Granule Growth Research Articles

Application of microprobe vascular Doppler in the operation of skull base lesions

Objective To investigate the effect of microprobe vascular Doppler (MVD) on the operation of skull base lesions. Methods From September 2017 to September 2018, 13 patients with skull base lesions at Neurosurgery Department of the first Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively analyzed. The 13 cases included 6 cases of meningioma in Sellar region, 2 cases of meningioma in petroclival region, 3 cases of pituitary adenoma of Knosp Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade, 1 case of chordoma in Sellar clival region, and 1 case of invasive growth of granulation tissue in intraorbital, skull base, sphenoid and ethmoid sinus after Aspergillus infection. The surgical methods included neuroendoscopic transnasal approach and microsurgical resection under craniotomy microscope. MVD was applied in all operations of this series. Medical imaging examination and follow-up were performed after operation. Results Among the 13 patients, total resection of meningioma in Sellar region was performed in 6 cases and subtotal resection in 2, total resection of Knosp grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ pituitary adenoma was conducted in 2 and subtotal resection in 1. Total resection was performed in 1 case of invasive growth of granulation tissue in intraorbital, skull base, sphenoid and ethmoid sinus after Aspergillus infection and 1 case of chordoma in Sellar base clival region. Uncorrected left eye vision was reported in the patient with Aspergillus infection post surgery. Postoperative symptoms of the other patients were improved. The prolactin level of 1 patient with prolactin adenoma was more than 204 ng/ml before operation. At 2 months post operation, the prolactin level was 105.66 ng/ml after oral bromocriptine combined with radiotherapy. The last reexamination was 11.3 ng/ml without hypophysis dysfunction. Six patients had varying degrees of electrolyte disorder after operation. Four patients had fever after operation and all returned to normal before discharge from hospital after treatment. All patients were followed up for (16.1±3.3) months(10-22 months), and there was no recurrence in imaging examination. Conclusion With the aid of MVD during the surgical resection of invasive growth lesions and large space occupying lesions in the skull base, the important blood vessels invaded, wrapped, pushed and displaced by the lesions can be monitored in real time, which might help avoid the disastrous consequences during and after operation and reduce the risk of surgery. Key words: Skull base neoplasms; Microsurgery; Natural orifice endoscopic surgery; Microprobe vascular Doppler

Sparsely and densely granulated growth hormone-secreting pituitary tumours (somatotropinomas): from histopathology to epigenomics

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Numerical study on granule aggregation and breakage in fluidized bed granulation by a novel PBM with DEM-CFD coupling approach

A novel population balance model (PBM) in which particle collision frequency function was determined through the coupling of the discrete element method with computational fluid dynamics was proposed to investigate the mechanisms of granule growth and breakage in fluidized bed granulation. The collision analysis revealed that the collision frequency function of one particle C(t) can be derived using the Froude number. In addition, the results indicated that the two-interparticle collision frequency function Ci, j(t) is equal to the one-particle collision frequency function C(t). The particle size distribution calculated using the PBM agrees extremely well with the actual values obtained through experiments at an actual production scale. This PBM can also predict the particle size distribution under various operating conditions.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ СПІКАННЯ АГЛОМЕРАТУ ПРИ ВИКОРИСТАННІ ШИХТИ З ПОПЕРЕДНЬО ПІДГОТОВЛЕНИМИ КОМПОЗИТАМИ

