Distinct adaptive immune receptor feature of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) treatment of psoriasis.

Psoriasis (Ps) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorders with its pathogenesis correlated with dysregulated innate and adaptive system. Even though biological agents have advanced the treatment of psoriasis, however, there are huge limitations, like high adverse reactions and relapse rate. Therefore, it is of great interest in searching clinical resolutions with better safety and efficacy. In the current study, we utilized the adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (AD-MSCs) to treat moderate/severe cases of psoriasis in a single-arm clinical study. This AD-MSC treatment has proven to be clinically safe and effective. Interestingly, a trend of adaptome improvement, including increased diversity, elevated uCDR3s and decreased large clone after AD-MSC treatment in a short (2 weeks) and long (12 weeks) terms. In conclusion, allogenic AD-MSC treatment has shown a good safety and efficacy in treating Ps and can effectively improve the compromised adaptive immune system of Ps patients.

Causal associations between both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and multiple autoimmune diseases: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Numerous observational studies have identified associations between both psoriasis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and autoimmune diseases (AIDs); however, the causality of these associations remains undetermined. Methods: We conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization study to identify causal associations and directions between both PsO and PsA and AIDs, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), multiple sclerosis (MS), uveitis, bullous pemphigoid (BP), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), vitiligo, and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The causal inferences were drawn by integrating results from four regression models: Inverse Variance Weighting (IVW), MR-Egger, Weighted Median, and Maximum Likelihood. Furthermore, we performed sensitivity analyses to confirm the reliability of our findings. Results: The results showed that CD [IVW odds ratio (ORIVW), 1.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.17; P = 8.40E-06], vitiligo (ORIVW, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.05-1.28; P = 2.45E-03) were risk factors for PsO, while BP may reduce the incidence of PsO (ORIVW, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.96; P = 1.26E-04). CD (ORIVW, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.12; P = 0.01), HT (ORIVW, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.08-1.40; P = 1.43E-03), RA (ORIVW, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02-1.21, P = 2.05E-02), AS (ORIVW, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.46-3.27; P = 1.55E-04), SLE (ORIVW, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08; P = 1.07E-02) and vitiligo (ORIVW, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.14-1.42; P = 2.67E-05) were risk factors for PsA. Sensitivity analyses had validated the reliability of the results. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence for potential causal relationships between certain AIDs and both PsO and PsA. Specifically, CD and vitiligo may increase the risk of developing PsO, while CD, HT, SLE, RA, AS, and vitiligo may elevate the risk for PsA. Additionally, it is crucial to closely monitor the condition of PsO patients with specific AIDs, as they have a higher likelihood of developing PsA than those without AIDs. Moving forward, greater attention should be paid to PsA and further exploration of other PsO subtypes is warranted.

Inulin Reduces Kidney Damage in Type 2 Diabetic Mice by Decreasing Inflammation and Serum Metabolomics.

This study is aimed at assessing the impact of soluble dietary fiber inulin on the treatment of diabetes-related chronic inflammation and kidney injury in mice with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The T2DM model was created by feeding the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice a high-fat diet and intraperitoneally injecting them with streptozotocin (50 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days). The thirty-six ICR mice were divided into three dietary groups: the normal control (NC) group, the T2DM (DM) group, and the DM + inulin diet (INU) group. The INU group mice were given inulin at the dose of 500 mg/kg gavage daily until the end of the 12th week. After 12 weeks, the administration of inulin resulted in decreased serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CRE). The administration of inulin not only ameliorated renal injury but also resulted in a reduction in the mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors in the spleen and serum oxidative stress levels, when compared to the DM group. Additionally, inulin treatment in mice with a T2DM model led to a significant increase in the concentrations of three primary short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid), while the concentration of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a prominent inflammatory factor in diabetes, exhibited a significant decrease. The results of untargeted metabolomics indicate that inulin has the potential to alleviate inflammatory response and kidney damage in diabetic mice. This beneficial effect is attributed to its impact on various metabolic pathways, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism. Consequently, oral inulin emerges as a promising treatment option for diabetes and kidney injury.

