Stress Factors Research Articles

Oxidative stress of mitophagy in neurodegenerative diseases: Mechanism and potential therapeutic targets.

Neurodegenerative diseases are now significant chronic progressive neurological conditions that affect individuals' physical health. Oxidative stress is crucial in the development of these diseases. Among the various neurodegenerative diseases, mitochondrial damage has become a major factor in oxidative stress and disease advancement. During this process, oxidative stress and mitophagy plays an important role. In this paper, we introduced the role of mitophagy and oxidative stress in detail, and expounded the relationship between them. In addition, we summarized the pathogenesis of some neurodegenerative diseases and the mechanism of three antioxidants. The former includes AD, PD, HD and ALS, while the latter includes carnosine, adiponectin and resveratrol. Provide goals and directions for further research and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the impact of oxidative stress on neurodegenerative diseases by regulating mitophagy, provides a deeper understanding of their pathological mechanisms, and suggests potential new therapeutic targets.

Gastroprotective effect of fucoidan from Sargassum siliquastrum against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury.

The ethanol-induced BALB/c mice and human gastric epithelial cell (Ges-1 cell) models were used to investigate the Sargassum siliquastrum fucoidan (SFuc) gastroprotective capability. The injury score and histopathological sections of the stomach were used to evaluate the gastroprotective capability. The western blotting and RT-PCR methods determined the signaling mechanism of mice's gastric injury. SFuc is fucoidan with a molecular weight of 300.7 and 25.1kDa. The injury score and ulcer index of the SFuc-200 group decreased by 3.85 and 2.06 folds in contrast with the Model group, respectively. The findings indicated that SFuc reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory factor expression in the gastric mucosa by downregulating the levels of associated genes within the TLR-4, MyD88, and MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathways. Meanwhile, the SFuc-200 group promoted the expressions of EGF and PGE 2 by 1.53 and 1.52 folds, respectively. Together with the expression inhibition of p38, ERK, JNK, and NF-κB proteins in gastric tissue to help for differentiation of gastric cells. In addition, SFuc significantly reduced apoptosis occurrence in mice and Ges-1 cells. Our study provides potential mechanism clues of the SFuc's resistance to ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage, suggesting its potential functional food for gastric protection.

Exosomes and non-coding RNAs: Exploring their roles in human myocardial dysfunction.

Myocardial dysfunction, characterized by impaired cardiac muscle function, arises from diverse etiologies, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathies, hypertension, and valvular heart disease. Recent advancements have highlighted the roles of exosomes and non-coding RNAs in the pathophysiology of myocardial dysfunction. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles released by cardiac and other cells that facilitate intercellular communication through their molecular cargo, including ncRNAs. ncRNAs are known to play critical roles in gene regulation through diverse mechanisms, impacting oxidative stress, fibrosis, and other factors associated with myocardial dysfunction. Dysregulation of these molecules correlates with disease progression, presenting opportunities for therapeutic interventions. This review explores the mechanistic interplay between exosomes and ncRNAs, underscoring their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic agents in myocardial dysfunction. Emerging evidence supports the use of engineered exosomes and modified ncRNAs to enhance cardiac repair by targeting signaling pathways associated with fibrosis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Despite promising preclinical results, delivery, stability, and immunogenicity challenges remain. Further research is needed to optimize clinical translation. Understanding these intricate mechanisms may drive the development of innovative strategies for diagnosing and treating myocardial dysfunction, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Prevalence of Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Quality Among Young Adults in Turkiye: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The current study was conducted to measure the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality and identify predisposing factors of psychological distress among young adults during the pandemic. A cross-sectional design was adopted. The target population consisted of students studying at an associate degree health services school at a university in Turkiye. Overall, 704 students were included in the sample. Multiple logistic regression was implemented to predict risk factors. The prevalence of moderate to extremely severe stress, anxiety, and depression was found to be 39%, 48.4% and 47.6%, respectively. There was a strong positive association between stress and anxiety (r = 0.869, p < 0.001), stress and depression (r = 0.912, p < 0.001), and between anxiety and depression (r = 0.857, p < 0.001). A moderate positive relationship was found between sleep quality and stress (r = 0.484, p < 0.001), sleep quality and anxiety (r = 0.484, p < 0.001), and sleep quality and depression (r = 0.481, p < 0.001). Young adults with poor sleep quality, those who find safety measures for the pandemic outbreak insufficient, those who use alcohol, and those who feel despair were more likely to have stress, anxiety, and depression risk. Age and gender did not affect their stress, anxiety, or depression risk. Nearly half of the young adults experienced varying degrees of stress, anxiety, and depression, and most had poor sleep quality. The insufficiency of outbreak measures, poor sleep quality, using alcohol, and feelings of despair were mutual predictive factors of stress, anxiety, and depression.

