Stress Treatment Research Articles

Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal that HhERF9 positively regulates salt tolerance in Hibiscus hamabo Siebold & Zuccarini

Hibiscus hamabo Siebold & Zuccarini is one of the few semi-mangrove plants in the genus Hibiscus that can survive in saline-alkali soil and flooded land, but the mechanism underlying its adaptation to salt soil remains unknown. Here, to uncover this unsolved mystery, we characterized the changes in the accumulation of specific metabolites under salt stress in H. hamabo by integrating physiological, metabolic, and transcriptomic data, and found that osmotic adjustment and abscisic acid (ABA) is highly associated with the salt stress response. Further, a weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed on the root transcriptome data, which identified three key candidate transcription factors responsive to salt stress. Among them, the expression HhERF9 was significantly upregulated under salt stress and ABA treatment and was involved in regulating the expression of genes related to the salt stress response. Further research indicated that HhERF9 enhances the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars by regulating the expression of genes such as NHX2 and P5CS. These findings provide a reference for improving H. hamabo through targeted genetic engineering and lay a theoretical foundation for its future promotion and cultivation in saline-alkali areas.

Integrated analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics of garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) under drought stress

BackgroundDrought is a leading environmental factor affecting plant growth. To explore the drought tolerance mechanism of asparagus, this study analyzed the responses of two asparagus varieties, namely, ‘Jilv3’ (drought tolerant) and ‘Pacific Early’ (drought sensitive), to drought stress using metabolomics and transcriptomics.ResultsIn total, 2,567 and 7,187 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in ‘Pacific Early’ and ‘Jilv3’, respectively, by comparing the transcriptome expression patterns between the normal watering treatment and the drought stress treatment. These DEGs were significantly enriched in the amino acid biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways. In ‘Jilv3’, DEGs were also enriched in the following energy metabolism-related pathways: citrate cycle (TCA cycle), glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and pyruvate metabolism. This study also identified 112 and 254 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in ‘Pacific Early’ and ‘Jilv3’ under drought stress compared with normal watering, respectively. The amino acid, flavonoid, organic acid, and soluble sugar contents were more significantly enhanced in ‘Jilv3’ than in ‘Pacific Early’. According to the metabolome and transcriptome analysis, in ‘Jilv3’, the energy supply of the TCA cycle was improved, and flavonoid biosynthesis increased. As a result, its adaptability to drought stress improved.ConclusionsThese findings help to better reveal the molecular mechanism underlying how asparagus responds to drought stress and improve researchers’ ability to screen drought-tolerant asparagus varieties as well as breed new varieties.

Salicylic acid-mediated alleviation of salt stress: Insights from physiological and transcriptomic analysis in Asarum sieboldii Miq

As global agriculture faces the pressing threat of salt stress, innovative solutions are imperative for sustainable agriculture. The remarkable potential of salicylic acid (SA) in enhancing plant resilience against environmental stressors has recently gained attention. However, the specific molecular mechanisms by which SA mitigates salt stress in Asarum sieboldii Miq., a valuable medicinal plant, remain poorly understood. Here, we evaluated the physiological and transcriptomic regulatory responses of A. sieboldii under salt stress (100 mM NaCl), both in the presence (1 mM SA) and absence of exogenous SA. The results highlighted that SA significantly alleviates salt stress, primarily through enhancing antioxidant activities as evidenced by increased superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activities. Additionally, we observed an increment in chlorophyll (a and b), proline, total soluble sugar, and plant fresh weight, along with a decrease in malondialdehyde contents. Transcriptome analysis suggested consistency in the regulation of many differentially expressed genes and transcription factors (TFs); however, genes targets (GSTs, TIR1, and NPR1), and TFs (MYB, WRKY, TCP, and bHLH) possessed expressional uniqueness, and majority had significantly up-regulated trends in SA-coupled salt stress treatments. Further, bioinformatics and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated several SA-induced significantly enriched biological pathways. Specifically, plant hormone signal transduction was identified as being populated with key genes distinctive to auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, and salicylic acid signaling, suggesting their important role in salt stress alleviation. Inclusively, this report presents a comprehensive analysis encompassing gene targets, TFs, and biological pathways, and these insights may offer a valuable contribution to our knowledge of SA-mediated regulation and its crucial role in enhancing plant defense against diverse abiotic stressors.

