Disclosing the molecular basis of salinity priming in olive trees using proteogenomic model discovery.

Plant responses to salinity are becoming increasingly understood, however, salt priming mechanisms remain unclear, especially in perennial fruit trees. Herein, we showed that low-salt pre-exposure primes olive (Olea europaea) plants against high salinity stress. We then performed a proteogenomic study to characterize priming responses in olive roots and leaves. Integration of transcriptomic and proteomic data along with metabolic data revealed robust salinity changes that exhibit distinct or overlapping patterns in olive tissues, among which we focused on sugar regulation. Using the multi-crossed -omics data set, we showed that major differences between primed and nonprimed tissues are mainly associated with hormone signaling and defense-related interactions. We identified multiple genes and proteins, including known and putative regulators, that reported significant proteomic and transcriptomic changes between primed and nonprimed plants. Evidence also supported the notion that protein post-translational modifications, notably phosphorylations, carbonylations and S-nitrosylations, promote salt priming. The proteome and transcriptome abundance atlas uncovered alterations between mRNA and protein quantities within tissues and salinity conditions. Proteogenomic-driven causal model discovery also unveiled key interaction networks involved in salt priming. Data generated in this study are important resources for understanding salt priming in olive tree and facilitating proteogenomic research in plant physiology.

Molecular Mechanisms of CBL-CIPK Signaling Pathway in Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Hormone Crosstalk.

Abiotic stressors, including drought, salt, cold, and heat, profoundly impact plant growth and development, forcing elaborate cellular responses for adaptation and resilience. Among the crucial orchestrators of these responses is the CBL-CIPK pathway, comprising calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) and CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs). While CIPKs act as serine/threonine protein kinases, transmitting calcium signals, CBLs function as calcium sensors, influencing the plant's response to abiotic stress. This review explores the intricate interactions between the CBL-CIPK pathway and plant hormones such as ABA, auxin, ethylene, and jasmonic acid (JA). It highlights their role in fine-tuning stress responses for optimal survival and acclimatization. Building on previous studies that demonstrated the enhanced stress tolerance achieved by upregulating CBL and CIPK genes, we explore the regulatory mechanisms involving post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions. Despite significant contributions from prior research, gaps persist in understanding the nuanced interplay between the CBL-CIPK system and plant hormone signaling under diverse abiotic stress conditions. In contrast to broader perspectives, our review focuses on the interaction of the pathway with crucial plant hormones and its implications for genetic engineering interventions to enhance crop stress resilience. This specialized perspective aims to contribute novel insights to advance our understanding of the potential of the CBL-CIPK pathway to mitigate crops' abiotic stress.

Epigenetic Modifications of Hormonal Signaling Pathways in Plant Drought Response and Tolerance for Sustainable Food Security.

Drought significantly challenges global food security, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of plant molecular responses for effective mitigation strategies. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, are key in regulating genes and hormones essential for drought response. While microRNAs (miRNAs) primarily regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, they can also interact with epigenetic pathways as potential effectors that influence chromatin remodeling. Although the role of miRNAs in epigenetic memory is still being explored, understanding their contribution to drought response requires examining these indirect effects on epigenetic modifications. A key aspect of this exploration is epigenetic memory in drought-adapted plants, offering insights into the transgenerational inheritance of adaptive traits. Understanding the mechanisms that govern the maintenance and erasure of these epigenetic imprints provides nuanced insights into how plants balance stability and flexibility in their epigenomes. A major focus is on the dynamic interaction between hormonal pathways-such as those for abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, jasmonates, and salicylic acid (SA)-and epigenetic mechanisms. This interplay is crucial for fine-tuning gene expression during drought stress, leading to physiological and morphological adaptations that enhance plant drought resilience. This review also highlights the transformative potential of advanced technologies, such as bisulfite sequencing and CRISPR-Cas9, in providing comprehensive insights into plant responses to water deficit conditions. These technologies pave the way for developing drought-tolerant crops, which is vital for sustainable agriculture.

Hormetic Response of Photosystem II Function Induced by Nontoxic Calcium Hydroxide Nanoparticles.

