Subthalamic nucleus dynamics track microlesion effect in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is characterized by the temporary alleviation of motor symptoms following electrode implantation (or nucleus destruction), known as the microlesion effect (MLE). Electrophysiological studies have explored different PD stages, but understanding electrophysiological characteristics during the MLE period remains unclear. The objective was to examine the characteristics of local field potential (LFP) signals in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) during the hyperacute period following implantation (within 2 days) and 1 month post-implantation. 15 patients diagnosed with PD were enrolled in this observational study, with seven simultaneous recordings of bilateral STN-LFP signals using wireless sensing technology from an implantable pulse generator. Recordings were made in both on and off medication states over 1 month after implantation. We used a method to parameterize the neuronal power spectrum to separate periodic oscillatory and aperiodic components effectively. Our results showed that beta power exhibited a significant increase in the off medication state 1 month after implantation, compared to the postoperative hyperacute period. Notably, this elevation was effectively attenuated by levodopa administration. Furthermore, both the exponents and offsets displayed a decrease at 1 month postoperatively when compared to the hyperacute postoperative period. Remarkably, levodopa medication exerted a modulatory effect on these aperiodic parameters, restoring them back to levels observed during the hyperacute period. Our findings suggest that both periodic and aperiodic components partially capture distinct electrophysiological characteristics during the MLE. It is crucial to adequately evaluate such discrepancies when exploring the mechanisms of MLE and optimizing adaptive stimulus protocols.

Comparative study of the clinical efficacy of subcostal thoracoscopy and median sternotomy in treating thymoma: a propensity score-matching analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of subcostal thoracoscopy and median sternotomy as surgical approaches for thymoma resection and lymph node dissection. The feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of subcostal thoracoscopy were compared with those of median sternotomy. METHODS: The clinical data of 335 patients with thymoma were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the subcostal thoracoscopy group and the median sternotomy group. Propensity score matching was performed to obtain comparable subsets of 50 patients in each group. A comparative analysis was conducted on various parameters. RESULTS: All surgeries were successful, and no conversions to open thoracotomy were required in the subcostal thoracoscopy group. Significant differences in the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, chest tube drainage duration, postoperative hospital stay, patient satisfaction scores, pain assessment, and postoperative complications were observed between the two groups. However, there was no significant difference in the number of lymph nodes or lymph node stations dissected intraoperatively between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Subcostal thoracoscopy is not inferior to median sternotomy as a surgical approach for thymoma resection and lymph node dissection. Our research provides important new comparative data on minimally invasive thymoma resection.

The effect of aperiodic components in distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from frontotemporal dementia.

Distinguishing between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) presents a clinical challenge. Inexpensive and accessible techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) are increasingly being used to address this challenge. In particular, the potential relevance between aperiodic components of EEG activity and these disorders has gained interest as our understanding evolves. This study aims to determine the differences in aperiodic activity between AD and FTD and evaluate its potential for distinguishing between the two disorders. A total of 88 participants, including 36 patients with AD, 23 patients with FTD, and 29 healthy controls (CN) underwent cognitive assessment and scalp EEG acquisition. Neuronal power spectra were parameterized to decompose the EEG spectrum, enabling comparison of group differences in different components. A support vector machine was employed to assess the impact of aperiodic parameters on the differential diagnosis. Compared with the CN group, both the AD and FTD groups showed varying degrees of increased alpha power (both periodic and raw power) and theta alpha power ratio. At the channel level, theta power (both periodic and raw power) in the frontal regions was higher in the AD group compared to the FTD group, and aperiodic parameters (both exponents and offsets) in the frontal, temporal, central, and parietal regions were higher in the AD group than in the FTD group. Importantly, the inclusion of aperiodic parameters led to improved performance in distinguishing between the two disorders. These findings highlight the significance of aperiodic components in discriminating dementia-related diseases.

Histamine H2 receptor antagonist exhibited comparable all-cause mortality-decreasing effect as ß-blockers in critically ill patients with heart failure: a cohort study.

