Salicylic acid and thiourea mitigate the salinity and drought stress on physiological traits governing yield in pearl millet- wheat

Plant growth is often affected with hampered physiological and cellular functioning due to salinity and drought stress. To assess the effectiveness of plant bioregulators (PBRs) in mitigating abiotic stresses, a double spilt plot field study was conducted with three replications at ICAR-CSSRI, research farm, Nain, Panipat. The study comprised of three deficit irrigation regimes viz., 100, 80 and 60% of crop evapo-transpiration (ET_c) (I₁, I₂ and I₃), four levels of irrigation water salinity i.e. 2, 4, 8, 12 dS m⁻¹ (S₀, S₁, S₂ and S₃) and two PBRs salicylic acid (SA; G₁) and thiourea (TU; G₂). Irrigations, as per regimes and salinity, were applied at identified critical stages of wheat and if needed in pearl millet. PBRs were applied as seed priming and foliar sprays at two sensitive stages of respective crops. The trend of plant height, and physiological and biochemical traits was similar under different treatments at both stages, but differed significantly only at reproductive stage. Water deficit caused significant reduction in pearl millet (5.1%) and wheat (6.7%) grain yields. The reduction in grain yield under 8 and 12 dS m⁻¹ was 12.90 and 22.43% in pearl millet and 7.68 and 32.93% in wheat, respectively compared to 2 dS m⁻¹. Application of either SA (G₁) or TU (G₂) significantly enhanced plant height and grain yield, but magnitude of the increment was higher with SA in pearl millet and with TU in wheat. Application of SA and TU increased grain yield by 14.42 and 12.98 in pearl millet, and 12.90 and 17.36% in wheat, respectively. The plant height, RWC, TC, MI, LP, proline, Fv/Fm and Na/K ratio significantly reduced by salinity stress in pearl millet and both water and salinity stress in wheat. Application of both PBRs proved beneficial to mitigate adverse effect of water deficit and salt stress by significantly improving physiological traits, biochemical traits and ultimately grain yield in both crops.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of a baicalin and berberine hybrid compound as therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis

Structural modification of active natural compounds which were originated from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have showed great advantages in the development of new drugs. In TCM, “Huangqin - Huanglian” is a classic “medicine couple” that has been used to treat intestinal diseases for thousands of years, while baicalin and berberine are the major active compounds of Huangqin and Huanglian respectively. Based on this “medicine couple”, we designed and synthesized a new baicalin and berberine hybrid compound (BBH). Its molecular structure was confirmed by spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of BBH was detected in vitro. Results indicated that the new hybrid compound exhibited the best antibacterial activity for proteobacteria as compared with its original synthetic materials (baicalin and berberine). In vivo, the effect of BBH on ulcerative colitis was also investigated. BBH treatment significantly ameliorated the disease symptoms and prevented the colon damage of ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, BBH showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect through regulating activities of SOD, MPO and expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) in colon tissue. Data also suggested that BBH was more superior than baicalin and berberine in ameliorating colonic damage. This indicated that the new hybrid compound BBH showed enhanced efficacy in treating ulcerative colitis.     

Influence of halloysite nanotubes on the efficiency of Asparaginase against mice Ehrlich solid carcinoma

Herein, the impact of the halloysite nanotubes to suppress the side effects of Asparaginase (ANase) cellular proliferation was investigated. Methods: A total of 100 adult male mice was employed. These mice were divided into four equal groups; Group 1 (control), Group 2 (ESC group) of a single dose of 0.15 ml Ehrlich cells (2 × 10⁶) intraperitoneal infusion(IP), Group 3 (ESC + ANase group) received six doses equal treatments of Intratumoral (IT) 0.07 ml Aspragnase (7 mg/kg) over two weeks. For two weeks, Group 4 (ESC + ASNase + HNTs) received an IT administration of 0.07 ml Asparaginase stocked on Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) (30 mg/kg) three times per week. A blood specimen was collected, and the liver was removed to be investigated histologically. Results: TEM measurements for the Halloysite nanoclay showed their tubular cylindrical shape with a mean diameter of 50 nm and an average length of 1 μm, whereas The X-ray diffraction pattern of the Halloysite nanoclay showed their characteristic peaks. ESC increases the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin than control and other groups, even as albumin and total protein were decreasing. After using Halloysite Nanotube, the rates of these variables were enhanced up to 75%. The hepatocytes histological studies showed protection against Ehrlich Solid carcinoma-induced degenerative, necrotic, and inflammatory changes up to 70%. In conclusion, halloysite nanotubes have demonstrated effective removal of Ehrlich solid carcinoma in mice using an ASNase delivery system. It promoted the ASNase to inhibit the adverse effect of ANase's on the liver and remove the tumour cells.     

