Candidate membrane protein gene families related to chemoreception in a wood-boring beetle, Pharsalia antennata Gahan (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

The longhorned beetles are key players for the maintenance of biodiversity in the terrestrial ecosystem. As xylophagous cerambycid insects in Coleoptera, the beetles have evolved specialized olfactory and gustatory systems to recognize chemical cues in the surrounding habitats. Despite over 36,000 described species in the Cerambycidae family including a wood-boring pest Pharsalia antennata, only a limited number of them (<1 %) have been characterized regarding their chemical ecology at the molecular level. Here, we surveyed four membrane protein gene families in P. antennata related to chemoreception through transcriptomics, phylogenetics and expression profiling analyses. In total, 144 genes encoding 72 odorant receptors (ORs), 33 gustatory receptors (GRs), 23 ionotropic receptors (IRs), four sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) and 12 ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) were harvested from the transcriptome of multiple tissues including antennae and legs of both sexes. The lineage-specific expansion of PantORs possibly implied a diverse range of host plants in this beetle, supporting this correlation between the host range and olfactory receptor repertoire sizes across cerambycid species. Further phylogenetic analysis revealed that Group 2 was contributed mainly to the large OR gene repertoire in P. antennata, representing 18 genes in Group 2A and eight in Group 2B. On the other hand, some key chemosensory genes were identified by applying a phylogenetics approach, such as PantOR21 close to the 2-phenylethanol receptor in Megacyllene caryae, three carbon dioxide GRs and seven Antennal IRs (A-IRs) clades. We also determined sex- and tissue-specific expression profiles of 69 chemosensory genes, revealing the high expression of most PantORs in antennae. Noticeably, 10 sex-biased genes (six PantORs, three PantIRs and PantSNMP1a) were presented in antennae, five sex-biased PantGRs in legs and 39 sex-biased genes (15 PantORs, 13 PantGRs, eight PantIRs and three PantSNMPs) in abdomens. These findings have greatly enhanced our knowledge about the chemical ecology of P. antennata and identify candidate molecular targets for mediating smell and taste of this beetle.

To explore the mechanism of Yigong San anti-gastric cancer and immune regulation.

BACKGROUND: Yigong San (YGS) is a representative prescription for the treatment of digestive disorders, which has been used in clinic for more than 1000 years. However, the mechanism of its anti-gastric cancer and regulate immunity are still remains unclear. AIM: To explore the mechanism of YGS anti-gastric cancer and immune regulation. METHODS: Firstly, collect the active ingredients and targets of YGS, and the differentially expressed genes of gastric cancer. Secondly, constructed a protein-protein interaction network between the targets of drugs and diseases, and screened hub genes. Then the clinical relevance, mutation and repair, tumor microenvironment and drug sensitivity of the hub gene were analyzed. Finally, molecular docking was used to verify the binding ability of YGS active ingredient and hub genes. RESULTS: Firstly, obtained 55 common targets of gastric cancer and YGS. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes screened the microtubule-associated protein kinase signaling axis as the key pathway and IL6, EGFR, MMP2, MMP9 and TGFB1 as the hub genes. The 5 hub genes were involved in gastric carcinogenesis, staging, typing and prognosis, and their mutations promote gastric cancer progression. Finally, molecular docking results confirmed that the components of YGS can effectively bind to therapeutic targets. CONCLUSION: YGS has the effect of anti-gastric cancer and immune regulation.

Anti-Tumor Effects and Toxicity Reduction Mechanisms of Prunella vulgaris: A Comprehensive Review.

