Search Results (1,097)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the ultrasound-guided thoracolumbar erector spinae plane (TL-ESP) block in standing horses. A total of 24 injections (n = 12) were performed at the L1 level using either 0.1 mL/kg of saline solution (SS group) or 2% lidocaine (LID group). The block feasibility was assessed based on needle visualization and injection time, while efficacy was evaluated through craniocaudal and dorsoventral (DV) spread using the pinprick technique over 270 min. Desensitization was observed at least once in 100% of horses in the LID group and in 75% in the SS group (p = 0.001). However, in the SS group, desensitization was primarily limited to the Th18 metamer at the 2 cm DV position, with a shorter duration compared to the LID group. The block onset occurred at 22.5 (11.25–60) min in the LID group and at 5 (5–30) min in the SS group (p = 0.069). The number of affected metamers was significantly higher in the LID group (2 [1–3]) compared to the SS group (1 [1–2.25], p = 0.014). At the 2 cm DV point, the end of the block effect occurred at 135 (120–210) min in the LID group and at 60 (3.75–60) min in the SS group (p = 0.001). Needle visualization was excellent in 95.8% of cases, and the mean injection time was 2.5 (2–3) min. These findings confirm that the TL-ESP block is a feasible technique in standing horses. However, its effect is predominantly localized to dorsal dermatomes with a limited ventral spread. Future studies evaluating larger volumes and multiple injection sites are warranted to enhance its clinical applicability. Full article

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is an advanced additive manufacturing technology that is gaining increasing interest for biomedical implants because it can produce dense, patient-specific metallic components with controlled microstructures. This study investigated the LPBF fabrication of 316L stainless steel, which is widely used in orthopedic and dental implants, and examined the effects of laser power and scanning speed on the microstructure and mechanical properties relevant to biomedical applications. The study achieved 99.97% density and refined columnar and cellular austenitic grains, with optimized molten pool morphology. The optimal LPBF parameters, 190 W laser power and 700 mm/s, produced a tensile strength of 762.83 MPa and hardness of 253.07 HV_0.2, which exceeded the values of conventional cast 316L stainless steel. These results demonstrated the potential of optimized LPBF 316L stainless steel for functional biomedical applications that require high mechanical integrity and biocompatibility. Full article

Qingke (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. f.), a staple crop in the Tibetan Plateau, suffers from severe yield reduction under continuous cropping (by 38.67%), yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study systematically investigated the effects of 23-year continuous cropping (23y-CC) on the nutrient dynamics, carbohydrate metabolism, and enzymatic activities in Qingke leaves across five developmental stages (T1: seedling; T2: tillering; T3: jointing; T4: flowering; T5: filling). Compared to the control (first-year planting), 23y-CC significantly reduced leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents by 60.94%, 47.96%, and 60.82%, respectively, at early growth stages. Key nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes, including glutamate synthase (GOGAT), glutamine synthase (GS), and nitrate reductase (NR), exhibited reduced activities under 23y-CC, indicating impaired nitrogen assimilation. Carbohydrate profiling revealed lower starch and glucose contents but higher sucrose accumulation in later stages (T4–T5) under 23y-CC, accompanied by the dysregulation of sucrose synthase (SS) and invertase activities. These findings elucidate how continuous cropping disrupts nutrient homeostasis and carbon allocation, ultimately compromising Qingke productivity. This study provides novel insights into agronomic strategies for mitigating continuous cropping obstacles in Qingke. Full article

Background: Early neurovascular unit (NVU) impairment plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR), often preceding clinically detectable changes. Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) derived from gut microbiota, has shown promising metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods: This study investigated the protective potential of oral butyrate supplementation in a mouse model of early type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced by a high-fat diet and streptozotocin. Mice (C57BL/6J) received sodium butyrate (5 g/L in drinking water) for 12 weeks. Retinal NVU integrity was assessed using widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WF SS-OCTA), alongside evaluations of systemic glucose and lipid metabolism, hepatic steatosis, visual function, and gut microbiota composition via 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: Butyrate supplementation significantly reduced body weight, fasting glucose, serum cholesterol, and hepatic lipid accumulation. Microbiome analysis demonstrated a partial reversal of gut dysbiosis, characterized by increased SCFA-producing taxa (Ruminococcaceae, Oscillibacter, Lachnospiraceae) and decreased pro-inflammatory, lipid-metabolism-related genera (Rikenella, Ileibacterium). KEGG pathway analysis further revealed enrichment in microbial lipid metabolism functions (fabG, ABC.CD.A, and transketolase). Retinal vascular and neurodegenerative alterations—including reduced vessel density and retinal thinning—were markedly attenuated by butyrate, as revealed by WF SS-OCTA. OKN testing indicated partial improvement in visual function, despite unchanged ERG amplitudes. Conclusions: Butyrate supplementation mitigates early NVU damage in the diabetic retina by improving glucose and lipid metabolism and partially restoring gut microbial balance. This study also underscores the utility of WF SS-OCTA as a powerful noninvasive tool for detecting early neurovascular changes in DR. Full article

