A relatively rare traditional Chinese medicine pattern of primary Sjögren syndrome: A case report.

RATIONALE: This report presents a unique case of a patient diagnosed with Primary Sjögren's syndrome and a relatively rare traditional Chinese medicine pattern, known as the combined cold and heat pattern and cold-dampness syndrome. The patient's condition was successfully managed using Chinese herbal medicine, specifically the modified Da-Chai-Hu decoction and Linggui Zhugan decoction. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 56-year-old woman had chronic dry eye and mouth for over 10 years. She was initially managed with traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) prescriptions, including the Zengye decoction, but the therapeutic effects were unsatisfactory. As the disease progressed, she was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder due to symptoms of vexation and insomnia. Treatment with alprazolam and venlafaxine failed to alleviate these symptoms. Recently, her general condition gradually worsened, with symptoms including a bitter taste in her mouth, dizziness, hot flashes, chills, poor appetite, chest discomfort, and constipation. DIAGNOSES: After a series of examinations, including a Schirmer test and labial gland biopsy, she was diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: Despite regular treatment with pilocarpine, sodium hyaluronate eye drops, venlafaxine, and alprazolam, the dry mouth symptoms intensified. Consequently, she sought further intervention through the TCHM. OUTCOMES: After 8 weeks of treatment with the modified Da-Chai-Hu decoction and Linggui Zhugan decoction, she reported a significant improvement in her dryness-related symptoms and sleep quality. LESSONS: This case report demonstrates that TCHM can effectively treat Primary Sjögren's syndrome, and should be considered for broader applications. Furthermore, this underscores the importance of tailoring treatment formulas to patients by identifying their specific syndrome differentiation in a clinical setting.

A Metabolomics Study of the Effects of Eleutheroside B on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in a Zebrafish Diabetes Model.

(1) Background: Diabetes is a common metabolic disease that seriously endangers human health. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of the active ingredient Eleutheroside B (EB) from the traditional Chinese medicine Eleutheroside on diabetes mellitus in a zebrafish model. Concomitant hepatic injury was also analysed, along with the study of possible molecular mechanisms using metabolomics technology. This work should provide some theoretical references for future experimental studies. (2) Methods: A zebrafish diabetes model was constructed by soaking in a 1.75% glucose solution and feeding a high-fat diet. The intervention drug groups were metformin (100 µg∙mL-1) and EB (50, 100, and 150 µg∙mL-1) via water-soluble exposure for 30 days. Glucose, TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C were evaluated in different treatment groups. GLUT4 protein expression was also evaluated in each group, and liver injury was observed by HE staining. Metabolomics techniques were used to investigate the mechanism by which EB regulates endogenous markers and metabolic pathways during the development of diabetes. (3) Results: All EB treatment groups in diabetic zebrafish showed significantly reduced body mass index (BMI) and improved blood glucose and lipid profiles. EB was found to upregulate GLUT4 protein expression and ameliorate the liver injury caused by diabetes. Metabolomics studies showed that EB causes changes in the metabolic profile of diabetic zebrafish. These were related to the regulation of purine metabolism, cytochrome P450, caffeine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, the mTOR signalling pathway, insulin resistance, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. (4) Conclusions: EB has a hypoglycaemic effect in diabetic zebrafish as well as significantly improving disorders of glycolipid metabolism. The mechanism of action of EB may involve regulation of the mTOR signalling pathway, purine metabolism, caffeine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism.

The Active Ingredient Catalpol in Rehmannia glutinosa Reduces Blood Glucose in Diabetic Rats via the AMPK Pathway.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses a huge threat to population health globally, and more drugs need to be explored for treatment. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of active ingredient catalpol in Rehmannia glutinosa on reduces blood glucose in diabetic. Methods: The T2DM model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin into Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, which were randomly grouped into diabetes model group, pioglitazone group, Rehmannia glutinosa group, catalpol high-dose group, catalpol low-dose group and normal control group.The intervention was continued for 28 d, and changes in body weight, fasting blood glucose, insulin and lipid levels were observed. Results: Of all the drugs, pioglitazone had the most pronounced hypoglycemic effect, which began to decline after 2 weeks of treatment in the low-dose catalpol group and had no hypoglycemic effect in the high-dose catalpol group. Among them, Rehmannia glutinosa was able to increase serum triglyceride level, and pioglitazone effectively reduced total cholesterol level in rats. The low dose of catalpol decreased the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), while the high dose of catalpol increased the concentration of LDL. Conclusion: As an active ingredient in Rehmannia glutinosa, catalpol has the potential to lower blood glucose and improve blood lipids in diabetes treatment, and its action may be achieved by regulating the adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, which provides a new idea for the development of new diabetes therapeutic approaches.

