Sterilization Treatment Research Articles

An HECT domain ubiquitin ligase CgWWP1 regulates granulocytes proliferation in oyster Crassostrea gigas

Ubiquitination is involved in the regulation of granulocyte proliferation in vertebrate, and E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP1 has been reported to play an essential role in this process. In the present study, an HECT type E3 ubiquitin ligase (CgWWP1) was identified from oyster Crassostrea gigas, which contained a N-terminal C2 domain, four WW domains, and a C-terminal HECT domain. CgWWP1 was able to bind the activated ubiquitin (Ub) and formed CgWWP1-Ub complex in vitro. The mRNA transcripts of CgWWP1 were expressed in granulocytes, semi-granulocytes and agranulocytes, with the highest expression level in granulocytes. The expressions of potential granulocyte markers CgSOX11 (0.18-fold, p < 0.05) and CgAATase (0.2-fold, p < 0.01) in haemocytes were significantly down-regulated at 24 h after the treatment with Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a WWP1 inhibitor. The proportions of EdU+ granulocytes reduced significantly at 12 h (8.1% ± 1.4%) and 24 h (9.7% ± 2.8%) after I3C treatment, which were significantly lower than that in the sterile seawater treatment (SW) group at 12 h (15.8% ± 4.2%) and 24 h (17.6% ± 0.8%), respectively. Meanwhile, the green EdU signals observed by confocal scanning microscopy in granulocytes of oysters treated by I3C became weaker compared to that in the SW group. These results indicated that CgWWP1 was involved in the regulation of granulocyte proliferation as a ubiquitin-protein ligase.

Ethanol treatment for sterilization, concentration, and stabilization of a biodegradable plastic-degrading enzyme from Pseudozyma antarctica culture supernatant.

Biodegradable plastics must be sufficiently stable to maintain functionality during use but need to be able to degrade rapidly after use. We previously reported that treatment with an enzyme named PaE, secreted by the basidiomycete yeast Pseudozyma antarctica can speed up this degradation. To facilitate the production of large quantities of PaE, here, we aimed to elucidate the optimal conditions of ethanol treatment for sterilization of the culture supernatant and for concentration and stabilization of PaE. The results showed that Pseudozyma antarctica completely lost its proliferating ability when incubated in ≥20% (v/v) ethanol. When the ethanol concentration was raised to 90% (v/v), PaE formed a precipitate; however, its activity was restored completely when the precipitate was dissolved in water. To reduce ethanol use, PaE was successfully concentrated and recovered by sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation and ethanol precipitation steps. Over 90% of the activity in the original culture supernatant was recovered and the specific activity was increased 3.4-fold. By preparing the enzyme solution at a final concentration of 20% (v/v) ethanol, about 60% of the initial activity was maintained at ambient temperature for over 6 months without growth of microbes. We conclude that ethanol treatment is effective for sterilization, concentration, and stabilization of PaE, and that concentrating PaE by sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation and ethanol precipitation substantially increases the PaE purity and decreases ethanol use.

Effects of Salinity and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Interations on Morphology of 10 Varieties of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Solanum lycopersicum L. (Tomato) is one of the plants commonly grown for its edible fruits all over the world. It is an important component of the average Nigerian meal. The present study aimed at investigating the effects of salinity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi interactions on morphology of 10 varieties of Solanum lycopersicum L. Ten different varieties of tomato were exposed to three different treatments, salt and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi treatment, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi treatment and sterile soil treatment which served as the control. All data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (One way-ANOVA).The results of this study showed that effects of the interactions of salinity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) differs across varieties of tomatoes with significant differences occurring in some varieties; low or no effect in others across other varieties when comparing growth parameters at p&lt;0.05.Tomato plants grown in salt + arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi had the highest plant height, leaf area, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of flowers and highest fresh weight of fruits across most of the varieties compared to other treatments. However, tomatoes subjected to only AMF treatment had the least performance across all the varieties. Thus, from the results of this study, it could be concluded that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi has the potential to improve tomato plants tolerance to salinity.

