-
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2021Woody plants are characterised by a highly complex vascular system, wherein the secondary xylem (wood) is responsible for the axial transport of water and various... (Review)
Review
Woody plants are characterised by a highly complex vascular system, wherein the secondary xylem (wood) is responsible for the axial transport of water and various substances. Previous studies have focused on the dead conductive elements in this heterogeneous tissue. However, the living xylem parenchyma cells, which constitute a significant functional fraction of the wood tissue, have been strongly neglected in studies on tree biology. Although there has recently been increased research interest in xylem parenchyma cells, the mechanisms that operate in these cells are poorly understood. Therefore, the present review focuses on selected roles of xylem parenchyma and its relevance in wood functioning. In addition, to elucidate the importance of xylem parenchyma, we have compiled evidence supporting the hypothesis on the significance of parenchyma cells in tree functioning and identified the key unaddressed questions in the field.
PubMed: 34205276
DOI: 10.3390/plants10061247 -
Polymers Feb 2022In this paper, we introduced a bamboo longitudinal flattening technology and analyzed the effects of the softening-flattening process on the physical and mechanical...
In this paper, we introduced a bamboo longitudinal flattening technology and analyzed the effects of the softening-flattening process on the physical and mechanical properties of moso bamboo. This is a newer bamboo processing technology that can enhance the utilization and reduce pollution compared with traditional bamboo-based products. Results showed that the parenchyma cells distorted and compacted due to the flattening process. The hemicellulose and cellulose content decreased, while the content of lignin presented an increasing tendency. As expected, the dimensional stability of moso bamboo enhanced due to the decrement of hemicellulose. The softening-flattening process positively contributed to the micro-mechanical properties of treated bamboo specimens. For example, the hardness and modulus of elasticity of the untreated bamboo sample increased from 0.58 and 15.7 GPa to 0.8 and 17.5 GPa, respectively. In addition, the changes in cellulose crystallinity and mechanical properties were also investigated in this paper. The cellulose crystallinity increased from 37.5% to 43.2%, significantly. However, the modulus of rupture of the flattened bamboo board decreased from 9000 to 7500 MPa due to the grooves made by the flattening roller. The MOE of flattening bamboo board showed the same decreasing tendency.
PubMed: 35215729
DOI: 10.3390/polym14040816 -
Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering Oct 2022Plant tissues are plentiful, diverse, and due to convergent evolution are structurally similar to many animal tissues. Decellularized plant tissues feature...
INTRODUCTION
Plant tissues are plentiful, diverse, and due to convergent evolution are structurally similar to many animal tissues. Decellularized plant tissues feature microtopographies that resemble cancellous bone (porous parenchyma) and skeletal muscle (fibrous vascular bundles). However, the use of plant tissues as an inexpensive and abundant biomaterial for controlling stem cell behavior has not been widely explored.
METHODS
Celery plant tissues were cut cross-sectionally (porous parenchyma) or longitudinally (fibrous vascular bundles) and decellularized. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were then cultured atop plant tissues and confocal imaging of single cells was used to evaluate the early effects of microtopography on MSC adhesion, morphology, cytoskeletal alignment, Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling, and downstream lineage commitment to osteogenic or myogenic phenotypes.
RESULTS
Microtopography was conserved post plant tissue decellularization and MSCs attached and proliferated on plant tissues. MSCs cultured on porous parenchyma spread isotropically along the periphery of plant tissue pores. In contrast, MSCs cultured on vascular bundles spread anisotropically and aligned in the direction of fibrous vascular bundles. Differences in microtopography also influenced MSC nuclear YAP localization and actin anisotropy, with higher values observed on fibrous tissues. When exposed to osteogenic or myogenic culture medium, MSCs on porous parenchyma had a higher percentage of cells stain positive for bone biomarker alkaline phosphatase, whereas myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD) was significantly upregulated for MSCs on fibrous vascular bundles.
CONCLUSIONS
Together, these results show that plant tissues are an abundant biomaterial with defined microarchitecture that can reproducibly regulate MSC morphology, mechanosensing, and differentiation.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version of this article contains supplementary material available 10.1007/s12195-022-00737-9.
PubMed: 36444354
DOI: 10.1007/s12195-022-00737-9 -
Insights Into Imaging Dec 2022Ki-67 is widely used as a proliferative and prognostic factor in HCC. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography...
BACKGROUND
Ki-67 is widely used as a proliferative and prognostic factor in HCC. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (DCE-US) parameters and Ki-67 expression.
