High Concentration of Iron Ions Contributes to Ferroptosis-Mediated Testis Injury.

In order to explore the effect of excessive iron supplementation on ferroptosis in mouse testes, Kunming mice received injections of varying concentrations of iron. The organ weight, sperm density, and malformation rate were measured. Observations of pathological and ultrastructural alterations in spermatogenic tubules were conducted using haematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Transcript levels of related genes and serum biochemical indicators were measured in mouse testicular tissue. The results showed that higher iron concentration inhibited the growth of mice; reduced the organ coefficients of the testis, heart, and liver; and increased the rate of sperm malformation and mortality. Supplementation with high levels of iron ions can adversely affect the male reproductive system by reducing sperm count, damaging the structure of the seminiferous tubules and causing sperm cell abnormalities. In addition, the iron levels also affected the immune response and blood coagulation ability by affecting the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The results showed that iron ions can affect mouse testicular tissue and induce ferroptosis by altering the expression of ferroptosis-related genes. However, the degree of effect was different for the different concentrations of iron ions. The study also revealed the potential role of deferoxamine in inhibiting the occurrence of ferroptosis. Nevertheless, the damage caused to the testis by deferoxamine supplementation suggests the need for further research in this direction. This study provides reference for reproductive toxicity induced by environmental iron exposure and clarifies the mechanism of reproductive toxicity caused by iron overload and the important role of iron in the male reproductive system.

Physiological and transcriptional studies reveal Cr(VI) reduction mechanisms in the exoelectrogen Cellulomonas fimi Clb-11.

A facultative exoelectrogen, Cellulomonas fimi strain Clb-11, was isolated from polluted river water. This strain could generate electricity in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the carbon source, and the maximum output power density was 12.17 ± 2.74 mW·m-2. In addition, Clb-11 could secrete extracellular chromate reductase or extracellular electron mediator to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III). When the Cr(VI) concentration was less than 0.5 mM in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium, Cr(VI) could be completely reduced by Clb-11. However, the Clb-11 cells swelled significantly in the presence of Cr(VI). We employed transcriptome sequencing analysis to identify genes involved in different Cr(VI) stress responses in Clb-11. The results indicate that 99 genes were continuously upregulated while 78 genes were continuously downregulated as the Cr(VI) concentration increased in the growth medium. These genes were mostly associated with DNA replication and repair, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, ABC transporters, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and carbon metabolism. The swelling of Clb-11 cells might have been related to the upregulation of the genes atoB, INO1, dhaM, dhal, dhak, and bccA, which encode acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase, myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase, phosphoenolpyruvate-glycerone phosphotransferase, and acetyl-CoA/propionyl-CoA carboxylase, respectively. Interestingly, the genes cydA and cydB related to electron transport were continuously downregulated as the Cr(VI) concentration increased. Our results provide clues to the molecular mechanism of Cr(VI) reduction by microorganisms in MFCs systems.

Analysis and enhancement of the energy utilization efficiency of corn stover using strain Lsc-8 in a bioelectrochemical system.

The strain Lsc-8 can produce a current density of 33.08 µA cm-2 using carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as a carbon source in a three-electrode configuration. A co-culture system of strain Lsc-8 and Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA was used to efficiently convert cellulose into electricity to improve the electricity generation capability of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The maximum current density achieved by the co-culture with CMC was 559 µA cm-2, which was much higher than that of strain Lsc-8 using CMC as the carbon source. The maximum power density reached 492.05 ± 52.63 mW cm-2, which is much higher than that previously reported. Interaction mechanism studies showed that strain Lsc-8 had the ability to secrete riboflavin and convert cellulose into acetic acid, which might be the reason for the high electrical production performance of the co-culture system. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, a co-culture or single bacteria system using agricultural straw as the carbon source to generate electricity has not been reported. In this study, the maximum current density of the three-electrode system inoculated with strain Lsc-8 was 14.56 µA cm-2 with raw corn stover as the sole carbon source. Raw corn stover as a carbon source was also investigated for use in a co-culture system. The maximum current density achieved by the co-culture was 592 µA cm-2. The co-culture system showed a similar electricity generation capability when using raw corn stover and when using CMC. This research shows for the first time that a co-culture or single bacteria system can realize both waste biomass treatment and waste power generation.