Stereo-complex polylactide composite aerogel for crude oil adsorption.

Adsorption materials are a cost-effective and simple method for oil spill remediation, but their efficiency is limited by high crude oil viscosity. Additionally, non-degradable materials pose another risk of secondary pollution, such as microplastic debris. Here, an environmentally-friendly stereo-complex polylactide composite (SCC) aerogel were developed via water-assisted thermally induced phase separation. The SCC with 3 wt% carbon nanotubes had a hierarchical structure of micro/nanoscale pores and high content of stereo-complex crystallites (35.7 %). Along with the excellent water repellency (water contact angle: 157°), SCC aerogel was 2.7 times as resistant to hydrolysis than poly(l-lactide) aerogel (Ph = 13, 37 °C). Additionally, a maximum absorption capacity of 41.2 g g-1 and over 97 % oil/water separation efficiency after 10 cycles were obtained in low viscosity conditions; while in high viscosity conditions, it displayed excellent photothermal performance, reaching a surface temperature of 85 °C under 1 sunlight, reducing crude oil absorption time from 42 min to 60 s (97.6 %-time savings). Moreover, it facilitated continuous crude oil spill recovery under sunlight with an adsorption rate of 3.3 × 104 kg m-3 h-1. The SCC aerogel presents a potential route for utilizing solar energy in crude oil adsorption applications without additional environmental burden.

Dendritic mGluR2 and perisomatic Kv3 signaling regulate dendritic computation of mouse starburst amacrine cells.

Dendritic mechanisms driving input-output transformation in starburst amacrine cells (SACs) are not fully understood. Here, we combine two-photon subcellular voltage and calcium imaging and electrophysiological recording to determine the computational architecture of mouse SAC dendrites. We found that the perisomatic region integrates motion signals over the entire dendritic field, providing a low-pass-filtered global depolarization to dendrites. Dendrites integrate local synaptic inputs with this global signal in a direction-selective manner. Coincidental local synaptic inputs and the global motion signal in the outward motion direction generate local suprathreshold calcium transients. Moreover, metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2) signaling in SACs modulates the initiation of calcium transients in dendrites but not at the soma. In contrast, voltage-gated potassium channel 3 (Kv3) dampens fast voltage transients at the soma. Together, complementary mGluR2 and Kv3 signaling in different subcellular regions leads to dendritic compartmentalization and direction selectivity, highlighting the importance of these mechanisms in dendritic computation.

Selenizing chitooligosaccharide with site-selective modification to alleviate acute liver injury in vivo.

Two selenized chitooligosaccharide (O-Se-COS and N,O-Se-COS) with different sites modification were synthesized to alleviate liver injury in vivo. Comparing to traditional COS, both selenized COS exhibited enhanced reducibility as well as antioxidant capacity in vitro. Furthermore, O-Se-COS demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial damage compared to N,O-Se-COS as its enhanced cellular uptake by the positive/negative charge interactions. Two mechanisms were proposed to explained these results: one is to enhance the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), which effectively scavenge free radicals; the other is to down-regulate intracellular cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1) levels, inhibiting carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced peroxidation damage. In vivo studies further demonstrated the effective alleviation of CCl4-induced liver injury by selenized COS, with therapeutic efficacy observed in the following order: O-Se-COS > N,O-Se-COS > COS. Finally, hemolysis and histological tests confirmed the biosafety of both selenized COS. Taken together, these finding demonstrated that selenium has the potential to improve the biological activity of COS, and precise selenylation was more conducive to achieving the synergistic effect where 1 + 1>2.

