Search

Abstract Background Trauma surgery is a fundamental aspect of medicine. According to the 2023 mortality report from Statistics Korea, external factors such as intentional self-harm and transportation incidents are leading causes of death among individuals aged 10 to 30, accounting for 7.9% of overall mortality. Despite advances in the field, specialization has hindered comprehensive trauma care. Main body In South Korea, regional trauma centers have been established to meet critical trauma management needs; however, challenges remain, including a shortage of trauma surgeons and inefficient resource utilization. The reluctance of surgical residents to pursue trauma training exacerbates the scarcity of qualified specialists. Trauma surgeons often bear extensive responsibilities, which limits their ability to perform prompt interventions. Acute Care Surgery (ACS) offers a model to integrate trauma and non-trauma surgical care, enabling hospitals to implement effective protocols for urgent cases and improving patient outcomes. Research indicates that ACS enhances emergency surgical management, increases training opportunities for residents, and improves job satisfaction among participating surgeons. Conclusion Integrating ACS into South Korea’s healthcare system is essential to optimize resource allocation and improve emergency care, ultimately leading to enhanced public health outcomes.

Background This study aimed to validate the Geriatric Trauma Outcome Score (GTOS) for predicting mortality associated with trauma in older Korean adults and compare the GTOS with the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS). Methods This study included patients aged ≥65 years who visited the Chungbuk National University Hospital Regional Trauma Center between January 2016 and December 2022. We used receiver operating characteristic curves and calibration plots to assess the discrimination and calibration of the scoring systems. Results Among 3,053 patients, the median age was 77 years, and the mortality rate was 5.2%. The overall GTOS-predicted mortality and 1–TRISS were 5.4% (interquartile range [IQR], 3.7–9.5) and 4.7% (IQR, 4.7–4.7), respectively. The areas under the curves (AUCs) of 1–TRISS and GTOS for the total population were 0.763 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.719–0.806) and 0.794 (95% CI, 0.755–0.833), respectively. In the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤12 group, the in-hospital mortality rate was 27.5% (79 deaths). The GTOS-predicted mortality and 1–TRISS in this group were 18.6% (IQR, 7.5–34.7) and 26.9% (IQR, 11.9–73.1), respectively. The AUCs of 1–TRISS and GTOS for the total population were 0.800 (95% CI, 0.776–0.854) and 0.744 (95% CI, 0.685–0.804), respectively. Conclusion The GTOS and TRISS demonstrated comparable accuracy in predicting mortality, while the GTOS offered the advantage of simpler calculations. However, the GTOS tended to underestimate mortality in patients with GCS ≤12; thus, its application requires care in such cases.

Abstract Recently, methane has been considered a next-generation carbon feedstock due to its abundance and it is main component of shale gas and biogas. Methylomonas sp. DH-1 has been evaluated as a promising industrial bio-catalyst candidate. Succinate is considered one of the top building block chemicals in the agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, succinate production by Methylomonas sp. DH-1 was improved by combining adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) technology with genetic engineering in the chromosome of Methylomonas sp. DH-1, such as deletion of bypass pathway genes (succinate dehydrogenase and succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase) or overexpression of genes related with succinate production (citrate synthase, pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase). Through ALE, the maximum consumption rate of substrate gases (methane and oxygen) and the duration maintaining high substrate gas consumption rates was enhanced compared to those of the parental strain. Based on the improved methane consumption, cell growth (OD600) increased more than twice, and the succinate titer increased by ~ 48% from 218 to 323 mg/L. To prevent unwanted succinate consumption, the succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase gene was deleted from the genome. The first enzyme of TCA cycle (citrate synthase) was overexpressed. Pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, which produce oxaloacetate, a substrate for citrate synthase, were also overproduced by a newly identified strong promoter. The new strong promoter was screened from RNA sequencing data. When these modifications were combined in one strain, the maximum titer (702 mg/L) was successfully improved by more than three times. This study demonstrates that successful enhancement of succinic acid production can be achieved in methanotrophs through additional genetic engineering following adaptive laboratory evolution.

