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Food is an integral factor in ensuring the active life of older citizens. However, the range of meat products, including sausages for specialized nutrition, is extremely limited. In this regard, a technology of functionally oriented boiled sausage for gerodietetic nutrition "Gerodietetic functional" has been developed. The effectiveness of using a protein-fat emulsion containing a functional ingredient – iodine in the form of a complex compound β-cyclodextrin : iodine in the preparation of minced sausage has been proven. The functional and technological properties of combined minced meat, consisting of meat from productive animals and mechanically separated poultry meat with a protein-fat emulsion have been studied. The losses of microelements amounted to 12 % in key technological operations of meat product production have been studied. Based on the study of the iodine and protein content in the finished product, its functional orientation and characteristics as a product with high protein content have been established. Systematic consumption of "Gerodietetic functional" sausage will contribute to the health and longevity of older people.

The changes in the properties of copper and its alloys as a result of severe plastic deformation (SPD) are reviewed. The literature review shows that contemporary materials science is aimed at solving the problem of producing ultrafine-grained materials with high-angle grain boundaries. With using of the methods of severe plastic deformation, it is possible to obtain so-called bulk nanostructured materials with grain sizes of 0.1-0.2 microns and specific substructures containing the lattice and grain-boundary dislocations. Such structures are characterised by large elastic distortions of the crystal lattice. It is believed that such fine-grained structures should simultaneously provide a high level of plastic and strength characteristics due to special stressed high-angle grains. The article discusses SPD methods such as torsion with shear, equal-channel angular pressing, screw extrusion, all-round forging, rolling with shear, etc. Among the most significant results of SPD, it is worth highlighting the increase in strength, fatigue resistance and elastic properties of the material. These changes make copper and its alloys subjected to SPD very attractive for use in many industries, including electrical engineering, aviation, medicine, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studies evolution of copper microstructure during a combined deformation process. The essence of this process is in deformation of copper wire in a rotating equal-channel stepped matrix with subsequent drawing. Deformed wire is examined using transmission electron microscopy and EBSD analysis. After three cycles of deformation, an ultrafine-grained gradient microstructure with a high component of high-angle grain boundaries is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the change in the structural and mechanical properties of metal materials and structural elements and the modification of their magnetic behaviour under the influence of mechanical stresses, temperature and aggressive environments is established in order to create a methodology for both determining the residual resource and increasing the operational reliability of materials and systems. An express method of microstructure assessment by means of determining the change in the magnetoacoustic response of the material is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The publications in the field of cryogenic-technologies' applications in the processes of the thermal and deformation treatments of metals are reviewed. The most effective fields of the applications of cryogenic liquids and gases for the heat treatment of working tools and metals (titanium, aluminium, and copper alloys) are in the rolling production and heavy engineering in order to improve the product quality, equipment and tool durability, to reduce the impact on the environment and operating personnel. The effects of cryogenic treatment and cooling on the tool life, wear, cutting temperature, surface roughness, dimensional accuracy, and cutting force are considered. As a result, the use of cryogenic processing and cryogenic cooling in machining processes increases the tool life and improves surface roughness as well as reduces the temperature of the machined surface, energy consumption during operation, and, thus, reduces tool wear that contributes to an increase in productivity. The possibility of obtaining and changing the nanostructure of a metal through the cryogenic cooling is also considered. The topic may be of interest for researchers and scientists in the field of metallurgy, materials science, and nanotechnologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adrenal cysts are rare and appropriate management is unclear due to a lack of data on their natural history. Understanding adrenal cyst growth patterns would assist in clinical management., Methods: This single-institution study included all adult patients diagnosed with simple adrenal cysts between 2004 and 2021. Baseline characteristics and outcomes of those who underwent resection (ADX) or observation (OBS) were compared using the chi-squared test, student's t-test, and Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Growth curves and sensitivity analysis were plotted for all patients who had follow-up imaging., Results: We identified 77 patients with imaging-confirmed adrenal cysts. The majority were female (75.3%) and more than half were white (55.8%). One-third of patients underwent ADX, and the remaining were observed. ADX patients were younger (median age [IQR]: 55.5 y [45.0-68.2 y] vs. 44.2 y [38.7-55.0 y], p = 0.01) and more likely to be Hispanic (12% vs. 0%, p = 0.05). ADX patients presented with larger cysts (5.6 vs. 2.6 cm, p = 0.002). The median time from diagnosis to last follow-up was 1.1 y for ADX and 4.1 y for OBS. Average growth for OBS was 0.3 cm/y, while average growth for ADX was 3.9 cm/y. In ADX patients, cysts >10 cm grew significantly faster than cysts <10 cm (median growth rate 13.2 cm/y vs. 0.3 cm/y, p < 0.05). There was no adrenal malignancy diagnosis, hyperfunctionality, or observation-related complications (e.g., rupture)., Conclusion: While size >4-6 cm has guided surgical referral for solid adrenal masses, this study demonstrates a size threshold of 10 cm, below which asymptomatic, simple adrenal cysts can safely be observed., (© 2024 International Society of Surgery/Société Internationale de Chirurgie (ISS/SIC).)

