Evaluation the food safety of cultured fat via detection of residues of adipogenic differentiation cocktail in cultured fat with high performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Cultured fat is inducing adipose progenitor cells (APCs) to differentiate into mature adipocytes for consumption. The traditional adipogenic differentiation cocktail, including insulin, dexamethasone, indomethacin, isobutylmethylxanthine and rosiglitazone, has potential food safety problems in cultured fat. Therefore, the detection of these residues is necessary to ensure food safety. In this research, a method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was established to quantitatively analyze the potential residual content of dexamethasone, indomethacin, isobutylmethylxanthine and rosiglitazone in cultured fat and medium. Quantitative analysis showed that the content of four residues in cultured fat decreased to zero on Day 10. Subsequently, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the insulin content in the cultured fat and found that the insulin content in the cultured fat on Day 10 was 2.78 ± 0.21 µg/kg. After soaking with phosphate buffered saline (PBS), the insulin content decreased to 1.88 ± 0.54 µg/kg. In conclusion, this research provided an effective approach to clarify the content of potential residual components in cultured fat and it will provide reference for the safety of cultured fat in the future.

N-acetylcysteine promotes the proliferation of porcine adipose-derived stem cells during in vitro long-term expansion for cultured meat production.

Cultured meat is an efficient, safe and sustainable meat production technology. Adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC) is a promising cell type for cultured meat. In vitro, obtaining numerous of ADSCs is a pivotal step for cultured meat. In this research, we demonstrated that the proliferation and adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs significantly decreased during serial passage. Then, senescence ß-galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) staining showed that the positive rate of P9 ADSCs was 7.74-fold than P3 ADSCs. Subsequently, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed for P3 and P9 ADSCs and found that PI3K-AKT pathway was up-regulated, but cell cycle and DNA repair pathway were down-regulated in P9 ADSCs. Then, N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) was added during long-term expansion and showed that NAC enhanced the ADSCs proliferation and maintained adipogenic differentiation. Finally, RNA-seq was performed for P9 ADSCs cultured with or without NAC and showed that NAC restored the cell cycle and DNA repair pathway in P9 ADSCs. These results highlighted that NAC was an excellent supplement for large-scale expansion of porcine ADSCs for cultured meat.

Identification of porcine adipose progenitor cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting for the preparation of cultured fat by 3D bioprinting.

Cultured meat is an emerging technology that is friendly for the environment and animal welfare. As a novel food ingredient, cultured fat is essential for the flavor and nutrition of cultured meat. In this study, we purified adipose progenitor cell (APC) from freshly isolated porcine stromal vessel fraction (SVF) by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and identified the transcriptome characteristics of APC by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The results showed that APC had characteristics of high-efficiency proliferation and adipogenic differentiation and was distinct from SVF cell in transcriptome profiles. Subsequently, APC was used to prepare cultured fat by 3D bioprinting and to evaluate the differences in fatty acid composition between cultured fat and porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue (pSAT). The results indicated that the fatty acid composition and content of cultured fat had a certain similarity with pSAT; specifically, the content of key monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) that create pork flavor in cultured fat, such as C18:1(n-12), C18:1(n-9) and C19:1(n-9)T, were close to that of pSAT. Therefore, this research indicated that APC is a promising candidate cell type for the production of cultured fat.

Effect of uninterrupted dabigatran or rivaroxaban on achieving ideal activated clotting time to heparin response during catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Uninterrupted use of oral anticoagulants before atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation can reduce the incidence of perioperative thromboembolic events. However, the effect of new oral anticoagulants on activated clotting time (ACT) in response to heparin during AF ablation in Chinese populations remains unknown. The aim of the present retrospective study was to investigate the value of ACTs in response to intraoperative heparin administration in patients using dabigatran or rivaroxaban. METHODS: From January 2018 to December 2021, a total of 173 patients undergoing AF ablation were included in the study, in which 101 patients were treated with dabigatran, 72 patients were treated with rivaroxaban. The intraoperative ACT values were examined in both groups. The incidence of periprocedural complications was evaluated. RESULTS: Initial heparin dosage (88 ± 19 U/kg vs. 78 ± 27 U/kg, P < 0.05), total heparin dosage (137 ± 41 U/kg vs. 106 ± 52 U/kg, P < 0.05) during the ablation procedure were higher in the dabigatran group than those in the rivaroxaban group. Mean ACT (280 ± 36 s vs. 265 ± 30 s, P < 0.05), and the percentage of ACTs within the therapeutic range (250-350 s) (74% ± 26% vs. 60% ± 29%, P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the dabigatran group than those in the rivaroxaban group, particularly in male patients. Furthermore, the average time of achieving the target ACT (250-350 s) was also found longer in the dabigatran group (P < 0.05) as compared with the rivaroxaban group. No significant difference was found in the incidence of periprocedural complications between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The anticoagulant effect of uninterrupted rivaroxaban therapy appears to be more stable and efficient than dabigatran administration during catheter ablation in patients with AF.

