Potassium Chloride Research Articles

Assessing the reproductive potential and development of the tropical short-spined white sea urchin, Salmacis sphaeroides (Linnaeus, 1758)

ABSTRACT Previous studies have achieved success in obtaining cultured juveniles of the sea urchin Salmacis sphaeroides, but few have reported their reproduction potential and development rates. This comprehensive study examined the spawning potential of broodstock and described embryonic, larval and juvenile development. The broodstock consisted of wild-caught specimens from Singapore’s coastal waters that were regularly provided a mixed animal-plant diet comprising 3 g prawn and 3 g corn. Gametes were obtained using 0.5 M of potassium chloride (KCl) injection into the coelomic cavity. Fertilization rates of the 32 spawning attempts varied from 42.9% to 100%. Hatched larvae were subsequently reared with a density of 0.5 larvae ml−1 in 50 µm filtered seawater at 28°C and fed 20,000 cells ml−1 of Tisochrysis lutea once every 2 days. Despite the presence of natural biofilms as settlement cues, the settlement rates in culture were very low and variable (2.08–9.78%). The majority of juvenile S. sphaeroides from F1 and F2 generations was sexually mature at ≥35 mm in test diameter, and the sex ratios were female-biased, ranging from 1:1.14 to 1:8. Findings from this study open up new opportunities for developing tropical sea urchin cultures under controlled rearing systems that can guarantee production.

Osmotic demyelination syndrome: revisiting the diagnostic criteria through two fatal cases

BackgroundOsmotic Demyelination Syndrome (ODS) encompasses Central Pontine Myelinolysis and Extrapontine Myelinolysis, both of which are serious neurological conditions linked to the overly rapid correction of hyponatremia. Despite growing evidence, the exact etiology of ODS remains incompletely understood. The present paper describes two case studies, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathological findings and clinical outcomes associated with ODS.Case presentationCase #1. A 74-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department following a head trauma caused by a loss of consciousness. Initial laboratory tests revealed severe hyponatremia (sodium level of 101 mmol/L) and hypokalemia (potassium level of 2.9 mmol/L). The patient underwent corrective therapy with saline and potassium chloride. Despite the correction of electrolyte imbalances, the patient developed a hyperintense lesion in the median portion of the pons on T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MRI sequence 14 days post-treatment, consistent with ODS. The patient’s condition deteriorated, leading to irreversible coma and status epilepticus, culminating in death 32 days after admission. Case #2. An 81-year-old woman with a medical history of hypothyroidism, hypertension, major depression, and stage 3 chronic kidney disease presented with mild gait disturbances. Subsequent testing revealed severe hyponatremia (sodium level of 100 mmol/L). Following an initial clinical improvement due to sodium correction, the patient’s condition worsened, with symptoms progressing to confusion, lethargy, and eventually, ODS. Dermatological manifestations, including blistering lesions and facial edema, appeared as the condition advanced. The patient succumbed to irreversible coma 47 days after admission.ConclusionODS traditionally carried a poor prognosis, with high mortality rates and diagnoses often made postmortem. However, recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology, along with improvements in diagnostic techniques such as MRI and intensive care treatments, have led to earlier identification, treatment, and recognition of milder forms of the syndrome. Despite these advancements, ODS remains a critical condition with significant risks, particularly following the rapid correction of severe hyponatremia.