Differential responses of ecosystem stability to climatic and anthropogenic factors in connected and isolated lake basins on the Yangtze River.

Maintaining optimal ecological security in the Yangtze River-connected and isolated lake basins is of great significance to national projects involving Yangtze River protection. Ecosystem stability and associated factors are important components of ecological security in these basins. However, few studies have focused on ecosystem stability and its driving factors over long periods in the Yangtze River Basin. In this study, a remote sensing index was used to analyze the spatiotemporal variation in the ecosystem stability of the Dongting Lake Basin (DTL), Poyang Lake Basin (PYL), and the isolated Chaohu Lake Basin (CHL) and Taihu Lake Basin (THL) in the Yangtze River over the period 2000-2022 to determine the potential affecting factors. The results showed fluctuations in the ecosystem stability of the DTL and PYL, while a V-shape was observed for the CHL and THL during the same period; the closer to the lake, the weaker the stability of the ecosystem, especially in the DTL and PYL. Moreover, the ecosystem stability was greater in the DTL and PYL than in the CHL and THL. The spillover effect of anthropogenic activities on the ecosystem stability of the four basins and the direct effect of temperature have the greatest effect on the ecosystem stability. Specifically, the ecosystem stability index for the area around the DTL and PYL decreased with increasing human interference, whereas the opposite was observed in the CHL and THL. The effect of temperature was negative for the ecosystem stability of DTL and PYL and significantly positive for CHL and THL, at a level of 0.01 %. The findings of this study provide significant information for targeted ecological restoration of the Yangtze River Basin.

Interspecific root interaction enhances cadmium accumulation in Oryza sativa when intercropping with cadmium accumulator Artemisia argyi.

The contamination of arable land with heavy metals, such as Cd, is a serious concern worldwide. Intercropping with Cd accumulators can be used for efficient safe crop production and phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil. However, the effect of intercropping on Cd uptake by main crops and accumulators varies among plant combinations. Rhizosphere interaction may mediate Cd uptake by intercropped plants, but the mechanism is unclear. Thus, in the present study, we aimed to examine the effect of rhizosphere interaction on Cd uptake by intercropping rice (Oryza sativa L.) with mugwort (Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant.) in Cd-contaminated paddy soil. We grew O. sativa and A. argyi in pots designed to allow different levels of interaction: complete root interaction (no barrier), partial root interaction (nylon mesh barrier), and no root interaction (plastic film barrier). Our results indicated that both complete and partial root interaction increased the shoot and root mass of A. argyi, but did not decrease the shoot, root, and grain mass of O. sativa. Interspecific root interaction significantly increased the Cd content in the shoots, roots, and grains of O. sativa and the shoots of A. argyi. Increased content of total organic acids in the rhizosphere, which increased the content of available Cd, was a possible mechanism of increased Cd uptake in both plants under interspecific root interaction. Our findings demonstrate that an intercropping system can extract more Cd from contaminated soil than a monocropping system of either A. argyi or O. sativa. However, the intercropping system did not facilitate safe crop production because it substantially increased grain Cd content in O. sativa.

Potential risk of eutrophication in the deepest lake of Southwest China: Insights from phosphorus enrichment in bottom water.

Large deep lakes in plateau regions provide crucial ecosystem services but are susceptible to eutrophication due to their long water residence time. To date, the water quality of deep lakes has not received as much attention as that of shallow lakes owing to logistical challenges. This study investigated the seasonal variation and vertical distribution of phosphorus and related environmental variables in a large deep lake in the Yunnan Plateau, China (Fuxian Lake). Generally, the concentrations of total phosphorus (TP, R2 = 0.862), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP, R2 = 0.922), and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP, R2 = 0.889) exhibited a linear increase with the greater water depth, whereas the pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) showed decreasing trends. The TP, TDP, and DIP values were 0.012, 0.006, and 0.004 mg/L, respectively, in surface waters (0.5 m depth), and increased to 0.074, 0.065, and 0.062 mg/L, respectively, at 140.0 m depth. The averaged over ordering method demonstrated that DO and air temperature accounted for a higher proportion of the explained variance of TP, TDP, and DIP in the shallow water layer (0.5-20.0 m). In contrast, DO and pH accounted for a higher proportion of the explained variance of TP, TDP, and DIP in deeper water layers (40.0-150.0 m). As a warm monomictic lake, the higher observed phosphorus concentrations in deeper water and sediment potentially pose a risk of future eutrophication in the Fuxian Lake. Our findings demonstrate that more efficient technical and management measures should be taken to reduce the external phosphorus load to Fuxian Lake, so that the load to and from the sediment will decrease eventually.

