necessarily imply that the simulated results are highly accurate. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the 3D simulation technique by comparing the differences in breast morphology between the 3D prediction model and the actual results. METHODS: The simulation and actual postoperative results of 103 patients who underwent breast augmentation were analyzed retrospectively. Therefore, a 3D model was created, and the parameters of line spacing, nipple position, breast projection, surface area, and volume were evaluated. Furthermore, consider the difference in chest circumferences and breast volume. RESULTS: In comparison with the simulation results, the actual results had a mean increase in the nipple to the inframammary fold (N-IMF) of 0.3 cm (P < 0.05) and a mean increase in basal breast width (BW) of 0.3 cm (P < 0.001), a difference that was not statistically significant in patients with larger breast volumes. There was a significant difference in the mean upper and lower breast volume distribution between simulated and actual breasts (upper pole 52.9% vs. 49.2%, P < 0.05, and lower pole 47.1% vs. 50.8%, P < 0.001). However, it was not statistically significant in patients with larger chest circumferences. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that 3D simulation has uncertainties related to the patient's chest circumference and breast volume. Therefore, these two critical factors must be considered when using simulation assessment in preoperative planning. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Aesthetic Concerns of Chin Augmentation With Hyaluronic Acid Soft Tissue Filler in Chinese: A Prospective, Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: The chin is an important facial structure that directly affects the overall contour of the face. The key to achieving a beautiful, effective, and safe chin injection is to make a good facial assessment and use an appropriate injection technique to achieve the best injection effect. OBJECTIVE: In this article, the authors will discuss cosmetic concepts for the chin area and verify the effectiveness of chin augmentation techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chin volume injections were performed on 23 Asian female subjects and 15 Asian male subjects. Demographic and imaging data were collected, and the facial aesthetic length was calculated. The authors also measured the length of beautiful chins, as evaluated by 2 plastic surgeons, and the ratios of chins from "The 100 Most Beautiful/Handsome Faces in China" published by TCC Asia in 2020. RESULTS: The mean volume of chin filling was 1.89 ± 0.74 mL in female subjects and 2.68 ± 1.28 mL in male subjects. The ideal length of the chin was equal to that of the nasal dorsum in male subjects, and the ideal chin-to-nasal dorsum ratio was 0.9 in female subjects. CONCLUSION: In this study, the authors investigate sex differences in chin aesthetics among the Chinese population and introduce an aesthetic and anatomical approach to chin injection.

Clinical Anatomy of the Chin Evaluated by 3-Dimensional Tomography and Cadaveric Dissection: Implications for Safety and Optimal Injection Techniques in Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Soft tissue fillers have been widely used for the correction of chin volume loss because of congenital conditions and aging. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to discuss anatomical concerns for chin filler injections, which may help to reduce the incidence of severe intravascular embolization complications and improve patient satisfaction. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We scanned 40 cadaveric heads with a contrast agent using a 64-row spiral computed tomography scanner. The scan was visualized by a Philips IntelliSpace workstation and analyzed by Materialise's interactive m image control system software to measure and quantify the arterial data. Twenty of 40 cadavers were dissected to define the layers of tissue. RESULTS: In total, 221 arteries passed through the sagittal plane of 40 specimens. The number of superficial arteries (163 of 221) was much greater than the number of deep arteries (58 of 221). The number of arteries gradually decreased with distance from the lower lip vermilion border plane, which formed the lower third of the face. CONCLUSION: This study introduces a safe and effective technique for administering chin filler injections that minimizes risks and improves patient satisfaction.