Oat-an alternative crop under waterlogging stress?

Waterlogging is one vast environmental constraint that limits crop growth and yield worldwide. Most major crop species are very sensitive to waterlogging, leading to enormous yield losses every year. Much is already known about wheat, barley or maize; however, hardly any data exist on oat and its tolerance against waterlogging. Thus, this study aimed to investigate if oats can be an adequate alternative in crop rotation under conditions of temporal submergence and if cultivar differences exist. Furthermore, this study was to test (1) whether yield was differently affected when stress is applied at different developmental stages (BBCH 31 and 51), and (2) nutrient imbalances are the reason for growth restrictions. In a large-scale container experiment, three different oat varieties were cultivated and exposed to 14 consecutive days of waterlogging stress at two developmental stages. Even though vegetative growth was impaired after early waterlogging and which persists till maturity, mainly due to transient nutrient deficiencies, growth performance after late waterlogging and grain yield of all three oat varieties at maturity was not affected. A high tolerance was also confirmed after late waterlogging in the beginning generative stage: grain yield was even increased. Overall, all oat varieties performed well under both stress treatments, even though transient nutrient imbalances occurred, but which were ineffective on grain yield. Based on these results, we conclude that oats, independently of the cultivar, should be considered a good alternative in crop production, especially when waterlogging is to be expected during the cultivation phase.

Effects of sublethal methylmercury and food stress on songbird energetic performance: metabolic rates, molt and feather quality.

Organisms regularly adjust their physiology and energy balance in response to predictable seasonal environmental changes. Stressors and contaminants have the potential to disrupt these critical seasonal transitions. No studies have investigated how simultaneous exposure to the ubiquitous toxin methylmercury (MeHg) and food stress affects birds' physiological performance across seasons. We quantified several aspects of energetic performance in song sparrows, Melospiza melodia, exposed or not to unpredictable food stress and MeHg in a 2×2 experimental design, over 3 months during the breeding season, followed by 3 months post-exposure. Birds exposed to food stress had reduced basal metabolic rate and non-significant higher factorial metabolic scope during the exposure period, and had a greater increase in lean mass throughout most of the experimental period. Birds exposed to MeHg had increased molt duration, and increased mass:length ratio of some of their primary feathers. Birds exposed to the combined food stress and MeHg treatment often had responses similar to the stress-only or MeHg-only exposure groups, suggesting these treatments affected physiological performance through different mechanisms and resulted in compensatory or independent effects. Because the MeHg and stress variables were selected in candidate models with a ΔAICc lower than 2 but the 95% confidence interval of these variables overlapped zero, we found weak support for MeHg effects on all measures except basal metabolic rate, and for food stress effects on maximum metabolic rate, factorial metabolic scope and feather mass:length ratio. This suggests that MeHg and food stress effects on these measures are statistically identified but not simple and/or were too weak to be detected via linear regression. Overall, combined exposure to ecologically relevant MeHg and unpredictable food stress during the breeding season does not appear to induce extra energetic costs for songbirds in the post-exposure period. However, MeHg effects on molt duration could carry over across multiple annual cycle stages.

