Preventive effects of N-acetyl-l-cysteine against imidacloprid intoxication on Bombyx mori larvae.

Imidacloprid, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, is toxic to silkworm (Bombyx mori). To explore whether N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) has an effect on preventing silkworm (B. mori) from toxification caused by imidacloprid, we fed the fifth-instar larvae with mulberry leaves dipped in 200 mg/L NAC solution before exposing in imidacloprid, and investigated the silkworm growth, survival rate, feed efficiency, cocoon quality, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in midgut.

Expression levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand and osteoprotegerin are associated with middle ear cholesteatoma risk.

Conclusion: Overexpression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and low expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) are typical features in middle ear cholesteatoma patients. The altered RANKL/OPG protein ratio suggests that alterations in the RANKL-OPG pathway may be major factors in the pathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma.

Objective: Our meta-analysis explored the contribution of one important cytokine pathway, the RANKL and OPG pathway, in the development of middle ear cholesteatoma.