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A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the combined effects of different nitrogen fertilizer levels (5, 25, and 45 kg of pure nitrogen per 667 m²) and biochar concentrations (0, 0.7, 1.4, and 2.1%) on the growth, yield, and fruit quality of pepper. The findings indicated that a combination of 25 kg/667 m2 of nitrogen and either 0.7% or 1.4% biochar significantly enhanced plant growth, yield, and fruit quality. Specifically, the N2 treatment (25 kg of pure nitrogen per 667 m²) increased substrate porosity, alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen content, and available phosphorus content. It also boosted root activity and superoxide dismutase activity in pepper leaves, resulting in increased yield and better fruit quality. Furthermore, the proper addition of biochar (0.7–1.4% by weight) enhanced the physical and chemical properties of the substrate, including increased chlorophyll content and enzyme activity in plants, thereby leading to improved overall plant growth, yield, and fruit quality.

Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) is one of the major pathogens of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. Here, we analyzed 287 full-length genome sequences of CV-A16 found worldwide from 1994 to 2019 to see the genomic evolution characteristics. Full-length genome-based phylogenetic tree divided the viruses into five different genotypes, G-a to G-e. The CV-A16 strains circulating in China dominate G-a and G-c, but can also be found in other genotypes including G-b and G-e. Phylogeographic analysis showed a high diversity of CV-A16 distribution. In addition, recombination was shown to drive the genomic evolution of CV-A16 during past decades. However, the structural proteins still remain relative conserved while there is extensive genomic recombination. This study updates the phylogenetic and phylogeographic information of CV-A16 and provides insights into the genetic characteristics of CV-A16.

BackgroundThe adenosine–adenosine receptor pathway plays important roles in the immune system and inflammation. Four adenosine receptors (i.e., A1R, A2AR, A2BR, and A3R) have been identified. However, the roles of these receptors were different in the disease progress and even play opposite roles in the same disease. This study aims to investigate the roles of A1R/A2AR/A2BR/A3R activation in liver fibrosis.MethodsIntraperitoneal injection of CCl4 into C57BL/6 mice was used to induce liver fibrosis in the models. Adenosine receptor agonists CCPA, CGS21680, BAY 60-6583, and namodenoson were used for A1R/A2AR/A2BR/A3R activation, respectively. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were used to evaluate the liver function. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to investigate the pathological damage. Masson staining and Sirius Red staining were performed to evaluate the degree of collagen deposition. CCK8 and scratch assays were used to investigate the proliferation and migration ability of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).ResultsBy using liver fibrosis mouse models, we observed that the A1R and A2AR agonists aggravated liver fibrosis, characterized by increasing ALT and AST levels, more serious liver pathological damage, and collagen deposition. However, the A2BR and A3R agonists alleviated liver fibrosis. Moreover, the A1R and A2AR agonist treatment promotes the proliferation and migration of HSC line LX2, while A2BR and A3R agonist treatment inhibited LX2 proliferation and migration. Consistently, A1R and A2AR agonist treatment elevated the expression of α-SMA and Col1α1 in LX2, whereas A2BR and A3R agonist treatment inhibited the expression of α-SMA and Col1α1 in LX2 cells. Additionally, 5′-N-ethyl-carboxamidoadenosine (NECA), a metabolically stable adenosine analog, alleviated liver fibrosis and inhibited LX2 cell activity, proliferation, and migration.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the different roles of A1R/A2AR/A2BR/A3R during liver fibrosis development via regulating the HSC activity and proliferation.

Abstract Physical exercise has beneficial effect on anxiety disorders, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, it is demonstrated that physical exercise can downregulate the S‐nitrosylation of gephyrin (SNO‐gephyrin) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) to exert anxiolytic effects. It is found that the level of SNO‐gephyrin is significantly increased in the BLA of high‐anxiety rats and a downregulation of SNO‐gephyrin at cysteines 212 and 284 produced anxiolytic effect. Mechanistically, inhibition of SNO‐gephyrin by either Cys212 or Cys284 mutations increased the surface expression of GABAAR γ2 and the subsequent GABAergic neurotransmission, exerting anxiolytic effect in male rats. On the other side, overexpression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the BLA abolished the anxiolytic‐like effects of physical exercise. This study reveals a key role of downregulating SNO‐gephyrin in the anxiolytic effects of physical exercise, providing a new explanation for protein post‐translational modifications in the brain after exercise.

Hepatic hemangioma in children is the most common benign angiogenic tumor of the liver in infancy. It is difficult to differentiate hepatic hemangioma from malignant liver tumors in some children, and there is also the possibility of malignant transformation and life-threatening complications. This article reviews the classification, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of hepatic hemangioma, in order to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with multiple etiological factors. Immune disorder contributes to SLE development and is an important clinical manifestation of SLE patients. Immune dysfunction is characterized by abnormal of B cells, T cells, monocyte-macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), in both quantity and quality. Adenosine is a critical factor for human immune homeostasis, which acts as an immunosuppressive signal and can prevent the hyperactivity of human immune system. Adenosine levels are significant decreased in serum from SLE patients. Adenosine level is regulated by the CD39, CD73 and adenosine deaminase (ADA). CD39/CD73/ADA catalyzed the cascade enzymatic reaction, which contained the adenosine generation and degradation. Adenosine affects the function of various immune cells via bind to the adenosine receptors, which are expressed on the cell surface. This review aims to export the changes of immune cells and adenosine signal pathway in SLE, as well as the effect of adenosine signal pathway in SLE development.

