A review of biocontrol agents in controlling late blight of potatoes and tomatoes caused by Phytophthora infestans and the underlying mechanisms.

Phytophthora infestans causes late blight on potatoes and tomatoes, which has a significant economic impact on agriculture. The management of late blight has been largely dependent on the application of synthetic fungicides, which is not an ultimate solution for sustainable agriculture and environmental safety. Biocontrol strategies are expected to be alternative methods to the conventional chemicals in controlling plant diseases in the integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Well-studied biocontrol agents against Phytophthora infestans include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, and compounds produced by these antagonists, in addition to certain bioactive metabolites produced by plants. Laboratory and glasshouse experiments suggest a potential for using biocontrol in practical late blight disease management. However, the transition of biocontrol to field applications is problematic for the moment, due to low and variable efficacies. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary on these biocontrol strategies and the underlying corresponding mechanisms. To give a more intuitive understanding of the promising biocontrol agents against Phytophthora infestans in agricultural systems, we discuss the utilizations, modes of action and future potentials of these antagonists based on their taxonomic classifications. To achieve a goal of best possible results produced by biocontrol agents, it is suggested to work on field trials, strain modifications, formulations, regulations, and optimizations of application. Combined biocontrol agents having different modes of action or biological adaptation traits may be used to strengthen the biocontrol efficacy. More importantly, biological control agents should be applied in the coordination of other existing and forthcoming methods in the IPM programs. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Influence of Different Types of Dewatering Agents on the Solidification Effect and Physical and Chemical Properties of Sediment].

In order to study the comprehensive effects of different types of dehydrating agents on the dewatering and solidification of dredged sediments, this study took the dredged sediments of Taihu Lake as the research object and selected microorganisms, polymeric iron aluminum salts, organic polymers, organic-inorganic composites, and aluminum salt microorganisms. These five types of composite dehydrating agents were used to conduct a three-month solidification test on the dredged sediment by means of geotechnical pipe bag solidification. The results of the study showed that the dehydration efficiency of organic polymers and organic-inorganic composite chemicals was better. After one month, the water content of sediment dropped to 61.78% and 63.26%, respectively, which then dropped to 40.56% and 32.16% after three months. Compared with that of the unsolidified sludge, the total nitrogen of the bottom sludge after solidification by the organic-inorganic composite agent was reduced by 74.82%, reaching 591 mg·kg-1, primarily due to the reduction in ammonia nitrogen. The solid sludge contained mainly aluminum-bound phosphorus, calcium-bound phosphorus, and iron-bound phosphorus. Among them, four groups (organic-inorganic composite) had the largest reduction in active phosphorus, with the lowest being 64.3 mg·kg-1. In addition, organic polymer agents had the best curing effect on heavy metals, the comprehensive ecological risk index of heavy metals was reduced by 51.3%, and the leaching toxicity concentration was far below the standard threshold. This study showed that organic polymers and organic-inorganic composite medicaments have a better effect on the dehydration and solidification of bottom sludge and thus have good application prospects.

Modulation of broiler plasma metabolic spectrum by the addition of lysine residue to the diet.

Flavour is an important factor in evaluating meat quality, and amino acids and fats are important components affecting meat flavour. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the variation of lysine residue addition and the slaughter performance and meat quality of broilers, which decreased with the addition of lysine residues but improved the meat quality of the broilers. 10% lysine residue addition was the most beneficial for reducing feed cost and improving meat quality. Meanwhile, the plasma metabolites of broilers fed increasing concentrations of lysine residue supplemented feeds were analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used screen, the differential metabolites induced by lysine residue. In the broilers 29, 37, 63, 87, 80 and 111 differential metabolites were detected (p < 0.05). Amongst them, 3-iodotyrosine, N-methyl-L-glutamic acid, coumaraldehyde, 2-dimethylphenol, N-methylnicotinamide and L-erythrone were the common differential metabolites between group A and groups B, C, D, E, F and G. The addition of lysine residue was positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase (p < 0.05, r = 0.942) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05, r = 0.798) and negatively correlated with aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05, r = 0.822). According to the classification of differential metabolites and their enriched pathway analysis, differential metabolites mainly caused changes in amino acid and lipid metabolism. Our study shows that a certain proportion of lysine residue in diet affects the specific metabolic pathway of broilers, which may affect amino acid and fat metabolism by regulating alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, ultimately affecting the flavour.

