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Tigernuts seeds (Cyperus esculentus L.) contain an abundance of phytochemicals, especially germinated ones, which exhibit higher biological activities. This study aimed to investigate chemical compositions, antioxidant and anti-cancer activities of tigernuts in three states: raw (ungerminated) (RE), germinated with either water (WGE) or with Bacillus velezensis fermentation supernatant (SGE). Compared to other two groups, germinated tigernuts (especially SGE) significantly increased the content of syringetin, eriodictyol, jujuboside B, and pseudoprotodioscin, while was positively consistent with their corresponding antioxidant capacities (including ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities). In addition, extract from sample SGE had more content of phloretin, pseudoprotodioscin, and jujuboside B than that of WGE, which was positively correlated with the cell inhibitory effect, demonstrating that effect of SGE group was greater than that of either WGE or RE on cells property. Specifically, SGE treatment increased reactive oxygen species and the number of apoptotic cells, followed by arrested cell cycle at the G2/M phase and enhanced related mRNA expression. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first evidence for demonstrating the induction of apoptosis in HCT116 cells by the extract of germinated tigernuts, especially the fermentation supernatant of B. velezensis. These findings provide a scientific basis for the use of key compounds from germinated tigernuts in the treatment of cancer, although further in vivo studies are still required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum PC11 and Lactobacillus plantarum NMGL2 on the incidence of anthracnose disease in mangoes during shelf life. PC11 and NMGL2 fermentation liquids were employed at a concentration of 1010 cfu/mL combined with chitosan to prepare a strain fermentation liquid-chitosan complex solution. The mangoes were immersed in the strain fermentation liquid-chitosan complex solution for 2 minutes, air-dried to form a coating, stored at (25±1)℃ for 12 days, and sampled every 4 days. The indicators were then observed and measured during storage, including the mango respiration intensity, ethylene release, incidence rate, disease index, reactive oxygen, enzyme/non-enzyme substances, and phenolic substances. A correlation analysis was conducted as well. The results showed that the PC11 combined with chitosan coating effectively reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in mangoes, whereas, there was an increase in the enzyme activity of SOD, APX, GPX, and the content of glutathione in the mango reactive oxygen metabolism. On the 8th day of storage, the H2O2 and O_2· contents in the PC11 treatment group were 3.6% and 22.6% lower than those in the CK group, respectively. The enzyme activities of SOD, APX, GPX, and the content of glutathione in the PC11 treatment group were 14.9%, 60.9%, 26.6%, and 41.7% higher than those in the CK group, respectively. There was an increase in the disease resistance of mangoes. However, the treatment of mangoes with NMGL2 combined with chitosan was accelerated to accumulate the reactive oxygen species in mangoes, where the mango POD activity was reduced to slow down the accumulation of total phenols. On the 4th day, the H2O2 content in the NMGL2 treatment group was 1.12 times that of the CK group, whereas, the POD activity and total phenol content were 45.4% and 1.1% lower than those of the CK group, respectively, thus reducing the disease resistance of mangoes. In conclusion, the PC11 treatment combined with chitosan coating treatment maintained a higher level of ROS production and clearance in mangoes. Therefore, the mango disease resistance was enhanced to regulate the reactive oxygen/glutathione pathways, thus effectively inhibiting the occurrence of mango anthracnose disease. NMGL2 was accelerated to accumulate the reactive oxygen species in mangoes during storage. The activities of reactive oxygen metabolism-related enzymes and glutathione content were reduced to promote the occurrence of mango anthracnose. The fermentation broth of the strain was composed of both the cells and the metabolites of the cells. Therefore, the anti-disease effect in the PC11 processing group was attributed to the production of metabolites with certain bacteriostatic or fruit resistance-enhancing functions, the nutritional and space competition of the bacteria itself, as well as the hyper parasitism. The side effects of NMGL2 on mangoes resulted from the production of metabolites that damage mangoes or the pathogenic effect of the cells themselves on mangoes. Whether the bacterium PC11 or the metabolites produced by PC11 can greatly contribute to the disease resistance of mangoes. Both bacterium and its metabolites in the combination of PC11 with chitosan coating can be used to enhance the endogenous resistance in fruits. The composition and key inhibitory of metabolites from Lactobacillus plantarum PC11 also require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is currently one of the most used methods mainly for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and obesity. The present study aimed to carry out an integrative review on the effect of the HIIT method on antioxidant capacities in humans. The search terms used were HIIT with the following keywords and correlates: oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzymes and free radicals. Inclusion criteria were HIIT intervention studies on antioxidant capacity, original articles and available in full in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Studies that did not meet these criteria were excluded. A total of 27 articles were found, of which only 7 met the selection criteria. Of these, 6 studies (85%) investigated the effect of HIIT on antioxidant capacity found beneficial results in these parameters. On the other hand, in one of included studies, the damage was repaired after exercise and one (15%) did not obtain statistically significant reductions. In this review, scientific evidence points to the effects resulting from antioxidant capacity and HIIT, however, it is necessary to carry out further studies to analyze this relationship, as it is not yet well described in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different sources of probiotics (based on Lactic acid bacteria or Bacillus strains) on growth performance, antioxidant status and immunity. Therefore, two hundred eighty-eight 1-d-old male Ross broiler chicks were allocated to three experimental groups for 35 days. The dietary treatments included: basal diet-unsupplemented (C), supplemented with lactic acid bacteria (LABP), and/or Bacillus strains-based probiotics (BP). LABP led to reduced feed intake, while both LABP and BP improved the feed conversion rate as compared to the control group on day 7 (P < 0.05). BP increased serum total protein level compared to the control group at the end of the experiment (P < 0.05). However, supplementation with probiotics did not affect the relative weight of carcass components, immune organs, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species levels and the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. These findings suggest similar efficacy and potency between probiotics based on Bacillus strains-based and lactic acid bacteria-based probiotics in enhancing early-life growth performance and increasing blood total protein. However, there is insufficient evidence to support an improvement in antioxidant status or modulation of the immune system through the addition of LABP or BP.

Abstract Background Light deficit in shaded environment critically impacts the growth and development of turf plants. Despite this fact, past research has predominantly concentrated on shade avoidance rather than shade tolerance. To address this, our study examined the photosynthetic adjustments of Bermudagrass when exposed to varying intensities of shade to gain an integrative understanding of the shade response of C4 turfgrass. Results We observed alterations in photosynthetic pigment-proteins, electron transport and its associated carbon and nitrogen assimilation, along with ROS-scavenging enzyme activity in shaded conditions. Mild shade enriched Chl b and LHC transcripts, while severe shade promoted Chl a, carotenoids and photosynthetic electron transfer beyond QA − (ET0/RC, φE0, Ψ0). The study also highlighted differential effects of shade on leaf and root components. For example, Soluble sugar content varied between leaves and roots as shade diminished SPS, SUT1 but upregulated BAM. Furthermore, we observed that shading decreased the transcriptional level of genes involving in nitrogen assimilation (e.g. NR) and SOD, POD, CAT enzyme activities in leaves, even though it increased in roots. Conclusions As shade intensity increased, considerable changes were noted in light energy conversion and photosynthetic metabolism processes along the electron transport chain axis. Our study thus provides valuable theoretical groundwork for understanding how C4 grass acclimates to shade tolerance.

