METTL3 is essential for normal progesterone signaling during embryo implantation via m6A-mediated translation control of progesterone receptor.

Embryo implantation, a crucial step in human reproduction, is tightly controlled by estrogen and progesterone (P4) via estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor (PGR), respectively. Here, we report that N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant mRNA modification in eukaryotes, plays an essential role in embryo implantation through the maintenance of P4 signaling. Conditional deletion of methyltransferase-like 3 (Mettl3), encoding the m6A writer METTL3, in the female reproductive tract using a Cre mouse line with Pgr promoter (Pgr-Cre) resulted in complete implantation failure due to pre-implantation embryo loss and defective uterine receptivity. Moreover, the uterus of Mettl3 null mice failed to respond to artificial decidualization. We further found that Mettl3 deletion was accompanied by a marked decrease in PGR protein expression. Mechanistically, we found that Pgr mRNA is a direct target for METTL3-mediated m6A modification. A luciferase assay revealed that the m6A modification in the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR) of Pgr mRNA enhances PGR protein translation efficiency in a YTHDF1-dependent manner. Finally, we demonstrated that METTL3 is required for human endometrial stromal cell decidualization in vitro and that the METTL3-PGR axis is conserved between mice and humans. In summary, this study provides evidence that METTL3 is essential for normal P4 signaling during embryo implantation via m6A-mediated translation control of Pgr mRNA.

The Effect of Frailty on the Efficacy and Safety of Intensive Blood Pressure Control: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SPRINT Trial.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is associated with an increased risk of all-cause death and cardiovascular events. However, it is uncertain whether frailty modifies the efficacy and safety of intensive blood pressure control. METHODS: Data from SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) were used to construct a frailty index. Subgroup differences in intensive blood pressure control treatment effects and safety outcomes were measured on a relative and an absolute scale in patients with and without frailty (defined as a frailty index >0.21) using Cox proportional hazard models and generalized linear models, respectively. The primary outcome was a composite of myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome without myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death. RESULTS: A total of 9306 patients (mean age, 67.9±9.4 years), 2560 (26.7%) of whom had frailty, were included in our study. Over a median follow-up of 3.22 years, 561 primary outcomes were observed. Patients with frailty had a significantly higher risk of primary outcome in both the intensive and standard blood pressure control arms (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.10 [95% CI, 1.59-2.77] and 1.85 [95% CI, 1.46-2.35], respectively). Intensive treatment effects on primary and secondary outcomes were not significantly different on a relative scale (except for cardiovascular death [hazard ratio in patients with and without frailty, 0.91 (95% CI, 0.52-1.60) versus 0.30 (95% CI, 0.16-0.59), respectively; Pinteraction=0.01]) or absolute scale. There was no significant interaction between frailty and risks for serious adverse events with intensive treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Frailty status was a marker of high cardiovascular risk. Patients with frailty benefit similarly to other patients from intensive blood pressure control without an increased risk of serious adverse events.

Activating the MnS0.5Se0.5 Microspheres as High-Performance Cathode Materials for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Insight into In Situ Electrooxidation Behavior and Energy Storage Mechanisms.

Manganese-based materials are regarded as the most prospective cathode materials because of their high natural abundance, low toxicity, and high specific capacity. Nevertheless, the low conductivity, poor cycling performance, and controversial energy storage mechanisms hinder their practical application. Here, the MnS0.5Se0.5 microspheres are synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal approach and employed as cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) for the first time. Interestingly, in-depth ex situ tests and electrochemical kinetic analyses reveal that MnS0.5Se0.5 is first irreversibly converted into low-crystallinity ZnMnO3 and MnOx by in situ electrooxidation (MnS0.5Se0.5-EOP) during the first charging process, and then a reversible co-insertion/extraction of H+/Zn2+ occurs in the as-obtained MnS0.5Se0.5-EOP electrode during the subsequent discharging and charging processes. Benefiting from the increased surface area, shortened ion transport path, and stable lamellar microsphere structure, the MnS0.5Se0.5-EOP electrodes deliver high reversible capacity (272.8 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1), excellent rate capability (91.8 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1), and satisfactory cyclic stability (82.1% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 1 A g-1). This study not only provides a powerful impetus for developing new types of manganese-based chalcogenides, but also puts forward a novel perspective for exploring the intrinsic mechanisms of in situ electrooxidation behavior.

