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Acyl-CoA-Binding Proteins (ACBPs) bind acyl-CoA esters and function in lipid metabolism. Although acbp3-1, the ACBP3 mutant in Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Col-0, displays normal floral development, the acbp3-2 mutant from ecotype Ler-0 characterized herein exhibits defective adaxial anther lobes and improper sporocyte formation. To understand these differences and identify the role of ERECTA in ACBP3 function, the acbp3 mutants and acbp3-erecta (er) lines were analyzed by microscopy for anther morphology and high-performance liquid chromatography for lipid composition. Defects in Landsberg anther development were related to the ERECTA-mediated pathway because the progenies of acbp3-2 × La-0 and acbp3-1 × er-1 in Col-0 showed normal anthers, contrasting to that of acbp3-2 in Ler-0. Polymorphism in the regulatory region of ACBP3 enabled its function in anther development in Ler-0 but not Col-0 which harbored an AT-repeat insertion. ACBP3 expression and anther development in acbp3-2 were restored using ACBP3pro (Ler)::ACBP3 not ACBP3pro (Col)::ACBP3. SPOROCYTELESS (SPL), a sporocyte formation regulator activated ACBP3 transcription in Ler-0 but not Col-0. For anther development, the ERECTA-related role of ACBP3 is required in Ler-0, but not Col-0. The disrupted promoter regulatory region for SPL binding in Col-0 eliminates the role of ACBP3 in anther development., (© 2024 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2024 New Phytologist Foundation.)

Albendazole (ABZ) is an anthelmintic agent from the benzimidazole group, known as the broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug. ABZ is commonly used to treat human intestinal and systemic infections. Orally administered ABZ tends to have limited efficacy due to its poor solubility. In order to enhance its delivery to the therapeutic target, polyvinyl alcohol-based hydrogel-forming microneedles (HFMs) was developed. HFMs can effectively deliver drugs loaded in the reservoir through the transdermal route with fewer side effects and longer therapeutic duration. In addition, to enhance ABZ's solubility, the drug can be loaded as a liquid reservoir using water-miscible solvents, which will effectively enhance the solubility of ABZ, resulting in higher bioavailability. In this study, HFMs was successfully developed with high swelling abilities, more than 400%. Moreover, the penetration result showed HFMs could penetrate up to 63% into the skin with only a 7.14% of height decrease. The skin integrity test also showed HFMs permeation into the skin, causing no changes in skin integrity after 24 h of application. Incorporated with the liquid reservoir, the ex vivo permeation test showed that the cumulative amount of ABZ permeated through the skin was about 971.23 ± 11.77 µg/cm 2 . In conclusion, this innovation has a huge potential to overcome the limitations of ABZ in oral preparations and potentially enhance its therapeutic effect through the transdermal route.

Climate change poses a serious threat to global agricultural activity and food production. Plant genome editing technologies have been widely used to develop crop varieties with superior qualities or can tolerate adverse environmental conditions. Unlike conventional breeding techniques (e.g., selective breeding and mutation breeding), modern genome editing tools offer more targeted and specific alterations of the plant genome and could significantly speed up the progress of developing crops with desired traits, such as higher yield and/or stronger resilience to the changing environment. In this review, we discuss the current development and future applications of genome editing technologies in mitigating the impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses on agriculture. We focus specifically on the CRISPR/Cas system, which has been the center of attention in the last few years as a revolutionary genome-editing tool in various species. We also conducted a bibliographic analysis on CRISPR-related papers published from 2012 to 2021 (10 years) to identify trends and potential in the CRISPR/Cas-related plant research. In addition, this review article outlines the current shortcomings and challenges of employing genome editing technologies in agriculture with notes on future prospective. We believe combining conventional and more innovative technologies in agriculture would be the key to optimizing crop improvement beyond the limitations of traditional agricultural practices.

Acyl-CoA-binding proteins (ACBPs) constitute a well-conserved family of proteins in eukaryotes that are important in stress responses and development. Past studies have shown that ACBPs are involved in maintaining, transporting and protecting acyl-CoA esters during lipid biosynthesis in plants, mammals, and yeast. ACBPs show differential expression and various binding affinities for acyl-CoA esters. Hence, ACBPs can play a crucial part in maintaining lipid homeostasis. This review summarizes the functions of ACBPs during the stages of reproduction in plants and other organisms. A comprehensive understanding on the roles of ACBPs during plant reproduction may lead to opportunities in crop improvement in agriculture., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Technological applications in agriculture have evolved substantially to increase crop yields and quality to meet global food demand. Conventional techniques, such as seed saving, selective breeding, and mutation breeding (variation breeding), have dramatically increased crop production, especially during the 'Green Revolution' in the 1990s. However, newer issues, such as limited arable lands, climate change, and ever-increasing food demand, pose challenges to agricultural production and threaten food security. In the following 'Gene Revolution' era, rapid innovations in the biotechnology field provide alternative strategies to further improve crop yield, quality, and resilience towards biotic and abiotic stresses. These innovations include the introduction of DNA recombinant technology and applications of genome editing techniques, such as transcription activator-like effector (TALEN), zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated (CRISPR/Cas) systems. However, the acceptance and future of these modern tools rely on the regulatory frameworks governing their development and production in various countries. Herein, we examine the evolution of technological applications in agriculture, focusing on the motivations for their introduction, technical challenges, possible benefits and concerns, and regulatory frameworks governing genetically engineered product development and production.