Amelioration of drought stress in wheat by using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and biogas slurry

<p>Drought stress has a significant impact on cereal-based staple food production, particularly in developing countries like Pakistan. To ensure a sustainable and reliable food supply, it is essential to develop comprehensive production plans that incorporate various approaches to mitigate the effects of drought. In a study conducted using a randomized complete block design, we investigated the potential of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and biogas Slurry (BGs) either individually or in combination to alleviate drought stress at different stages of wheat growth. The two-year field research demonstrated that the application of Azosprillium lipoferum with biogas slurry resulted in improved water relations, chlorophyll content, grain quality, yield, and related characteristics in wheat plants compared to the stressed treatments. Particularly, the combined treatment of PGPR and BGs exhibited the most favorable outcomes. Notably, the combined treatment effectively mitigated drought stress by significantly increasing antioxidant levels (17% APX, 29% POD, 34% CAT, and 41% SOD) during the grain-filling stage (GFS) compared to the controls. The combined treatment resulted in a remarkable 40% improvement in the respective controls at the GFS stage. Overall, the combined use of PGPR and BGs was identified as an effective strategy to enhance the resilience of wheat plants to drought, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.</p>

High Throughput Image-Based Phenotyping for Determining Morphological and Physiological Responses to Single and Combined Stresses in Potato.

High throughput image-based phenotyping is a powerful tool to non-invasively determine the development and performance of plants under specific conditions over time. By using multiple imaging sensors, many traits of interest can be assessed, including plant biomass, photosynthetic efficiency, canopy temperature, and leaf reflectance indices. Plants are frequently exposed to multiple stresses under field conditions where severe heat waves, flooding, and drought events seriously threaten crop productivity. When stresses coincide, resulting effects on plants can be distinct due to synergistic or antagonistic interactions. To elucidate how potato plants respond to single and combined stresses that resemble naturally occurring stress scenarios, five different treatments were imposed on a selected potato cultivar (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Lady Rosetta) at the onset of tuberization, i.e. control, drought, heat, waterlogging, and combinations of heat, drought, and waterlogging stresses. Our analysis shows that waterlogging stress had the most detrimental effect on plant performance, leading to fast and drastic physiological responses related to stomatal closure, including a reduction in the quantum yield and efficiency of photosystem II and an increase in canopy temperature and water index. Under heat and combined stress treatments, the relative growth rate was reduced in the early phase of stress. Under drought and combined stresses, plant volume and photosynthetic performance dropped with an increased temperature and stomata closure in the late phase of stress. The combination of optimized stress treatment under defined environmental conditions together with selected phenotyping protocols allowed to revealthe dynamics of morphological and physiological responses to single and combined stresses. Here, a useful tool is presented for plant researchers looking to identify plant traits indicative of resilience to several climate change-related stresses.

Clinical characteristics of adolescents and emerging adults presenting for integrated posttraumatic stress and substance use treatment

PurposeAdolescence and emerging adulthood are key developmental stages with high risk for trauma exposure and the development of mental and substance-use disorders (SUDs). This study aims to compare the clinical profiles of adolescents (aged 12–17 years) and emerging adults (aged 18–25 years) presenting for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and SUD.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from the baseline assessment of individuals (n = 55) taking part in a randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of an integrated psychological therapy for co-occurring PTSD and SUDs (PTSD+SUD) in young people.FindingsBoth age groups demonstrated complex and severe clinical profiles, including high-frequency trauma exposure, and very poor mental health reflected on measures of PTSD, SUD, suicidality and domains of social, emotional, behavioral and family functioning. There were few differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups.Research limitations/implicationsSimilarity between the two groups suggests that the complex problems seen in emerging adults with PTSD + SUD are likely to have had their onset in adolescence or earlier and to have been present for several years by the time individuals present for treatment.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to compare the demographic and clinical profiles of adolescents and emerging adults with PTSD + SUD. These findings yield important implications for practice and policy for this vulnerable group. Evidence-based prevention and early intervention approaches and access to care are critical. Alongside trauma-focused treatment, there is a critical need for integrated, trauma-informed approaches specifically tailored to young people with PTSD + SUD.