Purpose The number of elderly patients with trauma is increasing; therefore, precise models are necessary to estimate the mortality risk of elderly patients with trauma for informed clinical decision-making. This study aimed to develop machine learning based predictive models that predict 30-day mortality in severely injured elderly patients with trauma and to compare the predictive performance of various machine learning models. Methods This study targeted patients aged ≥65 years with an Injury Severity Score of ≥15 who visited the regional trauma center at Chungbuk National University Hospital between 2016 and 2022. Four machine learning models—logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost)—were developed to predict 30-day mortality. The models’ performance was compared using metrics such as area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, F1 score, as well as Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) values and learning curves. Results The performance evaluation of the machine learning models for predicting mortality in severely injured elderly patients with trauma showed AUC values for logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, and XGBoost of 0.938, 0.863, 0.919, and 0.934, respectively. Among the four models, XGBoost demonstrated superior accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, and F1 score of 0.91, 0.72, 0.86, 0.92, and 0.78, respectively. Analysis of important features of XGBoost using SHAP revealed associations such as a high Glasgow Coma Scale negatively impacting mortality probability, while higher counts of transfused red blood cells were positively correlated with mortality probability. The learning curves indicated increased generalization and robustness as training examples increased. Conclusions We showed that machine learning models, especially XGBoost, can be used to predict 30-day mortality in severely injured elderly patients with trauma. Prognostic tools utilizing these models are helpful for physicians to evaluate the risk of mortality in elderly patients with severe trauma.

Abstract Spontaneous rupture of the oesophageal artery is rarely observed in clinical practice and may lead to a haemomediastinum, which is a potentially life-threatening condition. Among these conditions, a mediastinal haemorrhage from oesophageal branches of the bronchial artery is the most frequently reported. However, rupture of oesophageal branches arising from the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) has never been reported to date. This current case report describes a male patient in his mid-70s who experienced sudden chest pain with haemomediastinum caused by the rupture of oesophageal artery branches after vomiting. This patient was successfully treated with separate transcatheter arterial embolization of the two oesophageal branches arising from the ITA and the bronchial artery using N-butyl-cyanoacrylate. Awareness of the various potential sources of haemomediastinum is important to increase the success rate of transcatheter arterial embolization.

Abstract We investigated the clinical implications of the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in patients with major trauma. This single-center retrospective review included 2021 trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit between January 2016 and June 2020. We included 1218 patients aged $$\ge $$ ≥ 18 years with an injury severity score $$\ge $$ ≥ 16 in the final analysis. The clinical and laboratory variables were compared between macrocytosis (defined as MCV $$\ge $$ ≥ 100 fL) and non-macrocytosis groups. Cox regression analysis was performed to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) of variables for 30-day mortality, with adjustment for other potential confounding factors. The initial mean value of MCV was 102.7 fL in the macrocytosis group (n = 199) and 93.7 fL in the non-macrocytosis group (n = 1019). The macrocytosis group showed a significantly higher proportion of initial hypotension, transfusion within 4 and 24 h, and 30-day mortality than the non-macrocytosis group. Age ( $$\ge $$ ≥ 65 years), hypotension (systolic blood pressure $$\le $$ ≤ 90 mmHg), transfusion (within 4 h), anemia (Hb

Supratentorial and infratentorial epidural hematoma (SIEDH) is a rare but life-threatening complication following traumatic brain injury. However, the literature on SIEDH is sparse, consisting only of a few small series. Prompt diagnosis and the application of appropriate surgical techniques are crucial for the rapid and safe management of SIEDH. Herein, we present three cases of SIEDH treated at our institution, employing a range of surgical approaches.

