Gradual rewarming with a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier improves viability of donation after circulatory death in rat livers.

Background: Donation after circulatory death (DCD) grafts are vital for increasing available donor organs. Gradual rewarming during machine perfusion has proven effective in mitigating reperfusion injury and enhancing graft quality. Limited data exist on artificial oxygen carriers as an effective solution to meet the increasing metabolic demand with temperature changes. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of utilizing a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) during the gradual rewarming of DCD rat livers. Methods: Liver grafts were procured after 30 min of warm ischemia. The effect of 90 min of oxygenated rewarming perfusion from ice cold temperatures (4 °C) to 37 °C with HBOC after cold storage was evaluated and the results were compared with cold storage alone. Reperfusion at 37 °C was performed to assess the post-preservation recovery. Results: Gradual rewarming with HBOC significantly enhanced recovery, demonstrated by markedly lower lactate levels and reduced vascular resistance compared to cold-stored liver grafts. Increased bile production in the HBOC group was noted, indicating improved liver function and bile synthesis capacity. Histological examination showed reduced cellular damage and better tissue preservation in the HBOC-treated livers compared to those subjected to cold storage alone. Conclusion: This study suggests the safety of using HBOC during rewarming perfusion of rat livers as no harmful effect was detected. Furthermore, the viability assessment indicated improvement in graft function.

Preservation strategies for processed grass carp products: Analyzing quality and microbial dynamics during chilled and ice temperature storage.

This study investigated the impact of ice temperature storage on quality and bacterial composition of processed fish paste products (PFP). Freezing curve revealed the ice temperature was -1 °C. Electric nose (e-nose) showed significant changes in volatile components within 8 days. Results of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) showed that PFP stored at 4 °C reached its limit after 2 days, whereas PFP stored at ice temperature remained stable for 6 days. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) demonstrated delayed oxidation in PFP stored at ice temperature compared to 4 °C. TCA-soluble peptides indicated that the protein degradation was suppressed by ice temperature. Additionally, ice temperature inhibited microbial growth and altered bacterial composition. High-throughput sequencing revealed that Pseudomonas, Brochothrix, Carnobacterium were dominant at 4 °C, while Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Janthinobacterium and Brochothrix were dominant at ice temperature. In summary, ice temperature might be a potential method for maintaining the freshness of PFP.

Oxygenated versus non-oxygenated flush out during deceased donor liver procurement: The first proof-of-concept study in humans.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is used for treating end-stage liver disease, fulminant hepatitis, and oncological malignancies and organ shortage is a major limiting factor worldwide. The use of grafts based on extended donor criteria have become internationally accepted. Oxygenated machine perfusion technologies are the most recent advances in organ transplantation; however, it is only applied after a period of cold ischemia. Due to its high cost, we aimed to use a novel device, OxyFlush®, based on oxygenation of the preservation solution, applied during liver procurement targeting the maintenance of ATP during static cold storage (SCS). METHODS: Twenty patients were randomly assigned to the OxyFlush or control group based on a 1:1 ratio. In the OxyFlush group, the perfusion solution was oxygenated with OxyFlush® device while the control group received a non-oxygenated solution. Liver and the common bile duct (CBD) biopsies were obtained at three different time points. The first was at the beginning of the procedure, the second during organ preparation, and the third after total liver reperfusion. Biopsies were analyzed, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels and histological scores of the liver parenchyma and CBD were assessed. Postoperative laboratory tests were performed. RESULTS: OxyFlush® was able to maintain ATP levels during SCS and improved the damage caused by the lack of oxygen in the CBD. However, OxyFlush® did not affect laboratory test results and histological findings of the parenchyma. CONCLUSION: We present a novel low-cost device that is feasible and could represent a valuable tool in organ preservation during SCS.

Storing up Treasures: Storage Potential of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) Nymphs for Application in Biological Control.

