Corrigendum: Favorable physiological and morphological effects of molybdenum nanoparticles on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.): root irrigation is superior to foliar spraying.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1220109.].

Favorable physiological and morphological effects of molybdenum nanoparticles on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.): root irrigation is superior to foliar spraying.

Introduction: Nano fertilizers can provide efficient solutions to the increasing problem of nutrient deficiency caused by low availability. However, the most important prerequisite is to fully understand whether nanomaterials induce phytotoxicity in plants under a variety of different conditions. The mechanisms underlying interactions between molybdenum nanoparticles (Mo NPs) and plants with respect to their uptake and biological effects on crops are still not fully understood. Methods: In this study, the impacts of Mo NPs over a range of concentrations (0, 25, and 100 µg/mL) on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) seedling growth were comparatively evaluated under foliar applications and root irrigation. Results: The results indicated that more significant active biological effects were observed with root irrigation application of Mo NPs than with foliar spraying. The agronomic attributes, water content and sugar content of Mo NPs-exposed seedlings were positively affected, and morphologically, Mo NPs induced root cell lignification and more vascular bundles and vessels in tobacco tissues, especially when applied by means of root irrigation. Moreover, the photosynthetic rate was improved by 131.4% for root exposure to 100 µg/mL Mo NPs, mainly due to the increased chlorophyll content and stomatal conductance. A significant concentration-dependent increase in malonaldehyde (MDA) and defensive enzyme activity for the Mo NPs-treated tobacco seedlings were detected compared to the controls. Significantly improved absorption of Mo by exposed tobacco seedlings was confirmed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in tobacco tissues, regardless of application method. However, the accumulation of Mo in roots increased by 13.94 times, when roots were exposed to 100 mg/L Mo NPs, higher than that under treatment with foliar spray. Additionally, Mo NPs activated the expression of several genes related to photosynthesis and aquaporin processes. Discussion: The present investigations offer a better understanding of Mo NPs-plant interactions in terrestrial ecosystems and provide a new strategy for the application of Mo NPs as nano fertilizers in crop production.

Fabrication of Low-Cost and Highly Sensitive Graphene-Based Pressure Sensors by Direct Laser Scribing Polydimethylsiloxane.

The cost-effective production of flexible interconnects is a challenge in epidermal electronics. Here we report a low-cost approach for producing and patterning graphene films from polydimethylsiloxane films by direct laser scribing in ambient air. The produced graphene films exhibit high electrical conductivity and excellent mechanical properties and can thus be used directly as a flexible conductive layer without the need for metals. The skinlike pressure sensor with these layers exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity (∼480 kPa-1) while maintaining the fast response/relaxation time (2 µs/3 µs) and excellent cycle stability (>4000 repetitive cycles). Moreover, it can naturally attach to the skin to monitor the wrist pulse. In addition, a 7 × 7 sensor array has been fabricated, which possesses the capability to detect the spatial distribution of pressure. This device has great potential for application in epidermal electronics because of its low cost and high performance.

[Clinical value of ATP determination in CD4+ cells of patients with cytomegaloviral pneumonia after kidney transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical value of determination of ATP levels in CD4(+) cells of patients with cytomegaloviral pneumonia after kidney transplantation. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with cytomegaloviral pneumonia following kidney transplantation and 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. ATP-bioluminescence assay (ATP-CVA) was used to assess the immune response of CD4(+) cells to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation in the normal volunteers and the recipients (before and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after renal transplantation, before and at 2 and 4 week after the treatment). RESULTS: ATP concentration in CD4(+) cells of the recipients was 402-/+58 ng/ml before the operation, significantly lower than that in normal volunteers (458-/+196 ng/ml, P<0.05), and reached the lowest level in the first week after operation especially in the recipients with antibody-inducing therapy; ATP level increased slowly since week 2 post-operation, but still remained significantly lower than the preoperative by the fourth week (266-/+87 ng/ml, P<0.05), especially in the recipients receiving antibody-inducing therapy. In the event of cytomegaloviral pneumonia, ATP level underwent a mild reduction to 152-/+78 ng/ml in comparison with the postoperative level at the first week (P>0.05), and was significantly lower than preoperative level (P<0.01); the decrease was especially obvious during the exacerbation of the condition. ATP level then increased slowly after effective treatment, but was still lower than the preoperative level at 4 weeks after the operation (336-/+92 ng/ml, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The determination of ATP level in CD4(+) cells allows more accurate assessment of the cellular immunity in the renal transplant recipients with cytomegaloviral pneumonia to help in the clinical treatment of the patients.