In recent years, inorganic nanoparticles, including calcium hydroxide nanoparticles [Ca Ca(OH)2 NPs], have attracted significant interest for their ability to impact plant photosynthesis and boost agricultural productivity. In this study, the effects of 15 and 30 mg L-1 oleylamine-coated calcium hydroxide nanoparticles [Ca(OH)2@OAm NPs] on photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry were investigated on tomato plants at their growth irradiance (GI) (580 µmol photons m-2 s-1) and at high irradiance (HI) (1000 µmol photons m-2 s-1). Ca(OH)2@OAm NPs synthesized via a microwave-assisted method revealed a crystallite size of 25 nm with 34% w/w of oleylamine coater, a hydrodynamic size of 145 nm, and a ζ-potential of 4 mV. Compared with the control plants (sprayed with distilled water), PSII efficiency in tomato plants sprayed with Ca(OH)2@OAm NPs declined as soon as 90 min after the spray, accompanied by a higher excess excitation energy at PSII. Nevertheless, after 72 h, the effective quantum yield of PSII electron transport (ΦPSII) in tomato plants sprayed with Ca(OH)2@OAm NPs enhanced due to both an increase in the fraction of open PSII reaction centers (qp) and to the enhancement in the excitation capture efficiency (Fv'/Fm') of these centers. However, the decrease at the same time in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) resulted in an increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It can be concluded that Ca(OH)2@OAm NPs, by effectively regulating the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) mechanism, enhanced the electron transport rate (ETR) and decreased the excess excitation energy in tomato leaves. The delay in the enhancement of PSII photochemistry by the calcium hydroxide NPs was less at the GI than at the HI. The enhancement of PSII function by calcium hydroxide NPs is suggested to be triggered by the NPQ mechanism that intensifies ROS generation, which is considered to be beneficial. Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles, in less than 72 h, activated a ROS regulatory network of light energy partitioning signaling that enhanced PSII function. Therefore, synthesized Ca(OH)2@OAm NPs could potentially be used as photosynthetic biostimulants to enhance crop yields, pending further testing on other plant species.

Cellular Senescence in Germ Cell Neoplasia In Situ (GCNIS) and Other Histological Types of Testicular Cancer.

Background and Objectives: The presence and contribution of senescent cells in premalignant lesions is well documented, but not in germ cell neoplasia in situ. The purpose of this study is to identify the presence of senescent cells in pre-malignant testicular conditions and in different histological types of testicular cancer. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients who underwent orchiectomy due to testicular tumors were included. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) testicular tissue for each patient was available. Sections from these specimens were examined by immunohistochemical analysis with the following markers: GL13 for cellular senescence, p21WAF1/Cip1 for cell cycle arrest, and Ki67 for cell proliferation. Results: Thirteen (43.3%) suffered from seminoma with a mean total proportion of GCNIS senescence of 20.81 ± 6.81%. In the group of embryonal testicular tumors, nine (30%) patients were included, with an average rate of 6.64 ± 5.42% of senescent cells in GCNIS. One (3.3%) patient suffered from chondrosarcoma in which 7.9% of GL13+ cells were detected in GCNIS. Four (13.4%) patients suffered from teratoma and three (10%) from yolk sac tumors, while GCNIS senescence was detected in a range of 4.43 ± 1.78% and 3.76 ± 1.37%, respectively. Conclusions: Cellular senescence was detected in both germ cell neoplasia in situ and testicular cancer, but was more prevalent within the premalignant lesions.

Boron stimulates fruit formation and reprograms developmental metabolism in sweet cherry.

Boron modulates a wide range of plant developmental processes; however, the regulation of early fruit development by boron remains poorly defined. We report here the physiological, anatomical, metabolic, and transcriptomic impact of pre-flowering boron supply on the sweet cherry fruit set and development (S1-S5 stages). Our findings revealed that endogenous boron content increased in early growth stages (S1 and S2 stages) following preflowering boron exogenous application. Boron treatment resulted in increased fruit set (S1 and S2 stages) and mesocarp cell enlargement (S2 stage). Various sugars (e.g., fructose and glucose), alcohols (e.g., myo-inositol and maltitol), organic acids (e.g., malic acid and citric acid), amino acids (e.g., valine and serine) accumulated in response to boron application during the various developmental stages (S1-S5 stages). Transcriptomic analysis at early growth (S1 and S2 stages) identified boron-responsive genes that are mainly related to secondary metabolism, amino acid metabolism, calcium-binding, ribosome biogenesis, sugar homeostasis and especially to photosynthesis. We found various boron-induced/repressed genes, including those specifically involved in growth. Several heat shock proteins displayed distinct patterns during the initial growth in boron-exposed fruit. Gene analysis also discovered several putative candidate genes like PavPIP5K9, PavWAT1, PavMIOX, PavCAD1, PavPAL1 and PavSNRK2.7, which could facilitate the investigation of the molecular rationale underlying boron function in early fruit growth. Substantial changes in the expression of numerous transcription factors, including PavbHLH25, PavATHB.12L, and PavZAT10.1,.2 were noticed in fruits exposed to boron. The current study provides a baseline of information for understanding the metabolic processes regulated by boron during sweet cherry fruit early growth and fruit development in general.

