Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Are Key to Promoting the Growth and Furanocoumarin Synthesis of Angelica dahurica var. formosana under Low-Nitrogen Conditions.

Microbiomes are the most important members involved in the regulation of soil nitrogen metabolism. Beneficial interactions between plants and microbiomes contribute to improving the nitrogen utilization efficiency. In this study, we investigated the Apiaceae medicinal plant Angelica dahurica var. formosana. We found that under a low-nitrogen treatment, the abundance of carbon metabolites in the rhizosphere secretions of A. dahurica var. formosana significantly increased, thereby promoting the ratio of C to N in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils, increasing carbon sequestration, and shaping the microbial community composition, thus promoting a higher yield and furanocoumarin synthesis. Confirmation through the construction of a synthetic microbial community and feedback experiments indicated that beneficial plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria play a crucial role in improving nitrogen utilization efficiency and selectively regulating the synthesis of target furanocoumarins under low nitrogen conditions. These findings may contribute additional theoretical evidence for understanding the mechanisms of interaction between medicinal plants and rhizosphere microorganisms.

Clonal integration of stress signal induces morphological and physiological response of root within clonal network.

Clonal integration of defense or stress signal induced systemic resistance in leaf of interconnected ramets. However, similar effects of stress signal in root are poorly understood within clonal network. Clonal fragments of Centella asiaticas with first-young, second-mature, third-old and fourth-oldest ramets were used to investigate transportation or sharing of stress signal among interconnected ramets suffering from low water availability. Compared with control, oxidative stress in root of the first-young, second-mature and third-old ramets was significantly alleviated by exogenous ABA application to the fourth-oldest ramets as well as enhancement of antioxidant enzyme (SOD, POD, CAT and APX) activities and osmoregulation ability. Surface area and volume in root of the first-young ramets were significantly increased and total length in root of the third-old ramets was significantly decreased. POD activity in root of the fourth-oldest and third-old ramets was significantly enhanced by exogenous ABA application to the first-young ramets. Meanwhile, total length and surface area in root of the fourth-oldest and third-old ramets were significantly decreased. Ratio of belowground to aboveground biomass in the whole clonal fragments was significantly increased by exogenous ABA application to the fourth-oldest or first-young ramets. It is suggested that transportation or sharing of stress signal may induce systemic resistance in root of interconnected ramets. Specially, transportation or sharing of stress signal against phloem flow was observed in the experiment. Possible explanation is that rapid recovery of foliar photosynthesis in first-young ramets subjected to exogenous ABA application can partially reverse phloem flow within clonal network. Thus, our experiment provides insight into ecological implication on clonal integration of stress signal.

Effects of nutrient supply on leaf stoichiometry and relative growth rate of three stoloniferous alien plants.

Different nutrient supply brings about changes in leaf stoichiometry, which may affect growth rate and primary production of plants. Invasion of alien plants is a severe threat to biodiversity and ecosystem worldwide. A pot experiment was conducted by using three stoloniferous alien plants Wedelia trilobata, Alternanther philoxeroides and Hydrocotyle vulgaris to investigate effects of nutrient supply on their leaf stoichiometry and relative growth rate. Different nitrogen or phosphorus supply was applied in the experiment (N1:1 mmol L-1, N2:4 mmol L-1, and N3:8 mmol L-1, P1:0.15 mmol L-1, P2:0.6 mmol L-1 and P3:1.2 mmol L-1). Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in leaves of the three alien plants significantly increased with increase of nitrogen supply. With increase of phosphorus supply, nitrogen or phosphorus concentration of leaf was complex among the three alien plants. N:P ratio in leaf of the three alien plants subjected to different levels of nutrient supply was various. A positive correlation between relative growth rate and N:P ratio of the leaf is observed in W. trilobata and A. philoxeroides suffering from N-limitation. A similar pattern was not observed in Hydrocotyle vulgaris. We tentatively concluded that correlations between relative growth rate and N: P ratio of the leaf could be affected by species as well as nutrient supply. It is suggested that human activities, invasive history, local abundance of species et al maybe play an important role in the invasion of alien plants as well as relative growth rate.