Purpose In this study, we aimed to compare the characteristics of patients with trauma by age group in a single center in Korea to identify the clinical characteristics and analyze the risk factors affecting mortality. Methods Patients aged ≥18 years who visited the Chungbuk National University Hospital Regional Trauma Center between January 2016 and December 2022 were included. The accident mechanism, severity of the injury, and outcomes were compared by classifying the patients into group A (18–64 years), group B (65–79 years), and group C (≥80 years). In addition, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors affecting death. Results The most common injury mechanism was traffic accidents in group A (40.9%) and slipping in group B (37.0%) and group C (56.2%). Although group A had the highest intensive care unit admission rate (38.0%), group C had the highest mortality rate (9.5%). In the regression analysis, 3 to 8 points on the Glasgow Coma Scale had the highest odds ratio for mortality, and red blood cell transfusion within 24 hours, intensive care unit admission, age, and Injury Severity Score were the predictors of death. Conclusions For patients with trauma, the mechanism, injured body region, and severity of injury differed among the age groups. The high mortality rate of elderly patients suggests the need for different treatment approaches for trauma patients according to age. Identifying factors affecting clinical patterns and mortality according to age groups can help improve the prognosis of trauma patients in the future.

Traumatic portal vein injury is rare, but the associated mortality rate ranges from 50% to 70%. The management of this injury is difficult and remains controversial. In this case report, we describe the successful endovascular treatment of an obstruction that developed following the surgical repair of a traumatic portal vein injury. A man in his mid-40s who had been injured in a car accident presented to our trauma center with abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and open wounds over both knees. Emergency laparotomy revealed a longitudinal rupture from the upper border of the pancreas to the mid-portion of the portal vein; his hemorrhage was successfully controlled surgically. However, postoperative abdominal computed tomography imaging revealed portal vein obstruction. One week after admission to the intensive care unit, an endovascular stent was successfully inserted into the patient’s portal vein via a percutaneous transhepatic approach. The associated injuries, including the distal common bile duct obstruction, were successfully managed by choledochojejunostomy. The patient’s postoperative recovery was uneventful. Thus, endovascular stent placement is an effective and safe means of treating an obstruction following the surgical repair of a traumatic portal vein injury.

Penetrating brain injury caused by a nail gun is an uncommon clinical scenario reported in the literature. A 36-year-old male presented with a nail that had penetrated through the occipital bone. He was alert and neurologically intact except for visual disturbance. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain showed the nail lodged at the occipital lobe and the parietal lobe, with minimal intracerebral hemorrhage. The nail was placed in the occipital lobe close to the superior sagittal sinus. We removed the nail with craniotomy since the entrance of the nail was close to the superior sagittal sinus. There were no newly developed neurological deficits postoperatively. Immediate postoperative CT showed no newly developed lesions. The patient recovered well without any significant complications. Two weeks postoperatively, magnetic resonance imaging showed no remarkable lesions. The visual disturbance was followed up at the outpatient department. To summarize, we report a rare case of penetrating head injury by a nail gun and discuss relevant aspects of the clinical management.

Purpose The vascular clipping system (VCS) is beneficial as it is simple and easy to apply for microvascular suturing. Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation is a very basic standard technique of microvascular surgery. In this study the VCS and the conventional suture methods were compared in a rabbit model using the carotid artery and vein to create an AVF. Methods There were 28 rabbits assigned equally into 2 groups using the AVF creation method (conventional suturing or the VCS procedure). Histopathology was performed on fixed samples. The procedure time of the 2 methods and changes in histopathology of tissue samples after surgery were compared. Results The VCS procedure showed a lower degree of fibrosis and hyperplasia histologically compared with the conventional suture method. The VCS was quicker to perform and no significant anastomosis stricture was observed. Conclusion In a rabbit model of AVF, the VCS has benefits over the conventional suture method. The VCS provides comparable patency rates, produces fewer side effects such as fibrosis and hyperplasia, and takes less operation time than suturing. The VCS is expected to be useful for cases where renal patients need periodic hemodialysis and thus repetitive access to a vessel.

