Effect of sacubitril valsartan on heart failure with mid-range or preserved ejection fraction in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: real-world experience in a single-center, prospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sacubitril valsartan (SV) on heart failure (HF) hospitalization and cardiovascular mortality in patients on hemodialysis with HF with preserved ejection fraction (EF; HFpEF). METHODS: This single-center, prospective study enrolled 155 stable hemodialysis patients with EF > 40% who were followed up for 12 months. Fifty-nine patients were treated with SV; the others were matched for EF (57.89 ± 9.35 vs. 58.00 ± 11.82, P = 0.9) at a ratio of 1:1 and included as controls. The target dosage of SV was 200 mg/day. RESULTS: Twenty-three (23/155; 14.84%) had HF with mid-range EF (HFmrEF), while 132 (85.16%) had HFpEF. After SV treatment, the peak early diastolic transmitral flow velocity/peak early diastolic mitral annular tissue velocity(E/e') improved from 17.19 ± 8.74 to 12.80 ± 5.52 (P = 0.006), the left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic diameter decreased from 53.14 ± 7.67 mm to 51.56 ± 7.44 mm (P = 0.03), and the LV mass index decreased from 165.7 ± 44.6 g/m2 to 154.8 ± 24.0 g/m2 (P = 0.02). LVEF (P = 0.08) and LV global longitudinal strain (P = 0.7) did not change significantly. The composite outcome of first and recurrent HF hospitalization or cardiovascular death showed no difference between group. However, the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative Workgroup (ADQI) HF class improved in 39 and 15 patients and worsened in 1 and 11 patients in the SV and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Age, diabetes mellitus, and pulmonary arterial pressure were independent risk factors for HF hospitalization and cardiovascular mortality in patients with HFpEF. CONCLUSIONS: SV improved LV hypertrophy, diastolic function, and the ADQI class for HF; however, it failed to reduce the composite endpoints of HF hospitalization and cardiovascular disease-related mortality over 12 months of follow-up in patients on maintenance hemodialysis with EF of > 40%.

Effect of proximal artery restriction on flow reduction and cardiac function in hemodialysis patients with high-flow arteriovenous fistulas.

OBJECTIVE: Arteriovenous fistula is the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis patients. High-flow arteriovenous fistula may cause high-output heart failure. Various procedures are used to reduce high-flow arteriovenous fistula. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of proximal artery restriction combined with distal artery ligation on flow reduction for high-flow arteriovenous fistula and on cardiac function and echocardiographic changes in patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on data collected from the medical records of patients undergoing hemodialysis with heart failure and high-flow arteriovenous fistula between May 2018 and May 2021. Thirty-one patients were treated with proximal artery restriction (banding juxta-anastomosis of the proximal artery) combined with distal artery ligation (anastomosis distal artery ligation). Changes in the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative Workgroup cardiac function class, blood pressure, and echocardiography before and 6 months after flow restriction were compared, and post-intervention primary patency was followed-up. RESULTS: The technical success rate of the surgery was 100%, and no surgery-related adverse events occurred. Blood flow and blood flow/cardiac output decreased significantly after flow restriction. Blood flow decreased from 2047.21 ± 398.08 mL/min to 1001.36 ± 240.42 mL/min, and blood flow/cardiac output decreased from 40.18% ± 6.76% to 22.34% ± 7.21% (P < .001). Post-intervention primary patency of arteriovenous fistula at 6, 12, and 24 months was 96.8%, 93.5%, and 75.2%, respectively. The Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative Workgroup cardiac function class improved significantly after 6 months of flow restriction (P < .001). The systolic and diastolic left heart function improved, as evidenced by a significant decrease in left atrial volume index, left ventricular end-diastolic/end-systolic diameters, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular mass index, cardiac output, and cardiac index and an increase in lateral peak velocity of longitudinal contraction, average septal-lateral s', and lateral early diastolic peak velocity after flow restriction (P < .05). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 32.36 ± 8.56 mmHg to 27.57 ± 8.98 mmHg (P < .05), indicating an improvement in right heart function. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal artery restriction combined with distal artery ligation effectively reduced the blood flow of high-flow arteriovenous fistula and improved cardiac function.

[In Vitro Fatigue Test of Lung Volume Reduction Loop].

