The acerola seed is an agro-industrial waste. It is a high moisture content product, rich in bioactive compounds. Drying is an alternative to make this waste available in a safe condition. The use of ethanol as a pretreatment could improve the drying process besides reducing the operation time. This study aimed to investigate the influence of ethanol pretreatment (ET) on the content of bioactive compounds, cell wall thickness, and color. The drying kinetics was studied, and the influence of external and internal resistance was discussed. The samples were immersed in ethanol for 2 min with subsequent convective drying (40 °C and 60 °C; 1 m s-1) until they reached the equilibrium condition. The ET reduced the drying time up to 36.36 %. The external and mixed control of mass transfer were identified as the governing regimes for drying this material, depending on the use of ethanol. ET led to an increase in effective diffusivity, a reduction in cell wall thickness, and preservation of the color of the dried waste. The ET positively impacted the conservation of ascorbic acid compared to untreated dried samples but was not relevant to phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and antioxidant activity. The drying process increased the bioactivity of the anthocyanins. The best condition was drying at 60 °C, pretreated with ethanol.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize and compare in vitro the surfaces of ureteral stents (STENTS) before utilization.
METHODS: Our in vitro experiment included six unused STENTS models: three double-pigtail with side orifices (ImaJin and Stenostent [Coloplast©,France], TriaSoft [BostonScientific©,USA]), two double-pigtail without side orifice (Vortek-TumorStent [Coloplast©,France], Urosoft-TumorStent [Bard-Angiomed©,Germany]) and one single-pigtail (J-Fil [Rocamed©,Monaco]). STENTS were made of polyurethane except for ImaJin (silicone). For all STENTS, four parts of the stent were specifically analyzed under high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM,FEI-XL40 [Philips©,France]): surface core, lateral orifice, ureteral loop, and black marking surface. Each experiment was repeated with three different samples from three different stents. STENTS analysis included multiple imperfection searches, defined as irregularities>10μm.
RESULTS: All STENTS presented imperfections with no discernible differences. Imperfections were mainly located on the stent loop and on the lateral orifice. For STENTS without side orifice (J-Fil, Urosoft) imperfections were also reported, on the beveled cut as well as the distal loop orifice. Marking surfaces examinations found defects in the Urosoft and imperfections in the ImaJin and Stenostent. The Triasoft presented a better smoothness on marking surfaces compared to other STENTS. Additional matter was reported on the loop distal orifice for J-Fil and ImaJin but all STENTS presented irregular cross-sectional aeras.
CONCLUSIONS: All ureteral stents are not perfectly smooth even before utilization. Imperfections were noticed regardless to stent composition or shape, and could play a role in the incrustation phenomenon, is association with inner irregularities, infection, and urine composition. Both manufacturing and material could have an impact on the stent external surface\'s smoothness.
METHODS:

