Identification of P-type plasma membrane H^(+)-ATPases in common wheat and characterization of TaHA7 associated with seed dormancy and germination

The P-type plasma membrane(PM)H^(+)-ATPases(HAs)are crucial for plant development,growth,and defense.The HAs have been thoroughly characterized in many different plants.However,despite their importance,the functions of HAs in germination and seed dormancy(SD)have not been validated in wheat.Here,we identified 28 TaHA genes(TaHA1-28)in common wheat,which were divided into five subfamilies.An examination of gene expression in strong-and weak-SD wheat varieties led to the discovery of six candidate genes(TaHA7/-12/-14/-16/-18/-20).Based on a single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)mutation(C/T)in the TaHA7 coding region,a CAPS marker(HA7)was developed and validated in 168 wheat varieties and 171 Chinese mini-core collections that exhibit diverse germination and SD phenotypes.We further verified the roles of the two allelic variations of TaHA7 in germination and SD using wheat mutants mutagenized with ethyl methane sulphonate(EMS)in‘Jimai 22’and‘Jing 411’backgrounds,and in transgenic Arabidopsis lines.TaHA7 appears to regulate germination and SD by mediating gibberellic acid(GA)and abscisic acid(ABA)signaling,metabolism,and biosynthesis.The results presented here will enable future research regarding the TaHAs in wheat.

Properties enhancement of antimicrobial chitosan-deposited polylactic acid films via cold plasma treatment

The present study aimed to understand the effect of dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma(DBD-CP)technology on the antimicrobial chitosan deposition and the properties enhancement of polylactic acid(PLA)films.The results indicated that DBD-CP was an effective method for improving the adhesion and surface hydrophilicity of PLA,facilitating the deposition of chitosan coating.This modification was attributed to the increased surface roughness,as well as the presence of polar functional groups observed through atomic force microscopy,surface free energy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis.The study further revealed that both water resistance and mechanical properties were significantly improved after DBD-CP treatment,which was positively correlated with the amount of chitosan deposited on the PLA surfaces.Following comprehensive evaluation,the treatment at 75 W was determined as the optimal condition for enhancing the properties.Additionally,the modified film exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.Consequently,the DBD-CP technology could be a promising tool for better utilization of PLA-based materials in the antibacterial food packaging industry.

Storage time affects the level and diagnostic efficacy of plasma biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases

Several promising plasma biomarker proteins,such as amyloid-β(Aβ),tau,neurofilament light chain,and glial fibrillary acidic protein,are widely used for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.However,little is known about the long-term stability of these biomarker proteins in plasma samples stored at-80°C.We aimed to explore how storage time would affect the diagnostic accuracy of these biomarkers using a large cohort.Plasma samples from 229 cognitively unimpaired individuals,encompassing healthy controls and those experiencing subjective cognitive decline,as well as 99 patients with cognitive impairment,comprising those with mild cognitive impairment and dementia,were acquired from the Sino Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Decline project.These samples were stored at-80°C for up to 6 years before being used in this study.Our results showed that plasma levels of Aβ42,Aβ40,neurofilament light chain,and glial fibrillary acidic protein were not significantly correlated with sample storage time.However,the level of total tau showed a negative correlation with sample storage time.Notably,in individuals without cognitive impairment,plasma levels of total protein and tau phosphorylated protein threonine 181(p-tau181)also showed a negative correlation with sample storage time.This was not observed in individuals with cognitive impairment.Consequently,we speculate that the diagnostic accuracy of plasma p-tau181 and the p-tau181 to total tau ratio may be influenced by sample storage time.Therefore,caution is advised when using these plasma biomarkers for the identification of neurodegenerative diseases,such as Alzheimer's disease.Furthermore,in cohort studies,it is important to consider the impact of storage time on the overall results.