Chronicling medical progress: W. E. Henley, Joseph Lister, and recovery

ABSTRACT While Dr. Joseph Lister was beginning to implement his practices of sterile surgery and antiseptic treatment, William Ernest Henley, the poet who would become the model for Long John Silver, was fighting to retain his remaining leg from amputation under Lister’s care, and encouraging his recovery by writing poetry. The poems he wrote both describe the practices of Lister, and are influenced by Lister’s methodology of observation, clarification, and rational conclusions. At a time when surgery was still drama practiced in a theater, and poetry was distanced from reality by romantic and post romantic conventions, this influence is extremely significant. Henley’s work, although sometimes well-known, has been largely excluded from the canon of Victorian Poetry because of the little-understood direction they took. The description and imitation of Lister’s technique, and its methodological and spiritual influence on Henley is the subject of this examination.

Studies on the control effect of Bacillus subtilis on wheat powdery mildew

Wheat powdery mildew is a worldwide fungal disease and one of the main diseases harming wheat production. Bacillus subtilis is a vital biocontrol bacteria with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In this study, we systematically studied the control effect of B. subtilis on wheat powdery mildew. The control efficiency of 4 × 105 CFU ml-1 B. subtilis on wheat leaves was 71.75% in vitro and 70.31% in a pot experiment. Application of 4 × 105 CFU ml-1 B. subtilis significantly inhibited spore germination (spore germination rate of 22.23%) and increased appressorium deformity (appressorium deformity rate of 69.33%). This was significantly different from the results in the sterile water treatment. Through transcriptome sequencing analysis, we found that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the biosynthesis and metabolism of amino acids (including phenylalanine), carbon metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway and other pathways. In particular, the plant hormone signal pathway gene nonexpressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1 (NPR1) was significantly upregulated. B. subtilis at concentrations of 4 × 105 CFU ml-1 had a significant control effect on wheat powdery mildew and can inhibit germination of the conidial germ tubes and the normal development of appressorium. B. subtilis may induce disease resistance in wheat to control wheat powdery mildew, and this effect is related to the salicylic acid-dependent signal pathway. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mimicking the Hierarchical Organization of Natural Collagen: Toward the Development of Ideal Scaffolding Material for Tissue Regeneration.

Biological materials found in living organisms, many of which are proteins, feature a complex hierarchical organization. Type I collagen, a fibrous structural protein ubiquitous in the mammalian body, provides a striking example of such a hierarchical material, with peculiar architectural features ranging from the amino acid sequence at the nanoscale (primary structure) up to the assembly of fibrils (quaternary structure) and fibers, with lengths of the order of microns. Collagen plays a dominant role in maintaining the biological and structural integrity of various tissues and organs, such as bone, skin, tendons, blood vessels, and cartilage. Thus, “artificial” collagen-based fibrous assemblies, endowed with appropriate structural properties, represent ideal substrates for the development of devices for tissue engineering applications. In recent years, with the ultimate goal of developing three-dimensional scaffolds with optimal bioactivity able to promote both regeneration and functional recovery of a damaged tissue, numerous studies focused on the capability to finely modulate the scaffold architecture at the microscale and the nanoscale in order to closely mimic the hierarchical features of the extracellular matrix and, in particular, the natural patterning of collagen. All of these studies clearly show that the accurate characterization of the collagen structure at the submolecular and supramolecular levels is pivotal to the understanding of the relationships between the nanostructural/microstructural properties of the fabricated scaffold and its macroscopic performance. Several studies also demonstrate that the selected processing, including any crosslinking and/or sterilization treatments, can strongly affect the architecture of collagen at various length scales. The aim of this review is to highlight the most recent findings on the development of collagen-based scaffolds with optimized properties for tissue engineering. The optimization of the scaffolds is particularly related to the modulation of the collagen architecture, which, in turn, impacts on the achieved bioactivity.

