Lower Lactic Acid Research Articles

Effects of bacteriocin-producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on bacterial community and fermentation profile of whole-plant corn silage and its in vitro ruminal fermentation, microbiota, and CH4 emissions

BackgroundSilage is widely used to formulate dairy cattle rations, and the utilization of antibiotics and methane emissions are 2 major problems for a sustainable and environmentally beneficial ruminant production systems. Bacteriocin has received considerable attention because of its potential as an alternative to antibiotics in animal husbandry. However, the impact of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria on the microbiological conversion process of whole-plant corn silage and rumen fermentation remains limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of 2 class IIa bacteriocin-producing strains Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC14917 and CICC24194 on bacterial community composition and ensiling profiles of whole-plant corn silage and its in vitro rumen fermentation, microbiota, and CH4 emissions.ResultsBoth bacteriocin-producing strains increased the lactic acid concentration in silage fermented for 7 d, whereas the lowest lactic acid was observed in the ATCC14917 inoculated silage fermented for 90 d (P < 0.05). The highest DM content was observed in the CICC24194 treatment (P < 0.05), and the silages treated with both strains had the lowest DM loss (P < 0.05). Bacteriocin-producing strains promoted the growth of Levilactobacillus brevis on d 60 of ensiling. In addition, treatment with bacteriocin-producing strains increased the in vitro DM digestibility (P < 0.05) and decreased the CH4 production (P < 0.05). The results of random forest and clustering analyses at the genus level showed that ATCC14917 increased the relative abundance of the influential variable Bacillus compared to that in the control group, whereas CICC24194 decreased the relative abundance of the influential variable Ruminococcaceae UCG-005. The CICC24194 treatment had the lowest total bacterial, fungal, protozoan, and methanogen populations (P < 0.05).ConclusionsBoth class IIa bacteriocin-producing L. plantarum strains improved the fermentation quality of whole-plant corn silage by regulating the bacterial community composition during ensiling, with CICC24194 being the most effective. Both bacteriocin-producing strains mitigated CH4 production and improved digestibility by modulating the interactions among rumen bacteria, protozoa, methanogens, and the composition of fibrolytic bacteria.

Effect of Fu Zheng Jie Du Formula on outcomes in patients with severe pneumonia receiving prone ventilation: a retrospective cohort study.

The effect of combining prone ventilation with traditional Chinese medicine on severe pneumonia remains unclear. To evaluate the effect of Fu Zheng Jie Du Formula (FZJDF) combined with prone ventilation on clinical outcomes in patients with severe pneumonia. This single-center retrospective cohort study included 188 severe pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU from January 2022 to December 2023. Patients were divided into an FZJD group (receiving FZJDF for 7 days plus prone ventilation) and a non-FZJD group (prone ventilation only). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance baseline characteristics. The primary outcome was the change in PaO2/FiO2 ratio after treatment. Secondary outcomes included 28-day mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, PaCO2, lactic acid levels, APACHE II score, SOFA score, Chinese Medicine Score, inflammatory markers, and time to symptom resolution. After PSM, 32 patients were included in each group. Compared to the non-FZJD group, the FZJD group showed significantly higher PaO2/FiO2 ratios, lower PaCO2, and lower lactic acid levels after treatment (p < 0.05 for all). The FZJD group also had significantly lower APACHE II scores, SOFA scores, Chinese Medicine Scores, and levels of WBC, PCT, hs-CRP, and IL-6 (p < 0.05 for all). Time to symptom resolution, including duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, time to fever resolution, time to cough resolution, and time to resolution of pulmonary rales, was significantly shorter in the FZJD group (p < 0.05 for all). There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups. FZJDF as an adjuvant therapy to prone ventilation can improve oxygenation and other clinical outcomes in severe pneumonia patients. Prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings.

