Endovascular Denervation for the Improvement of Limb Ischemia in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular denervation (EDN) as an adjunct to percutaneous vascular intervention (PVI) for peripheral artery disease (PAD). METHODS: From August 2019 to April 2021, 38 eligible patients with PAD enrolled in this study were randomly and equally assigned into 2 groups: the PVI group and the PVI + EDN group treated with EDN at the iliac and femoral arteries before PVI. The primary endpoint was the improvement in the ankle brachial index at 6 months after the procedure. The secondary endpoints were transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2), Rutherford category, numerical rating scale score, and safety. RESULTS: The technical success rates of PVI and EDN were 100%, and no device-related or procedure-related major adverse events occurred in either group. Compared with PVI alone, PVI + EDN demonstrated a significant improvement in limb hemodynamics at 6 months (Δ ankle brachial index 0.44 ± 0.31 vs. 0.24 ± 0.15, P = 0.018). Microcirculatory perfusion of PAD was significantly better at 6 months in the PVI + EDN group (ΔTcPO2, 15.68 ± 16.72 vs. 4.95 ± 13.43, P = 0.036). The Rutherford category was significantly improved in the PVI + EDN group in comparison with the PVI group at the 3-month follow-up (100.00% vs. 68.42%, P = 0.02). The decrease in the numerical rating scale score in the PVI + EDN group was greater than that in the PVI group at 1 week following the procedure (3 [2-5] vs. 4 [4-6], P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center pilot analysis of a heterogeneous cohort of patients with PAD, PVI with EDN demonstrated a significant improvement in limb ischemia at 6 months compared with PVI alone.

Melatonin mitigates cadmium toxicity by promoting root development, delaying root senescence, and regulating cadmium transport in cotton.

Cd ions are absorbed and transported from the soil by crop roots, which are the first organ to be exposed to Cd. This results in an increase in cadmium ions in crops, significantly affecting crop growth and yield. Exogenous melatonin (MT) can help reduce cadmium (Cd) stress in cotton, but the specific contribution of roots to this process remains unclear. In order to address this knowledge gap, an in-situ root phenotyping study was conducted to investigate the the phenotype and lifespan of roots under cadmium stress (Cd) and melatonin treatment (Cd + MT). The results showed that MT alleviated the decreases in plant height, leaf area, SPAD value, stem diameter, stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate under Cd stress, which further promoted the biomass accumulation in various cotton organs. What is more, the Cd + MT treatment increased root volume, surface area, and length under Cd stress by 25.63 %, 10.58 %, and 21.89 %, respectively, compared with Cd treatment. Interestingly, compared to Cd treatment, Cd + MT treatment also significantly extended the lifespan of roots and root hairs by 6.68 days and 2.18 days, respectively. In addition, Cd + MT treatment reduced the transport of Cd from roots to shoots, particularly to bolls, and decreased the Cd bioconcentration factor in bolls by 61.17 %, compared to Cd treatment. In conclusion, these findings show that applying MT externally helps reduce Cd stress by delaying root senescence, promoting root development and regulating Cd transport. This method can be an effective approach to managing Cd stress in cotton.

Risk Factors for Access-Related Adverse Events Related to the Preclose Technique in Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

PURPOSE: To analyze the risk factors for access-related adverse events (AEs) of the preclose technique in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-one patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection who underwent the preclose technique in TEVAR between January 2013 and December 2021 were included. According to the occurrence of access-related AEs, the patients were divided into 2 groups: those with AE and those without AE. Age, sex, combined diseases, body mass index, skin depth, femoral artery diameter, access calcification, iliofemoral artery tortuosity, and sheath size were recorded for risk factor analysis. The sheath-to-femoral artery ratio (SFAR), the ratio of the femoral artery inner diameter (in millimeters) to the sheath's outer diameter (in millimeters), was also included in the analysis. RESULTS: SFAR was identified as an independent risk factor for AEs using multivariable logistic analysis (odds ratio, 251.748; 95% CI, 7.004-9,048.534; P = .002). The cutoff value of SFAR was 0.85 and was related to a higher incidence of access-related AEs (5.2% vs 33.3%, P = .001), especially to a higher stenosis rate (0.0% vs 21.2%, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: SFAR is an independent risk factor for access-related AEs of preclose in TEVAR with a cutoff value of 0.85. SFAR could be a new criterion for preoperative access evaluation in high-risk patients that may allow the detection and treatment of access-related AEs at the early stage.