Research on the application of the blended BOPPPS based on an online and offline mixed teaching model in the course of fermentation engineering in applied universities.

This study aimed to investigate the teaching effect of the blended BOPPPS based on an online and offline mixed teaching model ("B + BOPPPS") in the course of fermentation engineering in applied universities. The participants were 142 undergraduates majoring from the course of fermentation engineering in Food Science and Engineering in 2019 and 2020 in Huanghuai University, Zhumadian city, Henan province, China. The students in the control group (68 students) were taught in 2019, and the students in the experimental group (74 students) were taught in 2020. The traditional teaching method and "B + BOPPPS" were implemented, respectively. The teaching effect was evaluated using the questionnaire survey of course satisfaction and theoretical knowledge test. The results showed that the scores of the theoretical knowledge test in the experimental group adopting "B + BOPPPS" were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The students had a good evaluation of the "B + BOPPPS" in many aspects, which included achieving learning goals, providing in-depth understanding of knowledge points, stimulating interest in learning, training in the ability to analyze and think about problems, and so on. The results suggested that "B + BOPPPS" could stimulate students' interest in learning and improve their subjective initiative. They could also improve students' ability to master and apply knowledge, which was conducive to improving the theoretical teaching quality of the course of fermentation engineering.

Oyster Peptide-Zinc Complex Ameliorates Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate-Induced Testis Injury in Male Mice and Improving Gut Microbiota.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer, which can cause damage to male reproductive organs, especially the atrophy of the testis. Meanwhile, DEHP can also lead to a decrease in testicular zinc content, but the role of zinc remains unclear. This study aims to prepare oyster peptide-zinc complex (OPZC) to alleviate DEHP-induced reproductive damage in mice. OPZC was successfully obtained through electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, with stable structure and high water-solubility. Low dose oyster peptide-zinc complex (OPZCL) significantly reduced the reproductive damage caused by DEHP in mice. Further research had shown that OPZCL restored the content of serum hormones and the activity of oxidative stress kinases to normal, while also normalizing testicular zinc and selenium levels. In addition, it also recovered the disorder of gut microbiota, reduced the proportion of Bacteroides, increased the abundance of Ligilactobacillus, and restored the proportion of Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi, and Proteobacteria. Therefore, OPZCL can relieve the reproductive damage caused by DEHP in mice by restoring testicular zinc homeostasis and the composition of intestinal microbiota, indicating that OPZCL has a potential protective effect on male reproductive health.

Rhamnose-Containing Compounds: Biosynthesis and Applications.

Rhamnose-associated molecules are attracting attention because they are present in bacteria but not mammals, making them potentially useful as antibacterial agents. Additionally, they are also valuable for tumor immunotherapy. Thus, studies on the functions and biosynthetic pathways of rhamnose-containing compounds are in progress. In this paper, studies on the biosynthetic pathways of three rhamnose donors, i.e., deoxythymidinediphosphate-L-rhamnose (dTDP-Rha), uridine diphosphate-rhamnose (UDP-Rha), and guanosine diphosphate rhamnose (GDP-Rha), are firstly reviewed, together with the functions and crystal structures of those associated enzymes. Among them, dTDP-Rha is the most common rhamnose donor, and four enzymes, including glucose-1-phosphate thymidylyltransferase RmlA, dTDP-Glc-4,6-dehydratase RmlB, dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-Glc-3,5-epimerase RmlC, and dTDP-4-keto-Rha reductase RmlD, are involved in its biosynthesis. Secondly, several known rhamnosyltransferases from Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Saccharopolyspora spinosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus pneumoniae are discussed. In these studies, however, the functions of rhamnosyltransferases were verified by employing gene knockout and radiolabeled substrates, which were almost impossible to obtain and characterize the products of enzymatic reactions. Finally, the application of rhamnose-containing compounds in disease treatments is briefly described.

