Plant Tissues Research Articles

Bamboo as a natural optimized fiber reinforced composite: interfacial mechanical properties and failure mechanisms

Bamboo is a typical natural fiber-reinforced composite with an optimized distribution of vascular bundles as reinforcement and parenchyma tissues as bio-matrix. The interfacial bonding performance between vascular bundles and parenchyma tissue is critical for the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of bamboo. This study employed pull-out tests to determine the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) between bamboo vascular bundles and parenchyma tissue and evaluate the critical embedded lengths () of vascular bundles. The effects of embedded vascular bundle lengths on interfacial strength and failure behaviors were also investigated. The results revealed a value of 2.51 mm, lower than the majority of plant fiber-reinforced composite materials, with an IFSS of around 20 MPa, surpassing most artificial bamboo fiber composites. The pull-out process of the vascular bundles involved elasticity, debonding, and sliding friction stage, where debonding energy absorption (DEA) outweighed frictional energy absorption (FEA) and increasing with embedded length. The primary failure features include interfacial debonding, parenchyma tissue ripping, delamination of fiber thin layers, and fiber breakage. Moreover, the parenchyma cells between the two fiber sheaths and at the top of the bamboo block readily detached. The interfacial failure mechanisms of bamboo included debonding, reinforcement, and matrix failure, with the proportions varying as the embedded length increased. Quantitative analysis of the interfaces structure and mechanical properties between vascular bundles and parenchyma tissues could provide a reference for the biomimicry of bamboo structures and the manufacturing of natural fiber-reinforced composite materials.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles as a bio elicitor in the growth of Raphanus sativus L. plant tissues

Zinc oxide nanoparticles as a bio elicitor in the growth of Raphanus sativus L. plant tissues

Insights into remediation of cadmium and lead contaminated-soil by Fe-Mn modified biochar

Heavy metal contamination, particularly by lead and cadmium, poses a significant environmental challenge. Indiscriminate disposal of crop residues exacerbates environmental concerns. In this study, broad bean straw was utilized to produce biochar (BC), and further modifications were made using FeCl3-6H2O and KMnO4 to obtain Iron-Manganese Modified Biochar (FMBC) for remediating cadmium and lead-contaminated soil. Results show that both BC and FMBC increased soil pH, available phosphorus, and potassium compared to the control groups. Adding 5% BC led to a notable reduction of 60.98% in available cadmium and 51.63% in available lead. Simultaneously, FMBC decreased active cadmium and lead by 57.51% to 73.73% and 52.25% to 69.87%, respectively. Furthermore, FMBC decreased the content of cadmium and lead in the unstable state while increasing content in the residual state, demonstrating its ability to reduce accumulation in plant tissues. FMBC adsorption mechanisms primarily involve surface complexation and co-precipitation, where oxygen-containing functional groups form stable complexes with free cadmium and lead ions. In conclusion, FMBC proved to be an effective, environmentally friendly soil remediation agent with strong adsorption capabilities and a prolonged shelf-life. This provides a promising solution to alleviate the pollution of heavy metals such as cadmium and lead in soil.

Dynamic Behavior of Systemic Insecticide Residues in Snapdragons

Pesticide application is used in horticulture to reduce plant damage from organisms such as insects and mites. Systemic insecticides are highly efficacious and readily taken up by plant tissues. However, pesticide-treated plants may impose risks to nontarget insects or other organisms within ecosystems. In this study, insecticide residues in nectar, leaves, and flower petals of the horticulturally significant herbaceous annual snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus (Lamiales: Plantaginaceae), were assessed at two locations over several weeks following foliar and drench treatment with five systemic insecticides. Concentrations of the insecticides were determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The independent effects Application Method, Application Rate, and Time were statistically significant among all active ingredients in the three matrices in both sites in California (CA) and New Jersey (NJ). The interaction effects were also generally statistically significant in the CA site but less consistently so in the NJ site, dependent on the active ingredient and matrix. Post hoc analyses found the highest residue concentrations in leaves and the lowest in nectar, a trend generally consistent over time regardless of active ingredient for both the CA and NJ sites. The results of this study are discussed in the context of conserving pollinators and other beneficial insects. It is recommended that similar studies should be implemented in different geographical regions and climates, along with multiyear studies for perennial ornamental plants.

