Biochemical Compositional Analysis of Cadaveric Rib Cartilage.

Background: Cadaveric rib is used as a cartilage source for reconstructive rhinoplasty in patients who lack sufficient native septal cartilage; however, these grafts are known to warp. Objective: To measure and compare the biochemical properties of cadaveric rib as related to age, gender, and cortical versus core location. Methods: Seven cadaveric rib cartilage specimens were obtained and sectioned into cortical and core segments. Biochemical assays were used to determine total collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content. Results: Collagen was present in higher amounts in cortical segments than core samples (72.8 ± 35.14 vs. 37.3 ± 16.99 µg/mgww, p = 0.0005). sGAG was also shown to be more prevalent in cortical segments (25.47 ± 11.59 vs. 12.17 ± 7.15 µg/mgww, p < 0.0001). The concentrations of collagen and sGAG demonstrated a positive correlation (R2 = 0.44, p = 0.0004). Collagen and sGAG content decreased with the age of the donor (p = 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively), but donor gender did not appear to affect collagen or sGAG content (p = 0.62 and p = 0.43, respectively). Conclusion: Collagen and sGAG content was higher in cortical segments of cadaveric rib cartilage than in core segments, and higher in samples from younger cadavers as well.

Sodium nitrite detection in costal cartilage and vitreous humor - Case report of fatal poisoning with sodium nitrite.

Medico-legal case reports very rarely describe sodium nitrite poisonings, but when they do most often they describe fatal suicide attempts. The case report presents a suicidal attempt with sodium nitrite of unknown provenance and the first attempt to detect nitrite ions in costal cartilage and vitreous humor samples. In February 2020, the corpse of a 23-year-old man was revealed in a student apartment. According to the prosecutor's office, the deceased had an incomplete IT (Information Technology) degree. The onsite inspection revealed the body on the bathroom floor, an opened container with sodium nitrite III in the bathroom cabinet, and a farewell letter in the apartment. The autopsy showed the hypoxia symptoms. The blood and urine of the deceased showed no trace of ethyl alcohol or psychoactive substances. Analyses showed the presence of nitrite ions in the blood (0.2 µg/ml) and urine (24.6 µg/ml) of the deceased. Additional analyses revealed nitrites presence in the gastric contents (2200 µg/ml), liver tissue (0.3 µg/g), kidney tissue (3.6 µg/g) and, for the first time, in costal cartilage (3.4 µg/g) and vitreous humor (57.7 µg/ml). The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was an acute cardio-respiratory failure in the course of suicidal sodium nitrite poisoning. The presented case indicates the need for collecting a wide range of samples for toxicological analyses. It also proves that both costal cartilage and vitreous humor may serve as an alternative forensic material in sodium nitrite poisonings.

Effect of ultrasonication on the yield, functional and physicochemical characteristics of collagen-II from chicken sternal cartilage.

The aim of this study was to extract collagen from chicken sternal cartilage with ultrasound for various times to investigate the effects of ultrasonic waves and, cavitation energy on the yield, functional and physicochemical characteristics of collagen. The highest yield of collagen was 84.14% based on protein weight after ultrasonic treatment for 36 min. Using SDS-PAGE, the extracted protein was identified as collagen-II and its structural integrity was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The triple helical structure remained the same, but some changes in the secondary structure were observed after longer ultrasonication treatments (≥36 min). The amino acid profile exhibited high thermal stability. The rheological and functional characteristics of collagen were also considerably improved after ultrasonication for the optimal period (24 min). The ultrasonication treatment is an effective process for the extraction of collagen-II from land animal co-products, which will further meet the increasing industrial demand.

Novel Hydrolyzed Chicken Sternal Cartilage Extract Improves Facial Epidermis and Connective Tissue in Healthy Adult Females: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

