Saline Pretreatment Research Articles

Adjuvant Effects of Lavandula angustifolia Oil in Experimental Carrageenan-Induced Thrombosis

Antinociceptive, sedative, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of lavender oil (LO) have been documented. The aim of our study was to evaluate the adjuvant effects of pretreatment with LO compared to standard treatment (low molecular weight heparin) in thrombosis. We evaluated the effects of two doses of LO in addition to nadroparin calcium (NC) on experimentally induced thrombosis in rats. The groups were as follows: the control (C) group received intraperitoneal (i.p.) saline and vehicle (DMSO), the thrombosis (T) group received saline plus vehicle pretreatment, nadroparin calcium (NC) was administrated subcutaneously (s.c.), TNCL1 and TNCL2 received pretreatment with LO (TNCL1—100 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) i.p. and TNCL2—200 mg/kg b.w. i.p. and NC s.c.). Thrombosis was successfully obtained in all groups, except the C group. Statistically significant differences between groups (p-values < 0.001) were found for the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, and total oxidative stress) and antioxidant parameters (total antioxidant capacity and thiols), TNF-α, MCP-1, and RANTES. Dose-dependent effects are seen on the biomarkers under evaluation, with higher LO doses producing the best outcomes. When compared to the group receiving standard treatment (NC alone), the LO pretreatment led to an increase in antioxidant levels (p-values < 0.001) and a decrease in oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory levels (p-values < 0.001). Lavender oil associated with NC treatment alleviates the inflammatory components of experimental carrageenan-induced thrombosis in rats by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines and improving antioxidant activity.

Sludge composting with self-produced carbon source by phosphate buffer coupled hyperthermophilic pretreatment realizing nitrogen retention

During sludge composting, ammonia emissions is the main pathway of nitrogen loss. In addition to regulating pH, increasing the carbon source is also important for controlling ammonia emissions. Previous studies have focused on additional carbon sources, while this study used phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and hyperthermophilic pretreatment (HP) to release difficult-to-utilize carbon sources in extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) for composting. The PBS concentration was 0.22 mmol/g total matter (TM), PBS soaking days were 4.74, HP temperature was 149.46 °C, and the soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) was 45.08 g/kg. Compared with the control check, the peak ammonia emission concentration in the pretreated group was reduced by 8.70 % and the total nitrogen loss was reduced by 18.10 %. Changes in EPS, ammonia assimilation activity, and microbial community composition demonstrated that PBS and HP released the carbon source from the sludge, promoted ammonia assimilation, and enriched bacteria related to ammonia assimilation such as Bacillus (16.52 %). HP treatment made Acinetobacter (12.5 %) the dominant genus in the calefactive phase, and the enrichment of Actinobacteriota (27.27 %) promoted the composting maturity. However, total pretreatment reduced the porosity and permeability of the sludge and affected the activity of microorganisms. Considering the cost of energy consumption, partial pretreatment has more practical application prospects.

Duality in response of intracranial vessels to nitroglycerin revealed in rats by imaging photoplethysmography.

Among numerous approaches to the study of migraine, the nitroglycerin (NTG) model occupies a prominent place, but there is relatively insufficient information about how NTG affects intracranial vessels. In this study we aim to assess the effects of NTG on blood-flow parameters in meningeal vessels measured by imaging photoplethysmography (iPPG) in animal experiments. An amplitude of the pulsatile component (APC) of iPPG waveform was assessed before and within 2.5h after the NTG administration in saline (n = 13) or sumatriptan (n = 12) pretreatment anesthetized rats in conditions of a closed cranial window. In animals of both groups, NTG caused a steady decrease in blood pressure. In 7 rats of the saline group, NTG resulted in progressive increase in APC, whereas decrease in APC was observed in other 6 rats. In all animals in the sumatriptan group, NTG administration was accompanied exclusively by an increase in APC. Diametrically opposite changes in APC due to NTG indicate a dual effect of this drug on meningeal vasomotor activity. Sumatriptan acts as a synergist of the NTG vasodilating action. The results we obtained contribute to understanding the interaction of vasoactive drugs in the study of the headache pathophysiology and methods of its therapy.

