Using nanocellulose to improve heat-induced cull cow meat myofibrillar protein gels: effects of particle morphology and content.

BACKGROUND: Enhancing protein gel properties is essential to improve the texture of meat products. In this study, the improvement effects of three types of nanocellulose, i.e. rod-like cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), long-chain cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and spherical cellulose nanospheres (CNS) with different concentrations (1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g kg-1 ), on cull cow meat myofibrillar protein (MP) gel were investigated. RESULTS: Compared with needle-shaped CNC and spherical CNS, the addition of 10 and 20 g kg-1 long-chain CNF had the most significant improvement effect on gel hardness and water-holding capacity, respectively (P < 0.05), increasing to 160.1 g and 97.8%, respectively. In addition, the incorporation of long-chain CNF shortened the T2 relaxation time and induced the formation of the densest network structure and promoted the phase transition of the gel. However, excessive filling of nanocellulose would destroy the structure of the gel, which was not conducive to the improvement of gel properties. Fourier transform infrared results showed that there was no chemical reaction between the three nanocellulose types and MP, but the addition of nanocellulose was conducive to gel formation. CONCLUSION: The improvement of MP gel properties by adding nanocellulose mainly depends on its morphology and concentration. Nanocellulose with higher aspect ratio is more beneficial to the improvement of gel properties. For each nanocellulose type, there is an optimal addition amount for MP gel improvement. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Revision Operation of the Unsatisfactory Microtia Reconstruction With Autologous Costal Cartilage.

BACKGROUND: Revision operation of the unsatisfactory microtia reconstruction is 1 of the most difficult revision operations in plastic surgery. This study discussed the cases about revision operation of the unsatisfactory or failed ear reconstruction using autologous costal cartilage and residual. METHODS: A prospectively maintained database of all consecutive patients who underwent secondary total ear reconstruction from 2013 to 2020 was reviewed. Demographic data and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients with microtia met the inclusion criteria. The age of the patients who underwent secondary reconstruction ranged 6 to 56 years. The follow-up duration was from 1 to 8 years. Primary reconstruction using costal cartilage was performed in 34 cases, and Medpor (porous high-density polyethylene) were used in 2 cases. All 36 cases were treated with costal cartilage as the revision. One-stage revision was performed in 27 cases, including scaffold covered by superficial temporal fascia flap in 9 cases, retroauricular fascia flap in 12 cases and superficial temporal plus retroauricular fascia flap in 5 cases. Nine cases were renovated with expanders by stages, of which 8 cases were covered by retroauricular fascia and 1 case was covered by expanded skin flap. Complications occurred in 2 cases, and 1 patient was not satisfied with the partial scaffold repair. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of revision operation of ear reconstruction with costal cartilage is satisfactory, and different methods of ear reconstruction are indicated in different operation conditions, and the revision surgery requires adequate preoperative evaluation.Level of Evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Proteomics analysis reveals that nitric oxide regulates photosynthesis of maize seedlings under water deficiency.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important bioactive molecule that functions in regulating diverse abiotic stresses in plants, whereas its molecular mechanism remains obscure. In this study, treatment with 0.1 mM NO donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) significantly alleviated the inhibited growth induced by 15% polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-stimulated water deficiency (WD) for 3 days in maize seedlings, manifested by less decreased plant total fresh weight and dry weight. Comprehensive proteome analysis was further used to measure the expression profiles of leaf proteins of SNP-pretreated maize seedlings under WD conditions to explore the molecular mechanisms of NO-induced WD tolerance. Using 2-DE method, 135 protein spots showed significantly enhanced or reduced abundance, of which 102 spots were successfully identified MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. The identified protein species were associated with diverse functions, and most (52/83, 62.7%) of known protein species were related to photosynthetic processes. Compared to alone PEG treatment, the abundance of 25 identified protein species in SNP + PEG treatment were enhanced among the identified photosynthesis-related protein species. In addition, exogenous SNP application dramatically regulated chlorophyll α fluorescence kinetics e.g. the increase of maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), photosynthetic performance index (PI), and IP phase, whereas it remarkably reduced the polyphasic OJIP fluorescence transient, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (H2O2 and O2•-) and malondialdehyde (MDA). These findings suggest that the NO-induced WD tolerance could be associated with improved photosynthetic capability in higher plants.

Nitric Oxide Enhancing Resistance to PEG-Induced Water Deficiency is Associated with the Primary Photosynthesis Reaction in Triticum aestivum L.