The effect of agitating buffy coats on platelet quality before soft spin

BackgroundPlatelet plays a vital role in both physiological and pathological processes. However, the limited storage time of platelet in vitro poses an immense challenge for its applications because of the increased risk of bacterial contamination and platelet storage lesions. Agitation can inhibit lesions by facilitating continuous oxygenation of platelets and permitting excess carbon dioxide to be removed during storage. However, it is still not known whether agitating BCs gives a positive effect on platelet quality. Objectives: To evaluate the quality difference between platelet concentrates (PCs) from buffy coats (BCs) held rest and agitation. MethodsSamples were withdrawn for cell count, blood gas analysis, free hemoglobin level, hypotonic shock response, maximum aggregation rate, activation marker expression (CD62P and CD42b) and coagulation function. Results: We found the PCs prepared from the agitating BCs had fewer residual WBCs, exhibited a better gas exchange ability, slower metabolism (higher pH, higher content glucose, and lower lactic acid levels), better hypotonic shock response, and lower levels of CD62P. The TEG-PC assays showed no difference in coagulation function. Conclusion: Our findings showed that BC can be agitated overnight before a soft spin.

Enhanced lactic acid production through enzymatic hydrolysis: Assessing impact of varied enzyme loadings on co-fermentation of swine manure and apple waste

Anaerobic co-fermentation of swine manure (SM) and apple waste (AW) restricts by the slow hydrolysis of substrates with complex structures, which subsequently leads to low lactic acid (LA) production. Therefore, a novel strategy based on enzymatic pretreatment for improving LA production from anaerobic co-fermentation of SM and AW was proposed in this study. The results indicated that the maximal LA concentration increased from 35.89 ± 1.84 to 42.70 ± 2.18 g/L with the increase of enzyme loading from 0 to 300 U/g VSsubstrate. Mechanism exploration indicated that enzymatic pretreatment significantly promoted the release and hydrolysis of insoluble organic matter from fermentation substrate, thus providing an abundance of reaction intermediates that were directly available for LA production. Additionally, bacteria analysis revealed that the high concentration of LA was associated with the prevalence of Lactobacillus. This study offered an environmental-friendly strategy for promoting SM and AW hydrolysis and provided a viable approach for recovering valuable products.

Lactate drives the ESM1–SCD1 axis to inhibit the antitumor CD8+ T-cell response by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in ovarian cancer cells and inducing cisplatin resistance

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a gynecological malignancy that results in a global threat to women’s lives. Lactic acid, a key metabolite produced from the glycolytic metabolism of glucose molecules, is correlated with tumor immune infiltration and platinum resistance. In our previous study, we found that endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) plays a key role in OC progression. This study revealed that lactate could upregulate ESM1, which enhances SCD1 to attenuate the antitumor CD8+ T-cell response. ESM1 and SCD1 expression levels were significantly greater in OC patients with high lactic acid levels than in those with low lactic acid levels. Further mechanistic studies suggested that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was inactivated after ESM1 knockdown and rescued by SCD1 overexpression. IC50 analysis indicated that the ESM1–SCD1 axis induces the resistance of OC cells to platinum agents, including cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin, by upregulating P-gp. In conclusion, our study indicated that the induction of SCD1 by lactic acid-induced ESM1 can impede the CD8+ T-cell response against tumors and promote resistance to cisplatin by activating the Wnt/β–catenin pathway in ovarian cancer. Consequently, targeting ESM1 may have considerable therapeutic potential for modulating the tumor immune microenvironment and enhancing drug sensitivity in OC patients.

Discriminating three lab scale dark chocolate bars from fine Cameroon cocoa hybrids using sensorial evaluation and organic acid content.

Previous studies have shown a correlation between chocolate sensory profile and certain (bio)chemical components. The aim of this study was to examine the sensorial profile and organic acid content of three lab scale chocolate brands produced from different cocoa genotypes. The sensorial evaluation was examined by a team of 12 panelists and evaluation of aroma volatiles was done by means of HS-SPME-GC-MS. On the other hand, organic acids were assessed using a high-performance ion chromatography coupled with an electrochemical detector (HPIC-ED). Results showed a variability in sensorial profile: SCA12×ICS40 chocolate (vanilla/sweet, spicy, and floral), ICS40 × SCA12 chocolate (fruity, bitter, and dry) and SNK16 × T60/887 chocolate (chocolate, honey-like, woody, sweet). Moreover, some aroma volatiles like (2-methyl, 3-methyl, iso) butanal (ICS), terpenes (SCA), and ketones (acetophenone and 2-nonanone) (SNK) allowed to discriminate dark chocolate sample according to their raw cocoa genetic group. Besides, the organic acid content differed from one chocolate brand to another, and it was obtained a high content of oxalic acid and a low lactic acid content which are good indicators of chocolate quality. Results of the current study highly recommend knowing the variety of cocoa beans with high content of some volatiles and high oxalic and low acetic acid and lactic contents to produce high aromatic (special flavor) chocolates.

