The interaction between the somatosensory and motor systems is important for control of movement in humans. Cortical activity related to somatosensory response and sensory perception is modulated by the influence of movement executing mechanisms. This phenomenon has been observed as inhibition in the short-latency components of somatosensory evoked potentials and magnetic fields (SEPs/SEFs). Although finger is the most dexterous among all the body parts, the sensorimotor integration underlying this dexterity has not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine the sensorimotor integration mechanisms in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) during simple and complicated finger movement. The participant performed tasks that involved picking up a wooden block (PM task) and picking up and turning the wooden block 180 degrees (PTM task) using the right-hand fingers. During these tasks, the SEFs following right median nerve stimulation were recorded using magnetoencephalography. The amplitude of the M20 and M30 components showed a significant reduction during both manual tasks compared to the stationary task, whereas the M38 component showed a significant enhancement in amplitude. Furthermore, the SEFs recorded during continuous rotation of the block (rotation task) revealed a characteristic pattern of SI activity that was first suppressed and then facilitated. Since this facilitation is noticeable during complicated movement of the fingers, this phenomenon is thought to underlie a neural mechanism related to finger dexterity.

Keywords: magnetoencephalography; manual dexterity; sensorimotor integration; tactile.

During our extensive study of the supplementary eye field (SEF) in relation to eye and arm movements, we had the opportunity to record the activity of 25 out of 315 cells during both saccade task and drowsiness states. All 25 cells showed a phasic, spatially selective postsaccadic activity that was not related to fixation. During drowsiness, the discharge was time locked with the onset of the slow movement, had increased duration, and was not spatially selective. These preliminary data suggest that saccade neurons present in SEF are also involved in the motor processes of slow eye movements during drowsiness.

Aim: To evaluate the impact of socioeconomic factors (SEFs) on survival of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. Materials & methods: RCC patients diagnosed between 2007 and 2015 were collected from the SEER database. The crude and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify the independent prognostic factors and quantity the mortality risks for overall survival (OS). Results: Three SEFs including marital status, insurance status and median household income were identified as prognostic factors for OS. SEF-stage was built based on the three SEFs. Moreover, the SEF-stage 1 had superior OS than SEF-stage 2 within the respective American Joint Committee on Cancer stages. Conclusion: The SEF-stage was an independently prognostic factor for OS in RCC. Incorporation of SEF-stage into the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system might be beneficial for better survival prediction and clinical management. However, further studies were needed to validate these findings in other populations.

Sef (similar expression to fgf genes) was identified as a feedback antagonist of FGF signaling in zerbrafish, mouse and human. To construct recombinant adenoviral vectors expressing hSef-L and hSef-S, the coding sequences of the two isoforms were amplified and ligated into pAdTrack-CMV, forming shuttle vectors pAdTrack-CMV/hSef-L-Myc and pAdTrack-CMV/hSef-S-Myc. After sequence confirmation, these two shuttle vector plasmids were linearized by Pme I and then co-transformed respectively with the adenoviral genome vector pAdEasy-1 into E. coli BJ5183. The successful recombinants were selected by Kanamycin and confirmed by Pac I digestion. The recombinant vectors Ad-hSef-L-Myc and Ad-hSef-S-Myc were finally digested with Pac I and transfected into HEK293 cells to pack into viral particles. The virus were amplified in 293 cells and used to infect MEF cells. Western blotting analysis was used to demonstrate the expression of hSef-L-Myc and hSef-S-Myc proteins. The inhibitory effects of the adenovirus mediated Sef expression on FGF signaling was further evaluated by Elk luciferase reporter assay. Our results indicated the constructed virus could produce effectively the proteins and then inhibit FGF signaling in MEF cells.