Background: Light deficit in shaded environment critically impacts the growth and development of turf plants. Despite this fact, past research has predominantly concentrated on shade avoidance rather than shade tolerance. To address this, our study examined the photosynthetic adjustments of Bermudagrass when exposed to varying intensities of shade to gain an integrative understanding of the shade response of C4 turfgrass. Results: We observed alterations in photosynthetic pigment-proteins, electron transport and its associated carbon and nitrogen assimilation, along with ROS-scavenging enzyme activity in shaded conditions. Mild shade enriched Chl b and LHC transcripts, while severe shade promoted Chl a, carotenoids and photosynthetic electron transfer beyond QA− (ET0/RC, φE0, Ψ0). The study also highlighted differential effects of shade on leaf and root components. For example, Soluble sugar content varied between leaves and roots as shade diminished SPS, SUT1 but upregulated BAM. Furthermore, we observed that shading decreased the transcriptional level of genes involving in nitrogen assimilation (e.g. NR) and SOD, POD, CAT enzyme activities in leaves, even though it increased in roots. Conclusions: As shade intensity increased, considerable changes were noted in light energy conversion and photosynthetic metabolism processes along the electron transport chain axis. Our study thus provides valuable theoretical groundwork for understanding how C4 grass acclimates to shade tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold storage is a widely employed technique for prolonging the post-harvest shelf life of 'Nanguo' pear. Nonetheless, this method has been observed to diminish the fruit's aromatic properties. Given the significance of aroma in determining the volatile quality, this research endeavors to examine the impact of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in preserving aroma content, while also delving into the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to its efficacy. Upon observing the metabolic changes, it was found that the pear, sprayed MeJA, could keep higher the content of aroma, ascorbic acid, polyphenol, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid than the control, but stearic acid and H2O2 were decreased. The enzyme activities of lipoxygenase (LOX), alcohol acyl transferase (AAT), and catalase (CAT) were enhanced by MeJA treatment, but the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was inhibited. Moreover, the gene expression levels of LOX, AAT, CAT, stearoyl-ACP desaturase (SAD), and fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) were promoted by MeJA. It is reasonable that sprayed MeJA was a reliable method for inhibiting aroma loss and triggered unsaturated fatty acid and reactive oxygen metabolisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular exposure to particulate matter (PM) causes local inflammation; however, the influence of neutrophils on PM-induced ocular inflammation is still not fully understood. In this study, we constructed a system to investigate the role of PM in ocular inflammation using a co-culture of human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-T) and differentiation-induced neutrophils (dHL-60). To investigate whether HCE-T directly endocytosed PM, we performed a holographic analysis, which showed the endocytosis of PM in HCE-T. The cytokines and chemokines produced by HCE-T were measured using an ELISA. HCE-T treated with PM produced IL-6 and IL-8, which were inhibited by N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), suggesting the involvement of ROS. Their co-culture with dHL-60 enhanced their production of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1. This suggests an inflammatory loop involving intraocular corneal epithelial cells and neutrophils. These cytokines and chemokines are mainly regulated by NF-κB. Therefore, this co-culture system was examined in the presence of an IKK inhibitor known to downregulate NF-κB activity. The IKK inhibitor dramatically suppressed the production of these factors in co-culture supernatants. The results suggest that the inflammatory loop observed in the co-culture is mediated through ROS and the transcription factor NF-κB. Thus, the co-culture system is considered a valuable tool for analyzing complex inflammations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different sources of probiotics (based on Lactic acid bacteria or Bacillus strains) on growth performance, antioxidant status and immunity. Therefore, two hundred eighty-eight 1-d-old male Ross broiler chicks were allocated to three experimental groups for 35 days. The dietary treatments included: basal diet-unsupplemented (C), supplemented with lactic acid bacteria (LABP), and/or Bacillus strains-based probiotics (BP). LABP led to reduced feed intake, while both LABP and BP improved the feed conversion rate as compared to the control group on day 7 (P < 0.05). BP increased serum total protein level compared to the control group at the end of the experiment (P < 0.05). However, supplementation with probiotics did not affect the relative weight of carcass components, immune organs, malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species levels and the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. These findings suggest similar efficacy and potency between probiotics based on Bacillus strains-based and lactic acid bacteria-based probiotics in enhancing early-life growth performance and increasing blood total protein. However, there is insufficient evidence to support an improvement in antioxidant status or modulation of the immune system through the addition of LABP or BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant heterometallic polyoxometalate (POM) clusters with precise atom structures, flexibly adjustable and abundant active sites are promising for constructing functional nanodrugs. However, current POM drugs are almost vacant in orthotopic brain tumor therapy due to the inability to effectively penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and low drug activity. Here, we designed the largest (3.0 nm × 6.0 nm) transition‐metal–lanthanide co‐encapsulated POM cluster {[Ce10Ag6(DMEA)(H2O)27W22O70][B‐α‐TeW9O33]9}288− featuring 238 metal centers via synergistic coordination between two geometry‐unrestricted Ce3+ and Ag+ linkers with tungsten‐oxo cluster fragments. This POM was combined with brain‐targeted peptide to prepare a brain‐targeted nanodrug that could efficiently traverse BBB and target glioma cells. The Ag+ active centers in the nanodrug specifically activate reactive oxygen species to regulate the apoptosis pathway of glioma cells with a low half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (5.66 μM). As the first brain‐targeted POM drug, it efficiently prolongs the survival of orthotopic glioma‐bearing mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine the topography and adhesion images of the cell surface of neutrophils during the activation process. Our analysis of cell surface parameters indicates that the most significant changes in neutrophils occur within the first 30 min of activation, suggesting that reactive oxygen species may require approximately this amount of time to activate the cells. Interestingly, we observed surface granular structure as early as 10 min after neutrophil activation when examining atomic force microscopy images. This finding aligns with the reorganization observed within the cells under confocal laser scanning microscopy. By analyzing the cell surface images of adhesion, we identified three spatial surface parameters that correlate with the activation time. This finding enables us to estimate the degree of activation by using atomic force microscopy maps of the cell surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and dysregulated inflammatory response. Previous studies have reported that shikonin (Shik) possess prominent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and holds promise as a potential therapeutic drug for sepsis. However, the poor water solubility and the relatively high toxicity of shikonin hamper its clinical application. To address this challenge, we constructed Zn2+-shikonin nanoparticles, hereafter Zn-Shik-PEG NPs, based on an organic-inorganic hybridization strategy of metal-polyphenol coordination to improve the aqueous solubility and biosafety of shikonin. Mechanistic studies suggest that Zn-Shik-PEG NPs could effectively clear intracellular ROS via regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, meanwhile Zn-Shik-PEG NPs could inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated activation of inflammation and apoptosis by regulating the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. As a result, the Zn-Shik-PEG NPs demonstrated excellent therapeutic efficacies in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as well as cecal ligation puncture (CLP) induced sepsis model. These findings suggest that Zn-Shik-PEG NPs may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of other ROS-associated and inflammatory diseases.

