TS Treatment Research Articles

Abnormal individualized functional connectivity: A potential stimulation target for pediatric tourette syndrome

ObjectiveIn order to examine whether individualized peak functional connectivity could potentially serve as a target for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) therapy, we investigated the location of peak functional connectivity (FC) between the cortical motor area and the key brain region, the globus pallidus internus (GPi), in Tourette syndrome, and explored the relationship between the severity of the disease and these aberrant functional connections. MethodsThe study involved a cohort of 103 children diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and 66 age-matched typically developing children. The GPi was served as the seed, and the study compared individualized peak FC strength in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and premotor area between the two groups. Spatial distribution of peak FC in the motor area and GPi-based voxel-wise FC were also analyzed. ResultsChildren with Tourette syndrome exhibited lower peak FC in the left SMA when using left GPi as the seed. This reduction in peak FC demonstrated a significant and negative correlation with the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale scores. ConclusionsSMA-GPi FC is one of the key pathological circuit in Tourette syndrome. SignificanceThe individual peak FC location in the left SMA potentially serve as stimulation targets for rTMS treatment of TS.

Prolonged Post-Harvest Preservation in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by Reducing Water Loss Rate and Chlorophyll Degradation Regulated through Lighting Direction-Induced Morphophysiological Improvements.

To investigate the relationship between the lighting direction-induced morphophysiological traits and post-harvest storage of lettuce, the effects of different lighting directions (top, T; top + side, TS; top + bottom, TB; side + bottom, SB; and top + side + bottom, TSB; the light from different directions for a sum of light intensity of 600 μmol·m-2·s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD)) on the growth morphology, root development, leaf thickness, stomatal density, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll fluorescence, as well as the content of nutrition such as carbohydrates and soluble proteins in lettuce were analyzed. Subsequently, the changes in water loss rate, membrane permeability (measured as relative conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content), brittleness (assessed by both brittleness index and β-galactosidase (β-GAL) activity), and yellowing degree (evaluated based on chlorophyll content, and activities of chlorophyllase (CLH) and pheophytinase (PPH)) were investigated during the storage after harvest. The findings indicate that the TS treatment can effectively reduce shoot height, increase crown width, enhance leaves' length, width, number, and thickness, and improve chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, photosynthetic capacity, and nutrient content in lettuce before harvest. Specifically, lettuce's leaf thickness and stomatal density showed a significant increase. Reasonable regulation of water loss in post-harvested lettuce is essential for delaying chlorophyll degradation. It was utilized to mitigate the increase in conductivity and hinder the accumulation of MDA in lettuce. The softening speed of leafy vegetables was delayed by effectively regulating the activity of the β-GAL. Chlorophyll degradation was alleviated by affecting CLH and PPH activities. This provides a theoretical basis for investigating the relationship between creating a favorable light environment and enhancing the post-harvest preservation of leafy vegetables, thus prolonging their post-harvest storage period through optimization of their morphophysiological phenotypes.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals POD as an Important Indicator for Assessing Low-Temperature Tolerance in Maize Radicles during Germination.

Low-temperature stress (TS) limits maize (Zea mays L.) seed germination and agricultural production. Exposure to TS during germination inhibits radicle growth, triggering seedling emergence disorders. Here, we aimed to analyse the changes in gene expression in the radicles of maize seeds under TS by comparing Demeiya1 (DMY1) and Zhengdan958 (ZD958) (the main Northeast China cultivars) and exposing them to two temperatures: 15 °C (control) and 5 °C (TS). TS markedly decreased radicle growth as well as fresh and dry weights while increasing proline and malondialdehyde contents in both test varieties. Under TS treatment, the expression levels of 5301 and 4894 genes were significantly different in the radicles of DMY1 and ZD958, respectively, and 3005 differentially expressed genes coexisted in the radicles of both varieties. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was implicated within the response to TS in maize radicles, and peroxidase may be an important indicator for assessing low-temperature tolerance during maize germination. Peroxidase-encoding genes could be important candidate genes for promoting low-temperature resistance in maize germinating radicles. We believe that this study enhances the knowledge of mechanisms of response and adaptation of the maize seed germination process to TS and provides a theoretical basis for efficiently assessing maize seed low-temperature tolerance and improving maize adversity germination performance.