Unveiling the correlation between the catalytic efficiency and acidity of a metal-free catalyst in a hydrogenation reaction. A theoretical case study of the hydrogenation of ethene catalyzed by a superacid arising from a superhalogen.

A systematic quantum-chemical study of the hydrogenation of ethene, catalyzed by strong acids HX (X = F, Cl, Br) and superacids HA (A = MgX3, Mg2X5; X = F, Cl, Br) arising from octet superhalogens is explored. Two possible paths are proposed, concerted and stepwise, and the calculated results show that the concerted path is more favorable than the stepwise path. Compared to the hydrogenation reaction without any catalyst, the improvement of the catalytic efficiency of the superacid HA (A = MgX3, Mg2X5) is high, up to 38.8 to 59.4%. Compared to the strong acid HX (X = F, Cl, Br), the barrier energy is significantly reduced and the improvement of the catalytic efficiency of the superacid HA reaches 23.1 to 31.7%. In particular, for HMg2Br5, the barrier energy of the hydrogenation of ethene is only 36 kcal mol-1, which shows that the reaction could proceed under experimental conditions. In addition, the results show that the catalytic efficiency of the superacid HA is related to the acidity of the superacid. In general, the greater the acidity, the lower the barrier energy and the easier the hydrogenation reaction. From the analysis of the bond order, the newly formed C-H bond of the transition state (TS3) in the concerted path, in which the H atom comes from the superacid catalyst, directly affects the barrier energy of the entire reaction. For the more acidic catalyst, this H atom is provided more easily, and then the formed C-H bond in the transition state is stronger. Consequently, this stronger bond leads to a more stable transition state, and hence to a lower energy barrier as well as a higher efficiency of the superacid catalyst. Therefore, a positive correlation between the acidity of the metal-free catalyst and its catalytic efficiency is expected in the hydrogenation reaction.

Theoretical study on the correlation between the structure, excess energy, surface energy, electronic structure, nitro charge, and friction sensitivity of N,N'-dinitroethylenediamine (EDNA).

The sensitivity of energetic materials along different crystal directions is not the same and is anisotropic. In order to explore the difference in friction sensitivity of different surfaces, we calculated the structure, excess energy, surface energy, electronic structure, and the nitro group along (1 1 1), (1 1 0), (1 0 1), (0 1 1), (0 0 1), (0 1 0), and (1 0 0) surfaces of EDNA based on density functional theory. The analysis results showed that relative to other surfaces, the (0 0 1) surface has the shortest N-N average bond length, largest N-N average bond population, smallest excess energy and surface energy, widest band gap, and the largest nitro group charge value, which indicates that the (0 0 1) surface has the lowest friction sensitivity compared to other surfaces. Furthermore, the conclusions obtained by analyzing the excess energy are consistent with the results of the N-N bond length and bond population, band gap, and nitro charge. Therefore, we conclude that the friction sensitivity of different surfaces of EDNA can be evaluated using excess energy.

The mechanism of acid resistance by ornithine decarboxylase in Trichinella spiralis.

Trichinella spiralis is a zoonotic parasite with worldwide distribution that can seriously harm human health and animal husbandry. Ornithine decarboxylase is a component of the acid resistance (AR) system in Escherichia coli. The aim of this study was to investigate the role that T. spiralis ornithine decarboxylase (TsODC) plays in the acid resistance mechanism of T. spiralis. This study involved assessing the transcription and expression of TsODC in worms under acidic conditions. According to mRNA sequences published by NCBI and the results of molecular biology experiments, the complete TsODC sequence was cloned and expressed. rTsODC had good immunogenicity, and immunofluorescence analysis revealed that TsODC was principally localized on the surface tissues of the nematode, especially at the head and tail. qRT‒PCR and Western blotting analysis indicated that the relative expression levels of TsODC mRNA and protein were highest when cultured at pH 2.5 for 2 h. The muscle larvae (ML) of T. spiralis were treated with curcumin and rapamycin, as well as arginine and TsODC polyantisera. The expression levels of TsODC mRNA and protein were significantly increased by arginine and suppressed by curcumin and rapamycin. After reducing the amount of TsODC, the relative expression of TsODC mRNA and the survival rate of T. spiralis ML were both reduced when compared to these values in the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group. The results indicated that TsODC is a member of the T. spiralis AR system and different treatments on TsODC have different effects; thus, these treatments might be a new way to prevent T. spiralis infection.

