Temporal patterns of fucoxanthin in four species of European marine brown macroalgae.

Brown seaweeds are a rich source of carotenoids, particularly fucoxanthin, which has a wide range of potential health applications. Fucoxanthin fluctuates within and among seaweeds over time, frustrating efforts to utilise this resource. Thus, we require comprehensive analyses of long- and short-term concentrations across species in field conditions. Here, we used High Performance Liquid Chromatography to compare fucoxanthin content in four brown macroalgae, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus serratus, Fucus vesiculosus and Saccharina latissima, monthly for 1 year. F. serratus and F. vesiculosus had significantly higher fucoxanthin content (mg/g), which was highest in Spring (0.39 ± 0.04) and Autumn (0.45 ± 0.04) [mean (± SE)]. Two species, A. nodosum and F. serratus, were collected monthly at the same location for a further two non-consecutive years. For both A. nodosum and F. serratus, a significant interaction effect of seasons and years was identified, highlighting that there is variation in fucoxanthin content among and within species over time. We also show that fucoxanthin content differs significantly among months even within seasons. Therefore, it is not sufficient to assess fucoxanthin in single months to represent seasonality. We discuss how weather, nutrients and reproduction may have driven the seasonal variation, and reveal patterns of fucoxanthin concentration that can provide information concerning its availability for many important medical functions.

Aligning Nursing Ethics With Critical and Open Pedagogy in Nursing Education: A Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: There is a need to increase access to nursing education that is meaningful and socially just. PURPOSE: To investigate the alignment of critical and open pedagogy in nursing education with nursing principles of ethics. METHOD: Narrative thematic synthesis literature review of Canadian and American sources related to nursing education. RESULTS: Thematic analysis of 29 full-text sources that align nursing ethical principles with critical and open pedagogy in nursing education. CONCLUSION: Critical and open pedagogy aligns with nursing practice ethics and facilitates meaningful and socially just nursing education experiences.

Imaging of Osteoarthritis of the Hip.

Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease process that impacts the aging population. OA of the hip is the result of degeneration of the articular cartilage, underlying bone and soft tissue structures. Radiography is the first-line modality for imaging OA. Radiographic assessment includes imaging features of joint space narrowing, sclerosis, osteophytes, and bony deformities. CT can provide detailed evaluation of the hip with multiplanar reformats. MRI can assess bone marrow signal, articular cartilage damage, and labral abnormalities. Other disease process may appear similar or present concurrently with OA, such as osteonecrosis, rapidly progressive arthritis, and inflammatory and infectious arthropathies.

Macroalgal Proteins: A Review.

Population growth is the driving change in the search for new, alternative sources of protein. Macroalgae (otherwise known as seaweeds) do not compete with other food sources for space and resources as they can be sustainably cultivated without the need for arable land. Macroalgae are significantly rich in protein and amino acid content compared to other plant-derived proteins. Herein, physical and chemical protein extraction methods as well as novel techniques including enzyme hydrolysis, microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasound sonication are discussed as strategies for protein extraction with this resource. The generation of high-value, economically important ingredients such as bioactive peptides is explored as well as the application of macroalgal proteins in human foods and animal feed. These bioactive peptides that have been shown to inhibit enzymes such as renin, angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE-1), cyclooxygenases (COX), α-amylase and α-glucosidase associated with hypertensive, diabetic, and inflammation-related activities are explored. This paper discusses the significant uses of seaweeds, which range from utilising their anthelmintic and anti-methane properties in feed additives, to food techno-functional ingredients in the formulation of human foods such as ice creams, to utilising their health beneficial ingredients to reduce high blood pressure and prevent inflammation. This information was collated following a review of 206 publications on the use of seaweeds as foods and feeds and processing methods to extract seaweed proteins.

