SLC25A38 is required for mitochondrial pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) accumulation.

Many essential proteins require pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, the active form of vitamin B6, as a cofactor for their activity. These include enzymes important for amino acid metabolism, one-carbon metabolism, polyamine synthesis, erythropoiesis, and neurotransmitter metabolism. A third of all mammalian pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes are localized in the mitochondria; however, the molecular machinery involved in the regulation of mitochondrial pyridoxal 5'-phosphate levels in mammals remains unknown.

The Statistical Fragility of Functional Outcomes for Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair With and Without Acromioplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Views surrounding acromioplasty at the time of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) have shifted dramatically over time. In recent years, various studies have argued against acromioplasty, citing equivocal functional outcomes after arthroscopic RCR with or without acromioplasty.

Purpose: To assess the statistical fragility of functional outcomes after arthroscopic RCR with and without acromioplasty using the reverse continuous fragility index (RCFI).

Development of a polygenic score predicting drug resistance and patient outcome in breast cancer.

Gene expression profiles of hundreds of cancer cell-lines and the cell-lines' response to drug treatment were analyzed to identify genes whose expression correlated with drug resistance. In the GDSC dataset of 809 cancer cell lines, expression of 36 genes were associated with drug resistance (increased IC50) to many anti-cancer drugs. This was validated in the CTRP dataset of 860 cell lines.

Accurate allocation of multimapped reads enables regulatory element analysis at repeats.

Transposable elements (TEs) and other repetitive regions have been shown to contain gene regulatory elements, including transcription factor binding sites. However, regulatory elements harbored by repeats have proven difficult to characterize using short-read sequencing assays such as ChIP-seq or ATAC-seq. Most regulatory genomics analysis pipelines discard "multimapped" reads that align equally well to multiple genomic locations.

Unexpected sequel to the application of silver fluoride followed by stannous fluoride to an open carious lesion in a primary molar: A case report.

Objectives: The use of silver fluoride followed by stannous fluoride was designed for the treatment of open carious lesions in primary molars in dental outreach programs. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic when aerosol-producing procedures were inadvisable, one dental location started using it as the first stage in a two-visit restorative procedure for carious primary molars. If the gap between the fluoride application and the restoration placement stages was around 3-5 weeks it was noticed that a black friable crust appeared on the caries surface.

Allo: Accurate allocation of multi-mapped reads enables regulatory element analysis at repeats.

Transposable elements (TEs) and other repetitive regions have been shown to contain gene regulatory elements, including transcription factor binding sites. Unfortunately, regulatory elements harbored by repeats have proven difficult to characterize using short-read sequencing assays such as ChIP-seq or ATAC-seq. Most regulatory genomics analysis pipelines discard "multi-mapped" reads that align equally well to multiple genomic locations.

The Reverse Fragility Index: Interpreting the Current Literature on Long-Term Survivorship of Computer-Navigated Versus Conventional TKA: A Systematic Review and Cross-Sectional Study of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Despite the most recent American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons clinical practice guideline making a "strong" recommendation against the use of intraoperative navigation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), its use is increasing. We utilized the concept of the reverse fragility index (RFI) to assess the strength of neutrality of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the long-term survivorship of computer-navigated and conventional TKA.

Methods: A systematic review was performed including all RCTs through August 3, 2021, comparing the long-term outcomes of computer-navigated and conventional TKA.

Effect of Baghdadite Substitution on the Physicochemical Properties of Brushite Cements.

Brushite cements have been clinically used for irregular bone defect filling applications, and various strategies have been previously reported to modify and improve their physicochemical properties such as strength and injectability. However, strategies to address other limitations of brushite cements such as low radiopacity or acidity without negatively impacting mechanical strength have not yet been reported. In this study, we report the effect of substituting the beta-tricalcium phosphate reactant in brushite cement with baghdadite (CaZrSiO), a bioactive zirconium-doped calcium silicate ceramic, at various concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 wt%) on the properties of the final brushite cement product.