У статті досліджували різні способи спільного, а також роздільного грудкування компонентів шихти. Задачею є розробка, теоретичне та експериментальне обґрунтування способу грудкування агломераційної шихти, який дозволить формувати гранули заданого гранулометричного та мінералогічного складу, створивши умови для отримання в процесі спікання агломерату блочної структури високої міцності. Проведено дослідження ефективності роздільного грудкування шихти з використанням композитів заданого складу з метою формування міцного агломерату блочної структури заданого хімічного та гранулометричного складу.Запропоновано спосіб роздільного грудкування з використанням композиту з концентрату, залізної руди крупністю 0-3 мм, вапна та вапняку, основність якого складатиме 0,9-1,0 од. Технологія передбачає дозування, змішування та грудкування даного композиту, при цьому залишкова шихта, основністю 1,6-1,8 од., дозується та змішується паралельно. Після цього відбувається спільна грануляція композитів в барабані-грануляторі. Паливо, крупністю 0-7 мм подається наприкінці грануляції. Виробництво агломерату запропонованим способом дозволяє збільшити вихід придатного агломерату на 10,29 %, і фракції +5 мм на 11,5% після випробування на міцність. Ця технологія призвела до зменшення кількості фракції 0-1 мм та збільшення еквівалентного діаметра гранул; зменшення середньо-квадратичного відхилення та коефіцієнту варіації. Найкраща якість агломерату була забезпечена при використанні композиту з «концентрату – руди – вапна – вапняку», основність якого складала 0,9-1,0 одиниць. Запропонована технологія передбачає дозування, змішування та грудкування даного композиту. Залишкова шихта, основністю 1,6-1,8 од., дозується та змішується паралельно. Після цього відбувається спільна грануляція композитів в барабані-грануляторі. Паливо, крупністю 0-7 мм подається наприкінці грануляції.

Distinct methylation patterns in sparsely and densely granulated growth hormone-secreting pituitary tumours provide clues to different underlying tumorigenic mechanisms

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

1390 Impacted Fully Covered Self-Expanding Metal Biliary Stent Within an Uncovered Metal Stent by Exuberant Granulation Tissue Growth Successfully Removed After Treatment With Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC)

INTRODUCTION: We describe the case of an impacted, fully covered, self-expanding metal biliary stent within an uncovered metal stent because of exuberant granulation tissue growth at the ampullary orifice. The stent was successfully removed after treatment of granulation tissue with Argon Plasma Coagulation (APC). CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 95-year-old lady underwent placement of an uncovered self-expanding metal stent for a tight stricture of the distal bile duct by another gastroenterologist several years ago. The stricture was initially felt to be a malignant stricture but subsequently turned out to be a benign stricture. However, the biliary tree was frequently obstructed with excessive tissue ingrowth and recurrent stone formation requiring placement of a fully-covered self expanding metal stent within the uncovered metal stent, exchanged every nine months. During one of the ERCPs for stent exchange, the covered metal stent could not be removed because of exuberant growth of granulation tissue around the ampullary orifice covering the edges of the stent. The stent was left in place, the stones were extracted with a stone-extraction balloon and the granulation tissue was treated with APC. The plan was to bring the patient back for an ERCP and stent exchange after resolution of the granulation tissue. The patient ended up being hospitalized with stent occlusion and cholangitis after three months. At that time an ERCP was performed and the granulation tissue was noted to have completely resolved. The stent was occluded with stones and debris. The stent was removed without difficulty and a new stent was placed. The same exact situation recurred two years later. The granulation tissue was treated again with APC and stent was cleaned out with a stone-extraction balloon. The patient was brought back in three months for an ERCP and easy stent removal. DISCUSSION: Fully covered self-expanding metal stents have been used successfully for a variety of malignant and benign conditions and are generally easily removable. Occasionally exuberant growth of granulation tissue at the biliary orifice can preclude stent removal. Attempts to remove the stent forcibly can result in stent disruption and can lead to serious complications. In these situations the best approach is to treat the granulation tissue with APC and bring the patient back after resolution of the granulation tissue for an easy stent exchange.

Intra-Sample Heterogeneity of Potato Starch Reveals Fluctuation of Starch-Binding Proteins According to Granule Morphology.