Red Blood Cell Lysis Pretreatment Can Significantly Improve the Yield of Treponema pallidum DNA from Blood.

PCR can be a supplement to Treponema serological testing. However, its sensitivity is not satisfactory for blood sample testing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pretreatment with red blood cell (RBC) lysis could enhance the yield of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum DNA extraction from blood. We developed and verified the efficacy of a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay that utilizes TaqMan technology to specifically detect T. pallidum DNA by targeting the polA gene. Simulation media with 106 to 100 treponemes/mL were prepared in normal saline (NS), whole blood, plasma, and serum, and RBC lysis pretreatment was performed on a portion of whole blood. Then, blood samples drawn from 50 syphilitic rabbits were divided in parallel into five groups, labeled whole blood, whole blood/lysed RBCs, plasma, serum, and blood cells/lysed RBCs. DNA extraction and qPCR detection were performed. The detection rate and copy number were compared among different groups. The polA assay showed good linearity and an excellent amplification efficiency of 102%. In the simulated blood samples, the detection limit of the polA assay reached 1 × 102 treponemes/mL in whole blood/lysed RBCs, plasma, and serum. However, the detection limit was only 1 × 104 treponemes/mL in NS and whole blood. Among the blood samples from syphilitic rabbits, whole blood/lysed RBCs showed the best detection rate (82.0%), while the detection rate for whole blood was only 6%. The copy number of whole blood/lysed RBCs was higher than that of whole blood. RBC lysis pretreatment can significantly improve the yield of T. pallidum DNA from whole blood, and the yield is better than that from whole blood, plasma, serum, and blood cells/lysed RBCs. IMPORTANCE Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by T. pallidum that can spread into the blood. T. pallidum DNA can be detected in blood by PCR but with low sensitivity. Few studies have applied RBC lysis pretreatment to blood T. pallidum DNA extraction. This study shows that the detection limit, detection rate, and copy number of whole blood/lysed RBCs were better than those of whole blood, plasma, and serum. After RBC lysis pretreatment, the yield of low concentrations of T. pallidum DNA was improved, and the low sensitivity of blood-based T. pallidum PCR was improved. Therefore, whole blood/lysed RBCs are the ideal sample for acquiring blood T. pallidum DNA.

Neuroprotective effects of carnosine in a mice stroke model concerning oxidative stress and inflammatory response.

Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) is a natural dipeptide with multiple neuroprotective properties. Previous studies have advertised that carnosine scavenges free radicals and displays anti-inflammatory activity. However, the underlying mechanism and the efficacies of its pleiotropic effect on prevention remained obscure. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-oxidative, anti-inflammative, and anti-pyroptotic effects of carnosine in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse model. After a daily pre-treatment of saline or carnosine (1000mg / kg / day) for 14days, mice (n=24) were subjected to tMCAO for 60min and continuously treated with saline or carnosine for additional 1 and 5days after reperfusion. The administration of carnosine significantly decreased infarct volume 5days after the tMCAO (*p<0.05) and effectively suppressed the expression of 4-HNE, 8-OHdG, Nitrotyrosine 5days, and RAGE 5days after tMCAO. Moreover, the expression of IL-1β was also significantly suppressed 5days after tMCAO. Our present findings demonstrated that carnosine effectively relieves oxidative stress caused by ischemic stroke and significantly attenuates neuroinflammatory responses related to IL-1β, suggesting that carnosine can be a promising therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke.

The ghrelin agonist, HM01 activates central vagal and enteric cholinergic neurons and reverses gastric inflammatory and ileus responses in rats.

