Paddy rice samples were parboiled by soaking at 65℃ for 180 min and steaming at 96℃ for 2–10 min,and then dried to achieve the final moisture content of 11% ± 1%. The degree of starch gelatinization (DSG) an...Paddy rice samples were parboiled by soaking at 65℃ for 180 min and steaming at 96℃ for 2–10 min,and then dried to achieve the final moisture content of 11% ± 1%. The degree of starch gelatinization (DSG) andseveral quality attributes (head rice yield (HRY), color value and hardness) of parboiled rice were measured.Results showed that DSG (46.8%–77.9%), color value (18.08–19.04) and hardness (118.6–219.2 N) allincreased following steaming. In contrast, the HRY increased (64.8%–67.1%) for steaming times between 2–4min but decreased (67.1%–65.0%) for steaming times between 4–10 min. Linear relations between DSG andcolor value (R2 = 0.87), and DSG and hardness (R2 = 0.88) were observed. The suitable DSG of parboiled riceleading to the highest HRY was found to be 62.5%, obtained following 4 min of steaming.展开更多
The polysaccharides, such as κ-carrageenan, ι-carrageenan, agarose (agar), gellan gum, amylose, curdlan, alginate, and deacetylated rhamsan gum, in water changed into an ice-like structure with hydrogen bonding betw...The polysaccharides, such as κ-carrageenan, ι-carrageenan, agarose (agar), gellan gum, amylose, curdlan, alginate, and deacetylated rhamsan gum, in water changed into an ice-like structure with hydrogen bonding between polymer and water molecules, and between water-water molecules even at a concentration range of 0.1% - 1.0% (W/V) at room temperature, resulting in gelation. Such dramatic changes from liquid into gels have been understood at the molecular level in principles. In this review, we describe the structure-function relationship of starch on the view point of rheological aspects and discuss gelatinization and retrogradation mechanism including water molecules at molecular level. The starch molecules (amylose and amylopectin) play a dominant role in the center of the tetrahedral cavities occupied by water molecules, and the arrangement is partially similar to a tetrahedral structure in a gelatinization process. The arrangement should lead to a cooperative effect stabilizing extended regions of ice-like water with hydrogen bonding on the surface of the polymer molecules, where hemiacetal oxygen and hydroxyl groups might participate in hydrogen bonding with water molecules. Thus, a more extended ice-like hydrogen bonding within water molecules might be achieved in a retrogradation process. Though many investigations not only include starch gelatinization and retrogradaion, but also the gelling properties of the polysaccharides have been undertaken to elucidate the structure-function relationship, no other researchers have established mechanism at the molecular level. There is reasonable consistency in our investigations.展开更多
The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rapid visco-analyzer (RVA) were used to determine the starch gelatinizationcharacteristics during the growth of three sweetpotato cultivars. The results showed that the ...The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rapid visco-analyzer (RVA) were used to determine the starch gelatinizationcharacteristics during the growth of three sweetpotato cultivars. The results showed that the starch contents of threesweetpotato cultivars all decreased as growth progressed. Changes of the amylose contents differing in harvesting datesshould be discriminated according to the cultivars. At the early harvests amylose contents of Xushu18 and Zheda9201were relatively high, but those of Zhe3449 were low. As the growth duration of sweetpotatoes prolonged, the peaks ofDSC thermograms tended to occur at a low temperature and not to be so obstrusive with the increased width of the peak.Obvious decreases were observed, values of onset, peak and conclusion temperatures, as well as enthalpy of phasetransitions, as growth time lengthened. The peak viscosities, as determined through RVA, showed a rising tendency asgrowth progressed. In addition, statistical analysis revealed that there were correlations between the amylose content andgelatinization characteristics to some extent, which were affected by genotypes evidently.展开更多
As a non-thermal processing technology,high hydrostatic pressure(HHP)can be used for starch modification without affecting the quality and flavour constituents.The effect of HHP on starch is closely related to the tre...As a non-thermal processing technology,high hydrostatic pressure(HHP)can be used for starch modification without affecting the quality and flavour constituents.The effect of HHP on starch is closely related to the treatment time of HHP.In this paper,we investigated the impacts of HHP treatment time(0,5,10,15,20,25,30 min)on the microstructure,gelatinization and thermal properties as well as in vitro digestibility of oat starch by scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,13C NMR and differential scanning calorimeter.Results showed that 5-min HHP treatment led to deformation and decreases in short-range ordered and doublehelix structures of oat starch granules,and further extending the treatment time to 15 min or above caused the formation of a gelatinous connection zone,increase of particle size,disintegration of short-range ordered and double-helix structures,and crystal structure change from A type to V type,indicating gelatinization occurred.Longer treatment time also resulted in the reduction in both the viscosity and the stability of oat starch.These indicated that HHP treatment time greatly influenced the microstructure of oat starch,and the oat starch experienced crystalline destruction(5 min),crystalline disintegration(15 min)and gelatinization(>15 min)during HHP treatment.Results of in vitro digestibility showed that the rapidly digestible starch(RDS)content declined first after treatment for 5 to 10 min then rose with the time extending from 15 to 30 min,indicating that longer pressure treatment time was unfavourable to the health benefits of oat starch for humans with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Therefore,the 500-MPa treatment time for oat starch is recommended not more than 15 min.This study provides theoretical guidance for the application of HHP technology in starch modification and development of health foods.展开更多
The microscopic structures of the endosperm of indica rice varieties with different quality before and after gelatinization were observed using scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the degree of gelat...The microscopic structures of the endosperm of indica rice varieties with different quality before and after gelatinization were observed using scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the degree of gelatinization varied in different parts of the grain and in different varieties under the same experimental conditions. The gelatinization of dorsal side was the most complete. Its cells were decomposed totally into puff-like or flocculent materials. The ventral side gelatinized less thoroughly, appearing agglomerate and some cell frames were still visible. The middle part gelatinized most incompletely and the cells were still integrated. Evident differences in gelatinization were observed among different varieties, the dorsal, ventral and middle parts of high quality varieties gelatinized more thoroughly than those of the corresponding parts of low quality varieties respectively. An obvious concavity often appeared in the middle of the cross-section of the low quality grains while the cross-section of high quality grains was normally flat. The same phenomenon was noted when comparing the early maturing indica rice and the late maturing indica rice. Varietal difference of gelatinization in dorsal sides was not as distinct as in middle parts and ventral sides. The difference among dorsal side, middle part and ventral side in gelatinization was greater in low quality grains than that of high quality grains. In addition, a lot of ruptured cells were observed in the cross-section of high quality rice, while few of them could be found in the low quality rice. Apparently, the number of ruptured cells is positively correlated with rice quality. Quality of rice grain also has positive correlation with the rate of water absorption and extension. High rates of water absorption and extension lead to better gelatinization of rice grain, and hence indicate good quality.展开更多
