Identification of leaf chloroplast-specific promoter to efficiently control of Colorado potato beetle with reduced dsRNA accumulation in potato tubers.

BACKGROUND: By expressing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in potato plastids targeting the ß-Actin (ACT) gene of the Colorado potato beetle (CPB), transplastomic plants can trigger the beetle's RNA interference response to kill the CPB larvae. High expression of dsACT driven by rrn16 promoter (Prrn) in the leaf chloroplasts of transplastomic plants confers strong resistance to CPB. However, there are still residual amounts of dsRNA in the tubers, which are unnecessary for CPB control and may raise a potential food exposure issue. RESULTS: In order to reduce dsRNA accumulation in the tubers while maintaining stable resistance to CPB, we selected two promoters (PrbcL and PpsbD) from potato plastid-encoded rbcL and psbD genes and compared their activities with Prrn promoter for dsRNA synthesis in the leaf chloroplasts and tuber amyloplasts. We found that the dsACT accumulation levels in leaves of transplastomic plants St-PrbcL-ACT and St-PpsbD-ACT were significantly reduced when compared to St-Prrn-ACT, but they still maintained high resistance to CPB. By contrast, a few amounts of dsACT were still accumulated in the tubers of St-PrbcL-ACT, whereas no dsACT accumulation in tubers was detectable in St-PpsbD-ACT. CONCLUSION: We identified PpsbD as a useful promoter to reduce dsRNA accumulation in potato tubers while maintaining the high resistance of the potato leaves to CPB. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of aromatherapy on fatigue, quality of sleep and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue, poor sleep quality and poor quality of life (QoL) are recognised as common problems for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to evaluate feasibility and effect of aromatherapy on these problems in patients with IBD. METHODS: Seventy IBD patients from a tertiary hospital in China were randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group. During the 8-week intervention, the intervention group received aromatherapy through the skin and by inhalation, and the control group received routine nursing care. All patients were administered questionnaires at two sessions-the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-before and after the intervention. The clinical trial registration number is ChiCTR2100045889. RESULTS: Postintervention fatigue and sleep problems were relieved in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, QoL scores improved significantly in the intervention group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that aromatherapy may be an effective complementary treatment method to relieve fatigue and sleep problems and improve quality of life in IBD patients.

Endogenous accumulation of glycine betaine confers improved low temperature resistance on transplastomic potato plants.

Glycine betaine (GB) plays a crucial role in plant response to abiotic stress, and its accumulation in chloroplasts is more effective than in the cytosol in improving the resistance of transgenic plants. Here, we report that the codA gene from Arthrobacter globiformis, which encodes a choline oxidase catalysing the conversion of choline to GB, was successfully introduced into the plastid genome of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Transgenic plants with plastid expression of codA showed increased tolerance to low temperature stress compared with the wild type (WT). Further studies revealed that under low temperature stress condition, transgenic plants presented a significantly higher photosynthetic performance by regulating the electron transport and energy distribution in PSII, and higher antioxidant enzyme activities and lower O2- and H2O2 accumulation than did the WT plants. A higher expression of the COR genes was also observed in transgenic plants. Our results suggest that chloroplast biosynthesis of GB could be an effective strategy for the engineering of plants with increased resistance to low temperature stress.

Accumulation of glycine betaine in transplastomic potato plants expressing choline oxidase confers improved drought tolerance.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Plastid genome engineering is an effective method to generate drought-resistant potato plants accumulating glycine betaine in plastids. Glycine betaine (GB) plays an important role under abiotic stress, and its accumulation in chloroplasts is more effective on stress tolerance than that in cytosol of transgenic plants. Here, we report that the codA gene from Arthrobacter globiformis, which encoded choline oxidase to catalyze the conversion of choline to GB, was successfully introduced into potato (Solanum tuberosum) plastid genome by plastid genetic engineering. Two independent plastid-transformed lines were isolated and confirmed as homoplasmic via Southern-blot analysis, in which the mRNA level of codA was much higher in leaves than in tubers. GB accumulated in similar levels in both leaves and tubers of codA-transplastomic potato plants (referred to as PC plants). The GB content was moderately increased in PC plants, and compartmentation of GB in plastids conferred considerably higher tolerance to drought stress compared to wild-type (WT) plants. Higher levels of relative water content and chlorophyll content under drought stress were detected in the leaves of PC plants compared to WT plants. Moreover, PC plants presented a significantly higher photosynthetic performance as well as antioxidant enzyme activities during drought stress. These results suggested that biosynthesis of GB by chloroplast engineering was an effective method to increase drought tolerance.

