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Introduction: Vascular malignancies are categorized into benign hemangiomas, malignant angiosarcomas, and tumors of intermediate malignancy. Retiform hemangioendothelioma (RH) is one of the rare diagnoses belonging to the class of intermediate malignancies that was initially diagnosed., Case Presentation: In this case report, we have reported a rare case of RH, a locally aggressive, vascular tumor of malignant potential presenting at an unusual site. The most observed locations of this soft tissue tumor are skin and subcutaneous tissues of extremities; however, this case of RH was observed in an unusual site called pleura, which is a rare occurrence related to this tumor. The presence of cell surface markers like CD31 and ERG of vascular and endothelial origin and the presence of hobnail appearance of endothelial channels on the biopsy profile supported the vascular origin of the tumor; the clinical features and imaging studies further confirmed the diagnosis of RH., Conclusion: In this case report, a rare case of RH with an unusual site of origin was highlighted. RH is a vascular neoplasm; commonly observed sites of this vascular tumor were skin and subcutaneous tissue of the extremities; however, in this case, the site was unusually different, which was the pleura of the left lung., Competing Interests: The authors of this case report have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Social isolation, a known stressor, can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. Recent scientific attention has been drawn to the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system between the central nervous system and gut microbiota, suggesting that gut microbes may influence brain function. This study aimed to explore the impact of social isolation on the intestinal barrier and gut microbiota. 40 male BALB/c mice were either individually housed or kept in groups for 8 and 15 weeks. Socially isolated mice exhibited increased anxiety-like behavior, with significant differences between the 8-week and 15-week isolation groups (P < 0.05). After 8 weeks of isolation, there was a reduction in tight junction protein expression in the intestinal mechanical barrier. Furthermore, after 15 weeks of isolation, both tight junction protein and mucin expression, key components of the intestinal chemical barrier, decreased. This was accompanied by a substantial increase in inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 mRNA, IL-10, and TNF-α) in colon tissue in the 15-week isolated group (P < 0.05). Additionally, Illumina MiSequencing revealed significant alterations in the gut microbiota of socially isolated mice, including reduced Firmicutes and Bacteroides compared to the control group. Lactobacillus levels also decreased in the socially isolated mice., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: A thorough insight into the management of hand injuries can shape the approach of a surgeon in order to achieve optimal outcomes for the patients. The aim of this study was to share our experience in reconstruction of the hand and establishing an algorithm for classification and treatment of hand injuries., Methods: This is a descriptive cross sectional study and was conducted from January 2020 to August 2022 at Burns and Plastic Surgery center, Peshawar. Data was collected from medical records about the patient demographics, mechanism of injury and type of procedures done. Defect size was classified into small (<5cm), medium (5cm to 10 cm) and large (>10cm). The defect site and size was cross tabulated against the method of soft tissue reconstruction in order to make the algorithm for reconstruction of hand injuries. Data was analyzed using SPSS., Results: The study population included 41 (75.9%) male and 13 (24.1%) female patients, mean age 31.56±14.1. Machine injuries (33.3%) and electric burns (24.1%) were the most common cause of hand soft tissue defects. The most commonly performed flap was Posterior introsseous artery (PIA) flap, followed by First dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap. Flap necrosis was observed in three cases (5.6%)., Conclusion: This treatment algorithm for coverage of soft tissue defects in hand injuries will help with the decision making process of hand reconstruction and has didactic value for novice surgeons. It will also form the foundation for further work on this aspect of hand injuries., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None., (Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.)

Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LBS) is a well-documented probiotic strain in oncology and has a pivotal role in clinical applications. Here, we have investigated the protective effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus on intestinal mucositis induced by cisplatin (CP) and explored the underlying mechanisms targeting inflammatory proteins, as well as the histological changes in the intestinal tissue of mice, in addition, the bacterial strains that may be related to the health-enhancing properties. BALB/c mice were pre-treated with or without LBS via oral gavage, followed by mucositis induction with cisplatin. Our results revealed that the LBS-treated groups significantly attenuated proinflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) compared to the CP group. Furthermore, LBS mitigated the damaged tight junction integrity caused by CP via up-regulating the levels of claudin, occludin, ZO-1, and mucin-2 protein (MUC-2). Finally, the 16S rRNA fecal microbiome genomic analysis showed that LBS administration enhanced the growth of beneficial bacteria, i.e., Firmicutes and Lachnospiraceae, while the relative abundance of the opportunistic bacteria Bacteroides and Proteobacteria decreased. Collectively, LBS was found to beneficially modulate microbial composition structure and functions and enrich the ecological diversity in the gut.

Sarcoptes scabiei is an ectoparasite of humans and animals that causes scabies. The Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is a blood-sucking ectoparasite that transmits various pathogens. These two parasites have caused great losses to a country's dairy and agriculture sectors. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro and in silico efficacy of Camellia sinensis plant extracts. Different concentrations of C. sinensis ethanolic plant extracts were prepared using the maceration method and were used against mites and ticks (in adult immersion test AIT and larval packet test LPT) to evaluate their in vitro acaricidal activity. Additionally, in silico molecular docking was performed to investigate the inhibitory interactions between the phytochemicals of the plant and S. scabiei and R. microplus glutathione transferase proteins (SsGST and RmGST). This study observed that the plant extract showed high efficacy in vitro against mites and different tick stages in adult immersion and larval packet tests. Additionally, the in silico study revealed a strong binding interaction between ellagic acid and SsGST protein, with a binding energy of -7.3 kcal/mol, with respect to permethrin (-6.7 kcal/mol), whereas quercetin and RmGST resulted in a docking score of -8.6 kcal/mol compared to deltamethrin (-8.2 kcal/mol). Overall, this study explored the potential of C. sinensis as a natural alternative for controlling tick and mite infestations and provided insights into the inhibitory mechanisms of its phytochemicals., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a persistent, lifelong inflammation of the digestive system. Dextran sulfate sodium is commonly used to induce colitis in experimental animal models, which causes epithelial damage, intestinal inflammation, mucin depletion, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Various prebiotics, polysaccharides, and polypeptides are used for IBD treatment. In this study, we used a murine model utilizing BALB/c mice, with 10 mice per group, to investigate the treatment effect of sea conch peptide hydrolysate (CPH) on DSS-induced colitis mice. Colitis was induced through the administration of 2.5% DSS in drinking water over a seven-days period. Furthermore, on the eighth day of the experiment, sea conch peptide hydrolysate (CPH) at low (100 mg/kg), medium (200 mg/kg), and high (400 mg/kg) doses, which were continued for 14 days, were assessed for medicinal purposes in DSS-induced colitis mice. Our results showed that CPH treatment significantly alleviated the severity and symptoms of colitis. The epithelial integrity and histological damage were improved. Intestinal inflammation and inflammatory cell infiltration were improved. Furthermore, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was reduced, and intestinal barrier integrity was restored by elevating the tight junction proteins. Moreover, 16s RNA sequencing revealed dysbiosis of the gut microbiota was observed upon DSS treatment, which was reinstated after CPH treatment. An increased level of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus was observed in the treatment groups. Finally, our results suggest that CPH would be recommended as a functional food source and also have the potential to be used as a medicinal product for different gastrointestinal disorders.