Occult fracture propagation in patients with isolated greater trochanteric fractures: patterns and management.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the degrees of occult intertrochanteric extension on MRI in patients with a greater trochanteric fracture on radiography or computer tomography (CT) and whether these patients undergo conservative or surgical management with hardware. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review was performed of 146 patients (104 females, 42 males, ages 33-102) who had follow-up MRI after identification of a greater trochanteric fracture without intertrochanteric extension on radiography or CT. Extent of intertrochanteric extension was recorded. Subsequently, EMR review was performed to see if patients underwent surgery. Specific note was made of hardware type. Analysis was performed to determine if there is a correlation with fracture type and surgical management as well as fracture type and age and gender. RESULTS: Nineteen patients had horizontal greater trochanter fractures without intertrochanteric extension; none underwent surgery. Seventeen patients had a vertical fracture along the lateral femoral cortex; one underwent surgery. Thirty-three patients had a fracture with intertrochanteric extension less than 50% in the mid coronal plane; 21 underwent surgery. Forty patients had intertrochanteric extension greater than 50% in the midcoronal plane not contacting the medial cortex; 28 underwent surgery. Thirty-seven patients had fractures contacting the medial cortex; 28 underwent surgery. There was significant difference with fractures extending 50% or greater of the midline of the intertrochanteric region undergoing surgical management compared with fractures less than 50% (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: MRI identifies the presence and extent of occult intertrochanteric fractures in patients with greater trochanteric fractures. Description of intertrochanteric fractures on MRI helps determine the patient's treatment course and influence surgical decisions.

Seaweed and Seaweed Bioactives for Mitigation of Enteric Methane: Challenges and Opportunities.

Seaweeds contain a myriad of nutrients and bioactives including proteins, carbohydrates and to a lesser extent lipids as well as small molecules including peptides, saponins, alkaloids and pigments. The bioactive bromoform found in the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis has been identified as an agent that can reduce enteric CH4 production from livestock significantly. However, sustainable supply of this seaweed is a problem and there are some concerns over its sustainable production and potential negative environmental impacts on the ozone layer and the health impacts of bromoform. This review collates information on seaweeds and seaweed bioactives and the documented impact on CH4 emissions in vitro and in vivo as well as associated environmental, economic and health impacts.

Effect of Phlorotannins from Brown Seaweeds on the In Vitro Digestibility of Pig Feed.

Phlorotannins have been reported to have positive effects on pig health, including improved gut health and digestibility. In this study, we investigate the effect of phenolics found in two brown seaweeds, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus serratus, on in vitro dry matter digestibility of seaweeds and commercial pig feed. Phlorotannin extracts and whole seaweeds were supplemented into pig feed to test their effect on digestibility. Solid-phase extraction was used to purify the phenolics to phlorotannins. The results showed a slight decrease in the digestibility of pig feed that was found to be significant when phlorotannin extracts were added from either seaweed. However, when whole A. nodosum was added to the pig feed, the effect on digestibility was less pronounced. Specifically, no significant difference in digestibility was observed at inclusion rates up to 5%, and thereafter results varied. A difference in digestibility was also observed in the same species at the same inclusion rate, collected from different seasons. This suggests that other compounds, e.g., polysaccharides, are having an effect on digestibility when whole seaweeds are supplemented to animal feed. This research has also highlighted the need to base supplementation on phenolic concentration as opposed to a standardised percentage inclusion of seaweeds to ensure that digestibility is not adversely affected.

The Effect of Ensiling on the Nutritional Composition and Fermentation Characteristics of Brown Seaweeds as a Ruminant Feed Ingredient.