Evidence and Prospects of Lycopene as Powerful Red Superfood: Modern Approach to Food Science

Abstract: Lycopene is a plant-derived important nutrient belonging to a group of pigments identified as carotenoids. Lycopene has distinctive chemical and structural features contributing to definite biological properties. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant and prevents cells and tissues from damage caused by singlet oxygen or free radicals. Research studies have shown the healthpromoting potential of lycopene or its metabolites in the prevention of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, asthma, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. Lycopene is stable for processing like other natural compounds when present in the plant tissue matrix. Over the last few years, the global lycopene market has increased in different sectors like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and dairy products, and other dietary supplements. The most important aspect of lycopene as a superfood is its synergistic nature with other nutrients. The main aim of this review article is to study chemistry, biosynthetic pathways, biotransformation, sources, and acceptable daily intake. Its characterization as a superfood, therapeutic potential, and wide range of applications in the food industry are also studied.

Morphological and molecular preservation through universal preparation of fresh-frozen tissue samples for multimodal imaging workflows.

The landscape of tissue-based imaging modalities is constantly and rapidly evolving. While formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material is still useful for histological imaging, the fixation process irreversibly changes the molecular composition of the sample. Therefore, many imaging approaches require fresh-frozen material to get meaningful results. This is particularly true for molecular imaging techniques such as mass spectrometry imaging, which are widely used to probe the spatial arrangement of the tissue metabolome. As high-quality fresh-frozen tissues are limited in their availability, any sample preparation workflow they are subjected to needs to ensure morphological and molecular preservation of the tissues and be compatible with as many of the established and emerging imaging techniques as possible to obtain the maximum possible insights from the tissues. Here we describe a universal sample preparation workflow, from the initial step of freezing the tissues to the cold embedding in a new hydroxypropyl methylcellulose/polyvinylpyrrolidone-enriched hydrogel and the generation of thin tissue sections for analysis. Moreover, we highlight the optimized storage conditions that limit molecular and morphological degradation of the sections. The protocol is compatible with human and plant tissues and can be easily adapted for the preparation of alternative sample formats (e.g., three-dimensional cell cultures). The integrated workflow is universally compatible with histological tissue analysis, mass spectrometry imaging and imaging mass cytometry, as well as spatial proteomic, genomic and transcriptomic tissue analysis. The protocol can be completed within 4 h and requires minimal prior experience in the preparation of tissue samples for multimodal imaging experiments.

Dual Infrared 2‐Photon Microscopy Achieves Minimal Background Deep Tissue Imaging in Brain and Plant Tissues

AbstractTraditional deep fluorescence imaging has primarily focused on red‐shifting imaging wavelengths into the near‐infrared (NIR) windows or implementation of multi‐photon excitation approaches. Here, the advantages of NIR and multiphoton imaging are combined by developing a dual‐infrared two‐photon microscope that enables high‐resolution deep imaging in biological tissues. This study first computationally identifies that photon absorption, as opposed to scattering, is the primary contributor to signal attenuation. A NIR two‐photon microscope is constructed next with a 1640 nm femtosecond pulsed laser and a NIR PMT detector to image biological tissues labeled with fluorescent single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Spatial imaging resolutions are achieved close to the Abbe resolution limit and eliminate blur and background autofluorescence of biomolecules, 300 µm deep into brain slices and through the full 120 µm thickness of a Nicotiana benthamiana leaf. NIR‐II two‐photon microscopy can also measure tissue heterogeneity by quantifying how much the fluorescence power law function varies across tissues, a feature this study exploits to distinguish Huntington's Disease afflicted mouse brain tissues from wildtype. These results suggest dual‐infrared two‐photon microscopy can accomplish in‐tissue structural imaging and biochemical sensing with a minimal background, and with high spatial resolution, in optically opaque or highly autofluorescent biological tissues.