This study evaluates the agronomic and environmental performance of pelletized compost derived from olive mill waste as a sustainable alternative to mineral fertilizers for cultivating wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) under conventional tillage methods. A field experiment was conducted in semi-arid Spain, employing three fertilization strategies: inorganic (MAP + Urea), sewage sludge (SS), and organic compost pellets (OCP), each providing 150 kg N ha⁻¹. The parameters analyzed included wheat yield, grain quality, soil properties, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Inorganic fertilization yielded the highest productivity and nutrient uptake. However, the OCP treatment reduced grain yield by only 15%, while improving soil microbial activity and enzymatic responses. The SS and OCP treatments showed increased CO₂ and N₂O emissions compared to the control and inorganic plots. However, the OCP treatment also acted as a CH₄ sink. Nutrient use efficiency was greatest under mineral fertilization, though the OCP treatment outperformed the SS treatment. These results highlight the potential of OCP as a circular bio-based fertilizer that can enhance soil function and partially replace mineral inputs. Optimizing application timing is critical to aligning nutrient release with crop demand. Further long-term trials are necessary to evaluate their impact on the soil and improve environmental outcomes. Full article

Sternal bursitis is an underexplored lesion in poultry, often overlooked in microbiological diagnostics. In this study, we characterized 36 Escherichia coli isolates recovered from sternal bursitis in broiler chickens, combining phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing, PCR-based screening, and whole genome sequencing (WGS). The genetic analysis revealed a diverse population spanning 15 sequence types, including ST155, ST201, and ST58. Resistance to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin was common, and several isolates carried genes encoding β-lactamases, including blaTEM-1B. Chromosomal mutations associated with quinolone and fosfomycin resistance (e.g., gyrA p.S83L, glpT_E448K) were also identified. WGS revealed a high number of virulence-associated genes per isolate (58–96), notably those linked to adhesion (fim, ecp clusters), secretion systems (T6SS), and iron acquisition (ent, fep, fes), suggesting strong pathogenic potential. Many isolates harbored virulence markers typical of ExPEC/APEC, such as iss, ompT, and traT, even in the absence of multidrug resistance. Our findings suggest that E. coli from sternal bursitis may act as reservoirs of resistance and virulence traits relevant to animal and public health. This highlights the need for including such lesions in genomic surveillance programs and reinforces the importance of integrated One Health approaches. Full article

The endothelial glycocalyx (GCX) plays a crucial role in vascular health and integrity and influences many biochemical activities through mechanotransduction, in which heparan sulfate (HS) plays a major role. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoregulator that binds to the endothelin B receptor (ETB) on endothelial cells (ECs), stimulating vasodilation, and to the endothelin A receptor on smooth muscle cells, stimulating vasoconstriction. While the shear stress (SS) dependence of ET-1 and HS is well documented, there is limited research documenting the SS dependence of the ETB. Understanding the SS dependence of the ETB is crucial for clarifying the role of hemodynamic forces in the endothelin system. We hypothesize that GCX HS regulates the expression of the ETB on the EC surface in an SS-dependent manner. Human lung microvascular ECs were exposed to SS in a parallel-plate flow chamber for 12 h. Damage to the GCX was simulated by treatment with 15 mU/mL heparinase-III during SS exposure. Immunostaining and qPCR were used to evaluate changes in ET-1, ETB, and HS expression. Results indicate that ETB expression is SS sensitive, with at least a 1.3-fold increase in ETB protein expression and a 0.6 to 0.4-fold-change decrease in ETB mRNA expression under SS. This discrepancy suggests post-translational regulation. In some cases, enzymatic degradation of HS attenuated the SS-induced increase in ETB protein, reducing the fold-change difference to 1.1 relative to static controls. This implies that ETB expression may be partially dependent on HS-mediated mechanotransduction, though inconclusively. Furthermore, ET-1 mRNA levels were elevated two-fold under SS without a corresponding rise in ET-1 protein expression or significant impact from HS degradation, implying that post-translational regulation of ET-1 occurs independently of HS. Full article

