Greenhouse cultivation enhances pesticide bioaccumulation in cowpeas following repeated spraying.

Understanding pesticide residue patterns in crops is important for ensuring human health. However, data on residue accumulation and distribution in cowpeas grown in the greenhouse and open field are lacking. Our results suggest that acetamiprid, chlorantraniliprole, cyromazine, and thiamethoxam residues in greenhouse cowpeas were 1.03-15.32 times higher than those in open field cowpeas. Moreover, repeated spraying contributed to the accumulation of pesticide residues in cowpeas. Clothianidin, a thiamethoxam metabolite, was detected at 1.04-86.00 µg/kg in cowpeas. Pesticide residues in old cowpeas were higher than those in tender cowpeas, and the lower half of the plants had higher pesticide residues than did the upper half. Moreover, pesticide residues differed between the upper and lower halves of the same cowpea pod. Chronic and acute dietary risk assessments indicated that the human health risk was within acceptable levels of cowpea consumption. Given their high residue levels and potential accumulation, pesticides in cowpeas should be continuously assessed.

Characterization of a novel mitovirus isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium pseudograminearum.

Mycoviruses are widespread in all major groups of plant-pathogenic fungi. So far, only one mycovirus has been reported to be associated with Fusarium pseudograminearum, the causal agent of Fusarium crown rot of wheat. In this study, a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) segment was isolated from F. pseudograminearum strain JW2-1, and the sequence of its full-length cDNA (3077 nucleotides) was determined. Sequence analysis using the fungal mitochondrial genetic code (UGA coding for tryptophan) indicated that a single large open reading frame (ORF) is present on the positive strand of this dsRNA segment. The ORF encodes a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of 748 amino acids (aa) with a molecular mass of 83.46 kDa. BLASTp analysis revealed that its aa sequence was 28.49-44.03% identical to those of viruses of the family Mitoviridae, with the most similarity to the corresponding RdRp sequences of Ophiostoma mitovirus 1c (44.03% identity) and Ophiostoma mitovirus 1b (40.33% identity). Phylogenetic analysis showed that this mycovirus, designated as "Fusarium pseudograminearum mitovirus 1" (FpgMV1), should be classified as a member of a new species in the earlier proposed genus "Duamitovirus" within the family Mitoviridae. To our best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a mitovirus infecting F. pseudograminearum.

Identification and genomic characterization of a novel polymycovirus from Alternaria alternata causing watermelon leaf blight.

A double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mycovirus from the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata, which causes watermelon leaf blight, was characterized. The genome of this virus has eight dsRNA segments, ranging from 1039 bp to 2398 bp. DsRNAs 1-6 each contain a single large open reading frame (ORF), while dsRNAs 7 and 8 each dsRNA contain two ORFs. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) encoded by dsRNA1 and the viral methyltransferase encoded by dsRNA3 share 97.6% and 98.9% amino acid sequence identity, respectively, with the corresponding proteins of Plasmopara viticola lesion associated polymycovirus 1. The dsRNA5-encoded proline-alanine-serine-rich protein shows 48.1% sequence identity to that of Beauveria bassiana polymycovirus 3. The proteins encoded on dsRNAs 2, 4, and 8 have 99.7%, 98.2%, and 65.1% sequence identity, respectively, to the corresponding proteins of a mycovirus identified in Alternaria sp. FA0703 (AltR1). The proteins encoded by dsRNAs 6 and 7 do not match any known proteins of mycoviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of the RdRp domain showed that the virus clustered with members of the family Polymycoviridae. Based on these characteristics, the mycovirus was identified as a polymycovirus and designated as "Alternaria alternata polymycovirus 1" (AaPmV1). This is the first report of a polymycovirus associated with A. alternata.