[Comparison of the surgical approaches for nephrectomy in living related donors].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effects and graft outcomes of 4 surgical approaches for nephrectomy in living related kidney donors. METHODS: Between June, 2004 and June, 2007, 119 living related kidney donors underwent nephrectomy via different surgical approaches, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Of these donors, 22 received retroperitoneal open nephrectomy, 21 had retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy, 13 had hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy, and 63 underwent transperitoneal open nephrectomy. The operating time, warm ischemia time of the graft, renal graft artery and vein lengths, reduction rate of recipient serum creatinine in the first 3 days after renal transplantation, mean hospital stay and complications of the donors were compared between the 4 surgical approaches. RESULTS: Open surgeries were associated with significantly shorter operating time (P=0.0033) and warm ischemia time of the graft (P=0.0001), longer hospital stay (P=0.0000), higher hospital expenses (P=0.0000), faster postoperative reduction of recipient serum creatinine (P=0.0001), and longer renal artery and vein lengths (P=0.0000 on the left and P=0.0001 on the right) than laparoscopic surgeries. In the laparoscopic surgery group, subcutaneous emphysema occurred in 1 case, DGF in 2 cases, and lumbar vein hemorrhage in 2 cases for which open surgery was performed. In the open surgery group, only one case required reoperation due to adrenal gland hemorrhage. All the kidney grafts were successfully harvested without other complications observed in the donors. CONCLUSIONS: Both open and laparoscopic surgeries are safe for nephrectomy in living related kidney donors, and the selection of the surgical approaches depends on the kidney and donor conditions and the surgical proficiency of the surgeons.

A preliminary report of penile transplantation.

A 44-year-old male recipient with traumatic penile defect that occurred 8 mo earlier was matched with a 22-year-old, male, brain-dead donor. Transplantation included anastomosis of urethra corpus spongiosum and corpus cavernosum, and sutures of deep dorsal vein, dorsal artery, dorsal nerve, and superficial dorsal vein. Systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics, anticoagulation, antispasm agents, and immunosuppressants were given postoperatively. The recipient could urinate smoothly in a standing position at day 10 after removal of Foley catheter. At day 14 postoperatively because of a severe psychological problem of the recipient and his wife, the transplanted penis was cut off. Pathologic examination showed no rejection.

[Half-dose Zenapax for acute rejection prevention after renal transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of half-dose Zenapax for prevention of acute rejection after renal transplantation. METHODS: According to the immunosuppressive regimen and renal function after transplantation, patients were divided into 4 groups, namely groups A, B, C, and D of 90, 73, 11 and 13 patients, respectively. Blood creatinine measured 1 week after operation was <176.6 micromol/L in groups A and B, and was >353 micromol/L in groups C and D. Patients in groups A and C were given 25 mg Zenapax (0.5 mg/kg) and MMF 0.75 g before operation, and those in groups B and D had only MMF of 0.75 g. All patients were given Pred, CsA and MMF after operation, and the rejection episodes, the time of acute rejection onset, the rate of rejection reversal and complications were analyzed in the time period of 6 months after operation. RESULTS: After the operation, 13 patients (14.4%) developed acute rejection in group A, 18 (24.6%) in group B, 6 (54.5%) in group C and 7 (53.8%) in group D (P<0.01). The incidence of acute rejection in group B was significantly lower than that in groups C and D groups (P<0.01), and the latter two groups had similar incidence. The time of acute rejection onset ranged from 3 to 9 days postoperatively (mean 6.2-/+3.2 days) in group A, significantly delayed as compared with that in group B (range 2-8 days, mean 4.7-/+3.1 days), group C (range 2-7 days, mean 4.3-/+4.2 days) and group D group (range 2-9 days, mean 3.9-/+3.5 days), but the time was similar between groups B, C, and D (P>0.05). All acute rejection cases in group A was reversed, and the rate of reversal was 88.9% (16/18) in group B, 83.3% in group C, and 71.4% in group D. No significant differences were noted in such complications as infection, vascular injuries or gastrointestinal reactions between the 4 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Zenapax at the dose of 25 mg can safely decrease the risk of acute rejection in patients with good postoperative renal function recovery, but dose not seem effective in patients with delayed graft function recovery.