In-silico analysis of ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) of the Cucurbitaceae family.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are highly active N-glycosidases that depurinate both bacterial and eukaryotic rRNAs, halting protein synthesis during translation. Found in a diverse spectrum of plant species and tissues, RIPs possess antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and insecticidal properties linked to plant defense. In this study, we investigated the physiochemical properties of RIP peptides from the Cucurbitaceae family through bioinformatics approaches. Molecular weight, isoelectric point, aliphatic index, extinction coefficient, and secondary structures were analyzed, revealing their hydrophobic nature. The novelty of this work lies in the comprehensive examination of RIPs from the Cucurbitaceae family and their potential therapeutic applications. The study also elucidated the binding interactions of Cucurbitaceae RIPs with key biological targets, including Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Strong hydrogen bond interactions between RIPs and these targets suggest potential for innovative insilico drug design and therapeutic applications, particularly in cancer treatment. Comprehensive analysis of bond lengths using Ligpolt + software provides insights for optimizing molecular interactions, offering a valuable tool for drug design and structural biology studies.

Charting the Cannabis plant chemical space with computational metabolomics

IntroductionThe chemical classification of Cannabis is typically confined to the cannabinoid content, whilst Cannabis encompasses diverse chemical classes that vary in abundance among all its varieties. Hence, neglecting other chemical classes within Cannabis strains results in a restricted and biased comprehension of elements that may contribute to chemical intricacy and the resultant medicinal qualities of the plant.ObjectivesThus, herein, we report a computational metabolomics study to elucidate the Cannabis metabolic map beyond the cannabinoids.MethodsMass spectrometry-based computational tools were used to mine and evaluate the methanolic leaf and flower extracts of two Cannabis cultivars: Amnesia haze (AMNH) and Royal dutch cheese (RDC).ResultsThe results revealed the presence of different chemical compound classes including cannabinoids, but extending it to flavonoids and phospholipids at varying distributions across the cultivar plant tissues, where the phenylpropnoid superclass was more abundant in the leaves than in the flowers. Therefore, the two cultivars were differentiated based on the overall chemical content of their plant tissues where AMNH was observed to be more dominant in the flavonoid content while RDC was more dominant in the lipid-like molecules. Additionally, in silico molecular docking studies in combination with biological assay studies indicated the potentially differing anti-cancer properties of the two cultivars resulting from the elucidated chemical profiles.ConclusionThese findings highlight distinctive chemical profiles beyond cannabinoids in Cannabis strains. This novel mapping of the metabolomic landscape of Cannabis provides actionable insights into plant biochemistry and justifies selecting certain varieties for medicinal use.

The Transformation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Aquatic Environment of a Fluorochemical Industrial Park

Jiangsu High-Tech Fluorochemical Industrial Park in Changshu City, Jiangsu Province, is the largest fluorochemical industrial park in Asia. The occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in surface water and widespread local plants was investigated in Jiangsu High-Tech Fluorochemical Industrial Park. Thirty-two target PFASs were detected in dissolved-phase, particle-phase and plant samples. The concentrations of total PFASs ranged from 1650 to 8250 ng/L in the dissolved-phase samples, 132 to 6810 ng/g dw in the particle-phase samples and 25.8 to 9460 ng/g dw in different plant tissues. Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), Perfluorooctanoate acid (PFOA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid (6:2 FTCA) were predominant PFASs and contributed 80−91% to ΣPFAS in water samples. A total of 67 emerging PFAS were identified in all samples using nontargeted analysis. Typha orientalis showed better accumulation ability, with an average ΣPFAS concentration of 3450 ng/g dw and the highest root concentration factor (RCF) of 171. Typha orientalis, Eichhornia crassipes and Alternanthera sessilis have potential for use in PFAS phytostabilization.