The prevalence and intensity of external parasites in domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Egypt with special reference to the role of deltamethrin as insecticidal agent

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and intensity of external parasites in domestic pigeons in Giza, Egypt, from January 2020 to December 2020. A total of 300 domestic pigeons (25 pigeons per month) were examined. The birds were divided into groups based on their age. The oxidative stress parameters; serum zinc concentration, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), and serum Nitric oxide were evaluated in single and mixed external parasitic infestations. The prevalence of external parasites in examined pigeons was 80.3%. The detected parasites were Pseudolynchia canariensis (P. canariensis), Hippobosca equina (H. equina), Columbicola columbae (C. columbae), Menopon gallinae (M. gallinae), Knemidocoptes species (spp.) and Dermanyssus gallinae (D. gallinae); their incidences were 41.6, 26, 7, 5,0.33 and 0.33%, respectively. The highest infestation was recorded in both spring and summer. . The incidence of disease was higher in squabs and young birds than in adults. The mixed external parasitic infestation was recorded in this study. The infected birds showed decreased serum zinc concentration and elevated MDA and serum Nitric oxide levels. In conclusion, regular monthly treatment with deltamethrin is recommended as an effective drug in the treatment of the infested birds and succeeded in reducing the incidence of externalparasites in the treated birds; in addition, pigeon management measures must be implemented to reduce the risk of external parasites.     

In-vivo hyperglycemic,antioxidant, histopathological changes,and simultaneous measurement of kaempferol verified by high-performance thin layer chromatography of Setaria italica in streptozotocin -induced diabetic rats

BackgroundSetaria italica (common name- foxtail, kangni) is one of the major food crops which is prominently cultivated in southern regions of India and in certain regions of Uttar Pradesh. Besides the crop’s consumption as a general source of carbohydrate rich cereal, the seeds of the crop are comprised of more fiber. So, it is recommended to add in the dietary supplementation of the diabetic people across the country.ObjectiveIn this paper, it intends to investigate the antidiabetic activity and antioxidant activity of S. italica (foxtail millet) seeds in diabetic rats.MethodsThe six genotypes of foxtail millets (S. italica) namely Kangni-1, Kangni-4, Kangni-5, Kangni-6, Kangni-7 & Kangni-10 respectively were subjected to in vitro investigations via. comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) involving blood glucose study, Kidney & Liver function test, and antioxidant study (Catalase test; Glutathione S-transferase (GST); Superoxide Dismutase (SOD); glutathione (GSH); hiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) & Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and were performed in vivo animal investigations in Wistar rats. The STZ induced diabetic rats were fed with doses of different S. italica seed aqueous extract to evaluate its anti-hyperglycemic activity by oral administration of SISAE. Further, it was compared with Glibenclamide which acts as one of the standard oral hypoglycemic agents.ResultsFrom achieved outcomes, a significant fall of blood glucose level (70%) produced 300 mg SISAE/kg b.w. after 6 h of extract administration. However, no change could be produced by these doses of the SISAE in normal rats’ blood glucose levels. A significant fall in glucose level along with significant glycemic control by lower HbA1c levels was observed in diabetic treated rats after 3 weeks of treatment with 300 mg of SISAE/kg b.w./day when comparing to untreated diabetic rats. Among these five genotypes of S. italica, the differences in the glycemic index were found. a significant fall could be found in blood glucose levels of Wistar rats, when every experimental rat was incorporating with the extract of different genotypes of Setaria italica L. Beauv than the rats treated with Glibenclamide in every 7 days of interval. The level of catalase, SOD, GST, GPx, GSH and TBARS showed variation while the rats were fed with the extract of S. italica in the liver test of rats. In kidney function test, the result shows that there is significant relationship between foxtail extract and kidney function of STZ induced diabetes rats. They show the change in their serum creatinine level, serum urea and serum uric acid.ConclusionThe result obtained from the study shows that the extract of S. italica seeds is capable for the hypolipidemic and antihyperglycemic activities, thereby, they serve as one of the good sources for herbal medicinal items.     

