Relationships between air particulate matter capture efficiency and leaf traits in twelve tree species from an Italian urban-industrial environment

Air pollution in the urban environment is widely recognized as one of the most harmful threats for human health. International organizations such as the United Nations and the European Commission are highlighting the potential role of nature in mitigating air pollution and are now funding the implementation of Nature-Based Solutions, especially at the city level. Over the past few decades, the attention of the scientific community has grown around the role of urban forest in air pollution mitigation. Nevertheless, the understanding on Particulate Matter (PM) retention mechanisms by tree leaves is still limited. In this study, twelve tree species were sampled within an urban park of an industrial city. Two techniques were used for leaf analysis: Vacuum/Filtration and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, in order to obtain a quali-quantitative analysis of the different PM size fractions. Results showed that deposited PM loads vary significantly among species. Different leaf traits, including micro and macromorphological characteristics, were observed, measured and ranked, with the final aim to relate them with PM load. Even if no significant correlation between each single leaf characteristic and PM deposition was observed (p > 0.05), multivariate analysis revealed relationships between clusters of leaf traits and deposited PM. Thus, by assigning a score to each trait, an Accumulation index (Ai) was calculated, which was significantly related to the leaf deposited PM load (p ≤ 0.05).

[Characteristics and clinical significance of pulmonary function test and KL-6 in ASSD-ILD and IPF]

Objective: To study the characteristics and clinical significance of pulmonary function test and kerbs von den lungen 6 (KL-6) in anti-synthetase syndrome related interstitial lung disease (ASSD-ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Methods: The clinical data of 43 patients with ASSD-ILD (ASSD-ILD group) from May 2015 to May 2017 were collected retrospectively, including 12 males and 31 females, and 34 patients with IPF (IPF group) treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University during the same period, including 28 males and 6 females, were also included. The basic information, and the value of pulmonary function test [pulmonary function parameters included the forced vital capacity expressed as percent predicted (FVC%pred), the forced expiratory volume in 1 second expressed as percent predicted (FEV(1)%pred), the ratio of FVC to FEV(1) (FVC/FEV(1)), the peak expiratory flow expressed as percent predicted (PEF%pred), the forced expiratory flow at 25%, 50%, 75% of FVC as percent predicted (FEF(25)%pred, FEF(50)%pred, and FEF(75)%pred), the maximum mid-expiratory flow as percent predicted (MMEF% pred), and the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide as percent predicted (DLCO% pred)], and serum KL-6 level in ASSD-ILD and IPF were compared. Results: The FEV(1)%pred, FEF(50)%pred, FEF(75)%pred, and MMEF%pred values in ASSD-ILD group were significantly lower than those in IPF group (all P<0.05), while the FVC% pred, FVC/FEV(1), PEF% pred, FEF(25)%pred, and DLCO% pred values in ASSD-ILD group had no significant difference compared with IPF group (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in serum KL-6 level between ASSD-ILD group and IPF group [(1 169±911) vs (1 210±908) U/ml, t=0.62, P=0.463]. Follow-up analysis showed that the serum KL-6 level of ASSD-ILD patients who died within two years was significantly higher than that of survivors [(2 060±1 168) vs (1 042±858) U/ml, t=2.93, P=0.041]. The serum KL-6 level of patients who died within two years of IPF patients was also significantly higher than that of patients who survived [(1 767±865) vs (1 089±894) U/ml, t=2.53, P=0.026]. The serum KL-6 level in ASSD-ILD group was negatively correlated with FVC%pred (r=-0.43, P=0.004), FEV(1)%pred (r=-0.39, P=0.010) and DLCO% pred (r=-0.41, P=0.006). There was no correlation between serum KL-6 level and pulmonary function test indexes in IPF group (all P>0.05). Conclusions: There is difference in pulmonary function test between ASSD-ILD patients and IPF patients. High serum KL-6 level will be predictive of poor prognosis.