Effect of BvAgNP on growth, development, and glyoxalase gene expression analysis in Mammillaria bombycina and Selenicereus undatus.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been used in plant tissue culture as growth stimulants, promoting bud initiation, germination, and rooting. In prior studies, AgNPs were synthesized and characterized by green synthesis using extracts from Beta vulgarisvar. cicla (BvAgNP), and their functionality as seed disinfectant and antimicrobial was verified. In this study, we evaluated the effect of BvAgNP on the growth and development of Mammillaria bombycina and Selenicereus undatus in vitro, as well as the expression of glyoxalase genes. Explants from M. bombycina and S. undatus in vitro were treated with 25, 50, and 100mg/L of BvAgNP. After 90 days, morphological characteristics were evaluated, and the expression of glyoxalase genes was analyzed by qPCR. All treatments inhibited rooting for M. bombycina and no bud initiation was observed. S. undatus, showed a maximum response in rooting and bud generation at 25mg/L of BvAgNP. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results exhibited a higher number of vacuoles in stem cells treated with BvAgNP compared to the control for both species. Expression of glyoxalase genes in M. bombycina increased in all treatments, whereas it decreased for S. undatus, however, increasing in roots. This study presents the effects of BvAgNP on the growth and development of M. bombycina and S. undatus, with the aim of proposing treatments that promote in vitro rooting and bud initiation.

Caveolae Disassembly using Methyl-β-cyclodextrin Causes the Abolition of Coupling of the Caveolae and the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum in the Rat Femoral Artery

Background: Caveolae are essential in regulating signal transduction mechanisms of ion channels in vascular tissue, including BKCa channels (maxi-K). The current study investigated the localization of maxi-K channels within caveolae. Methods: Sixteen rats were divided into two groups: A control group and a treated group, where arteries in the treated group were incubated with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) to disassemble caveolae from artery tissue. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunocytochemistry (ICC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Western blot techniques were used in this study. Result: IHC of intact arteries showed colocalization of maxi-K channels with caveolin-1 in smooth muscle and endothelial cells and colocalized of maxi-K channels with caveolin-3 in smooth muscle cells only. These findings were also corroborated with ICC in a single smooth muscle cell. TEM revealed caveolae covering most plasma membranes of smooth muscle and endothelial cells and showed that caveolae sit close to the sarcoplasmic reticulum only in smooth muscle cells. TEM showed incubating arteries with MβCD led to the disassembly of caveolae from artery tissue. This study concluded that maxi-K channels localize to caveolae and that caveolae abolishment by MβCD led to the abolition of the coupling of caveolae and the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Effects of Magnetized, Chelated Iron Foliage Treatments, and Metal Halide Lamps on Plant Water Structure, Water Vapor Dynamics, and Resilience for Legumes under Water Stress

A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of foliar applications of magnetized, chelated liquid iron fertilizer for increasing the drought tolerance of two legumes. The study objectives were to determine the drought tolerance effects of four treatments on foliar gas exchange, soil moisture, and plant growth for soybean (Glycine max) and velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) plants. The plant treatments included applications with chelated liquid iron fertilizer (2.5 and 5%) with a conventional boom sprayer, with and without magnets in the spray lines, and metal halide lamps. Three gas exchange measurements were collected before applying the foliage treatments and after two water stress treatments. A foliage and metal halide lamp treatment deactivated or unlinked nine interconnected gas exchange parameters that are correlated with plant defense activities during water stress conditions. The deactivation of interconnected regulatory gas exchange functions improved metabolic efficiency, reduced stress levels, and boosted plant resilience to abiotic stressors. Also, the study findings suggest that the study treatments maintained or increased the level of biologically structured water in plant tissues and vascular systems.