Effects of breathing exercises on chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: A range of studies concerning the effects of breathing exercises on chronic low back pain (CLBP) have been proven inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of breathing exercises for the treatment of CLBP. METHODS: We considered randomized controlled trials in English or Chinese that used breathing exercises for the treatment of CLBP. An electronic search was performed in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wan Fang, and CBM databases for articles published up to November 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the articles, assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and extracted the data. The outcomes included pain, lumbar function and pulmonary function post-intervention. RESULTS: A total of thirteen studies (n= 677) satisfied the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis results demonstrated a significant effect of breathing exercises on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score (SMD =-0.84, 95% CI: -1.24 to -0.45, P< 0.0001), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score (SMD =-0.74, 95% CI: -0.95 to -0.54, P< 0.00001), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) score (MD = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.37, P= 0.0006), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second /Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1/FVC) (MD = 1.90, 95% CI: 0.73 to 3.07, P= 0.001), although there was no significant difference between the breathing exercises and control interventions for Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) score (MD = 0.22, 95% CI = [0.00, 0.43], P= 0.05), and Maximal Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) score (MD = 8.22, 95% CI = [-4.02, 20.45], P= 0.19). CONCLUSION: Breathing exercises can reduce pain, assist people with lumbar disabilities, and improve pulmonary function, and could be considered as a potential alternative treatment for CLBP.

Dietary palm oil enhances Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2-mediated cholesterol biosynthesis through inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress in muscle of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) is considered to be a major regulator to control cholesterol homoeostasis in mammals. However, the role of SREBP2 in teleost remains poorly understand. Here, we explored the molecular characterisation of SREBP2 and identified SREBP2 as a key modulator for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, which were rate-limiting enzymes of cholesterol biosynthesis. Moreover, dietary palm oil in vivo or palmitic acid (PA) treatment in vitro elevated cholesterol content through triggering SREBP2-mediated cholesterol biosynthesis in large yellow croaker. Furthermore, our results also found that PA-induced activation of SREBP2 was dependent on the stimulating of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in croaker myocytes and inhibition of ERS by 4-Phenylbutyric acid alleviated PA-induced SREBP2 activation and cholesterol biosynthesis. In summary, our findings reveal a novel insight for understanding the role of SREBP2 in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in fish and may deepen the link between dietary fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis.

Hydrated lime promoted the polysaccharide content and affected the transcriptomes of Lentinula edodes during brown film formation.

Brown film formation, a unique developmental stage in the life cycle of Lentinula edodes, is essential for the subsequent development of fruiting bodies in L. edodes cultivation. The pH of mushroom growth substrates are usually adjusted with hydrated lime, yet the effects of hydrated lime on cultivating L. edodes and the molecular mechanisms associated with the effects have not been studied systemically. We cultivated L. edodes on substrates supplemented with 0% (CK), 1% (T1), 3% (T2), and 5% (T3) hydrated lime (Ca (OH)2), and applied transcriptomics and qRT-PCR to study gene expression on the brown film formation stage. Hydrated lime increased polysaccharide contents in L. edodes, especially in T2, where the 5.3% polysaccharide content was approximately 1.5 times higher than in the CK. The addition of hydrated lime in the substrate promoted laccase, lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase activities, implying that hydrated lime improved the ability of L. edodes to decompose lignin and provide nutrition for its growth and development. Among the annotated 9,913 genes, compared to the control, 47 genes were up-regulated and 52 genes down-regulated in T1; 73 genes were up-regulated and 44 were down-regulated in T2; and 125 genes were up-regulated and 65 genes were down-regulated in T3. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in the amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism related pathways. The carbohydrate-active enzyme genes up-regulated in the hydrated lime treatments were mostly glycosyl hydrolase genes. The results will facilitate future optimization of L. edodes cultivation techniques and possibly shortening the production cycle.

Discovery and Optimization of Novel hDHODH Inhibitors for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

As a key rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides, human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) is considered a known target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Herein, BAY 41-2272 with a 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine scaffold was identified as an hDHODH inhibitor by screening an active compound library containing 5091 molecules. Further optimization led to 2-(1-(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-3-yl)-5-cyclopropylpyrimidin-4-amine (w2), which was found to be the most promising and drug-like compound with potent inhibitory activity against hDHODH (IC50 = 173.4 nM). Compound w2 demonstrated acceptable pharmacokinetic characteristics and alleviated the severity of acute ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, w2 exerted better therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis than hDHODH inhibitor vidofludimus and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib. Taken together, w2 is a promising hDHODH inhibitor for the treatment of IBD and deserves to be developed as a preclinical candidate.

Association between tea consumption and colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of a population-based study.

