Effects of groundwater depth on groundwater recharge and soybean growth dynamics in Northeast China Plain.

To explore the groundwater recharge rate and soybean growth dynamics under different groundwater depths, we conducted a field experiment with four groundwater depth treatments (1 m, D1; 2 m, D2; 3 m, D3; 4 m, D4) through the groundwater simulation system in 2021 and 2022 and explored the relationships between groundwater depth and groundwater recharge, irrigation, growth dynamics of soybean plants, and yield. We used the Logistic regression model to simulate the dynamics of soybean growth indices, including plant height, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation. The results showed that compared with D1 treatment, the amount of groundwater recharge under D2, D3, and D4 treatments decreased by 81.1%, 96.8%, 97.5% and 80.7%, 96.7%, 97.3% in the two years, respectively. The groundwater in D1 treatment could meet water needs of soybean throughout the whole growth period, except that irrigation was needed in the sowing stage. The amount of irrigation under D1 treatment was decreased by 91.7%, 93.0%, 94.2%, and 90.9%, 92.9%, 94.0% in the two years, respectively, compared with D2, D3, D4 treatments. Among the four treatments, D1 treatment took the shortest time for entering the rapid growth stage and reach the maximum growth rate, which had the highest maximum growth rate. At the mature stage of soybean, the dry matter distribution ratio of stem in D1 treatment was the highest. D1 treatment promoted the translocation of post-flowering assimilates in soybean, and its post-flowering assimilate contribution to seeds increased by 15.5%, 16.2%, 32.6% and 45.5%, 48.7%, 63.3% in the two years, respectively, compared with D2, D3, D4 treatments. D1 treatment had the highest plant height, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation, follo-wed by D4 treatment, while D3 treatment had the lowest. Soybean yield, number of pods per plant, number of grains per plant, and 100-grain weight all decreased and then increased with increasing groundwater depth, following an order of D1>D4>D2>D3. Soybean yield was significantly positively correlated with groundwater recharge, which was positively correlated with plant height, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation. Our results indicated that the D1 treatment with adequate groundwater recharge increased plant height, leaf area index, and dry matter accumulation, coordinated the distribution and translocation of dry matter among all plant parts in the late soybean growth period, and ultimately achieved the highest yield. When groundwater depth was deep (D4), groundwater recharge was small. In such case, the growth and development status and yield of soybean could also reach a high level if there was sufficient water supply.

Cellular Protein Aggregates: Formation, Biological Effects, and Ways of Elimination.

The accumulation of protein aggregates is the hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. The dysregulation of protein homeostasis (or proteostasis) caused by acute proteotoxic stresses or chronic expression of mutant proteins can lead to protein aggregation. Protein aggregates can interfere with a variety of cellular biological processes and consume factors essential for maintaining proteostasis, leading to a further imbalance of proteostasis and further accumulation of protein aggregates, creating a vicious cycle that ultimately leads to aging and the progression of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Over the long course of evolution, eukaryotic cells have evolved a variety of mechanisms to rescue or eliminate aggregated proteins. Here, we will briefly review the composition and causes of protein aggregation in mammalian cells, systematically summarize the role of protein aggregates in the organisms, and further highlight some of the clearance mechanisms of protein aggregates. Finally, we will discuss potential therapeutic strategies that target protein aggregates in the treatment of aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Effect of Lacking ZKSCAN3 on Autophagy, Lysosomal Biogenesis and Senescence.

Transcription factors can affect autophagy activity by promoting or inhibiting the expression of autophagic and lysosomal genes. As a member of the zinc finger family DNA-binding proteins, ZKSCAN3 has been reported to function as a transcriptional repressor of autophagy, silencing of which can induce autophagy and promote lysosomal biogenesis in cancer cells. However, studies in Zkscan3 knockout mice showed that the deficiency of ZKSCAN3 did not induce autophagy or increase lysosomal biogenesis. In order to further explore the role of ZKSCAN3 in the transcriptional regulation of autophagic genes in human cancer and non-cancer cells, we generated ZKSCAN3 knockout HK-2 (non-cancer) and Hela (cancer) cells via the CRISPR/Cas9 system and analyzed the differences in gene expression between ZKSCAN3 deleted cells and non-deleted cells through fluorescence quantitative PCR, western blot and transcriptome sequencing, with special attention to the differences in expression of autophagic and lysosomal genes. We found that ZKSCAN3 may be a cancer-related gene involved in cancer progression, but not an essential transcriptional repressor of autophagic or lysosomal genes, as the lacking of ZKSCAN3 cannot significantly promote the expression of autophagic and lysosomal genes.

