Calycosin promotes axon growth by inhibiting PTPRS and alleviates spinal cord injury.

Our former studies have identified the alleviating effect of Calycosin (CA) on spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, our purpose is to explore the influence of CA on SCI from the perspective of promoting axon growth. The SCI animal model was constructed by spinal cord compression, wherein rat primary cortex neuronal isolation was performed, and the axonal growth restriction cell model was established via chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) treatment. The expressions of axon regeneration markers were measured via immunofluorescent staining and western blot, and the direct target of CA was examined using silver staining. Finally, the expression of the protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type S (PTPRS) was assessed using western blot. CA treatment increased neuronal process outgrowth and the expressions of axon regeneration markers, such as neurofilament H (NF-H), vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGlut1), and synaptophysin (Syn) in both SCI model rats and CSPG-treated primary cortical neurons, and PTPRS levels were elevated after SCI induction. In addition, PTPRS was the direct target of CA, and according to in vivo findings, exposure to CA reduced the PTPRS content. Furthermore, PTPRS overexpression inhibited CA's enhancement of axon regeneration marker content and neuronal axon lengths. CA improves SCI by increasing axon development through regulating PTPRS expression.

Heparin-Binding Protein Promotes Acute Lung Injury in Sepsis Mice by Blocking the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signaling Pathway.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of heparin-binding protein (HBP) reduction on sepsis-related acute lung injury. Methods: We utilized a murine model of sepsis-induced by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in C57BL/6J mice divided into four groups: Control, LPS, Anti-HBP, and ceftriaxone (CEF). Following sepsis induction, Anti-HBP or CEF treatments were administered, and survival rates were monitored for 48 h. We then used reverse-transcription quantitative PCR to analyze the expression levels of HBP in lung tissues, immunohistochemistry for protein localization, and Western blotting for protein quantification. Pulmonary inflammation was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-1ß, IL-6, and interferon-γ). The activation state of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathway was determined via Western blotting, evaluating both cytoplasmic and nuclear localization of AhR and the expression of cytochrome P450 1A1 protein by its target gene. Results: Anti-HBP specifically reduced HBP levels. The survival rate of mice in the Anti-HBP and CEF groups was much higher than that in the LPS group. The severity of lung injury and pulmonary inflammatory response in the Anti-HBP and CEF groups was significantly lower than that in the LPS group. AhR signaling pathway activation was observed in the Anti-HBP and CEF groups. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the above indices between the Anti-HBP and CEF groups. Conclusion: HBP downregulation in lung tissues significantly improved LPS-induced lung injury and the pulmonary inflammatory response, thereby prolonging the survival of sepsis mice, suggesting activation of the AhR signaling pathway. Moreover, the effect of lowering the HBP level was equivalent to that of the classical antibiotic CEF. Trial Registration: Not applicable.

Theoretical and numerical study on transient acoustic wave propagation across ice layers in the Arctic Ocean.

The study of transient acoustic wave propagation across the Arctic Ocean ice layer provides theoretical guidance for the design of trans-ice acoustic communication systems. In this study, the Arctic Ocean was modeled as an ice-water composite structure, where the ice and water are regarded as an elastic solid and liquid, respectively. An analytical transient solution for acoustic wave propagation in this structure was derived using the eigenfunction expansion method. Further, the numerical procedures were presented and used to analyze the acoustic wave propagation characteristics across the ice layer. The results show that waveforms corresponding to the radial displacements are more severely distorted than the axial displacements. The amplitudes of the radial and axial displacements decreased rapidly with increasing propagation distance. The ice thickness had a greater impact on the radial displacement than axial displacement; the thicker the ice, the greater the distortion for both radial and axial displacements.

Effects of Nutrient Solution Application Rates on Yield, Quality, and Water-Fertilizer Use Efficiency on Greenhouse Tomatoes Using Grown-in Coir.