Design and Realization of Ni Clusters in MoS2@Ni/RGO Catalysts for Alkaline Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Due to their almost zero relative hydrogen atom adsorption-free energy, MoS2-based materials have received substantial study. However, their poor electronic conductivity and limited number of catalytic active sites hinder their widespread use in hydrogen evolution reactions. On the other hand, metal clusters offer numerous active sites. In this study, by loading Ni metal clusters on MoS2 and combining them with the better electrical conductivity of graphene, the overpotential of the hydrogen evolution reaction was reduced from 165 mV to 92 mV at 10 mA·cm-2. This demonstrates that a successful method for effectively designing water decomposition is the use of synergistic interactions resulting from interfacial electron transfer between MoS2 and Ni metal clusters.

MoS2 Nanosheets Decorated with Fe3O4 Nanoparticles for Highly Efficient Solar Steam Generation and Water Treatment.

The shortage of water resources has always been one of the most difficult problems that perplexes humanity. Solar steam generation (SSG) has been a new non-polluting and low-cost water purification method in recent years. However, the high cost of traditional photothermal conversion materials and the low efficiency of photothermal conversion has restricted the large-scale application of SSG technology. In this work, composite materials with Fe3O4 nanospheres attached to MoS2 nanosheets were synthesized, which increased the absorbance and specific surface area of the composite materials, reduced the sunlight reflection, and increased the photothermal conversion efficiency. During the experiment, the composite material was evenly coated on cotton. The strong water absorption of cotton ensured that the water could be transported sufficiently to the surface for evaporation. Under one sun irradiation intensity, the evaporation rate of the sample synthesized in this work reached 1.42 kg m-2 h-1; the evaporation efficiency is 89.18%. In addition, the surface temperature of the sample can reach 41.6 °C, which has far exceeded most photothermal conversion materials. Furthermore, the use of this composite material as an SSG device for seawater desalination and sewage purification can remove more than 98% of salt ions in seawater, and the removal rate of heavy metal ions in sewage is close to 100%, with a good seawater desalination capacity and sewage purification capacity. This work provides a new idea for the application of composite materials in the field of seawater desalination and sewage purification.

Application of self-pulling and latter transection in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy.

Background: Recent years have seen an increase in gastric cancer incidence. The most effective method of treating gastric cancer is still surgical resection. Over the past few decades, minimally invasive surgery has rapidly developed, reducing post-operative complications and speeding up recovery. However, the technical difficulties, especially during anastomosis, hinder the widespread use of this advanced surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of self-pulling and latter transection in totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy (SPLT-TLTG). Patients and Methods: A retrospective study compared the outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted total gastrectomy (LATG) and SPLT-TLTG in patients with gastric cancer. Eighty patients who underwent either LATG or SPLT-TLTG between January 2016 and June 2018 were included in the study. Clinical information was used to compare patients who underwent these surgeries. Results: Compared to LATG, patients who received SPLT-TLTG surgery recovered faster than those who received LATG time (operation and digestive tract reconstruction), blood loss, rehabilitation, first flatus, oral food intake, average pain score and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the SPLT-TLTG group than in the LATG group (P < 0.05). However, the two groups had no significant differences in LNs and baseline characteristics. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide significant evidence in support of the use of self-pulling and the latter transection procedures in total laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Solution structure of c-FLIP death effector domains.

The formation of death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and death effector domain (DED) filament initiates extrinsic apoptosis. Recruitment and activation of procaspase-8 at the DISC are regulated by c-FLIP. The interaction between c-FLIP and procaspase-8 is mediated by their tandem DEDs (tDED). However, the structure of c-FLIPtDED and how c-FLIP interferes with procaspase-8 activation at the DISC remain elusive. Here, we solved the monomeric structure of c-FLIPtDED (F114G) at near physiological pH by solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Structural superimposition reveals c-FLIPtDED (F114G) adopts a structural topology similar to that of procaspase-8tDED. Our results provide a structural basis for understanding how c-FLIP interacts with procaspase-8 and the molecular mechanisms of c-FLIP in regulating cell death.