Starch granule morphology is highly variable depending on the botanical origin. Moreover, all investigated plant species display intra-tissular variability of granule size. In potato tubers, the size distribution of starch granules follows a unimodal pattern with diameters ranging from 5 to 100 µm. Several evidences indicate that granule morphology in plants is related to the complex starch metabolic pathway. However, the intra-sample variability of starch-binding metabolic proteins remains unknown. Here, we report on the molecular characterization of size-fractionated potato starch granules with average diameters of 14.2 ± 3.7 µm, 24.5 ± 6.5 µm, 47.7 ± 12.8 µm, and 61.8 ± 17.4 µm. In addition to changes in the phosphate contents as well as small differences in the amylopectin structure, we found that the starch-binding protein stoichiometry varies significantly according to granule size. Label-free quantitative proteomics of each granule fraction revealed that individual proteins can be grouped according to four distinct abundance patterns. This study corroborates that the starch proteome may influence starch granule growth and architecture and opens up new perspectives in understanding the dynamics of starch biosynthesis.

Agglomeration of wet particles in dense granular flows.

In order to get insight into the wet agglomeration process, we numerically investigate the growth of a single granule inside a dense flow of an initially homogeneous distribution of wet and dry particles. The simulations are performed by means of the discrete element method and the binding liquid is assumed to be transported by the wet particles, which interact via capillary and viscous force laws. The granule size is found to be an exponential function of time, reflecting the conservation of the amount of liquid and the decrease of the number of available wet particles inside the flow during agglomeration. We analyze this behavior in terms of the accretion and erosion rates of wet particles for a range of different values of material parameters such as mean particle size, size polydispersity, friction coefficient and liquid viscosity. In particular, we propose a phase diagram of the granule growth as a function of the mean primary particle diameter and particle size span, which separates the parametric domain in which the granule grows from the domain in which the granule does not survive.

Influence of sequencing batch reactor configuration on aerobic granules growth: Engineering and microbiological aspects

This work evaluated the effect of two sequencing batch reactor (SBR) configurations used for aerobic granular sludge (AGS) cultivation (conventional and constant-volume) on the physical and microbiological characteristics of the granules, as well as on the systems’ performance. In the conventional SBR (R1), the filling, reaction, settling and decanting phases occurred sequentially, while, in the SBR operated at constant volume (R2), the filling and decanting phases occurred simultaneously followed by the reaction and settling phases. A faster formation of granules (about 30 days) with a larger size (∅ > 1 mm) and better settleability (SVI 30 ≈ 44.8 mL/g) was observed in R1. On the other hand, R2 presented a slower formation of granules (about 50 days) with a smaller diameter (∅ ≈ 0.8 mm) and a worse settleability (SVI 30 ≈ 70.7 mL/g). Although R2 presented smaller granules (and longer time for biomass formation), this configuration presented several advantages, such as better system stability during the entire operation (125 days), higher solids retention, and granules with better physical resistance. In terms of performance, both systems presented high values of COD (>90%), NH 4 + (>90%) and TN (>50%) removals after stabilization. However, the phosphorus removal in R2 was higher (≈50%) than in R1 (≈25%). The results justify the use of SBRs operated at constant volume in most full-scale AGS wastewater treatment plants, such as Nereda®. Therefore, the SBR configuration has a direct influence on the granule formation and its physical and microbiological characteristics as well as on the system performance in terms of efficiency and operational stability. • Conventional (R1) and constant-volume (R2) SBR configurations were tested on AGS. • In R1, the granulation was faster (30 d), and the granules were larger (1.2 mm). • In R2, the higher solids content (7 g VSS/L) favored a better P removal (48%). • R1 and R2 obtained similar N removals (55%), but the mechanisms were different. • The settling time decrease played a key role in the filaments removal only in R1.

High-shear granulation: An investigation into the granule consolidation and layering mechanism

The mechanisms of early granule growth are difficult to study and poorly understood. Consolidation and layering play a critical role in the growth process. However, little is known about the kinetics.In this work, a novel consolidation-only granulator (COG) was used to study dynamic consolidation and layering only, eliminating other granulation mechanisms. Prenucleated granule growth was studied over time. Based on experimental data and literature models, a mechanistic layering kernel for population balance modelling was developed.Granule growth kinetics were qualitatively predicted by a previously reported model; growth behaviour was linear with the square root of time to a certain critical size, after which growth stopped. X-ray computed tomography revealed that consolidation mainly occurred in the outer layers of the granules.The results greatly advance understanding of consolidation and layered growth, and the new model opens the way for improved predictive modelling and design of granulation processes and products.