Penggunaan Alkohol dan Sodium Hipoklorit sebagai Sterilan Tunggal untuk Sterilisasi Eksplan Kelapa Sawit

Perbanyakan kelapa sawit melalui teknik kultur jaringan diawali dengan proses sterilisasi eksplan. Sterilisasi merupakan tahapan yang krusial karena menentukan jumlah produksi tanaman kultur yang bebas mikroba. Konsentrasi dan durasi paparan sterilan harus ditentukan secara empiris agar diperoleh prosedur sterilisasi eksplan yang efektif namun tidak menyebabkan kematian eksplan. Penelitian ini bertujuan memperoleh protokol sterilisasi yang tepat untuk eksplan daun muda kelapa sawit menggunakan sterilan tunggal. Dua jenis sterilan yakni alkohol dan sodium hipoklorit pada konsentrasi dan durasi paparan tertentu digunakan dalam perlakuan sterilisasi. Perlakuan alkohol yang diberikan tidak menunjukkan perbedaan tingkat kontaminasi, browning, dan respon pertumbuhan eksplan yang signifikan melalui uji sidik ragam (ANOVA), begitupun perlakuan dengan sodium hipoklorit (NaOCl). Perlakuan terbaik ditunjukkan pada perlakuan alkohol 70% dengan durasi paparan selama 5 menit dan sodium hipoklorit 10% selama 10 menit. Perlakuan tersebut cukup efektif menekan kontaminasi eksplan dengan persentase eksplan yang mengalami browning paling rendah, serta respon pertumbuhan berupa pembengkakan jaringan paling baik. Alkohol dengan konsentrasi tinggi yaitu 80% dan 90% menyebabkan kematian jaringan, sedangkan penggunaan sodium hipoklorit dalam konsentrasi tinggi meningkatkan risiko eksplan browning. Jenis kontaminasi yang ditemukan dalam kultur adalah bakteri dan jamur. Dominasi kontaminan bakteri ditemukan pada perlakukan alkohol, sedangkan pada perlakuan sodium hipoklorit kontaminasi didominasi oleh jamur.

LSTR AND ITS POTENTIAL ROLE IN CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF NON-VITAL PRIMARY MOLAR: A CASE REPORT.

Lesion sterilization and tissue repair (LSTR) treatment is very effective in disinfecting the root canal using triple antibiotic mixed in a suitable vehicle. This report is highlighting a case where LSTR therapy was done using triple antibiotic paste in primary molar showing peri-radicular pathosis and root resorption. On one-year follow-up, the tooth was asymptomatic with reduction in peri-radicular pathosis and root resorption. Thus, LSTR can be successful for nonvital pulp therapy in primary teeth with peri-radicular pathosis and root resorption. And also, LSTR therapy can be used as an alternative option to extraction in treating primary teeth with peri-radicular pathosis.

Physicochemical and sensory characteristic of treated sugarcane juice

Sugarcane juice contains high sugar content which can deteriorate rapidly after the juice extraction process. In large juice industry, the deterioration of sugarcane juice can be reduced by pasteurisation and sterilisation treatment process. However, preservation techniques impart undesirable effect on sugarcane juice in terms of taste, colour, appearance and acceptability of the consumer. Therefore, in this study, the effect of pasteurisation process and addition of Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) water extract (0.2% vol/vol) were investigated for its physicochemical (pH, total soluble solid, colour and turbidity), microbiological evaluation (total plate count) and sensory characteristic of sugarcane juice. The addition of S. platensis water extract in sugarcane juice lower the pH value of tested sample contributing to the increase in the stability of sugarcane juice. The other physicochemical tests (total soluble solid, colour and turbidity) have definite correlation with the changes of pH value but not-significant (p > 0.05) in term of addition of S. platensis water extract into sugarcane juice samples. The microbiological evaluation revealed that high number of colony presence in sugarcane juice after storage for about two weeks and their number were reduced until end of testing period which may result from the depletion of nutrient and inhibition of by-product of reactions that happen in sugarcane juice sample. In terms of sensory testing, the addition of S. platensis water extract in sugarcane juice scored best as compared to control sample even though it does not give significant value (p > 0.05) compared to control sample. In conclusion, the addition of S. platensis water extract for treated sugarcane juice is significant as it improves consumer acceptability. The water extract could also acts as colouring agent in sugarcane juice without affecting the physicochemical and sensory properties of sugarcane juice.