Biochar applications and enzyme activity, carbon dioxide emission, and carbon sequestration in a calcareous soil

Biochar is a carbon-rich product obtained by biomass pyrolysis and is considered as a means of carbon sequestration. However, there is limited knowledge regarding responses of soil respiration and C-cycle enzyme activities to BC in a calcareous soil. In this study, different biochar AS, TS, PP, CS were applied to the soil at different rates (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%) The highest increase in soil organic C content was observed in the TS treatment, while the AS treatment caused a slight increase of soil organic C. The highest MBC content was recorded in AS treatment and the lowest was observed in TS. The highest CO2-C emission was recorded in the TS treatment. In contrast, the lowest CO2-C emission was observed in the PP treatment due to its high recalcitrant C content and was attributed to a positive priming effect, stabilizing BC mineralization to improve the soil. The highest β-galactosidase enzyme activity was observed in the CS treatment and the lowest activity was observed in AS. The highest change in β-glycosidase enzyme activity was observed of PP treatment and the lowest was in AS biochar application. Thus, TS treatment is recommended to increase the organic C content of soils, and the PP biochar can be used to reduce CO2-C emission. The TS, PP, and CS can be applied to increase enzyme activities. The study clearly shows that the addition of BC to arid soils may have a high potential to improve soil enzyme activities and subsequent carbon sequestration and biochemical cycles.

Effects of Thoracoscopic Right Upper Lobe Apical Segmentectomy on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in Early-Stage NSCLC Patients.

Thoracoscopic lobectomy (TL) is an effective surgical approach for resecting tumor lesions in patients with early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, TL may result in damage to normal lung tissue, potentially impacting prognosis. Thoracoscopic right upper lobe apical segmentectomy (TS) has been proposed as an alternative to improve surgical outcomes, but its impact on exercise capacity and quality of life remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TS on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with early-stage NSCLC. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 120 patients with early-stage NSCLC who underwent surgical treatment in Shangyu People's Hospital of Shaoxing between August 2020 and August 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical approach: the TL group (n = 66) and the TS group (n = 54). The primary objective was to compare surgery-related indicators and the overall incidence of complications between the TS group and the TL group. Additionally, changes in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximum ventilatory volume (MVV), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) scores were evaluated before and after operation. The TS group showed significantly reduced intraoperative blood loss, chest drainage, and hospital stay compared to the TL group (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the operation time and the number of lymph node dissections between the two groups after operation (p > 0.05). FVC, FEV1, MVV, and 6MWD values of the two groups were significantly lower than those before operation (p < 0.05). However, FVC, FEV1, MVV, and 6MWD in the TS group were significantly higher than those in the TL group (p < 0.05). The scores of roles, emotion, cognition, social function, and total health status in the two groups after operation were significantly higher than those before operation, and the scores of physical functions, shortness of breath, diarrhea, fatigue, pain, cough and insomnia were significantly lower than those before operation (p < 0.05). Compared to the TL group, the TS group showed higher scores of physical, social function dimensions, and total health status, as well as lower scores of fatigues, shortness of breath, insomnia, and pain (p < 0.05). TS treatment has less surgical trauma and a lower risk of complications for patients with early-stage NSCLC, which is beneficial for promoting postoperative recovery, reducing lung function damage and improving the quality of life of patients.

Long-Term Conservation Tillage Increases Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by Regulating Substances Related to Stress on the Semi-Arid Loess Plateau of China

