Open Life Sciences最新文献

To investigate the adaptive strategies of root functional traits in woody plants of different life forms on the Jingpo Lake lava platform towards heterogeneous habitats and provide reference for vegetation restoration strategies on lava platforms, this study examined 16 common woody plant species (12 trees and four shrubs) on the Jingpo Lake lava platform and measured the morphology and chemical properties of their primary to tertiary roots to investigate differences in root functional traits among plants of varying life forms. Trees and shrubs had the greatest variation in specific root length (SRL) (55.55 %-71.46 %) and the least variation in root carbon content (RCC), with all values below 5 %. Root diameter (RD), RCC and root carbon to nitrogen ratio (RC/N) for 1-3 order roots, and specific root surface area (SRA) for second-order roots were greater for trees compared with those for shrubs. Only the first-order root trait exhibited significant differences. Principal component (PC) 1 and PC2 of 1-3 order roots cumulatively explained 72.10 %, 71.60 %, and 67.20 % of the variance, respectively. Each sequence axis of first and second-order roots was positively correlated with SRL and SRA, and the third-order roots were negatively correlated with these traits. The soil total potassium content (STKC), soil total phosphorus content (STPC) and soil rapidly available phosphorus content (SAPC), had the greatest effect on plant root morphological traits. The findings suggest that in this study area, trees are more likely to adopt resource-conserving survival strategies, whereas shrubs tend to adopt resource-acquiring strategies.

This study evaluated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties of three varieties of Cannabis sativa L. seeds from Morocco, alongside their chemical compositions. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD) were employed for chemical analysis. Antioxidant activity was assessed using ABTS, TAC, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, while anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were tested in animal models. Molecular docking targeted 5IKQ and 3RP8 enzymes based on HPLC-identified compounds. The hydroalcoholic extracts demonstrated appreciable levels of phenolics and flavonoids: total phenolic content (TPC) was 76.87 ± 0.24 mg GAE/g DW (Cric), 81.45 ± 1.37 mg GAE/g DW (Khard), and 84.96 ± 2.05 mg GAE/g DW (Beldiya), while total flavonoid content (TFC) was 3.34 ± 0.22 mg QE/g DW (Cric), 3.56 ± 0.07 mg QE/g DW (Khard), and 3.32 ± 0.12 mg QE/g DW (Beldiya).HPLC results revealed polyphenolic compounds, including Catechin, Quercetin, Ursolic acid, and Rosmarinic acid. The Beldiya variety showed the strongest antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 0.12 ± 0.07 mg/mL (DPPH), 0.71 ± 0.01 mg/mL (ABTS), and 0.32 ± 0.04 mg/mL (FRAP). It also exhibited notable anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects at 300 mg/kg, comparable to aspirin and indomethacin. Molecular docking confirmed Quercetin, Catechin, and Rosmarinic acid as potent antioxidants, with Quercetin, Catechin, and Ursolic acid showing significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential. These findings underscore the therapeutic value of Cannabis sativa seeds for health applications.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0924.].

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are emerging as effective micronutrient carriers with additional antifungal properties. However, their application in perennial plantation crops such as tea (Camellia sinensis) remains unexplored. Fusarium solani, a destructive soil-borne pathogen, poses a significant challenge in tea nurseries and plantations. Greenhouse pot trials were conducted using ZnO-NPs at 3, 6, and 9 mg kg^-1, with ZnSO₄·7H₂O serving as the conventional zinc control. Disease severity, rhizosphere colony-forming units (CFU) populations, soil zinc availability, foliar uptake, microbial biomass, and chlorophyll traits were assessed over 30 days. ZnO-NPs reduced disease severity by 18-55 % and suppressed rhizosphere F. solani CFU counts by up to 69 %, significantly outperforming ZnSO₄·7H₂O. They increased DTPA-extractable soil Zn (to 0.84 mg kg^-1) and improved foliar Zn uptake. In comparison, the 6 mg kg^-1 dose enhanced chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll, while maintaining near-baseline microbial biomass. Although the 9 mg kg^-1 dose yielded higher pathogen suppression, it reduced microbial biomass carbon by 19 %. Microscopy confirmed collapsed hyphae and deformed conidia, consistent with oxidative stress and cell wall disruption. This study provides the first greenhouse-based evidence that ZnO-NPs can function as dual-action soil amendments in tea, improving both nutrient status and resistance to F. solani. The intermediate rate (6 mg kg^-1) delivered the best balance between plant benefits and microbial stability, highlighting the agronomic promise of nano-enabled inputs. Further multi-season field studies are needed to verify their effectiveness and environmental safety.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious illness of the respiratory system that leads to lung damage. Clinical outcomes are limits and identification of a novel drug for ALI without side effects on patients. This study investigated the effects of farrerol (FRL) in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Mice were subjected to FRL pre-treatment 1 h prior to LPS administration daily for 7 days. Then, lung tissue was examined in various experiments, i.e. histopathology, antioxidant status, western blot and semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to confirm the inflammatory response in ALI experimental models. The obtained results stated that FRL treatment alleviates LPS-mediated pathological changes, such as alveolar wall thickening, decreasing lung edema, and inflammation infiltration in the lung tissue. Moreover, LPS-induced TBARS levels were modulated by FRL treatment in mice. While enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities by FRL treatment on LPS-induced mouse models. FRL also suppressed LPS-induced expression of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-β1 in mouse models. In addition, FRL has a good binding interaction; therefore, it has restored the LPS-induced Nrf2 expression. These findings indicate that FRL holds a significant therapeutic agent for ALI by offering Nrf2 mediated inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation in mouse model.