Sequestered cell-secreted extracellular matrix proteins improve murine folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation for fertility preservation

Synthetic matrices offer a high degree of control and tunability for mimicking extracellular matrix functions of native tissue, allowing the study of disease and development in vitro. In this study, we functionalized degradable poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels with extracellular matrix (ECM)-sequestering peptides aiming to recapitulate the native ECM composition for culture and maturation of ovarian follicular organoids. We hypothesized that ECM-sequestering peptides would facilitate deposition and retention of cell-secreted ECM molecules, thereby recreating cell-matrix interactions in otherwise bioinert PEG hydrogels. Specifically, heparin-binding peptide from antithrombin III (HBP), heparan sulfate binding peptide derived from laminin (AG73), basement membrane binder peptide (BMB), and heparan sulfate binding region of placental growth factor 2 (RRR) tethered to a PEG hydrogel significantly improved follicle survival, growth and maturation compared to PEG-Cys, a mechanically similar but biologically inert control. Immunohistochemical analysis of the hydrogel surrounding cultured follicles confirmed sequestration and retention of laminin, collagen I, perlecan, and fibronectin in ECM-sequestering hydrogels but not in bioinert PEG-Cys hydrogels. The media from follicles cultured in PEG-AG73, PEG-BMB, and PEG-RRR also had significantly higher concentrations of factors known to regulate follicle development compared to PEG-Cys. PEG-AG73 and PEG-BMB were the most beneficial for promoting follicle maturation, likely because AG73 and BMB mimic basement membrane interactions which are crucial for follicle development. Here we have shown that functionalizing PEG with ECM-sequestering peptides allows cell-secreted ECM to be retained within the hydrogels, restoring critical cell-matrix interactions and promoting healthy organoid development in a fully synthetic culture system. Statement of significanceHere we present a novel approach for sequestering and retaining cell-secreted extracellular matrix in a fully synthetic material for organoid culture. We have engineered a biomimetic poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel functionalized with extracellular matrix-binding peptides to recapitulate the ovarian microenvironment. Incorporation of these peptides allows ovarian follicles to recreate their native matrix with the sequestered ECM that subsequently binds growth factors, facilitating follicle maturation. The novel design resulted in improved outcomes of folliculogenesis, potentially developing a fertility preservation option for young women undergoing sterilizing treatments for cancer. The fully synthetic and modular nature of this biomimetic material holds promise for other tissue engineering applications as it allows encapsulated cells to rebuild their native microenvironments in vitro.

Ovarian Fragmentation and AKT Stimulation for Expansion of Fertile Lifespan.

Since the first baby was born after in vitro fertilization, the female infertility treatment has been well-developed, yielding successful outcomes. However, successful pregnancies for patients with premature ovarian insufficiency and diminished ovarian reserve are still difficult and diverse therapies have been suggested to improve the chances to have their genetically linked offspring. Recent studies demonstrated that the activation Akt pathway by using a phosphatase and tensin homolog enzyme inhibitor and a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase stimulator can activate dormant primordial follicles in both mice and human ovaries. Subsequent researches suggested that the disruption of Hippo signaling pathway by ovarian fragmentation increased the expression of downstream growth factors and secondary follicle growth. Based on the combination of ovarian fragmentation and Akt stimulation, the in vitro activation (IVA) approach has resulted in successful follicle growth and live births in premature ovarian insufficiency patients. The approach with disruption of Hippo signaling only was also shown to be effective for treating poor ovarian responders with diminishing ovarian reserve, including advanced age women and cancer patients undergoing sterilizing treatments. This review aims to summarize the effectiveness of ovarian fragmentation and Akt stimulation on follicle growth and the potential of IVA in extending female fertile lifespan.