Improving the water-use efficiency (WUE) of crops is the most effective way to increase yields in semi-arid regions. Field research was carried out based on a long-term experiment initiated in 2001, aimed to explore the mechanisms of different tillage practices effects on grain yield and WUE of spring wheat. Tillage practices in the research including conventional tillage (CT), no tillage with no straw mulching (NT), conventional tillage with straw incorporation (TS), and no tillage with straw mulching (NTS). The effects of tillage practices on soil’s physical and chemical properties, dry matter accumulation, grain yield, dynamics of stress-related substances, and WUE were observed. Soil and plant samples in this research were collected in 2020 (wet year), 2021 (dry year), and 2022 (dry year). The results indicated that NTS improved the soil’s physical and chemical properties. The NTS treatment had the lowest soil bulk and pH and the highest total N, NO3--N, and available P. Throughout the whole growth stage, soil water content in the NTS and TS treatments were significantly higher than that of CT by 8.77–20.40% and 2.19–18.83, respectively. Averaged catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and soluble protein across the three years with NTS and TS were significantly increased by 1.26–25.52% compared to CT. Meanwhile, the NTS treatment had the lowest malondialdehyde (MDA) content among the different tillage practices. NTS maintained the highest dry matter accumulation throughout the whole growth stage among different treatments; it was increased by 10.47–73.33% compared with CT. The average grain yields and WUE of NTS across the three years were 6.09–30.70% and 6.79–40.55% higher than other tillage practices, respectively. It is concluded that NTS influences dry matter accumulation and water-use efficiency during the whole growth stage of spring wheat by improving the soil’s physicochemical properties and modulating spring wheat substances related to stress, which in turn promotes yield formation.

Airway injuries in pre and post-COVID-19 era: a preliminary epidemiologic investigation in our center.

Tracheal stenosis and tracheo-esophageal fistulas are serious but rare complications of prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation. Tracheal resection with end-to-end anastomosis and endoscopic procedure are the options of care in the treatment of tracheal injuries. Tracheal stenosis could be iatrogenic, associated with tracheal tumors, or idiopathic. Tracheo-esophageal fistula may be congenital or acquired; in adults about half of the cases are secondary to malignancies. We performed a retrospective study of all the patients referred to our center between 2013 and 2022, with diagnosis of benign or malign tracheal stenosis or tracheo-esophageal fistulas due to benign or malign airway injury, undergoing tracheal surgery. Patients are divided in two temporal cohorts: cohort X if treated before SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (from 2013 to 2019) and cohort Y if treated during and after SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (from 2020 to 2022). From the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, we experienced an unprecedented increase in the incidence of TEF and TS. In addition, based on our data, results show less variability for TS etiology, mainly iatrogenic, an increase of 10 years in median age and an inversion of trend regarding the sex of patients. The standard of care for definitive treatment of TS is tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Literature shows a high success rate (83-97%) and low mortality (0-5%) following surgery in specialized centers with experience. Management of tracheal complication after prolonged MV is still challenging. An adequate clinical and radiological follow-up should be performed in patients treated with prolonged MV in order to diagnose any tracheal lesions in the subclinical phase and to choose the correct strategy, center and time to treat it.

Amelioration of Sensorineural Hearing Loss through Regulation of Trpv1, Cacna1h, and Ngf Gene Expression by a Combination of Cuscutae Semen and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common condition that results from the loss of function of hair cells, which are responsible for converting sound into electrical signals within the cochlea and auditory nerve. Despite the prevalence of SNHL, a universally effective treatment has yet to be approved. To address this absence, the present study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of TS, a combination of Cuscutae Semen and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata. To this end, both in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the efficacy of TS with respect to SNHL. The results showed that TS was able to protect against ototoxic neomycin-induced damage in both HEI-OC1 cells and otic hair cells in zebrafish. Furthermore, in images obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), an increase in the number of kinocilia, which was prompted by the TS treatment, was observed in the zebrafish larvae. In a noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) mouse model, TS improved hearing thresholds as determined by the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. Additionally, TS was found to regulate several genes related to hearing loss, including Trpv1, Cacna1h, and Ngf, as determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that TS holds promise as a potential treatment for sensorineural hearing loss. Further research is necessary to confirm these results and evaluate the safety and efficacy of TS in a clinical setting.

Thermosonication as a pretreatment of raw milk for Minas frescal cheese production.