Impact of essential and optional ingredients on microbial and metabolic profiles of kimchi

This study aimed to examine the impacts of essential and optional ingredients on the microbial and metabolic profiles of kimchi during 100 days of fermentation, using a mix-omics approach. Kimchi manufactured without essential ingredients (e.g., red pepper, garlic, ginger, green onion, and radish) had lower lactic acid content. The absence of garlic was associated with a higher proportion of Latilactobacillus and Lactococcus, while the absence of red pepper was associated with a greater proportion of Leuconostoc than the control group. In addition, red pepper and garlic served as primary determinants of the levels of organic acids and biogenic amines. Sugar was positively correlated with the levels of melibiose, and anchovy sauce was positively correlated with the levels of amino acids such as methionine, leucine, and glycine. These findings contribute to a fundamental understanding of how ingredients influence kimchi fermentation, offering valuable insights for optimizing kimchi production to meet various preferences.

Waste to Wealth: The power of food-waste anaerobic digestion integrated with lactic acid fermentation

Food waste (FW) costs the global economy $1 trillion annually and is associated with 8% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an effective technology for recycling organic waste, including FW, for energy and nutrient recovery. Current major revenue streams for AD include the sale of biogas/power, gate fees, and digestate (fertiliser). However, subsidies provided by governments are a major profit driver for commercial facilities and are generally required for profitability, limiting its widespread adoption. Lactic acid (LA) is a high value intermediate of the AD process and literature evidence has indicated the recovery of LA can significantly boost the revenue generated from FW-AD. Moreover, FW fermentation naturally tends towards LA accumulation, promotion of LA producing bacteria, and inhibition of alternate competing microbes, making LA attractive for commercial production from FW. The integration of LA production and recovery into FW-AD could improve its economic performance and reduce the need for subsidy support, providing a platform for global adoption of the AD technology. However, challenges, such as 1) the low LA yield on FW, 2) seasonality of the FW composition, 3) unknown influence of LA recovery on downstream AD, and 4) impact of standard operational procedures for AD on upstream LA production, still exist making this focus area for future research. Even so, literature has shown the benefits of the LA-AD biorefinery, detailing improved process economics, increased FW utilisation, and elimination of subsidy support. Therefore, this review focuses on exploring the integrating LA production into AD by examining the current status of AD, LA integration strategies, challenges associated with LA production from FW, and identifies key challenges and considerations associated with downstream AD of fermented waste.

Raw material–dependent changes in bacterial and compositional profiles are involved in insufficient pH decrease in natural lactic fermentation of Brassica rapa leaves

Sunki is an unsalted lactic fermented pickle made from red turnip leaves in the Kiso district, Japan. Accidental insufficient decrease in pH during sunki fermentation seriously reduces the product quality. To obtain insights into how the insufficient decrease occurs, we comprehensively analyzed differences in the microbiological and chemical properties of sunki made from three different turnip harvests and found a significant difference in their final pH. Microbiota and metabolome analyses revealed that the insufficient pH decrease showed strong relationships with the chemical composition (low lactic acid and high ammonia levels) and bacterial community structure (low Lactobacillus and high Limosilactobacillus). In vitro sunki fermentation experiments demonstrated that accumulated ammonia was associated with a decrease in glutamine and an increase in glutamic acid. Limosilactobacillus reuteri, a species of lactic acid bacteria possessing heterolactic metabolism, was suggested to be mainly responsible for insufficient decrease in pH related to accumulated ammonia during sunki fermentation.