PURPOSE: To investigate and systematically describe the mechanism of action of Prunella vulgaris (P. vulgaris) against digestive system tumors and related toxicity reduction. METHODS: This study briefly describes the history of medicinal food and the pharmacological effects of P. vulgaris, focusing on the review of the anti-digestive tumor effects of the active ingredients of P. vulgaris and the mechanism of its toxicity reduction. RESULTS: The active ingredients of P. vulgaris may exert anti-tumor effects by inducing the apoptosis of cancer cells, inhibiting angiogenesis, inhibiting the migration and invasion of tumor cells, and inhibiting autophagy. In addition, P. vulgaris active ingredients inhibit the release of inflammatory factors and macrophages and increase the level of indicators of oxidative stress through the modulation of target genes in the pathway to achieve the effect of toxicity reduction. CONCLUSION: The active ingredients in the medicine food homology plant P. vulgaris not only treat digestive system tumors through different mechanisms but also reduce the toxic effects. P. vulgaris is worthy of being explored more deeply.

Three chemosensory proteins enriched in antennae and tarsi of Rhaphuma horsfieldi differentially contribute to the binding of insecticides.

Antennae and legs (primarily the tarsal segments) of insects are the foremost sensory organs that contact a diverse range of toxic chemicals including insecticides. Binding proteins expressed in the two tissues are potential molecular candidates serving as the binding and sequestering of insecticides, like chemosensory proteins (CSPs). Insect CSPs endowed with multiple roles have been suggested to participate in insecticide resistance, focusing mainly on moths, aphids and mosquitos. Yet, the molecular underpinnings underlying the interactions of cerambycid CSPs and insecticides remain unexplored. Here, we present binding properties of three antenna- and tarsus-enriched RhorCSPs (RhorCSP1, CSP2 and CSP3) in Rhaphuma horsfieldi to eight insecticide classes totaling 15 chemicals. From the transcriptome of this beetle, totally 16 CSP-coding genes were found, with seven full-length sequences. In phylogeny, these RhorCSPs were distributed dispersedly in different clades. Expression profiles revealed the abundant expression of RhorCSP1, CSP2 and CSP3 in antennae and tarsi, thus as representatives for studying the protein-insecticide interactions. Binding assays showed that the three RhorCSPs were tuned differentially to insecticides but exhibited the highest affinities with hexaflumuron, chlorpyrifos and rotenone (dissociation constants <13 µM). In particular, RhorCSP3 could interact strongly with 10 of tested insecticides, of which four residues (Tyr25, Phe42, Val65 and Phe68) contributed significantly to the binding of six, four, three and four ligands, respectively. Of these, the binding of four mutated RhorCSP3s to a botanical insecticide rotenone was significantly weakened compared to the wildtype protein. Furthermore, we also evidenced that RhorCSP3 was a broadly-tuned carrier protein in response to a wide variety of plant odorants outside insecticides. Altogether, our findings shed light on different binding mechanisms and odorant-tuning profiles of three RhorCSPs in R. horsfieldi and identify key residues of the RhorCSP3-insecticide interactions.

A fungal core effector exploits the OsPUX8B.2-OsCDC48-6 module to suppress plant immunity.

Proteins containing a ubiquitin regulatory X (UBX) domain are cofactors of Cell Division Cycle 48 (CDC48) and function in protein quality control. However, whether and how UBX-containing proteins participate in host-microbe interactions remain unclear. Here we show that MoNLE1, an effector from the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is a core virulence factor that suppresses rice immunity by specifically interfering with OsPUX8B.2. The UBX domain of OsPUX8B.2 is required for its binding to OsATG8 and OsCDC48-6 and controls its 26 S proteasome-dependent stability. OsPUX8B.2 and OsCDC48-6 positively regulate plant immunity against blast fungus, while the high-temperature tolerance heat-shock protein OsBHT, a putative cytoplasmic substrate of OsPUX8B.2-OsCDC48-6, negatively regulates defense against blast infection. MoNLE1 promotes the nuclear migration and degradation of OsPUX8B.2 and disturbs its association with OsBHT. Given the high conservation of MoNLE1 among fungal isolates, plants with broad and durable blast resistance might be generated by engineering intracellular proteins resistant to MoNLE1.

Targeted Delivery of Geraniol via Hyaluronic Acid-Conjugation Enhances Its Anti-Tumor Activity Against Prostate Cancer.