This study aims to investigate grain quality and nutritional values of rice(Pokkali,a salt-tolerant cultivar;RD73,a new cultivar improved from KDML105 introgressed with Saltol QTL from Pokkali,and KDML105,a moderately...This study aims to investigate grain quality and nutritional values of rice(Pokkali,a salt-tolerant cultivar;RD73,a new cultivar improved from KDML105 introgressed with Saltol QTL from Pokkali,and KDML105,a moderately salt-susceptible cultivar)grown under non-saline(0.04–0.87 dS/m)and slightly saline(1.08–4.83 dS/m)field conditions.The results revealed that salinity caused significant reduction in grain size but significant increments in reducing sugar and total protein contents in the grains.Nevertheless,the amounts of starch in the grains of KDML105 and Pokkali rice genotypes were unaffected by the stress.The starch granule size distribution was also unaffected by salinity.Interestingly,only starch from Pokkali was significantly diminished in amylose content,from 19.18%to 16.99%.Accordingly,parameters relating to starch gelatinization,retrogradation,and pasting properties of KDML105 and RD73 were unaffected by salinity;only Pokkali showed a significant increase in percentage of retrogradation along with a significant reduction in gelatinization enthalpy.In the saline field,total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in the grains of all rice cultivars tended to increase,particularly in Pokkali.On average,essential element contents in grains from the saline-treated plants showed a 33%,32%,32%,22%,20%,11%,and 10%increase in total P,N,K,Mg,Zn,Fe,and Ca content,respectively.Interestingly,total Fe content exhibited the greatest percentage of increments in KDML105(187%).Taken together,cultivation of rice in the slightly saline field did not alter its eating and cooking qualities,while enhanced some nutritional properties such as proteins,minerals,and secondary metabolites like phenolic compounds.展开更多
Gelatinization temperature (GT) is an important parameter for evaluating the cooking and eating quality of rice besides amylose content (AC). The inheritance of the genes affecting GT has been widely studied and is co...Gelatinization temperature (GT) is an important parameter for evaluating the cooking and eating quality of rice besides amylose content (AC). The inheritance of the genes affecting GT has been widely studied and is considered to be controlled by a major gene. Here, we report the map-based cloning of rice ALK that encodes the soluble starch synthase II (SSSII). Comparison between the DNA sequences from different rice varieties, together with the results obtained with digestion of the rice seeds in alkali solution, indicates that the base substitutions in coding se-quence of ALK may cause the alteration in GT.展开更多
Gelatinization temperature(GT) is an important parameter in evaluating the cooking and eating quality of rice.Indeed,the phenotype,biochemistry and inheritance of GT have been widely studied in recent times.Previous...Gelatinization temperature(GT) is an important parameter in evaluating the cooking and eating quality of rice.Indeed,the phenotype,biochemistry and inheritance of GT have been widely studied in recent times.Previous map-based cloning revealed that GT was controlled by ALK gene,which encodes a putative soluble starch synthase II-3.Complementation vector and RNAi vector were constructed and transformed into Nipponbare mediated by Agrobacterium.Phenotypic and molecular analyses of transgenic lines provided direct evidence for ALK as a key gene for GT.Meanwhile,amylose content,gel consistency and pasting properties were also affected in transgenic lines.Two of four nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in coding sequence of ALK were identified as essential for GT.Based on the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs),two new sets of SNP markers combined with one cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker were developed for application in rice quality breeding.展开更多
Hydroxyapatite(HA)nanoparticles impart outstanding mechanical properties to organicinorganic nanocomposites in bone.Inspired by the composite structure of HA nanoparticles and collagen in bone,a high performance HA/ge...Hydroxyapatite(HA)nanoparticles impart outstanding mechanical properties to organicinorganic nanocomposites in bone.Inspired by the composite structure of HA nanoparticles and collagen in bone,a high performance HA/gelatin nanocomposite was first developed.The nanocomposites have much better mechanical properties(elongation at break 29.9%,tensile strength 90.7 MPa,Young’s modulus 5.24 GPa)than pure gelatin films(elongation at break 9.3%,tensile strength 90.8 MPa,Young’s modulus 2.5 GPa).In addition,the composite films keep a high transmittance in visible wavelength range from 0%to 60%of the HA solid content.These differences in properties are attributed to the homogeneous distribution of HA nanoparticles in the gelatin polymer matrix and the strong interaction between the particle surfaces and the gelatin molecules.This protocol should be promising for HA-based nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties for biomedical applications.展开更多
Cyanea nozakii,a common jellyfish distributed in offshore China,has a complex trophic relationship with other zooplankton groups.However,few studies have reported the predation rates and prey selection patterns of C.n...Cyanea nozakii,a common jellyfish distributed in offshore China,has a complex trophic relationship with other zooplankton groups.However,few studies have reported the predation rates and prey selection patterns of C.nozakii medusae on different prey items.Research is also lacking on the intraguild predation of Aurelia coerulea(another common bloom jellyfish in offshore China)by C.nozakii.To address the knowledge gaps,the clearance rates of C.nozakii for different prey items,including copepods(small<1000μm and large>1000μm),fish larvae,and gelatinous prey(hydromedusae,A.coerulea ephyrae,and chaetognaths),were measured.The influence of predator size on the clearance rate was also determined.Additionally,we examined the intraguild predation of C.nozakii on A.coerulea medusae.The clearance rates of C.nozakii varied widely with prey organisms,being independent of prey concentrations.Gelatinous organisms,except for chaetognaths,were captured with considerably high efficiency,followed by fish larvae and copepods,indicating the preferential prey selection of gelatinous organisms by C.nozakii.The clearance rate increased linearly with the cross-sectional area of C.nozakii.Body size in medusae may,to some extents,underpin their capacity to capture more prey by increasing the encounter rate and capture success through ontogeny.C.nozakii preyed voraciously on A.coerulea in high feeding efficiency,but the clearance rate decreased with increasing A.coerulea(as prey)size.This phenomenon of intraguild predation suggests a speculative hypothesis of potential population regulation of A.coerulea by C.nozakii.The information regarding the feeding ecology of C.nozakii reported in this study is important for understanding plankton dynamics in marine ecosystems with extensive occurrences of this jellyfish.展开更多