Surgical techniques to prevent delayed gastric emptying after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Delayed gastric emptying (DGE) is one of the most common complications after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). DGE represents impaired gastric motility without significant mechanical obstruction and is associated with an increased length of hospital stay, increased healthcare costs, and a high readmission rate. We reviewed published studies on various technical modifications to reduce the incidence of DGE. DATA SOURCES: Studies were identified by searching PubMed for relevant articles published up to December 2022. The following search terms were used: "pancreaticoduodenectomy", "pancreaticojejunostomy", "pancreaticogastrostomy", "gastric emptying", "gastroparesis" and "postoperative complications". The search was limited to English publications. Additional articles were identified by a manual search of references from key articles. RESULTS: In recent years, various surgical procedures and techniques have been explored to reduce the incidence of DGE. Pyloric resection, Billroth II reconstruction, Braun's enteroenterostomy, and antecolic reconstruction may be associated with a decreased incidence of DGE, but more high-powered studies are needed in the future. Neither laparoscopic nor robotic surgery has demonstrated superiority in preventing DGE, and the use of staplers is controversial regarding whether they can reduce the incidence of DGE. CONCLUSIONS: Despite many innovations in surgical techniques, there is no surgical procedure that is superior to others to reduce DGE. Further larger prospective randomized studies are needed.

Three-dimensional Evaluation of Results After Dual-Plane Breast Augmentation with and Without Internal Suture Mastopexy.

BACKGROUND: In patients with breast atrophy and ptosis, it is necessary to correct both problems simultaneously. This study aimed to analyze breast morphological changes with a three-dimensional (3D) scanning technique to demonstrate the improvement effect of dual-plane breast augmentation combined with internal suture mastopexy. METHODS: 3D breast surface scans were performed preoperatively and postoperatively in 24 patients (n = 35 breasts) undergoing internal suture mastopexy combined with prosthetic augmentation through the periareolar approach and 24 patients (48 breasts) undergoing simple dual-plane breast augmentation. Changes in linear distance, breast volume and volume distribution, breast projection, and nipple position were analyzed to assess the breast morphology. RESULTS: Compared with simple breast augmentation, augmentation combined with internal suture mastopexy was associated with a higher upper pole volume increase and greater medial and upward nipple displacement. After the surgery, the upper pole volume increased by an average of 10.6% in combined augmentation group and decreased by an average of 2.2% in the simple breast augmentation group. The measured breast projections were 24.8 ± 2.2% lower than expected in the combined group and 23.1 ± 4.1% lower than expected in the simple group, based on implant parameters recorded by the manufacturer. The nipple moved 0.2 ± 0.5 cm laterally, 1.6 ± 0.6 cm upward, and 2.8 ± 0.7 cm anteriorly in the combined group and 0.9 ± 0.5 cm laterally, 0.7 ± 0.6 cm upward, and 3.0 ± 0.6 cm anteriorly in the simple group. CONCLUSIONS: Dual-plane breast augmentation in addition to internal suture mastopexy appears to reposition breast tissue from the lower pole to fill in the deficient upper breast, pull the nipple medially and superiorly, and ultimately correct mild to moderate breast ptosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

A Computed Tomographic Investigation of the Ophthalmic Artery Volume and Its Relevance to Soft Tissue Filler Injections.

BACKGROUND: The measured intraarterial volume of cadaveric ophthalmic arteries was utilized for safety recommendations during facial soft tissue filler injections. However, its clinical practicability and model applicability have become questionable. OBJECTIVES: To measure the volume of the ophthalmic artery in living individuals by utilizing computed tomography (CT) imaging technology. METHODS: A total of 40 Chinese patients (23 males, 17 females) were included in this study with a mean age of 61.0 (14.2) years and a mean body mass index of 23.7 (3.3) kg/m2. Patients were investigated with CT imaging technology to evaluate the length, diameter, and volume of the bilateral ophthalmic arteries as well as the length of the bony orbits, resulting in a total of 80 investigated ophthalmic arteries and orbits. RESULTS: Independent of gender, the average length of the ophthalmic artery was 80.6 (18.7) mm, the calculated volume of the ophthalmic artery was 0.16 (0.05) mL and the minimal and maximal internal diameter of the ophthalmic artery were 0.50 (0.05) mm and 1.06 (0.1) mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results obtained from the investigation of 80 ophthalmic arteries it must be concluded that current safety recommendations should be reevaluated. The volume of the ophthalmic artery appears to be 0.2 mL rather than 0.1 mL as previously reported. In addition, it appears impractical to limit the volume of soft tissue filler bolus injections to 0.1 mL due to the aesthetic requirements of each individual patient and treatment plan.