A Factor-Free Hydrogel with ROS Scavenging and Responsive Degradation for Enhanced Diabetic Bone Healing.

In view of the increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that disturb the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), the repair of diabetic bone defects remains a great challenge. Herein, a factor-free hydrogel is reported with ROS scavenging and responsive degradation properties for enhanced diabetic bone healing. These hydrogels contain ROS-cleavable thioketal (TK) linkers and ultraviolet (UV)-responsive norbornene (NB) groups conjugated with 8-arm PEG macromers, which are formed via UV crosslinking-mediated gelation. Upon reacting with high levels of ROS in the bone defect microenvironment, ROS-cleavable TK linkers are destroyed, allowing the responsive degradation of hydrogels, which promotes the migration of BMSCs. Moreover, ROS levels are reduced through hydrogel-mediated ROS scavenging to reverse BMSC differentiation from adipogenic to osteogenic phenotype. As such, a favorable microenvironment is created after simultaneous ROS scavenging and hydrogel degradation, leading to the effective repair of bone defects in diabetic mouse models, even without the addition of growth factors. Thus, this study presents a responsive hydrogel platform that regulates ROS scavenging and stromal degradation in bone engineering.

Developing and validating the nurse-patient relationship scale (NPRS) in China.

BACKGROUND: Poor nurse-patient relationship poses an obstacle to care delivery, jeopardizing patient experience and patient care outcomes. Measuring nurse-patient relationship is challenging given its multi-dimensional nature and a lack of well-established scales. PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a multi-dimensional scale measuring nurse-patient relationship in China. METHODS: A preliminary scale was constructed based on the existing literature and Delphi consultations with 12 nursing experts. The face validity of the scale was tested through a survey of 45 clinical nurses. This was followed by a validation study on 620 clinical nurses. Cronbach's α, content validity and known-group validity of the scale were assessed. The study sample was further divided into two for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), respectively, to assess the construct validity of the scale. RESULTS: The Nurse-Patient Relationship Scale (NPRS) containing 23 items was developed and validated, measuring five dimensions: nursing behavior, nurse understanding and respect for patient, patient misunderstanding and mistrust in nurse, communication with patient, and interaction with patient. The Cronbach's α of the NPRS ranged from 0.725 to 0.932, indicating high internal consistency. The CFA showed excellent fitness of data into the five-factor structure: χ2/df = 2.431, GFI = 0.933, TLI = 0.923, CFI = 0.939, IFI = 0.923, RMSEA = 0.070. Good content and construct validity are demonstrated through expert consensus and psychometric tests. CONCLUSION: The NPRS is a valid tool measuring nurse-patient relationship in China.

Emotional labour and turnover intention among nurses in China: Mediating effects of nurse-patient relationship and self-rated health.

AIM: This study tested the mediating role of the nurse-patient relationship and self-rated health in the effect of emotional labour on turnover intention among nurses in China. BACKGROUND: The underlying mechanism behind the effect of emotional labour on turnover intention remains inadequately understood. INTRODUCTION: Nurses with a high level of emotional labour are predisposed to experiencing poor health and tension in their relationships with patients, which may increase turnover intention. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 527 nurses in a public tertiary hospital in Qiqihar, located in China's Heilongjiang province, was conducted. Emotional labour and turnover intention were assessed using existing validated scales containing multiple items, while the nurse-patient relationship and self-rated health were assessed using single items, respectively. Baron and Kenny's causal steps and the Karlson/Holm/Breen method were adopted to test the mediating effects of the nurse-patient relationship and self-rated health in the association between emotional labour and turnover intention after adjusting for variations in sociodemographic and job characteristics. RESULTS: Emotional labour was positively associated with turnover intention. Self-rated poor health and a disharmonious nurse-patient relationship partially mediated the positive effect of emotional labour on turnover intention. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional labour significantly affects the turnover intention of nurses working in public tertiary hospitals in China, and this effect is partially mediated by self-rated health and the nurse-patient relationship. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE AND NURSING POLICY: Giving more attention to nurses' negative emotions and work attitudes is crucial. Developing comprehensive strategies for enhancing nurses' emotional management ability, promoting their physical and psychological well-being, and improving nurse-patient relationship to reduce nurses' turnover.