Background: Targeted delivery systems have been developed to improve cancer treatment by reducing side effects and enhancing drug efficacy. Geraniol, a natural product, has demonstrated promising anti-cancer effects in various cancer types, including prostate cancer, which is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural carrier targeting CD44-positive prostate cancer cells, can be utilized in a targeted delivery system. Purpose: This study investigated the efficacy of a conjugate of HA and geraniol linked via a disulfide bond linker (HA-SS-Geraniol) in prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: The cytotoxicity of HA-SS-Geraniol was evaluated on human PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Flow cytometry was used to assess its effects on mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest. Additionally, proteomic analysis was conducted to explore the underlying mechanism of action induced by HA-SS-Geraniol treatment. A subcutaneous xenograft tumor model was established in nude mice to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of HA-SS-Geraniol in vivo. Results: The results demonstrated that HA-SS-Geraniol exhibited potent cytotoxicity against PC-3 prostate cancer cells by inducing mitochondrial membrane potential loss and apoptosis in vitro. The proteomic analysis further supported the hypothesis that HA-SS-Geraniol induces cell death through mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, as evidenced by differential protein expression. The in vivo mouse model confirmed the safety of HA-SS-Geraniol and its ability to inhibit tumor growth. Conclusion: HA-SS-Geraniol holds promise as a biologically safe and potentially effective therapeutic agent for prostate cancer treatment. Its targeted delivery system utilizing HA as a carrier shows potential for improving the efficacy of geraniol in cancer therapy.

Mechanism of pachymic acid in the treatment of gastric cancer based on network pharmacology and experimental verification.

BACKGROUND: Pachymic acid (PA) is derived from Poria cocos. PA has a variety of pharmacological and inhibitory effects on various tumors. However, the mechanism of action of PA in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. AIM: To investigate the mechanism of PA in treating GC via the combination of network pharmacology and experimental verification. METHODS: The GeneCards and OMIM databases were used to derive the GC targets, while the Pharm Mapper database provided the PA targets. Utilizing the STRING database, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed and core targets were screened. The analyses of Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and gene set enrichment analysis were conducted, and molecular docking and clinical correlation analyses were performed on the core targets. Ultimately, the network pharmacology findings were validated through in vitro cell assays, encompassing assessments of cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, cloning, and western blot analysis. RESULTS: According to network pharmacology analysis, the core targets were screened, and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is likely to be the mechanism by which PA effectively treats GC, according to KEGG enrichment analysis. The experimental findings showed that PA could control PI3K/AKT signaling to prevent GC cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and pause the cell cycle. CONCLUSION: Network pharmacology demonstrated that PA could treat GC by controlling a variety of signaling pathways and acting on a variety of targets. This has also been supported by in vitro cell studies, which serve as benchmarks for further research.

Zishen Yutai pills restore fertility in premature ovarian failure through regulating arachidonic acid metabolism and the ATK pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Zishen Yutai pills (ZYP), a Chinese medicinal formulation derived from the Qing Dynasty prescription "Shou Tai pills", have been documented to exhibit beneficial effects in clinical observations treating premature ovarian failure (POF). However, the anti-POF effects and its comprehensive systemic mechanism have not yet been clarified. AIM OF THE REVIEW: Therapeutic effects and systemic mechanism of ZYP in POF were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After pulverization, sieving, and stirring, ZYP was administered intragastrically to cisplatin-induced POF mice at a dose of 1.95 mg/kg/d for 14 days. The anti-POF effects of ZYP were investigated by assessing the number of ovarian follicles at different developmental stages, as well as measuring serum estradiol (E2) levels and ovarian-expressed anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). Reproductive performance and offspring health were evaluated to predict fertility restoration. Furthermore, a combination of proteomic and metabolomic profiling was employed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of ZYP in treating POF. Western blot (WB) analyses and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were conducted to explore the mechanisms through which ZYP exerted its anti-POF effects. RESULTS: We have demonstrated that oral administration of ZYP reversed the reduction in follicles at different developmental stages and stimulated the expressions of serum E2 and ovarian-expressed AMH in a cisplatin-induced POF model. Additionally, ZYP ameliorated follicle apoptosis in ovaries affected by cisplatin-induced POF. Furthermore, treatment with ZYP restored the quantity and quality of oocytes, as well as enhanced fertility. Our results revealed 62 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) through proteomic analyses and identified 26 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) through metabolomic analyses. Both DEPs and DEMs were highly enriched in the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism pathway. ZYP treatment effectively upregulated the protein and mRNA expression of critical targets in AA metabolism and the AKT pathway, including CYP17α1, HSD3ß1, LHR, STAR, and AKT, in cisplatin-induced POF mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that ZYP exerted protective effects against POF and restored fertility from cisplatin-induced apoptosis. ZYP could be a satisfying alternative treating POF.