Background: Our study hypothesized that an intelligent gradient boosting machine (GBM) model can predict cerebrovascular events and all-cause mortality in mitral stenosis (MS) with atrial flutter (AFL) by recognizing comorbidities, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters., Methods: The machine learning model was used as a statistical analyzer in recognizing the key risk factors and high-risk features with either outcome of cerebrovascular events or mortality., Results: A total of 2184 patients with their chart data and imaging studies were included and the GBM analysis demonstrated mitral valve area (MVA), right ventricular systolic pressure, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, and surgery as the most significant predictors of transient ischemic attack (TIA/stroke). MVA, PAP, LVEF, creatinine, hemoglobin, and diastolic blood pressure were predictors for all-cause mortality., Conclusion: The GBM model assimilates clinical data from all diagnostic modalities and significantly improves risk prediction performance and identification of key variables for the outcome of MS with AFL., (© 2023 The Authors. Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Locusta migratoria is one of the most destructive pests that threaten crop growth and food production security in China. Metarhizium anisopliae has been widely used to control locusts around the world. Previous laboratory studies have revealed that LmFKBP24 is significantly upregulated after M. anisopliae infection, suggesting that it may play a role in immune regulation, yet the mechanism remains largely unknown. To gain further insight, we conducted an RNA interference (RNAi) study to investigate the function of LmFKBP24 in the regulation of antifungal immunity and analyzed the expression patterns of immune-induced genes. Our research revealed that LmFKBP24 is activated and upregulated when locusts are infected by M. anisopliae, and it inhibits the expression of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) defensin in the downstream of Toll pathway by combining with LmEaster rather than LmCyPA, thus exerting an immunosuppressive effect. To further investigate this, we conducted yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and pull down assays to identify the proteins interacting with LmFKBP24. Our results provided compelling evidence for revealing the immune mechanism of L. migratoria and uncovered an innovative target for the development of new biological pesticides. Furthermore, our research indicates that LmFKBP24 interacts with LmEaster through its intact structure, providing a strong foundation for further exploration., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To determine the early surgical outcome of Mulliken's repair technique for bilateral cleft lip., Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of the study: Burns and Plastic Surgery Centre, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, from January 2020 to December 2021., Methodology: This study included 51 patients with bilateral cleft lip deformity. Patients were evaluated preoperatively to exclude any associated congenital anomalies or comorbidities. Then the patients were classified into mild, moderate, severe, and asymmetrical cases. Outcomes were determined immediately and one week postoperatively, as good (score 16-20), fair (score 11-15), and bad (0-10) on the basis of anthropometric measurements on outcome evaluation criteria (OEC)., Results: Preoperatively mild, moderate, and severe bilateral cleft lips were observed in 18 (35.3%), 6 (11.85%), and 15 (29.4%), respectively, while 10 (19.6%) were bilateral asymmetrical cleft lips. The postoperative outcome score ranged from 16 to 20 (mean 19.2+1.03) which falls in the good outcome range. Nasal symmetry was good in 64.7% (n=33) cases while 31.4% (n=16) patients had satisfactory scores., Conclusion: Although Mulliken's repair is by far the most prevalent type of repair for bilateral cleft lip patients, the results can vary markedly. The early outcome evaluation criteria is an objective tool to measure the outcomes., Key Words: Cleft lip, Bilateral cleft lip, Mulliken, Mulliken's repair, Day care surgery, Outcome.

Hydrogel is one of the most interesting and excellent candidates for oral drug delivery. The current study focuses on formulation development of hydrogels for controlled oral delivery of esomeprazole. The hydrogels were prepared by solution casting method by dissolving polymers in Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. Calcium alginate, Hydroxyl propyl methylcellulose (HPMC), acrylic acid and chondroitin sulfate were used in the preparation of hydrogels. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed no incompatibilities between drug and excipients used in the preparation of formulations. The hydrogels were characterized for size and surface morphology. Drug encapsulation efficiency was measured by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy. In vitro release studies were carried out using dissolution apparatus. The formulated hydrogels were then compared with the marketed product in vivo using rabbits. The result indicates that prepared hydrogels have a uniform size with a porous surface. The esomeprazole encapsulation efficiency of the prepared hydrogels was found to be 83.1 ± 2.16%. The esomeprazole-loaded hydrogel formulations showed optimum and Pharmacopeial acceptable range swelling behavior. The release of esomeprazole is controlled for 24 h (85.43 ± 0.32% in 24 h). The swelling and release of drug results make the prepared hydrogels a potential candidate for the controlled delivery of esomeprazole. The release of the drug from prepared hydrogel followed the super case transport-2 mechanism. The in vivo studies showed that prepared hydrogel formulations showed controlled and prolonged release of esomeprazole as compared to drug solution and marketed product. The formulations were kept for stability studies; there was no significant change observed in physical parameters, i.e., (appearance, color change and grittiness) at 40 °C ± 2/75% ± RH. There was a negligible difference in the drug content observed after the stability study suggested that all the formulations are stable under the given conditions for 60 days. The current study provides a valuable perspective on the controlled release profile of Hydroxyl propyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and calcium alginate-based esomeprazole hydrogels.