Lung volume reduction loop uses bronchoscopic lung volume reduction(BLVR) technology to compress and collapse the necrotic emphysema tissue and exhaust the internal gas to achieve the purpose of lung volume reduction to treat emphysema. After the lung volume reduction loop is implanted into the human body, the compressed part of the lung tissue tends to expand with breathing, which makes the lung volume reduction loop expand into a linear trend periodically. Fatigue resistance is one of the most important performance indexes of the lung volume reduction loop. In the paper, Z-direction vibration fatigue machine was used to simulate the changes of human respiratory cycle movement to test the fatigue performance of lung volume reduction loop, which can provide some reference for the test method of in vitro fatigue performance of lung volume reduction related products in the future.

Transcriptome analysis and physiological indicators reveal the role of sulfur in cadmium accumulation and transportation in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.).

Cadmium (Cd) contamination of croplands has become a threat to crop food safety and human health. In this study, we investigated the effect of sulfur on the growth of water spinach under Cd stress and the amount of Cd accumulation by increasing the soil sulfate content. We found that the biomass of water spinach significantly increased after the application of sulfur while the shoot Cd concentration was considerably reduced (by 31%). The results revealed that sulfur could promote the expression of PME and LAC genes, accompanied by an increase in PME activity and lignin content. Also, the cell wall Cd content of water spinach roots was significantly increased under sulfur treatment. This finding suggests that sulfur could enhance the adsorption capacity of Cd by promoting the generation of cell wall components, thereby inhibiting the transportation of Cd via the apoplastic pathway. In addition, the higher expression of Nramp5 under the Cd1S0 (concentration of Cd and sulfur are 2.58 and 101.31 mg/kg respectively) treatment led to increased Cd uptake. The CAX3 and ABC transporters and GST were expressed at higher levels along with a higher cysteine content and GSH/GSSR value under Cd1S1 (concentration of Cd and sulfur are 2.60 and 198.36 mg/kg respectively) treatment, which contribute to the Cd detoxification and promotion of Cd compartmentalization in root vacuoles, thereby reducing the translocation of Cd to the shoot via the symplastic pathway.

Molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying boron-induced alleviation of cadmium toxicity in rice seedlings.

Both cadmium (Cd) contamination and boron (B) deficiency in farmland soils pose a threat to the yield and quality of crops in Southern China. The present study investigated the mechanisms by which B reduces Cd accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings. Boron supplementation partially restored the decline in shoot and root biomass caused by Cd treatment (26% and 33%, respectively), with no significant difference between the B+Cd and control groups. We also found that B significantly reduced shoot and root Cd concentrations (by 64% and 25%, respectively) but increased Cd concentration (by 43%) and proportion (from 38% to 55%) in root cell walls. Transcriptome analysis and biochemical tests suggested that B supplementation enhanced lignin and pectin biosynthesis, pectin demethylation, and sulfur and glutathione metabolism. Moreover, B decreased the expression of some Cd-induced transporter-related genes (i.e., HMA2, Nramp1, and several ABC genes). These results indicate that B relieved Cd toxicity and reduced Cd accumulation in rice seedlings by restraining Cd uptake and translocation from root to shoot by improving Cd tolerance and chelation ability. These novel findings would benefit further investigations into how B influences Cd uptake, translocation, detoxification, and accumulation in crops.

Screening of the proteins related to the cultivar-dependent cadmium accumulation of Brassica parachinensis L.

Cultivar-dependent cadmium (Cd) accumulation was principal in developing Cd-pollution safe cultivars (PSCs). Proteins related to different Cd accumulations of the low-Cd-accumulating (SJ19) and high-Cd-accumulating (CX4) cultivars were investigated by iTRAQ analysis. Higher Cd bioaccumulation factors and translocation factor in CX4 than in SJ19 were consistent with the cultivar-dependent Cd accumulations. The Cd uptake was promoted in CX4 due to its higher expression of Cd-binding proteins and the lower expression of Cd-efflux proteins in roots. What's more, significantly elevated thiol groups (PC2 and PC3) in CX4 under Cd stress might contribute to the high Cd accumulation in roots and the root-to-shoot translocation of Cd-PC complex. Up-regulated proteins involved in cellulose biosynthesis and pectin de-esterification in SJ19 enhanced the Cd sequestration of root cell walls, which was considered as the predominant strategy for reducing Cd accumulation in shoots. The present study provided novel insights in the cultivar-dependent Cd accumulation in shoots of B. parachinensis.

Overexpressed miR-196a accelerates osteogenic differentiation in osteoporotic mice via GNAS-dependent Hedgehog signaling pathway.

