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Unstable pH of nutrient solution in hydroponic systems is a major obstacle to production. To simplify the management of nutrient solution pH and attenuate negative effects of pH on plant growth, this study investigated the effect of different buffer salt additions on nutrient solution pH, ion uptake, growth and photosynthesis of Yamazaki lettuce, with the equivalent concentrations of macro-element unchanged. The results indicated that the pH of nutrient solution was buffered to varying degrees by the 2 mol/L HCO3-, 1 mol/L HCO3-, and 0.33 mol/L HPO42- treatments. The 0.33 mol/L HPO42- treatment fluctuated most with a pH of 1.74 units, while the addition of HCO3- buffered nutrient solution pH was better, with higher pH values (7.2-7.7). The CK-pH control solution, 1 mol/L HCO3- and 0.33 mol/L HPO24- treatments all promoted the uptake of ion and then the growth of lettuce was better in comparison with the CK-pH no adjustment treatment, while the 2 mol/L HCO3- treatment inhibited K uptake and reduced the availability of Fe, the shoot and root fresh weight of lettuce decreased by 21.3% and 10.1%, respectively. In addition, although the chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate under 1 mol/L HCO3- and 0.33 mol/L HPO42- treatments were significantly lower than the CK-pH control solution treatment, there were no significant differences in leaf length and leaf number of lettuce among them, and shoot fresh weight per plant was 83.09, 82.95, and 78.92 g, respectively. In conclusion, adding 1 mol/L HCO3- to the nutrient solution in a single dosage not only buffered the pH of nutrient solution better but also promoted ion uptake, it had no negative effects on the growth, photosynthesis and ion uptake of hydroponic lettuce in comparison with the CK-pH control solution treatment. Therefore, 1 mol/L HCO3- can be used as a buffer during the growth of hydroponic lettuce and reduce frequent addition of acids or alkalis, and then simplify the management of nutrient solution for hydroponic lettuce production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the rapid development of genetic detection technology, especially next-generation sequencing, identification of the aetiology of unexplained intellectual disabilities accompanied by seizures and other dysmorphic features has become possible. The purpose of our paper is to make a definitive diagnosis of a girl with neonatal hypotonia, severe global developmental delay, seizures and mild facial dysmorphism. Methods: The clinical data of the patient were retrospectively studied. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on a blood sample from the patient. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing was utilized for validation of variants and parental validation. Results: The patient had hypotonia since the neonatal period. She showed a significant delay in physical and psychomotor development. She did not have any speech until the age of 2 years and 6 months. She had seizures that were easy to control with levetiracetam. The craniocerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) then showed mild delayed myelination, enlarged bilateral ventricles and widened frontotemporal extracerebral space. Interictal video electroencephalogram (VEEG) was normal. She had esotropia and mild facial abnormalities with a flat nasal bridge and a short nose. She showed no abnormalities in the heart, genitourinary or skeletal systems. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a novel de novo variant c.5334_5335delAG (p. Arg1778Serfs*11) in the SON gene. Conclusion: Our paper reports a novel variant in the SON gene and provides a definitive diagnosis of a female with neonatal hypotonia, severe global developmental delay, seizures and mild facial abnormalities, which are symptoms consistent with Zhu-Tokita-Takenouchi-Kim syndrome (ZTTK syndrome). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family proteins (BET2, BET3, and BET4) "read" (bind) histone acetylation marks via two distinct bromodomains (Brom1 and Brom2) facilitating transcriptional activation. These epigenetic "readers" play crucial roles in pathogenic processes such as inflammation. The role of BETs in influencing the degenerative process in the retina is however unknown.Methods: We employed the rd10 mouse model (Pde6b rd10 mutation) of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) to examine the involvement of BET proteins in retinal neurodegeneration.Results: Inhibition of BET activity by intravitreal delivery of JQ1, a BET-specific inhibitor binding both Brom1 and Brom2, ameliorated photoreceptor degeneration and improved electroretinographic function. Rescue effects of JQ1 were related to the suppression of retinal microglial activation in vivo, as determined by decreased immunostaining of activation markers (IBA1, CD68, TSPO) and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of inflammatory cytokines in microglia purified from rd10 retinas. JQ1 pre-treatment also suppressed microglial activation in vitro, decreasing microglial proliferation, migration, and mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and RANTES). Expression of BET2, but not BET3 and BET4, was significantly elevated during photoreceptor degeneration at postnatal day (PN)24 in retinas of rd10 mice relative to age-matched wild-type controls. siRNA knockdown of BET2 but not BET4, and the inhibitor of Brom2 (RVX208) but not of Brom1 (Olinone), decreased microglial activation.Conclusions: These findings indicate that BET inhibition rescues photoreceptor degeneration likely via the suppression of microglial activation and implicates BET interference as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of degenerative retinal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central nervous system (CNS) immune privilege is complex, and it is still not understood how CNS antigens are sampled by the peripheral immune system under steady state conditions. To compare antigen sampling from immune-privileged or nonprivileged tissues, we created transgenic mice with oligodendrocyte or gut epithelial cell expression of an EGFP-tagged fusion protein containing ovalbumin (OVA) antigenic peptides and tested peripheral anti-OVA peptide-specific sentinel OT-I and OT-II T cell activation. We report that oligodendrocyte or gut antigens are sampled similarly, as determined by comparable levels of OT-I T cell activation. However, activated T cells do not access the CNS under steady state conditions. These data show that afferent immunity is normally intact as there is no barrier at the antigen sampling level, but that efferent immunity is restricted. To understand how this one-sided surveillance contributes to CNS immune privilege will help us define mechanisms of CNS autoimmune disease initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis therapy, which directly removes LDL from plasma by LDL-adsorbents in vitro is found to be clinically effective and safe to lower the LDL content in blood to prevent cardiovascular disease. Thus, developing excellent LDL adsorbents are becoming more and more attractive. Herein, functional Fe3O4@ZnO core–shell nanocomposites have been synthesized by a facile and eco-friendly two-step method. Not only do they possess high LDL adsorption (in PBS/plasma as well as on blood vessels) and favorable magnetic targeting ability but they can also be reused conveniently, which offer the Fe3O4@ZnO core–shell nanocomposites significant potential in the removal of LDL in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]