Infectious diseases remain inevitable factors for high mortality and morbidity rate in the modern world to date. Repurposing is a novel approach to drug development has become an intriguing research topic in the literature. Omeprazole is one of the top ten proton pump inhibitors prescribed in the USA. The literature suggests that no reports based on omeprazole anti-microbial actions have been discovered to date. This study entails the potential of omeprazole to treat skin and soft tissue infections based on the literature's evident anti-microbial effects. To get a skin-friendly formulation, a chitosan-coated omeprazole-loaded nanoemulgel formulation was fabricated using olive oil, carbopol 940, Tween 80, Span 80, and triethanolamine by high-speed homogenization technique. The optimized formulation was physicochemically characterized for zeta potential, size distribution, pH, drug content, entrapment efficiency, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, in-vitro drug release, ex-vivo permeation analysis, and minimum inhibitory concentration determination. The FTIR analysis indicated that there was no incompatibility between the drug and formulation excipients. The optimized formulation exhibited particle size, PDI, zeta potential, drug content, and entrapment efficiency of 369.7 ± 8.77 nm, 0.316, -15.3 ± 6.7 mV, 90.92 ± 1.37% and 78.23 ± 3.76%, respectively. In-vitro release and ex-vivo permeation data of optimized formulation showed 82.16% and 72.21 ± 1.71 μg/cm 2 , respectively. The results of minimum inhibitory concentration (1.25 mg/mL) against selected bacterial strains were satisfactory, suggesting a successful treatment approach for the topical application of omeprazole to treat microbial infections. Furthermore, chitosan coating synergistically increases the antibacterial activity of the drug.

Methotrexate-loaded oil-in-water nanoemulsion formulations were prepared using the high shear homogenization technique. A drug excipient study (ATR-FTIR) was carried out to investigate the compatibility between the drug, the polymers, and its admixtures. The thermal stability of the nanoemulsion formulations was evaluated by subjecting them to a heating and cooling cycle. The prepared nanoemulsion formulations (FNE1 to FNE6) were evaluated for particle size, PDI value, and entrapment efficiency (EE). They were analyzed for morphological information using transmission electron microscopy. The drug (methotrexate)-loaded nanoemulsion formulations (FNE2, FNE4, and FNE6) were then converted into nanoemulsion gel formulations by adding 1% chitosan (polymer) as a gelling agent. The nanoemulsion gel formulations (FNEG2, FNEG4, and FNEG6) were investigated for physicochemical parameters, viscosity, spreadability, extrudability, drug content, and skin irritation. Various penetration enhancers (olive oil, clove, and almond oil) were employed to examine the potency of the prepared nanoemulsion gel formulations. In vitro drug release, ex vivo permeation, skin drug retention, and stability tests were carried out for evaluation of the prepared nanoemulsion gel formulations (FNEG2, FNEG4, and FNEG6). The data obtained from the in vitro study were subjected to the kinetic model, and the Korsemeyer-Peppas model was best fitted to the data. The nanoemulsion gel formulation FNEG6 showed the maximum controlled drug release and followed an anomalous, non-Fickian release mechanism. The use of almond oil in the preparation of the nanoemulsion gel formulation FNEG6 helped the penetration of the drug across stratum corneum and the restructuring of the properties of skin and resulted in a higher penetration and retention of methotrexate in a deeper layer of the skin. The current study concluded that the methotrexate-loaded nanoemulsion gel formulation FNEG6 showed the best optimum release, permeation, and retention results as compared to the available oral tablets' formulations, followed by a low serum concentration and the maximum drug retention, which is beneficial in treating skin infections and reducing systemic toxicity.

Objective: The aim of this article is to share our experience of thumb defects based on the defect irrespective of the etiology of the defect and to work towards standardizing the treatment for thumb defects., Methodology: This study was conducted at the Burns and plastic surgery center at Hayatabad Medical complex from 2018 to 2021. Thumb defects were divided into small (&lt; 3 cm), medium (4-8cm) and large defects (&gt; 9cm). Post-operatively, patients were evaluated for complications. The type of flaps were stratified for size and site of the soft tissue defects to generate a standardized algorithm for thumb soft tissue reconstruction., Results: After scrutinizing the data, 35 patients qualified for the study, including 71.4% (25) males and 28.6% (10) females. The mean age was 31.17+15.8SD. Right thumb was affected in majority of the study population (57.1%). Majority of the study population was affected by machine injury and post-traumatic contractures, affecting 25.7% (n=9) and 22.9% (n=8) respectively. First web-space and injuries distal to IPJ of thumb were the most common areas affected, accounting for 28.6% (n=10) each. First dorsal metacarpal artery flap was the most common flap followed by retrograde posterior interosseous artery flap, observed in 11 (31.4%) and 6 (17.1%) cases. The most common complication observed in the study population was flap congestion (n=2, 5.7%) with a complete flap loss in 1 patient (2.9%) cases. Based on the cross tabulation of flaps against the size and location of defects, an algorithm was developed to help standardize reconstruction of thumb defects., Conclusion: Thumb reconstruction is critical in restoring hand function of the patient. The structured approach towards these defects make their assessment and reconstruction easy especially for novice surgeons. This algorithm can further be extended to include defects of the hand irrespective of etiology. Most of these defects can be covered with local easy to do flaps without the need for a microvascular reconstruction.

Level of toxic heavy metal concentration like lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) in thirty-six soft and hard organs and their impact on lipid profile of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Catla catla fish species inhibiting in Tanda Dam reservoir were investigated. The heavy metal concentrations in water, sediment, and fish of the different regions in the reservoir were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Lipid profile was carried out by AOAC official methods. The results showed that Pb was dominant among all the heavy metals in six organs, and its maximum concentration of Pb (22.5 mg kg -1 and 32.9 mg kg -1 ) was observed in scales in Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and tail of Catla catla , respectively. The maximum concentrations of Cd were observed in the head, scales, fins, and gills of Catla catla . The bioaccumulation of heavy metals was significantly different at ( p ≤ 0.01) within the organs and between the fish species. The lipid concentration was minimum in those organs where the concentrations of heavy metals were maximum. It is clear from the findings that heavy metal accumulation reduces the lipid content of fish. It is inevitable to monitor the Tanda Dam reservoir to safeguard human health., Competing Interests: The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Abdul Haseeb et al.)

Pesticide resistance in insects is an example of adaptive evolution occurring in pest species and is driven by the artificial introduction of pesticides. The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), has evolved resistance to various insecticides. Understanding the genetic changes underpinning the resistance to pesticides is necessary for the implementation of pest control measures. We sequenced the genome of six resistant and six susceptible DBM individuals separately and inferred the genomic regions of greatest divergence between strains using F ST and θ π . Among several genomic regions potentially related to insecticide resistance, CYP6B6-like was observed with significant divergence between the resistant and susceptible strains, with a missense mutation located near the substrate recognition site (SRS) and four SNPs in the promoter. To characterize the relative effects of directional selection via insecticide tolerance ('strain') as compared to acute exposure to insecticide ('treatment'), four pairwise comparisons were carried out between libraries to determine the differentially expressed genes. Most resistance-related differentially expressed genes were identified from the comparison of the strains and enriched in pathways for exogenous detoxification including cytochrome P450 and the ABC transporter. Further confirmation came from the weighted gene co-expression network analysis, which indicated that genes in the significant module associated with chlorantraniliprole resistance were enriched in pathways for exogenous detoxification, and that CYP6B6-like represented a hub gene in the "darkred" module. Furthermore, RNAi knock-down of CYP6B6-like increases P. xylostella sensitivity to chlorantraniliprole. Our study thus provides a genetic foundation underlying selection for pesticide resistance and plausible mechanisms to explain fast evolved adaptation through genomic divergence and altered gene expression in insects.

