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The objective of this study was to assess changes in proline, Glycine Betaine (GB), photosynthetic pigment concentration, Membrane Stability Index (MSI), and grain yield of wheat cultivars induced by Supplemental Irrigation (SI) in the terminal growth stages. Two field experiments with four irrigation levels (rainfed, SI at booting stage, SI at booting and anthesis stages, SI at booting, anthesis, and grain filling stages) and five cultivars (Rejaw, Sardari, Homa, Azar2, and Sirwan) were conducted during the 2015-2017 growing seasons. Results indicated that, overall, SI increased cultivars' chlorophyll concentration, MSI, and grain yield. Proline and GB highly accumulated under drought stress, but rapidly decreased after SI; the severity of the decrease in proline concentration was more remarkable. Sardari and Azar2 cultivars exhibited greater MSI, proline, and GB accumulation during drought stress and more rapid recovery from drought. Our results suggest that the ability of the wheat cultivars to maintain functions during drought and recover after SI during the terminal growth stage is essential for determining final grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to select wheat genotypes most resistant to drought stress. The experiment was conducted at the research farms of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kurdistan University, Sanandaj, Iran, during 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. A randomized complete block design with three replicates using 20 genotypes of rain-fed wheat was applied. Cluster analysis of different wheat genotypes segregated the genotypes into 3 groups. Comparison between the groups in the first crop year revealed that the second and third groups exhibited the highest rate of radiation-use efficiency (RUE), and the first group had the lowest. Grain yield was highest in the third group and lowest in the first group, with an average of 219.87 g/m2 and 173.40 g/m2, respectively. In the second crop year, the highest rate of RUE was reported in the first group and lowest in the second and third groups. The highest grain yield was observed in the second group and the lowest in the third group (315.40 g/m2 and 253.75 g/m2, respectively). Based on the results of the biplot, high-yield genotypes in the first year of cultivation included G14 (263.00 g/m2), G20 (264.50 g/m2), G18 (214.00 g/m2) and G19 (222.50 g/m2). Based on the results obtained by cluster and PCA analysis under stress conditions, we concluded that several traits play a role in determining the grain yield of wheat.

The ability of the gut microbiome to adapt to a new environment and utilize a new metabolite or dietary compound by inducing structural variations (SVs) in the genome has an important role in human health. Here, we discuss recent data on host genetic regulation of SV induction and its use as a new therapeutic approach., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors have no potential conflict of interest to be declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Wheat productivity is constrained by genetic, agronomic, and climate factors, though it is an important crop for food production worldwide. The present study evaluated the effect of bio-fertilizer consortia and seaweed extracts on the growth and yield of two wheat varieties under different irrigation regimes in a field study. This experiment was conducted in a split-split plot based on a randomized complete block design with four replications in 2018 and 2019. Irrigation treatments were the main factor, wheat variety (Sardari and Sirvan) the sub-factor, and bio-fertilizers the sub-sub-factors. The results showed that irrigation regimes significantly improved leaf width, number of leaves, fresh weight of roots and shoots, osmotic potential, leaf water content, and number of stomata respectively by 57.53, 38.59, 106.65, 135.29, 87.92, 14.22 and 13.77, 88.02 and 96.11 percent compared to dry-land conditions. Applying one- and two-times irrigation increased grain yield by 51% and 79%, respectively, and the response varied in wheat varieties. Sardari variety due to having smaller leaf dimensions (Leaf length and width) and lower fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots, as well as lower leaf and tissue water content, had lower grain yield than the Sirvan variety. All the bio-fertilizers positively impacted the growth and yield of both varieties. However, the highest average grain yield in the first and second years of the experiment (with an average of 5226.25 and 4923.33 kg/ha, respectively) were found under the combined application of Mycorrhiza + Nitrozist and Phosphozist + Seaweed extract. The results of the present study underscore the importance of irrigation regimes and consortia of bio-fertilizers for improving grain yield. This study also highlighted the resilience of the studied wheat varieties and bio-fertilizers to projected climate changes. These findings could provide insights into adaptive strategies for mitigating the impact of climate change on wheat production., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The application of green microextraction techniques (METs) is constantly being developed in different areas including pharmaceutical, forensic, food and environmental analysis. However, they are less used in biological monitoring of workers in occupational settings. Developing valid extraction methods and analytical techniques for the determination of occupational indicators plays a critical role in the management of workers' exposure to chemicals in workplaces. Microextraction techniques have become increasingly important because they are inexpensive, robust and environmentally friendly. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive review and interpret the applications of METs and novel sorbents and liquids in biological monitoring. Future perspectives and occupational indicators that METs have not yet been developed for are also discussed., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This cross-sectional study was performed to assess whether systemic inflammatory indices, including systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), systemic immune‑inflammation index (SII), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI), can be considered as possible inflammatory markers in silica-exposed workers with no diagnosis of silicosis. We studied 371 non-silicotic workers exposed to respirable silica dust (RSD) and 1422 reference workers. The workers' exposure to RSD were assessed and the inflammatory indices were compared between subgroups of the exposed workers based on the severity and duration of exposure. Correlations between inflammatory indices and the pulmonary function parameters were investigated. Also, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Youden index were used to determine the cut-off values of the SII, SIRI, and AISI. Significant dose-response relationships were observed between duration of exposure and all indices except monocytes and LMR. No significant interaction was observed between duration of exposure to RSD and smoking. Borderline significant correlations were observed between AISI and SIRI with forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio. Higher AUCs were obtained for SII and AISI, respectively. The cut-off values for these biomarkers to be considered abnormal were > 348.48 for SII, > 183.78 for AISI, and > 0.768 for SIRI. Overall, the present study showed for the first time, that SII, AISI, and SIRI might be considered as available, easy-to-obtain, and non-expensive markers of inflammation in non-silicotic workers with a long duration of exposure to RSD who are at risk of developing silicosis in subsequent years., 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.)