Long-term storage is an important component of insect mass-rearing systems, prolonging the shelf life of biocontrol agents during a low-demand period or a temporary lack of suitable food. Macrolophus pygmaeus is a predatory heteropteran, mass-reared and widely used for the biological control of arthropod pests in greenhouses. With the aim to determine the optimal conditions and acceptable duration of cold storage, we evaluated the impact of different periods of storage of fed and starved third instar nymphs of M. pygmaeus at different temperatures on nymphal survival, adult emergence, and female fecundity. Four storage temperatures (3, 6, 9, and 12 °C) were tested. The longevity of starved nymphs decreased with an increase in the storage temperature, with a maximum of about 40 days at 3 °C, whereas the longest lifetime of nymphs fed on eggs of the grain moth Sitotroga cerealella (about 150 days) was observed at 9 °C. Further experiments demonstrated that the third instar nymphs of M. pygmaeus fed with eggs of the grain moth can be stored at 9 °C for 30 days, with a moderate (10-20%) decrease in survival and fecundity, whereas the survival of starved nymphs decreased by half after 10 days of storage at 3 °C.

Effects of melatonin on inhibiting quality deterioration of postharvest water bamboo shoots.

Water bamboo shoots (Zizania latifolia) is prone to quality deterioration during cold storage after harvest, which causes the decline of commodity value. Chlorophyll synthesis and lignin deposition are the major reasons for quality degradation. This paper studied the influence of exogenous melatonin (MT) on the cold storage quality of water bamboo shoots. MT treatment could delay the increase in skin browning, hardness and weight loss rate, inhibit chlorophyll synthesis and color change of water bamboo shoots, while maintain the content of total phenols and flavonoids, and inhibit lignin deposition by inhibiting the activity and gene expression of phenylpropanoid metabolism related enzymes as PAL, C4H, 4CL, CAD, and POD. The results indicate that exogenous MT treatment can effectively inhibit the quality degradation of cold stored water bamboo shoots.

Perfusion Techniques in Kidney Allograft Preservation to Reduce Ischemic Reperfusion Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The limited supply and rising demand for kidney transplantation has led to the use of allografts more susceptible to ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) and oxidative stress to expand the donor pool. Organ preservation and procurement techniques, such as machine perfusion (MP) and normothermic regional perfusion (NRP), have been developed to preserve allograft function, though their long-term outcomes have been more challenging to investigate. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the benefits of MP and NRP compared to traditional preservation techniques. PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus databases were queried, and of 13,794 articles identified, 54 manuscripts were included (n = 41 MP; n = 13 NRP). MP decreased the rates of 12-month graft failure (OR 0.67; 95%CI 0.55, 0.80) and other perioperative outcomes such as delayed graft function (OR 0.65; 95%CI 0.54, 0.79), primary nonfunction (OR 0.63; 95%CI 0.44, 0.90), and hospital length of stay (15.5 days vs. 18.4 days) compared to static cold storage. NRP reduced the rates of acute rejection (OR 0.48; 95%CI 0.35, 0.67) compared to in situ perfusion. Overall, MP and NRP are effective techniques to mitigate IRI and play an important role in safely expanding the donor pool to satisfy the increasing demands of kidney transplantation.

Effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water on the quality and antioxidant capacity of fresh red waxy corn during postharvest cold storage.

Fresh red waxy corn is consumed worldwide because of its unique flavor and rich nutrients, but it is susceptible to deterioration with a short shelf life. This study explored the effect of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) treatment on the quality and antioxidant capacity of fresh red waxy corn during postharvest cold storage up to 40 d. The SAEW treatment exhibited lower weight loss, softer firmness, and higher total soluble solids (TSS) and moisture content than the control group. Correspondingly, the SAEW maintained the microstructure of endosperm cell wall and starch granules of fresh red waxy corn kernels well, contributing to good sensory quality. Furthermore, SAEW effectively reduced the accumulation of H2O2 content, elevated the O2 -· scavenging ability, maintained higher CAT and APX activities, and decreased the decline of the flavonoids and anthocyanin during the storage. These results revealed that the SAEW treatment could be a promising preservation method to maintain higher-quality attributes and the antioxidant capacity of fresh red waxy corn during postharvest cold storage.