[Application value of different lymph node staging system in predicting prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma]

Objective: To examine the value of number of metastatic lymph nodes(NMLN), lymph node ratio(LNR) and log odds of metastatic lymph nodes(LODDS) in assessing the prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC). Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 440 ICC patients who underwent curative-intent resection in 10 of Chinese hepatobiliary surgery centers from January 2010 to December 2018 were collected, and the deadline of follow-up was April 30th, 2019. Among them, 205 were males and 235 were females, with age of (57.0±9.9) years (range:23-83 years).Eighty-five cases (19.3%) had intrahepatic bile duct stones, and 98 cases (22.3%) had chronic viral hepatitis.The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. The univariate and multivariate analysis were implemented respectively using the Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model. Results: A total of 440 patients underwent curative-intent resection and lymphadenectomy.R0 resection were achieved in 424 cases (96.4%) and R1 resection were in 16 cases (3.6%). The results of postoperative pathological examination showed that high, moderate and poor differentiation was 4.2%(18/426), 60.6%(258/426) and 35.2%(150/426), respectively.Adenocarcinoma was seen in 90.2%(397/440) and non-adenocarcinoma was seen in 9.8%(43/440), respectively. T stage: 2 cases (0.5%) with Tis, 83 cases(18.9%) with T1a, 97 cases(22.0%) with T1b, 95 cases(21.6%) with T2, 122 cases (27.7%) with T3 and 41 cases(9.3%) with T4.The overall median survival time was 24.0 months, and the 1-,3-, and 5-year survival rate was 74.3%, 37.7% and 18.3%, respectively. Lymphatic metastasis occurred in 175 patients(39.8%), the median total number of TNLE(M(Q(R))) was 6(5), the median number of NMLN was 0(1), the median number of LNR was 0 (0.33) and the median number of LODDS was -0.70(-0.92). Rerults of univariate analysis showed that combined stones, pathological differentiation, vascular invasion, LODDS, margin and T staging affected the prognosis (all P<0.05). Rerults of multivariate analysis showed that pathological differentiation, LODDS, margin, and T staging were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of ICC patients (all P<0.05). Conclusion: LODDS could be used as an optimal prognostic lymph node staging index for ICC, and it is also an independent risk factor for survival after curative intent resection.

Effects of miR-155 on hypertensive rats via regulating vascular mesangial hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) excessive proliferation is related to hypertension. The cell cycle inhibitory factor (p27) can arrest cell cycle, while its down-regulation is associated with hypertension. It is found that microRNA-155 (miR-155) plays a regulatory role in VSMC proliferation, while its relationship with hypertension is still unclear. Bioinformatics analysis reveals the targeted relationship between miR-155 and the 3'-UTR of p27 mRNA. This study aims to explore the role of miR-155 in regulating p27 expression, VSMC proliferation and apoptosis, and the pathogenesis of hypertension.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the relationship between miR-155 and p27. MiR-155, p27, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Ki-67 expressions in the thoracic aorta media of rat hypertension model were detected. VSMCs were cultured in vitro and divided into five groups, including anti-miR-NC, anti-miR-155, pIRES2-blank, pIRES2-p27, and anti-miR-155 + pIRES2-p27 groups. Cell cycle was evaluated by using flow cytometry. Cell proliferation was detected with EdU staining. Hypertension rats were randomly divided into antagomir-155 and antagomir-control. Caudal artery systolic and diastolic pressures were measured.

RESULTS

MiR-155 targeted suppressed p27 expression. MiR-155 and Ki-67 expressions significantly enhanced, while p27 and α-SMA levels reduced in the tunica media from hypertension rats compared with control. Down-regulation of miR-155 and/or up-regulation of p27significantly declined cell proliferation and arrested cell cycle in G1 phase. Antagomir-155 injection markedly decreased systolic and diastolic pressures, elevated p27 and α-SMA expressions in media, and reduced the thickness of tunica media.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-155 promoted VSMC proliferation by targeting p27. MiR-155 enhancement was related to hypertension. MiR-155 played a therapeutic effect on hypertension.