Phytochemical profiling and antioxidant potential of Daphne mucronata Royle and action against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in rabbits

The paracetamol-induced injuries of liver and kidneys in animals are mostly used to screen out the hepato and nephroprotective effect of extract or other therapeutic agents. In the present study total phenolic and flavonoid contents, in vitro antioxidant, and in vivo hepato/nephroprotective (on paracetamol-induced intoxication in experimental rabbits) potentials of the Daphne mucronata leaves methanolic extract were determined. For the identification of possible phytochemicals, HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) analysis was carried out and a total of eight phenolic compounds; malic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, morin, ellagic acid, and rutin were identified. D. mucronata extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight were given for eight days to paracetamol intoxicated rabbits and the observed results were compared with standard Silymarin. The level of liver enzymes like aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, serum triglyceride, serum cholesterol, serum bilirubin, and kidneys biomarkers like serum urea, uric acid, and creatinine, as well as lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde contents were increased while the antioxidant enzymes like reduced glutathione and total antioxidant capacity were decreased. Furthermore, histopathological analysis of the liver and kidney tissues of control and treated groups also confirmed the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective effect of the D. mucronata which was most probably due to its high antioxidant phenolic and flavonoid phytoconstituents.     

Copper and mercury induced oxidative stresses and antioxidant responses of Spirodela polyrhiza (L.) Schleid

Duckweed is recognized as a phytoremediation aquatic plant due to the production of large biomass and a high level of tolerance in stressed conditions. A laboratory experiment was conducted to investigate antioxidant response and mechanism of copper and mercury tolerance of S. polyrhiza (L.) Schleid. To understand the changes in chlorophyll content, MDA, proline, and activities of ROS-scavenging enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPOD) during the accumulation of Cu⁺² and Hg⁺², S. polyrhiza were exposed to various concentrations of Cu⁺² (0.0–40 μM) and Hg⁺² (0.0–0.4 μM). antioxidant activity initially indicated enhancing trend with application of 10 μM Cu⁺²; 0.2 μM Hg⁺² (SOD), of 20 μM Cu⁺²; 0.2 μM Hg⁺² (CAT) and of 10 μM Cu⁺²;0.2 μM Hg⁺² (GPOD) and then decreased consistently up to 40 μM Cu⁺² and 0.4 μM Hg⁺². In the experiment chlorophyll and frond multiplication initially showed increasing tendency and decreased gradually with the application of increased metal concentration. Application of heavy metal has constantly enhanced proline and MDA content while the maximum increase was observed with the application of 40 μM Cu; 0.4 μM Hg for proline and MDA respectively. The upregulation of antioxidant enzymes and proline reveals that S. polyrhiza has strong biochemical strategies to deal with the heavy metal toxicity induced by the accumulation of Cu⁺² and Hg⁺².     

Molecular dynamics and simulation analysis against superoxide dismutase (SOD) target of Micrococcus luteus with secondary metabolites from Bacillus licheniformis recognized by genome mining approach

Micrococcus luteus, also known as M. luteus, is a bacterium that inhabits mucous membranes, human skin, and various environmental sources. It is commonly linked to infections, especially among individuals who have compromised immune systems. M. luteus is capable of synthesizing the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) as a component of its protective response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). This enzyme serves as a promising target for drug development in various diseases. The current study utilized a subtractive genomics approach to identify potential therapeutic targets from M. luteus. Additionally, genome mining was employed to identify and characterize the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) responsible for the production of secondary metabolites in Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis), a bacterium known for its production of therapeutically relevant secondary metabolites. Subtractive genomics resulted in identification of important extracellular protein SOD as a drug target that plays a crucial role in shielding cells from damage caused by ROS. Genome mining resulted in identification of five potential ligands (secondary metabolites) from B. licheniformis such as, Bacillibactin (BAC), Paenibactin (PAE), Fengycin (FEN), Surfactin (SUR) and Lichenysin (LIC). Molecular docking was used to predict and analyze the binding interactions between these five ligands and target protein SOD. The resulting protein–ligand complexes were further analyzed for their motions and interactions of atoms and molecules over 250 ns using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis. The analysis of MD simulations suggests, Bacillibactin as the probable candidate to arrest the activities of SOD. All the five compounds reported in this study were found to act by directly/indirectly interacting with ROS molecules, such as superoxide radicals (O₂–) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and transforming them into less reactive species. This antioxidant activity contributes to its protective effects against oxidative stress-induced damage in cells making them likely candidate for various applications, including in the development of antioxidant-based therapies, nutraceuticals, and functional foods.     

Detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae antibiotic-resistant genes: An impending source of multidrug resistance dissemination through raw food

This study aimed to find out the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of Klebsiella pneumoniae in raw food items. A total of 261 raw food items, including vegetables, fruits, meat, and milk samples, were collected and processed for isolation of K. pneumoniae. Further antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular analysis was done to analyze the drug resistance encoding genes. The prevalence rate of K. pneumoniae was found to be high (38%), and the raw milk samples were predominantly contaminated (19/51), followed by fruits (12/51), meat (11/51), and vegetables (9/51). However, no significant association was observed for the isolation of K. pneumoniae and any particular specimen. Among the isolates, 43% were extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers, 24% were AmpC, and 20% were carbapenemase producers. The highest rates of ESBLs and AmpC were observed in vegetables (cabbage, bell pepper, and spinach) and carbapenemases in raw chicken, fish, and raw meat samples. Notably, bla_CTX-M was the most prevalent, followed by bla_SHV and bla_TEM. Six K. pneumoniae possessed bla_MOX, and five possessed bla_FOX genes. Numerous carbapenemases were identified with a higher proportion of bla_NDM. This study indicates that raw vegetables, fruits, meat, and milk are exposed to contaminants. These findings imply a potential threat that drug-resistant K. pneumoniae pathogens could transmit to humans through raw vegetables, fruits, and meat.     

Human 14-3-3 Proteins Site-selectively Bind the Mutational Hotspot Region of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleoprotein Modulating its Phosphoregulation

Phosphorylation of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein recruits human cytosolic 14-3-3 proteins playing a well-recognized role in replication of many viruses. Here we use genetic code expansion to demonstrate that 14-3-3 binding is triggered by phosphorylation of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein at either of two pseudo-repeats centered at Ser197 and Thr205. According to fluorescence anisotropy measurements, the pT205-motif, present in SARS-CoV-2 but not in SARS-CoV, is preferred over the pS197-motif by all seven human 14-3-3 isoforms, which collectively display an unforeseen pT205/pS197 peptide binding selectivity hierarchy. Crystal structures demonstrate that pS197 and pT205 are mutually exclusive 14-3-3-binding sites, whereas SAXS and biochemical data obtained on the full protein-protein complex indicate that 14-3-3 binding occludes the Ser/Arg-rich region of the nucleoprotein, inhibiting its dephosphorylation. This Ser/Arg-rich region is highly prone to mutations, as exemplified by the Omicron and Delta variants, with our data suggesting that the strength of 14-3-3/nucleoprotein interaction can be linked with the replicative fitness of the virus.     

Isolation of diverse bioactive compounds from Euphorbia balsamifera: Cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity studies

Antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of Euphorbia balsamifera, fractions and pure compounds were evaluated. The cytotoxic assays for HCT116, HePG2 and MCF7 showed a significant IC₅₀: 54.7 and 76.2 µg/mL of non-polar fraction “n-hexane” against HCT116 and HePG2, respectively. Antibacterial results revealed that plant fractions exhibited significant potential against the tested pathogens than the total extract where n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions showed significant antibacterial activity (P < 0.05) against tested bacterial strains. Isolation and structure determination of compounds from n-hexane and n-butanol fractions were performed. From n-hexane fraction, 29-nor-cycloartanol (1), lanost-8-en-3-ol (2a), cycloartanol (2b) and kampferol-3,4'-dimethyl ether (3) were isolated and structurally identified, along with 24 compounds were tentatively identified by GC–MS. From the polar n-butanol fraction, 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxy-6-methoxyacetophenone (4), 4-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxy-6methoxy-acetophenone (5), quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside (6) and isoorientin (7) were assigned. Structures of the obtained compounds were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Except compounds 1 and 5, all reported compounds announced antibacterial efficiency. Compound 2 showed selectively the highest activity against Enterococcus faecalis (22 ± 0.13 mm), meanwhile 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxy-6-methoxyacetophenone (4) showed broadly the highest antibacterial activity with MIC of 1.15–1.88 mg/mL against the test Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Cytotoxic assays indicated that kampferol-3,4'-dimethyl ether (3) exhibited the highest activity with matching IC₅₀ values to doxorubicin; 111.46, 42.67 and 44.90 µM against HCT116, HePG2 and MCF7, respectively, however, it is toxic on retina normal cell line RPE1.     