Combining mussel with fucoidan as a supplement for joint pain and prediabetes: Study protocol for a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Introduction: Pharmaceutical drugs are beneficial to inflammatory conditions but with side effects, which led to the search for alternative therapies. Perna canaliculus, the New Zealand green-lipped mussel, have shown promise in placebo-controlled trials for inflammatory conditions. Fucoidan, an extract from seaweed Undaria pinnatifida, has been found to have beneficial effects on joint pain and insulin resistance. However, green-lipped mussel and fucoidan have never been combined. Methods and analysis: A parallel, two-arm, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial will be conducted in New Zealand to determine whether a food product supplemented with green-lipped mussel and fucoidan improves joint pain and/or insulin resistance. Those who are ethnically Chinese, are aged over 30 years, have prediabetes and hip or knee joint pain will be eligible to participate. They will be randomized at 1:1 ratio to consume either dark chocolate supplemented with 1000 mg mussel powder and 1000 mg fucoidan or dark chocolate with no active substances daily for 100 days. The primary endpoints are change in insulin resistance and patient-reported joint pain. Secondary endpoints include anthropometry, fasting glucose and insulin, HbA1c, inflammatory markers, satiety, quality of life, physical function, pain intensity, and analgesic medication use. A sample size of 150 (75 per arm) will provide 90% power at an overall significance level of 5% (two-sided) to detect a standardized effect size of 0.625 on either of the two co-primary outcomes allowing for 10% loss. Ethics and dissemination: The study was approved by the Health and Disability Ethics Committee (number: 20/STH/153). Results will be made available to participants, funders, and other researchers. Discussion: This trial will provide data on the potential utility of a mussel-fucoidan supplement in reducing joint pain and/or insulin resistance, to inform the development of a supplemented food product suitable for the Chinese market. Clinical trial registration: https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=ACTRN12621000413820, ANZCTR Registration: ACTRN12621000413820, on 15 April 2021.

[Bioinformatics analysis and expression pattern of NAC transcription factor family of Angelica dahurica var. formosana from Sichuan province].

NAC(NAM/ATAF/CUC) protein plays an important role in plant growth and development, secondary cell wall formation and stress response. In this study, based on the sequencing data of Angelica dahurica, the NAC family was systematically analyzed using bioinformatics methods and its expression pattern was analyzed. Studies showed that 75 candidate genes had been selected from the NAC transcription factor family of A. dahurica, with the protein size of 148-641, all of which were unstable hydrophilic proteins. Most NAC proteins were localized in the nucleus, and had complete NAC domain. Phylogenetic analysis of NAC family proteins of A.dahurica and Arabidopsis thaliana showed that among the 17 subfamilies, NAC members were unevenly distributed in each subfamily, indicating that the evolution of species is developing in multiple directions. Among them, ANAC063 subfamily contained no NAC sequence of A. dahurica, which might be due to the functional evolution of the species. Analysis of protein transmembrane structure and signal peptide showed that NAC transcription factor could carry out transmembrane transportation, but its signal peptide function had not been found. Expression analysis showed that most transcription factors responded to abiotic stress and hormones to varying degrees, and the effects of hormones were obvious, especially ABA and IAA. In different organs of A. dahurica, most members of the NAC family had higher expression in root phloem, followed by root xylem. This study lays a foundation for further research on the function of A. dahurica NAC transcription factor and for solving the biological problems of A. dahurica.

Effect of Oral Vitamin C Supplementation on High-Altitude Hyperuricemia in Young Men Initially Migrating to High Altitude: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical studies have shown that oral vitamin C supplementation can reduce serum uric acid levels in multiple populations and may also improve acute mountain sickness. However, it is unclear whether this protocol can improve high-altitude hyperuricemia. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the role of vitamin C supplementation on high-altitude hyperuricemia. METHODS: A preliminary prospective control study was performed in 2015. Young male army recruits (n = 66), who had recently arrived on the Tibetan Plateau for the first time, were recruited for study I. Subjects were assigned to either the vitamin C group, who took an oral daily dose of 500 mg vitamin C for 1 month, or the blank control group, who had no intervention. The levels of serum uric acid, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen were monitored at baseline and at the end of 1 month. In a second study II in 2016 (n = 120), the effect of 500 mg/d vitamin C on high-altitude hyperuricemia was compared with 75 IU/d of vitamin E. RESULTS: In study I, the level of serum uric acid at 1 month was significantly higher than at baseline (436.1 ± 79.3 µmol/L vs. 358.0 ± 79.8 µmol/L, p < 0.001) and the prevalence of hyperuricemia was also significantly higher (63.6% [95% confidence interval, CI: 52.0%-75.2%] vs. 19.7% [95% CI: 10.1%-29.3%], p < 0.001). Both the level of serum uric acid (411.5 ± 74.2 µmol/L vs. 460.8 ± 54.8 µmol/L, p = 0.003) and the prevalence of hyperuricemia (48.5% [95% CI: 31.4%-65.6%] vs. 78.8% [95% CI: 64.9%-92.7%], p = 0.020) were significantly lower in the vitamin C group than in the blank control group. In study II, the levels of serum uric acid and the frequency of hyperuricemia also increased over 1 month and were similar in the vitamin C and the vitamin E groups at both baseline and 1 month (p > 0.05). The change in serum uric acid was positively correlated with both the changes in serum creatinine (r = 0.599, p < 0.001) and blood urea nitrogen (r = 0.207, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that healthy young men develop an increase in serum uric acid within a month of moving from low to high altitude. Oral vitamin C supplementation can safely reduce this increase at a low cost.