Effect of Cryopreservation on Plant Growth, Bulb Characteristics, and Virus Reduction of Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

BACKGROUND

Cryopreservation is a promising plant germplasm preservation technique that provides genetically stable plantlets.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the cryopreservation protocol developed for garlic compromises the performance of the cryopreserved plants, compared to garlic plants grown in the field.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The field performance of cryopreserved garlic plantlets under in vivo conditions was compared with garlic derived from the field. We assessed both net photosynthetic rate, bulb characteristics and the efficiency of cryotherapy-induced virus eradication.

RESULTS

The superiority of the morphological traits of cryopreserved garlic increased gradually with the growth of the garlic plant. Cryopreservation also improved the net photosynthetic rate, bulb diameter (by 13.4-18.2%), bulb weight (by 37.9-50.5%), and clove number per bulb (by 25.7-63.6%). The highest virus elimination rate due to cryopreservation was 75.0% for onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest cryopreservation as a promising method for conservation and improvement of garlic.

Efficacy of low molecular weight heparin in spinal trauma patients after part concentrated screw surgery and its influence on blood parameters and the incidence of deep venous thrombosis

This study was to investigate the efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) therapy in patients with spinal trauma after part concentrated screw (PCS) pedicle screw surgery (PSS) and its influence on blood parameters and the incidence of deep venous thrombosis. Prospectively, 36 patients with spinal trauma who underwent PSS were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 18) and a control group (n = 18). The experimental group was treated with LMWH after the operation. Changes in the vascular endothelial function, inflammatory factors and other blood indexes, and the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in lower extremities were compared between the two groups before and after the surgery. Compared to pre-surgery, the levels of endothelin (ET) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in the experimental group decreased significantly after surgery (all P < 0.001), while the levels of ET increased and tPA decreased significantly in the control group (all P < 0.001). In addition, compared with pre-surgical levels, interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6 and procalcitonin (PCT) decreased significantly in the experimental group after surgery while there was a significant increase in these cytokines in the control group (all P < 0.001), with a significant difference in the cytokine levels between the two groups post-surgery (P < 0.01). After the surgery, plasma viscosity, erythrocyte electrophoresis time and platelet aggregation rate in the control group were significantly increased from pre-surgery levels (all P < 0.001), and these levels were also significantly higher than in the experimental group (P < 0.01). The D-dimer (D-D) level in both groups also increased significantly after surgery (all P < 0.001), and the level post-surgery was significantly higher in the experimental group as compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Finally, the incidence of deep venous thrombosis in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05). LMWH is beneficial in reducing the degree of hypercoagulability, hyperviscosity and inflammatory reaction in patients with spinal trauma who underwent PSS. It also effectively reduced the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis in lower limbs after surgery. Thus, it is a candidate for further clinical development.

Optimization of Dietary Zinc Requirement for Broiler Breeder Hens of Chinese Yellow-Feathered Chicken

Simple Summary

China is the second-largest global producer of chicken meat, almost half of which is from the Chinese yellow-feathered breed; a systematic program has been initiated to improve its feeding standards. This study evaluated the optimal requirement of dietary zinc for maximal egg production, egg quality, tibial quality, and antioxidant indices of laying broiler breeders. The results revealed several beneficial effects of supplementary zinc on egg production, feed conversion ratio, yolk zinc content, tibial quality and the antioxidant indices in the serum, liver and ovary. The optimal zinc requirement was estimated based on a regression model.

Abstract

This study aimed to establish the optimal dietary zinc requirement of Chinese yellow-feathered Lingnan broiler breeders. A total of 576 breeder hens aged 58 weeks were randomly assigned to six treatments, each with 6 replicates of 16 birds (n = 96/treatment). The hens were fed either a basal diet (22.81 mg/kg Zn) or the same basal diet supplemented with additional 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 mg Zn/kg up to 65 weeks of age. Compared to the results of birds fed the basal diet (22.81 mg Zn/kg), the dietary supplementation with additional Zn (mg/kg) showed higher egg laying rate (at 48–120 mg), EM (at 96 mg/kg), yolk Zn content (at 24–120 mg/kg), fertility (at 48–120 mg/kg), hatchability (at 48–96 mg/kg), tibial breaking strength (at 24–48 mg/kg), tibial ash content (at 48 mg/kg), serum CuZnSOD activity (at 72 mg/kg) and T-AOC (at 48 mg/kg), and ovarian CuZnSOD and GSH-Px activities (at 96–120 mg/kg), and lower FCR (at 96 mg/kg). The regression model showed that the optimal supplemental Zn for maximal egg laying rate, yolk Zn content, fertility, and hatchability of Chinese yellow-feathered broiler breeders aged 58 to 65 weeks were 71.09, 92.34, 94.44 and 98.65 mg/kg diet, respectively.