Modeling the reactive oxygen species (ROS) wave in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii colonies

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role as signaling molecules in both plant and animal cells, enabling rapid responses to various stimuli. Among the many cellular mechanisms used to generate and transduce ROS signals, ROS-induced-ROS release (RIRR) is emerging as an important pathway involved in the responses of various multicellular and unicellular organisms to environmental stresses. In RIRR, one cellular compartment, organelle, or cell generates or releases ROS, triggering an increased ROS production and release by another compartment, organelle, or cell, thereby giving rise to a fast propagating ROS wave. This RIRR-based signal relay has been demonstrated to facilitate mitochondria-to-mitochondria communication in animal cells and long-distance systemic signaling in plants in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. More recently, it has been discovered that different unicellular microorganism communities also exhibit a RIRR cell-to-cell signaling process triggered by a localized stress treatment. However, the precise mechanism underlying the propagation of the ROS signal among cells within these unicellular communities remained elusive. In this study, we employed a reaction-diffusion model incorporating the RIRR mechanism to analyze the propagation of ROS-mediated signals. By effectively balancing production and scavenging processes, our model successfully reproduces the experimental ROS signal velocities observed in unicellular green algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) colonies grown on agar plates, furthering our understanding of intercellular ROS communication.

ZmNF-YA1 Contributes to Maize Thermotolerance by Regulating Heat Shock Response.

Zea mays (maize) is a staple food, feed, and industrial crop. Heat stress is one of the major stresses affecting maize production and is usually accompanied by other stresses, such as drought. Our previous study identified a heterotrimer complex, ZmNF-YA1-YB16-YC17, in maize. ZmNF-YA1 and ZmNF-YB16 were positive regulators of the drought stress response and were involved in maize root development. In this study, we investigated whether ZmNF-YA1 confers heat stress tolerance in maize. The nf-ya1 mutant and overexpression lines were used to test the role of ZmNF-YA1 in maize thermotolerance. The nf-ya1 mutant was more temperature-sensitive than the wild-type (WT), while the ZmNF-YA1 overexpression lines showed a thermotolerant phenotype. Higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation were observed in the mutant, followed by WT and overexpression lines after heat stress treatment, while an opposite trend was observed for chlorophyll content. RNA-seq was used to analyze transcriptome changes in nf-ya1 and its wild-type control W22 in response to heat stress. Based on their expression profiles, the heat stress response-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in nf-ya1 compared to WT were grouped into seven clusters via k-means clustering. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the DEGs in different clades was performed to elucidate the roles of ZmNF-YA1-mediated transcriptional regulation and their contribution to maize thermotolerance. The loss function of ZmNF-YA1 led to the failure induction of DEGs in GO terms of protein refolding, protein stabilization, and GO terms for various stress responses. Thus, the contribution of ZmNF-YA1 to protein stabilization, refolding, and regulation of abscisic acid (ABA), ROS, and heat/temperature signaling may be the major reason why ZmNF-YA1 overexpression enhanced heat tolerance, and the mutant showed a heat-sensitive phenotype.

Effect of Water Deficit Stress on Reproductive Stage of Durum Wheat Near Isogenic Lines Carrying the NAM-B1 Gene