Electrical vagal stimulation alleviates abdominal surgery (AS)-induced intestinal inflammation. Ghrelin receptors (GHS-Rs) are expressed in the brain and peripheral tissues. We investigated the influence of HM01, an orally active ghrelin agonist crossing the blood-brain barrier, on AS-induced gastric inflammation and emptying (GE) in rats. HM01 (6mg/kg) or saline pretreatment was administered per orally (po) or intraperitoneally (ip). We assessed GE, gastric cytokine mRNA, and Fos positive cells in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMN) and gastric corpus myenteric plexus (MP) in sham (anesthesia alone) and AS groups. The transcripts of GHS-R1 variants were determined in the medulla oblongata and gastric corpus of naïve rats. In vehicle pretreated rats, HM01 (ip) significantly increased the number of Fos immunoreactive cells in the MP and DMN in 55% and 52% of cholinergic neurons respectively. Hexamethonium did not modify HM01-induced Fos expression in the DMN while reducing it in the MP by 2-fold with values still significantly higher than that in control groups. AS upregulated gastric IL-1β and TNFα expression and inhibited GE by 66.6%. HM01 (po) abolished AS-induced gastric ileus and increased cytokine expression and elevated IL-10 by 4.0-fold versus vehicle/sham. GHS-R1a mRNA level was 5.4-fold higher than the truncated GHS-R1b isoform in the brain medulla and 40-fold higher in the gastric submucosa/muscle layers than in the mucosa. Peripheral HM0 activates central vagal and myenteric cholinergic pathways that may influence both central and peripheral targets to prevent AS-induced gastric inflammatory and ileus.

Dithiotreitol pre-treatment of synovial fluid samples improves microbiological counts in peri-prosthetic joint infection

PurposeSynovial fluid cultures of periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) may be limited by bacteria living in the fluids as biofilm-aggregates. The antibiofilm pre-treatment of synovial fluids with dithiotreitol (DTT) could improve bacterial counts and microbiological early stage diagnosis in patients with suspected PJI.MethodsSynovial fluids collected from 57 subjects, affected by painful total hip or knee replacement, were divided into two aliquots, one pre-treated with DTT and one with normal saline. All samples were plated for microbial counts. Sensitivity of cultural examination and bacterial counts of pre-treated and control samples were then calculated and statistically compared.ResultsDithiothreitol pre-treatment led to a higher number of positive samples, compared to controls (27 vs 19), leading to a statistically significant increase in the sensitivity of the microbiological count examination from 54.3 to 77.1% and in colony-forming units count from 1884 ± 2.129 CFU/mL with saline pre-treatment to 20.442 ± 19.270 with DTT pre-treatment (P = 0.02).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report showing the ability of a chemical antibiofilm pre-treatment to increase the sensitivity of microbiological examination in the synovial fluid of patients with peri-prosthetic joint infection. If confirmed by larger studies, this finding may have a significant impact on routine microbiological procedures applied to synovial fluids and brings further support to the key role of bacteria living in biofilm-formed aggregates in joint infections.

Salinity pretreatment synergies heat shock toxicity in cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC7120.

This study was undertaken to bridge the knowledge gap pertaining to cyanobacteria's response to pretreatment. The result elucidates the synergistic effect of pretreatment toxicity in cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC7120 on morphological and biochemical attributes. Chemical (salt) and physical (heat) stress-pretreated cells exhibited significant and reproducible changes in terms of growth pattern, morphology, pigments, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant activity. Salinity pretreatment showed more than a five-fold decrease in the phycocyanin content but a six-fold and five-fold increase in carotenoid, lipid peroxidation (MDA content), and antioxidant activity (SOD and CAT) at 1 h and on 3rd day of treatment, respectively, giving the impression of stress-induced free radicals that are scavenged by antioxidants when compared to heat shock pretreatment. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of transcript (qRT-PCR) for FeSOD and MnSOD displayed a 3.6- and 1.8-fold increase in salt-pretreated (S-H) samples. The upregulation of transcript corresponding to salt pretreatment suggests a toxic role of salinity in synergizing heat shock. However, heat pretreatment suggests a protective role in mitigating salt toxicity. It could be inferred that pretreatment enhances the deleterious effect. However, it further showed that salinity (chemical stress) augments the damaging effect of heat shock (physical stress) more profoundly than physical stress on chemical stress possibly by modulating redox balance via activation of antioxidant responses. Our study reveals that upon pretreatment of heat, the negative effect of salt can be mitigated in filamentous cyanobacteria, thus providing a foundation for improved cyanobacterial tolerance to salt stress.