Precision Spectroscopy of the Pionic Helium-4.

The transition frequency of (n,ℓ)=(17,16)→(16,15) in pionic helium-4 is calculated to an accuracy of 4 ppb (parts per billion), including relativistic and quantum electrodynamic corrections up to O(R_{∞}α^{5}). Our calculations significantly improve the recent theoretical values [Hori et al., Phys. Rev. A 89, 042515 (2014)PLRAAN1050-294710.1103/PhysRevA.89.042515]. In addition, collisional effects between pionic helium and target helium on transition frequencies are estimated. Once measurements reach the ppb level, our Letter will improve the value of the π^{-} mass by 2-3 orders of magnitude.

Expression, purification, and characterization of c-FLIP tandem death effector domains from Escherichia coli.

Cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) regulates extrinsic apoptosis by controlling procaspase-8 activation through its tandem N-terminal death effector domains (DEDs). Here, we present the expression and purification of c-FLIP tandem DEDs (tDED) from Escherichia coli. We observed that the c-FLIPtDED maintains monomeric form under near-physiological pH condition in vitro. Our results also reveal a significant correlation between the pH conditions and the structure of c-FLIPtDED (F114A). The described methods and results would be helpful for follow-up study on the structural and functional of c-FLIP.

The effect of pressure on the structural, electronic and vibrational properties of solid carbon dioxide phases.

The structural, electronic and vibrational properties of solid carbon dioxide phases (I, II, III, and IV) under high pressure are studied using first-principles calculations. The calculated structural parameters are in good agreement with the experimental values. The third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state is fitted, and the corresponding parameters are obtained. We obtained the phase boundary points of each phase and plotted the phase diagram of solid carbon dioxide. The influence of pressure on the band structure and density of states is studied. The vibrational properties of the four phases of carbon dioxide were studied in detail, and the infrared and Raman spectra of the four phases were obtained. It can be seen from the calculated spectrum that the number and frequency of vibration peaks are in good agreement with the experimental values. And, we also analyze the influence of pressure on the frequency of vibration mode.

Flower-Shaped Carbon Nanomaterials for Highly Efficient Solar-Driven Water Evaporation.

Solar-driven interface water evaporation is an energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and efficient seawater desalination and wastewater treatment technology. However, some challenges still restrict its further industrial development, such as its complex preparation, heavy metal pollution, and insufficient energy utilization. In this study, a photothermal layer based on flower-shaped carbon nanoparticles is presented for highly efficient solar-driven interface evaporation for water treatment applications. The results show that the surface of the prepared carbon nanomaterials presents a flower-shaped structure with an excellent light absorption capacity and a large specific surface area. Moreover, the C-5.4 (Carbon-5.4) sample has an evaporation rate of 1.87 kg/m2/h and an evaporation efficiency of 87%-far higher than most photothermal materials. In addition, carbon nanomaterials have an excellent ion scavenging capacity, dye purification capacity, and outdoor practical performance. This study provides a new solution for the application of carbon nanomaterials in the field of water purification.

Long noncoding RNA FAM66C promotes tumor progression and glycolysis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by regulating hsa-miR-23b-3p/KCND2 axis.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to be the important regulators in cancer progression. However, the role of lncRNA FAM66C (FAM66C) is yet to be investigated in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). This study aimed to investigate the effects and related mechanisms of FAM66C in ICC. Human ICC tissues and cell lines were collected. The expression levels of FAM66C, hsa-miR-23b-3p (miR-23b-3p), and KCND2 were detected by qRT-RCR. The transfection experiments were employed to measure the effect of FAM66C on cell viabilities, migration, and invasion in ICC cells by CCK-8, transwell assays. Glycolysis was investigated by glucose consumption, lactate production and ATP levels. The dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull down assays were conducted as a means of confirming the interactions between FAM66C, miR-23b-3p, and KCND2. Furthermore, the levels of the EMT-associated proteins (KCND2, GLUT1, PKM2, and LDHA) in ICC cells were detected by western blot. FAM66C was increased in ICC tissues and cells, increased cell viability, glycolysis, migration and invasion, and decreased apoptosis were shown in FAM66C overexpressing cells. Mechanistic analyses revealed that FAM66C regulated the downstream target gene KCND2 by sponging miR-23b-3p. FAM66C effect on ICC was further validated in murine xenograft assays. FAM66C knockdown cells gave rise to tumors that were smaller in size, consistent with the role of FAM66C as a promoter of in vivo tumor growth. These data revealed that FAM66C was able to drive ICC tumor progression and glycolytic activity via the miR-23b-3p/KCND2 axis, indicating FAM66C may be a viable target for treating ICC.

