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Operative Neurosurgery (Hagerstown, Md.) Jul 2024The trans-sinus transglabellar and bifrontal approaches offer direct access to the anterior cranial fossa. However, these approaches present potential drawbacks. We...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The trans-sinus transglabellar and bifrontal approaches offer direct access to the anterior cranial fossa. However, these approaches present potential drawbacks. We propose the biportal endoscopic transfrontal sinus (BETS) approach, adapting endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) techniques for minimally invasive access to the anterior fossa, reducing tissue manipulation, venous sacrifice, and brain retraction.
METHODS
Six formalin specimens were used. BETS approach involves 2 incisions over the medial aspect of both eyebrows from the supraorbital notch to the medial end of the eyebrow. A unilateral pedicled pericranial flap is harvested. A craniotomy through the anterior table of the frontal sinus (FS) and a separate craniotomy through the posterior table are performed. Two variants of the approach (preservative vs cranialization) are described for opening and reconstruction of the FS based on the desired pathology to access. Bone flap replacement can be performed with titanium plates and filling of the external table defect with bone cement.
RESULTS
Like in EEA, this approach provides access for endoscope and multiple working instruments to be used simultaneously. The approach allows wide access to the anterior cranial fossa, subfrontal, and interhemispheric corridors, all the way up to the suprachiasmatic corridor and through the lamina terminalis to the third ventricle. BETS provides direct access to the anterior fossa, minimizing the level of frontal lobe retraction and providing potentially less tissue disruption and improved cosmesis. Cerebrospinal fluid fistula risk remains one of the major concerns as the narrow corridor limits achieving a watertight closure which can be mitigated with a pedicled flap. Mucocele risk is minimized with full cranialization or reconstruction of the FS.
CONCLUSION
The BETS approach is a minimally invasive approach that translates the concepts of EEA to the FS. It allows excellent access to the anterior cranial fossa structures with minimal frontal lobe retraction.
PubMed: 38953666
DOI: 10.1227/ons.0000000000001249 -
Biosensors & Bioelectronics Jun 2024In the food industry, sulfides are commonly used as preservatives and flavor regulators. However, long-term excessive intake of sulfides can lead to serious health...
In the food industry, sulfides are commonly used as preservatives and flavor regulators. However, long-term excessive intake of sulfides can lead to serious health problems. Therefore, developing efficient sulfide detection methods is particularly important. Here, we have effectively synthesized a novel bifunctional copper hydroxide nitrate (Cu(OH)NO) nanozyme with outstanding peroxidase-like and laccase-like behaviors in basic deep eutectic solvents (DES). Because the various types of sulfides have diverse regulatory effects on the two catalytic behaviors of Cu(OH)NO, a two channel nanozyme sensor array based on the peroxidase-like and laccase-like behaviors of Cu(OH)NO was constructed and successfully used for the identification of six kinds of sulfides (NaS, NaSO, NaSO, NaSO, NaHSO, and NaSO). Remarkably, the sensor array has achieved successful discrimination among six sulfides present in wine, egg, and milk samples. Finally, the sensor array has successfully distinguished and differentiated three actual samples (wine, egg, and milk). This study is of great significance in promoting the efficient construction of array units and improving the effective identification of sulfides in complex food samples.
PubMed: 38950518
DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116529 -
Blood Transfusion = Trasfusione Del... Jun 2024Transfusion medicine is facing new challenges from therapies which interfere with pre-transfusional tests, such as monoclonal antibodies targeting blood-cell antigens....
BACKGROUND
Transfusion medicine is facing new challenges from therapies which interfere with pre-transfusional tests, such as monoclonal antibodies targeting blood-cell antigens. Anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies, widely used to treat multiple myeloma, cause panreactivity of indirect antiglobulin test; this can be resolved by treating cells with dithiothreitol to disrupt the CD38 disulphide bonds expressed on red blood cell surfaces. Interference mitigation strategy with dithiothreitol, however, has some drawbacks: it entails losing the traceability of results and the denaturation of blood group systems sensitive to reducing agents; it takes time to perform and quality controls are lost.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Panels were treated with 0.2 mol/L dithiothreitol and stored for 30 days with a commercial preservative solution. On day 30, we measured the hemolysis indices and ability to eliminate daratumumab and isatuximab interference in the treated cells using indirect antiglobulin test. We also tested the stability of erythrocyte antigenic structure by screening 42 samples with known antibodies; tests were repeated on day 1, 7, 15 and 30. All indirect antiglobulin testing was performed on gel card.