Experiences and Concerns of Pregnant Refugee Women from Nigeria Seeking for Asylum in Germany - A qualitative analysis

ProblemInsights into and data of the experiences of pregnant women seeking asylum in Germany are largely lacking. BackgroundDue to multiple stress factors, pregnant refugees are considered a vulnerable group. Gender-specific causes of flight, traumatic experiences during flight, and numerous stressors in the respective host country have a decisive impact on the health of women and affect pregnancy and childbirth. AimThis study aims to assess the perspectives and needs of pregnant refugee women from Nigeria, that are residing in an initial reception center in Germany. MethodsExperiences and concerns of N = 20 pregnant refugee women from Nigeria relating to pregnancy and impending childbirth were assessed in semi-structured interviews, conducted by three psychologists in English. FindingsFindings emphasize the need for continuous medical and psychotherapeutic care due to the multiple stressors and the partial lack of social support, especially for single women. The participants described their concerns particularly related to their personal and their family's health, as well as their impending birth, their optimistic attitude about the parenting experience, and confidence in medical care in Germany. Their wishes were predominantly related to items necessary for the care of their children, information about the pregnancy and birth process as well as for their integration. Utilization of resources and positive activities were indicative of adapting coping styles and resilience factors of pregnant refugee women. ConclusionThis study highlights the importance of the context-sensitive medical and psychotherapeutic care to adequately support the women during pregnancy and around childbirth. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the necessity of counteracting the negative effects of experiences on their health and that of their children.

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To expedite the deployment of Sesuvium portulacastrum floating bed technology in Hangzhou Bay and the Yangtze River Estuary, and to overcome the cryogenic constraint, our study concentrated on investigating the impacts of both individual and combined stress factors, particularly low temperature and salinity, on its application. We detected the S. portulacastrum related enzyme activity and other biological macromolecules under low temperature stress, salt stress and combined stress. And we also analyzed the stress resistance mechanism under different stress conditions by transcriptomic technology. It was discovered that moderate salt stress could enhance plant tolerance to low temperature, indicating the presence of an antagonistic relationship between salinity and low temperature. The biological mechanism underlying this phenomenon lies in the fact that combined stresses induce the up-regulation of various genes and activate more pathways compared to single stress. Among these pathways, the linoleic acid metabolic pathway stands out as unique to combined stress conditions. This research represents the inaugural endeavor to investigate the impact of low temperature stress and combined stress on S.portulacastrum, offering a pivotal reference for the utilization of this plant in ecological restoration and management within the East China Sea. More valuable is that such conclusions may be extended to the coastal ecological governance of many high latitude countries, which is of great significance for global ecological environment improvement.

Machine learning the abiotic stressor impacts on nitrogen availability and photo energy use in dryland forage systems under different tillage and green manuring practices