Large-Scale Continuous and In Situ Photosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide by Sulfur-Functionalized Polymer Catalyst for Water Treatment.

Photocatalytic H2 O2 generation system based on polymer catalyst receives increasing attention in recent years; however, the insufficient charge separation efficiency and low oxygen adsorption/activation capacity severely limit their potential application. In this study, a sulfur (C=S) functionalized polymer catalyst is reported through a green water-mediated and catalyst-free multi-component reactions (MCRs) route. The sulfur functional group endows the polymer with a suitable energy band and facilitates the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pair. The reported polymer achieves a high H2 O2 production efficiency (3132 µmol g-1 h-1 ) in pure water without oxygen aeration. To demonstrate their potential in in situ wastewater treatment, a panel reactor system (20×20 cm) is constructed for large-scale production of H2 O2 , which realizes continuous degradation of emerging pollutants including antibiotics and bisphenol A under natural sunlight irradiation condition. The H2 O2 utilization efficiency of the photo-self-Fenton system using in situ generated H2 O2 is found 7.9 times higher than that of the traditional photo-Fenton system. This study offers new insights in green synthesis and design of functional polymer photocatalyst, and demonstrates the feasibility of panel reactor system for large-scale continuous H2 O2 photocatalytic production and water treatment.

Cyano-Regulated Organic Polymers for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic H2 O2 Production in Various Actual Water Bodies.

Photocatalytic production of H2 O2 has drawn significant attention in recent years, but the yield rate of current photocatalytic systems is still unsatisfactory. Moreover, the presence of various components in actual water bodies will consume the photogenerated charges and deactivate the catalyst, severely limiting the real applications of photocatalytic H2 O2 production. Herein, a cyano-modified polymer photocatalyst is synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation with subsequent thermal polymerization. The introduction of cyano group and sulfer (S), oxygen (O) elements modulates the microstructure and energy band of the polymer catalyst, and the cyano group sites can effectively adsorb and activate O2 , realizing the generation of H2 O2 in the two-step single-electron oxygen reduction process. The reported system achieves high H2 O2 generation rate up to 1119.2 µmol g-1 h-1 in various water bodies including tap water, river water, seawater, and secondary effluent. This simple and readily available catalyst demonstrates good anti-interference performance and pH adaptability in photocatalytic H2 O2 production in actual water bodies, and its photodegradation and sterilization applications are also demonstrated. This study offers new insights in developing polymer catalysts for efficient photocatalytic production of H2 O2 in various water bodies for practical application.

Selective Removal of Organic Pollutants in Groundwater and Surface Water by Persulfate-Assisted Advanced Oxidation: The Role of Electron-Donating Capacity.

The efficiency of persulfate-assisted advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOPs) in degrading organic pollutants is affected by the electron-donating capability of organic substances present in the water source. In this study, we systematically investigate the electron-donating capacity (EDC) difference between groundwater and surface water and demonstrate the dependence of removal efficiency on the EDC of target water by PS-AOPs with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a catalyst. Laboratory analyses and field experiments reveal that the CNT/PS system exhibits higher performance in organic pollutant removal in groundwater with a high concentration of phenols, compared to surface water, which is rich in quinones. We attribute this disparity to the selective electron transfer pathway induced by potential difference between PS-CNT and organic substance-CNT intermediates, which preferentially degrade organic substances with stronger electron-donating capability. This study provides valuable insights into the inherent selective removal mechanism and application scenarios of electron transfer process-dominated PS-AOPs for water treatment based on the electron-donating capacity of organic pollutants.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 associated with tobacco target leaf spot in China.