Organic petrographic and mineralogical composition of the No. 6 coal seam of the Soutpansberg Coalfield, South Africa: Insights into paleovegetation and depositional environment

This study investigates the paleodepositional conditions of the No. 6 Seam of the Madzaringwe Formation in Makhado and Voorburg south area of the Soutpansberg Coalfield (Limpopo Province, South Africa) utilizing organic petrography and inorganic geochemical proxies. The coals are predominantly high-volatile bituminous B-A rank with high ash yields (avg. 36.1 wt%), characterized by high-vitrinite (~ 41.5 vol%), moderate-to-high inertinite (9.8 vol%–33.7 vol%) and low liptinite (~ 2.3 vol%). The distribution of inertinite varies among different coal horizons (from bottom-lower to middle-upper), suggesting differential oxidation conditions and/or paleofire occurrence. Vitrinite-to-inertinite (V/I) ratio, tissue preservation–gelification index (TPI–GI), and groundwater–vegetation index (GWI–VI) plots, indicate that the peat-forming forest-swamp vegetation accumulated under mesotrophic-to-rheotrophic hydrological conditions. The presence of structured macerals (i.e., telinite, collotelinite, fusinite, and semifusinite) suggests well-preserved plant tissues, whereas framboidal pyrite and sulphur content (0.24 wt%–2.16 wt%) point to brackish-water influence at the peat stage. The coals contain quartz, kaolinite, siderite, muscovite, dolomite, calcite, and pyrite minerals, most of which were likely sourced from felsic igneous rocks. The Al/(Al+Fe+Mn) and (Fe+Mn)/Ti ratios for the studied samples range between 0.24–0.97 and 0.57–70.10, respectively. The ratios, Al–Fe–Mn plot, and presence of massive botryoidal-type pyrite imply some influence of meteoric waters or fluids from hydrothermal activity post-deposition. Moreover, the chemical index of alteration (CIA: 98.25–99.67), chemical index of weathering (CIW: 92.04–97.66), and A–CN–K ternary diagram suggest inorganic matter suffered strong chemical weathering, indicating warm paleoclimatic conditions during the coal formation.

Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Mechanisms of Isothiocyanates: Insights from Sulforaphane

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) belong to a group of natural products that possess a highly reactive electrophilic -N=C=S functional group. They are stored in plants as precursor molecules, glucosinolates, which are processed by the tyrosinase enzyme upon plant tissue damage to release ITCs, along with other products. Isolated from broccoli, sulforaphane is by far the most studied antioxidant ITC, acting primarily through the induction of a transcription factor, the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), which upregulates downstream antioxidant genes/proteins. Paradoxically, sulforaphane, as a pro-oxidant compound, can also increase the levels of reactive oxygen species, a mechanism which is attributed to its anticancer effect. Beyond highlighting the common pro-oxidant and antioxidant effects of sulforaphane, the present paper was designed to assess the diverse anti-inflammatory mechanisms reported to date using a variety of in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Sulforaphane downregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, cycloxyhenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. The signalling pathways of nuclear factor κB, activator protein 1, sirtuins 1, silent information regulator sirtuin 1 and 3, and microRNAs are among those affected by sulforaphane. These anti-inflammatory actions are sometimes due to direct action via interaction with the sulfhydryl structural moiety of cysteine residues in enzymes/proteins. The following are among the topics discussed in this paper: paradoxical signalling pathways such as the immunosuppressant or immunostimulant mechanisms; crosstalk between the oxidative and inflammatory pathways; and effects dependent on health and disease states.

Seasonal phenology and starch allocation patterns in populations of Oxycaryum cubense forma cubense and paraguayense in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida

Abstract Phenological studies for Cuban bulrush [Oxycaryum cubense (Poepp. & Kunth) Lye] have been limited to the monocephalous form in Lake Columbus (Mississippi). Accordingly, there is little available information on potential phenological differences among Cuban bulrush forms (monocephalous vs. polycephalous) and populations in other geographic locations in the United States. Therefore, seasonal patterns of biomass and starch allocation in Cuban bulrush were quantified from two populations in Lake Columbus on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Mississippi (monocephalous), two populations from Lake Martin in Louisiana (polycephalous), and two populations from Orange Lake in Florida (polycephalous). Monthly samples of Cuban bulrush inflorescence, emergent, and submersed tissue were harvested from two plots per state from October 2021 to September 2022. During monthly data collection, air temperature and photoperiod were recorded. Starch allocation patterns were similar among all sites, with starch storage being less than 1.5% dry weight for all plant tissues. Biomass was greatest in Lake Columbus (monocephalous; 600.7 g DW m-2) followed by Lake Martin (polycephalous; 392.3 g DW m-2) and Orange Lake (polycephalous; 233.85 g DW m-2). Peak inflorescence biomass occurred in the winter for the Lake Martin and Orange Lake populations, and in the summer for the Lake Columbus population. Inflorescence biomass in Lake Columbus had a positive relationship (r2=0.53) with warmer air temperatures. Emergent and submersed biomass generally had negative relationships with both photoperiod and temperature (r2=0.022-0.7789) in all sites. Peak biomass was also negatively related to temperature and photoperiod. Results from this study indicate that there are differences in biomass allocation between the two growth forms of Cuban bulrush and that growth can occur at temperatures below freezing. Low temperature tolerance may allow this species to expand its range further north than previously suspected.

GpEF1A: a novel lysine methyltransferase gene from Gypsophila perfoliata L. involved in boron homeostasis.

Rapid accumulation of boron (B) leads to toxicity in plant tissues, and the narrow gap between deficiency and toxicity makes it difficult to adjust essential B levels in soil for plant productivity. Therefore, understanding different aspects of B tolerance is necessary to provide new and valid solutions to B toxicity. Gypsophila perfoliata stands out as a remarkable example of a B-tolerant plant, with a natural propensity to thrive in environments such as B mines and soils enriched with high levels of B. In this study, a yeast functional screening experiment was conducted using cDNA libraries from G. perfoliata leaf and root cells for B tolerance. Ten colonies from the leaf library grew in 80 mm boric acid, while none emerged from the root library. Analysis of isolated cDNAs showed identical sequences and a unique motif related to B tolerance. The gene GpEF1A was identified in the tolerant yeast colonies, with predicted structural features suggesting its role, and RT-qPCR indicating increased expression under B stress. A regulatory role for EF1A lysine methylation was proposed in mammalian cells and fungi because of its dynamic and inducible nature under environmental constraints. This could also be relevant for plant cells, as the high similarity of the GpEF1A gene in some salt-tolerant plants might indicate the upregulation of EF1A as a conserved way to cope with abiotic stress conditions. This report represents the first instance of involvement of GpEF1A in B tolerance, and further detailed studies are necessary to understand other components of this tolerance mechanism.

Pseudoplectania mystica (Ascomycota, Pezizales), a new cup fungus with an endophytic habit of a broad range of host plants

A cup fungus producing ascomata on senescing to dead rhizomes of bamboo in East China is described as Pseudoplectania mystica sp. nov. (Ascomycota, Pezizales) based on morphological, ecological and phylogenetic evidence. Some sequences of unidentified endophytic fungi uploaded to the GenBank database by other researchers were also identified as P. mystica in our phylogeny. By checking the original literature of these sequences, P. mystica was further found to act as an endophyte in a broad range of host plants including Aegiceras, Cinnamomum, Dendrobium and Lindera, probably lurking in the tissues of the host plants as invisible mycelium in most cases and only producing visible ascomata following senescence of the host tissues. Such ecology and a combination of all its morphological characteristics make P. mystica recognizable from other known species of Pseudoplectania. This study contributes to the understanding of the species diversity and lifecycle of Pseudoplectania.

#2034 CKD-MBD management: results from a national survey on bone turnover biomarkers practice and therapeutic strategies among Italian nephrologists