Background and aimSorghum sudangrass (SSG), a vigorous hybrid C4 plant grown as forage or bioenergy crop during the summer has deeply distributed fibrous root system beneficial to dryland agriculture. Despite these advantages, the crop faces challenges from abiotic stressors, particularly during severe drought seasons. Thus, the goal of planting SSG as a forage is to generate ample biomass with minimal inputs, minimize toxicity, identify stress factors, and implement suitable management strategies with negligible environmental impact. This study focused on machine learning the intricate soil–plant-water-atmosphere relationships associated with abiotic stresses and agroenvironmental variables to enhance energy-efficiency and alleviate nitrogen (N) stress.MethodsA long-term simulation study involving SSG with four N treatments (spring-fallow and N fertilization, and three spring-time cover with 100% residue addition as green manures) under no-till (NT) and conventional (CT) tillage systems was unsuccessful to provide distinct effects of N strategies. Machine learning (ML) was employed to determine how abiotic-stress factors were varied, specifically under influence of green manures such as oat (OG), field peas (FP) and grass peas (GP) under conventional and conservation systems.ResultsResults indicated significantly higher use-efficiency of photosynthetically-active radiation (PAR) and the lowest N stress in NT + FP contrasting with the lowest PAR and the highest N-stress in conventional system. ML Regression models highlighted significant impact of average daily temperatures on water (R2 of 78%) and N-stress (R2 of 79%). Multi-regression ML models, incorporating various agro-environmental variables identified tillage as the most influential factor during wet seasons, water-stress during normal seasons, and temperature as the predominant factor during drought seasons influencing N stress in SSG forage-system.ConclusionConspicuously, drought exhibited a more pronounced influence from green manuring compared to wet or normal seasons in our study. Thus, farmers should be encouraged to adapt the practice of using cover and green-manures despite the concerns about water reserves for summertime cash crops.

ВЛИЯНИЕ КОНТАМИНИРОВАННОГО МИКОТОКСИНАМИ КОРМА И ПРОТИВОПАРАЗИТАРНОЙ ОБРАБОТКИ ЭПРИНОМЕКТИНОМ НА КИШЕЧНУЮ МИКРОБИОТУ ЖИВОТНЫХ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТА

Animals are exposed to numerous stress factors in industrial conditions. The greatest danger is posed by mycotoxins that change the composition of the microbiota in animals, which is one of the reasons for the development of immunosuppression. The purpose of the study is to establish changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota in laboratory animals with combined contamination of feed with mycotoxins and antiparasitic treatment with eprinomectin. The study was conducted on laboratory rats (five groups of 10 rats each). Animals of the 1st group received a standardized diet and were not exposed to mycotoxins and eprinomectin, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th groups of animals received food containing mycotoxins (DON – 0.93, T-2 – 0.025; ZEA – less than 0.02 mg/kg). Additionally, animals of the 3rd and 5th groups were subjected to a single antiparasitic treatment with the drug Veteprin (active ingredient – eprinomectin). Enterosorbent modified with polyarginine was administered daily with food to animals of groups 4 and 5 at a dose of 0.2 g/kg for 12 days at the final stage of the experiment lasting 50 days. The material for bacteriological research was samples of the contents of the cecum. The luminal microflora of the cecum in all animals is dominated by Bifidobactererium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. However, a noticeable decrease in their number is observed with the combined effect of eprinomectin and mycotoxins on the animal body, which indicates a decrease in colonization resistance and inhibition of parietal digestion. Against the background of a decrease in the proportion of obligate anaerobic microflora in the intestine, the number of facultative opportunistic microorganisms increases. Increased growth of yeast-like fungi in the intestine indicates decreased immune reactivity and impaired intestinal barrier function. The use of a sorbent modified with polyarginine normalizes and stabilizes the intestinal microflora.

From low to high elevations, flowers adapt traits and phenology to climate, but phenology‐trait relationships weak

Abstract Flowering phenology is central to plant reproductive success and can relate to morphological traits such as size and quality of flowers, but phenology–trait associations of flowers remain unclear. Phenology–trait associations can vary within and among species, especially across climate gradients, due to allocational trade‐offs in response to selective pressures from abiotic stress and/or biotic factors such as pollinator availability. It is unknown whether floral morphology and phenology experience coordinated selection across climate gradients or vary independently. Understanding the drivers of trait variation and its implications for floral phenology may be especially relevant in mountains where climate and abiotic gradients change sharply with elevation. At higher elevations, increasing cold and aridity may favour higher quality, stress‐tolerant flowers that withstand harsher conditions better than cheaper flowers, but trade‐off with size and showiness to pollinators. Relatively benign conditions at lower elevations may permit more flexible phenotypes and weaker association between trait and phenology by allowing species more leeway for flowering times compared with the short growing season at higher elevations. We examined trait–phenology associations within and among 250 herbaceous species in the Western Himalayas, spanning 2000–4500 m AMSL. Intraspecific variation in traits and phenology decreased from low to high elevation at the community scale, but species showed idiosyncratic responses. Trait–trait correlations indicated stronger selection and constraints on phenotypes and phenology at higher elevations. However, trait–phenology correlations were relatively weak throughout, suggesting independent selection on flower morphology vs. phenology. Overall, climate imposed strong selection on flower traits and regulated floral phenology, but without any strong or consistent associations between traits and phenology. It is likely that flower morphology responded to multiple abiotic and biotic drivers, within and across elevations, whereas phenology mainly responded to temperature and thaw. Our findings suggest that selection from ongoing warming will operate separately on floral morphology and phenology of alpine plant communities, and mechanisms and consequences should be evaluated using experiments. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Research progress in tolerance of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutant-degrading strains

Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution has become one of the global environmental problems, posing a serious threat to the environment and human health. Microbial remediation plays an important role in the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated environment. Nevertheless, the stress factors present in the environment polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons limit the effectiveness of microbial remediation. This paper reviews the common stress factors in petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted environment and the response mechanisms of microorganisms to these factors. Furthermore, we introduce the methods to improve microbial tolerance, such as irrational modification, rational modification based on systems biology tools or tolerance mechanisms, and the construction of microbial consortia. The application of these methods is expected to improve the viability and remediation efficiency of microorganisms in petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated environment and provide new perspectives and technical support for environmental remediation.

Higher Levels of Dispositional Mindfulness Are Associated With More Effective Ecological Momentary Intervention Outcomes in Reducing the Frequency of Awake Bruxism Behaviours.

Previous research has highlighted the multifactorial nature of awake bruxism (AB), including its associations with stress, anxiety and other psychological factors. Dispositional mindfulness, known for its benefits in enhancing emotional regulation and reducing stress, has not yet been thoroughly investigated in association with AB. This study aimed to investigate whether levels of dispositional mindfulness predict the efficacy of ecological momentary intervention (EMI) in reducing the frequency of AB behaviours. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a correlational component and involved 83 undergraduate dental students categorised into high and low mindfulness groups based on the Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS). An EMI was implemented using the No Clenching mobile app, which sent 12 alerts per day over 1 month. The primary outcome measure was a 50% reduction in the frequency of AB behaviours. A significant positive relationship was found between dispositional mindfulness levels and the reduction in AB behaviours. Participants with higher mindfulness levels experienced a greater reduction in AB frequency compared to those with lower mindfulness levels. Mixed-effects regression analysis revealed that mindfulness levels were a significant predictor of bruxism reduction (β = 0.45, p < 0.01). The coefficient for MAAS was positive and significant (coefficient = 1.5305, p < 0.001), indicating that higher mindfulness levels are associated with greater reductions in AB frequency. Additionally, a significantly higher percentage of participants in the high mindfulness group (97.5%) achieved a 50% reduction in AB behaviours compared to the low mindfulness group (62%). Higher levels of dispositional mindfulness are associated with more effective EMI outcomes in reducing AB behaviours. Incorporating mindfulness-based approaches into intervention strategies for AB could lead to more personalised and effective treatments.

Identification of stress factors in returning migrants in Latvia

This study investigates the psychological stress factors faced by return migrants before, during, and after their return to Latvia. Employing a Grounded Theory methodology, we conducted in-depth interviews with 21 return migrants and identified five key themes: pre-return context, identity, perceived social support, psychological wellbeing, and factors that help or hinder re-adjustment. Notably, psychological stress prior to return often exceeds post-return stress, highlighting the critical yet understudied pre-return phase. Key contributors to return migration stress include unmet expectations, feelings of alienation, identity struggles, and inadequate institutional support. By highlighting these stress factors, this research not only enhances the understanding of return migration from a psychological standpoint but also lays the foundational groundwork for the development of a comprehensive theoretical framework that encompasses a broader spectrum of factors influencing return migration stress. The study advocates for a holistic approach to supporting return migrants, emphasizing the integration of psychological resources with practical assistance to foster successful reintegration into their home country.

