Drought Stress Induced Different Response Mechanisms in Three Dendrobium Species under Different Photosynthetic Pathways.

Many Dendrobium species, which hold a high status and value in traditional Chinese medicine, grow on barks and rocks in the wild, often encountering harsh environments and facing droughts. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the shift in the photosynthetic pathway induced by drought remain unclear. To address this issue, three Dendrobium species with different photosynthetic pathways were selected for sequencing and transcriptome data analysis after drought treatment. The findings included 134.43 GB of sequencing data, with numerous Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) exhibiting different response mechanisms under drought stress. Gene Ontology (GO)-KEGG-based enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed that metabolic pathways contributed to drought tolerance and alterations in photosynthetic pathways. Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase (PEPC) was subjected to phylogenetic tree construction, sequence alignment, and domain analysis. Under drought stress, variations were observed in the PEPC gene structure and expression among different Dendrobium species; the upregulation of Dc_gene2609 expression may be caused by dof-miR-384, which resulted in the shift from C3 photosynthesis to CAM, thereby improving drought tolerance in Dendrobium. This study revealed the expression patterns and roles of PEPC genes in enhancing plant drought tolerance and will provide an important basis for in-depth research on Dendrobium's adaptation mechanisms in arid environments.

Condition optimization of iron-air fuel cell to treat phosphate-containing wastewater regarding sustainable development.

Increasing use of phosphorus products and excessive exploitation of phosphorus resources become two major problems in perspective of phosphorus sustainable development. Phosphorus recovery is the shortcut to solve this dilemma. Combining electrochemistry, an iron-air fuel cell was adopted to recover phosphate and electricity from phosphate-containing wastewater in our previous studies. The present study focused on investigating the effects of catholyte/anolyte conductivity, external resistance, and anolyte pH on the performance of iron-air fuel cell, and obtaining the optimized conditions. Furthermore, the electrochemical methods of phosphate recovery were compared and assessed, and it is concluded that iron-air fuel cell has great potential for energy recovery. The phosphate removal efficiencies and vivianite yield roughly positively correlated with the catholyte conductivity and the anolyte pH, but negatively correlated with the external resistance and the anolyte conductivity. The electricity generation roughly positively correlated with the catholyte conductivity and anolyte conductivity, but showed limitations in the test range of anolyte pH and external resistance. To pursue high phosphate removal efficiencies and vivianite yield, the catholyte conductivity, external resistance, anolyte pH and anolyte conductivity were suggested to be 35 g-NaCl/L, 10 Ω, 8 and 0 g-NaCl/L. While if electricity generation was the primary goal, these parameters should be 35 g-NaCl/L, 220 Ω, 5 and 70 g-NaCl/L. The optimized conditions will help to improve the phosphate removal efficiency, vivianite yield and electricity generation, and to promote the development of iron-air fuel cell technology.

Comparison of Lycium barbarum fruits polysaccharide from different regions of China by acidic hydrolysate fingerprinting-based HILIC-ELSD-ESI-TOF-MS combined with chemometrics analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Lycium barbarum is an edible fruit widely used in herbal medicines and as a functional food. Polysaccharide is one of the most important active ingredients. Only L. barbarum grown in the Ningxia region of China are officially recognised as suitable for use in traditional Chinese medicine, but the systematic comparison of L. barbarum polysaccharide between Ningxia and the other growing regions of China has been rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of L. barbarum polysaccharide from different grown regions of China. METHODS: A chemical fingerprint of L. barbarum polysaccharide hydrolysates was established based on controlled acidolysis combined with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection-electrospray ionisation-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (HILIC-ELSD-ESI-TOF-MS). Then, it was employed for the comparison of L. barbarum samples from different geographical origins of China combined with chemometrics analysis. RESULTS: Six monosaccharides [rhamnose (Rha), xylose (Xyl), arabinose (Ara), mannose (Man), glucose (Glu), galactose (Gal)] were qualitatively and quantitatively determined and four glycoconjugates were preliminarily identified from the hydrolysates. Content determination for the polysaccharide and monosaccharide indicated obvious geographical features. The HILIC-ELSD fingerprint combined with partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was able to differentiate L. barbarum samples from Ningxia, Xinjiang, Gansu and Qinghai regions with 89.19% classification accuracy. Orthogonal projection to latent structure discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was able to differentiate between samples from Ningxia and those from the other three growing regions, polysaccharide and Ara were the potential chemical markers. CONCLUSIONS: These findings form the basis of a reliable method to trace the region of origin of L. barbarum sample and thereby, improve the quality control of L. barbarum therapeutic polysaccharides.

Chemical characterization and evaluation of the antioxidants in Chaenomeles fruits by an improved HPLC-TOF/MS coupled to an on-line DPPH-HPLC method.