We present a theoretical study on the influence of the nonlocal dielectric response on surface-enhanced resonant Raman scattering (SERRS) and fluorescence (SEF) spectra of a model molecule confined in the center of a Ag nanoparticle (NP) dimer. In the simulations, the nonlocal dielectric response caused by the electron-hole pair generation in Ag NPs was computed with the d-parameter theory, and the scattering spectra of a model molecule representing the commonly used fluorescent dye rhodamine 6G (R6G) were obtained by density-matrix calculations. The influence of the separation between Ag NP dimers on the damping rate and scattering spectra with and without the nonlocal response were systematically analyzed. The results show that the nonlocal dielectric response is very sensitive to the gap distance of the NP dimers, and it undergoes much faster decay with the increase of the separation than the radiative and energy transfer rates. The Raman and fluorescence peaks as simulated with the nonlocal dielectric response are relative weaker than that without the nonlocal effect for smaller NP separations because the extra decay rates of the nonlocal effect could reduce both the population of the excited state and the interband coherence between the ground and excited states. Our result also indicates that the nonlocal effect is more prominent on the SEF process than the SERRS process.

We have summarized the history of electroencephalography(EEG) since 1875, when a paper by Richard Caton was published describing the first EEG recordings in animals. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded by George Dawson in 1951. Thereafter, SEPs were developed for clinical use with other evoked potentials such as auditory evoked potentials(VEPs). To understand evoked potentials, related mechanism of induction of far-fields-potentials(FFP) following stimulation of the median nerve has been discussed. SEPs consisted of P9, N9, N10, P11, N11, N13, P13, P14, N18, N20 and P20/P22. Scalp recorded P9 FFP arises from the distal portion of the branchial plexus as reflected by N9 stationary negative potential recorded over the stimulated arm. Cervical N11 and N13 arise from the root entry zone and dorsal horn, respectively. Scalp recorded P13, P14 and N18 FFP originate from the brainstem. In this communication, magnetoencephalography(MEG) and results of one of our recent studies on somatosensory evoked fields(SEFs) are also discussed. One of the important features of MEG is that magnetic signals detected outside the head arise mainly from cortical currents tangential to the skull. Since the net postsynaptic current follows the orientation of cortical pyramidal cells, the MEG signals mainly reflect activity of the fissural cortex, whereas radial current may remain undetected. In our study, we demonstrated SEFs elicited by compression and decompression of a subject's glabrous skin by a human operator. Their dipoles were tangentially oriented from the frontal lobe to parietal lobe.

A highly sensitive liquid chromatographic method was developed for the fluorometric determination of trace amounts of linear aliphatic primary amines. Prior to extraction, amines were derivatized with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA) in the presence of cyanide ion (CN) and extracted by vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VALLME). The optimum conditions were as follows: derivatization reaction time for 5 min in 2.0 mL aqueous donor samples with 50 μM NDA/CN, and 10mM borate buffer at pH 9; vortex extraction time for 20s in the VALLME step with 50 μL of isooctane as the extractant phase; centrifugation for 1 min at 6000 rpm. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection (LOD) were between 0.01 and 0.04 nmol L(-1). The calibration curves showed good linearity in the range of 0.1-20 nmol L(-1). In comparison with previous work using o-phthalaldehyde/2-mercaptoethanol derivatization, the method has much more stable fluorescent derivatives, higher fluorescence intensities, and greater extraction efficiencies. The sensitivity enhancement factors (SEF) were between 2 and 70, which is in good agreement with the theoretical values calculated from partition coefficients in VALLME system.