Photosynthesis is affected by water-deficiency (WD) stress, and nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical that participates in the photosynthesis process. Previous studies have suggested that NO regulates excitation-energy distribution of photosynthesis under WD stress. Here, quantitative phosphoproteomic profiling was conducted using iTRAQ. Differentially phosphorylated protein species (DEPs) were identified in leaves of NO- or polyethylene glycol (PEG)-treated wheat seedlings (D), and in control seedlings. From 1396 unique phosphoproteins, 2257 unique phosphorylated peptides and 2416 phosphorylation sites were identified. Of these, 96 DEPs displayed significant changes (≥1.50-fold, p < 0.01). These DEPs are involved in photosynthesis, signal transduction, etc. Furthermore, phosphorylation of several DEPs was upregulated by both D and NO treatments, but downregulated only in NO treatment. These differences affected the chlorophyll A⁻B binding protein, chloroplast post-illumination chlorophyll-fluorescence-increase protein, and SNT7, implying that NO indirectly regulated the absorption and transport of light energy in photosynthesis in response to WD stress. The significant difference of chlorophyll (Chl) content, Chl a fluorescence-transient, photosynthesis index, and trapping and transport of light energy further indicated that exogenous NO under D stress enhanced the primary photosynthesis reaction compared to D treatment. A putative pathway is proposed to elucidate NO regulation of the primary reaction of photosynthesis under WD.

Physiological, Ultrastructural and Proteomic Responses in the Leaf of Maize Seedlings to Polyethylene Glycol-Stimulated Severe Water Deficiency.

After maize seedlings grown in full-strength Hoagland solution for 20 days were exposed to 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-stimulated water deficiency for two days, plant height, shoot fresh and dry weights, and pigment contents significantly decreased, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) content greatly increased. Using transmission electron microscopy, we observed that chloroplasts of mesophyll cells in PEG-treated maize seedlings were swollen, with a disintegrating envelope and disrupted grana thylakoid lamellae. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) method, we were able to identify 22 protein spots with significantly altered abundance in the leaves of treated seedlings in response to water deficiency, 16 of which were successfully identified. These protein species were functionally classified into signal transduction, stress defense, carbohydrate metabolism, protein metabolism, and unknown categories. The change in the abundance of the identified protein species may be closely related to the phenotypic and physiological changes due to PEG-stimulated water deficiency. Most of the identified protein species were putatively located in chloroplasts, indicating that chloroplasts may be prone to damage by PEG stimulated-water deficiency in maize seedlings. Our results help clarify the molecular mechanisms of the responses of higher plants to severe water deficiency.

The co-inoculation of Trichoderma viridis and Bacillus subtilis improved the aerobic composting efficiency and degradation of lignocellulose.

The aim of this study was to reveal the mechanism by which co-inoculation with both Trichoderma viridis and Bacillus subtilis improved the efficiency of composting and degradation of lignocellulose in agricultural waste. The results showed that co-inoculation with Trichoderma and Bacillus increased abundance of Bacteroidota to promote the maturation 7 days in advance. Galbibacter may be a potential marker of co-inoculation composting efficiency compost. The compost became dark brown, odorless, and had a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 16.40 and a pH of 8.2. Moreover, Actinobacteriota and Firmicutes still dominated the degradation of lignocellulose following inoculation with Trichoderma or Bacillus 35 days after composting. Bacterial function prediction analysis showed that carbohydrate metabolism was the primary metabolic pathway. In conclusion, co-inoculation with Trichoderma and Bacillus shortened the composting cycle and accelerated the degradation of lignocellulose. These findings provide new strategies for the efficient use of agricultural waste to produce organic fertilizers.

A cross-sectional study on the relationship between visceral adiposity index and periodontitis in different age groups.

Obesity and periodontitis are significantly related, and the visceral adiposity index (VAI) is an important indicator of obesity. This study aimed to investigate the association between VAI and periodontitis. The study included participants from the 2009-2014 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who received a complete periodontal exam and VAI record. Periodontitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-American Academy of Periodontology periodontitis case definitions, is categorized into the following: no periodontitis, moderate periodontitis, mild periodontitis, and severe periodontitis. Hierarchical analysis, multivariable logistic regression, and restricted cubic spline regression were conducted to investigate the relationship between periodontitis and VAI in adults. There was no significant relationship between VAI and the prevalence of periodontitis in all age groups (P = 0.08). Age-stratified analysis showed a significant association between periodontitis and VAI in adults aged 40-50 years (P < 0.001). After adjusting for all covariates, the association between periodontitis and VAI remained significant in the 40-50-years age group (the trend P value = 0.014). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a non-linear relationship between VAI and periodontitis (P for non-linear = 0.002). Visceral adiposity index was significantly associated with periodontitis risk in the 40-50-year-old group, and the relationship between VAI and periodontitis risk was found to be non-linear.