RESULTS
After 30 days from treatment, panels preserved in preservative solution showed hemolysis indices comparable to untreated panels: all cases of interference by anti-CD38 in pre-transfusional tests were successfully mitigated. All antibodies were detected after 30 days, except for KEL system antibodies, as expected, although there was a detectability of anti-Kell antibodies in high titer samples (the first detection in dithiothreitol-treated cells since 1983).
DISCUSSION
We propose the Extended Lifetime Protocol; a simple card-based method which is cheap and traceable, that combines the strengths of anti-CD38 mitigation strategies. It makes it possible to treat and store, at the same time, a sufficient volume of red blood cells, that can be used for the following 30 days, to avoid any delay in transfusional requests.
PubMed: 38949853
DOI: 10.2450/BloodTransfus.779 -
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences 2024Human saliva was used to develop non-invasive liquid biopsy biomarkers to establish saliva as an alternate to blood and plasma in translational research. The present...
Human saliva was used to develop non-invasive liquid biopsy biomarkers to establish saliva as an alternate to blood and plasma in translational research. The present study focused on understanding the impact of sample storage conditions on the extraction of RNA from saliva and the RNA yield, to be applied in clinical diagnosis. In this study, genes related to asthma were used to test the method developed. Salivary RNA was extracted from three subjects using the Qiazol based method and quantified by both spectrophotometric (NanoDrop) and fluorometric (Qubit) methods. RNA integrity was measured using a bioanalyzer. Quantitative PCR was used to monitor the impact of storage conditions on the expression of housekeeping genes: and β-actin, and the asthma related genes: and . In addition, an independent cohort of 38 asthmatics and 10 healthy controls were used to validate the expression of and as mRNA salivary biomarkers. Approximately 2 µg of total RNA was obtained from the saliva stored at 40°C without any preservative for 2 weeks showing consistent gene expression with RNA stored at room temperature (RT) for 48 h with RNA. Although saliva stored with RNA showed a substantial increase in the yield (110 to 234 ng/μL), a similar Cq (15.6 ± 1.4) for the 18s rRNA gene from saliva without preservative showed that the RNA was stable enough. Gene expression analysis from the degraded RNA can be performed by designing the assay using a smaller fragment size spanning a single exon as described below in the case of the and genes in the asthma cohort. This study showed that samples stored at room temperature up to a temperature of 40°C without any preservative for 2 weeks yielded relatively stable RNA. The methodology developed can be employed to transport samples from the point of collection to the laboratory, under non-stringent storage conditions enabling the execution of gene expression studies in a cost effective and efficient manner.
PubMed: 38948078
DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1363897 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024The study highlighted the potential of sesame seed coat (SSC), typically discarded during sesame paste processing, as a valuable resource for valorization through...
The study highlighted the potential of sesame seed coat (SSC), typically discarded during sesame paste processing, as a valuable resource for valorization through extracting bioactive compounds. It examined the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of SSC, and evaluated its antibacterial properties against foodborne pathogens such as O157:H7, and Typhimurium. Additionally, SSC underwent nanoemulsion coating, analyzed using dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy, to enhance its application as a natural preservative. The research specifically focused on incorporating SSC nanoemulsion into milk to determine its effectiveness as a preservative. SSC demonstrated considerable antioxidant activity and phenolic content, with catechin identified as the predominant polyphenol. GC-MS analysis revealed seven major compounds, led by oleic acid. Notably, SSC effectively inhibited in broth at 100 mg/ml. The application of SSC and its nanoemulsion resulted in changes to bacterial morphology and a significant reduction in bacterial counts in milk, highlighting its potential as an effective natural antibacterial agent. The findings of this study highlight the potential use of SSC as a valuable by-product in the food industry, with significant implications for food preservation.