The left ventricular function of the heart was examined by means of the method of equilibrium-radionuclide ventriculography in 40 patients with essential hypertension (EH)--20 patients in stage I (H1), 20 patients in stage II (H2) according to WHO criteria--and in 18 normotensives (N). The examination was performed at rest and immediately after stress by intravenous infusion of hyperosmolar mannitol. At rest, the parameters of global systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle in normotensives do not differ significantly from the values in both groups of hypertensives. The global ejection fraction (GEF), peak ejection rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR) were in H2 significantly lower than in H1. Sectorial ejection fraction (SEF) in the apicoseptal area is in H2 significantly lower than H1 and N. After infusion of hyperosmolar mannitol the GEF and PFR increased in N and H1 only. When comparing all groups after infusion of mannitol the PFR in H2 is significantly lower also in comparison with N with the tendency (significant limit) to lower values of GEF and PER. PER and PFR were significantly lower and the end-diastolic volume (EDV) was significantly higher in H2 in comparison with H1. SEF was significantly lower in H2 in comparison with N in 3 out ot 9 sectors and in comparison with H1 in 8 out of 9 sectors. The infusion of hyperosmolar mannitol reveals subclinical disturbances of the diastolic and partially also of the systolic function of the left ventricle in stage II of EH which is very useful for diagnosis and treatment. (Tab. 4, Fig. 3, Ref. 22.).

With the rapid development of ultra-high-voltage direct-current (UHVDC) transmission, the strength of environmental static electric field (SEF) around UHVDC transmission lines increased substantially, which has aroused widely public attention on the potential health effects of SEF. In this study, the effect of SEF exposure on learning and memory ability was investigated. Institute of Cancer Research mice were exposed to 56.3 kV/m SEF for a short term (7 days) or long term (49 days). Behaviors in the Morris water maze (MWM) test, hippocampal neurotransmitter contents, and oxidative stress indicators were examined. Results showed that short-term SEF exposure significantly prolonged escape latency and decreased the number of platform-site crossovers, as well as decreased the time spent in the target quadrant in the MWM test. Meanwhile, serotonin level and the ratio of glutamate level to γ-aminobutyric acid level changed significantly. Besides, malondialdehyde content and glutathione peroxidase activity increased significantly, while superoxide dismutase activity decreased significantly. After long-term SEF exposure, all indices above showed no significant differences between the SEF and sham exposure groups. These data indicated that short-term exposure to 56.3 kV/m SEF could cause abnormal neurotransmitter levels and oxidative stress in the hippocampus, which led to the decline in learning and memory ability. Under the condition of long-term exposure, the SEF-induced disturbances in neurotransmitter contents and redox balance were offset by the compensatory responses of mice, and thus, the learning and memory ability returned to normal level. The temporary and reversible decline in learning and memory ability was only a common biological effect of SEF rather than a health hazard.

One-dimensional iron oxide materials fabricated on conducting glass substrates and their unique properties make these nanostructures promising candidates for a wide range of applications. Herein, vertically oriented α-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays synthesized under hydrothermal conditions over a large area are described, as an active platform for surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) and surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF). From scanning electron microscopy images the formation of a homogeneous distribution of vertically oriented rods in a large area is confirmed. For activating the localized surface plasmon resonances, which are responsible for SERRS and SEF, a 6 nm layer of Ag is deposited onto the α-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays by physical vapor deposition to form Ag islands.

The anaesthetic-saving property of clonidine has often been reported. In our own prospective, randomized study, in which the depth of anaesthesia was controlled by using spectral edge frequency (target-<em>SEF</em>90 = 10 Hz) and clinical parameters, we confirmed the anaesthetic-saving property only for fentanyl (-20%). On the other hand, there was no difference in MAC-sevoflurane values between the groups in keeping a steady target-<em>SEF</em>. For this reason, we analysed the stored pEEG data with regard to clonidine-specific effects. Twenty-eight patients were included in our study. The patients were randomly treated preoperatively with an infusion of 4 micrograms/kg KG Clonidine (clonidine group) or a placebo (placebo group). For anaesthesia, a standardized procedure with fentanyl, propofol, rocuronium, N2O/O2/sevoflurane was performed. The depth of anaesthesia was controlled by using <em>SEF</em>90 and clinical parameters. <em>SEF</em>90, <em>SEF</em>50 and the EEG power-spectrum were analysed over a five-minute period in the steady state of anaesthesia without surgical manipulation. Both placebo and the clonidine showed comparable values for <em>SEF</em>90 (9.9 +/- 1 vs. 10.7 +/- 0.9 Hz). On the other hand, there were differences in the <em>SEF</em>50 values between the groups (3.3 +/- 0.7 vs. 6.4 +/- 2.2 Hz). In the clonidine group, relative alpha-power was higher than in the placebo group (36.3 +/- 15.8 vs. 16.8 +/- 8.8%). Parallel to this effect, there was a reduction in relative delta-power in the clonidine group (47.6 +/- 15.2 vs. 65.4 +/- 9.1%). The described EEG effects on the power-spectrum inevitably influence <em>SEF</em>50 and <em>SEF</em>90. In our opinion, <em>SEF</em>50 is not a powerful predictor of depth of anaesthesia, when anaesthesia is performed in the way described. By performing this variation of balanced anaesthesia and co-medication with clonidine, higher values of <em>SEF</em>90 (11-14 Hz) seem to be adequate for surgical manipulation.