[Etiologic investigation of chronic granulomatous inflammation of hand by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the causative pathogens in littoral hand infections which exhibited chronic granulomatous inflammation, the relationship between chronic granulomatous inflammation and mycobacteria and to discuss the prospects of PCR in clinical application for diagnosis of granulomatous inflammation. METHOD: With 16S-rDNA as the target sequence, Nest-PCR was used to detect mycobacteria directly from 37 cases of chronic granulomatous inflammations, and identified them by gene sequencing. RESULTS: Twenty-four of 37 cases were positive for mycobacteria by Nest-PCR, in which 17 were M.marinum, 1 M.chelonae, 2 M.avium, 2 M.kansasii, and 2 M.tubercular through gene sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Nest-PCR combining gene sequencing proved to be a liable and sensitive method to detect Non-tubercular mycobacteria (NTM) in fresh tissue. NTM is the major factor of hand specific chronic infections other than tubercular. Pathological changes are difficult to differentiate TB from NTM and bacterial evidence was necessary.

[Expression of IgG receptor on human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated with TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma].

AIM: To detect the expression of IgG receptors (FcgammaR) on cytokine-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: By using ELISA, immunocytochemical staining, immunofluorescent staining and RT-PCR, the expression and subtypes of FcgammaR were detected. RESULTS: Non-stimulated HUVECs expressed very low level of FcgammaRIIa. FcgammaRIIa mRNA was dramatically up-regulated upon 24 hour stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma). ELISA results indicated that the expression of FcgammaRIIa increased 16 folds after stimulation with TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma for 3 days (P<0.01). Immunofluorescent staining showed that FcgammaRIIa was expressed on the surface of the stimulated HUVECs. CONCLUSION: TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma could increase FcgammaRIIa expression on HUVECs. The enhanced expression of FcgammaRIIa may mediate the deposition of immune complexes to blood vessels under vasculitic conditions.

[Management of urinary obstruction following renal transplantation: report of 16 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnosis and treatment of urinary obstruction involving the transplanted kidney. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 16 cases of urinary obstruction involving the transplanted kidney, including 5 cases of ureteral calculi, 6 vesicoureteral anastomotic stricture, 2 pyeloureteral junction stricture after transplantation, 1 ureter necrosis due to graft rejection, and 2 infection surrounding the renal graft and ureter end necrosis. RESULTS: Only one patient had the renal graft removed due to massive hemorrhage in an open surgery for correction of urinary obstruction, and the renal function of the graft was preserved in all the other cases after endoscopic or open surgeries. In the follow-up for 0.5 to 3 years after the second surgery, serum creatinine of the patients were maintained within the range of 90-150 micromol/L, without further renal enlargement or exacerbation of renal retention shown by B-mode ultrasonography. CONCLUSION: Urinary obstruction after renal transplantation is a difficult surgical complication, which can be managed by endoscopic or open surgeries depending on the causes of the obstruction.

[Differential analysis of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with different metastasis potentials].

OBJECTIVES: To compare expressions of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in different hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with different metastasis potential and to screen key molecules associated with HCC metastasis and recurrence. METHODS: Using two-dimensional electrophoresis, Western blotting and MALDI-TOF-MS/MS, we analyzed tyrosine-phosphorylated protein profiles of Hep3B, MHCC97L and MHCC97H, HCC cell lines with different metastasis potentials. RESULTS: 10 spots were detected in Hep3B, 19 in MHCC97L and 17 in MHCC97H. Seventeen significantly different phosphotyrosine proteins in gel were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS/MS, including Annexin I. CONCLUSION: The changed expression of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins is associated with HCC metastasis and recurrence.

