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Background Laser photocoagulation is an effective procedure for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). However, the beneficial effects of conventional laser photocoagulation (CLP) are accompanied by the destruction of retinal photoreceptors. Therefore, subthreshold micropulse laser photocoagulation (SMLP) was proposed for DME. Objectives This meta-analysis study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SMLP compared with CLP for the management of DME. Methods The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, SinoMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Wanfang and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases, published until Dec 2021, were searched to identify studies evaluating the clinical outcomes of SMLP for DME. Results 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected for this meta-analysis involving a total of 546 eyes (275 eyes in SMLP group and 271 eyes in CLP group). SMLP of different wavelengths (577nm and 810nm) and duty cycles (5% and 15%) were applied. The pooled outcomes showed that SMLP group, especially 577nm and 810nm 15% duty cycle parameter settings, had a statistically significant higher efficacy than CLP group in terms of BCVA(MD = -0.02, 95% CI: -0.03 to -0.01, P0.05); In the field of CS, SMLP group (no matter parameter settings) resulted in better preservation of CS compared to CLP group (MD = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.47 to 2.46, P

The combined influence of Mg/Si and Ca contents on the crystallization of primary Mg2Si in Al–Mg2Si alloy is investigated. Embryo formation of primary Mg2Si can be restricted by the addition of Ca while the restricted effect is weakened by increasing the content of Mg/Si, and content of Ca for over-modification is increased with the increased Mg/Si content. Growth of primary Mg2Si is encouraged with the increasing content of Mg/Si, while the addition of Ca can restrict the growth rate directionally in Ca-modified Al–Mg2Si alloy, which leads to the morphology evolution of primary Mg2Si. The serious inhibition effect on the whole crystallization process of primary Mg2Si caused by increasing the content of Ca is the main reason for the occurrence of over-modification. Dice-like primary Mg2Si is prepared successfully in the over-modified alloy for the first time. The tip-growth process of the dice-like primary Mg2Si is revealed, which is completed by 2-D nucleation growth. The study provides a novel method to control the morphology and particle size of primary Mg2Si, which can further help understand the crystallization process of the crystal.

Background We previously found two distinct passenger dendritic cell (DC) subsets in the rat liver that played a central role in the liver transplant rejection. In addition, a tolerance-inducing protocol, donor-specific transfusion (DST), triggered systemic polytopical production of depleting alloantibodies to donor class I MHC (MHCI) antigen (DST-antibodies). Methods We examined the role of DST-antibodies in the trafficking of graft DC subsets and the alloresponses in a rat model. We also examined an anti-donor class II MHC (MHCII) antibody that recognizes donor DCs more selectively. Results Preoperative transfer of DST-antibodies or DST pretreatment eliminated all passenger leukocytes, including both DC subsets and depleted the sessile DCs in the graft to ~20% of control. The CD172a+CD11b/c+ immunogenic subset was almost abolished. The intrahost direct or semi-direct allorecognition pathway was successfully blocked, leading to a significant suppression of the CD8+ T-cell response in the recipient lymphoid organs and the graft with delayed graft rejection. Anti-donor MHCII antibody had similar effects without temporary graft damage. Although DST pretreatment had a priming effect on the proliferative response of recipient regulatory T cells, DST-primed sera and the anti-donor MHCII antibody did not. Conclusion DST-antibodies and anti-donor MHCII antibodies could suppress the CD8+ T-cell-mediated liver transplant rejection by depleting donor immunogenic DCs, blocking the direct or semi-direct pathways of allorecognition. Donor MHCII-specific antibodies may be applicable as a selective suppressant of anti-donor immunity for clinical liver transplantation without the cellular damage of donor MHCII– graft cells and recipient cells., Antibody-mediated donor-DC depletion prolongs liver-graft survival

