Responses of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis Leaf Traits and Anatomical Structures to Drought Stress in Purple Soil

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the response of Gardenia to purple soil drought stress,hoping to provide a reference for the selection of plants for vegetation restoration in purple soil regions.[Methods]The pot-weighing water control method was used to apply different degrees of drought stress to Gardenia seedlings in purple soil,and the effects of drought stress on the electrical conductivity,chlorophyll content,leaf morphology and structure of Gardenia leaves were explored.[Results]The leaf electrical conductivity increased with the increase of drought stress intensity,and the leaf electrical conductivity under severe drought stress increased by 59.93%compared with the control;the chlorophyll content of Gardenia showed a single-peak changing trend that increased and then decreased with the development of drought stress,and it was the highest in each stress stage under severe drought stress;the leaf thickness,palisade tissue thickness and sponge tissue thickness of Gardenia were reduced with the stress degree increasing,and showed the largest decreases under severe stress;the stomatal length,stomatal width and stomatal opening of Gardenia gradually decreased with the increase of stress,while the stomatal density gradually increased.[Conclusions]This study provides a technical and resource basis for vegetation restoration in purple soil.

Visualizing Complex Anatomical Structure in Bamboo Nodes Based on X-ray Microtomography

In recent years,bamboo has been widely used in a broad range of applications,a thorough understanding of the structural characteristics of bamboo nodes is essential for better processing and manufacturing of biomimetic materials.This study investigated the complex anatomical structure for the nodes of two bamboo species,Indocalamus latifolius(Keng)McClure and Shibataea chinensis Nakai,using a high-resolution X-ray microtomography(μCT).The results show that the vascular bundle system in the nodal region of I.latifolius and S.chinensis is a net-like structure composed of horizontal and axial vascular bundles.Furthermore,the fiber sheath surrounding metaxylem vessels tended to be shorter in the tangential direction.This structure of bamboo nodes facilitates the tangential and axial transport of moisture and nutrients.The anatomical structure of I.latifolius and S.chinensis nodes has obvious differences,especially in the arrangement of vascular bundles.Vascular bundle frequency was significantly higher in S.chinensis nodes than in I.latifolius nodes.These findings indicate thatμCT is a nondestructive three-dimensional imaging method that can used to examine the anatomical structure of bamboo nodes.

Comparison of clinical efficacy of neddle knife at acupoints selected from recent regions along meridians and according to anatomical structures in treating early and middle stage knee osteoarthritis

Objective:To stimulate tenderness points around knee joint in two metholds-corresponding acupoints selected from recent regions along meridians and anatomical structures,to compare the clinical efficacy of neddle knife of to cure early and middle stage knee osteoarthritis.Method:70 patients were randomly(Random Number Tables)divided into test group(acupoints selected from recent regions along meridians,n=35)and control group(anatomical structures,n=35),who were diagnosed as knee osteoarthritis.Observe the VAS(visual analogue scale),Lysholm,WOMAC(the Western Ontario and McMaster Unive rsities Osteoarthritis Index)and ROM(rang of motion)between two groups in first week,first month,third month after treatment.Recording the degree of improvement of knee joint’s pain,dysfunction and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rang of motion.Results:Within groups,the VAS,Lysholm,WOMAC and ROM were obviously different from pre-therapy scores in the third,sixth and twelfth week post-therapy(P<0.05).Between groups no significant difference were observed in the third week post-therapy about VAS,Lysholm,WOMAC scores(P>0.05).However,there were differences in the sixth,twelfth weeks post-therapy(P<0.05);compared with control group,the ROM of test group were difference in the third,sixth,twelfth weeks post-therapy(P<0.05).Conclusion:The clinical efficacy of stimulating corresponding acupoints tenderness points selected from recent regions along meridians to treat early and middle stage knee osteoarthritis was superior to anatomical structures,which can effectively relieve pain,dysfunction,symptoms of osteoarthritis of knee joint and rang of motion.

Nasal valve angle or nasal valve groove:Which is more suitable to describe a normal anatomic structure?