Asphaltene is a component of crude oil that has remained relatively unexplored for organic electronic applications. In this study, we report on its extraction technique from crude oil tank bottom sludge (COTBS) and its thin-film characteristics when 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([EMIM]Cl) ionic liquid (IL) was introduced as dopants. The extraction technique yielded asphaltene with more than 80% carbon content. The IL resulted in asphaltene thin films with a typical root-mean-square surface roughness of 4 nm, suitable for organic electronic applications. The thin films each showed an optical band gap of 3.8 eV and a sheet resistance as low as 10 5 Ω/□. When the film was used as a conductive layer in organic field-effect transistors (OFET), it exhibited hole and electron conduction with hole ( µ h ) and electron ( µ e ) mobilities in the order of 10 -8 and 10 -6 cm 2 /Vs, respectively. These characteristics are just preliminary in nature. With the right IL, asphaltene thin films may become a good alternative for a transport layer in organic electronic applications.

Aims: Our study aimed to investigate the association between elevated carotid-intima media thickness (CIMT) and serum uric acid (SUA) levels in hypertensive patients attending primary care clinics in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 140 hypertensive patients attending outpatient follow-up in two primary care clinics in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia, using a convenient sampling method. SUA levels were measured and divided into four quartiles. Two radiologist specialists performed B mode ultrasonography to assess the thickness of the right and left carotid intima media in all participants., Results: Participants' mean SUA level was 355.75 ± 0.13. Their mean age was 53.44 (± 9.90), with a blood pressure control of 137.09 ± 13.22/81.89 ± 8.95. Elevated CIMT taken at ≥75th percentile was 0.666 for the left and 0.633 for the right common carotid arteries. By using a hierarchical method of multiple logistic regression, compared with the first quartile of the SUA level as reference group, the odd of elevated CIMT in quartile 4 in the common carotid artery was (OR = 2.00; 95% CI = 0.64-6.27, P = .576) for the right and (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.20-2.00, P = .594) for the left. Waist circumference (P = .001), body mass index (P = .013), triglycerides (P < .001), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = .001) were significantly associated with the SUA quartiles., Conclusion: Although there was an increasing trend in the odd of elevated right CIMT across the SUA quartiles, this association, however, was not significant. Preventive effort to tackle the clustering effect of metabolic markers within this study population is needed to reduce the future risk of developing cardiovascular disease., (© 2021 The Authors. International Journal of Clinical Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Water deficit caused by drought is a significant threat to crop growth and production. Nitric oxide (NO), a water- and lipid-soluble free radical, plays an important role in cytoprotection. Apart from a few studies supporting the role of NO in drought responses, little is known about this pivotal molecular amendment in the regulation of abiotic stress signaling. In this review, we highlight the knowledge gaps in NO roles under drought stress and the technical challenges underlying NO detection and measurements, and we provide recommendations regarding potential avenues for future investigation. The modulation of NO production to alleviate abiotic stress disturbances in higher plants highlights the potential of genetic manipulation to influence NO metabolism as a tool with which plant fitness can be improved under adverse growth conditions.

Idiopathic granulomatous hypophysitis (GH) is an uncommon inflammatory disease of the pituitary with impairment of pituitary gland function due to infiltration by lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages. We report the case of a 39-year-old woman who presented with worsening of headaches for 1 month and blurring of vision over 5 days. An MRI revealed a homogeneous supra-sellar mass evoking a pituitary tumour with bulky pituitary stalk extending into the left and right cavernous sinuses. Hormonal investigations showed anterior pituitary hormone deficiencies; meanwhile histopathological examination revealed an aspect of hypophysitis. Clinical and radiological remission occurred immediately postglucocorticoid therapy with the addition of a steroid-sparing agent later in view of recurrence of symptoms on glucocorticoid dose reduction. GH has important diagnostic and therapeutic implications, as clinical and radiological features ameliorate via medical treatment. With further understanding and recognition of the disease, we hope to highlight a case of GH, in which signs and symptoms improved after initiation of corticosteroids., (2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility and safety of an outreach model of laparoscopic colorectal training of accredited specialists in advanced laparoscopic techniques and to explore the challenges of this model from the perspective of a National Training Programme (NTP) trainer., Method: Prospective data were collected for unselected laparoscopic colorectal training procedures performed by five laparoscopic colorectal NTP trainees supervised by a single NTP trainer with an outreach model between 2009 and 2012. The operative and postoperative outcomes were compared with standard laparoscopic colorectal training procedures performed by six senior colorectal trainees under the supervision of the same NTP trainer within the same study period. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare continuous variables and the Chi squared or Fisher's exact tests were applied for the analysis of categorical variables. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05., Results: During the study period 179 elective laparoscopic colorectal procedures were performed. This included 54 cases performed by NTP trainees and 125 cases performed by the supervised trainees. There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, pathology and procedure type between both groups. Seventy-eight per cent of the patients operated on by the NTP trainees had had no previous abdominal surgery, compared with 50% in the supervised trainees' group (P = 0.0005). There were no significant differences in 30-day mortality or the operative and postoperative outcome between both groups. There were, however, difficulties in training an already established consultant in his or her own hospital and these were overcome by certain adjustments to the programme., Conclusion: Outreach laparoscopic training of colorectal surgeons is a feasible and safe model of training accredited specialists and does not compromise patient care. The challenges encountered can be overcome with optimum training and preparation., (Colorectal Disease © 2015 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.)

The management of aortoiliac insufficiency has been improved considerably since the introduction of balloon-expandable stents in 1991. Although numerous studies have shown the safety and efficacy of balloon-expandable iliac artery stent placement, the procedure is not without potential complication. We report here a very unusual case of iliac artery stenting being complicated by deformation and elongation of the stent following balloon rupture at initial deployment with retention of the distal balloon marker and our successful approach to subsequent management with combined acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel. In conclusion, this conservative approach may be an alternative treatment of a partially deployed aortoiliac stent with a retained foreign body when further intervention is considered to be of high risk.