Osteoporosis, which is often associated with increased osteoclast activity due to menopause or aging, was the main focus of this study. We investigated the inhibitory effects of water extract of desalted Salicornia europaea L. (WSE) on osteoclast differentiation and bone loss in ovariectomized mice. Our findings revealed that WSE effectively inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, as demonstrated by TRAP staining, and also suppressed bone resorption and F-actin ring formation in a dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of genes related to osteoclast differentiation, including NFATc1, ACP5, Ctsk, and DCSTAMP, were downregulated by WSE. Oral administration of WSE improved bone density and structural parameters in ovariectomized mice. Dicaffeoylquinic acids (DCQAs) and saponins were detected in WSE, with 3,4-DCQA, 3,5-DCQA, and 4,5-DCQA being isolated and identified. All tested DCQAs, including the aforementioned types, inhibited osteoclast differentiation, bone resorption, and the expression of osteoclast-related genes. Furthermore, WSE and DCQAs reduced ROS production mediated by RANKL. These results indicate the potential of WSE and its components, DCQAs, as preventive or therapeutic agents against osteoporosis and related conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and dysregulated inflammatory response. Previous studies have reported that shikonin (Shik) possess prominent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and holds promise as a potential therapeutic drug for sepsis. However, the poor water solubility and the relatively high toxicity of shikonin hamper its clinical application. To address this challenge, we constructed Zn2+-shikonin nanoparticles, hereafter Zn-Shik-PEG NPs, based on an organic-inorganic hybridization strategy of metal-polyphenol coordination to improve the aqueous solubility and biosafety of shikonin. Mechanistic studies suggest that Zn-Shik-PEG NPs could effectively clear intracellular ROS via regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, meanwhile Zn-Shik-PEG NPs could inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated activation of inflammation and apoptosis by regulating the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. As a result, the Zn-Shik-PEG NPs demonstrated excellent therapeutic efficacies in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as well as cecal ligation puncture (CLP) induced sepsis model. These findings suggest that Zn-Shik-PEG NPs may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of other ROS-associated and inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upgrading cyclohexanone to ϵ‐caprolactone (ϵ‐CL) is of great importance to the synthesis of high value‐added downstream chemicals and the reduction of foam plastic. The catalytic synthesis of ϵ‐CL from cyclohexanone through O2/aldehyde method is an environmentally benign one‐pot tandem reaction without using peroxy acid, balancing the requirements of safety and efficiency. However, due to lack of elaborate design and collaboration of multiple active sites for catalysts, the catalytic efficiency of O2/aldehyde method still remains to be improved. Herein, a pitaya‐like catalyst (CeFe@RDC‐3) with Ce and Fe highly dispersed on resin‐derived‐carbon is synthesized through high temperature self‐assembly. On this bimetallic catalyst, high yield (97 %) of ϵ‐CL is achieved through aerobic oxidation of cyclohexanone with only 1.5 equivalent benzaldehyde. Moreover, considerable yields of ϵ‐CL, 88.3 % and 74.7 %, respectively, are also obtained over CeFe@RDC‐3 with green solvent (EtOAc) or even without solvent. No loss of activity is observed after five successive cycles, demonstrating high stability of CeFe@RDC‐3. The mechanism study reveals that the high performance of CeFe@RDC‐3 is ascribed to the Ce−Fe bimetallic synergy, uniform metal dispersion, abundant active oxygen and stabilizing effect of resin‐derived‐carbon to free radicals. This work provides prospect for a green, safe and low‐cost strategy for Baeyer‐Villiger process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senolytic drugs are designed to selectively clear senescent cells (SnCs) that accumulate with injury or aging. In a mouse model of osteoarthritis (OA), senolysis yields a pro‐regenerative response, but the therapeutic benefit is reduced in aged mice. Increased oxidative stress is a hallmark of advanced age. Therefore, here we investigate whether senolytic treatment differentially affects joint oxidative load in young and aged animals. We find that senolysis by a p53/MDM2 interaction inhibitor, UBX0101, reduces protein oxidative modification in the aged arthritic knee joint. Mass spectrometry coupled with protein interaction network analysis and biophysical stability prediction of extracted joint proteins revealed divergent responses to senolysis between young and aged animals, broadly suggesting that knee regeneration and cellular stress programs are contrarily poised to respond as a function of age. These opposing responses include differing signatures of protein‐by‐protein oxidative modification and abundance change, disparate quantitative trends in modified protein network centrality, and contrasting patterns of oxidation‐induced folding free energy perturbation between young and old. We develop a composite sensitivity score to identify specific key proteins in the proteomes of aged osteoarthritic joints, thereby nominating prospective therapeutic targets to complement senolytics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a natural antioxidant, the antioxidant properties of lactic acid bacteria（LAB）have been one of the hot spots of research. Most of the LAB are anaerobic or partly anaerobic, and are generally suitable to grow in anaerobic environment or low oxygen. Some strains of LAB have good antioxidant properties because they contain highly active antioxidant enzymes and redox systems. As a common fermenting microorganism, LAB are not only useful in food production for improving flavour, but their antioxidant effect is important for extending the shelf life of food. Likewise, oxidative stress in the body is closely related to many physiological and pathological phenomena, and numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial function of LAB in alleviating related diseases. This paper reviews the oxidative stress of LAB, their response and defence mechanisms, and technical methods and applications to improve the antioxidant activity of LAB, with the aim of providing theoretical references for an in-depth understanding of the antioxidant mechanisms of LAB and the development of strains with fine antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocular exposure to particulate matter (PM) causes local inflammation; however, the influence of neutrophils on PM-induced ocular inflammation is still not fully understood. In this study, we constructed a system to investigate the role of PM in ocular inflammation using a co-culture of human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-T) and differentiation-induced neutrophils (dHL-60). To investigate whether HCE-T directly endocytosed PM, we performed a holographic analysis, which showed the endocytosis of PM in HCE-T. The cytokines and chemokines produced by HCE-T were measured using an ELISA. HCE-T treated with PM produced IL-6 and IL-8, which were inhibited by N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), suggesting the involvement of ROS. Their co-culture with dHL-60 enhanced their production of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1. This suggests an inflammatory loop involving intraocular corneal epithelial cells and neutrophils. These cytokines and chemokines are mainly regulated by NF-κB. Therefore, this co-culture system was examined in the presence of an IKK inhibitor known to downregulate NF-κB activity. The IKK inhibitor dramatically suppressed the production of these factors in co-culture supernatants. The results suggest that the inflammatory loop observed in the co-culture is mediated through ROS and the transcription factor NF-κB. Thus, the co-culture system is considered a valuable tool for analyzing complex inflammations.