Extraction of Radix trichosanthis Polysaccharides for Potential Antihyperlipidemic Application.

This study focused on the optimization of ultrasound-assisted compound enzyme extraction for polysaccharides (RTPs) from Radix trichosanthis by orthogonal experiment and response surface methodology, and then its extraction kinetics model and antihyperlipidemic activities were studied. The optimum extraction process was as follows: cellulase-1.0%, papain-1.0%, pectase-0.5%, pH-5, extraction temperature-50°C, and liquid-to-solid ratio-30 mL/g; prediction value of RTPs was 7.54%; the experimental yield of RTPs was 7.22%, while 50 minutes was optimized in Weibull kinetics model. Then high-dose groups of RTP extract could reduce the TC, TG, and LDL-C levels and increase the level of HDL-C in high-fat mice, with the ability to lower the MDA content and enhance SOD level.

The Supportive Role of International Government Funds on the Progress of Sepsis Research During the Past Decade (2010-2019): A Narrative Review.

This narrative review aimed to clarify the characteristics of international government support for sepsis research, trends in published literature on sepsis, and potential contributions of government-source grants to progress in sepsis research between fiscal years 2010 and 2019. The data in this study were collected from the National Institutes of Health (NIH, https://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm/) of the United States of America (USA), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantweb/), and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS, https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/). All sepsis-related projects approved by the NIH, NSFC, and JSPS were retrieved by searching the project titles, abstracts, and key words for "sepsis," "septic shock," or "sepsis inflammatory response syndrome" between 2010 and 2019. Representative sepsis-related studies published between Jan 2010 and Aug 2020 by the first/corresponding authors from these countries were obtained by searching the PubMed database using Medical Subject Heading terms for "sepsis" in representative journals, including Nature, Cell, Science, The Lancet, New England Journal of medicine (New Engl J Med), The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), Critical Care Medicine (CCM), Intensive Care Medicine (ICM), Chest, Annals of Emergency Medicine (Ann Emerg Med), and American Thoracic Society journals (ATS). The total/annual institutional budgets, major funding mechanisms and schemes, superior institutions and individual principal investigators, and published original research articles in the field of sepsis in the USA, China, and Japan during the past decade were investigated. The national supporting schemes of the NIH, NSFC, and JSPS were similar. Support from these institutions is quite important for the development of the field of "sepsis" which was acknowledged in 57-64% of original research articles published in CCM. For the future development of precision medicine in sepsis, more government funding support is necessary.

Therapeutic Potential of Indole Derivatives as Anti-HIV Agents: A Mini-review.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is one of the leading causes of human deaths. The advent of different anti-HIV drugs has turned AIDS/HIV from a deadly infection to chronic and manageable disease. However, the development of multidrug-resistant viruses, along with the severe side effects of anti-HIV agents, has compromised their efficacy and limited the treatment options. Indoles, the most common frameworks in the bioactive molecules, represent attractive scaffolds for designing and developing novel drugs. Indole derivatives are potent inhibitors of HIV enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. Furthermore, some indole-based agents, like delavirdine, have already been applied in clinics or are under clinical evaluations for the treatment of AIDS/HIV, revealing that indole moiety is a useful template for the development of anti-HIV agents. This review focuses on the recent advancement in indole derivatives, including indole alkaloids, hybrids, and dimers with anti-HIV potential, covering articles published between 2010 and 2020. The chemical structures, structure-activity relationship, and mechanisms of action are also discussed.

Metabolomics analysis reveals metabolic changes associated with trans-resveratrol treatment in experimental cryptorchidism mice.

