Enhanced photosynthetic efficiency by nitrogen-doped carbon dots via plastoquinone-involved electron transfer in apple.

Artificially enhancing photosynthesis is critical for improving crop yields and fruit qualities. Nanomaterials have demonstrated great potential to enhance photosynthetic efficiency; however, the mechanisms underlying their effects are poorly understood. This study revealed that the electron transfer pathway participated in nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs)-induced photosynthetic efficiency enhancement (24.

The AP2/ERF transcription factor MdDREB2A regulates nitrogen utilisation and sucrose transport under drought stress.

Drought stress is one of the main environmental factors limiting plant growth and development. Plants adapt to changing soil moisture by modifying root architecture, inducing stomatal closure, and inhibiting shoot growth. The AP2/ERF transcription factor DREB2A plays a key role in maintaining plant growth in response to drought stress, but the molecular mechanism underlying this process remains to be elucidated.

The apple lipoxygenase MdLOX3 positively regulates zinc tolerance.

Various abiotic stresses, especially heavy metals near factories around the world, limit plant growth and productivity worldwide. Zinc is a light gray transition metal, and excessive zinc will inactivate enzymes in the soil, weaken the biological function of microorganisms, and enter the food chain through enrichment, thus affecting human health. Lipoxygenase (LOX) can catalyze the production of fatty acid derivatives from phenolic triglycerides in plants and is an important pathway of fatty acid oxidation in plants, which usually begins under unfavorable conditions, especially under biotic and abiotic stresses.

Identification of Phytochrome-Interacting Factor Family Members and Functional Analysis of in .

Phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs), members of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family that have been extensively investigated in , play essential roles in plant growth and development. However, members have not been systematically investigated in apples, a worldwide perennial woody crop of economic importance. Here, seven genes were identified from the reference genome.

Natriuretic peptide family as diagnostic/prognostic biomarker and treatment modality in management of adult and geriatric patients with heart failure: remaining issues and challenges.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP), the key members of natriuretic peptide family have been recommended as the gold standard biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure (HF) according to the current clinical guidelines. However, recent studies have revealed many previously unrecognized features about the natriuretic peptide family, including more accurate utilization of BNP and NT-proBNP in diagnosing HF. The pathophysiological mechanisms behind natriuretic peptide release, breakdown, and clearance are very complex and the diverse nature of circulating natriuretic peptides and fragments makes analytical detection particularly challenging.

Establishment of reference intervals and transfusion criterion for Sonoclot analysis.

Sonoclot analyzer has been widely used in many countries. But the reference intervals provided by the manufacturer were derived from only 45 participants, and there was no cut-off value for transfusion for Sonoclot analysis. This study aimed to establish reference intervals and transfusion criterion for Sonoclot analysis.

FADS gene polymorphisms confer the risk of coronary artery disease in a Chinese Han population through the altered desaturase activities: based on high-resolution melting analysis.

Objective: We explored the desaturase activities and the correlation of fatty acid desaturases (FADS) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with plasma fatty acid in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients in a Chinese Han population.

Methods: Plasma fatty acids were measured by gas chromatography in CAD patients (n = 505) and a control group (n = 510). Five SNPs in the FADS gene were genotyped with high-resolution melting (HRM) methods.

Evaluation of D-dimer in the diagnosis of suspected aortic dissection.

Background: The goal of this study was to evaluate plasma D-dimer as a diagnostic marker for exclusion of suspected aortic dissection (AD).

Methods: Two-hundred and sixty suspected AD patients were enrolled, including acute AD, n=107; chronic AD, n=17; acute myocardial infarction (AMI), n=70; pulmonary embolism (PE), n=18; non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), n=28; and unstable angina (UA), n=20. All patients had D-dimer testing performed (Roche Diagnostics GmbH) immediately following admission.

Effect of Jinguo Weikang Capsule on proto-oncogene expression of gastric mucosa in rats with gastric precancerous lesions.

Objective: To study the effect of Jinguo Weikang Capsule [see text] on the gene expression of H-ras, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), P53 and C-myc of the gastric mucosa in rats with gastric precancerous lesions, and to investigate the action mechanism of JWC on gastric precancerous lesions.

Methods: A rat model with paratypical proliferation of the gastric epithelium mucosa was established by using 60Co irradiation. Rats were divided into the normal group, model group, high-, medium-, low-dose JWC treatment groups, and the vitacoenzyme control group, and were treated for 30 days.

[Expression of fibrillin-1 in congenital bicuspid aortic valves].

Objective: To detect the expression of fibrillin-1 in congenital bicuspid aortic valves, and to investigate the molecular mechanism of congenital bicuspid aortic valves.

Methods: Specimens of aortic valve were obtained from 12 pediatric patients with congenital bicuspid aortic valve, 11 boys and 1 girl, aged 16.7 (10 - 18), including 5 cases of aortic stenosis (AS), 8 of aortic insufficiency (AI), and 1 of AS and AI, undergoing valve replacement, 8 children who died accidentally without cardiovascular system and collagen system diseases, 6 boys and 2 girls, aged 9.

[The effects of somatostatin on serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in lipopolysaccharide-induced septic shock: experiment with rats].

Objective: To explore the effect of somatostatin on serum interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock.

Methods: 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: intervention group (injected with LPS of Escherichia coli via femoral vein to induce septic shock) and control group (injected with LPS of Escherichia coli and then injected with somatostatin). The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, respiration rater, and mortality rate were observed before the injection of LPS, and 30, 90, and 360 min after the injection, and the serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha level were detected before the injection of LPS, 30, 90, and 360 min after the injection, or after the death.

[Relativity between occupational stress and psychosocial factors in nurses].

Objective: To explore the effect of coping strategies, social support and personality factors, such as locus of control and type A behavior on occupational stress in nurses.

Methods: Descriptive correlation research method was used in this investigation. One thousand nine hundred and one nurses were included by using instruments of Occupational Stress Instrument, and these nurses were divided into four groups according to the scores of occupational stress.