Bacillus velezensis K-9 as a Potential Biocontrol Agent for Managing Potato Scab.

Crop pathogen infections can lead to substantial economic losses, but biocontrol, an environmentally friendly approach, can be used to control infections. For the biological management of potato scab disease, we assessed the potential use of Bacillus velezensis as a biocontrol agent. B. velezensis K-9 inhibited up to 44.90% of the infection caused by Streptomyces scabies, the causative agent of potato scab. Treatment of the S. scabies-infected potato plants with B. velezensis K-9 resulted in a significant reduction in the depth of the disease lesions compared with the untreated infected potato plants. In a radish seedling test, the B. velezensis K-9 culture and cell-free filtrate significantly reduced (P < 0.05) potato scab disease symptoms, suggesting that the strain K-9 was able to reduce S. scabies pathogenesis on potatoes. In a field test, the disease and scab indexes for B. velezensis K-9 against potato scab were significantly different from the control. In 2021, the potato yield for the B. velezensis K-9-treated plants was 12.44% higher than that for the control plants. In 2022, the potato yield following B. velezensis K-9 treatment increased by 12.65% compared with the control. In conclusion, B. velezensis K-9 prevented potato scab and increased potato yield. Thus, B. velezensis K-9 substantially reduced the occurrence of potato scab and could be used as a potential biocontrol agent for the management of potato scab.

Relationship Between Intimal Thickness on Ultrasonography and Long-Term Patency of Arteriovenous Fistula Restenosis After Cutting Balloon Versus High Pressure Balloon Angioplasty.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between intimal thickness on ultrasonography and long-term patency of arteriovenous fistula restenosis after cutting balloon and high pressure balloon angioplasty. METHODS: We retrospectively compared the outcomes between cutting balloon angioplasty and high pressure balloon angioplasty in 149 patients with hemodialysis access restenosis. The relationship of intimal thickness and primary assisted patency of hemodialysis access on ultrasonography was investigated as the primary outcome, using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards model. The second outcomes included residual diameter, blood flow, and venous pressure of hemodialysis access before and after angiography and balloon diameter and inflation pressure. RESULTS: Primary assisted patency in cutting balloon angioplasty was 90.6%, which was significantly (P = 0.001) more than that of 37.9% in high pressure balloon angioplasty during the 20-month follow-up period. Cox proportional hazards model screened significant factors including procedure type (high pressure or cutting, P = 0.004), inflation pressure (P = 0.013), preoperative intimal thickness (P = 0.009), and difference of intimal thickness (P = 0.029). Finally, procedure type (P = 0.012) and preoperative intimal thickness (P = 0.033) were identified for predicting primary assisted patency by multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to high pressure balloon angioplasty for treating patients with hemodialysis access restenosis, cutting balloon angioplasty had a better primary assisted patency. The increase of intimal thickness on ultrasonography after angiography was inversely correlated with primary assisted patency.

Isolation and identification of an endophytic bacteria Bacillus sp. K-9 exhibiting biocontrol activity against potato common scab.

Potato scab is an important soil-borne disease that can significantly reduce the quality and economic value of potatoes. The purpose of this study was to isolate, screen and identify endophytic bacteria that have antagonistic and control effects on potato scab disease, and to determine the control effect and yield traits of the selected strains on potato scab disease in field conditions. A bacterial strain K-9 was isolated from the junction between scab spot and healthy epidermis of potato tuber. The K-9 strain was identified as Bacillus sp. through morphological, physiological and biochemical characterization, and 16S rDNA and gyrB gene sequence analysis. The diameter of the inhibition zone of strain K-9 against Streptomyces scabies on the YME plate was 3.82 cm. The K-9 strain could inhibit eight types of crop pathogens, with the highest inhibition rate (70.39%) against another soil-borne potato disease (potato black scurf). In the field test, the control effect of K-9 strain against potato scab was not significantly different from that of mixed bacteria or chemical agents, but the disease index and the scab index in the K-9 treatment were significantly lower than in the control. The potato yield in the K-9 treatment was 12.44% higher than the control. In summary, the K-9 strain can prevent not only potato scab, but also increase potato yield. Therefore, the endophytic bacterial K-9 strain may be a potential biological control agent.

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on growth and leaf nitrogen metabolism of alfalfa in alkaline soil in Yinchuan Plain of Hetao Basin.