Novel injectable strontium-hardystonite phosphate cement for cancellous bone filling applications.

Injectable bone cement (IBC) such as those based on methacrylates and hydraulic calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate-based cements have been used extensively for filling bone defects with acceptable clinical outcomes. There is a need however for novel IBC materials that can address some of the inherent limitations of currently available formulations to widen the clinical application of IBC. In this study, we characterized a novel hydraulic IBC formulation consisting of bioactive strontium-doped hardystonite (Sr-HT) ceramic microparticles and sodium dihydrogen phosphate, herein named Sr-HT phosphate cement (SPC).

Modulatory effect of simultaneously released magnesium, strontium, and silicon ions on injectable silk hydrogels for bone regeneration.

Injectable silk hydrogels are ideal carriers of therapeutic agents due to their biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. Injectable silk hydrogels for bone regeneration have been previously developed but often utilize expensive biologics. In this study, we have developed an injectable silk composite incorporated with a triphasic ceramic called MSM-10 (54 MgSiO, 36 SiSr and 10 MgO (wt%)) capable of simultaneously releasing magnesium, silicon, and strontium ions into its environment.

Transection and explantation of intraocular lenses using femtosecond lasers.

We present 2 cases in which a femtosecond laser was used in vitro to transect hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs). At 8 μJ with 3 μm spot separation and 6 μm line separation, no charring occurred and there was no increase in total organic carbon. In vivo, the IOLs were successfully transected in the capsular bag (Case 1, opaque IOL) and the sulcus (Case 2, subluxated IOL post-pneumatic displacement of submacular hemorrhage) and explanted through a clear corneal incision (∼3.

Strontium-doped calcium silicate bioceramic with enhanced in vitro osteogenic properties.

Gehlenite (GLN, CaSiAlO) is a bioceramic that has been recently shown to possess excellent mechanical strength and in vitro osteogenic properties for bone regeneration. Substitutional incorporation of strontium in place of calcium is an effective way to further enhance biological properties of calcium-based bioceramics and glasses. However, such strategy has the potential to affect other important physicochemical parameters such as strength and degradation due to differences in the ionic radius of strontium and calcium.

Tuning the Synthesis of Manganese Oxides Nanoparticles for Efficient Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol.

The liquid phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol is an important reaction for generating benzaldehyde and benzoic acid that are largely required in the perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. The current production systems suffer from either low conversion or over oxidation. From the viewpoint of economy efficiency and environmental demand, we are aiming to develop new high-performance and cost-effective catalysts based on manganese oxides that can allow the green aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol under mild conditions.

A bioceramic with enhanced osteogenic properties to regulate the function of osteoblastic and osteocalastic cells for bone tissue regeneration.

Bioceramics for regenerative medicine applications should have the ability to promote adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast and osteoclast cells. Osteogenic properties of the material are essential for rapid bone regeneration and new bone formation. The aim of this study was to develop a silicate-based ceramic, gehlenite (GLN, Ca2Al2SiO7), and characterise its physiochemical, biocompatibility and osteogenic properties.

Recycling of coal seam gas-associated water using vacuum membrane distillation.

Coal seam gas-associated water (CSGAW), which is a by-product of coal seam gas (CSG) production typically contains significant amounts of salts and has potential environmental issues. In this study, we optimized a bench-scale vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) process with flat-sheet hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes for the treatment of synthetic CSGAW (conductivity = 15 mS/cm). To study performance of the VMD process, we explored the effects of feed temperature (T(f) = 60, 70, and 80°C), feed flow rate (V(f) = 60, 120, and 240 mL/min), and vacuum pressure (P(v) = 3, 6, and 9 kPa) on water permeability through the PTFE membrane in the VMD process.

Intraocular Lens Fragmentation Using Femtosecond Laser: An In Vitro Study.