This study aimed to analyse global metabolomic changes associated with trans-resveratrol (RSV) treatment in mice with cryptorchidism using untargeted metabolomics. Cryptorchidism was established surgically in Kunming mice, which were then treated with 20µg g-1 day-1, s.c., RSV for 35 consecutive days. Typical manifestations of spermatogenesis arrest were seen in mice with cryptorchidism, and RSV treatment for 35 days restored spermatogenesis. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to profile the metabolome of testes from mice in the control (non-cryptorchid, untreated), cryptorchid and RSV-treated cryptorchid groups. In all, 1386 and 179 differential metabolites were detected in the positive and negative modes respectively. Seven and six potential biomarkers were screened for spermatogenesis arrest and restoration respectively. Pathway analysis showed changes in 197 metabolic pathways. The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway was inhibited in the cryptorchid group, which probably resulted in a decrease in the end product, uridine diphosphate N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc). Immunoblot analysis showed that total testicular protein O-linked ß-N-acetylglucosamine glycosylation was related to spermatogenesis arrest, further indicating a decrease in UDP-GlcNAc in the cryptorchid group. Thus, untargeted metabolomics revealed the biochemical pathways associated with the restoration of metabolic status in the cryptorchid group following RSV treatment and the findings could be used to monitor the response to RSV treatment. This study provides a meaningful foundation for the future clinical application of RSV in the treatment of spermatogenesis dysfunction.

Evaluation of Antifungal Phenolics from Helianthus tuberosus L. Leaves against Phytophthora capsici Leonian by Chemometric Analysis.

Phytophthora capsici Leonian causes destructive economical losses in pepper production, and a promising source of natural fungicides- Helianthus tuberosus leaves was reported. The antifungal activities of different extracts and compounds from H. tuberosus leaves against the phytopathogen, P. capsici Leonian, were examined by chemometric analysis, including HPLC-MS/MS and multivariate data analyses. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminate analysis were applied to examine the four groups of H. tuberosus leaves samples, including crude extracts obtained by different methods, including refluxing, macerating, and refluxing under vacuum; four fractions, namely, petroleum ether (PE), chloroform (Chl), ethyl acetate (EA), and n-butanol (NB) fractions; the samples of three H. tuberosus cultivars; and the samples at three growth stages of cultivar Nan Yu. The phenolics contents were categorized based on 3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-DiCQA), 1,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid (1,5-DiCQA), 3-O-Caffeoylquinic acid (3-CQA), and 4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid (4,5-DiCQA), which were predominant in all the samples. Antifungal activity assay revealed that Chl and NB fractions were more active against P. capsici Leonian with lower IC50(half of maximal inhibitory concentration) values, whereas partial least squares-discriminate analysis suggested caffeoylquinic acid isomer(4-CQA), methyl-quercetin glycoside(MQG), and caffeic acid(CA) might be the main active components in H. tuberosus leaves against P. capsici Leonian. Furthermore, microscopic evaluation demonstrated structural deformities in P. capsici Leonian treated with Chl and NB fractions, indicating the antifungal effects of H. tuberosus leaves. These results imply that H. tuberosus leaves with a high concentration of phenolics might be a promising source of natural fungicides.

Effects of resveratrol on reducing spermatogenic dysfunction caused by high-intensity exercise.