Sodium alginate(SA)/chitosan(CH)polyelectrolyte scaffold is a suitable substrate for tissue-engineering application.The present study deals with further improvement in the tensile strength and biological properties of...Sodium alginate(SA)/chitosan(CH)polyelectrolyte scaffold is a suitable substrate for tissue-engineering application.The present study deals with further improvement in the tensile strength and biological properties of this type of scaffold to make it a potential template for bone-tissue regeneration.We experimented with adding 0%–15%(volume fraction)gelatin(GE),a protein-based biopolymer known to promote cell adhesion,proliferation,and differentiation.The resulting tri-polymer complex was used as bioink to fabricate SA/CH/GEmatrices by three-dimensional(3D)printing.Morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy revealed the microfibrous porous architecture of all the structures,which had a pore size range of 383–419μm.X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses revealed the amorphous nature of the scaffold and the strong electrostatic interactions among the functional groups of the polymers,thereby forming polyelectrolyte complexes which were found to improve mechanical properties and structural stability.The scaffolds exhibited a desirable degradation rate,controlled swelling,and hydrophilic characteristics which are favorable for bone-tissue engineering.The tensile strength improved from(386±15)to(693±15)kPa due to the increased stiffness of SA/CH scaffolds upon addition of gelatin.The enhanced protein adsorption and in vitro bioactivity(forming an apatite layer)confirmed the ability of the SA/CH/GE scaffold to offer higher cellular adhesion and a bone-like environment to cells during the process of tissue regeneration.In vitro biological evaluation including the MTT assay,confocal microscopy analysis,and alizarin red S assay showed a significant increase in cell attachment,cell viability,and cell proliferation,which further improved biomineralization over the scaffold surface.In addition,SA/CH containing 15%gelatin designated as SA/CH/GE15 showed superior performance to the other fabricated 3D structures,demonstrating its potential for use in bone-tissue engineering.展开更多
Numerous studies have shown that cell replacement therapy can replenish lost cells and rebuild neural circuitry in animal models of Parkinson’s disease.Transplantation of midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cells is a p...Numerous studies have shown that cell replacement therapy can replenish lost cells and rebuild neural circuitry in animal models of Parkinson’s disease.Transplantation of midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cells is a promising treatment for Parkinson’s disease.However,transplanted cells can be injured by mechanical damage during handling and by changes in the transplantation niche.Here,we developed a one-step biomanufacturing platform that uses small-aperture gelatin microcarriers to produce beads carrying midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cells.These beads allow midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cell differentiation and cryopreservation without digestion,effectively maintaining axonal integrity in vitro.Importantly,midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cell bead grafts showed increased survival and only mild immunoreactivity in vivo compared with suspended midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cell grafts.Overall,our findings show that these midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cell beads enhance the effectiveness of neuronal cell transplantation.展开更多
As a low cost non-staple food resource,the high-viscosity paste and poor gel-forming ability of tapioca starch limit its industrial application.Herein,molasses hydrocolloids that is a by-product of the sugar refining ...As a low cost non-staple food resource,the high-viscosity paste and poor gel-forming ability of tapioca starch limit its industrial application.Herein,molasses hydrocolloids that is a by-product of the sugar refining process was applied as a blending modifier to reduce the viscosity of tapioca starch paste.The test results of paste and rheological properties show that molasses hydrocolloids exhibited a good physical viscosity-reducing effect on tapioca starch paste.The irregular network structure and high K^(+)/Ca^(2+)ion contents of molasses hydrocolloids exerted wrapping,adhesion,barrier,and hydration effects on starch,leading to the reduction of viscosity.The scanning electron microscope images and textural analysis demonstrated that this strategy also improve the structure of tapioca starch gel and enhanced its puncture strength by 75.46%.This work shows the great potential of molasses hydrocolloids as a lowcost and desirable material for the viscosity reduction of tapioca starch.展开更多
Starch, a polymer of sugars in plants, is widely used in various industries due to its properties. It is synthesized through ADP-glucose formation and enzyme-mediated processes. Starch is formed during the day and bro...Starch, a polymer of sugars in plants, is widely used in various industries due to its properties. It is synthesized through ADP-glucose formation and enzyme-mediated processes. Starch is formed during the day and broken down into sugars at night, which are then transported and converted back to starch in storage tissues. This review explores starch metabolism pathways and its role in the food industry, providing valuable insights on energy storage in plants.展开更多
Silver nanoparticles(Ag NPs)are an effective antibacterial agent,but their application in food packaging is limited due to their easy agglomeration and oxidation.In this study,antibacterial microcapsules were fabricat...Silver nanoparticles(Ag NPs)are an effective antibacterial agent,but their application in food packaging is limited due to their easy agglomeration and oxidation.In this study,antibacterial microcapsules were fabricated using Ginkgo biloba essential oil(GBEO)as core material and chitosan and type B gelatin biopolymer as capsule mate-rials.These antibacterial microcapsules were then modified with green-synthesized Ag NPs,blended into the bio-polymer polylactic acid(PLA),and finally formed as films.Physicochemical properties and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli(E.coli)and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)were evaluated.Results showed that the prepared antibacterial PLA films exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens.Its TVC exceeded the limit value of 7 log CFU/g at 7 days compared with the 5 days of pure PLA films.Therefore,these films can extend the shelf life of grass carp fillets by 2–3 days under refrigeration.展开更多
Nuclear safety is a global growing concern,where ionizing radiation(IR)is a major injury factor resulting in serious damage to organisms.The detection of IR is usually conducted with physical dosimeters;however,biolog...Nuclear safety is a global growing concern,where ionizing radiation(IR)is a major injury factor resulting in serious damage to organisms.The detection of IR is usually conducted with physical dosimeters;however,biological IR detection methods are deficient.Here,a living composite hydrogel consisting of engineered bacteria and gelatin/sodium alginate was 3D-printed for the biological detection of IR.Three strains of PrecA::egfp gene circuit-containing engineered Escherichia coli were constructed with IR-dependent fluorescence,and the DH5αstrain was finally selected due to its highest radiation response and fluorescence.Engineered bacteria were loaded in a series of gelatin/sodium alginate matrix hydrogels with different rheology,3D printability and bacterial applicability.A high-gelatin-content hydrogel containing 10%gelatin/1.25%sodium alginatewas optimal.The optimal living composite hydrogelwas 3D-printedwith the special bioink,which reported significant green fluorescence underγ-ray radiation.The living composite hydrogel provides a biological strategy for the detection of environmental ionizing radiation.展开更多
