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Copper (Cu) is a necessary trace element participated in many physiological processes in plants. But excessive Cu2+ is toxic, which can activate intracellular signals that lead to cellular damage. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is at the center of cell signal transduction and has been reported to be involved in stress-related signaling pathways. ZmMPK3, a kind of MAPKs in maize cells, can be activated by diverse abiotic stresses. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Cu2+ on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level, ZmMPK3 activity as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbic acid peroxidase (APX) using maize leaf as an experimental model. The results demonstrated that acute Cu2+ exposure for 24 hours led to rapid increases of H2O2 level and the increase in ZmMPK3 activity as well as the total activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and APX. H2O2 scavenger, dimethylthiourea (DMTU), effectively inhibited the Cu2+-increased H2O2 level and the activity of ZmMPK3 as well as the activities of the antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and APX. Pre-treatment with the MAPK inhibitor, PD98059, significantly blocked the Cu2+-increased activities of ZmMPK3, CAT, APX and SOD, but didn't affect the accumulation of H2O2. Our results suggest that Cu2+ causes oxidative stress to the maize leaves which then activates defense antioxidant enzymes via MAPK pathway. Thus, the signaling pathway is Cu2+-H2O2-ZmMPK3-antioxidant enzymes.

Tendinopathy is a growing global concern affecting many people, like athletes, workers, and the elderly. Despite its commonality among the sporting population, there is no practical clinical guideline for patellar tendinopathy (PT). Furthermore, there is conflicting evidence between clinical guidelines on shockwave therapy's application and clinical utility for Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and plantar fasciitis (PF). Thus, our aim of this study is to evaluate the evidence for shockwave therapy; to provide a Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) level of the evidence and effectiveness of shockwave therapy for patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and Plantar fasciitis. Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Embase, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) were searched to find relevant studies published before December 14 , 2022. Our study showed that for PT in the short term, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) or ESWT + eccentric exercise (EE) has a negligible effect on pain and function compared to a placebo or placebo + EE. On the contrary, ESWT significantly affects pain compared to conservative treatment (CT). For AT, ESWT has a small inconclusive effect on pain and function in the short term compared to EE. On the other hand, a placebo outperformed ESWT in improving function for AT but not pain outcomes. PF showed that ESWT significantly affects short- and long-term pain and function. When ESWT was compared to other interventions such as low laser therapy (LLLT), corticosteroid injection (CSI), or CT, there was a small inconclusive effect on pain and function in the short term. There is low-moderate evidence that ESWT has a negligible effect on pain and function for PT and AT. However, high-quality evidence suggests ESWT has a large effect on pain and function for PF. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023396835, identifier CRD42023396835.

Background To evaluate the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment of tuberculosis destroyed lung (TDL), and the influence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) on the outcomes of surgical treatment of TDL. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 113 patients with TDL who underwent surgical treatment from January 2005 to December 2019. Among them, 30 of these cases were complicated with CPA. The patients were divided into two groups: TDL group and TDL + CPA group. We analyzed the effectiveness and safety of surgical treatment of TDL, and further compared the effectiveness and safety of surgical treatment of TDL with or withoutthe presence of CPA. Results The TDL + CPA group had a significantly higher age ( P =0.003), symptoms of hemoptysis ( P =0.000), and a higher proportion of patients with preoperative serum albumin <30 g/L ( P =0.014) as compared with TDL group. For all enrolled patients, the incidence of severe postoperative complications was 12.4% (14/113) and the postoperative mortality within 30 days after discharge was 4.4% (5/113). 86.7% (98/113) of the patients recovered and discharged, the incidence of severe postoperative complications in the TDA + CPA group was higher than that of TDL group (23.3% vs 8.4%, P  = 0.034), although there was no difference in mortality between the two groups ( P  = 1.000). A binary logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for severe postoperative complications were male (OR 25.24, 95% CI 2.31–275.64; P  = 0.008) and age ≥ 40 years (OR 10.34, 95% CI 1.56–68.65; P  = 0.016). Conclusion Surgical treatment for patients with TDL is effective with an acceptable mortality rate whether or not the disease is complicated with CPA. The independent risk factors identified for severe postoperative complications in patients with TDL were male and ≥ 40 years old. It implies that when treating patients with TDA + CPA, particular attention should be paid to these patients who have these independent risk factors to avoid a poor outcome.

