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Objectives: Presently, data on the vascularization of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face (SMAS) are lacking. Thus, the present study aimed to provide new conclusive data about the topography, density, and relationship of the SMAS blood vessels with other components, namely, the fibrous connective tissue and muscles. Methods: The study included a control lot of 42 cases from the archive of the radiology department. In this group, nuclear magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was performed in order to identify the main sources of vascular supply. In the second group, tissue samples were collected from the midfacial region of 45 patients from the Oro-Maxillo-Facial and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery clinics of 'St. Spiridon' County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Iasi. These patients received surgery for excision of tumoral formations that did not involve SMAS components. These samples underwent micro-CT analysis, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, as well as immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for collagen type III, muscle tissue, and the vascular endothelium. Results: We discovered the particular way in which the SMAS components interrelate with vascularization and the regional differences between them. We have discovered a new vascular network specific to the SMAS, highlighted by both the micro-CT technique and microscopy on slides with special IHC staining. Significant differences were observed in the topographic arrangement, density, and relationships of the microscopic vasculature across midfacial regions. IHC staining provided morphological and functional information about the structure and vascularization of SMAS. Conclusions: The MRA technique could not detect the structural blood vessels of the SMAS and other methods for their in vivo visualization must be sought. The blood vessels of the SMAS mainly follow the topography of the muscle fibers. From the SMAS layer where they are found, the distribution branches reach the stroma of the region and the hypoderm. Our data can contribute to the development of surgical techniques tailored to each individual patient, as well as the enhancement of methods for stimulating cutaneous angiogenesis, improving scarring in this region, and advancing biotissue engineering techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A critical-sized bone defect (CsBD) is considered one that will not heal spontaneously and requires reconstruction. This study aims to compare the results of using different bone reconstructive techniques and to study the potential of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) to enhance the healing properties of a bone substitute (BS). Methods: In this experimental study on rats, the treatment of critical-sized bone defects was carried out by analysing four groups: a control group in which the bone defect was left empty; a group treated with Bio-Gen®; another group in which the defect was treated with PRF in combination with Bio-Gen®; and the last that was treated with autologous bone graft (ABG). The defects were evaluated by microcomputed tomography (µCT) and then histomorphometrically. Results: From both the histological and imagistic point of view, the best results were registered in the ABG group, followed by the group treated with Bio-Gen® with PRF, Bio-Gen® group, and control group, with statistically significant differences. Conclusions: A 5 mm defect in the rat radius can be considered critical. ABG showed the best results in treating the bone defect. PRF significantly enhanced the efficacy of Bio-Gen®. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) has proven to be a green method in the agricultural field for the stimulation of germination, growth, and production of nutraceutical compounds in some cases. However, the process is far from being fully understood and depends on the targeted plant species and the NTP used. In this work, we focus on the production of alfalfa sprouts from NTP-treated seeds under different voltage conditions. A flexible electrode configuration was used to produce the NTP, which can also be placed on packages for in-package treatments. The surface of the seeds was analyzed, indicating that the microstructure was strongly affected by NTP treatment. Biometric measurements evidenced the possibility of stimulating the sprout growth in some conditions by up to 50% compared to the sprouts obtained from untreated seeds. Biochemical traits for the sprouts obtained in different processing conditions were also studied, such as the concentrations of chlorophyll pigments, flavonoids and polyphenols, and antioxidant activity. Most NTP treatments led to inhibitory effects, proving the strong dependence between NTP treatment and targeted plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decades, notillage has started to be used on more and more areas, being a conservative tillage system practiced in many farms in the country. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of the no-tillage system on the physical properties of the soil compared to the conventional system, in a plateau area with cambic chernozem soil under the current climatic conditions in the north-east of Romania, in order to implement it in agricultural practice of the studied area. The soil samples were taken in natural and undisturbed conditions for bulk density and moisture content, soil penetration resistance was determined using the Eijkelkamp penetrologger. The status of soil compaction, the various porosity categories, and the soil moisture content were all determined based on field and laboratory analysis. Measurements performed at a depth of 0-40 cm showed a lower bulk density in the conventional system, and in terms of variation in values from sowing to harvesting, there was a maximum increase of 18% in the 10-20 cm soil layer, an intermediate of 10% in the topsoil and 20-30 cm layers, and a minimum of 1% in the 30-40 cm layer. Total porosity, which reflects soil pore volume, is inversely correlated with bulk density, which means that under conventional tillage practices, soil macropore volume (>0.05 cm) was higher (47.79-60.82% v/v) than under no-tillage practices (45.90-50.79% v/v) for 0-40 cm depth at the sowing time. The results confirm that the no-tillage system conserves more water in the soil under current climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]