Helicobacter pylori infection is the strongest known risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. The bacterium leverages several unique virulence factors to its advantage in order to colonize the human host. Among these, T4SS-delivered cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) has the most well-established links to severe forms of disease. To explore the effect of lactobacilli in disrupting CagA functions within host cells, we expressed HA-tagged humanized cagA in the human gastric epithelial AGS cell line and studied both the phosphorylation levels of CagA and its downstream binding partners. We found that gastric-specific Lactobacillus gasseri Kx110 A1 suppressed the phosphorylation of CagA and inhibited phosphorylation-dependent downstream signaling, resulting in the suppression of CagA-induced cell elongation of AGS cells, commonly known as the hummingbird phenotype. Surprisingly, phosphorylation-independent signaling was unaffected by L. gasseri. Furthermore, our confocal microscopy analysis revealed that CagA was mislocalized to the cytoplasm, suggesting that L. gasseri interferes with its membrane localization and thereby hinders its phosphorylation. Live L. gasseri that had direct contact with host cells was found to be necessary to suppress the hummingbird phenotype. In summary, the data suggest that a L. gasseri strain can inhibit CagA phosphorylation and suppress cell elongation. Full article

Adequate treatment of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) in co-digestion with sewage sludge (SS) through dark fermentation (DF) technologies has been widely studied and recognized. However, there is little experience with a high-solids approach, where practical and scalable conditions are established to lay the groundwork for further development of feasible industrial-scale projects. In this study, the biochemical hydrogen potential of OFMSW using a 7 L batch reactor at mesophilic conditions was evaluated. Parameters such as pH, redox potential, temperature, alkalinity, total solids, and substrate/inoculum ratio were adjusted and monitored. Biogas composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. The microbial characterization of SS and post-reaction percolate liquids was determined through metagenomics analyses. Results show a biohydrogen yield of 38.4 NmLH₂/gVS OFMSW, which forms ~60% of the produced biogas. Aeration was proven to be an efficient inoculum pretreatment method, mainly to decrease the levels of methanogenic archaea and metabolic competition, and at the same time maintain the required total solid (TS) contents for high-solids conditions. The microbial community analysis reveals that biohydrogen production was carried out by specific anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, predominantly dominated by the phylum Firmicutes, including the genus Bacillus (44.63% of the total microbial community), Clostridium, Romboutsia, and the phylum Proteobacteria, with the genus Proteus. Full article

316L stainless steel (316L SS) exhibits excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, but the rapid melting and solidification of the laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) process reduce the properties of the newly formed parts. This study aims to enhance the mechanical properties of PBF-LB/M PBF-LB/M-formed 316L SS parts by investigating the effects of various heat treatment temperatures. The results show that an appropriate heat treatment temperature can improve the microstructure and mechanical properties of the formed parts. Lower temperatures have minimal effects on performance; however, at 1100 °C, recrystallization occurs, resulting in more uniform grain structures, improved densification, and substantial stress relief. The residual stress is reduced by 85.59% compared to the untreated PBF-LB/M samples, while the ferrite content is significantly decreased, making the phase structure more homogeneous. Although both yield strength and tensile strength decrease, plasticity improves by 21.11%. Full article

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) exhibits considerable clinical and immunological heterogeneity, complicating personalized management. We aimed to delineate the demographic, functional, serological, histopathological, and therapeutic features of a Romanian pSS cohort and to identify biomarker–treatment correlations that could inform patient-oriented strategies. Thirty-two patients meeting the 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for pSS were retrospectively analyzed. Data collected included demographics, autoantibody profiles (Anti-Ro/SSA, Anti-La/SSB, ANA, RF, Anti-CCP), immunoglobulin levels, complement consumption (C3/C4), minor salivary gland biopsy (focus score), salivary flow tests, and systemic inflammation markers (CRP). Pearson correlation matrices were constructed to explore the associations between serological markers and prescribed therapies. The cohort was predominantly female (87.5%) with a mean age of 52.8 ± 9.9 years. Seropositivity rates were 50% for Anti-Ro/SSA, 77% for Anti-La/SSB, and 40% for ANA. Clinically significant glandular dysfunction was evident in 65% of patients (unstimulated flow ≤ 0.1 mL/min), and all biopsies demonstrated focus scores > 1. Methotrexate use correlated strongly with Anti-Ro/SSA and Anti-La/SSB positivity (p ≤ 0.05), indicating its targeted application in seropositive sub-phenotypes. Conclusion: These findings underscore the immunologic and clinical diversity of pSS and support a biomarker-driven, multidisciplinary framework for personalized treatment. Larger prospective and multicenter studies are warranted to validate these correlations and to refine precision medicine approaches in pSS. Full article