Mesalazine formulations are first-line treatments for ulcerative colitis. However, the drug release mechanisms of currently available mesalazine formulations on the market vary, and different in vitro dissolution methods have been used to characterize their in vivo absorption. Thus, there is an urgent need for more in-depth research on in vitro dissolution methods for mainstream mesalazine enteric-coated tablets. The goal of this study is to determine more scientifically rigorous testing methods to enhance the discriminatory power of in vitro dissolution testing of these products. Dissolution tests were performed using the reciprocating cylinder method with a small 250 ml vessel, a reciprocating frequency of 10 cycles/min, a sample volume of 5 ml, and UV spectrophotometric detection. The absorbance values of the dissolution solutions at different pH values were measured using cuvettes with path lengths of 1 cm and 1 mm and at detection wavelengths of 303 nm and 332 nm, respectively. In pH 1.2, 4.5, 5.5, and 6.0 solutions, the linear concentration range was from 5 to 30 µg/ml. In contrast, the linear concentration range in pH 6.8 media was 90 to 660 µg/ml. Method accuracy was tested at levels of 5%, 50%, 100%, and 120%, and the average recovery rates were 105.8%, 102.8%, 100.9%, and 101.2%, respectively. Moreover, the differences in the dissolution data did not exceed 2% with different instruments or analysts or on different days. Using the reciprocating cylinder method, we continuously measured the dissolution of mesalazine enteric-coated tablets in media with various pH values that simulate different sections of the human digestive system. Furthermore, in pH 6.8 dissolution media, drug release from both the homemade and the reference formulations followed zero-order kinetics. The established reciprocating cylinder method for determining the dissolution of mesalazine enteric-coated tablets is suitable for quality control of this type of product.

Cadmium (Cd) exerts a toxic influence on numerous crucial growth and development processes in plants, notably affecting seed germination rate, transpiration rate, chlorophyll content, and biomass. While considerable advances in Cd uptake and detoxification of plants have been made, the mechanisms by which plants adapt to and tolerate Cd toxicity remain elusive. This review focuses on the relationship between Cd and plants and the prospects for phytoremediation of Cd pollution. We highlight the following issues: (1) the present state of Cd pollution and its associated hazards, encompassing the sources and distribution of Cd and the risks posed to human health; (2) the mechanisms underlying the uptake and transport of Cd, including the physiological processes associated with the uptake, translocation, and detoxification of Cd, as well as the pertinent gene families implicated in these processes; (3) the detrimental effects of Cd on plants and the mechanisms of detoxification, such as the activation of resistance genes, root chelation, vacuolar compartmentalization, the activation of antioxidant systems and the generation of non-enzymatic antioxidants; (4) the practical application of phytoremediation and the impact of incorporating exogenous substances on the Cd tolerance of plants.

Glioma is the most malignant cancer in the brain. As a major vitamin-K-dependent protein in the central nervous system, PROS1 not only plays a vital role in blood coagulation, and some studies have found that it was associated with tumor immune infiltration. However, the prognostic significance of PROS1 in glioma and the underlying mechanism of PROS1 in shaping the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remains unclear. The raw data (including RNA-seq, sgRNA-seq, clinicopathological variables and prognosis, and survival data) were acquired from public databases, including TCGA, GEPIA, CGGA, TIMER, GEO, UALCAN, and CancerSEA. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses were performed using \"cluster profiler\" package and visualized by the \"ggplot2\" package. GSEA was conducted using R package \"cluster profiler\". Tumor immune estimation resource (TIMER) and spearman correlation analysis were applied to evaluate the associations between infiltration levels of immune cells and the expression of PROS1. qRT-PCR and WB were used to assay the expression of PROS1. Wound-healing assay, transwell chambers assays, and CCK-8 assays, were performed to assess migration and proliferation. ROC and KM curves were constructed to determine prognostic significance of PROS1 in glioma. The level of PROS1 expression was significantly increased in glioma in comparison to normal tissue, which was further certificated by qRT-PCR and WB in LN-229 and U-87MG glioma cells. High expression of PROS1 positively correlated with inflammation, EMT, and invasion identified by CancerSEA, which was also proved by downregulation of PROS1 could suppress cells migration, and proliferation in LN-229 and U-87MG glioma cells. GO and KEGG analysis suggested that PROS1 was involved in disease of immune system and T cell antigen receptor pathway. Immune cell infiltration analysis showed that expression of PROS1 was negatively associated with pDC and NK CD56 bright cells while positively correlated with Macrophages, Neutrophils in glioma. Immune and stromal scores analysis indicated that PROS1 was positively associated with immune score. The high level of PROS1 resulted in an immune suppressive TIME the recruitment of immunosuppressive molecules. In addition, Increased expression of PROS1 was correlated with T-cell exhaustion, M2 polarization, poor Overall-Survival (OS) in glioma. And it was significantly related to tumor histological level, age, primary therapy outcome. The results of our experiment and various bioinformatics approaches validated that PROS1 was a valuable poor prognostic marker. Increased expression of PROS1 was correlated with malignant phenotype and associated with poor prognosis in glioma. Besides, PROS1 could be a possible biomarker and potential immunotherapeutic target through promoting the glioma immunosuppressive microenvironment and inducing tumor-associated macrophages M2 polarization.

Sirtuin (SIRT)3 is closely related to inflammation and apoptosis and studies have described this relationship, including in the lungs. However, the expression of SIRT3 and its effect on apoptosis and inflammation in bronchial tissue in asthma remains to be elucidated. The present study found that SIRT3 expression decreased in the bronchial tissues of asthmatic mice and its upregulation could not only reduce increased bronchial epithelial cells apoptosis in the asthmatic mice but also significantly decreased the elevated expression of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Further study found that SIRT3 overexpression significantly decreased apoptosis-related protein expression (Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase 3 activity) and oxidative injury. In vitro, SIRT3 regulated oxidative stress-induced bronchial epithelial cell (16HBE) apoptosis and cytokine expression. In conclusion, SIRT3 expression decreased in bronchial tissues of asthmatic mice and the upregulation of SIRT3 expression could reduce the apoptosis of bronchial epithelium and airway inflammation. It was concluded that SIRT3 might be a potential target in asthma treatment.

