Plumbagin inhibits fungal growth, HMGB1/LOX-1 pathway and inflammatory factors in A. fumigatus keratitis

To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects of plumbagin (PL) in Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), time-killing curve, spore adhesion, crystal violet staining, calcium fluoride white staining, and Propidium Iodide (PI) staining were employed to assess the antifungal activity of PL in vitro against A. fumigatus. The cytotoxicity of PL was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8). The impact of PL on the expression of HMGB1, LOX-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and ROS in A. fumigatus keratitis was investigated using RT-PCR, ELISA, Western blot, and Reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay. The therapeutic efficacy of PL against A. fumigatus keratitis was assessed through clinical scoring, plate counting, Immunofluorescence and Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining. Finally, we found that PL inhibited the growth, spore adhesion, and biofilm formation of A. fumigatus and disrupted the integrity of its cell membrane and cell wall. PL decreased IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels while increasing IL-10 expression in fungi-infected mice corneas and peritoneal macrophages. Additionally, PL significantly attenuated the HMGB1/LOX-1 pathway while reversing the promoting effect of Boxb (an HMGB1 agonist) on HMGB1/LOX-1. Moreover, PL decreased the level of ROS. In vivo, clinical scores, neutrophil recruitment, and fungal burden were all significantly reduced in infected corneas treated with PL. In summary, the inflammatory process can be inhibited by PL through the regulation of the HMGB-1/LOX-1 pathway. Simultaneously, PL can exert antifungal effects by limiting fungal spore adhesion and biofilm formation, as well as causing destruction of cell membranes and walls

Generating High-Quality and High-Resolution Seamless Satellite Imagery for Large-Scale Urban Regions

Urban geographical maps are important to urban planning, urban construction, land-use studies, disaster control and relief, touring and sightseeing, and so on. Satellite remote sensing images are the most important data source for urban geographical maps. However, for optical satellite remote sensing images with high spatial resolution, certain inevitable factors, including cloud, haze, and cloud shadow, severely degrade the image quality. Moreover, the geometrical and radiometric differences amongst multiple high-spatial-resolution images are difficult to eliminate. In this study, we propose a robust and efficient procedure for generating high-resolution and high-quality seamless satellite imagery for large-scale urban regions. This procedure consists of image registration, cloud detection, thin/thick cloud removal, pansharpening, and mosaicking processes. Methodologically, a spatially adaptive method considering the variation of atmospheric scattering, and a stepwise replacement method based on local moment matching are proposed for removing thin and thick clouds, respectively. The effectiveness is demonstrated by a successful case of generating a 0.91-m-resolution image of the main city zone in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, using images obtained from the Chinese Beijing-2 and Gaofen-2 high-resolution satellites

A Voronoi Diagram-Based Grouping Test Localization Scheme in Wireless Sensor Networks

The wireless sensor network (WSN) provides us with a cost-effective way to remotely monitor a large number of objects, locations, and environmental parameters. Taking advantage of WSNs to applications can add new capabilities to existing products and bring out new services. We propose a novel range-free localization scheme, the Voronoi diagram-based grouping test localization (VTL) scheme, to estimate the location efficiently for WSNs. VTL divides the anchor nodes into multiple groups and uses the corresponding closest Voronoi cells to compute the estimated location. Apart from improving the accuracy of location estimation, it also largely simplifies the implementation. Simulation results show that the VTL scheme has better performance compared with other range-free localization schemes. When reaching a certain anchor node density, the VTL scheme will have higher localization accuracy and a larger percentage of localizable nodes. Hence, VTL is likely more appropriate for upcoming WSN scenarios with large ratios of anchor nodes being available

Significant liver histological change is common in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B with normal ALT