In this study,boron-doped hydroxyapatite(BHT)-loaded alginate/gelatin-based(A/G)hydrogel coating on Ti was fabricated to support bone integration through triggering osteoinduction,vascularization and immunomodulation....In this study,boron-doped hydroxyapatite(BHT)-loaded alginate/gelatin-based(A/G)hydrogel coating on Ti was fabricated to support bone integration through triggering osteoinduction,vascularization and immunomodulation.Initially,highly reproducible,cheap and time-effective BHT was produced,which significantly promoted higher osteogenic and angiogenic maturation,while a mild innate immune response was observed.The immense potential of BHT was evidenced by the production of a gap-filling A/G/BHT interphase on Ti implants to mimic the osseous extracellular matrix to achieve functional bridging and exert control over the course of innate immune response.We initially aminosilanized the implant surface using 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane,and then coated it with 0.25%w/v alginate with 20 mM 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide to allowthe A/G/BHT pre-gel to disperse evenly and covalently attach on the surface.The pre-gel was added with 0.2 M NaCl to homogeneously blend BHT in the structure without inducing ionic crosslinking.Then,the coated implants were freeze-dried and stored.The coated layer demonstrated high cohesive and adhesive strength,and 8-month-long shelf-life at room temperature and normal humidity.The A/G/BHT was able to coat an irregularly shaped Ti implant.Osteoblasts and endothelial cells thrived on the A/G/BHT,and it demonstrated greatly improved osteogenic and angiogenic capacity.Moreover,A/G/BHT maintained macrophage viability and generated an acute increase in immune response that could be resolved rapidly.Finally,A/G/BHT was shown to induce the robust integration of implant in a rabbit femur osteochondral model within 2months.Therefore,we concluded that A/G/BHT coatings could serve as amultifunctional reservoir,promoting the strong and rapid osseointegration of metallic implants.展开更多
Three-dimensional printing technologies exhibit tremendous potential in the advancing fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to the precise spatial control over depositing the biomaterial.Despite t...Three-dimensional printing technologies exhibit tremendous potential in the advancing fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to the precise spatial control over depositing the biomaterial.Despite their widespread utilization and numerous advantages,the development of suitable novel biomaterials for extrusion-based 3D printing of scaffolds that support cell attachment,proliferation,and vascularization remains a challenge.Multi-material composite hydrogels present incredible potential in this field.Thus,in this work,a multi-material composite hydrogel with a promising formulation of chitosan/gelatin functionalized with egg white was developed,which provides good printability and shape fidelity.In addition,a series of comparative analyses of different crosslinking agents and processes based on tripolyphosphate(TPP),genipin(GP),and glutaraldehyde(GTA)were investigated and compared to select the ideal crosslinking strategy to enhance the physicochemical and biological properties of the fabricated scaffolds.All of the results indicate that the composite hydrogel and the resulting scaffolds utilizing TPP crosslinking have great potential in tissue engineering,especially for supporting neo-vessel growth into the scaffold and promoting angiogenesis within engineered tissues.展开更多
At present,the clinical reconstruction of the auricle usually adopts the strategy of taking autologous costal cartilage.This method has great trauma to patients,poor plasticity and inaccurate shaping.Three-dimensional...At present,the clinical reconstruction of the auricle usually adopts the strategy of taking autologous costal cartilage.This method has great trauma to patients,poor plasticity and inaccurate shaping.Three-dimensional(3D)printing technology has made a great breakthrough in the clinical application of orthopedic implants.This study explored the combination of 3D printing and tissue engineering to precisely reconstruct the auricle.First,a polylactic acid(PLA)polymer scaffold with a precisely customized patient appearance was fabricated,and then auricle cartilage fragments were loaded into the 3D-printed porous PLA scaffold to promote auricle reconstruction.In vitro,gelatin methacrylamide(GelMA)hydrogels loaded with different sizes of rabbit ear cartilage fragments were studied to assess the regenerative activity of various autologous cartilage fragments.In vivo,rat ear cartilage fragments were placed in an accurately designed porous PLA polymer ear scaffold to promote auricle reconstruction.The results indicated that the chondrocytes in the cartilage fragments could maintain the morphological phenotype in vitro.After three months of implantation observation,it was conducive to promoting the subsequent regeneration of cartilage in vivo.The autologous cartilage fragments combined with 3D printing technology show promising potential in auricle reconstruction.展开更多
Hepatic arterioportal fistulas(APFs)are common in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Moreover,correlated with poor prognosis,APFs often complicate antitumor treatments,including transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).AIM To...Hepatic arterioportal fistulas(APFs)are common in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Moreover,correlated with poor prognosis,APFs often complicate antitumor treatments,including transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).AIM To compare the efficacy of ethanol-soaked gelatin sponges(ESG)and microspheres in the management of APFs and their impact on the prognosis of HCC.METHODS Data from patients diagnosed with HCC or hepatic APFs between June 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Furthermore,APFs were embolized with ESG(group E)or microspheres(group M)during TACE.The primary outcomes were disease control rate(DCR)and objective response rate(ORR).The secondary outcomes included immediate and first follow-up APF improvement,overall survival(OS),and progression-free survival(PFS).RESULTS Altogether,91 participants were enrolled in the study,comprising 46 in group E and 45 in group M.The DCR was 93.5%and 91.1%in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.714).The ORRs were 91.3%and 66.7%in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.004).The APFs improved immediately after the procedure in 43(93.5%)patients in group E and 40(88.9%)patients in group M(P=0.485).After 2 mo,APF improvement was achieved in 37(80.4%)and 33(73.3%)participants in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.421).The OS was 26.2±1.4 and 20.6±1.1 mo in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.004),whereas the PFS was 16.6±1.0 and 13.8±0.7 mo in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.012).CONCLUSION Compared with microspheres,ESG embolization demonstrated a higher ORR and longer OS and PFS in patients of HCC with hepatic APFs.展开更多
文摘Paddy rice samples were parboiled by soaking at 65℃ for 180 min and steaming at 96℃ for 2–10 min,and then dried to achieve the final moisture content of 11% ± 1%. The degree of starch gelatinization (DSG) andseveral quality attributes (head rice yield (HRY), color value and hardness) of parboiled rice were measured.Results showed that DSG (46.8%–77.9%), color value (18.08–19.04) and hardness (118.6–219.2 N) allincreased following steaming. In contrast, the HRY increased (64.8%–67.1%) for steaming times between 2–4min but decreased (67.1%–65.0%) for steaming times between 4–10 min. Linear relations between DSG andcolor value (R2 = 0.87), and DSG and hardness (R2 = 0.88) were observed. The suitable DSG of parboiled riceleading to the highest HRY was found to be 62.5%, obtained following 4 min of steaming.