Background: Our previous study reported that histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) exposure was associated with decreased mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure (HF) through the same pharmacological mechanism as ß-blockers. However, population-based clinical study directly comparing the efficacy of H2RAs and ß-blockers on mortality of HF patients are still lacking. This study aims to compare the association difference of H2RAs and ß-blockers on mortality in critically ill patients with HF using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database (MIMIC-III). Methods: Study population was divided into 4 groups: ß-blockers + H2RAs group, ß-blockers group, H2RAs group, and Non-ß-blockers + Non-H2RAs group. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression models were employed to evaluate the differences of all-cause mortalities among the 4 groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to increase comparability of four groups. Results: A total of 5593 patients were included. After PSM, multivariate analyses showed that patients in H2RAs group had close all-cause mortality with patients in ß-blockers group. Furthermore, 30-day, 1-year, 5-year and 10-year all-mortality of patients in ß-blockers + H2RAs group were significantly lower than those of patients in ß-blockers group, respectively (HR: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.50-0.82 for 30-day; HR: 0.80, 95%CI: 0.69-0.93 for 1-year mortality; HR: 0.83, 95%CI: 0.74-0.93 for 5-year mortality; and HR: 0.85, 95%CI: 0.76-0.94 for 10-year mortality, respectively). Conclusion: H2RAs exposure exhibited comparable all-cause mortality-decreasing effect as ß-blockers; and, furthermore, H2RAs and ß-blockers had additive or synergistic interactions to improve survival in critically ill patients with HF.

Effects of Microplastics on the Transport of Soil Dissolved Organic Matter in the Loess Plateau of China.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution and dissolved organic matter (DOM) affect soil quality and functions. However, the effect of MPs on DOM and underlying mechanisms have not been clarified, which poses a challenge to maintaining soil health. Under environmentally relevant conditions, we evaluated the major role of polypropylene particles at four micron-level sizes (20, 200, and 500 µm and mixed) in regulating changes in soil DOM content. We found that an increase in soil aeration by medium and high-intensity (>0.5%) MPs may reduce NH4+ leaching by accelerating soil nitrification. However, MPs have a positive effect on soil nutrient retention through the adsorption of PO43- (13.30-34.46%) and NH4+ (9.03-19.65%) and their leached dissolved organic carbon (MP-leached dissolved organic carbon, MP-DOC), thereby maintaining the dynamic balance of soil nutrients. The regulating ion (Ca2+) is also an important competitor in the MP-DOM adsorption system, and changes in its intensity are dynamically involved in the adsorption process. These findings can help predict the response of soil processes, especially nutrient cycling, to persistent anthropogenic stressors, improve risk management policies on MPs, and facilitate the protection of soil health and function, especially in future agricultural contexts.

Microlens-Assisted Light-Scattering Imaging of Plasmonic Nanoparticles at the Single Particle Level.

We present a microlens-assisted imaging approach to record the scattering light of plasmonic nanoparticles at the single particle level. The microlens can significantly enhance the backscattering of visible light from individual plasmonic nanoparticles by several dozen folds, and single gold nanoparticles with a diameter as low as 60 nm can be imaged under a conventional optical microscope. This can benefit from a significant increase in the scattering intensity afforded by the microlens, meaning that the imaging of gold nanoparticles at a high temporal resolution (up to 5000 Hz) can be achieved, which is fast enough to record single particle adhesion events on the substrate. This research presents a fast and efficient means of acquiring scattering light from plasmonic nanoparticles, which has great potential to develop plasmonic nanoparticle-based biosensors and investigate a wide range of plasmonic nanoparticle-based fast interaction processes.

Response of soybean and maize roots and soil enzyme activities to biodegradable microplastics contaminated soil.

Although biodegradable plastic film is a promising alternative product for reducing polyethylene plastic pollution in agricultural soils, the effects of its residues on plant growth and soil properties remain unclear. In this study, we conducted an experiment to investigate root properties and soil enzyme activities in Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) microplastics (PBAT-MPs) contaminated soil (0 % (CK), 0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.5 % and 1 % of dry soil weight) with soybean (Glycine max (Linn.) Merr.) and maize (Zea mays L.). The results show that PBAT-MP accumulation in soil negatively affects root growth, and alter soil enzyme activities, which may then constrain C/N cycling and potential yields. For soybean, the total root length, total root surface area and root biomass decreased by 34 %- 58 %, 34 %- 54 % and 25 %- 40 % at the harvesting stage compared to CK, respectively. The negative effects of PBAT-MPs on maize roots were greater than on soybean roots. The total root length, root surface area and root biomass of maize decreased by 37 %- 71 %, 33 %- 71 % and 24 %- 64 % at the tasseling and harvesting stage, respectively (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a statistical analysis of the data indicates that the inhibition of soybean and maize root growth by PBAT-MP accumulation was mediated by the significantly different impacts of PBAT-MP addition on C-enzyme (ß-xylosidase, cellobiohydrolase, ß-glucosidase) and N-enzyme activities (leucine-aminopeptidase, N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase, alanine aminotransferase) in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil, possibly due to interactions with plant-specific root exudates and microbial communities. These findings show the potential risks posed by biodegradable microplastics on the plant-soil system, and suggest that biodegradable plastic film should be applied with caution.