Comparison of the clinical efficacy of different fixation systems for the treatment of transverse patellar fractures.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to compare the clinical efficacy of "8" and "0" wire fixation systems combined with double-head cannulated compression screws or Kirschner wires for the treatment of transverse patellar fractures. METHODS: From September 2011 to September 2018, patients with closed transverse patellar fractures treated with a double-head compression screw or Kirschner wire were included and analyzed retrospectively. Patients with patellar fractures combined with distal femoral fractures, tibial plateau fracture or preoperative lower limb dysfunction were excluded. The patients treated with the "8" tension band wire fixation system and Kirschner wire were taken as Group A; those treated with the "0" fixation system and Kirschner wire were taken as Group B; those treated with the "8" fixation system and double-head cannulated compression screw were taken as group C; and those treated with the "0" fixation system and double-head cannulated compression screw were taken as group D. Six weeks and one year after the operation and every month from the third month after the operation until the fractures healed, an X-ray examination was performed to identify fracture healing. The time of fracture healing and postoperative complications of the four groups were compared. One year after the operation, knee function was evaluated by Bostman's score. RESULTS: During the study period, 168 patients with patellar fractures were treated by operations, and 88 patients were excluded because the fracture type did not meet the requirements or because there were combined fractures of the distal femur or tibial plateau. As a result, 80 patients were included in this study, 20 in each group. All the patients were followed up for an average period of 12.2 months. Compared with Group A, patients in Group D presented less postoperative discomfort in the prepatellar region, quicker fracture healing, less fixation failure and better postoperative knee function scores (all p < 0.05). The incidence of internal fixation failure in Group (B+D) was lower than that in Group (A+C) (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The "0" wire fixation system combined with a double-head cannulated compression screw seems to be more beneficial than the other three fixation systems for the treatment of transverse patellar fractures.

[Exposure of the scrotum to 4G cellphone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation affects the spermatogenesis and blood-testis barrier of adult male rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the direct impact of exposure of the scrotum to 4G cellphone radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) on the testis of adult rats. METHODS: We equally randomized 30 adult male SD rats into a control and an exposure group, the latter exposed to 4G cellphone RF-EMR 6 hours a day for 150 days. Then, we analyzed the changes in semen quality and seminiferous epithelia, and measured the levels antioxidant enzyme-peroxide and the expressions of blood-testis barrier proteins in the testis of the rats. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the rats in the exposure group showed significantly decreased sperm concentration (ï¼»6.39 ± 0.82ï¼½ vs ï¼»4.74 ± 0.87ï¼½ ×107/ml, P < 0.05), viability (ï¼»62.11 ± 8.82ï¼½% vs ï¼»41.44 ± 7.33ï¼½%, P < 0.05), motility (ï¼»55.71 ± 7.39ï¼½ vs ï¼»36.22 ± 6.36ï¼½%, P < 0.05), the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (ï¼»84.89 ± 5.11ï¼½% vs ï¼»70.78 ± 8.11ï¼½%, P < 0.05) and Johnsen's score (8.38 ± 0.98 vs 6.11 ± 1.56, P < 0.05), increased Coentino's score (1.36 ± 0.21 vs 1.81 ± 0.34, P < 0.05) and MDA level (P < 0.05), reduced levels of SOD, GSH and CAT (P < 0.05), and down-regulated expressions of occludin, ZO-1, CAR and N-Cadherin (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure of the scrotum to 4G cellphone RF-EMR directly causes injury of the testis, disorder of the blood-testis barrier, reduction of semen quality and consequently decline in the fertility of male rats.