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of plasma-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) or conventional medium in fertilization and early embryo development rate in mice.
RESULTS: MII oocytes (matured in vivo or in vitro conditions) were obtained from female mice. The extracellular vesicles were isolated by ultracentrifugation of plasma and were analyzed and measured for size and morphology by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). By western blotting analysis, the EVs proteins markers such as CD82 protein and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) were investigated. Incorporating DiI-labeled EVs within the oocyte cytoplasm was visible at 23 h in oocyte cytoplasm. Also, the effective proteins in the early reproductive process were determined in isolated EVs by western blotting. These EVs had a positive effect on the fertilization rate (P < 0.05). The early embryo development (8 cell, morula and blastocyst stages) was higher in groups supplemented with EVs (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that supplementing in vitro maturation media with EVs derived- plasma was beneficial for mice\'s embryo development.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the hypotensive effect and the outcomes of intravital morphological changes in the intervention site after laser activation of scleral hydro-permeability (LASH) by pulsed-periodic radiation from an Er-glass fiber laser (λ=1.56 μm) in patients with advanced glaucoma.
METHODS: LASH surgery was performed in 19 patients (19 eyes) aged 48 to 73 years with uncompensated advanced stage (IIIb-c) glaucoma. In addition to standard methods of investigation, all patients were examined with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and laser confocal microscopy of sclera and conjunctiva (CMSC) at the laser treatment sites, and electronic tonography.
RESULTS: The hypotensive effect after LASH in patients with advanced glaucoma was observed in 94.7% (n=18) of cases. The decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP) averaged 24.4% from baseline one month after intervention and 32.96% after six months of follow-up. In 15.7% (n=3) of cases, the recorded IOP decrease was insufficient as its target values were not achieved. However, in the vast majority of patients (n=16), the recorded IOP decrease corresponded to the target values and indicated compensation of the process. Results of complex morphological evaluation after LASH revealed structural changes indirectly indicating possible laser-induced influence on the processes of increased transscleral filtration and uveoscleral outflow. A high positive correlation dependence (r=0.848) was also revealed between the degree of IOP lowering and the increase in the coefficient of ease of aqueous humor outflow, attesting to the fact that IOP lowering was mainly due to the improvement of intraocular fluid outflow.
CONCLUSIONS: The demonstrated efficacy of LASH technology indicates the possibility of its successful application as an independent method of IOP reduction in patients with advanced glaucoma.
UNASSIGNED: Оценка гипотензивного эффекта и результатов прижизненных морфологических изменений в зоне вмешательства после проведения лазерной активации гидропроницаемости склеры (ЛАГС) на основе импульсно-периодического излучения Er-glass волоконного лазера (λ=1,56 мкм) у пациентов с далекозашедшей стадией глаукомы.
UNASSIGNED: Операция ЛАГС была проведена 19 пациентам (19 глаз) в возрасте от 48 до 73 лет с некомпенсированной далекозашедшей стадией (IIIb-c) глаукомы. Помимо стандартных методов исследования всем пациентам проводились оптическая когерентная томография и лазерная конфокальная микроскопия склеры и конъюнктивы в местах лазерного воздействия, а также электронная тонография.
UNASSIGNED: Гипотензивный эффект после проведения ЛАГС у пациентов с III стадией глаукомы был отмечен в 94,7% случаев (n=18). Снижение внутриглазного давления (ВГД) в среднем составило 24,4% от исходного уровня спустя 1 мес после вмешательства и 32,96% через 6 мес наблюдения. В 15,7% случаев (n=3) зафиксированное снижение ВГД оказалось недостаточным, поскольку его целевые значения достигнуты не были. Однако у подавляющего числа пациентов (n=16) отмеченное снижение ВГД соответствовало целевым показателям и указывало на компенсацию процесса. Результаты комплексной морфологической оценки после проведения ЛАГС позволили выявить структурные изменения, косвенно указывающие на возможность лазериндуцированного влияния на процессы усиления транссклеральной фильтрации и увеосклерального оттока. Также была выявлена высокая положительная корреляционная зависимость (r=0,848) между степенью снижения ВГД и степенью увеличения коэффициента легкости оттока внутриглазной жидкости; это свидетельствовало в пользу того, что снижение ВГД происходило главным образом за счет усиления оттока внутриглазной жидкости.
UNASSIGNED: Продемонстрированная эффективность технологии ЛАГС может указывать на возможность ее успешного применения в качестве самостоятельного способа снижения ВГД у пациентов с далекозашедшей стадией глаукомы.

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play a prominent role in rheumatoid synovitis and degradation of the extracellular matrix through the production of inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases (MMPs). Since animal models are frequently used for elucidating the disease mechanism and therapeutic development, it is relevant to study the ultrastructural characteristics and functional responses in human and mouse FLS. The objective of the study was to analyze ultrastructural characteristics, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) production and the activation of intracellular pathways in Fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS) cultures obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and from mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).
FLSs were obtained from RA patients (RA-FLSs) (n = 8) and mice with CIA (CIA-FLSs) (n = 4). Morphology was assessed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. IL-6 and MMP-3 production was measured by ELISA, and activation of intracellular signaling pathways (NF-κB and MAPK: p-ERK1/2, p-P38 and p-JNK) was measured by Western blotting in cultures of RA-FLSs and CIA-FLSs stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-1β.
RA-FLS and CIA-FLS cultures exhibited rich cytoplasm, rough endoplasmic reticula and prominent and well-developed Golgi complexes. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of lamellar bodies, which are cytoplasmic structures related to surfactant production, in FLSs from both sources. Increased levels of pinocytosis and numbers of pinocytotic vesicles were observed in RA-FLSs (p < 0.05). Basal production of MMP-3 and IL-6 was present in RA-FLSs and CIA-FLSs. Regarding the production of MMP-3 and IL-6 and the activation of signaling pathways, the present study demonstrated a lower response to IL-1β by CIA-FLSs than by RA-FLSs.
This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the biology of RA-FLS and CIA-FLS. The differences and similarities in ultrastructural morphology and important inflammatory cytokines shown, contribute to future in vitro studies using RA-FLS and CIA-FLS, in addition, they indicate that the adoption of CIA-FLS for studies should take careful and be well designed, since they do not completely resemble human diseases.