PURPOSE: A meta-analysis study was performed to systematically assess the association between tea consumption and CRC risk. METHODS: Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science were retrieved to collect articles in English since 24 July 2023. Databases were searched and evaluated by two reviewers independently.We screened the literature based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. After determining the random effect model or fixed utility model based on a heterogeneity test, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: We included fourteen articles in this meta-analysis. We analyzed the data using a random effect model to explore the association between tea consumption and CRC because of apparent heterogeneity (P < 0.001, I2 = 99.5%). The combined results of all tests showed that there is no statistically significant association between tea consumption and CRC risk (OR = 0.756, 95%CI = 0.470-1.215, P = 0.247). Subsequently, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed. Excluding any single study, the overall results ranged from 0.73 (95%CI = 0.44-1.20) to 0.86 (95%CI = 0.53-1.40). It was determined that there was no significant publication bias between tea consumption and CRC risk (P = 0.064) by Egger's tests. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that tea consumption may not be significantly associated with the development of CRC. IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS: Tea reduces colon cancer risk by 24%, but the estimate is uncertain. The actual effect on risk can range from a reduction of 51% to an increase of 18%, but regional and population differences may cause differences.

Biochemical and transcriptomic responses of buckwheat to polyethylene microplastics.

The ubiquity of microplastic is widely recognized as pollution. Microplastic can affect the growth performances of plants. Buckwheat is a potential model crop to investigate plant responses to hazardous materials. Still, little is known about the response of buckwheat to microplastics. Thus, this study investigated the effect and uptake of polyethylene (PE) in buckwheat plant growth by monitoring the morphological and photosynthetic merits, antioxidant systems and transcriptome analysis of gene expression. Results confirmed that the impacts of PE on buckwheat growth were dose-dependent, while the highest concentration (80 mg/L) exposure elicited significantly negative responses of buckwheat. PE can invade buckwheat roots and locate in the vascular tissues. PE exposure disturbed the processes of carbon fixation and the synthesis of ATP from ADP + Pi in buckwheat leaves. The promotion of photosynthesis under PE exposure could generate extra energy for buckwheat leaves to activate antioxidant systems by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities at an expense of morphological merits under microplastic stresses. Further in-depth study is warranted about figuring out the interactions between microplastics and biochemical responses (i.e., photosynthesis and antioxidant systems), which have great implications for deciphering the defense mechanism of buckwheat to microplastic stresses.

Improvement of inflammatory response and gastrointestinal function in perioperative of cholelithiasis by Modified Xiao-Cheng-Qi decoction.

BACKGROUND: In the perioperative period of biliary surgery, various factors can induce the release of a large number of inflammatory factors, leading to an imbalance in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses and resulting in gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols in biliary surgery have been shown to reduce the stress response and accelerate postoperative recovery. It is crucial to reduce the inflammatory response and promote the recovery of GI function after biliary surgery, both of which are the basis and key for perioperative care and postoperative recovery. AIM: To better understand the effects of Modified Xiao-Cheng-Qi decoction (MXD) on inflammatory response and GI function in the perioperative management of cholelithiasis and their correlation. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized placebo-controlled trial, in which 162 patients who received biliary tract surgery were randomly assigned to three groups: MXD group, XD group, and placebo-control group. The observed parameters included frequency of bowel sounds, time of first flatus and defecation, time of diet, and amount of activity after surgery. The serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, serum amyloid A protein (SAA), and substance P were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Then, the spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationship between the indicators of GI function and inflammation. RESULTS: Compared to the placebo-control, improvements in GI function were observed in the MXD groups including reduced incidence of nausea, vomiting, and bloating; and earlier first exhaust time, first defecation time, and feeding time after surgery (P < 0.05). On the 1st and 2nd d after surgery, IL-6, CRP and SAA levels in MXD group were lower than that in placebo control, but substance P level was higher, compared to the control (P < 0.05). Functional diarrhea occurred in both MXD and XD groups without any other adverse effects, toxic reactions, and allergic reactions. Diarrhea was relieved after the discontinuation of the investigational remedies. Bowel sounds at 12 h after surgery, the occurring time of the first flatus, first defecation, postoperative liquid diet and semi-liquid diet were significantly correlated with levels of IL-6, CRP, SAA and substance P on second day after surgery (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment with MXD can relieve inflammatory response and improve GI function after surgery. Moreover, there are significant correlations between them. Furthermore, it does not cause serious adverse reactions.