Age-Related Changes of the Zygomatic Ligament: An Experimental Animal Study.

BACKGROUND: Facial aging is a multifactorial process involving the skin, fat, muscles, bones, and ligaments. The role of facial ligaments in the facial aging process remains elusive. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify whether age-related changes in facial ligaments exist and how to best quantify such changes when investigating the zygomatic ligament in the rat. METHODS: A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats (10 young, 10 middle-aged, 10 mature) were investigated to visualize the zygomatic ligament. Samples of the ligaments spanning the zygomatic arch and the skin were taken and histologically examined with hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, Verhoeff's elastic, and picrosirius red staining. Quantification of the Type I/III collagen ratio and collagen content was performed by color deconvolution and electron microscopic imaging. RESULTS: With increasing age, collagen fibers inside of the examined ligaments appeared thicker and more closely arranged. The Type I/III collagen ratio was measured to be 1.74 in young animals, 3.93 in middle-aged animals, and 5.58 in mature animals. The ultra-microstructure of the ligament was less coordinated in direction and orientation in young and middle-aged animals than in mature animals, in which collagen fibers were bundled together in a strong and oriented mesh. CONCLUSIONS: Ligaments appeared thinner, transparent, more elastic, and less robust in young animals, whereas ligaments in mature animals appeared thicker, more fascia-like, less elastic, and more robust. An increase in the Type I/III collagen ratio, indicating greater stiffness and reduced elasticity, was observed with higher age of the investigated animals. These findings indicate that ligaments might increase in stiffness and rigidity with age.

Upper Facial Anastomoses Between the External and Internal Carotid Vascular Territories - A 3D Computed Tomographic Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Facial regions with a high risk for causing injection-related visual comprise are dual-supply vascular areas such as the nose, glabella, and forehead. These regions have in common that they receive arterial blood supply both by branches of the internal (ICA) and the external carotid artery (ECA). OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to investigate the anastomotic pathways between ICA and ECA branches in the upper face. METHODS: Postmortem computed tomographic angiographic scans of n = 38 Chinese non-embalmed hemifaces (25 males, 13 females; mean age, 37.79 [11.8] years; mean BMI, 21.90 [2.3] kg/m2) were conducted. Data analysis relied on the calculation of depth, distances, and pathways of forehead and temporal arteries to investigate the number of anastomotic connections, the connecting branches, and the layer of connection between ICA and ECA territories. RESULTS: Between ICA and ECA territories, only 1 connection in 57.9%, 2 connections in 31.6%, 3 connections in 5.3%, and 4 and 5 connections in 2.6% each were identified. A superficial connection was observed in 15.8% whereas in 84.2% the anastomotic connection was identified to be both superficial and deep. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse events following facial minimally invasive soft-tissue filler injections for aesthetic purposes are not frequent but devastating if they occur. Anatomic knowledge as presented in this study can help to increase awareness of 3-dimensional vascular anastomotic pathways and identify safer injection zones and safer fascial planes. Evidence-based injection techniques should be followed, and safety aspects should be placed over the aesthetic outcome.

[A pair of enantiomeric sesquiterpenoids from florets of Carthamus tinctorius].

This study investigated the chemical components from the florets of Carthamus tinctorius. Five compounds were isolated from C. tinctorius by column chromatography with silica gel and toyopearl HW-40 F, preparative thin-layer chromatography(TLC), and semi-preparative reverse phased high performance liquid chromatography(RP-HPLC). Their structures were identified by mass spectrometry(MS), one-dimension nuclear magnetic resonance(1 D-NMR), two-dimension nuclear magnetic resonance(2 D-NMR), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction as(-)-(2S,3S,5S,7S,10R)-eudesma-4(15)-en-2,3,11-triol(1 a),(+)-(2R,3R,5R,7R,10S)-eudesma-4(15)-en-2,3,11-triol(1 b), rosin(2),(+)-syringaresinol(3), and(E)-1-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-but-1-en-3-one(4). Compounds 1 a and 1 b are a pair of enantiomeric sesquiterpenoids. Compound 1 a is a new eudesmene and is named(-)-plucheol A. Compound 1 a at 100 µmol·L~(-1) showed significant antioxidant activity against ABTS~(+·) and DPPH·, with the scavenging rates of 30.98%±4.17% and 27.52%±1.24%, respectively, while compound 1 b was inactive. In addition, compounds 1 a and 1 b showed no obvious anti-inflammatory activity.