First Report of Maize Seedling Blight Caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum in China.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important food and feed crops in China, with a cultivation area of more than 40 million hectares (http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC). In July 2021, a serious maize seeding blight occurred in Changjia Town, Gaoqing Country, Zibo City, Shandong Province, China, and the disease incidence was up to 50% in some fields. The root system of infected plants displayed poor development. The primary roots were brown and rotted. The leaves at the base of the plants were drying up, then the whole plant withered. To determine the cause agent of the disease, symptomatic roots of diseased seedlings were collected and surface-sterilized (70% ethanol for 30 s and 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) for 90 s), subsequently rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA), then incubated at 25°C for 2 days. Two cultures with similar morphological characteristics were purified through single-spore isolation technique and identified by morphology and molecular methods as Fusarium pseudograminearum O'Donnell & T. Aoki 1999. Plentiful macroconidia formed in 5-day-old carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) cultures; microconidia were absent. Macroconidia were thick-walled and curved, usually 3- to 5- septa, 31.6 ± 0.6 µm × 4.8 ± 0.1 µm (n = 50). Colony pigmentation on PDA was pink to red, with white to pink aerial mycelia on PDA cultures was abundant and filled the petri dishes. For molecular identification, the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF-1α) gene of two isolates (SAIA41B and SAIA41C) were amplified with ITS1/ITS4 (White et al., 1990) and EF-1/EF-2 (O'Donnell et al., 1998), respectively. Blastn analysis of both the ITS sequence (accession numbers OM108101 and OM108102) and TEF-1α sequence (accession numbers OM142205 and OM142206) revealed 100% (481/481 bp for ITS and 637/637 bp for TEF-1α) sequence identity with the sequences of F. pseudograminearum reported in GenBank (MW699613 for ITS and JN862232 for TEF-1α). The molecular identification was further confirmed by the F. pseudograminearum species-specific PCR primers Fp1-1/Fp1-2 (Aoki and O'Donnell 1999). The expected 523-bp fragments were obtained for isolates SAIA41B and SAIA41C. In the pathogenicity test, healthy germinating maize roots (Zhengdan958) were inoculated with PDA culture blocks of isolate SAIA41C. Plants inoculated only with PDA culture blocks served as controls. Maize plants were put in petri dishes and placed in an incubator with a 12-h photoperiod at 25 oC and 100% relative humidity. Seven days later, roots of the plants inoculated with isolate SAIA41C were poorly developed and became brown necrotic and rotted, which were identical to the symptoms observed in the fields, whereas the roots of control plants were developed normally. The pathogen was re-isolated from the necrotic tissue of the inoculated roots but not from the control plants, and its identity was confirmed by PCR with the primes Fp1-1/Fp1-2 described above, fulfilling Koch's Postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of maize seedling blight caused by F. pseudograminearum in China. Our finding indicates the potential spread of F. pseudograminearum on maize, and more attention should be paid to prevention and control of maize seedling blight caused by F. pseudograminearum. The author(s) declare no conflict of interest. Acknowledgements: This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 32102181), Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (No. ZR2021QC059), Wheat Industry Technology System of Shandong Province (No. SDAIT-01-10), and Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project of SAAS (No. CXGC2021A38 and CXGC2021A33).

The impact of subclinical hypothyroidism on long-term outcomes in older patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is reportedly associated with an increased risk of adverse events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The prognostic significance of SCH in the elderly was poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between SCH and long-term outcomes in older patients undergoing PCI. METHODS: Three thousand one hundred sixty-eight patients aged 65 years or older who underwent PCI from January 2012 to October 2014 were included. Patients were divided into SCH group (n = 320) and euthyroidism (ET) group (n = 2848) based on thyroid function test. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to estimate the relative risks (RRs) of all-cause death and cardiac death for patients with SCH during a 4-year follow-up period. RESULTS: There were 227 deaths during the follow-up period including 124 deaths caused by cardiac events. There was no significant difference in mortality rate between the SCH group and the ET group (p > 0.05). After adjustment for covariates, compared with patients with ET, the RRs of death from all-cause and cardiac in patients with SCH were 1.261 (95%CI: 0.802-1.982, p = 0.315) and 1.231 (95%CI: 0.650-2.334, p = 0.524), respectively. When SCH was stratified by age, gender, and degree of thyroid-stimulating hormone elevation, no significant associations were also found in any stratum. CONCLUSION: Our investigation revealed that SCH was negatively associated with the outcome of PCI in older patients.

