Comparative Analysis of Pretreatment Methods for Fruit Waste Valorization in Cultivation: Impacts on Biomass, β-1,3-Glucan Production, and Photosynthetic Efficiency.

This study explored the sustainable valorization of fruit waste extracts from sugarcane bagasse (SB), banana peel (BP), and watermelon rind (WR) for Euglena gracilis biomass and β-1,3-glucan production. The extracts were prepared using water extraction (WE), high-temperature and pressure treatment (HTP), and dilute sulfuric acid treatment (DSA). The DSA-treated extracts consistently yielded the best results.

Effects of heterotrophic powder on dough microstructure, rheological properties, texture, and nutritional composition of steamed bread.

This study investigated the effects of incorporating different levels of microalgae powder (MP) on the dough properties, rheology, and quality attributes of Chinese steamed bread (CSB) for the first time. Moderate levels of MP (2%) reinforced the gluten network and improved protein structure, while higher levels (4-8%) adversely affected the gluten network and rheological properties. The addition of MP decreased the specific volume, pore number, and pore density of CSB, but increased pore size, hardness, and chewiness.

Accumulation of CD56 CD16 Natural Killer Cells in Response to Preoperative Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.

Background: The activation of the antitumor immune responses of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells is important to induce breast tumor shrinkage via preoperative chemotherapy. We evaluated how antitumor immune responses contribute to the effects of such therapy.

Methods: Forty-three patients with stages I - IV breast cancer who underwent surgery between August 2018 and Jun 2023 after preoperative chemotherapy were enrolled.

Utilization of low-stability variants in protein evolutionary engineering.

Evolutionary engineering involves repeated mutations and screening and is widely used to modify protein functions. However, it is important to diversify evolutionary pathways to eliminate the bias and limitations of the variants by using traditionally unselected variants. In this study, we focused on low-stability variants that are commonly excluded from evolutionary processes and tested a method that included an additional restabilization step.

Leveraging microalgae as a sustainable ingredient for meat analogues.

As the world's population and income levels continue to rise, there is a substantial increase in the demand for meat, which poses significant environmental challenges due to large-scale livestock production. This review explores the potential of microalgae as a sustainable protein source for meat analogues. The nutritional composition, functional properties, and environmental advantages of microalgae are analyzed.

Mitigation of oxidative stress damage caused by abiotic stress to improve biomass yield of microalgae: A review.

Microalgae have been recognized as emerging cell factories due to the high value-added bio-products. However, the balance between algal growth and the accumulation of metabolites is always the main contradiction in algal biomass production. Hence, the security and effectiveness of regulating microalgal growth and metabolism simultaneously have drawn substantial attention.

Extraction and surface modification of cellulose fibers and its reinforcement in starch-based film for packaging composites.

Background: Cellulose extraction from gloss art paper (GAP) waste is a recycling strategy for the abundance of gloss art paper waste. Here, a study was conducted on the impact of ultrasonic homogenization for cellulose extraction from GAP waste to improve the particle size, crystallinity, and thermal stability.

Results: At treatment temperature of 75.

Outcomes in patients with non-invasive breast carcinoma.

Background And Aim: Non-invasive breast carcinoma is considered to be localized disease and is distinguished from invasive ductal and lobular carcinomas. The local recurrence of non-invasive carcinoma after surgery may lead to development of invasive carcinoma and promote distant metastasis, which worsens the prognosis for breast cancer mortality. The distant metastasis of non-invasive carcinoma may involve the ductal microvasculature without invasion.

Corrosion-Resistant and High-Entropic Non-Noble-Metal Electrodes for Oxygen Evolution in Acidic Media.

To realize a sustainable hydrogen economy, corrosion-resistant non-noble-metal catalysts are needed to replace noble-metal-based catalysts. The combination of passivation elements and catalytically active elements is crucial for simultaneously achieving high corrosion resistance and high catalytic activity. Herein, the self-selection/reconstruction characteristics of multi-element (nonary) alloys that can automatically redistribute suitable elements and rearrange surface structures under the target reaction conditions during the oxygen evolution reaction are investigated.

The presence of sodium glucose co-transporter 2 in mesangial cells and pericytes and its roles in mesangial lesions and in capillaries under diabetic and ischemic conditions.

SGLT2 is expressed in mesangial cells and pericytes, and is upregulated byhigh glucose and ischemia. Upregulated SGLT2 in both cells might directly worsen ischemia in kidney interstitial legion, heart and brain. The overexpression of SGLT2 in these cells could induce various organ failures via damages or loss of capillaries and dysfunctions of mesangial cells, which are attenuated by SGLT2 inhibitors.

Low-dose sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor ameliorates ischemic brain injury in mice through pericyte protection without glucose-lowering effects.

Antidiabetic sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have attracted attention for their cardiorenal-protective properties beyond their glucose-lowering effect. However, their benefits in ischemic stroke remain controversial. Here we show the effects of luseogliflozin, a selective SGLT2 inhibitor, in acute ischemic stroke, using a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) model in non-diabetic mice.

Breast cancer recurrence and survival rates in patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery under non-mechanically ventilated anesthesia.

