Biomass partitioning and ionomics of Macadamia with high manganese and low phosphorus concentrations.

Knowledge of the ionome of plant organs helps us understand a plant's nutritional status. However, the ionome of Macadamia (Proteaceae), which is an important nut-producing tree, remains unknown. We aimed to characterise the allocation of biomass and nutrient-partitioning patterns in three macadamia genotypes. We excavated 15 productive trees (three cultivars at 21years of age; two cultivars at 16years of age) in an orchard. Biomass, nutrient concentrations, and contents of roots, stems, branches, and leaves were analysed. Dry weight of roots, stems, branches and leaves accounted for 14-20%, 19-30%, 36-52%, and 12-18% of total plant weight, respectively. No significant difference was found in the total biomass among the cultivars at the same age. Compared with most crop plants, macadamia had low phosphorus (P) concentrations in all organs (<1gkg-1 ), and low leaf zinc (Zn) concentration (8mgkg-1 ). In contrast, macadamia accumulated large amounts of manganese (Mn), with a 20-fold higher leaf Mn concentration than what is considered sufficient for crop plants. Leaves exhibited the highest nutrient concentrations, except for iron and Zn, which exhibited the highest concentrations in roots. The organ-specific ionomics of Macadamia is characterised by low P and high Mn concentrations, associated with adaptation to P-impoverished habitats.

Digested Human Colostrum Reduces Interleukin-8 Production in Induced Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Little is known about the impact of human colostrum on infant intestinal health following digestion. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of digested versus undigested human colostrum on inflammation and cytotoxicity in human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco2BBe) stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Colostrum samples (days 2-8 postpartum) from ten mothers of preterm infant were applied. Caco2BBe cells were pretreated by digested or undigested colostrum before stimulation with LPS or TNF. The inflammatory response was determined by measuring the production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) from cells using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cytotoxicity was examined by measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from the cells. Digested colostrum significantly reduced IL-8 production under LPS and TNF stimulation compared with undigested colostrum. Individual colostrum samples exhibited wide variance in the ability to suppress IL-8 production and cytotoxicity in Caco2BBe cells. In vitro-digested human colostrum suppressed an inflammatory response more than undigested human colostrum in an induced intestinal cell culture model.

Case analysis of novel coronavirus pneumonia in the Second Hospital of Wuhan Iron and Steel Company, Qingshan District, Wuhan, China.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinical and infectious characteristics of new coronavirus pneumonia with diagnosed and suspected cases in the Second Hospital of WISCO(Wuhan Iron and Steel Company) of Qingshan District, Wuhan City, and further enhance the understanding of new coronavirus pneumonia. METHODS: According to the fifth and sixth editions of the new coronavirus pneumonia diagnosis and treatment plan issued by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China and National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, we carried out the case analysis and infectious disease investigation and research on the confirmed and suspected cases of new coronavirus pneumonia admitted to the second-floor ward of the hospital from January 28th, 2020, to February 26th, 2020. RESULTS: From January 28th, 2020 to February 26th, 2020, 83 patients were admitted, 40 were cured, and 7 died. Before February 13th, 69 patients were admitted, including 22 confirmed patients and 47 suspected patients. After February 13th, the data of newly hospitalized suspected patients decreased to 2 people. The average time from onset to diagnosis was 5.38 days. About 57.1% of the confirmed patients were isolated at home before admission, and 53.2% of the suspected patients were isolated by hospital observation before admission. The proportion of fever and other clinical symptoms was 81.8%, 65.5% of the patients had the fastest heart rate of 90-120 rpm, and 11 of the patients had severe/critical illness, accounting for 20%. The count of leukocytes, neutrophils, and C-reactive proteins (CRPs) in severe patients was higher than those in light patients (P<0.05), and the count of lymphocytes was lower than that in mild patients (P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: The novel coronavirus pneumonia in Qingshan District of Wuhan in February was diagnosed promptly, controlled,and treated effectively. The combination of traditional Chinese and western medicine in the treatment of new coronavirus pneumonia might help patients.

