Deficit irrigation combined with nitrogen application in the early growth stage of sugar beet increases the production capacity of canopy and avoids yield loss.

BACKGROUND: Properly reduced irrigation combined with nitrogen (N) application can be used to improve crop water use efficiency (WUE) in arid regions, but its effect on sugar beet is unknown at present. A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of N application (N0, 0; N1, 150; N2, 225 kg N ha-1 ) on the canopy production capacity (CPC), yield and WUE of sugar beet under normal irrigation (W1, 70% of field capacity (FC)) and deficit irrigation (DI) (W2, 50% FC) in the early growth stage (EGS). RESULTS: The results showed that the W2 treatment reduced the CPC by reducing gas exchange, leaf area index (LAI) and chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of sugar beet leaves compared to the W1 treatment. However, DI combined with N application increased these parameters. Specifically, N application increased the net photosynthetic rate by 40.7% by increased gas exchange, SPAD and LAI compared to the N0 treatment. In addition, N application increased WUE by 12.5% by increasing thickness of upper surface, stomatal aperture and cross-sectional area of petiole. This ultimately led to a significant increase in taproot yield (TY; 19.7%) and sugar yield (SY; 57.6%). Although the TY of the N2 treatment was higher than that of the N1 treatment, the SY and WUE did not increase significantly and the harvest index decreased significantly by 9.3%. CONCLUSION: DI combined with 150 kg N ha-1 in the EGS of sugar beet increases the WUE in arid areas while avoiding yield loss by improving the CPC. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Quantitative and Noninvasive Detection of SAH-Related MiRNA in Cerebrospinal Fluids In Vivo Using SERS Sensors Based on Acupuncture-Based Technology.

Quantitative analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) in a noninvasive manner is of vital importance for disease diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. However, conventional strategies for realizing accurate, simple, and sensitive detection of target molecules are still a challenge, especially for miRNAs due to their low abundance and susceptibility in the complex biological environment. Here, a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) strategy was established for quantitative detection and monitoring of miRNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p) in living cells and in vivo cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by applying hairpin DNA (hpDNA)-conjugated gold nanostars (GNSs) SERS probes combined with acupuncture-based technology. This strategy enabled ultrasensitive exploration toward miR-21-5p in a wide range from 1 fM to 100 pM in cell lysates. Moreover, SERS analysis facilitated the detection and long-term monitoring for in vivo miR-21-5p noninvasively. This developed strategy promises to offer a powerful method for the analysis of multiple biomolecules in single cells and living bodies.

[Genome structure and variation of Reynoutria japonica Houtt. chloroplast genome].

Reynoutria japonica Houtt., belonging to Polygoneae of Polygonaceae, is a Chinese medicinal herb with the functions of draining dampness and relieving jaundice, clearing heat and detoxifying, dispersing blood stasis and relieving pain, and relieving cough and resolving phlegm. In this study, we carried out high-throughput sequencing for the chloroplast genome sequences of five cultivars of R. japonica and analyzed the genome structure and variations. The chloroplast genomes of the five R. japonica cultivars had two sizes (163 376 bp and 163 371 bp) and a typical circular tetrad structure composed of a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85 784 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18 616 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (IRa/IRb) which are spaced apart. A total of 161 genes were obtained by annotation, which consisted of 106 protein-coding genes, 10 rRNA-coding genes, and 45 tRNA-coding genes. The total GC content was 36.7%. Specifically, the GC content in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions were 34.8%, 30.7%, and 42.7%, respectively. Comparison of the whole chloroplast genome among the five cultivars showed that trnk-UUU, rpoC1, petD, rpl16, ndhA, and rpl12 in coding regions had sequence variations. In the phylogenetic tree constructed for the 11 samples of Polygoneae, the five cultivars of R. japonica clustered into one clade near the root and was a sister group of Fallopia multiflora (Thunb.).

Microwave Ablation Vs Traditional Thyroidectomy for Benign Thyroid Nodules: A Prospective, Non-Randomized Cohort Study.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) for benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) and compare trauma and complication rates between MWA and traditional thyroidectomy for BTNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 84 patients with BTNs were recruited and followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12months. 56 and 28 patients chose to undergo MWA (group A) and traditional thyroidectomy (group B), respectively. Efficacy was assessed by volume reduction rate (VRR) and therapeutic success rate (TSR) at each follow-up. Trauma was compared using inflammation response parameters, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, quality of life (QOL) and thyroid function measures at 1, 3, and 6 months. Complications rates were also compared. RESULTS: The VRR was 80.70 ± 18.60%, and TSR was 91.70% at 6-months. Furthermore, the VRR increased to 90.45 ± 11.51%, and TSR increased to 100% at 12-months. C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in group B on the first postoperative day (POD) (3.89 ± 0.86 mg/mL vs 3.39 ± 0.56 mg/mL, p = 0.002). Visual analog scale scores were significantly lower in group A on the first and second POD. Thyroid stimulating hormone levels were significantly lower in group A at three (1.71 ± 1.12uIU/mL vs 2.37 ± 1.24uIU/mL, p = 0.013) and 6-months (1.34 ± 0.70uIU/mL vs 1.97 ± 0.94uIU/mL, p = 0.002). There were no significant between-group differences in QOL and complication rates. CONCLUSION: Microwave ablation shows acceptable and promising efficacy. Compared with thyroidectomy, MWA was associated with less trauma and comparable complication rates.