Identification of a novel nucleus protein involved in the regulation of urokinase in 95D cells.

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) plays an important role in cellular invasion. By using the downstream part of a 74 bp DNA region called the cooperation mediator (COM) of the uPA promoter as a bait sequence in the yeast one-hybrid screen, a gene called PBK1 was previously cloned from the cDNA library of the 95D lung cancer cell strain. In this study, the intracellular distribution of PBK1 was studied by using the transient transfection of pEGFP-C3-PBK1, and PBK1 was found to be localized in the nucleus. Co-transfection of pEGFP-C3-PBK1 and the deletion mutants of the pGL3-uPA promoter indicated that PBK1 can increase the uPA promoter activity by about 25% and this effect is uPA enhancer-dependent. Western blotting and Enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay further confirmed that PBK1 can upregulate the expression of uPA. Our results suggest that PBK1 is involved in the regulation of uPA expression, which might provide a new clue to further understanding the regulation mechanism of uPA expression.

A hybrid protein of the amino-terminal fragment of urokinase and mutant plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 efficiently inhibits tumor cell invasion and metastasis.

The urokinase plasminogen activator(uPA) system plays important roles in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of ATF-PAI2CD, a hybrid protein of the amino-terminal fragment of urokinase and mutant plasminogen activator inhibitor-2, on 95D cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, our results support a current hypothesis that fusion protein blocks tumor invasion and motility by inhibiting localized pericellular proteolysis. Treatment of 95D cells with ATF-PAI2CD resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in tumor-cell invasion through matrigel, and ATF-PAI2CD was much more effective than PAI-2CD. In addition, extracellular regular protein kinase (ERK1/2) expression was downregulated and the adhesion ability to fibronectin was increased in 95D cells treated with the fusion protein, which was confirmed by cell adhesion assay. A high-concentration of ATF-PAI2CD caused a significant reduction in tumor volume and weight in BALB/c (nu/nu) mice female inoculated with human 95D cells (5 x 10(6)); the antitumor effects were significant, which demonstrated a 67.9+/-4.2% reduction in tumor growth compared with control mice. The number of lymphatic metastasis was significantly reduced in mice treated with high- and middle- concentrations of ATF-PAI2CD, whereas a low-concentration of ATF-PAI2CD failed to exhibit any antimetastatic effects. In conclusion, the results suggested that the hybrid protein has therapeutic potential for lung carcinoma and other tumors to inhibit tumor invasion and metastasis.

Interaction between plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 and pre-mRNA processing factor 8.

The plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 (PAI-2) dependent apoptosis protection is due to the 33 amino acids fragment located between helix C and D of PAI-2, this fragment may interact with some unknown intracellular proteins. In this study we used the fragment between helix C and D of PAI-2 as a bait to perform a yeast two-hybrid screen using a cDNA library constructed with HeLa cells during apoptosis, and retrieved a clone encoding 94 amino acid residues of C-terminus of pre-mRNA processing factor 8 (PRPF8). Co-immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that PAI-2 could interact with PRPF8 in vivo. PAI-2 could bind PRPF8 C-terminal in both the inside and outside of nuclear. These results suggested that the interaction between these two proteins might not be involved in the apoptosis process.

Antisense Tiam1 down-regulates the invasiveness of 95D cells in vitro.

As a specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor of Rac1, Tiam1 (T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis inducing protein 1) is involved in a number of cellular events, such as cytoskeleton reorganization, cell adhesion, and cell migration. Since Tiam1 was implicated in the invasion and metastasis of T-lymphoma cells and breast tumor cells, we compared the expression level of Tiam1 in two human giant-cell lung carcinoma cell strains with high or low metastasis potential, and found that Tiam1 expression level in high-metastatic 95D cells was higher than that in low-metastatic 95C cells. To further confirm the role of Tiam1 in invasion and metastasis, we constructed the antisense Tiam1 expression plasmid (pcDNA3-anti-Tiam1), which was transfected into 95D cells. A stable transfected clone with decreased Tiam1 expression was screened and selected for further research. Transwell assay showed that down-regulation of endogenous Tiam1 by anti-Tiam1 can reduce the in vitro invasiveness of 95D cells. Our results suggested that Tiam1 signaling contributed to the invasion and metastasis of the human giant-cell lung carcinoma cells.