The Significance of Odontoid Incidence in Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cervical sagittal parameters for standing Digital radiography (DR) and supine Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to further clarify the relationship between odontoid incidence (OI) and cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). METHODS: 52 CSM patients aged 54.46 ± 2.89 years underwent both standing DR and supine MRI scans of cervical spine between November 2021 and November 2022. OI, odontoid tilt (OT), C2 slope (C2S), T1 slope (T1S), C0-2 angle, C2-7 angle (cervical lordosis [CL]), and T1S-CL were measured in both DR and MRI images using Surgimap (Version 2.3.2.1). Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to compare these parameters between the two modalities. RESULTS: Cervical sagittal parameters, including OI, OT, C2S, C0-2 angle, T1S, C2-7 angle (CL) and T1S-CL, showed no significant differences in the measurements between the two modalities. Based on the DR images, OI was related to OT (r = .386, P < .01), C2S (r = .505, P < .01), CL (r = -.412, P < .01), and T1S-CL (r = .320, P < .05), and OI was matched with CL (r2 = .170) and T1S-CL (r2 = .102). Based on MRI images, OI was related to OT (r = .433, P < .01), C2S (r = .516, P < .01), CL (r = -.355, P < .01), and T1S-CL (r = .271, P < .05), and OI matched with C2-7 (r2 = .126) and T1S-CL (r2 = .073). CONCLUSION: OI is an independent parameter related to cervical anatomy and its measurement is unaffected by external factors. In patients with CSM, odontoid parameters may effectively describe the sagittal alignment of the cervical spine on DR and MRI images.

Structure and Mechanical Performance of Biomimetic Costal Cartilage Models for Ear Framework Handcrafting Simulation.

SUMMARY: Ear framework handcrafting simulation using costal cartilage models is crucially important for ear reconstruction surgery education. Fabrication of proper models that are mechanically and structurally comparable to their native counterparts is an unmet challenge. The authors developed structure and mechanical performance biomimetic costal cartilage models for practicing and simulating handcrafting of ear frameworks. High-tensile silicone and three-dimensional techniques were used to fabricate biomimetic models. The models well-replicated the three-dimensional structure of human costal cartilage. Comprehensive mechanical tests showed that high-tensile silicone models had stiffness, hardness, and suture retention ability similar to those of their native counterparts, and they were distinctly superior to commonly used materials for costal cartilage simulation. This model satisfied surgeons and contributed to creation of outstanding ear frameworks. The recreated models were used in ear framework handcrafting workshops. Novices' surgical simulation performance with different models was compared and analyzed. People who used high-tensile silicone models have greater progress and confidence after training. Using high-tensile silicone costal cartilage models is an excellent choice for practicing and simulating the fabrication of ear frameworks manually. The models benefit practitioners and students in practicing handcrafting ear frameworks and surgical skills.

Mercury stress tolerance in wheat and maize is achieved by lignin accumulation controlled by nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important phytohormone for plant adaptation to mercury (Hg) stress. The effect of Hg on lignin synthesis, NO production in leaf, sheath and root and their relationship were investigated in two members of the grass family - wheat and maize. Hg stress decreased growth and lignin contents, significantly affected phenylpropanoid and monolignol pathways (PAL, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase; 4-coumarate: CoA ligase, 4CL; cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, CAD), with maize identified to be more sensitive to Hg stress than wheat. Among the tissue types, sheath encountered severe damage compared to leaves and roots. Hg translocation in maize was about twice that in wheat. Interestingly, total NO produced under Hg stress was significantly decreased compared to control, with maximum reduction of 43.4% and 42.9% in wheat and maize sheath, respectively. Regression analysis between lignin and NO contents or the activities of three enzymes including CAD, 4CL and PAL displayed the importance of NO contents, CAD, 4CL and PAL for lignin synthesis. Further, the gene expression profiles encoding CAD, 4CL and PAL provided support for the damaging effect of Hg on wheat sheath, and maize shoot. To validate NO potential to mitigate Hg toxicity in maize and wheat, NO donor and NO synthase inhibitor were supplemented along with Hg. The resulting phenotype, histochemical analysis and lignin contents showed that NO mitigated Hg toxicity by improving growth and lignin synthesis and accumulation. In summary, Hg sensitivity was higher in maize seedlings compared to wheat, which was associated with the lower lignin contents and reduced NO contents. External supplementation of NO is proposed as a sustainable approach to mitigate Hg toxicity in maize and wheat.

