Identification of ARF genes in Cucurbita pepo L and analysis of expression patterns, and functional analysis of CpARF22 under drought, salt stress.

BACKGROUND: Auxin transcription factor (ARF) is an important transcription factor that transmits auxin signals and is involved in plant growth and development as well as stress response. However, genome-wide identification and responses to abiotic and pathogen stresses of the ARF gene family in Cucurbita pepo L, especially pathogen stresses, have not been reported. RESULTS: Finally, 33 ARF genes (CpARF01 to CpARF33) were identified in C.pepo from the Cucurbitaceae genome database using bioinformatics methods. The putative protein contains 438 to 1071 amino acids, the isoelectric point is 4.99 to 8.54, and the molecular weight is 47759.36 to 117813.27 Da, the instability index ranged from 40.74 to 68.94, and the liposoluble index ranged from 62.56 to 76.18. The 33 genes were mainly localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and distributed on 16 chromosomes unevenly. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 33 CpARF proteins were divided into 6 groups. According to the amino acid sequence of CpARF proteins, 10 motifs were identified, and 1,3,6,8,10 motifs were highly conserved in most of the CpARF proteins. At the same time, it was found that genes in the same subfamily have similar gene structures. Cis-elements and protein interaction networks predicted that CpARF may be involved in abiotic factors related to the stress response. QRT-PCR analysis showed that most of the CpARF genes were upregulated under NaCl, PEG, and pathogen treatment compared to the control. Subcellular localization showed that CpARF22 was localized in the nucleus. The transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines with the CpARF22 gene enhanced their tolerance to salt and drought stress. CONCLUSION: In this study, we systematically analyzed the CpARF gene family and its expression patterns under drought, salt, and pathogen stress, which improved our understanding of the ARF protein of zucchini, and laid a solid foundation for functional analysis of the CpARF gene.

GR1 and NTRA involved in pollen tube growth in the stigma of Arabidopsis.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Arabidopsis GR1 and NTRA function in pollen tube penetrating the stigma into the transmitting tract during pollination. During pollination, recognition between pollen (tube) and stigma mediates the hydration and germination of pollen, as well as the growth of the pollen tube on the stigma. Arabidopsis glutathione reductase 1 (GR1) and NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase A (NTRA) are involved in regulating cell redox hemostasis. Both GR1 and NTRA are expressed in pollen, but their roles in pollen germination and the growth of the pollen tube need further investigation. In this study, we performed pollination experiments and found that the Arabidopsis gr1/ + ntra/- and gr1/- ntra/ + double mutation compromised the transmission of male gametophytes. Pollen morphology and viability of the mutants did not show obvious abnormalities. Additionally, the pollen hydration and germination of the double mutants on solid pollen germination medium were comparable to those of the wild type. However, the pollen tubes with gr1 ntra double mutation were unable to penetrate the stigma and enter the transmitting tract when they grew on the surface of the stigma. Our results indicate that GR1 and NTRA play a role in regulating the interaction between the pollen tube and the stigma during pollination.

Changes in quality components and antioxidant activity of peony seed soy sauce during low-salt solid-state fermentation.

BACKGROUND: In this study, the fermentation conditions of peony seed soy sauce (PSSS) koji were optimized by response surface method, and the quality components and antioxidant activity of PSSS were investigated at different low-salt solid-state fermentation stages. RESULTS: Results of response surface method showed that the optimal fermentation conditions were 460.6 g kg-1 water content, 48.6 h culture time, 31.5 °C culture temperature and ratio 2.1:1 (w/w) of peony seed meal:wheat bran, with the highest neutral protease activity (2193.78 U g-1 ) of PSSS koji. PSSS had the highest amino acid nitrogen (7.69 g L-1 ), salt-free soluble solids (185.26 g L-1 ), total free amino acids (49.03 g L-1 ), essential free amino acids (19.58 g L-1 ) and umami free amino acids (16.64 g L-1 ) at 20 days of fermentation. The highest total phenolics were 5.414 g gallic acid equivalent L-1 and total flavonoids 0.617 g rutin equivalent L-1 , as well as the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (86.19%) and reducing power (0.8802, A700 ) of PSSS fermented at 30 days. Sensory evaluation showed that fermentation of 20 days and 25 days could produce a better taste and aroma of PSSS than 15 days and 30 days. CONCLUSION: PSSS had the highest quality components in the middle of fermentation (20 days) and the highest antioxidant activity in the late fermentation period (30 days). These results demonstrated that peony seed meal could be used to produce high-quality soy sauce with high antioxidant activity. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Annual variation of different forms of tritium in the soil around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant.