Ensiling could be an effective method to preserve seaweeds for animal feed applications, however, there is limited scientific knowledge in this area. Seaweeds are a promising ruminant feed ingredient, in part due to the content of phenolic compounds, which are receiving considerable interest as alternative antimicrobial agents in feed. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of ensiling on the nutritional composition and fermentation characteristics of two brown seaweed species, Fucus vesiculosus (FV) and Saccharina latissimi (SL) with or without the use of a Lactobacillus plantarum (LAB) inoculant. The effect of ensiling on the stability of phlorotannin was also investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). After harvesting, the seaweeds were wilted for 24 h and subsequently ensiled in laboratory-scaled silos for 90 days. SL silage showed a stronger fermentation pattern (pH < 4), dominated by lactic acid (50-60 g/kg Dry Matter (DM)), and a slightly higher acetic acid content compared to FV silages (p < 0.05). The fermentability of FV was limited (pH > 4.8) with low lactic acid production (<5 g/kg DM). The addition of the LAB inoculant showed no effect on the fermentation process but a modest effect on the chemical composition of both species was observed after the 90-day ensiling period. The results showed no losses in the nutrient content of FV after ensiling, however losses in the Crude Protein (CP, -32%), ash (-36%), Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF, -77%) and Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF, -58%) content of SL were observed. The ensiling process had a limited effect on the in vitro true dry matter digestibility and phenolic content of either species. Therefore, ensilage may be a suitable preservation method for the use of brown seaweeds as a ruminant feed; however, species-specific differences were observed.

Polyphenols from Brown Seaweeds as a Potential Antimicrobial Agent in Animal Feeds.

Seaweeds offer a natural source of antimicrobials that may help curb antibiotic resistance in livestock. The antibacterial activity of phlorotannin extracts isolated from two brown seaweeds Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus serratus was tested. The mechanism of action of phlorotannin extracts against Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella agona, and Streptococcus suis was elucidated by observing cell membrane permeability and intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The two extracts were effective at killing three foodborne pathogens without negatively affecting the pig intestinal cells. A. nodosum minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range for the different pathogens was between 1.56 and 0.78 mg/mL, whereas F. serratus was 3.13 mg/mL for all pathogens tested. A. nodosum was found to be much more potent compared to F. serratus. The difference in potency in the seaweeds may be a result of the phlorotannins' structural linkages. The antimicrobial properties of the seaweed extracts tested may provide alternative and complementary treatments to antibiotics and zinc oxide in animal feeds. The seasonal screening was performed on both species to assess the availability of phenolics throughout the year using two quantification methods, the Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) assay and quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The variation between the methods highlights the challenges involved in the quantification of complex phenolic structures. However, both methods show that the phenolics are subject to seasonal variation, which may prove problematic to the animal feed industry.

A critical review of analytical methods used for the chemical characterisation and quantification of phlorotannin compounds in brown seaweeds.

INTRODUCTION: Phlorotannins, the phenolic compounds found in brown seaweeds, are a unique and diverse class of compounds showing a huge potential for food and pharmaceutical applications. OBJECTIVE: This review will give an account of the colorimetric assays used and a discussion of their quantitative and qualitative analytical shortcomings. It will also discuss other more complex and modern analytical chemistry methods that are currently being developed to study phlorotannins. The purpose of this review is to increase awareness of these bioactive compounds and promote further development of robust analytical methods for use in biology, food science, pharmacology and biomedical and cosmeceutical sciences. RESULTS: Whilst the biological activity and huge commercial potential of the phlorotannins has been widely reported throughout the literature, the chemical structures and reactivity of these compounds is still not well understood. The phlorotannin content of seaweed is usually characterised using colorimetric assays. However, although these methods give a reasonable overall estimation of the total phenolic content, they lack precision and specificity. CONCLUSION: This review highlights the strengths and weaknesses of commonly used colorimetric assays. Novel techniques are highlighted using more selective chemistry to identify this class of compounds.

The Osteogenic Potential of Brown Seaweed Extracts.