High expression of Livin serves as a predictive indicator for parotid gland tumors

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the expression of Livin in benign and malignant parotid gland tumors. We also investigate the role of Livin in the occurrence and progression of parotid gland tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Livin expression in 30 cases of normal parotid gland tissues, 40 cases of benign parotid gland tumors and 60 cases of malignant parotid gland tumors was detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between Livin expression and pathological characteristics of patients with parotid gland tumors was analyzed. The differentially expressed Livin in normal parotid gland tissues and malignant parotid gland tumors was determined by Western blot and quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively.

RESULTS

Livin expression was unable to be detected in normal parotid gland tissues. The positive rate of Livin expression in benign and malignant parotid gland tumors was 17.50% and 71.67%, respectively (p<0.05). Livin expression was correlated to malignant level, clinical stage and tumor diameter in 60 cases of malignant parotid gland tumors (p<0.05). However, the positive rate of Livin expression was not correlated to lymph node metastasis, age and sex of patients with parotid gland tumors (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Livin expression is closely related to the pathological progression of parotid gland tumors, which may serve as a hallmark in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of patients with parotid gland tumors.

[Diagnostic value of HBP, PCT combined with APACHE Ⅱ score respectively in ventilator-associated pneumonia]

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of the heparin-binding protein (HBP), procalcitonin (PCT) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score in ventilator-associated pneμmonia (VAP). Methods: A total of 160 patients who required tracheotomy or intubation and assisted breathing with invasive mechanical ventilator from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to January 2017 was included in this prospective study,and divided into VAP group and no-VAP group based on if VAP happened or not; the VAP group was further divided into deterioration group and improvement group based on the curative effect after anti-infective treatment for 1 week. A total of 40 community acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients and 30 healthy volunteers were also included as control groups. The levels of HBP and PCT in blood of the subjects were tested with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) respectively, APACHE Ⅱ score was utilized to assess the severity of illness. The difference of HBP, PCT levels and APACHE Ⅱ score among the groups were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was utilized to analyze the diagnostic value of HBP, PCT, APACHE Ⅱ score in VAP. Results: A total of 230 subjects participated in this study, including 68 VAP patients, 92 non-VAP patients, 40 CAP patients and 30 healthy volunteers. Before administration of mechanical ventilation, there were no statistically significant differences in HBP, PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score between VAP group and non-VAP group (all P>0.05). The levels of HBP,PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score were (41.4±21.3) μg/L,(0.355±0.254) μg/L,(13.4±2.5) respectively when the VAP was diagnosed,which were higher than those within the first 12 h of mechanical ventilation (7.3±2.7) μg/L, (0.080±0.038) μg/L, (8.4±2.0), all P<0.001). The HBP, PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score had no significant difference between within the first 12 h of mechanical ventilation and after mechanical ventilation in non-VAP group (all P>0.05). The levels of HBP was positively correlated with PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score (r=0.82, 0.68, all P<0.001). In deterioration group,the HBP,PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score after 1 week of anti-infective treatment were higher than those when the VAP was diagnosed (all P<0.001). No matter it is when the VAP was diagnosed or after anti-infective treatment for 1 week,the levels of HBP, PCT and APACHE Ⅱ score in deterioration group were higher than those in the improvement group (all P<0.001). The area under curve (AUC) of HBP+APACHE Ⅱ score, PCT+APACHE Ⅱ score for VAP diagnosis was 0.98, 0.95 respectively. The sensitivity of HBP+APACHE Ⅱ score in the diagnosis of VAP was lower than PCT+APACHE Ⅱ score (94.1% vs 95.6%),and the specificity was higher (92.4% vs 82.6%). Conclusion: The diagnostic value of HBP+APACHE Ⅱ score for early VAP is superior to PCT+APACHE Ⅱ score.