BACKGROUND: Long-term high-intensity exercise can lead to reproductive endocrine and spermatogenic dysfunction. This research is to investigate the effect of resveratrol on the reduction of reproductive dysfunction induced by high-intensity exercise, and to screen relevant factors and signal transduction pathways. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into three groups, a control group, an intensive exercise group (IE group), and a resveratrol-treated group (RSV group). After 9 weeks of exercise, the sperm density and reproductive hormone concentrations were measured, along with antioxidation, inflammatory cytokine production, and histological analyses performed for each group. In addition, a proteomics analysis of the IE group and RSV group were conducted. RESULTS: We found that compared with the control group, the average sperm density (P < 0.05) and testosterone concentration (P < 0.05) in the IE group decreased significantly. Additionally, in testis tissue the concentration of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 (P < 0.01) and TNF-α (P < 0.01) increased significantly. Also, a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (P < 0.01) and a significant increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (P < 0.01) were noted. In the RSV group, the average sperm density (P < 0.01), testosterone (P < 0.01) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels (P < 0.01) all increased in comparison to the IE group, and the concentration of IL-6 (P < 0.01) and TNF-α (P < 0.01) were found to be significantly decreased. Compared with the IE group, the SOD activity in the RSV group was significantly increased (P < 0.01), while the MDA content decreased (P < 0.01). Furthermore, histological analysis showed that the number of spermatogenic epithelial cells in the RSV group was higher than that of the IE group. There were a number of spermatogenic regulatory proteins identified in the proteomics analysis, including Clusterin, Piwi like homolog 1 (Piwil1), Zona pellucida binding protein (Zpbp), Heat shock-related 70 kDa protein 2 (Hspa2), Centrin 1, and Bardet-Biedl syndrome 2 protein (Bbs2). It was found that the proteins that differed between the two groups were mainly involved in pathways such as complement and coagulation cascades, the extracellular matrix-receptor interactions, etc. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that after high-intensity exercise, the inflammatory cascade in the tissue of the testis increases with decreased resistance to oxidation and disordered spermatogenic function. Resveratrol can improve the reproductive dysfunction of rats that was induced by high-intensity exercise. It mostly promotes reproductive function by increasing testosterone secretion, reducing the inflammatory response, improving the antioxidant capacity, affecting the expression of spermatogenic regulatory proteins, and enhancing the signal transduction pathway of spermatogenesis.

Engineering O-glycosylation in modified N-linked oligosaccharide (Man12GlcNAc2∼Man16GlcNAc2) Pichia pastoris strains.

Yeast have been engineered for the production of therapeutic glycoproteins with humanized N-linked oligosaccharides. Both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides engineered yeast have been attractive prospects, since yeast-specific O-mannosylated proteins were reported to induce an aberrant immune response and alter pharmacokinetics in vivo. In the present study, we genetically manipulated O-glycosylation by disrupting O-mannosyltransferase PMT1 and PMT5 in a low-mannose type N-linked oligosaccharide (Man12GlcNAc2∼Man16GlcNAc2) engineered Pichia pastoris strain to produce therapeutic glycoproteins. The O-mannosyltransferase PMT1 mutant produces anti-Her-2 antibodies with reduced O-linked oligosaccharides and protein degradation, but this strain exhibited growth defects. However, the deletion of O-mannosyltransferase PMT5 individually has a minimal effect on O-glycosylation, degradation of the anti-Her-2 antibody, and strain growth. Thus, by disrupting O-mannosyltransferase PMT1 in an N-glycosylation engineered Pichia pastoris strain, we generated an effective glycoengineered Pichia pastoris strain to effectively produce therapeutic glycoproteins with both engineered N- and O-linked oligosaccharides.

Proteomics analysis of intensive exercise-induced disorders of gametogenesis in the testis using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) analysis.

In the present study we screened a panel of regulatory proteins associated with gametogenesis disorders in the testis that are induced by intensive exercise. Four-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three groups: a control group, a no-load exercise group and an intensive exercise group. Rats in the control group were free to move in their cage. Rats in the no-load exercise and intensive exercise groups swam for 60minday-1, six times each week, for a total 9-week exercise regimen; rats in the intensive exercise group swam with a load of 6% body mass. After the last exercise session (or at the end of the 9-week period), a sperm count, reproductive hormone assays, histological analysis of the testis and proteomics analysis were performed for each rat. Mean (±s.d.) sperm concentration was significantly lower in the intensive exercise group than in the control and no-load exercise groups (1.36±0.63 vs 2.12±0.53 and 2.57±0.48×106 spermatozoa mL-1 respectively; P<0.05). Serum testosterone concentrations were also significantly lower in the intensive exercise group (P<0.01), whereas gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, LH and FSH concentrations were slightly decreased in the intensive exercise group, but not significantly (P>0.05). Histological analysis showed that the number of spermatogenic cells in the seminiferous tubules was lower in the intensive exercise group than in the control and no-load exercise groups. Proteomics analysis identified 54 proteins that were differentially expressed between the control and intensive exercise groups (31 downregulated, 23 upregulated). Pathway enrichment analysis showed that ribosome and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathways play an important role in the signal transduction of testicular gametogenic disorders. Four differentially expressed proteins that were involved in the regulation of reproduction were identified by bioinformatics analysis and validated by targeted mass spectrometry analysis, namely vimentin, collagen α-1(I) chain, fatty acid-binding protein 9 and 40S ribosomal protein S3a. The data suggest that changes in the abundance of differentially expressed proteins after long-term intensive exercise affect the cycle and progression of spermatogenesis, resulting in spermatogenic disorders.