Tobacco target leaf spot is a leaf disease that seriously affects both the quantity and quality of commercial tobacco crops and has caused huge economic losses in many countries and also pandemics in China since 2006. The anastomosis group-3 (AG-3) pathogen is divided into different subgroups namely AG-3 PT (potato type), AG-3TB (tobacco type), and AG-3 TM (tomato type), based on their host and the combined data from the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA-ITS), rDNA intergenic spacer 1 (rDNA-IGS1) regions, and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef-1α) gene. In this study, we collected tobacco leaves showing target spot symptom from four fields in China. We obtained 49 isolates from southwest China (Yunnan Provinces) and six isolates from northeast China (Liaoning Province). Phylogenetic tree based on rDNA-ITS region indicated that 51 isolates (49 isolates from Yunnan and two isolates from Liaoning) and 4 isolates from Liaoning belonged to AG-3 TB and AG-3 TM, respectively.

Mechanism of action of quercetin in rheumatoid arthritis models: meta-analysis and systematic review of animal studies.

Quercetin, a typical flavonoid derived from a common natural plant, has multiple biological activities. Previous research in animal models has demonstrated the effectiveness of quercetin in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The pharmacological effects and probable mechanisms of quercetin were evaluated in this study. Three databases, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, were searched for relevant studies from the creation of the databases to November 2022. Methodological quality was assessed using the SYRCLE risk of bias tool. STATA 15.1 was used to perform the statistical analysis. This research included 17 studies involving 251 animals. The results indicated that quercetin was able to reduce arthritis scores, paw swelling, histopathological scores, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) and increase interleukin-10 (IL-10), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). These may be related to quercetin's potential anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and osteoprotective properties. However, more high-quality animal studies are needed to assess the effect of quercetin on RA. Additionally, the safety of quercetin requires further confirmation. Given the importance of the active ingredient, dose selection and the improvement of quercetin's bioavailability remain to be explored.

Ir-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis of gem-Diborylalkenes Enabled by 1,2-Boron Shift.

Asymmetric cross-couplings based on 1,2-carbon migration from B-ate complexes have been developed efficiently to access valuable organoboronates. However, enantioselective reactions triggered by 1,2-boron shift have remained to be unaddressed synthetic challenge. Here, Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation enabled by 1,2-boron shift was developed. In this reaction, we disclosed that excellent enantioselectivities were achieved through an interesting dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) process of allylic carbonates at the elevated temperature. Notably, the highly valuable (bis-boryl)alkenes have enabled an array of diversifications to access versatile molecules. Extensive experimental and computational studies were conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism of DKR process and clarify the origin of excellent enantioselectivities.

Pathogenesis of ventilator-induced lung injury: metabolomics analysis of the lung and plasma.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays,the mechanical ventilation (MV) aims to rest the respiratory muscles while providing adequate gas exchange, and it has been a part of basic life support during general anesthesia as well as in critically ill patients with and without respiratory failure. However, MV itself has the potential to cause or worsen lung injury, which is also known as ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Thus, the early diagnosis of VILI is of great importance for the prevention and treatment of VILI. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the metabolomes in the lung and plasma of mice receiving mechanical ventilation (MV). METHODS: Healthy mice were randomly assigned into control group; (2) high volume tidal (HV) group (30 ml/kg); (3) low volume tidal (LV) group (6 ml/kg). After ventilation for 4 h, mice were sacrificed and the lung tissue and plasma were collected. The lung and plasma were processed for the metabolomics analysis. We also performed histopathological examination on the lung tissue. RESULTS: We detected moderate inflammatory damage with alveolar septal thickening in the HV group compared with the normal and LV groups.The metabolomics analysis results showed MV altered the metabolism which was characterized by the dysregulation of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) system and urea cycle (desregulations in plasma and lung guanidinosuccinic acid, argininosuccinic acid, succinic acid semialdehyde and lung GABA ), Disturbance of citric acid cycle (CAC) (increased plasma glutamine and lung phosphoenol pyruvate) and redox imbalance (desregulations in plasma and/or lung ascorbic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, uric acid, oleic acid, stearidonic acid, palmitoleic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). Moreover, the lung and plasma metabolomes were also significantly different between LV and HV groups. CONCLUSIONS: Some lung and plasma metabolites related to the GABA system and urea cycle, citric acid cycle and redox balance were significantly altered, and they may be employed for the evaluation of VILI and serve as targets in the treatment of VILI.