Minas frescal cheese is extremely popular in Brazil, with high perishability and acceptability. Among emerging technologies, ultrasound stands out for its satisfactory results regarding microbiological safety and technological and sensory aspects. The combined mild temperature application, called thermosonication, can generate even more promising results. In this study, a high-intensity ultrasound system combined with thermal heating (TS, thermosonication) was applied for the treatment of raw milk to produce Minas Frescal cheese. US energy was delivered to raw milk samples using a probe operating at a 20kHz of frequency and nominal power of 160, 400, and 640W. The TS system was compared with conventional pasteurization (HTST, high-temperature short-time pasteurization) at 72 to 75°C and 15s. Soft cheeses were prepared with different samples: (a) raw milk (control), b)conventionally pasteurized milk (HTST), and c) TS treat milk in different nominal power (TS160, TS400, and TS640). The produced cheeses were evaluated for microbiological behavior, rheology, color parameters, and bioactive compounds. TS treatment in milk resulted in higher microbial inactivation and stability during storage, improved color parameters (higher lightness (L*), and whiteness index (WI). TS treatment also showed a higher generation of bioactive compounds (higher antioxidant, and inhibitory activities of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and angiotensin-converting enzymes) than HTST. The impact of TS on rheological properties was similar to HTST, resulting in more brittle and less firm products than the cheese produced with raw milk. The positive effects were more prominent using a nominal power of 400W (TS400). Therefore, TS proved to be a promising process for processing milk for Minas Frescal cheese production.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than remedy, consisting of dried fruits of Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa, Coriandrum sativum L., and Morinda citrifolia L.

Ethnopharmacological relevanceInflammation has been known to possess some essential roles in many diseases, especially those with chronic or severe conditions. Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than, a Thai traditional herbal remedy, has long been used to treat gastrointestinal sicknesses, fever, and severe illness caused by the deformities of Tridosha. In particular, this recipe has also been applied for inflammation-related conditions including gout and rheumatoid arthritis. The Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than recipe consists of dried fruits of three herbs including Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa, Morinda citrifolia L., and Coriandrum sativum L. Each of these plant components of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than exhibited anti-inflammatory activities. However, anti-inflammatory effect of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than remedy has not been reported. Aim of the studyThe objective of this study was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory activities of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than extract (TS) against acute and chronic inflammation in rats. Materials and methodsTo study the effects of TS on acute inflammation, ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP)-induced ear edema, carrageenan- and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced hind paw edema models were carried out. In addition, cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation was performed to specify the inhibitory effects of TS on chronic inflammation. ResultsThe topical application of TS significantly inhibited EPP-induced ear edema in rats. In the carrageenan- and AA-induced paw edema models, the oral administration of TS significantly reduced paw volumes, compared to those of the control groups. In addition, the 7-day oral treatment of TS demonstrated a significant suppressive effect on cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation. ConclusionsThe current study revealed that TS possesses anti-inflammatory activities against acute and chronic inflammation. Our studies support the use of TS in traditional medicine, and the development of TS as a novel natural product for treating diseases associated with inflammation.

Impact of adopting non-antibiotic dry-cow therapy on the performance and udder health of dairy cows.

On dairy farms, the prophylactic use of antibiotics at drying-off is being increasingly challenged. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of antibiotic dry-cow therapy (DCT) or non-antibiotic DCT on dairy cow performance and udder health. Holstein cows (n=285) with low risk of intramammary infection (<200,000cells/ml) were assigned to one of two treatments, either antibiotic DCT (A+TS; antibiotic treatment in combination with internal and external teat sealants) or non-antibiotic DCT (TS; internal and external teat sealant only). There was no statistically significant (p>0.05) difference between treatments for mean cow milk yield, composition or energy corrected milk yield. Mean somatic cell count was 0.16 loge higher in the TS treatment (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.00 loge to -0.33 loge ) compared to A+TS treatment (p = 0.047). A 50% increase in the number of mastitis cases was observed in the A+TS treatment compared to TS treatment (odds ratio=1.5, 95% CI: 0.80%-3.01%), although this was not significant. There was no statistical evidence (p>0.05) that treatment had any effect on colostrum quality and composition. Results indicate that non-antibiotic DCT can be adopted in 'low-risk' cows who were offered grass silage-based diets in cubicle accommodation, with low risk of adverse effects on performance or udder health.