Epigenetic and Hormonal Modulation in Plant-Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganism Symbiosis for Drought-Resilient Agriculture.

Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) have emerged as valuable allies for enhancing plant growth, health, and productivity across diverse environmental conditions. However, the complex molecular mechanisms governing plant-PGPM symbiosis under the climatic hazard of drought, which is critically challenging global food security, remain largely unknown. This comprehensive review explores the involved molecular interactions that underpin plant-PGPM partnerships during drought stress, thereby offering insights into hormonal regulation and epigenetic modulation. This review explores the challenges and prospects associated with optimizing and deploying PGPMs to promote sustainable agriculture in the face of drought stress. In summary, it offers strategic recommendations to propel research efforts and facilitate the practical implementation of PGPMs, thereby enhancing their efficacy in mitigating drought-detrimental effects in agricultural soils.

The Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant System Response of the Seagrass Cymodocea nodosa to Bisphenol-A Toxicity.

The effects of environmentally relevant bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations (0.3, 1 and 3 µg L-1) were tested at 2, 4, 6 and 8 days, on intermediate leaves, of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, lipid peroxidation, protein, phenolic content and antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated. Increased H2O2 formation was detected even at the lowest BPA treatments from the beginning of the experiment and both the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense mechanisms were activated upon application of BPA. Elevated H2O2 levels that were detected as a response to increasing BPA concentrations and incubation time, led to the decrease of protein content on the 4th day even at the two lower BPA concentrations, and to the increase of the lipid peroxidation at the highest concentration. However, on the 6th day of BPA exposure, protein content did not differ from the control, indicating the ability of both the enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms (such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phenolics) to counteract the BPA-derived oxidative stress. The early response of the protein content determined that the Low Effect Concentration (LOEC) of BPA is 0.3 µg L-1 and that the protein content meets the requirements to be considered as a possible early warning "biomarker" for C. nodosa against BPA toxicity.

Harnessing the Role of Foliar Applied Salicylic Acid in Decreasing Chlorophyll Content to Reassess Photosystem II Photoprotection in Crop Plants.

Salicylic acid (SA), an essential plant hormone, has received much attention due to its role in modulating the adverse effects of biotic and abiotic stresses, acting as an antioxidant and plant growth regulator. However, its role in photosynthesis under non stress conditions is controversial. By chlorophyll fluorescence imaging analysis, we evaluated the consequences of foliar applied 1 mM SA on photosystem II (PSII) efficiency of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants and estimated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Tomato leaves sprayed with 1 mM SA displayed lower chlorophyll content, but the absorbed light energy was preferentially converted into photochemical energy rather than dissipated as thermal energy by non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), indicating photoprotective effects provided by the foliar applied SA. This decreased NPQ, after 72 h treatment by 1 mM SA, resulted in an increased electron transport rate (ETR). The molecular mechanism by which the absorbed light energy was more efficiently directed to photochemistry in the SA treated leaves was the increased fraction of the open PSII reaction centers (qp), and the increased efficiency of open reaction centers (Fv'/Fm'). SA induced a decrease in chlorophyll content, resulting in a decrease in non-regulated energy dissipated in PSII (ΦNO) under high light (HL) treatment, suggesting a lower amount of triplet excited state chlorophyll (3Chl*) molecules available to produce singlet oxygen (1O2). Yet, the increased efficiency, compared to the control, of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) on the donor side of PSII, associated with lower formation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), also contributed to less creation of ROS. We conclude that under non stress conditions, foliar applied SA decreased chlorophyll content and suppressed phototoxicity, offering PSII photoprotection; thus, it can be regarded as a mechanism that reduces photoinhibition and photodamage, improving PSII efficiency in crop plants.