Enhancing Heart Transplantation: Utilizing Gas-Loaded Nanocarriers to Mitigate Cold/Hypoxia Stress.

Gas-loaded nanocarriers (G-LN) show promise in improving heart transplantation (HTx) outcomes. Given their success in reducing cell death during normothermic hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in vitro, we tested their integration into cardioplegic solutions and static cold storage (SCS) during simulated HTx. Wistar rat hearts underwent four hours of SCS with four G-LN variants: O2- or N2-cyclic-nigerosyl-nigerose-nanomonomers (CNN), and O2- or N2-cyclic-nigerosyl-nigerose-nanosponges (CNN-NS). We monitored physiological-hemodynamic parameters and molecular markers during reperfusion to assess cell damage/protection. Hearts treated with nanomonomers (N2-CNN or O2-CNN) showed improvements in left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and a trend towards faster recovery of the rate pressure product (RPP) compared to controls. However, nanosponges (N2-CNN-NS or O2-CNN-NS) did not show similar improvements. None of the groups exhibited an increase in diastolic left ventricular pressure (contracture index) during reperfusion. Redox markers and apoptosis/autophagy pathways indicated an increase in Beclin 1 for O2-CNN and in p22phox for N2-CNN, suggesting alterations in autophagy and the redox environment during late reperfusion, which might explain the gradual decline in heart performance. The study highlights the potential of nanomonomers to improve early cardiac performance and mitigate cold/H/R-induced stunning in HTx. These early improvements suggest a promising avenue for increasing HTx success. Nevertheless, further research and optimization are needed before clinical application.

Exogenous melatonin delays oxidative browning in litchi during cold storage by regulating biochemical attributes and gene expression.

Oxidative damage leading to loss of nutritional quality and pericarp discoloration of harvested litchi fruits drastically limits consumer acceptance and marketability. In the present investigation, the impact of postharvest melatonin application at different concentrations, i.e., 0.1 mM, 0.25 mM, and 0.5 mM, on fruit quality and shelf life of litchi fruits under cold storage conditions was studied. The results revealed the positive effect of melatonin application at all concentrations on fruit quality and shelf life. However, treatment with 0.5 mM concentration of melatonin resulted in minimum weight loss, decay loss, pericarp discoloration, and also retained higher levels of TSS, acidity, total sugar, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin, antioxidant, and phenolics content during cold storage. Melatonin administration also restricted the enzymatic activity of the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes in the fruit pericarp and maintained freshness of the fruits up to 30 days in cold storage. At the molecular level, a similar reduction in the expression of browning-associated genes, LcPPO, LcPOD, and Laccase, was detected in preserved litchi fruits treated with melatonin. Anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, LcUFGT and LcDFR, on the other hand showed enhanced expression in melatonin treated fruits compared to untreated fruits. Melatonin, owing to its antioxidant properties, when applied to harvested litchi fruits retained taste, nutritional quality and red color pericarp up till 30 days in cold storage.

Involvement of energy and cell wall metabolisms in chilling tolerance improved by hydrogen sulfide in cold-stored tomato fruits.

KEY MESSAGE: Hydrogen sulfide improved cold resistance of tomato fruits by regulating energy metabolism and delaying cell wall degradation, thereby alleviating the damage of cold storage on fruits. Postharvest cold storage in tomato fruits extended shelf life but caused the appearance of chilling injury (CI), appeared by softness and spots on the surface of the fruits. These changes were linked closely with energy and cell wall metabolisms. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as the gaseous fresh-keeping regulator, was used in the present study to investigate the effects of H2S on energy and cell wall metabolisms in tomato fruits during cold storage. Fruits after harvest were fumigated with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 mM) of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) solution as H2S honor for 24 h and stored at 4 °C for 25 days. The results showed that 1 and 1.5 mM NaHS solution fumigation promoted the accumulation of endogenous H2S, followed by the increase in L-cysteine desulfurase (LCD) and D-cysteine desulfurase (DCD) activities in fruits during cold storage. It was also found that 1 and 1.5 mM NaHS treatments improved H+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase, cytochrome C oxidase (CCO), and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activities. Moreover, the contents of cellulose and hemicellulose were increased by 1 and 1.5 mM NaHS, following down-regulated activities of cellulase (CL), pectin lyase (PL), α-mannosidase (α-man) and ß-Galactosidase (ß-Gal) and down-regulated expression of PL1, PL8, MAN4 and MAN7 genes. Thus, H2S alleviates CI led by cold storage in tomato fruits via regulating energy and cell wall metabolisms.