Salinity impact on the metabolic and taxonomic profiles of acid and alkali treated inoculum for hydrogen production from food waste

This study evaluated the combined impact of salinity (2.5, 13, and 19.3 g NaCl/L) and inoculum pretreatment (acid/alkali) on the genomic and metabolic profiles of mesophilic fermentative bacteria for hydrogen (H2) production from food waste. Experimental results revealed that acid-treated inoculum showed the highest H2 yield (201.12 ± 13.84 mL H2/g of volatile solids added) under medium salinity levels compared to other experimental conditions. A 7–56% increase in H2 yield was observed for pretreated inoculum than untreated inoculum. Genomic analysis and metabolic pattern revealed that the H2 production was mainly through Clostridial-type fermentation under medium to high salinity levels, whereas Enterococcus-type fermentation under low salinity levels. Further, the genomic analysis uncovered that phyla Firmicutes (69.71–96.81%) and genus Clostridium sensu stricto 1 (33.28–94.04%) dominated during the exponential gas production phase. Overall, this study showed the significance of inoculum pretreatment for the bioconversion of food waste at different salinity levels.

The Valsalva Maneuver Is Not as Effective as Lidocaine for the Attenuation of Pain on Injection of Propofol: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Background and objectiveLidocaine pretreatment is considered the gold standard for attenuating pain on injection of propofol. Valsalva maneuver (VM) causes baroreceptor reflex arc-induced antinociception by increasing the intrathoracic pressure. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of VM in alleviating the pain on injection of propofol in this randomized comparative study.MethodsA total of 90 patients were recruited for this randomized study. They were classified into two groups. Patients in group D received 5-mL 4% lidocaine in saline intravenously while the venous drainage was occluded. Then they were asked to press a rubber ball as hard as they could. Patients in group V received 5-ml saline pretreatment. They were then asked to perform VM by blowing into rubber tubing connected to a manometer and raising and holding the pressure up to 40 mmHg. The verbal response and behavioral signs were recorded with a score corresponding to no, mild, moderate, or severe pain. A t-test was performed to compare the mean of variables between the two groups. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for testing the equality of the distribution function of pain scores between the groups. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to test the heart rate and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at different points of observation.ResultsThe incidence of pain and pain scores were significantly higher among the patients in the VM group as compared to those in the lidocaine with distraction group.ConclusionsVM performed immediately before the injection failed to attenuate the pain produced by propofol as compared to lidocaine pretreatment along with distraction.

Design and Testing of a Separation and Desalination Device for Farmland Saline-Alkaline Water in Arid Areas.

To solve the problem of soil salination and to desalinate saline–alkaline water in arid areas, this study involved the design and testing of a separation and desalination device for farmland saline–alkaline water that is suitable for arid areas. The results of this study indicate that after the pretreatment of farmland saline–alkaline water, the water yielded by the pretreatment device had a mean turbidity of <1 and a mean silt density index (SDI) of <3, which met the working conditions of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. When used to filter saline–alkaline water, the composite NF–RO membrane system achieved a desalination rate of 97.06%, a total hardness removal rate of 97.83%, and a Cl− removal rate of 99.65%, which satisfied the standard for irrigation water quality. Some indicators of the yielded water reached the hygienic standard for drinking water, thus successfully reutilizing water resources. The circulating solar collector tube of the device was designed with a collection area of 6 m2, which could basically satisfy the heat demand of the flash tank for distillation. The design of the flash tank and the shell-and-tube circulating condenser met the requirements for vapor condensation. The crystals in the solar salt box precipitated under solar action. X-ray diffraction was used to identify the primary compound of the crystals as NaCl, suggesting that the precipitates have potential value as industrial salts. This study offers new technical references and helpful engineering guidance for arid saline–alkaline enrichment areas facing the problem of saline farmland irrigation water.

Minocycline Pretreatment Prevents Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in Septic Rats.