[Mechanical study of polyurethane elastomer and Medpor as the material of artificial auricular scaffold].

OBJECTIVE: By comparing the mechanics of human auricular cartilage, polyurethane elastic material, and high density polyethylene material (Medpor), to produce theoretical proof on choosing optimal artificial auricular scaffold materials. METHODS: The experimental materials were divided into 3 groups with 6 samples in each: the auricular cartilage group (group A), the polyurethane elastic material group (group B), and the Medpor group (group C). With an Instron5967 mechanical testing machine, compression and tensile testing were performed to respectively measure values of compression parameters (including yield stress, yield load, elastic modulus, yield compressibility, compressibility within 2 MPa, and compression stress within 10% strain) and values of tensile parameters (including yield stress, yield load, elastic modulus, yield elongation, elongation within 2 MPa, tensile stress within 1% strain) for comparison. RESULTS: Compression testing: no obvious yield points were observed in the whole process in samples of group B, while obvious yield points were observed in samples of groups A and C. There was no significant difference between groups A and C with respect to yield stress and yield load ( P>0.05); while the yield compressibility in group C was significantly lower than that in group A ( P<0.05) and the elastic modulus in group C was significantly higher than that in group A ( P<0.05). There was a significant difference with respect to compressibility within 2 MPa of materials among the 3 groups ( P<0.05), the high, medium, and low values go to groups B, A, and C respectively. The compression stress within 10% strain in group C was significantly higher than that in groups A and B ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between that in groups A and B ( P>0.05). Tensile testing: the materials in group B had extremely high tensile strength. The yield stress in groups A and B was significantly higher than that in group C ( P<0.05), and the elastic modulus and tensile stress within 1% strain were significantly lower than those in group C ( P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between those in groups A and B ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference with respect to yield load among the 3 groups ( P>0.05); but there was significant difference with respect to yield elongation among the 3 groups ( P<0.05), and the high, medium, and low values go to groups B, A, and C respectively. The elongation within 2 MPa in group B was significantly higher than that in groups A and C ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between that in groups A and C ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with the Medpor, the polyurethane elastic material is a more ideal artificial auricular scaffold material.

Mueller matrix decomposition for determination of optical rotation of glucose molecules in turbid media.

The optical activity of glucose molecules is important for diagnosing and monitoring blood glucose of diabetes. In order to accurately detect the diabetes at an early stage, there is an urgent need to develop innovative detection methods. By use of Mueller matrix decomposition (MMD), we have studied the optical activity of glucose molecules in three types of turbid media--polystyrene (PST) sphere suspension, chicken blood, and the vein blood of diabetic patients. The experimental setup to obtain the Mueller matrix in the forward detection geometry has been used. The experimental results show that the rotation angle has linear relationship with the concentration of the glucose when the scattering coefficient of the PST sphere suspension remains unchanged, whereas the scattering effect enlarges the rotation angle. Furthermore, optical rotation abides by Drude's dispersion equation. The decomposition method has also been found useful applications in quantifying the optical rotations of blood glucose in diabetic patients. The diabetic severity status can be distinguished with the rotation angle of glucose and also is in accordance with the clinical diagnosis. Thus, the method of MMD has promising applications in diabetic diagnosis and monitoring.

Investigation of nonfouling polypeptides of poly(glutamic acid) with lysine side chains synthesized by EDC·HCl/HOBt chemistry.

Nonfouling polypeptides with homogenous alternating charges draw peoples' attentions for their potential capability in biodegradation. Homogenous glutamic acid (E) and lysine (K) polypeptides were proposed and synthesized before. In this work, a new polypeptide formed by poly(glutamic acid) with lysine side chains (poly(E)-K) was synthesized by facile EDC·HCl/HOBt chemistry and investigated. Results show that these polypeptides also have good nonspecific protein resistance determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The lowest nonspecific adsorption of the model proteins, anti-IgG and fibrinogen (Fg), on the self-assembling monolayers (SAMs) surface of poly(E)-K was only 3.3 ± 1.8 and 4.4 ± 1.6%, respectively, when protein adsorption on tissue culture polystyrene surface was set as 100%. And, the relative nonspecific protein adsorption increases when the polypeptide molecular weight increases due to the repression of low density polymer brushes. Moreover, almost no obvious cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity in vitro were detected. This work suggests that polypeptides with various formats of homogenous balanced charges could achieve excellent nonspecific protein resistance, which might be the intrinsic reason for the coexistence of high concentration serum proteins in blood.