Abstract Background and Aims Advanced stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are constantly characterized by a mineral and bone disorders (MBD) syndrome concerning a complex systemic condition that includes laboratory abnormalities of bone and mineral metabolism involving calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), or vitamin D; abnormalities in bone turnover, mineralization, volume, or strength; extra-skeletal calcifications, such as vascular or other soft tissue. CKD-MBD syndrome determines relevant consequences in terms of fragility fractures, cardiovascular events and higher mortality. The nephrologist's awareness of CKD-MBD diagnostic and management tools and therapeutic strategies is key to improving CKD patients’ prognosis and outcomes. Method A new national survey (composed of 17 online questions) was conducted among Italian nephrologists to investigate the reference laboratory availability of bone turnover markers (BTMs), the clinical attitude on secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) management, and the CKD-MBD therapeutic approach in different stages of CKD and dialysis patients. Results 89 Italian nephrologists participated in the survey. The reference laboratories largely fulfill the biomarkers request of ionized calcium (97.7%), phosphorus (100%), PTH (100%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (100%), magnesium (100%), 25-OH and 1,25-OH vitamin D levels (92.1%; 53.9%); while most of the hospital laboratories do not regularly support the availability of specific BTMs, both for diagnosis and monitoring the bone resorption and formation (Fig. 1)—such as bone ALP (75.3%), calcifediol (37.1%), calcitriol (40.5%), fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) (intact 9% and c-terminal 4.5%), vitamin K (33.7%), Klotho (6.75%, soluble 4.5%), osteocalcin (38.2%), matrix gla protein (10.1%), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP-5b) (6.75%), cross-linked collagen type I peptide (CTX) (32.6%) and procollagen type 1 n-terminal propeptide (P1NP) (10.1%). The nephrologist's attitude to start management and treatment of sHPT is revealed to be mainly led by KDOQI (n = 42, 47%) and KDIGO (n = 39, 44%) guidelines considering their PTH cut-off values; in 53.9% of clinicians the measure of PTH levels is then performed every 3 months according to KDOQI guidelines. In relation to the definition of high turnover metabolic bone disease by BTMs, this metabolic pattern is identified in > 50% and 30-40% of patients with CKD 4-5D by 31.5% and 21.4% of nephrologists, respectively. 65% of clinicians currently considered ALP of equal importance as alterations of PTH as a predictor of fracture events. Other biomarkers, such as FGF-23, P1NP or TRAP-5b, emerge to not be still used in regular clinical practice. In patients diagnosed with CKD-MBD and skeletal fragility, 76.4% of nephrologists consider the AIFA (Italian Medicines Agency) note 79 to support osteoporosis treatment. The therapeutic strategies of CKD-MBD include the administration of vitamin D (e.g. cholecalciferol 27-37.1%, calcifediol 9-12.4%, calcitriol 42.7-55.1%) and its analogues (e.g. paricalcitol 23.6-52.8%) and the use of antiresorptive agents (e.g. alendronate 3.4%-23.6%, denosumab 22.5%-30.3%) with variable frequencies among different advanced CKD stages and for those patients on peritoneal or hemodialysis (Fig. 2). Conclusion Results present a suboptimal use of BTMs and a current heterogeneous therapeutic management of CKD-MBD syndrome and renal osteodystrophy in Italian clinical practice. The survey represents a starting point of work to further implement awareness of diagnostic and therapeutic issues of CKD-MBD.

Fabrication of a Triple-Layer Bionic Vascular Scaffold via Hybrid Electrospinning

Tissue engineering aims to develop bionic scaffolds as alternatives to autologous vascular grafts due to their limited availability. This study introduces a novel wet-electrospinning fabrication technique to create small-diameter, uniformly aligned tubular scaffolds. By combining this innovative method with conventional electrospinning, a bionic tri-layer scaffold that mimics the zonal structure of vascular tissues is produced. The inner and outer layers consist of PCL/Gelatin and PCL/PLGA fibers, respectively, while the middle layer is crafted using PCL through Wet Vertical Magnetic Rod Electrospinning (WVMRE). The scaffold’s morphology is analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to confirm its bionic structure. The mechanical properties, degradation profile, wettability, and biocompatibility of the scaffold are also characterized. To enhance hemocompatibility, the scaffold is crosslinked with heparin. The results demonstrate sufficient mechanical properties, good wettability of the inner layer, proper degradability of the inner and middle layers, and overall good biocompatibility. In conclusion, this study successfully develops a small-diameter tri-layer tubular scaffold that meets the required specifications.