Using Natural Biomacromolecules for Adsorptive and Enzymatic Removal of Aniline Blue from Water.

The present study investigated the adsorptive and enzymatic removal of aniline blue dye (AB) from aqueous solution using waxy riceprocessing waste (RW), peanut shell (PS), microbial waste of Aspergillus niger (MW) as low cost adsorbents, and laccase (Lac) as a biocatalyst. Commercial activated carbon (AC) was also employed to compare the adsorption performance with the three adsorbents. Dye removal was examined under various parameters in batch experiments. It was found that dye removal by RW and Lac was 89⁻94% noticeably better than that by MW and PS (20⁻70%). In any cases, AC produced the highest dye removal among the tested materials. The kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics were then analyzed to elucidate the adsorption process by the four adsorbents. The pseudo-second order kinetic was superior to the pseudo first order kinetic model in describing adsorption for all adsorbents. The Langmuir model fitted the adsorption process very well, indicating monolayer coverage of dyes on a solid surface. A thermodynamic analysis of enthalpy (ΔH°), entropy (ΔS°), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) classified the adsorption as a nonspontaneous and endothermic process. The results reveal diverse natural materials (e.g., processing waste RW) as novel substitutes for traditional activated carbon, as well as laccase as a green catalyst for the treatment of dye wastewater.

Polysaccharides from Trichosanthes Fructus via Ultrasound-Assisted Enzymatic Extraction Using Response Surface Methodology.

An efficient procedure for ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction of crude polysaccharides from Trichosanthes Fructus (crude TFP) using response surface methodology (RSM) was developed. The Box-Behnken design was applied to optimize the effects of pH (X1), enzyme amount (X2), extraction temperature (X3), and liquid-to-solid ratio (X4) on the extraction. The statistical analysis indicated that the independent variables (X4, X2, and X3), the quadratic coefficients (X12, X22, X32, and X42), and the interaction coefficient (X1X3) had significant impact on the yield of crude TFP. The optimal conditions were determined as follows: pH 4.5, enzyme amount 5000 u/g, extraction temperature 45°C, and liquid-to-solid ratio 30 ml/g. The experimental yield of crude TFP was 6.58%, which was very close to the predicted yield of 6.71%. TFPI was then purified and characterized with Sephadex G-100 column, UV-Vis, GPC, and FT-IR. The average molecular weight of TFPI was calculated to be 1.49 × 105 Da. TFPI exhibited strong reducing power and possessed not only remarkable scavenging activities against ABTS•+ and DPPH radicals, but also high antitumor activities in C4-2, DU145, and PC3 cells. The results suggest that Trichosanthes Fructus and TFPI could be a novel potent natural medicine with antioxidant and antitumor activities.

Radiology research in mainland China in the past 10 years: a survey of original articles published in Radiology and European Radiology.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the features and trends of Radiology research in Mainland China through bibliometric analysis of the original articles published in Radiology and European Radiology (ER) between 2006 and 2015. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the original articles published in Radiology and ER between 2006 and 2015. The following information was abstracted: imaging subspecialty, imaging technique(s) used, research type, sample size, study design, statistical analysis, study results, funding declarations, international collaborations, number of authors, department and province of the first author. All variables were examined longitudinally over time. RESULTS: Radiology research in Mainland China saw a substantial increase in original research articles published, especially in the last 5 years (P < 0.001). Within Mainland China's Radiology research, neuroradiology, vascular/interventional Radiology, and abdominal Radiology were the most productive fields; MR imaging was the most used modality, and a distinct geographic provenience was observed for articles published in Radiology and ER. CONCLUSION: Radiology research in Mainland China has seen substantial growth in the past 5 years with neuroradiology, vascular/interventional Radiology, and abdominal Radiology as the most productive fields. MR imaging is the most used modality. Article provenience shows a distinct geographical pattern. KEY POINTS: • Radiology research in Mainland China saw a substantial increase. • Neuroradiology, vascular/interventional Radiology, and abdominal Radiology are the most productive fields. • MRI is the most used modality in Mainland China's Radiology research. • Guangdong, Shanghai, and Beijing are the most productive provinces.