Non-immune cells, like innate immune cells, can develop a memory-like phenotype in response to priming with microbial compounds or certain metabolites, which enables an enhanced response to a secondary unspecific stimulus. This paper describes a step-by-step protocol for the induction and analysis of trained immunity in human endothelial and smooth muscle cells. We then describe steps for cell culture with cryopreserved vascular cells, subcultivation, and induction of trained immunity. We then provide detailed procedures for downstream analysis using ELISA and qPCR. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Sohrabi et al. (2020) 1 and Shcnack et al. 2 ., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives. The present study aimed to assess whether occupational exposure to low concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) is associated with color vision impairment. Methods. We queried PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and ProQuest as the main databases, as well as gray literature such as Google Scholar. A random-effects model was used to assess relative risk. A funnel plot was created to assess publication bias. Meta-regression analysis was applied to identify variables that explain the between-study variation in the reported risk estimate. Results. An overall standardized mean difference of 0.529 (95% confidence interval [0.269, 0.788]; p  < 0.0001) was obtained in the random-effects model, which corresponded to a medium-size effect. Duration and the levels of exposure to benzene, toluene and xylene were the significant predictors of the magnitude of the combined risk estimate. Chronic exposure to low levels of BTEX was associated with dyschromatopsia determined by the color confusion index. Conclusions . The impairments can occur even at exposures lower than the occupational exposure limits of BTEX. However, there are several flaws in the determination of workers' exposure, which did not allow to establish how low a level of these chemicals can cause color vision impairment.

Understanding the immune response to Leishmania infection and identifying biomarkers that correlate with protection are crucial for developing effective vaccines. One intriguing aspect of Leishmania infection is the persistence of parasites, even after apparent lesion healing. Various host cells, including dendritic cells, fibroblasts, and Langerhans cells, may serve as safe sites for latent infection. Memory T cells, especially tissue-resident memory T cells (T RM ), play a crucial role in concomitant immunity against cutaneous Leishmania infections. These T RM cells are long-lasting and can protect against reinfection in the absence of persistent parasites. CD4 + T RM cells, in particular, have been implicated in protection against Leishmania infections. These cells are characterized by their ability to reside in the skin and rapidly respond to secondary infections by producing cytokines such as IFN-γ, which activates macrophages to kill parasites. The induction of CD4 + T RM cells has shown promise in experimental immunization, leading to protection against Leishmania challenge infections. Identifying biomarkers of protection is a critical step in vaccine development and CD4 + T RM cells hold potential as biomarkers, as their presence and functions may correlate with protection. While recent studies have shown that Leishmania -specific memory CD4 + T-cell subsets are present in individuals with a history of cutaneous leishmaniasis, further studies are needed to characterize CD4 + T RM cell populations. Overall, this review highlights the importance of memory T cells, particularly skin-resident CD4 + T RM cells, as promising targets for developing effective vaccines against leishmaniasis and as biomarkers of immune protection to assess the efficacy of candidate vaccines against human leishmaniasis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Nateghi-Rostami and Sohrabi.)