Belowground seed and bud banks play complementary roles in the potential recruitment of dominant macrophyte communities in a Yangtze River-connected floodplain wetland.

Both seed and bud banks play important roles in the recruitment and maintenance of macrophyte communities; however, few studies have investigated them simultaneously. We investigated the abundance, species composition, and seasonal patterns of seed and bud banks in two dominant macrophyte communities, Carex and Miscanthus, in the Dongting Lake wetlands. The seed densities of both communities were lower from November (after flooding) to March and increased dramatically before flooding (in May). The bud densities of the two dominant communities peaked in the coldest month of the year (January), decreased markedly in March, and were the lowest before flooding. The seed banks of the two macrophyte communities were mainly composed of annual species and a few perennial species, whereas the bud banks were composed of only dominant perennials. Furthermore, the perennial species present in bud banks did not occur in seed banks. Among the soil variables, the bud densities of both plant communities were negatively associated with soil bulk density, whereas the seed density of the Miscanthus community was positively associated with soil bulk density. Our results suggest that seed and bud banks are complementary in the potential recruitment of macrophyte communities; that is, bud banks regulate the demography of dominant perennials, and seed banks contribute to the recruitment and dispersal of annual species. Given the high abundance of annuals and near absence of the most dominant perennials in the seed bank, the bud banks of dominant perennial species should be more widely used in wetland restoration and management.

Corrigendum: Wildlife is a potential source of human infections of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in southeastern China.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.692837.].

Exploring the relative contribution of flood regimes and climatic factors to Carex phenology in a Yangtze River-connected floodplain wetland.

Hydrological regimes can combine with climatic factors to affect plant phenology; however, few studies have attempted to quantify their complex influences on plant phenology in floodplain wetlands. We obtained phenological information on Carex vegetation through MODIS normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data during 2001-2020, and monthly field investigation during 2011-2020. We then explored how these data were correlated with climatic factors and flood regimes in a Yangtze River-connected floodplain wetland (Dongting Lake, China). Our results showed that warmer temperature tended to advance the start of the pre-flooding growing season (SOS1), with a relative contribution of 76.1 %. Flood rising time strongly contributed to controlling the end of the pre-flooding growing season. Flood recession time and inundation duration were dominant factors determining the start of the post-flooding growing season (SOS2). Earlier flood recession time and shortened inundation duration tended to advance the SOS2. Shortened inundation duration, earlier flood recession time, and lower solar radiation tended to advance the end of the post-flooding growing season. The phenology of Carex distributed at high-elevation areas was more affected by hydrology than that of Carex distributed at low-elevation areas. Thus, climatic factors strongly affect the phenology of Carex during the pre-flooding growing season, whereas flood regimes play a dominant role in determining the phenology in the post-flooding growing season. The different responses of Carex phenology to climatic and flooding factors may provide insights for the conservation and management of floodplain wetlands in Yangtze River because Carex are primary food source and habitat for herbivorous waterfowls.

Dyke demolition led to a sharp decline in waterbird diversity due to habitat quality reduction: A case study of Dongting Lake, China.