Osteoporosis (OP), a common metabolic bone disease, is accompanied by reduced bone mass, bone mineral density (BMD), as well as microstructure destruction of bone. Previously, microRNA-196a-2 (miR-196a-2) and miR-196a-3p were reported for its involvement in BMD. Herein, this study set out to identify the functional relevance of miR-196a in osteogenic differentiation in osteoporotic mice and explore the associated mechanism by establishing an OP mouse model. Guanine nucleotide binding protein, alpha stimulating (GNAS) was verified as a target gene of miR-196a, which was decreased in OP mice. Furthermore, the bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were then extracted from OP mice and treated with miR-196 mimic/inhibitor or small interfering RNA against GNAS to investigate miR-196a interaction with GNAS and the Hedgehog signaling pathway. BMSCs in OP mice transfected with miR-196a mimic or si-GNAS displayed the elevated expression of Smo, ALP, Runx2, and OPN, as well as bone gla protein and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, elevated ALP vitality and bone formation ability as well as reduced expression of GNAS and PTCH. Taken conjointly, overexpression of miR-196a repressed GNAS expression by activating the Hedgehog signaling pathway, thus promoting osteogenic differentiation in mice with OP.

Cloning, characterization and expression analysis of metallothioneins from Ipomoea aquatica and their cultivar-dependent roles in Cd accumulation and detoxification.

To explore the possible roles of metallothioneins (MTs) played in cadmium (Cd) accumulation of water spinach, three IaMT genes, IaMT1, IaMT2 and IaMT3 in a high-shoot-Cd (T308) and a low-shoot-Cd accumulation cultivar (QLQ) were cloned, characterized, and quantitated. Gene expression analysis suggested that the expression of the IaMTs was differentially regulated by Cd stress in different cultivars, and T308 showed higher MTs expression overall. Furthermore, only shoot IaMT3 expression was cultivar dependent among the three IaMTs. Antioxidant analysis showed that the high production of IaMTs in T308 should be associated with its high oxidation resistance. The role of IaMTs in protecting against Cd toxicity was demonstrated in vitro via recombinant E. coli strains. The results showed that IaMT1 correlated with neither Cd tolerance nor Cd accumulation of E. coli, while IaMT2 conferred Cd tolerance in E. coli, IaMT2 and IaMT3 increased Cd accumulation in E. coli. These findings help to clarify the roles of IaMTs in Cd accumulation, and increase our understanding of the cultivar-dependent Cd accumulation in water spinach.

[Effect of Muxiang Shunqi Pill on Digestive Disorders of Prephase Uremia Patients and Its Mechanism].

Objective To observe the effect of Muxiang Shunqi Pill (MSP) on digestive disorders of prephase uremia patients, and to study its underlying mechanism. Methods A total of 40 prephase uremia patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were randomly and equally assigned to the MSP group and the Mosapride group. Besides, 20 subjects with normal physical examinations were recruited as the control. Patients in the MSP group took MSP, 6 g each time, three times per day, taken 30 min after dinner. Those in the Mosaprido group took Mosapride Tablet (MT) , 5 mg each time, three times per day, taken 30 min before diner. The therapeutic course for all was 4 weeks. The clinical curative effect was observed. Electrogastrogram, serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) , safety and recurrence rate were evaluated. Results The total effective rate was 90% (18/20) and the recurrence rate was 15% (320) in the MSP group, higher than those of the Mosapride group [60%(12/20) , X² =4. 80, P =0. 025; 45% (9/20) , X² =4. 29, P =0. 025]. Compared with before treatment in the same group, the percentage of normal rhythm increased, the bradygastria rate was lowered, serum levels of GAS and MTL increased in the two groups after treatment (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the Mosapride group, the bradygastria rate decreased more obviously, serum levels of GAS and MTL were increased more in the MSP group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Conclusion MSP could effectively improve digestive disorders of prephase uremia patients, which might be achieved through promoting gastrointestinal motility and regulating ser- um levels of gastrointestinal hormones.