Macrophage autophagy in macrophage polarization, chronic inflammation and organ fibrosis.

As the essential regulators of organ fibrosis, macrophages undergo marked phenotypic and functional changes after organ injury. These changes in macrophage phenotype and function can result in maladaptive repair, causing chronic inflammation and the development of pathological fibrosis. Autophagy, a highly conserved lysosomal degradation pathway, is one of the major players to maintain the homeostasis of macrophages through clearing protein aggregates, damaged organelles, and invading pathogens. Emerging evidence has shown that macrophage autophagy plays an essential role in macrophage polarization, chronic inflammation, and organ fibrosis. Because of the high heterogeneity of macrophages in different organs, different macrophage types may play different roles in organ fibrosis. Here, we review the current understanding of the function of macrophage autophagy in macrophage polarization, chronic inflammation, and organ fibrosis in different organs, highlight the potential role of macrophage autophagy in the treatment of fibrosis. Finally, the important unresolved issues in this field are briefly discussed. A better understanding of the mechanisms that macrophage autophagy in macrophage polarization, chronic inflammation, and organ fibrosis may contribute to developing novel therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases and organ fibrosis.

Autophagy and Renal Fibrosis.

Renal fibrosis is a common process of almost all the chronic kidney diseases progressing to end-stage kidney disease. As a highly conserved lysosomal protein degradation pathway, autophagy is responsible for degrading protein aggregates, damaged organelles, or invading pathogens to maintain intracellular homeostasis. Growing evidence reveals that autophagy is involved in the progression of renal fibrosis, both in the tubulointerstitial compartment and in the glomeruli. Nevertheless, the specific role of autophagy in renal fibrosis has still not been fully understood. Therefore, in this review we will describe the characteristics of autophagy and summarize the recent advances in understanding the functions of autophagy in renal fibrosis. Moreover, the problem existing in this field and the possibility of autophagy as the potential therapeutic target for renal fibrosis have also been discussed.

Local hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of multiple recurrences of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is a type of soft tissue sarcoma, the histologic origin and differentiation direction of which are still unclear. There are few treatment options for UPS other than surgery. Herein we describe a patient who had multiple recurrences of UPS postoperatively, but R0 resection was achieved by local hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy, thus providing a new treatment approach for similar situations. CASE SUMMARY: A 65-year-old man sought evaluation from a physician for a mass on his right back. After surgery, the pathologic diagnosis was fibrosarcoma. During the follow-up evaluations until 2021, the patient had four relapses of varying degrees. Postoperative pathology confirmed the recurrence of UPS on the right back. In March 2021, he underwent local hyperthermia combined with two cycles of chemotherapy for recurring lesions. After magnetic resonance imaging re-examination and preoperative examination, the patient chose surgery again. During the operation, the tumors were easy to excise, the amount of bleeding decreased significantly, and the pathologic evaluation confirmed that one of the specimens was an R0 excision. CONCLUSION: Local hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy enables R0 resection to be achieved in patients with advanced UPS recurrence.

Extracellular HSPs: The Potential Target for Human Disease Therapy.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved stress proteins known as molecular chaperones, which are considered to be cytoplasmic proteins with functions restricted to the intracellular compartment, such as the cytoplasm or cellular organelles. However, an increasing number of observations have shown that HSPs can also be released into the extracellular matrix and can play important roles in the modulation of inflammation and immune responses. Recent studies have demonstrated that extracellular HSPs (eHSPs) were involved in many human diseases, such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and kidney diseases, which are all diseases that are closely linked to inflammation and immunity. In this review, we describe the types of eHSPs, discuss the mechanisms of eHSPs secretion, and then highlight their functions in the modulation of inflammation and immune responses. Finally, we take cancer as an example and discuss the possibility of targeting eHSPs for human disease therapy. A broader understanding of the function of eHSPs in development and progression of human disease is essential for developing new strategies to treat many human diseases that are critically related to inflammation and immunity.