Background In wheat, the NAC family plays a crucial role in conferring cellular responses to different abiotic stresses, particularly drought. The functional NAM-B1 allele in durum wheat accelerates senescence, while its homologous genes contribute to improved water deficit stress tolerance. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the role of the NAM-B1 gene in durum wheat subjected to water deficit stress at two reproductive stages. Materials and Methods Three Near-Isogenic Lines carrying a functional NAM-B1 allele and their recurrent parent, Langdon (LDN), were used in this study. The study assessed NILs and LDN performance under varied water conditions (well-watered, 60%, and 80% water deficit of pot capacity) during flag leaf and anthesis stages. The agronomic performance of the three NILs and LDN was assessed for 16 traits, including plant height, grain yield, and thousand kernel weight. Additionally, physiological measurements, including stomatal resistance, chlorophyll content (SPAD values), and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) were taken. Results Significant genotypic effects were observed on seven agronomic traits, while 15 traits were influenced by the water stress treatment. The NILs exhibited accelerated maturity and a shorter grain-filling period, which were particularly pronounced under stress conditions. Severe water deficit resulted in reduced grain weight and thousand-grain weight in tested genotypes. Interestingly NILs carrying functional NAM-B1 showed taller plants and had higher tiller and spike numbers when compared to LND. Significant genotypic effects were observed for seven traits, and water stress treatments affected 15 traits. The NILs exhibited accelerated maturity and reduced grain weight under severe water deficit. Physiological measurements showed genotype and water-deficit differences, with NIL #504 displaying higher SPAD values, particularly under stress conditions, and a significant genotype X treatment effect was observed for stomatal resistance at the anthesis stage. Discussion Limited treatment × genotype interactions for most traits highlight the complexity of drought tolerance in the tested lines, which might be attributed to its quantitative nature influenced by multiple genes. The study emphasizes the necessity for future research to explore the role of other NAM-related genes in response to water deficit stress and their interactive effects with the NAM-B1 gene at different growth stages in wheat plants subjected to diverse stress conditions. Conclusion In conclusion, this study reveals pronounced genotypic effects, particularly in agronomic traits, such as maturation rate and grain filling period, under severe water deficit stress. Future studies are needed to understand the genetic mechanisms mediated by NAM-B1 genes in accelerating maturity in response to stress.

P-Coumaric Acid Differential Alters the Ion-Omics Profile of Chia Shoots under Salt Stress.

p-Coumaric acid (p-CA) is a phenolic compound that plays a crucial role in mediating multiple signaling pathways. It serves as a defense strategy against plant wounding and is also presumed to play a role in plant development and lignin biosynthesis. This study aimed to investigate the physiological and ionomic effect of p-CA on chia seedlings under salt stress. To this end, chia seedlings were supplemented with Nitrosol® containing 100 μM of p-CA, 100 of mM NaCI, and their combined (100 mM NaCI + 100 μM p-CA) solutions in 2-day intervals for a period of 14 days along with a control containing Nitrosol® only. The treatment of chia seedlings with 100 mM of NaCI decreased their growth parameters and the content of the majority of the essential macro-elements (K, P, Ca, and Mg), except for that of sodium (Na). The simultaneous application of p-CA and a salt stress treatment (p-CA + NaCI) alleviated the effect of salt stress on chia seedlings' shoots, and this was indicated by the increase in chia biomass. Furthermore, this combined treatment significantly enhanced the levels of the essential microelements Mg and Ca. In summary, this brief report is built on the foundational work of our previous study, which demonstrated that p-CA promotes growth in chia seedlings via activation of O2-. In this brief report, we further show that p-CA not only promotes growth but also mitigates the effects of salt stress on chia seedlings. This mitigation effect may result from the presence of Mg and Ca, which are vital nutrients involved in regulating metabolic pathways, enzyme activity, and amino acid synthesis.

Genome-wide identification and investigation of monosaccharide transporter gene family based on their evolution and expression analysis under abiotic stress and hormone treatments in maize (Zea mays L.)

BackgroundMonosaccharide transporter (MST) family, as a carrier for monosaccharide transport, plays an important role in carbon partitioning and widely involves in plant growth and development, stress response, and signaling transduction. However, little information on the MST family genes is reported in maize (Zea mays), especially in response to abiotic stresses. In this study, the genome-wide identification of MST family genes was performed in maize.ResultA total of sixty-six putative members of MST gene family were identified and divided into seven subfamilies (including SPT, PMT, VGT, INT, pGlcT, TMT, and ERD) using bioinformatics approaches, and gene information, phylogenetic tree, chromosomal location, gene structure, motif composition, and cis-acting elements were investigated. Eight tandem and twelve segmental duplication events were identified, which played an important role in the expansion of the ZmMST family. Synteny analysis revealed the evolutionary features of MST genes in three gramineous crop species. The expression analysis indicated that most of the PMT, VGT, and ERD subfamilies members responded to osmotic and cadmium stresses, and some of them were regulated by ABA signaling, while only a few members of other subfamilies responded to stresses. In addition, only five genes were induced by NaCl stress in MST family.ConclusionThese results serve to understand the evolutionary relationships of the ZmMST family genes and supply some insight into the processes of monosaccharide transport and carbon partitioning on the balance between plant growth and development and stress response in maize.