Long-term warming impacts grassland ecosystem function: Role of diversity loss in conditionally rare bacterial taxa.

The impact of microbial communities on ecosystem function varies due to the diverse biological attributes and sensitivities exhibited by different taxonomic groups. These groups can be classified as always rare (ART), conditionally rare (CRT), dominant, and total taxa, each affecting ecosystem function in distinct ways. Thus, understanding the functional traits of organisms within these taxa is crucial for comprehending their contributions to overall ecosystem function. In our study, we investigated the influence of climate warming on the biogeochemical cycles of the ecosystem in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, utilizing an open top chamber experiment. Simulated warming significantly lowered ecosystem function in the grassland but not in the shrubland. This discrepancy was due to the diverse responses of the various taxa present in each ecosystem to warming conditions and their differing roles in determining and regulating ecosystem function. The microbial maintenance of ecosystem function was primarily reliant on the diversity of bacterial dominant taxa and CRT and was less dependent on ART and fungal taxa. Furthermore, bacterial CRT and dominant taxa of the grassland ecosystem were more sensitive to changing climatic conditions than grassland ART, resulting in a more pronounced negative diversity response. In conclusion, the biological maintenance of ecosystem function during climate warming is dependent on microbiome composition and the functional and response characteristics of the taxa present. Thus, understanding the functional traits and response characteristics of various taxa is crucial for predicting the effects of climate change on ecosystem function and informing ecological reconstruction efforts in alpine regions of the plateau.

Soil enzyme kinetics and thermodynamics in response to long-term vegetation succession.

Our current knowledge regarding soil organic matter (SOM) turnover during vegetation succession is often limited to conventional C decomposition models. However, microbial enzyme-mediated SOM degradation and nutrient cycling are mainly reflected in the kinetic parameters of these enzymes. Changes in the composition and structure of plant communities are typically accompanied by alterations in soil ecological functions. Therefore, it is important to clarify the kinetic parameters of soil enzymes and their temperature sensitivity in response to vegetation succession, especially under the current trend of climate change-related global warming; however, these are still understudied. Here, we examined the kinetic parameters of soil enzymes, their temperature sensitivity, and their associations with environmental variables over long-term (approximately 160 years) vegetation succession on the Loess Plateau using a space-for-time substitution method. We found that the kinetic parameters of soil enzymes changed significantly during vegetation succession. Specific response characteristics varied depending on the enzyme. Overall, the temperature sensitivity (Q10, 0.79-1.87) and activation energy (Ea, 8.69-41.49 kJ·mol-1) remained stable during long-term succession. Compared with N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and alkaline phosphatase, ß-glucosidase was more sensitive to extreme temperatures. In particular, two kinetic parameters (i.e., maximum reaction rate, Vmax; half-saturation constant, Km) of ß-glucosidase were decoupled at low (5 °C) and high (35 °C) temperatures. Overall, Vmax was the primary determinant of variations of enzyme catalytic efficiency (Kcat) during succession, and soil total nutrients had a greater impact on Kcat than available nutrients. Our results suggested that soil ecosystems played an increasingly important role as a C source during long-term vegetation succession, as indicated by the positive responses of the C cycling enzyme Kcat, while the factors related to soil N and P cycling remained relatively stable.