Starvation-assisted and photothermal-thriving combined chemo/chemodynamic cancer therapy with PT/MR bimodal imaging.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) reflects a novel reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related cancer therapeutic approach. However, CDT monotherapy is often limited by weak efficacy and insufficient endogenous H2O2. Herein, a multifunctional combined bioreactor (MnFe-LDH/MTX@GOx@Ta, MMGT) relying on MnFe-layered double hydroxide (MnFe-LDH) loaded with methotrexate (MTX) and coated with glucose oxidase (GOx)/tannin acid (Ta) is established for applications in H2O2 self-supply and photothermal enhanced chemo/chemodynamic combined therapy along with photothermal (PT) /magnetic resonance (MR) dual-modality imaging ability for cancer treatment. Once internalized into tumor cells, MMGT achieves starvation therapy by catalyzing the oxidation of glucose with GOx, accompanied by the regeneration of H2O2, enabling a Fenton-like reaction to accomplish GOx catalytic amplified CDT. Moreover, MMGT manifests significant tumor-killing ability through improved CDT performance with outstanding photothermal conversion efficiency (η = 52.2%) under 808 nm laser irradiation. In addition, the release of Mn2+ from MnFe-LDH in a solid tumor can significantly enhance T1-contrast MR imaging signals. Combined with MnFe-LDH-induced PT imaging under 808 nm laser irradiation, a dual-modality imaging directed theranostic nanoplatform has been developed. The present study provides a new strategy to design H2O2 self-supply and ROS evolving NIR light-absorption theranostic nanoagent for highly efficient and combined chemo/chemodynamic cancer treatment.

Salidroside improves porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development by promoting lipid metabolism.

An optimal lipid droplet (LD) content is essential for successful mammalian embryonic development. Salidroside (SAL) is a traditional Chinese medicine and one of the important active components of the Rhodiola plant. SAL possesses antioxidative, anti-aging, and cardiovascular properties. Here, we studied the effects of SAL on in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes and the subsequent embryonic development after parthenogenetic activation (PA). We found that 100 µM of SAL had no effect on the extrusion rate of the first polar body of porcine oocytes but significantly improved the subsequent blastocyst formation rate and embryo quality. Our study further revealed that SAL treatment altered the morphology, increased the lipid content in oocytes, increased mitochondrial number. Further analysis revealed that SAL upregulated the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism (FASN, FADS1, HSL, and CPT1a) and the mitochondria function-related genes (PGC-1α). These results suggest that SAL supplementation enhances oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development by promoting lipid metabolism, providing the necessary energy for the aforementioned processes.

Discovery of potent human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors based on a benzophenone scaffold.

Blocking the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine by inhibiting human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) is an effective way to suppress the proliferation of cancer cells and activated lymphocytes. Herein, eighteen teriflunomide derivatives and four ASLAN003 derivatives were designed and synthesized as novel hDHODH inhibitors based on a benzophenone scaffold. The optimal compound 7d showed a potent hDHODH inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 10.9 nM, and displayed promising antiproliferative activities against multiple human cancer cells with IC50 values of 0.1-0.8 µM. Supplementation of exogenous uridine rescued the cell viability of 7d-treated Raji and HCT116 cells. Meanwhile, 7d significantly induced cell cycle S-phase arrest in Raji and HCT116 cells. Furthermore, 7d exhibited favorable safety profiles in mice and displayed effective antitumor activities with tumor growth inhibition (TGI) rates of 58.3% and 42.1% at an oral dosage of 30 mg/kg in Raji and HCT116 cells xenograft models, respectively. Taken together, these findings provide a promising hDHODH inhibitor 7d with potential activities against some tumors.

Silencing CAMK2D Promotes the Proliferation of Spermatogonia in the Testis of Experimental Varicocele Rats.

Varicocele is regarded as the main factor that contributes to male infertility. This study aimed to explore the effect of CAMK2D on spermatogonia in the testis of experimental varicocele rats. The experimental varicocele model was established in rats and treated using different ligation methods. mRNA expression profile analysis was performed on the left testicular tissue isolated from different groups, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analysed by bioinformatics methods and identified by qRT-PCR. The effect of CAMK2D, the screened DEG, on the proliferation of spermatogonia was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. The expression level of the c-kit was measured by the immunofluorescence assay and the expression levels of CAMKII, FOXO1, and ß-catenin were detected by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Five DEGs (i.e., TMCC3, FLNB, CAMK2D, OPLAH, and EGR1) were screened using the comprehensive analysis of mRNA high-throughput sequencing data. TMCC3 and FLNB were significantly downregulated, and CAMK2D, OPLAH, and EGR1 were dramatically upregulated in the testicular tissue of varicocele rats. The target DEG CAMK2D was obtained through identification by using qRT-PCR. In vitro assays revealed that the proliferation of spermatogonia was significantly facilitated by the silencing of CAMK2D, which resulted in the downregulation of CAMKII, FOXO1, and ß-catenin. In conclusion, silencing CAMK2D facilitated the proliferation of spermatogonia in the testis of experimental varicocele rats.