Dongting Lake, an important wintering habitat for migratory waterbirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, has suffered serious degradation in recent decades. To restore habitats for biodiversity conservation and flood control, 459 dykes were demolished and 14 were preserved in 2017. However, the direct impact of dyke demolition on wintering waterbirds was not comprehensively assessed. In this study, based on annual waterbird census and habitat data (2013/14-2020/21), we compared the differences in habitat areas and species composition of waterbirds in the dyke-demolished and preserved areas, and explored whether habitat changes caused by the dyke demolition were responsible for the changes in the number of species and percentages of waterbird individuals. The results indicate that the areas of water (including shallow water) and mudflat habitats significantly decreased, but the vegetation area significantly increased in the dyke-demolished areas. The species numbers and percentages of waterbird individuals at the community and foraging guilds levels, and the percentages of nine species, were higher in the dyke-preserved areas than those in the dyke-demolished areas. Changes in the numbers of species and percentages of individuals of fish eaters, insectivores, and omnivores positively correlated with drastic changes in the percentages of water habitats (including shallow water) after dyke demolition. Effective measures should be carried out to restore hydrological regimes, providing waterbirds sufficient suitable habitats with different water depths. These findings improve our understanding of the influence of dyke demolition on waterbirds and provide insights for wetland management and waterbird conservation.

Concurrent effects of flooding regimes and floodwater quality on sediment properties in a Yangtze River-connected floodplain wetland: Insights from field investigations during 2011-2020.

Changes in flood regimes, floodwater quality, and macrophyte types may affect sediment characteristics post-flooding. However, few studies have attempted to unravel their complex influences in floodplain wetlands. From 2011 to 2020, the physical and chemical properties of surface layer sediment pre- and post-flooding was investigated through field surveys in the Dongting Lake wetland. Results indicated that the pre-flooding soil total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) exhibited an increasing trend during 2011-2020. Soil TP increased post-flooding relative to that pre-flooding. The changes in TN, sediment organic matter (SOM), sediment moisture content (SMC), and sediment bulk density (SBD) fluctuated over the years. The best-fitting multi-regression model demonstrated that the changes in sediment variables post-flooding showed a parabolic trajectory along the inundation duration (ID), except for SMC. Changes in soil properties post-flooding were negatively correlated with ID for sediment with a low IDs (<148 days). Meanwhile, changes in soil properties post flooding were positively correlated with ID for sediment with a high IDs (>193 days). Changes in SBD and SOM post-flooding were positively influenced by the TP content in the floodwater. These findings indicate that changes in the flooding regime, and water quality generated by anthropogenic disturbances such as the Three Gorges Dam significantly affect sediment properties, and subsequently influence the ecological functions of the Dongting Lake wetland.

Inter-annual and intra-annual variations in water quality and its response to water-level fluctuations in a river-connected lake, Dongting Lake, China.

The hydrological conditions of river-connected lakes are complex primarily owing to their considerable water-level fluctuations (WLFs). Water quality in such lakes varies with hydrodynamic variations; however, their relationship is not clear. To identify the unique relationship between water level and water quality in river-connected lakes, we used the comprehensive pollution index (CPI) and regression analysis to analyze the spatiotemporal variation in water quality in Dongting Lake from 2015 to 2018 and the effects of water level on water quality. Four water quality parameters were selected: total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), permanganate index (CODMn), and chlorophyll a (Chl-a). The results showed significant spatial variation in the lake water quality, with relatively high concentrations of TN, TP, CODMn, and Chl-a in East Dongting Lake. TN and TP decreased by 12.15% and 37.61%, respectively, from 2015 to 2018, whereas CODMn increased from 1.781 to 2.009 mg/L. Seasonally, TN and TP concentrations were low in the summer and autumn, with high concentrations in the winter and spring. In contrast, CODMn and Chl-a concentrations exhibited opposite trends. The pollution level in Dongting Lake ranged between slightly and moderately polluted, with a CPI ranging from 0.76 to 1.32 across all sampling sites during 2015-2018. The water level in Dongting Lake initially increased and, then, decreased in a year, with marked WLFs owing to seasonal shifts in precipitation and human activities. The water level had significant negative relationships with TN and TP concentrations and a significant positive relationship with CODMn concentration (p < 0.05). Based on the results, strict control of excessive external nutrient loading should be actively implemented in Dongting Lake, in addition to hydrological regulation for effective lake water quality management.

Is water quality better in wet years or dry years in river-connected lakes? A case study from Dongting Lake, China.