EFFECT OF SUBATMOSPHERIC NEGATIVE PRESSURE ON BIASED pH CHANGES IN PURULENT NECROTIC DEFECTS IN DIABETIC FOOT SYNDROME

The number of patients with diabetes mellitus worldwide is increasing with geometric progression, and thus there is an increase in the percentage of related complications. Diabetic foot syndrome is one of the most serious chronic complications that often results in early disability, long stretches of hospitalization, mounting expenses, and an amputated limb. At present, vacuum therapy in the treatment of purulent necrotic lesions of diabetic foot syndrome is being successfully used in medical practice. The aim of our study was to search and verify for indirect methods of express control of the vacuum therapy efficacy. Based on applying our patented local treatment technique, which includes the negative pressure wound therapy, we determined the pH dynamic changes and the monitored the microbiological climate of wounds. According to the results obtained, the high efficacy of the proposed technique has been found out and statistically confirmed. Starting from the 4th day of applying this technique, the main group demonstrated induced, significantly accelerated pH changes in the wounds that create the conditions for early growth of granulation tissue; the reduction of microbial load in the wound indirectly enhances these processes that were found out twice as slow in the comparison group. Therefore, the contact pH monitoring of wound is quite helpful for checking the therapy efficacy as well as for predicting the course of wound healing. Our study has confirmed its effectiveness in pH changing that positively affects the course of wound healing. Applying negative pressure wound therapy as an integral component of combined treatment of purulent necrotic lesions of diabetic foot syndrome allows medical practitioners to accelerate pH changes to reach their optimum values and considerably promotes the beginning of the second phase of wound healing. The study has also proven the enhanced elimination of bacterial agents from the wound by using this technique that also promotes the early activation of the phase 2 and significantly reduces the percentage of suppurative complications in the future.

Use of triamcinolone as treatment of granulation tissue (Proud flesh) in horses: case report

The occurrence of wounds and traumas in horses is relatively frequent of those animals. Because of having a great reserve of energy, combined with the agility and the instinct to run or fight, besides other factors, those animals are more predisposed to the occurrence of wounds. The management of wounds in horses is relatively delicate, since complications are not uncommon, and it can delay the treatment, as well as raise costs and require special care. Some points should be observed when handling wounds in horses, such as complete epithelialization without scar formation; shorter treatment time; avoid recurrence or complications that prolong the treatment, reduce costs. Exuberant granulation tissue is a common complication that occurs during the management of wounds in horses, and may be caused by prolonged treatment, wounds in regions with more moviments, infections, among other factors. Currently, there are several forms of treatment of exuberant granulation tissue in horses.The objective of this study was to report the success of the topical use of triamcinolone in three horses that presented exuberant granulation tissue growth. The horses presented exuberant granulation tissue growth in the distal region of the thoracic limb after trauma that generated the lesion. Treatment with 1mg triamcinolone ointment was started as an attempt to control and reduce the granulation tissue and allow the wound to heal completely and it was effective in all three treated cases, since the granulation tissue was reduced and the wound healed without major scars or any other damage to the horse.

Application of reverse dermal revascularization combined with vacuum sealing drainage in the large area of skin avulsion of the lower extremities