Three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping guidelines for the selection of pacing site to achieve cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of left ventricular electroanatomical mapping to choose between left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) or coronary venous pacing (CVP). Background: There are several ways to achieve left ventricular activation in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT): LBBAP and CVP are two possible methods of delivering CRT. However, the criteria for choosing the best approach remains unknown. Methods: A total of 71 patients with heart failure, reduced ejection fraction, and left bundle branch block (LBBB) were recruited, of which 38 patients underwent the three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping of the left ventricle to accurately assess whether the left bundle branch was blocked and the block level, while the remaining 33 patients were not mapped. Patients with true LBBB achieved CRT by LBBAP, while patients with pseudo-LBBB achieved CRT by CVP. After a mean follow-up of 6 months and 1 year, the QRS duration and transthoracic echocardiography, including mechanical synchrony indices, were evaluated. Results: Twenty-five patients with true LBBB received LBBAP, while 13 without true LBBB received CVP. Seventeen patients received LBBAP, and 16 patients received CVP without mapping. Paced QRS duration after the implantation of LBBAP and CVP was significantly narrower in the mapping subgroup compared to the non-mapping subgroup. A significant increase in post-implantation left ventricular ejection fraction was observed in patients with LBBAP or CVP, and the mapping subgroup were better than the non-mapping subgroup. After a 12-month follow-up, atrioventricular, intraventricular, and biventricular synchronization were significantly improved in the mapping subgroup compared to non-mapping groups in both LBBAP and CVP. Conclusion: In our study, three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping was used to choose LBBAP or CVP for heart failure patients, which proved feasible, with better cardiac resynchronization in the long-term follow-up. Therefore, three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping before CRT appears to be a reliable method for heart failure patients with LBBB who are indicated for CRT.

Production of cultured fat with peanut wire-drawing protein scaffold and quality evaluation based on texture and volatile compounds analysis.

Cultured meat is an emergent technology that cultivates cells in three-dimensional scaffolds to generate tissue for consumption. Fat makes an important contribution to the flavor and texture of traditional meat, but there are few reports on cultured fat. Here, we demonstrated the construction of cultured fat by inoculating porcine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (ADSC) on peanut wire-drawing protein (PWP) scaffolds. First, we demonstrated that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) promoted cell proliferation and maintained adipogenic differentiation ability. Then, we generated cultured fat and found that cultured fat decreased the texture of PWP scaffolds. Moreover, 43 volatile compounds were detected by headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), of which 17 volatile compounds showed no significant differences between cultured fat and porcine subcutaneous adipose tissue (pSAT), which indicated that cultured fat and pSAT had certain similarities. Collectively, this research has great promise for improving the quality of cultured meat.

Production of cultured meat by culturing porcine smooth muscle cells in vitro with food grade peanut wire-drawing protein scaffold.

Cultivating meat is a promising solution to the negative problems brought by traditional animal husbandry. To make cultured meat have the sensory and nutritional characteristics of conventional meat as much as possible, many studies have been conducted on various cell types and scaffold characteristics. Therefore, this study aims to produce a low-cost cultured meat with a quality closer to that of conventional meat. Tissue generation requires three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds to support cells and simulate extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we used peanut wire-drawing protein (a biomaterial based on edible porous protein) as a new culture meat scaffold to culture cells. The scaffold can support cell attachment and proliferation to create 3D engineered porcine muscle tissue. The differentiation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was induced by a low serum medium to produce more extracellular matrix proteins. After differentiation, it was found that peanut wire-drawing protein scaffolds could be used for porcine smooth muscle cell adhesion and growth. The ECM protein and muscle protein produced by SMCs can endow cultured meat with better quality. This technology provides an innovative pathway for the industrialized production of cultured meat.

Core muscle functional strength training for reducing the risk of low back pain in military recruits: An open-label randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Core muscle functional strength training (CMFST) has been reported to reduce injuries to the lower extremity. However, no study has confirmed whether CMFST can reduce the risk of low back pain (LBP). OBJECTIVE: This study identified the effects of CMFST on the incidence of LBP in military recruits. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: We performed a prospective, open-label, randomized, controlled study in a population of young healthy male naval recruits from a Chinese basic combat training program. Participants were randomly assigned to either the core group or the control group. In additional to normal basic combat training, recruits in the core group underwent a CMFST program for 12 weeks, while recruits in the control group received no extra training. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At the beginning of the study and at the 12th week, the number of participants with LBP was counted, and lumbar muscle endurance was measured. In addition, when participants complained of LBP, they were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). RESULTS: A total of 588 participants were included in the final analysis (295 in the core group and 293 in the control group). The incidence of LBP in the control group was about twice that of the core group over the 12-week study (20.8% vs 10.8%, odds ratio: 2.161-2.159, P < 0.001). The core group had better lumbar muscle endurance at 12 weeks than the control group ([200.80 ± 92.98] s vs [147.00 ± 84.51] s, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in VAS score between groups, but the core group had a significantly lower RMDQ score at week 12 than the control group (3.33 ± 0.58 vs 5.47 ± 4.41, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the CMFST effectively reduced the incidence of LBP, improved lumbar muscle endurance, and relieved the dysfunction of LBP during basic military training.