Intraarticular injections(corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, platelet rich plasma) for the knee osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis(OA)is a complex"whole joint"disease pursued by inflammatory mediators,rather than purely a process of"wear and tear".Besides cartilage degradation,synovitis,subchondral bone remodeling,degeneration of ligaments and menisci,and hypertrophy of the joint capsule take parts in the pathogenesis.Pain is the hallmark symptom of OA,but the extent to which structural pathology in OA contributes to the pain experience is still not well known.For the knee OA,intraarticular(IA)injection(corticosteroids,viscosupplements,blood-derived products)is preferred as the last nonoperative modality,if the other conservative treatment modalities are ineffective.IA corticosteroid injections provide short term reduction in OA pain and can be considered as an adjunct to core treatment for the relief of moderate to severe pain in people with OA.IA hyaluronic acid(HA)injections might have efficacy and might provide pain reduction in mild OA of knee up to 24 wk.But for HA injections,the costeffectiveness is an important concern that patients must be informed about the efficacy of these preparations.Although more high-quality evidence is needed,recent studies indicate that IA platelet rich plasma injections are promising for relieving pain,improving knee function and quality of life,especially in younger patients,and in mild OA cases.The current literature and our experience indicate that IA injections are safe and have positive effects for patient satisfaction.But,there is no data that any of the IA injections will cause osteophytes to regress or cartilage and meniscus to regenerate in patients with substantial and irreversible bone and cartilage damage.

Single-and double-dose of platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid for treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Platelet-rich plasma(PRP)and hyaluronic acid have been shown to be useful in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.However,investigations comparing the efficacy of these two drugs together are insufficient.AIM To compare the outcomes of PRP vs hyaluronic acid injections in three groups of patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis.METHODS This randomized controlled trial study involved 95 patients.Thirty-one subjects received a single injection of PRP(group PRP-1),33 subjects received two injections of PRP at an interval of 3 wk(group PRP-2)and 31 subjects received three injections of hyaluronic acid at 1-wk intervals(group hyaluronic acid).The patients were investigated prospectively at the enrollment and at 4-,8-and 12-wk follow-up with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index(WOMAC)and Visual Analogue Scale questionnaires.RESULTS Percentages of patients experiencing at least a 30%decrease in the total score for the WOMAC pain subscale from baseline to wk 12 of the intervention were 86%,100%and 0%in the groups PRP-1,PRP-2 and hyaluronic acid,respectively(P<0.001).The mean total WOMAC scores for groups PRP-1,PRP-2 and hyaluronic acid at baseline were 63.71,61.57 and 63.11,respectively.The WOMAC scores were significantly improved at final follow-up to 42.5,35.32 and 57.26,respectively.The highest efficacy of PRP was observed in both groups at wk 4 with about 50%decrease in the symptoms compared with about 25%decrease for hyaluronic acid.Group PRP-2 had higher efficacy than group PRP-1.No major adverse effects were found during the study.CONCLUSION PRP is a safe and efficient therapeutic option for treatment of knee osteoarthritis.It was demonstrated to be significantly better than hyaluronic acid.We also found that the efficacy of PRP increases after multiple injections.

Plasma free amino acid profiling of esophageal cancer using high-performance liquid chromatography spectroscopy

AIM: To perform plasma free amino acid (PFAA) profiling of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients at different pathological stages and healthy subjects.

Poly (Acrylamide-co-Acrylic Acid) Hydrogel Induced by Glow-Discharge Electrolysis Plasma and Its Adsorption Properties for Cationic Dyes

In this paper, poly （acrylamide-co-acrylic acid） （P（AM-co-AA）） hydrogel was pre- pared in an aqueous solution by using glow-discharge electrolysis plasma （GDEP） induced copoly- merization of acrylamide （AM） and acrylic acid （AA）, in which N,N＇-methylenebisacrylamide （MBA） was used as a crosslinker. A mechanism for the synthesis of P（AM-co-AA） hydrogel was proposed. To optimize the synthesis condition, the following parameters were examined in detail： the discharge voltage, discharge time, the content of the crosslinker, and the mass ratio of AM to AA. The results showed that the optimum pH range for cationic dyes removal was found to be 5.0-10.0. The P（AM-co-AA） hydrogel exhibits a very high adsorption potential and the ex- perimental adsorption capacities for Crystal violet （CV） and Methylene blue （MB） were 2974.3 mg/g and 2303.6 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption process follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In addition, the adsorption mechanism of P（AM-co-AA） hydrogel for cationic dyes was also discussed.