Development of a stepped care intervention model of evidence-based interventions for the management of posttraumatic stress in the Belgian Police

ABSTRACT Background: Police officers are frequently exposed to a wide variety of potentially traumatic events (PTE) and are therefore at a considerable risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous research estimated the point prevalence of PTSD in Belgian police officers at 7.4%, significantly higher than in the general population. An effective organisational strategy to manage posttraumatic stress is essential. Objective: We aimed to develop a novel organisational approach regarding traumatic stress for Belgian police, combining evidence-based strategies for the prevention and treatment of posttraumatic stress in a stepped care intervention model. Method: In a broad development process, we combined scientific literature, case studies of best practices from other police organisations with insights gathered from a number of expert panels, thematic working groups and feedback groups. Results: A comprehensive stepped care intervention model was developed, consisting of evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of posttraumatic stress. Conclusions: The intervention model is a promising organisational strategy for the management of posttraumatic stress in police organisations based on evidence-based interventions. Its effectiveness will be studied in the coming years.

Comparative effects of heat stress on photosynthesis and oxidative stress in Halophila ovalis and Thalassia hemprichii under different light conditions

This study investigated the physiological responses of two tropical seagrass species, Halophila ovalis and Thalassia hemprichii, to heat stress under varying light conditions in a controlled 5-day experiment. The experimental design included four treatments: control, saturating light, heat stress under sub-saturating light, and heat stress under saturating light (combined stress). We assessed various parameters, including chlorophyll fluorescence, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant enzyme activities, and growth rates. In H. ovalis, heat stress resulted in a significant reduction in the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) regardless of the light condition. However, the effects of heat stress on the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ɸPSII) were more pronounced under saturating light conditions. In T. hemprichii, saturating irradiance exacerbated the heat stress effects on Fv/Fm and ɸPSII, although the overall photoinhibition was less severe than in H. ovalis. Heat stress led to ROS accumulation in H. ovalis and reduced the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase in the sub-saturating light condition. Conversely, T. hemprichii exhibited elevated SOD activity under saturating light. Heat stress suppressed the growth of both seagrass species, regardless of the light environment. The Biomarker Response Index indicated that H. ovalis displayed severe effects in the heat stress treatment under both light conditions, while T. hemprichii exhibited moderate effects in sub-saturating light and major effects in saturating light conditions. However, the Effect Addition Index revealed an antagonistic interaction between heat stress and high light in both seagrass species. This study underscores the intricate responses of seagrasses, emphasizing the importance of considering both local and global stressors when assessing their vulnerability.

Does humic acid foliar application affect growth and nutrient status of water-stressed maize?

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world's most important crops, but its productivity is at high risk as climate change increases the risk of water stress. Therefore, the development of mitigation strategies to combat water stress in agriculture is fundamental to ensure food security. Humic acids are known to have a positive effect on drought tolerance, but data on their efficacy under waterlogging are lacking. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of a new humic acid product, a by-product of Ukrainian bentonite mining, on maize growth and nutrient status under waterlogging. Maize was grown for 9 weeks and three water stress treatments, which were applied for 14 days: waterlogging, alternating waterlogging and drought, and drought. On the day of stress application, the humic acid product (1% v/v) was applied to the leaves. Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values were recorded during the stress treatments. Plants were harvested after stressing ceased and fresh weight and P and Zn status were analyzed. Drought reduced shoot fresh weight, while it was unaffected under waterlogging. This is in contrast to SPAD readings, which showed a significant decrease over time under submergence, but not under drought. Under alternating stress, although SPAD values declined under waterlogging but stabilized when switched to drought, no growth reduction was apparent. Application of the humic acid product was ineffective in all cases. Although anthocyanin discoloration occurred under waterlogging stress, P deficiency, which is usually the main factor driving anthocyanin formation, was not the reason. Interestingly, Zn concentration decreased under waterlogging but not under the other stresses, which was alleviated by humic acid application. However, no effect of foliar-applied humic acids was observed under alternating and drought stress. It can be concluded that the tested humic acid product has the potential to improve the Zn status of maize under waterlogging.