This study aims to examine differences in aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) expression between microglia in aged and adult mice and to investigate the impact of microglial AHR attenuation on chronic pain sensitization. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to assess AHR expression in microglia. BV2 microglial cells were treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), the AHR agonist FICZ, and the AHR antagonist CH223191. The resulting supernatant was used to culture C8-DIA astrocytes, and inflammatory factor levels were quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. AHR expression in spinal dorsal horn microglia was significantly lower in aged mice compared to adult mice. Furthermore, microglial AHR expression was found to regulate astrocyte activation. AHR expression in spinal dorsal horn microglia is markedly reduced in aged mice. Activated microglia with diminished AHR expression induce astrocytes more strongly and enhance astrocyte-mediated inflammation, contributing to prolonged hyperalgesia in aged mice.

Animal models are essential for advancing disease research. However, models for oral leukoplakia (OLK) remain relatively underexplored. This study sought to identify an optimal strategy for establishing a rat OLK model using 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO). The experimental groups included 0.002 % 4NQO drinking, 0.5 % 4NQO painting, and 0.002 % 4NQO drinking combined with 0.5 % 4NQO painting groups. Morphological changes, behavioral status, body weight, water intake and mortality were monitored. Histopathological features of rat tongue lesions were compared with those of human OLK. Drinking combined with painting group showed a large number and area of white lesions on tongue mucosa. The modeling effect of OLK in drinking group showed no significant difference from other groups, and the rats exhibited the best overall condition with no mortality. Painting group showed intermediate efficacy. Pathological manifestations in three groups were consistent with human OLK. Given its simplicity and superior safety profile, the 0.002 % 4NQO drinking protocol is recommended as the preferred approach for OLK model establishment.

We investigated the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and sonic hedgehog (SHH) on the proliferation, autophagy, and apoptosis of human microvascular endothelial cells (HCMEC/D3). We also explored the regulatory relationship between cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) and the SHH pathway. Human microglia cells (HMC3) were stimulated under hypoxia to secrete H₂S and SHH proteins, which were then co-cultured with HCMEC/D3 cells. The relationship between H₂S and SHH was investigated by inhibiting the CBS or SHH pathways. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and H₂S levels were detected using ELISA. The mRNA and Protein levels of VEGF, Beclin-1, light chain 3 (LC3), Cysteine aspartic acid protease-3(caspase-3), CBS, SHH, extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phospho-ERK1/2 (P-ERK1/2) were determined by RT-PCR and western blot. The results indicated that H₂S secretion by HMC3 increased during hypoxia, with both CBS and SHH proteins being up-regulated. The inhibition of CBS resulted in decreased levels of H₂S and SHH in HMC3. When the SHH pathway is inhibited, H₂S secretion levels remain unaffected. H₂S and SHH proteins increased VEGF, P-ERK1/2, Beclin-1, and LC3 expression while reducing caspase-3 expression in HCMEC/D3 cells. H₂S secretion by HMC3 promotes the proliferation and regeneration of HCMEC/D3 by regulating SHH protein and alleviating hypoxic injury.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a life-threatening malignancy with a poor prognosis, remains diagnostically challenging due to the limited sensitivity and specificity of traditional imaging in differentiating malignant from benign bile duct strictures. This case report and literature review explore the potential of confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE), an emerging technology for real-time in vivo microscopic imaging, to address this gap. We present the case of a 64-year-old male presenting with scleral icterus, choluria, progressive jaundice, hyperbilirubinemia, and radiologically confirmed biliary dilation. During endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, CLE revealed intraoperative imaging features suggestive of CCA - a finding subsequently confirmed by postoperative histopathology. Together with supporting literature, this case underscores the clinical utility of CLE by providing high-resolution, real-time visualization of characteristic features, thereby directly aiding in the diagnosis of indeterminate biliary strictures.

To broaden Stropharia rugosoannulata cultivation substrates, nine agricultural/forestry wastes were tested, evaluating fruiting body count, weight, and total yield, with factors influencing yield also investigated. Fig branches performed best: 16.5 % grade A fruiting bodies, 5.11 kg/m² total yield, and 232,000 yuan/hm² net profit. Grape stumps, pear and peach branches were also suitable, with yields 5.38, 4.64, 4.62 kg/m² respectively. Waste sawdust had 16.2 % grade A but limited economic benefits. Willow branches (9.5 % grade A), crape myrtle branches (8.4 %), soybean stalks (12.5 %), and corn stalks (4.04 kg/m² total yield) were suboptimal, needing reduced use. Correlation analysis showed first harvest reflects suitability; high lignocellulose materials enhance individual mushroom quality.