Comparative transcriptomics reveals the conservation and divergence of reproductive genes across three sympatric Tomicus bark beetles.

Three tree-killing bark beetles belonging to the genus Tomicus, Tomicus yunnanensis, Tomicus brevipilosus and Tomicus minor (Coleoptera; Curculionidae, Scolytinae), are serious wood-borers with larvae feeding on the phloem tissues of Pinus yunnanensis. The three Tomicus beetles, in some cases, coexist in a same habitat, providing a best system for exploring the conservation and divergence of reproductive genes. Here, we applied comparative transcriptomics and molecular biology approaches to characterize reproductive-related genes in three sympatric Tomicus species. Illumina sequencing of female and male reproductive systems and residual bodies generated a large number of clean reads, representing 185,920,232 sequences in T. yunnanensis, 169,153,404 in T. brevipilosus and 178,493,176 in T. minor that were assembled into 32,802, 56,912 and 33,670 unigenes, respectively. The majority of the genes had detectable expression in reproductive tissues (FPKM >1), particularly those genes in T. brevipilosus accounting for 76.61 % of the total genes. From the transcriptomes, totally 838 genes encoding 463 detoxification enzymes, 339 chemosensory membrane proteins and 36 ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) were identified, including 622 reproductive tissue-expressed genes. Of these, members of carboxylesterases (COEs), ionotropic receptors (IRs), sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) and iGluRs were highly conserved in gene numbers and sequence identities across three Tomicus species. Further, expression profiling analyses revealed a number of genes expressed in reproductive tissues and the diverse expression characteristics in these beetles. The results provide evidence for the conservation and differences of reproductive genes among three sympatric closely related beetles, helping understand their different reproductive strategies and the maximization of the reproductive success.

An advanced strategy for quality evaluation of Xinyi Biyan Pill by UPLC-DAD fingerprinting combined with multi-components UPLC-MS/MS analysis.

Xinyi Biyan Pill (XBP) is a classical Chinese patent medicine and widely used to treat acute and chronic or allergic rhinitis in clinical practice. This study aimed to establish and validate a comprehensive strategy combining ultra-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UPLC-DAD) fingerprinting and multi-component quantification for quality evaluation of XBP. In the fingerprint analysis, 32 peaks were selected as common peaks and used to evaluate the similarity of 12 batches of XBP. In addition, 141 compounds of XBP were identified or preliminarily characterized in both positive and negative ion modes by coupling with an advanced hybrid linear ion trap (LTQ)-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Moreover, a rapid quantitative method based on UPLC tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) has been optimized and validated for simultaneous determination of 10 chemical markers within 15 min, and applied to analyzing 12 batches of XBP. The proposed comprehensive strategy combining UPLC-DAD fingerprinting and multi-component UPLC-MS/MS quantification exhibited satisfactory results with high efficiency, accuracy and reliability, which can be used as a reference for overall quality consistency evaluation of Chinese herbal formulations.

HIV vaccines induce CD8+ T cells with low antigen receptor sensitivity.