Impact of Various Forced Oxidative Stress Factors in Rapid Degradation of mAb: Trastuzumab as a Case Study.

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are prone to degradation viaaggregation and fragmentation. In this study, forced degradation of trastuzumab (TmAb) was explored in saline and in-vitro models having H2O2 and exposed to UV light (case study 1), both bleomycin (BML) formulation and ferrous ions (Fe2+) (case study 2), and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (case study 3). Size exclusion chromatography, dynamic light scattering, spectroscopic analysis, and fluorescence microscope image processing was carried out for characterizing TmAb degradation. Saline samples containing TmAb and 0.1% H2O2 incubated at 40ºC for 1h in the presence of UV light showed increased monomer loss by more than 40% compared to TmAb sample without H2O2 exposed to UV light. Saline containing TmAb having both 0.1-unit BML and 0.25mM Fe2+ showed increased monomer loss by more than 50% compared to TmAb in saline having only Fe2+ or BML. A higherTmAb degradation was also observed in saline containing 0.01% NaOCl compared to saline without NaOCl. Samples containing aggregates of mAb showed altered protein structure. Degradation of TmAb in saline increased with time, temperature, and concentrations of H2O2, Fe2+, and NaOCl. At different analysis time points, TmAb monomer loss was higher in saline compared to human serum filtrate, an in-vitro model. Aggregate particles (> 2µm size) of TmAb were also observed in serum containing both Fe2+ and BML. It can be concluded that rapid TmAb degradation significantly enhanced due to various stress factors, and the aggregates couldresult in enhanced immunogenic risk to the patients.

Long-term mental health crisis among municipal public employees caused by the Fukushima nuclear accident and subsequent disasters: Questionnaire survey 10 years postdisaster.

After the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, several municipal offices were forced to evacuate, and municipal public employees (MPEs) had to perform many administrative tasks related to the disaster. Typhoons and the COVID-19 pandemic also affected the area afterwards. We conducted a survey for MPEs to investigate the mental health impacts and related factors. This survey was conducted in the 10th year after the accident. Participants were MPEs working in the severely affected areas. We used a self-administered questionnaire that included participants' psychological distress (K6), experience during/after the disaster, job-related stress, current problems, and the impacts of subsequent disasters. Based on K6 total scores, we analyzed factors related to mental health and the current problems among high-risk MPEs. Of all the 775 participants, the number of high-risk MPEs was 101 (13.0%) and many of those had comorbid suicide risk. Factors related to high-score K6 were some individual-related stress factors, including male and younger people, and some job-related stress factors, including unaccustomed work and uncertainty about the future. The mental health status of MPEs in areas severely affected by the disaster has remained very serious more than 10 years later. The problems and processes caused by the nuclear disaster, such as long-term evacuation, were very specific compared to those of natural disasters. Compared to affected residents, MPEs could be more severely affected by the disasters over the long term. We consider it important to develop a mental health care system to prepare for future disasters.

Transaction of parental cognition, stress and depressive symptoms, and infant regulatory challenges.

Parental cognitions, stress, depression, and infant regulatory challenges might reinforce each other in the early parent-infant relationship. A transactional model was used as a framework to investigate these relationships. Two hundred and twenty pregnant women and their partners were recruited during pregnancy and followed 7 months postnatally in the NorBaby study in Norway. To investigate risk and protective factors for parental stress and depressive symptoms at 2, 5, and 7 months postnatally, the following variables were entered antenatally: repetitive negative thinking, implicit associations to infants, parity, and social support. Postnatally, observed infant regulatory challenges at 2 months, parent's perception of infant temperament at 5 months, and signs of infant social withdrawal at 7 months. The model yielded that repetitive negative thinking predicted parenting stress and depressive symptoms, while infant regulatory challenges did not. Repetitive negative thinking is also related to infant temperament. For mothers, parity was beneficial against stress, depressive symptoms, and infant regulatory challenges. Implicit associations to infants were not related to parenting stress or depressive symptoms postnatally. Parenting stress and depressive symptoms were not related to infant social withdrawal at 7 months. In sum, how parents perceive their infant's temperament is associated with their own tendency to engage in repetitive negative thinking, and not by their infant's observed regulatory behavior. Accordingly, parental cognition and well-being should be considered when families struggle to adapt in the perinatal period.