Tritium deposited in soil forms HTO and OBT. To further understand the changes of HTO and OBT in different years, HTO and OBT in the soil around Qinshan Nuclear Power Base in different sampling years were measured. According to the annual distribution of HTO and OBT in the surface soil, it could be inferred whether there was a long-term release of tritium in the observed year. From the depth distribution of different years, OBT tends to migrate to the deep. From 2015 to 2020, the correlation analysis between OBT and HTO/soil organic matter showed that HTO contributed more to OBT in surface soil at 250-2000 µm and 53-250 µm particle sizes, but this conclusion did not apply to deep soil. However, there was no significant relationship between OBT activity and soil organic matter content.

Characterization of the bark storage protein gene (JcBSP) family in the perennial woody plant Jatropha curcas and the function of JcBSP1 in Arabidopsis thaliana.

BACKGROUND: Bark storage protein (BSP) plays an important role in seasonal nitrogen cycling in perennial deciduous trees. However, there is no report on the function of BSP in the perennial woody oil plant Jatropha curcas. METHODS: In this study, we identified six members of JcBSP gene family in J. curcas genome. The patterns, seasonal changes, and responses to nitrogen treatment in gene expression of JcBSPs were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Overexpression of JcBSP1 in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana was driven by a constitutive cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S RNA promoter. RESULTS: JcBSP members were found to be expressed in various tissues, except seeds. The seasonal changes in the total protein concentration and JcBSP1 expression in the stems of J. curcas were positively correlated, as both increased in autumn and winter and decreased in spring and summer. In addition, the JcBSP1 expression in J. curcas seedlings treated with different concentrations of an NH4NO3 solution was positively correlated with the NH4NO3 concentration and application duration. Furthermore, JcBSP1 overexpression in Arabidopsis resulted in a phenotype of enlarged rosette leaves, flowers, and seeds, and significantly increased the seed weight and yield in transgenic plants.

[Stable Isotopes of Precipitation in the Eastern Tarim River Basin and Water Vapor Sources].

The in-situ monitoring of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes (δ18O and δ2H) in precipitation is helpful to understand the processes of water phase change, mixing, and transportation. Due to the arid climate in the eastern Tarim River basin, water resources are the key factor affecting the regional sustainable development. However, the understanding of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in precipitation is still limited for this region. Based on the isotope data of 103 precipitation samples collected at four stations in the eastern Tarim River basin from June 2019 to September 2020, the spatial and temporal characteristics of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in precipitation were analyzed, and the connections between stable isotopes and moisture sources were discussed. The findings provide a reference for the application of environmental isotope tracers in arid areas. The results show that, ① the four sampling stations generally presented an increasing trend in precipitation stable isotopic values from north to south, and the isotopic values were higher in summer and lower in winter. The d-excess value in the study region was smaller than the national average, and the slope of the local meteoric water line exhibited a significant arid characteristic. ② There was a positive correlation between precipitation stable isotopes and air temperature in the study region, whereas a weak negative relationship was seen between d-excess and air temperature. The negative correlation occurred between δ18O and relative humidity, and the d-excess value exhibited a positive correlation with relative humidity. ③ The backward trajectory showed that the eastern Tarim River basin is mainly controlled by the westerlies paths. The proportion of air mass that comes from the middle and short distance is relatively large. The concentration weighted trajectory method showed that the farther from the precipitation sampling site, the more stable the d-excess value was. The closer to the sampling site, the more frequently the concentration changed, indicating that the d-excess value was greatly affected by the local water vapor recycling.

Acid-sensing ion channel 1a in the central nucleus of the amygdala regulates anxiety-like behaviors in a mouse model of acute pain.