PubMed: 38946786
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1405708 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2024The current food packaging films can be preservative but lack the function of combining antibacterial and sterilization which lead to films can not maximize prolong...
The current food packaging films can be preservative but lack the function of combining antibacterial and sterilization which lead to films can not maximize prolong shelf life of perishable foods. This study provided a new strategy to realize prolonging shelf life of perishable foods by integrating antibacterial and sterilization which focused on applying photodynamic inactivation to films with continuous activity, where curcumin (CUR) and sodium copper chlorophyll (SCC) were loaded into chitosan (CS) films. Compared to pure CS films, the barrier capacity (oxygen permeability and water vapor permeability) and mechanical properties of composite films were improved by introducing CUR and SCC. In addition, the composite film can effectively against food-borne pathogenic bacteria and significantly prolong the shelf life of cherries and pork. The provided strategy has potential application prospects in food preservation packaging.
PubMed: 38945713
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133351 -
Food Research International (Ottawa,... Aug 2024Synthetic preservatives are widely used in the food industry to control spoilage and growth of pathogenic microorganisms, inhibit lipid oxidation processes and extend... (Review)
Review
Synthetic preservatives are widely used in the food industry to control spoilage and growth of pathogenic microorganisms, inhibit lipid oxidation processes and extend the shelf life of food. However, synthetic preservatives have some side effects that can lead to poisoning, cancer and other degenerative diseases. With the improvement of living standards, people are developing safer natural preservatives to replace synthetic preservatives, including plant derived preservatives (polyphenols, essential oils, flavonoids), animal derived preservatives (lysozyme, antimicrobial peptide, chitosan) and microorganism derived preservatives (nisin, natamycin, ε-polylysine, phage). These natural preservatives exert antibacterial effects by disrupting microbial cell wall/membrane structures, interfering with DNA/RNA replication and transcription, and affecting protein synthesis and metabolism. This review summarizes the natural bioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids and terpenoids, etc.) in these preservatives, their antioxidant and antibacterial activities, and safety evaluation in various products.
Topics: Food Preservatives; Antioxidants; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Food Preservation; Animals; Food Safety; Humans; Flavonoids; Polyphenols; Oils, Volatile; Terpenes
PubMed: 38945593
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114548 -
Food Research International (Ottawa,... Aug 2024Passion fruits are highly perishable during postharvest storage and transportation, prompting the exploration of natural preservatives. This study investigates the...
Passion fruits are highly perishable during postharvest storage and transportation, prompting the exploration of natural preservatives. This study investigates the synergistic effects of Aloe vera (ALV) and tea polyphenols (TP) coatings on quality retention, ripening modulation, and associated regulatory mechanisms in stored "golden" passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) at 10 °C. The application of a composite coating comprising 40 % ALV and 0.1 g/L TP led to notable improvements in fruit preservation over a 28-day storage period. At the day of 28, quantitatively, the ALV + TP treatment reduced weight loss by 41.60 %, shrinkage index by 28.13 %, and decay index by 50 %, significantly outperforming the control and individual treatments; the treated fruits exhibited enhanced firmness, reduced ethylene production, and the respiration peak was delayed about 6 days. Metabolomic analysis revealed pronounced alterations in key metabolic pathways, notably phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. Specifically, significant increases in metabolites such as phenolic acids (Feruloylmalic acid and Acropyrone) and flavonoids (Okanin-4'-O-glucoside, Apigenin-8-C-Arabinoside, Quercetin-3-O- (2'-O-galloyl) galactoside, and Catechin callate) were observed. Concurrently, transcript levels of key biosynthetic genes including cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (PeC4H), 4-coumarate-coenzyme a ligase (PeC4L), hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (PeHCT) and flavonol synthase (PeFLS) were significantly up-regulated by ALV + TP coating, indicating a robust activation of these pathways. The findings underscore the effectiveness of the ALV + TP composite coating as an environmentally friendly strategy for enhancing postharvest quality by promoting the accumulation of beneficial phenolic acids and flavonoids in passion fruits.