Patients with severe lung injury and hemorrhagic shock, may develop acute respiratory failure syndrome during resuscitation, and may require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support to ensure adequate oxygenation to sustain life. In this case study, a 69 year-old female was hit by a motor vehicle whilst riding her bicycle. She was in a state of hemorrhagic shock due to polytrauma and was resuscitated with massive fluid transfusion during the initial management. After admission to the intensive care unit, she suffered from hypoxia which required mechanical ventilation using 100% oxygen. However, hypoxia did not improve, so she was placed on veno-veno ECMO support after 4 days of intensive care treatment. Although trauma and bleeding are considered as relative contraindications for ECMO support, veno-veno ECMO allows for lung rest, and improvement of pulmonary function.

Industrial demand for capture and utilization using microorganisms to reduce CO2, a major cause of global warming, is significantly increasing. Rhodobacter sphaeroides is a suitable strain for the process of converting CO2 into high-value materials because it can accept CO2 and has various metabolic pathways. However, it has been mainly studied for heterotrophic growth that uses sugars and organic acids as carbon sources, not autotrophic growth. Here, we report that the regulation of reactive oxygen species is critical for growth when using CO2 as a sole carbon source in R. sphaeroides. In general, the growth rate is much slower under autotrophic conditions compared to heterotrophic conditions. To improve this, we performed random mutagenesis using N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG). As a result, we selected the YR-1 strain with a maximum specific growth rate (μ) 1.44 day–1 in the early growth phase, which has a 110% faster growth rate compared to the wild-type. Based on the transcriptome analysis, it was confirmed that the growth was more sensitive to reactive oxygen species under autotrophic conditions. In the YR-1 mutant, the endogenous contents of H2O2 levels and oxidative damage were reduced by 33.3 and 42.7% in the cells, respectively. Furthermore, we measured that concentrations of carotenoids, which are important antioxidants. The total carotenoid is produced 9.63 g/L in the YR-1 mutant, suggesting that the production is 1.7-fold higher than wild-type. Taken together, our observations indicate that controlling ROS promotes cell growth and carotenoid production under autotrophic conditions.

Objective We aimed to identify the risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients admitted to critical care after a torso injury. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 178 patients with torso injury aged >15 years who were intubated in the emergency room and placed on a mechanical ventilator after intensive care unit (ICU) admission, survived for >48 hours, had thoracic and/or abdominal injuries, and had no end-stage renal disease. We compared clinico-laboratory variables between ventilator-associated pneumonia (n = 54, 30.3%) and non-ventilator-associated pneumonia (n = 124, 69.7%) groups. Risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results Ventilator-associated pneumonia was associated with a significantly longer stay in the ICU (11.3 vs. 6.8 days) and longer duration of mechanical ventilation (7 vs. 3 days). Injury Severity Score (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.048; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.008–1.090), use of vasopressors (AOR: 2.541; 95% CI: 1.121–5.758), and insertion of a nasogastric tube (AOR: 6.749; 95% CI: 2.397–18.999) were identified as independent risk factors of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Conclusion Ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with torso injury who were admitted to the ICU was highly correlated with Injury Severity Score, use of vasopressors, and insertion of a nasogastric tube.

Traumatic intrapulmonary glass foreign bodies that are missed on an initial examination can migrate and lead to severe complications. Here, we present a rare case of a traumatic intrapulmonary glass foreign body surgically removed by a direct pulmonary incision, which preserved the pulmonary parenchyma and avoided severe complications caused by migration.

Acute appendicitis is the most common indication for emergency abdominal surgery worldwide. The risks and benefits of incidental appendectomy during other operations have been debated for over a century. There is no right answer to the question of whether or not to perform incidental appendectomy. Although there are only a few indications where it is explicitly recommended such as in gynecological surgery, malrotation, and Ladd’s procedure, incidental appendectomy is cost-effective in selected patient groups, especially in the young, without an increase in morbidity and mortality. In this review, the literature on incidental appendectomy was assessed from several perspectives.