Water quality is essential for lake systems, which are not only influenced by climate change and human activities but are also controlled by high-frequency hydrological rhythms. However, the differences in water quality during different hydrological periods have not been addressed in detail. Here, a 15-year water quality dataset (2004-2018) was selected to explore the variation trends and their relationship with water level in different hydrological periods in Dongting Lake, a typical river-connected lake in China. The hydrological periods were classified into hydrological years and hydrological phases based on the characteristics of water level fluctuations. The results showed that annual variation in the water level in Dongting Lake fluctuated between 23.63 and 25.81 m from 2004 to 2018, and also displayed considerable water level differences ranging from 7.66 m (dry years) to 9.97 m (wet years) within a year. The water level of the lake phase showed significant differences among the different hydrological years. The concentration of TP, CODMn, and NH3-N showed significant decreasing trends, whereas that of TN showed a significant increasing trend from 2004 to 2018. The TN concentration in wet years was significantly higher than that in dry years, which could be attributed to sewage discharge and hydrological conditions. The contributions of the lake phase to the total sewage discharge successively decreased from 64.54% in wet years to 59.47% in dry years, while the river phase showed the opposite trends, ranging from 35.46% to 40.53%, reflecting the strong relationship between water regimes and pollutant fluxes. A regression analysis indicated the different responses of water quality to water level fluctuations over hydrological years, and water quality in different hydrological phases clearly separated the lake and river phases, highlighting the influence of water level fluctuations on water quality within a year. To maintain the water quality of Dongting Lake, the control of external load should not be relaxed, and hydrological regulation should be actively carried out within each year.

Wildlife Is a Potential Source of Human Infections of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Giardia duodenalis in Southeastern China.

Wildlife is known to be a source of high-impact pathogens affecting people. However, the distribution, genetic diversity, and zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Giardia duodenalis in wildlife are poorly understood. Here, we conducted the first molecular epidemiological investigation of these three pathogens in wildlife in Zhejiang and Shanghai, China. Genomic DNAs were derived from 182 individual fecal samples from wildlife and then subjected to a nested polymerase chain reaction-based sequencing approach for detection and characterization. Altogether, 3 (1.6%), 21 (11.5%), and 48 (26.4%) specimens tested positive for Cryptosporidium species, E. bieneusi, and G. duodenalis, respectively. Sequence analyses revealed five known (BEB6, D, MJ13, SC02, and type IV) and two novel (designated SH_ch1 and SH_deer1) genotypes of E. bieneusi. Phylogenetically, novel E. bieneusi genotype SH_deer1 fell into group 6, and the other genotypes were assigned to group 1 with zoonotic potential. Three novel Cryptosporidium genotypes (Cryptosporidium avian genotype V-like and C. galli-like 1 and 2) were identified, C. galli-like 1 and 2 formed a clade that was distinct from Cryptosporidium species. The genetic distinctiveness of these two novel genotypes suggests that they represent a new species of Cryptosporidium. Zoonotic assemblage A (n = 36) and host-adapted assemblages C (n = 1) and E (n = 7) of G. duodenalis were characterized. The overall results suggest that wildlife act as host reservoirs carrying zoonotic E. bieneusi and G. duodenalis, potentially enabling transmission from wildlife to humans and other animals.

Community Trait Responses of Three Dominant Macrophytes to Variations in Flooding During 2011-2019 in a Yangtze River-Connected Floodplain Wetland (Dongting Lake, China).

In lacustrine wetlands connected to rivers, the changes in flood regimes caused by hydrological projects lead to changes in the community traits of dominant macrophytes and, consequently, influence the structure and function of wetland vegetation. However, community trait responses of macrophytes to the timing and duration of flood disturbance have been rarely quantified. In 2011-2019, we investigated plant species diversity, density, and biomass in three dominant macrophyte communities (Carex brevicuspis C.B. Clarke, Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hackel, and Polygonum hydropiper L.) through monthly field surveys in Dongting Lake wetlands. Partial least squares regressions were used to analyze how the variations in hydrological regimes affected plant community traits. Apparent inter-annual fluctuations in plant community traits were detected during 2011-2019. The species richness and Shannon index of diversity of Miscanthus and Polygonum communities increased, whereas the Shannon index of diversity of Carex community decreased. Variation in flooding had a greater effect on Polygonum and Carex community traits than on Miscanthus community traits. Flooding disturbed all plant communities, especially when the duration and timing varied. Shorter inundation periods caused the biomass of Miscanthus community to decline, and that of Carex and Polygonum communities to increase. Earlier flood recession caused the species richness and Shannon index of diversity of Polygonum and Miscanthus community to increase, and those of Carex community to decrease. These findings imply that shorter inundation durations and earlier flood recession generated by the operation of the Three Gorges Dam have changed the macrophyte growth pattern.