The Progress Tracker Breast Cancer Registry: Feasibility of a longitudinal patient-led, patient-reported outcomes (PROM) registry.

e23169 Background: A breast cancer diagnosis has the greatest disability-adjusted life years lost of all cancers and significant impact on physical, psychoemotional, social and overall global functioning. Directed by Breast Cancer Canada, a registered non-profit patient-led organization and data managed by the University of Calgary’s POET Program, PROgress Tracker uses a novel, peer-to-peer support model for recruitment, engagement and retention, and is the first national longitudinal and non-interventional PROMs registry. Our aim is to demonstrate the feasibility and potential of this registry in centering patient voice and lived experience to transform breast cancer management. Methods: PROgress Tracker, with 10-year enrollment goal of 50,000 Canadians with Stage 0-IV breast cancer, extends a series of validated PROMs (PROMIS, BREAST-Q, FACT-B, GAD, PHQ-9, COST-FACIT, ISI and ESASr-CA) via a digital platform every 3 months for up to 10 years. Dynamic customization of additional PROMs (PRO-CTCAE, BREAST-Q) based on patient and treatment-specific trigger questions assess evolving components of wellbeing, including financial stress, work life and adverse treatment effects. Results: Recruitment began in October 2023. 162 participants from all Canadian regions including remote/rural geographic areas have shared baseline demographic and clinical data including stage, genetic/molecular tumor markers, treatment type(s) and completed an initial series of PROMs. Comprehensive PROMs including sensitive topics (finances, sexuality, mental health) were completed with minimal missing data ( < 5%); 3-month follow-up surveys show a current retention rate of 57%. Preliminary analysis: median age of participants 54 yrs, 95% identify as Caucasian, and 57% are currently working. 46% reported financial stress (99% response rate); 63% reported ongoing symptoms requiring follow-up. 6% were BRCA+ and 19% triple negative, 7% experienced recurrence, 3% Stage IV, 75% received systemic and/or radiation therapy, 38% received targeted therapy. Conclusions: The lived experience of breast cancer is integral to patient-centred change in the era of precision/personalized medicine and is captured by PROgress Tracker using a diverse set of periodic PROMs to understand the evolution of global measures of wellbeing over time. Initial data indicates that this novel peer to peer model via digital administration of comprehensive and longitudinal PROMs is feasible. This initiative demonstrates attaining this scope of data is achievable, has interest and participation from the national breast cancer community and growing capacity to accrue important, real-time data to inform best practice and identify additional supports required for breast cancer care. While early feasibility is evident, further outreach and recruitment initiatives will ensure diversity of participants.

The role of stress in modulating AIPB expression and estradiol synthesis in triple-negative breast tumors.