Background: The aim of this prospective and complete cross-over study was to evaluate the effects of isoflurane, remifentanil and dexmedetomidine on EEG parameters derived from the Narcotrend® Monitor before and after nociceptive stimulation at different isoflurane MAC (minimal alveolar concentration) multiples. Seven adult European Domestic Short Hair cats were used. Each cat went through 3 experimental treatments. Group I received isoflurane, group IR received isoflurane and a constant rate infusion (CRI) of remifentanil (18 μg/kg/h IV), and group ID received isoflurane and a CRI of dexmedetomidine (3 μg/kg/h IV). The isoflurane MAC in each group was determined via supramaximal electrical stimulation. The EEG parameters were derived by a Narcotrend Monitor at specific time points before and after nociceptive stimulation at 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 MAC. The depth of anaesthesia was also assessed by a clinical score.

Results: The mean MAC sparing effects in group IR and group ID were 9.8 and 55.2%, respectively. The best correlation of EEG and MAC multiples was found for the Narcotrend Index (NI) in group I (r = - 0.67). The NI was also able to differentiate between 0.75 MAC and 1.5 MAC in group IR. Spectral edge frequency had a lower correlation with MAC multiples in group I (r = - 0.62) but was able to differentiate between 0.75 MAC and 1.5 MAC in groups I and IR, and between 1.0 MAC and 1.5 MAC in group IR. Narcotrend Index, SEF 95 and MF increased significantly after nociceptive stimulation at 1.0 MAC in group I, and SEF 95 increased significantly at 0.75 MAC in group ID. The clinical score correlated closer than any of the EEG parameters with MAC in all groups, with highest correlation values in group I (r = - 0.89). Noxious stimulation led to a significant increase of the clinical score at 0.75 MAC and 1.0 MAC in group I.

Conclusions: The EEG parameters derived from the Narcotrend Monitor show correlation to isoflurane MAC multiples in cats, but the anaesthetic protocol and especially the addition of dexmedetomidine have great influence on the reliability. The Narcotrend Monitor can be used as an additional tool to assess anesthetic depth in cats.

Keywords: Anaesthesia; Anaesthetic depth; Cat; Dexmedetomidine; EEG; Electroencephalography; Isoflurane; Minimum alveolar concentration; Narcotrend; Remifentanil.

OBJECTIVE

The auditory steady-state evoked response (ASSR) is an evoked potential which provides a sensitive measure of the effects of general anaesthetics on the brain. We used pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) modelling to compare the effects of sufentanil on the amplitude of the ASSR with its effect on spectral edge frequency (SEF) of the electroencephalogram.

METHODS

Nine patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery participated. Midazolam (70 micrograms.kg-1 i.m.) was given 60 min before entering the operating room. Anaesthesia was induced with 5 micrograms.kg-1 sufentanil at a rate of 0.83 microgram.kg-1.min-1. The ASSR, SEF and plasma sufentanil concentrations were measured for 30 min after induction of anaesthesia before surgery. The half-life between the central and effect site compartments (t1/2Keo), the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the slope factor (gamma) were computed.