Pain is commonly comorbid with anxiety; however, the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying the comorbid anxiety symptoms in pain (CASP) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the role of acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a), located in GABAergic neurons from the central nucleus of the amygdala (GABACeA), in the regulation of CASP in an acute pain mouse model. We found that the mice displayed significant mechanical pain sensitization and anxiety-like behaviors one day post injection of complete Freud's adjuvant (CFA1D). Electrophysiological recordings from acute brain slices showed that the activity of GABACeA neurons increased in the CFA1D mice compared with that in the saline mice. In addition, chemogenetic inhibition of GABACeA neurons relieved mechanical pain sensitization and anxiety-like behaviors in the CFA1D mice. Interestingly, through pharmacological inhibition and genetic knockdown of ASIC1a in the central nucleus amygdala, we found that downregulation of ASIC1a relieved the hypersensitization of mechanical stimuli and alleviated anxiety-related behaviors, accompanied with reversing the hyperactivity of GABACeA neurons in the CFA 1D mice. In conclusion, our results provide novel insights that ASIC1a in GABACeA neurons regulates anxiety-like behaviors in a mouse model of acute pain.

Pollen-specific gene SKU5-SIMILAR 13 enhances growth of pollen tubes in the transmitting tract in Arabidopsis.

Pollen tube growth and penetration in female tissues are essential for the transfer of sperm to the embryo sac during plant pollination. Despite its importance during pollination, little is known about the mechanisms that mediate pollen tube growth in female tissues. In this study, we identified an Arabidopsis thaliana pollen/pollen tube-specific gene, SKU5-SIMILAR 13 (SKS13), which was critical for the growth of pollen tubes in the transmitting tract. The SKS13 protein was distributed throughout the cytoplasm and pollen tube walls at the apical region. In comparison with wild-type pollen tubes, those of the sks13 mutants burst more frequently when grown in vitro. Additionally, the growth of sks13 pollen tubes was retarded in the transmitting tract, thereby resulting in decreased male fertility. The accumulation of pectin and cellulose in the cell wall of sks13 pollen tubes was altered, and the content of jasmonic acid (JA) in sks13 pollen was reduced. The pollen tubes treated with an inhibitor of JA biosynthesis grew much more slowly and had an altered distribution of pectin, which is similar to the pollen tube phenotypes of the SKS13 mutation. Our results suggest that SKS13 is essential for pollen tube growth in the transmitting tract by mediating the biosynthesis of JA that modifies the components of pollen tube cell walls.

Helicobacter pylori infection as a potential favorable factor for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) has the third highest rate of cancer incidence and mortality worldwide. First-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy for advanced GC led to landmark breakthroughs, but which GC patients are most likely to benefit from ICI therapy needs to be investigated in depth and identified via valuable biomarkers. In this letter, we describe superior outcomes in Asian patients than in North American and European patients treated with ICI therapy, and we speculate that positive H. pylori status may be a beneficial prognostic factor for ICI therapy in patients with GC. Many studies have revealed that H. pylori-activated immune responses improve prognosis in patients with GC via increased PD-L1 expression and CD3+ T cells. We propose that H. pylori status should be emphasized in ongoing or forthcoming ICI therapy trials to maximize the benefits of treatment for patients with advanced GC. Further research is required to better understand the mechanisms of inflammation and cancer progression.

Simultaneous determination of five amino acid neurotransmitters in rat and porcine blood and brain by two-dimensional liquid chromatography.

A method for the simultaneous determination of aspartic acid (Asp), glutamic acid (Glu), glycine (Gly), taurine (Tau) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in animal blood and brain by two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) combined with ultraviolet detection was established for the first time. First, the amino acid neurotransmitters (AANTs) were labeled on the corresponding fluorescent derivatives with 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-F), enriched on the extraction column and automatically transferred to the analytical column to achieve on-line extraction and complete separation of the target components. This method exhibited good selectivity, and the correlation coefficients for the analyte calibration curves of were > 0.99. The intra- and inter-day precisions were ≤ 16.03, and the accuracies were in the range of 70.59-116.20%. The system realizes the rapid detection and stability quantification of the five AANTs, which proves that the alternative dilution method is feasible. The results show that the system has high loading capacity, excellent resolution, and good peak shape and is not affected by other endogenous substances. Moreover, the developed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of biological samples in the blood and whole brain of rats and pigs. The content of AANTs in the hippocampus and cortex of rats was higher than that in those of pigs. This method is expected to provide applicability for the determination of AANTs in pharmacological, pharmaceutical and clinical research in nervous science.

