Deciphering the key factors affecting pesticide residue risk in vegetable ecosystem.

Soil contamination, particularly from pesticide residues, presents a significant challenge to the sustainable development of agricultural ecosystems. Identifying the key factors influencing soil pesticide residue risk and implementing effective measures to mitigate their risks at the source are essential. Here, we collected soil samples and conducted a comprehensive survey among local farmers in the Three Gorges Reserve Area, a major agricultural production region in Southwest China.

BMP-2 promotes osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by enhancing mitochondrial activity.

Objectives: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become seed cells and basic elements for bone regeneration and bone tissue engineering. The aim of the present study was to investigate the roles and mechanisms of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) on osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Methods: Primary MSCs were isolated from the femur and tibia bone of rats and then transfected with BMP-2 and PGC-1α adenovirus vectors.

Role of tumor necrosis factor receptor‑associated factor 6 in pyroptosis during acute pancreatitis.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is hypothesized to be related to the activation of an inflammatory response induced by pyroptosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of tumor necrosis factor receptor‑associated factor 6 (TRAF6) in pyroptosis in an AP rat model and the human pancreatic ductal epithelial HPDE6C7 cell line. , AP was induced by intraperitoneal injection of caerulein (CAE) in rats.

Activation of the Nuclear Factor-kappa B Signaling Pathway Damages the Epithelial Barrier in the Human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cell Line HPAF-II.

Objectives: Injury of the pancreatic duct epithelial barrier plays a critical role in the development of acute pancreatitis. The activity of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway is involved in the disruption of the pancreatic duct epithelial barrier. This study investigated how NF-κB impacts the dysfunction of the pancreatic duct epithelial barrier.

Comparison of the effects of minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screws osteosynthesis and open surgery on repairing the pain, inflammation and recovery of thoracolumbar vertebra fracture.

We compared the clinical effects of minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screws osteosynthesis (MIPPSO) and open surgery on the repair of thoracolumbar vertebra fracture. Seventy patients, who suffered from thoracolumbar vertebra fracture and received treatment at our hospital, were selected and randomly divided into either the minimally invasive percutaneous pedicle screws osteosynthesis group (MIPPSO group) and the traditional open pedicle screws osteosynthesis group (TOPSO group) with 35 cases in each group. The perioperative parameters including length of incision, duration of operation, bleeding during operation, length of hospital stay, the changes of pre-operative and post-operative VAS pain scores, inflammatory indexes including serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatine kinase (CK), and imaging indexes including Cobb's angle and anterior margin height of vertebral body of both groups were compared.

Isolation and engineering of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa for enhanced cadmium bioremediation.

Although many bacteria are tolerant to heavy metals and play important roles in the immobilization of heavy metals, they cannot always be dependably reproduced under field conditions. In this work, a cadmium (Cd)-resistant bacterium was isolated from a Cd-contaminated oil field and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pse-w). We then determined various plant growth promoting features such as the solubilization of phosphate, and the production of indole-3-acetic acid and siderophores.

Achieving High Yield of Lactic Acid for Antimicrobial Characterization in Cephalosporin-Resistant Lactobacillus by the Co-Expression of the Phosphofructokinase and Glucokinase.

Lactobacilli are universally recognized as probiotics that are widely used in the adjuvant treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as vaginitis and enteritis. With the overuse of antibiotics in recent years, the lactobacilli in the human body are killed, which could disrupt the microecological balance in the human body and affect health adversely. In this work, cephalosporin-resistant Lactobacillus casei RL20 was obtained successfully from the feces of healthy volunteers, which possessed a stable genetic set.

Oral Bifidobacterium longum expressing alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone to fight experimental colitis.

The oral delivery of peptides is a highly attractive treatment approach. However, the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract limits its application. Here, we utilize Bifidobacterium as a delivery system to orally deliver a potent anti-inflammatory but short duration peptide alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) against experimental colitis.

Oral delivery of Bifidobacterium longum expressing α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone to combat ulcerative colitis.

α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) is a tridecapeptide derived from pro-opiomelanocortin that exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties by regulating the production of inflammatory mediators. This peptide has been well established in several inflammatory models, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, its extremely short duration in vivo limits its clinical application.

HIV-1 Coreceptor CXCR4 Antagonists Promote Clonal Expansion of Viral Epitope-Specific CD8+ T Cells During Acute SIV Infection in Rhesus Monkeys In Vivo.

Background: The underlying molecular mechanisms and the kinetics of T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire selection during administration of CXCR4 or CCR5 inhibitors in infection of AIDS viruses in vivo have remained largely unexplored. Viral epitope-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes play a dominant role in the control of HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). We hypothesized that blockade of CXCR4 or CCR5 might influence the clonal expansion of epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells, contributing to antiviral immune responses in vivo.