CONTEXT: Dietary supplement manufacturers claim cutaneous anti-aging properties for their products; however, research supporting these claims remains sparse. OBJECTIVES: The study intended to determine if a correlation existed between the effects of a collagen dietary supplement and changes associated with skin aging. DESIGN: The study was a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: The study took place at a clinical facility specializing in dermatological testing that could perform biophysical, instrumental analysis on the effects of proprietary supplement on human skin. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 128 females, aged 39-59 (50.57 ± 5.55). INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or a placebo. The intervention consisted of twice daily oral administration of a supplement containing 500 mg BioCell Collagen, a chicken sternal cartilage derived dietary ingredient composed of a naturally-occurring matrix of hydrolyzed collagen type-II (≥300 mg), chondroitin sulfate (≥100 mg), hyaluronic acid (≥50 mg). OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary parameters included transepidermal water loss, viscoelasticity, hydration, (indirect) collagen content, chromophore (melanin) content and hemoglobin level, and photographic analysis. An expert visually graded participants' skin to determine the intervention's efficacy, measuring facial lines and wrinkles, crow's feet lines and wrinkles, skin texture and smoothness, and skin tone. The presence of erythema and/or dryness determined tolerance. Secondary outcome measures were tolerance and incidence of adverse events, and the participant's perception of the supplement's value. RESULTS: For the 113 participants completing the study, the dietary supplementation compared to a placebo: (1) significantly reduced facial lines and wrinkles (P = .019) and crow's feet lines and wrinkles (P = .05), (2) increased skin elasticity (P = .008) and cutaneous collagen content (P < .001) by 12%, (3) improved indicators associated with a more youthful skin appearance based on visual grading and wrinkle width (P = .046), and (4) decreased skin dryness and erythema. No difference existed between the supplement and the placebo for skin-surface water content or retention. The supplement was well tolerated, with no reported adverse reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary supplementation with chicken, sternal cartilage extract supports the accumulation of types-I/III collagen in skin to promote increased elasticity and reduced skin wrinkling.

Liquefaction of chicken sternal cartilage by steam explosion to isolate chondroitin sulfate.

Chondroitin sulfate (CS), together with peptide, was isolated from the liquid fraction of chicken sternal cartilage subjected to steam explosion (SE) by membrane separation. Cartilage was liquefied via the SE conditions, including various pressures (1.0-1.6 MPa) and times (60-140 s). The extraction procedure was optimized as follows: the amount of papain added, 0.11%; enzymolysis time, 10.5 h; and enzymolysis temperature, 56.5 °C, under which the highest recovery and total yield of CS were 92.15% and 18.55% at 1.4 MPa for120 s, and the counterparts of peptides were 87.35% (1.0 MPa, 140 s) and 63.07% (1.6 MPa, 140 s). The average molecular weight of CS samples ranged from 30 to 35 kDa. CS sample was confirmed using agarose-gel electrophoresis, and the structure was analysed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance. Taken together, SE can be an eco-friendly pretreatment method to liquefy cartilage for CS isolation.

Effect of anisotropy and drying of costal cartilage on its optical transmittance in laser reshaping of implants with 1, 2, and 3 mm in thickness.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Laser reshaping of cartilage is a prospective technique which can be applied for manufacturing the natural implants for otolaryngology and reconstructive surgery. Optical properties and optimal laser settings for laser reshaping of costal cartilage depend on its thickness, water content, and structural anisotropy of the tissue, in particular, the distinct orientation of collagen packing. The aim of the work is to study the effect of different collagen orientation, thickness, and drying of costal cartilage on its interaction with laser radiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Costal cartilage was cut along and crosswise the distinct collagen orientation. The dried and normal cartilage was used for the comparative analysis. The collagen package was studied using atomic force microscopy. The dried tissue was analyzed with thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analysis to reveal the residual water content. The optical transmittance was measured for two wavelengths λ: 1,560 and 532 nm. The reshaping of cartilage of 1-3 mm in thickness was performed with infrared laser with λ = 1560 nm while, the radiation with λ = 532 nm was used to determine the location of the IR beam. RESULTS: The transmittance of 532 nm radiation does not depend on collagen orientation and tissue drying. The IR radiation transmits better along the distinct collagen direction in dried cartilage while in normal cartilage the intensity of transmitted IR radiation increases intermittently passing crosswise and does not change dramatically with time along the collagen orientation. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of structural anisotropy of costal cartilage reveals itself in the increasing scattering of IR radiation with λ = 1,560 nm passing crosswise the collagen orientation when tissue water content is decreased. The radiation with λ = 1,560 nm is effective to perform the reshaping for cartilage of 1-3 mm in thickness; however, for 3 mm, the residual mechanical stress should be taken into account. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:887-892, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.