Effect of melatonin supplementation on sperm quality parameters and expression of antioxidant genes during cold storage of buck semen extenders.

Background and Aim: Semen storage is an important reproductive method used in artificial livestock breeding. However, oxidative stress during storage reduces the quality of sperm. Melatonin supplementation in semen storage medium has not been well studied, but it has been shown to protect cells from oxidative stress. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of melatonin supplementation on sperm quality parameters and antioxidant gene expression levels in semen extenders during cold storage. Materials and Methods: Semen extenders with melatonin concentrations of 0 (control), 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mM were added as treatment. The treated semen was then stored at 5°C for 72 h using a cold storage method, and quality parameters, including percentage of progressive motility, membrane integrity, intact acrosome, and DNA integrity, were measured every 24 h. In addition, messenger ribonucleic acid abundance levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes were sampled after 0 and 72 h of cold storage. Results: All observed sperm quality parameters decreased with increasing cold storage time; however, 0.2 mM melatonin demonstrated superior protection of sperm quality during cold storage. Gene expression analysis showed that GPx levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after 72 h in semen without melatonin but not in the melatonin-treated groups. A similar trend was also observed in SOD, indicating that exogenous antioxidants effectively protected the sperms. Conclusion: Melatonin supplementation at 0.2 mM in semen extenders during cold storage maintains sperm quality parameters for up to 72 h because melatonin protects sperm from oxidative stress. These findings can be used to improve the semen storage protocol by combining semen extender and antioxidant.

Exogenous melatonin prolongs raspberry postharvest life quality by increasing some antioxidant and enzyme activity and phytochemical contents.

There is a growing trend towards enhancing the post-harvest shelf life and maintaining the nutritional quality of horticultural products using eco-friendly methods. Raspberries are valued for their diverse array of phenolic compounds, which are key contributors to their health-promoting properties. However, raspberries are prone to a relatively short post-harvest lifespan. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of exogenous melatonin (MEL; 0, 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 mM) on decay control and shelf-life extension. The results demonstrated that MEL treatment significantly reduced the fruit decay rate (P ≤ 0.01). Based on the findings, MEL treatment significantly increased titratable acidity (TA), total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total anthocyanin content (TAC). Furthermore, the MEL-treated samples showed increased levels of rutin and quercetin content, as well as antioxidant activity as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reduction activity potential (FRAP). Additionally, the samples exhibited higher levels of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and catalase (CAT) enzymes compared to the control samples. Moreover, the levels of pH, total soluble solids (TSS), and IC50 were decreased in the MEL-treated samples (P ≤ 0.01). The highest amount of TA (0.619 g/100 ml juice), rutin (16.722 µg/ml juice) and quercetin (1.467 µg/ml juice), and PAL activity (225.696 nm/g FW/min) was observed at 0.001 mM treatment, while, the highest amount of TAC (227.235 mg Cy-g/100 ml juice) at a concentration of 0.01 mM and CAT (0.696 u/g FW) and TAL activities (9.553 nm/100 g FW) at a concentration of 0.1 mM were obtained. Considering the lack of significant differences in the effects of melatonin concentrations and the low dose of 0.001 mM, this concentration is recommended for further research. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) divided the treatments into three groups based on their characteristics. Based on the Pearson correlation between TPC, TFC, TAC, and TAA, a positive correlation was observed with antioxidant (DPPH and FRAP) and enzyme (PAL and CAT) activities. The results of this study have identified melatonin as an eco-friendly compound that enhances the shelf life of raspberry fruits by improving phenolic compounds, as well as antioxidant and enzyme activities.