文摘The polysaccharides, such as κ-carrageenan, ι-carrageenan, agarose (agar), gellan gum, amylose, curdlan, alginate, and deacetylated rhamsan gum, in water changed into an ice-like structure with hydrogen bonding between polymer and water molecules, and between water-water molecules even at a concentration range of 0.1% - 1.0% (W/V) at room temperature, resulting in gelation. Such dramatic changes from liquid into gels have been understood at the molecular level in principles. In this review, we describe the structure-function relationship of starch on the view point of rheological aspects and discuss gelatinization and retrogradation mechanism including water molecules at molecular level. The starch molecules (amylose and amylopectin) play a dominant role in the center of the tetrahedral cavities occupied by water molecules, and the arrangement is partially similar to a tetrahedral structure in a gelatinization process. The arrangement should lead to a cooperative effect stabilizing extended regions of ice-like water with hydrogen bonding on the surface of the polymer molecules, where hemiacetal oxygen and hydroxyl groups might participate in hydrogen bonding with water molecules. Thus, a more extended ice-like hydrogen bonding within water molecules might be achieved in a retrogradation process. Though many investigations not only include starch gelatinization and retrogradaion, but also the gelling properties of the polysaccharides have been undertaken to elucidate the structure-function relationship, no other researchers have established mechanism at the molecular level. There is reasonable consistency in our investigations.
基金support is kindly provided by the National 863 Program(2004AA241180)the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province,P.R.China
文摘The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rapid visco-analyzer (RVA) were used to determine the starch gelatinizationcharacteristics during the growth of three sweetpotato cultivars. The results showed that the starch contents of threesweetpotato cultivars all decreased as growth progressed. Changes of the amylose contents differing in harvesting datesshould be discriminated according to the cultivars. At the early harvests amylose contents of Xushu18 and Zheda9201were relatively high, but those of Zhe3449 were low. As the growth duration of sweetpotatoes prolonged, the peaks ofDSC thermograms tended to occur at a low temperature and not to be so obstrusive with the increased width of the peak.Obvious decreases were observed, values of onset, peak and conclusion temperatures, as well as enthalpy of phasetransitions, as growth time lengthened. The peak viscosities, as determined through RVA, showed a rising tendency asgrowth progressed. In addition, statistical analysis revealed that there were correlations between the amylose content andgelatinization characteristics to some extent, which were affected by genotypes evidently.
基金supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.31760468 and32060515)Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Science and Technology Plan Project (No.2020GG0064)
文摘As a non-thermal processing technology,high hydrostatic pressure(HHP)can be used for starch modification without affecting the quality and flavour constituents.The effect of HHP on starch is closely related to the treatment time of HHP.In this paper,we investigated the impacts of HHP treatment time(0,5,10,15,20,25,30 min)on the microstructure,gelatinization and thermal properties as well as in vitro digestibility of oat starch by scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffraction,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,13C NMR and differential scanning calorimeter.Results showed that 5-min HHP treatment led to deformation and decreases in short-range ordered and doublehelix structures of oat starch granules,and further extending the treatment time to 15 min or above caused the formation of a gelatinous connection zone,increase of particle size,disintegration of short-range ordered and double-helix structures,and crystal structure change from A type to V type,indicating gelatinization occurred.Longer treatment time also resulted in the reduction in both the viscosity and the stability of oat starch.These indicated that HHP treatment time greatly influenced the microstructure of oat starch,and the oat starch experienced crystalline destruction(5 min),crystalline disintegration(15 min)and gelatinization(>15 min)during HHP treatment.Results of in vitro digestibility showed that the rapidly digestible starch(RDS)content declined first after treatment for 5 to 10 min then rose with the time extending from 15 to 30 min,indicating that longer pressure treatment time was unfavourable to the health benefits of oat starch for humans with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Therefore,the 500-MPa treatment time for oat starch is recommended not more than 15 min.This study provides theoretical guidance for the application of HHP technology in starch modification and development of health foods.
文摘The microscopic structures of the endosperm of indica rice varieties with different quality before and after gelatinization were observed using scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the degree of gelatinization varied in different parts of the grain and in different varieties under the same experimental conditions. The gelatinization of dorsal side was the most complete. Its cells were decomposed totally into puff-like or flocculent materials. The ventral side gelatinized less thoroughly, appearing agglomerate and some cell frames were still visible. The middle part gelatinized most incompletely and the cells were still integrated. Evident differences in gelatinization were observed among different varieties, the dorsal, ventral and middle parts of high quality varieties gelatinized more thoroughly than those of the corresponding parts of low quality varieties respectively. An obvious concavity often appeared in the middle of the cross-section of the low quality grains while the cross-section of high quality grains was normally flat. The same phenomenon was noted when comparing the early maturing indica rice and the late maturing indica rice. Varietal difference of gelatinization in dorsal sides was not as distinct as in middle parts and ventral sides. The difference among dorsal side, middle part and ventral side in gelatinization was greater in low quality grains than that of high quality grains. In addition, a lot of ruptured cells were observed in the cross-section of high quality rice, while few of them could be found in the low quality rice. Apparently, the number of ruptured cells is positively correlated with rice quality. Quality of rice grain also has positive correlation with the rate of water absorption and extension. High rates of water absorption and extension lead to better gelatinization of rice grain, and hence indicate good quality.