METHODS
One hundred and twenty patients with histopathologically confirmed HCC who underwent DCE-US were included in this prospective study. Patients were classified according to the Ki-67 marker index into low Ki-67 (< 10%) (n = 84) and high Ki-67 (≥ 10%) groups (n = 36). Quantitative perfusion parameters were obtained and analyzed.
RESULTS
Clinicopathological features (pathological grade and microvascular invasion) were significantly different between the high and low Ki-67 expression groups (p = 0.029 and p = 0.020, respectively). In the high Ki-67 expression group, the peak energy (PE) in the arterial phase and fall time (FT) were significantly different between the HCC lesions and distal liver parenchyma (p = 0.016 and p = 0.025, respectively). PE in the Kupffer phase was significantly different between the HCC lesions and the distal liver parenchyma in the low Ki-67 expression group (p = 0.029). The difference in PE in the Kupffer phase between HCC lesions and distal liver parenchyma was significantly different between the high and low Ki-67 expression groups (p = 0.045). The difference in PE in the Kupffer phase between HCC lesions and distal liver parenchyma < - 4.0 × 10 a.u. may contribute to a more accurate diagnosis of the high Ki-67 expression group, and the sensitivity and specificity were 82.9% and 38.7%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The DCE-US parameters have potential as biomarkers for predicting Ki-67 expression in patients with HCC.
PubMed: 36536262
DOI: 10.1186/s13244-022-01320-6 -
Radiologia 2022Thoracic calcifications are frequently found in chest radiographs and CTs, occurring in a wide variety of disorders. Although most calcifications are harmless sequelae... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Thoracic calcifications are frequently found in chest radiographs and CTs, occurring in a wide variety of disorders. Although most calcifications are harmless sequelae of previous disease, they provide important information to establish the diagnosis. This article reviews the different types of calcified lesions found in the chest, focusing on lesions outside the lung parenchyma. A location-based approach to the differential diagnosis is used, while providing the reader with diagnostic pearls and discussing the clinical importance of the different types of calcifications.
CONCLUSION
Chest calcifications are a common finding in routine chest imaging. Understanding the different etiologies and radiologic manifestations provide the radiologist with the necessary tools to elaborate a differential diagnosis, as well as to correctly differentiate the findings that need further work-up from the ones that can be dismissed.
Topics: Calcinosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Lung; Radiography
PubMed: 36243445
DOI: 10.1016/j.rxeng.2022.06.001 -
Journal of Visualized Experiments : JoVE Apr 2022Laparoscopic hepatectomy is considered a conventional method for treating benign and malignant liver diseases because it is a minimally invasive method. Despite its...
Laparoscopic hepatectomy is considered a conventional method for treating benign and malignant liver diseases because it is a minimally invasive method. Despite its non-invasive aspect, bleeding and bile leakage occur in liver parenchyma tissue resection during the operation or in the post-operation period, indicating the requirement for high-grade hemostatic devices, such as ultrasonic surgical aspiration, bipolar electrocoagulation, etc. The lack of availability of these high-grade hemostatic devices prevents laparoscopic hepatectomy from becoming a generalized procedure in basic medical organizations. In view of the situation mentioned above, a suite of simple and easy hemostatic devices is developed in this protocol, which includes a harmonic scalpel, monopole electrocoagulation, and a single lumen catheter, to innovatively perform liver parenchyma tissue resection. First of all, the porta hepatis or hepatic pedicle is occluded intermittently by a single lumen catheter, followed by clamping for 15 min and releasing for 5 min. Subsequently, using the harmonic scalpel, clamping and crushing of the liver are done to cut off the hepatic parenchyma tissue and to reveal the intrahepatic arteries, veins, and bile ducts. Lastly, the bleeding spots are coagulated by using monopole electrocoagulation at each spot. Intrahepatic pipeline structures are then visible by using these methods, which could stop bleeding easily, reduce the incidence rate of bile leakage, and improve the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic hepatectomy. Therefore, the simple and easy hemostatic devices shown here are suitable for conducting procedures in primary medical institutions.
Topics: Hemostatics; Hepatectomy; Humans; Laparoscopy; Liver Neoplasms
PubMed: 35532244
DOI: 10.3791/63368 -
Portuguese Journal of Cardiac Thoracic... Jul 2021A 66-year-old male with an aspergiloma in the upper left lobe was submitted to a wedge resection in December 2019. Pneumostasis was performed using biological glue and...