Current HIV vaccines designed to stimulate CD8+ T cells have failed to induce immunologic control upon infection. The functions of vaccine-induced HIV-specific CD8+ T cells were investigated here in detail. Cytotoxic capacity was significantly lower than in HIV controllers and was not a consequence of low frequency or unaccumulated functional cytotoxic proteins. Low cytotoxic capacity was attributable to impaired degranulation in response to the low antigen levels present on HIV-infected targets. The vaccine-induced T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire was polyclonal and transduction of these TCRs conferred the same reduced functions. These results define a mechanism accounting for poor antiviral activity induced by these vaccines and suggest that an effective CD8+ T cell response may require a vaccination strategy that drives further TCR clonal selection.

Effects of the Zishen Yutai Pill compared with placebo on pregnancy outcomes among women in a fresh embryo transfer cycle: a Post Hoc subgroup analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess whether the administration of Zishen Yutai Pill (ZYP) could improve the pregnancy outcomes in different subgroups of women undergoing fresh embryo transfer cycles. Materials and methods: This is a post hoc analysis of a large scale, placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized clinical trial (RCT) regarding the use of ZYP during assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. The RCT was conducted at 19 in vitro fertilization (IVF) centers between April 2014 and June 2017. A total of 2265 women undergoing fresh embryo transfer cycles were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive ZYP (n = 1131) or placebo (n = 1134). Post hoc logistic regression analyses were applied in this study to examine the between-group differences of ZYP and placebo on clinical pregnancy rate among different subgroups. Detailed analyses, both in intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol population, were also conducted in specific subgroups with regards to rates of implantation, biochemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, live birth, pregnancy loss, as well as other neonatal indices. Results: ZYP showed a significantly higher clinical pregnancy rates than placebo in the ITT population. Detailed subgroup analyses were conducted in subgroup in advanced maternal age (AMA, ≥ 35 years old) and overweight/obese patients (BMI > 24), due to the clinical importance and statistical results. In these subgroups, baseline characteristics were similar between two arms (all P > 0.05). Significantly elevated clinical pregnancy rates were observed in ZYP cohort (both P < 0.05) compared with the placebo group. Results also showed that ZYP treatment resulted in significantly higher rates of implantation, biochemical pregnancy in AMA or overweight/obese patients in ITT analysis (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: The current post hoc subgroup analysis suggested that AMA and overweight/obese women could experience clinical benefits when treated with ZYP in their fresh embryo transfer cycles. The study provides references for the use of ZYP in ART practices. However, further studies in specific subgroups should be examined in more rigorous clinical trial settings. Clinical trial registration: Chictr.org.cn, ChictrTRC-14004494.

Research progress of ginger in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors.

Cancer seriously endangers human health. Gastrointestinal cancer is the most common and major malignant tumor, and its morbidity and mortality are gradually increasing. Although there are effective treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy for gastrointestinal tumors, they are often accompanied by serious side effects. According to the traditional Chinese medicine and food homology theory, many materials are both food and medicine. Moreover, food is just as capable of preventing and treating diseases as medicine. Medicine and food homologous herbs not only have excellent pharmacological effects and activities but also have few side effects. As a typical medicinal herb with both medicinal and edible uses, some components of ginger have been shown to have good efficacy and safety against cancer. A mass of evidence has also shown that ginger has anti-tumor effects on digestive tract cancers (such as gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, laryngeal cancer, and pancreatic cancer) through a variety of pathways. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of action of the main components of ginger and their potential clinical applications in treating gastrointestinal tumors.

Functional characterization of four antenna-biased chemosensory proteins in Dioryctria abietella reveals a broadly tuned olfactory DabiCSP1 and its key residues in ligand-binding.

The orientation of the oligophagous cone-feeding moth Dioryctria abietella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) to host plants primarily relies on olfactory-related proteins, particularly those candidates highly expressed in antennae. Here, through a combination of expression profile, ligand-binding assay, molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis strategies, we characterized the chemosensory protein (CSP) gene family in D. abietella. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analyses revealed the detectable expression of all 22 DabiCSPs in the antennae, of which seven genes were significantly enriched in this tissue. In addition, the majority of the genes (19/22 relatives) had the expression in at least one reproductive tissue. In the interactions of four antenna-dominant DabiCSPs and different chemical classes, DabiCSP1 was broadly tuned to 27 plant-derived odors, three man-made insecticides and one herbicide with high affinities (Ki < 6.60 µM). By contrast, three other DabiCSPs (DabiCSP4, CSP6 and CSP17) exhibited a narrow odor binding spectrum, in response to six compounds for each protein. Our mutation analyses combined with molecular docking simulations and binding assays further identified four key residues (Tyr25, Thr26, Ile65 and Val69) in the interactions of DabiCSP1 and ligands, of which binding abilities of this protein to 12, 15, 16 and three compounds were significantly decreased compared to the wildtype protein, respectively. Our study reveals different odor binding spectra of four DabiCSPs enriched in antennae and identifies key residues responsible for the binding of DabiCSP1 and potentially active compounds for the control of this pest.

Pharmacological Mechanisms and Adjuvant Properties of Licorice Glycyrrhiza in Treating Gastric Cancer.

Licorice is a remarkable traditional Chinese medicine obtained from the dried root and rhizomes of the Glycyrrhiza genus, and t has been utilized in China for many centuries. It consists of more than 300 compounds that are mainly divided into triterpene saponins, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and phenolic components. The active compounds of licorice have been found to possess multiple biological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, immunoregulatory, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective functions. In addition to providing a brief overview of licorice's adjuvant properties, this review describes and analyzes the pharmacological mechanisms by which licorice components function to treat gastric cancer. Furthermore, licorice compounds are also found to be potent adjuvant chemotherapy agents, as they can improve the quality of life of cancer patients and alleviate chemotherapy-induced adverse effects.

Regulatory effects of Zishen Yutai Pill on endometrial epithelial response in vitro in immunology microenvironment.

Objective: Zishen Yutai Pill (ZYP) is a frequently used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation in women's health. However, the effects of ZYP on endometrial epithelial response have not been fully explored. Herein, uterine natural killer cell (uNK) secretion medium was used to mimic the uterine microenvironment. Thereafter, an endometrial epithelial cell line (Ishikawa cells) was treated with ZYP-containing serum to elucidate the effects of ZYP on endometrial receptivity.Methods: uNK cells were isolated from decidual tissues of pregnant women undergoing pregnancy termination surgery, and thereafter, uNK secretion medium was collected. ZYP-containing serum was collected from rats after intragastrical administration of ZYP. Ishikawa cells were divided into three groups, one treated with blank control (control group), one treated with uNK secretion medium (uNK group), and one treated with both uNK secretion medium and ZYP-containing serum (ZYP + uNK group). Total RNAs were extracted. Gene expression profiles of Ishikawa in different groups were determined through microarray analysis. mRNA expressions of selected genes were determined through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was determined using Western blotting (WB). Results: Compared with the uNK group, the gene expressions of ZYP group with a total of 1117 genes were significantly altered, among which 510 genes were upregulated and 607 genes were downregulated. Compared with uNK group, expressions of CSF1, CSF2, SPP1, and ICAM1 were upregulated (P < 0.05). Up-regulation of ICAM-1 expression after treatment of ZYP was further confirmed by WB analysis. Conclusion: In brief, in the presence of uNK cell medium, ZYP could improve the expressions of ICAM1, CSF1, CSF2, TNF, SPP1, etc. However, further exploration should be carried out in in vivo experiments for the validation of the mechanisms of ZYP on endometrial epithelial response.

Melatonin enhances salt tolerance in sorghum by modulating photosynthetic performance, osmoregulation, antioxidant defense, and ion homeostasis.

Melatonin is a potent antioxidant that can prevent plant damage caused by adverse stresses. It remains unclear whether exogenous melatonin can mitigate the effects of salt stress on seed germination and seedling growth of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). The aim of this study was to decipher the protective mechanisms of exogenous melatonin (100 µmol/L) on sorghum seedlings under NaCl-induced salt stress (120 mmol/L). Plant morphological, photosynthetic, and physiological characteristics were analyzed at different timepoints after sowing. Results showed that salt stress inhibited seed germination, seedling growth, and plant biomass accumulation by reducing photosynthetic pigment contents, photosynthetic efficiency, root vigor, and mineral uptake. In contrast, seed priming with melatonin enhanced photosynthetic pigment biosynthesis, photosynthetic efficiency, root vigor, and K+ content under salt stress. Melatonin application additionally enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) and increased the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid) in the leaves. These changes were accompanied by increase in the leaf contents of soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and proline, as well as decrease in hydrogen peroxide accumulation, malondialdehyde content, and electrolyte leakage. Our findings indicate that exogenous melatonin can alleviate salt stress-induced damage in sorghum seedlings through multifaceted mechanisms, such as improving photosynthetic performance and root vigor, facilitating ion homeostasis and osmoregulation, and promoting antioxidant defense and reactive oxygen species scavenging.

Microbiological Characteristics and Risk Factors Involved in Progression from Fungal Keratitis with Hypopyon to Keratitis-Related Endophthalmitis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in microbiological characteristics, risk factors, drug resistance, and visual outcomes in three infections: fungal keratitis with hypopyon (FKH), keratitis-related fungal endophthalmitis (FKE), and fungal endophthalmitis without keratitis (FE). METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study. RESULTS: In total, 14.57% of eyes with FKH progressed to endophthalmitis. Hypopyon, pre-existence of lens problems, topical steroid use and sever keratitis were significantly associated with the development of FKE. The risk factors of the FKH and FE group were mainly plant trauma and open globe trauma, respectively. Keratitis-related endophthalmitis (FKE) showed a significantly higher resistance than the other two groups. The FKH group had the best final visual acuity, while the FKE group had the worst. CONCLUSION: Hypopyon height, pre-existing lens problems, topical steroid use and sever keratitis are risk factors for progression to endophthalmitis in eyes with fungal keratitis, and its progression is not affected by a single fungus. The antifungal drugs resistance in patients with endophthalmitis related to keratitis was significantly higher than that associated with other reasons. Timely diagnosis and risk factor assessment are essential for ensuring early treatment of FKE.

The Role and Mechanism of Perilla frutescens in Cancer Treatment.

Perilla frutescens is an annual herb of the Labiatae family and is widely grown in several countries in Asia. Perilla frutescens is a plant that is used medicinally in its entirety, as seen in its subdivision into perilla seeds, perilla stalks, and perilla leaves, which vary more markedly in their chemical composition. Several studies have shown that Perilla frutescens has a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, detoxifying, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective. In the absence of a review of Perilla frutescens for the treatment of cancer. This review provides an overview of the chemical composition and molecular mechanisms of Perilla frutescens for cancer treatment. It was found that the main active components of Perilla frutescens producing cancer therapeutic effects were perilla aldehyde (PAH), rosmarinic acid (Ros A), lignan, and isoestrogen (IK). In addition to these, extracts of the leaves and fruits of Perilla frutescens are also included. Among these, perilla seed oil (PSO) has a preventive effect against colorectal cancer due to the presence of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. This review also provides new ideas and thoughts for scientific innovation and clinical applications related to Perilla frutescens.

Composite Interlaminar Fracture Toughness Enhancement Using Electrospun PPO Fiber Veils Regulated by Functionalized CNTs.

In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are functionalized through diazonium salt reaction to introduce polar groups onto their surfaces. These functionalized CNTs (FCNTs) are added into PPO solutions at different loadings (0 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 1.5 wt%) and used for electrospinning. The results show that the addition of FCNTs facilitate the production of PPO veils having small fiber diameters. The veils are used as interleaves in CF/EP composite laminates. The Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness tests reveal that PPO veils containing 0.5 wt% FCNTs exhibit the optimal toughening. GICini and GIIC have an improvement of approximately 120% and 180% over the untoughened samples, respectively, which is 15% and 26% higher than that of PPO veils containing no CNTs, respectively. The toughening mechanism is also analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).