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Alternaria Species Causing Leaf Blight on Watermelon in China.

Watermelon is an economically important crop in China and is commonly affected by Alternaria-like leaf blight that can result in significant economic losses. In this study, 830 Alternaria isolates, recovered from symptomatic watermelon leaves, were identified based on morphological traits, pathogenicity, and multilocus sequence analyses of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), histone 3 (HIS3), the internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA (rDNA ITS), and the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2). Watermelon isolates grouped to five Alternaria species and one unclassified Alternaria species. They were A. tenuissima, A. alternata, A. cucumerina, A. infectoria, A. gaisen, and Alternaria sp. Notably, A. tenuissima was the most prevalent (73.5%) of the six isolated species, followed by A. alternata (25.0%), A. cucumerina (1.1%), Alternaria sp. (0.2%), A. infectoria (0.1%), and A. gaisen (0.1%). Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that all six Alternaria species could produce brown necrotic lesions on detached leaves of watermelon. The average disease incidence (75.1%) and average disease index (60.8) of watermelon resulting from inoculation of leaves with A. cucumerina were significantly higher than levels resulting from A. alternata (52.9% and 37.2) and A. tenuissima (47.5% and 30.8). Inoculation with Alternaria sp. resulted in a disease incidence (70.0%) and disease index (51.5), which were lower than those of A. cucumerina. The disease incidence and disease index in watermelon leaves inoculated with the one isolate of A. infectoria and the one isolate of A. gaisen present in the inoculated leaves were 28.9% and 16.4, and 48.9% and 31.4, respectively. Results of the study indicate that Alternaria species associated with watermelon leaf blight in China are more diverse than that has been previously reported. This is the first report globally of A. infectoria, A. gaisen, and an unclassified Alternaria species as causal agents of leaf blight on watermelon.

First report of Pythium aphanidermatum causing root rot of head lettuce in China.

Head lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is an important crop for fresh consumption in China. In Shandong Province, head lettuce is planted in spring and in autumn each year. Because of the on-and-off rain for three weeks, head lettuce plants planted directly into the field in Jiyang City, in July 2017, 20% of the plants rapidly showed symptoms of rotting, water-soaked lesions on roots and stem bases, and then death. The diseased plants first appeared in low-lying areas prone to water accumulation. One-millimeter pieces were excised from water-soaked roots and stem bases, dipped in a 0.2% calcium hypochlorite solution for 10 min, then placed on V8 medium, and incubated in the dark at 28°C for 5 d. Two Pythium-like strains were isolated from the roots and stems. The isolates transferred to CMA and grown for 7 d, and the morphological characteristics of the two isolates on corn meal agar (CMA) were white with dense, cottony, aerial and well-branched mycelia. The two isolates produced sporangia, oogonia, antheridia and oospores. Most of the sporangia were lobate. The oogonia were smooth, nearly globose and terminal. Oospores were globose, smooth and aplerotic. The average dimensions of 50 oogonia and oospores respectively ranged from 19.5 to 25.2 (av. 23.1) µm and 17.8 to 22.3 (av. 19.9) µm. The antheridia were broadly sac-shaped. The isolates morphological characteristics were consistent with P. aphanidermatum (van der Plaats-Niterink, 1981). The COI gene and ITS region of the rDNA were amplified and sequenced using primers FM55/FM52R (Long et al. 2012) and ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), respectively. The two aligned COI sequences were identical for both isolates, as were the two ITS sequences. BLASTn analysis of the 1,133-bp COI sequence (accession no. MT952703) resulted in a 100% identity with accession number AY129164 from Lactuca sativa, which belongs to P. aphanidermatum, and the 808-bp ITS sequence (accession no. MT921597) showed a 99% identity with Genbank accession number HQ643442 belonging to P. aphanidermatum. Koch's postulates were conducted by first soaking corn kernels for 24 h in water, and then autoclaving for 2 h at 121˚C. Isolate SDHL-1 was grown on CMA for 10 days, after which agar plugs were transferred to the sterilized corn kernels and incubated at 28℃ for approximately 15 d, until the corn kernels were covered in white hyphae. Ten healthy head lettuce plants were transplanted into a sterilized loam potting soil artificially infested with the corn inoculum (3 g inoculum per 100 g loam mixture). Inoculated plants and noninoculated controls were maintained in a greenhouse at 28°C and 100% relative humidity with a 12-h photoperiod; the experiment was repeated once. All twenty inoculated plants exhibited symptoms within one week similar to those observed. Pythium aphanidermatum was recovered only from the water-soaked roots and stem bases of inoculated plants and the re-isolated cultures again identified based on morphological characteristics and sequencing of the ITS and COI genes. No symptoms were observed on the control plants. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is reported to cause stem base rot of L. sativa in China (Zhou et al. 2011). To our knowledge, however, this is the first report of root rot of head lettuce caused by Pythium aphanidermatum. Identification of the pathogen will assist in devising strategies to reduce yield loss.

Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Expressing the Human Preproenkephalin Gene Can Relieve Pain in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain.

Transgenic therapy for central neuralgia faces the problems of low expression and weak targeting and affects superficial but not deep neurons. In this study, we generated a lentivirus vector with human preproenkephalin gene (hPPE) expression driven by the transcriptional amplification strategy system (TAS) and established a primary bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (BMSC) line stably expressing hPPE for transplantation into a rat model of neuropathic pain rat. The paw thermal withdrawal latency assay and paw mechanical withdrawal threshold assay showed that unlike control BMSCs and BMSCs with hPPE overexpression driven by the CMV or Synapsin 1 (SYN1) promoter, TAS-hPPE BMSCs had a robust and lasting analgesic effect. The TAS-hPPE BMSC-treated group exhibited higher expression of TAS-driven hPPE and a higher ratio of BMSCs in the midbrain, spinal cord and cortex then the CMV-hPPE BMSC- and SYN1-hPPE BMSC-treated groups. Moreover, we also observed that TAS-hPPE BMSCs displayed a greater tendency to differentiate into neurons and exhibit neuronal-like distribution than CMV-hPPE or SYN1-hPPE BMSCs. In conclusion, our study shows that the TAS improves BMSC transgenic therapy for neuropathic pain treatment.

Complete genome sequence of a new botybirnavirus isolated from a phytopathogenic Alternaria alternata in China.

A new double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus named Alternaria alternata botybirnavirus 1 (AaBRV1) was isolated from Alternaria alternata strain SD-BZF-19, a phytopathogenic fungus infecting watermelon in China. The genome of AaBRV1 consists of two dsRNA segments (dsRNAs 1 and 2), 6,130 and 5,862 bp in size, respectively. The sequence contains two putative open reading frames (ORFs) which encode two polyproteins of 1,874 and 1,784 amino acids, respectively. Nucleotide sequence comparisons revealed that the two ORFs of AaBRV1 have the highest similarity 60.3% and 56.7%, respectively, with dsRNAs 1 and 2 of Botrytis porri RNA virus 1 (BpRV1). The two polyproteins encoded by dsRNA1 and dsRNA2 shared the highest amino acid identities with the cap-pol fusion protein (60.2%) and hypothetical protein (53.7%) of BpRV1, respectively. AaBRV1 is composed of isometric particles, approximately 35 nm in diameter. Phylogenetic analysis of the RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain of the polyprotein revealed that AaBRV1 clusters together with members of the genus Botybirnavirus. These findings support the discovery of a new botybirnavirus in A. alternata.

[Metabolic characteristics of active parts of lipid-lowering flavonoid extract of Daidai in liver and intestinal microsomes of rats].