基金supported by the National Research Council of Thailand(Grant No.NRCT813/2563)the Post-Doctoral Training,Khon Kaen University(Grant No.PD2565-02-02)。
文摘This study aims to investigate grain quality and nutritional values of rice(Pokkali,a salt-tolerant cultivar;RD73,a new cultivar improved from KDML105 introgressed with Saltol QTL from Pokkali,and KDML105,a moderately salt-susceptible cultivar)grown under non-saline(0.04–0.87 dS/m)and slightly saline(1.08–4.83 dS/m)field conditions.The results revealed that salinity caused significant reduction in grain size but significant increments in reducing sugar and total protein contents in the grains.Nevertheless,the amounts of starch in the grains of KDML105 and Pokkali rice genotypes were unaffected by the stress.The starch granule size distribution was also unaffected by salinity.Interestingly,only starch from Pokkali was significantly diminished in amylose content,from 19.18%to 16.99%.Accordingly,parameters relating to starch gelatinization,retrogradation,and pasting properties of KDML105 and RD73 were unaffected by salinity;only Pokkali showed a significant increase in percentage of retrogradation along with a significant reduction in gelatinization enthalpy.In the saline field,total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in the grains of all rice cultivars tended to increase,particularly in Pokkali.On average,essential element contents in grains from the saline-treated plants showed a 33%,32%,32%,22%,20%,11%,and 10%increase in total P,N,K,Mg,Zn,Fe,and Ca content,respectively.Interestingly,total Fe content exhibited the greatest percentage of increments in KDML105(187%).Taken together,cultivation of rice in the slightly saline field did not alter its eating and cooking qualities,while enhanced some nutritional properties such as proteins,minerals,and secondary metabolites like phenolic compounds.
基金supported by the National Special Program for Research and Transgenic Plants(Grant No.JY03-A-07-01)Natural Science Foundation,Zhejiang Province.
文摘Gelatinization temperature (GT) is an important parameter for evaluating the cooking and eating quality of rice besides amylose content (AC). The inheritance of the genes affecting GT has been widely studied and is considered to be controlled by a major gene. Here, we report the map-based cloning of rice ALK that encodes the soluble starch synthase II (SSSII). Comparison between the DNA sequences from different rice varieties, together with the results obtained with digestion of the rice seeds in alkali solution, indicates that the base substitutions in coding se-quence of ALK may cause the alteration in GT.
基金supported by grants from the Hi-Tech Research and Development (863) Program of China (2006AA10A102)Transform Program (2008ZX08001-006)+1 种基金Science and Technology Project,Zhejiang Province (2009C32047)CNRRI foundation (2009RG002-1)
文摘Gelatinization temperature(GT) is an important parameter in evaluating the cooking and eating quality of rice.Indeed,the phenotype,biochemistry and inheritance of GT have been widely studied in recent times.Previous map-based cloning revealed that GT was controlled by ALK gene,which encodes a putative soluble starch synthase II-3.Complementation vector and RNAi vector were constructed and transformed into Nipponbare mediated by Agrobacterium.Phenotypic and molecular analyses of transgenic lines provided direct evidence for ALK as a key gene for GT.Meanwhile,amylose content,gel consistency and pasting properties were also affected in transgenic lines.Two of four nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in coding sequence of ALK were identified as essential for GT.Based on the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs),two new sets of SNP markers combined with one cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker were developed for application in rice quality breeding.
基金Funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(No.2018CFB710)the Opening Fund of Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Materials for Light Industry(No.202107B07)Hubei University of Technology。
文摘Hydroxyapatite(HA)nanoparticles impart outstanding mechanical properties to organicinorganic nanocomposites in bone.Inspired by the composite structure of HA nanoparticles and collagen in bone,a high performance HA/gelatin nanocomposite was first developed.The nanocomposites have much better mechanical properties(elongation at break 29.9%,tensile strength 90.7 MPa,Young’s modulus 5.24 GPa)than pure gelatin films(elongation at break 9.3%,tensile strength 90.8 MPa,Young’s modulus 2.5 GPa).In addition,the composite films keep a high transmittance in visible wavelength range from 0%to 60%of the HA solid content.These differences in properties are attributed to the homogeneous distribution of HA nanoparticles in the gelatin polymer matrix and the strong interaction between the particle surfaces and the gelatin molecules.This protocol should be promising for HA-based nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical properties for biomedical applications.
基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA19060203)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42076166,42130411)+4 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(No.ZR2021QD061)the CAS-CSIRO Project Fund(No.GJHZ1888)the Mount Tai Scholar Climbing Plan to Song SUNthe Innovation Team of Fishery Resources and Ecology in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea(No.2020TD01)the Hainan Province Basic and Applied Basic Research Program(Natural Science Field)High-Level Talent Project(No.2019RC353)。
文摘Cyanea nozakii,a common jellyfish distributed in offshore China,has a complex trophic relationship with other zooplankton groups.However,few studies have reported the predation rates and prey selection patterns of C.nozakii medusae on different prey items.Research is also lacking on the intraguild predation of Aurelia coerulea(another common bloom jellyfish in offshore China)by C.nozakii.To address the knowledge gaps,the clearance rates of C.nozakii for different prey items,including copepods(small<1000μm and large>1000μm),fish larvae,and gelatinous prey(hydromedusae,A.coerulea ephyrae,and chaetognaths),were measured.The influence of predator size on the clearance rate was also determined.Additionally,we examined the intraguild predation of C.nozakii on A.coerulea medusae.The clearance rates of C.nozakii varied widely with prey organisms,being independent of prey concentrations.Gelatinous organisms,except for chaetognaths,were captured with considerably high efficiency,followed by fish larvae and copepods,indicating the preferential prey selection of gelatinous organisms by C.nozakii.The clearance rate increased linearly with the cross-sectional area of C.nozakii.Body size in medusae may,to some extents,underpin their capacity to capture more prey by increasing the encounter rate and capture success through ontogeny.C.nozakii preyed voraciously on A.coerulea in high feeding efficiency,but the clearance rate decreased with increasing A.coerulea(as prey)size.This phenomenon of intraguild predation suggests a speculative hypothesis of potential population regulation of A.coerulea by C.nozakii.The information regarding the feeding ecology of C.nozakii reported in this study is important for understanding plankton dynamics in marine ecosystems with extensive occurrences of this jellyfish.