Graft Polymerization of Acrylic Acid on a Polytetrafluoroethylene Panel by an Inductively Coupled Plasma

Surface modification on a polytetrafluoroethylene （PTFE） panel was performed with sequential nitrogen plasma treatments and surface-initiated polymerization. By introducing COO- groups to the surface of the PTFE panel through grafting polymerization of acrylic acid （AA）, a transparent poly （acrylic acid） （PAA） membrane was achieved from acrylic acid solution. Grafting polymerization initiating from the active group5 was achieved on the PTFE panel surface after the nitrogen plasma treatment. Utilizing the acrylic acid as monomers, with COO- groups as cross link sites to form reticulation structure, a transparent poly （acrylic acid） membrane with arborescent macromolecular structure was formed on the PTFE panel surface. Analysis meth- ods, such as fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR）, microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, were utilized to characterize the structures of the macromolecule membrane on the PTFE panel surface. A contact angle measurement was performed to characterize the modified PTFE panels. The surface hydrophilicities of modified PTFE panels were significantly enhanced after the plasma treatment. It was shown that the grafting rate is related to the treating time and the power of plasma.

Enhanced electrocatalytic activity of carbon cloth by synergetic effect of plasma and acid treatment

Commercial carbon cloth(CC)is an ideal electrocatalysis material to produce oxygen evolution reaction(OER)due to its high conductive and 3D flexible structure,but the lacked active sites limit its application.For improving its OER performance,the present study proposed an effective method combining plasma and acid treatment to introduce oxygen-containing functional groups and produce more active sites on its surface.Compared to the pristine CC,the plasma and acid treated carbon cloth(PN-CC)delivers a reduced overpotential by 34.6%to achieve current density of 10 mA cm^(−2).The Tafel slope declines from 97.5 mV dec^(–1)(pristine CC)to 55.9 mV dec–1(PN-CC),showing an increased OER kinetic.Additionally,PN-CC electrocatalyst shows outstanding stability after 5000 cycles or 25000 s.The combination of plasma and acid treatment shows a significant potential in surface modification for electrocatalysts.

Association of n3 and n6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in red blood cell membrane and plasma with severity of normal tension glaucoma

AIM: To determine whether red blood cell(RBC)membrane and plasma lipids, particularly long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA), docosahexaenoic acid(DHA), arachidonic acid(AA) are significantly correlated with severity of normal tension glaucoma(NTG).METHODS: This study included 35 patients with NTG and 12 healthy normal control subjects, matched for age and sex with the study group. The stage of glaucoma was determined according to the Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson classification. Lipids were extracted from RBC membranes and plasma, and fatty acid methyl esters prepared and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).RESULTS: When RBC lipids were analyzed, the levels of EPA, the levels of DHA and the ratio of n3 to n6 were positively associated with the Humphrey Perimetry mean Deviation(MD) score(r =0.617, P 【0.001; r =0.727, P 【0.001 and r =0.720, P 【0.001, respectively), while the level of AA was negatively associated with the MD score(r =-0.427, P =0.001). When plasma lipids were analyzed,there was a significant positive relationship between the levels of EPA and the MD score(r =0.648, P 【0.001), and the levels of AA were inversely correlated with the MD score(r =-0.638, P 【0.001). CONCLUSION: The levels of n3 and n6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in RBC membrane and plasma lipids were associated with severity of NTG.

