Effect of exogenously applied molybdenum on its absorption and nitrate metabolism in strawberry seedlings.

Molybdenum (Mo)-an essential element of plants-is involved in nitrogen (N) metabolism. Plants tend to accumulate more nitrate and show lower nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) under Mo-deficient conditions. Improving NUE in fruits reduces the negative effect of large applications of chemical fertilizer, but the mechanisms underlying how Mo enhances NUE remain unclear. We cultivated strawberry seedlings sprayed with 0, 67.5, 135, 168.75, or 202.5 g Mo·ha-1 in a non-soil culture system. The Mo concentration in every plant tissue analyzed increased gradually as Mo application level rose. Mo application affected iron, copper, and selenium adsorption in roots. Seedlings sprayed with 135 g Mo·ha-1 had a higher [15N] shoot:root (S:R) ratio, and 15NUE, and produced higher molybdate transporter type 1 (MOT1) expression levels in the roots and leaves. Seedlings sprayed with 135 g Mo·ha-1 also had relatively high nitrogen metabolic enzyme activities and up-regulated transcript levels of nitrate uptake genes (NRT1.1; NRT2.1) and nitrate-responsive genes. Furthermore, there was a significantly lower NO3- concentration in the leaves and roots, a higher NH4+ concentration in leaves, and a higher glutamine/glutamate (Gln/Glu) concentration at 135 g Mo·ha-1. Seedlings sprayed with 202.5 g Mo·ha-1 showed the opposite trend. Taken together, these results suggest that a 135 g Mo·ha-1 application was optimal because it enhanced NO3- transport from the roots to the shoots and increased NUE by mediating nitrogen metabolic enzyme activities, nitrate transport, and nitrate assimilation gene activities.

[Supplemental Fuzhenghuayu capsule therapy for improving liver fibrosis markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B following unsatisfactory outcome of nucleos(t)ide analogue monotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of Fuzhenghuayu capsule to improve markers of liver fibrosis when provided as supplemental therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who achieved complete virological response but unsatisfactory resolution of fibrosis markers with nucleos(t)ide analog (NAs) monotherapy. METHODS: One-hundred-and-ten patients with CHB-related liver fibrosis who had received NA for more than or equal to 2 years and achieved sustained virological response (SVR) but no improvement in liver fibrosis index were randomly divided into two equal groups: experimental group, continued oral NAs (one tablet, 1 time/day) with simultaneous Fuzhenghuayu capsule (1.5 g, 3 times/day) for 48 weeks; control group, continued oral NAs only for 48 weeks. Serum fibrosis markers (hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), amino terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP) and IV collagen (IV-C)), liver fibrosis stages, B ultrasonic wave, and liver function were observed before (baseline) and after treatment and compared by statistical analysis. RESULTS: The baseline levels of fibrosis markers were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups. After treatment, the levels of all of the fibrosis markers were lower in the experimental group (P less than 0.05 vs. control group; HA t = 19.548, LN t = 2.264, PIIIP t = 2.230, and IV-C t = 6.649) and lower than the baseline levels (P less than 0.01; HA t = 12.458, LN t = 7.402, PIIIP t = 4.620, IV-C t = 8.937). The control group also showed a significant reduction in HA and LN levels after treatment (P less than 0.01 vs. baseline; t = 5.202 and 3.444), but PIIIP and IV-C were unaffected. The baseline liver fibrosis stages were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups. After treatment, only the experimental group showed significant improvement in liver fibrosis stages (P less than 0.01). The rates of excellent therapeutic outcome, effectiveness, and non-effectiveness were significantly different between the experimental group (11.3%, 43.4%, and 45.3%) and the control group (1.0%, 22.2%, and 75.6%) (x2 = 9.408, P less than 0.01). Similar trends were observed for improvements in B ultrasonic wave for liver and spleen and in markers of liver function. Finally, neither treatment group experienced adverse effects. CONCLUSION: For CHB patients who achieve SVR by antiviral treatment with NAs, but unsatifactory improvement in liver fibrosis indices, administration of supplemental Fuzhenghuayu capsule with continued NAs therapy may represent a safe and effective treatment.