A retrospective analysis of postoperative hypokalemia in pituitary adenomas after transsphenoidal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary adenoma is one of the most common intracranial neoplasms, and its primary treatment is endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal tumorectomy. Postoperative hypokalemia in these patients is a common complication, and is associated with morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to analyze the etiopathology of postoperative hypokalemia in pituitary adenomas after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This retrospective study included 181 pituitary adenomas confirmed by histopathology. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze change in serum potassium levels at different time points. RESULTS: Multiple Logistic regression analysis revealed that only ACTH-pituitary adenoma (OR = 4.92, 95% CI [1.18-20.48], P = 0.029) had a significant association with postoperative hypokalemia. Moreover, the overall mean serum potassium concentration was significantly lower in the ACTH versus the non-ACTH group (3.34 mmol/L vs. 3.79 mmol/L, P = 0.001). Postoperative hypokalemia was predominantly found in patients with ACTH-pituitary adenoma (P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: ACTH-pituitary adenomas may be an independent factor related postoperative hypokalemia in patients despite conventional potassium supplementation in the immediate postoperative period.

[Protection and Mechanism of Qingyuan Shenghua Decoction on Multiple Organs of Sepsis Patients after Bone Trauma].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protection of Qingyuan Shenghua Decoction (QSD) on multiple organs of sepsis patients after bone trauma, and to preliminarily explore its mechanism. METHODS: Totally 60 sepsis patients after bone trauma were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random digit table, 30 in each group. All patients received routine Western medical treatment. Patients in the treatment group additionally took QSD or were nasally fed with QSD, one dose per day for 1 week. Changes of WBC, oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2), serum creatinine (SCr), total bilirubin (TBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer (DD), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), pro-calcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), intra-abdominal pressure, scores for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were observed before treatment and on day 1, 3 and 7 after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the control group at the same time point, MAP increased at post-treatment day 1 and 3; CRP, APTT, HR, SCr, TBIL, AST, intra-abdominal pressure at post-treatment day 3 obviously decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). WBC, SOFA scores, PCT, CRP, APACHE II, APTT, D-D, HR, SCr, TBIL, AST and intra-abdominal pressure significantly decreased; FIB, MAP and PaO2/FiO2 obviously increased at post-treatment day 7 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: QSD had good protective effect on multiple organ function in sepsis patients after bone trauma, and its mechanism might be related with effectively clearing endotoxin, alleviating inflammatory reactions, and fighting against coagulation dysfunction.

[Distribution of matrix-bound phosphine in surface sediments of Jinpu Bay].

This work investigated the distribution of matrix-bound phosphine in surface sediments of Jinpu Bay and associated environmental factors in summer, using the gas chromatography combined with a pulsed flame detector (GC-PFPD). It showed that phosphine ubiquitously presented in the sediments of Jinpu Bay. Contents of matrix-bound phosphine varied between 62. 58 and 190. 81 ng.kg-1, with the average value of 114.42 ng.kg-1. In addition, the spatial distribution of matrix-bound phosphine indicated that matrix-bound phosphine in inshore sediments had relatively higher contents than those in offshore sediments. Statistical analysis showed that matrix-bound phosphine significantly related to organic phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase activity ( R = 0. 882, P = 0. 01; R = 0. 819, P =0. 023). However, there were no correlations between matrix-bound phosphine and organic nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus and sediment grain sizes. These results implied that accumulation and distribution of matrix-bound phosphined were mainly affected by the decomposition of organic phosphorus by microorganisms.

Dietary factors and risk of kidney stone: a case-control study in southern China.

OBJECTIVE: Formation of kidney stones is a multifactorial disease, and diet and lifestyle are suggested to contribute remarkably to increased prevalence. The population of Guangzhou, China has a high prevalence rate of kidney stones; however, its risk factors are still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the dietary risk factors for kidney stones in southern China. DESIGN: A case-control study was carried out. SETTING: This study was carried out at the Department of Health Management Center, Guangzhou Nanfang Hospital, China. SUBJECTS: This study involved 1,019 newly diagnosed kidney stone patients and 987 healthy control subjects. INTERVENTION: A questionnaire regarding dietary patterns and supplements was used to investigate the risk factors for kidney stone formation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Food intake frequency, beverage and alcohol consumption, food supplements, and anthropometry were assessed. RESULTS: In the analysis, we found positive associations of kidney stones with consumption of grains (odds ratio [OR] = 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 4.02) and bean products (OR = 3.50; 95% CI = 1.61, 7.59) in women. The variable "fluid drinking" showed a significant protective effect against kidney stones in men (OR = 0.57; 95% CI = 0.36, 0.88). Consuming leafy vegetables more than 3 times per day was positively associated with stones in both men and women (OR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.04, 3.91 and OR = 3.86; 95% CI = 1.48, 10.04, respectively). Other dietary factors, dietary supplements, and specific food were not related to kidney stone formation in Guangzhou, China. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that specific diet can affect stone formation in the Chinese population, and varied risk factors were found for different genders.