A Hormetic Spatiotemporal Photosystem II Response Mechanism of Salvia to Excess Zinc Exposure.

Exposure of Salvia sclarea plants to excess Zn for 8 days resulted in increased Ca, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations, but decreased Mg, in the aboveground tissues. The significant increase in the aboveground tissues of Mn, which is vital in the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII), contributed to the higher efficiency of the OEC, and together with the increased Fe, which has a fundamental role as a component of the enzymes involved in the electron transport process, resulted in an increased electron transport rate (ETR). The decreased Mg content in the aboveground tissues contributed to decreased chlorophyll content that reduced excess absorption of sunlight and operated to improve PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII), decreasing excess energy at PSII and lowering the degree of photoinhibition, as judged from the increased maximum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm). The molecular mechanism by which Zn-treated leaves displayed an improved PSII photochemistry was the increased fraction of open PSII reaction centers (qp) and, mainly, the increased efficiency of the reaction centers (Fv'/Fm') that enhanced ETR. Elemental bioimaging of Zn and Ca by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) revealed their co-localization in the mid-leaf veins. The high Zn concentration was located in the mid-leaf-vein area, while mesophyll cells accumulated small amounts of Zn, thus resembling a spatiotemporal heterogenous response and suggesting an adaptive strategy. These findings contribute to our understanding of how exposure to excess Zn triggered a hormetic response of PSII photochemistry. Exposure of aromatic and medicinal plants to excess Zn in hydroponics can be regarded as an economical approach to ameliorate the deficiency of Fe and Zn, which are essential micronutrients for human health.

Cadmium toxicity in Salvia sclarea L.: An integrative response of element uptake, oxidative stress markers, leaf structure and photosynthesis.

The herbal plant Salvia sclarea L. (clary sage) is classified to cadmium (Cd) accumulators and considered as a potential plant for phytoremediation of heavy metal polluted soil. However, the effect of Cd only treatment on the function of the photosynthetic apparatus of S. sclarea, as well as the mechanisms involved in Cd tolerance have not yet been studied in detail. This study was conducted to examine the integrative responses of S. sclarea plants exposed to a high Cd supply (100 µM) for 3 and 8 days by investigating element nutrient uptake, oxidative stress markers, pigment composition, photosynthetic performance and leaf structure. Measurements of the functional activities of photosystem I (PSI, by P700 photooxidation), photosystem II (PSII, by chlorophyll fluorescence parameters), the oxygen-evolving complex (oxygen evolution by Joliot- and Clark-type electrodes), as well as the leaf pigment and phenolic contents, were used to evaluate the protective mechanisms of the photosynthetic apparatus under Cd stress. Data suggested that the molecular mechanisms included in the photosynthetic tolerance to Cd toxicity involve strongly increased phenolic and anthocyanin contents, as well as an increased non-photochemical quenching and accelerated cyclic electron transport around PSI up to 61%, which protect the function of the photosynthetic apparatus under stress. Furthermore, the tolerance of S. sclarea to Cd stress is also associated with increased accumulation of Fe in leaves by 25%. All the above, clearly suggest that S. sclarea plants employ several different mechanisms to protect the function of the photosynthetic apparatus against Cd stress, which are discussed here.

Cytokinesis in fra2 Arabidopsis thaliana p60-Katanin Mutant: Defects in Cell Plate/Daughter Wall Formation.

Cytokinesis is accomplished in higher plants by the phragmoplast, creating and conducting the cell plate to separate daughter nuclei by a new cell wall. The microtubule-severing enzyme p60-katanin plays an important role in the centrifugal expansion and timely disappearance of phragmoplast microtubules. Consequently, aberrant structure and delayed expansion rate of the phragmoplast have been reported to occur in p60-katanin mutants. Here, the consequences of p60-katanin malfunction in cell plate/daughter wall formation were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in root cells of the fra2 Arabidopsis thaliana loss-of-function mutant. In addition, deviations in the chemical composition of cell plate/new cell wall were identified by immunolabeling and confocal microscopy. It was found that, apart from defective phragmoplast microtubule organization, cell plates/new cell walls also appeared faulty in structure, being unevenly thick and perforated by large gaps. In addition, demethylesterified homogalacturonans were prematurely present in fra2 cell plates, while callose content was significantly lower than in the wild type. Furthermore, KNOLLE syntaxin disappeared from newly formed cell walls in fra2 earlier than in the wild type. Taken together, these observations indicate that delayed cytokinesis, due to faulty phragmoplast organization and expansion, results in a loss of synchronization between cell plate growth and its chemical maturation.