A novel gene delivery system targeting urokinase receptor.

Recombinant proteins that combine different functions required for cell targeting and intra-cellular delivery of DNA present an attractive approach for the development of nonviral gene delivery vectors. Here, we described a novel protein termed ATF-lys10 which facilitated cell-specific gene transfer via receptor-mediated endocytosis. ATF-lys10 was composed of the amino-terminal fragment of urokinase and ten lysines at the carboxyl terminus. Bacterially expressed ATF-lys10 protein existed in soluble form, and had antigenicity of human urokinase. Purified ATF-lys10 specifically bound to uPAR-expressing cells and formed protein-DNA complexes with plasmid pGL3-control. After neutralization of excess negative charge with poly-L-lysine, these complexes served as a specific gene delivery vector for uPAR-expressing cells. Lyso-somotropic compounds, such as chloroquine, drastically increased the ATF-lys10 mediated gene delivery efficiency. Our results suggest that the recombinant protein ATF-lys10 with the properties of DNA binding and tumor cell targeting represents a promising method for gene transfer and expression in tumor cells.

Transcriptional regulation of urokinase receptor in high- (95D) and low-metastatic (95C) human lung cancer cells.

To study the transcriptional regulation of urokinase receptor (uPAR) in high- (95D) and low-metastatic (95C) human lung cancer cells, we performed PCR to amplify 2238 bp uPAR promoter from 95C and 95D cells. According to the results of sequencing, five different bases are found in uPAR promoter between 95C and 95D cells. The results of luciferase activity assay showed that these differences have no significant effect on the uPAR promoter activity. Based on a normal uPAR promoter, progressive truncated mutants were constructed. The transient transfection/reporter assay showed that the promoter region from -136 to +9 may interact with relevant nuclear factors, which result in different levels of uPAR expression between 95C and 95D cells.

Interaction of plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 and proteasome subunit, beta type 1.

The apoptosis protection by plasminogen activator inhibitor -2(PAI-2) is dependent on a 33 amino acids fragment between helix C and D of PAI-2 which is probably may be due to the interaction of PAI-2 with unknown intracellular proteins. In this study we used the fragment between helix C and D of PAI-2 as bait to screen a HeLa cells cDNA library constructed during apoptosis in a yeast two-hybrid system and retrieved a clone that encodes 241 amino acids of proteasome (prosome, macropain) subunit, beta type 1(PSMbeta1) which plays important roles in NF-kappaB activation. GST-pulldown experiments confirmed the interaction between PAI-2 and PSMB1 in vitro. These data suggest that the antiapoptosis activity of PAI-2 is probably related to its interaction with PSMbeta1.

[Surgical techniques for the ureterointestinal anastomosis in continent urinary diversion].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the complications of direct and antirefluxing techniques of ureterointestinal anastomosis in continent urinary diversion. METHODS: Sixty-three patients underwent continent urinary diversion. Twenty-four patients were treated by the direct ureteroenteric anastomosis and the others treated by the antirefluxing technique. The follow up studies included following-up the information of ureteric stricture, ureteric reflux, renal function and acute urinary infection. It was assessed for 3 months to 6 years with a mean follow up of 26 months after operation. RESULTS: Of 78 ureters reimplanted using antirefluxing technique. A total of 12 ureters had anastomotic stricture formation postoperatively. Only one of 48 ureters reimplanted using direct anastomoses had anastomotic stricture. The difference between the direct and antirefluxing technique groups was remarkable (chi2 = 4.375, P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the direct and antirefluxing technique groups in regard to ureteric reflux, renal function and acute urinary infection. CONCLUSIONS: Antirefluxing anastomoses resulted in obviously higher rate of ureterointestinal anastomotic stricture in comparison with the direct anastomosis. The direct ureteroenteric anastomosis may be the suitable choice for patients undergoing continent urinary diversion.