RESULTS

The amplitude of the ASSR increased during the first three minutes of infusion of sufentanil by up to 40%. This was followed by a rapid decrease between the fourth and fifth minutes to 16% of baseline. The SEF decreased progressively during the first five minutes of infusion to 18% of baseline. Both measures subsequently showed modest recovery. The parameters gamma, IC50 and t1/2Keo for ASSR were (mean +/- SD) 6.0 +/- 3.7, 2.1 +/- 1.2 ng.ml-1 and 7.3 +/- 2.4 min. For SEF the values were 5.9 +/- 5.2, 1.4 +/- 0.7 ng.ml-1 (P < 0.05 compared with ASSR) and 6.8 +/- 2.4 min.

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity of ASSR to sufentanil is less than that of the SEF.

The relationship between the concentration of a drug and its pharmacologic effect is of central interest in pharmacodynamics. Various compartmental and noncompartmental methods have been proposed for elucidating this relationship when the plasma drug concentration and effects are both measured. Although the relationship between drug input and the pharmacologic effect is equally useful, it has not received as much attention. A system analysis hysteresis minimization pharmacodynamic method was developed to describe the central nervous system effects of alfentanil in rabbits. The spectral edge frequency (SEF) was used as the effect measure and the infusion rate as the pharmacokinetic variable. The sigmoid Emax and cubic polynomial representations of the transduction relationship were investigated in modeling the collapsed hysteresis loop. The results indicated that alfentanil has a relatively rapid biophase equilibration time (t50 = 6 min). Both the sigmoid Emax and cubic polynomial transduction relationships were equally effective in describing the observed effect data and gave similar predictions. The proposed approach has the advantage of not assuming a specific compartmental structure for the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic link. A particular advantage of the method is that no functional relationship is assumed a priori for the transduction relationship, and errors in both regression variables are considered in the optimization. The system analysis pharmacodynamic approach assumes linear disposition pharmacokinetics, an instantaneous and time-invariant transduction, and that inductive effects like tolerance or sensitization do not develop significantly in the time frame studied.

Three-step stacking by field-enhanced sample injection (FESI), sweeping, and micelle to solvent stacking (MSS) in co-EOF capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is presented for anionic analytes. Long FESI produced an overloaded stacked zone of analytes (four model penicillins). Sweeping of the FESI zone was by electrokinetic injection of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles. MSS was by short injection of 60% methanol that released the swept analytes from CTAB micelles. The sensitivity enhancement factors were 146-279 and 519-954 for conductivity ratio of 10 and 100, respectively. The SEF enhancement factors (factor=SEF from three-step stacking/SEF from FESI) were 16-32 and 6-10, correspondingly. The LODs were between 6.6-13.2 ng/mL, repeatability (intraday and interday) was %RSD≤5.4%, and linearity was R(2)≥0.998. Application to real sample was investigated using fortified plasma after liquid-liquid extraction.