Stability of nitrile and vinyl latex gloves under repeated disinfection cycles

As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission by fomites is one of the main concerns of coronavirus disease 2019, the World Health Organization advised on the use of protective gloves for handling contaminated surfaces and fomites. The shortage in the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) due to the surging demand in conjuncture with the disposal of an unprecedented quantity of contaminated PPE into the landfill led to an interest for alternative platforms for the management of PPE. In this study, we evaluated the potential of reusing gloves after repeated disinfection cycles using six readily available and common sterilization methods: UV, ethanol, heat, steam, bleach, and quaternary ammonium compounds (quats) for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2. For this, two commercially available medical-grade gloves, i.e. nitrile and vinyl (polyvinyl chloride) gloves were tested. Both types of gloves showed deterioration in mechanical and thermal performance with the use of quats as sterilization treatment while no remarkable change in properties was observed up to 20 cycles of disinfection for the other sterilization methods. The exceptions were that the vinyl and nitrile gloves did not tolerate steam/dry heat and UV treatment over 10 cycles due to likely dehydrochlorination and thermal degradation, respectively. Subsequent rounds of sterilization caused no significant change in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of either medical gloves; however, quats caused a slight reduction in Tg due to its plasticizing effect. Overall, the physical sterilization treatments including steam, dry heat, and UV allowed the gloves to retain their thermomechanical performance up to ten cycles of sterilization.

Moist wound dressing and its application in distant skin flap in cats.

Background and Aim:Wound healing is a dynamic and complex process that requires an appropriate environment to promote healing process. The healing of distant flaps in cats is determined by vascularization, nutrient sufficiency for the cells, and stability of skin flaps. This study aims to evaluate the healing of distant flaps treated with moist wound dressing through subjective and objective observation in five cats with wounds in the forelimb and hindlimb area to determine the time to cut the skin flaps from the donor site.Materials and Methods:In this study, five Indonesian local cats with wounds of various sizes in the limb were brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The sterile wound treatment included the administration of anesthesia, wound debridement, and distant flap closure in the thoracic and abdominal area. The distant flap and time to cut the skin flaps from the donor site were evaluated through subjective and objective examinations.Results:The subjective observation on the color of the distant skin flaps showed redness and response to pain on day 3 after surgery, whereas the objective observation, which was based on drug absorption capability and drug effect showed good results. On day 7 after surgery, the skin flaps from the donor site were cut and showed good progress.Conclusion:Overall, moist dressing helps in stabilizing the distant flap, allowing the distant flaps from the donor site to be cut on day 7 after surgery.

The influence of variety and explant size on Garlic (Allium sativum L) proliferation using Murashige and Skoog media

Tissue culture is an aseptic propagation and multiplication technique, it can also eliminate viral systemic conditions that already exist in the plant. Garlic (Allium sativum L) belongs to the genus Allium sp, which is propagated through the clove. The purpose of this study was to observe influenced explant source (Meristem, shoot tip) and the cultivar of galic in proliferation. The media composition were MS with supplement (Sucrose 30 gL−1 + IAA 2 mgL−1 + Kinetin 2 mgL−1 + GA3 0.01 mgL−1 + gelgro 2 gL−1, pH 5.7). The results showed that culture contaminants were generally caused by bacteria and fungi from the explant (endogenous) or improper treatment of surface sterilization. The percentage of proliferation in all varieties of explant shoot tip was higher than meristem, and the abnormal growth for both types of explant were 15 - 35%. Plantlets were infected with OYDV and SYSV in a range between 44.44 - 73.50 %.

Production of persimmon and mandarin peel pastes and their uses in food.

Fruit peels are often produced as a byproduct of processing and are usually disposed of as industrial waste. We conducted a study on the effective use of peels for the food industry using persimmons and mandarins as models. The production of persimmon and mandarin peel pastes, their flavor components, color, polyphenol contents, physical properties, and uses in foods (jam, cookies, and madeleines) were studied. The effects of heat treatment for sterilization, to effectively use persimmon and mandarin peels, were also investigated. The amount of water added to produce the optimum persimmon and mandarin peel pastes was 0.5× and 2.0× the weight of the respective peel samples. The main flavor components, as per GC‐MS spectra of persimmon and mandarin peel pastes, were 4 and 1, respectively. The Folin assay showed the polyphenol contents of persimmon and mandarin pastes as 33.9 mg and 236.3 mg of catechin equivalent per 100 g of fresh fruit, respectively. The persimmon paste specifically improved the physical properties of cookies, whereas the mandarin paste was well suited to all the processed food forms. Heat treatment for sterilization decreased cohesiveness but increased breaking strength and adhesiveness in persimmon and mandarin pastes.