Cell Cycle Dysregulation and Renal Fibrosis.

Precise regulation of cell cycle is essential for tissue homeostasis and development, while cell cycle dysregulation is associated with many human diseases including renal fibrosis, a common process of various chronic kidney diseases progressing to end-stage renal disease. Under normal physiological conditions, most of the renal cells are post-mitotic quiescent cells arrested in the G0 phase of cell cycle and renal cells turnover is very low. Injuries induced by toxins, hypoxia, and metabolic disorders can stimulate renal cells to enter the cell cycle, which is essential for kidney regeneration and renal function restoration. However, more severe or repeated injuries will lead to maladaptive repair, manifesting as cell cycle arrest or overproliferation of renal cells, both of which are closely related to renal fibrosis. Thus, cell cycle dysregulation of renal cells is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of renal fibrosis. In this review, we focus on cell cycle regulation of renal cells in healthy and diseased kidney, discussing the role of cell cycle dysregulation of renal cells in renal fibrosis. Better understanding of the function of cell cycle dysregulation in renal fibrosis is essential for the development of therapeutics to halt renal fibrosis progression or promote regression.

Autophagy in Viral Infection and Pathogenesis.

As an evolutionarily conserved cellular process, autophagy plays an essential role in the cellular metabolism of eukaryotes as well as in viral infection and pathogenesis. Under physiological conditions, autophagy is able to meet cellular energy needs and maintain cellular homeostasis through degrading long-lived cellular proteins and recycling damaged organelles. Upon viral infection, host autophagy could degrade invading viruses and initial innate immune response and facilitate viral antigen presentation, all of which contribute to preventing viral infection and pathogenesis. However, viruses have evolved a variety of strategies during a long evolutionary process, by which they can hijack and subvert host autophagy for their own benefits. In this review, we highlight the function of host autophagy in the key regulatory steps during viral infections and pathogenesis and discuss how the viruses hijack the host autophagy for their life cycle and pathogenesis. Further understanding the function of host autophagy in viral infection and pathogenesis contributes to the development of more specific therapeutic strategies to fight various infectious diseases, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic.

Prevalence of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip in Chinese Adults: A Cross-sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is unknown in China. We aimed to determine the prevalence of DDH in Chinese adults. METHODS: In this study, we performed a cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of Chinese adults. All participants underwent questionnaire investigation, physical examination, and X-ray examination. Factors associated with DDH were analyzed with logistic regression. RESULTS: We invited 29,180 individuals aged 18 years and over to participate, randomly selected from 18 primary sampling units (street districts in urban areas and townships in rural areas). The survey and examination were completed in 25,767 people (10,296 men and 15,471 women). DDH was diagnosed in 391 people, yielding an overall DDH prevalence of 1.52%. Based on this information, we estimate the number of individuals with DDH in China to be approximately 16.05 million. DDH prevalence increased with age (odds ratio = 1.53 [1.03-2.27], P = 0.036), was significantly higher among women than men (2.07% vs. 0.75%, P< 0.001), and was higher among rural residents than urban residents (1.75% vs. 1.29%, P< 0.001). Economic development was independently associated with the presence of DDH. There was no evidence of an association between body mass index alone, education, or current smoking or drinking and risk of DDH (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DDH has become an important public health problem. Special attention should be paid to residents with DDH. Screening for DDH should be performed in China.

Biomechanical Comparison of Open and Arthroscopic Transosseous Repair of Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Foveal Tears: A Cadaveric Study.