Abstract Objective To explore the DPP4 expression changes and functions in ovarian cancer (OV), as well as the regulation mechanism for DDP4. Methods GEPIA2, GSE18520, GSE26712 and UALCAN were used to analyze differences in DPP4 expression between OV tumors and control tissues. Serum DPP4 levels were measured by ELISA. The prognostic values of DPP4 were evaluated using a Kaplan–Meier (KM) plotter. Small interfering RNA was used for DPP4 knockdown in OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells. CCK-8 and scratch healing assays were used to determine the cells’ proliferation and migration abilities. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect the cell cycle and apoptosis. A dual-luciferase assay was designed to confirm the regulatory effect of miR-29a-3p on DPP4. Results The expressions of DPP4 mRNA and protein were decreased in OV tumor tissues. Serum DPP4 levels decreased in OV patients. KM plotter analysis showed correlation between high DPP4 expression and a poor prognosis in OV patients. By targeting knockdown of DPP4, we found that OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells’ proliferation was inhibited, while cell’s migration ability was significantly promoted. FCM analysis showed that DPP4 knockdown induced a decrease in the S phase. Furthermore, DPP4 was shown to be downregulated by miR-29a-3p and TGFβ1 in OVCAR-3 cells, and miR-29a-3p expression was upregulated by TGFβ1. The effects of miR-29a-3p and TGFβ1 on OVCAR-3 cells’ biological behaviors were consistent with DPP4 knockdown. Conclusion DPP4 was downregulated in OV patients. DPP4 knockdown significantly inhibited OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cell proliferation and promoted cell migration. DDP4 can be downregulated by TGFβ1 through the upregulation of miR-29a-3p in OV cells.

为了对油茶籽高值化预处理技术的发展和高附加值山茶油产品的开发提供参考,以油茶籽为实验材料，未经任何预处理的油茶籽作为对照组，直接进行压榨制油，研究微波（800 W，4 min)、烘烤(140 ℃，30 min)、焙炒(120 ℃，1 h）和红外（150 ℃，55 min）预处理技术对油茶籽出油率，压榨山茶油酸值、过氧化值、脂肪酸组成及含量、总甾醇含量及挥发性风味成分的影响。结果表明：与对照组相比，微波、烘烤、焙炒和红外预处理使油茶籽的出油率分别提高了5.92、3.52、2.93、3.86百分点；不同预处理组山茶油的酸值(KOH)在0.20~2.00 mg/g之间，过氧化值在0.98~2.07 mmol/kg之间，均在山茶油国家标准范围内；4种预处理技术对山茶油的脂肪酸组成无显著影响；4种预处理技术在一定程度上降低了山茶油中总甾醇含量，但与对照组相比差异微小；5组山茶油中共检测出34种挥发性风味成分，其中醛类化合物含量均最高；5组山茶油挥发性成分的种类和含量差别较大，预处理技术可丰富山茶油特征风味物质种类，使山茶油整体风味由清淡的油脂香转变为浓烈的油脂香和坚果香。综上，4种预处理技术在不影响压榨山茶油品质的基础上，可提高出油率和山茶油整体风味，从省时、高效率角度考虑，微波为最佳预处理技术。In order to provide a reference for the development of high-value pretreatment technology and the development of high value-added oil-tea camellia seed oil products, the oil-tea camellia seeds were pressed directly for oil extraction using without any pretreatment as the control group, and the effects of microwave (800 W, 4 min), roasting (140 ℃, 30 min), frying (120 ℃, 1 h) and infrared (150 ℃, 55 min) pretreatment techniques of oilseeds on the oil yield of oil-tea camellia seeds, acid value, peroxide value, fatty acid composition and content, total sterol content, and volatile flavor components of the pressed oil-tea camellia seed oil were investigated. The results showed that compared with the control group, the oil yield of oil-tea camellia seeds increased by 5.92, 3.52, 2.93 and 3.86 percentage points by microwave, roasting, frying and infrared pretreatments, respectively. The acid values of oil-tea camellia seed oil with different pretreatment techniques ranged from 0.20 mgKOH/g to 2.00 mgKOH/g, and the peroxide values ranged from 0.98 mmol/kg to 2.07 mmol/kg, which were within the range of the national standard for oil-tea camellia seed oil. The fatty acid composition of oil-tea camellia seed oil was not significantly affected by the four pretreatment techniques. The four pretreatment techniques reduced the total sterol content of oil-tea camellia seed oil to some extent, but the difference was minimal compared with the control group. A total of 34 volatile flavor components were detected in the five groups of oil-tea camellia seed oils, of which the aldehydes content was the highest. The types and contents of volatile flavor components in the five groups of oil-tea camellia seed oils varied greatly, and the pretreatment techniques could enrich the characteristic flavor substances and change the overall flavor of oil-tea camellia seed oil from a light oily aroma to a strong oily and nutty aroma. In summary, the four pretreatment techniques can improve the oil yield and the overall flavor of oil-tea camellia seed oil without affecting the quality of the pressed oil-tea camellia seed oil, and microwave is the best pretreatment technique in terms of time saving and high efficiency.