Using transporter to enhance the acid tolerance of Bacillus coagulans DSM1

As the precursor of polylactic acid (PLA), optically pure l-lactic acid production is attracting increasing attention. The accumulation of lactic acid during fermentation inhibits strain growth. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the acid tolerance of lactic acid producers. In this study, comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed to investigate the effects of transporters on lactic acid tolerance of Bacillus coagulans DSM1, which is an l-lactic acid producer. The genes with more than two-fold up-regulation in transcriptional profile were further verified using real-time PCR. The transcriptional levels of RS06895, RS10595, RS10595, RS00500, RS00500, RS10635 and RS10635 were enhanced during lactic acid fermentation. Strain overexpressing RS10595 exhibited a retarded cell growth and low lactic acid production at pH 6.0, but an improved lactic acid production at pH 4.6. This study may facilitate the investigation of the acid tolerance mechanism in B. coagulans DSM1, as well as the construction of efficient lactic acid producers.

Microbial synthesis of eco-friendly polylactate plastic from low-cost agro-industrial wastes as an alternative to petrochemical-based plastic

&lt;p&gt;Bioplastics made from renewable resources, such as contemporary biomass, have been developed more quickly as a result of global pollution from plastics made from petroleum, but it is still unclear how these materials will affect ecosystems. A common biopolymer that will make up 33% of the bioplastics produced in 2021 is polylactic acid (PLA). Forty-two bacterial isolates (soil, food wastes, and water wastes) were obtained, and 8 lactic acid bacteria were used for lactic acid (LA) production. These bacteria were classified into three categories, namely high, moderate and low LA producing bacteria which gave LA concentrations ranged from &amp;gt;1.0 g/L (3 bacteria), 0.5 to 1.0 g/L (21 bacteria) and 0.1 to 0.5 g/L (26 bacteria), respectively. The Sudan black staining method revealed that 16 bacteria out of 50 were capable of storing PLA granules, with three lactic acid bacteria referred to as Lactococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus rhamenose, and Lactobacillus retrieria being the most efficient. The sodium dodecyl sulphate procedure was used to extract PLA from the selected LAB, and the results revealed that L. rhamnose was the most effective strain for producing both lactic acid and PLA. The most important fermentation parameters for lactic acid and polylactate polymer production were evaluated using an optimal custom (factorial) design. The interaction between three factors of selected potato oil waste, C/N ratio (48/1), and inoculum size (10%) resulted in an increase in lactic acid and polylactate polymer productivity by L. rhamenose L6, which reached 0.85 g/L, 0.96 g/L, and cell dry weight 2.33g/L, respectively.&lt;/p&gt;&#x0D;

A novel microbiological approach to impact the aromatic composition of sour loquat beer

The growing interest in novel beer development determined the exploitation of unconventional yeasts isolated from novel ecological niches to generate unexplored sensory profiles. In recent years, there is an increasing interest in generating beers brewed with the addition of fruits. For the first time, Lachancea thermotolerans MNF105 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae MN113 isolated from manna, were tested as starter cultures to process loquat beer to improve the sensory profile. Innovatively, the yeast species L. thermotolerans was investigated for the production of sour fruit beer. Sour fruit beers produced with L. thermotolerans MNF105 were more balanced than the respective control, especially in terms of perceived acidity during sensory analysis. This could be due to the lower lactic acid production (0.49 g/L) compared to the respective control (1.74 g/L). The overall organoleptic investigation showed a preference for S. cerevisiae MN113 (TF1) isolated from manna. Experimental trials conducted with the selected strains demonstrated the absence of off-odour and off-flavour and improved aroma perception. Aldehydes and alcohols were the most abundant compounds emitted from the beers. S. cerevisiae MN113 and L. thermotolerans MNF105, manna related yeasts, showed great technological properties, representing promising starters for the production of fruit beer and sour fruit beer.