Marine drugs hold significantly more promise than their terrestrial counterparts, which could help to solve the current shortfall in treatments for osteoporosis and other bone related diseases. Fucoxanthin is the main carotenoid found in brown seaweed, and has many perceived health benefits, including potential bone therapeutic properties. This study assessed the osteogenic potential of pure fucoxanthin and crude extracts containing both fucoxanthin and phenolic fractions (also cited to have osteogenic potential) isolated from two intertidal species of brown seaweed, Laminaria digitata and Ascophyllum nodosum. In vitro studies were performed using a human foetal osteoblast cell line (hFOBs) and primary human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs). The results found pure fucoxanthin inhibitory to cell proliferation in hFOBs at higher concentrations, whereas, the crude extracts containing both polyphenols and fucoxanthin showed the ability to scavenge free radicals, which masked this effect. None of the extracts tested showed strong pro-osteogenic effects in either cell type tested, failing to support previously reported positive effects.

Percutaneous Ultrasound-Guided Intervention for Upper Extremity Neural and Perineural Abnormalities: A Retrospective Review of 242 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe clinical experience with ultrasound-guided therapeutic procedures and associated pathologic conditions involving the peripheral nerves of the upper extremity over 5 years at a large academic institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective database search of procedure codes was performed for all ultrasound-guided upper extremity peripheral nerve procedures between 2012 and 2017. Retrospective review of the electronic medical record for patient demographics, indications, interval follow-up pain relief, and complications was undertaken. Retrospective review of ultrasound and other correlative imaging findings was performed to assess for neural and perineural abnormalities. RESULTS: In total, 242 procedures performed on a cohort of 183 patients (53% women, 47% men; mean age, 53 years; range, 15-97 years) were reviewed. Nine patients underwent multifocal injections in a single encounter, and 39 underwent repeat injections of previously documented symptom generators. Perineural injections included ulnar (n = 109), median (n = 81), posterior interosseous-deep radial (n = 39), sensory branch of the radial (n = 7), anterior interosseous (n = 2), axillary (n = 2), suprascapular (n = 1), and digital (n = 1) nerves. Structural or dynamic abnormality seen either during the procedure or at preprocedural imaging included loss of normal morphologic features (n = 148), nerve subluxation (n = 8), ganglion cyst (n = 4), and neuroma (n = 7). Forty-four patients reported immediate pain relief after the procedure. Of the 89 patients with documented clinical follow-up, 52 reported a period of symptom relief (mean, 125 days), and six reported complete resolution of symptoms. Subsequent surgical procedures were performed on 32 patients, a combination of those who did (n = 12) and did not (n = 20) experience a period of symptom relief from the perineural injection. There were no complications with regard to the site or distribution of perineural injections. Three episodes of vasovagal reaction were reported. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous interventions for upper extremity neural abnormalities can be safely performed for a variety of indications. Real-time ultra-sound evaluation during the procedure allows assessment for neural and perineural abnormalities and tailoring of the procedure to potentially symptomatic structural abnormalities.

Blueprints for the Next Generation of Bioinspired and Biomimetic Mineralised Composites for Bone Regeneration.

Coccolithophores are unicellular marine phytoplankton, which produce intricate, tightly regulated, exoskeleton calcite structures. The formation of biogenic calcite occurs either intracellularly, forming 'wheel-like' calcite plates, or extracellularly, forming 'tiled-like' plates known as coccoliths. Secreted coccoliths then self-assemble into multiple layers to form the coccosphere, creating a protective wall around the organism. The cell wall hosts a variety of unique species-specific inorganic morphologies that cannot be replicated synthetically. Although biomineralisation has been extensively studied, it is still not fully understood. It is becoming more apparent that biologically controlled mineralisation is still an elusive goal. A key question to address is how nature goes from basic building blocks to the ultrafine, highly organised structures found in coccolithophores. A better understanding of coccolithophore biomineralisation will offer new insight into biomimetic and bioinspired synthesis of advanced, functionalised materials for bone tissue regeneration. The purpose of this review is to spark new interest in biomineralisation and gain new insight into coccolithophores from a material science perspective, drawing on existing knowledge from taxonomists, geologists, palaeontologists and phycologists.

An AAST-MITC analysis of pancreatic trauma: Staple or sew? Resect or drain?