基金The authors are thankful to Ministry of Human Resource Development(presently Ministry of Education),Government of India,New Delhi,for providing research facility by sanctioning Center of Excellence(F.No.5-6/2013-TS VII)in Tissue Engineering and Center of Excellence in Orthopedic Tissue Engineering and Rehabilitation funded by World Bank under TEQIP-II.
文摘Sodium alginate(SA)/chitosan(CH)polyelectrolyte scaffold is a suitable substrate for tissue-engineering application.The present study deals with further improvement in the tensile strength and biological properties of this type of scaffold to make it a potential template for bone-tissue regeneration.We experimented with adding 0%–15%(volume fraction)gelatin(GE),a protein-based biopolymer known to promote cell adhesion,proliferation,and differentiation.The resulting tri-polymer complex was used as bioink to fabricate SA/CH/GEmatrices by three-dimensional(3D)printing.Morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy revealed the microfibrous porous architecture of all the structures,which had a pore size range of 383–419μm.X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analyses revealed the amorphous nature of the scaffold and the strong electrostatic interactions among the functional groups of the polymers,thereby forming polyelectrolyte complexes which were found to improve mechanical properties and structural stability.The scaffolds exhibited a desirable degradation rate,controlled swelling,and hydrophilic characteristics which are favorable for bone-tissue engineering.The tensile strength improved from(386±15)to(693±15)kPa due to the increased stiffness of SA/CH scaffolds upon addition of gelatin.The enhanced protein adsorption and in vitro bioactivity(forming an apatite layer)confirmed the ability of the SA/CH/GE scaffold to offer higher cellular adhesion and a bone-like environment to cells during the process of tissue regeneration.In vitro biological evaluation including the MTT assay,confocal microscopy analysis,and alizarin red S assay showed a significant increase in cell attachment,cell viability,and cell proliferation,which further improved biomineralization over the scaffold surface.In addition,SA/CH containing 15%gelatin designated as SA/CH/GE15 showed superior performance to the other fabricated 3D structures,demonstrating its potential for use in bone-tissue engineering.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China,Nos.2017YFE0122900(to BH),2019YFA0110800(to WL),2019YFA0903802(to YW),2021YFA1101604(to LW),2018YFA0108502(to LF),and 2020YFA0804003(to JW)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.31621004(to WL,BH)and 31970821(to YW)+1 种基金CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research,No.YSBR-041(to YW)Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.U21A20396(to BH)。
文摘Numerous studies have shown that cell replacement therapy can replenish lost cells and rebuild neural circuitry in animal models of Parkinson’s disease.Transplantation of midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cells is a promising treatment for Parkinson’s disease.However,transplanted cells can be injured by mechanical damage during handling and by changes in the transplantation niche.Here,we developed a one-step biomanufacturing platform that uses small-aperture gelatin microcarriers to produce beads carrying midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cells.These beads allow midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cell differentiation and cryopreservation without digestion,effectively maintaining axonal integrity in vitro.Importantly,midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cell bead grafts showed increased survival and only mild immunoreactivity in vivo compared with suspended midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cell grafts.Overall,our findings show that these midbrain dopaminergic progenitor cell beads enhance the effectiveness of neuronal cell transplantation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21B2097)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFA0901500)the Jiangsu Postdoctoral Research Foundation(2019K242)。
文摘As a low cost non-staple food resource,the high-viscosity paste and poor gel-forming ability of tapioca starch limit its industrial application.Herein,molasses hydrocolloids that is a by-product of the sugar refining process was applied as a blending modifier to reduce the viscosity of tapioca starch paste.The test results of paste and rheological properties show that molasses hydrocolloids exhibited a good physical viscosity-reducing effect on tapioca starch paste.The irregular network structure and high K^(+)/Ca^(2+)ion contents of molasses hydrocolloids exerted wrapping,adhesion,barrier,and hydration effects on starch,leading to the reduction of viscosity.The scanning electron microscope images and textural analysis demonstrated that this strategy also improve the structure of tapioca starch gel and enhanced its puncture strength by 75.46%.This work shows the great potential of molasses hydrocolloids as a lowcost and desirable material for the viscosity reduction of tapioca starch.
文摘Starch, a polymer of sugars in plants, is widely used in various industries due to its properties. It is synthesized through ADP-glucose formation and enzyme-mediated processes. Starch is formed during the day and broken down into sugars at night, which are then transported and converted back to starch in storage tissues. This review explores starch metabolism pathways and its role in the food industry, providing valuable insights on energy storage in plants.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2020YFD0900905).
文摘Silver nanoparticles(Ag NPs)are an effective antibacterial agent,but their application in food packaging is limited due to their easy agglomeration and oxidation.In this study,antibacterial microcapsules were fabricated using Ginkgo biloba essential oil(GBEO)as core material and chitosan and type B gelatin biopolymer as capsule mate-rials.These antibacterial microcapsules were then modified with green-synthesized Ag NPs,blended into the bio-polymer polylactic acid(PLA),and finally formed as films.Physicochemical properties and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli(E.coli)and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)were evaluated.Results showed that the prepared antibacterial PLA films exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens.Its TVC exceeded the limit value of 7 log CFU/g at 7 days compared with the 5 days of pure PLA films.Therefore,these films can extend the shelf life of grass carp fillets by 2–3 days under refrigeration.
基金supported by the Special Program for Capability Promotion
文摘Nuclear safety is a global growing concern,where ionizing radiation(IR)is a major injury factor resulting in serious damage to organisms.The detection of IR is usually conducted with physical dosimeters;however,biological IR detection methods are deficient.Here,a living composite hydrogel consisting of engineered bacteria and gelatin/sodium alginate was 3D-printed for the biological detection of IR.Three strains of PrecA::egfp gene circuit-containing engineered Escherichia coli were constructed with IR-dependent fluorescence,and the DH5αstrain was finally selected due to its highest radiation response and fluorescence.Engineered bacteria were loaded in a series of gelatin/sodium alginate matrix hydrogels with different rheology,3D printability and bacterial applicability.A high-gelatin-content hydrogel containing 10%gelatin/1.25%sodium alginatewas optimal.The optimal living composite hydrogelwas 3D-printedwith the special bioink,which reported significant green fluorescence underγ-ray radiation.The living composite hydrogel provides a biological strategy for the detection of environmental ionizing radiation.