PURPOSE: To biomechanically compare the stability between open repair and arthroscopic transosseous repair technique for reattachment of the foveal triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC). We also evaluated the feasibility of a new aiming device for the creation of 2 bone tunnels simultaneously during the arthroscopic technique. METHODS: Six matched pairs of fresh-frozen forearm cadaver specimens were prepared for testing. Group I specimens were treated by open repair with suture anchor. Group II specimens were treated by arthroscopic transosseous suture with a new aiming device. Before and after disruption of the TFCC fovea and after its repair, dorsal and palmar translation of the ulna was measured in both groups in response to a load (3 kg) applied in the palmar and then in the dorsal direction. The total translation of the ulna was calculated as the sum of the mean dorsal and palmar translations. RESULTS: The mean total ulnar translation before and after TFCC disruption, and after TFCC repair was 5.94 ± 2.16 mm, 9.08 ± 2.64 mm, and 6.04 ± 2.18 mm, respectively. The specimens demonstrated a significant increase in the total translation of the ulna after disruption of the ulnar attachment of TFCC (P = .003), whereas a significant decrease was observed after TFCC foveal repair (P = .003). The median percentage of eliminated translation after TFCC repair was 64% and 172%, respectively, in groups I and II (P = .043). CONCLUSIONS: The athroscopic transosseous suture technique demonstrated superior repair efficacy to the open repair technique in terms of biomechanical strength. This cadaveric study also demonstrated the feasibility of a new aiming device. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When making decisions about TFCC foveal repair, arthroscopic transosseous suture technique may provide better biomechanical strength than the open repair technique.

[Research the biogeochemical processes of nutrients in Minjiang Estuary].

The variations in the concentration and distribution of nutrients and influencing factors in the Minjiang Estuary with a tidal cycle were investigated based on the data obtained during field observations in May 2007. The results showed the suspended sediment, dissolved inorganic nitrogen and silicate were opposite to the change of tidal, while the water level and salinity were consistent with tidal. The buffer mechanism of phosphate was controlled by suspended sand and water. The concentrations of silicate, phosphate and inorganic nitrogen were ranged 0.63-9.00 mg/L, 0.013-0.075 mg/L, 0.33-4.24 mg/L respectively. The contents of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in water mass increased remarkably comparing 1980s because of agriculture, industry and living. The research indicated that the nitrate and silicate were conservative, but phosphate was non-conservative in the biogeochemical processes of nutrients in Minjiang Estuary. The diluted water carried abundant inorganic nitrogen, silicate nutrients to Minjiang Estuary and thus phosphate was similar between diluted water and sea water. Based on the results of nutrient ratios, it was suggested that phosphate was a limiting factor for phytoplankton growth in the Minjiang Estuary.

[Impact of typhoon "Fung-wong" on the distribution patterns of heavy metals in the Quanzhou Bay].

Based on the inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) data of concentrations of 7 heavy metals (including Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and As) in suspended particles and surface sediments samples collected at 6 and 1 13-hours-mooring stations, respectively, in Quanzhou Bay 4 days after the landing of typhoon "Fung-wong". The average contents of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Cd are 60.4, 50.3, 26.5, 101.7, 3.36, 40.0 and 0.180 microg/g, respectively, in the surface sediments, and are 1.108-7.408, 0.476-3. 394, 0.809-5.046, 3.190-19.337, 0.087-0.595, 2.621-10.073 microg/L and 4.160-50.828 ng/L, respectively, in different stations in the suspended particles. The contents and distribution patterns of 7 heavy metals during a tidal cycle were significantly changed after typhoon "Fung-wong" by contrasting with that in same stations and tidal time at an ordinary situation. The contents of heavy metals, besides Ni, evidently decreased but the distribution patterns were similar with that in an ordinary condition with relatively large grads after typhoon "Fung-wong" in the surface sediments at station Q4. While in the suspended particles, the contents of heavy metals were evidently increased with the distribution patterns varied obviously and differently due to their geographical position after typhoon "Fung-wong". These impacts of typhoon "Fung-wong" to the contents and distribution patterns of heavy metals could be attribute to the "second contamination" and the increased supply of particles materials from continent during the typhoon process. The results of this study provide a reference to accurate assessing and scientific governing the heavy metals' contamination, and provide a directly support to evaluating the integrated impacts of typhoon process on the contamination of heavy metals in the Quanzhou Bay.