Effect of Clay Mineralogy and Soil Organic Carbon in Aggregates under Straw Incorporation

The interaction between soil organic carbon (SOC) and clay minerals is a critical mechanism for retaining SOC and protecting soil fertility and long-term agricultural sustainability. The SOC composition and minerals speciation in clay fractions (&lt;2 μm) within soil aggregates under straw removed (T) and straw incorporation (TS) conditions were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The TS treatment promoted enrichment of clay in aggregates. The TS increased the contents of SOC (27.0–86.6%), poorly crystalline Fe oxide (Feo), and activity of Fe oxides (Feo/Fed); whereas, it reduced the concentrations of free Fe oxide (Fed) in the clay fractions within aggregates. Straw incorporation promoted the accumulation of aromatic-C and carboxylic-C in the clay fraction within aggregates. The relative amount of hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite, aliphatic-C, and alcohol-C in the clay fractions within the macroaggregates was higher than that microaggregates, whereas the relative amounts of illite, kaolinite, Fe(III), and aromatic-C had a reverse tendency. The hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite in clay fractions showed positive correlation with the amounts of C–C(H) (r = 0.93) and C–O (r = 0.96 *, p &lt; 0.05). The concentration of Feo and Feo/Fed ratio was positively correlated with the amounts of C=C and C(O)O content in clay within aggregates. Long-term straw incorporation induced transformation of clay minerals and Fe oxide, which was selectively stabilized straw-derived organic compounds in clay fractions within soil aggregates.

Partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with manure alters soil phosphorus fractions and optimizes vegetable production in alkaline soil

ABSTRACT Maintaining phosphorus (P) supply for plants or reducing P mobility is critical to sustainable agricultural production and the environment. However, substituting long-term chemical fertilizer with a fraction of (i.e. partial substitution) manure and its effect on soil P surplus and P fractionation have not been widely studied. An eight-year protected field study with no fertilization (NF), chemical fertilizer substituted with no manure (NS), partial manure (40%, PS), and total manure (100%, TS) combined with multiple P characterization methods were conducted to examine P pools and stability in alkaline soil. NS, PS, and TS have the same input amount of nutrients. It showed that PS treatment lowered the annual P surplus by 6.21% and 11.2% compared with NS and TS, respectively, maintaining optimal P input–output balance and vegetable yields. TS decreased total Po by 31.9% and stable Ca-associated P by 21.1%, while increased labile organic P, compared with NS. The labile P in PS was at a moderate level compared with NS and TS treatments, which not only maintained the soil labile P pools but also reduced P leaching risk. Therefore, partial substitution of chemical fertilizer with manure leads to an optimal level of nutrients for vegetable production.

The lagging movement of soil nitrate in comparison to that of soil water in the 500-cm soil profile

The combination of forage-crop rotation with conservation tillage has long been known to result in proven productivity and sustainability, but less information is available on the influence of long-term conservation tillage practices on the movement of soil water and residual nitrate at deep soil depths in forage-crop rotation systems. In this study, we measured the changes in soil water storage, residual soil nitrate accumulation and their relationship to study the long-term effects of tillage and mulching practices on regional nitrogen management in maize (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-common vetch (Vicia sativa L., annual legume forage) rotation system. Soils were collected from the 500-cm soil profile at the harvest stage of the maize and common vetch after 19 years of continuous conventional tillage (T), conventional tillage followed by straw mulching (TS), no tillage (NT), and no tillage followed by straw mulching (NTS) on the Loess Plateau, China. The results showed that the NT practices increased soil water storage by 3.07% compared with the T practices in the maize field, mulching practices increased soil water storage by 3.47% compared with no mulching practices in the common vetch field, and the improvement effect was mainly concentrated in the deep soil layer (150–500 cm). When compared with no mulching, straw mulching practices increased residual soil nitrate accumulation by 51.20 kg ha−1 at shallow soil depths (0–120 cm) but decreased this accumulation by 206.09 kg ha−1 at deep soil depths (120–500 cm) in the maize field; however, straw mulching decreased nitrate accumulation by 16.25 kg ha−1 throughout the whole profile (0–500 cm) in the common vetch field. The NT practices decreased residual soil nitrate accumulation by 131.65 kg ha−1 compared with the T practices in the maize field but had no effects on the common vetch field in the 0–500-cm soil profile. Greater changes in soil residual nitrate accumulation appeared at depths of 200–500 cm than at other depths. Moreover, according to structural equation model, nitrite accumulation was limited by soil water storage. Soil nitrate peaked at deeper soil depths in the NT (90–120 cm) and TS (250–300 cm) treatments than in the T treatment (60–90 cm), whereas the NTS treatment resulted in no nitrate accumulation peak across the whole soil profile. Soil water recharge and depletion were deeper in the NT and TS treatments than in the T treatment, and this effect could limit the further leaching of soil nitrate into deep soil. The depth of soil water recharge was deeper than the depth of nitrate accumulation, and the vertical movement speed of soil residual nitrate was slower than that of soil water. Therefore, the downward movement of soil nitrate lagged behind that of soil water. Together, these results demonstrated that the NTS treatment exerted the strongest effect on maintaining soil water and decreasing residual nitrate accumulation at deep soil depths, which will be favorable for improving regional N management and assessing N budgets in agroecological systems on the Loess Plateau.