Organic fertilizer usage is been introduced into agricultural practices for preventing the damaging effects of chemical fertilizers. Present study investigated the beneficial role of organic fertilizer (nano-vermicompost) on the growth, oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant and nitrogen metabolism, osmolyte accumulation and mineral elements in tomato under drought stress. Drought stress resulted in reduced growth and biomass accumulation by triggering oxidative stress due to excess accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced mineral uptake. Application of nano-vermicompost proved significantly beneficial in improving growth and mitigating the drought induced growth decline. Nano-vermicompost increased growth and dry matter content and ameliorated the decline in chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis and PSII activity more significantly at higher concentration (100 mg kg−1 soil). ROS accumulation was significantly reduced by nano-vermicompost application thereby enhancing the membrane stability under normal as well as drought conditions. Furthermore, lipid peroxidation and activities of protease and lypoxygenase were significantly reduced. Drought up-regulated antioxidant system and application of nano-vermicompost further enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidant components. Accumulation of osmolytes including proline, glycine betaine and sugars increased significantly due to nano-vermicompost application. Besides, decline in the activity of nitrate reductase and content of essential mineral elements like nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous was also ameliorated by nano-vermicompost application.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers globally and has a poor prognosis. MiR‐936 has been reported to regulate cell activity and tumor progression in non‐small cell lung cancer, glioma, and epithelial ovarian cancer. However, the specific role and mechanism of miR‐936 in gastric cancer have not been explored. In present study, gastric cancer cells were transfected with miR‐936 mimic, and cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, cell apoptosis, migration and invasion were assessed via cell‐counting kit‐8, flow cytometry, wound healing, and transwell assay, respectively. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to check miR‐936 binding to its downstream target. It was shown that miR‐936 was downregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells. Erb‐B2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 4 (ERBB4) was confirmed as a direct target of miR‐936 and negatively regulated its expression by miR‐936. Overexpression of miR‐936 suppressed cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, cell migration and invasion, and enhanced cell apoptosis in gastric cancer cells, which could be reversed by further ERBB4 overexpression. Western blot results showed that miR‐936/ERBB4 axis regulated Akt‐related pathways to control gastric cancer cell activities. Therefore, our data suggest that miR‐936 overexpression inhibits cell proliferation and invasion and promotes cell apoptosis through Akt‐related pathways by targeting ERBB4, which provides novel insight to target miR‐936 or miR‐936/ERBB4 axis for the treatment of gastric cancer.

The effects of inoculation of rhizosphere-promoting bacteria (PGPR) on photosynthesis and physiological-ecological characteristics of apple tree seedlings under drought conditions were investigated in this study, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the application of PGPR in plant drought resistance. In the pot experiment, the rhizosphere-promoting bacterium YX本试验研究了接种根际促生细菌(PGPR)对干旱条件下植物光合和生理生态特性的影响,以期为PGPR在植物抗旱中的应用提供理论依据.采用盆栽试验,以苹果实生幼苗为供试植物,以经过筛选得到的既具有1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸(ACC)脱氨酶活性又具有较强溶磷能力的根际促生菌YX

Lymphocytes can transfer from blood to lymph or respond to antigen in Peyer’s patches, Naive lymphocytes systemically recirculate for immunosurveillance inspecting foreign antigens and pathogens in the body. Trafficking behavior such as the migration pathway and transit time within the gastrointestinal tract, however, remains to be elucidated. Rat thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDLs) were transferred to a congeneic host that had undergone mesenteric lymphadenectomy. The migration pathway was investigated using newly developed four-color immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Donor TDLs showed rapid transition in gut tissues from which they emerged in mesenteric lymph around 4 h after intravenous injection. Immunohistochemistry showed that donor TDLs predominantly transmigrated across high endothelial venules (HEVs) at the interfollicular area of the Peyer’s patches (PPs), then exited into the LYVE-1+ efferent lymphatics, that were close to the venules. The rapid recirculation depended largely on the local expression of unsulfated sialyl-Lewis X on these venules where putative dendritic cells (DCs) were associated underneath. Recruited naive T cells briefly made contact with resident DCs before exiting to the lymphatics in the steady state. In some transplant settings, however, the T cells retained contact with DCs and were sensitized and differentiated into activated T cells. In conclusion, we directly demonstrated that lymphocyte recirculation within the gut is a very rapid process. The interfollicular area of PPs functions as a strategically central site for rapid immunosurveillance where HEVs, efferent lymphatics and resident DCs converge. PPs can, however, generate alloreactive T cells, leading to exacerbation of graft-versus-host disease or gut allograft rejection.