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic trauma results in high morbidity and mortality, in part caused by the delay in diagnosis and subsequent organ dysfunction. Optimal operative management strategies remain unclear. We therefore sought to determine CT accuracy in diagnosing pancreatic injury and the morbidity and mortality associated with varying operative strategies. METHODS: We created a multicenter, pancreatic trauma registry from 18 Level 1 and 2 trauma centers. Adult, blunt or penetrating injured patients from 2005 to 2012 were analyzed. Sensitivity and specificity of CT scan identification of main pancreatic duct injury was calculated against operative findings. Independent predictors for mortality, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and pancreatic fistula and/or pseudocyst were identified through multivariate regression analysis. The association between outcomes and operative management was measured. RESULTS: We identified 704 pancreatic injury patients of whom 584 (83%) underwent a pancreas-related procedure. CT grade modestly correlated with OR grade (r 0.39) missing 10 ductal injuries (9 grade III, 1 grade IV) providing 78.7% sensitivity and 61.6% specificity. Independent predictors of mortality were age, Injury Severity Score (ISS), lactate, and number of packed red blood cells transfused. Independent predictors of ARDS were ISS, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and pancreatic fistula (OR 5.2, 2.6-10.1). Among grade III injuries (n = 158, 22.4%), the risk of pancreatic fistula/pseudocyst was reduced when the end of the pancreas was stapled (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.9) compared with sewn and was not affected by duct stitch placement. Drainage alone in grades IV (n = 25) and V (n = 24) injuries carried increased risk of pancreatic fistula/pseudocyst (OR 8.3, 95% CI 2.2-32.9). CONCLUSION: CT is insufficiently sensitive to reliably identify pancreatic duct injury. Patients with grade III injuries should have their resection site stapled instead of sewn and a duct stitch is unnecessary. Further study is needed to determine if drainage alone should be employed in grades IV and V injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic/Diagnostic study, level III.

Postoperative MRI of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to review the postoperative MRI appearances of irreparable massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs) after surgery was performed using newer techniques, including patch repair, muscle tendon transfer, superior capsular reconstruction, and subacromial balloon implantation. CONCLUSION: Newer surgical techniques are emerging for the management of massive RCTs. As radiologists become increasingly likely to encounter postoperative imaging studies of RCTs repaired using these techniques, familiarity with the normal postoperative appearances and complications associated with these techniques becomes important.

Exploratory Testing of Diatom Silica to Map the Role of Material Attributes on Cell Fate.

Porous silica is an attractive biomaterial in many applications, including drug-delivery systems, bone-graft fillers and medical devices. The issue with porous silica biomaterials is the rate at which they resorb and the significant role played by interfacial chemistry on the host response in vivo. This paper explores the potential of diatom-biosilica as a model tool to assist in the task of mapping and quantifying the role of surface topography and chemical cues on cell fate. Diatoms are unicellular microalgae whose cell walls are composed of, amorphous nanopatterned biosilica that cannot be replicated synthetically. Their unique nanotopography has the potential to improve understanding of interface reactions between materials and cells. This study used Cyclotella meneghiniana as a test subject to assess cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory reactions to diatom-biosilica. The results suggest that diatom-biosilica is non-cytotoxic to J774.2 macrophage cells, and supports cell proliferation and growth. The addition of amine and thiol linkers have shown a significant effect on cytotoxicity, growth and cytokine response, thus warranting further investigation into the interfacial effects of small chemical modifications to substrate surfaces. The overall findings suggest diatom-biosilica offers a unique platform for in-depth investigation of the role played by nanotopography and chemistry in biomedical applications.