Beyond Microcystins: Cyanobacterial Extracts Induce Cytoskeletal Alterations in Rice Root Cells.

Microcystins (MCs) are cyanobacterial toxins and potent inhibitors of protein phosphatases 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A), which are involved in plant cytoskeleton (microtubules and F-actin) organization. Therefore, studies on the toxicity of cyanobacterial products on plant cells have so far been focused on MCs. In this study, we investigated the effects of extracts from 16 (4 MC-producing and 12 non-MC-producing) cyanobacterial strains from several habitats, on various enzymes (PP1, trypsin, elastase), on the plant cytoskeleton and H2O2 levels in Oryza sativa (rice) root cells. Seedling roots were treated for various time periods (1, 12, and 24 h) with aqueous cyanobacterial extracts and underwent either immunostaining for α-tubulin or staining of F-actin with fluorescent phalloidin. 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) staining was performed for H2O2 imaging. The enzyme assays confirmed the bioactivity of the extracts of not only MC-rich (MC+), but also MC-devoid (MC-) extracts, which induced major time-dependent alterations on both components of the plant cytoskeleton. These findings suggest that a broad spectrum of bioactive cyanobacterial compounds, apart from MCs or other known cyanotoxins (such as cylindrospermopsin), can affect plants by disrupting the cytoskeleton.

Rapid Hormetic Responses of Photosystem II Photochemistry of Clary Sage to Cadmium Exposure.

Five-day exposure of clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) to 100 µM cadmium (Cd) in hydroponics was sufficient to increase Cd concentrations significantly in roots and aboveground parts and affect negatively whole plant levels of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), since Cd competes for Ca channels, while reduced Mg concentrations are associated with increased Cd tolerance. Total zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) uptake increased but their translocation to the aboveground parts decreased. Despite the substantial levels of Cd in leaves, without any observed defects on chloroplast ultrastructure, an enhanced photosystem II (PSII) efficiency was observed, with a higher fraction of absorbed light energy to be directed to photochemistry (ΦPSΙΙ). The concomitant increase in the photoprotective mechanism of non-photochemical quenching of photosynthesis (NPQ) resulted in an important decrease in the dissipated non-regulated energy (ΦNO), modifying the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS), through a decreased singlet oxygen (1O2) formation. A basal ROS level was detected in control plant leaves for optimal growth, while a low increased level of ROS under 5 days Cd exposure seemed to be beneficial for triggering defense responses, and a high level of ROS out of the boundaries (8 days Cd exposure), was harmful to plants. Thus, when clary sage was exposed to Cd for a short period, tolerance mechanisms were triggered. However, exposure to a combination of Cd and high light or to Cd alone (8 days) resulted in an inhibition of PSII functionality, indicating Cd toxicity. Thus, the rapid activation of PSII functionality at short time exposure and the inhibition at longer duration suggests a hormetic response and describes these effects in terms of "adaptive response" and "toxicity", respectively.

Cell Wall Modifications in Giant Cells Induced by the Plant Parasitic Nematode Meloidogyne incognita in Wild-Type (Col-0) and the fra2 Arabidopsis thaliana Katanin Mutant.

Meloidogyne incognita is a root knot nematode (RKN) species which is among the most notoriously unmanageable crop pests with a wide host range. It inhabits plants and induces unique feeding site structures within host roots, known as giant cells (GCs). The cell walls of the GCs undergo the process of both thickening and loosening to allow expansion and finally support nutrient uptake by the nematode. In this study, a comparative in situ analysis of cell wall polysaccharides in the GCs of wild-type Col-0 and the microtubule-defective fra2 katanin mutant, both infected with M. incognita has been carried out. The fra2 mutant had an increased infection rate. Moreover, fra2 roots exhibited a differential pectin and hemicellulose distribution when compared to Col-0 probably mirroring the fra2 root developmental defects. Features of fra2 GC walls include the presence of high-esterified pectic homogalacturonan and pectic arabinan, possibly to compensate for the reduced levels of callose, which was omnipresent in GCs of Col-0. Katanin severing of microtubules seems important in plant defense against M. incognita, with the nematode, however, to be nonchalant about this "katanin deficiency" and eventually induce the necessary GC cell wall modifications to establish a feeding site.