[Sub-cloud secondary evaporation effect of precipitation isotope in Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region, China]. / é™•ç”˜å®åœ°åŒºé™æ°´åŒä½ç´ äº‘ä¸‹äºŒæ¬¡è’¸å‘æ•ˆåº”.

During atmospheric precipitation, the evaporation of raindrops falling from the bottom of cloud layer to the ground and passing through unsaturated air, a process was called sub-cloud secondary evaporation, which will change the isotopic composition of precipitation. Using the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope method to understand the temporal and spatial variation of secondary evaporation effect under clouds and its causes is important to understand regional water cycle process. Based on hourly meteorological data of 187 meteorological stations in Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region from March 2018 to February 2019, the spatial and temporal variations of evaporation surplus ratio (f) and precipitation excess deuterium variation (Δd) were analyzed using the improved Ste-wart model, and the relationships between f and meteorological elements and Δd were examined. The results showed that, at the hourly scale, the minimum values of f and Δd in all provinces of the region appeared in the daytime, and the maximum values appeared in the night, indicating that the secondary evaporation effect under the cloud was more obvious in the daytime. At the monthly scale, the monthly variation trend of f and Δd in each province was relatively consistent, with the minimum value appearing in the summer half year, and the maximum value appearing in the winter half year, indicating that the second evaporation effect under cloud was more significant in the summer half year. From the spatial perspective, the spatial variation of f and Δd values in the region was consistent with that at the seasonal scale. In spring, the eastern and western regions were larger while the central part was smaller. In summer, the northwest region was smaller, and other regions were larger. In autumn, it decreased from south to north. In winter, the central and southern regions were smaller, and the western and northeast regions were larger. The spatial differences of secondary evaporation effects under clouds in different seasons was significant. The slopes of the linear relationship between f and Δd in Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia provinces were all less than 1‰·%-1, which may be caused by the arid and semi-arid climate in this area. When air temperature was higher and the relative humidity, vapor pressure, precipitation and raindrop diameter were smaller, the value of Δd was smaller, and the secondary evaporation effect under the cloud was more obvious.

[Characteristics of Stable Isotopes and Moisture Sources of Two Typical Precipitation Events in Lanzhou City].

To better understand the isotope variations on a short time scale, this study focused on a long-term rainfall event with light precipitation (June 26-27) and a short-term one with heavy precipitation (July 28) in Lanzhou City in the summer of 2019. Combined with HYSPLIT model, samples collected during a continuous precipitation event every 10 min and 30 min were analyzed to explore the characteristics and mechanism of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in precipitation. The results indicate that the effect of sub-cloud secondary evaporation makes the slope of the sequential meteoric water line (SMWL) smaller at the beginning of the rainfall event. Most of the continuous sampling points are distributed above the global meteoric water line (GMWL) and local meteoric water line (LMWL). Moreover, the deuterium excess is larger than the local average annual deuterium (8.13), indicating that the samples have experienced moisture recycling to a certain extent. During two consecutive days (June 26-27) of rainfall, the variations in oxygen isotope δ18O did not follow the effect of precipitation amount; the precipitation δ18O of the first day was "L" shaped, and it fluctuated the next day. On July 28, δ18O steadily decreased, and the range of δ18O exceeded 9‰. On June 26, the moisture transport path was short at the height of 500 m and on June 27 local evaporation was the main pathway. On July 28, with a relatively stable air mass, the moisture source of the entire precipitation event did not change significantly, neither did the isotope value. Therefore, for a single precipitation event on a short time scale, the difference in moisture sources is one of the reasons for isotope variations.

Leonurine improves in vitro porcine embryo development competence by reducing reactive oxygen species production and protecting mitochondrial function.

Leonurine (LEO) is pseudoalkaloid that has been isolated from motherwort. It has been found to have various biological activities, including an antioxidant capacity. This study aimed to confirm whether LEO could be used in porcine in vitro culture (IVC) medium for its antioxidant effect and related molecular mechanisms. The results showed that embryos in IVC medium supplemented with 40 µM LEO had an increased blastocyst formation rate, total cell number, and proliferation capacity and a low apoptosis rate. LEO supplementation decreased reactive oxygen species levels and increased glutathione levels. Moreover, LEO-treated embryos exhibited improved intracellular mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced autophagy. In addition, pluripotency related gene was up-regulated while apoptosis and autophagy related genes were down-regulated with LEO supplementation. These results suggest that LEO has a beneficial effect on pre-implantation embryo development by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing mitochondrial function.