基金Acknowledgements Authors would like to thank Center of Excellence in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering(BIOMATEN)for the support provided.Authors also acknowledge financial support provided by National Boron Institute(BOREN,Grant No:2018-31-07-25-001).
文摘In this study,boron-doped hydroxyapatite(BHT)-loaded alginate/gelatin-based(A/G)hydrogel coating on Ti was fabricated to support bone integration through triggering osteoinduction,vascularization and immunomodulation.Initially,highly reproducible,cheap and time-effective BHT was produced,which significantly promoted higher osteogenic and angiogenic maturation,while a mild innate immune response was observed.The immense potential of BHT was evidenced by the production of a gap-filling A/G/BHT interphase on Ti implants to mimic the osseous extracellular matrix to achieve functional bridging and exert control over the course of innate immune response.We initially aminosilanized the implant surface using 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane,and then coated it with 0.25%w/v alginate with 20 mM 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide to allowthe A/G/BHT pre-gel to disperse evenly and covalently attach on the surface.The pre-gel was added with 0.2 M NaCl to homogeneously blend BHT in the structure without inducing ionic crosslinking.Then,the coated implants were freeze-dried and stored.The coated layer demonstrated high cohesive and adhesive strength,and 8-month-long shelf-life at room temperature and normal humidity.The A/G/BHT was able to coat an irregularly shaped Ti implant.Osteoblasts and endothelial cells thrived on the A/G/BHT,and it demonstrated greatly improved osteogenic and angiogenic capacity.Moreover,A/G/BHT maintained macrophage viability and generated an acute increase in immune response that could be resolved rapidly.Finally,A/G/BHT was shown to induce the robust integration of implant in a rabbit femur osteochondral model within 2months.Therefore,we concluded that A/G/BHT coatings could serve as amultifunctional reservoir,promoting the strong and rapid osseointegration of metallic implants.
基金The authors acknowledge the funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52175474 and 51775324)the China Scholarship Council(No.202006890054).
文摘Three-dimensional printing technologies exhibit tremendous potential in the advancing fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to the precise spatial control over depositing the biomaterial.Despite their widespread utilization and numerous advantages,the development of suitable novel biomaterials for extrusion-based 3D printing of scaffolds that support cell attachment,proliferation,and vascularization remains a challenge.Multi-material composite hydrogels present incredible potential in this field.Thus,in this work,a multi-material composite hydrogel with a promising formulation of chitosan/gelatin functionalized with egg white was developed,which provides good printability and shape fidelity.In addition,a series of comparative analyses of different crosslinking agents and processes based on tripolyphosphate(TPP),genipin(GP),and glutaraldehyde(GTA)were investigated and compared to select the ideal crosslinking strategy to enhance the physicochemical and biological properties of the fabricated scaffolds.All of the results indicate that the composite hydrogel and the resulting scaffolds utilizing TPP crosslinking have great potential in tissue engineering,especially for supporting neo-vessel growth into the scaffold and promoting angiogenesis within engineered tissues.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81171731)the Project of Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau(Nos.2021-YF05-01619-SN and 2021-RC05-00022-CG)+2 种基金the Science and Technology Project of Tibet Autonomous Region(Nos.XZ202202YD0013C and XZ201901-GB-08)the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(No.2022YFG0066)the 1·3·5 Project for Disciplines of Excellence,West China Hospital,Sichuan University(Nos.ZYJC21026,ZYGD21001 and ZYJC21077).
文摘At present,the clinical reconstruction of the auricle usually adopts the strategy of taking autologous costal cartilage.This method has great trauma to patients,poor plasticity and inaccurate shaping.Three-dimensional(3D)printing technology has made a great breakthrough in the clinical application of orthopedic implants.This study explored the combination of 3D printing and tissue engineering to precisely reconstruct the auricle.First,a polylactic acid(PLA)polymer scaffold with a precisely customized patient appearance was fabricated,and then auricle cartilage fragments were loaded into the 3D-printed porous PLA scaffold to promote auricle reconstruction.In vitro,gelatin methacrylamide(GelMA)hydrogels loaded with different sizes of rabbit ear cartilage fragments were studied to assess the regenerative activity of various autologous cartilage fragments.In vivo,rat ear cartilage fragments were placed in an accurately designed porous PLA polymer ear scaffold to promote auricle reconstruction.The results indicated that the chondrocytes in the cartilage fragments could maintain the morphological phenotype in vitro.After three months of implantation observation,it was conducive to promoting the subsequent regeneration of cartilage in vivo.The autologous cartilage fragments combined with 3D printing technology show promising potential in auricle reconstruction.
文摘Hepatic arterioportal fistulas(APFs)are common in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Moreover,correlated with poor prognosis,APFs often complicate antitumor treatments,including transarterial chemoembolization(TACE).AIM To compare the efficacy of ethanol-soaked gelatin sponges(ESG)and microspheres in the management of APFs and their impact on the prognosis of HCC.METHODS Data from patients diagnosed with HCC or hepatic APFs between June 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Furthermore,APFs were embolized with ESG(group E)or microspheres(group M)during TACE.The primary outcomes were disease control rate(DCR)and objective response rate(ORR).The secondary outcomes included immediate and first follow-up APF improvement,overall survival(OS),and progression-free survival(PFS).RESULTS Altogether,91 participants were enrolled in the study,comprising 46 in group E and 45 in group M.The DCR was 93.5%and 91.1%in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.714).The ORRs were 91.3%and 66.7%in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.004).The APFs improved immediately after the procedure in 43(93.5%)patients in group E and 40(88.9%)patients in group M(P=0.485).After 2 mo,APF improvement was achieved in 37(80.4%)and 33(73.3%)participants in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.421).The OS was 26.2±1.4 and 20.6±1.1 mo in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.004),whereas the PFS was 16.6±1.0 and 13.8±0.7 mo in groups E and M,respectively(P=0.012).CONCLUSION Compared with microspheres,ESG embolization demonstrated a higher ORR and longer OS and PFS in patients of HCC with hepatic APFs.