To summarize the clinical effect of emergency subcutaneous vascular network reverse skin replantation combined with vacuum sealing after drainage of large area skin avulsion injury. Clinical data of 30 patients with extensive skin avulsion of the lower limb treated between July 2010 and March 2018 were collected. There were 20 males and 10 females, ranging in age from 16 to 67 years old, with an average of(48±13) years old. Cause of injury: 19 cases of car accident injury, 11 cases of crush injury. The surgery time was 3 to 10 h, with an average of (5±1) h. All cases were completely debrided in stage I. The subdermal vascular network was reversed and skin grafted with multiple incision drainage combined with negative pressure closed drainage technique for 7 to 10 days. The wounds were removed by VSD observation:if the necrotic area is large, debridement is required. After the granulation growth of the wound is satisfactory, the skin grafting is performed again after electrification; the small area of necrotic skin strengthens the dressing and heals. 30 patients were followed up for 7 to 48 months, with an average of (20±11) months.No infection in 1 case appeared, 30 patients, living area more than 85% of the wound after treatment survival in the stage I; The skin necrosis ranged from about 12% in 5 patients in the stage II. The second stage was healed after redebriding free skin grafts. The other patients were healed after the dressing, capillary meshwork layer of skin color, good elasticity, feeling, wearable pressure, each joint activities is good, no obvious skin adhesion cause physical activity is limited. Reverse skin grafting combined with VSD for the treatment of large skin avulsion of lower limb can greatly reduce wound infection rate, promote the application of skin and wound, conducive to drainage, improve the survival rate of reverse skin grafting and improve the function of lower limb joints.

Effects of allogeneic mouse adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell-microporous sheep acellular dermal matrix on healing of wound with full-thickness skin defect in mouse and the related mechanism

Objective: To explore the effects of allogeneic mouse adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADSC)-microporous sheep acellular dermal matrix (ADM) on wound healing of full-thickness skin defect in mice and the related mechanism.Methods: One Kunming mouse was sacrificed by cervical dislocation to collect adipose tissue from the inguinal region. Mouse ADSCs were isolated from the adipose tissue and cultured in vitro. Cells in the third passage were identified by cell adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation. The expressions of CD34, CD73, CD90, and CD105 were analyzed by flow cytometer. After one sheep was sacrificed with the skin of its back cut off, microporous sheep ADM was prepared by using acellular processing and freeze-thaw method. A round and full-thickness skin defect wound, with a diameter of 12 mm, was made on the back of each of 36 Kunming mice. The wounds were covered by microporous sheep ADM. The mice were divided into ADSC group and control group with 18 mice in each group according to the random number table method after surgery. A volume of 0.2 ml of DMEM/F12 culture medium containing 1 × 106 ADSCs was injected between microporous sheep ADM and the wound of each mouse in ADSC group, while 0.2 ml of DMEM/F12 culture medium was injected between microporous sheep ADM and the wound of each mouse in control group. At post-surgery day (PSD) 12 and 17, the wound healing rate in each group was calculated respectively; wound vascularization in 2 groups of mice was observed under the reverse irradiation of back light; and the granulation tissue in the wound in ADSC group was observed by means of hematoxylin-eosin staining. At PSD 7, the thickness of the granulation tissue in the wound was measured in each group of mice. At PSD 12 and 17, the immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of VEGF in each group of mice. The number of samples was 6 in each group at each time point in the above experiments. The data obtained were processed with t-test and factorial design ANOVA.Results: (1) After 7 days of adipogenic induction, red lipid droplets were observed in the cytoplasm with oil red O staining. After 21 days of osteogenic induction, black calcium deposition was observed in the medium stained with silver nitrate. The expression levels of CD73, CD90, CD 105 and CD34 in cells were 97.82%, 99.32%, 97.35% and 5.88% respectively. The cells were identified as ADSCs. (2) The wound healing rates of ADSC group at PSD 12 and 17 [(78 ± 6)%, (98 ± 3)%] were significantly higher than those of control group at PSD 12 and 17 [(60 ± 9)%, (90 ± 4)%, t = 4.26, 4.46, p< .01]. (3) At PSD 7, no vessels obviously grew into the center of the wound in both groups of mice, while the granulation tissue already covered the wound in ADSC group. At PSD 12, the wound in ADSC group was more well-perfused than control group. At PSD 17, it was observed that large vessels were crossing through the whole wound in ADSC group, while large vessels were observed without crossing through the whole wound in control group. (4) In ADSC group, at PSD 7, the wound was covered with thin granulation tissue, and the granulation tissue was obviously thickened at PSD 12. At PSD 17, the granulation tissue was covered by epidermis. At PSD 7, the thickness of the granulation tissue in the wound in ADSC group [(0.62 ± 0.05) mm] was significantly greater than that in control group [(0.31 ± 0.04) mm, t = 12.27, p < .01]. (5) At PSD 12 and 17, the expression levels of VEGF in the wound in ADSC group [(80.7 ± 2.2), (102.8 ± 2.6)/mm2] were significantly than those in control group [(59.5 ± 2.4), (81.5 ± 2.6)/mm2, t = 15.95, 14.14, p < .01].Conclusions: Allogeneic mouse ADSC-microporous sheep ADM can promote angiogenesis and the growth of granulation tissue in the wound with full-thickness skin defect in mice, thus accelerating wound healing. The mechanism is probably related with the increase in the expression of VEGF.