e13146 Background: In the United States, invasive breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women during their lifetime, with over 3.8 million individuals living as survivors. Breast cancers vary, with some being hormone-responsive and categorized on the presence or absence of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), and HER2 receptors. While targeted therapies exist for Estrogen Receptor positive (Er+) and Progesterone Receptor positive (PR+) cancers, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks all three receptors, affects about 15% of patients and is unresponsive to effective molecular treatments. Only a fraction of the cases respond to chemotherapy which emphasizes a need for new prognostic markers and treatments. Aromatase is the key enzyme in converting testosterone to estradiol which plays a crucial role in tumor growth, especially after menopause. Our research lab has identified the “Aromatase Interacting Partner in Breast or AIPB, whose overexpression inhibits aromatase, leading to a reduction in estradiol levels. However, in triple-negative breast cancer, there is an increase in AIPB expression when compared to ER+/PR+/Her2- breast tumors or unaffected women. This devastating prognosis and low survival rates can contribute to a considerable amount of stress in the diagnosed patients, in turn leading to an increase in cortisol production. Our hypothesis suggests that this stress or increase in cortisol could alter AIPB production in the tumorigenic cells which could potentially lead to a decrease in estradiol synthesis. Methods: Stress stimulation was achieved in a lab setting by subjecting engineered triple-negative breast cancer cells, capable of conditional AIPB overexpression upon tetracycline addition, to a 42 °C heat shock for various durations (0,15, 30, 45 minutes). Results: Following the 45 minutes of stress, MDA-MMD-231 cells exhibited a significant reduction in estradiol levels, decreasing from 160ng/ml to 100ng/ml. MDA-MD-231 cells engineered to overexpress AIPB produced only 62ng/ml of estradiol, marking an 18.75% decrease. The introduction of doxycycline led to a further reduction in estradiol levels to 47ng/ml, which is approximately a 29.4% drop. Western blot analysis using a CT antibody revealed heightened AIPB expression in MDA-MD-231-AIPB cells when stress and doxycycline treatments were combined. Conclusions: Given the absence of aromatase in triple-negative breast cancer, our findings suggest that AIPB’s role in estradiol production is independent of aromatase, highlighting its significance in these cancer cells. The data supports the hypothesis that enhancing AIPB expression could potentially improve patient outcomes by reducing estradiol synthesis.

Photoimmunotherapy of Prostate Cancer With Antibody and Fab Fragments Targeting the Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen.

The standard treatment for localized prostate cancer involves surgical removal of the prostate with curative intent. However, when tumor cells persist in the operation site, there is high risk of local recurrence and tumor spread, leading to stressful follow-up treatments, impaired quality of life, and reduced overall survival. This study examined photoimmunotherapy (PIT) as a new treatment option for prostate cancer cells. We generated conjugates consisting of either a humanized antibody or Fab fragments thereof targeting the prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), along with our silicon phthalocyanine photosensitizer dye WB692-CB1. PSMA-expressing prostate cancer cells were incubated with the antibody dye or Fab dye conjugates and cell binding was measured using flow cytometry. Cells were irradiated with varying doses of red light for dye activation, and cytotoxicity was determined by erythrosin B staining and subsequent analysis using a Neubauer counting chamber. Specific cytotoxicity was induced with the antibody dye conjugate in the prostate cancer cells in a light dose-dependent manner. Treatment of the cells with the Fab dye conjugate resulted in lower cytotoxicity, which could be attributed to a reduced binding affinity and a reduced dye uptake of the Fab fragment. Our new antibody dye and Fab dye conjugates offer potential for future intraoperative PIT in patients with localized prostate cancer, with the aim to ensure complete removal of tumor cells from the surgical area, to avoid local recurrence, and to improve clinical outcome.

STRESS DETECTION IN IT PROFESSIONALS

The goal of this project is to use image processing and machine learning to recognize stress in IT professionals. The aim is to monitor the mental health of people working in front of computers for long periods of time, control and reduce stress, and provide a better working environment for IT workers. This approach focuses on managing stress and creating a healthy work environment so employees can get the best out of themselves at work. The overall aim of the research is to propose a reliable, simple and accurate search. The main purpose of this study is to analyze and provide information about the stress of employees by estimating the stress of the individual according to the symptoms determined by the care. The main goal of our study is to use effective machine learning and imaging techniques to diagnose stress in IT professionals. Our system is an updated version of the original stress testing method that does not include real-time testing and in-person interviews, but does include real-time measurement and regular employee reviews and controls over time. Keep track of information/stress on body and mind by giving regular questions to check stress treatment. Our system mainly focuses on managing stress and creating a healthy working environment so that employees can make the most of stress during work. Key Words: Face Detection, Facial Emotions, Morphological Processing, Convolutional Neural Network.