The aim of the study was to explore the mechanism by which minocycline protects the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in septic rats. A sepsis rat model was generated in healthy, male Sprague-Dawley rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The rats were randomly divided into four groups and treated as follows: sham-operated plus normal saline (Sham+S group), CLP plus normal saline (CLP+S group), CLP plus minocycline pretreatment (CLP+M1 group), and CLP plus minocycline treatment (CLP+M2 group). Rats in the CLP+M1 group received 45mg/kg minocycline by intraperitoneal injection every 12h for 72h. Rats in the Sham+S and CLP+S groups were injected with the same volume of normal saline every 12h for 72h. Rats in the CLP+M2 group were intraperitoneally injected with 45mg/kg minocycline immediately after CLP and once every 12h for 72h. All rats were sacrificed at 72h after operation. Tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 levels, the expression of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba-1), and the permeability of the BBB were measured. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) and the tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin was detected by Western blot. In addition, Evans blue (EB) staining, immunohistochemistry, and ELISA analysis were carried out. Minocycline pretreatment significantly inhibited microglial activation, decreased the sepsis-induced expression of MMP-9, increased the expression of ZO-1 and occludin, and improved the permeability of the BBB. Minocycline treatment failed to inhibit microglial activation, decrease the sepsis-induced expression of MMP-9, increase the expression of ZO-1 or occluding, or improve the permeability of the BBB. Minocycline pretreatment can effectively improve the altered permeability of the BBB caused by sepsis. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of microglial activation and MMP-9 expression and increased expression of ZO-1 and occludin.

N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate Receptor Antagonist Agmatine Prevents Oxycodone Self‐Administration

Opioid use disorder (OUD) can be defined as the continued use of opioids despite the negative physical, psychological, and social consequences that result from its use. Since the 1970s, several strategies have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat OUD and reverse opioid overdose. Despite their implementation and other exhaustive efforts and resources expended by the scientific and public health communities, the increase in opioid use disorder (OUD) in the United States continues to have staggering economic and quality of life impacts. Decades of research has established that chronic activation of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a major driving force of the neuroplastic pathology that underlies opioid use disorder. The therapeutic potential of antagonism of the NMDA receptor has been explored, however due to the ubiquity of the receptor, several off‐site side‐effects have hindered development. In recent years, the endogenous NMDA receptor antagonist agmatine has come under consideration for its therapeutic potential in combatting CNS disorders such as neuropathic chronic pain as well as OUD, without producing unwanted side‐effects.Female ICR mice (21‐30g) were separated into dosing groups and oriented to self‐administration operant chambers in which they were able to press either for oral oxycodone reward (30 mg/L, 200 mg/L, or 1,000 mg/L) or inactive control (H2O + quinine) over 12 hours. Animals were sacrificed and perfused with tissue fixative for later molecular analysis of reward pathways. Animals with the 30 mg/L and 200 mg/L dose option showed consistently higher responding compared to animals pressing for 1,000 mg/L and control. Notably, animals in the 200 mg/L group showed an almost immediate increase in lever presses while the animals in the 30 mg/L group showed a slow increase in responding over time when compared to inactive control. We next sought to characterize agmatine’s ability to prevent oxycodone self‐administration, with 200 mg/L of oral oxycodone selected as the reward dose based on the previous data. Mice were given daily i.p. injections of either agmatine or saline immediately prior to self‐administration sessions. Mice who received agmatine pre‐treatment demonstrated significantly reduced drug‐seeking compared to animals who received saline pre‐treatment. Following completion of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and perfused for molecular analysis.These data support that agmatine may have therapeutic potential in preventing opioid use disorder. Future studies will focus on comparative molecular analysis between oxycodone‐exposed mice with or without agmatine.

Multiple Abiotic Stresses Applied Simultaneously Elicit Distinct Responses in Two Contrasting Rice Cultivars.

Rice crops are often subject to multiple abiotic stresses simultaneously in both natural and cultivated environments, resulting in yield reductions beyond those expected from single stress. We report physiological changes after a 4 day exposure to combined drought, salt and extreme temperature treatments, following a 2 day salinity pre-treatment in two rice genotypes—Nipponbare (a paddy rice) and IAC1131 (an upland landrace). Stomata closed after two days of combined stresses, causing intercellular CO2 concentrations and assimilation rates to diminish rapidly. Abscisic acid (ABA) levels increased at least five-fold but did not differ significantly between the genotypes. Tandem Mass Tag isotopic labelling quantitative proteomics revealed 6215 reproducibly identified proteins in mature leaves across the two genotypes and three time points (0, 2 and 4 days of stress). Of these, 987 were differentially expressed due to stress (cf. control plants), including 41 proteins that changed significantly in abundance in all stressed plants. Heat shock proteins, late embryogenesis abundant proteins and photosynthesis-related proteins were consistently responsive to stress in both Nipponbare and IAC1131. Remarkably, even after 2 days of stress there were almost six times fewer proteins differentially expressed in IAC1131 than Nipponbare. This contrast in the translational response to multiple stresses is consistent with the known tolerance of IAC1131 to dryland conditions.