Background: Obesity is characterized by a chronic state of low-grade inflammation. Investigating immune-critical genes and their biological functions in the adipose tissue of postmenopausal obese women is crucial for elucidating the underlying mechanisms of immune dysregulation associated with obesity. Methods: In this study, microarray (GSE151839) and single-cell RNA-seq (GSE176171) datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). For microarray data analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), protein–protein interaction network (PPI) analysis, and immune infiltration analysis (ssGSEA) were employed to identify obesity-related immune-critical genes. Subsequently, the candidate genes were validated using scRNA-seq data to explore their expression patterns at the single-cell level. Finally, the expression levels of these immune-critical genes were experimentally verified in adipose tissue from obese and control zebrafish models using RT-qPCR. Results: Analysis of microarray data through WGCNA, PPI and ssGSEA identified 16 obesity-related immune-critical genes, including IL7R, CD3E, CD2, CCR5, CD3D, MS4A1, TRAT1, SLAMF8, CCL3L1, SPP1, CCL5, IL2RG, CD3G, TLR8, ITK, and CCL3. Differential expression of SPP1, ITK and CCL5 was confirmed in scRNA-seq data, with ITK and CCL5 showing distinct expression patterns in natural killer (NK) cells. Furthermore, RT-qPCR analysis revealed upregulation of SPP1 and ITK in adipose tissue of obese zebrafish compared to lean controls. Conclusions: This study identifies SPP1, ITK and CCL5 as key immune hub genes in the adipose tissue of postmenopausal obese women, with NK cells playing a significant role in adipose tissue inflammation through the expression of these genes. These findings provide novel insights into potential therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of obesity in postmenopausal women. Full article

Resprouting is a vital mechanism that enables plants to recover from severe damage caused by environmental or physical disturbances by using non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), as reflected in their respiration activity. In this study, we focused on resprouting activity and carbon allocation at the organ level in the resprouter species R. pseudoacacia L. We compared the changes in biomass production, NSCs concentration, and respiration rates in each organ (leaf, stem, and root) of five- or six-year-old R. pseudoacacia L. between partial and complete stem loss (tall-stump, TS, and short-stump, SS, respectively) at 2, 4, 9, and 14 months after cutting. TS had greater resprout biomass than SS within two months after cutting, whereas SS experienced a loss of root NSCs before recovery. Compared to TS, SS had higher leaf respiration rates, likely for storage replenishment, whereas root respiration rates remained similar across treatments. The TS maintained NSCs levels during resprouting. However, the SS experienced temporary depletion and recovered within 14 months. Our findings provide new insights into the physiological characteristics of resprouters and invasive alien species with respect to organ loss and offer a novel understanding of efficient storage use during stress and low-cost carbon use for storage replenishment through rapid organ regrowth. Full article

This study examines biodegradability (BD) and optimum conditions for the solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) of organic solid poultry waste (organs, intestines, offal, and unprocessed meat) to maximize biomethane production. Three main parameters, substrate-to-inoculum (S/I) ratio, pH, and temperature, were evaluated for the SS-AD of organic solid poultry waste. pH was evaluated at non-adjusted pH, initially adjusted pH, and controlled pH conditions at a constant S/I ratio of 0.5 and temperature of 35 ± 1 °C. The S/I ratios were examined at (0.3, 0.5, 1, and 2) at a controlled pH of ≈7.9 and temperature of 35 ± 1 °C. The temperature was assessed at mesophilic (35 ± 1 °C) and thermophilic (55 ± 1 °C) conditions with a constant S/I ratio of 0.5 and controlled pH of ≈7.9. The results demonstrate that the highest biomethane production and BD were achieved with a controlled pH of ≈7.9 (689 ± 10 mg/L, 97.5 ± 1.4%). The initially adjusted pH (688 ± 14 mg/L, 97.3 ± 1.9%) and an S/I ratio of 0.3 (685 ± 8 mg/L, 96.8 ± 1.2%) had approximately equivalent outcomes. The thermophilic conditions yielded 78% lower biomethane yield than mesophilic conditions. The challenge of lower biomethane yield under thermophilic conditions will be resolved in future studies by determining the rate-limiting step. These observations highlight that SS-AD is a promising technology for biomethane production from solid organic poultry waste. Full article

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a sustainable strategy for converting hazardous wastes into renewable energy while supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inoculum on optimizing biogas production from sewage sludge (SS) and cattle manure (CM). Bench-scale digesters were fed with 0, 20, and 40% inoculum prepared at a 1:3 SS:CM ratio. Substrate and digestate were analyzed for physicochemical properties, and biogas production data were fitted using nonlinear models. Kinetic parameters ranged from 0.0770 to 0.4691 L·kg⁻¹ for Y_max, from 1.0263 to 2.1343 L·kg⁻¹·week⁻¹ for μ_max, and from 0.8168 to 8.0114 weeks for λ, depending on the ratio. The 1:3 SS:CM with 40% inoculum significantly improved biogas production by reducing the lag phase and increasing weekly yield, with the Gompertz model showing the best fit to the digestion kinetics. This was particularly evident due to the favorable conditions for microbial adaptation and efficient substrate degradation. The results reinforce the concept of optimization as defined in this study, wherein the application of inoculum enhances the performance of AD by improving the physicochemical conditions of the substrate and accelerating microbial activity, thereby resulting in increased methane (CH₄) generation and overall biogas yield. Full article