Search

Clinical unpredictability and variability following fat grafting remain non‐negligible problems due to the unknown mechanism of grafted fat retention. The role of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which renders cells with structural and biochemical support, has been ignored. This study aimed to clarify the ECM remodeling process, related cellular events, and the spatiotemporal relationship between ECM remodeling and adipocyte survival and adipogenesis after fat grafting. Labeled Coleman fat by the matrix‐tracing technique was grafted in nude mice. The ECM remodeling process and cellular events were assessed in vivo. The related cytokines were evaluated by qRT‐PCR. An in vitro cell migration assay was performed to verify the chemotactic effect of M2‐like macrophages on fibroblasts. The results demonstrated that in the periphery, most of the adipocytes of the graft survived or regenerated, and the graft‐derived ECM was gradually replaced by the newly‐formed ECM. In the central parts, most adipocytes in the grafts died shortly after, and a small part of the graft‐derived and newly‐formed ECM was expressed with irregular morphology. Adipose ECM remodeling is associated with increased infiltration of macrophages and fibroblasts, as well as up‐regulated expression of cytokines in the adipose tissue. To sum up, our results describe the various preservation mode of fat grafts after transplantation and underscore the importance of macrophage‐mediated ECM remodeling in graft preservation after fat grafting. The appreciation and manipulation of underlying mechanisms that are operant in this setting stand to explore new therapeutic approaches and improve clinical outcomes of fat grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, experimental investigations were carried out on a diesel engine fuelled with castor oil–diesel–n-butanol blends to determine the combustion characteristics and emissions. In comparison with diesel fuel, the blends represented the retarded start of combustion (SOC), the higher peak in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate, and the shortened combustion duration. The brake-specific fuel consumption of the blends was higher by 7% for CD80B20, and 11% for CD60B40, respectively, whereas the difference of the brake thermal efficiency was less than 3%. The blends exhibited bi-modal particle size distribution (PSD), and diesel showed uni-modal behaviour under all operating conditions. The total number concentration of blends was larger, but the geometric mean diameters were 83, 47 and 40 nm for diesel fuel, CD80B20 and CD60B40, respectively. Nitrogen oxide emissions of the blends were higher by 14% and slightly increased with the growth of n-butanol content in the blends. Carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions were decreased at 1000 r/min and increased at 1400 r/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Anthocyanins are well‐known compounds that can improve gastrointestinal effects and have the potential to be utilised as an ingredient in functional foods. However, the true pharmacological role that they carry out in human body has been largely elusive. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory action of anthocyanins in a cake matrix on intestinal enzymes – α‐glucosidase, sucrase and lipase. Anthocyanin‐rich black rice extract powder (ABREP) was incorporated into cake at the levels of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2% of flour weight. The physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of the cake, as well as enzyme inhibitory effects of anthocyanins were investigated. Degradation of anthocyanins in the batter occurred up to 68% at the 2% fortification level while the cake matrix asserted a protective effect on the remaining anthocyanins, keeping them by up to 84% after baking. The antioxidant capacity of cakes was increased by nine times when cake was fortified with 2% ABREP. The digestion rate of sucrose was reduced by 4.6 times at a 2% fortification level as compared to the control. Furthermore, cake with 2% ABREP addition showed 150%, 41% and 278% higher inhibitory effects against sucrase, α‐glucosidase and lipase as compared to the one with 0.5% addition, respectively. This study provides an in‐depth understanding of the potential of anthocyanin‐fortified foods for helping people with elevated blood glucose and triglyceride levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin filler is an option for treating skin aging and wrinkles; however, currently used fillers are limited by poor biocompatibility, rapid degradation, and possible hypersensitivity reactions. Autologous adipose tissue-derived products have been recognized as promising options for skin rejuvenation.Objectives: This study aimed to develop a novel adipose-derived product for skin filling.Methods: Adipose collagen fragment (ACF) was prepared through pulverization, filtration, and centrifugation. The macrography, structure, types of collagen, and cell viability of ACF were evaluated by immunostaining, western blotting, and cell culture assays. ACF, nanofat, and phosphate-buffered saline (9 spots/side, 0.01 mL/spot) were intradermally injected in the dorsal skin of 36 female BALB/c nude mice; the skin filling capacity and the collagen remodeling process were then investigated. Twenty-one female patients with fine rhytides in the infraorbital areas were enrolled and received clinical applications of ACF treatment. Therapeutic effects and patients' satisfaction scores were recorded.Results: The mean [standard deviation] yield of ACF from 50 mL of Coleman fat was 4.91 [0.25] mL. ACF contained