Astaxanthin Attenuates Environmental Tobacco Smoke-Induced Cognitive Deficits: A Critical Role of p38 MAPK.

Increasing evidence indicates that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) impairs cognitive function and induces oxidative stress in the brain. Recently, astaxanthin (ATX), a marine bioactive compound, has been reported to ameliorate cognitive deficits. However, the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear. In this study, ATX administration (40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, oral gavage) and cigarette smoking were carried out once a day for 10 weeks to investigate whether the p38 MAPK is involved in cognitive function in response to ATX treatment in the cortex and hippocampus of ETS mice. Results indicated that ATX administration improved spatial learning and memory of ETS mice (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Furthermore, exposure to ATX prevented the increases in the protein levels of the p38mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK; p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB p65; p < 0.05 or p < 0.01), reversed the decreases in the mRNA and protein levels of synapsin I (SYN) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) (all p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Moreover, ATX significantly down-regulated the increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) (all p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Meanwhile, the increased level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT) were suppressed after exposure to ATX (all p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Also, the results of the molecular docking study of ATX into the p38 MAPK binding site revealed that its mechanism was possibly similar to that of PH797804, a p38 MAPK inhibitor. Therefore, our results indicated that the ATX might be a critical agent in protecting the brain against neuroinflammation, synaptic plasticity impairment, and oxidative stress in the cortex and hippocampus of ETS mice.

The Role of Surgery in Treating Resectable Limited Disease of Esophageal Neuroendocrine Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rare malignant tumor. The role of surgery in resectable limited disease of esophageal NEC remains unclear. How to select a specific group of limited disease of esophageal NEC who might benefit from surgery remains to be answered. METHODS: Patients undergoing esophagectomy for resectable limited disease of esophageal NEC in our department from January 2007 to June 2015 were analyzed. TNM staging system was applied to describe those patients, and according to their different long-term prognosis after surgery, those patients were subgrouped into surgery response limited disease (SRLD) group and surgery non-response limited disease (SNRLD) group. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to identify potential prognostic factors. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients with resectable limited disease of esophageal NEC were identified for analysis. The median survival time of those patients was 21.5 months. There was no significant survival differences among stage I, stage IIA, and stage IIB patients, but all these patients had significantly longer survival than stage III patients. Therefore, stage I, stage IIA, and stage IIB patients were aggregated together as SRLD group, and stage III patients were aggregated as SNRLD group. SRLD patients obtained significantly longer survival than SNRLD patients in both univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. Moreover, adjuvant therapy could significantly benefit SRLD patients (P = 0.004) but could not benefit SNRLD patients (P = 0.136). CONCLUSIONS: Different responses to surgery existed in resectable limited disease of esophageal NEC indicating the need of further subgrouping for those patients. The resectable limited disease of esophageal NEC could be further subgrouped into SRLD group and SNRLD group according to the TNM staging system.

Estimating the Change in Facial Subunits During Positive and Negative Facial Expression Using Three-Dimensional Stereophotogrammetry Facial Analysis.

Background: A more refined and clinically related facial expression analysis is required for patients who wish to be perceived more emotionally positive. Objective: To measure the change in skin vector and volume in facial subunits when expressing positive expression (happiness) compared with negative expressions (sadness, fear, disgust, and anger), using three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry analysis. Methods: This study took 3D photographs of 20 volunteers' face at rest and during positive and negative expression. The directions of skin vector and volume changes in each facial subregion were recorded and calculated. Results: In the positive expression, 78.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 66.8-89.9) of the medial midfacial subregions presented superolateral vector and volume increase, whereas volume decrease in 82.5% (95% CI 78.5-86.5) of the lip subregions could be observed. In the negative expression, the vector changes were predominantly inferomedial in 26.0% (95% CI 15.4-36.5) of the forehead and 36.8% (95% CI 33.2-40.3) of the upper eyelid subregions, whereas volume increases in 34.0% (95% CI 30.4-37.7) of the upper eyelid subregions were observed. Conclusions: This 3D stereophotogrammetry analysis presents the morphological difference between the positive and negative expression.