[Clinical features, prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in neonates of different gestational ages in tertiary hospitals in Northwest China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features, prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in neonates of different gestational ages (GA) in the tertiary hospitals in Northwest China. METHODS: A total of 440 neonates diagnosed with RDS between January and December, 2011 in 12 tertiary hospitals in Northwest China were enrolled and classified into three groups: early preterm (GA<34 weeks; n=247), late preterm (GA 34-36(+6) weeks; n=131) and full-term (GA≥37 weeks; n=62). The clinical data, including perinatal factors, prevention and treatment, complications and prognosis, were comparatively analyzed among the three groups. RESULTS: The rate of multiple births in the early preterm group was higher than the other two groups. The two preterm groups showed a higher incidence of premature rupture of membranes than the full-term group. The full-term group had a higher rate of cesarean section without contractions than the two preterm groups. The early preterm group had the highest application rate of antenatal steroids. Compared with the other two groups, the early preterm group had a higher application rate of pulmonary surfactants (PS) and an earlier time of first application of PS. The full-term group had a lower resuscitation rate than the two preterm groups. The early preterm group showed a higher incidence of patent ductus arteriosus and intracranial hemorrhage than the other two groups. The cure rate of RDS (78.2%) was the highest in the full-term group, followed by the late preterm group (58.6%) and the early preterm group (42.9%). CONCLUSIONS: RDS infants of different GA in Northwest China have significant differences in perinatal factors, antenatal prevention, PS treatment, complications and prognosis.

Proteomic and Biochemical Evidence Involving Root Cell Wall Biosynthesis and Modification, Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, and Glutathione Metabolism in Cultivar-Dependent Cd Accumulation of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica).

Proteomic analysis and biochemical tests were employed to investigate the critical biological processes responsible for the different cadmium (Cd) accumulations between two water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) cultivars, QLQ and T308. QLQ, with lower shoot Cd accumulation and translocation factor than T308, possessed higher expression of cell wall biosynthesis and modification proteins in roots, together with higher lignin and pectin contents, higher pectin methylesterase activity, and lower pectin methylation. The results demonstrated that QLQ could more effectively restrict root-to-shoot Cd translocation by compartmentalizing more Cd in root cell walls. In contrast, T308 showed higher expression of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, glutathione (GSH) metabolism, and heavy metal transporter proteins, accompanied by higher GSH content and glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity, which accelerated Cd uptake and translocation in T308. These findings revealed several critical biological processes responsible for cultivar-dependent Cd accumulation in water spinach, which are important for elucidating Cd accumulation and transport mechanisms in different cultivars.

Prognosis of Heart Valve Calcification on Cardiovascular Events in Hemodialysis Patients without Central Venous Catheters.

INTRODUCTION: Heart valvular calcification (HVC) is an important predictor of cardiovascular events (CEs) and all-cause mortality in dialysis patients. Patients in the early stage of dialysis or those with central venous catheters (CVC) are also at high risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. It could be a confounding factor for the prognosis of HVC on CE. METHODS: From March 2017 to April 2022, the prognosis of HVC on CE and all-cause mortality was studied retrospectively in 158 hemodialysis (HD) patients who used arteriovenous fistulas or arteriovenous grafts as vascular access and entered HD for more than 12 months. RESULTS: Out of 158 patients, 70 (44.3%) were diagnosed with HVC via echocardiography. A total of 180 CEs occurred during follow-up. Among them, acute heart failure accounted for 62.66%, and its prevalence was significantly higher in the HVC group than that in the non-HVC group (p < 0.0001). The cumulative incidence of CE-free survival in the HVC group was significantly lower than that in the non-HVC group (p = 0.030). Only 11 patients died, and there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the two groups (p = 0.560). Multivariate COX regression analyses showed that HD vintage, mitral valve calcification, and aortic valve regurgitation (AR)/aortic valve stenosis (AS) but not aortic valve calcification were risk factors for CE (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: After excluding the factors of the early stage of HD and CVC, HVC remained a predictor of adverse CE in HD patients.

Characterization of cadmium accumulation mechanism between eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivars.

Excessive cadmium (Cd) accumulation in vegetables due to farmland pollution constitutes a serious threat to human health. Eggplant has a tendency to accumulate Cd. To investigate the mechanism of the differences in Cd accumulation levels between high-Cd (BXGZ) and low-Cd (MYQZ) eggplant cultivar, physiological and biochemical indicators and mRNA expression of eggplant were examined using photosynthetic apparatus, biochemical test kits, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and transcriptome sequencing, etc. The results of biochemical test kits and FTIR revealed that MYQZ enhanced pectin methylesterase (PME) activity, and lignin and pectin content in the root cell wall, which was associated with the upregulation of PME, cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase and peroxidase (PODs). Higher levels of cysteine and glutathione (GSH) contents and upregulation of genes associated with sulfur metabolism, as well as higher expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABCs), cation exchangers (CAX) and metal tolerance proteins (MTPs) were observed in MYQZ. In BXGZ, the higher stomatal density and stomatal aperture as well as higher levels of Ca2+ binding protein-1 (PCaP1) and aquaporins and lower levels of A2-type cyclins (CYCA2-1) are consistent with an enhanced transpiration rate in BXGZ. Furthermore, a more developed root system was shown to be associated with higher levels of auxin response factor (ARF19), GATA transcription factors (GATA4, 5 and 11) and auxin efflux carrier component (PIN5) in BXGZ. In conclusion, highly active PME, and higher levels of lignin and pectin in MYQZ are expected to reduce Cd toxicity, while Cd translocation can be inhibited with the help of ABC and other Cd transporters. As for BXGZ, the uptake and translocation of Cd were enhanced by the developed root system and stronger transpiration.