nonviable cells and high levels of collagen I, collagen IV, and laminin. Fibroblasts and procollagen significantly increased in ACF and ACF-treated dermis (P < 0.05). Overall, 85.7% of patients were satisfied with the therapy results, and no infections, injection site nodules, or other unwanted side effects were observed.Conclusions: ACF significantly improved dermal thickness and collagen synthesis and may serve as a potential autologous skin filler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand the impact of in vitro oral processing methods on bolus formation and the kinetics of starch hydrolysis of refined white bread during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Four in vitro oral processing methods (i.e., cut, cut‐and‐pestle, blend, and grind) were performed at two levels of disintegration (less and more intensive) and compared with human mastication. Boluses prepared using the in vitro methods had a larger particle size (20–69 mm2 vs. 14 mm2), a higher moisture content (64–68% vs. 47%), a softer texture (1.3–2.3 N vs. 6.3 N) and a less adhesive surface (0.3–1.0 vs. 1.6 N•s) as compared to the in vivo masticated ones. Moreover, in vitro prepared blouses were digested more rapidly than in vivo masticated ones during the stimulated intestinal digestion from 150 min onward, with a higher hydrolysis rate (0.011–0.012 mg/mL • min vs. 0.010 mg/mL • min) and a higher equilibrium concentration of reducing sugar (5.5–6.3 mg/mL vs. 4.9 mg/mL). Among all the in vitro methods, the blending and grinding methods produced boluses that most closely resemble the in vivo masticated ones in terms of their physical characteristics. The blending method also produced boluses having the highest amount of reducing sugar released (6.32 mg/mL). The amount of reducing sugar present in the PBS buffer outside the dialysis tube might be controlled by the diffusion efficiency at the beginning of the digestion (≤120 min) and then be largely influenced by the particle size of the bolus in the latter stage of the digestion. Practical application: Studying the in vitro starch amyloysis is valuable for predicting the postprandial glycemic potential of starchy food. This work provides novel insights on the role of in vitro oral processing in the prediction of the glycemic potential of carbohydrate‐rich staple food. Blending method is recommended because of its ability to produce boluses with similar physical characteristics as the in vivo masticated boluses. But the excessive structural breakdown occurred during blending also resulted in a higher enzymatic accessibility and a higher rate of starch digestion. Further study is needed to propose a new in vitro method that stimulates multiple actions occurred during mastication (cutting, grinding, and shearing), in order to match both physical properties and digestion profiles. Moreover, the amount of artificial saliva added should be adjusted according to the specific type of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explored the effect of size reduction by superfine grinding on the performance and rheological properties of bran-enriched dough. Coarse (D 50 = 328.98 μm) and superfine-ground (D 50 = 50.76 and 28.37 μm) wheat brans were incorporated into the wheat dough to replace 10–30% of plain flour. Both fundamental and empirical tests were performed to assess the mixing properties, pasting properties, large deformation rheology, small deformation rheology, and stickiness of the dough. With the increasing amount of bran added, dough water absorption capacity increased, while the dough became less sticky and more rigid. Superfine grinding reduced the water retention capacity of the bran by 17–20%. Dough fortified with the finest bran (D 50 = 28.37 μm) showed an overall better stability and uniaxial extensibility. However, the results suggested that superfine grinding not necessarily improve every aspect of dough performance, particularly the pasting properties. High peak and final viscosity were observed for dough fortified with superfine bran, indicating their end products, such as noodle, might exhibit high stickiness after cooking, and a high degree of starch retrogradation. Results of this study contributed to a better understanding of the modification effect of superfine grinding on dietary fibre. Image 1 • Dough water absorption capacity increased with an increasing amount of bran added. • Dough strength decreased with an increasing amount of bran added. • Superfine grinding technique effectively reduced bran particle size to micro-scale. • Dough samples fortified with finer bran showed higher stability and extensibility. • Bran size reduction by superfine grinding led to a decrease in dough stickiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the synergistic disinfection efficacy of low concentration electrolyzed water (LcEW) (free available chlorine, 4 mg/L) combined with brief heat enhancement was evaluated and the bactericidal mechanism was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium on organic carrot were fitted with Weibull model to evaluate the synergistic effects. LcEW is effective at inactivating E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium on organic carrots, and the efficacy is dependent on the temperature. The combined treatment with LcEW at 80 °C resulted in decimal reduction time (T R) of 7.42 and 3.27 s for E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium, respectively. The reactive oxygen species generated from LcEW were responsible for the microbial inactivation. In addition, AFM observation of E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium revealed morphological alterations