Single-Cell Transcriptome Landscape and Cell Fate Decoding in Human Brain Organoids after Transplantation.

Human stem cells and derivatives transplantation are widely used to treat nervous system diseases, while the fate determination of transplanted cells is not well elucidated. To explore cell fate changes of human brain organoids before and after transplantation, human brain organoids are transplanted into prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIP), respectively. Single-cell sequencing is then performed. According to time-series sample comparison, transplanted cells mainly undergo neural development at 2 months post-transplantation (MPT) and then glial development at 4MPT, respectively. A different brain region sample comparison shows that organoids grafted to PFC have obtained cell fate close to those of host cells in PFC, other than HIP, which may be regulated by the abundant expression of dopamine (DA) and acetylcholine (Ach) in PFC. Meanwhile, morphological complexity of human astrocyte grafts is greater in PFC than in HIP. DA and Ach both activate the calcium activity and increase morphological complexity of astrocytes in vitro. This study demonstrates that human brain organoids receive host niche factor regulation after transplantation, resulting in the alignment of grafted cell fate with implanted brain regions, which may contribute to a better understanding of cell transplantation and regenerative medicine.

Damage Effect of Amorphous Carbon Black Nanoparticle Aggregates on Model Phospholipid Membranes: Surface Charge, Exposure Concentration and Time Dependence.

Commercial nano-scale carbon blacks (CB) are being harnessed widely and may impose potentially hazardous effects because of their unique properties, especially if they have been modified to grow reactive functional groups on their surface. Cytotoxicity of CB has been well studied but the membrane damage mechanisms and role of surface modification are still open to debate. Negatively and positively charged giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) were prepared using three lipids as model cell membranes to examine the mechanistic damage of CB and MCB (modified by acidic potassium permanganate) aggregates. Optical images showed that both anionic CB and MCB disrupted the positively charged but not the negatively charged GUVs. This disruption deteriorated with the rise and extension of exposure concentration and time. Lipids extraction caused by CBNs (CB and MCB together are called CBNs) was found. MCB caused more severe disruption than CB. MCB was enveloped into vesicles through an endocytosis-like process at 120 mg/L. MCB mediated the gelation of GUVs, perhaps through C-O-P bonding bridges. The lower hydrodynamic diameter and more negative charges may have been responsible for the distinction effect of MCB over CB. The adhesion and bonding of CBNs to the membrane were favored by electrostatic interaction and the practical application of CBNs warrants more attention.

[Discussion on the location of Dazhui (GV 14) and Yaoyangguan (GV 3)].

Since the anatomical location of acupoints was recorded in The latest Practice of Western Acupuncture in 1915, and Lecture Notes on Advanced Acupuncture in 1931, the Japanese acupuncture works of Chinese translation version, the location of Dazhui (GV 14) (under the spinous process of the 7th cervical vertebra) and Yaoyangguan (GV 3) (under the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra) had rarely been questioned for nearly a century. In order to confirm the above statement, the writers have reviewed ancient literature, combined with the modern anatomical knowledge and searched the evidences from the core arguments of the acupuncture Mingtang chart and the bronze acupuncture statue. It is believed that Dazhui （GV 14） should be positioned under the spinous process of the 1st thoracic vertebra, and Yaoyangguan（GV 3） be under the spinous process of the 5th lumbar vertebra. Accordingly, all of the other acupoints of these meridians should be moved down by 1 vertebra, i.e. those on the governor vessel from Dazhui (GV 14) to Yaoyangguan (GV 3), those on the 1st lateral line of the bladder meridian of foot-taiyang from Dazhu (BL 11) to Baihuanshu (BL 30) and those on the 2nd lateral line of the bladder meridian from Fufen (BL 41) to Zhibian (BL 54).