Restoring Compromised Cl- in D2 Neurons of a HD Mouse Model Rescues Motor Disability.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no cure, characterized by significant neurodegeneration of striatal GABAergic medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Early stages of the disease are characterized by the loss of dopamine 2 receptor-expressing MSNs (D2 MSNs) followed by degeneration of dopamine 1 receptor-expressing MSNs (D1 MSNs), leading to aberrant basal ganglia signaling. While the early degeneration of D2 MSNs and impaired GABAergic transmission are well-documented, potassium chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2), a key regulator of intracellular chloride (Cl-), and therefore GABAergic signaling, has not been characterized in D1 and D2 MSNs in HD. We aimed to investigate whether Cl- regulation was differentially altered in D1 and D2 MSNs and may contribute to the early degeneration of D2 MSNs in male and female symptomatic R6/2 mice. We used electrophysiology to record the reversal potential for GABAA receptors (EGABA), a read-out for the efficacy of Cl- regulation, in striatal D1 and D2 MSNs and their corresponding output structures. During the early symptomatic phase (P55-P65), Cl- impairments were observed in D2 MSNs in R6/2 mice, with no change in D1 MSNs. Cl- regulation was also dysfunctional in the globus pallidus externa, resulting in GABA-mediated excitation. When we overexpressed KCC2 in D2 MSNs using AAV-mediated delivery, we delayed the onset of motor impairments in R6/2 mice. We demonstrate that Cl- homeostasis is differentially altered in D1 and D2 MSNs and may contribute to the enhanced susceptibility of D2 MSNs during HD progression.Significance Statement Huntington's Disease is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by a repeat expansion in the Huntingtin gene and characterized by the sequential loss of dopamine 2 and dopamine 1 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2 and D1 MSNs) of the striatum. MSNs release GABA, which depends on proper Cl- regulation for inhibition. We asked whether Cl- homeostasis is differentially altered in D1 and D2 MSNs and their output structures, and whether this altered expression contributes to the pattern of degeneration between these two principal striatal cell types. Using electrophysiology, biochemistry, and fluorescence imaging, we determined that Cl- regulation was impaired in D2 MSNs in R6/2 mice, with no change in D1 MSNs. Cl- was also dysregulated in the globus pallidus externa resulting in excitatory GABA.

An environmentally friendly method for the synthesis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines and hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines in water promoted by potassium, sodium, and ammonium chlorides

A new one-pot method was developed for the synthesis of polyfunctional 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines and hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines by three-component reaction of ethyl 3-oxobutanoate with formaldehyde and primary amines occurring in water in the presence of electrolytes (NaCl, KCl, NH4Cl) at room temperature. This environmentally friendly method is highly atom economic, because the only by-products it gives are three water molecules. The effect of the structure of primary amines and reaction conditions on the degree of formation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines and hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines was investigated.

Direct and efficient in situ rubidium extraction from potassium chloride salts

Direct and efficient in situ rubidium extraction from potassium chloride salts

Plant growth regulators improve the yield of white lupin (Lupinus albus) by enhancing the plant morpho-physiological functions and photosynthesis under salt stress

BackgroundWhite lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is a multi-purpose, climate resilient, pulse crop with exceptionally high protein content that makes it a suitable alternative of soybean in livestock feed. Although white lupin grows well on marginal sandy soils, previous studies have reported its sensitivity towards salinity stress. This experiment aims to assess the influence of salinity stress and mitigating role of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on performance of white lupin.MethodologyThe white lupin plants were sown in pots maintained at three salinity levels (1, 3 and 4.5 dS m− 1) throughout the growing season and foliar sprayed with different PGRs, including ascorbic acid, potassium chloride, boric acid, ammonium molybdate and methionine at sowing, four weeks after emergence and at the initiation of flowering. Foliar spray of distilled water and salinity level of 1 dS m− 1 were maintained as control treatments. Data were recorded for seed germination indices, plant growth, antioxidant enzymes and photosynthetic efficiency variables.ResultsThe severe salinity stress (4.5 dS m− 1) reduced the germination indices by 9–50%, plant growth traits by 26–54%, root nodulation by 12–26%, grain development by 44–53%, antioxidant enzymes activity by 13–153% and photosynthetic attributes by 1–8% compared to control (1 dS m− 1). Different PGRs improved several morpho-physiological attributes in a varied manner. The application of potassium chloride improved seed vigour index by 53%, while ascorbic acid improved root nodulation by 12% and number of pods per cluster by 75% at the severe salinity level. The foliar application of PGRs also displayed a recovery of 140% in the activity of superoxide dismutase and 70% in catalase. The application of multi zinc displayed an improvement of 37% in plant relative chlorophyll, while ascorbic acid brought an increase of 25% in non-photochemical quenching and 21% in photochemical quenching coefficient at the severe salinity level. On contrary, the application of PGRs brought a relatively modest improvement (8–13%) in quantum yield of photosystem II at slight to moderate (3 dS m− 1) salinity stress. The correlation analysis confirmed a partial contribution of leaf area and seed vigour index to overall photosynthetic efficiency of white lupin.ConclusionsClearly, salinity exerted a negative impact on white lupin through a decline in chlorophyll content, activity of antioxidant enzymes and efficiency of photosynthetic apparatus. However, PGRs, especially ascorbic acid and potassium chloride considerably improved white lupin growth and development by mitigating the negative effects of salinity stress.