Novel Concept Enabling an Old Idea: A Flexible Electrode Array to Treat Neurogenic Erectile Dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Many studies have shown that electrostimulation of the cavernosal nerve can induce and maintain penile erection. Based on these discoveries, neurostimulation to activate the erectile response has been considered a potential solution to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). However, despite recognized potential, this technology has not been further developed. The barrier is the complex anatomy of the human cavernous nerve, which challenges the intraoperative identification of the cavernosal nerves for electrode placement. AIM: To overcome this major barrier, we proposed a practical solution: a 2-dimensional flexible electrode array that can cover the entire plexus area, ensuring that at least 1 of the electrodes will be in optimal contact with the cavernosal nerve, without the need of intraoperative identification. The present study aims to evaluate this concept intraoperatively. METHODS: 24 patients enrolled for open radical prostatectomy were recruited. During the surgical procedures, the electrode array was positioned on the pelvic plexus (on the prostatic apex or pelvic wall) and electrical stimulation was applied to induce penile erection. Penile erectile response was assessed by (i) visual change of penile tumescence and (ii) by a penile plethysmograph system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Ability and success rate of evoking penile response were measured by applying electrical stimulation using the developed electrode array. RESULTS: Electrical stimulation produced immediate penile response in all cases when tested before (on prostatic apex) or after prostate removal (on pelvic wall). Clear visual penile engorgement was observed in 75% of the cases, whereas 25% showed minimal to moderate penile tumescence. As expected, patients with lower International Index of Erectile Function-5 score presented a reduced response, whereas stimulation before prostate removal showed greater response than following removal. Interestingly, erectile response was potentiated by bilateral stimulation (circumference increase [mm]: 2.7 ± 1.02 vs. 8.2 ± 1.9, P = .01). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These data bring sufficient proof of concept of a conceivable novel medical implant for the treatment of ED caused by mechanical nerve injury, such as prostatectomy and spinal cord injury. STRENGTH & LIMITATIONS: This is the first approach that can ensure the optimal site stimulation of the erectogenic neuronal path within the lower pelvic area and overcome the major barrier of individual anatomic variability. However, because this study was performed intraoperatively in an acute scenario, further studies are needed to evaluate its chronic efficacy for clinical practice. CONCLUSION: The flexible electrode array concept can ensure the electrostimulation of erectogenic neuronal path when positioned on the prostate apex or pelvic floor. Skoufias S, Sturny M, Fraga-Silva R, et al. Novel concept enabling an old idea: A flexible electrode array to treat neurogenic erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med 2018;15:1558-1569.

The effects of Bisphenol A on the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa: Leaf elongation impairment and cytoskeleton disturbance.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an emerging pollutant of environmental concern, classified as "moderately toxic" and "toxic", causing adverse effects on aquatic biota. Although information about BPA toxicity on aquatic fauna is available, the data about BPA effects on aquatic flora remain scarce, missing for marine macrophytes. The effects of environmentally relevant BPA concentrations (ranging from 0.03 to 3 µg L-1) on juvenile leaf elongation and the cytoskeleton (microtubules, MTs and actin filaments, AFs) were studied in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa for 1-10 days. The suitability of cytoskeleton disturbance and leaf elongation impairment as "biomarkers" for BPA stress were tested. The highest BPA concentrations (0.3, 0.5, 1 and 3 µg L-1) affected significantly leaf elongation from the onset of the experiment, while defects of the cytoskeleton were observed even at lower concentrations. In particular, MTs were initially disrupted (i.e. "lowest observed effect concentrations", LOECs) at 0.1 µg L-1, while AFs were damaged even at 0.03 µg L-1. AFs appeared thus to be more sensitive to lower BPA concentrations, while there was a correlation between leaf elongation impairment and MT defects. Thus, AF damages, MT disruption and leaf elongation impairment in C. nodosa, in this particular order, appear to be sensitive "biomarkers" of BPA stress, at the above environmentally relevant BPA concentrations.