Efficacy of six lactic acid bacteria strains as silage inoculants in forages with different dry matter and water‐soluble carbohydrate content

AbstractThe dry matter (DM), water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content, and epiphytic microbiota of forage during ensiling are critical for the production of high‐quality preserved forage. This study tested the efficacy of six additive treatments (106 CFU/g FM Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus IMI 507023, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum [IMI 507026, IMI 507027, and IMI 507028] or Pediococcus pentosaceus [IMI 507024 and IMI 507025]) as ensiling agents for grass‐clover preservation. Treated and untreated forages were ensiled in 1.75 L glass jars and stored for 90 days at 20 ± 2°C. The effects of treatments on silage fermentation and aerobic stability were tested using grass‐clover forage at low and high levels of DM (24.0%–40.1%) and WSC (1.78%–5.27%). Data analysis using a mixed‐effects model and principal component analysis revealed improved silage fermentation in treated forages compared to that in the control. The fermentation‐related analytes in the treated silages (low pH, ethanol, acetic acid, and high lactic acid) represented a typical homofermentative metabolic pathway. The silage inoculants significantly lowered DM losses and ammonia‐N, % of total nitrogen content, ranging between 30.4%–52.5% and 30.5%–63.1% respectively, compared to the control. Additionally, forage type interacted with treatment, indicating that forage management is vital for ensiling and should be considered alongside inoculant use. The improvement in aerobic stability by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) was inconsistent. The principal component analysis of all analytes showed that aerobic stability was most closely correlated with acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations. In conclusion, all LAB strains successfully improved the preservation of forage materials.

Effect of Mixing Peanut Vine on Fermentation Quality, Nitrogen Fraction and Microbial Community of High-Moisture Alfalfa Silage

Fresh alfalfa is difficult to ensile successfully because of its high moisture content and greater susceptibility to spoilage by Clostridia, Bacilli or Enterobacter. In this study, we evaluated the effects of mixing high-moisture alfalfa with peanut vine in different proportions on the bacterial communities and fermentation characteristics of silage. The high-moisture alfalfa and peanut vine were mixed at ratios of 10:0 (CK), 8:2 (TI), 7:3 (T2), 6:4 (T3) and 5:5 (T4), respectively. For each treatment, silos (25 × 35 cm) were anaerobically fermented in darkness at room temperature and analyzed after 45 days. The results showed that the CK silage was weakly fermented, as indicated by a low lactic acid concentration, a high pH value, and high levels of propionic acid (PA), butyric acid (BA) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N). As the proportion of peanut vine in the mixture increased, the pH level decreased, and levels of BA, propionic acid, NH3-N, crude protein(CP), nonprotein nitrogen and soluble protein also declined (p &lt; 0.05), while the lactic acid concentration increased and levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) also rose (p &lt; 0.05). A protein component analysis of silage mixtures using the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) showed that the content of the nonprotein nitrogen component (PA) decreased when the proportion of peanut vine increased, whereas the content of rapidly degraded protein (PB1) increased. Mixing with peanut vine also influenced the distribution of the bacterial community. Compared with the CK silage, the relative abundances of Enterococcus, Garciella and Anaerosporobacter in T2, T3 and T4 were significantly lower, while the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was significantly higher. In the T2, T3 and T4 groups, Garciella and Anaerosporobacter were not detected. In summary, in this study, we ensiled high-moisture alfalfa, which was weakly fermented. We found that mixing with peanut vine improved fermentation quality and optimized the structure of the bacterial community. Therefore, to improve the fermentation quality and nutritional value of silage, high-moisture alfalfa should be ensiled with at least 30% peanut vine.

Comparing organic solvents in a combined water precipitation and liquid–liquid extraction process to recover lignin and furanics from a lactic acid: choline chloride deep eutectic solvent used as cooking liquor for cooking of spruce