Alkaline soil is widely distributed in China. Its rational utilization is an effective measure to solve land shortage and improve the environment. Alfalfa is characterized by strong salt and alkali tolerance and high yield and protein content. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the main nutrients for plant growth, and N metabolism is one of the primary forms of plant metabolism, which plays a vital role in quality and yield formation. The exploration of the effect of N and P on N metabolism and alfalfa growth will provide a theoretical basis for scientific fertilization for alfalfa in the alkaline soil of the Yinchuan Plain of the Hetao Basin. Therefore, a 2-year experiment of N and P addition was conducted. Six treatments were set up with a randomized block design, including without N (WN), medium N (MN), high N (HN), without P (WP), medium P (MP), and high P (HP). It was found that the MN and MP treatments increased plant height, stem diameter, stem/leaf, dry/fresh, and dry matter of alfalfa. The HN and HP treatments inhibited alfalfa biomass formation. The MN and MP treatments increased key products and enzymes of leaf N metabolism of alfalfa and promoted activities of leaf nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic-pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and inhibited activities of leaf protease of alfalfa. The MN and MP treatments increased contents of leaf N, P, ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3 --N), total chlorophyll, and protein and reduced leaf chlorophyll a/b and amino acid, results after HN and HP treatments were opposite. The correlation among leaf P, N, NO3 --N, amino acid, and protein reached significant levels (P < 0.01). It is suggested that MN and MP treatments can improve the yield and quality of alfalfa by increasing key products and enzymes of N metabolism and can be adopted to promote alfalfa production in the alkaline soil of the Yinchuan Plain of the Hetao Basin.

In vitro and in vivo immunoregulatory activity of sulfated fucan from the sea cucumber A. leucoprocta.

The in vitro and in vivo immunoregulatory activity of a water-soluble sulfated fucan AL1-1 from the sea cucumber A. leucoprocta was elucidated. In vitro experiments showed that AL1-1 up-regulated immunostimulatory activities in RAW264.7 cells and that it could successfully promote ROS production and phagocytic activity, increase secretion levels of iNOS, and induce the production of considerable amounts of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß and IL-12). We found that toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was mainly involved in AL1-1 mediated macrophage activation. AL1-1's in vivo immunomodulatory activity on cyclophosphamide (CY)-treated mice was investigated and it was shown that it could strongly enhance Sig A levels, promote the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and reduce malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the intestine. It could also increase activities of superoxidase dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX). These results demonstrate that AL1-1 has a significant effect on enhancing in vivo and in vitro immune response.

A novel anti-osteoporotic agent that protects against postmenopausal bone loss by regulating bone formation and bone resorption.

AIMS: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a bone metabolism disease that is caused by an imbalance between bone-resorbing osteoclast and bone-forming osteoblast actions. Herein, we describe the role of troxerutin (TRX), a trihydroxyethylated derivative of rutin, in ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis and its effects on the regulation of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. MAIN METHODS: In vivo, OVX female mice were intraperitoneally injected with either saline, 50 mg/kg TRX, or 150 mg/kg TRX for 6 weeks and then sacrificed for micro-computed tomography analyses, histological analyses, and biomechanical testing. In vitro, RAW264.7 cell-derived osteoclasts and MC3T3-E1 cell-derived osteoblasts were treated with different concentrations of TRX to examine the effect of TRX on osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, as well as on osteogenesis and mineralization. KEY FINDINGS: In this study, we demonstrated that TRX prevented cortical and trabecular bone loss in ovariectomized mice by reducing osteoclastogenesis and promoting osteogenesis in vivo. In vitro, TRX inhibited the formation and activity of RAW264.7-derived osteoclasts and the expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1 and cathepsin K. Meanwhile, TRX improved the osteogenesis and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 by enhancing the expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2, Osterix, and collagen type 1 alpha 1. SIGNIFICANCE: Our data demonstrated that TRX could prevent OVX-induced osteoporosis and be used in a novel treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

HPLC method for the determination of bezafibrate in human plasma and application to a pharmacokinetic study of bezafibrate dispersible tablet.

A sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic-UV (HPLC-UV) method for the determination of bezafibrate in human plasma has been developed. Sample treatment was based on protein precipitation with a perchloric acid-methanol solution 10:90 (v/v). Analytical determination was carried out by HPLC with UV detection at 235 nm. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column by isocratic elution with acetonitrile-ammonium acetate aqueous solution (10 mmol/L; pH 4.0) (44:56, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The method was linear in the concentration range of 0.1-15.0 microg/mL. The lower limit of quantitation was 0.1 microg/mL. The intra-and inter-day relative standard deviation across three validation runs over the entire concentration range was less than 6.96%. The accuracy determined at three concentrations (0.2, 2.0, and 10.0 microg/mL for bezafibrate) was within +/- 10.0% in terms of accuracy. The method was successfully applied for the evaluation of pharmacokinetic profiles of bezafibrate dispersible tablet in 20 healthy volunteers. The results show that AUC, C(max), and T(1/2) between the testing formulation and reference formulation have no significant difference (P > 0.05). Relative bioavailability was 105.0 +/- 15.7%.

A ruptured pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm repaired by combined endovascular and open techniques.