The paper studies and compares the metabolic difference of active ingredients of lipid-lowering flavonoid extract of Daidai in rat livers and intestinal microsomes,in order to explore the phase Ⅰ metabolism characteristics of active ingredients in livers and intestines. UPLC-MS/MS was used to establish a quantitative analysis method for active ingredients,neohesperidin and narngin,in a phase Ⅰ metabolism incubation system of liver and intestinal microsomes. Differential centrifugation was used to make liver and intestinal microsomes of rats. A phase Ⅰ metabolism incubation system was established,and the concentrations of the residual at different incubation time points were analyzed. Graphs were plotted to calculate the metabolic elimination half-life of the main active parts,with the natural logarithm residual percentage values ln( X) at different time points as the y axis,and time t as the x axis. The metabolism characteristics of the active ingredients were compared. The established UPLC-MS/MS quantitative analysis method has a good specialization,standard curve and linear range,accuracy and precision,with a satisfactory lower quantitative limit. The method allows quantitative detection of the active ingredients in a phase Ⅰ metabolism incubation system of liver and intestinal microsomes of rats. In the rats liver microsomes incubation system,the metabolic elimination half-life of neohesperidin and narngin were( 2. 20 ± 0. 28) h and( 1. 97±0. 28) h respectively. The elimination half-life of neohesperidin was larger than that of narngin,but with no statistically significant difference. In the rats intestinal microsomes incubation system,the metabolic elimination half-lives of neohesperidin and narngin were( 3. 68±0. 54) h and( 2. 26±0. 13) h respectively. The elimination half-life of neohesperidin was larger than that of narngin,with statistically significant differences( P<0. 05). The elimination half-lives of the active ingredients in liver microsomes were smaller than those in intestinal microsomes. The experiment results showed that the active ingredients of lipid-lowering flavonoid extract of Daidai had different elimination half-lives in phase Ⅰ rats liver and intestinal microsomes incubation system. This implied that they had different metabolic characteristics in rats liver and intestine,and liver may be the main metabolism site of the active ingredients. The phaseⅠ metabolism of narngin was stronger than that of neohesperidin. The differences between their metabolic characteristics may be related to the binding sites of B-ring hydroxyl in flavonoid glycosides and the number of methoxyl group. The results provided an important experimental basis for further development and clinical application of lipid-lowering flavonoid extract preparation of Daidai.

[Binding characteristics of plasma protein in active parts of Daidai lipid-lowering flavonoid extract].

To study the binding capacity of active ingredients of Daidai lipid-lowering flavonoid extract and plasma protein,investigate the ways to improve the traditional formula for calculating protein binding rates based on ultrafiltration,and increase the stability and reliability of the experimental results. UPLC-MS/MS was used to establish a quantitative analysis method for simultaneous determination of active ingredients( neohesperidin and narngin) in ultrafiltrate. The protein binding rates were calculated by the traditional ultrafiltration formula. The correction factors( F) were introduced later,and the binding rates calculated with the correction factors were compared with those without the correction factors. The binding capacity of the extract and plasma protein was evaluated. The quantitative analysis method established by UPLC-MS/MS had a good specificity. The standard curve and linear range,method accuracy,precision and lower limit of quantitation all met the requirements. The method met the requirement for quantitative detection of the active ingredients in ultrafiltrate after the rat plasma was filtrated in the ultrafiltration tube. Under the experimental conditions,the binding rates of both active ingredients( neohesperidin and narngin) were higher than 90%. The active ingredients and rat plasma protein were bound in a concentration-dependent manner,with statistically significant differences( P<0. 01). There was no statistically significant difference between the protein binding abilities of the two active ingredients with rat plasma protein. Therefore,the active ingredients of Daidai lipid-lowering flavonoid extract had a relatively strong binding strength with rat plasma protein,and they were bound in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally,when calculating protein binding rates by the traditional ultrafiltration formula,the correction factors could be introduced to effectively reflect the errors of multiple ingredient groups in traditional Chinese medicine extracts.This correction method could provide a reference thinking and practical reference for the improvement of the determination method of the traditional Chinese medicine plasma protein binding ability based on ultrafiltration.

Effect of Corticosteroid on Renal Water and Sodium Excretion in Symptomatic Heart Failure: Prednisone for Renal Function Improvement Evaluation Study.

