Long-Wavelength AIE-Based Fluorescent Probes for Mitochondria-Targeted Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy of Hepatoma Cells

With this research, we have developed two long-wavelength theranostic probes (DCMT and DCMC) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-based properties for image-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) of hepatoma cells. Introduction of a triphenylamine or carbazole group to a dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran dye with long-wavelength fluorescence emission produces the AIE-based probes, which were subsequently modified with triphenyl-phosphonium cation for actively targeting the mitochondria of hepatoma cells. Solution-based experiments show that the probes exhibit a mixed photophysical mechanism of twisted-intramolecular charge transfer and AIE at different aggregation states. The molecular aggregation of the probes also leads to an enhanced ability for oxygen photosensitization, suggesting their potential for PDT of cancer cells. Our subsequent cell-based assays show that the probes localize in the mitochondria of hepatoma cells and the use of light leads to cell death through the intracellular production of reactive oxygen species. </p

Identification of the toxin components of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA and its destructive effect on plant cell membrane structure

Rice sheath blight is a fungal disease caused mainly by Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA. Toxins are a major pathogenic factor of R. solani, and some studies have reported their toxin components; however, there is no unified conclusion. In this study, we reported the toxin components and their targets that play a role in R. solani AG1-IA. First, toxins produced by R. solani AG1-IA were examined. Several important phytotoxins, including benzoic acid (BZA), 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furanic aid (HFA), and catechol (CAT), were identified by comparative analysis of secondary metabolites from AG1-IA, AG1-IB, and healthy rice. Follow-up studies have shown that the toxin components of this fungus can rapidly disintegrate the biofilm structure while maintaining the content of host plant membrane components, thereby affecting the organelles, which may also explain the lack of varieties highly resistant to sheath blight

Crop Diversity for Yield Increase

Traditional farming practices suggest that cultivation of a mixture of crop species in the same field through temporal and spatial management may be advantageous in boosting yields and preventing disease, but evidence from large-scale field testing is limited. Increasing crop diversity through intercropping addresses the problem of increasing land utilization and crop productivity. In collaboration with farmers and extension personnel, we tested intercropping of tobacco, maize, sugarcane, potato, wheat and broad bean – either by relay cropping or by mixing crop species based on differences in their heights, and practiced these patterns on 15,302 hectares in ten counties in Yunnan Province, China. The results of observation plots within these areas showed that some combinations increased crop yields for the same season between 33.2 and 84.7% and reached a land equivalent ratio (LER) of between 1.31 and 1.84. This approach can be easily applied in developing countries, which is crucial in face of dwindling arable land and increasing food demand

Influence of sodium thiosulfate on coronary artery calcification of patients on dialysis: a meta-analysis

AbstractCoronary artery calcification (CAC) is common in dialysis patients and is associated with a higher risk of future cardiovascular events. Sodium thiosulfate (STS) is effective for calciphylaxis in dialysis patients; however, the influence of STS on CAC in dialysis patients remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effects of STS on CAC in patients undergoing dialysis. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched from inception to 22 March 2023 for controlled studies comparing the influence of STS versus usual care without STS on CAC scores in dialysis patients. A random effects model incorporating the potential influence of heterogeneity was used to pool the results. Nine studies, including two non-randomized studies and seven randomized controlled trials, were included in the meta-analysis. Among these, 365 patients on dialysis were included in the study. Compared with usual care without STS, intravenous STS for 3–6 months was associated with significantly reduced CAC scores (mean difference [MD] = −180.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −276.64 to −83.70, p  0.05). In conclusion, intravenous STS may be effective in attenuating CAC in dialysis patients

IRX-beta RELATION OF STAR-FORMING REGIONS IN NGC 628 BASED ON INTEGRAL FIELD SPECTROSCOPY

It has been found that the infrared-to-ultraviolet luminosity ratio (IRX) and ultraviolet spectral slope (beta) have a tight correlation in starburst galaxies, while in normal galaxies the relation is deviated and has a much larger scatter. Star formation regions are much simpler in both morphology and physical properties than galaxies, so their photometric and spectroscopic properties are more easily and accurately determined. We have used the integral field spectroscopy and multiband photometric images to study the IRX-beta relation of H II regions in a nearby galaxy, NGC 628. There are obvious correlations between the D-n(4000), stellar population age, star formation rate, especially H alpha equivalent width EW(H alpha), and deviation distance d(p) from the starburst IRX-beta relation. However, there is little correlation between the Balmer decrement, metallicity, and d(p). It is much more complicated than expected, so that we cannot introduce a single second parameter to describe the scatter and deviation of the H II region IRX-beta relation

Diagnostic efficacy of serum IL-17 and NF-κB expression levels in early detection of lung consolidation in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Objective To investigate the expression levels and significance of serum interleukin-17 （IL-17） and nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） in Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia （MPP） children in acute stage with lung consolidation. Methods Sixty-four children diagnosed with MPP in acute stage were selected. According to the imaging features of chest CT scan or chest X-ray upon admission， all patients were divided into the lung consolidation group （n = 32） and non-lung consolidation group （n = 32）. The serum levels of IL-17 and NF-κB in MPP children were detected and compared between two groups. The relationship between IL-17 and NF-κB was analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve was drawn. The diagnostic efficacy of serum IL-17 and NF-κB levels for lung consolidation was assessed in MPP children in acute stage. Results The serum levels of IL-17 and NF-κB in the lung consolidation group were higher than those in the non-lung consolidation group （both P &lt; 0.05）. Spearman correlation analysis showed that IL-17 level was positively correlated with NF-κB level in MPP children （rs = 0.818， P &lt; 0.05）. When the serum level of IL-17 was 10.45 pg/mL， the area under the ROC curve （AUC） was 0.806， and the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of lung consolidation in MPP children were 75.0% and 78.1%. When the serum level of NF-κB was 534.13 pg/mL， the AUC was 0.951， and the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of lung consolidation in children with MPP were 90.6% and 84.4%. Conclusions The expression levels of IL-17 and NF-κB are up-regulated in MPP children with lung consolidation in acute stage. Early detection of serum levels of IL-17 and NF-κB has certain diagnostic efficacy for lung consolidation in MPP

Influence of sodium thiosulfate on coronary artery calcification of patients on dialysis: a meta-analysis

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is common in dialysis patients and is associated with a higher risk of future cardiovascular events. Sodium thiosulfate (STS) is effective for calciphylaxis in dialysis patients; however, the influence of STS on CAC in dialysis patients remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effects of STS on CAC in patients undergoing dialysis. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched from inception to 22 March 2023 for controlled studies comparing the influence of STS versus usual care without STS on CAC scores in dialysis patients. A random effects model incorporating the potential influence of heterogeneity was used to pool the results. Nine studies, including two non-randomized studies and seven randomized controlled trials, were included in the meta-analysis. Among these, 365 patients on dialysis were included in the study. Compared with usual care without STS, intravenous STS for 3–6 months was associated with significantly reduced CAC scores (mean difference [MD] = −180.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −276.64 to −83.70, p 2 = 0%). Sensitivity analysis limited to studies of patients on hemodialysis showed similar results (MD: −167.33, 95% CI: −266.57 to −68.09, p = 0.001; I2 = 0%). Subgroup analyses according to study design, sample size, mean age, sex, dialysis vintage of the patients, and treatment duration of STS also showed consistent results (p for subgroup differences all > 0.05). In conclusion, intravenous STS may be effective in attenuating CAC in dialysis patients.</p