Regeneration of Acid Orange 7 Exhausted Granular Activated Carbon Using Pulsed Discharge Plasmas

In this paper, a pulsed discharge plasma （PDP） system with a multi-needle-to-plate electrodes geometry was set up to investigate the regeneration of acid orange 7 （AO7） exhausted granular activated carbon （GAC）. Regeneration of GAC was studied under different conditions of peak pulse discharge voltage and water pH, as well as the modification effect of GAC by the pulse discharge process, to figure out the regeneration efficiency and the change of the GAC structure by the PDP treatment. The obtained results showed that there was an appropriate peak pulse voltage and an optimal initial pH value of the solution for GAC regeneration. Analyses of scanning electron microscope （SEM）, Boehm titration, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller （BET）, Horvath-Kawazoe （HK）, and X-ray Diffraction （XRD） showed that there were more mesopore and macropore in the regenerated GAC and the structure turned smoother with the increase of discharge voltage; the amount of acidic functional groups on the GAC surface increased while the amount of basic functional groups decreased after the regeneration process. From the result of the XRD analysis, there were no new substances produced on the GAC after PDP treatment.

Activated persulfate by DBD plasma and activated carbon for the degradation of acid orange Ⅱ

In this study, the effect of activated peroxydisulfate(PDS) by dielectric barrier discharge(DBD) plasma and activated carbon(HGAC) on the removal of acid orange Ⅱ(AOⅡ) was investigated. The effects of applied voltage, PDS dosage, HGAC dosage, initial pH value, and inorganic anions on the removal rate of AOⅡ were discussed. The main free radicals degrading azo dyes during the experiment were also studied. Experimental results show that the removal rate of AOⅡ in DBD/HGAC/PDS synergistic system is much higher than that in the single system. With the applied voltage of 16 kV, HGAC dosage of 1 g l-1, PDS and AOⅡ molar ratio of 200:1, initial pH value of 5.4 and concentration of AOⅡ solution of 20 mg l-1, the removal rate of AOⅡ reached 97.6% in DBD/HGAC/PDS process after 28 min of reaction.Acidic and neutral conditions are beneficial for AOⅡ removal. Sulfate and hydroxyl radicals play an important role in the removal of AOⅡ. Inorganic anions are not conducive to the removal of AOⅡ.

Adjunctive platelet-rich plasma and hyaluronic acid injection after arthroscopic debridement in Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 and 4 knee osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis(OA)is the most common cause of pain and disability,predominantly affecting the knee.The current management of knee OA falls short of completely stopping disease progression,particularly in Kellgren-Lawrence(KL)grade 3 and 4 knee OA.As such,joint replacement is often recommended,although only 15%-33%of candidates accept it.Alternative therapeutic options are still needed to prevent the progression of joint damage and delay the need for knee arthroplasty.AIM To investigate the effect of adjunctive platelet rich plasma(PRP)and hyaluronic acid(HA)after arthroscopic debridement in KL grade 3 and 4 knee OA.METHODS This retrospective cohort study used the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)score and WOMAC sub-scores(pain,stiffness,and function)to assess 21 patients,grouped according to medical record data of treatment received:Arthroscopic debridement(n=7);arthroscopic debridement with PRP(n=7);or arthroscopic debridement with HA(n=7).WOMAC scores and sub-scores at baseline and at 3 mo and 5 mo posttreatment were recorded.The three-group data were statistically analyzed using the tests of paired t,one-way analysis of variance,and post hoc least significant difference.RESULTS All three treatment groups showed significant improvements in WOMAC score and sub-scores from before treatment to 3 mo and 5 mo after treatment.However,the arthroscopic debridement with PRP treatment group,in particular,showed a significantly lower WOMAC pain score than the group who received arthroscopic debridement alone at 5 mo after the procedure(P=0.03).CONCLUSION Compared to arthroscopic debridement alone,adjunctive PRP after arthroscopic debridement significantly lessened the patients’pain symptom.