Effect of different disinfection treatments on the adhesion and separation of biofilm on stainless steel surface.

Attachment and separation of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) biofilm on stainless steel (SS) in simulated cooling water with and without different sterilization treatments was investigated by calculation of surface energy, theoretical work of adhesion and analysis of Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Spectrometer. Two types of biocides, glutaraldehyde and Polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG), and electromagnetic treatment were used in this paper. The results show that PHMG had the best bactericidal performance, followed by glutaraldehyde, and electromagnetic treatment was the lowest one. The theoretical work of adhesion was used to quantitatively evaluate the adhesion of biofilm on the surface of the metal. Theoretical work of adhesion between biofilm and SS in simulated cooling water increased with time. The theoretical adhesion work and adhesive capacity of biofilm to SS surface increased after treating with glutaraldehyde while decreasing after treating with PHMG and electromagnetic field. As the theoretical adhesion work decreased, the biofilm was gradually removed from the stainless steel surface. On the contrary, the biofilm adhered more firmly. The results of SEM were also consistent with the calculation results of theoretical adhesion work. The results obtained indicated that electromagnetic treatment had the lowest effect in sterilization but the best in biofilm separation.

A KHz frequency cold atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet for the emission of O(1S) auroral lines in ambient air

Creation of the “auroral” green line, a fascinating occurrence commonly observed in the upper atmosphere, has long been a difficult endeavor, especially at atmospheric pressure. Here we report strong emission of the “auroral” green line for the first time in a kHz frequency, linear field atmospheric pressure plasma jet system. The device used 99.999% pure argon as a working gas for the plasma generation. Optical emission spectroscopy measurements of the after discharge region show the existence of 557.7 nm emission which corresponds to the transition O(^1S)–O(^1D). The intensity of the produced green line is strong enough that the entire plasma plume in the ambient air is visible as a green plasma. We provide the chemical reactions of O(^1S) production in the plasma and the estimation of the density of the O(^1S) metastable state using the kinetic reactions. Further, the O(^1S) emission is characterized by changing the flow rate of argon, applied voltage and electrode gap. The adequate plasma length (> 25 , hbox {mm}) along with the production of a variety of reactive components viz; OH, {hbox {N}}_{2}^{+} and oxygen (777 nm) make this configuration useful for applications such as: blood coagulation, cancer treatment, sterilization, and waste treatment. Moreover, this setup can be potentially used as a test bed for the in-depth understanding of plasma chemistry relevant to the aurora and comet tails using a laboratory setting.

To study the mechanism of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. And Lycium barbarum L. in the treatment of asthenospermia based on network pharmacology