Purpose: To transect intraocular lenses (IOLs) using a femtosecond laser in cadaveric human eyes. To determine the optimal in vitro settings, to detect and characterize gasses or particles generated during this process.

Methods: A femtosecond laser was used to transect hydrophobic and hydrophilic acrylic lenses.

Fabrication of a novel triphasic and bioactive ceramic and evaluation of its in vitro and in vivo cytocompatibility and osteogenesis.

We report, for the first time, the synthesis of a novel triphasic and crystalline bioactive ceramic (MSM-10) with the ability to simultaneously release three types of bioactive ions (strontium (Sr), silicon (Si) and magnesium (Mg)) to the surrounding microenvironment. An MSM-10 powder with a nominal composition (wt%) of 54 MgSiO, 36 SiSr and 10 MgO was prepared by the sol-gel method and fabricated as porous scaffolds using the foam replication method. The effects of the different amounts of the phases in the ceramics on the mechanical and physical properties of the scaffolds as well as their in vitro and in vivo behaviors were comprehensively investigated.

Thermal-crosslinked porous chitosan scaffolds for soft tissue engineering applications.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of using a steam autoclave process for sterilization and simultaneously thermal-crosslinking of lyophilized chitosan scaffolds. This process is of great interest in biomaterial development due to its simplicity and low toxicity. The steam autoclave process had no significant effect on the average pore diameter (~70 μm) and overall porosity (>80%) of the resultant chitosan scaffolds, while the sterilized scaffolds possessed more homogenous pore size distribution.

A comparative study on the inhibitory effects of different parts and chemical constituents of pomegranate on α-amylase and α-glucosidase.

Pomegranate has been documented for the management of diabetes in Unani and Chinese medicine. This study compared the effects of the extracts of different pomegranate parts, including juice, peels, seeds and flowers, on carbohydrate digestive enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) in vitro. The methanolic flower extract inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase, while the methanolic peel extract inhibited α-glucosidase selectively.

Application of ionic liquids in the microwave-assisted extraction of pectin from lemon peels.

Microwave-assisted extraction of pectin from lemon peels by using ionic liquid as alternative solvent was investigated. The extracted pectin was detected by Fourier transform infrared spectra. The extraction conditions were optimized through the different experiments in conjunction with the response surface methodology.

High-flux ceramic membranes with a nanomesh of metal oxide nanofibers.

Traditional ceramic separation membranes, which are fabricated by applying colloidal suspensions of metal hydroxides to porous supports, tend to suffer from pinholes and cracks that seriously affect their quality. Other intrinsic problems for these membranes include dramatic losses of flux when the pore sizes are reduced to enhance selectivity and dead-end pores that make no contribution to filtration. In this work, we propose a new strategy for addressing these problems by constructing a hierarchically structured separation layer on a porous substrate using large titanate nanofibers and smaller boehmite nanofibers.

A new pulping process for wheat straw to reduce problems with the discharge of black liquor.

Aqueous ammonia mixed with caustic potash as wheat straw pulping liquor was investigated. The caustic potash did not only reduce the NH3 usage and cooking time, but also provided a potassium source as a fertilizer in the black liquor. Excess NH3 in the black liquor was recovered and reused by batch distillation with a 98% recovery rate of free NH3.

NH(4)OH-KOH pulping mechanisms and kinetics of rice straw.

The mechanisms and kinetics of NH(4)OH-KOH mixture pulping rice straw were studied. When aqueous ammonia was mixed with a small amount of caustic potash (ratio of 1:5), three distinct delignification phases were observed in the pulping process: a bulk delignification phase from the beginning of the cooking period to 100 degrees C, a supplementary delignification phase from 100 degrees C to 155 degrees C lasting a further 45 min, and a residual delignification phase until the end of the cooking period. There were two silica removal phases; the first phase was from the beginning of the cooking period to 100 degrees C and the second phase was from 100 degrees C to the end of the cooking period.