Extracting and purifying lignin from wood without compromising cellulose quality is a challenging process. Lactic acid: choline chloride is a deep eutectic solvent (DES) that has been identified as acceptable delignification solvent, producing lignin and hemicellulose as byproducts to the cellulose. Hemicellulose is partly transformed into furanic compounds (such as furfural and 5-HMF). While the larger lignin can be obtained by water precipitation from DES, smaller lignin molecules and furanics can be recovered by liquid–liquid extraction (LLX), either directly or after precipitation of the larger lignin molecules. The presence of water in the DES after water precipitation reduced the mutual miscibility with the solvents, allowing the use of a wider range of solvents in the LLX process. In the precipitation step, all the larger molecular weight lignin (Mw > 5000 Da) can be recovered when adding at least 3.5:1 [g/g] water to DES-black liquor. For the LLX step, guaiacol was found as suitable alternative to the previously published 2-methyltetrahedrofuran (2-MTHF). In addition, here we report the use of 2,2,5,5-Tetramethyl oxolane (TMO), a recent addition to the palette of (potentially) bio-based solvents. The distribution coefficients of smaller lignin molecules and furanics in LLX with guaiacol, TMO and 2-MTHF were compared, revealing that smaller lignin molecules (500–5000 Da) can be recovered with a reasonable distribution coefficient by 2-MTHF and guaiacol. Furfural showed distribution coefficients of at least 1.27 in all three solvents. Guaiacol and TMO both showed a significantly lower lactic acid leaching than 2-MTHF. This makes them potential alternatives for 2-MTHF in this technique.Graphical abstract

The contribution of epiphytic microbiota in oat and Italian ryegrass to silage fermentation products and bacterial community structure of whole-crop maize

BackgroundThe purpose of this research is to study the contribution of epiphytic microbiota in fresh oat (OT), Italian ryegrass (IR) and whole-crop maize (MZ) to silage fermentation products and bacterial community structure of MZ. After γ-ray irradiation, the sterile MZ was treated via microbiota transplantation method: (1) sterile deionized water (STMZ); (2) microbiota epiphytic on MZ (MZMZ); (3) microbiota epiphytic on OT (MZOT); (4) microbiota epiphytic on IR (MZIR). Triplicate silos of each treatment were tested after 1, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60 days of ensiling.ResultsMZMZ had higher (P < 0.05) lactic acid contents, and lower (P < 0.05) ammonia nitrogen and ethanol contents than MZIR and MZOT on day 60. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus in MZMZ decreased from 84.0% on day 3 to 44.7% on day 60. MZMZ had higher (P < 0.05) abundances of ‘Nucleotide metabolism’, ‘Replication and repair’ and ‘Membrane transport’, and lower (P < 0.05) abundance of ‘Amino acid metabolism’ than MZOT and MZIR on day 3.ConclusionsThe silage fermentation products of MZ were highly affected by the activity and compositions of epiphytic microbiota. The Enterobacteriaceae, Hafnia-Obesumbacterium, hetero-fermentative and acid-resistant Lactobacillus took primary responsibility for the high dry matter loss and ethanol contents and low lactic acid contents in MZ silage.Graphical

Production of optical pure L-lactic acid from Cabernet Sauvignon grape pomace by engineered Lactiplantibacillus plantarum

Cabernet Sauvignon grape pomace contains carbohydrates and various amino acids that could be used as substrates for lactic acid (LA) production. In this study, a mutant strain of L. plantarum with deletion of the D-lactate synthesis gene was developed and used to produce optical pure L-LA from grape pomace. The highest optical purity of the L-LA produced by this mutant strain was 99.61%. The direct bioconversion of the raw substrate showed a low LA yield. Several pretreatment methods were applied to improve the LA yield, including ball milling, hydrothermal, dilute acid pretreatment, alkaline pretreatment, and combined wet alkaline mechanical pretreatment. Due to the efficient delignification, alkaline pretreatment achieved the highest lactic acid yield of 96.26% at 15% solid loading, with corresponding LA concentration and volumetric productivity of 18.45 g/L and 2.30 g/L·h, respectively.

Early veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is an effective strategy for traumatically injured patients presenting with refractory respiratory failure.