Enhanced Therapeutic Potential of Nano-Curcumin Against Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Through Inhibition of Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress.

Curcumin and nano-curcumin both exhibit neuroprotective effects in early brain injury (EBI) after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, the mechanism that whether curcumin and its nanoparticles affect the blood-brain barrier (BBB) following SAH remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of curcumin and the poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)-encapsulated curcumin nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) on BBB disruption and evaluated the possible mechanism underlying BBB dysfunction in EBI using the endovascular perforation rat SAH model. The results indicated that Cur-NPs showed enhanced therapeutic effects than that of curcumin in improving neurological function, reducing brain water content, and Evans blue dye extravasation after SAH. Mechanically, Cur-NPs attenuated BBB dysfunction after SAH by preventing the disruption of tight junction protein (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-5). Cur-NPs also up-regulated glutamate transporter-1 and attenuated glutamate concentration of cerebrospinal fluid following SAH. Moreover, inhibition of inflammatory response and microglia activation both contributed to Cur-NPs' protective effects. Additionally, Cur-NPs markedly suppressed SAH-mediated oxidative stress and eventually reversed SAH-induced cell apoptosis in rats. Our findings revealed that the strategy of using Cur-NPs could be a promising way in improving neurological function in EBI after experimental rat SAH.

Expression of Codon-Optimized Plant Glycosyltransferase UGT72B14 in Escherichia coli Enhances Salidroside Production.

Salidroside, a plant secondary metabolite in Rhodiola, has been demonstrated to have several adaptogenic properties as a medicinal herb. Due to the limitation of plant source, microbial production of salidroside by expression of plant uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferase (UGT) is promising. However, glycoside production usually remains hampered by poor expression of plant UGTs in microorganisms. Herein, we achieved salidroside production by expression of Rhodiola UGT72B14 in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and codon optimization was accordingly applied. UGT72B14 expression was optimized by changing 278 nucleotides and decreasing the G+C content to 51.05% without altering the amino acid sequence. The effect of codon optimization on UGT72B14 catalysis for salidroside production was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, salidroside production by codon-optimized UGT72B14 is enhanced because of a significantly improved protein yield (increased by 4.8-fold) and an equivalently high activity as demonstrated by similar kinetic parameters (K M and V max), compared to that by wild-type protein. In vivo, both batch and fed-batch cultivation using the codon-optimized gene resulted in a significant increase in salidroside production, which was up to 6.7 mg/L increasing 3.2-fold over the wild-type UGT72B14.

[Preparation and crystallization of Polygonum cuspidatum benzalacetone synthase].

The chalcone synthase (CHS) superfamily of the type III polyketide synthases (PKSs) generates backbones of a variety of plant secondary metabolites. Benzalacetone synthase (BAS) catalyzes a condensation reaction of decarboxylation between the substrates of 4-coumaric coenzyme A and malonyl coenzyme A to generate benzylidene acetone, whose derivatives are series of compounds with various biological activities. A BAS gene Pcpks2 and a bifunctional CHS/BAS PcPKSI were isolated from medicinal plant P. cuspidatum. Crystallographic and structure-based mutagenesis studies indicate that the functional diversity of the CHS-superfamily enzymes is principally derived from small modifications of the active site architecture. In order to obtain an understanding of the biosynthesis of polyketides in P. cuspidatum, which has been poorly described, as well as of its activation mechanism, PcPKS2 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli as a C-terminally poly-His-tagged fusion protein, purified to homogeneity and crystallized, which is helpful for the clarification of the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme and lays the foundation for its genetic engineering manipulation.

Induction of S-Phase Arrest in Human Glioma Cells by Selenocysteine, a Natural Selenium-Containing Agent Via Triggering Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated DNA Damage and Modulating MAPKs and AKT Pathways.

Selenocysteine (SeC) a natural available selenoamino acid exhibits novel anticancer activities against human cancer cell lines. However, the growth inhibitory effect and mechanism of SeC in human glioma cells remain unclear. The present study reveals that SeC time- and dose-dependently inhibited U251 and U87 human glioma cells growth by induction of S-phase cell cycle arrest, followed by the marked decrease of cyclin A. SeC-induced S-phase arrest was achieved by inducing DNA damage through triggering generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide anion, with concomitant increase of TUNEL-positive cells and induction of p21waf1/Cip1 and p53. SeC treatment also caused the activation of p38MAPK, JNK and ERK, and inactivation of AKT. Four inhibitors of MAPKs and AKT pathways further confirmed their roles in SeC-induced S-phase arrest in human glioma cells. Our findings advance the understanding on the molecular mechanisms of SeC in human glioma management.