There are two main ways to achieve an active lifestyle, the first is to make an effort to exercise and second is to have the activity as part of your daily routine. The study's major purpose is to examine the influence of various kinds of physical engagements on density dispersion of participants in Shanghai, China, and even prototype check-in data from a Location-Based Social Network (LBSN) utilizing a mix of spatial, temporal, and visualization methodologies. This paper evaluates Weibo used for big data evaluation and its dependability in some types rather than physically collected proofs by investigating the relationship between time, class, place, frequency, and place of check-in built on geographic features and related consequences. Kernel density estimation has been used for geographical assessment. Physical activities and frequency allocation are formed as a result of hour-to-day consumption habits. Our observations are based on customer check-in activities in physical venues such as gyms, parks, and playing fields, the prevalence of check-ins, peak times for visiting fun parks, and gender disparities, and we applied relative difference formulation to reveal the gender difference in a much better way. The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of physical activity and health-related standard of living on well-being in a selection of Shanghai inhabitants., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Hidayat Ullah et al.)

In the study, fabrication of Arabic gum (AG) hydrogels via reverse micellization method is reported. AG hydrogels were utilized as capping agents to encapsulate zinc sulphide (ZnS), and cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles via in-situ reduction. Pristine and nanocomposite hydrogels (AG-ZnS and AG-CdS) were characterized through SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA, UV/Visible, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The hydrogels were subjected to multiple biological assays including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic formulation, in addition to biocompatibility test. The hydrogels were found to be more effective against bacterial and fungal strains. For instance, AG-ZnS exhibited excellent growth inhibition activity against Escherichia coli (ZoI: 12 ± 1.04 mm) and Candida albicans (35 ± 0.94 mm). Likewise, the nanocomposites hydrogel also displayed excellent DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging capacity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total reducing power (TRP) ability. Among the hydrogels, AG-ZnS demonstrated considerable α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibition potential. Above all, the hydrogels were found highly compatible with human red blood cells (hRBCs). Owing to remarkable antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and bio-compatible nature, the fabricated nanocomposites hydrogels have the potential to be explored in tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, and in environmentally friendly hygiene products., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The level of heavy metals in vegetables grown in soil irrigated with various sources of water and the health risks associated with the consumption of these vegetables were assessed in this study. Samples of water, soil, and vegetables were collected from farmer fields. After digestion in acidic solution, analytical measurements were made using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean concentration of Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, and Mn in the soil of two sampling area were in the range from 60.00 to 84.00 mg kg -1 , 68.00 to 98.00 mg kg -1 , 1.60 to 2.60 mg kg -1 , 26.10 to 33.20 mg kg -1 , 22.60 to 30.80 mg kg -1 , 50.10 to 78.30 mg kg -1 , 420.00 to 471.00 mg kg -1 , and 270.20 to 340.50 mg kg -1 , respectively. Heavy metals in soil varied significantly at (P ≤ 0.001) among sampling area. The nine heavy metals were divided into two clusters for wastewater and soil, according to cluster analysis. The number of variables was reduced using principal component analysis, which yielded three latent factors, one for wastewater and one for soil. Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Fe, and Mn concentrations were significantly higher at P ≤ 0.001 in nine vegetables grown on soil irrigated with untreated wastewater than in vegetables grown on fresh-tube well-water-irrigated soil. The health risks associated with metal intake were assessed using the estimated daily intake of metals (EDIM), hazard quotients (HQs), and hazard index (HI). The rates of metal transfer to vegetables have been determined. Except for Pb and Cd, all of the elements' EDMI values were found to be lower than their RfD values. The corresponding HRI values of metals in the various vegetables were found to be below 1, implying that vegetable consumption in the studied region poses no carcinogenic risk. Constant determination of heavy metals in all fruits and vegetables is essential for the assessment of health risks associated with dietary metal exposure. The study has provided valuable information to the general public about the use of wastewater for irrigation of vegetables., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In Pakistan and all over the world, the Peach Fruit Fly (PFF), Bactrocera zonata (Saunders.) and the Melon Fruit Fly (MFF), Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett.) are considered severe and polyphagous insect pests for various fruits and vegetables. The current study was conducted to check the Laboratory preference and performance of B. cucurbitae and B. zonata on selected Fruits Citrus ( Citrus sinensis ), Apple ( Malus domestica ), Banana ( Musa acuminate ), and vegetable, Sponge gourd ( luffa aegyptiaca ), Bitter gourd ( Momordica charantia ) Pumpkin ( Cucurbita moschata ) under laboratory conditions. The study showed that Sponge Gourd was the preferable host with the mean pupae resurgence of (242.33), followed by Bitter Gourd (78.333) among selected vegetables. At the same time, among fruits, a banana was the preferable host with mean pupae resurgence (204.33), followed by orange (158.33). The pumpkin and apple was the least preferable host for both B. cucurbitae and B. zonata, with mean pupae resurgence (35.667) and (79.000), respectively. Furthermore, the study showed that Banana was the preferable host for B. Zonata among intact and infested fruits, whereas B. cucurbitaee showed the most preference to Bitter gourd among intact and infested vegetables showing significantly different results among intact and infested fruits and vegetables. Maximum number of eggs, pupa, female flies, male flies, adult emergence from pupa (flies) and period of pupa of B. zonata and B. cucurbitae on banana and bitter gourd. While, other fruits and vegetables showed the minimum number of eggs, pupa, female flies, male flies, adult emergence from pupa (flies) and period of the pupa. The current study concluded there is a need to evaluate other host plants against these fruit fly species for effective control., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.)

A 32-bit chipless RFID tag operating in the 4.5-10.9 GHz band is presented in this paper. The tag has a unique multiple-arc-type shape consisting of closely packed 0.2 mm wide arcs of different radii and lengths. The specific tag geometry provides multiple resonances in frequency domain of an RCS plot. A frequency domain coding technique has also been proposed to encode the tag's RCS signature into a 32-bit digital identification code. The tag has an overall dimension of 17.9 × 17.9 mm 2 , resulting in a high code density of 9.98 bits/cm 2 and spectral efficiency of 5 bits/GHz. The proposed tag is built on a low loss substrate bearing a very small footprint, thereby making it extremely suitable for large-scale product identification purposes in future chipless RFID tag systems.