Efficacy of repetitive paravertebral block combined with medication in the treatment of zoster-related pain with different courses.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical outcomes of repetitive paravertebral block (PVB) combining oral medication in the treatment of zoster-related pain (ZP) with different courses. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with ZP were divided into 3 groups based on their course of herpes zoster (HZ). Group I: 24 patients with acute herpetic neuralgia (within one month of disease onset); group II: 22 patients with subacute herpetic neuralgia (disease onset from 1 to 3 months); group III: 21 patients with postherpetic neuralgia (more than 3 months since disease onset). All patients received ultrasound-guided repetitive PVB with oral gabapentin and tramadol sustained-release tablets. The VAS and QS scores and the incidences of hematoma, dizziness, nausea, and drowsiness were compared at 1 day, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: Pain intensity and sleep quality of the 3 groups improved to varying degrees after treatment. The best efficacy was achieved in the acute group, followed by the subacute group, and the poorest efficacy was observed in the chronic group. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of ultrasound-guided repetitive PVB with oral medication varied with the courses of HZ. The shorter the time since onset, the better the efficacy. This combined treatment showed better efficacy in patients at the acute and subacute stages and significantly improved their pain and sleep quality, while demonstrating limited pain relief in chronic patients.

Effects of microrna-93 on mouse cardiac microvascular endothelial cells injury and inflammatory response by mediating SPP1 through the NF-ΚB pathway.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the regulative role of microRNA-93 (miR-93) in mouse cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) injury and inflammatory response by negatively targeting SPP1 gene via the NF-κB signaling pathway. METHODS: Healthy Balb/c mice were recruited to establish a mouse model with myocarditis using the CVB3 virus. Mice were grouped into normal, blank, negative control (NC), miR-93 inhibitor, miR-93 mimic, SPP1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA), and miR-93 mimic+SPP1 shRNA groups. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were applied to determine the expressions of miR-93, SPP1, VEGFA, p50, p65, Bax, and Bcl-2. MTT assay was conducted to evaluate cell viability, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide double staining was conducted to examine cell apoptosis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to measure secretion of inflammatory factors, and chemical colorimetry was conducted to determine NO secretion. RESULTS: SPP1 was a target gene of miR-93. Compared with the normal group, other six groups showed increased expressions of SPP1, p50, p65, VEGFA, and Bax, as well as cell apoptosis rate and secretion of cell inflammatory factors, and decreased expression of Bcl-2, cell viability, and NO secretion. Compared with the blank group, the miR-93 inhibitor group showed elevated expressions of SPP1, p50, p65, VEGFA, and Bax, as well as cell apoptosis rate and secretion of cell inflammatory factors, and reduced Bcl-2, cell viability, and NO secretion. While the miR-93 mimic and SPP1 shRNA groups displayed opposite results. CONCLUSION: Taking our results together, we conclude that upregulation of miR-93 reduces CMECs injury and inflammatory response by negatively targeting SPP1 via inactivating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Putrescine alleviates aluminum toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa) by reducing cell wall Al contents in an ethylene-dependent manner.

Aluminum (Al3+ ) toxicity in acidic soils limits crop productivity worldwide. In this study, we found that putrescine (PUT) significantly alleviates Al toxicity in rice roots. The addition of 0.1 mM PUT promoted root elongation and reduced the Al content in the root apices of Nipponbare (Nip) and Kasalath (Kas) rice under Al toxicity conditions. Exogenous treatment with PUT reduced the cell wall Al content by reducing polysaccharide (pectin and hemicellulose) levels and pectin methylesterase (PME) activity in roots and decreased the translocation of Al from the external environment to the cytoplasm by downregulating the expression of OsNRAT1, which responsible to encode an Al transporter protein Nrat1 (Nramp aluminum transporter 1). The addition of PUT under Al toxicity conditions significantly inhibited ethylene emissions and suppressed the expression of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis. Treatment with the ethylene precursor 1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) significantly improved ethylene emission, inhibited root elongation, increased the Al accumulation in root tips and the root cell wall, and increased cell wall pectin and hemicellulose contents in both rice cultivars under Al toxicity conditions. The ethylene biosynthesis antagonist aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG, inhibitor of the ACC synthase) had the opposite effect and reduced PME activity. Together, our results show that PUT decreases the cell wall Al contents by suppressing ethylene emissions and decreases the symplastic Al levels by downregulating OsNRAT1 in rice.