BACKGROUND: Recent evidence indicates that prednisone can potentiate renal responsiveness to diuretics in heart failure (HF). However, the optimal dose of prednisone is not known. METHOD: Thirty-eight patients with symptomatic HF were randomized to receive standard HF care alone (n = 10) or with low-dose (15 mg/d, n = 8), medium-dose (30 mg/d, n = 10), or high-dose prednisone (60 mg/d, n = 10), for 10 days. During this time, we recorded the 24-hour urinary output and the 24-hour urinary sodium excretion, at baseline, on day 5 and day 10. We also monitored the change in the concentration of serum creatinine, angiotensin II, aldosterone, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 1ß, and interleukin 6. RESULTS: Low-dose prednisone significantly enhanced urine output. However, the effects of medium- and high-dose prednisone on urine output were less obvious. As for renal sodium excretion, high-dose prednisone induced a more potent natriuresis than low-dose prednisone. Despite the potent diuresis and natriuresis induced by prednisone, serum creatinine, angiotensin II, and aldosterone levels were not elevated. These favorable effects were not associated with an inflammatory suppression by glucocorticoids. CONCLUSIONS: Only low-dose prednisone significantly enhanced urine output. However, high-dose prednisone induced a more potent renal sodium excretion than low-dose prednisone.

Anesthetic management of bronchial rupture following extraction of a fishbone from the bronchus after 5 months.

Bronchial rupture occurred during bronchoscopic visualization and extraction of a fishbone from the bronchus in a 2-year-old male patient with a 5-month history of foreign body aspiration. Emergency thoracotomy was scheduled for examination and surgical repair of the bronchus. The pressure of the airway and circuit fell sharply and ventilation could not be maintained after muscle relaxants were injected and spontaneous respiration ceased. Oxygenation worsened rapidly with the peripheral oxygen saturation level decreasing below 60%. An endotracheal tube was inserted into one of the main bronchi. Peripheral oxygen saturation improved from 60% to 90%, and subsequent surgery was performed without complications.

Histone H3 N-Terminal Lysine Acetylation Governs Fungal Growth, Conidiation, and Pathogenicity through Regulating Gene Expression in Fusarium pseudograminearum.

The acetylation of histone lysine residues regulates multiple life processes, including growth, conidiation, and pathogenicity in filamentous pathogenic fungi. However, the specific function of each lysine residue at the N-terminus of histone H3 in phytopathogenic fungi remains unclear. In this study, we mutated the N-terminal lysine residues of histone H3 in Fusarium pseudograminearum, the main causal agent of Fusarium crown rot of wheat in China, which also produces deoxynivalenol (DON) toxins harmful to humans and animals. Our findings reveal that all the FpH3K9R, FpH3K14R, FpH3K18R, and FpH3K23R mutants are vital for vegetative growth and conidiation. Additionally, FpH3K14 regulates the pathogen's sensitivity to various stresses and fungicides. Despite the slowed growth of the FpH3K9R and FpH3K23R mutants, their pathogenicity towards wheat stems and heads remains unchanged. However, the FpH3K9R mutant produces more DON. Furthermore, the FpH3K14R and FpH3K18R mutants exhibit significantly reduced virulence, with the FpH3K18R mutant producing minimal DON. In the FpH3K9R, FpH3K14R, FpH3K18R, and FpH3K23R mutants, there are 1863, 1400, 1688, and 1806 downregulated genes, respectively, compared to the wild type. These downregulated genes include many that are crucial for growth, conidiation, pathogenicity, and DON production, as well as some essential genes. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicates that genes downregulated in the FpH3K14R and FpH3K18R mutants are enriched for ribosome biogenesis, rRNA processing, and rRNA metabolic process. This suggests that the translation machinery is abnormal in the FpH3K14R and FpH3K18R mutants. Overall, our findings suggest that H3 N-terminal lysine residues are involved in regulating the expression of genes with important functions and are critical for fungal development and pathogenicity.