The indications for nerve biopsy have diminished in recent years. This examination nevertheless remains essential in certain cases of peripheral neuropathies, making it possible to specify the diagnosis or the mechanism of injury for a therapeutic purpose. It is a simple but \"invasive\" procedure, which can only be performed once on the same nerve. The indications are thus discussed on a case-by-case basis and based on a range of clinical, electrophysiological, biological or even genetic arguments. This involves close collaboration between clinical physicians and pathologists. The main difficulty of this biopsy concerns the fragility of the sample and the techniques necessary for its interpretation, requiring it to be carried out in expert centers. Nerve biopsy is closely related to skin biopsy in the search for small fiber neuropathy. It is a particular technique, but very well codified. The purpose of this review is to recall the indications and contraindications of nerve biopsy, and to explain what the contributions are but also the limits of this examination as well as of skin biopsy.

BACKGROUND: In terms of serological properties and immunization, the wild type of HBsAg HBV and its G145R mutant behave as different antigens. This testifies to serious structural changes, which presumably could have a significant impact on the morphogenesis of virions and subviral particles. Nevertheless, morphological and ultrastructural investigations of HBV with G145R mutation have not been carried yet.
OBJECTIVE: Research of structural and morphological organization of HBV in the presence of the G145R escape mutation.
METHODS: Studies of sera, purified viruses and recombinant HBsAg were carried out by transmission electron microscopy by the method of negative staining and indirect reaction of immunelabeling using monoclonal antibodies of different specificity. Specimens of wild type HBV and HBV with S143L mutation obtained in an identical manner were used as the control.
RESULTS: The presence of typical virus particles of HBV was shown in the specimens of wild strain and HBV with S143L mutation. Specimens of HBV with G145R mutation were characterized by expressed morphological heterogeneity. In the initial serum and in the specimen of purified virus containing G145R mutant, large oval particles 60-70 nm and up to 200 nm in size, respectively, were found. The presence of antigen structures of HBV in all heterogeneous forms was confirmed. It was shown that forming of subviral particles in the process of expression of the recombinant HBsAg with G145R mutation depends on conditions of expression and purification of the protein. They can vary from well-formed circular and oval particles to practically unstructured fine-grained masses.
CONCLUSIONS: Direct data on the impact of G145R escape-mutation in S-gene, in contrast to S143L mutation, on the morphogenesis of virions and subviral particles of HBV were obtained.
Введение. По серологическим свойствам и при иммунизации дикий тип HBsAg вируса гепатита В (ВГВ) и его мутант G145R ведут себя как различные антигены. Это свидетельствует о серьезных структурных изменениях, которые предположительно способны оказать существенное влияние на морфогенез вирионов и субвирусных частиц. Однако морфологические и ультраструктурные исследования ВГВ с мутацией G145R ранее не проводились. Цель работы: изучение структурно-морфологической организации ВГВ при наличии эскейп-мутации G145R. Методы. Исследования сывороток, очищенных вирусов, а также рекомбинантных HBsAg проводили с помощью трансмиссионной электронной микроскопии методом негативного контраста и непрямой реакции иммуномечения с применением моноклональных антител различной специфичности. В качестве контроля использовали образцы ВГВ дикого типа и ВГВ, имеющего мутацию S143L, полученные аналогичным способом. Результаты. В препаратах дикого штамма и ВГВ с мутацией S143L показано наличие типичных вирусных частиц ВГВ. Препараты ВГВ с мутацией G145R отличались выраженной морфологической гетерогенностью. В исходной сыворотке и препарате очищенного вируса, содержащих мутант G145R, обнаружены крупные овальные частицы размером 60-70 нм и до 200 нм соответственно. Подтверждено наличие антигенных структур ВГВ во всех гетерогенных формах. Показано, что формирование субвирусных частиц при экспрессии рекомбинантного HBsAg с мутацией G145R зависит от условий экспрессии и очистки белка. Они могут варьировать от хорошо сформированных круглых и овальных субвирусных частиц размером 20-50 нм до практически неструктурированных мелкозернистых масс. Заключение. Получены прямые данные о влиянии эскейп-мутации G145R в S-гене в отличие от мутации S143L на морфогенез вирионов и субвирусных частиц ВГВ.