Abstract Drought stress markedly affects plant growth and crop production. In turn, treatment with some metal‐based nanoparticles (NPs) such as TiO2‐NPs could improve the plant tolerance against drought stress. In the present study, the effects of different levels of moisture regime (40%, 60%, and 90% field capacity [FC]) in conjunction with various concentrations of TiO2‐NPs (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg. L−1) on chickpea were studied. Exposure of drought‐challenged chickpea plants to TiO2‐NPs raised antioxidant enzyme activity compared with plants grown under drought without TiO2‐NP treatment. The highest activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was observed at 40% FC and application of 40 mg. L−1 TiO2‐NPs. Moreover, peroxidase (POX) activity has increased with the enhancing concentration of TiO2‐NPs to 20 mg. L−1 at 90% FC. In comparison, the application of 40 mg. L−1 TiO2‐NPs and decreasing levels of FC caused a rise in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Exposure to TiO2‐NPs raised the amount of total phenols and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picryl‐hydrazyl‐hydrate (DPPH) at different levels of moisture regime. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) at 60% FC has decreased by 22% after treatment with 20 mg. L−1 TiO2‐NPs compared with control plants. Also, treatment with TiO2‐NPs heightened the proline content, and the highest amount of proline was obtained at 40% FC by applying 20 mg. L−1 NPs. The treatment with TiO2‐NPs in the moisture regimes led to higher chlorophyll and carotenoid production in chickpea plants. Taken together, the application of TiO2‐NPs could raise the defense potential of chickpea plants against oxidative stress caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species.

Percutaneous microwave ablation (PMA) is a thermoablative method used as a minimally invasive treatment for liver cancer. However, the application of PMA is limited by its insufficient ROS generation efficiency and thermal effects. Herein, a new microwave-activated Cu-doped zirconium metal-organic framework (MOF) (Cu Zr MOF) used for enhanced PMA has a significantly improved microwave sensitizing effect. Owing to the strong inelastic collisions between ions confined in numerous micropores, Cu Zr MOF has strong microwave sensitivity and high thermal conversion efficiency, which can significantly improve microwave thermal therapy (MTT). Moreover, because of the existence of Cu2+ ions, a further benefit of Cu Zr MOF is their Fenton-like activity, in particular, microwaves used as an excitation source for microwave dynamic therapy (MDT) can improve the Fenton-like reaction to maximize the synergistic effectiveness of cancer therapy. Importantly, Cu Zr MOF can inhibit the production of heat shock proteins (HSPs) by producing abundant ROS to enhance tumor destruction. Mechanistically, we found that Cu Zr MOF + MW treatment modulates ferroptosis-mediated tumor cell death by targeting the HMOX1/GPX4 axis. In summary, this study develops a novel Cu Zr MOF microwave sensitizer with great potential for synergistic treatment of liver cancer by MTT and MDT. Cu Zr MOF was fabricated with a hydrothermal one-pot low-cost green method. Cu Zr MOF has strong microwave sensitivity and high thermal conversion efficiency, which can realize the synergistic treatment of microwave thermal therapy (MTT) and microwave dynamic therapy (MDT). Mechanistically, we found that Cu Zr MOF + MW treatment modulates ferroptosis-mediated tumor apoptosis by targeting the HMOX1/GPX4 axis. [Display omitted] • A novel kind of microwave-activated Cu-doped zirconium metal-organic framework (MOF) (Cu Zr MOF) used for improve microwave thermal therapy that has a significantly improved microwave sensitizing effect. • Microwaves used as an excitation source for microwave dynamic therapy (MDT) can produce more ROS to maximize the synergistic effectiveness of cancer therapy. • Cu Zr MOF + MW treatment modulates ferroptosis-mediated tumor death by targeting the HMOX1/GPX4 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tripterine (TP, also called celastrol), a pentacyclic triterpene extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii, has beneficial effects on multiple diseases, including obesity and diabetes. However, the effects of TP on β‑cell lipotoxicity have not been fully explored. Here, we found that TP modulated β-cell lipotoxicity in a concentration-dependent and bidirectional manner. At low concentrations, TP potentially protected MIN6 β-cells from palmitate (PA)-induced lipotoxicity. At high concentrations, TP significantly promoted β-cell lipotoxicity, further reinforcing PA-induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, low-concentration TP inhibited the PA-induced increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and its protective effects were abolished by the ROS inducer tert-butyl hydroperoxide. Conversely, high-concentration TP significantly exacerbated the PA-triggered ROS generation, and its enhanced cytotoxicity was partially reversed by the ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Thus, TP plays a dual role in β-cell lipotoxicity, suggesting that care should be taken when it is used for obesity and diabetes treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defects in tRNA expressions and modifications had been linked to various types of tumorigenesis and progression in recent studies, including colorectal cancer. In the present study, we evaluated transcript levels of mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase YARS2 in both colorectal cancer tissues and normal colorectal tissues using qRT-PCR. The results revealed that the mRNA expression level of YARS2 in colorectal cancer tissues was significantly higher than those in normal intestinal tissues. Knockdown of YARS2 in human colon cancer cell-line SW620 leads to significant inhibition of cell proliferation and migration. The steady-state level of tRNATyr, OCR, and ATP synthesis were decreased in the YARS2 knockdown cells. Moreover, our data indicated that inhibition of YARS2 is associated with increased reactive oxygen species levels which sensitize these cells to 5-FU treatment. In conclusion, our study revealed that targeting YARS2 could inhibit colorectal cancer progression. Thus, YARS2 might be a carcinogenesis candidate gene and can serve as a potential target for clinical therapy.

This review discusses the classes of plant polyphenols along with their binding mechanisms with protein molecules. Generally, polyphenols bind in covalent and non-covalent orientations with protein molecules. Their addition to the protein usually results in undesirable flavors and tastes inside the proteins. They also affect the color of the food. Plant polyphenols are found to act in a protective way against cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In addition to redox activity, their modes of action include the inhibition of key enzymes, modulation of transcription factors or cell receptors, and finally, perturbation of protein aggregates. Dietary polyphenols usually play a key role in protein digestion by forming covalent and non-covalent bonds with proteins. In addition, polyphenols and plant phenolics possess the scavenging ability of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including radical/non-radical oxygen species including HOC•, H2O2, HOCl, 1O2 (singlet oxygen), and oxidatively generated radicals derived from LDL biomolecules such as ROOC• and oligonucleic acids.