Prevalence and resting behaviour of dengue vectors,Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in dengue high risk urban settings in Colombo,Sri Lanka

Understanding local geographical variation in vector density and bionomics related to virus transmission are critical for planning effective vector control programs to control dengue virus transmission. This study investigated the prevalence and resting behaviour of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus in three dengue high-risk areas in the Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Monthly sampling of resting adult mosquitoes was conducted from August 2019 to February 2020. Thirty-seven percent of the households (289/776) harboured Aedes mosquitoes, and 603 Aedes mosquitoes were collected. The proportion of Ae. aegypti was higher in the overall collection during the collection period (94% [569/603]), and 62% (352/569) were females. Significant monthly variations in Ae. aegypti were observed with respect to the indices: number of females per surveyed house (F/SH; p = 0.001), number of females per Aedes positive house (F/PH; p = 0.029), adult house index (AHI; p = 0.001), adult density (AD; p = 0.005) and resting ratio (RR; p = 0.001). AHI, AD, and RR had statistically significant positive correlations with monthly rainfall (p = 0.001, p = 0.011, and p = 0.002 respectively) and one-month lagged dengue cases (p = 0.002, p = 0.005, and p < 0.001 respectively). A statistically significantly higher proportion of Ae. aegypti females were caught resting indoors (N = 309, 88%) than outdoors (N = 43, 12%; p < 0.001). The most common resting areas were bedrooms (51%) & living/dining rooms (37%), and places were under or on furniture (47%) & hangings (34%) for Ae. aegypti. Conversely, 74% of female Ae. albopictus were collected outdoors. Results of this study could have strong implications to improve vector surveillance and control by early detection of dengue to detect outbreaks and minimization of disease transmission.     

Lycopene is superior to moringa in improving fertility markers in diet-induced obesity male rats

Obesity is a condition of chronic tissue inflammation and oxidative stress that poses as a risk factor for male infertility. Moringa oleifera oil extract is known to have cholesterol-lowering properties and a potential to treat obesity, while lycopene is a potent antioxidant. We hypothesize that Moringa or lycopene may improve male fertility markers in an animal model of diet-induced obesity. Male Albino rats (n = 60) were randomized to receive regular chow (RC) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks (n = 30 each). Animals in each arm were further randomized to receive gavage treatment with corn oil (vehicle), lycopene (10 mg/kg), or Moringa (400 mg/kg) for four weeks starting on week 9 (n = 10 each). Animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks, and blood was collected to assess lipid profile, serum testosterone, and gonadotropin levels. The testes and epididymides were removed for sperm analysis, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, and histopathological assessment. In comparison to their RC littermates, animals on HFD showed an increase in body weights, serum lipids, testosterone and gonadotrophin levels, testicular oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, as well as sperm abnormalities and disrupted testicular histology. Moringa or lycopene reduced body weight, improved oxidative stress, and male fertility markers in HFD-fed animals with lycopene exhibiting better anti-antioxidant and anti-lipidemic effects. Lycopene is superior to Moringa in improving male fertility parameters, possibly by attenuating oxidative stress.     

The effects of phytase transgenic maize on the community components and diversity of arthropods

It is important to understand the effect of phytase transgenic (PT) maize on arthropod communities in natural ecosystems. In this study, a 2-year survey of arthropod community biodiversity in fields of PT maize (0 7 8) and non-genetically modified (RA119, non-GM) maize was performed using sweep-net sampling on the stems and leaves of the maize plants. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the individual number of herbivorous, predatory, neutral and parasitic groups in PT maize and non-GM maize. The species number of herbivorous group in PT maize was significantly lower than that in non-GM maize in 2013 (p < 0.05). The proportions of different arthropod groups were almost identical in the PT maize and non-GM maize in terms of both species and individual number. Moreover, there was no significant difference in the Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H'), evenness index (J), dominance index (D), richness (S), and species abundance (N) between the two types of maize. The similarity coefficient of the arthropod community suggested that the arthropod community composition of PT maize was similar to that of non-GM maize. Furthermore, PT maize had no significant effect on the relative stability of the arthropod community. These results indicated that despite the presence of a relatively minor difference in arthropod community between the PT maize and non-GM maize, the PT maize had little effect on arthropod community biodiversity.     

