Reactive Oxygen Species and Gibberellin Acid Mutual Induction to Regulate Tobacco Seed Germination

Seed germination is a complex process controlled by various mechanisms. To examine the potential contribution of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and gibberellin acid (GA) in regulating seed germination, diphenylene iodonium chloride (DPI) and uniconazole (Uni), as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and GA synthesis inhibitor, respectively, were exogenously applied on tobacco seeds using the seed priming method. Seed priming with DPI or Uni decreased germination percentage as compared with priming with H2O, especially the DPI + Uni combination. H2O2 and GA completely reversed the inhibition caused by DPI or Uni. The germination percentages with H2O2 + Uni and GA + DPI combinations kept the same level as with H2O. Meanwhile, GA or H2O2 increased GA content and deceased ABA content through corresponding gene expressions involving homeostasis and signal transduction. In addition, the activation of storage reserve mobilization and the enhancement of soluble sugar content and isocitrate lyase (ICL) activity were also induced by GA or H2O2. These results strongly suggested that H2O2 and GA were essential for tobacco seed germination and by downregulating the ABA/GA ratio and inducing reserve composition mobilization mutually promoted seed germination. Meanwhile, ICL activity was jointly enhanced by a lower ABA/GA ratio and a higher ROS concentration

Expert Consensus on Microtransplant for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Elderly Patients -Report From the International Microtransplant Interest Group

Recent studies have shown that microtransplant (MST) could improve outcome of patients with elderly acute myeloid leukemia (EAML). To further standardize the MST therapy and improve outcomes in EAML patients, based on analysis of the literature on MST, especially MST with EAML from January 1st, 2011 to November 30th, 2022, the International Microtransplant Interest Group provides recommendations and considerations for MST in the treatment of EAML. Four major issues related to MST for treating EAML were addressed: therapeutic principle of MST (1), candidates for MST (2), induction chemotherapy regimens (3), and post-remission therapy based on MST (4). Others included donor screening, infusion of donor cells, laboratory examinations, and complications of treatment

Genome-wide analyses of lung cancer after single high-dose radiation at five time points (2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h)

Background: An increasing number of clinicians are experimenting with high-dose radiation. This study focuses on the genomic effects of high-dose single-shot radiotherapy and aims to provide a dynamic map for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods: We used whole-transcriptome sequencing to understand the evolution at molecular levels in A549 and H1299 exposed to 10 Gy X-rays at different times (2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h) in comparison with the no radiation group. Ingenuity pathway analysis, ceRNA analysis, enrichment analysis, and cell cycle experiments are performed for molecular analyses and function analyses.Results: Whole-transcriptome sequencing of NSCLC showed a significant dynamic change after radiotherapy within 48 h. MiR-219-1-3p and miR-221-3p, miR-503-5p, hsa-miR-455-5p, hsa-miR-29-3p, and hsa-miR-339-5p were in the core of the ceRNA related to time change. GO and KEGG analyses of the top 30 mRNA included DNA repair, autophagy, apoptosis, and ferroptosis pathways. Regulation of the cell cycle-related transcription factor E2F1 might have a key role in the early stage of radiotherapy (2.6 h) and in the later stage of autophagy (24 and 48 h). Functions involving different genes/proteins over multiple periods implied a dose of 10 Gy was related to the kidney and liver pathway. Radiation-induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase was evident at 24 h. We also observed the increased expression of CCNB1 at 24 h in PCR and WB experiments.Conclusion: Our transcriptomic and experimental analyses showed a dynamic change after radiation therapy in 48 h and highlighted the key molecules and pathways in NSCLC after high-dose single-shot radiotherapy

"On-off" thermoresponsive coating agent containing salicylic acid applied to maize seeds for chilling tolerance.

Chilling stress is an important constraint for maize seed establishment in the field. In this study, a type of "on-off" thermoresponsive coating agent containing poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-butylmethacrylate) (Abbr. P(NIPAm-co-BMA)) hydrogel was developed to improve the chilling tolerance of coated maize seed. The P(NIPAm-co-BMA) hydrogel was synthesized by free-radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) and butylmethacrylate (BMA). Salicylic acid (SA) was loaded in the hydrogel as the chilling resistance agent. SA-loaded P(NIPAm-co-BMA) was used for seed film-coating of two maize varieties, Huang C (HC, chilling-tolerant) and Mo17 (chilling-sensitive), to investigate the coated seed germination and seedling growth status under chilling stress. The results showed that the hydrogel obtained a phase transition temperature near 12°C with a NIPAM to MBA weight ratio of 1: 0.1988 (w/w). The temperature of 12°C was considered the "on-off" temperature for chilling-resistant agent release; the SA was released from the hydrogel more rapidly at external temperatures below 12°C than above 12°C. In addition, when seedlings of both maize varieties suffered a short chilling stress (5°C), higher concentrations of SA-loaded hydrogel resulted in increased germination energy, germination percentage, germination index, root length, shoot height, dry weight of roots and shoots and protective enzyme activities and a decreased malondialdehyde content in coated maize seeds compared to single SA treatments. The majority of these physiological and biochemical parameters achieved significant levels compared with the control. Therefore, SA-loaded P(NIPAm-co-BMA), a nontoxic thermoresponsive hydrogel, can be used as an effective material for chilling tolerance in film-coated maize seeds