The yield, quality, and water-fertilizer use efficiency of crops are important parameters for assessing rational water and fertilizer management. For an optimal water and fertilizer system with respect to the nutrient solution irrigation of greenhouse tomatoes using cultivation substrates, a two-year greenhouse cultivation experiment was conducted from 2022 to 2023. Three drip fertigation treatments (T1, T2, and T3) were implemented in the experiment, where nutrient solutions were supplied when the substrate's water content reached 60%, 70%, and 80%. The frequency of nutrient solution applications is based on weighing coconut coir strips in the morning and evening at 7:00 to determine the daily water consumption of plants. Nutrient solutions were supplied when the substrate's water content reached the lower limit, and the upper limit for nutrient supply was set at 100% of the substrate water content. The nutrient solution application was carried out multiple times throughout the day, avoiding the midday heat. The nutrient solution formula used was the soilless tomato cultivation formula from South China Agricultural University. The results show that plant height and the leaf area index rapidly increased in the early and middle stages, and later growth tended to stabilize; the daily transpiration of tomatoes increased with an increase in nutrient solution supply, and it was the greatest in the T3 treatment. Between the amount of nutrient solution application and the number of years, the yield increased with the increase of the amount of nutrient solution, showing T3 > T2 > T1. Although the average yield of the T2 treatment was slightly lower than that of the T3 treatment by 3.65%, the average irrigation water use efficiency, water use efficiency, and partial fertilizer productivity of the T2 treatment were significantly higher than those of the T3 treatment by 29.10%, 19.99%, and 28.89%, respectively (p < 0.05). Additionally, soluble solid, vitamin C, and soluble sugar contents and the sugar-acid ratio of tomatoes in the T2 treatment were greater than those in the other two treatments (p < 0.05). Using the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) method, it was concluded that the nutrient solution application rate of 70% can significantly increase water and fertilizer use efficiency and markedly improve the nutritional and flavor quality of the fruit without a significant reduction in yield. This finding provides significant guidance for the high-yield, high-quality, and efficient production of coconut coir-based cultivated tomatoes in greenhouses.

Simulation of Daily Transpiration of Tomatoes Grown in Venlo-Type Greenhouse Substrates.

An appropriate water supply strategy is imperative for obtaining tomatoes of a high yield and quality; the lack of one has caused resource wastage and quality deterioration. To determine the suitable irrigation amount and simulate daily transpiration under these optimal irrigation conditions, a two-year greenhouse cultivation experiment was conducted over 2022-2023. Commencing at anthesis, three distinct irrigation gradients were triggered and designated as irrigation controls with the lower limits set at 80% (T1), 70% (T2), and 60% (T3) of the substrate water-holding capacity. We determined the optimal irrigation amount by ranking the treatments using the TOPSIS method, balancing the tomato yield and quality. A segmented daily transpiration model under optimal irrigation conditions driven by crop and environmental factors was established using the Marquardt method and data from 2022, and the model was validated using data from 2023. The results indicated that T2 was the optimal irrigation amount, with the water use efficiency increased by 18.0%, but with a 10.9% decrease in yield, while the quality indices improved significantly. The R2 values of the segmented model in the flowering and fruit-setting stage and the picking stage were 0.92 and 0.86, respectively, which could provide support for optimized water management for tomato planting in greenhouse substrate cultivation.

Sivelestat sodium attenuates acute lung injury by inhibiting JNK/NF-κB and activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways.