Preparation of the Supported Heteropolyacids Catalyst by Ultrasound-plasma Treatment

Novel catalysts of phosphotungstic heteropolyacids （PW12） supported on neutral alumina were prepared by assistance of ultrasound and plasma treatment. The prepared catalysts were characterized by FT-IR pyridine adsorption （Py-IR）, temperature programmed desorption of Pyridine （Py-TPD）, BET and X-ray diffraction （XRD）, and their catalytic performances were evaluated by the cationic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran. The results indicate that plasma treatment remarkably increases the surface acidity of the prepared catalyst while ultrasonic treatment induces PW12 to uniformly disperse on the support surface and expose more active sites for the acid catalytic reaction. A higher catalytic activity （69.7%） is obtained on the novel catalyst, which significantly outstripped that on the conventional sample （57.5%）.

Variations in surface and electrical properties of polytetrafluoroethylene film after plasma-induced grafting of acrylic acid

Polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) film was graftpolymerized with acrylic acid(AAc) via a low-temperature plasma technique.The effect of plasma treatment parameters(radio-frequency power and treatment time) on the spin number of free radicals in PTFE film was examined.Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared(ATR-FTIR)spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy,and atomic force microscopy were employed to characterize the chemical structure,surface composition,and microstructure of the original PTFE and PTFE-g-PAAc films,respectively,in order to verify the successful graft polymerization of AAc onto a PTFE film surface.Thermogravimetric analysis illustrated that the thermal stability of bulk PTFE film remains unchanged after graft modification.Water contact angle measurements confirmed that the hydrophilicity of PTFE-g-PAAc film was effectively improved as compared to the original PTFE film.The dielectric constant(ε_r) of PTFE-g-PAAc(GD =218 μg/cm^2) film remained invariable,compared to that of the unmodified PTFE film.Nevertheless,the dielectric loss(tanδ) of PTFE film increased considerably,from 0.0002(GD = 0μg/cm^2) to 0.0073(GD = 218 μg/cm^2),which might be due to the increase in surface polarity and moisture resulting from AAc graft modification.In addition,the surface electrical resistance(R_s) of PTFE film decreased slightly,from 131.89(GD = 0 μg/cm^2) to 110.28 Ω cm^2(GD = 218μg/cm^2) after surface modification,but still retained its inherent high impedance.

Esterification by the Plasma Acidic Water:Novel Application of Plasma Acid

This work explores the possibility of plasma acid as acid catalyst in organic reactions. Plasma acidic water was prepared by dielectric barrier discharge and used to catalyze esterification of n-heptanioc acid with ethanol. It is found that the plasma acidic water has a stable and better performance than sulfuric acid, meaning that it is an excellent acid catalyst. The plasma acidic water would be a promising alternative for classic mineral acid as a more environment friendly acid.

Study on Amino Acid Composition of HSP70 and the Level of Plasma Free Amino Acids of Workers with Long-term Exposure to Harmful factors

In order to know the practical value of heat stress protein 70 (HSP70) and to know the changes of plasma free amino acids of workers with the induction of HSP70 by harmful factors, the amino acid composition of major HSP, HSP70 purified from the heated cultured human leukemia cancer cell line K562, rabbit liver, rat liver and heart, and mouse liver with two-step procedures of DE52-cel-lulose ion exchange chromatography and affinity chromatography on ATP-agarose was examined. The level of plasma free amino acids of workers with long-term exposure to heat, carbon monoxide and the combined effect of both heat and carbon monoxide was also investigated. The results showed that the three richest amino acids in HSP70 of all origins were Gly, Glu and Asp, except that of rat heart which was rich in Gly, Phe and Glu. Additionally, Lys, Val, Leu and Ala were also found very rich in HSP70 of all origins. Compared with controls, the most of plasma free amino acids tended to increase and free methionine and trypto-phan were increased significantly (P<0. 05) after a long-term exposure to heat, carbon monoxide, and both. These findings suggested that further studies need to be done to find the substances or drugs which induce the synthesis of HSP70 and reduce the inhibition of synthesis of normal proteins for the purpose of protecting people with exposure to harmful factors against the damage of the factors.