This study investigated the effects of hemorrhagic hypotension on cerebral blood flow velocity and brain electrical activity (by electroencephalogram [EEG]). Eleven mongrel dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane (1 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration [MAC]) and catheters were placed into both femoral arteries and veins for mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) measurement, blood withdrawal, and drug administration. Brain temperature, arterial blood gases, and pH were maintained constant. EEG was recorded from temporoparietal recording sites versus a frontal reference. A pulsed transcranial Doppler (TCD) probe (2 MHz, Transpect, Medasonics) was placed on the dura via a temporal bone window to measure mean (Vmean, cm/s) and diastolic blood flow velocity (Vdiast, cm/s) in the middle cerebral artery. At the end of the surgical preparation, isoflurane was discontinued and all animals received fentanyl (bolus, 25 micrograms/kg intravenously (IV); infusion, 50 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 IV) plus 50% N2O/O2 during 30 min of equilibration. After recordings of baseline data, the dogs were hemorrhaged at a rate of 80-100 mL/min. The observation interval was 14 min. EEG spectral edge frequency (SEF 95%) and Vmean did not change when MAP was decreased from 109 +/- 10 to 63 +/- 7 mm Hg. This indicates preserved neuronal function and intact autoregulation of cerebral blood flow. Below MAP of 49 +/- 9 mm Hg, a shift of the EEG to lower frequencies was associated with decreases in Vmean and Vdiast. EEG burst suppression occurred at a MAP of 31 +/- 7 mm Hg, paralleled by a loss of the diastolic flow velocity pattern.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Case: We present a case of a 35-year-old-man with a giant sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) of the thigh. The patient presented with a history of a painful thigh mass. Plain radiographs revealed a soft-tissue mass with extensive calcifications, whereas on magnetic resonance imaging, a lobulated mass between the adductors and the posterior muscles of the thigh was noted. A wide en block resection was undertaken, and the histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of SEF. Postoperative radiation therapy was followed. The patient had no signs of recurrence at the 4-year follow-up.

Conclusion: The clinicopathological, imaging characteristics, and treatment options of this rare soft-tissue tumor are discussed.

Background: The baseline (BL) segment in the prestimulus period is generally assigned as a reference of evoked activities. However, an experimenter empirically defines its length in each condition. So far, the criterion for the length of a BL segment has not been established.

New method: We evaluated the effect of the length of the BL segment by recording somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) under fixed stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA). For the evaluation of the length of the BL segment in the prestimulus period, five proportions in relation to SOA were used as the BL segment. In addition, we adopted other two types of BL segment which were the single data point measured from the value of stimulus onset (BL0) and the mean value of the whole raw data throughout the recording (DC mean). We investigated the influence of the BL segments on SEFs by utilizing two indicators: normalized N20 m amplitudes and estimated locations of corresponding equivalent current dipoles (ECDs).

Results: Both indicators did not show any significant differences, based on the factor of BL segments, in any SOA conditions.

Comparison with existing method: The BL0 had by far the largest variation in the ECD locations.Therefore, utilizing stimulus onset as the BL segment should be avoided. In addition, considering that other BL segments provided comparable values by the two indicators, the DC mean can reasonably be adopted.

Conclusions: We suggest that utilizing the DC mean could be employed as the BL segment.

Keywords: Baseline segment; Magnetoencephalography (MEG); somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEF).

Mechanisms of information transmission using tactile sense are one of major concerns in producing simulated experience in virtual or augmented reality as well as in compensating elderly or impaired people with diminished tactile sensory function. However, important mechanism of the difference of peak latency in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) between electrical and mechanical stimulations of finger skin is not fully understood. We propose a computational approach to fuse a computational model to simulate temporal and spatial transmission processes from mechanical stimuli to the SI and experimental method using a magnetoencephalograph (MEG). In our model, a tactile model that combined a three-dimensional mechanical model of fingertip skin and a neurophysiological model of a slowly adapting type 1 (SA1) mechanoreceptor was integrated with a somatosensory evoked field (SEF) response model. Electrical and mechanical stimulations were applied to the same locations of the right or left index fingertips of three subjects using a MEG. By identifying parameters of the SEF response model using the electrical stimulation test data, predicted first peak latency due to a mechanical stimulus was identical to its average value obtained from the mechanical stimulation test data, while the spatial map predicted at the multiple SA1 receptors qualitatively corresponded to the MEG image map in the timings of peak latency. This suggests that mechanical change in the skin and neurophysiological responses generate the difference of peak latency in SI between electrical and mechanical stimulations. The computational approach has the potential for detailed investigation of mechanisms of tactile information transmission.

Keywords: Computational modeling; MEG; Tactile perception; mechanical stimulation; somatosensory cortex; temporal and spatial transmission processes.