Purpose: Trauma is a leading cause of death, even in previously healthy and disease-free individuals, and the mortality rate is very high in neck trauma patients. On the other hand, there have been few studies related to neck injuries. This study examined the characteristics and treatment results of trauma-related neck injuries using the data from Korean National Emergency Department Information System. Methods: Neck trauma patients were classified using the 6th Korean Standard Disease Classification system. The patients’ demographic factors, number of surgeries, and clinical results were investigated. Statistical analysis was conductedusing SPSS to evaluate the annual differences in the demographic factors; mortality according to the site of injury andtype of surgery; and mechanisms of injury. Results: From 2011 to 2014, 2,458 neck trauma patients were treated in hospitals in South Korea. The number of patients admitted to regional and local emergency medical centers was 883 (35.9%) and 1,502 (61.1%), respectively. No significant annual differences were observed in age, sex ratio, location of treatment center, mortality, and injury site (vascular, tracheal, or esophageal). In addition, no significant differences in the cause of injury, performed surgery (%), and mortality according to the injured organ were observed. Conclusion: This study revealed no annual changes in neck injury patients or differences in mortality according to injured organs. This study can be used as a basis for national research on organ-specific injuries, and may help predict the demand for future support projects for the establishment of regional trauma centers.

Global warming is currently accelerating due to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions by industrialization. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) using electroactive autotrophic microorganisms has recently been reported as a method to reduce carbon dioxide, the main culprit of greenhouse gas. However, there are still few cases of application of MES, and the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. To investigate the growth characteristics in MES, we carried out growth tests according to reducing power sources in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The growth rate was significantly lower when electrons were directly supplied to cells, compared to when hydrogen was supplied. Through a transcriptome analysis, we found that the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes was meaningfully higher in MES than in normal photoautotrophic conditions. Similarly, endogenous contents of H2O2 were higher and peroxidase activities were lower in MES. The exogenous application of ascorbic acid, a representative biological antioxidant, promotes cell growth by decreasing ROS levels, confirming the inhibitory effects of ROS on MES. Taken together, our observations suggest that reduction of ROS by increasing antioxidant activities is important for enhancing the cell growth and production of CO2-converting substances such as carotenoids in MES in R. sphaeroides

The discussions by the International Maritime Organization for the introduction of a maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) began in earnest. At the 27th ENAV meeting, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities proposed the “sharing of a common operating picture for situational awareness of the waterway within vessel traffic service (VTS) environment” when developing a system to support MASS operation. Marine accidents caused by collisions on waterways still account for a high percentage of ship accidents that occur at sea, and many studies have investigated the risk of collision between ships. Collision risk assessment was primarily conducted in ship domain-based safety areas. This study evaluates the collision risk using the ship domain derived by the VTS operator (VTSO) and proposes a real-time collision risk assessment support system to improve the situational awareness of VTSOs and MASS remote operators (MASS ROs) regarding near-collision situations occurring in local waters. To evaluate the validity of the proposed system, a risk analysis was performed on near-collision scenarios at Busan Port. The results show that the distance to the closest point of approach (CPA), time to the CPA, and inter-ship distance converged within 0.5 nautical miles, 10 min, and 3 nautical miles, respectively.