Effects of Different Humeral Stem Length on Stem Alignment and Proximal Stress Shielding in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Few comparative studies on the correlation between stem length, stem alignment, and/or stress shielding have been conducted in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA). This study aimed to investigate the effects of different humeral stem lengths on stem alignment and proximal stress shielding after rTSA. A total of 320 patients who underwent primary rTSA from October 2010 to May 2020 with at least 2 years of follow-up (mean follow-up: 32.6 months) were retrospectively reviewed. The participants were classified into three groups according to the humeral stem length of different prostheses types: group A (short stem, range: < 80 mm, n = 88), group B (medium stem, range: 80-100 mm, n = 155), and group C (standard stem, range: ≥ 100 mm, n = 77). The parameters, including stem alignment, stem distal tip decentering, and canal filling ratio (CFR) were determined and recorded on the radiographs at 4 weeks after surgery. Proximal humeral stress shielding and stem subsidence were evaluated using radiographs at 4 weeks after rTSA were compared with those at the final follow-up. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to the presence of stress shielding to determine correlations among stem length, malalignment, and stress shielding. Humeral stem malalignment was significantly higher in group A (21.6%) than in groups B (11.6%) and C (9.1%) (P = 0.018). However, stress shielding at the lateral metaphyses (36.4%) was more frequently observed in group C (P = 0.004). Longer stem, stem malalignment, and higher diaphyseal CFR were independent risk factors for stress shielding occurrence, with stem malalignment showing the highest odds ratio (14.82, P < .001). Although shorter stems are beneficial for bone preservation, they could lead to stem malalignment, resulting in increased proximal humeral stress shielding.

Bridging animal models and humans: neuroimaging as intermediate phenotypes linking genetic or stress factors to anhedonia

BackgroundIntermediate phenotypes, such as characteristic neuroimaging patterns, offer unique insights into the genetic and stress-related underpinnings of neuropsychiatric disorders like depression. This study aimed to identify neuroimaging intermediate phenotypes associated with depression, bridging etiological factors to behavioral manifestations and connecting insights from animal models to diverse clinical populations.MethodsWe analyzed datasets from both rodents and humans. The rodent studies included a genetic model (P11 knockout) and an environmental stress model (chronic unpredictable mild stress), while the human data comprised 748 participants from three cohorts. Using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations, we identified neuroimaging patterns in rodent models. We then applied a machine-learning approach to cluster neuroimaging subtypes of depression. To assess the genetic predispositions and stress-related changes associated with these subtypes, we analyzed genotype and metabolite data. Linear regression was employed to determine which neuroimaging features predicted core depression symptoms across species.ResultsThe genetic and environmental stress models exhibited distinct neuroimaging patterns in subcortical and sensorimotor regions. Consistent patterns emerged in two neuroimaging subtypes identified across three independent depressed cohorts. The subtype resembling P11 knockout demonstrated higher genetic susceptibility, with enriched expression of risk genes in brain tissues and abnormal metabolites linked to tryptophan metabolism. In contrast, the stress animal-like subtype did not show changes in genetic risk scores but exhibited enriched risk gene expression in somatic and endocrine tissues, along with mitochondrial dysfunction in the antioxidant stress system. Notably, these distinct subcortical-sensorimotor neuroimaging patterns predicted anhedonia, a core symptom of depression, in both rodent models and depressed subtypes.ConclusionsThis cross-species validation suggests that these neuroimaging patterns may serve as robust intermediate phenotypes, linking etiology to anhedonia and facilitating the translation of findings from animal models to humans with depression and other psychiatric disorders.