Effects of nitrogen topdressing and paclobutrazol at different stages on spike differentiation and yield of winter wheat.

BackgroundOptimal nitrogen (N) application and plant growth regulators can improve wheat productivity. This can help to improve yield level and ensure food security with limited resources in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China (HPC).MethodsA 2-year field experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with four treatments (TS-N topdressing at pseudostem erection stage ; TPS-N topdressing combined with paclobutrazol application at pseudostem erection stage; TJ-N topdressing at jointing stage; TPJ-N topdressing at combined with paclobutrazol application at jointing stage) in 2011–2013.ResultsThe grain number per ear, thousand kernel weight and yield for the TJ and TPJ treatments were higher than those of the TS and TPS treatments. Grain number per ear, yield, and thousands kernel weigh for the TPJ treatment were significantly higher than for the TS and TPS in 2011–2012 (9.82% and 7.27%, 10.23% and 8.99%, 6.12% and 5.58%) and in 2012–2013 (10.21% and 11.55%, 8.00% and 6.58%, 0.00 and 0.00), respectively. Thousands kernel weight under TJ were significantly higher than those under TS and TPS by 13.21% and 14.03%, respectively in 2012–2013. The floret number, significantly correlated with cytokinin content, was also significantly increased under TJ and TPJ at connectivum differentiation stage. For TPJ treatment, the floret number was significantly higher than for the TS, TPS, and TJ by 19.92%, 10.21%, 6.10% in 2011–2012; it was higher than for the TS and TPS by 28.06% and 29.61% in 2012–2013, respectively. The relative expression level of cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase gene (TaCKX2.2) was improved during flowering, when cytokinin content was at high level and was also inhibited by paclobutrazol with different degrees.ConclusionsTherefore, nitrogen topdressing at jointing stage had increased grain number per ear, thousand kernel weight, and grain yield of wheat. Paclobutrazol could delay spike differentiation and promote cytokinin accumulation that induced expression of TaCKX2.2, maintaining hormonal balance and affecting wheat spike morphogenesis.

Incorporation of untreated or white-rot fungi treated cowpea stover on performance, digestibility, health and meat quality of growing rabbits

Legume stovers may be an important feedstuff resource for animals, especially in the Mediterranean production systems. However, these stovers contain antinutritional factors, such as lignin, that may affect the growth performance of the animals. Studies with white-rot fungi showed their ability to increase the nutritional value of several agricultural wastes through changes in lignin structure facilitating the access to structural polysaccharides that are potentially digestible. This contributes to a better utilization of the diet’s nutrients and, consequently, to a better animal performance and health. The present work aimed at evaluating the effect of cowpea stover (Vigna unguiculata), untreated (US) or treated (TS) with Pleurotus citrinopileatus, on performance, digestibility, health and meat quality of growing rabbits. The TS treatment resulted from the inoculation of cowpea stover with Pleurotus citrinopileatus mycelium under solid-state fermentation for 22 days. Five experimental diets incorporating 0 (C), 50 (US50) and 100 g/kg (US100) of US and 50 (TS50) and 100 g/kg (TS100) of TS were used. Trials were conducted using 80 rabbits with 35 days old. The animals were randomly assigned to one of the 5 treatments and were slaughtered at 63 days of age. The incorporation of cowpea stover did not affect animal growth performances (mean daily weight gain of 44.4 g/kg; mean feed intake of 154 g/day; mean feed conversion rate of 3.46) or digestibility (mean dry matter digestibility of 564.8 g/kg; mean neutral detergent fibre digestibility of 369.6 g/kg). The orthogonal contrasts showed that the animals fed with US had a final live weight 5.0% lower (P = 0.04) than the ones fed TS (2214 vs. 2323 g). The TS diet allowed a 17.4% reduction (P = 0.03) in blood cholesterol levels. No influence (P > 0.05) of treatments was detected for carcass traits (mean chilled dressing out percentage of 59%) and meat quality parameters. There was a decrease in the caecal microbiota similarity index (P = 0.01) between US and TS diets. The incorporation up to 100 g/kg of treated cowpea stover with Pleurotus citrinopileatus in the rabbits’ compound feed showed potential to overcome the detrimental effect that the incorporation of the US has on the final live weight of growing rabbits. Further research on the specific effect of TS diets on cholesterol blood levels and shifts on the microbial population of the gastrointestinal tract should be assessed.

Liquiritigenin promotes osteogenic differentiation and prevents bone loss via inducing auto-lysosomal degradation and inhibiting apoptosis

Osteoporosis (OP) is a debilitating skeletal abnormality involving bone remodeling and bone cell homeostasis characterized by decreased bone strength and high fracture risk. A novel therapeutic intervention for OP by manipulating cellular autophagy–apoptosis processes to promote skeletal homeostasis is presented. Protective effects of the naturally occurring plant extract Liquiritigenin (LG) were demonstrated in an ovariectomy (OVX)-OP mouse model and preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells. Micro-CT and histological staining assessments of skeletal phenotype were applied alongside detection of autophagy activity in osteocytes and MC3T3-E1 cells by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of LG on chloroquine (CQ)- and the apoptosis-inducing TS-treated osteogenic differentiations and status of lysosomes within MC3T3-E1 cells were analyzed by Neutral red, Alizarin red S and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and Western blot assays. Treatment with LG prevented bone loss, increased osteogenic differentiation in vivo and in vitro, and inhibited osteoclast formation to some extent. TEM analyses revealed that LG can improve auto-lysosomal degradation within osteocytes from OVX mice and MC3T3-E1 cells. The abnormal status of lysosomes associated with CQ and TS treatments was notably alleviated by LG which also reduced levels of apoptosis-induced inhibition of osteogenic differentiation and averted abnormal osteogenic differentiation as a consequence of a blockage in autolysosome degradation. Overall, LG stimulates bone growth in OVX mice through increased osteogenic differentiation and regulation of autophagy-apoptosis mechanisms, presenting an auspicious natural therapy for OP.

Combined foliar and soil selenium fertilizer increased the grain yield, quality, total se, and organic Se content in naked oats

BackgroundNaked oat (Avena nuda L.) is one of the most important, nutritionally rich grain crops produced worldwide. To determine the most reasonable selenium (Se) application method for naked oat, field experiments were conducted in the Loess Plateau from 2017 to 2018 to investigate the effects of Se fertilizer on grain yield, quality, Se content, and forms using a randomized block design with four treatments: foliar Se fertilizer application (S), soil Se fertilizer application (T), combined foliar and soil Se fertilizer application (TS), and control (CK) with no Se fertilizer. ResultsCompared to CK, the grain yield and Se content under the Se fertilizer treatments increased by 4.86–10.04% and 72.5–203.08%, respectively. Se forms of naked oat grains in T, S, and TS were mainly selenomethionine (SeMet). The SeMet content average increased by 45.69% (T), 53.75% (TS), and 51.19% (S), and the SeCys (selenocysteine) content increased by 90.73% (TS) and 75.43% (S), the Se fertilizer treatment increased the Se content in the roots, stems, leaves, and ears of oats. TS treatment, the Se content in ears was the highest. Se application significantly affected the crude protein and crude ash contents with the maximum recorded value observed in TS. Moreover, TS had significantly higher content of globulin, glutenin, and lysine, leucine, cystine, glutamic acid, and total amino acid contents for two consecutive years (P < 0.05). Se application significantly affected the iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and calcium (Ca) contents (P < 0.05) with the Ca and Zn contents in the seeds reaching the maximum recorded values in TS. ConclusionsBased on these findings, combined foliar and soil Se fertilizer was determined to be the best Se application method on naked oats.

Delayed diagnosis of dilated thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy with coexistent multifocal atrial tachycardia: a case report

BackgroundThyroid storm (TS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening sequelae of untreated or undertreated hyperthyroidism. While TS frequently causes high-output heart failure, low-output heart failure related to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is extremely rare. Tachycardia is a common clinical presentation of TS, and β1-selective blockers are the first-line agents for treating TS-associated tachycardia. However, given that β-blockers have negative chronotropic and negative inotropic effects, amiodarone may be safe and effective for the treatment of TS-induced tachyarrhythmia in patients with moderate to severe heart failure. While long-term amiodarone administration causes hypothyroidism, or less frequently, hyperthyroidism, little is known about the effects of short-term amiodarone administration on thyroid function.Case presentationA 31-year-old healthy woman presented with worsening dyspnoea. She was tachycardic with multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) of 184 beats/min, confirmed by electrocardiogram. Echocardiographic findings were consistent with DCM, with an ejection fraction of 20%. Thus, she was initially diagnosed with acute heart failure due to DCM with coexistent MAT. Tachycardia persisted despite cardioversion attempts and treatment with multiple anti-arrhythmic drugs. Consequently, she rapidly progressed to cardiogenic shock and respiratory decompensation, which required intubation and an intra-aortic balloon pump support. Moreover, the undiagnosed Graves' disease, lack of suspicion, and postponed analysis of thyroid function tests led to a delayed diagnosis of TS. Amiodarone, which was initiated for MAT, unexpectedly ameliorated thyrotoxicosis, resulting in a euthyroid state and the patient’s significantly improved condition and cardiac function. She was discharged on day 40. Finally, she underwent total thyroidectomy; thyroid pathology was consisting with Graves' disease. Her postoperative course was uneventful.ConclusionsHerein, we describe a case of delayed diagnosis of dilated thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy with coexistent MAT. The patient required intensive care due to the catastrophic sequelae and was successfully treated with amiodarone. This is the first case report of TS-associated MAT and highlights the clinical importance of high suspicion of TS in de novo heart failure with any tachyarrhythmia or DCM of unknown etiology and the potential effects of short-term amiodarone administration in the treatment of TS.

Effects of different carbon sources on water quality, biofloc quality, and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings in a heterotrophic culture system

The biofloc system is one of the novel sustainable aquaculture systems, and adding carbonaceous organic matter is the basis of the system. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different carbon sources on water quality, biofloc composition, and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In this study, one control group (no carbon source addition) and four biofloc treatments with molasses (TM), starch (TS), barley flour (TB), and corn (TC) addition with three replications were considered. Altogether, 160 Nile tilapia with an average weight of 1.7 g were stocked in each of the 300-l tanks (160 l of water volume). The results of water quality indicated that the lowest levels of dissolved oxygen (5.43 mg/l) and pH (7.28) were observed in the TS treatment, which showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) compared to other treatments. There was a significant difference among various treatments in nitrogen compounds and the total density of heterotrophic bacteria. Biochemical quality of biofloc was affected by various carbon sources. The highest levels of protein (31.09%), lipid (3.89%), and ash (32.79%) were observed in TB, TC, and TM treatments, respectively. The largest biofloc size was obtained in TS treatment. The lowest survival rate and the highest level of weight gain of Nile tilapia were observed in control group. In conclusion, the present study showed that different sources of carbon in the biofloc system have different effects on water quality, biochemical composition, and biofloc size produced in cultivation tanks.