Honey–old wine in new bottle: a surgically viable antibacterial and antiinflammatory fixator

Background: Skin grafts are used to cover the healing wound, in which adherence of the graft to the wound bed is the important element. Honey has been shown to increase the adherence of skin grafts to wound beds and have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and increase healing rate of wounds.Methods: In a single centre based prospective comparative study from November 2016 to April 2018, 60 patients (in 30 patients graft was fixed with sterilised honey, in 30 patients it was fixed with conventional methods like skin staples/sutures). All patients in two groups were evaluated for area of graft uptake, graft contracture, incidence of hematoma/seroma, mean hospital stay post surgery, post-operative pain, Infection rate and Cost effectiveness. Statistical analysis used are chi-square test, independent t test/ Mann-Whitney test, paired t test/ Wilcoxon test. P<0.05 is considered statistically significant.Results: Although graft uptake was same in both the groups, graft contracture, discharge from graft site and infection rate were less in the honey group. There was no seroma formation in the honey group. Honey significantly reduced postoperative pain (p<0.0001%) and is also cost-effective as the hospital stay was shorter in the honey group (p<0.0001%).Conclusions: Honey has strong adhesive properties, anti-inflammatory action and helps in minimization of scarring, and stimulation of angiogenesis as well as tissue granulation and epithelium growth. It also reduces surgical time for skin graft fixation. Sterilized honey has proven advantage as a skin graft fixator.

Bacterial community changes with granule size in cryoconite and their susceptibility to exogenous nutrients on NW Greenland glaciers.

Cryoconite granules are dark-colored biological aggregates on glaciers. Bacterial community varies with granule size, however, community change in space and their susceptibility to environmental factors has not been described yet. Therefore, we focused on bacterial community from four different granule sizes (30-249 μm, 250-750 μm, 750-1599 μm, more than 1600 μm diameter) in 10 glaciers in northwestern Greenland and their susceptibility to exogenous nutrients in cryoconite hole. A filamentous cyanobacterium Phormidesmis priestleyi, which has been frequently reported from glaciers in Arctic was abundant (10%-26%) across any size of granules on most of glaciers. Bacterial community across glaciers became similar with size increase, and whence smallest size fractions contain more unique genera in each glacier. Multivariate analysis revealed that effect of nutrients to beta diversity is larger in smaller granules (30-249 μm and 250-750 μm diameter), suggesting that bacterial susceptibility to nutrients changes with growth of granule (i.e. P. priestleyi was affected by nitrate in early growth stage).

The Treatment of Low Leg Nonischemic Ulcers With a Traditional Chinese-Pharmaceutical Medium: A Randomized Controlled Multicenter Clinical Study.