Comprehensive genomics and expression analysis of eceriferum (CER) genes in sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Sunflower occupies the fourth position among oilseed crops the around the world. Eceriferum (CER) is an important gene family that plays critical role in very-long-chain fatty acids elongation and biosynthesis of epicuticular waxes under both biotic and abiotic stress conditions. The aim of present study was to investigate the effect of sunflower CER genes during drought stress condition. Thus, comparative analysis was undertaken for sunflower CER genes with Arabidopsis genome to determine phylogenetic relationship, chromosomal mapping, gene structures, gene ontology and conserved motifs. Furthermore, we subjected the sunflower cultivars under drought stress and used qRT-PCR analysis to explore the expression pattern of CER genes during drought conditions. We identified thirty-seven unevenly distributed CER genes in the sunflower genome. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that CER genes were grouped into seven clades in Arabidopsis, Helianthus annuus, and Gossypium hirsutum. Expression analysis showed that genes CER10 and CER60 were upregulated in sunflower during drought conditions, indicating that these genes are activated during drought stress. The results obtained will serve to characterize the CER gene family in sunflower and exploit the role of these genes in wax biosynthesis under limited water conditions.Key messageCuticular waxes protect the plants from drought stress, so we observed the expression of wax bio synthesis genes in recently sequences genome of Helianthus annuus. We observed that expression of wax biosynthesis genes CER10 and CER60 was upregulated when the plants were subjected to drought stress.     

Dosimetric impact on changes in target volumes during intensity-modulated radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Background and purposeTo assess anatomic changes during intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and to determine its dosimetric impact.Patients and methodsTwenty patients treated with IMRT for NPC were enrolled in this study. A second CT was performed at 38 Gy. Manual contouring of the macroscopic tumor volumes (GTV) and the planning target volumes (PTV) were done on the second CT. We recorded the volumes of the different structures, D98 %, the conformity, and the homogeneity indexes for each PTV. Volume percent changes were calculated.ResultsWe observed a significant reduction in tumor volumes (58.56 % for the GTV N and 29.52 % for the GTV T). It was accompanied by a significant decrease in the D98 % for the 3 PTV (1.4 Gy for PTV H, p = 0.007; 0.3 Gy for PTV I, p = 0.03 and 1.15 Gy for PTV L, p = 0 0.0066). In addition, we observed a significant reduction in the conformity index in the order of 0.02 (p = 0.001) and 0.01 (p = 0.007) for PTV H and PTV I, respectively. The conformity variation was not significant for PTV L. Moreover, results showed a significant increase of the homogeneity index for PTV H (+ 0.03, p = 0.04) and PTV L (+ 0.04, p = 0.01).ConclusionTumor volume reduction during the IMRT of NPC was accompanied by deterioration of the dosimetric coverage for the different target volumes. It is essential that a careful adaptation of the treatment plan be considered during therapy for selected patients.     

Design,synthesis and identification of N,N-dibenzylcinnamamide (DBC) derivatives as novel ligands for α-synuclein fibrils by SPR evaluation system

PET imaging of α-synuclein (α-syn) deposition in the brain will be an effective tool for earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) due to α-syn aggregation is the widely accepted biomarker for PD. However, the necessary PET radiotracer for imaging is clinically unavailable until now. The lead compound discovery is the first key step for the study. Herein, we initially established an efficient biologically evaluation system well in high throughput based on SPR technology, and identified a novel class of N, N-dibenzylcinnamamide (DBC) compounds as α-syn ligands through the assay. These compounds were proved to have high affinities against α-syn aggregates (K_D < 10 nM), which well met the requirement of binding activity for the PET probe. These DBC compounds were firstly reported as α-syn ligands herein and the preliminary obtained structure has been further modified into F-labeled ones. Among them, a high-affinity tracer (5–41) with 1.03 nM (K_D) has been acquired, indicating its potential as a new lead compound for developing PET radiotracer.     