Risk of iatrogenic injury to the peroneal nerve during posterolateral femoral tunnel placement in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: There has been concern for iatrogenic injury to the peroneal nerve with posterolateral femoral tunnel placement in double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. HYPOTHESIS: The common peroneal nerve and biceps tendon are at increased risk for injury by the guide wire as the knee is brought into increased extension. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: An anatomical descriptive study was performed on 10 cadaveric knees (ages 49-67 years). After the native anterior cruciate ligament was removed arthroscopically, the posterolateral femoral tunnel starting point was identified using standardized measurements from the articular cartilage rim. With the use of a low-medial accessory portal and one cortical entry point, guide pins were inserted at 120 degrees, 90 degrees, and 70 degrees of knee flexion. The guide pins were kept in situ, and the lateral structures of the knee were dissected. The distance between guide pins and the common peroneal nerve, as well as the relationship to the biceps tendon, were analyzed. RESULTS: The common peroneal nerve was not directly injured during any guide pin insertion. The mean distance from the guide pin at 120 degrees of flexion was 44.3 mm (range, 36-53 mm), compared with 28.6 mm (range, 25-32 mm) at 90 degrees of flexion and 22.8 mm (range, 20-28 mm) at 70 degrees of flexion. The differences between all 3 groups were statistically significant (P<.0001). Guide pins inserted at 70 degrees of flexion were also noted to pierce the biceps femoris tendon in all cases. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: During posterolateral femoral tunnel placement, the risk of injury to the common peroneal nerve is minimal but is increased as the knee is placed in less flexion. Guide pin placement at knee flexion of 120 degrees is recommended to ensure safety of the peroneal nerve and the biceps tendon.

Form deprivation modulates retinal neurogenesis in primate experimental myopia.

Juvenile primates develop myopia when their visual experience is degraded by lid fusion. In response to this abnormal visual input, retinal neural networks cause an excessive growth of the postequatorial segment of the eye, but the mechanism underlying this axial elongation is unknown. After fusion of the lids in one eye of juvenile rhesus macaques and green monkeys, we combined cDNA subtractions, microarray profiling, and real-time PCR to compare gene expression in the retinas of the closed and open eyes. This molecular analysis showed up-regulation of a number of genes associated with cell division in the retina of the closed eye and differential expression of six genes localized to chromosomal loci linked to forms of human hereditary myopia. In addition, it substantiated a previous observation, based on immunocytochemistry, that synthesis of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was increased upon lid fusion. Injection of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine and immunocytochemistry showed that the primate retinal periphery harbors mitotically active neuroprogenitor cells that increase in number when the visual experience is altered by lid fusion. Furthermore, the number of dividing cells is highly correlated with axial elongation of the eye and the resulting myopic refractive error. Thus, the retina undergoes active growth during the postnatal development of the primate eye. This growth is modulated by the visual input and accelerates considerably when the eye develops axial myopia. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide may be the molecule that stimulates retinal growth.

Gene discovery in genetically labeled single dopaminergic neurons of the retina.

In the retina, dopamine plays a central role in neural adaptation to light. Progress in the study of dopaminergic amacrine (DA) cells has been limited because they are very few (450 in each mouse retina, 0.005% of retinal neurons). Here, we applied transgenic technology, single-cell global mRNA amplification, and cDNA microarray screening to identify transcripts present in DA cells. To profile gene expression in single neurons, we developed a method (SMART7) that combines a PCR-based initial step (switching mechanism at the 5' end of the RNA transcript or SMART) with T7 RNA polymerase amplification. Single-cell targets were synthesized from genetically labeled DA cells to screen the RIKEN 19k mouse cDNA microarrays. Seven hundred ninety-five transcripts were identified in DA cells at a high level of confidence, and expression of the most interesting genes was confirmed by immunocytochemistry. Twenty-one previously undescribed proteins were found in DA cells, including a chloride channel, receptors and other membrane glycoproteins, kinases, transcription factors, and secreted neuroactive molecules. Thirty-eight percent of transcripts were ESTs or coding for hypothetical proteins, suggesting that a large portion of the DA cell proteome is still uncharacterized. Because cryptochrome-1 mRNA was found in DA cells, immunocytochemistry was extended to other components of the circadian clock machinery. This analysis showed that DA cells contain the most common clock-related proteins.