Generation and Characterization of a New Aging Skin Human Dermal Extracellular Matrix Scaffold.

In vitro skin aging models represent a valuable tool for the study of age-related pathologies and potential treatments. However, the currently available models do not adequately represent the complex microenvironment of the dermis since they generally focus on cutaneous cellular senescence, rather than the full range of factors that contribute to the aging process, such as structural and compositional alteration of the dermal extracellular matrix. The following protocol describes the extraction and characterization of human adult extracellular matrix scaffolds for use in in vitro aging models.

Quantification of the Anterior-Centripetal Movement of the Ciliary Muscle During Accommodation Using Dynamic OCT Imaging.

Purpose: Although the lens undoubtedly plays a major role in presbyopia, altered lens function could be in part secondary to age-related changes of the ciliary muscle. Ciliary muscle changes with accommodation have been quantified using optical coherence tomography, but so far these studies have been limited to quantifying changes in ciliary muscle thickness, mostly at static accommodative states. Quantifying ciliary muscle thickness changes does not effectively capture the dynamic anterior-centripetal movement of the ciliary muscle during accommodation.

High-precision Cu isotopic analysis of human dietary Cu sources via multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry.

The disruption of Cu homeostasis is associated with the pathogenesis of many diseases and can result in alterations in Cu isotope fractionation. Changes in the Cu isotope ratio (Cu/Cu) of body fluids and tissues have been observed in liver disorders, cancers, and other diseases, displaying diagnostic/prognostic potential. However, it is not entirely clear whether certain physiological or lifestyle factors may also influence the bodily Cu isotopic composition, potentially obfuscating the signature of the pathology.

Safety assessment of natural materials for food contact in high temperature applications: Migration studies with solid simulant (Tenax®).

The concern of conventional plastics for food contact has opened the use of natural vegetal materials which can be used even at high temperature. However, their safety in use has to be carefully evaluated. This study shows the migration tests of volatile compounds to Tenax® at 175 °C for 1 h.

Nocturnal short-term HRV reflects impaired daytime vigilance better than overnight HRV in suspected OSA patients.

In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), heart rate variability (HRV) decreases and performance in psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) worsens with more severe hypoxic load. Nevertheless, the association between HRV and PVT performance is poorly understood. Thus, we hypothesize that nocturnal short-term HRV is better related to daytime psychomotor vigilance compared to overnight HRV.

Preliminary steps for fabrication of microfluidic systems for swine sperm sorting: Materials, perfusing systems and flow.

The success rate of assisted reproductive techniques in the livestock production can be optimized by improving the quality of the semen sample by selecting only the good quality sperm from the ejaculate. Microfluidic technology has been studied for sperm sorting mainly in human ejaculates but has not been studied for boar sperm. Spermatozoa have been proven to be highly sensitive to different microplastics, but the potential toxic effects of the materials used to set up microfluidic systems have not been studied.

Pre- and post-COVID 19 outbreak relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in Spanish adults with major depressive disorder: a secondary analysis of the RADAR-MDD cohort study.

Aim: To evaluate the longitudinal association of sedentary behavior, light and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) participation with depressive symptoms and whether their possible association changed depending on the pandemic phase.

Methods: This longitudinal study conducted secondary analysis from the Spanish cohort of the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse - Major Depressive Disorder (RADAR-MDD) study. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8).

The Effect of Carbodiimide Crosslinkers on Gelatin Hydrogel as a Potential Biomaterial for Gingival Tissue Regeneration.

Connective tissue grafts for gingival recession treatment present significant challenges as they require an additional surgical site, leading to increased morbidity, extended operative times, and a more painful postoperative recovery for patients. Gelatin contains the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence, which supports cell adhesion and interactions. The development of gelatin hydrogels holds significant promise due to their biocompatibility, ease of customization, and structural resemblance to the extracellular matrix, making them a potential candidate for gingival regeneration.

A single computational model to simulate the three foot-rocker mechanisms of the gait cycle.

The use of computational models of the human foot based on finite element analysis offers a promising alternative for understanding the biomechanical internal changes of this structure. However, the evaluation of dynamic scenarios has been challenging. This research aims to design a computational model that accurately simulates foot biomechanics during the stance period of the gait cycle in healthy and flatfoot scenarios.

Tailoring the morphology and antibacterial activity of PBAT and thermoplastic cassava starch blown films with phosphate derivatives.