The author will outline the research history of the main issues addressed in this paper. The author has worked on this research himself. XDH, which is responsible for purine degradation, is present in various organisms. However, conversion to XO only occurs in mammals. The molecular mechanism of this conversion was elucidated in this study. The physiological and pathological significance of this conversion is presented. Finally, enzyme inhibitors were successfully developed, two of which are used as therapeutic agents for gout. Their wide application potential is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hours after watering plants with 75 mM NaCl, the water potential of reproductive structures precipitously decreases. In flowers with mature gametes, this change in water potential did not alter the rate of fertilization but caused 37% of the fertilized ovules to abort. We hypothesize that the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ovules is an early physiological manifestation associated with seed failure. In this study, we characterize ROS scavengers that were differentially expressed in stressed ovules to determine whether any of these genes regulate ROS accumulation and/or associate with seed failure. Mutants in an iron-dependent superoxide dismutase (FSD2), ascorbate peroxidase (APX4), and three peroxidases (PER17, PER28, and PER29) were evaluated for changes in fertility. Fertility was unchanged in apx4 mutants, but the other mutants grown under normal conditions averaged a 140% increase in seed failure. In pistils, PER17 expression increases three-fold after stress, while the other genes decreased two-fold or more following stress; this change in expression accounts for differences in fertility between healthy and stressed conditions for different genotypes. In pistils, H2O2 levels rose in per mutants, but only in the triple mutant was there a significant increase, indicating that other ROS or their scavengers be involved in seed failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the clearance effect of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with an oxygen-releasing photosensitizer methylene blue (MB) formula on Enterococcus faecalis in the root canal. Methods Groups were divided into the MB group and oxygen release MB group. Samples in the MB group were mixed with 50 μmol/L MB solution, and samples in the oxygen release MB group were mixed with 50 μmol/L MB in oxygen release emulsion. N-acetyl-L-tryptophan amide (NATA) and 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) were used to detect the oxidative activity and singlet oxygen generation of different formulas of MB (MB group, oxygen-releasing MB group), and the oxygen-releasing capacity of the oxygen-releasing photosensitizer formula was analyzed. The single root canal anterior teeth were collected, and the Enterococcus faecalis root canal infection model of isolated teeth was constructed. The distribution of Enterococcus faecalis in the root canal was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The isolated teeth with Enterococcus faecalis root canal infection were divided into three groups: the conventional root canal therapy group, MB-PDT therapy group, and oxygen-releasing MB-PDT therapy group, with 10 teeth in each group. Bacterial samples in the root canals of each group were obtained, the number of colonies was analyzed(CFU/mL) after 24 h of in vitro culture, and the clearance rate of Enterococcus faecalis in the root canal by photodynamic therapy was evaluated. The remaining isolated teeth with Enterococcus faecalis root canal infection were divided into 3 groups, with 5 samples in each group. Bacterial samples at a depth of 1 000 μm in the dentin tubules of the upper root, middle root and lower root segment were obtained and cultured in vitro for 24 h for calculations. The number of colonies (CFU/mL) was analyzed, and the clearance rate of Enterococcus faecalis in the dentin tubules of different segments of the root canals in each group was analyzed. Results The oxidation activity and singlet oxygen generation capacity in the oxygen-releasing MB group were stronger than those in the MB group. Scanning electron microscope detection showed that Enterococcus faecalis was distributed in dentinal tubules, indicating that the model of root canal infection in vitro was successfully constructed. The clearance rate of Enterococcus faecalis in the oxygen-releasing MB-PDT therapy group was higher than that in the conventional therapy group and the MB-PDT therapy group (P

冷等离子体（CP）技术是环境友好的新兴食品非热加工技术，为了促进我国粮油行业研发冷等离子体发生设备，概述了冷等离子体在改善面粉、淀粉及蛋白粉的功能性，减少米饭蒸煮时间，提高籽粒的安全性，降低油脂氢化中反式脂肪酸的生成，降解粮粒真菌毒素及防治储粮害虫等方面的应用研究进展。并提出冷等离子体作用于粮油食品中的机制，包括活性氧和活性氮反应，酸碱度降低学说和生物大分子修饰。冷等离子体处理后粮油食品的pH降低，脂质氧化作用增加，这对设备和工艺研发提出了新要求，今后研究中要规范给出冷等离子体设备处理粮油食品及原料的参数，这对加速冷等离子体技术在粮油行业应用的法规制定具有重要作用。 Cold plasma is emerging as an environmental friendly non-thermal food process technology. For promoting the development of cold plasma reactors in domestic grains and oils industry, the application progress of cold plasma in improving the functional modification of flours, starch and protein powder, reducing rice cooking time, improving kernel safety,decreasing the production of trans fatty acid in oil hydrogenation, mycotoxin degradation of grains and preventing pests in grains during storage were outlined. The mechanism of cold plasma action in grains and oils was proposed,including reactive oxygen, reactive nitrogen reaction, the theory of pH decrease and modification of biomolecules. The decrease in pH and increase of lipid oxidation after cold plasma treatment on grains and food put forward new requirements for the design of cold plasma reactor and process. In the future research, the parameters of cold plasma equipment for processing grains and oils food and raw materials should be given in a standardized manner, which plays an important role in accelerating the formulation of regulations for the application of cold plasma technology in grains and oils industry.

Simple Summary: The high environmental temperature of the tropical area compromises milk production in dairy animals, and an increase in the energy required for heat dissipation produces both acid and reactive oxygen species. This response causes an acid–base imbalance and oxidative stress which indirectly affect milk synthesis. We previously showed that a high dietary cation and anion difference (DCAD) supplement increased heat dissipation. Moreover, a high-dose vitamin C (vit C) supplement has been used in dairy ruminants to decrease oxidative stress. The present experiment aimed to investigate the relationship between acid–base balance, oxidative stress, and mammary gland function under high environmental temperature conditions. The results showed that high DCAD and vit C could change acid–base balance and oxidative status. In addition, milk compositions were changed when the oxidative stress was compromised. We conclude that the high environmental temperature compromises milk synthesis in part by changing acid–base balance and oxidative stress. High ambient temperature (HTa) causes acid–base imbalance and systemic oxidative stress, and this may indirectly affect the mammary gland. Furthermore, HTa induces intracellular oxidative stress, which has been proposed to affect cell metabolism directly. We previously showed in dairy goats that the negative effect of HTa was compromised by enhancing heat dissipation during a high dietary cation and anion difference (DCAD) regimen. Moreover, high-dose vitamin C or ascorbic acid (AA) supplements have been used to manage oxidative stress in ruminants. The present study hypothesized that high DCAD and AA supplements that could alleviate the HTa effect would influence the milk synthesis pathway and mammary gland function. The results showed that goats fed with high DCAD had higher blood pH than control goats in the 4th week. The high dose of AA supplement decreases urine pH in the 8th week. The percent reduction of urine pH from the AA supplement was significant in the DCAD group. The high-dose AA supplement decreased plasma glutathione peroxidase activity and malonaldehyde. This effect was enhanced by a high DCAD supplement. In addition, supplementation with AA increased milk protein and citrate and decreased milk FFA. These alterations indicate the intracellular biochemical pathway of energy metabolism and milk synthesis. It can be concluded that a high DCAD regimen and AA supplement in dairy goats fed under HTa could influence the milk synthesis pathway. The evidence suggests that HTa decreases mammary gland function by modification of acid–base homeostasis