Phosphorus deficiency-induced cell wall pectin demethylesterification enhances cadmium accumulation in roots of Salix caprea.

Regions affected by heavy metal contamination frequently encounter phosphorus (P) deficiency. Numerous studies highlight crucial role of P in facilitating cadmium (Cd) accumulation in woody plants. However, the regulatory mechanism by which P affects Cd accumulation in roots remains ambiguous. This study aims to investigate the effects of phosphorus (P) deficiency on Cd accumulation, Cd subcellular distribution, and cell wall components in the roots of Salix caprea under Cd stress. The results revealed that under P deficiency conditions, there was a 35.4% elevation in Cd content in roots, coupled with a 60.1% reduction in Cd content in shoots, compared to the P sufficiency conditions. Under deficient P conditions, the predominant response of roots to Cd exposure was the increased sequestration of Cd in root cell walls. The sequestration of Cd in root cell walls increased from 37.1% under sufficient P conditions to 66.7% under P deficiency, with pectin identified as the primary Cd binding site under both P conditions. Among cell wall components, P deficiency led to a significant 31.7% increase in Cd content within pectin compared to P sufficiency conditions, but did not change the pectin content. Notably, P deficiency significantly increased pectin methylesterase (PME) activity by regulating the expression of PME and PMEI genes, leading to a 10.4% reduction in the degree of pectin methylesterification. This may elucidate the absence of significant changes in pectin content under P deficiency conditions and the concurrent increase in Cd accumulation in pectin. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicated an increase in carboxyl groups in the root cell walls under P deficiency compared to sufficient P treatment. The results provide deep insights into the mechanisms of higher Cd accumulation in root mediated by P deficiency.

Transport of nZVI/copper synthesized by green tea extract in Cr(IV)-contaminated soil: modeling study and reduced toxicity.

In this study, nano-zero-valent iron/copper was synthesized by green tea extracts (GT-nZVI/Cu) and produced a stable suspension than nano-zero-valent iron synthesized by green tea extracts (GT-nZVI) injected into Cr(VI)-containing soil column. The equilibrium 1D-CDE model was successfully used to fit the penetration curves of Fe(tot), Fe(aq), and Fe(0) in order to determine the relevant parameters. The hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient of chromium-contaminated soil was 0.401 cm2·h-1, and the pore flow rate was 0.144 cm·h-1. The stable C/C0 of Fe(tot), Fe(aq), and Fe(0) in the effluent were retarded to 0.39, 0.79, and 0.11, respectively, compared to a ratio of 1 for the concentration of the tracer Cl- in the effluent to the concentration in the influent. Additionally, the 1D-CDE model describes the migration behavior of Cr(VI) with a high R2 (> 0.97). The obtained blocking coefficients declined gradually with increasing concentration of GT-nZVI/Cu suspension and decreasing concentration of Cr(VI). The content of reduced chromium in the soil decreased from 2.986 to 1.121 after remediation, while the content of more stable oxidizable chromium and residual chromium increased from 2.975 and 20.021 to 16.471 and 27.612. The phytotoxicity test showed that mung bean seeds still had a germination rate of 90% (control of 100%), root length of 29.63 mm (control of 35.25 mm), and stem length of 17.9 cm (control of 18.96 cm) after remediation with GT-nZVI/Cu. These indicated that GT-nZVI/Cu was effective in immobilizing Cr(VI) in the soil column and reduced the ecological threat. This study provides an analytical basis and theoretical model for the migration of chromium-contaminated soil in practical application.

Effects of allisartan isoproxil on blood pressure and target organ injury in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Evidence has shown that angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists have lower blood pressure and have target organ protective effects, but this is not the case for the drug allisartan isoproxil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of allisartan isoproxil on blood pressure and target organ injury in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.In total, 80 essential hypertensive participants were randomly divided into an allisartan group and a nifedipine group (n = 40 per group), and their blood pressure was measured once per month for 6 months. A 2-dimensional echocardiogram was performed at baseline and at the end of the study. The serum levels of renal injury indexes, endothelial function markers, inflammatory factors, blood biochemical assays and urinary measurements were determined at baseline and at 6 months.At the end of the study, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased in the allisartan group compared with baseline and showed the same antihypertensive effect as the nifedipine group. Meanwhile, the left ventricular remodeling, 24-hours levels of urinary microalbumin, endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness were all significantly improved compared with that of the baseline and the nifedipine group (all P < .05).The present study showed that allisartan isoproxil had favorable blood pressure lowering and heart, renal, and endothelial protective effects in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Icariin combined with breviscapine improves the erectile function of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