Selection for low-cadmium cultivars and cadmium subcellular distribution comparison between two selected cultivars of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.).

Excessive accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in vegetables poses a serious threat to human health; therefore, it is urgent to screen and cultivate vegetable cultivars with low Cd accumulation in the edible parts. Eggplant has a high tendency for Cd accumulation, but research on its low Cd accumulation cultivars is still rare. In this study, to screen low-Cd cultivars, 30 eggplant cultivars were screened using soils containing 0.22 mg/kg, 2.9 mg/kg (low-Cd), and 4.7 mg/kg of Cd (high-Cd). MYCQ and ZGQ were confirmed as low-Cd cultivars, BXGZ and WCCQ were confirmed as high-Cd cultivars, and a 2.52-3.88-fold difference in Cd concentration was observed in their fruits. The subcellular distribution revealed that the root cell wall and vacuole Cd concentrations of a typical low-Cd cultivar (MYCQ) were significantly higher than those of a typical high-Cd cultivar (BXGZ); however, the Cd concentrations in the cell wall and vacuole in fruits, leaves, and stems were significantly lower in MYCQ than in BXGZ. These results indicated that the low-Cd cultivars of eggplant could lessen Cd toxicity through the elevated Cd retention and sequestration levels of root cell walls and vacuoles, thus reducing Cd transport from roots to aboveground tissues, leading to low Cd accumulation. The findings of this study can provide a physiological and biochemical foundation for the screening and breeding of low-Cd cultivars of fruit vegetables and demonstrates that the application of low-Cd cultivars is necessary for food safety in humans.

The enantiomer-selective metabolism of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) by human HepG2 cells.

Although hepatic metabolism of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) played critical roles in the selective bioaccumulation of HBCDs in humans, the hepatic metabolism patterns of its enantiomers remained ambiguous. Aiming to elucidate the mechanism on hepatic metabolism of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) enantiomers, the enantiomers ((+)-α-HBCD, (-)-α-HBCD, (+)-γ-HBCD, and (-)-γ-HBCD), the diastereoisomers (α-, ß-, and γ-HBCDs) and the mixed of α- and γ-HBCDs were incubated with human HepG2 cell under different exposure levels in the present study. The clearance percentages ranked as γ-HBCD enantiomers >ß-HBCD enantiomers >α-HBCD enantiomers at the same exposure levels. The clearance percentages of (+)- and (-)-α-HBCDs increased when cells were exposed to racemic α-HBCD and the mixture of racemic α- and γ-HBCDs (p < 0.05). (-)-γ-HBCD was more resistant to human hepatic metabolism than (+)-γ-HBCD, leading to the enantiomer fractions (EFs) of γ-HBCD lower than 0.50. (-)-α-HBCD was slightly more metabolized when independently exposed to α-HBCD, while (+)-α-HBCD was more preferentially metabolized after exposure to α- and γ-HBCD mixtures. Hydroxylation and debromination HBCD metabolites were identified. In addition, the different EFs of HBCDs in cells and mediums suggested the selective transfer of chiral HBCDs and HBCD metabolites through the cell membrane. This study provided new insight into the enantiomer-selective metabolism of HBCDs.

Lignin side chain region participates in Cd detoxification related to the cultivar-dependent Cd accumulation in Brassica chinensis L.