Evaluation of the effect of smooth muscle cells on the quality of cultured meat in a model for cultured meat.

While the research on improving the meat quality of cultured meat is in full swing, few studies have focused on the effect of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) on the meat quality of cultured meat. Therefore, this study aimed at building a cultured meat model containing smooth muscle cells, and further evaluating the effect of smooth muscle cells on the quality of cultured meat, so as to reveal the contribution of smooth muscle cells in the production of cultured meat. In this study, we isolated high purity of smooth muscle cells from vascular tissues. The addition of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to the medium significantly increased the growth rate of smooth muscle cells and the expression of extracellular matrix related genes, especially collagen and elastin. Smooth muscle cells were seeded in a collagen gel to construct a culture meat model. It was found that the pressure loss of the model meat significantly decreased from 98.5 % in control group to 54 % with the extension of culture time for 9 days, while the total collagen content of model meat increased significantly (P < 0.05). In addition, the hydrogel tissue with smooth muscle cells compacted more dramatically and were more tightly, accompanied by significantly increased hardness, springiness and chewiness compared to the control one (P < 0.05). These results indicate that smooth muscle cells can secrete extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen, which can significantly enhance the texture of cultured meat models prepared by hydrogel.

Sleep quality and military training injury during basic combat training: a prospective cohort study of Chinese male recruits.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between sleep quality and military training injury (MTI) in recruits during basic combat training (BCT). METHODS: Participants were new recruits undergoing 12-week military BCT in China. Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) . Participants were classified into two groups based on their sleep quality (group 1, good sleep, PSQI score <7; group 2, poor sleep, PSQI score ≥7) at the start of BCT. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to test whether baseline PSQI score was associated with MTI incidence during BCT. RESULTS: A total of 563 participants were included. The incidence of MTI was significantly lower in group 1 (48/203, 23.6%) than in group 2 (150/360, 41.7%) (p<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of MTI were 2.307 times higher in group 2 than in group 1 without adjusting for confounders: OR=2.307, p<0.001. When the model was adjusted for age, ethnicity, educational level and family income (OR=2.285) or for the previous confounders plus body mass index (OR=2.377), the results were similar (both p<0.001). Analysis of the types of initial MTI showed that group 2 had about 2.1 times higher odds of soft tissue injury than group 1 (p<0.001 in all the three models). CONCLUSION: Sleep quality before BCT influences the incidence of MTI, especially of soft tissue injury.

Cyclopentenone derivatives and polyhydroxylated steroids from the soft coral Sinularia acuta.

Four new polyhydroxylated steroids, 1-4, and the racemic form of cyclopentenone 9, together with four known steroids, 5-8, one known cyclopentenone derivative, 10, and one known butenolide derivative, 11, were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia acuta collected from Weizhou Island of Guangxi Province, P. R. China. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of the corresponding data with those previously reported. The cytotoxicities of the isolates 1-11 in vitro against the selected tumor cell lines HL-60, HeLa, and K562 were evaluated. Compounds 2 and 5 showed potent cytotoxicities against HL-60 cell lines with IC50 values of 7.3 and 9.9 µM, respectively. Compounds 5 and 6 showed moderate activities against K562 cell lines with IC50 values of 10.9 and 11.7 µM, respectively, while compounds 1, 2, and 6 showed weak activities against HeLa cell lines with respective IC50 values of 44.8, 27.1, and 18.2 µM. This is the first report on chemical and bioactivity research of S. acuta.

[Repair of electric burn wound in the upper limbs with lateral intercostal perforator-based pedicled flap].

OBJECTIVE: To describe an operative method for the repair of electric burn wound in the upper limbs with lateral intercostal perforator-based pedicled flap, and to observe its clinical effect. METHODS: Intercostal artery perforator-based pedicled abdominal flap with the blood supply originating from the lateral perforator branches of the 7th-10th intercostal arteries were used to repair the wounds of 6 patients with burn wounds in elbows, forearm, wrists and palms. The pedicles were (16. 0 cm x 12. 0 cm) - (9. 0 cm x 7.0 cm) in area, and the pedicles were severed 18 to 21 days after the operation. The survival and the appearance of the flaps were observed after operation. RESULTS: The procedure was easy and safe, and there was reliable and adequate blood supply in the lateral intercostal perforator-based pedicled flap. All the flaps survived in 5 patients, except marginal necrosis (3.5 cm x 2. 0 cm) was found in the distal portion of flap because flap cutting exceeded the paraumbilical line. The appearance was satisfactory after operation. CONCLUSION: This flap is suitable for the repair of deep wounds in hands, forearms, and elbows.