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent arthritis type and a leading cause of chronic mobility disability. While pain medications provide only symptomatic pain relief; growing evidence suggests pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) is chondroprotective and could have anti-inflammatory effects in knee OA. This study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of oral PPS in symptomatic knee OA with dyslipidaemia., Methods and Analysis: MaRVeL is a phase II, single-centre, parallel, superiority trial which will be conducted at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia. 92 participants (46 per arm) aged 40 and over with painful knee OA and mild to moderate structural change on X-ray (Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2 or 3) will be recruited from the community and randomly allocated to receive two cycles of either oral PPS or placebo for 5 weeks starting at baseline and week 11. Primary outcome will be the 16-week change in overall average knee pain severity measured using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale. Main secondary outcomes include change in knee pain, patient global assessment, physical function, quality of life and other structural changes. A biostatistician blinded to allocation groups will perform the statistical analysis according to the intention-to-treat principle., Ethics and Dissemination: The protocol has been approved by the NSLHD Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (2021/ETH00315). All participants will provide written informed consent online. Study results will be disseminated through conferences, social media and academic publications., Trial Registration Numbers: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12621000654853); U1111-1265-3750., Competing Interests: Competing interests: DJH is supported by an NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship and provides consulting advice for Haleon, Novartis, TLC Bio, Tissuegene, Lilly and Pfizer., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for dysphagia in adults 65 years and older before and after thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy., Methods: We performed a longitudinal prospective cohort study of older adults undergoing initial thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy. We administered the Dysphagia Handicap Index questionnaire preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. We compared preoperative and postoperative total and domain-specific scores using paired t tests and identified risk factors for worse postoperative scores using multivariable logistic regression., Results: Of the 175 patients evaluated, the mean age was 71.1 years (range = 65-94), 73.7% were female, 40.6% underwent thyroidectomy, 57% underwent bilateral procedures, and 21.1% had malignant diagnoses. Preoperative swallowing dysfunction was reported by 77.7%, with the prevalence 22.4% greater in frail than robust patients (P = .013). Compared to preoperative scores, 43.4% and 49.1% had worse scores at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Mean functional domain scores increased by 62.3% at 3 months postoperatively (P = .007). Preoperative swallowing dysfunction was associated with a 3.07-fold increased likelihood of worse functional scores at 3 months. Whereas frailty was associated with preoperative dysphagia, there was no association between worse postoperative score and age, sex, race, frailty, body mass index, smoking status, gastroesophageal reflux disease, comorbidity index, malignancy, surgical extent, or type of surgery., Conclusion: Adults 65 years and older commonly report swallowing impairment preoperatively, which is associated with a 3.07-fold increased likelihood of worsened dysphagia after thyroid and parathyroid surgery that may persist up to 6 months postoperatively., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)