An improved method based on HPLC-TOF/MS was developed to catalog the antioxidants in five species of Chaenomeles (Mugua). Forty-four fractions from the Mugua extracts show appreciable levels of antioxidative activity in scavenging the stable free-radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and the hydroxyl radicals. Twelve major antioxidant's chemical structures are identified. Antioxidant activities differ between species, but intra-species level of antioxidants, regardless of their ripeness, are similar. C. sinensis has the highest antioxidant level. A rigorous quality control procedure was implemented to ensure accuracy of antioxidant quantification. This improved procedure can be used for rapid discovery of antioxidants in other plant extracts.

The Association of Fatty Acid Levels and Gleason Grade among Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data suggest that omega-6 (ω-6) fatty acids (FAs) may be associated with cancer incidence and/or cancer mortality, whereas ω-3 FAs are potentially protective. We examined the association of the ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 FA (ω-6:ω-3) and individual FA components with pathological results among men with prostate cancer (PCa) undergoing radical prostatectomy. METHODS: Sixty-nine men were included in the study. Components of ω-6 (linoleic acid (LA), arachidonic acid (AA), and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA)) and ω-3 (docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)) were analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass selective detector separation. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine association of FA with pathological high grade (Gleason ≥4+3) disease. RESULTS: The were 35 men with low grade disease (Gleason ≤3+4) and 34 men with high grade disease. Men with low grade disease were significantly younger (58y vs 61y, p = 0.012) and had lower D'Amico clinical classification (p = 0.001) compared to men with high grade disease. There was no significant association of ω-6:ω-3 with high grade disease (OR 0.93, p = 0.78), however overall ω-6, ω-3, and individual components of ω-6 and ω-3 FAs except EPA were significantly associated with high grade disease (ω-6: OR 3.37, 95% CI: 1.27,8.98; LA: OR 3.33, 95% CI:1.24,8.94; AA: OR 2.93, 95% CI:1.24,6.94; DGLA: OR 3.21, 95% CI:1.28,8.04; ω-3: OR 3.47, 95% CI:1.22,9.83; DHA: OR 3.13, 95% CI:1.26,7.74). ω-6 and ω-3 FA components were highly correlated (Spearman ρ = 0.77). CONCLUSION: Higher levels of individual components of ω-6 and ω-3FAs may be associated with higher-grade PCa. IMPACT: Studies into the causative factors/pathways regarding FAs and prostate carcinogenesis may prove a potential association with PCa aggressiveness.

Rapid screening, identification, and purification of neuraminidase inhibitors from Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb.et Zucc. by ultrafiltration with HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS combined with semipreparative HPLC.

We put forward an efficient strategy based on bioassay guidance for the rapid screening, identification, and purification of the neuraminidase inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicines, and apply to the discovery of anti-influenza components from Lithospermiun erythrorhizon Sieb.et Zucc. Ultrafiltration with high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was employed for the rapid screening and preliminarily identification of anti-influenza components from Zicao. Semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography was used for the rapid separation and purification of the target compounds. NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and UV spectroscopy were used for further structural identification, and the activity of the compounds was verified by in vitro assay. Five compounds were found to have neuraminidase inhibitory activity by this method. Subsequently, the five compounds were separated by semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography with the purity over 98% for all of them by high-performance liquid chromatography test. Combined with the NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and UV spectroscopy data, they were identified as alkannin, acetylalkannin, isobutyrylalkannin, ß,ß-dimethylacryloylalkannin and isovalerylalkannin. The in vitro assay showed that all five compounds had good neuraminidase inhibitory activities. These results suggested that the method is highly efficient, and it can provide platform and methodology supports for the rapid discovery of anti-influenza active ingredients from complex Chinese herbal medicines.

Small intestinal intraepithelial TCRγδ+ T lymphocytes are present in the premature intestine but selectively reduced in surgical necrotizing enterocolitis.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal barrier immaturity predisposes preterm infants to necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) bearing the unconventional T cell receptor (TCR) γδ (γδ IEL) maintain intestinal integrity and prevent bacterial translocation in part through production of interleukin (IL) 17. OBJECTIVE: We sought to study the development of γδ IEL in the ileum of human infants and examine their role in NEC pathogenesis. We defined the ontogeny of γδ IEL proportions in murine and human intestine and subjected tcrδ-/- mice to experimental gut injury. In addition, we used polychromatic flow cytometry to calculate percentages of viable IEL (defined as CD3+ CD8+ CD103+ lymphocytes) and the fraction of γδ IEL in surgically resected tissue from infants with NEC and gestational age matched non-NEC surgical controls. RESULTS: In human preterm infants, the proportion of IEL was reduced by 66% in 11 NEC ileum resections compared to 30 non-NEC controls (p<0.001). While γδ IEL dominated over conventional αß IEL early in gestation in mice and in humans, γδ IEL were preferential decreased in the ileum of surgical NEC patients compared to non-NEC controls (50% reduction, p<0.05). Loss of IEL in human NEC was associated with downregulation of the Th17 transcription factor retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear hormone receptor C (RORC, p<0.001). TCRδ-deficient mice showed increased severity of experimental gut injury (p<0.05) with higher TNFα expression but downregulation of IL17A. CONCLUSION: Complimentary mouse and human data suggest a role of γδ IEL in IL17 production and intestinal barrier production early in life. Specific loss of the γδ IEL fraction may contribute to NEC pathogenesis. Nutritional or pharmacological interventions to support γδ IEL maintenance in the developing small intestine could serve as novel strategies for NEC prevention.