in the bacterial cell structure, which illustrated the damage of cell membrane injury and intracellular component leakage. Quality attributes of carrot treated with LcEW and short-time heating (70 °C, 1 min) were not significantly different from controls. Compared to the control group, the combined treatment exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) greater inhibition of naturally occurring microbiota on organic carrots during storage at 4 °C. Consequently, the application of LcEW combined with short-time heat improved safety of organic carrot, without negatively affecting the sensory properties, which can be explored by the organic industry. • Electrolyzed water inactivated E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in organic carrot. • Weibull model satisfactorily described the nonlinear survival kinetics of the pathogens. • Rising temperatures and electrolyzed water dramatically reduced the T R value. • Natural microflora on organic carrot were inactivated as well. • AFM images of EW treated bacteria cells revealed severe damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adipose tissue engineering plays a key role in the reconstruction of soft-tissue defects. The acellular adipose matrix (AAM) is a promising biomaterial for the construction of engineered adipose tissue. However, AAM lacks sufficient adipoinduction potency because of the abundant loss of matrix-bound adipokines during decellularization., Methods: An adipose-derived extracellular matrix collagen scaffold, "adipose collagen fragment" (ACF), was prepared using a novel mechanical method that provides sustained release of adipokines. Here, the authors used label-free proteomics methods to detect the protein components in AAM and ACF. In vivo, ACF was incorporated into AAM or acellular dermal matrix and implanted into nude mice to evaluate adipogenesis. Neoadipocytes, neovessels, and corresponding gene expression were evaluated. The effects of ACF on adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells and tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells were tested in vitro., Results: Proteomics analysis showed that ACF contains diverse adipogenic and angiogenic proteins. ACF can release diverse adipokines and induce highly vascularized, mature adipose tissue in AAM, and even in nonadipogenic acellular dermal matrix. Higher expression of adipogenic markers peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha and greater numbers of tubule structures were observed in ACF-treated groups in vitro., Conclusion: The combination of ACF and AAM could serve as a novel and promising strategy to construct mature, vascularized adipose tissue for soft-tissue reconstruction., Clinical Relevance Statement: The combined use of AAM and ACF has been proven to induce a highly vascularized, mature, engineered adipose tissue in the nude mouse model, which may serve as a promising strategy for soft-tissue reconstruction., (Copyright © 2023 by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation is the major contributor to skin photoaging, associated with increased collagen degradation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression. Adipokines have been proven as promising therapeutic agents for skin photoaging. However, adipokine therapy is generally limited by the short in vivo release duration and biological instability. Therefore, developing a treatment that provides a sustained release of adipokines and enhanced therapeutic effects is desirable. In this study, we developed a novel mechanical processing technique to extract adipose tissue-derived ECM components, named the "adipose collagen fragment" (ACF). The physical characterization, injectability, collagen components, residual DNA/RNA and adipokine release pattern of ACF were identified in vitro . L929 cells were treated with ACF or phosphate-buffered saline for 24 h after UVA irradiation in vitro . The expression of senescence-associated xβ-galactosidase (SA-β-gal), ROS and antioxidase were investigated. Then, we evaluated its therapeutic efficacy by injecting ACF and phosphate-buffered saline, as a control, into the dermis of photoaging nude mice and harvesting skin samples at weeks 1, 2, and 4 after treatment for assessment. The content of adipokines released from ACF was identified in vivo . The collagen synthesis and collagen degradation in ACF implants were evaluated by immune staining. Dermal thickness, fibroblast expression, collagen synthesis, ROS level, antioxidase expression, capillary density, and apoptotic cell number were evaluated by histological assessment, immune staining, and polymerase chain reaction in the skin samples. We demonstrated that ACF is the concentrated adipose extracellular matrix collagen fragment without viable cells and can be injected through fine needles. The lower expression of SA-β-gal, ROS and higher expression of antioxidase were observed in the ACF-treated group. ACF undergoes collagen degradation and promotes neocollagen synthesis in ACF implants. Meanwhile, ACF serves as a sustained-release system of adipokines and exhibits a significantly higher therapeutic effect on mouse skin photoaging by enhancing angiogenesis, antioxidant abilities, antiapoptotic activities, and collagen synthesis through sustainedly releasing adipokines. To sum up, ACF is an adipokines-enriched, sustained-release extracellular matrix collagen scaffold that can prevent UVA-induced skin photoaging in mice. ACF may serve as a novel autologous skin filler for skin rejuvenation applications in the clinic., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Jin, Zhang, Zhang, Li, Xu, Liu, Ru, Ma, Yao, He and Gao.)