Urban blue: A global analysis of the factors shaping people's perceptions of the marine environment and ecological engineering in harbours

Marine harbours are the focus of a diverse range of activities and subject to multiple anthropogenically induced pressures. Support for environmental management options aimed at improving degraded harbours depends on understanding the factors which influence people's perceptions of harbour environments. We used an online survey, across 12 harbours, to assess sources of variation people's perceptions of harbour health and ecological engineering. We tested the hypotheses: 1) people living near impacted harbours would consider their environment to be more unhealthy and degraded, be more concerned about the environment and supportive of and willing to pay for ecological engineering relative to those living by less impacted harbours, and 2) people with greater connectedness to the harbour would be more concerned about and have greater perceived knowledge of the environment, and be more supportive of, knowledgeable about and willing to pay for ecological engineering, than those with less connectedness. Across twelve locations, the levels of degradation and modification by artificial structures were lower and the concern and knowledge about the environment and ecological engineering were greater in the six Australasian and American than the six European and Asian harbours surveyed. We found that people's perception of harbours as healthy or degraded, but not their concern for the environment, reflected the degree to which harbours were impacted. There was a positive relationship between the percentage of shoreline modified and the extent of support for and people's willingness to pay indirect costs for ecological engineering. At the individual level, measures of connectedness to the harbour environment were good predictors of concern for and perceived knowledge about the environment but not support for and perceived knowledge about ecological engineering. To make informed decisions, it is important that people are empowered with sufficient knowledge of the environmental issues facing their harbour and ecological engineering options.

Cellular mechanism of Tβ4 intervention in liver fibrosis by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the inhibitory effect of thymosin-β4 (Tβ4) on the activation of the human hepatic stellate cell line (HSC-LX2) induced by interleukin (IL)-1β.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

There were 5 groups in this study, i.e., blank control group, negative control group (SI-NC, empty plasmid), model group (20 ng/ml of IL-1β), siRNA-Tβ4 knockdown group (IL-1β and si-Tβ4) and Tβ4 treatment group (IL-1β and 1000 ng/ml of Tβ4). Cell proliferation rate was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method. The cell cycle change and percentage of apoptotic cells were determined by Propidium Iodide (PI) DNA staining and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) double staining. Cellular nucleic acid levels of p-IKB and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/p65 proteins were measured by fluorescent quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Double immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to detect nuclear translocation of NF-κB and p65 and levels of cytoplasmic p-IKB protein and nuclear p65 protein.

RESULTS

Due to the G0/G1 phase arrest, the number of cells in the Tβ4 treatment group increased, compared with the model group and the siRNA-Tβ4 knockdown group (p<0.01). In the same between-group comparison, apoptotic rate in the Tβ4 treatment group increased significantly (p<0.05). The cellular nucleic acid levels of p-IKB and NF-κB/p65 were markedly higher in the model group and the siRNA-Tβ4 knockdown group than in the blank control group (p<0.01). The cellular nucleic acid levels of p-IKB and NF-κB/p65 were remarkably lower in the Tβ4 treatment group than in the siRNA-Tβ4 knockdown group (p<0.01). The expression levels of NF-κB/p65 and NF-κB/p50 were significantly lower in the Tβ4 treatment group. The expression levels of cytoplasmic p-IKB and nuclear NF-κB/p65 were lower in the Tβ4 treatment group than in the model group (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Tβ4 significantly inhibited IL-1β-induced HSC-LX2 cell proliferation. The mechanism may involve decreased activation of the NF-κB pathway, decreased expression of p-IKB and nuclear translocation of p65. Therefore, Tβ4 had the effect of reversing liver fibrosis.