Selective Removal of Phenolic Compounds by Peroxydisulfate Activation: Inherent Role of Hydrophobicity and Interface ROS.

Selective removal of organic pollutants by advanced oxidation methods has been receiving increasing attention for environmental remediation. In this study, a novel catalyst, which can selectively oxidize phenolic compounds (PCs) based on their hydrophobicity, composed of metal-organic-framework-derived Fe/Fe3O4 and three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (rGOF) is designed for peroxydisulfate (PDS) activation. This heterogeneous PDS activation system can completely degrade hydrophobic PCs within 30 min. By investigating the hydrophobic properties of eight representative PCs, a positive correlation between the hydrophobicity of PC and the reaction kinetics is reported for the first time. The selective removal stems from the strong interaction between highly hydrophobic PCs and the catalyst. Moreover, the mechanism investigation shows that the degradation reaction is triggered by interface reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our study reveals that the selective degradation of organic pollutants by PDS activation depends on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties of the pollutant and catalyst. The reported results provide new insights into a highly selective and efficient PDS activation system for organic pollutant removal.

An observation study of urinary biomarker exploratory in Alzheimer's disease using high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is regarded as a progressive neurodegenerative dementia, characterized by degeneration of distinct neuronal populations. A case-control study was carried out using high-resolution mass spectrometry to explore AD-associated urinary metabolic biomarkers from 30 AD patients and 30 cognitively normal (CN) individuals. In total, 49 metabolites were determined and validated as known compounds using LC/MS analysis. Using the two-sample t-test statistical analysis (P < 0.05), 19 metabolites were shown to be significantly different from AD to CN. A diagnostic model of the receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed with a combination of nine molecules out of 19 metabolites, it yielded a separation with an area under the curve value of 0.976 between the two groups. This study indicated that urinary metabolites showed a significant expression between AD and CN. AD-related metabolites enable to satisfy the diagnostic power of disease discrimination. In addition, as a noninvasive approach, urine collection is done easily in clinical diagnosis of AD.

Preparation of complex biological sample-compatible "turn-on"-type ratiometric fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres via one-pot surface-initiated ATRP.

The efficient preparation of ratiometric fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) microspheres that can directly and selectively optosense a herbicide (i.e., 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-D) in undiluted pure milk is described. The dual fluorescent MIP microparticles were readily obtained through grafting a green 4-nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazole (NBD)-labeled 2,4-D-MIP layer with hydrophilic polymer brushes onto the preformed uniform "living" red CdTe quantum dot (QD)-labeled SiO2 microspheres via one-pot surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) in the presence of a polyethylene glycol macro-ATRP initiator. They proved to be highly promising "turn-on"-type fluorescent chemosensors with red CdTe QD (the maximum emission wavelength λe,max around 710 nm) and green NBD (λe,max around 515 nm) as the reference fluorophore and "turn-on"-type responsive fluorophore, respectively. The sensors showed excellent photostability and reusability, high 2,4-D selectivity and sensitivity (the limit of detection = 0.12 µM), and direct visual detection ability (a fluorescent color change occurs from red to blue-green with the concentration of 2,4-D increasing from 0 to 100 µM) in pure bovine milk. The sensors were used for 2,4-D detection with high recoveries (96.0-104.0%) and accuracy (RSD ≤ 4.0%) in pure goat milk at three spiking levels of both 2,4-D and its mixtures with several analogues. This new strategy lays the foundation for efficiently developing diverse complex biological sample-compatible ratiometric fluorescent MIPs highly useful for real-world bioanalyses and diagnostics.