A 66-year-old male with an aspergiloma in the upper left lobe was submitted to a wedge resection in December 2019. Pneumostasis was performed using biological glue and afterward the test of submersion in water showed no significant alveolopleural leak. In the immediate postoperative period, the patient presented an expanded lung parenchyma and moderate alveolopleural leakage that gradually decreased. A month later the patient was readmitted in intensive care unit with an acute respiratory distress after a sudden episode of coughing with abundant and purulent sputum and significant increase in alveolopleural leakage. Intraoperatively it was found that the pulmonary parenchyma covering the segmental bronchi was necrotic.
Topics: Aged; Bronchi; Bronchial Fistula; Humans; Male; Pleural Diseases; Pneumonectomy
PubMed: 35302321
DOI: 10.48729/pjctvs.175 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2023
PubMed: 36761965
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1136895 -
Annals of Surgical Oncology Nov 2022Enucleation was commonly used in the surgery of the eye or prostate. The implication in the treatment of GGO is never reported.
BACKGROUND
Enucleation was commonly used in the surgery of the eye or prostate. The implication in the treatment of GGO is never reported.
METHODS
In this multimedia article, we described a thoracoscopic enucleation of GGO between S7 and S8 in the right lower lobe. According to the pre-operative 3D-CTBA, few bronchovascular structures were passing through the border of RS7 and RS8-a primarily pulmonary parenchyma region. Therefore, an enucleation of GGO is feasible with a low risk of injuring adjacent structures. The main utility incision and observing port were inserted in the fourth and seventh intercostal space in the anterior axillary line. Two assistant incisions were made in the seventh intercostal space in the mid-axillary line and the ninth intercostal space in the posterior axillary line. The GGO is invisible and unpalpable, so it cannot be located intraoperatively. The surgery was initiated by dividing the lung parenchyma alongside the anatomic landmark of A7 on the left. On the right, the common trunk of A8-10 was dissected until A8 was identified. The last anatomic landmark is V8b, which lies posteriorly. The lung parenchyma was dissected by electrocautery hook along with the A7, A8, and V8b to the diaphragmatic surface. Using an electrocautery hook during dissection is preferable, whose terminal is sharper and more flexible. The ultrasonic scalpel is not recommended. A glove is utilized for the specimen retrieval to avoid implantation metastasis.
RESULTS
The operative time was 0.5 h with an estimated blood loss of 10 ml. With no chest tube, the patient was discharged on postoperative day 1. The final pathological finding was minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (pTmiN0M0).
DISCUSSION
Considering the natural history and excellent prognosis of GGO, the safe margin is the primary concern for GGO resection. We use the anatomic landmark to secure a safe margin in enucleation. Besides, dissection of the anatomic intersegmental plane by electrocautery (but not by stapling) reduces unfavorable recurrent local failure at the margin and allows full expansion of the preserved adjacent segments to result in maximal pulmonary function..
Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Dissection; Electrocoagulation; Humans; Male; Thyroidectomy
PubMed: 35930111
DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12154-3 -
Frontiers in Network Physiology 2022In this work, we propose a dynamical systems perspective on the modeling of sepsis and its organ-damaging consequences. We develop a functional two-layer network model...
In this work, we propose a dynamical systems perspective on the modeling of sepsis and its organ-damaging consequences. We develop a functional two-layer network model for sepsis based upon the interaction of parenchymal cells and immune cells cytokines, and the coevolutionary dynamics of parenchymal, immune cells, and cytokines. By means of the simple paradigmatic model of phase oscillators in a two-layer system, we analyze the emergence of organ threatening interactions between the dysregulated immune system and the parenchyma. We demonstrate that the complex cellular cooperation between parenchyma and stroma (immune layer) either in the physiological or in the pathological case can be related to dynamical patterns of the network. In this way we explain sepsis by the dysregulation of the healthy homeostatic state (frequency synchronized) leading to a pathological state (desynchronized or multifrequency cluster) in the parenchyma. We provide insight into the complex stabilizing and destabilizing interplay of parenchyma and stroma by determining critical interaction parameters. The coupled dynamics of parenchymal cells (metabolism) and nonspecific immune cells (response of the innate immune system) is represented by nodes of a duplex layer. Cytokine interaction is modeled by adaptive coupling weights between nodes representing immune cells (with fast adaptation timescale) and parenchymal cells (slow adaptation timescale), and between pairs of parenchymal and immune cells in the duplex network (fixed bidirectional coupling). The proposed model allows for a functional description of organ dysfunction in sepsis and the recurrence risk in a plausible pathophysiological context.
PubMed: 36926088
DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2022.904480