Activity of the Novel Fungicide SYP-34773 against Plant Pathogens and Its Mode of Action on Phytophthora infestans.

SYP-34773 is a pyrimidinamine derivative and a novel fungicide modified from diflumetorim. This study determined the antimicrobial spectrum of SYP-34773, which showed it could strongly inhibit the growth of some important plant pathogens including fungi and oomycetes. In particular, Phytophthora infestans is an oomycete sensitive to SYP-34773, and the mycelium growth stage was found to be the most sensitive stage, with an EC50 value of 0.2030 µg/mL. At a concentration of 200 µg/mL, SYP-34773 displayed an excellent control efficacy of 69.55% and 81.48% against potato and tomato blight disease caused by P. infestans under field conditions, respectively. Mode of action investigations showed that this fungicide could cause severe ultrastructure damage to the mycelia of P. infestans, inhibit its respiration, and increase the cell membrane permeability of this pathogen. The results of this study could provide useful information for the fungicide registration and application of SYP-34773 as a novel fungicide.

Intense pulsed light, near infrared pulsed light, and fractional laser combination therapy for skin rejuvenation in Asian subjects: a prospective multi-center study in China.

Ablative skin rejuvenation therapies have limitations for Asian people, including post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and long down time. Non-ablative lasers are safer but have limited efficacy. This study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of a combination therapy consisting of intense pulsed light (IPL), near infrared (NIR) light, and fractional erbium YAG (Er:YAG) laser for skin rejuvenation in Asian people. This study recruited 113 subjects from six sites in China. Subjects were randomly assigned to a full-face group, who received combination therapy, and split-face groups, in which one half of the face received combination therapy and the other half received IPL monotherapy. Each subject received five treatment sessions during a period of 90 days. Subjects were followed up at 1 and 3 months post last treatment. Three months after last treatment, the full-face group (n = 57) had a global improvement rate of 29 % and 29 % for wrinkles, 32 % for skin texture, 33 % for pigment spots, 28 % for pore size, respectively. For patients in the split-face groups (n = 54), monotherapy side had a global improvement rate of 23 % and 20 % for wrinkles, 27 % for skin texture, 25 % for pigment spots, 25 % for pore size, respectively. Both combination therapy and monotherapy resulted in significant improvements at the follow-up visits compared to baseline (P < 0.001). Combination therapy showed significantly greater improvements compared to monotherapy at two follow-up visits (P < 0.05). Combination therapy is a safe and more effective strategy than IPL monotherapy for skin rejuvenation in Asian people.

[Efficacy observation on fire needling therapy for moderate to severe acne vulgaris].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy differences between fire needling therapy and oxycycline tablets for the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. METHODS: Sixty cases of moderate to severe acne vulgaris were randomly divided into a fire needling group and a medication group, 30 cases in each one. The pricking method of fire needling at Ashi points around damaged skin was applied in the fire needling group, once every five days for totally 4 times. The oral administration of oxycycline tablets, 100 mg, was applied in the medication group, twice daily for 20 days, also external application of adapalene gel before sleep was adopted. The fading time of skin damage, including papule, pustule, nodule and cyst in the two groups was recorded and clinical efficacy was compared. After the treatment, two-month follow-up was performed to observe the recurrence rate in the two groups. RESULTS: The curative rate was 69.0% (20/29) in the fire needling group, which was statistically different from 40.0% (12/30) in the medication group (P < 0.05). The fading time of each type of skin damage in the fire needling group was shorter than that in the medication group [papule: (2.67 +/- 0.66) d vs (4.36 +/- 0.61) d; pustule: (2.47 +/- 0.57) d vs (4.27 +/- 0.55) d; nodule: (7.76 +/- 1.06) d vs (9.88-1.30) d; cyst: (11.81 +/- 1.54) d vs (14.79 +/- 0.89) d, all P < 0.05]. The recurrence rate was 46.4% (13/28) in the fire needling group, which was not significantly different from 44.0% (11/24) in the medication group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The acne vulgaris could be fast and effectively treated by fire needling therapy, which has shorter fading time than oxycycline tablets. However, the preventive effect is not different between the two theraies.