Sivelestat sodium (SIV), a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, is mainly used for the clinical treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or acute lung injury (ALI). However, studies investigating the effects of SIV treatment of ALI are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the potential molecular mechanism of the protective effects of SIV against ALI. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and male Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally injected with Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) and treated with SIV, ML385, and anisomycin (ANI) to mimic the pathogenetic process of ALI in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The levels of inflammatory cytokines and indicators of oxidative stress were assessed in vitro and in vivo. The wet/dry (W/D) ratio of lung tissues, histopathological changes, inflammatory cells levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and survival rates of rats were analyzed. The JNK/NF-κB (p65) and Nrf2/HO-1 levels in the HPMECs and lung tissues were analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescence analyses. Administration of SIV reduced the inflammatory factors levels, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in lung tissues. Meanwhile, SIV alleviated pathological injuries, decreased the W/D ratio, and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue. In addition, SIV also inhibited the activation of JNK/NF-κB signaling pathway, promoted nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and upregulated the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). However, ANI or ML385 significantly reversed these changes. SIV effectively attenuated the inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Its potential molecular mechanism was related to the JNK/NF-κB activation and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway inhibition. This further deepened the understanding of the protective effects of SIV against ALI.

The synergistic Reduning and cefmetazole sodium treatment of severe pneumonia is mediated by the AhR-Src-STAT3 pathway.

Background: Reduning (RDN) is a common Chinese medicine preparation with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects in respiratory infectious diseases. Clinically, it is used in combination with antibiotics, but its synergistic effect and mechanism in treating severe pneumonia remain unclear. Methods: A rat model of severe pneumonia and an in vitro coculture model consisting of A549 and THP-1 cells were used to observe the synergistic effect of RDN on severe pneumonia. The inflammatory cytokines were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The localization of Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in A549 cells was observed by immunofluorescence, and the interaction of AhR and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) proteins was observed by co-immunoprecipitation. AhR-Src tyrosine kinase (Src)-STAT3 pathway in rats and A549 cells were examined by Western Blot. Histopathological changes were observed by Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, X-ray and survival rates were used to evaluate the effects of paclitaxel on severe pneumonia rats. Results: RDN regulation of Src-STAT3-interleukin 10 (IL-10) signaling pathway activation and macrophage polarization were mediated through the nuclear receptor AhR. The expression of AhR was significantly increased after RDN treatment, and this effect was accompanied by STAT3 expression increasing. Coimmunoprecipitation confirmed an interaction between AhR and STAT3 and upregulated IL-10 expression. Silencing AhR decreased Src, STAT3, and IL-10 expression. RDN activated AhR and increased Src, STAT3, and IL-10 expression. In addition, RDN regulated the polarization of macrophages RDN combined with cefmetazole sodium significantly reduced the pulmonary bacterial load, alleviated lung injury, and reduced o inflammatory factors expression, improving their survival. Conclusions: RDN can synergistically enhance the effect of cefmetazole sodium treatment in severe pneumonia, and the mechanism may involve increasing the expression level of IL-10 mediated through the AhR-Src-STAT3 pathway, driving the polarization of macrophages, and attenuating the cytokine storm to control inflammation in severe pneumonia.

Three-dimensional analytical solution for transient guided wave propagation in liquid-filled pipe systems.

The objective of this study is to investigate the three-dimensional (3-D) analytical solution for transient guided wave propagation in liquid-filled pipe systems using the eigenfunction expansion method (EEM). The eigenfunctions corresponding to finite liquid-filled pipe systems with a traction-free lateral boundary and rigid smooth end boundaries are obtained. Additionally, the orthogonality of the eigenfunctions is proved in detail. Subsequently, the exact 3-D analytical transient response of finite liquid-filled pipe systems to external body forces is constructed using the EEM, based on which, the approximate 3-D analytical transient response of the systems to external surface forces is derived. Furthermore, the analytical solution for transient guided wave propagation in finite liquid-filled pipe systems is extended explicitly and concisely to infinite liquid-filled pipe systems. Several numerical examples are given to illustrate the analysis of the spatial and frequency distributions of the radial and axial displacement amplitudes of various guided wave modes; the numerical examples also simulate the transient displacement of the pipe wall and the transient pressure of the internal liquid from the present solution. The present solution can provide some theoretical guidelines for the guided wave nondestructive evaluation of liquid-filled pipes and the guided wave technique for downhole data transfer.