Drought stress restricts the growth of okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus L.) primarily by disrupting its physiological and biochemical functions. This study evaluated the role of Ascophyllum nodosum extract (ANE) in improving the drought tolerance of okra. Drought stress (3 days (control), 6 days (mild stress), and 9 days (severe stress)) and 4 doses of ANE (0, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%) were imposed after 30 days of cultivation. The results indicate that drought stress decreases the chlorophyll content (total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid) but increases the activity of anthocyanin, proline, and antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). Physiological and biochemical plant disturbances and visible growth reduction in okra under drought stress were significantly decreased by the application of ANE foliar spray. ANE spray (0.3%) significantly increased the chlorophyll abundance and activity of anthocyanin, proline, and antioxidants (APX, POD, and CAT). ANE regulated and improved biochemical and physiological functions in okra under both drought and control conditions. The results of the current study show that ANE foliar spray may improve the growth performance of okra and result in the development of drought tolerance in okra.

Avoidable or inappropriate nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates harmfully affect the yield production and ecological value. Therefore, the aims of this study were to optimize the rate and timings of N fertilizer to maximize yield components and photosynthetic parameter of soybean. This field experiment consists of five fertilizer N rates: 0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg N ha -1 arranged in main plots and four N fertilization timings: V 5 (trifoliate leaf), R 2 (full flowering stage) and R 4 (full poding stage), and R 6 (full seeding stage) growth stages organized as subplots. Results revealed that 225 kg N ha -1 significantly enhanced grain yield components, total chlorophyll (Chl), photosynthetic rate ( P N ), and total dry biomass and N accumulation by 20%, 16%, 28%, 7% and 12% at R 4 stage of soybean. However, stomatal conductance ( g s ) , leaf area index (LAI), intercellular CO 2 concentration ( C i) and transpiration rate ( E ) were increased by 12%, 88%, 10%, 18% at R 6 stage under 225 kg N ha -1 . Grain yield was significantly associated with photosynthetic characteristics of soybean. In conclusion, the amount of nitrogen 225 kg ha -1 at R 4 and R 6 stages effectively promoted the yield components and photosynthetic characteristics of soybean., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Nitrogen fertilizer is one of the key elements to increase the yield and significance of winter wheat. The experiment was established in the split zone design and was repeated three times. The nitrogen application level is set to 4 treatments, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg ha -1 are arranged in the main plot, and different nitrogen application ratios are arranged in the sub-plots, respectively 5:5 (50%+50%) and 6: 4 (60%) + 40%). Nitrogen fertilizer was applied before sowing, jointing stage, flowering stage and filling stage. The experimental plot is 12 m2 (3 m × 4 m). The results showed that under the conditions of 225 kg/hm2 nitrogen application and 60%+40% nitrogen application rate, the yield of Jintai 182 was the highest compared with other treatment groups. With the increase of nitrogen application rate, the number of ears, grains per ear, thousand-grain weight and grain yield all increase first and then decrease. Each factor reached the highest 225 N kg / hm2, 417.17, 30.74, 40.96 g and 6182.11 kg / hm2. Compared with 75 kg/hm2 topdressing fertilizer, 225 kg/hm2 is a more suitable nitrogen fertilizer application rate for winter wheat. Within a reasonable range of nitrogen fertilizer application, there is a significant positive correlation between nitrogen content and winter wheat yield. By studying the amount of nitrogen fertilizer and a reasonable ratio of base fertilizer to topdressing, the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizer can be maximized and excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer can be avoided., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Authors.)

The dusky cotton bug ( Oxycarenus laetus , KIRBY) a pest of several crops. The effects of winter and summer on the biology and morphology was investigated. The sampled eggs of dusky cotton bug (DCB) were kept under controlled environment for biological and morphological investigations. In winter, the mating duration of DCB was observed longer significantly (74.2 days), egg development period (3.93 days), an egg laying period (3.6 days) and hatching period (6.66 days) noted longer in winter season. Interestingly, average number of hatched egg (16.8 days) observed significantly higher in summer and the percentage of the hatching of eggs (81.95%) were also observed higher in summer as compare to winter. Whereas, the longevity of all nymph stages in winter longer days as compare to summer nymph stages. Moreover, differences were also observed between male and female development days between winter and summer. In the winter, female DCB development was suggestively higher as compare to summer (24 days). Whereas, the developmental days were noted considerably more in winter for males as compare to summer (14.93 days). On other hand, for morphological parameters, no differences were observed between winter and summer population of DCB., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Introduction Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is the most effective coronary revascularization procedure, and it has been endorsed by many trials and studies over the years. However, due to CABG's immediate adverse effects, patients tend to prefer percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary revascularization over it. This article focuses on the recent downtrend in CABG procedures for revascularization among patients for whom it is indicated. This study's main objective was to identify the factors responsible for the downtrend in patients undergoing CABG despite a clear indication for it in those with multivessel diseases. Methods This study was conducted at the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from August 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021. A total of 340 patients with a class-I indication (presence of conditions regarding which there is evidence and/or general agreement that a given procedure or treatment is beneficial, useful, and effective) for CABG were enrolled in the study. Data related to all the variables were collected from patients and hospital records through an adequately designed proforma. For analysis, we applied the chi-square test to elaborate on the data for information and point biserial correlation to rule out the effect of age and weight on CABG's downward trend. Results The mean age of the patients was 58.77 ±   9.54 years; 65.88% were male, and 34.12% were female. Only 17.65% of the patients underwent CABG; 71.47% opted for medical treatment, and 9.41% underwent PCI. Out of the 280 patients who did not undergo CABG, 26.76% had financial issues; 23.82% were high-risk patients and hence refused surgeries by the surgeons; 20.59% of patients were not willing to undergo surgery; 7.94% were on the waiting list, and 3.24% had deranged renal function tests (RFTs). Conclusions A limited number of patients underwent revascularization therapy even though they had clear indications for CABG. The high-risk status of patients, patients' unwillingness, and the cost of the procedure were the primary reasons behind the downtrend in CABG procedures among patients with a clear indication for the same., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2021, Ali et al.)