Expression and prognostic significance of VEGF and mTOR pathway proteins in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients: a prognostic immunohistochemical profile for kidney cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic molecular profiles in patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib, we performed immunohistochemical analysis for VEGF and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway components. METHODS: The immunohistochemical expression of VEGF, p85α, p110γ, PTEN, p-Akt, p-mTOR, p-4E-BP1 and p-p70S6K was studied in 79 patients with mRCC who received first-line treatment with sunitinib. Expression was correlated with clinicopathological features and survival. RESULTS: VEGF was highly expressed (median H-Score 150), while positivity for the markers of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway was: p85α 43/66 (65 %), p110γ41/60 (68 %), PTEN 32/64 (50 %), p-Akt57/63 (90 %), p-mTOR48/64 (75 %), p-4E-BP1 58/64 (90 %) and p-p70S6K 60/65 (92 %). No single immunohistochemical marker was found to have prognostic significance. Instead, the combination of increased p-mTOR and low VEGF expression was adversely correlated with overall survival (OS) (3.2 vs. 16.9 months, P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemistry for VEGF and p-mTOR proteins may discriminate patients refractory to first-line sunitinib with poor prognosis. Prospective validation of our findings is needed.

Treatment of relapsed urothelial bladder cancer with vinflunine: real-world evidence by the Hellenic Genitourinary Cancer Group.

Relapsed urothelial cancer represents an unmet medical need. Vinflunine is a third-generation antimicrotubuline inhibitor and is currently the only approved drug for second-line treatment across the European Union. We conducted a retrospective analysis assessing the efficacy and safety of vinflunine in 71 Greek patients with relapsed urothelial cancer who were treated between 2005 and 2014. An overall 84% of our patients received vinflunine as second-line treatment, 77% had a performance status of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scale 0 or 1, and 30% had liver metastasis at the time of vinflunine administration. A median of four cycles of vinflunine were administered (range 1-16). The most common reported adverse events were constipation, fatigue, and anemia. Median progression-free survival was 6.2 months (95% confidence interval: 4.4-8.8) and overall survival was 11.9 months (95% confidence interval: 7.4-21). Two patients (3%) achieved a complete remission, seven a partial remission (10%), and 22 (31%) had stable disease according to an intention-to-treat analysis. Hemoglobin level less than 10 g/dl and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status greater than 1 were independent adverse prognostic factors. Stratification according to the Bellmunt risk model was also associated with progression-free survival and overall survival in our population. Vinflunine appears to be a safe and effective treatment modality for relapsed urothelial cancer. More effective therapies and more accurate prognostic algorithms should be sought.

Chromium-Induced Ultrastructural Changes and Oxidative Stress in Roots of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Chromium (Cr) is an abundant heavy metal in nature, toxic to living organisms. As it is widely used in industry and leather tanning, it may accumulate locally at high concentrations, raising concerns for human health hazards. Though Cr effects have extensively been investigated in animals and mammals, in plants they are poorly understood. The present study was then undertaken to determine the ultrastructural malformations induced by hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], the most toxic form provided as 100 µM potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), in the root tip cells of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. A concentration-dependent decrease of root growth and a time-dependent increase of dead cells, callose deposition, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production and peroxidase activity were found in Cr(VI)-treated seedlings, mostly at the transition root zone. In the same zone, nuclei remained ultrastructurally unaffected, but in the meristematic zone some nuclei displayed bulbous outgrowths or contained tubular structures. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was less affected under Cr(VI) stress, but Golgi bodies appeared severely disintegrated. Moreover, mitochondria and plastids became spherical and displayed translucent stroma with diminished internal membranes, but noteworthy is that their double-membrane envelopes remained structurally intact. Starch grains and electron dense deposits occurred in the plastids. Amorphous material was also deposited in the cell walls, the middle lamella and the vacuoles. Some vacuoles were collapsed, but the tonoplast appeared integral. The plasma membrane was structurally unaffected and the cytoplasm contained opaque lipid droplets and dense electron deposits. All electron dense deposits presumably consisted of Cr that is sequestered from sensitive sites, thus contributing to metal tolerance. It is concluded that the ultrastructural changes are reactive oxygen species (ROS)-correlated and the malformations observed are organelle specific.