BIS feedback closed-loop target-controlled infusion of propofol or etomidate in elderly patients with spinal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety of etomidate anesthesia induction combined with Bispectral index (BIS) feedback closed-loop target-controlled infusion of propofol for spinal surgery in elderly patients. METHODS: Clinical data of 90 elderly patients who underwent elective spinal surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were assigned to an etomidate group (n=48) and a propofol group (n=42) according to the different anesthesia methods. The etomidate group was anesthetized with etomidate combined with BIS feedback closed-loop target-controlled infusion, and the propofol group was anesthetized with closed-loop target-controlled infusion induced by propofol. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) of the two groups were statistically analyzed 5 min after admission to the operating room (T0), the moment of the intubation (T1), 3 min after intubation (T2), 1 min before prone position (T3), 3 min after prone position (T4), the end of suture skin (T5) and 3 min after supine position (T6). In addition, the vasoactive drug application, awakening time, tracheal tube extraction time and incidence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were significant changes in MAP and HR from T0 to T1 in both groups (MAP: etomidate group t=5.677, P<0.001, propofol group t=8.093, P<0.001; HR: etomidate group t=2.731, P=0.008, propofol group t=3.967, P<0.001). MAP changes in etomidate group from T0 to T1 were less (MAP: t=4.236, P<0.001; t=2.082, P=0.040), and there was no significant difference in HR between the two groups (P>0.05). There were fewer patients receiving vasoactive drugs in the etomidate group (χ2=5.070, P=0.024), but no significant difference was found in the incidence of complications between the two groups, χ2=3.670, P=0.055. CONCLUSION: Compared to propofol, the application of etomidate combined with BIS feedback closed-loop target-controlled infusion in spinal surgery anesthesia for elderly patients can keep hemodynamics in a stable state, without affecting postoperative resuscitation, showing high safety, so it is worthy of clinical application.

Impacts of extreme weather events on terrestrial carbon and nitrogen cycling: A global meta-analysis.

Some weather events like drought, increased precipitation, and warming exert substantial impact on the terrestrial C and N cycling. However, it remains largely unclear about the effect of extreme weather events (extreme drought, heavy rainfall, extreme heat, and extreme cold) on terrestrial C and N cycling. This study aims to analyze the responses of pools and fluxes of C and N in plants, soil, and microbes to extreme weather events by conducting a global meta-analysis of 656 pairwise observations. Results showed that extreme weather events (extreme drought, heavy rainfall, and extreme heat) decreased plant biomass and C flux, and extreme drought and heavy rainfall decreased the plant N pool and soil N flux. These results suggest that extreme weather events weaken the C and N cycling process in terrestrial ecosystems. However, this study did not determine the impact of extreme cold on ecosystem C and N cycling. Additional field experiments are needed to reveal the effects of extreme cold on global C and N cycling patterns.

Clinical Comparative Analyses of Thymectomy Between Subxiphoid and Subcostal Arch Thoracoscopic Resection and Median Sternotomy for the Treatment of Thymoma With Myasthenia Gravis in Chinese Patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to retrospectively compare the efficacy and safety of subxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic resection (SR) and the median sternotomy (MS) for thymoma with myasthenia gravis (MG) via propensity-matched analysis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 502 patients with thymoma and MG in Tangdu Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University from December 2012 to December 2017. The patients were allocated to SR group (n = 424) and MS group (n = 78). Perioperative outcomes were compared between SR group and MS group by using propensity-matched analysis. RESULTS: All SR and MS operations were accomplished successfully. Most postoperative outcomes between the two groups showed no significant difference such as remission of MG and postoperative complication (P > 0.05). There were statistically significant differences between MS group and SR group in operation time [(116.3 ± 33.7) min versus (52.2 ± 31.3) min], intraoperative blood loss [(145.2 ± 26.7) mL versus (51.2 ± 10.3) mL], chest drainage duration (3.4 d versus 0 d), days of hospital-stay (5.2 d versus 2.7 d), patient satisfaction score (5.9 ± 2.3 versus 8.7 ± 1.2), the incidence of complications and pain scores, with all P values < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that subxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic resection is a less invasive procedure with good safety and feasibility as compared with median sternotomy for thymoma with myasthenia gravis.

Plant-soil-enzyme C-N-P stoichiometry and microbial nutrient limitation responses to plant-soil feedbacks during community succession: A 3-year pot experiment in China.