Serratus Plane Block in Breast Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The serratus plane block is a regional anesthesia technique awaiting efficacy and safety evaluation in breast cancer surgery, but evidence is unclear. This meta-analysis evaluates the analgesic effectiveness of serratus plane block vis-à-vis general anesthesia and paravertebral block for breast cancer surgery. We searched for randomized controlled trials in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science with no language limitation, comparing the serratus plane block with multimodal analgesia or the thoracic paravertebral block in breast cancer surgery. The Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method in combination with a random-effects model was used to pool data. We included 12 randomized controlled trials (799 patients). Compared with multimodal analgesia, pooled outcomes favored the use of serratus plane block for effectively alleviating acute postoperative pain severity at multiple time points. The serratus plane block also resulted in decreased postoperative analgesic consumption of 28.81mg (95% confidence interval [CI]: -51.20, -6.43), decreased intraoperative fentanyl consumption of -56.46 mg (95% CI: -79.61, -33.30), increased duration of postoperative anesthesia of 243.85 min (95% CI: 104.38, 383.31), and reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting with a log relative risk of -1.07 (95% CI: -1.90, -0.24). Compared with the thoracic paravertebral block, the serratus plane block was not statically worse for all of the outcomes assessed. No adverse effects were reported. The serratus plane block effectively alleviates acute postoperative pain, reduces the rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and improves perioperative anesthesia outcomes in breast cancer surgery, and it may represent an alternative to thoracic paravertebral block.

[Influence of Antecedent Dry Days on Nitrogen Removal in Bioretention Systems].

Bioretention systems have become an optimal technology during the construction of the sponge city, but its nitrogen removal performance can be affected by antecedent dry days (ADD). This study was designed to investigate the effects of different lengths of ADD (1,2,3, 5, 7, 12, and 22 d) on nitrogen removal performance using a series of laboratory-scale bioretention systems to form seven constant alternate drying-rewetting regimes. The influence mechanism was further investigated by analyzing the spatial distribution of nitrogen reductase activity and microbial community structure under different drying-rewetting regimes. The results showed that the ammonium removal efficiency was not significantly affected by ADD, while exhibiting high variation depending on the hydraulic permeability of the filler and plant growth conditions. The nitrate and total nitrogen removal efficiency decreased as the length of ADD increased form 7 d to 22 d. In addition, the spatial distribution of nitrate reductase (NaR), nitrite reductase (NiR), and hydroxylamine reductase (HyR) were affected by ADD to some extent. It was found that the soil moisture of submerged layer (SL) regulated the nitrogen processes. The nitrate dissimilatory reduction to ammonium (DNRA) can occur in the SL through secondary catalytic reduction by nitrogen reductases, thus affecting the removal of ammonium. The soil microbial community structure and its spatial distribution could be altered by ADD significantly, and the removal of multiple nitrogen species was partly affected. Thereinto, under shorter ADD values of 1, 2, 3, and 5 d, the dominant phylum was Firmicutes, a group of denitrifying microbes, and its dominant genus, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, also had the function of DNRA. The results of the study confirmed that ADD has a certain effect on the nitrogen removal capacity and nitrogen reductase activity, while resulting in spatial changes in the microbial community structure in the bioretention system under constant drying-rewetting conditions.

Fabrication of alginate based microgels for drug-sustained release: In-vitro and in-vivo evaluation.