Influence of Carboxymethyl Cellulose as a Thickening Agent for Glauber's Salt-Based Low Temperature PCM.

This work is focused on a novel, promising low temperature phase change material (PCM), based on the eutectic Glauber's salt composition. To allow phase transition within the refrigeration range of temperatures of +5 °C to +12 °C, combined with a high repeatability of melting-freezing processes, and minimized subcooling, the application of three variants of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) with distinct molecular weights (700,000, 250,000, and 90,000) is considered. The primary objective is to optimize the stabilization of this eutectic PCM formulation, while maintaining the desired enthalpy level. Preparation methods are refined to ensure repeatability in mixing components, thereby optimizing performance and stability. Additionally, the influence of Na-CMC molecular weight on stabilization is examined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), T-history, and rheology tests. The PCM formulation of interest builds upon prior research in which borax, ammonium chloride, and potassium chloride were used as additives to sodium sulfate decahydrate (Glauber's salt), prioritizing environmentally responsible materials. The results reveal that CMC with molecular weights of 250 kg/mol and 90 kg/mol effectively stabilize the PCM without phase separation issues, slowing crystallization kinetics. Conversely, CMC of 700 kg/mol proved ineffective due to the disruption of gel formation at its low gel point, hindering higher concentrations. Calculations of ionic concentration indicate higher Na ion content in PCM stabilized with 90 kg/mol CMC, suggesting increased ionic interactions and gel strength. A tradeoff is discovered between the faster crystallization in lower molecular weight CMC and the higher concentration required, which increases the amount of inert material that does not participate in the phase transition. After thermal cycling, the best formulation had a latent heat of 130 J/g with no supercooling, demonstrating excellent performance. This work advances PCM's reliability as a thermal energy storage solution for diverse applications and highlights the complex relationship between Na-CMC molecular weight and PCM stabilization.

Microbial Diversity and Community Structure of Chinese Fresh Beef during Cold Storage and Their Correlations with Off-Flavors.

To investigate the diversity and dynamics of microorganisms in Chinese fresh beef (CFB) without acid discharge treatment during cold storage, high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze the CFB refrigerated for 0, 3, 7, and 10 days. The results showed that the community richness of the fungi and bacteria decreased significantly. However, the diversity decreased in the early stage and increased in the later stage. At the phylum level, Ascomycota (74.1-94.1%) and Firmicutes (77.3-96.8%) were the absolutely dominant fungal and bacterial phyla. The relative abundance of both fungal and bacterial phyla displayed a trend of increasing and then decreasing. At the genus level, Candida (29.3-52.5%) and Lactococcus (19.8-59.3%) were, respectively, the dominant fungal and bacterial genera. The relative abundance of Candida showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing, while Lactococcus possessed the opposite trend. KEGG metabolic pathways analysis suggested that carbohydrate metabolism, membrane transport, and amino acid metabolism were the major metabolic pathways of bacteria. Bugbase prediction indicated the major microbial phenotype of bacteria in CFB during cold storage was Gram-positive (17.2-31.6%). Correlation analysis suggested that Lactococcus, Citrobacter, Proteus, and Rhodotorula might be the main microorganisms promoting the production of off-flavor substances in CFB. This study provides a theoretical basis for the preservation of Chinese fresh beef.