Kanglaite injection combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Kanglaite (KLT) injection combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) by meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases was conducted to select studies about KLT injection combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. The pooled risk ratio (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for objective response rate (ORR), Karnofsky (KPS) score improvement and nausea and vomiting were calculated by Stata11.0 statistical software. RESULT: Finally, we included 34 clinical trials in this meta-analysis. The pooled results suggested that KLT injection combined with systematic chemotherapy can significantly increase the objective response rate (ORR) [RR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.23-1.48, (Z = 6.43, P = 0.000)], the quality of patients' life (KSP improvement) [RR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.79-2.33, (Z = 10.57, P = 0.000)] and decrease the risk ratio of gastrointestinal reaction [RR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.42-0.66, (Z = 5.53, P = 0.000)] compared with chemotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: KLT injection combined with chemotherapy can improve the short-term efficacy, performance status and decrease the risk of gastrointestinal reaction compared with systematic chemotherapy alone.

[Role of the IGF-1/PI3K pathway and the molecular mechanism of Fuzhenghuayu therapy in a spontaneous recovery rat model of liver fibrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of IGF-1/PI3K pathway and investigate the molecular mechanism of Fuzhenghuayu (FZHY) therapy in a spontaneous recovery rat model of liver fibrosis. METHODS: The liver fibrosis model was induced in male Wistar rats by administering 8 weeks of twice weekly CCL4 intraperitoneal injections without (untreated model) or with once daily FZHY (treated model). Normal, untreated rats served as the control group. At weeks 4, 6 and 8 (fibrosis) and 10, 12 and 14 (spontaneous recovery) after modeling initiation, effects on protein (a-SMA, IGF-1, PI3K) and mRNA (IGF-1, PI3K) expression levels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. Serum markers of liver function (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) and liver cell damage (alkaline hydrolysis, HYP) were measured. Histology was performed to assess the degree of inflammation and fibrosis (Ishak scoring system). RESULTS: In the untreated model group, progression of liver fibrosis (weeks 4, 6 and 8) was accompanied by gradual increases in inflammation, necrosis, serum ALT and AST, and hepatic expression of a-SMA protein and IGF-1 and PI3K protein and mRNA; however, during the spontaneous recovery period (weeks 10, 12 and 14) the IGF-1 and PI3K protein and mRNA levels rapidly decreased and the HYP level, Ishak score, and a-SMA hepatic expression also decreased. The FZHY-treated model group showed significantly lower fibrosis-related up-regulation of IGF-1 and PI3K protein and mRNA expression, HYP level, Ishak score, and a-SMA hepatic expression at each time point (vs. untreated model group). CONCLUSION: The IGF-1/PI3K pathway may contribute to progression of liver fibrosis. The mechanism by which FZHY prevents liver fibrosis in a rat model may involve blocking of the IGF/PI3K pathway and inhibiting HSC activation.

[Analysis of the toll-like receptor 2 Arg753Gln gene polymorphisms of acne patients of Gan-depression induced qi stagnation syndrome and damp-heat in the interior syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) Arg753Gln gene polymorphisms of acne patients of Gan-depression induced qi stagnation syndrome and damp-heat in the interior syndrome, thus laying the foundation for genetics studies on its occurrence. METHODS: The distribution and the frequency of allelic genes were studied in 75 acne patients of damp-heat in the interior syndrome, and 87 acne patients with Gan-depression induced qi stagnation syndrome, as well as 70 healthy subjects (as the normal control group) using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the frequency of the genotype Arg/Gln + Gln/Gln in the TLR2 Arg753Gln genetic polymorphisms [26. 44% (23/87) in Gan-depression induced qi stagnation syndrome, 41.33% (31/75) in damp-heat in the interior syndrome, and 12.86% (9/70) in the normal control group] (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The existence of 753Gln allele in the Arg753Gln of TLR2 increased the onset risk of acne patients of Gan-depression induced qi stagnation syndrome and damp-heat in the interior syndrome.