Talaromyces marneffei infection in non-HIV-infected patients in mainland China.

BACKGROUND: Talaromyces marneffei, formerly known as Penicillium marneffei, is a significant emerging pathogenic fungus in Southeast Asia which can generate life-threatening systemic infections. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is considered as the most underlying disease among systemic infections. However, infections due to T. marneffei without HIV are increasing in recent years. OBJECTIVES: Research the characteristics of T. marneffei infection in non-HIV individuals in mainland China. METHODS: In this study, we searched Pubmed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and WanFang from inception to 31 December 2019 for studies reporting T. marneffei infection. Our research concentrates on non-HIV-infected cases and their epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment methods and prognosis. RESULTS: T. marneffei infections in non-HIV individuals are increasing. Due to frequent present with atypical symptoms, these non-HIV-infected cases were usually misdiagnosed as other diseases, containing tuberculosis (80.7%), bacterial pneumonia (20.5%), lung cancer (5.1%) or other diseases (5.1%). CONCLUSIONS: T. marneffei infection in non-HIV individuals should be taken seriously. Their symptoms and signs are not typical. Accurate diagnosis and timely antifungal agent treatment is the key to the treatment for the disease.

Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) in the treatment for psoriasis: results of a single-arm pilot trial.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that causes significant physical and psychological burden to the patient. While there is currently no curative treatment, recent breakthroughs involving stem cell therapy, in particular, adipose tissue-derived from mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), have been promising. This single-arm study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of AD-MSC infusions for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. METHODS: A single-center, open-label pilot study was conducted involving seven subjects with moderate to severe psoriasis. Patients received intravenous injections of AD-MSCs (0.5×106 cells/kg) monthly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was patient safety evaluated by the incidence of adverse events (AEs). Secondary parameters included changes in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Body Surface Area (BSA), and Pruritus Scores on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). RESULTS: A total of 7 patients, including 6 males and 1 female, with an average age of 50.71 years (range, 35-65 years) were enrolled in this study. Four patients completed the trial and two participants completed the one-year follow-up. There were 16 AEs (including 1 grade 2 event and 15 grade 1 events) recorded during the treatment period and 1 serious adverse event (SAE) documented during the follow-up period. The most common AEs were transient fevers (5/16) which were likely to be related to the infusions, followed by pharyngitis (3/16), and headaches (2/16). Both of them were unlikely to be related to the infusions. The procedure was determined to be safe, and no SAEs relating to AD-MSCs were observed. Two patients reached and maintained a PASI-50, indicating a 50% improvement in the PASI score, after one year without any treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that intravenous injection of AD-MSCs is safe and may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with psoriasis. Future studies involving larger test cohorts and a control group are warranted.

The expression characteristics of cytochrome C oxidase subunit I in mitochondrial of MRL/lpr lupus mice.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to analyse the expression characteristics of cytochrome C oxidase subunit I in mitochondrial of MRL/lpr lupus mice. METHODS: The whole blood of MRL/lpr lupus mice was detected for whole mitochondrial genome sequencing performed by Illumina HiSeq PE150 instrument, compared with house mouse (NC_005089.1) and screened for the maximum difference gene, MT-CO1. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of MT-CO1 in lupus mice and control mice. The total antioxidant capacities of lupus mice and control mice were measured using the rapid 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) method. RESULTS: The mitochondrial genome sequencing showed that five mitochondrial genes had base differences and MT-CO1 was the maximum difference gene, 31 in total. Among the 31 base difference sites, 2 were missense mutations and 29 were synonymous_variant. qRT-PCR test results showed that the MT-CO1 expression in lupus mouse blood was statistically lower than that in control mice blood (t=4.333; p=0.0003). Western blot test results revealed that the expression of MT-CO1 was lower in the lupus mice compared with the control mice at the protein level. Serum total antioxidant capacity testing showed that: the serum total antioxidant capacity of lupus mice was statistically lower than that of the control mice (t=9.957; p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: High mutation rate and decreased expression of MT-CO1 in MRL/lpr lupus mice accompanied the decrease of antioxidant capacity, which indicated that abnormal MT-CO1 might be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE and the production of anti-dsDNA antibodies.