A Study of Bioactivity of Corn Peptides with Low Molecular Weight Ⅱ: Effect on Plasma Free Amino Acid Concentrations in Rats

The effects of the ingestion of corn peptides with a low molecular weight(LMCP) prepared from zein on some plasma free amino acid concentrations in rats that had taken ethanol were investigated. LMCP(1 0 g/kg body weight) in 15% ethanol(10 mL/kg body weight) was given to Wister rats by intragastrical administration. The amino acid analysis showed that the concentrations of alanine, leucine, and proline in the plasma reached their maximum levels at 30 min for the LMCP-intake group. They are 582.39, 99.60 and 272.51 μg/L , respectively. But in the control group, the plasma free amino acid levels were not changed obviously. Therefore, LMCP could cause an increase in concentration of some free amino acids such as alanine, leucine and proline etc . in plasma of the rats that have taken ethanol.

Effectiveness of Apricots (<i>Prunus armeniaca</i>), Pomegranate (<i>Punica granatum</i>) Juice and Lactic Acid Fermented Sobya on Plasma Levels of Lipid Profile Parameters and Total Homocysteine among Egyptian Adults

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of dietary intervention with apricots, pomegranate juice or lactic acid fermented sobya on improving the plasma levels of lipid profile parameters and total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) among healthy adults. Design of the study: Thirty-five men and women (28.9 ± 3.0 years) with mean body mass index of 23.5 ± 1.2 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to a dietary intervention study. During the pre-feeding study records of 24-hour food intake, anthropometric measurements and blood sampling were collected for biochemical investigations. Thereafter the volunteers were divided into five groups: a control group (C);the other four groups received daily one of the following supplements: 200 g of deep yellow apricots (Prunus armeniaca) (AF);250 g pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice (PJ);mixture of 100 g (PJ) and 150 g of fermented sobya (FS), (PJ-FS) or 165 g (FS). After completing the three-week dietary intervention, blood samples were collected and blood indices were again evaluated. Biochemical analysis of total lipids (TL), total glycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and tHcy were completed. The low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level and three indices of risk factors were calculated using the appropriate equations. Results: Three-week dietary intervention improved the levels of lipid profile parameters TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C as compared to the respective baseline levels and the response of the control group that did not receive any supplement. Consuming (PJ-FS) had a synergistic beneficially added value on some of the above mentioned lipid profile parameters. The mean plasma tHcy concentrations;a marker for occlusive vascular disease was reduced significantly following the three week consumption of (PJ) or (FS), compared with the respective pre-feeding levels. Conclusion: Pomegranate juice (PJ) or lactic acid fermented sobya (FS) or mixture of both are potential natural agents in lowering the plasma levels of lipid profile parameters and tHcy among apparently healthy young women and men, without dyslipidemic symptoms.

Plasma Fatty Acid Composition in Men over 50 in the USA and Japan

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) rates differ markedly between the US and Japan. Fatty acid profiles have been linked to risk for CHD. Few studies have compared the plasma fatty acid composition, including trans fatty acids, in Japanese and US subjects. Methods: Fasting blood samples were taken from healthy older (>age 50) American (n = 76) and Japanese (n = 44) men, and plasma levels of 23 fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography and expressed as a percent of total fatty acids. Results: As expected, plasma levels of long-chain ω3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids, DHA and EPA) were higher in Japanese men and ω6 fatty acids (e.g., arachidonic acid, AA) were lower compared with American men. Plasma levels of the major industrially-produced trans fatty acids (IP-TFAs;elaidic and linoelaidic acids) were far higher in American men, and levels of the potentially cardioprotective, primarily ruminant-derived trans fatty acid palmitoelaidic acid (POA) were higher in Japanese. Plasma levels of saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids were also higher in the American men. Conclusion: There are multiple differences in plasma fatty acid profiles between American and Japanese older men. The higher levels of DHA and EPA, along with the lower levels of the IP-TFAs, are consistent with the markedly lower risk for coronary heart disease in Japan vs. the US.