Paris chinensis dioscin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells.

AIM: To investigate the anti-tumor effects of Paris chinensis dioscin (PCD) and mechanisms regarding cell cycle regulation and apoptosis in human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. METHODS: Cell viability was analyzed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) using Annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) staining, and the cell cycle was evaluated using PI staining with flow cytometry. Intracellular calcium ions were detected under fluorescence microscope. The expression of cell cycle and apoptosis-related proteins cyclin B1, CDK1, cytochrome C and caspase-3 was measured by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: PCD had an anti-proliferation effect on human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After treatment of SGC-7901 cells with PCD, apoptosis appeared in SGC-7901 cells. Morphological changes typical of apoptosis were also observed with LSCM by Annexin V/PI staining, and the cell number of the G0/G1 phase was decreased, while the number of cells in the G2/M phase was increased. Cell cycle-related proteins, such as cyclin B1 and CDK1, were all down-regulated, but caspase-3 and cytochrome C were up-regulated. Moreover, intracellular calcium accumulation occurred in PCD-treated cells. CONCLUSION: G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis induced by PCD are associated with the inhibition of CDK-activating kinase activity and the activation of Ca(2+)-related mitochondrion pathway in SGC-7901 cells.

Proteomic analysis of oil mobilization in seed germination and postgermination development of Jatropha curcas.

To understand oil mobilization in germinating seeds, we performed ultrastructural observation and proteomic analysis of endosperm in germinating Jatropha curcas seeds. Results showed that the oil mobilization was initiated during germination, and then the oil was consumed for early seedling development. The significant change in abundance of 50 protein spots during germination indicated that several pathways including beta-oxidation, glyoxylate cycle, glycolysis, citric acid cycle, gluconeogenesis, and pentose phosphate pathway were involved in the oil mobilization.

Effects of extract of ginkgo biloba on intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and cerebral blood flow in a rat model of subarachnoid haemorrhage.

The purpose of this study was to investigate in effect of extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) on cerebral blood perfusion in a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) rat model. SAH lead to an increase in intracranial pressure and decrease in cranial perfusion pressure and regional cerebral blood flow in all groups. However, the intracranial pressure increases in EGb groups were less than that of the vehicle group (p < .01), whereas the reduction in cranial perfusion pressure and regional cerebral blood flow in the EGb group was less than that of the vehicle and SAH groups (p < .01). It was concluded that EGb attenuates the increase in intracranial pressure and reduction in cerebral blood perfusion after SAH.

Effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba on spasms of the basilar artery and cerebral microcirculatory perfusion in rats with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

This study was aimed at investigating the effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) on cerebral vasospasm and microcirculatory perfusion after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). An endovascular piercing method was used to induce Wistar rat SAH models, and animals were divided into sham-operated, vehicle controls, and EGb-treated groups. EGb was injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes before operation and was repeated every 6 hours, with a single dose of 15 mg/kg bw. Diameters of basilar arteries before and after operation were measured. Microcirculatory blood perfusion of parietal lobe cortex was detected using a laser Doppler flow-meter probe within 24 hours. Endothelin-1 levels in both plasma and brain tissue were detected at different time points. The results showed that SAH caused an immediate drop in microcirculatory blood flow in vehicle controls, which persisted for 24 hours. Endothelin-1 levels in both plasma and brain tissue increased after SAH. EGb partly reversed spasms of the basilar artery and antagonized a drop in microcirculatory blood flow. EGb also prevented an increase in endothelin-1 both in plasma and in brain tissue. In conclusion, EGb, by antagonizing the overproduction of endo- thelin-1, partly reverses cerebral vasospasm and improves microcirculation, and thus relieves secondary ischemic brain injury after experimental SAH.

The effects of nimodipine on regional cerebral blood flow, brain water and electrolyte contents in rats with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Secondary cerebral ischemic injury is a major cause of mortality and disability from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In this study, the protective effects of nimodipine were investigated. Rat SAH models were divided into a sham-operated group, a saline-controlled, and a nimodipine-treated group by an endovascular piercing method. Nimodipine, 100 microg/kg BW was injected intraperitoneally 30 minutes before operation and was repeated every 6 hours. Dynamic changes in cortical regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) using a laser Doppler flow-meter probe, and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) were estimated. Brain water content, sodium, potassium and calcium contents at different time points were determined. rCBF, latency of SEP, brain water and electrolyte contents did not statistically change in sham-operated rats. In saline-controlled rats, rCBF decreased immediately after SAH, and stabilized at low levels within 24 hours. The latency of SEP delayed gradually after SAH. Brain water and sodium increased, while potassium decreased at 6 hours and 24 hours. Brain calcium content increased significantly from 1 hour to 24 hours after induction of SAH. Extents of alterations of the above parameters caused by SAH in the nimodipine-treated group were less than those in the saline-controlled group, statistically. In conclusion, nimodipine partly prevents a decrease in cerebral blood supply and attenuates secondary cerebral ischemic injury after SAH.