The current study was conducted to evaluate and analyze the effect of alginate, itaconic acid, and N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide in formulation of a novel alginate based microgels for sustained release of theophylline. The fabricated microgels were characterized by PXRD, SEM, FTIR, TGA and DSC respectively. FTIR revealed that alginate reacted with itaconic acid during polymerization reaction and confirmed the overlapping of itaconic acid on the backbone of alginate. TGA and DSC depicted high thermal stability of the fabricated microgels as compared to pure unreacted polymer and monomer. Likewise, dynamic swelling and percent drug release studies were carried out at different pH media i.e., pH 1.2, 4.6 and 7.4 respectively. Greater dynamic swelling and percent drug release was observed at higher pH 7.4 as compared to lower pH 4.6 and 1.2 due to the deprotonation of COOH groups of both alginate and itaconic acid respectively. The drug release mechanism from the fabricated microgels could be described by first order model. In-vivo pharmacokinetic study was performed on rabbits and exhibited sustained release in rabbits. Hence, the developed microgels indicated higher potential as the delivery system for the sustained delivery of theophylline.

The mTOR/NF-κB Pathway Mediates Neuroinflammation and Synaptic Plasticity in Diabetic Encephalopathy.

Diabetic encephalopathy, a severe complication of diabetes mellitus, is characterized by neuroinflammation and aberrant synaptogenesis in the hippocampus leading to cognitive decline. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is associated with cognition impairment. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is a transcription factor of proinflammatory cytokines. Although mTOR has been ever implicated in processes occurring in neuroinflammation, the role of this enzyme on NF-κB signaling pathway remains unclear in diabetic encephalopathy. In the present study, we investigated whether mTOR regulates the NF-κB signaling pathway to modulate inflammatory cytokines and synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons. In vitro model was constructed in mouse HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cells exposed to high glucose. With the inhibition of mTOR or NF-κB by either chemical inhibitor or short-hairpin RNA (shRNA)-expressing lentivirus-vector, we examined the effects of mTOR/NF-κB signaling on proinflammatory cytokines and synaptic proteins. The diabetic mouse model induced by a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection was administrated with rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor) and PDTC (NF-κB inhibitor), respectively. High glucose significantly increased mTOR phosphorylation in HT-22 cells. While inhibiting mTOR by rapamycin or shmTOR significantly suppressed high glucose-induced activation of NF-κB and its regulators IKKß and IκBα, suggesting mTOR is the upstream regulator of NF-κB. Furthermore, inhibiting NF-κB by PDTC and shNF-κB decreased proinflammatory cytokines expression (IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α) and increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and synaptic proteins (synaptophysin and PSD-95) in HT-22 cells under high glucose conditions. Besides, the mTOR and NF-κB inhibitors improved cognitive decline in diabetic mice. The inhibition of mTOR and NF-κB suppressed mTOR/NF-κB signaling pathway, increased synaptic proteins, and improved ultrastructural synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of diabetic mice. Activating mTOR/NF-κB signaling pathway regulates the pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy, such as neuroinflammation, synaptic proteins loss, and synaptic ultrastructure impairment. The findings provide the implication that mTOR/NF-κB is potential new drug targets to treat diabetic encephalopathy.

Melatonin Regulates Differentiation of Sheep Brown Adipocyte Precursor Cells Via AMP-Activated Protein Kinase.

In sheep industry, hypothermia caused by insufficient brown adipose tissue (BAT) deposits is one of the major causes of lamb deaths. Enhancing the formation and function of BAT in neonatal lamb increases thermogenesis and hence reduces economic losses. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect and mechanism of melatonin on sheep brown adipocyte formation and function. Sheep brown adipocyte precursor cells (SBACs) isolated from perirenal BAT were treated with melatonin (1 and 10 nM). The SBACs subjected to melatonin exhibited a decreased proliferation ability, accompanied by down-regulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cyclin D1, and CDK4 protein contents in a melatonin dose-dependent manner. Melatonin promoted brown adipocyte formation and induced the expression of brown adipogenic markers, including uncoupling protein 1 and PR domain-containing 16 during differentiation of SBAC. Moreover, the AMP-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1) activity was positively correlated with brown adipocyte formation potential. Importantly, melatonin effectively activated AMPKα1. Furthermore, promotional effects of melatonin were abolished by AMPKα1 knockout, suggesting the involvement of AMPKα1 in this process. Collectively, these results suggested that melatonin enhanced brown adipocyte formation in SBACs in vitro through activation of AMPKα1.