Ischemia-free liver transplantation improves the prognosis of recipients using functionally marginal liver grafts.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The shortage of donor liver hinders the development of liver transplantation. This study aimed to clarify the poor outcomes of functionally marginal liver grafts (FMLs) and provide evidence for the improvement of ischemia-free liver transplantation (IFLT) after FML transplantation. METHODS: Propensity score matching was used to control for confounding factors. The outcomes of the control group and FML group were compared to demonstrate the negative impact of FMLs on liver transplantation patients. We compared the clinical improvements of the different surgical types. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we conducted bioinformatic analysis based on transcriptome and single-cell profiles. RESULTS: FMLs had a significantly greater hazard ratio (HR: 1.969, P=0.018) than did other marginal livers. A worse 90-day survival (Mortality: 12.3% vs. 5.0%, P=0.007) was observed in patients who underwent FML transplantation. Patients who received FMLs had a significant improvement in overall survival after IFLT (Mortality: 10.4% vs 31.3%, P=0.006). Pyroptosis and inflammation were inhibited in patients who underwent IFLT. The infiltration of natural killer cells was lower in liver grafts from these patients. Bulk transcriptome profiles revealed a positive relationship between IL-32 and Caspase 1 (R=0.73, P=0.01) and between IL-32 and Gasdermin D (R=0.84, P=0.0012). CONCLUSION: FML is a more important negative prognostic parameter than other marginal liver parameters. IFLT might ameliorate liver injury in FMLs by inhibiting the infiltration of NK cells, consequently leading to the abortion of IL-32, which drives pyroptosis in monocytes and macrophages.

Enhancing Postharvest Quality and Shelf Life of Strawberries through Advanced Coating Technologies: A Comprehensive Investigation of Chitosan and Glycine Betaine Nanoparticle Treatments.

The application of natural polymer-based coatings presents a viable approach to prolong the longevity of fruits and tissue damage. This study investigates the impact of treatments involving glycine betaine (GB), chitosan (CTS), and chitosan-coated glycine betaine nanoparticles (CTS-GB NPs) on preserving the quality and reducing decay in strawberry fruits. The fruits were subjected to treatments with GB (1 mM), CTS (0.1%), CTS-GB NPs (0.1%), or distilled water at 20 °C for 5 min, followed by storage at 4 °C for 12 days. The results indicate that CTS and CTS-GB NPs treatments resulted in the highest tissue firmness, total anthocyanin content, and ascorbate peroxidase activity, while exhibiting the lowest decay percentage and weight loss, as well as reduced malondialdehyde levels at the end of storage. GB, CTS, and CTS-GB NPs treatments demonstrated elevated catalase activity and antioxidant capacity, coupled with lower electrolyte leakage and hydrogen peroxide levels. These treatments did not significantly differ from each other but were markedly different from the control. The results substantiate that CTS and CTS-GB NPs treatments effectively preserve strawberry quality and extend storage life by bolstering antioxidant capacity and mitigating free radical damage.

Donor Lung Preservation at 10°C: Clinical and Logistical Impact.

INTRODUCTION: Cold static donor lung preservation at 10°C appears to be a promising method to safely extend the cold ischemic time (CIT) and improve lung transplant (LTx) logistics. METHODS: LTx from November 2021 to February 2023 were included in this single institution, prospective, non-randomized study comparing prolonged preservation at 10°C versus standard preservation on ice. The inclusion criteria for 10°C preservation were suitable grafts for LTx without any donor retrieval concerns. PRIMARY ENDPOINT: primary graft dysfunction (PGD) grade-3 at 72-h. Secondary endpoints: clinical outcomes, cytokine profile and logistical impact. RESULTS: Thirty-three out of fifty-seven cases were preserved at 10°C. Donor and recipient characteristics were similar across the groups. Total preservation times (h:min) were longer (p<0.001) in the 10°C group [1st lung: median 12:09 (IQR 9:23-13:29); 2nd: 14:24 (12:00-16:20)] vs. standard group [1st lung: median 5:47 (IQR 5:18-6:40); 2nd: 7:15 (6:33-7:40)]. PGD grade-3 at 72-h was 9.4% in 10°C group vs. 12.5% in standard group (p=0.440). Length of mechanical ventilation (MV), ICU and hospital stays were similar in both groups. Thirty and ninety-day mortality rates were 0% in 10°C group (vs. 4.2% in standard group). IL-8 concentration was significantly higher 6-h post-LTx in the standard group (p=0.025) and IL-10 concentration was increased 72-h post-LTx in the 10°C group (p=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Preservation at 10°C may represent a safe and feasible strategy to intentionally prolong the CIT. In our center, extending the CIT at 10°C may allow for semi-elective LTx and improve logistics with similar outcomes compared to the current standard preservation on ice.