and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abusive head trauma (AHT) is a serious traumatic brain injury and the leading cause of death in children younger than 2 years. The development of experimental animal models to simulate clinical AHT cases is challenging. Several animal models have been designed to mimic the pathophysiological and behavioral changes in pediatric AHT, ranging from lissencephalic rodents to gyrencephalic piglets, lambs, and non-human primates. These models can provide helpful information for AHT, but many studies utilizing them lack consistent and rigorous characterization of brain changes and have low reproducibility of the inflicted trauma. Clinical translatability of animal models is also limited due to significant structural differences between developing infant human brains and the brains of animals, and an insufficient ability to mimic the effects of long-term degenerative diseases and to model how secondary injuries impact the development of the brain in children. Nevertheless, animal models can provide clues on biochemical effectors that mediate secondary brain injury after AHT including neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, reactive oxygen toxicity, axonal damage, and neuronal death. They also allow for investigation of the interdependency of injured neurons and analysis of the cell types involved in neuronal degeneration and malfunction. This review first focuses on the clinical challenges in diagnosing AHT and describes various biomarkers in clinical AHT cases. Then typical preclinical biomarkers such as microglia and astrocytes, reactive oxygen species, and activated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in AHT are described, and the value and limitations of animal models in preclinical drug discovery for AHT are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over time, the proportion of resistant bacteria will increase. This is a major concern. Therefore, effective and biocompatible therapeutic strategies against these bacteria are urgently needed. Non-thermal plasma has been exhaustively characterized for its antibacterial activity. This study aims to investigate the inactivation efficiency and mechanisms of plasma-generated nitric oxide water (PG-NOW) on pathogenic water, air, soil, and foodborne Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Using a colony-forming unit assay, we found that PG-NOW treatment effectively inhibited the growth of bacteria. Moreover, the intracellular nitric oxide (NO) accumulation was evaluated by 4-amino-5-methylamino-2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DAF-FM DA) staining. The reduction of viable cells unambiguously indicates the anti-microbial effect of PG-NOW. The soxR and soxS genes are associated with nitrosative stress, and oxyR regulation corresponds to oxidative stress in bacterial cells. To support the nitrosative effect mediated by PG-NOW, we have further assessed the soxRS and oxyR gene expressions after treatment. Accordingly, soxRS expression was enhanced, whereas the oxyR expression was decreased following PG-NOW treatment. The disruption of cell morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. In conclusion, our findings furnish evidence of an initiation point for the further progress and development of PG-NOW-based antibacterial treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT), employing a combination of light and natural photosensitizer molecules such as curcumin, has been accepted as a safe modality for removing aquatic pathogens which cause diseases such as cholera in humans and vibriosis in aquatic animals. Curcumin and its photodegradation products are generally considered as safe to animals, but the impact of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by these products on the growth and survival of organisms at a cellular level has not been studied in detail. The ROS generated by curcumin on photoexcitation using blue light (λmax 405 nm, 10 mW cm−2) disinfects more than 80% of free-living Vibrio spp. in the rearing water of Penaeus monodon. However, it is less effective against Vibrio spp. colonized inside P. monodon because the carapace of the animal prevents the transmission of more than 70% of light at the 400–450 nm range and thus reduces the formation of ROS. The influence of curcumin and photoexcited curcumin on the microbiome of P. monodon were revealed by nanopore sequencing. The photoexcited curcumin induced irregular expression of genes coding the moult-inhibiting hormone (MIH), Crustacean hyperglycaemic hormone (CHH)), prophenoloxidase (ProPO), and crustin, which indicates toxic effects of ROS generated by photoexcited curcumin on the neuroendocrine and immune systems of crustaceans, which could alter their growth and survival in aquaculture settings. The study proposed the cautious use of photodynamic therapy in aquaculture systems, and care must be taken to avoid photoexcitation when animals are experiencing moulting or environmental stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The glycosyltransferases of S. podzolica zwy-2-3 play key roles in CIT degradation. • SPGTs provide more ATP for CIT detoxification by activating the expression of key genes in TCA cycle. • SPGTs alleviate oxidative stress caused by CIT via increasing the GSH contents. • OE:: SPGTs strains have the potential to be robust chassis strains for industrial applications. The contamination by the toxin citrinin (CIT), produced by fungi, has been reported in agricultural foods and is known to be nephrotoxic to humans. In this study, we found that CIT could be effectively degraded by the oleaginous yeast Saitozyma podzolica zwy-2-3. Four genes encoding glycosyltransferases (GTs) in S. podzolica zwy-2-3 (SPGTs) were identified by evolutionary and structural analyses. The overexpression of SPGTs enhanced CIT degradation to 0.56 mg/L/h in S. podzolica zwy-2-3 by increasing ATP and glutathione (GSH) contents to oxidize CIT and scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). Besides, SPGTs promoted lipid synthesis by 9.3 % of S. podzolica zwy-2-3 under CIT stress. These results suggest that SPGTs in oleaginous yeast play a pivotal role in enhancing CIT degradation and lipid accumulation. These findings provide a valuable basis for the application of GTs in oleaginous yeast to alleviate CIT contamination in agricultural production, which may contribute to food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review discusses the changes in the multi-scale structure and functionality of starch after its hydrothermal modification using plasma-activated water (PAW). PAW contains reactive species that decrease the pH of the water and increase the oxidation-reduction potential, which promotes the oxidation and degradation of the surface of the starch granules to varying extents, depending on the botanical source and treatment conditions. In this article, we compile the information published so far on the effects of using PAW during heat-moisture and annealing treatments and discuss the results of the substitution of water with PAW on the long and short-range crystallinity, helical order, thermal behavior, functional properties, and digestibility. Additionally, we highlighted the possible application of PAW-modified starches. Finally, we provided an overview of future challenges, suggesting several potential directions to understand the mechanisms behind PAW use for developing sustainable modified starches for the food industry. [Display omitted] • The acidic nature of plasma-activated water (PAW) alters granule morphology • The physicochemical properties of PAW determine the starch modification extent • The long-range crystallinity of starch was affected differently after PAW treatment • PAW can be employed for the development of starch-based functional ingredients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering photocatalysts to enhance the production of reactive oxygen species holds great importance in realizing effective water purification and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) generation. Herein, the K, O, and cyano co-modified carbon nitride (KOCN) was constructed using thermal polymerization. Under visible light irradiation, KOCN showed excellent oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) degradation efficiency and H 2 O 2 generation rate. During the photocatalysis, rich reactive oxygens involving ·O 2 -, 1O 2 , H 2 O 2, and ·OH were detected. Additionally, the production of H 2 O 2 was attributed to a two-step single-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). DFT and characterization analyses confirmed that the doping of K and O as well as the formation of cyano groups expanded the visible light response range, adjusted the band structure, and improved the separation of photogenerated carriers. This study presents a novel approach for developing efficient, stable, and reusable photocatalysts to address contemporary environmental challenges. [Display omitted] • K, O and cyano co-modified carbon nitride was prepared by thermal polymerization. • KOCN has good OTC degradation and H 2 O 2 generation performance. • This work provides a new approach for the development of g-C 3 N 4 -based catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive or persistent inflammation incites cardiomyocytes necrosis by generating reactive oxygen species in myocardial infarction (MI). Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gaseous signal molecule, can quickly permeate cells and tissues, growing concerned for its cardioprotective effects. However, short resident time and strong side effects greatly restrict its application. Herein, a complex scaffold (AAB) is first developed to slowly release H2S for myocardial protection by integrating alginate modified with 2‐aminopyridine‐5‐thiocarboxamide (H2S donor) into albumin electrospun fibers. Next, a band‐aid like patch is constructed based on AAB (center) and nanocomposite scaffold which comprises albumin scaffold and black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs). With near‐infrared laser (808 nm), thermal energy generated by BPNSs can locally change the molecular structure of fibrous scaffold, thereby attaching patch to the myocardium. In this study, it is also demonstrated that AAB can enhance regenerative M2 macrophage and attenuate inflammatory polarization of macrophages via reduction in intracellular ROS. Eventually, this engineered cardiac patch can relieve inflammation and promote angiogenesis after MI, and thereby recover heart function, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for MI treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of acid wastewater to remove organic matter in acid wastewater and recycle valuable resources has great significance. However, the classical advanced oxidation process (AOPs), such as the Fenton reaction, encountered a bottleneck under the conditions of strong acid. Herein, making use of the oxidation properties of CeAY (CeO2@acid clay), we built an AOPs reaction system without H2O2 under a strong acid condition that can realize the transformation of organic matter in industrial wastewater. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) proved that the CeAY based on Ce3+ as an active center has abundant oxygen vacancies, which can catalyze O2 to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Based on the electron spin-resonance spectroscopy spectrum and radical trapping experiments, the production of •O2– and •OH can be determined, which are the essential factors of the degradation of organic compounds. In the system of pH = 1.0, when 1 mg CeAY is added to 10 mL of wastewater, the degradation efficiency of an aniline solution with a 5 mg/L effluent concentration is 100%, and that of a benzoic acid solution with a 100 mg/L effluent concentration is 50% after 10 min of reaction. This work may provide novel insights into the removal of organic pollutants in a strong acid water matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the protective mechanism of 18α -glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and 18β -GA, the differential isomers of glycyrrhetinic acid, on cisplatin (CDDP) -induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury. Methods CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell viability and the concentration of CDDP-induced cell injury. The safe doses of 18α-GA and 18β -GA, and the effective concentrations of 18α -GA and 18β -GA to improve the decrease of cardiomyocyte viability induced by CDDP were screened. The cells were divided into the control group, the CDDP group, the 18α-GA group and the 18β-GA group. Hoechst staining was used to detect apoptosis in each group. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by DCFH-DA. Mito-Tracker Red CMXRos staining was used to assess mitochondrial activity. The expressions of C-Caspase3, B-lymphocytoma gene-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cytochrome C (Cyt-c) were detected by Western blot assay in each group. Results The results of CCK-8 assay showed that CDDP at 20 µmol/L significantly decreased the viability of H9c2 cardiomyocytes (P＜0.01). When the concentrations of 18α-GA and 18β-GA were less than 100 µmol/L, there were no significant effects on cardiomyocytes, and 50 and 100 µmol/L could improve the decrease of cardiomyocyte viability caused by CDDP (P＜0.01). Compared with the control group, the apoptosis was obvious in the CDDP group, the ROS level was increased, the mitochondrial foot length and mitochondria with reticular structure were decreased, the protein expression levels of C-Caspase3 and Cyt-c were increased, and the protein expression of Bcl-2/Bax was decreased (P＜0.05). Compared with the CDDP group, cell apoptosis was improved in the 18α-GA group and the 18βGA group, ROS level decreased, mitochondrial foot length and mitochondria with reticular structure increased, protein expression levels of C-Caspase3 and Cyt-c decreased, and protein expression levels of Bcl-2/Bax increased (P＜0.05). Conclusion 18α-GA and 18β-GA can reduce the apoptosis of H9c2 cardiomyocytes induced by CDDP by inhibiting ROS level and protecting mitochondrial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effect of seed pretreatment with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as nitric oxide (NO) donor on glyoxalase and antioxidant systems in germinating maize (Zea mays L.) seeds under methylglyoxal (MG) toxicity. The seeds were soaked in SNP solutions (0.0, 0.5, and 0.75 mM) for 8 h at 25 °C and then germinated in 0.0 (control) and 3 mM MG medium for 5 days under dark conditions (25 ± 1 °C and 75% humidity). The MG alone caused a strong inhibition on seed germination and seedling growth (root and shoot length) while the SNP pretreatments improved the same parameters in the MG-stressed seedlings. The MG alone increased endogenous MG accumulation, and glyoxalase I (Gly-I) and Gly-II activities eliminating MG toxicity in both organs. In contrast, the SNP pretreatments reduced MG content and further stimulated both enzyme activities in MG-stressed seedlings. MG alone increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as O2.− and H2O2, and lipid peroxidation (as malondialdehyde, MDA) levels. But the SNP pretreatments decreased ROS level, except for MDA content in seedlings exposed to MG. Moreover, MG alone stimulated superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities while it inhibited guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity. SNP pretreatments in seedlings stressed by MG further elevated SOD, GPX, and GR activities while it inhibited CAT and APX activities. The results showed that seed pretreatment with NO (particularly as 0.75 mM SNP) in maize seedlings exposed to MG ameliorated seed germination, seedling growth, MG accumulation, and oxidative stress by restoring the glyoxalase and antioxidant enzyme activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has become a promising cancer treatment due to in situ generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen (ROS); however, it remains limited by the hypoxia of tumor microenvironment (TME) and penetration depth of laser. Herein, we developed a kind of GSH-/H 2 O 2 -responsive copper-encapsulating magnetic nanoassemblies (MNSs) for switchable T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and enzyme-like activity potentiating PDT of cancer. MNSs were rationally constructed using the chelation effect of copper ions (Cu2+) with polyacrylic acid-coated ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles (UIONPs). After uptake by tumor cells, the incorporated Cu2+ of MNSs was reduced to Cu+ through the intracellular GSH, which resulted in the disassembly of MNSs accompanied by the "silenced" MR signal shifting to a positive state. Sequentially, the generated Cu+ manifested peroxidase-like activity, catalyzing local H 2 O 2 in TME to cytotoxic ·OH for chemodynamic therapy. Furthermore, Cu2+ and UIONPs could decompose H 2 O 2 to O 2, thus providing extra oxygen necessary for enhancing the PDT effect of photosensitizer IR-780. Finally, IR-780-loading MNSs (MNSs@IR-780) under laser irradiation significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged the survival of gastric MGC-803 tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, this study provides