Topics: Polyphenols; Flavonoids; Fruit; Passiflora; Aloe; Phenols; Food Storage; Tea; Food Preservation
PubMed: 38945568
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114594 -
International Journal of Food... Jun 2024In feed, propionic acid is the weak organic acid of choice to prevent growth of spoilage fungi. For safe and easy industrial handling this antifungal agent is applied in...
Synergistic antifungal effects of the preservative ammonium propionate and medium chain fatty acids against dormant and germinating conidia, germ tubes and hyphae of Aspergillus chevalieri, a feed spoilage fungus.
In feed, propionic acid is the weak organic acid of choice to prevent growth of spoilage fungi. For safe and easy industrial handling this antifungal agent is applied in the presence of neutralizing ammonium, which however has the disadvantage to negatively affect the efficacy of fungus-inhibiting properties of the formulation. In the present study we investigated the impact of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) on the antifungal efficacy of an ammonium propionate formulation on dormant- and germinating conidia as well as germ tubes and hyphae of Aspergillus chevalieri, a xerophilic fungus predominant on moulded feed. Dormant conidia were not affected by 32 mM of ammonium propionate after a 28 h-treatment in demi water. Similar results were obtained with solely 0.52 mM MCFA. However, the combination of both components nearly eradicated formation of colonies from these conidia and was accompanied by distortion of the cellular structure as was visible with light- and transmission electron microscopy. Germination of conidia, characterised by swelling and germ tube formation, was significantly decreased in the presence of 16 mM ammonium propionate and 0.26 mM MCFA, while the latter component itself did not significantly decrease germination. We conclude that a combination of ammonium propionate and MCFA had a synergistic antifungal effect on dormant and germinating conidia. When the combination of ammonium propionate and MCFA was tested on hyphae for 30 min, we observed that cell death was significantly increased in comparison to components alone. Treatment of the hyphae with 16 mM of ammonium propionate caused aberrant mitochondria, as evidenced by irregularly shaped and enlarged mitochondria that contained electron-dense inclusions as observed by transmission electron microscopy. When the combination of ammonium propionate and MCFA was applied against the hyphae, more severe cell damage was observed, with signs of autophagy. Summarised, our results demonstrate synergistic antifungal effects of ammonium propionate and medium chain fatty acids on fungal survival structures, during their germination and after a short (sudden) treatment of growing cells. This is of potential importance for several areas of feed and food storage and shelf-life.
PubMed: 38943772
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2024.110802 -
The Science of the Total Environment Jun 2024Parabens are largely concentrated in food waste (FW) due to their large consumption as the widely used preservative. To date, whether and how they affect FW resource...
Dose-dependent effects of different parabens on food waste biorefinery for volatile fatty acids production: Insight into specific fermentation processes, substrates transformation and microbial metabolic traits.
Parabens are largely concentrated in food waste (FW) due to their large consumption as the widely used preservative. To date, whether and how they affect FW resource recovery via anaerobic fermentation is still largely unknown. This work unveiled the hormesis-like effects of two typical parabens (i.e., methylparaben and n-butylparaben) on VFAs production during FW anaerobic fermentation (i.e., parabens increased VFAs by 6.73-14.49 % at low dose but caused 82.51-87.74 % reduction at high dose). Mechanistic exploration revealed that the parabens facilitated the FW solubilization and enhanced the associated substrates' biodegradability. The low parabens enriched the functional microorganisms (e.g., Firmicutes and Actinobacteria) and upregulated those critical genes involved in VFAs biosynthesis (e.g., GCK and PK) by activating the microbial adaptive capacity (i.e., quorum sensing and two-component system). Consequently, the metabolism rates of fermentation substrates and subsequent VFAs production were accelerated. However, due to increased biotoxicity of high parabens, the functional microorganisms and relevant metabolic activities were depressed, resulting in the significant reduction of VFAs biosynthesis. Structural equation modeling clarified that microbial community was the predominant factor affecting VFAs generation, followed by metabolic pathways. This work elucidated the dose-dependent effects and underlying mechanisms of parabens on FW anaerobic fermentation, providing insights for the effective management of FW resource recovery.
PubMed: 38936728
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174319