Introduction . The impaired proliferative capacity of alveolar epithelial cells after injury is an important factor causing epithelial repair dysfunction, leading to the occurrence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells as the stem cells of alveolar epithelium participate in the repair process after alveolar injury. Lipocalin‐2 (LCN2) participates in multiple processes regulating the pathological process of alveolar epithelial cells, but the mechanisms involved are still unclear. Method . We used a BLM‐treated mouse model to characterize the expression of LCN2 in lung fibrosis regions and analyzed the location of LCN2 in alveolar epithelial cells. Moreover, human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiCs) were transfected with the LCN2 overexpression plasmid vector in vitro. Recombinant human interleukin‐17 (IL‐17) protein (rhIL‐17) at different concentrations was administered to intervene in HPAEpiCs, observing cell viability and analyzing the concentration‐dependent effect of IL‐17. Results . LCN2 was increased in the alveolar epithelium post‐BLM injury, and highly expressed LCN2 was mainly concentrated on AT2 cells in BLM‐injured lungs. Meanwhile, LCN2‐overexpressing HPAEpiCs showed impaired cell viability and cell growth. HPAEpiC intervention with rhIL‐17 mildly rescued the impaired cell proliferation induced by LCN2 overexpression, and the effect of IL‐17 intervention was partially concentration‐dependent. Conclusions . The results revealed the reversed effect of IL‐17 on the impaired proliferative capacity of the alveolar epithelium induced by LCN2 overexpression. The target alveolar epithelial cells regulated by this process were AT2 cells, providing new clues for alveolar epithelium repair after injury and the treatment of lung injury diseases.

China is the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the world, and agricultural GHG emission accounts for nearly a fifth of the total emission in China. To understand the carbon absorption and emission characteristics of agricultural production systems in those arid oasis areas, a typical representative city in northwestern China, Zhangye City, was selected for study.The emission factor method was used to analyze and calculate the characteristics of changing carbon emission dynamics in the whole agricultural production system in Zhangye city region (38,592 km 2 ) from 2010 to 2021.The results revealed that carbon emissions during agricultural planting mainly come from fertilizers, which account for the highest proportion (47.9%) of total carbon emissions in agricultural planting. Animal enteric fermentation emissions from local livestock farming are the main contributor (86%) to GHG emissions. The annual average carbon absorption intensity is 4.4 t C-eq ha −1 for crop and 2.6 t C-eq ha −1 for the agricultural production system. The ratio of total carbon emissions from agricultural production to carbon sequestration of crops is 1:1.7. We find that the total carbon sequestration slightly exceeds its total carbon emissions in the study region, with an annual average of 41% for its sustainable development index. Carbon emissions of the agricultural production system in this oasis area are mainly driven by the livestock industry, mostly CH 4 emissions from cattle raising.Reducing the local carbon emissions from the livestock industry, typically the cattle raising, will play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions from this local agricultural production system and maintaining its net positive carbon balance.

This study aims to optimize the ceramic-to-backing thickness ratio ( R th ) of B 4 C/UHMWPE composite armor to enhance the anti-penetration performance while maintaining lightweight requirements. Its primary innovation lies in systematically quantifying, through combined finite element method (FEM) and ballistic testing, the coupling mechanism of thickness ratio ( R th : 0.4-2.0), areal density ( AD : 25.0–30.0 kg/m²), and impact velocity ( V 0 : 400.0–550.0 m/s) governing the anti-penetration performance of composite armor. The results reveal that the ballistic limit velocity ( V bl ) initially increases and then decreases as R th increases from 0.4 to 2.0, peaking at R th = 1.4–1.6 across all AD cases. Notably, this optimal R th range remains consistent across AD variations, with both projectile mass loss ratio ( R II m,l ) and kinetic energy loss ratio ( R II ke,l ) during the first two penetration stages peaking within this range, demonstrating robust design applicability. Furthermore, a key finding and significant contribution is the dynamic shift in the optimal R th for minimizing projectile residual velocity ( V re ) when V 0 exceeds V bl : Under fixed AD , higher V 0 reduces the optimal R th due to shortened projectile-armor interaction time, necessitating thicker UHMWPE laminate to prevent premature ceramic fracture failure and enhance the backing-plate energy dissipation. Conversely, under constant V₀ , higher AD elevates the optimal R th , where AD and V₀ show opposite effects on the variation of optimal R th , and the optimal R th converges to 1.4–1.6 as the highest V bl corresponding to given AD approaches V 0 . Critically, this study establishes a quantitative framework for V 0 - AD - R th coupling effects, providing actionable guidelines for designing lightweight composite armor against diverse ballistic threats.