[Distribution patterns of heavy metals in suspended particles of the Quanzhou Bay and their influence factors].

Based on the inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) data of concentrations of 7 heavy metals (including Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and As) in suspended particles and surface sediments samples collected at 6 and 2 13-hours-mooring stations, respectively, in Quanzhou Bay. The average contents of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, and Cd are 1.610-0.359, 0.730-0.150, 2.249-0.319, 6.421-1.266, 0.131-0.027, 4.176-1.101 microg/L and 17.526-2.260 ng/L, respectively, in different stations in the suspended particles and are 65.3-82.6, 37.8-39.8, 37.4-51.4, 121.0-172.8, 3.3-3.4, 42.2-76.9 and 0.217-0.493 microg/g, respectively, in the surface sediments of two stations. The concentrations of heavy metals in suspended particles varied significantly and the distribution patterns corresponded to the tidal and estuarine processes at the estuary area in a tidal cycle. While at the outer area, the varieties of concentrations were relatively unobvious and the re-suspension from surface sediments might play a significant role on distribution patterns of heavy metals in suspended particles. In a tidal cycle, the varieties of heavy metals concentrations in surface sediments were corresponding to that in suspended particles', which indicated that exchanges of heavy metals existed between surface sediments and suspended particles. These study results provide a reference to comprehensive understanding on distribution, migration and exchange of heavy metals in the Quanzhou Bay.

[Distribution patterns of heavy metals in surface sediments of the Quanzhou Bay and environmental quality assessment].

The concentrations of 7 heavy metals were determined in 48 surface sediments in the Quanzhou Bay by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The average contents of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb are 47.66, 52.2, 30.86, 111.6, 5.29, 0.399 and 50.3 microg x g(-1), respectively. The Cd, Pb, Zn and As were mainly discharged into the Quanzhou Bay by Jinjiang River, while the materials near the Bay might supply a considerable amount of Cr, Ni and Cu. The result of the multi-analysis ecological risk index analyses revealed that Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and As were moderately contaminated and presented low potential ecological risk, while Cd was heavily contaminated and raised high potential ecological risk. In general, moderately contaminated and potential ecological risk were occurred in whole Quanzhou Bay with the dominated polluted metals were Ni and Cd. The heavily contaminated area was corresponded to the high potential ecological risk area, which located at the confluent area of Jinjiang River and Luoyangjiang River. From the results of this study, we conclude that the Quanzhou Bay has been heavily polluted by heavy metals, therefore much environmental control should be continued and strengthen to Quanzhou Bay and its adjacent areas.

[Spatial variations of carbon and nitrogen in coastal wetland sediments of Quanzhou Bay in China].

Six short sediment cores were collected from different coastal wetlands of Quanzhou Bay in order to obtain the particle size distribution and median grain size by laser particle size analyzer, and the contents of total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total inorganic carbon (TIC) by element analyzer. Analysis results show that sediment in coastal wetlands of Quanzhou Bay can be classified as silt and clayey-silt, and the median grain size varies from 9.2 microm to 18.5 microm. The TIC content in bare flat sediments of Shuitou area is about 0.137%, which is higher than that in coastal wetland covered by Spartina alterniflora (0.014%-0.038%). TIC content decreases when grain size decreases in these sediments. Contents of TOC and TN vary from 0.939% to 2.057% and from 0.163% to 0.260% respectively. Spartina alterniflora has a strong absorption ability of carbon and nitrogen while mangrove has a weak one, and sewage discharge increases the TOC content in the sediments of Shuitou area which is higher than that of Luoyangjiang River estuary. Weak correlations occur between the contents of TOC and TN and median grain size; a typical strong positive relationship is observed between TOC and TN contents; and significant positive relationships of TN content with C/N ratio in Spartina alterniflora wetland and TOC content with C/N ratio in Spartina alterniflora wetland and bare flat are also observed. All these data indicate that the sources of TOC and TN in the coastal wetland sediments of Quanzhou Bay originate from sewage discharge and biogenic production.