a versatile nanoplatform as a tumor-responsive theragnostic agent. Tumor hypoxia and penetration depth of laser severely hindered the PDT of cancer. V alence- c onvertible m etal i ons (VCMI, e.g., Cu2+/Cu+, Fe3+/Fe2+) have been reported as Fenton-like agents disintegrating H 2 O 2 to O 2 to enhance PDT. Tumor-delivery of VCMI is of essential importance for in situ triggering of a Fenton-like reaction. We thereby developed magnetic nanoassemblies (MNSs) to encapsulate Cu2+ and load photosensitizer (IR-780). Stimulated by GSH and H 2 O 2 , MNSs performed catalase/peroxidase-like activity that provided extra O 2 for PDT and catalyzed H 2 O 2 to ·OH for CDT. Consequently, IR-780-loading MNSs under laser irradiation significantly inhibit the tumor growth due to effective tumor delivery of Cu2+ and IR-780. This study might offer a feasible nanoplatform for tumor-delivery of metal ions and drugs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review discusses the classes of plant polyphenols along with their binding mechanisms with protein molecules. Generally, polyphenols bind in covalent and non-covalent orientations with protein molecules. Their addition to the protein usually results in undesirable flavors and tastes inside the proteins. They also affect the color of the food. Plant polyphenols are found to act in a protective way against cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In addition to redox activity, their modes of action include the inhibition of key enzymes, modulation of transcription factors or cell receptors, and finally, perturbation of protein aggregates. Dietary polyphenols usually play a key role in protein digestion by forming covalent and non-covalent bonds with proteins. In addition, polyphenols and plant phenolics possess the scavenging ability of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including radical/non-radical oxygen species including HOC•, H2O2, HOCl, 1O2 (singlet oxygen), and oxidatively generated radicals derived from LDL biomolecules such as ROOC• and oligonucleic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) has been widely used in crop cross breeding. There has been much research on wheat CMS. However, the correlation between S-type CMS and mitochondrial genome remains elusive. Herein, we sequenced the mitochondrial genome of wheat CMS line and compared it with the maintainer line. The results showed that the mitochondrial genome of CMS line encoded 26 tRNAs, 8 rRNAs, and 35 protein-coding genes, and the cob encoding complex III in which the protein coding gene is mutated. This protein is known to affect reactive oxygen (ROS) production. The analysis of ROS metabolism in developing anthers showed that the deficiency of antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes in the sterile system aggravated membrane lipid oxidation, resulting in ROS accumulation, and influencing the anther development. Herein, cob is considered as a candidate causative gene sequence for CMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress is an adverse impact on the growth and development of plants, leading to yield losses in crops. It has been suggested that nitric oxide (NO) and calcium ion (Ca2+) act as critical signals in regulating plant growth. However, their crosstalk remains unclear under stress condition. In this study, we demonstrate that NO and Ca2+ play positive roles in the growth of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) seedlings under salt stress. Our data show that Ca2+ channel inhibitor lanthanum chloride (LaCl3), Ca2+ chelator ethylene glycol-bis (2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), or calmodulin (CaM) antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfona-mide hydrochloride (W-7) significantly reversed the effect of NO-promoted the growth of tomato seedlings under salt stress. We further show that NO and Ca2+ significantly decreased reactive oxygen accumulation, increased proline content, and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, as well as increased expression of antioxidant enzymes related genes. However, LaCl3, EGTA, and W-7 prevented the positive roles of NO. In addition, the activity of downstream target enzymes related to Ca2+/CaM was increased by NO under salt stress, while LaCl3, EGTA, and W-7 reversed this enhancement. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Ca2+/CaM might be involved in NO-alleviate salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Excessive or persistent inflammation incites cardiomyocytes necrosis by generating reactive oxygen species in myocardial infarction (MI). Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gaseous signal molecule, can quickly permeate cells and tissues, growing concerned for its cardioprotective effects. However, short resident time and strong side effects greatly restrict its application. Herein, a complex scaffold (AAB) is first developed to slowly release H2S for myocardial protection by integrating alginate modified with 2‐aminopyridine‐5‐thiocarboxamide (H2S donor) into albumin electrospun fibers. Next, a band‐aid like patch is constructed based on AAB (center) and nanocomposite scaffold which comprises albumin scaffold and black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs). With near‐infrared laser (808 nm), thermal energy generated by BPNSs can locally change the molecular structure of fibrous scaffold, thereby attaching patch to the myocardium. In this study, it is also demonstrated that AAB can enhance regenerative M2 macrophage and attenuate inflammatory polarization of macrophages via reduction in intracellular ROS. Eventually, this engineered cardiac patch can relieve inflammation and promote angiogenesis after MI, and thereby recover heart function, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for MI treatment.

Cadmium (Cd) is a poisonous element for human health. This study was conducted to explore whether H2S can alleviate the toxic effects of Cd on ginger. Specifically, ginger plants were grown in soil and treated with 7.5 mg·l−1 CdCl2, after which water (T1), 0.8 mM NaHS (T2), or 0.8 mM NaHS and 0.15 mM HT (T3) were added to the soil. The application of NaHS increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (APX, GR, MDHAR, and DHAR) during the early treatment stage. It also inhibited the decrease in Pn, Gs, and Ls under Cd stress conditions while also limiting the increase in Ci. An analysis of the expression of Cd uptake-related genes indicated that NaHS upregulated the expression of ZoNramp1, which encodes a metal transporter, in roots as well as ZoPCS1, which encodes a phytochelatin synthase. In contrast, NaHS downregulated ZoHMA2 expression in the rhizomes and roots under Cd stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Structural and functional alterations in mitochondria, particularly, the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) plays a critical role in mitochondria-mediated cell death in response to cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. The integrity of IMM can be affected by two potential intra-mitochondrial factors: i) mitochondrial matrix swelling, and ii) proteolytic cleavage of the long optic atrophy type 1 (L-OPA1), an IMM-localized dynamin-like GTPase engaged in the regulation of structural organization and integrity of the mitochondrial cristae. However, the relationship between these two factors in response to oxidative stress remains unclear. Here, we elucidated the effects of cardiac IR injury on L-OPA1 cleavage and OMA1 activity. Methods: Langendorff-mode perfused isolated rat hearts were subjected to 25-min of global ischemia followed by 90-min reperfusion in the presence or absence of XJB-5-131 (XJB, a mitochondria-targeting ROS scavenger) and sanglifehrin A (SfA, a permeability transition pore inhibitor). Results: XJB in combination with SfA increased post-ischemic recovery of cardiac function and reduced mitochondrial ROS production at 30- and 60-min reperfusion and affected mitochondrial swelling. L-OPA1 levels were reduced in IR hearts; however, neither XJB, SfA, and their combination prevented IR-induced reduction of L-OPA1 cleavage. Likewise, IR increased the OMA1 enzymatic activity, which remained unchanged in the presence of XJB and/or SfA. Conclusion: IR-induced cardiac and mitochondrial dysfunctions are associated with OMA1 activation and L-OPA1 cleavage. However, XJB, SfA, and their combination do not prevent these changes despite improved heart and mitochondria function, thus, suggesting that different mechanisms can be implicated in L-OPA1 processing in response to cardiac IR injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]