Studying plant-soil feedback (PSF) can improve the understanding of the plant community composition and structure; however, changes in plant-soil-enzyme stoichiometry in response to PSF are unclear. The present study aimed to analyze the changes in plant-soil-enzyme stoichiometry and microbial nutrient limitation to PSF, and identify the roles of nutrient limitation in PSF. Setaria viridis, Stipa bungeana, and Bothriochloa ischaemum were selected as representative grass species in early-, mid-, and late-succession; furthermore, three soil types were collected from grass species communities in early-, mid-, and late-succession to treat the three successional species. A 3-year (represents three growth periods) PSF experiment was performed with the three grasses in the soil in the three succession stages. We analyzed plant biomass and plant-soil-enzyme C-N-P stoichiometry for each plant growth period. The plant growth period mainly affected the plant C:N in the early- and late- species but showed a less pronounced effect on the soil C:N. During the three growth periods, the plants changed from N-limited to P-limited; the three successional species soils were mainly limited by N, whereas the microbes were limited by both C and N. The plant-soil-enzyme stoichiometry and plant biomass were not significantly correlated. In conclusion, during PSF, the plant growth period significantly influences the plant-soil-microbial nutrient limitations. Plant-soil-enzyme stoichiometry and microbial nutrient limitation cannot effectively explain PSF during succession on the Loess Plateau.

Irrigation-facilitated low-density polyethylene microplastic vertical transport along soil profile: An empirical model developed by column experiment.

The emerging issue of microplastic pollution of agricultural soils derives from the intensive utilization of plastic mulching film. Although surface runoff may transport microplastic off-site, infiltration may also facilitate microplastic transport from surface soil to deeper depths. Microplastic comprises a relatively new category of soil contaminants, whose transport in the soil has not yet been widely studied. In this study, we investigated microplastic transport from contaminated surface soil (50 g kg-1) driven by irrigation, from permanent wilting point to saturation, and developed an empirical model to characterize the resulting accumulation of microplastic along soil profile. A soil column experiment was conducted under various treatments: the control, 1, 2 and 4 runs of irrigation. Soil samples were collected from inside and outside of soil cracks (if present) in each soil layer (0-2 cm (source layer), 2-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, 30-40 cm, 40-50 cm). The results showed that with increasing irrigation runs, microplastic in the source soil layer decreased, while microplastic contents in deeper soil depths increased significantly (p < 0.05), varying from 7.03 g kg-1 in 2-5 cm to 0.29 g kg-1 in 40-50 cm soil. The microplastic content detected in soil cracks was 1.3-17.8 times higher than that detected in the soil matrix at similar depths, indicating that the transported microplastic is prone to be enriched in soil cracks. In addition, the total amount of transported microplastic increased 1.5 times after four irrigation runs, and the variations were significantly observed especially at deeper soil depths. Based on correlation analyses, data-fitted empirical models that relate cumulative microplastic to the depth of soil layer and irrigation runs indicate that irrigation-facilitated microplastic transport could be well-characterized (R2 >0.92). Further research is needed to develop an physical-based model in order to assess microplastic migration risks driven by irrigation and other agricultural management practices.

Separating the aperiodic and periodic components of neural activity in Parkinson's disease.

Most studies on electrophysiology have not separated aperiodic activity from the spectra but have rather evaluated a combined periodic oscillatory component and the aperiodic component. As the understanding of aperiodic activity gradually deepens, its potential physiological significance has acquired increased appreciation. Herein, we investigated the two components in scalp electroencephalogram in 16 healthy controls and 15 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD); the results revealed that aperiodic parameters were approximately symmetrically distributed in topography in patients with PD and were significantly modulated by dopaminergic medication in channels C4, C3, CP5 and FC5. In sum, our findings might provide indicators for evaluating treatment response in PD and highlight the importance of re-evaluating the neuronal power spectra parameterization.

Observation of Magnetism-Induced Topological Edge State in Antiferromagnetic Topological Insulator MnBi4Te7.

Breaking time reversal symmetry in a topological insulator may lead to quantum anomalous Hall effect and axion insulator phase. MnBi4Te7 is a recently discovered antiferromagnetic topological insulator with TN ∼ 12.5 K, which is composed of an alternatively stacked magnetic layer (MnBi2Te4) and nonmagnetic layer (Bi2Te3). By means of scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we clearly observe the electronic state present at a step edge of a magnetic MnBi2Te4 layer but absent at nonmagnetic Bi2Te3 layers at 4.5 K. Furthermore, we find that as the temperature rises above TN the edge state vanishes, while the point defect induced state persists upon an increase in temperature. These results confirm the observation of magnetism-induced edge states. Our analysis based on an axion insulator theory reveals that the nontrivial topological nature of the observed edge state.