Aspirin Reduces Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Induced Endothelial Cell Damage of Arterial Grafts in a Rodent Model.

Long-term graft patency determines the prognosis of revascularization after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the graft suffered during harvesting and after implantation might influence graft patency. Aspirin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug improves the long-term patency of vein grafts. Whether aspirin has the same effect on arterial grafts is questionable. We aimed to characterize the beneficial effects of aspirin on arterial bypass grafts in a rodent revascularization model. We gave Lewis rats oral pretreatment of either aspirin (n = 8) or saline (n = 8) for 5 days, then aortic arches were explanted and stored in cold preservation solution. The third group (n = 8) was a non-ischemia-reperfusion control. Afterwards the aortic arches were implanted into the abdominal aorta of recipient rats followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation was examined with organ bath experiments. Immunohistochemical staining were carried out. Endothelium-dependent maximal vasorelaxation improved, nitro-oxidative stress and cell apoptosis decreased, and significant endothelial protection was shown in the aspirin preconditioned group, compared to the transplanted control group. Significantly improved endothelial function and reduced I/R injury induced structural damage were observed in free arterial grafts after oral administration of aspirin. Aspirin preconditioning before elective CABG might be beneficial on free arterial graft patency.

Comparing different pretreatments at transplanting stage for acclimation of walnut trees to hot and dry conditions

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a drought and heat-sensitive plant. These sensitivities are intensified with young plants which are grown in greenhouse nurseries. We subjected one-year-old greenhouse-grown walnut 'Chandler' trees to different pretreatments [long-term water stress, controlled salinity stress, and foliar application of β-aminobutyric acid (BABA)] for acclimation to unfavorable conditions after transplantation. Then, the plants were transplanted into hot and dry conditions to evaluate efficiency of different preconditioning treatments in acclimation of the plants to deleterious environmental conditions. Investigating the plants' responses to the pretreatments for understanding activated adaptation mechanisms indicated that the pretreatments have induced osmotic adjustment (OA) in leaves. In this regard, the salinity pretreatment was the most effective treatment. For OA, proline accumulation was more effective than soluble sugars. However, glycine betaine was not involved in OA. The pretreatments sensitized stomatal responses to drought, according to limitation of water loss from detached leaves. Ninety days after transplantation, the preconditioned plants had higher biomass than the control plants. The major reasons were the prevention of leaf abscission and chlorophyll degradation. Moreover, improved water conservation ability in the preconditioned plants enhanced leaf expansion, photosynthesis rate and biomass accumulation in plants' organs. Restriction of stomatal conductance for water conservation in the control plants resulted in photosynthesis inhibition, heat accumulation, and vigor loss. The efficiency of BABA and salinity stress in acclimation of walnut to deleterious environmental conditions was higher than water stress. However, BABA foliar application as the safest and least complicated pretreatment was suggested in a drought/heat acclimation strategy in walnut.

Bud pollination and other techniques are ineffective in breaking late-acting self-incompatibility in Ceiba chodatii (Malvaceae - Bombacoideae)

There are two homomorphic self-incompatibility (SI) mechanisms among flowering plants - gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) and sporophytic self-incompatibility (SSI). Whilst SI has the advantage of promoting outbreeding in natural populations, it can also be a problem for horticulturists and agronomists. Thus, a number of techniques have been successfully employed to break both GSI and SSI, including bud pollination, saline pre-treatment of the stigmas and simply selfing ageing flowers. We applied these three techniques to determine whether they would be effective at breaking SI in Ceiba chodatii, a species with late-acting self-incompatibility (LSI). We self- or cross-pollinated buds ranging from 1-4 days prior to anthesis and checked ageing by selfing or crossing flowers at 1-4 days after the onset of anthesis, with those at four days showing petal wilt. None of the selfed buds or ageing flowers set fruit, unlike the majority of crossed flowers. Likewise, all flowers to which 1 % saline was applied to the stigmas prior to selfing failed to set fruit. We conclude that unlike GSI and SSI, which have pre-zygotic control of self-pollen function, LSI is likely to be immune to these techniques since the focus of rejection occurs after self pollen tubes have reached the ovary.