Is Native Mass Spectrometry in Ammonium Acetate Really Native? Protein Stability Differences in Biochemically Relevant Salt Solutions.

Ammonium acetate is widely used in native mass spectrometry to provide adequate ionic strength without adducting to protein ions, but different ions can preferentially stabilize or destabilize the native form of proteins in solution. The stability of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated in 50 mM solutions of a variety of salts using electrospray emitters with submicron tips to desalt protein ions. The charge-state distribution of BSA is narrow (+14 to +18) in ammonium acetate (AmmAc), whereas it is much broader (+13 to +42) in solutions containing sodium acetate (NaAc), ammonium chloride (AmmCl), potassium chloride (KCl), and sodium chloride (NaCl). The average charge state and percent of unfolded protein increase in these respective solutions, indicating greater extents of protein destabilization and conformational changes. In contrast, no high charge states of either bovine carbonic anhydrase II or IgG1 were formed in AmmAc or NaCl despite their similar melting temperatures to BSA, indicating that the presence of unfolded BSA in some of these solutions is not an artifact of the electrospray ionization process. The charge states formed from the nonvolatile salt solutions do not change significantly for up to 7 min of electrospray, but higher charging occurs after 10 min, consistent with solution acidification. Formation of unfolded BSA in NaAc but not in AmmAc indicates that the cation identity, not acidification, is responsible for structural differences in these two solutions. Temperature-dependent measurements show both increased charging and aggregation at lower temperatures in NaCl:Tris than in AmmAc, consistent with lower protein stability in the former solution. These results are consistent with the order of these ions in the Hofmeister series and indicate that data on protein stability in AmmAc may not be representative of solutions containing nonvolatile salts that are directly relevant to biology.

Preparation of Single-Crystal Li-Rich Mn-Based Layered Oxides with Excellent Electrochemical Performance via Simple Stepwise High-Temperature Sintering.

Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides have attracted extensive attention in lithium-ion battery cathode materials due to their high specific capacity, wide operating voltage, and low cost. However, the large-scale production of single-crystal Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides remains a significant challenge. Herein, the morphology, structure, and electrochemical properties of a series of samples (Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2) prepared by the solid-state method and the molten-salt flux method were assessed. Single-crystal particles exactly could be prepared by potassium chloride (KCl), but its electrochemical performance was inferior and the molten-salt flux method was too complicated for industry. Surprisingly, we found that water washing and annealing processes could enhance the cycling performance. Furthermore, single-crystal Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54O2 with a particle size of 536 nm was successfully prepared by simple stepwise sintering (950 °C for 7 h, 1000 °C for 1 h, and 850 °C for 2 h), which delivered a specific capacity of 274.9 mAh·g-1 between 2.0 and 4.8 V at 0.1 C with 77.4% initial Coulombic efficiency and 82.1% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.1 C. This study may provide theoretical guidance for the industrial production of single-crystal Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides.

Impact of hypokalemia on Brugada syndrome: case report unveiling mechanisms beyond QT interval prolongation.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is associated with an increased risk of sudden death caused by ventricular arrhythmias. The characteristic electrocardiographic appearance of ST-segment elevation of more than 2mm with coved-type morphology in more than 1 right precordial lead is seen. Hypokalemia is known to unmask the Brugada type-1 pattern, but its exact role and mechanisms in this context are not well understood. We report a case of first-time diagnosis of BrS in a 51-year-old man with hypokalemia 2.8mmol/L. Despite the normalization of potassium levels with potassium chloride (KCL), the Brugada type-1 pattern persisted on ECG. Interestingly, the corrected QT interval was shorter during hypokalemia (QTc 390ms) compared to when potassium levels were normal (QTc 432ms). This case highlights that hypokalemia can unmask the Brugada type-1 electrocardiographic pattern, but does not alter it once unmasked. The observed shorter QT interval during hypokalemia challenges the assumption that QT prolongation is the sole mechanism by which hypokalemia influences Brugada syndrome. This underscores the need for further research into additional mechanisms by which hypokalemia might trigger ventricular arrhythmias in Brugada syndrome.