In current study, α-amylase of fungal origin was immobilized using cross-linking strategy. The influence of precipitant (ammonium sulphate) and cross-linker (glutaraldehyde) concentration revealed that 60% (w/v) precipitant and 1.5% (v/v) cross-linker saturation was required to attain optimum activity. Cross-linked amylase aggregates (CLAAs) were characterized and 10-degree shift in optimum temperature (soluble enzyme: 50 °C; cross-linked: 60 °C) and 1-unit shift in pH (soluble enzyme: pH -6; cross-linked: pH -7) was observed after immobilization. The V max for soluble α-amylase and its cross-linked form was 1225 U ml -1 and 3629 U ml -1 , respectively. The CLAAs was more thermostable than its soluble form and retained its 30% activity even after 60 min of incubation at 70 °C. Moreover, cross-linked amylase retained its activity after two months while its soluble counterpart lost its complete activity after 10 and 20 days at 30 °C and 4 °C storage, respectively. Reusability test showed that cross-linked amylase could retain 13% of its residual activity after 10 repeated cycles. Therefore, 10 times more glucose was produced after cross-linking than soluble amylase when it was utilized multiple times. This study indicates that amylase aggregates are highly effective for continuous liquefaction of starch, hence have strong potential to be used for different industrial processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs), which scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), are cysteine-dependent peroxide reductases that group into six structurally discernable classes: AhpC-Prx1, BCP-PrxQ, Prx5, Prx6, Tpx, and AhpE. A previous study showed that forkhead box protein O (FOXO) in the insulin signaling pathway (ISP) plays a vital role in regulating locust diapause by phosphorylation, which can be promoted by the high level of ROS. Furthermore, the analysis of transcriptome between diapause and non-diapause phenotypes showed that one of the Prxs, LmPrx6, which belongs to the Prx6 class, was involved. We presumed that LmPrx6 might play a critical role in diapause induction of Locusta migratoria and LmPrx6 may therefore provide a useful target of control methods based on RNA interference (RNAi). To verify our hypothesis, LmPrx6 was initially cloned from L. migratoria to make dsLmPrx6 and four important targets were tested, including protein-tyrosine phosphorylase 1B (LmPTP1B), insulin receptor (LmIR), RAC serine/threonine-protein kinase (LmAKT), and LmFOXO in ISP. When LmPrx6 was knocked down, the diapause rate was significantly reduced. The phosphorylation level of LmPTP1B significantly decreased while the phosphorylation levels of LmIR, LmAKT, and LmFOXO were significantly increased. Moreover, we identified the effect on two categories of genes downstream of LmFOXO, including stress tolerance and storage of energy reserves. Results showed that the mRNA levels of catalase and Mn superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), which enhanced stress tolerance, were significantly downregulated after silencing of LmPrx6 . The mRNA levels of glycogen synthase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy kinase (PEPCK) that influence energy storage were also downregulated after knocking down of LmPrx6 . The silencing of LmPrx6 indicates that this regulatory protein may probably be an ideal target for RNAi-based diapause control of L. migratoria .

Chitosan has been termed as the most well-known among biopolymers, receiving widespread attention from researchers in various fields mainly, agriculture, food, and health. Chitosan is a deacetylated derivative of chitin, mainly isolated from waste shells of the phylum Arthropoda after their consumption as food. Chitosan molecules can be easily modified for adsorption and slow release of plant growth regulators, herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, etc. Chitosan as a carrier and control release matrix that offers many benefits including; protection of biomolecules from harsh environmental conditions such as pH, light, temperatures and prolonged release of active ingredients from its matrix consequently protecting the plant's cells from the hazardous effects of burst release. In the current review, tends to discuss the recent advances in the area of chitosan application as a control release system. Also, future recommendations will be made in light of current advancements and major gaps., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The grasshopper Calliptamus abbreviatus Ikonn is a significant pest species distributed across the northern Asian grasslands. Grasshopper plagues often result in significant loss to plant biomass and subsequent deterioration of grass quality that leads to economic depletion. To better understand the close relationship between C. abbreviatus and host plant species, a 2-yr study was conducted. Results showed that the relative density of C. abbreviatus was positively correlated with aboveground biomass of the plant Artemisia frigida. We hypothesized that A. frigida, the most favorable food resource, was optimal for growth performance and that the presence of this plant species led to C. abbreviatus plagues. A controlled feeding trial showed that C. abbreviatus had better growth performance (i.e., survival rate, body mass, and growth rate) when fed on A. frigida and this host was preferred over other plant species since the consumption and food utilization efficiency on plant was comparatively greater. These results were consistent with the distribution of C. abbreviatus in the grassland and suggested that the presence of A. frigida significantly improved C. abbreviatus growth performance. These findings will be useful for designing improved pest management strategies in response to grassland vegetation succession due to grazing, climate change, or human interference., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Previous studies indicate that soyasaponins may reduce inflammation via modulating toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) signaling. However, its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood., Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged inflamed male ICR mice were intervened by intragastrical administration with 10 and 20 μmol/kg·BW of soyasaponin A 1 , A 2 or I for 8 weeks. The serum inflammatory markers were determined by commercial kits and the expression of molecules in TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway in liver by real-time PCR and western blotting. The recruitments of TLR4 and MyD88 into lipid rafts of live tissue lysates were detected by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation and western blotting. LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with 10, 20 and 40 μmol/L of soyasaponin A 1 , A 2 or I for 2 h. MyD88-overexpressed HEK293T cells were treated with 20 and 40 μmol/L of soyasaponins (A 1 , A 2 or I) or 20 μmol/L of ST2825 (a MyD88 inhibitor) for 6 h. The expression of molecules in TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway were determined by western blotting. Data were analyzed by using one way analysis of variance or t-test by SPSS 20.0 statistical software., Results: Soyasaponins A 1 , A 2 or I significantly reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-6 and nitric oxide (NO) in serum (p < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA levels of TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (p < 0.05), the protein levels of myeloid differentiation protein 2 (MD-2), TLR4, MyD88, toll-interleukin1 receptor domain containing adaptor protein (TIRAP), phosphorylated interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (p-IRAK-4), phosphorylated interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (p-IRAK-1) and TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) (p < 0.05), and the recruitments of TLR4 and MyD88 into lipid rafts in liver (p < 0.05). In LPS-stimulated macrophages, soyasaponins A 2 or I significantly decreased MyD88 (p < 0.05), soyasaponins A 1 , A 2 or I reduced p-IRAK-4 and p-IRAK-1 (p < 0.05), and soyasaponin I decreased TRAF6 (p < 0.05). In MyD88-overexpressed HEK293T cells, soyasaponins (A 1 , A 2 or I) and ST2825 significantly decreased MyD88 and TRAF6 (p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Soyasaponins can reduce inflammation by downregulating MyD88 expression and suppressing the recruitments of TLR4 and MyD88 into lipid rafts. This study provides novel understanding about the anti-inflammatory mechanism of soyasaponins.