Aneurysms of the pancreaticoduodenal arteries (PDA) are rare, accounting for <2% of all visceral aneurysms. An association with celiac artery stenosis has been reported. Many present with rupture, and a high mortality can be expected. Treatment is therefore challenging. Arterial ligation, anuerysmectomy, or bypass has been the mainstay of treatment. We recently treated a patient (who had no celiac axis) with a ruptured PDA aneurysm with combined open and endovascular techniques. A 46-year-old man was transferred to our hospital with a 1-day history of abdominal pain and syncope. On admission, an abdominal and pelvis computerized tomographic (CT) scan identified a large mesenteric hematoma, a 1.9 cm PDA aneurysm, and an occluded celiac axis. Mesenteric angiography revealed no active aneurysm leak and a stenotic superior mesenteric artery (SMA) origin. All hepatic blood flow originated from the stenotic SMA via markedly enlarged PDA collaterals. The patient was brought to the operating room, where absence of the celiac axis was confirmed. An aorto-to-proper hepatic and SMA bypass was performed using a bifurcated polyester graft. The next day, the patient was brought to the angiography suite, where the PDA aneurysm was coiled. Postprocedure CT scans confirmed thrombosis of the aneurysm. Ruptured mesenteric artery aneurysms are a challenging problem for the vascular surgeon. PDA aneurysms are rare and often occur in an unfavorable location. There appears to be an association with anatomic anomalies of the mesenteric circulation. Prompt invasive and noninvasive diagnostic studies aid in the definitive management of this often fatal problem. Combined endovascular and open techniques can be used for successful treatment.

Pneumococcal aortitis: a difficult preoperative diagnosis.

Primary infections of the aorta are rare. We recently treated a patient who was given a diagnosis of noninfectious aortitis after an extensive work-up, but after clinical deterioration, was found to have a pneumococcal mycotic aneurysm at the time of surgery. The difficulty in distinguishing microbial aortitis from noninfectious chronic periaortitis is discussed as well as the need for frequent surveillance imaging of the aorta if immunosuppression is used to treat the latter entity. The infected aortoiliac segment was ultimately repaired with autologous femoral veins.

Fatal variceal rupture after sildenafil use: report of a case.

Sildenafil may increase the risk of variceal bleeding in portal hyptertension by increasing splanchnic blood flow. We report herein the second case of variceal rupture after sildenafil use.

Molecular cloning, genomic organization and functional characterization of a new short-chain potassium channel toxin-like peptide BmTxKS4 from Buthus martensii Karsch(BmK).

Scorpion venom contains many small polypeptide toxins, which can modulate Na(+), K(+), Cl(-), and Ca(2+) ion-channel conductance in the cell membrane. A full-length cDNA sequence encoding a novel type of K(+)-channel toxin (named BmTxKS4) was first isolated and identified from a venom gland cDNA library of Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK). The encoded precursor contains 78 amino acid residues including a putative signal peptide of 21 residues, propeptide of 11 residues, and a mature peptide of 43 residues with three disulfide bridges. BmTxKS4 shares the identical organization of disulfide bridges with all the other short-chain K(+)-channel scorpion toxins. By PCR amplification of the genomic region encoding BmTxKS4, it was shown that BmTxKS4 composed of two exons is disrupted by an intron of 87 bp inserted between the first and the second codes of Phe (F) in the encoding signal peptide region, which is completely identical with that of the characterized scorpion K(+)-channel ligands in the size, position, consensus junctions, putative branch point, and A+T content. The GST-BmTxKS4 fusion protein was successfully expressed in BL21 (DE3) and purified with affinity chromatography. About 2.5 mg purified recombinant BmTxKS4 (rBmTxKS4) protein was obtained by treating GST-BmTxKS4 with enterokinase and sephadex chromatography from 1 L bacterial culture. The electrophysiological activity of 1.0 microM rBmTxKS4 was measured and compared by whole cell patch-clamp technique. The results indicated that rBmTxKS4 reversibly inhibited the transient outward K(+) current (I(to)), delayed inward rectifier K(+) current (I(k1)), and prolonged the action potential duration of ventricular myocyte, but it has no effect on the action potential amplitude. Taken together, BmTxKS4 is a novel subfamily member of short-strain K(+)-channel scorpion toxin.

Kinetic modelling of blood glucose variation in a bioartificial pancreas.

Methods are presented for assessing the performance of biomaterials for a bioartificial pancreas using a kinetic model of blood glucose variation. The model is composed of simultaneous differential equations that simulate variation of blood glucose concentration of rats outside the biomaterial and decrease of islet number inside the biomaterial. The resulting calculations agree well with the in vivo experimental data and indicate that the characteristics of bioartificial pancreas can be expressed as the actually working number of islets from the viewpoint of rats, regardless of the functioning of the bioartificial pancreas. The contributions of the capability of a biomaterial permeable to insulin and against immune rejection, and other factors that may induce cell death were involved in the actually working number of islets, i.e., the model used a lumped-parameter expression for assessment of the performance of biomaterials for a bioartificial pancreas. This model would be useful as a research tool for analysis of clinical investigation of bioartificial pancreas and physiological significance of blood glucose variation dynamics.