Abstract Background and aims Numerous HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with persistently normal ALT have significant liver histopathology. It is imperative to identify true “immune tolerant” patients. We aimed to evaluate the liver histopathology features of HBeAg-positive CHB patients with normal ALT and the incidence of liver cirrhosis and HCC in CHB patients during follow-up. Methods 179 HBeAg-positive CHB patients with normal ALT who performed liver biopsy from 2009 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Liver necroinflammation ≥ G2 and/or liver fibrosis ≥ S2 was defined as significant liver histopathological change. Results 57.5% patients were in the indeterminate phase with significant liver histological changes. The proportion of the patients with evident liver necroinflammation was higher in the high-normal ALT group (21-40U/L) when compared with the low-normal ALT group (≤ 20 U/L) (51.3% vs. 30.0%, p < 0.05), and patients aged ≥ 40 years had a higher proportion of significant fibrosis than those aged < 40 years (64.5% vs. 39.9%, p < 0.05). The percentages of patients with ≥ S2 and ≥ G2/S2 in the HBV DNA < 107 IU/mL group were higher than those in the HBV DNA ≥ 107 IU/mL group (72.7% vs. 40.1%, p < 0.01; 81.8% vs. 54.1%, p < 0.05). During follow-up, two of immune tolerant patients and four of indeterminate patients developed into cirrhosis, and one of immune tolerant patients and one of indeterminate patients developed into HCC, respectively. Conclusions HBeAg-positive CHB patients with high-normal ALT or HBV DNA < 107 IU/mL were tend to be indeterminate. Liver biopsy or noninvasive approaches are recommended to evaluate liver histopathology, and antiviral therapy is recommended for patients with significant liver histopathology

A Voronoi Diagram-Based Grouping Test Localization Scheme in Wireless Sensor Networks

The wireless sensor network (WSN) provides us with a cost-effective way to remotely monitor a large number of objects, locations, and environmental parameters. Taking advantage of WSNs to applications can add new capabilities to existing products and bring out new services. We propose a novel range-free localization scheme, the Voronoi diagram-based grouping test localization (VTL) scheme, to estimate the location efficiently for WSNs. VTL divides the anchor nodes into multiple groups and uses the corresponding closest Voronoi cells to compute the estimated location. Apart from improving the accuracy of location estimation, it also largely simplifies the implementation. Simulation results show that the VTL scheme has better performance compared with other range-free localization schemes. When reaching a certain anchor node density, the VTL scheme will have higher localization accuracy and a larger percentage of localizable nodes. Hence, VTL is likely more appropriate for upcoming WSN scenarios with large ratios of anchor nodes being available

FOXO4-DRI improves spermatogenesis in aged mice through reducing senescence-associated secretory phenotype secretion from Leydig cells

Male ageing is always accompanied by decreased fertility. The forkhead O (FOXO) transcription factor FOXO4 is reported to be highly expressed in senescent cells. Upon activation, it binds p53 in the nucleus, preventing senescent cell apoptosis and maintaining senescent cells in situ. Leydig cells play key roles in assisting spermatogenesis. Leydig cell senescence leads to deterioration of the microenvironment of the testes and impairs spermatogenesis. In this study, we observed that FOXO4-DRI, a specific FOXO4- p53 binding blocker, induced apoptosis in senescent Leydig cells, reduced the secretion of certain Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype and improved the proliferation of cocultured GC-1 SPG cells. In naturally aged mice, FOXO4-DRI-treated aged mice exhibited increased sperm quality and improved spermatogenesis

Stem Leydig cells support macrophage immunological homeostasis through mitochondrial transfer in mice

Abstract As testicular mesenchymal stromal cells, stem Leydig cells (SLCs) show great promise in the treatment of male hypogonadism. The therapeutic functions of mesenchymal stromal cells are largely determined by their reciprocal regulation by immune responses. However, the immunoregulatory properties of SLCs remain unclear. Here, we observe that SLCs transplantation restore male fertility and testosterone production in an ischemia‒reperfusion injury mouse model. SLCs prevent inflammatory cascades through mitochondrial transfer to macrophages. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) released from activated macrophages inducing mitochondrial transfer from SLCs to macrophages in a transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily member 7 (TRPM7)-mediated manner. Notably, knockdown of TRPM7 in transplanted SLCs compromised therapeutic outcomes in both testicular ischemia‒reperfusion and testicular aging mouse models. These findings reveal a new mechanism of SLCs transplantation that may contribute to preserve testis function in male patients with hypogonadism related to immune disorders