Pretreatment with Propofol Reduces Pulmonary Injury in a Pig Model of Intestinal Ischemia-Reperfusion via Suppressing the High-Mobility Group Box 1 Protein (HMGB1)/Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4)/Protein Kinase R (PKR) Signaling Pathway.

BackgroundPropofol improves rodent pulmonary injury after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IIR). However, its effect and underlying mechanisms in large animals remain unclear. Here, we examined whether pretreatment with propofol could relieve lung injury during IIR in pigs, then investigated the underlying mechanism.Material/MethodsA porcine model of IIR-induced lung injury was built by clamping the super mesenteric artery for 2 h and loosening the clamp for 4 h. Randomized grouping was used, and pigs were assigned to a sham-operated group, an IIR with saline pretreatment group, and an IIR with propofol pretreatment group. Pulmonary histopathologic changes, permeability, and oxygenation were assessed to evaluate the effect of propofol. We assessed levels of methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and double-stranded RNA activated protein kinase R (PKR) to investigate the underlying mechanism.ResultsIIR caused severe lung damage, including morphological changes, high permeability, airway resistance, low static compliance, hypoxemia, and acidemia. Pulmonary and plasma MDA content and MPO activity increased, whereas SOD activity decreased. The HMGB1/TLR4/PKR signaling pathway was activated following IIR. Pretreatment with propofol markedly attenuated lung injury (such as reducing the lung edema and permeability), increased MDA content and MPO activity, and restored SOD activity induced by IIR, accompanied by inhibiting the effect of the HMGB1/TLR4/PKR signaling pathway.ConclusionsIIR caused acute lung injury in pigs. Pretreatment with propofol alleviated the lung injury, which was related to its suppression of the HMGB1/TLR4/PKR signaling pathway.

Brain Macrophages are necessary for Hypertensive Response Sensitization (HTRS)

Our previous studies using an Induction-Delay-Expression (IND-DEL-EXP) paradigm to study hypertensive response sensitization (HTRS) demonstrated that various challenges (stressors) including a subpressor dose of angiotensin (ANG) II given during IND, resulted in HTRS to a subsequent treatment with slow-pressor dose of ANG II during EXP. The induction of HTRS is associated with upregulated expression of proinflammatory cytokines and the macrophage marker CD11b in the brain regions involved in blood pressure (BP) regulation including the lamina terminalis (LT) and paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN). In this study, we investigated whether brain macrophages are necessary for low-dose ANG II-induced HTRS. Depletion of brain macrophages was produced by feeding a colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1-R) inhibitor, PLX3397 (75 mg/kg/d), beginning 1 week before starting IND and continuing the drug throughout the 1 week IND period. The results showed that in control condition, low-dose ANG II (10 ng/kg/min) treatment during IND resulted in an enhanced hypertensive response to the subsequent slow-pressor dose of ANG II (120 ng/kg/min) when compared to control animals with saline pretreatment during IND (Δ39.1±4.2 vs. Δ21.5±4.9 mmHg). Depletion of brain macrophages during IND slightly increased baseline BP, which came back after stopping feeding PLX3397 during DEL. However, the depletion of macrophages blocked HTRS induced by low-dose ANG II given during IND (Δ25.8±4.3 mmHg). Immunohistochemistry confirmed the depletion of macrophages in the subfornical organ and PVN after feeding PLX3397. The results indicate that brain macrophages are necessary for the induction of HTRS.

Pretreatment with dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulphate in prevention of etomidate induced myoclonus - A double blinded randomised controlled trial.

Pretreatment with dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulphate in prevention of etomidate induced myoclonus - A double blinded randomised controlled trial.