Phosphate derivatives contain a high number of reactive groups that interact functionally with various polymers. Tetrasodium pyrophosphate (Na₄P₂O₇), sodium tripolyphosphate (Na₅P₃O₁₀), and sodium hexametaphosphate (Na₆(PO₃)₆) were incorporated into bioplastic polybutylene-adipate-terephthalate (PBAT) blended with thermoplastic cassava starch (TPS) in blown films. Their physicochemical, morphological, thermal, and antimicrobial properties were investigated.

Patient-specific prostate tumour growth simulation: a first step towards the digital twin.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major world-wide health concern. Current diagnostic methods involve Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests, biopsies, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to assess cancer aggressiveness and guide treatment decisions. MRI aligns with medicine, as patient-specific image biomarkers can be obtained, contributing towards the development of digital twins for clinical practice.

Intensity- and time-based strategies for micro/nano-sizing via single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry: A comparative assessment using Au and SiO as model particles.

Background: Single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS) is a powerful method for micro/nano-particle (MNP) sizing. Despite the outstanding evolution of the technique in the last decade, most studies still rely on traditional approaches based on (1) the use of integrated intensity as the analytical signal and (2) the calculation of the transport efficiency (TE). However, the increasing availability of MNP standards and advancements in hardware and software have unveiled new venues for MNP sizing, including TE-independent and time-based approaches.

Hypoxaemic load in sleep apnoea is associated with acute changes in T-wave amplitude.

Aims: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) imposes significant stress on the cardiovascular system and the heart. While long-term cardiac effects are understood, the immediate impact of hypoxaemia on the heart's electrophysiology lacks understanding. Our study aims to explore desaturation severity on cardiovascular repolarisation.

Use of a sperm-Hyaluronan binding assay for evaluation of sperm quality in dromedary camels.

The objective of this study was to assess the ability of camel spermatozoa to bind in the Hyaluronan Binding Assay (HBA), to determine if conventional sperm quality parameters, in vitro fertilization capacity, and precursor of A-Kinase Anchoring Protein 4 (proAKAP4) values correlate with HBA results. The potential to predict post-thaw fertilization performance from HBA for fresh dromedary camel sperm was also evaluated. Semen samples were collected and assessed both fresh and post thawing, at 0 h and 1.

Curvature induces and enhances transport of spinning colloids through narrow channels.

The effect of curvature and how it induces and enhances the transport of colloidal particles driven through narrow channels represent an unexplored research avenue. Here we combine experiments and simulations to investigate the dynamics of magnetically driven colloidal particles confined through a narrow, circular channel. We use an external precessing magnetic field to induce a net torque and spin the particles at a defined angular velocity.

Influence of Synthesis Conditions on Catalytic Performance of Ni/CeO in Aqueous-Phase Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol without External Hydrogen Input.

The aqueous-phase hydrogenolysis of glycerol was studied in Ni/CeO catalytic systems prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The operating conditions were 34 bar, 227 ºC, 5 wt.% of glycerol, and a W/m = 20 g catalyst min/g glycerol without a hydrogen supply.

A comprehensive experimental analysis of the local passive response across the healthy porcine left ventricle.

This work provides a comprehensive characterization of porcine myocardial tissue, combining true biaxial (TBx), simple triaxial shear (STS) and confined compression (CC) tests to analyze its elastic behavior under cyclic loads. We expanded this study to different zones of the ventricular free wall, providing insights into the local behavior along the longitudinal and radial coordinates. The aging impact was also assessed by comparing two age groups (4 and 8 months).

Interplay of chromatin organization and mechanics of the cell nucleus.

The nucleus of eukaryotic cells is constantly subjected to different kinds of mechanical stimuli, which can impact the organization of chromatin and, subsequently, the expression of genetic information. Experiments from different groups showed that nuclear deformation can lead to transient or permanent condensation or decondensation of chromatin and the mechanical activation of genes, thus altering the transcription of proteins. Changes in chromatin organization, in turn, change the mechanical properties of the nucleus, possibly leading to an auxetic behavior.

Non-contact tonometry: predicting intraocular pressure using a material-corneal thickness-independent methodology.

Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide, is primarily caused by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Accurate and reliable IOP measurements are the key to diagnose the pathology in time and to provide for effective treatment strategies. The currently available methods for measuring IOP include contact and non contact tonometers (NCT), which estimate IOP based on the corneal deformation caused by an external load, that in the case of NCT is an air pulse.

Impact of hypertension and arterial wall expansion on transport properties and atherosclerosis progression.

This study explored the impact of hypertension on atheroma plaque formation through a mechanobiological model. The model incorporates blood flow via the Navier-Stokes equation. Plasma flow through the endothelium is determined by Darcy's law and the Kedem-Katchalsky equations, which consider the three-pore model utilized for substance flow across the endothelium.