[Aerobic exercise improves spermatogenesis of male rats: Results of iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis of the testis tissue].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of aerobic exercise on the spermatogenic function of male rats and screen out differentially expressed proteins related to spermatonesis-regulation by proteomic analysis. METHODS: We randomly divided 24 SD male rats into groups A (non-exercise control), B (exercise), and C (weight-bearing exercise), those in the latter two groups made to swim for 60 minutes a day and those in group C bearing a load 3% of the body weight, both 6 times a week for 9 weeks. At 24 hours after the last exercise, we obtained the sperm count, measured the levels of such serum reproductive hormones as testosterone (T), luteotrophic hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and employed isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic analysis of the testicular tissue. RESULTS: Compared with group A, group C showed significant increases in sperm concentration (ï¼»2.12 ± 0.43ï¼½ vs ï¼»3.54 ± 0.52ï¼½ ×106/ml, P <0.01) and the levels of serum LH (ï¼»35.99 ± 2.90ï¼½ vs ï¼»38.96 ± 1.34ï¼½ IU/L, P <0.01) and T (ï¼»19.99 ± 0.25ï¼½ vs ï¼»21.36 ± 0.53ï¼½ nmol/L, P <0.01), but no statistically significant differences in GnRH (ï¼»623.95 ± 41.44ï¼½ vs ï¼»641.82 ± 42.78ï¼½ ng/L, P >0.05) and FSH (ï¼»20.49 ± 2.44ï¼½ vs ï¼»22.29 ± 2.31ï¼½ IU/L, P >0.05). No significant changes were observed in sperm concentration or reproductive hormone levels in group B as compared with A. Group B exhibited obviously more mature sperm and cell layers in the seminiferous epithelium than group A. A total of 47 differentially expressed proteins were identified, of which 37 were up-regulated and the other 10 down-regulated. In addition, another 5 significantly differentially expressed proteins closely related to reproductive function were identified, including up-regulated Anx A1, GPX3, Rimbp3, and Dpy19l2 and down-regulated CYP17. Enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, protein digestion and absorption, and focal adhesion pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Proper-intensity exercise can improve the spermatogenic function of rats. Aerobic exercise promotes spermatogenesis mainly by up-regulating the expressions of the proteins related to the production and differentiation of spermatozoa.

Adsorption of methylene blue on an agro-waste oiltea shell with and without fungal treatment.

A lignocellulosic waste oiltea shell (OTS) was evaluated as an inexpensive sorbent to remove methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. Fungal treatment of OTS increased the MB adsorption by modifying the physicochemical properties of OTS and simultaneously produced laccase as a beneficial co-product. Without fungal treatment, the maximum amount of adsorption (qm) of MB by OTS was 64.4 mg/g, whereas the treatment with fungus Pycnoporus sp. and Trametes versicolor increased qm up to 72.5 mg/g and 85.7 mg/g, respectively. This is because of the improved surface area and pore sizes as well as altered chemical compositions. The equilibrium sorption data for OTS both with and without treatment fitted to the Langmuir model, and the sorption rate data well fitted to the pseudo second-order kinetic model. The changes in free energy (ΔG°) and separation factor (RL) indicated that the sorption was spontaneous and favorable. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the changes in the surface morphology and functional groups of OTS after fungal treatment. The agro-waste OTS could be utilized as a low-cost adsorbent for efficient dye removal, and fungal treatment can serve as a mild and clean technique to increase the adsorptive capacity of OTS.