Explore the vast range of titles available.

Aims/Introduction Circulating cell‐free mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (ccf‐mtDNA) is presumably derived from injured tissues or cells in the body and has been suggested to be potential biomarker in several diseases. The present study explored whether mtDNA could be used as a biomarker to evaluate disease in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with or without diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and Methods A total of 50 CHD patients with type 2 diabetes, 50 CHD patients without type 2 diabetes, and 50 age‐ and sex‐matched patients without CHD and DM (non‐CHD‐DM) were recruited. Ccf‐mtDNA levels were assessed by measuring the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase 1 gene using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of plasma mtDNA in CHD with or without DM was also determined. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the correlation between the mtDNA levels and traditional CHD risk factors. Results The plasma ccf‐mtDNA levels were significantly elevated in CHD patients with DM compared with those without and non‐CHD‐DM. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of mtDNA in CHD patients with DM vs non‐CHD‐DM was 0.907%. Correlation analyses of the mtDNA levels and traditional CHD risk factors showed that the mtDNA levels were significantly correlated with fasting blood glucose in CHD patients with DM. Conclusions Ccf‐mtDNA levels can be used as a biomarker in CHD patients with DM. Circulating cell‐free mtDNA (ccf‐mtDNA) is presumably derived from injured tissue or cells in the body and has been suggested to be potential biomarker in several diseases. However, whether ccf‐mtDNA levels are changed and whether it could serve as a biomarker in the patients of type 2 diabetes with or without coronary heart disease(CHD) have not been investigated. In the present study, we investigate whether ccf‐mtDNA levels are associated with the risk of CHD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The key findings are: ccf‐mtDNA levels were elevated in type 2 diabetic patients with CHD and correlated with CRP levels. Therefore, ccf‐mtDNA is a potential biomarker of diabetic CHD

Berberine has drawn extensive attention toward their wide range of biochemical and pharmacological effects, including antineoplastic effect in recent years, but the precise mechanisms remain unclear. Treatment of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells) with berberine induced inhibition of cell viability in concentration- and time-dependent manner irrespective of their estrogen receptor (ER) expression. Hoechst33342 staining confirmed berberine induced breast cancer cell apoptosis in time-dependent manner. Because apoptosis induction is considered to be a crucial strategy for cancer prevention and therapy, berberine may be an effective chemotherapeutic agent against breast cancer. To explore the precise mechanism, berberine-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial-related apoptotic pathway in human breast cancer cells were investigated in this study. In both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, berberine increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which activated the pro-apoptotic JNK signaling. Phosphorylated JNK triggered mitochondria membrane potential (ΔΨm) depolarization and downregulation expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 concomitant with the upregulation expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax. Downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein in parallel with loss of ΔΨm, leading to increased the release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria, and eventually triggered the caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis. Taken together, our study reveled that berberine exerted an antitumor activity in breast cancer cells by reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial-related apoptotic pathway. These finding provide an insight into the potential of berberine for breast cancer therapy.

• Heat stress is a major limiting factor for global wheat production and causes dramatic yield loss worldwide. The TaMBF1c gene is upregulated in response to heat stress in wheat. Understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with heat stress responses will pave the way to improve wheat thermotolerance. • Through CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing, polysome profiling coupled with RNA-sequencing analysis, and protein–protein interactions, we show that TaMBF1c conferred heat response via regulating a specific gene translation in wheat. • The results showed that TaMBF1c is evolutionarily conserved in diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid wheat species, and its knockdown and knockout lines show increased heat sensitivity. TaMBF1c is colocalized with the stress granule complex and interacts with TaG3BP. TaMBF1c affects the translation efficiency of a subset of heat responsive genes, which are significantly enriched in the ‘sequence-specific DNA binding’ term. Moreover, gene expression network analysis demonstrated that TaMBF1c is closely associated with the translation of heat shock proteins. • Our findings reveal a contribution of TaMBF1c in regulating the heat stress response via the translation process, and provide a new target for improving heat tolerance in wheat breeding programs.