Abstract Background Current single-stage delignification-pretreatment technologies to overcome lignocellulosic biomass recalcitrance are usually achieved at the expense of compromising the recovery of the polysaccharide components, particularly the hemicellulose fraction. One way to enhance overall sugar recovery is to tailor an efficient two-stage pretreatment that can pre-extract the more labile hemicellulose component before subjecting the cellulose-rich residual material to a second-stage delignification process. Previous work had shown that a mild steam pretreatment could recover >65% of the hemicellulose from poplar while limiting the acid-catalysed condensation of lignin. This potentially allowed for subsequent lignin extraction using various lignin solvents to produce a more accessible cellulosic substrate. Results A two-stage approach using steam and/or solvent pretreatment was assessed for its ability to separate hemicellulose and lignin from poplar wood chips while providing a cellulose-rich fraction that could be readily hydrolysed by cellulase enzymes. An initial steam-pretreatment stage was performed over a range of temperatures (160–200 °C) using an equivalent severity factor of 3.6. A higher steam temperature of 190 °C applied over a shorter residence time of 10 min effectively solubilized and recovered 75% of the hemicellulose while enhancing the ability of various solvents [deep eutectic solvent (DES), ethanol organosolv, soda/anthraquinone (soda/AQ) or a hydrotrope] to extract lignin in a second stage. When the second-stage treatments were compared, the mild DES treatment (lactic acid and betaine) at 130 °C, removed comparable amounts of lignin with higher selectivity than did the soda/AQ and organosolv pretreatments at 170 °C. However, the cellulose-rich substrates obtained after the second-stage organosolv and soda/AQ pretreatments showed the highest cellulose accessibility, as measured by the Simon’s staining technique. They were also the most susceptible to subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. Conclusions The second-stage pretreatments varied in their ability to solubilize and extract the lignin component of steam-pretreated poplar while enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of the resulting cellulose-rich residual fractions. Although DES extraction was more selective in extracting lignin from the steam-pretreated substrates, the organosolv and soda/AQ post treatments disrupted the cellulose structure to a greater extent while enhancing the ease of enzymatic hydrolysis. Graphical abstract Effective hemicellulose removal via steam pretreatment followed by subsequent lignin extraction under acidic, alkaline or solvolytic conditions results in a highly accessible, more readily hydrolysed cellulose fraction.

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a promising technology platform for the production of chemicals and fuels from CO2 and external conducting materials (i.e., electrodes). In this system, electroactive microorganisms, called electrotrophs, serve as biocatalysts for cathodic reaction. While several CO2-fixing microorganisms can reduce CO2 to a variety of organic compounds by utilizing electricity as reducing energy, direct extracellular electron uptake is indispensable to achieve highly energy-efficient reaction. In the work reported here, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, a CO2-fixing chemoautotroph and a potential electroactive bacterium, was adopted to perform a cathodic CO2 reduction reaction via MES. To promote direct electron uptake, the graphite felt cathode was modified with a combination of chitosan and carbodiimide compound. Robust biofilm formation promoted by amide functionality between R. sphaeroides and a graphite felt cathode showed significantly higher faradaic efficiency (98.0%) for coulomb to biomass and succinic acid production than those of the bare (34%) and chitosan-modified graphite cathode (77.8%), respectively. The results suggest that cathode modification using a chitosan/carbodiimide composite may facilitate electron utilization by improving direct contact between an electrode and R. sphaeroides.

The green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis accumulates astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant pigment, as a defense mechanism against environmental stresses. In this study, we investigated the technical feasibility of a stress-based method for inducing astaxanthin biosynthesis in H. pluvialis using electric stimulation in a two-chamber bioelectrochemical system. When a cathodic (reduction) current of 3 mA (voltage: 2 V) was applied to H. pluvialis cells for two days, considerable lysis and breakage of algal cells were observed, possibly owing to the formation of excess reactive oxygen species at the cathode. Conversely, in the absence of cell breakage, the application of anodic (oxidation) current effectively stimulated astaxanthin biosynthesis at a voltage range of 2–6 V, whereas the same could not be induced in the untreated control. At an optimal voltage of 4 V (anodic current: 30 mA), the astaxanthin content in the cells electro-treated for 2 h was 36.9% higher than that in untreated cells. Our findings suggest that electric treatment can be used to improve astaxanthin production in H. pluvialis culture if bioelectrochemical parameters, such as electric strength and duration, are regulated properly.