Background: Recurrence after primary treatment is an important obstacle to the curing of primary breast cancer. Less-immunosuppressive anesthetic techniques, such as local anesthesia with lidocaine, intravenous anesthesia (IVA) with propofol, and/or sedation with midazolam under spontaneous breathing may reduce breast cancer recurrence compared with standard general anesthesia techniques such as IVA and inhalation anesthesia with opioids under mechanical ventilation.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the factors involved in breast cancer recurrence in patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) under non-mechanically ventilated anesthesia.

Current Status and Prospects of Anesthesia and Breast Cancer: Does Anesthetic Technique Affect Recurrence and Survival Rates in Breast Cancer Surgery?

The relationship between the anesthetic technique and cancer recurrence has not yet been clarified in cancer surgery. Surgical stress and inhalation anesthesia suppress cell-mediated immunity (CMI), whereas intravenous (IV) anesthesia with propofol and regional anesthesia (RA) are known to be protective for CMI. Surgical stress, general anesthesia (GA) with inhalation anesthesia and opioids contribute to perioperative immunosuppression and may increase cancer recurrence and decrease survival.

Effect of phytochemical vanillic acid on the growth and lipid accumulation of freshwater microalga Euglena gracilis.

A feasible approach against the low yield of microalgae biomass involves the use of a stimulator for microalgal growth. In this research, vanillic acid present in the hydrolysate of agricultural waste, was applied to the cultivation of unicellular microalga Euglena gracilis. At the optimal dosage of 800 mg L vanillic acid, biomass yield at treatment increased 2.

Roles of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 of Mesangial Cells in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

We have been studying the presence of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) in mesangial cells and pericytes since 1992. Recent large placebo-controlled studies of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have reported desirable effects of the inhibitors on the diabetic kidney and the diabetic heart. Most studies have indicated that these effects of SGLT2 inhibitors could be mediated by the tubuloglomerular feedback system.

Enhanced crystallinity and thermal properties of cellulose from rice husk using acid hydrolysis treatment.

Cellulose was extracted from rice husk (RH) using an integrated delignification process using alkaline treatment and acid hydrolysis (concentrated HNO) for lignocellulosic biomass dissolution. Cellulose yield and quality were assessed through analysis of lignocellulosic content, thermogravimetric, functional group, X-ray diffraction, and surface morphology. HNO treatment showed an increment (2.

Biological response of protists Haematococcus lacustris and Euglena gracilis to conductive polymer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate.

Improving the growth and pigment accumulation of microalgae by electrochemical approaches was considered a novel and promising method. In this research, we investigated the effect of conductive polymer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) dispersible in water on growth and pigment accumulation of Haematococcus lacustris and Euglena gracilis. The results revealed that effect of PEDOT:PSS was strongly cell-dependent and each cell type has its own peculiar response.

Differences in post-operative complications after reconstruction for congenital biliary dilatation in a single institution-Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy versus hepaticoduodenostomy.

Background: The standard surgical procedure for congenital biliary dilatation (CBD) consists of excision of extrahepatic bile duct and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (HJ). However, alternative reconstructive operations for CBD includes hepaticoduodenostomy (HD). We compared postoperative complications and therapeutic outcomes of these two operations at our institution.

Catalytic activity of graphene-covered non-noble metals governed by proton penetration in electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction.

Graphene-covering is a promising approach for achieving an acid-stable, non-noble-metal-catalysed hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Optimization of the number of graphene-covering layers and the density of defects generated by chemical doping is crucial for achieving a balance between corrosion resistance and catalytic activity. Here, we investigate the influence of charge transfer and proton penetration through the graphene layers on the HER mechanisms of the non-noble metals Ni and Cu in an acidic electrolyte.

Risk factors influencing ascending testis after laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure for pediatric inguinal hernia and hydrocele.

Background: We investigated the risk factors influencing ascending testis following laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) for inguinal hernia or hydrocele.

Methods: Boys undergoing LPEC between 2014 and 2018 had their medical records and operative movies reviewed. Group A patients required orchiopexy after LPEC.

Enhancement of biomass yield and lipid accumulation of freshwater microalga Euglena gracilis by phenolic compounds from basic structures of lignin.

Introducing biomass-derived additives into microalgae cultivation to increase its yield has been regarded as a more cost-effective and environment-friendly method compared with gene-editing and nutrients supplementation. In this research, feasibility of three major phenolic compounds from lignin's basic structures (guaiacyl-, hydroxyphenyl- and syringyl- types) for freshwater microalga Euglena gracilis cultivation was evaluated. The results indicated that trans-4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid (HMA), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (HBA), and syringaldehyde (SRA) could all promote microalgae growth in a phytohormone-like role, and the highest promotion effect was achieved under HMA treatment.

Outpatient breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer: Use of local and intravenous anesthesia and/or sedation may reduce recurrence and improve survival.

The use of general anesthesia (GA) with inhalational anesthetics for breast cancer surgery may be associated with breast cancer recurrence and increased mortality due to the immunosuppressive effects of these drugs. Less-immunosuppressive anesthetic techniques may reduce breast cancer recurrence. We evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of outpatient breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for breast cancer in a breast clinic in terms of the anesthetic technique used, complications occurring, recurrence, and survival.

Immune factors associated with the pathological and therapeutic effects of preoperative chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Immune activation plays an important role in achieving the pathological and therapeutic effects of preoperative chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. We evaluated how the immune response contributes to various therapeutic effects. This study was conducted on 43 patients with stages II-IV breast cancer who received preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgery.