Macrophage-Mimicking Cellular Nanoparticles Scavenge Proinflammatory Cytokines in Specimens of Patients with Inflammatory Disorders.

Effectively neutralizing inflammatory cytokines is crucial for managing a variety of inflammatory disorders. Current techniques that target only a subset of cytokines often fall short due to the intricate nature of redundant and compensatory cytokine networks. A promising solution to this challenge is using cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (CNPs). These nanoparticles replicate the complex interactions between cells and cytokines observed in disease pathology, providing a potential avenue for multiplex cytokine scavenging. While the development of CNPs using experimental animal models has shown great promise, their effectiveness in scavenging multiple cytokines in human diseases has yet to be demonstrated. To bridge this gap, this study selected macrophage membrane-coated CNPs (MФ-CNPs) and assessed their ability to scavenge inflammatory cytokines in serum samples from patients with COVID-19, sepsis, acute pancreatitis, or type-1 diabetes, along with synovial fluid samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The results show that MФ-CNPs effectively scavenge critical inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, this study demonstrates MФ-CNPs as a multiplex cytokine scavenging formulation with promising applications in clinical settings to treat a range of inflammatory disorders.

Feasibility and efficacy of endoscopy with blue laser imaging for the detection and diagnosis of cardia polyps: A single-center randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the detection rate and diagnostic accuracy of cardia polyps using endoscopy with blue laser imaging (BLI) and white-light imaging (WLI). METHODS: Patients were randomly divided into the BLI group and WLI group according to the endoscopic procedures. BLI followed by WLI was conducted in the BLI group, whereas WLI followed by BLI examination was conducted in the WLI group. The number, size, microstructure, and microvascular patterns of cardia polyps detected were recorded. Biopsy of the polyps was then performed. RESULTS: The detection rate of cardia polyps in the BLI group was higher than that in the WLI group (7.87% vs 4.22%, P = 0.018). The rate of overlooked lesions in the BLI group was lower than in the WLI group (0.64% vs 3.38%, P = 0.003). The diagnostic coincidence rate between magnifying BLI and histopathology was 88.16%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for the diagnosis of neoplastic lesions by magnifying endoscopy with BLI were 90.91%, 87.69%, 55.56%, and 98.28%, respectively. The most remarkable patterns for predicting inflammatory polyps were the prolonged and fine network patterns (sensitivity 71.43%, specificity 93.75%). Small round combined with honeycomb patterns were the most common among fundic gland polyps (sensitivity 80.00%, specificity 98.48%). Neoplastic lesions presented as villous or ridge-like combined with core vascular or unclear pattern for both microvascular and microstructure patterns. CONCLUSION: BLI is more effective than WLI in the detection and diagnosis of cardia polyps, and magnifying endoscopy with BLI may help diagnose such lesions.

Spatiotemporal formation of glands in plants is modulated by MYB-like transcription factors.

About one third of vascular plants develop glandular trichomes, which produce defensive compounds that repel herbivores and act as a natural biofactory for important pharmaceuticals such as artemisinin and cannabinoids. However, only a few regulators of glandular structures have been characterized so far. Here we have identified two closely-related MYB-like genes that redundantly inhibit the formation of glandular cells in tomatoes, and they are named as GLAND CELL REPRESSOR (GCR) 1 and 2. The GCR genes highly express in the apical cells of tomato trichomes, with expression gradually diminishing as the cells transition into glands. The spatiotemporal expression of GCR genes is coordinated by a two-step inhibition process mediated by SlTOE1B and GCRs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the GCR genes act by suppressing Leafless (LFS), a gene that promotes gland formation. Intriguingly, homologous GCR genes from tobacco and petunia also inhibit gland formation, suggesting that the GCR-mediated repression mechanism likely represents a conserved regulatory pathway for glands across different plant species.

Efficacy and immunogenicity of AS04-HPV-16/18 vaccine in females with existing cervical HR-HPV infection at first vaccination: A pooled analysis of four large clinical trials worldwide.

Females with existing high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infections remain at risk of subsequent multiple or recurrent infections, on which benefit from HPV vaccines was under-reported. We pooled individual-level data from four large-scale, RCTs of AS04-HPV-16/18 vaccine to evaluate efficacy and immunogenicity in females DNA-positive to any HR-HPV types at first vaccination. Females receiving the AS04-HPV-16/18 vaccine in the original RCTs constituted the vaccine group in the present study, while those unvaccinated served as the control group. Vaccine efficacy (VE) against new infections and associated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2+ in females DNA-negative to the considered HR-HPV type but positive to any other HR-HPV types, VE against reinfections in females DNA-positive to the considered HR-HPV type but cleared naturally during later follow-up, and levels of anti-HPV-16/18 IgG were assessed. Our final analyses included 5137 females (vaccine group = 2532, control group = 2605). The median follow-up time was 47.88 months (IQR: 45.72-50.04). For the prevention of precancerous lesions related to the non-infected HR-HPV types at baseline, VE against HPV-16/18 related CIN 2+ was 82.70% (95% CI: 63.70-93.00%). For the prevention of reinfections related to the infected HR-HPV types following natural clearance, VE against HPV-16/18 12MPI was non-significant (p > .05), albeit robust immunity persisted for at least 48 months. Females with existing HR-HPV infections at first vaccination still benefit from vaccination in preventing precancers related to the non-infected types at baseline. VE against reinfections related to the infected types following natural clearance remains to be further investigated.

Mitigating cadmium accumulation in dicotyledonous vegetables by iron fertilizer through inhibiting Fe transporter IRT1-mediated Cd uptake.

The solubility of cadmium (Cd) in soil and its transfer to plants are influenced by soil pH. While increasing soil pH reduces Cd solubility and accumulation in rice plants grown in acidic soils, its effect on Cd accumulation in vegetables remains inconclusive. Here, we investigated the impact of soil pH on Cd accumulation in dicotyledonous vegetables and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms. Soils collected from various locations were supplemented with varying quantities of lime to achieve soil pH values of around 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0. Raising soil pH from around 5.0 to 8.0 markedly decreased extractable Cd. However, increasing soil pH tended to promote shoot Cd accumulation in dicotyledonous vegetable species including lettuce, pakchoi, and Chinese cabbage, and the model dicotyledonous plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Conversely, soil pH increase resulted in a monotonic decrease in rice Cd accumulation. In our hydroponic experiments, we discovered that iron (Fe) deficiency substantially increased Cd uptake and accumulation in dicotyledonous plants but not in rice. Increasing soil pH reduced soil Fe availability and induced the Fe transporter gene IRT1 expression in dicotyledonous vegetables roots, which led to an increase in IRT1-mediated Cd uptake and subsequently increased Cd accumulation as soil pH increases. A comprehensive model incorporating extractable Cd and root IRT1 expression better explained Cd accumulation in vegetable shoots. The application of 50 mg/kg of Fe fertilizer in neutral or alkaline soils resulted in a significant reduction in Cd accumulation by 34-58% in dicotyledonous vegetables. These findings reveal that increasing soil pH has two opposite effects, decreasing soil Cd availability while promoting Cd uptake through IRT1 upregulation, reconciling the inconsistency in its effect on Cd accumulation in dicotyledonous plants. Our findings provide important insights for understanding the factors affecting Cd uptake in plants and offer a practical solution to mitigate Cd contamination in vegetables.

Circ_0001714 knockdown alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis and inflammation in renal tubular epithelial cells via miR-129-5p/TRAF6 axis in septic acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to play roles in regulating sepsis. Sepsis is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Herein, we aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of circ_0001714 in the progression of sepsis-induced AKI. METHODS: Human HK-2 cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for functional experiments. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used for expression analysis. Functional experiments were performed by using MTT assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The binding between miR-129-5p and circ_0001714 or TRAF6 (TNF receptor associated factor 6) was validated using dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: Circ_0001714 expression was higher in sepsis-AKI patients. HK-2 cells were exposed to LPS to imitate the injury of renal tubular epithelial cells during sepsis-AKI. LPS dose-dependently up-regulated circ_0001714, moreover, circ_0001714 silencing reversed LPS-evoked apoptosis and inflammation in HK-2 cells. Mechanistically, circ_0001714 sequestered miR-129-5p to up-regulate TRAF6 expression, implying the circ_0001714/miR-129-5p/TRAF6 feedback loop. MiR-129-5p was decreased, while TRAF6 was increased in sepsis-AKI patients and LPS-stimulated HK-2 cells. MiR-129-5p re-expression or TRAF6 silencing protected against LPS-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis and inflammation. Additionally, a series of rescue experiments showed that miR-129-5p inhibition reversed the inhibitory action of circ_0001714 knockdown on LPS-induced HK-2 cell injury. Furthermore, TRAF6 overexpression also attenuated the protective effects of miR-129-5p on HK-2 cells under LPS treatment. CONCLUSION: Circ_0001714 silencing might alleviate LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammation via targeting miR-129-5p/TRAF6 axis in HK-2 cells.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes miR-202-5p inhibited pyroptosis to alleviate lung ischemic-reperfusion injury by targeting CMPK2.

Bone mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome (BMSC-exosome) is a potential candidate for lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) treatment. This study aims to investigate the anti-pyroptosis effect of BMSC-exosomes in LIRI. The LIRI cell model was established by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) treatment. Interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-18 levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was examined using a LDH assay kit. The interaction between microRNA (miR)-202-5p and cytidine monophosphate kinase 2 (CMPK2) was analyzed using dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. BMSC-exosomes promoted cell viability and suppressed pyroptosis in H/R-treated mouse lung epithelial. miR-202-5p was enriched in BMSC-exosomes, and exosomal miR-202-5p inhibition upregulated pyroptosis-associated proteins, including cleaved N-terminal Gasdermin D, nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor family member pyrin domain-containing protein 3, and Caspase1. Meanwhile, miR-202-5p suppressed CMPK2 expression by directly targeting CMPK2. Expectedly, CMPK2 knockdown reversed the promoting effect of exosomal miR-202-5p inhibition on pyroptosis in LIRI. Therefore, BMSC-derived exosome miR-202-5p repressed pyroptosis to inhibit LIRI progression by targeting CMPK2.

Cost-effectiveness of the screen-and-treat strategies using HPV test linked to thermal ablation for cervical cancer prevention in China: a modeling study.

BACKGROUND: Self-sampling HPV test and thermal ablation are effective tools to increase screening coverage and treatment compliance for accelerating cervical cancer elimination. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of their combined strategies to inform accessible, affordable, and acceptable cervical cancer prevention strategies. METHODS: We developed a hybrid model to evaluate costs, health outcomes, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) of six screen-and-treat strategies combining HPV testing (self-sampling or physician-sampling), triage modalities (HPV genotyping, colposcopy or none) and thermal ablation, from a societal perspective. A designated initial cohort of 100,000 females born in 2015 was considered. Strategies with an ICER less than the Chinese gross domestic product (GDP) per capita ($10,350) were considered highly cost-effective. RESULTS: Compared with current strategies in China (physician-HPV with genotype or cytology triage), all screen-and-treat strategies are cost-effective and self-HPV without triage is optimal with the most incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained (220 to 440) in rural and urban China. Each screen-and-treat strategy based on self-collected samples is cost-saving compared with current strategies (-$818,430 to -$3540) whereas more costs are incurred using physician-collected samples compared with current physician-HPV with genotype triage (+$20,840 to +$182,840). For screen-and-treat strategies without triage, more costs (+$9404 to +$380,217) would be invested in the screening and treatment of precancerous lesions rather than the cancer treatment compared with the current screening strategies. Notably, however, more than 81.6% of HPV-positive women would be overtreated. If triaged with HPV 7 types or HPV16/18 genotypes, 79.1% or 67.2% (respectively) of HPV-positive women would be overtreated with fewer cancer cases avoided (19 cases or 69 cases). CONCLUSIONS: Screen-and-treat strategy using self-sampling HPV test linked to thermal ablation could be the most cost-effective for cervical cancer prevention in China. Additional triage with quality-assured performance could reduce overtreatment and remains highly cost-effective compared with current strategies.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Mitochondrial Stress in Drug-Induced Liver Injury.

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a widespread and harmful disease closely linked to mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Globally, severe drug-induced hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer are the primary causes of liver-related morbidity and mortality. A hallmark of DILI is ERS and changes in mitochondrial morphology and function, which increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a vicious cycle of mutually reinforcing stress responses. Several pathways are maladapted to maintain homeostasis during DILI. Here, we discuss the processes of liver injury caused by several types of drugs that induce hepatocyte stress, focusing primarily on DILI by ERS and mitochondrial stress. Importantly, both ERS and mitochondrial stress are mediated by the overproduction of ROS, destruction of Ca2+ homeostasis, and unfolded protein response (UPR). Additionally, we review new pathways and potential pharmacological targets for DILI to highlight new possibilities for DILI treatment and mitigation.

Rapid identification of high and low cadmium (Cd) accumulating rice cultivars using machine learning models with molecular markers and soil Cd levels as input data.

Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in rice grains threatens food safety and human health. Growing low Cd accumulating rice cultivars is an effective approach to produce low-Cd rice. However, field screening of low-Cd rice cultivars is laborious, time-consuming, and subjected to the influence of environment × genotype interactions. In the present study, we investigated whether machine learning-based methods incorporating genotype and soil Cd concentration can identify high and low-Cd accumulating rice cultivars. One hundred and sixty-seven locally adapted high-yielding rice cultivars were grown in three fields with different soil Cd levels and genotyped using four molecular markers related to grain Cd accumulation. We identified sixteen cultivars as stable low-Cd accumulators with grain Cd concentrations below the 0.2 mg kg-1 food safety limit in all three paddy fields. In addition, we developed eight machine learning-based models to predict low- and high-Cd accumulating rice cultivars with genotypes and soil Cd levels as input data. The optimized model classifies low- or high-Cd cultivars (i.e., the grain Cd concentration below or above 0.2 mg kg-1) with an overall accuracy of 76%. These results indicate that machine learning-based classification models constructed with molecular markers and soil Cd levels can quickly and accurately identify the high- and low-Cd accumulating rice cultivars.

CircNRIP1 KNOCKDOWN ALLEVIATES LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-INDUCED HUMAN KIDNEY 2 CELL APOPTOSIS AND INFLAMMATION THROUGH miR-339-5p/OXSR1 PATHWAY.

ABSTRACT: Background: CircRNA regulates sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). CircNRIP1 is overexpressed in the blood of AKI patients, but its role in septic AKI occurrence remains unknown. Methods: Human kidney 2 (HK2) cells were stimulated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to generate a septic AKI cell model. The expression levels of circNRIP1, miR-339-5p, oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1 (OXSR1), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2), BCL2-associated x protein (Bax), and cleaved-caspase 3 were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or Western blotting analysis. Cell viability and apoptosis were investigated by cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry analysis. The release of proinflammatory cytokines was monitored using commercial kits. The associations among circNRIP1, miR-339-5p, and OXSR1 were identified by mechanism assays. Results: CircNRIP1 was dramatically upregulated in the blood of septic AKI patients and LPS-induced HK2 cells. CircNRIP1 depletion protected HK2 cells from LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammation. MiR-339-5p expression was downregulated in the blood of septic AKI patients, and miR-339-5p combined with circNRIP1. Moreover, circNRIP1 knockdown-induced effects involved the upregulation of miR-339-5p in LPS-treated HK2 cells. Comparatively, OXSR1 expression was increased in the blood of septic AKI patients. MiR-339-5p bound to OXSR1, and circNRIP1 modulated OXSR1 expression by interacting with miR-339-5p. Further, ectopic expression of OXSR1 relieved circNRIP1 knockdown-mediated effects in LPS-induced HK2 cells. Conclusion: CircNRIP1 depletion ameliorated LPS-induced HK2 cell damage by regulating the miR-339-5p/OXSR1 pathway.

CIRC_0114428 INFLUENCES THE PROGRESSION OF SEPTIC ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY VIA REGULATING MIR-370-3P/TIMP2 AXIS.

ABSTRACT: Background: Septic acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of sepsis, which greatly threatened the life safety of critically ill patients. Recently, circular RNA is considered to be implicated in sepsis-induced renal cell damage. However, the role of circ_0114428 in sepsis AKI is still unclear. Methods: LPS was used to establish a sepsis-related AKI cell model. The expression of circ_0114428, microRNA (miR)-370-3p, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP2), Proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Bax, and Bcl-2 were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Cell counting kit 8 and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to measure cell proliferation ability and the secretion of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1ß, and interleukin 6), respectively. Cell cycle and apoptosis rate were analyzed by flow cytometry. Caspase-3 assay kits were used to detect Caspase-3 activity. Interaction between miR-370-3p and circ_0114428 or TIMP2 was analyzed by bioinformatics analysis, a dual-luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Results: Circ_0114428 was upregulated in septic AKI serum samples and LPS-induced HK2 cells. The knockdown of circ_0114428 notably promoted cell proliferation and cycle, whereas it restrained cell inflammation and apoptosis in LPS-stimulated HK2 cells. Subsequent mechanism analysis revealed that miR-370-3p was a target of circ_0114428, and miR-370-3p inhibition could rescue the effects of circ_0114428 downregulation on LPS-induced cell injury. Meanwhile, TIMP2 was a target gene of miR-370-3p. miR-370-3p mimic could attenuate LPS-induced cell injury, whereas these impacts were overturned by overexpressed TIMP2. Furthermore, circ_0114428 enhanced TIMP2 protein expression by sponging miR-370-3p. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that circ_0114428 contributed to septic AKI progression by regulating miR-370-3p-mediated TIMP2 expression, which provided a promising target for septic AKI treatment.

Fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the median nerve: a case report and literature review / Hamartoma fibrolipomatoso del nervio mediano: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura

Abstract Fibrolipomatous hamartoma (FLH) of the nerve, also known as lipomatosis of the nerve, neurofibrillary lipomatous lesion, or intraneural lipoma, is a rare benign soft tissue tumor which mainly occurs in the nerves of the upper limb, especially in the median nerve. In April 2021, a 30-year-old male patient was secondly admitted to our hospital and underwent his third surgery, due to the recurrence of a mass and pain in the right palm, noticeable swelling and numbness of the right index and ring fingers, and limited flexion and extension activities of the right ring finger. He first visited our hospital in December 2017 due to a mass and pain in the right palm and swelling and numbness of the right index and ring fingers. When the clinician asked for the patient medical history, his parents stated that his right middle finger was swollen after birth. When the patient was ten years old; he was diagnosed with "macrodactyly" at the local county hospital, not in our hospital, and subsequently, the middle finger was amputated at the metacarpophalangeal joint level at the local county hospital. The postoperative pathological examination was not performed at that time, which was the first surgery the patient received. FLH is clinically rare, and its exact epidemiology and etiology are poorly understood. FLH is highly suspected in cases where a painless mass is present in the wrist, combined with macrodactyly. Magnetic resonance imaging and pathological examination are helpful in clarifying the diagnosis. Although FLH is a benign tumor, an individual treatment plan is the best choice according to the severity of the patient's symptoms. Therefore, further exploration and understanding of this disease by clinicians radiologists, and pathologists is necessary.

Resumen El hamartoma fibrolipomatoso (FLH) del nervio, también conocido como lipomatosis del nervio, lesión neurofibrilar lipomatosa, o lipointraneural, es un tumor benigno de tejido blando poco frecuente, que se presenta principalmente en los nervios del miembro superior, especialmente en el nervio mediano. En abril de 2021, un paciente masculino de 30 años fue ingresado por segunda vez en nuestro hospital y sometido a su tercera cirugía debido a la recurrencia de una masa y dolor en la palma derecha, evidente hinchazón y entumecimiento de los dedos índice y anular derecho y limitadas actividades de flexión y extensión del dedo anular derecho. En diciembre de 2017, visitó por primera vez nuestro hospital debido a una masa y dolor en la palma derecha, y a la hinchazón y entumecimiento de los dedos índice y anular derecho. Cuando el clínico preguntó la historia clínica del paciente, sus padres declararon que su dedo medio derecho estaba hinchado después del nacimiento, y cuando el paciente tenía 10 años, fue diagnosticado con "macrodactilia" en el hospital local del condado, no en nuestro hospital Posteriormente, el dedo medio fue amputado a nivel de la articulación metacarpofalángica en el hospital comarcal local, pero no se realizó la patología postoperatoria en ese momento, siendo ésta la primera cirugía a la cual se sometió el paciente. La FLH es clínicamente rara, y su epidemiología y etiología exactas no se entienden bien. En los casos que presentan una masa indolora en la muñeca, combinada con macrodactilia, se sospecha de FLH. La resonancia magnética y la patología son útiles para aclarar el diagnóstico. Aunque la FLH es un tumor benigno, el plan de tratamiento individual es la mejor opción de acuerdo con la gravedad de los síntomas del paciente. Por lo tanto, es necesaria una mayor exploración y comprensión de esta enfermedad por parte de médicos, radiólogos y patólogos.

The ferroxidases LPR1 and LPR2 control iron translocation in the xylem of Arabidopsis plants.

Iron (Fe) deficiency is common in agricultural crops and affects millions of people worldwide. Translocation of Fe in the xylem is a key step for Fe distribution in plants. The mechanism controlling this process remains largely unknown. Here, we report that two Arabidopsis ferroxidases, LPR1 and LPR2, play a crucial and redundant role in controlling Fe translocation in the xylem. LPR1 and LPR2 are mainly localized in the cell walls of xylem vessels and the surrounding cells in roots, leaves, and stems. Knockout of both LPR1 and LPR2 increased the proportion of Fe(II) in the xylem sap, and caused Fe deposition along the vascular bundles especially in the petioles and main veins of leaves, which was alleviated by blocking blue light. The lpr1 lpr2 double mutant displayed constitutive expression of Fe deficiency response genes and overaccumulation of Fe in the roots and mature leaves under Fe-sufficient supply, but Fe deficiency chlorosis in the new leaves and inflorescences under low Fe supply. Moreover, the lpr1 lpr2 double mutant showed lower Fe concentrations in the xylem and phloem saps, and impaired 57Fe translocation along the xylem. In vitro assays showed that Fe(III)-citrate, the main form of Fe in xylem sap, is easily photoreduced to Fe(II)-citrate, which is unstable and prone to adsorption by cell walls. Taken together, these results indicate that LPR1 and LPR2 are required to oxidize Fe(II) and maintain Fe(III)-citrate stability and mobility during xylem translocation against photoreduction. Our study not only uncovers an essential physiological role of LPR1 and LPR2 but also reveals a new mechanism by which plants maintain Fe mobility during long-distance translocation in the xylem.

Dietary licorice flavonoids powder improves serum antioxidant capacity and immune organ inflammatory responses in weaned piglets.

Weaning often induces oxidative stress and inflammatory response in piglets. This study investigated the effects of dietary licorice flavonoids powder (LFP) supplementation on antioxidant capacity and immunity in weaned piglets. Notably, 96 Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc (DLY) weaned piglets were randomly allocated to four treatments with 6 replicates (4 animals per replicate) and fed with diet supplementation with 0, 50, 150, and 250 mg/kg LFP, respectively. The trial lasted for 5 weeks. The results showed that dietary LFP supplementation effectively increased the liver index (P < 0.05). In addition, dietary LFP supplementation reduced serum aspartate aminotransferase activity (P < 0.01). Piglets fed with 50 mg/kg LFP decreased total cholesterol and HDL-C content in serum (P < 0.05) and increased serum alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.01). Similarly, supplementation with 150 mg/kg LFP elevated the activity of total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) in serum (P < 0.01) and dietary with 150 and 250 mg/kg LFP increased T-AOC activity in spleen (P < 0.01). Moreover, dietary with 150 mg/kg LFP addition enhanced (P < 0.05) the serum IgG content of piglets. Additionally, compared with the control group, dietary 250 mg/kg LFP supplementation upregulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA abundance of Interleukin (IL)-1ß and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in the spleen. Meanwhile, dietary 150 and 250 mg/kg LFP supplementation downregulated (P < 0.05) mRNA abundance of IL-10, and MCP-1 and 250 mg/kg LFP upregulated (P < 0.05) the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), IL-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the thymus. In conclusion, LFP supplementation improved the immune function of piglets by regulating the activity of serum biochemical enzymes, improving the antioxidant capacity, and alleviating inflammation of immune organs. This study indicated that LFP is potential alternative protection against early weaned stress in piglets.

Impact of atmospheric thermodynamic structures and aerosol radiation feedback on winter regional persistent heavy particulate pollution in the Sichuan-Chongqing region, China.

Potential relationships among heavy air pollution, weather conditions, and meteorological effects are unclear and require further investigation, especially for areas with complex terrains, such as the Sichuan Basin (SCB), one of the most polluted regions in China. In this study, air pollution in the SCB was examined and 18 regional persistent heavy pollution events (RPHEs) were identified for the winters of 2014-2018. The average persistent period of the RPHEs was 8.89 days, and the number of affected cities was 17. Based on ground-based observations, CALIPSO satellite data, reanalysis data, and backward trajectory calculations, the synergistic effects of the thermodynamic structures, synoptic circulations and the radiative feedback of aerosols on the formation of RPHEs were revealed. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) An abnormal warming center, attributing to the warm southerly advection in the upper layer and the cold air dammed by the topography near the surface, always presented around 800-700 hPa to form a deep stable layer. (2) The diurnal variations in vertical motions triggered by the thermodynamic structures could regulate the pollution episodes. During the daytime, pollutants accumulated rapidly and thoroughly mixed under the control of sinking airflow from 800 hPa layer to the ground. At night, pollutants sometimes slowly diffused when weak ascending airflow appeared. (3) Forced by the stable layer and topography of the Tibetan Plateau, the local circulation was confined within SCB, resulting in the intensive mixing of local emissions and transport pollutants from other regions. This situation could be maintained for a long time with stable synoptic circulation in winter, leading to the formation of RPHEs. (4) The pollution episodes were featured with multi-layer pollutants above SCB according to the CALIPSO observations, including the local anthropogenic aerosols near the surface, dust aerosols originating from the Taklamakan Desert, and biomass burning aerosols from Southeast Asia. Solar absorption aerosols, including black carbon and dust above the region, could cause meteorological feedback, making the vertical layer more stable and enhancing the persistence and intensity of the pollution episodes. This study highlights the appreciable effects of synoptic circulations on the vertical thermodynamic structures of the atmosphere and air quality, and raises the understanding of the environmental and climate impacts of RPHEs in complex terrains.

Risk Factors and Clinical Characteristics of Neonatal Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Caused by Early Onset Sepsis.

Purpose: To identify risk factors associated with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in infants with early onset sepsis (EOS) and to describe the clinical features. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2000 and October 2020. The infants were divided into ARDS and non-ARDS groups. Clinical characteristics and risk factors were compared between the two groups. Results: Two hundred fifty infants (58 with ARDS) were included. Smaller gestational age, lower birth weight (LBW), lower serum albumin level, a higher rate of preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, antenatal steroid exposure, and lower Apgar score were associated with an increased development of ARDS by univariate analysis (P < 0.05). LBW (ß = -0.001, P = 0.000, OR: 0.999, 95% CI: 0.998-0.999) and low serum albumin levels (ß = -0.063, P = 0.022, OR: 0.939, 95% CI: 0.889-0.991) were identified as independent risk factors for the development of ARDS by logistic regression analysis. A higher frequency of complications, including persistent pulmonary hypertension, intraventricular hemorrhage, pulmonary hemorrhage, septic shock, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, was found in the ARDS group (P < 0.05). The rate of mortality was higher for those in the ARDS group than for those in the non-ARDS group (46.6% vs. 15.6%, χ2 = 24.205, P = 0.000). Conclusion: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in EOS could lead to a higher frequency of complications and mortality. The risk factors for the development of ARDS were LBW and low serum albumin levels.