ROS in the Male-Female Interactions During Pollination: Function and Regulation.

The male-female interactions in pollination mediate pollen hydration and germination, pollen tube growth and fertilization. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from both male and female tissues play regulatory roles for the communication between the pollen/pollen tube and female tissues at various stages, such as pollen hydration and germination on the stigma, pollen tube growth in the pistil and pollen tube reception in the female gametophyte. In this minireview, we primarily summarize the recent progress on the roles of ROS signaling in male-female interactions during pollination and discuss several ROS-regulated downstream signaling pathways for these interactions. Furthermore, several ROS-involved downstream pathways are outlined, such as Ca2+ signaling, cell wall cytomechanics, the redox modification of CRP, and cell PCD. At the end, we address the roles of ROS in pollen tube guidance and fertilization as future questions that merit study.

[Water sources of riparian plants based on stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in Lanzhou section of the Yellow River, China].

As plant species for riparian ecological restoration in northern China, Tamarix ramosissima and Salix matsudana play an important role in river protection, flood control, regional climate regulation, and landscape construction of riparian vegetation. Two sampling sites were selected in the riparian zones along the Lanzhou section of Yellow River, where plant xylems and potential water sources were collected. The direct comparison method, Bayesian mixture model MixSIAR and the proportional similarity index (PS index) were used to determine the proportions of water utilization for each potential water source and the relationship of two species in water utilization. The results showed that shallow soil (0-30 cm) was the main water source during growing season, with utilization ratio being 28.3% for T. ramosissima and 24.4% for S. matsudana. For T. ramosissima, river water had the lowest contribution (16.6%), and for S. matsudana, groundwater contributed the least (17.9%). In the months with low soil moisture, plants increased the utilization ratios of river water and groundwater. The PS index at the sampling site S1 and S2 was 91.0% and 87.7%, respectively. On a monthly basis, the index in May was the highest, indicating an inter-month divergence in water use relationship. At the floodplain, there were even utilization ratios for each potential water source, which is an optimal strategy to obtain water from each potential source to the maximum extent. Our results provided theoretical basis for riparian tourism development along the Lanzhou section of the Yellow River and plant water management in environment protection in the Yellow River Basin.

Abnormality of intestinal cholesterol absorption in ApcMin/+ mice with colon cancer cachexia.

Colorectal cancer syndrome has been one of the greatest concerns in the world, particularly in developed countries. Several epidemiological studies have shown that dyslipidemia may be associated with the progression of intestinal cachexia, but there is little research on the function of the small intestine, which is involved in blood lipid metabolism, in dyslipidemia. In the present study, we aimed to explore the function of intestinal cholesterol absorption in the ApcMin/+ mouse model using an intestinal lipid absorption test. We found that both triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) uptake were inhibited in the intestine of ApcMin/+ mice with age and the intestinal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) downregulated the processes of ß-oxidation, oxidative stress response, and cholesterol absorption in APC-deficient mice. In addition, reduced expression levels of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) indicated that bile acid metabolism might be associated with intestinal cholesterol absorption in ApcMin/+ mice. Thus, our data suggested that the intestine plays an essential role in cholesterol uptake and that bile acid metabolism seems to cause a decrease in intestinal cholesterol uptake in ApcMin/+ mice.

Differential Innervation of Secretory Coils and Ducts in Human Eccrine Sweat Glands.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies demonstrate that eccrine sweat glands are innervated by both cholinergic and adrenergic nerves. However, it is still unknown whether the secretory coils and ducts of eccrine sweat glands are equally innervated by the sympathetic nerve fibers. To well understand the mechanisms on sweat secretion and reabsorption, the differential innervation of secretory coils and ducts in human eccrine sweat glands was investigated in the study. METHODS: From June 2016 to June 2017, six human skins were fixed, paraffin-embedded, and cut into 5 µm-thick sections, followed by costaining for nerve fiber markers protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and eccrine sweat gland markers K7, S100P, and K14 by combining standard immunofluorescence with tyramide signal amplification (IF-TSA). Stained sections were observed under the microscope, photographed, and analyzed. RESULTS: The fluorescent signals of PGP 9.5, TH, and VIP were easily visualized, by IF-TSA, as circular patterns surrounding eccrine sweat glands, but only PGP 9.5 could be observed by standard IF. The IF-TSA method is more sensitivity than standard IF in detecting antigens expressed at low levels. PGP 9.5, TH, and VIP appeared primarily surrounding the secretory coils and sparsely surrounding the sweat ducts. CONCLUSION: Sweat secretion is mainly controlled by autonomic nerves whereas sweat reabsorption is less affected by nerve activity.