Correlation between right-to-left shunt and sudden sensorineural hearing loss: protocol for a case–control study

Background and purpose Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a neurological and otolaryngological emergency during which rapid diagnosis and early treatment are of great importance. Clinical experience indicates that a considerable number of patients with SSNHL have concurrent right-to-left shunt (RLS). With limited reports, the association between SSNHL and RLS is yet unclear and there is a need for large observational studies to explore their latent relationship.Methods and analysis This proposed study is a prospective, observational case–control study. A total of 194 eligible participants matched in age and sex will be divided equally into two groups: 97 patients with SSNHL included in the case group and 97 individuals without SSNHL in the control group. Medical evaluations, including clinical characteristics, laboratory examination, audiological examination and ultrasonography examination, will be performed in all subjects. The primary outcome of the study is the difference in RLS rates between the groups. Differences in patent foramen ovale rates and other measured variables will be further assessed. A conditional logistic regression as a correlation analysis will be used to evaluate the relationship between RLS and SSNHL.Discussion This study may provide evidence on the correlation between RLS and SSNHL in order to enrich the aetiology of SSNHL.Ethics and dissemination The study protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Peking University Shenzhen Hospital. A written informed consent form will be signed and dated by the participants and the researchers before the study begins. The results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications.Trial registration number ChiCTR2200064067

The swelling and deswelling characteristics of the P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) hydrogel.

<p>P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) is poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide-<i>co</i>-butylmethacrylate). The swelling characteristic is determined by the swelling ratio of P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) hydrogel in distilled water at 5°C; the deswelling characteristic is determined by the water retention ratio of P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) hydrogel in distilled water at 30°C. Error bars represent ±S.E.</p

Formulas of the maize seed-coating agents.

<p>*P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) is poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide-<i>co</i>-butylmethacrylate) and SA is salicylic acid; <b>formula 0</b> is the mixture of talc and bentonite without P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) or SA; <b>formulas 1</b> and <b>2</b> are mixtures of P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA), talc and bentonite without SA; <b>formulas 3</b> and <b>4</b> are mixtures of SA, talc and bentonite without P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA); <b>formulas 5</b> and <b>6</b> are mixtures of SA-loaded P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA), talc and bentonite. In addition, for formula 5, 1.05 g of SA-loaded P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) contained 0.1 g of P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) and 0.05 g of SA; for formula 6, 1.50 g of SA-loaded P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) hydrogel contained 1 g of P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) and 0.50 g of SA.</p><p>Formulas of the maize seed-coating agents.</p

Effect of coating agent on seedling peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and superoxidase dismutase (SOD) activities of the maize varieties Huang C (HC) and Mo17 after chilling stress.

<p>(*significant difference (a = 0.05, LSD) among treatments within the same seedling part for the same variety. Error bars represent ±S.E. For additional explanations, see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0120695#pone.0120695.g007" target="_blank">Fig. 7</a>.)</p

Effect of agent on seedling growth of maize varieties Huang C (HC) and Mo17 after chilling stress.

<p>(<b>A</b> and <b>B</b> are Huang C; <b>C</b> and <b>D</b> are Mo17. The seedlings grew for 11 days including 5-day germination and growth at 25°C, 3-day chilling stress at 5°C and 3-day recover growth at 25°C. <b>Ck</b>. Control: maize seeds coated with formula 0; <b>J1</b>. maize seeds coated with formula 1; <b>J2</b>. maize seeds coated with formula 2; <b>S1</b>. maize seeds coated with formula 3; <b>S2</b>. maize seeds coated with formula 4; <b>J1S1</b>. maize seeds coated with formula 5; <b>J2S2</b>. maize seeds coated with formula 6. The coating agents were applied at a rate of 1 g per 5 g naked seeds for all of the treatments. For the different formulas, see the explanations in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0120695#pone.0120695.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>.)</p

The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum of SA, the P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) hydrogel and the SA-loaded P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) hydrogel.

<p>P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) is poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide-<i>co</i>-butylmethacrylate) and SA is salicylic acid; The SA-loaded P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) hydrogel is the P(NIPAm-<i>co</i>-BMA) hydrogel loaded by SA through a solvent sorption method; The absorption peaks showed in the figure indicate special chemical bonds or functional groups. The top figure is the FTIR spectrum from 400–2000 cm^-1 wavenumbers and the bottom figure is the FTIR spectrum from 2000–4000 cm^-1 wavenumbers.</p