Cutaneous leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania major, is a widely frequent form in humans. To explore the importance of the host gut microbiota and to investigate its changes during L. major infection, two different groups of mouse models were assessed. The microbiome of two parts of the host gut-ileum and colon-from infected and non-infected mice were characterised by sequencing of 16S rDNA using an Ion Torrent PGM platform. Microbiome analysis was performed to reveal changes related to the susceptibility and the genetics of mice strains in two different gut compartments and to compare the results between infected and non-infected mice. The results showed that Leishmania infection affects mainly the ileum microbiota, whereas the colon bacterial community was more stable. Different biomarkers were determined in the gut microbiota of infected resistant mice and infected susceptible mice using LEfSe analysis. Lactobacillaceae was associated with resistance in the colon microbiota of all resistant mice strains infected with L. major. Genes related to xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism and amino acid metabolism were primarily enriched in the small intestine microbiome of resistant strains, while genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism and glycan biosynthesis and metabolism were most abundant in the gut microbiome of the infected susceptible mice. These results should improve our understanding of host-parasite interaction and provide important insights into the effect of leishmaniasis on the gut microbiota. Also, this study highlights the role of host genetic variation in shaping the diversity and composition of the gut microbiome. KEY POINTS: • Leishmaniasis may affect mainly the ileum microbiota while colon microbiota was more stable. • Biomarkers related with resistance or susceptibility were determined in the gut microbiota of mice. • Several pathways were predicted to be upregulated in the gut microbiota of resistant or susceptible mice., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Vascular ageing, characterized by structural and functional changes in blood vessels of which arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction are key components, is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular and other age-related diseases. As the global population continues to age, understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate vascular ageing becomes crucial for improving cardiovascular health outcomes. Therefore, this review provides an overview of the current knowledge on pharmacological modulation of vascular ageing, highlighting key strategies and promising therapeutic targets. Several molecular pathways have been identified as central players in vascular ageing, including oxidative stress and inflammation, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, cellular senescence, macroautophagy, extracellular matrix remodelling, calcification, and gasotransmitter-related signalling. Pharmacological and dietary interventions targeting these pathways have shown potential in ameliorating age-related vascular changes. Nevertheless, the development and application of drugs targeting vascular ageing is complicated by various inherent challenges and limitations, such as certain preclinical methodological considerations, interactions with exercise training and sex/gender-related differences, which should be taken into account. Overall, pharmacological modulation of endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness as hallmarks of vascular ageing, holds great promise for improving cardiovascular health in the ageing population. Nonetheless, further research is needed to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize the efficacy and safety of these interventions for clinical translation., 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 © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by parasites of Leishmania spp., endangers more than 1 billion people living in endemic countries and has three clinical forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral. Understanding of individual differences in susceptibility to infection and heterogeneity of its pathology is largely lacking. Different mouse strains show a broad and heterogeneous range of disease manifestations such as skin lesions, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and increased serum levels of immunoglobulin E and several cytokines. Genome-wide mapping of these strain differences detected more than 30 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control the response to Leishmania major . Some control different combinations of disease manifestations, but the nature of this heterogeneity is not yet clear. In this study, we analyzed the L. major response locus Lmr15 originally mapped in the strain CcS-9 which carries 12.5% of the genome of the resistant strain STS on the genetic background of the susceptible strain BALB/c. For this analysis, we used the advanced intercross line K3FV between the strains BALB/c and STS. We confirmed the previously detected loci Lmr15 , Lmr18 , Lmr24 , and Lmr27 and performed genetic dissection of the effects of Lmr15 on chromosome 11. We prepared the interval-specific recombinant strains 6232HS1 and 6229FUD, carrying two STS-derived segments comprising the peak linkage of Lmr15 whose lengths were 6.32 and 17.4 Mbp, respectively, and analyzed their response to L. major infection. These experiments revealed at least two linked but functionally distinct chromosomal regions controlling IFNγ response and IgE response, respectively, in addition to the control of skin lesions. Bioinformatics and expression analysis identified the potential candidate gene Top3a . This finding further clarifies the genetic organization of factors relevant to understanding the differences in the individual risk of disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Krayem, Sohrabi, Havelková, Gusareva, Strnad, Čepičková, Volkova, Kurey, Vojtíšková, Svobodová, Demant and Lipoldová.)

Background: The adverse health effects of silica are still a major concern in some industries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pulmonary function in a group of sub-radiological silicotic workers after 11 years of silica dust exposure., Methods: The study sample consisted of 381 exposed and 254 non-exposed workers. The history of pulmonary function parameters was obtained from workers' medical records. The data were collected through interviews with employees and completing questionnaires on demographic variables, detailed occupational and medical history, and respiratory symptoms. Workers' exposure to silica dust was also determined., Results: The mean frequency of workers' exposure to silica dust was 6.3 times greater than its exposure limit. All pulmonary function parameters were significantly lower in the silica-exposed workers, and the difference between the two groups was still statistically significant after adjusting the potential confounding variables. FEV1 showed the greatest reduction, and FVC and FEV1 showed a significant decreasing trend. Also the prevalence of respiratory symptoms was significantly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers among silica-exposed workers., Conclusions: Even in the absence of radiographic evidence of silicosis, exposure to high levels of silica dust is associated with reductions in pulmonary function. In the absence of radiological evidence of silicosis, progressive deterioration of FEV1 over time most likely indicates sub-radiological silicosis. The effects were associated with the severity and duration of exposure. Exposure to sub-TLV levels of silica dust may not affect pulmonary function. Smoking appears to have a synergistic effect in relatively high silica exposures., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Author(s).)