In the recent climate change regime, industrial demand for renewable materials to replace petroleum-derived polymers continues to rise. Of particular interest is polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) as a substitute for polypropylene. Accumulating evidence indicates that PHB is highly produced as a carbon storage material in various microorganisms. The effects of growth conditions on PHB production have been widely studied in chemolithotrophs, particularly in Rhodobacter. However, the results on PHB production in Rhodobacter have been somewhat inconsistent due to different strains and experimental conditions, and it is currently unclear how diverse environmental factors are linked with PHB production. Here, we report optimized growth conditions for PHB production and show that the growth conditions are closely related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation. PHB accumulates in cells up to approximately 50% at the highest level under dark-aerobic conditions as opposed to light aerobic/anaerobic conditions. According to the time-course, PHB contents increased at 48 h and then gradually decreased. When observing the effect of temperature and medium composition on PHB production, 30 °C and a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 9:1 or more were found to be most effective. Among PHB biosynthetic genes, PhaA and PhaB are highly correlated with PHB production, whereas PhaC and PhaZ showed little change in overall expression levels. We found that, while the amount of hydrogen peroxide in cells under dark conditions was relatively low compared to the light conditions, peroxidase activities and expression levels of antioxidant-related genes were high. These observations suggest optimal culture conditions for growth and PHB production and the importance of ROS-scavenging signaling with regard to PHB production.

Reutealis trisperma, due to its high kernel-oil yield (±50%) and long productivity (±70 years), is considered to be a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. In addition, this plant, which can thrive on marginal lands, is classified as a non-edible oil since it contains a toxin known as eleostearic acid. The present study aimed to optimize the esterification step in biodiesel production from R.trisperma oil catalyzed using sulfonic ion exchange resin Lewatit K2640. The optimization step was performed using a response surface methodology through the incorporation of a central composite design. A kinetic study was performed as well, based on the assumption of a pseudo-homogeneous second-order model. Catalyst loading was found to have the most significant impact on acid value, followed by temperature and methanol-to-oil molar ratio. The optimal conditions for the esterification step were 92 °C temperature, 5.34% catalyst loading, and 5.82:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio. The acid value and FFA conversion of R.trisperma oil under these conditions were 2.49 mg KOH/g and 91.75%, respectively. The kinetics study revealed that the constructed model could fit the experimental data well with relatively high reliability. The activation energy required for the esterification of R.trisperma oil was 33.2 kJ/mol.

This work studied Gram-positive and weak electricigen Corynebacterium glutamicum for its ability to transfer electrons and to produce bioelectricity in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The electrochemical and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) results revealed that C. glutamicum had the potential to mediate electron transfer to an electrode by emitting its own extracellular electron shuttles such as flavins. To enhance the current collection from C. glutamicum, a carbon cloth anode was modified with ferrocene-branched chitosan hydrogel (redox-hydrogel). The maximum current density of the ferrocene-branched chitosan redox hydrogel anode with C. glutamicum was drastically increased to 120 µA cm−2 relative to a bare carbon cloth electrode with C. glutamicum (261 nA cm−2). The power density and polarization curves for the MFC operation with the redox-hydrogel-modified anode showed that C. glutamicum effectively generated bioelectricity by means of the redox-hydrogel anode. The results suggest that, in such an electro-fermentation process, ferrocene-branched chitosan hydrogel grafted onto an anode surface would also facilitate both electron transfer from C. glutamicum to the anode and bioelectricity generation.

Introduction: Splenic artery aneurysm is often discovered incidentally. It can be treated with non-surgical management such as angioembolization if appropriately followed up after detection. However, if not adequately treated, aneurysm can have very serious consequences. We report a case of successful treatment of a new traumatic splenic pseudoaneurysm in a patient who missed two true splenic aneurysms during eight years of breast cancer follow-up. Case presentation: A 65-year-old woman visited a regional trauma center complaining of abdominal pain in both legs after a pedestrian traffic accident. The patient had a medical history of regular follow-ups at our hospital after a mastectomy for breast cancer ten years prior. The medical staff found multiple splenic aneurysms without bleeding or rupture. We recognized that previous examinations also showed two true splenic aneurysms. The medical team determined that treatment for the multiple splenic aneurysms and focal splenic injury was the priority, and an-giographic embolization was performed as an emergency. Angiographic images revealed two true splenic aneurysms and one pseudoaneu-rysm. Embolization was thus performed on the two true splenic aneurysms by coiling, and he-mostasis was achieved through embolization of the traumatic splenic pseudoaneurysm. Conclusion: Splenic artery aneurysms are sometimes detected incidentally during examinations for other purposes; thus, medical staff should always carefully examine imaging results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]