To investigate the effect of lignin in the cultivar-dependent Cd detoxification of Brassica chinensis L., Cd and lignin contents, lignin composition and laccase genes expressions in low-Cd-accumulating (LAJK) and high-Cd-accumulating (HAJS) cultivars grown under control (CK) and 25 µM Cd-treatment were determined. The results showed that lignin combined about 14 % of total Cd in both LAJK and HAJS. LAC genes were more up-regulated in HAJS than in LAJK, indicating that the LAC genes were involved in the cultivar-dependent lignin functions. Higher ß-aryl ether (A) proportion in the lignin side chain region in LAJK than in HAJS were observed, whereas resinol (B) and phenylcoumaran (C) constitute much higher proportions in HAJS than in LAJK. Chemical calculation to estimate Cd affinity associating with lignin side chain region displayed that i) ß-aryl ether (A) exhibited major coupling with lignin aromatic region; ii) resinol (B) and phenylcoumaran (C) displayed major participation in complexation with Cd. We therefore conclude that Cd compartmentalization in the secondary cell wall (SCW) by coupling with lignin side chain region is responsible for Cd detoxification related to cultivar-dependent Cd accumulation of Brassica chinensis. This is the first study on lignin composition in relation to Cd retention mechanisms in SCW.

Selection for Cd Pollution-Safe Cultivars of Chinese Kale (Brassica alboglabra L. H. Bailey) and Biochemical Mechanisms of the Cultivar-Dependent Cd Accumulation Involving in Cd Subcellular Distribution.

Two pot experiments were conducted to compare and verify Cd accumulation capacities of different cultivars under Cd exposures (0.215, 0.543, and 0.925 mg kg-1 in Exp-1 and 0.143, 0.619, and 1.407 mg kg-1 in Exp-2) and Cd subcellular distributions between low- and high-Cd cultivars. Shoot Cd concentrations between the selected low- and high-Cd cultivars were 1.4-fold different and the results were reproducible. The proportions of Cd-in-cell-wall of shoots and roots were all higher in a typical low-Cd cultivar (DX102) than in a typical high-Cd cultivar (HJK), while those of Cd-in-chloroplast or Cd-in-trophoplast and Cd-in-membrane-and-organelle were opposite. The proportions of Cd-in-vacuoles-and-cytoplasm of roots in DX102 were always higher than in HJK under Cd stresses, while there was no clear pattern in those of shoots. These findings may help to reduce health risk of Cd from Chinese kale consumption and explained biochemical mechanisms of cultivar-dependent Cd accumulation among the species.

Different Proteomic Processes Related to the Cultivar-Dependent Cadmium Accumulation of Amaranthus gangeticus.

To deal with the Cd contaminant of agricultural soil, pollution-safe cultivar (PSC) is developed to minimize the Cd accumulation risk in crops. The present study aimed to investigate the different proteomic responses related to Cd accumulation in different tissues between two Amaranthus gangeticus cultivars, Pen and Nan. A significantly higher Cd accumulation in Pen than in Nan was unraveled, especially in shoot. The proportions of soluble Cd in root and stem of Nan were significantly lower than those of Pen, implying lower Cd transportation from root to shoot in Nan. Higher contents of NaCl-extracted Cd in Pen than in Nan were probably attributed to the enhancement of GSH related metabolism in Pen, which activated the transportation of Cd from root to shoot. Alteration of other proteins involved in Cd detoxification and energy production also demonstrated that Pen had exhibited a stronger tolerance than Nan in dealing with Cd stress. Thus, differences in the proteomic processes associated with biochemical differences between the two typical cultivars suggested a cultivar-dependent capacity of Cd tolerance and accumulation in amaranth for the first time.

Cadmium and lead accumulations and agronomic quality of a newly bred pollution-safe cultivar (PSC) of water spinach.

Breeding for pollution-safe cultivars (PSCs) can reduce pollutant accumulation in crops. However, the PSC breeding would face the risk of nutritional quality reduction, which is usually ignored in conventional breeding programs targeting to increase crop yield or nutritional quality. Thus, the doubt whether the risk would exist has to be clarified for supporting the PSC breeding. In the present study, a newly bred Cd/Pb-PSC of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic Forsk.) and its parents (QLQ with low-Cd/Pb accumulation ability and T308 with high yield) of water spinach were employed to clarify the above-mentioned issue. Yields, and concentrations of Cd, Pb, nitrite, and organic and inorganic nutrients in shoots of the three experimental lines were determined. There were no significant differences in Cd/Pb concentration between the new PSC and QLQ, in nitrite content between the new PSC and its two parents and in yield between the new PSC and T308. It is decisively significant that shoot concentrations of organic and inorganic nutrients in the Cd/Pb-PSC were as high as those in one of its parents. It is affirmed that the breeding operations (crossing and consequently continuous selfing) for lowering Cd/Pb accumulation capacity of water spinach would not lower the nutritional values of the obtained Cd/Pb-PSCs from the breeding, which should be a pillar that supports the feasibility to minimize Cd/Pb pollution in vegetables using PSC-breeding method.