Partial substitution of organic nitrogen with synthetic nitrogen enhances rice yield,grain starch metabolism and related genes expression under the dual cropping system

Improving grain filling in the presernt farming systems is crucial where grain filling is a concern due to the extreme use of chemical fertilizers (CF). A field experiment was conducted at the experimental station of Guangxi University, China in 2019 to test the hypothesis that cattle manure (CM) and poultry manure (PM) combined with CF could improve rice grain filling rate, yield, biochemical and qualitative attributes. A total of six treatments, i.e., no fertilizer (T₁), 100% CF (T₂), 60% CM + 40% CF (T₃), 30% CM + 70% CF (T₄), 60% PM + 40% CF (T₅), and 30% PM + 70% CF (T₆) were used in this study. Results showed that the combined treatment T₆increased starch metabolizing enzymes activity (SMEs), such as ADP-glucose phosphorylase (ADGPase) by 8 and 12%, soluble starch synthase (SSS) by 7 and 10%, granule bound starch synthesis (GBSS) by 7 and 9%, and starch branching enzyme (SBE) by 14 and 21% in the early and late seasons, respectively, compared with T₂. Similarly, higher rice grain yield, grain filling rate, starch, and amylose content were also recorded in combined treatments. In terms of seasons, higher activity of SMEs , grain starch, and amylose content was noted in the late-season compared to the early season. The increment in these traits was mainly attributed to a lower temperature in the late season during the grain filling period. Furthermore, our results suggested that an increment in starch accumulation and grain filling rate were mainly associated with the enhanced sink capacity by regulating key enzyme activities involved in Suc-to-starch conversion. In-addition, RT-qPCR analysis showed higher expression levels of AGPS2b, SSS1, GBSS1, and GBSE11b genes, which resultantly increased the activities of SMEs during the grain filling period under combined treatments. Linear regression analysis revealed that the activity of ADGPase, SSS, GBSS, and SBE were highly positively correlated with starch and amylose accumulation. Thus, we concluded that a combination of 30% N from PM or CM with 70% N from CF is a promising option in terms of improving rice grain yield and quality. Our study provides a sustainable fertilizer management strategy to enhance rice grain yield and quality at the lowest environmental cost.     

Differential diagnosis between progression and radionecrosis in brain metastases after stereotactic radiosurgery using hybrid FDG-PET and MRI coregistered images

IntroductionDual phase 18 FDG brain PET is helpful to assess brain metastases (BM) as tracer will build up in metastases or tumor recurrences while its retention remains stable within normal tissue or inflammatory processes. This is useful when MRI can’t discriminate brain tumor recurrence (TR) rom radionecrosis (RN) after stereotaxic radiosurgery (SRS) for BM. Many studies have sought to improve diagnostic performance by associating FDG-PET and MRI with interesting results but many biases, mostly within image post-processing. Coregistered MRI and dual phase FDG-PET images could alleviate these biases and be used to extract prognostic biomarkers.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively evaluated patients treated with SRS for BM which developed a contrast-enhanced MRI lesion with non-conclusive diagnosis for TR or RN. All patients underwent MRI and FDG-PET at least 3 months after their last SRS session. Dual FDG-PET consisted in an “early” and “delayed” acquisition, respectively 30 minutes and 4 h after injection. MRI included permeability and perfusion sequences. PET and MRI data were all coregistered on the contrast enhanced T1 MRI images. Semi-automated Volumes of Interest (VOI) of the tumor were drawn on the BM and a reference contralateral white-matter ROI (WM) was drawn for standardization; every metric was calculated inside these ROIs, in particular the tumor SUVmax and its variation in time. A 20% increase in the tumor SUVmax was in favor of TR while a modification of less than 100% was in favor of RN. Imaging metrics were then evaluated for their association with TR or RN based on histological, radiological and clinical criteria after at least 6 months follow-up.ResultsNine patients were ruled out as TR and 6 as RN. After standardization, there was a significant difference between groups for VP (P = 0.042), Washin (P = 0.035), Peak Enhancement (P = 0.037), standardized delayed SUVmax (P = 0.008) and RI (P = 0.016). Semi-quantitative analysis found respectively for PET and MRI a Sensitivity of 100% and 87.5% and a Specificity of 100% and 85.71%.ConclusionCoregistered PET-MRI images accurately discriminate between TR and RN. With FDG being the most commonly used PET radiotracer, this protocol remains easily transposable and should be encouraged to obtain non-invasive prognostic and clinically relevant biomarkers.