INTRODUCTION: The impaired erectile response in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is caused by increased signaling of RhoA/Rho-kinase and decreased signaling of nitric oxide (NO). Icariin improves erectile function via upregulating multitargets in NO/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) pathway, which breviscapine accomplishes by downregulating RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway. AIM: To investigate the effect and mechanism of icariin combined with breviscapine on the erectile function of SHR. METHODS: Five 12-week-old male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and 20 age-matched male SHR were evenly randomized into WKY rats control group, SHR control group, icariin-treated group, breviscapine-treated group, and combined treatment group treated by vehicle, icariin, breviscapine, and icariin plus breviscapine, respectively, by gavage for four successive weeks. Maximum intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICPmax/MAP) and the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5), and Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 and 2 (ROCK1 and ROCK2) in the cavernous tissues were determined. RESULTS: The ICPmax/MAP in the combined treatment group was significantly increased compared with SHR control group, icariin-treated group, and breviscapine-treated group. The expression of eNOS and nNOS was significantly higher in the combined treatment group than in SHR control group, icariin-treated group, and breviscapine-treated group (P < 0.05). The expression of PDE5 was significantly lower in the icariin-treated group than in SHR control group (P < 0.05). The expression of ROCK1 was significantly lower in the combined treatment group than in other groups (P < 0.05). The expression of ROCK2 was significantly higher in SHR control group than in WKY rats control group, icariin-treated group, and combined treatment group (P < 0.05). Among these groups, the expression of eNOS and nNOS was the strongest, and ROCK1 was the lowest in WKY rats control group. CONCLUSION: Icariin combined with breviscapine has synergistic effects on erectile function of SHR through different signal pathways.

Effect of periodontitis on erectile function and its possible mechanism.

INTRODUCTION: Periodontitis is one of the important risk factors resulting in cardiovascular diseases. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is strongly correlated with cardiovascular diseases. The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in penile tissue has an important role in the mechanism of erection. AIM: To investigate the effect of periodontitis on erectile function and the possible mechanism. METHODS: After induction of periodontitis in rat, the ratio of maximum intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICPmax /MAP)×100, the expression of eNOS in penile tissue, the level of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the ultrastructural changes of the cavernous tissue were examined and compared between periodontitis rats (group A) and control rats (group B). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Periodontitis significantly decrease not only the ICPmax/MAP×100 and the expression of eNOS but also the activity of NOS and the level of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in cavernous tissue of rat. RESULTS: After electrostimulation by 3 and 5 voltage, the ratio of ICPmax /MAP×100 in group A was significantly less than that in group B (19.54±6.16 vs. 30.45±3.12; 30.91±5.61 vs. 50.52±9.52, respectively; P<0.05).The level of serum CRP and TNF-α in group A is significantly higher in group B (P<0.05).The quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction study demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the expression of mRNA of eNOS in cavernous tissue between the two groups (P>0.05). But there was significant decrease in eNOS protein of the cavernous tissue in group A than in group B (P<0.05). Total NOS activity and cGMP level in cavernosal tissue were significantly lower in group A than in group B (P<0.05). There was no significant alternation occurred in the ultrastructures of penile cavernous tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The function of penile erection is impaired by periodontitis. The decreased in the expression of eNOS and NOS activity in penile cavernous tissue caused by mild systemic inflammatory status in periodontitis may be one of the important risk factors of ED.

Efficacy of Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch in adults with chronic urticaria.

OBJECTIVES: The study objectives were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch (THH) in adult with severe chronic urticaria (CU) by performing a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Seventy-eight (78) adult patients with severe CU, 21-58 years of age, responding poorly to antihistamines alone, were randomly divided into two groups: the therapeutic group with THH 3 tablets 3 times daily (n = 40) and the control group with placebo 3 tablets 3 times daily (n = 38). Meanwhile, all patients jointly received cetirizine hydrochloride (HCl) 10 mg once daily throughout the study period. The efficacy of THH was assessed by the scoring system of 4-point scale and the subject's global assessment of relief. RESULTS: Sixty-nine (69) of 78 patients (37 in the therapeutic group, 32 in the control group) completed the study. By the end of the fourth week, there was a 67% improvement of total effective rate (TER) with THH compared with a 28% improvement with placebo by per-protocol analysis (χ(2) = 10.68, p = 0.0011), while by intention-to-treat analysis, 63% and 24% improvements of TER were respectively observed in the therapeutic group and the control group (χ(2) = 11.36, p = 0.001). THH with cetirizine showed statistical superiority to placebo with cetirizine during each study week for changes in total severity scores (p ≤ 0.001). In weekly analyses, THH was also statistically superior to placebo in reducing the mean pruritus scores during each study week (p ≤ 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the therapeutic effect of THH with cetirizine is predominant over that of cetirizine alone in adult CU. THH with cetirizine may play an important role in the therapy of CU and be a useful treatment for CU.