Overexpression of Kin of IRRE-Like Protein 1 (KIRREL) in Gastric Cancer and Its Clinical Prognostic Significance.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to examine the expression level of IRRE-like protein 1 (KIRREL) in gastric cancer (GC) and to explore its prognostic significance. MATERIAL AND METHODS Bioinformatics methods were used to predict the differential expression levels of KIRREL mRNA in GC and normal gastric tissues by mining cancer-related databases (TCGA and Oncomine). Immunohistochemistry was done to verify the KIRREL protein expression levels in 71 cases of GC tissues combined with matched normal tissues. The relationship between clinicopathologic parameters and KIRREL differential expression levels in GC was investigated by the chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier univariate and Cox multivariate survival analyses were performed to explore the prognostic significance of KIRREL expression in GC patients. RESULTS TCGA and GEO data analyses showed that KIRREL mRNA expression level was remarkably higher in GC than that in normal gastric tissues (both P<0.05). KIRREL mRNA levels were dramatically increased from stage I to stage IV (P=0.037). Immunohistochemical results showed that the high positive rate of KIRREL staining in GC was 61.97% (44/71). Moreover, GC patients with KIRREL mRNA or protein high levels had significantly shorter overall survival times than those with KIRREL mRNA or low protein levels (All P<0.05). Additionally, Cox multivariate survival analysis revealed that KIRREL differential expression levels (low vs. high) were the only independent parameter predicting the prognosis of GC patients (P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS KIRREL was overexpressed in GC and the overexpression of KIRREL could serve as an independent predictor of poor prognosis in GC patients.

Toxic effects of atrazine on porcine oocytes and possible mechanisms of action.

Because atrazine is a widely used herbicide, its adverse effects on the reproductive system have been extensively researched. In this study, we investigated the effects of atrazine exposure on porcine oocyte maturation and the possible mechanisms. Our results showed that the rates of oocyte maturation significantly decreased after treatment with 200 µM atrazine in vitro. Atrazine treatment resulted in abnormal spindle morphology but did not affect actin distribution. Atrazine exposure not only triggered a DNA damage response but also decreased MPF levels in porcine oocytes. Our results also revealed that atrazine worsened porcine oocyte quality by causing excessive accumulation of superoxide radicals, increasing cathepsin B activity, and decreasing the GSH level and mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, atrazine decreased developmental competence of porcine oocytes up to the blastocyst stage and changed some properties: cell numbers, apoptosis, and related gene expression levels. Collectively, our results indicate that porcine oocyte maturation is defective after atrazine treatment at least through disruption of spindle morphology, MPF activity, and mitochondrial function and via induction of DNA damage, which probably reduces developmental competence.

The positive clinical therapeutically effects of Escin on advanced thyroid cancer.

The incidences of thyroid cancer keep rising worldwide over the past few decades. Although most thyroid cancers are indolent and highly curable, the treatment for advanced thyroid cancer remains challengeable in clinical practice. We performed two separate cohorts to evaluate the safety and efficiency of Escin in patients with advanced thyroid cancer . In cohort 1, 120 patients were divided into four groups equally and were administrated with placebo or different dosages of Escin. The pharmacokinetics of Escin and the side effects were evaluated. In cohort 2, 120 patients were treated with Escin. Several biomarkers related to the progression of thyroid cancer were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analyses were performed to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The serum Escin concentrations were stable during the treatment. Escin (0.6 mg/kg/day for 9 days, intravenous injection) was tolerable for patients with thyroid cancer . Escin significantly reduced the serum levels of TSH, TgAb, Tg, and calcitonin and prolonged the PFS and OS for patients with advanced thyroid cancer. This study showed Escin is efficient and well tolerated in patients with advanced thyroid cancer. Future studies are needed to investigate the mechanism of Escin on thyroid cancer and the proper dosage of Escin clinically.