The size of the nasal valve angle is often used to assess nasal ventilation.A larger angle of the nasal valve is believed to be more conducive for ventilation,and a small angle is considered unfavorable.However,in more than 30 years of clinical practice,we have experienced that some patients with a normal nasal valve angle have relatively severe subjective or objective nasal ventilation obstruction.By studying the computed tomography data of these patients,we found that the tips of their nasal valves were at a sharp angle,while those of healthy individuals were in an arc shape.A sharp angle at the tip of the nasal valve,therefore,is a risk factor for obstructed nasal ventilation.Herein,we propose that the term“nasal valve groove”may be a more appropriate descriptor for the normal internal nasal valve anatomy,and we hope that more rhinoplasty surgeons will pay attention to how the shape of the tip affects nasal ventilation.

Physiological traits and anatomic structures of the seed for two short cotton season genotypes(Gossypium hirsutum L.) under water stress

Cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.) is utilized commercially in the production of textile, clothing, and household goods. Its growth is affected by various environmental conditions such as soil, climate, and water supply. Irrigation is one of the most important factors for crop management. This research was designed with the aim of studying the biochemical and anatomical features of two genotypes of cottonseed(Latif and Golestan) in order to determine optimum irrigation. Protein, starch, gossypol gland, total soluble protein, starch content, and the anatomical structure of the cotton seeds were investigated. The data were analyzed using the SAS Software. The results showed that when rainfed, Golestan genotype seeds had a larger number of secretory cavities, soluble protein, and starch compared to Latif seeds. There was also a noticeable difference in the size of the seeds. Cellulosic cell walls and protein particles were also observed in the seed structure under induced water stress conditions. It can therefore be concluded that in response to water shortage, there was a noticeable change in the morphometric, anatomic, and biochemical features of the cottonseeds. It can be concluded that when rainfed, the Golestan genotype of cottonseed has more compatibility than the Latif genotype. In general, the application of different levels of irrigation showed that at moderate levels of irrigation, anatomical features appeared more normal. The observations indicate that at high levels of irrigation, some cells begin to dehisce due to osmotic stress, which results in a lack of accurate formation of tissue structures. The Golestan genotype is therefore the best suited for dryland farming.

Non-concomitant cortical structural and functional alterations in sensorimotor areas following incomplete spinal cord injury

Brain plasticity, including anatomical changes and functional reorganization, is the physiological basis of functional recovery after spinal cord injury(SCI). The correlation between brain anatomical changes and functional reorganization after SCI is unclear. This study aimed to explore whether alterations of cortical structure and network function are concomitant in sensorimotor areas after incomplete SCI. Eighteen patients with incomplete SCI(mean age 40.94 ± 14.10 years old; male:female, 7:11) and 18 healthy subjects(37.33 ± 11.79 years old; male:female, 7:11) were studied by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Gray matter volume(GMV) and functional connectivity were used to evaluate cortical structure and network function, respectively. There was no significant alteration of GMV in sensorimotor areas in patients with incomplete SCI compared with healthy subjects. Intra-hemispheric functional connectivity between left primary somatosensory cortex(BA1) and left primary motor cortex(BA4), and left BA1 and left somatosensory association cortex(BA5) was decreased, as well as inter-hemispheric functional connectivity between left BA1 and right BA4, left BA1 and right BA5, and left BA4 and right BA5 in patients with SCI. Functional connectivity between both BA4 areas was also decreased. The decreased functional connectivity between the left BA1 and the right BA4 positively correlated with American Spinal Injury Association sensory score in SCI patients. The results indicate that alterations of cortical anatomical structure and network functional connectivity in sensorimotor areas were non-concomitant in patients with incomplete SCI, indicating the network functional changes in sensorimotor areas may not be dependent on anatomic structure. The strength of functional connectivity within sensorimotor areas could serve as a potential imaging biomarker for assessment and prediction of sensory function in patients with incomplete SCI. This trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration number: Chi CTR-ROC-17013566).