The aim of this study was to observe the curative effect and mechanism of Shengji Yuhong ointment in the healing of chronic ulcer of lower limbs. 400 patients were equally divided into treatment group and control group. The treatment group was covered with a piece of Shengji Yuhong ointment gauze, while the control group was covered with a piece of Vaseline gauze. Both groups changed dressings every other day for 4 weeks. On the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days of treatment, the reduction rate of wound area and the growth of wound granulation were observed and the levels of hydroxyproline and hemoglobin in wound granulation tissue were measured. The total effective rate was 99.00% in the treatment group and 71.00% in the control group. The treatment group was significantly better than the control group (P < .01). The ulcer area reduction rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < .01). The scores of ulcer depth, granulation color, and coverage area on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days after treatment in the treatment group were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < .05). After treatment, the levels of hydroxyproline and hemoglobin in granulation tissue of wounds in both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (P < .01), and the levels in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < .01). Shengji Yuhong ointment can improve the healing rate of chronic ulcer of lower limbs.

Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of potato starch-branching enzymes generates a range of tuber starch phenotypes.

SummaryWe investigated whether Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis of starch‐branching enzymes (SBEs) in tetraploid potatoes could generate tuber starches with a range of distinct properties. Constructs containing the Cas9 gene and sgRNAs targeting SBE1,SBE2 or both genes were introduced by Agrobacterium‐mediated transformation or by PEG‐mediated delivery into protoplasts. Outcomes included lines with mutations in all or only some of the homoeoalleles of SBE genes and lines in which homoeoalleles carried several different mutations. DNA delivery into protoplasts resulted in mutants with no detectable Cas9 gene, suggesting the absence of foreign DNA. Selected mutants with starch granule abnormalities had reductions in tuber SBE1 and/or SBE2 protein that were broadly in line with expectations from genotype analysis. Strong reduction in both SBE isoforms created an extreme starch phenotype, as reported previously for low‐SBE potato tubers. HPLC‐SEC and 1H NMR revealed a decrease in short amylopectin chains, an increase in long chains and a large reduction in branching frequency relative to wild‐type starch. Mutants with strong reductions in SBE2 protein alone had near‐normal amylopectin chain‐length distributions and only small reductions in branching frequency. However, starch granule initiation was enormously increased: cells contained many granules of <4 μm and granules with multiple hila. Thus, large reductions in both SBEs reduce amylopectin branching during granule growth, whereas reduction in SBE2 alone primarily affects numbers of starch granule initiations. Our results demonstrate that Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis of SBE genes has the potential to generate new, potentially valuable starch properties without integration of foreign DNA into the genome.

Platelet-Rich Fibrin Membrane – as a Novel Local Autologous Blood Tissue Graft Stimulating Granulation Tissue Growth in Pressure Injury of a Spinal Cord Injury patient: A Case Report

Platelet-Rich Fibrin Membrane – as a Novel Local Autologous Blood Tissue Graft Stimulating Granulation Tissue Growth in Pressure Injury of a Spinal Cord Injury patient: A Case Report

Long-Term Implantable, Flexible, and Transparent Neural Interface Based on Ag/Au Core-Shell Nanowires.

Neural interfaces enabling light transmittance rely on optogenetics to control and monitor specific neural activity, thereby facilitating deeper understanding of intractable diseases. This study reports the material strategy underlying an optogenetic neural interface comprising stretchable and transparent conductive tracks and capable of demonstrating high biocompatibility after long-term (5-month) implantation. Ag/Au core-shell nanowires contribute toward improving track performance in terms of stretchability (<60% strain), transparency (<83%), and electrical resistance (15 Ω sq-1 ). The neural interface integrated with gel-coated exterior microelectrodes preserves low impedance (1.1-3.2 Ω cm2 ) in a saline solution over the evaluated 5-month period. Besides the use of efficient conductive materials, surface treatment using antithrombogenic polymer tends to prevent the growth of granulation tissue, thereby facilitating clear monitoring of electrocorticograms (ECoG) in a rodent during chronic implantation. The flexible and transparent neural interface pathologically exhibits noncytotoxicity and low inflammatory response while efficiently recording evoked ECoG in a nonhuman primate via optogenetic stimulation. The proposed highly reliable interface can be employed in multifaceted approaches for translational research based on chronic implants.