Reduced risk of dyslipidaemia with oolong tea consumption: a population-based study in southern China.

Experimental studies have suggested that tea consumption could lower the risk of dyslipidaemia. However, epidemiological evidence is limited, especially in southern China, where oolong tea is the most widely consumed beverage. We conducted a population-based case-control study to evaluate the association between consumption of tea, especially oolong tea, and risk of dyslipidaemia in Shantou, southern China, from 2010 to 2011. Information on tea consumption, lifestyle characteristics and food consumption frequency of 1651 patients with newly diagnosed dyslipidaemia and 1390 controls was obtained using a semi-quantitative questionnaire. Anthropometric variables and serum biochemical indices were determined. Drinking more than 600 ml (2 paos) of green, oolong or black tea daily was found to be associated with the lowest odds of dyslipidaemia risk (P< 0.001) when compared with non-consumption, but only oolong tea consumption was found to be associated with low HDL-cholesterol levels. A dose-response relationship between duration of tea consumption and risk of dyslipidaemia (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.06, 0.16), as well as that between amount of dried tea leaves brewed and risk of dyslipidaemia (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.24, 0.48), was found. Moreover, consumption of oolong tea for the longest duration was found to be associated with 3.22, 11.99 and 6.69% lower blood total cholesterol, TAG and LDL-cholesterol levels, respectively. In conclusion, the present study indicates that long-term oolong tea consumption may be associated with a lower risk of dyslipidaemia in the population of Shantou in southern China.

Imaging analysis of hepatoblastoma resectability across neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Hepatoblastomas often require neoadjuvant chemotherapy to facilitate partial hepatectomy, which necessitates freedom of tumor borders from the confluence of hepatic veins (COHV), portal vein bifurcation (PVB), and retrohepatic inferior vena cava (IVC). This study aimed to clarify the effect of incremental neoadjuvant cycles on the AHEP0731 protocol criteria of hepatoblastoma resectability. METHODS: Hepatoblastoma responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed among patients (n=23) treated at two children's hospitals between 1996 and 2010. Using digital imaging data, ellipsoid and point-based models were created to measure tumor volume regression and respective distances from tumor borders nearest to the COHV, PVB, and IVC. RESULTS: Hepatoblastoma volumes regressed with incremental neoadjuvant chemotherapy cycles (p<0.001). Although tumor borders regressed away from the COHV (p=0.008), on average only 1.1mm was gained. No change from tumor borders to the PVB was detected (p=0.102). Distances from tumor borders to the IVC remained stable at one hospital (p=0.612), but increased only 0.15 mm every 10 days of therapy at the other (p=0.002). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy induced slightly more tumors to meet the threshold vascular margin of 1cm (baseline to completion): COHV, 11 (47.8%) to 17 (73.9%; p=0.058); PVB, 11 (47.8%) to 15 (65.2%; p=0.157); and IVC, 4 (17.4%) to 10 (43.5%; p=0.034). No differences were detected in demographic or disease-specific characteristics between patients who did or did not achieve this 1-cm margin after conclusion of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Hepatoblastoma volumes regress significantly with increasing neoadjuvant chemotherapy cycles. However, tumors often remain anchored to the major hepatic vasculature, showing marginal improvement in resectability criteria.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on metabolism of lipids in rats of obesity induced by sodium glutamate].

OBJECTIVE: To explore mechanisms of acupuncture for reducing of body weight. METHODS: The rat obesity model was developed by subcutaneous injection of sodium glutamate solution, and the experimental rats were divided into a blank control group, a model group, an electroacupuncture group and a sibutramine group; blood TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C contents and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, and serum leptin and insulin levels were determined. RESULTS: The body weight and Lee's index, and TG, TC and LDL-C contents in the electroacupuncture group decreased significantly as compared with those in the model group (all P<0.01), the actions in the electroacupuncture group being superior to those in the sibutramine group; the HDL-C contents in both the electroacupuncture and the sibutramine groups were higher than that of the model group (P<0.01) with no significant difference between the electroacupuncture group and the sibutramine group; LPL activity in the electroacupuncture group increased significantly as compared with that in the model group (P<0.01); serum leptin and insulin levels in both the electroacupuncture group and the sibutramine group were lower than that in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01), with no significant difference between the electroacupuncture group and the sibutramine group in the effect on insulin content, and the decrease of leptin level in the electroacupuncture group was more as compared with the sibutramine group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture can improve the status of high blood lipids, increase lipoprotein lipase activity, and regulate serum leptin and insulin levels in the obestic rat.