Histochemical Identification of Motor Fascicles Using Cholinesterase Staining in Rats Using a Mixed Nerve Model.

BACKGROUND: Inappropriate matching of motor and sensory fibers after nerve repair or grafting can lead to nerve recovery failure. Identifying the motor and sensory fascicles enables surgeons to match them accurately and correctly align nerve stumps, which is crucial for neural regeneration. Very few methods have been reported to differentiate between the sensory and motor nerve fascicles, and the replicability of these techniques remains unestablished. In this study, we aimed to assess the accuracy of axonal cholinesterase (CE) histochemical staining in distinguishing motor and sensory nerve fibers. METHODS: The femoral and sciatic nerves were harvested from rats. The specimens were immediately cut, frozen in isopentane, and cooled with liquid nitrogen. Nerve serial cross-sections were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining, followed by CE histochemistry. The staining protocol solutions included acetylthiocholine iodide, phosphate buffer, cobalt sulfate hydrate, potassium phosphate monobasic, sulfuric acid, sodium bicarbonate, glutaraldehyde, and ammonium sulfide. RESULTS: Cross-sections of nerves containing efferent and afferent nerve fibers in segregated fascicles showed that CE activity was confined to motor neurons. A histochemical study revealed that motor fibers with high cholinesterase activity can be differentiated from sensory fibers. The motor branches of the femoral and sciatic nerves showed specific axonal staining, whereas the sensory branch did not show any specific staining. CONCLUSION: CE histochemical staining is a useful technique for distinguishing between motor and sensory nerve fibers. It can be potentially useful in improving the outcomes of nerve grafts or extremity allotransplantation surgery.

Gene Ex Vivo Transduction Effects on Flap Survival and MicroRNAs Expression Analysis in Rat Allotransplantation Model.

BACKGROUND: The lack of noninvasive biomarkers for graft rejection remains a challenge for the accurate monitoring of vascularized composite allotransplants. Viral vector-mediated gene transfer is a promising method for preventing graft rejection. In this study, we aimed to establish the expression profile of microRNAs (miRNAs) in skin flap allotransplantation, with or without gene transfer, and determine the potential role of several miRNAs as biomarkers of acute rejection and immune tolerance. METHODS: An abdominal epigastric flap was transplanted from SD (RT1a) to Wistar rats (RT1Au). The adenoviral interleukin 10 (vIL-10) gene was transferred to the experimental group via flap pedicle injection. Postoperatively, flap appearance, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining, and miRNA expression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The viral IL-10 gene-treated group showed improved flap survival and reduced acute rejection response compared with the control group. On postoperative day 7, IL-10 expression in the flap was identified using immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of miR-191a, miR-31a, miR-16, and miR-3473 was upregulated in the skin tissue, and that of miR-484, miR-132, miR-139, miR-150, and miR-6216 was upregulated in the serum. CONCLUSION: AV IL-10 gene transfer could be an effective immunosuppressive strategy for the prevention of skin flap allograft rejection. Additionally, some miRNAs were upregulated in the experimental group, serving as potential biomarkers of immune tolerance.

Cancer-Oriented Comprehensive Nursing Services in Republic of Korea: Lessons from an Oncologist's Perspective.

Background and objectives: As is well known, cancer patients require extensive medical attention as they undergo surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and supportive care. The importance of high-quality cancer-directed nursing, combined with precision medicine, to maximize their survival outcomes and help them achieve a better quality of life cannot be overemphasized. In this context, we offered a new cancer-oriented comprehensive nursing system to our inpatients and reviewed its clinical outcomes in comparison with those from the preexisting general cancer ward. Materials and Methods: From March 2019 to February 2020, a total of 102 cancer patients and 42 nurses were enrolled in this pilot study. We aimed to analyze their performance in three main categories: structure, process, and patient/nurse outcomes. Results: First, structural (nurse staffing and environment) upgrades were installed in the cancer-oriented comprehensive nursing ward, including an improved nurse-patient ratio (1:8 in the comprehensive ward as compared with 1:14 in the general ward), wider space between beds (1.5 m versus 1.0 m), fully automatic beds with fall prevention sensors, etc. Second, the nursing process was improved (missed care 0.1 event/month vs. 1.3 event/month). Third, both patient and nurse outcomes showed preferable results in the comprehensive ward. The patient satisfaction level was higher in the comprehensive nursing ward than in the general ward (willing to revisit: 91.7% and 78.4%, respectively; willing to recommend to others: 95.0% and 76.8%, respectively). Pressure ulcers, as a patient safety indicator, were also decreased (0.3 events/month vs. 0.8 events/month). However, the fall incidence was similar in both groups (1.6 events/month vs. 1.5 events/month). In terms of nurse outcomes, turnover intention was stabilized and nurses' job satisfaction in the comprehensive ward was superior to that of their counterparts. Conclusions: Our study was a pilot study to demonstrate that cancer patient-oriented comprehensive nursing services can be helpful in improving the quality of cancer treatment and nurses' job satisfaction. Continued interest in and efforts to improve nursing care delivery are also crucial in achieving and maintaining the best possible cancer patient care.

Adipogenic effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenol S (BPS) in adult F1 male mice.

Bisphenol S (BPS) has been increasingly used as a substitute for bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine disruptor. Early-life exposure to BPA affects fetal development and the risk of obesity in adolescence and adulthood. However, the effects of fetal exposure BPS in later life are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of prenatal BPS exposure on adiposity in adult F1 mice. Pregnant C57BL/6 N mice were exposed to BPS (0, 0.05, 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/d) via drinking water from gestation day 9 until delivery. Thereafter, two groups of offspring (6 weeks old) were either administered a standard diet (STD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks until euthanasia. The body weight and gonadal white adipose tissue (gWAT) mass were determined, and the energy expenditure for the adiposity phenotype was computed especially for male mice, followed by histological analysis of the gWAT. Thereafter, the expression levels of adipogenic marker genes (Pparg, Cebpa, Fabp4, Lpl, and Adipoq) were analyzed in the gWAT via reverse-transcription PCR analysis. BPS-exposed male mice displayed apparent gWAT hypertrophy, consistent with the significant increase in adipocyte size in the gWAT and upregulation of Pparg and its direct target genes among HFD mice in comparison with the control mice. These results suggest that prenatal BPS exposure potentially increases the susceptibility to HFD-induced adipogenesis in male adult mice.