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is used for respiratory failure when standard therapy fails. Optimal trauma care requires patients be stable enough to undergo procedures. Early VV ECMO (EVV) to stabilize trauma patients with respiratory failure as part of resuscitation could facilitate additional care. As VV ECMO technology is portable and prehospital cannulation possible, it could also be used in austere environments. We hypothesize that EVV facilitates injury care without worsening survival. Our single center, retrospective cohort study included all trauma patients between January 1, 2014, and August 1, 2022, who were placed on VV ECMO. Early VV was defined as cannulation ≤48 hours from arrival with subsequent operation for injuries. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Parametric or nonparametric statistics were used based on the nature of the data. After testing for normality, significance was defined as a p < 0.05. Logistic regression diagnostics were performed. Seventy-five patients were identified and 57 (76%) underwent EVV. There was no difference in survival between the EVV and non-EVV groups (70% vs. 61%, p = 0.47). Age, race, and gender did not differ between EVV survivors and nonsurvivors. Time to cannulation (4.5 hours vs. 8 hours, p = 0.39) and injury severity scores (34 vs. 29, p = 0.74) were similar. Early VV survivors had lower lactic acid levels precannulation (3.9 mmol/L vs. 11.9 mmol/L, p < 0.001). A multivariable logistic regression analysis examining admission and precannulation laboratory and hemodynamic values demonstrated that lower precannulation lactic acid levels predicted survival (odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.5; p = 0.03), with a significant inflection point of 7.4 mmol/L corresponding to decreased survival at hospital discharge. Patients undergoing EVV did not have increased mortality compared with the overall trauma VV ECMO population. Early VV resulted in ventilatory stabilization that allowed subsequent procedural treatment of injuries. Therapeutic Care/Management; Level III.

Techno-Economic Analysis of the Production of Lactic Acid from Lignocellulosic Biomass

This study reports the results of an evaluation of the techno-economic feasibility of a biorefinery with an annual lactic acid production capacity of 100,000 metric tons using lignocellulosic biomass. Corn stover and miscanthus were considered as model feedstocks, and three different fermentation pathways involving bacteria, fungi, and yeast were compared with respect to their ability to convert biomass feedstocks to lactic acid. Equipment, raw materials, utilities and labor requirements, and lactic acid production costs were estimated. The minimum selling price (at a 10% internal rate of return) per metric ton of lactic acid produced from different feedstocks for lactic acid bacteria, fungi, and yeast-based pathways were in the range of USD 1243–1390, USD 1250–1392, and USD 993–1123, respectively, with lower costs for miscanthus. Lactic acid production using genetically engineered yeast strains can eliminate the need for the simultaneous neutralization and recovery of lactic acid, resulting in lower equipment, chemical, and utility requirements and lower lactic acid production costs. Lactic acid production costs were highly sensitive to the conversion rates of sugars into lactic acid, feedstock cost, production plant size, operation hours, and acid hydrolysis reactor costs. Improvements in process conditions and efficiencies and lower costs of equipment and consumables are necessary to utilize lignocellulosic biomass for lactic acid production at lower costs while remaining cost-competitive with respect to first-generation and petroleum-based feedstocks.

Disaggregated Nano-Hydroxyapatite (DnHAP) with Inhibitory Effects on Biofilms and Demineralization

Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP) is considered a biocompatible agent that promotes the remineralization of dental hard tissue; however, its antibacterial efficacy is under scientific discussion. Therefore, this investigation aimed to specify the inhibitory effects of disaggregated nano-hydroxyapatite (DnHAP) on regrown biofilms and demineralization. Regrown biofilm models of single-species (Streptococcus mutans), dual-species (S. mutans and Candida albicans), and saliva-derived microcosm biofilms were established in vitro. Repeat treatment with DnHAP was applied to biofilms. The viability, lactic acid, biofilm structure, biomass, the inhibitory effect of demineralization, and virulence factors’ expression were determined. In addition, the biofilm microbial community was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. DnHAP inhibited metabolism, lactic acid production, biomass, and water-insoluble polysaccharide production (P < 0.05) of regrown single/dual-species biofilms. Concerning the saliva-derived biofilms, samples treated with DnHAP showed lower biofilm metabolic activity without significant differences from samples treated with sterile deionized water (P > 0.05); in addition, saliva-derived biofilms treated with DnHAP exhibited lower lactic acid production (P < 0.05). The demineralization of bovine enamel was the lowest in the DnHAP group, as detected by transverse microradiography, and the lesion depth and volume decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The application of DnHAP did not change the diversity of regrown saliva-derived microcosm biofilms. In conclusion, this investigation showed that DnHAP could be a promising solution for the management of regrown biofilms to combat dental caries.