Groundwater with an excessive level of Arsenic (As) is a threat to human health. In Bangladesh, out of 64 districts, the groundwater of 50 and 59 districts contains As exceeding the Bangladesh (50 μg/L) and WHO (10 μg/L) standards for potable water. This review focuses on the occurrence, origin, plausible sources, and mobilization mechanisms of As in the groundwater of Bangladesh to better understand its environmental as well as public health consequences. High As concentrations mainly was mainly occur from the natural origin of the Himalayan orogenic tract. Consequently, sedimentary processes transport the As-loaded sediments from the orogenic tract to the marginal foreland of Bangladesh, and under the favorable biogeochemical circumstances, As is discharged from the sediment to the groundwater. Rock weathering, regular floods, volcanic movement, deposition of hydrochemical ore, and leaching of geological formations in the Himalayan range cause As occurrence in the groundwater of Bangladesh. Redox and desorption processes along with microbe-related reduction are the key geochemical processes for As enrichment. Under reducing conditions, both reductive dissolution of Fe-oxides and desorption of As are the root causes of As mobilization. A medium alkaline and reductive environment, resulting from biochemical reactions, is the major factor mobilizing As in groundwater. An elevated pH value along with decoupling of As and HCO 3 - plays a vital role in mobilizing As. The As mobilization process is related to the reductive solution of metal oxides as well as hydroxides that exists in sporadic sediments in Bangladesh. Other mechanisms, such as pyrite oxidation, redox cycling, and competitive ion exchange processes, are also postulated as probable mechanisms of As mobilization. The reductive dissolution of MnOOH adds dissolved As and redox-sensitive components such as SO 4 2- and oxidized pyrite, which act as the major mechanisms to mobilize As. The reductive suspension of Mn(IV)-oxyhydroxides has also accelerated the As mobilization process in the groundwater of Bangladesh. Infiltration from the irrigation return flow and surface-wash water are also potential factors to remobilize As. Over-exploitation of groundwater and the competitive ion exchange process are also responsible for releasing As into the aquifers of Bangladesh., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Diapause is a state of arrested growth, which allows insects to adapt to diverse environments. Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) play an important role in various physiological processes, including blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, development, complement activation and extracellular matrix remodeling. We hypothesized that serpin may affect energy metabolism and thereby control diapause of migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) embryos by regulating protease cascades. A total of seven nonredundant serpin genes (named serpin1-serpin7) of L. migratoria were obtained through transcriptomic analysis. We further performed label-free proteomic sequencing and analysis of diapause and nondiapause eggs of L. migratoria, revealing significant differences in serpin7 expression. A significant reduction in diapause rate under the short photoperiod was observed in insects treated with serpin7 double-stranded RNA. Furthermore, knockdown of the serpin7 gene resulted in significant upregulation of the activity of polyphenol oxidase. We therefore propose that the observed serpin7 gene plays a crucial role in diapause, suggesting that control of energy metabolism may have potential as a future strategy for the reproductive control of insect pests., (© 2020 The Authors. Published by FEBS Press and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The study aims to determine the timing of application for high efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae as a biocontrol agent. A field experiment was undertaken with M. anisopliae applied to the soil at five intervals during the peanut crop lifecycle, at seed germination (day 0) through to pod filling period [75 days after sowing (DAS)], and assessed the change of M. anisopliae density by sampling rhizospheric soil, subsequently at regular intervals and testing counts (CFU/g dry soil) through to harvest. The crop was sown into soil with an established white grub population, with larval density determined at harvest when the trial was concluded. Applications at 0, 15 and 30 days in the crop growth cycle, saw M. anisopliae mean propagule counts drop significantly after 15 days before increasing over the following 15-45 days. We observed an elevated mean increase in counts 30-45 days after application at the early flowering stage (30 DAS). Irrespective of application timing, in general, M. anisopliae densities declined to less than the initial 10% in the late stages of peanut development. At harvest, larval densities in all M. anisopliae treatments were significantly less compared to the control, with the highest mortality (72%) in M. anisopliae treatment applied at early flowering (30 DAS). Relationship analysis showed that white grub density was significantly related to peanut yield. A regression of yield on number of damaged pods also supported that treatment at the early flowering caused the highest impact in terms of reducing damage to pods and improving yield. These results suggest that applying M. anisopliae at the early flowering stage optimizes survival of M. anisopliae in the soil profile, meaning greater probability of larvae contacting the pathogen, leading to greater mortality., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2020.)

We analyzed the transcriptomes of Romalea microptera grasshoppers after 8 years of artificial selection for either long or short thoraces. Evolution proceeded rapidly during the experiment, with a 13.3% increase and a 32.2% decrease in mean pronotum lengths (sexes combined) in the up- and down-selected colonies, respectively, after only 11 generations. At least 16 additional traits also diverged between the two colonies during the selection experiment. Transcriptomic analysis identified 693 differentially expressed genes, with 386 upregulated and 307 downregulated (55.7% vs. 44.3%), including cellular process, metabolic process, binding, general function prediction only, and signal transduction mechanisms. Many of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are known to influence animal body size., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

We detected and compared the mRNA and protein expression levels of immunity-associated and symbiosis-associated genes in peanut ( Arachis hypogaea ) roots inoculated with entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae or the phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum , by RT-qPCR and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM). The selected genes were mainly associated with plant-fungus interactions, signal transduction, regulation of cell death, nitrogen or iron metabolism, nutrient acquisition or transport, and compound synthesis based on previous transcriptome analysis. The results showed that the host basal defense responses were significantly inhibited by both M. anisopliae and F. oxysporum , which suggests that both fungi actively suppress the host immunity for successful colonization and infection. However, only F. oxysporum induced a strong host hypersensitivity, which indicates that the host is strongly resisting F. oxysporum but potentially allowing M. anisopliae. Additionally, the genes (SYMRK, CaM, CCaMK, FRI2, ABCC2, F6H1, SCT, NRT24 and LTP1) related to symbiosis and growth were distinctively observed with an up-regulated expression following M. anisopliae treatment, which implies that the host was actively initiating the establishment of symbiosis with the fungus. This study revealed a synergistic relationship between host immunosuppression and the promotion of symbiosis during interactions with M. anisopliae . It suggested that M. anisopliae benefited plant for symbiotic relationship, in addition to controlling herbivorous insects as an entomopathogen., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestAll authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2020.)

FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs) are a type of neuropeptide, which participate in a variety of physiological processes in insects. Previous study showed that myosuppressin, being a member of FaRPs, initiated pupal diapause in Mamestra brassicae. We presumed that FaRPs genes might play a critical role in photoperiodic diapause induction of L. migratoria. To verify our hypothesis, flrf, a precursor gene of FaRP from L. migratoria, was initially cloned under long and short photoperiods that encoded by flrf gene identified from central nervous system (CNS). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the protein encoded by L. migratoria flrf gene, clustered together with Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) with 100% bootstrap support, was basically an FMRFamide precursor homologue. We noticed the availability of -RFamide peptides (GSERNFLRFa, DRNFIRFa) under short photoperiod only, which suggested their functions related to photoperiodic diapause induction. RNAi and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results further confirmed that the flrf gene promoted locust's diapause., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Extreme environmental conditions seriously affect crop growth and development, resulting in substantial reduction in yield and quality. However, chitin-binding proteins (CBP) family member CaChiVI2 plays a crucial role in eliminating the impact of adverse environmental conditions, such as cold and salt stress. Here, for the first time it was discovered that CaChiVI2 (Capana08g001237) gene of pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) had a role in resistance to heat stress and physiological processes. The full-length open-reading frame (ORF) of CaChiVI2 (606-bp, encoding 201-amino acids), was cloned into TRV2: CaChiVI2 vector for silencing. The CaChiVI2 gene carries heat shock elements (HSE, AAAAAATTTC) in the upstream region, and thereby shows sensitivity to heat stress at the transcriptional level. The silencing effect of CaChiVI2 in pepper resulted in increased susceptibility to heat and Phytophthora capsici infection. This was evident from the severe symptoms on leaves, the increase in superoxide (O 2 - ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) accumulation, higher malondialdehyde (MDA), relative electrolyte leakage (REL) and lower proline contents compared with control plants. Furthermore, the transcript level of other resistance responsive genes was also altered. In addition, the CaChiIV2 -overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana showed mild heat and drought stress symptoms and increased transcript level of a defense-related gene ( AtHSA32 ), indicating its role in the co-regulation network of the plant. The CaChiVI2 -overexpressed plants also showed a decrease in MDA contents and an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and proline accumulation. In conclusion, the results suggest that CaChiVI2 gene plays a decisive role in heat and drought stress tolerance, as well as, provides resistance against P. capsici by reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulating the expression of defense-related genes. The outcomes obtained here suggest that further studies should be conducted on plants adaptation mechanisms in variable environments., (Copyright © 2020 Ali, Muhammad, ul Haq, Alam, Khattak, Akhtar, Ullah, Khan, Lu and Gong.)

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease causing coronary heart attacks and strokes. Soyasaponins (SS), the phytochemicals naturally existing in soybeans and their products, have been shown to reduce hypercholesterolemia and inflammation, which are intimately related to the genesis and development of atherosclerosis. However, the anti-atherosclerotic functionality of soyasaponins remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the supplementation of two types of soyasaponin monomers (A1 and A2) on atherosclerotic plaque formation, serum lipid profiles, and inflammation in ApoE gene knockout (ApoE-/-) mice. Sixty 5-week-old ApoE-/- male mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) and intervened by SSA1 and SSA2 (10 and 20 μmol per kg BW, respectively) or simvastatin (10 μmol per kg BW) for 24 weeks. The atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta, aortic root, and innominate artery, lipid profile and inflammatory markers in serum, and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling in arterial tissues were determined. SSA1 and SSA2 decreased the plaque ratio in the aortic root and innominate artery but not in the entire aorta. In serum, SSA1 reduced TG, TC, and LDL-C but increased HDL-C; SSA2 decreased TC, TG, and LDL-C but did not affect HDL-C. Meanwhile, SSA1 increased TG, SSA2 increased TC, and both of them increased bile acids in the feces. SSA1 and SSA2 lowered TNF-α, MCP-1, and hs-crp in serum. Furthermore, SSA1 and SSA2 reduced the TLR4 and MyD88 expressions in the aorta and innominate artery and inhibited NF-κB p65 and IκBα phosphorylation in the aorta. These results suggest that SSA1 and SSA2 exert anti-atherosclerotic functionalities by decreasing hypercholesterolemia and inflammation in HFD-fed ApoE-/- mice.

Diapause is an important overwintering strategy enabling Locusta migratoria to survive under stressed conditions. We identified a novel dual-specificity kinase gene that is differentially expressed between long and short day-treated L. migratoria. To determine its function on photoperiodic diapause induction, we cloned the specific gene. Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis shows that this dual-specificity kinase is of the mycetozoa protein kinase-like (MPKL) type and may have been transferred horizontally from Mycetozoa to L. migratoria. RNA interference results confirm that MPKL promotes photoperiodic diapause induction of L. migratoria. Furthermore, MPKL significantly inhibits Akt and FOXO (i.e. forkhead box protein O) phosphorylation levels in ovaries, and also enhances reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, whereas peroxidase activity is decreased under both photoperiodic regimes. The findings of the present study offer insight into the molecular mechanism responsible for dual-specificity kinase-induced diapause in insects., (© 2019 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.)

Egg diapause in Locusta migratoria L. (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) is believed to be influenced by maternal photoperiod. However, the molecular mechanism regulating the phenomenon of maternal diapause induction is unclear. Here we performed transcriptomic analyses from the central nervous system (CNS) of migratory locusts under long and short photoperiods to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to diapause induction. There were total of 165750 unigenes from 569491 transcripts, and 610 DEGs were obtained in S&#95;CNS (CNS of short photoperiod treated locusts) vs. L&#95;CNS (CNS of long photoperiod treated locusts). Of these, 360 were up-regulated, 250 were down-regulated, and 84 DEGs were found to be related to FOXO signaling pathways, including citrate cycle/TCA cycle, glycolysis/ gluconeogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and PI3K-Akt. The qRT-PCR validation of mRNA expression of 12 randomly selected DEGs showed consistency with transcriptome analysis. Furthermore, the takeout gene thought to be involved in circadian rhythm was cloned and used for RNAi to observe its function in maternal diapause induction. We found that the mRNA level of Lm-takeout was significantly lower in ds takeout treatments as compared to the control under both long and short photoperiods. Similarly, the offspring diapause rate was significantly higher in ds takeout treatment as compared to the control only in short photoperiod. This shows that the Lm-takeout gene might be involved in the inhibition of maternal diapause induction of L. migratoria under short photoperiods. The present study provides extensive data of the CNS transcriptome and particular insights into the molecular mechanisms of maternal effects on egg diapause of L. migratoria As well for the future, the researchers can explore other factors and genes that may promote diapause in insect species., (Copyright © 2019 Jarwar et al.)