Isolation, characterization, and pathogenicity of Fusarium species causing crown rot of wheat.

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is one of the most important soilborne diseases affecting wheat production. To investigate the diversity of the pathogens causing this disease, 199 diseased wheat samples were collected from 13 cities in Shandong province. In total, 468 isolates were obtained, and from these isolates, 11 Fusarium species were identified based on phylogenetic analyses with the translation elongation factor-1α (TEF-1α), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) gene sequences. Of these Fusarium isolates, 283 were identified as Fusarium pseudograminearum and the remaining isolates were identified as Fusarium graminearum (n = 113), Fusarium sinensis (n = 28), Fusarium acuminatum (n = 18), Fusarium incarnatum (n = 13), Fusarium ipomoeae (n = 5), Fusarium flocciferum (n = 3), Fusarium proliferatum (n = 2), Fusarium asiaticum (n = 1), Fusarium culmorum (n = 1), and Fusarium oxysporum (n = 1), suggesting that F. pseudograminearum is the dominant pathogen of FCR of wheat in Shandong province. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that all 11 Fusarium species could cause typical symptoms of FCR on wheat seedlings. The results of the study indicate that a greater diversity of Fusarium species can cause FCR of wheat in Shandong province than that has been previously reported. This is the first report in the world of Fusarium incarnatum, Fusarium ipomoeae, and Fusarium flocciferum as pathogens causing FCR in wheat.

Diagnostic value of galectin-3, fractalkine, IL-6, miR-21 and cardiac troponin I in human ischemic cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic potential of galectin-3 (Gal-3), fractalkine (FKN), interleukin (IL)-6, microRNA(miR)-21, and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). METHOD: A total of 78 ICM patients (Case group) and 80 healthy volunteers (Control group) admitted to our hospital for treatment or physical examination from Aug. 2018 to Feb. 2020 were included in the current study. The serum concentration of Gal-3, FKN, IL-6, miR-21, and plasma expression of cTnI of both groups were determined. The severity of ICM was classified using New York Heart Association (NYHA) scale. RESULTS: When compared with the control group, the case group had a significantly high blood concentration of Gal-3, FKN, IL-6, miR-21, and cTnI (P < 0.001). NYHA class II patients had lower blood levels of Gal-3, FKN, IL-6, miR-21, and cTnI than that in patients of NYHA class III and IV without statistical significance (P > 0.05). However, statistical significance could be achieved when comparing the above-analyzed markers in patients classified between class III and IV. Correlation analysis also revealed that serum levels of Gal-3, FKN, IL-6, miR-21, and cTnI were positively correlated with NYHA classification (R = 0.564, 0.621, 0.792, 0.981, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that up-regulated serum Gal-3, FKN, IL-6, miR-21, and cTnI levels were closely related to the progression of ICM. This association implies that these biomarkers have diagnostic potential, offering a promising avenue for early detection and monitoring of ICM progression.

Residue levels, processing factors and risk assessment of pesticides in ginger from market to table.

Ginger is consumed as a spice and medicine globally. However, pesticide residues in ginger and their residue changes during processing remain poorly understood. Our results demonstrate that clothianidin, carbendazim and imidacloprid were the top detected pesticides in 152 ginger samples with detection rates of 17.11-27.63%, and these pesticides had higher average residues of 44.07-97.63 µg/kg. Although most samples contained low levels of pesticides, 66.45% of the samples were detected with pesticides, and 38.82% were contaminated with 2-5 pesticides. Peeling, washing, boiling and pickling removed different amounts of pesticides from ginger (processing factor range: 0.06-1.56, most <1). By contrast, pesticide residues were concentrated by stir-frying and drying (0.50-6.45, most >1). Pesticide residues were influenced by pesticide physico-chemical parameters involving molecular weight, melting point, degradation point and octanol-water partition coefficient by different ginger processing methods. Chronic and acute dietary risk assessments suggest that dietary exposure to pesticides from ginger consumption was within acceptable levels for the general population. This study sheds light on pesticide residues in ginger from market to processing and is of theoretical and practical value for ensuring ginger quality and safety.

Residue changes, degradation, processing factors and their relation between physicochemical properties of pesticides in peanuts during multiproduct processing.

This study systematically investigates the residue changes, processing factors (PFs), and relation between the physicochemical properties of pesticides during peanut processing. Results revealed that peeling, washing, and boiling treatments removed partial or substantial pesticide residues from peanuts with PFs of 0.29-1.10 (most <1). By contrast, pesticides appeared to be partially concentrated during roasting, stir-frying, and deep-frying peanuts with PFs of 0.16-1.25. During oil pressing, 13 of the 28 pesticides were concentrated in the peanut oil (PF range: 1.06-2.01) and 25 of the pesticides were concentrated in the peanut meal (1.07-1.46). Physicochemical parameters such as octanol-water partition coefficient, degradation point, molecular weight, and melting point showed significant correlations with PFs during processing. Notably, log Kow exhibited strong positive correlations with the PFs of boiling, roasting, and oil pressing. Overall, this study describes the fate of pesticides during multiproduct processing, providing guidance to promote the healthy consumption of peanuts for human health.

Dissipation, accumulation, distribution and risk assessment of fungicides in greenhouse and open-field cowpeas.

Pesticide residues in cowpeas have raised worldwide concern. However, only a few studies have focused on pesticide accumulation and distribution in greenhouse and open-field cowpeas. Field trial results suggest that difenoconazole, dimethomorph, thifluzamide and pyraclostrobin dissipated faster in open fields (mean half-lives, 1.72-1.99 days) than in greenhouses (2.09-3.55 days); moreover, fungicide residues in greenhouse cowpeas were 0.84-8.19 times higher than those in the open-field cowpeas. All fungicides accumulated in the greenhouse and open-field cowpeas after repeated spraying. Fungicide residues in old cowpeas were higher than those in tender cowpeas, and residues in the upper halves of cowpea pods were higher than those in the lower halves. In addition, cowpeas distributed in the lower halves of the plants had higher fungicide residues. Our findings suggest that greenhouse cultivation contributed to the pesticide residues in cowpeas after repeated spraying, although the levels of dietary health risks remained acceptable under both cultivation scenarios.

Establishment of a new arrhythmia model in SD rats induced by isoproterenol.

BACKGROUND: The main purpose of this study was to establish an ideal arrhythmia model using isoproterenol and explore its mechanism. METHODS: Fifty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into the following groups: control (CON), subcutaneous injection (SC; 5 mg/kg ISO for 2 consecutive days), intraperitoneal injection (IP; ISO 5 mg/kg for 2 consecutive days), 2 + 1 (5 mg/kg ISO by SC for 2 consecutive days and then 3 mg/kg ISO by IP for 1 day), and 6 + 1 (5 mg/kg ISO by SC for 6 consecutive days and then 3 mg/kg ISO by IP for 1 day). Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded using a BL-420F system, and the pathological changes in myocardial tissue were observed by HE and Masson staining. The serum cTnI, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß levels were detected by ELISA, and serum CK, LDH and oxidative stress-related indicators were detected with an automatic biochemical analyser. RESULTS: The cardiomyocytes of the rats belonging to the CON group were normal, whereas those of the rats in the other groups, particularly the 6 + 1 group, showed signs of disorder, unclear borders, and lysis and necrosis. The incidence of arrhythmia, arrhythmia score, and levels of serum myocardial enzymes, troponin, and some inflammatory factors were higher in the 2 + 1 and 6 + 1 groups than in the single injection group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). The indicator levels found for the 6 + 1 group were generally higher than those found for the 2 + 1 group (p < 0.01), and the 6 + 1 group exhibited a lower SOD level and higher MDA and NO levels compared with the CON group (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined mode of ISO injection (SC with IP) was more likely to induce arrhythmia than a single ISO injection. The "6 + 1" method of ISO injection can establish a more stable arrhythmia model and cardiomyocyte damage induced by oxidative stress and inflammation was an important mechanism.