First described in 1995 by Meis-Kindbloom et al as a variant of fibrosarcoma simulating carcinoma, sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) is a malignant soft tissue sarcoma characterized by epithelioid cells in dense sclerotic stroma, frequent immunoreactivity for MUC4 and heterogeneous genetic profile with recurrent EWSR1 gene rearrangement. It typically affects middle age adults with a predilection for the lower extremity. It is believed that SEF is closely related to low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS), both tumors show overlapping features in morphology, immunophenotype and molecular profile. In this review, we discuss the clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features of SEF with particular emphasis on its molecular diversity and relation to LGFMS.

Keywords: EWSR1; MUC4; low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma; sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma; soft tissue.

Bare gold nanocubes and nanospheres with different sizes are incorporated into a rationally designed 3D DNA origami box. The encaged particles expose a gold surface accessible for subsequent site-specific functionalization, for example, for applications in molecular plasmonics such as SERS or SEF.

The probiotic viability, physicochemical, mechanical, barrier, and microstructure properties of synbiotic edible films (SEFs) based on duck feet gelatin (DFG) were evaluated. Four synbiotic systems were obtained by mixing four types of prebiotics, namely, dextrin, polydextrose, gum Arabic, and sago starch, with DFG to immobilize of probiotic (Lactobacillus casei ATCC). The ability of DFG to create a suitable matrix to increase probiotic viability was compared with those of other commercial gelatins in a preliminary evaluation. The DFG showed proper probiotic viability compared with other gelatins. The addition of prebiotics reduced the transparency of SEFs and increased color differentiation, uniformity, and complete coverage of probiotic cells. The estimated shelf-life of surviving bacteria in the SEFs stored at 4 and 25 °C showed that gum arabic showed the best performance and enhanced the viability of L. casei by 42% and 45%, respectively. Dextrin, polydextrose, and sago starch enhanced the viability of L. casei at 4 and 25 °C by 26% and 35%, 26% and 5%, and 20% and 5%, respectively. The prebiotics improved the physicochemical, mechanical, and barrier properties of all SEFs, except polydextrose film. The viability of L. casei can be increased with the proper selection of gelatin and prebiotics.

Keywords: duck feet gelatin; probiotic viability; synbiotic edible film.

Evaluation of the mechanical properties of arterial wall components is necessary for establishing a precise mechanical model applicable in various physiological and pathological conditions, such as remodeling. In this contribution, a new approach for the evaluation of the mechanical properties of aortic media accounting for the lamellar structure is proposed. We assumed aortic media to be composed of two sets of concentric layers, namely sheets of elastin (Layer I) and interstitial layers composed of mostly collagen bundles, fine elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells (Layer II). Biaxial mechanical tests were carried out on human thoracic aortic samples, and histological staining was performed to distinguish wall lamellae for determining the dimensions of the layers. A neo-Hookean strain energy function (SEF) for Layer I and a four-parameter exponential SEF for Layer II were allocated. Nonlinear regression was used to find the material parameters of the proposed microstructural model based on experimental data. The non-linear behavior of media layers confirmed the higher contribution of elastic tissue in lower strains and the gradual engagement of collagen fibers. The resulting model determines the nonlinear anisotropic behavior of aortic media through the lamellar microstructure and can be assistive in the study of wall remodeling due to alterations in lamellar structure during pathological conditions and aging.

Rats were dosed for 6 days with purified SEF 21 fimbriae of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis 10360. The levels of fimbriae in gut contents associated with tissues and in the faeces were quantified by direct non-competitive ELISA. SEF 21 was distributed throughout the gut. The majority was found in the large intestine where it was primarily in the luminal contents. In contrast, a high proportion of SEF 21 detected in the ileum, the main site of salmonella colonisation and invasion, was tissue-bound. Thus, purified SEF 21 survived intestinal passage and associated with the stomach and gastrointestinal tract in a pattern similar to that found with whole Salmonella cells.