Shear-induced fabrication of SiO2 nano-meshes for efficient uranium capture.

The extraction of uranium from seawater and the safe treatment of wastewater containing uranium (VI) were important to ensure the sustainable development of nuclear-related energy sources. Two-dimensional silica nanomaterials have been extensively investigated in the field of uranium adsorption due to their high adsorption capacity, short equilibration times, and easily modified surface groups. However, the two-dimensional mesoporous silica nanomaterial preparation has become a challenge due to the lack of natural sheet templating agents. The reason will hinder the development of silica nanomaterials for uranium extraction. Here, the specific surface area silica nanomeshes (HSMSMs) uranium adsorbent was prepared by a high shear method to induce nanobubble formation. HSMSMs showed a high uranium adsorption capacity of 822 mg-U/g-abs in seawater with the uranium adsorption concentration was 50 mg/L, which was approximately 2 times higher than the conventional mesoporous silica nanomaterials. Compared to HSMSMs, the amidoxime-modified high specific surface area silica nanomesh (HSMSMs-AO) demonstrated good selectivity for U(VI), and the uranium ions uptake was 877 mg-U/g-abs in 50 mg/L uranium-spiked simulated seawater. Due to HSMSMs-AO's stable chemical properties and high mechanical strength, HSMSMs-AO also displayed long service life. Benefiting from the simple preparation method and high adsorption capacity of HSMSMs, HSMSMs could be a promising candidate for large-scale extraction of uranium from seawater.

Evaluation of colonization and mutualistic endophytic symbiosis of Escherichia coli with tomato and Bermuda grass seedlings.

Escherichia coli is generally considered a bacterium associated with animal microbiomes. However, we present evidence that E. coli may also mutualistically colonize roots of plant species, even to the extent that it may become endophytic in plants. In this study we used GFP tagged E. coli to observe its colonization and effects on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) seedling development and growth. Inoculation with the bacterium significantly improved root development of both seedlings tested. Treatment also increased the photosynthetic pigments in Bermuda grass seedlings. However, effects on shoot length in both seedlings were not significant. This bacterium was found to produce indole acetic acid (IAA) up to 8.68 ± 0.43 µg ml-1 in the broth medium amended with tryptophan. Effects on seedling root growth could, in part, be explained by IAA production. Bacteria successfully colonized the root surfaces and interiors of both seedlings. Tagged bacteria expressing the GFP were observed in the vascular tissues of Bermuda grass seedling roots. Seedlings with bacteria showed greater survival and were healthier than seedlings without bacteria, indicating that E. coli set up a successful mutualistic symbiosis with seedlings. E. coli is not commonly considered to be a plant endophyte but is more generally considered to be a crop contaminant. In this study we show that E. coli may also be an endophyte in plant tissues.

Heterologous spatial distribution of soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the primary influencing factors in three industrial parks.

Soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) generated from industrial processes are highly spatially heterologous, with limited quantitative studies on their main influencing factors. The present study evaluated the soil PAHs in three types of industrial parks (a petrochemical industrial park, a brominated flame retardant manufacturing park, and an e-waste dismantling park) and their surroundings. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs in the parks were 340-2.43 × 103, 26.2-2.63 × 103, and 394-2.01 × 104 ng/g, which were significantly higher than those in the surrounding areas by 1-2 orders of magnitude, respectively. The highest soil PAH contamination was observed in the e-waste dismantling park. Nap can be considered as characteristic pollutant in the petrochemical industrial park, while Phe in the flame retardant manufacturing park and e-waste dismantling park. Low molecular weight PAHs (2-3 rings) predominated in the petrochemical industrial park (73.0%) and the surrounding area of brominated flame retardant manufacturing park (80.3%). However, high molecular weight PAHs (4-6 rings) were enriched in the other sampling sites, indicating distinct sources and determinants of soil PAHs. Source apportionment results suggested that PAHs in the parks were mainly derived from the leakage of petroleum products in the petroleum manufacturing process and pyrolysis or combustion of fossil fuels. Contrarily, the PAHs in the surrounding areas could have been derived from the historical coal combustion and traffic emissions. Source emissions, wind direction, and local topography influenced the PAH spatial distributions.