[Myocardial protective effect of Danhong Injection evaluated by velocity vector imaging in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the myocardial protective effect of Danhong Injection evaluated by velocity vector imaging (VVI) in patients with unstable angina pectoris after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and elucidate its possible mechanism. METHODS: A total of 120 patients were randomized into Danhong (DG, n = 60) or control (CG, n = 60) groups. The patients in CG group received regular medication according to the guidelines while those in DG group regular medication plus Danhong Injection before and after PCI. During PCI, 40 ml Danhong Injection was administrated intravenously. The levels of CK-MB and cTnT were tested before and 24 hours after PCI. And VVI was performed before and 24 hours after PCI. RESULTS: After treatment with Danhong injection, the serum level of MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in DG were lower than those in CG (18.19 ± 10.23 vs 25.12 ± 11.91,0.079 ± 0.007 vs 0.132 ± 0.011, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, strain and strain rate of interventricular septum apex, anterior apex, inferior basement and inferior middle segment were better in DG than those in CG (26.01 ± 7.94 vs 23.25 ± 6.68, 20.91 ± 7.55 vs 18.79 ± 8.45, 18.10 ± 7.31 vs 16.89 ± 6.05, 21.16 ± 6.42 vs 18.37 ± 6.54, P < 0.05; 1.93 ± 0.79 vs 1.69 ± 0.63, 1.86 ± 0.72 vs 1.63 ± 0.68, 1.51 ± 0.80 vs 1.25 ± 0.54, 1.50 ± 0.45 vs 1.33 ± 0.32, P < 0.05 respectively). CONCLUSION: Peri-procedual Danhong injection can ameliorate myocardial injury and improve segmental systolic function.

[Effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang on rat cardiac fibroblast proliferation and collagen production in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang on the proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and collagen production in the cells. METHODS: Rat cardiac fibroblasts were isolated and cultured in DMEM containing 10% (group A) or 20% (group B) or no (group C) serum from rats treated with Bushen Huoxue Fang, with cells cultured in DMEM containing 10% FBS as the control (group D). After 72 h of cell culture, the proliferation of the fibroblasts was detected using CCK-8 kit, and collagen mRNA and protein expressions were examined using RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: Compared with that in groups C and D, the cell proliferation decreased significantly in groups A and B, and especially in the latter (P<0.05). RT-PCR demonstrated significant reductions of the mRNAs of type 1 and 3 collagens in groups A and B (P<0.05), and their protein levels were also significantly lowered (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Bushen Huoxue Fang can effectively inhibit the proliferation of rat cardiac fibroblasts and reduced collagen type 1 and 3 productions in the cells in vitro.

[Effects of hypertonic sodium chloride hydroxyethyl starch 40 on brain histopathology in rats with whole body hyperthermia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of hypertonic sodium chloride hydroxyethyl starch 40 (HSH) on brain edema and morphological changes during whole body hyperthermia (WBH) in rats. METHODS: Sixty adult male SD rats were randomized into control group, WBH group without fluid infusion (group HT), WBH group with Ringer's infusion (group RL), WBH group with HAES + Ringer's infusion (group HRL) and WBH group with HSH infusion (group HSH). WBH was induced by exposure to 36 degrees celsius; for 3 h to achieve a rectal temperature of 41-42 degrees celsius;, and the corresponding fluids were administered intravenously within 30 min at the beginning of WBH. The control rats were housed at a controlled room temperature (22∓1) degrees celsius; for 4 h. After cooling at room temperature for 1 h, the rats were sacrificed and brain water content and morphological changes were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, all the WBH groups had significantly increased brain water content (P<0.05 or 0.01), but group HSH showed a significantly lower brain water content than group HT (P<0.05). The rats in groups HT, RL and HRL showed serious to moderate structural changes of the brain tissue and nerve cells, but HSH group had only mild pathologies. CONCLUSION: HSH can reduce brain edema and ameliorate the damages to brain cells in rats exposed to WBH.