Evaluation and variation trends analysis of water quality in response to water regime changes in a typical river-connected lake (Dongting Lake), China.

Lake water pollution has caused many serious ecological issues globally. An emerging public concern over water quality deterioration in lakes has heightened the need to evaluate the water quality of lakes at long-term scales, particularly for those with high hydrological alterations. This study combines the Mann-Kendall (M-K) test and self-organising map (SOM) to characterise and evaluate water quality trends in Dongting Lake, China, from 1991 to 2018, before and after the inauguration of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD). Herein, six water quality parameters were selected, namely pH, permanganate index (CODMn), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and the five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5). Our results show that the concentrations of TN and BOD5 increase significantly throughout the study period (|Z| ≥ 1.96). The number of abrupt change points for the six water quality parameters in the post-TGD period was greater than that in the pre-TGD period, which indicates an increased risk of water deterioration in the post-TGD period. The SOM results show that the pH values ranged from 7.64 to 7.85 among the four clusters; besides, the concentrations of the remaining water quality parameters from 1991 to 1997 and 2000 to 2003 were relatively lower, suggesting that the water quality in the pre-TGD period was better. The classification of TN and TP ranged from Level Ⅳ-Ⅴ among the clusters, which did not satisfy the level Ⅲ standard for potable water, thereby posing a higher ecological risk to the Dongting Lake. These results indicate the deterioration of the water quality in Dongting Lake during the post-TGD period under the influences of pollution load and hydrological regulation. Therefore, strict controls on the external nutrient loading and hydrological regulations should be considered for water quality management.

Testing the Growth Rate Hypothesis in Two Wetland Macrophytes Under Different Water Level and Sediment Type Conditions.

The growth rate hypothesis (GRH) states that a negative correlation exists between the growth rate and N:P and C:P ratios, because fast-growing organisms need relatively more phosphorus-rich RNA to support their high rates of protein synthesis. However, it is still uncertain whether the GRH is applicable in freshwater wetlands. Several studies have shown that water level and sediment type are key factors influencing plant growth and plant C:N:P characteristics in freshwater wetlands. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the influence of these factors on plant growth and test the GRH under varying water levels and sediment conditions. We designed a controlled experiment at three water levels and under three sediment types using the two dominant plants (Carex brevicuspis and Polygonum hydropiper) in the East Dongting Lake wetland, and we further investigated the relative growth rate (RGR); concentrations of total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP); and plant stoichiometry (ratios of C:N, C:P, and N:P) in the aboveground and belowground parts and whole plants in both species. Results demonstrated that the RGR and TC of both species decreased significantly with decreasing sediment nutrient supply and increasing water level. However, TN and TP of both species were markedly higher at high water levels than at low water levels; furthermore, these were significantly higher on clay than on the other two sediment types at each water level. The C:N and C:P ratios of both species decreased with increasing sediment nutrient supply and water level, whereas N:P decreased in both species with increasing sediment nutrient supply. The aboveground part of C. brevicuspis as well as the aboveground part and whole plant of P. hydropiper were negatively correlated with N:P, which is consistent with the GRH. However, the relationship between the belowground RGR and N:P of these species was inconsistent with GRH. Therefore, the water level and sediment type and their interaction significantly influenced plant RGR and C:N:P characteristics. The RGR and plant stoichiometry differed significantly between plant organs, indicating that the GRH needs refinement when applied to wetland macrophytes.