Corals are treatened by global warming. Bleaching is one immediate effect of global warming, resulting from the loss of photosynthetic endosymbiont dinoflagellates. Understanding host-symbiont associations are critical for assessing coral\'s habitat requirements and its response to environmental changes. Cladocopium (formerly family Symbiodiniaceae clade C) are dominant endosymbionts in the reef-building coral, Mussismilia braziliensis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of temperature on the biochemical and cellular features of Cladocopium. Heat stress increased oxygen (O2) and decreased proteins, pigments (Chla + Chlc2), hexadecanoic acid- methyl ester, methyl stearate, and octadecenoic acid (Z)- methyl ester molecules. In addition, there was an increase in neutral lipids such as esterified cholesterol and a decrease in free fatty acids that may have been incorporated for the production of lipid droplets. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that Cladocopium cells subjected to heat stress had thinner cell walls, deformation of chloroplasts, and increased lipid droplets after 3 days at 28°C. These findings indicate that thermal stress negatively affects isolated Cladocopium spp. from Mussismilia host coral.

Adenoviruses are double stranded DNA non enveloped viruses. Although these viruses are widely studied for gene therapy and anticancer applications, fundamental knowledge of these viruses, especially from a structural point of view is lacking. This is probably partly responsible for the limited success of the first clinical trials.With these viruses, one of the main conditions necessary to use adenoviruses for therapeutic application is structural modification of the virus. Indeed, one has to retarget the virus to specific tissues and/or remove all the immunogenic loops present on the outside of the virus in order to limit the host immune response. To make these changes rationally, the structure of the capsid has to be known at atomic resolution. Today, electron microscopy is the only tool that enables us to have access to the structure of the entire virus, but only at intermediate resolution. Because the atomic structures of the adenovirus major capsid proteins are known, one can combine these structures with the electron microscopy based envelope to calculate a model of the capsid at quasi-atomic resolution. These kinds of models are useful to visualize and understand the complexity of the virus. Nevertheless, the structure of the entire capsid at atomic resolution will really be necessary to use the virus in a safe way.

Anaphylactic shock (AS) is associated with a profound vasodilation and cardiac dysfunction. The cellular mechanisms underlying AS-related cardiac dysfunction are unknown. We hypothesized that myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction may be associated with AS cardiac dysfunction. In controls and sensitized Brown Norway rats, shock was induced by ovalbumin i.v bolus, and abdominal aortic blood flow (ABF), systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP), and lactatemia were measured for 15 min. Myocardial mitochondrial function was assessed with the evaluation of mitochondrial respiration, oxidative stress production by reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and the measurement of superoxide dismutases (SODs) activity. Oxidative damage was assessed by lipid peroxidation. The mitochondrial ultrastructure was assessed using transmission electronic microscopy. AS was associated with a dramatic drop in ABF and MAP combined with a severe hyperlactatemia 15 min after shock induction. CI-linked substrate state (197 ± 21 vs. 144 ± 21 pmol/s/mg, p < 0.05), OXPHOS activity by complexes I and II (411 ± 47 vs. 246 ± 33 pmol/s/mg, p < 0.05), and OXPHOS activity through complex II (316 ± 40 vs. 203 ± 28 pmol/s/mg, p < 0.05) were significantly impaired. ROS and RNS production was not significantly increased, but SODs activity was significantly higher in the AS group (11.15 ± 1.02 vs. 15.50 ± 1.40 U/mL/mg protein, p = 0.02). Finally, cardiac lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in the AS group (8.50 ± 0.67 vs. 12.17 ± 1.44 µM/mg protein, p < 0.05). No obvious changes were observed in the mitochondrial ultrastructure between CON and AS groups. Our experimental model of AS results in rapid and deleterious hemodynamic effects and was associated with a myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction with oxidative damage and without mitochondrial ultrastructural injury.