Preparation, investigation and storage application of thymol-chitooligosaccharide complex with enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

BACKGROUND: Thymol (Thy) is a natural bioactive agent which possesses various properties and has been widely used in medicine and food industries. However, its poor bioavailability can limit its application. RESULTS: In this study, Thy was interacted with chitooligosaccharide (COS) as Thy-COS complex via an ionic crosslinking method using sodium tripolyphosphate as a crosslinker. The characteristics and thermal stability of Thy-COS were evaluated by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis, and its antioxidant and antibacterial properties were also evaluated. The highest loading capacity of Thy (52.3%) in Thy-COS formed at mass ratio of 1:5. Results indicated the Thy-COS complex was formed mainly by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Upon complexation, the thermal stability, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Thy were significantly improved. Thy-COS complex was made into a coated film for Nanguo pears and greatly improved its storage quality. Thy-COS delayed the weight loss and softening of Nanguo pears and kept more vitamin-C content (2.12 mg (100 g)-1 ). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, Thy-COS was successfully prepared and improved antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Thy, which has great potential in the food industry. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Global metabolic profiling of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation.

Hemorrhagic shock (HS) is a medical emergency during trauma. Significant loss of tissue perfusion may result in cellular hypoxia, organ damage and death. The primary treatment of HS is control of the source of bleeding as soon as possible and fluid replacement (crystalloid solutions and blood transfusion). Metabolomics can identify novel biomarkers for various functional and organic diseases. Therefore, systematic exploration of the biological mechanisms of HS and blood transfusion enables the optimization of treatments for HS to reduce the occurrence of organ damage. In this study, a global metabolic profiling strategy is applied to evaluate metabolic changes in the HS rat model. A serum metabolic network with 58 significant metabolites was constructed for HS and resuscitation. Our investigation will offer insights into the pathogenesis.

Transgenic creeping bentgrass plants expressing a Picea wilsonii dehydrin gene (PicW) demonstrate improved freezing tolerance.

Agrostis stolonifera L. 'Penn A-4' is a common creeping bentgrass species that is widely used in urban landscaping and golf courses. To prolong the green stage of this grass, a dehydrin gene PicW isolated from Wilson's spruce (Picea wilsonii) was transformed into plants of 'Penn A-4' cultivar via a straightforward stolon node infection system. A putative transgenic plant was obtained and its tolerance to low-temperature stress was evaluated. When the transgenic line was subjected to a freezing (- 5 °C) treatment, it showed better viability and more robust physiology than wild type, as evidenced by higher soluble sugar and proline contents, and lower relative electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content. The transgenic line also showed tolerance to a chilling treatment (5 °C), although its performance was not significantly different from that of wild-type plants. Overall, the research here clearly revealed the explicit role of PicW in increasing freezing tolerance of grass at the whole-plant level, and demonstrated that the straightforward stolon node transformation method could be well used to genetically modify turfgrass. The obtained transgenic line might be as genetic resource for breeding program and practiced to grow in cold temperate zones.

Antidepressant-like Effect of Bacopaside I in Mice Exposed to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress by Modulating the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Function and Activating BDNF Signaling Pathway.

Preliminary studies conducted in our laboratory have confirmed that Bacopaside I (BS-I), a saponin compound isolated from Bacopa monnieri, displayed antidepressant-like activity in the mouse behavioral despair model. The present investigation aimed to verify the antidepressant-like action of BS-I using a mouse model of behavioral deficits induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and further probe its underlying mechanism of action. Mice were exposed to CUMS for a period of 5 consecutive weeks to induce depression-like behavior. Then, oral gavage administrations with vehicle (model group), fluoxetine (12 mg/kg, positive group) or BS-I (5, 15, 45 mg/kg, treated group) once daily were started during the last two weeks of CUMS procedure. The results showed that BS-I significantly ameliorated CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice, as characterized by an elevated sucrose consumption in the sucrose preference test and reduced immobility time without affecting spontaneous locomotor activity in the forced swimming test, tail suspension test and open field test. It was also found that BS-I treatment reversed the increased level of plasma corticosterone and decreased mRNA and protein expressions of glucocorticoid receptor induced by CUMS exposure, indicating that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity of CUMS-exposed mice was restored by BS-I treatment. Furthermore, chronic administration of BS-I elevated expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (mRNA and protein) and activated the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and cAMP response element-binding protein in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in mice subjected to CUMS procedure. Taken together, these results indicated that BS-I exhibited an obvious antidepressant-like effect in mouse model of CUMS-induced depression that was mediated, at least in part, by modulating HPA hyperactivity and activating BDNF signaling pathway.