Trilactic glyceride regulates lipid metabolism and improves gut function in piglets.

Glycerol-lactate esters are energy supplements for exercise, but effects of trilactic glyceride (TLG) on intestinal function and hepatic metabolism are unknown. We found that dietary supplementation with 0.5% TLG to weanling piglets decreased plasma concentrations of low-density lipoprotein and gamma-glutamyl transferase but increased those of D-xylose and high-density lipoprotein. TLG supplementation enhanced mRNA levels for fatty acid synthase (FASN) and SLC27A2 in white adipose tissue; insulin receptor in duodenum; aquaporin-8 in ileum, jejunum and colon; aquaporin-10 in duodenum and ileum; nuclear factor like-2 in jejunum and colon; glutathione S-transferase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-1 in intestines; and abundances of claudin-1 and occludin proteins. TLG supplementation decreased mRNA levels for: hepatic hormone-sensitive lipase E, lipoprotein lipase, FASN, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3, and SLC27A2; and intestinal lipoprotein lipase, FASN and NADPH oxidase. Furthermore, TLG supplementation enhanced abundances of genus Bifidobacterium, while reducing abundances of family Enterobacteriaceae in ileum, colon and cecum; jejunal caspase-3 protein and diarrhea rate. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with TLG modulated lipid metabolism and alleviated diarrhea by improving intestinal function and regulating intestinal microflora in piglets.

Neighbouring plants modify maize root foraging for phosphorus: coupling nutrients and neighbours for improved nutrient-use efficiency.

Nutrient distribution and neighbours can impact plant growth, but how neighbours shape root-foraging strategy for nutrients is unclear. Here, we explore new patterns of plant foraging for nutrients as affected by neighbours to improve nutrient acquisition. Maize (Zea mays) was grown alone (maize), or with maize (maize/maize) or faba bean (Vicia faba) (maize/faba bean) as a neighbour on one side and with or without a phosphorus (P)-rich zone on the other in a rhizo-box experiment. Maize demonstrated root avoidance in maize/maize, with reduced root growth in 'shared' soil, and increased growth away from its neighbours. Conversely, maize proliferated roots in the proximity of neighbouring faba bean roots that had greater P availability in the rhizosphere (as a result of citrate and acid phosphatase exudation) compared with maize roots. Maize proliferated more roots, but spent less time to reach, and grow out of, the P patches away from neighbours in the maize/maize than in the maize/faba bean experiment. Maize shoot biomass and P uptake were greater in the heterogeneous P treatment with maize/faba bean than with maize/maize system. The foraging strategy of maize roots is an integrated function of heterogeneous distribution of nutrients and neighbouring plants, thus improving nutrient acquisition and maize growth. Understanding the foraging patterns is critical for optimizing nutrient management in crops.

Puerarin protects pulmonary arteries from hypoxic injury through the BMPRII and PPARγ signaling pathways in endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence indicates that Puerarin has a protective effect on pulmonary arteries. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether Puerarin could protect pulmonary arterial endothelial cells from hypoxic injury and determine its potential targets. METHODS: In our study, human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (HPAECs) were injured by hypoxic (1% O2) incubation. Cell viability was detected by a cell counting kit (CCK8). The production of nitric oxide (NO) was detected by Griess reagent and endothelin-1 (ET-1) was detected by the ELISA method. Oxidative stress was measured by a fluorescence microscope via the fluorescent probe DCFH-DA. Western blotting was employed for studying the mechanism. RESULTS: The results show that Puerarin protects HPAECs from hypoxia-induced apoptosis and slightly improves cell viability. Puerarin increases NO and decreases ET-1 to prevent the imbalance between vasoactive substances induced by hypoxia in HPAECs. Puerarin also inhibits the oxidative stress induced by hypoxia. The results from the Western blot show that Puerarin activates the BMPRII/Smad and PPARγ/PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, Puerarin protects HPAECs from hypoxic injury through the inhibition of oxidative stress and the activation of the BMPRII and PPARγ signaling pathways. This work provides insight into the development of Puerarin as a treatment for hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.