Based on the experience and lessons from previous control of lakes, as well as the present situation of water eutrophication and outbreak of blue-green algae in lakes, general ideas of controlling outbreak of blue-green algae in large and middle lakes were proposed. Firstly, it is needed to control serious outbreak of blue-green algae and then build health aquatic ecosystems and corresponding control goals finally. Secondly, quantity of blue-green algae in lakes and lake eutrophication should be reduced at the same time. Thirdly, quantity of reduced blue-green algae must exceed the natural increase of them in quantity persistently, so that outbreak of blue-green algae will reduce and even be eliminated. Fourthly, engineering measures and corresponding safeguard measures to control outbreak of blue-green algae in lakes should be combined.

After water storage in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region,there are no outbreaks of algal blooms in the main stream of the reservoir region,but the density of algae increases obviously. Outbreaks of algal blooms mainly appeared in the tributaries of the reservoir region such as the Xiangxi River,Daning River,Shennong River and Xiaojiang River,but they did not occur every year. The reasons for outbreaks of algal blooms in the tributaries are shown as follows: the existence of sources of algae(blue-green algae) in the Three Gorges Reservoir is the root cause,and the sources include sources existing and being produced in the reservoir and sources from upstream main stream and its tributaries and other related lakes and reservoirs,of which the sources are mainly from the Dianchi Lake; slight or moderate eutrophication of water is the basic condition;hydrologic and hydrodynamic conditions and suitable temperature are conducive to proliferation and aggregation of algae(blue-green algae) after the operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir until outbreaks of algal blooms appear. Outbreaks of algal blooms in the tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region mainly appear in backwater reaches; they mainly occur in the tributaries in the north of the reservoir region and near to the dam;they mainly appear from March to July; the dominant species of algae( blue-green algae) in the Three Gorges Reservoir are Pyrrophyta,Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta,but they tend to change into blue-green algae and other algae. To control outbreaks of algal blooms in the tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region,it is needed to prevent water containing blue-green algae collected from the Dianchi Lake and other lakes and reservoirs from being input into the lower reaches,reduce pollution load flowing into the Three Gorges Reservoir,use enclosures to change hydrodynamic conditions of backwater reaches of the tributaries appropriately,and adopt biological measures such as culturing fish and planting plants to improve ecosystem of the tributaries and other measures to inhibit and eliminate algae and decrease eutrophication level.

After water storage in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, there are no outbreaks of algal blooms in the main stream of the reservoir region, but the density of algae increases obviously. Outbreaks of algal blooms mainly appeared in the tributaries of the reservoir region such as the Xiangxi River, Daning River, Shennong River and Xiaojiang River, but they did not occur every year. The reasons for outbreaks of algal blooms in the tributaries are shown as follows： the existence of sources of algae (blue-green algae) in the Three Gorges Reservoir is the root cause, and the sources include sources existing and being produced in the reservoir and sources from upstream main stream and its tributaries and other related lakes and reservoirs, of which the sources are mainly from the Dianchi Lake； slight or moderate eutrophication of water is the basic condition；hydrologic and hydrodynamic conditions and suitable temperature are conducive to proliferation and aggregation of algae (blue-green algae) after the operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir until outbreaks of algal blooms appear. Outbreaks of algal blooms in the tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region mainly appear in backwater reaches； they mainly occur in the tributaries in the north of the reservoir region and near to the dam；they mainly appear from March to July； the dominant species of algae (blue-green algae) in the Three Gorges Reservoir are Pyrrophyta, Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta, but they tend to change into blue-green algae and other algae. To control outbreaks of algal blooms in the tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, it is needed to prevent water containing blue-green algae collected from the Dianchi Lake and other lakes and reservoirs from being input into the lower reaches, reduce pollution load flowing into the Three Gorges Reservoir, use enclosures to change hydrodynamic conditions of backwater reaches ofthe tributaries appropriately，and adopt biological measures such as culturing fish and planting plants to improve ecosystem of the tributaries and other measures to inhibit and eliminate algae and decrease eutrophication level.

Based on the investigation and analysis of protection and restoration of aquatic ecosystems in rivers and lakes of China, the ideas and measures of restoring aquatic ecosystems were proposed to build healthy aquatic ecosystems of rivers and lakes in China, such as setting scientific and clear goals, improving the standard adopted by wastewater treatment plants, controlling sources of pollutants and intercepting pollutants, collec- tion of blue-green algae, water transfer, dredging, reducing the quantity of blue-green algae, restoring reed wetlands on a large scale, combing dredging and base raise of restored reed wetlands, making full use of microorganisms, and implementing effective management, technology integra- tion and innovation.

Based on the analysis of current situation of water environment in the Chaohu Lake,general ideas and measures of controlling the water environment were proposed. In respect of control ideas,controlling outbreaks of blue-green algae should be as one of control goals; it is needed to combine reducing the quantity of blue-green algae with decreasing eutrophication level to make the decrease in the quantity of blue-green algae larger than their natural increase until outbreaks of blue-green algae are eliminated; all kinds of techniques should be combined closely,integrated and innovated,and corresponding safeguard measures should be adopted. In respect of control measures,controlling sources of pollution and intercepting pollutants are basic measures,of which improving sewage treatment capacity and standard greatly is a key measure,and actively controlling pollution from large-scale livestock and poultry breeding is one of main measures; rivers polluted heavily should be controlled,and using microorganisms to purify small and moderate rivers can be as one of preferred techniques; blue-green algae should be dredged deeply to reducing their quantity; water should be transferred from the Yangtze River to the Chaohu Lake or the Hauihe River to purify water bodies and increase environmental capacity; reed wetland should be restored on a large scale to increase vegetation coverage from 5% to 20%; dredging should be combined with the elevation of basement of restored reed wetland.

Based on the analysis of current situation of water environment in the Chaohu Lake, general ideas and measures of controlling the waterenvironment were proposed. In respect of control ideas, controlling outbreaks of blue-green algae should be as one of control goals； it is needed to combine reducing the quantity of blue-green algae with decreasing eutrophication level to make the decrease in the quantity of blue-green algae larger than their natural increase until outbreaks of blue-green algae are eliminated； all kinds of techniques should be combined closely, integrated and innovated, and corresponding safeguard measures should be adopted. In respect of control measures,controlling sources of pollution and intercepting pollutants are basic measures, of which improving sewage treatment capacity and standard greatly is a key measure, and actively controlling pollution from large-scale livestock and poultry breeding is one of main measures； rivers polluted heavily should be controlled, and using microorganisms to purify small and moderate rivers can be as one of preferred techniques； blue-green algae should be dredged deeply to reducing their quantity； water should be transferred from the Yangtze River to the Chaohu Lake or the Hauihe River to purify water bodies and increase environmental capacity； reed wetland should be restored on a large scale to increase vegetation coverage from 5% to 20% ； dredging should be combined with the elevation of basement of restored reed wetland.

Among the Chinese lakes with the problem of eutrophication, the Taihu Lake, the Chaohu Lake and the Dianchi Lake have the worst cases of blue algae outbreak, which happen every year. Other lakes also have problems of blue algae outbreak at various degrees. However, some lakes don＇t have such problems. Practices have shown that through comprehensive management, the problem can be basically eliminated or significantly alleviated. ＂Water bloom＂ and blue algae outbreak have different connotation. The major factors affecting blue algae outbreak are sources of pollutants and ecological environment. Experiences are summed up and a new thinking on its management is developed： resolving the problem of blue algae is fundamental to lake management and development goals should be clearly set forth so as to eventually build a healthy aquatic ecosys- tem. The problem of blue algae can＇t be fully tackled by solely relying on the management of eutrophication but only by combining efforts of reducing the amount of blue algae and the management of eutrophication. The number of reduced blue algae should be larger than that of naturally prolifera- ted algae so as to alleviate and eliminate the problem of blue algae outbreak. Various engineering and technical measures and relevant protective procedures should be carried out in a scientific and proper manner. The total amount of nitrogen and phosphorous entering the lake either from point-source or non-point source pollution should be substantially reduced. Controlling the source of pollution and intercepting pollutants are the bas- ic measures. Wastewater treatment plant is the largest point source pollution in the future and adequate plants should be built with improved emission standards. Meanwhile, other measures including fishing out blue algae, diverting water, dredging, ecological restoration and expanding reed zone, should be implemented to alleviate the problem of eutrophication and eventually eliminate the problem of blue algae outbreak.