Ethnopharmacological relevanceCuscuta chinensis Lam. and Lycium barbarum L. (SC-FL) is a commonly used kidney tonic Chinese medicine combination that is widely used in the clinical treatment of oligoasthenospermia.However, its specific mechanism remains unclear and requires in-depth study. Aim of the studyTo explore the potential targets of SC-FL in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia using network pharmacology, and to verify the results with in vivo and in vitro experiments. Materials and methodsA herb-compound-target-disease network and PPI network were constructed with Cytoscape software. The targets of SC-FL for the treatment of male sterility were introduced into a bioinformatics annotation database, and the GO and KEGG databases were used for pathway enrichment analysis. Subsequently, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. (GTW) polyglycoside was used to induce a spermatogenic dysfunction model in GC-1 spg cells and SD male rats in in vitro and in vivo experiments, respectively. The SC-FL and PI3K pathway inhibitor LY294002 was used to intervene in the spermatogenic dysfunction model to detect the expression of proteins and mRNA related to the PI3K pathway and to detect the indicators related to proliferation and apoptosis. ResultsIn in vitro experiments, the percentage of spermatogenic cells and the proportion of GC-1 spg cells at G0/G1 and G2/M stages in the model group (GTW group) and the inhibitor group (LY group) were significantly decreased (P < 0.01) compared with the blank control group (NC group). The apoptosis rate of the GTW group was significantly increased (P < 0.01). The ultrastructures of GC-1 spg cells in the GTW group and LY group were obviously destroyed. Compared with the GTW group, the SC-FL group had a significantly reduced apoptosis rate of GC-1 spg cells, reduced percentage of cells in S phase, and a significantly improved mitochondrial membrane potential. SC-FL can repair the ultrastructure of GC-1 spg cells damaged by GTW. The above effects of SC-FL are closely related to up-regulation of GFRa1, RET, PI3K, p-AKT, and Bcl-2 and down-regulation of BAD and BAX proteins and mRNA expression. In vivo, compared with the GTW group, the body mass, testicular mass, and epididymal weight of the GTW + SC-FL group were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Sperm concentrations and the PR + NP of GTW + SC-FL were significantly higher than in the GTW group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). FSH, LH, and T levels in the GTW + SC-FL and LY + SC-FL groups were significantly higher than those in the GTW and LY group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). HE staining results showed that the morphology of testicular tissue in the GTW + SC-FL and LY + SC-FL groups was superior to that in the GTW and LY group. The above effects of SC-FL are closely related to the up-regulation of proteins and mRNA expression of PI3K, p-AKT, and Bcl-2. ConclusionThrough the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, SC-FL up-regulates GFRa1, RET, PI3K, p-AKT, and Bcl-2, and down-regulates the expression of BAD and BAX proteins and mRNA, thus reducing the percentage of GC-1 spg cells in S-phase, significantly increasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, significantly reducing cell apoptosis, and improving sperm counts and viability.

Understanding Surface Modifications Induced via Argon Plasma Treatment through Secondary Electron Hyperspectral Imaging.

Understanding the effects that sterilization methods have on the surface of a biomaterial is a prerequisite for clinical deployment. Sterilization causes alterations in a material's surface chemistry and surface structures that can result in significant changes to its cellular response. Here we compare surfaces resulting from the application of the industry standard autoclave sterilisation to that of surfaces resulting from the use of low‐pressure Argon glow discharge within a novel gas permeable packaging method in order to explore a potential new biomaterial sterilisation method. Material surfaces are assessed by applying secondary electron hyperspectral imaging (SEHI). SEHI is a novel low‐voltage scanning electron microscopy based characterization technique that, in addition to capturing topographical images, also provides nanoscale resolution chemical maps by utilizing the energy distribution of emitted secondary electrons. Here, SEHI maps are exploited to assess the lateral distributions of diverse functional groups that are effected by the sterilization treatments. This information combined with a range of conventional surface analysis techniques and a cellular metabolic activity assay reveals persuasive reasons as to why low‐pressure argon glow discharge should be considered for further optimization as a potential terminal sterilization method for PGS‐M, a functionalized form of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS).

Risk Factors of Synchronous Breast and Thyroid Cancer: a Controlled Multicenter Study and Review of the Literature.

Background:Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in women in the United States. Thyroid cancer (TC) is also one of the fastest increasing cancer types in the United States, with most cases being papillary thyroid carcinomas.Objective:To identify possible risk factors for the synchronous or metachronous co-occurrence of breast and thyroid cancers.Methods:We carried out a study, which consisted of data from four gynecological clinics: two in Greece (Athens, Alexandroupolis, Ioannina) and one in Germany, collected from June 2017 to June 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: the first group consisted of 58 patients with breast cancer and a personal history of thyroid cancer. The second group (control group) included 50 patients with the same characteristics as to age, parity, type of pregnancy, treatment for sterility, polycystic ovaries, regularity of the menstrual cycle, breast density, BMI, family history of cancer, blood group rhesus and histological results of breast cancer. The data we collected were analyzed using version 20 of the SPSS statistical package. The Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis and a p-value<0.005 was considered statistically significant.Results:The only factors that seem to be related with the association of breast and thyroid cancer were: history of abortion and multiparity.Conclusion:In our study there is a higher chance of developing breast cancer after diagnosing thyroid cancer and vice versa. More than genetic mutations, a possible hormonal pathway of these two malignancies is possible. The hormonal change in women who had many children or abortions could be a risk factor to develop both cancers. More studies are necessary to confirm our findings.