Electrochemiluminescence of Carbon Dots and Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots from a Microwave-Assisted Method

This research focuses on the use of carbon dots (CDs) and nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) synthesized using a microwave-assisted method as electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophores. CDs have been synthesized using citric acid, while various concentrations of nitrogen-doped CDs have been successfully obtained by varying the amount of urea from 1 to 3 g with citric acid to produce NCD1, NCD,2 and NCD3. The ECL mechanism of CDs and NCDs on screen-printed electrodes has been studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV). ECL emission from as-prepared CDs and NCDs was observed in PBS with potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) as a co-reactant. The addition of potassium chloride (KCl) as a supporting electrolyte displays fast electroreduction of CDs and K2S2O8 to expedite the generation of CDs and peroxydisulfate radicals that simultaneously increase ECL intensity. Furthermore, as the concentration of nitrogen-doped CDs increases, so does the intensity of the ECL. NCD3 shows the highest ECL intensity by an increment of 86.4% in comparison to CDs in PBS with the addition of K2S2O8 and KCl. Finally, optimization of ECL measurement was carried out in terms of CV potential range, concentration of luminophore, supporting electrolyte, and co-reactant using NCD3 luminophore. The CV potential range at 0 to -2 V shows 50 mV of early CV reverse onset potential that resulted in an increase of 52.9% ECL intensity. Meanwhile, 30x dilution of NCD3, 0.1 M of supporting electrolyte KCl, and 0.1 M of co-reactant K2S2O8 show the optimum value to obtain high ECL intensity.

La11Si11P21Te5 and La20.667Si18P46Te11.333: Two Novel 3D‐Polyanionic Lanthanum Compounds Following the Zintl‐Klemm Concept

AbstractDuring attempts to synthesize La3PTe3, after participation of the SiO2‐container material, two so far unknown compounds could be isolated, which both follow the Zintl‐Klemm concept. The novel quaternary lanthanum tellurides La11Si11P21Te5 and La20.667Si18P46Te11.333 crystallize hexagonally in the non‐centrosymmetric space group P c with the unit‐cell parameters a=1204.97(6) pm and c=1802.38(9) pm (c/a=1.496) or a=1205.78(6) pm and c=1802.16(9) pm (c/a=1.495), respectively. Their very similar crystal structures can be divided into two interpenetrating three‐dimensional sublattices, {[La11Te5]23+} (d(La3+−Te2−)=314–335 pm plus 352 pm) and {[Si11P21]23−} (d(Si−P)=221–225 pm, (d(Si−Si)=230–231 pm, (d(P−P)=220–221 pm) for La11Si11P21Te5 (Z=2), displaying unique structural features as compared to related compounds. The linkage of these two sublattices occurs through attractive La3+−Si− and La3+−P− interactions (d(La−Si)=333 pm, (d(La−P)=298–318 pm). For La20.667Si18P46Te11.333 (Z=1), 4/3 out of 22 La3+cations in the doubled formula La22Si22P42Te10 have to be omitted, while the four Si− anions need to be replaced with phosphorus atoms. The La3+ vacancies are filled up with tellurium, partly forming [Te2]2− dumbbells (d(Te−Te)=274 pm). La11Si11P21Te5 can be obtained on target by reacting the elements (La, Si, P and Te) in their respective amounts with an excess of potassium chloride as fluxing agent in evacuated and torch‐sealed glassy silica ampoules for four days at 900 °C as black pillars or thick plates with hexagonal cross‐section.

Excess Potassium Promotes Autophagy to Maintain the Immunosuppressive Capacity of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Independent of Arginase 1.

Potassium ions (K+) are critical electrolytes that regulate multiple functions in immune cells. Recent studies have shown that the elevated concentration of extracellular potassium in the tumor interstitial fluid limits T cell effector function and suppresses the anti-tumor capacity of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The effect of excess potassium on the biology of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), another important immune cell component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), is unknown. Here, we present data showing that increased concentrations of potassium chloride (KCl), as the source of K+ ions, facilitate autophagy by increasing the expression of the autophagosome marker LC3β. Simultaneously, excess potassium ions significantly decrease the expression of arginase I (Arg I) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) without reducing the ability of MDSCs to suppress T cell proliferation. Further investigation reveals that excess K+ ions decrease the expression of the transcription factor C/EBP-β and alter the expression of phosphorylated kinases. While excess K+ ions downregulated the expression levels of phospho-AMPKα (pAMPKα), it increased the levels of pAKT and pERK. Additionally, potassium increased mitochondrial respiration as measured by the oxygen consumption rate (OCR). Interestingly, all these alterations induced by K+ ions were abolished by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Our results suggest that hyperosmotic stress caused by excess K+ ions regulate the mitochondrial respiration and signaling pathways in MDSCs to trigger the process of autophagy to support MDSCs' immunosuppressive function by mechanisms independent of Arg I and iNOS. Overall, our in vitro and ex vivo findings offer valuable insights into the adaptations of MDSCs within the K+ ion-rich TME, which has important implications for MDSCs-targeted therapies.

5/6 Nephrectomy Impairs Acute Kaliuretic Responses and Predisposes to Postprandial Hyperkalemia.

The susceptibility of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to develop postprandial hyperkalemia suggests alterations in normal kidney sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) handling, but the exact nature of these changes is largely unknown. To address this, we analyzed the natriuretic and kaliuretic responses to diuretics and acute K+ loading in rats who underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) and compared this to the response in sham-operated rats. The natriuretic and kaliuretic responses to furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, and amiloride were largely similar between 5/6Nx and sham rats except for a significantly reduced kaliuretic response to hydrochlorothiazide in 5/6Nx rats. Acute dietary K+ loading with either 2.5% potassium chloride or 2.5% potassium citrate caused lower natriuretic and kaliuretic responses in 5/6Nx rats compared with sham rats. This resulted in significantly higher plasma K+ concentrations in 5/6Nx rats which were accompanied by corresponding increases in plasma aldosterone. Acute K+ loading caused dephosphorylation of Ste20-related proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) and the sodium-chloride cotransporter (NCC) both in sham and 5/6Nx rats. In contrast, the acute K+ load decreased the Na+/hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) and increased serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) and the α-subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) only in sham rats. Together, our data show that 5/6Nx impairs the natriuretic and kaliuretic response to an acute dietary K+ load which is further characterized by a loss of ENaC adaptation and the development of postprandial hyperkalemia.

Probing into Volumetric and Acoustic Properties of Aqueous l-Ascorbic Acid in the Presence of Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate and Potassium Chloride

Probing into Volumetric and Acoustic Properties of Aqueous <scp>l</scp>-Ascorbic Acid in the Presence of Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate and Potassium Chloride

Gitelman Syndrome in a 37-Years Old Woman with Urinary Tract Syndrome and History of Caesarean Section: A Case Report

Gitelman Syndrome (GS) is a rare genetic disorder often underdiagnosed due to its non-specific symptoms that can appear from neonatal stages to adulthood. It is more frequently observed in Asians, with a prevalence of approximately 1 in 40,000 people. Accurate diagnosis requires a comprehensive clinical interview and laboratory examinations. This report presents the case of a 37-year-old woman with GS who also experienced a urinary tract infection and had a history of cesarean section. Upon admission, she reported feeling fatigued and weak in all extremities. She had undergone a cesarean section a month prior due to pre-eclampsia. Initial laboratory tests revealed hypokalaemia, hyponatremia, and hypochloraemia. Further evaluation during hospitalization detected a urinary tract infection, hypocalciuria, and hypomagnesemia. The patient also suffered from carpopedal spasms and muscle cramps. Treatment included magnesium sulfate, calcium gluconate, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride infusions to restore electrolyte balance. The patient was discharged after six days, with a diagnosis of Gitelman Syndrome, which was unusual given her late onset of symptoms, as most cases are identified in childhood. The clinical presentation was largely driven by the patient’s electrolyte imbalances, especially hypokalaemia and hypomagnesemia, with hypomagnesemia further contributing to hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency. The patient’s symptoms improved after appropriate electrolyte supplementation. This case emphasizes the importance of a detailed clinical history and laboratory assessments in diagnosing GS, along with timely correction of electrolyte disturbances to improve the patient’s condition and prevent complications.

Cation-Dependent Mixed Ionic-Electronic Transport in a Perylenediimide Small-Molecule Semiconductor.

A rapidly growing interest in organic bioelectronic applications has spurred the development of a wide variety of organic mixed ionic-electronic conductors. While these new mixed conductors have enabled the community to interface organic electronics with biological systems and efficiently transduce biological signals (ions) into electronic signals, the current materials selection does not offer sufficient selectivity towards specific ions of biological relevance without the use of auxiliary components such as ion-selective membranes. Here, we present the molecular design of an n-type (electron-transporting) perylene diimide semiconductor material decorated with pendant oligoether groups to facilitate interactions with cations such as Na+ and K+. Using the cyclic 15-crown-5 oligoether motif, we find that the resulting mixed conductor PDI-crown displays a strong dependence on the size of the electrolyte cation when tested in an organic electrochemical transistor configuration. In stark contrast to the low current response on the order of 1 μA observed with aqueous sodium chloride, a nearly 200-fold increase in current is observed with aqueous potassium chloride. We ascribe the high selectivity to extended molecular aggregation and therefore efficient charge transport in the presence of K+ due to a favourable sandwich-like structure between two adjacent 15-crown-5 motifs and the potassium ion.

Bioaccumulation and health risks of chromium and cadmium in &lt;em&gt;Basella alba&lt;/em&gt; with emphasis on Urea, muriate of potash and triple super phosphate mixtures

Basella alba is a commonly consumed green leafy vegetable in South Asian countries and it is considered as an economical source of essential vitamins and dietary fibers. Urea, muriate of potash (MOP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) mixture is the most commonly used inexpensive fertilizer mixture in the commercial cultivation of B. alba. This study was conducted to assess the effect of using a mixture of Urea-MOP-TSP on the bioaccumulation potential of cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) by the leaves of B. alba. Pots treated with the Urea-MOP-TSP mixture and compost were maintained in a greenhouse with controlled light and temperature settings. The concentrations of Cd and Cr in the root zone soil, roots and leaves of B. alba were analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer after acid digestion. The health risk of consuming B. alba was evaluated using the daily intake of metals, health risk index and cancer risk index. The results showed that Cd and Cr can bioaccumulate in the leaves of B. alba. The bioaccumulation potential of Cr was higher than that of Cd. Although the daily intake of Cd and Cr from B. alba were below the maximum values stipulated by the WHO, the cancer risk index indicated potential cancer risks based on Cd intake due to consumption of B. alba cultivated using the Urea-MOP-TSP mixture. Furthermore, the health risks associated with the hyper-accumulation of Cd and Cr in the edible parts of B. alba cultivated using compost were significantly less compared to that of the plants treated with the Urea-MOP-TSP mixture. Therefore, if B. alba is cultivated using chemical fertilizer, it is recommended to regularly monitor the concentrations of Cd and Cr in the cultivation soil, chemical fertilizer and in the edible parts of B. alba to prevent the excessive buildup of Cd and Cr along the food chain. In addition, it is recommended to identify the potential microbial assemblages that can be inoculated to the cultivation soil to reduce the bioavailability of Cd and Cr.

Monolayer MoS[formula omitted] CVD-growth on SiC substrates assisted with KCl

This study examines the growth of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) on semi-insulating silicon carbide (SI-6H-SiC) substrates using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Raman and photoluminescence measurements were utilized to characterize pristine and grown with a potassium chloride (KCl) nucleation promoter MoS2. The Raman spectra showed a frequency difference (Δω) of 18.7 cm−1 between the A1g and E2g modes for pristine MoS2, confirming its monolayer nature, while KCl-modified MoS2 exhibited a Δω of 20.4 cm−1. Pristine MoS2 demonstrated compressive strain due to lattice mismatch, with values up to −1.4%, and a low dependency of charge doping shift on Δω. Conversely, KCl-modified MoS2 flakes showed smaller strain, up to −0.4%, and a significant dependency of charge doping shift on Δω. Electrical characterization of 2-Terminal devices indicated a ratio of the high-resistance state to low-resistance state close to 1 for pristine MoS2 and 1.75 for KCl-modified MoS2. Low-temperature photoluminescence measurements suggest that the observed behavior is due to the interaction of MoS2 with KCl.

Transcriptome-Wide Profiling of Nascent RNA in Neurons with Enriched H3K27ac Signal Elevates eRNA Identification Efficiency.

Growing evidence suggests that activity-dependent gene expression is crucial for neuronal plasticity and behavioral experience. Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs), a class of long noncoding RNAs, play a key role in these processes. However, eRNAs are highly dynamic and are often present at lower levels than their corresponding mRNAs, making them difficult to detect using total RNA-seq techniques. Nascent RNA sequencing, which separates nascent RNAs from the steady-state RNA population, has been shown to increase the ability to detect activity-induced eRNAs with a higher signal-to-noise ratio. However, there is a lack of bioinformatic tools or pipelines for detecting eRNAs utilizing nascent RNA-seq and other multiomics data sets. In this study, we addressed this gap by developing a novel bioinformatic framework, e-finder, for finding eRNAs and have made it available to the scientific community. Additionally, we reanalyzed our previous nascent RNA sequencing data and compared them with total RNA-seq data to identify activity-regulated RNAs in neuronal cell populations. Using H3K27 acetylome data, we characterized activity-dependent eRNAs that drive the transcriptional activity of the target genes. Our analysis identified a subset of eRNAs involved in mediating synapse organization, which showed increased activity-dependent transcription after the potassium chloride stimulation. Notably, our data suggest that nascent RNA-seq with an enriched H3K27ac signal exhibits high resolution to identify potential eRNAs in response to membrane depolarization. Our findings uncover the role of the eRNA-mediated gene activation network in neuronal systems, providing new insights into the molecular processes characterizing neurological diseases.

Severe hydronephrosis complicated with primary aldosteronism: a case report and review of the literature

BackgroundPrimary aldosteronism is characterized by high plasma aldosterone and low renin. The plasma aldosterone-to-renin ratio is recommended for screening. Severe hydronephrosis leads to renal parenchymal ischemia, resulting in increased renin secretion. Since nonsuppression of renin may cause a negative result in the aldosterone-to-renin ratio test, severe hydronephrosis and primary aldosteronism occurring simultaneously in a patient are challenging to diagnose.Case presentationA 54-year-old Chinese man of Han ethnicity was diagnosed with hypertension and severe hypokalemia (minimum 1.57 mmol/L) 13 years prior, and was also diagnosed with severe hydronephrosis due to congenital ureteral stenosis on the left side. His clinical features suggested primary aldosteronism, but the aldosterone-to-renin ratio result of the patient was negative every time he underwent the primary aldosteronism screening test. No further treatment for primary aldosteronism was performed, which led the patient to suffer from severe hypokalemia, such that he was taking 12–15 g/day potassium chloride orally to keep his blood potassium between 3.0 and 3.5 mmol/L (reference value, 3.5–5.5 mmol/L) for 13 years, and the patient needed to be hospitalized in the intensive care unit for rescue several times. At admission, although the aldosterone-to-renin ratio result of the patient was negative, we still did the saline stress test and captopril inhibition test, and the results showed that the plasma aldosterone level was not lower after the test than before the test. Adrenal enhanced computed tomography suggested an adenoma in the left adrenal gland, and the results of adrenal vein sampling suggested that the left side was the dominant side. Therefore, laparoscopic total resection of the left adrenal gland was performed, and 2 weeks later, the patient developed short-term renal function impairment and hyperkalemia, but his renal function and blood potassium returned to normal after treatment that included fluid rehydration. The patient’s biochemical test results and clinical symptoms were completely normal after 1 year.ConclusionWe suggest that for patients with a high suspicion of primary aldosteronism in the clinic, comprehensive analysis must be performed in combination with clinical characteristic assessments, such as severe hydronephrosis, if renin is within the normal range or if the aldosterone-to-renin ratio result is negative at screening and diagnostic tests, and adrenal vein sampling should be performed if necessary. It can help avoid misdiagnoses and contribute to the treatment of patients with severe hydronephrosis and primary aldosteronism.