Review for special issue: Corneal lamellar surgery: Present outcomes and future perspectives.

Since the establishment of the first eye bank in the 1940s, their role has evolved to face new challenges. With the recent development of lamellar keratoplasties, eye banks play an even bigger role in the selection and preparation of donor tissues. The increasing number of keratoplasty techniques and the high demand for "ready-to-use" tissues are challenging eye banks to improve and develop new preparation techniques. Besides necessary examinations, new approaches of tissue analysis in eye banks allow a better/optimized selection of corneal tissues. These new challenges in tissue preservation, preparation, and selection are propelling eye banks into a new era of modern eye banking.

In vitro Hemostatic Functions of Cold-Stored Platelets.

Background: Transfusion of platelets is a life-saving medical strategy used worldwide to treat patients with thrombocytopenia as well as platelet function disorders. Summary: Until the end of 1960s, platelets were stored in the cold because of their superior hemostatic functionality. Cold storage of platelets was then abandoned due to better posttransfusion recovery and survival of room temperature (RT)-stored platelets, demonstrated by radioactive labeling studies. Based on these findings, RT became the standard condition to store platelets for clinical applications. Evidence shows that RT storage increases the risk of septic transfusion reactions associated with bacterial contamination. Therefore, the storage time is currently limited to 4-7 days, according to the national guidelines, causing a constant challenge to cover the clinical request. Despite the enormous efforts made to optimize storage conditions of platelets, the quality and efficacy of platelets still decrease during the short storage time at RT. In this context, during the last years, cold storage has seen a renaissance due to the better hemostatic functionality, reduced risk of bacterial contamination, and potentially longer storage time. Key Messages: In this review, we will focus on the impact of cold storage on the in vitro platelet functions as promising alternative storage temperature for future medical applications.

Preparation and Performance Study of n-Undecane Phase Change Cold Storage Material.

With the fast development of the cold chain transportation industry, the traditional refrigeration method results in significant energy consumption. To address the national call for energy saving and emission reduction, the search for a new type of energy storage material has already become a future development trend. According to the national standard GB/T28577 for the classification and basic requirements of cold chain logistics, the temperature in frozen logistics is typically below -18 °C. In this study, n-undecane with a phase change temperature of -26 °C is chosen as the core material of microcapsules. Poly(methyl methacrylate) is applied as the shell material, with n-undecane microcapsules being prepared through suspension polymerization for phase change cold storage materials (MEPCM). Using characterization techniques including SEM, DSC, FTIR, and laser particle size analysis, the effects of three types of emulsifiers (SMA, Tween-80, Tween-80/span-80 (70/30)), SMA emulsifier dosage, core-shell ratio, and emulsification rate on the thermal performance and micro-surface morphology of n-undecane/PMMA microcapsules were studied. The results indicate that when comparing SMA, Tween-80, and Tween-80/span-80 (70/30) as emulsifiers, the dodecane/PMMA microcapsules prepared with SMA emulsifier exhibit superior thermal performance and micro-surface morphology, possessing a complete core-shell structure. The optimal microstructure and the highest enthalpy of phase change, measuring 120.3 kJ/kg, are achieved when SMA is used as the emulsifier with a quantity of 7%, a core-to-wall ratio of 2.5:1, and an emulsification speed of 2000 rpm. After 200 hot and cold cycles, the enthalpy of phase change decreased by only 18.6 kJ/kg, indicating the MEPCM thermal performance and cycle life. In addition, these optimized microcapsules exhibit favorable microstructure, uniform particle size, and efficient energy storage, making them an excellent choice for the refrigeration and freezing sectors.