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of Carbohydrate-Binding Modules in Colletotrichum graminicola

Colletotrichum graminicola is the causative agent of both maize stem rot and leaf blight, which are among the most damaging diseases affecting maize. Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are protein domains that lack catalytic activity and are commonly found alongside carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes in fungi. A comprehensive examination of the C. graminicola TZ-3 genome resulted in the identification of 83 C. graminicola CBM (CgCBM) genes, which are characterized by distinct gene structures and protein motifs. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that the majority of CgCBM proteins were localized in the extracellular space. Investigation of the promoter regions of CgCBM genes uncovered a variety of responsive elements associated with plant hormones, including abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate response elements, as well as various stress-related response elements for drought, cold, defense, and other stress factors. Gene ontology analysis identified the primary functions of CgCBM genes as being linked to polysaccharide metabolism processes. Furthermore, the 83 CgCBM genes exhibited varying responses at different time points during C. graminicola infection, indicating their contribution to the fungus–maize interaction and their potential roles in the fungal pathogenic process. This study provides essential insights into CgCBMs, establishing a crucial foundation for further exploration of their functions in the mechanisms of fungal pathogenicity.

Rice Responses to Abiotic Stress: Key Proteins and Molecular Mechanisms

The intensification of global climate change and industrialization has exacerbated abiotic stresses on crops, particularly rice, posing significant threats to food security and human health. The mechanisms by which rice responds to these stresses are complex and interrelated. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying rice’s response to various abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and heavy metal pollution. We emphasize the molecular mechanisms and structural roles of key proteins involved in these stress responses, such as the roles of SLAC1 and QUAC1 in stomatal regulation, HKT and SOS proteins in salinity stress, heat shock proteins (HSPs) and heat stress transcription factors (HSFs) in temperature stress, and Nramp and ZIP transport proteins in response to heavy metal stress. This review elucidates the complex response networks of rice to various abiotic stresses, highlighting the key proteins and their related molecular mechanisms, which may further help to improve the strategies of molecular breeding.

P1213 The role of stress in dietary choices and disease outcomes in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Background The role of nutrition in managing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is widely discussed, yet its interplay with stress-related factors influencing eating behaviour and disease management remains complex. Stress-induced eating behaviours, such as increased comfort foods consumption, may exacerbate symptoms and hinder effective disease management, impacting clinical outcomes and quality of life. This study, part of EU-funded MiGut-Health project, assesses the relationship between stress, eating behaviours, and disease management in IBD patients, focusing on comfort food consumption, psychological food involvement, and disease-related factors, including health engagement, stool consistency, and disease activity. Methods In August 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted applying an online survey to a cohort of 2,276 adult IBD patients across Italy. The survey included validated scales: the Patient Health Engagement Scale (PHE-s), Psychological Food Involvement Scale (PFIS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Salzburg Stress Eating Scale, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptom Inventory (IBDSI-SF), and Bristol Stool Chart, along with items on Comfort Food Consumption. Data analysis involved descriptive analysis and independent samples t-test. Results Participants reported moderate perceived stress (mean=17.3 ± 7.75), with 35.5% indicating increased comfort food consumption when stressed, primarily chocolate (23.2%), sweet snacks (22.0%), and savoury snacks (21.0%). Individuals with high stress (32.6%) were more likely to consume fast food (mean=0.4 ± 0.66, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and sweetened beverages (mean=0.7 ± 1.21, p &amp;lt; 0.001). They placed greater importance on comfort food groups for managing stress (mean=2.7 ± 1.17 vs 2.5 ± 1.14, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Disease activity was notably higher in the high-stress group (mean=29.2 ± 15.61 vs. 16.8 ± 11.66, p &amp;lt; 0.001), alongside looser stool consistency (mean=4.8 ± 1.59 vs. 4.3 ± 1.45, p &amp;lt; 0.001). High-stress patients also demonstrated lower health engagement (mean=2.1 ± 0.68 vs. 2.6 ± 0.74, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and reduced psychological food involvement (mean=4.1 ± 1.17 vs. 4.4 ± 1.09, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusion Stress significantly shapes eating behaviours and disease management in IBD patients. High stress correlates with increased comfort foods consumption, reduced psychological food involvement, and poorer disease outcomes, including heightened symptoms, looser stool consistency, and diminished health engagement. These findings highlight the complex relationship between stress and disease-related factors, suggesting the need for integrated interventions targeting stress management to improve dietary behaviours and overall disease management in IBD.