Temperature sensitivity of soil enzyme kinetics under N and P fertilization in an alpine grassland, China.

Soil nutrient cycling can be best studied by supplementing the soil with N and P fertilizers. Soil enzyme kinetic parameters (Vmax and Km) can be used to reflect the maximum reaction rates and affinities of soil enzymes. However, how N and P fertilizers affect the temperature sensitivity of soil enzyme kinetics is poorly understood. Therefore, our study investigated the response of soil enzyme kinetic temperature sensitivity relevant to C, N, and P cycles based on a 9-year fertilization (N and P) experiment performed in an alpine grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China. Our results showed the following: N and P addition positively affected the Km of ß-glucosidase (BG); P and NP interaction significantly increased the Km of phosphatase (AP), indicating that N and P addition significantly negatively affected the substrate affinity of soil enzymes. The temperature sensitivity of Michaelis-Menten kinetics was different for different enzymes. N and P fertilization decreased the temperature sensitivity of Km of BG but increased the temperature sensitivity of the Km of N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) and AP. In our study, P and NP fertilization increased the temperature sensitivity and activation energy of the Vmax of BG, indicating that P elements promoted the secretion of more extracellular enzymes by soil microbes to cope with temperature changes. The enzymes involved in the soil N and P cycle responded to the exogenous N and P through increases and decreases in the temperature sensitivity of the Km and Vmax, respectively. This study is crucial for investigating the impact of nutrient input on soil ecosystem functions under future climate warming conditions.

Soil texture is an important factor determining how microplastics affect soil hydraulic characteristics.

Microplastic pollution and changes to soil hydraulic characteristics affect the physical properties and functions of soil; however, knowledge remains limited on how microplastics influence soil hydraulic properties. Nonetheless, it is important to understand these relationships to maintain soil health and ensure sustainable land use, especially in the current "plastic age." This case study explored how different particle sizes (20, 200, and 500 µm) and concentrations (up to 6%) of polypropylene microplastics affect the hydraulic properties of three soil textures (loam, clay, and sand). The results show that addition of microplastic reduced the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of the three soils by 69.79%, 77.11%, and 95.79%, respectively. These observed adverse effects of microplastics on the infiltration properties of the three studied soils were influenced by particle size, with larger particles having the weakest effect. Furthermore, microplastic addition reduced the water retention capacity of the clay to a greater extent than that of the loam and sand. In the case of clay, the slope of the water characteristic curve (SWRC) increased significantly, whereas the saturated water content (θs) and residual water content (θr) curves decreased significantly. Importantly, the interaction between microplastics and soil alters the soil pore-size distribution and reduces pore availability. Overall, this case study demonstrates the impact of microplastic on the hydraulic properties of different soil textures, which can inform management strategies to minimize the adverse effects of microplastic accumulation on yields where plastics are used in agricultural production.

Thymol Protects against Aspergillus Fumigatus Keratitis by Inhibiting the LOX-1/IL-1ß Signaling Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of action of thymol in Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis. METHODS: The minimum inhibitory concentration of thymol against A. fumigatus was detected. To characterize the anti-inflammatory effects of thymol, mouse corneas and human corneal epithelial cells were pretreated with thymol or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) before infection with A. fumigatus spores. Slit-lamp microscopy, immunohistochemistry, myeloperoxidase detection, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting were used to assess infection. Neutrophil and macrophage recruitment, in addition to the secretion of LOX-1 and IL-1ß, were quantified to evaluate the relative contribution of thymol to the inflammatory response. RESULTS: We confirmed that the growth of A. fumigatus was directly inhibited by thymol. In contrast with the DMSO group, there was a lower degree of inflammation in the mouse corneas of the thymol-pretreated group. This was characterized by significantly lower clinical scores, less inflammatory cell infiltration, and lower expression of LOX-1 and IL-1ß. Similarly, in vitro experiments indicated that the production of LOX-1 and IL-1ß was significantly inhibited after thymol treatment, in contrast with the DMSO-pretreated group. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that thymol exerted a direct fungistatic activity on A. fumigatus. Furthermore, thymol played a protective role in fungal keratitis by inhibiting LOX-1/IL-1ß signaling pathway and reducing the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages.