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The hydraulic system of vascular plants and its integrity is essential for plant survival. To transport water under tension, the walls of xylem conduits must approximate rigid pipes. Against this expectation, conduit deformation has been reported in the leaves of a few species and hypothesized to function as a 'circuit breaker' against embolism. Experimental evidence is lacking, and its generality is unknown. We demonstrated the role of conduit deformation in protecting the upstream xylem from embolism through experiments on three species and surveyed a diverse selection of vascular plants for conduit deformation in leaves. Conduit deformation in minor veins occurred before embolism during slow dehydration. When leaves were exposed to transient increases in transpiration, conduit deformation was accompanied by large water potential differences from leaf to stem and minimal embolism in the upstream xylem. In the three species tested, collapsible vein endings provided clear protection of upstream xylem from embolism during transient increases in transpiration. We found conduit deformation in diverse vascular plants, including 11 eudicots, ginkgo, a cycad, a fern, a bamboo, and a grass species, but not in two bamboo and a palm species, demonstrating that the potential for 'circuit breaker' functionality may be widespread across vascular plants.

While increasing studies confirmed the adverse effects of indoor air pollution (IAP) on cardiopulmonary systems, less is known about the impact of IAP on child's brain.To explore the associations between multiple indoor air pollutants exposures and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in Chinese schoolchildren.We invited 8630 individuals aged 6-12 years from an ongoing school-based cohort study across Guangzhou from April to May 2019. There are 7495 and 7245 children were respectively evaluated on the parent- and teacher-rated Conner's Rating Scale-Revised, and 7087 children were assessed on both versions. Indoor air pollutants exposures including cooking oil fumes, incense burning, home renovation, and secondhand smoke, were measured using a questionnaire reported by parents and children, and further converted into an index. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were performed to evaluate the associations between indoor air pollutants exposures and ADHD index and the presence of ADHD symptoms.As reported by parents, 321 (4.3%) children had ADHD symptoms. Each of the four pollutants was positively associated with higher ADHD index and higher odds of ADHD symptoms. Children exposed to 1, 2, and ≥ 3 types of indoor air pollutants had higher ADHD index and higher odds of ADHD symptoms than those non-exposed children. For parent-reported ADHD symptoms, the odds ratios ranged from 1.24 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92-1.67] to 2.73 (95% CI: 1.86-4.01). These associations were consistent in parent- and teacher-reported ADHD symptoms, and the combination of both.Indoor air pollutants exposures were positively associated with higher prevalence of children's ADHD symptoms assessed by whether parents or teachers.

Leaf mass per area (LMA), which is an important functional trait in leaf economic spectrum and plant growth analysis, is measured from leaf discs or whole leaves. Differences between the measurement methods may lead to large differences in the estimates of LMA values.We examined to what extent estimates of LMA based on whole leaves match those based on discs using 334 woody species from a wide range of biomes (tropics, subtropics, savanna, and temperate), whether the relationship varied by leaf morphology (tissue density, leaf area, leaf thickness), punch size (0.6- and 1.0-cm diameter), and whether the extent of intraspecifc variation for each species matches.Disc-based estimates of species mean LMA matched the whole-leaf estimates well, and whole-leaf LMA tended to be 9.69% higher than leaf-disc LMA. The ratio of whole-leaf LMA to leaf-disc LMA was higher for species with higher leaf tissue density and larger leaves, and variance in the ratio was greater for species with lower leaf tissue density and thinner leaves. Estimates based on small leaf discs also inflated the ratio. The extent of the intraspecific variation only weakly matched between whole-leaf and disc-based estimates (ROur results suggest that simple conversion between whole-leaf and leaf-disc LMA is difficult for species obtained with a small leaf punch, but it should be possible for species obtained with a large+ leaf punch. Accurately representing leaf traits will likely require careful selection between leaf-disc and whole-leaf traits depending on the objectives. Quantifying intraspecific variation using leaf discs should be also considered with caution.

Climate change has resulted in an increase in drought severity in the species-rich tropical and subtropical forests of southern China. Exploring the spatiotemporal relationship between drought-tolerance trait and tree abundance provides a means to elucidate the impact of droughts on community assembly and dynamics. In this study, we measured the leaf turgor loss point (πtlp) for 399 tree species from three tropical forest plots and three subtropical forest plots. The plot area was 1 ha and tree abundance was calculated as total basal area per hectare according to the nearest community census data. The first aim of this study was to explore πtlp abundance relationships in the six plots across a range of precipitation seasonality. Additionally, three of the six plots (two tropical forests and one subtropical forest) had consecutive community censuses data (12–22 years) and the mortality ratios and abundance year slope of tree species were analyzed. The second aim was to examine whether πtlp is a predictor of tree mortality and abundance changes. Our results showed that tree species with lower (more negative) πtlp were more abundant in the tropical forests with relative high seasonality. However, πtlp was not related to tree abundance in the subtropical forests with low seasonality. Moreover, πtlp was not a good predictor of tree mortality and abundance changes in both humid and dry forests. This study reveals the restricted role of πtlp in predicting the response of forests to increasing droughts under climate change.

With little knowledge on the joint effects of metal exposure on dyslipidemia, we aimed to investigate the relationship between exposure to metal and dyslipidemia among U.S adults based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES). Based on the five NHANES waves(2011-2020), we selected five metals in blood as exposure, namely, Cadmium(Cd), Lead(Pb), Total Mercury(Hg), Manganese(Mn) and Selenium(Se), which were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Survey-multivariable logistic regression, Generalized Weighted Quantile Sum(WQS) and Bayesian kernel machine regression(BKMR) were performed to determine whether dyslipidemia was associated with single metals or mixed metals. Our study included 12,526 participants aged from 20 to 80, representing 577.1 million non-institutionalized U.S. adults. We found a positive association between several metals including Pb [Adjusted odds ratio(AOR)=1.332, 95%CI:1.165, 1.522], Total Hg(AOR=1.264, 95%CI:1.120, 1.427), Mn(AOR=1.181, 95%CI:1.046, 1.334) and Se(AOR=1.771, 95%CI:1.576, 1.992) and dyslipidemia. According to the WQS approach, metal mixtures were positively associated with dyslipidemia(AOR:1.310, 95%CI: 1.216, 1.411) after a full-model adjustment. As is shown in the BKMR model, mixed metals tended to be positively associated with dyslipidemia ratios in a significant manner. Females, non-Hispanic white populations, people aged over 60 and those who did a little physical activity had a greater risk for dyslipidemia. Our findings suggest metals including Cd, Pb, Hg, Mn and Se and their combinations may adversely affect dyslipidemia among U.S adults. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, it is possible that reverse causation may exist.

Lianas are an important component of subtropical forests, but the mechanisms underlying their spatial distribution patterns have received relatively little attention. Here, we selected 12 most abundant liana species, constituting up to 96.9% of the total liana stems, in a 20-ha plot in a subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest at 2472–2628 m elevation in SW China. Combining data on topography (convexity, slope, aspect, and elevation) and host trees (density and size) of the plot, we addressed how liana distribution is shaped by host tree properties, topography and spatial autocorrelation by using principal coordinates of neighbor matrices (PCNM) analysis. We found that lianas had an aggregated distribution based on the Ripley's K function. At the community level, PCNM analysis showed that spatial autocorrelation explained 43% variance in liana spatial distribution. Host trees and topography explained 4% and 18% of the variance, but less than 1% variance after taking spatial autocorrelation into consideration. A similar trend was found at the species level. These results indicate that spatial autocorrelation might be the most important factor shaping liana spatial distribution in subtropical forest at high elevation.

Tropical forests are characterized by vast biomass, complex structures and mega-biodiversity. However, the adaptation processes of these forests to seasonal water availability are less understood, especially those located in the monsoonal and mountainous regions of tropical Southeast Asia. This study used four representative tropical forests spanning from 2° N to 22° N in continental Southeast Asia to address dry-condition photosynthesis at the seasonal scale. We first provided novel and reliable estimations of ecosystem photosynthesis (gross primary production; GPP) seasonality at all four sites. As expected, both evergreen and deciduous seasonal forests exhibited higher GPPs during the rainy season than during the dry season. A bimodal pattern corresponding to solar radiation occurred in the GPP of the perhumid forest. The surface conductance (Gs) was consistently lower both in the dry season and during dry spells (DSPs) than during the wet season and non-dry spells. However, this did not prevent GPP from increasing alongside increasing irradiance in the perhumid forest, suggesting that other ecosystem physiological properties, for example, the light-saturated photosynthetic rate, must have increased, thus surpassing the effect of Gs reduction. Thus, perhumid forests could be defined as light-demanding ecosystems with regard to their seasonal dynamics. Seasonal forests are water-stressed ecosystems in the dry season, as shown by the reductions in GPP, Gs and related ecosystem physiological properties. At all four forest sites, we observed a lack of consistent adaptive strategy to fit the water seasonality due to the diversity in leaf phenology, soil nutrient availability, root depth and other potential factors.

Extreme drought events are becoming frequent globally, resulting in widespread plant mortality and forest dieback. Although savanna vegetation cover ~20% of the earth’s land area, their responses to extreme drought have been less studied than that of forests. Herein, we quantified branch dieback, individual mortality and the associated physiological responses of four evergreen shrubs (Tarenna depauperate Hutch., Maytenus esquirolii (H. Lév.) C.Y. Cheng, Murraya exotica L., Jasminum nudiflorum Lindl.) in a savanna ecosystem in Southwest China to an incidence of extreme drought during 2019 and 2020. We found that 80–100% of the individuals of these species exhibited branch dieback, whereas individual mortality was only found in T. depauperate (4.5%). All species showed high resistance to stem embolism (P50, water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity ranged from −5.62 to −8.6 MPa), whereas the stem minimum water potentials reached −7.6 to ca −10.0 MPa during the drought. The low water potential caused high native embolism levels (percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity (PLC) 23–65%) in terminal branches, and the remaining stems maintained 15–35% PLC at the end of the drought. Large within-individual variations in stem vulnerability to embolism were detected, and shedding of vulnerable branches could be a mechanism for shrubs to reduce water and carbon consumption. Overall, the content of total nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) and their components in the stem were generally comparable to or higher than those in the rainy season in three of the four species. Because the leaves were turgor-less for most time during the drought, high NSC levels during the drought could be due to recycling of NSC from dead branches or translocation from roots. Our results suggest high tolerance of savanna shrub species to extreme drought, which could be facilitated by high embolism resistance in some stems and shedding of vulnerable branches to maintain individual water and carbon balance.

Individuals affected by childhood cancer can have cognitive dysfunction that persists into adulthood and negatively affects quality of life. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of physical activity and exercise on cognitive function among individuals affected by childhood cancer.In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched seven databases (CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) and two clinical trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies of interventions (NRSIs) published (or registered) from database inception to Jan 30, 2022, with no language restrictions. We included studies that compared the effects of physical activity or exercise interventions with controls (no intervention or usual care) on cognitive function among individuals diagnosed with any type of cancer at age 0-19 years. Two reviewers (JDKB and FR) independently screened records for eligibility and searched references of the selected studies; extracted study-level data from published reports; and assessed study risk of bias of RCTs and NRSIs using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised trials (RoB 2) and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tools, certainty of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach, and any adverse events. We used intention-to-treat data and unpublished data if available. Cognitive function was assessed by standardised cognitive performance measures (primary outcome) and by validated patient-reported measures (secondary outcome). A random-effects meta-analysis model using the inverse-variance and Hartung-Knapp methods was used to calculate pooled estimates (Hedges' g) and 95% CI values. We estimated the heterogeneity variance by the restricted maximum likelihood method and calculated IWe screened 12 425 titles and abstracts, which resulted in full-text assessment of 131 potentially relevant reports. We evaluated 22 unique studies (16 RCTs and six NRSIs) with data on 1277 individuals affected by childhood cancer and low-to-moderate risk of bias. Of the 1277 individuals, 674 [52·8%] were male and 603 [47·2%] were female; median age at study start was 12 (IQR 11-14) years, median time since the end of cancer treatment was 2·5 (IQR -1·1 to 3·0) years, and median intervention period was 12 [IQR 10-24] weeks. There was moderate-quality evidence that, compared with control, physical activity and exercise improved cognitive performance measures (five RCTs; Hedges' g 0·40 [95% CI 0·07-0·73], p=0·027; IThere is moderate-certainty evidence that physical activity and exercise improves cognitive function among individuals affected by childhood cancer, which supports the use of physical activity for managing cancer-related cognitive impairment.Research Impact Fund of Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong University Grants Committee (R7024-20) and Seed Fund for Basic Research of the University of Hong Kong.© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background/aims This study aimed to analyze the data of 24 cases of multiple perforation or obstruction of the digestive tract caused by accidental ingestion of magnetic beads, to improve the understanding of its harmfulness to children and explore the best treatment. Materials and methods In total, 24 cases were collected and retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: perforation group and non-perforation group. The medical history, number of magnetic beads, white blood cell (WBC) count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed. Results There was no significant difference in age, gender, medical history, number of magnetic beads, and WBC count between the perforation group and non-perforation group, but there was a significant difference in CRP. After the diagnosis, 70% of the cases underwent laparotomy and perforation repair. All cases recovered smoothly after the operation, and no complications occurred during the follow-up. Conclusion This study offers diagnosis and treatment methods for the perforation or obstruction of the digestive tract caused by accidental ingestion of magnetic beads and raises the awareness regarding the harmfulness of the presence of foreign bodies in the digestive tract.

Vulnerability curves (VCs) describe the loss of hydraulic conductance against increasing xylem tension, providing valuable insights about the response of plant water transport to water stress. Techniques to construct VCs have been developed and modified continuously, but controversies continue. We compared VCs constructed using the bench-top dehydration (BD), air-injection-flow (AI), pneumatic-air-discharge (PAD), optical (OP) and X-ray-computed microtomography (MicroCT) methods for tropical trees and lianas with contrasting vessel lengths. The PAD method generated highly vulnerable VCs, the AI method intermediate VCs, whereas the BD, OP and MicroCT methods produced comparable and more resistant VCs. Vessel-length and diameter accounted for the overestimation ratio of vulnerability estimated using the AI but not the PAD method. Compared with directly measured midday embolism levels, the PAD and AI methods substantially overestimated embolism, whereas the BD, MicroCT and OP methods provided more reasonable estimations. Cut-open vessels, uncertainties in maximum air volume estimations, sample-length effects, tissue cracks and shrinkage together may impede the reliability of the PAD method. In conclusion, we validate the BD, OP and MicroCT methods for tropical plants, whereas the PAD and AI need further mechanistic testing. Therefore, applications of VCs in estimating plant responses to drought need to be cautious.

Conifers and broadleaved trees coexist in temperate forests and are expected to differ in partitioning strategies between leaf and stem. We compare functional balances between water loss and water supply, and between sugar production and sugar transport/storage, and associate these with xylem growth to better understand how they contribute to these life form strategies. We sampled canopy branches from 14 common species in a temperate forest in northeast China and measured xylem area, phloem area, ray area, ray percentage, dry wood density, xylem conductivity and mean xylem growth rate for branch stems, and the leaf area and specific leaf area for leaves, and calculated the leaf-specific conductivity. Conifers and broadleaved trees did not differ significantly in tissue areas, xylem growth rate and the relation between phloem area and leaf area. Conifers had higher xylem area but lower ray area relative to leaf area. For the same xylem conductivity, phloem area and ray parenchyma area did not differ between conifers and broadleaved trees. Xylem growth rate was similar relative to leaf area and phloem area. Our results indicate that conifers tend to develop more xylem area per leaf area and more tracheid area at the cost of ray parenchyma area, probably to compensate for the low water transport ability of tracheid-based xylem. The divergent strategies between conifers and broadleaved tree species in leaf area and xylem area partitioning probably lead to the convergence of partitioning between leaf area and phloem area. Consequently, conifers tend to consume rather than store carbon to achieve a similar xylem expansion per year as coexisting broadleaved trees.

Transportation noise is second only to air pollution as an environmental contributor to adverse health outcomes in Western countries. However, no studies investigated the association between road traffic noise and behavioral problems among schoolchildren in China.To investigate the association between exposure to road traffic noise at home and behavioral problems in Chinese schoolchildren.From January to June 2017, we screened 3236 children aged 7-13 years in Guangzhou (Guangdong, China) from the first investigation of an ongoing school-based cohort study with complete information on behavioral problems and residential geolocation. Residential road traffic noise exposure levels were assessed using a validated modeling method in different periods of the day, including daytime (LIn the main adjusted model, a 10-dB increase in LResidential road traffic noise exposure might be related to increased behavioral problems in Chinese schoolchildren, such as emotional symptoms and conduct problems.

Objectives. Although a recent study reported that stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in macrophages has an important regulatory effect on liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), the underlying mechanism of STING-dependent innate immune activation in liver macrophages (Kupffer cells, KCs) remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of STING on liver macrophage pyroptosis and the associated regulatory mechanism of liver IRI. Methods. Clodronate liposomes were used to block liver macrophages. AAV-STING-RNAi-F4/80-EGFP, an adenoassociated virus (AAV), was transfected into the portal vein of mice in vivo, and the liver IRI model was established 14 days later. In vitro, liver macrophages were treated with STING-specific siRNA, and a hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) model was established. The level of STING was detected via Western blotting (WB), RT-PCR, and immunostaining. Liver tissue and blood samples were collected. Pathological changes in liver tissue were detected by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Macrophage pyroptosis was detected by WB, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The calcium concentration was measured by immunofluorescence and analyzed with a fluorescence microplate reader. Results. The expression of STING increased with liver IRI but decreased significantly after the clodronate liposome blockade of liver macrophages. After knockdown of STING, the activation of caspase 1-GSDMD in macrophages and liver IRI was alleviated. More interestingly, hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) increased the calcium concentration in liver macrophages, but the calcium concentration was decreased after STING knockdown. Furthermore, after the inhibition of calcium in H/R-induced liver macrophages by BAPTA-AM, pyroptosis was significantly reduced, but the expression of STING was not significantlydecreased. Conclusions. Knockdown of STING reduces calcium-dependent macrophage caspase 1-GSDMD-mediated liver IRI, representing a potential therapeutic approach in the clinic.

ImportanceDepression is the second most prevalent mental disorder among children and adolescents, yet only a small proportion seek or receive disorder-specific treatment. Physical activity interventions hold promise as an alternative or adjunctive approach to clinical treatment for depression.ObjectiveTo determine the association of physical activity interventions with depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.Data SourcesPubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to February 2022 for relevant studies written in English, Chinese, or Italian.Study SelectionTwo independent researchers selected studies that assessed the effects of physical activity interventions on depressive symptoms in children and adolescents compared with a control condition.Data Extraction and SynthesisA random-effects meta-analysis using Hedges g was performed. Heterogeneity, risk of bias, and publication bias were assessed independently by multiple reviewers. Meta-regressions and sensitivity analyses were conducted to substantiate the overall results. The study followed the PRISMA reporting guideline.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe main outcome was depressive symptoms as measured by validated depression scales at postintervention and follow-up.ResultsTwenty-one studies involving 2441 participants (1148 [47.0%] boys; 1293 [53.0%] girls; mean [SD] age, 14 [3] years) were included. Meta-analysis of the postintervention differences revealed that physical activity interventions were associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms compared with the control condition (g = −0.29; 95% CI, −0.47 to −0.10; P = .004). Analysis of the follow-up outcomes in 4 studies revealed no differences between the physical activity and control groups (g = −0.39; 95% CI, −1.01 to 0.24; P = .14). Moderate study heterogeneity was detected (Q = 53.92; df = 20; P I2 = 62.9% [95% CI, 40.7%-76.8%]). The primary moderator analysis accounting for total physical activity volume, study design, participant health status, and allocation and/or assessment concealment did not moderate the main treatment effect. Secondary analyses demonstrated that intervention (ie, Conclusions and RelevancePhysical activity interventions may be used to reduce depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Greater reductions in depressive symptoms were derived from participants older than 13 years and with a mental illness and/or depression diagnosis. The association with physical activity parameters such as frequency, duration, and supervision of the sessions remains unclear and needs further investigation.

Little evidence exists concerning the associations of greenspace with childhood lipid profiles and dyslipidemias, especially in developing countries and regions. We aimed to investigate the associations of greenspace surrounding schools with lipid levels and dyslipidemia prevalence among Chinese children and teenagers. We obtained baseline information and health data of 10,408 children and teenagers (aged 6-18 years) who studied from 94 schools in China. We measured levels of four blood lipids: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Dyslipidemias were defined using standard recommendations. Greenness surrounding schools were assessed using two satellite-based greenness indices, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) at 300-, 500-, and 1000-m circular buffers based on each school's latitude and longitude. We used random forest model combined with meteorological and remote sensing data to estimate air pollution levels surrounding each school. We used generalized linear mixed models to estimate the associations of greenness with lipid levels and dyslipidemias prevalence. We also performed sub-group and mediation analyses. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in NDVI

Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque deposits in the brain are considered to be one of the main pathological markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The sequential proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the aspartyl proteases β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and γ-secretase produces Aβ. Therefore, BACE1 inhibition is a very attractive target for the treatment of AD. Our previous work identified a DNA aptamer named A1 that can bind to BACE1 with high affinity and specificity and exhibits a distinct inhibitory effect on BACE1 activity in an AD cell model. The purpose of this research was to test the effect of aptamer A1 in Tg6799 mice. Four-month-old Tg6799 mice were randomly divided into two groups and treated with aptamer A1 and ineffective aptamer A1scr, respectively, by intracerebroventricular injection. Subsequent behavioral experiments showed that treatment with the aptamer A1 improved the cognitive abilities of the AD mice. Western blot indicated that BACE1 and soluble amyloid precursor protein β (sAPPβ) expression significantly decreased in the A1-treated mice. Moreover, aptamer A1 reduced the content of Aβ42 and the number and density of senile plaques in AD mice. Therefore, our results indicate that aptamer A1 is a novel specific and potent BACE1 inhibitor and is a promising potential target for the treatment of AD.

This study aimed to determine the effects of SKI on interleukin (IL)-1β-induced apoptosis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), and the Wnt signaling pathway. NP tissue specimens of different Pfirrmann grades (II-V) were collected from patients with different grades of IDD. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were used to compare SKI mRNA and protein expression in NP tissues from patients. Using the IL-1β-induced IDD model, NP cells were infected with lentivirus-coated si-SKI to downregulate the expression of SKI and treated with LiCl to evaluate the involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were used to detect NP cell apoptosis, extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism, and related protein expression changes in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. To investigate the role of SKI in vivo, a rat IDD model was established by needle puncture of the intervertebral disc. Rats were injected with lentivirus-coated si-SKI and evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and safranin O staining. SKI expression positively correlated with the severity of human IDD. In the IL-1β-induced NP cell degeneration model, SKI expression increased significantly and reached a peak at 24 h. SKI knockdown protected against IL-1β-induced NP cell apoptosis and ECM degradation. LiCl treatment reversed the protective effects of si-SKI on NP cells. Furthermore, lentivirus-coated si-SKI injection partially reversed the NP tissue damage in the IDD model in vivo. SKI knockdown reduced NP cell apoptosis and ECM degradation by inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, ultimately protecting against IDD. Therefore, SKI may be an effective target for IDD treatment.

Background Adolescent obesity has been reported to have deleterious consequences but is considered a promising modifiable risk factor. We aimed to investigate the optimal intervention for obese and overweight children and adolescents. Methods We searched the Medline (PubMed, 1946–December 2020), PsycINFO (Ovid, 1927–December 2020), Cochrane library (1966–December 2020), Web of Science (1900–December 2020), Embase (1974–December 2020), CINAHL (1937–December 2020), Chinese Biomedical Literature (1978–December 2020), and ClinicalTrials.gov (December 2020) databases. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the association between various interventions and obese/overweight children and adolescents. The quality of the included studies was judged by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. A Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the comparative effectiveness of interventions based on several outcomes. Results We included 118 RCTs comprising 71,064 participants in our analyses. Based on the outcome of the body mass index (BMI), face-to-face physical activity (FTF PA) combined with dietary intervention (DI) (mean difference [MD] = − 0.98; 95% credible interval [CrI] − 1.19, − 0.77), FTF multi-lifestyle intervention (MLI) (MD = − 0.95; 95% CrI − 1.14, − 0.75), and mobile health (MH)-delivered MLI (MD = − 0.87; 95% CrI − 1.63, − 0.09) showed significant benefits over the named control group (NCG). For the outcome of BMI z-score, FTF PA+DI (MD = − 0.10; 95% CrI − 0.15, − 0.04) and MH-delivered PA+DI (MD = − 0.09; 95% CrI − 0.14, − 0.04) were more effective than the NCG. Sensitivity analyses revealed similar findings after exclusion of studies with Conclusions Based on limited quality evidence and limited direct evidence, our preliminary findings showed that FTF-PA+DI, FTF-MLI, and MH-delivered MLI improved the health-related parameters in obese adolescents, in comparison with NCG. Owing to the absence of strong, direct evidence of a significant difference between the various interventions for the four outcomes, we can only cautiously suggest that FTF-PA+DI is likely the most effective intervention.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship among inflammatory cytokines including hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and platelet distribution width (PDW) in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Data on 191 pregnant women (96 women with GDM; 95 healthy controls) were extracted from routine prenatal examination records in Nanjing, China. Fasting concentrations of hs-CRP, IL-6, HbA1c, blood cell indices, and glucose at 24-28th gestational weeks were determined.The levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, FPG, PG1h, PG2h, HbA1c, RBC, and PDW significantly were increased (P 0.05) in GDM group. hs-CRP had a positive correlation with HbA1c and PLT (P 0.05). The odds ratios of HbA1c and PDW were 7.817 (95% CI 1.921-31.816, P = 0.004) and 1.523 (95% CI 1.158-2.002, P = 0.003), respectively. Furthermore, AUC of the combined diagnosis of GDM including HbA1c, FPG, and PDW reached 0.754, with specificity of 80.0% and sensitivity of 60.4%.Our findings support that elevated levels of hs-CRP, IL-6, HbA1c, and PDW at 24-28th gestational weeks even within the conventional normal range, may be implicated in the pathogenesis of GDM and their evaluation should be part of prenatal care routine.

Purpose It is a challenge for the primary hospitals to manage multiple trauma patients. In this article, we explored the advantage of establishing a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) predominant by cardiothoracic surgeons in the early management of multiple trauma. Methods This was a retrospective study and patients with multiple trauma in our hospital were collected and divided into two groups, based on time period and treat modes: group A (retrospective observation group) where patients were treated with the traditional treatment mode from January 2017 to December 2017 and group B (study group) where patients were treated in the SICU predominant by cardiothoracic surgeons from January 2018 to December 2018. Clinical data including demographics, injury severity score (ISS), causes of injury, time intervals from reception to entering SICU or operating room and mortality three days after injuries were collected. Data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 software. Categorical variables were presented as number and/or frequency and continuous variables as mean ± SD. Results Altogether 406 patients were included in this study, including 217 patients in group A and 189 patients in group B. General data between the two groups revealed no significant difference: mean age (years) (35.51 ± 12.97 vs. 33.62 ± 13.61, p = 0.631), gender distribution (mean/female, 130/87 vs. 116/73, p = 0.589) and ISS (15.92 ± 7.95 vs. 16.16 ± 6.89, p = 0.698). Fall from height were the dominant mechanism of injury, with 135 cases in group A (71.4%) and 121 cases in group B (55.8%), followed by traffic accidents. Injury mechanism showed no significant differences between two groups (p = 1.256). Introduction of the SICU significantly improved the care of trauma patients, regarding speed and mortality. Time intervals between reception and entering SICU or operating room was (108.23 ± 6.72) min and (45.67 ± 7.96) min in group A and B, respectively (p = 0.001). Mortality three days after injuries was 13.89% and 5.53% in group A and B, respectively (p = 0.005). Conclusion Establishing a SICU predominant by cardiothoracic surgeons can reduce the early mortality rates in multiple trauma patients.

Buckwheat constitutes a good source of bioactive components. A dry fractionation of surface abrasion for polyphenol-enriched protein combined with hydrothermal treatment was evaluated as an alternative to conventional wet extraction from tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench). The protein contents and the total polyphenol contents of both free and bound polyphenol gradually decreased in the order from the outer to the inner fractions. Polyphenol-enriched buckwheat protein flour was successfully enrichment with a maximum polyphenol content of 55 mg/g. Moreover, starch digestibility and polyphenols bioaccessibility of the buckwheat protein were increased with hydrothermal treatment time, while protein digestibility decreased slightly. Besides, most of the aroma compounds increased during the hydrothermal treatment. The assessment results demonstrate that the sustainability dry surface abrasion process in combination with hydrothermal treatment should be encouraged in processing functional protein fractions and improving both qualities of end use products and health benefits.

Large lianas and trees in the forest canopy are challenged by hydraulic and mechanical failures and need to balance hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic safety and mechanical safety. Our study integrates these functions in canopy branches to understand the performance of canopy trees and lianas, and their difference. We sampled and measured branches from 22 species at a canopy crane in the tropical forest at Xishuangbanna, SW China. We quantified the hydraulic conductivity from the xylem-specific hydraulic conductivity (KS), hydraulic safety from the cavitation resistance (P50) and mechanical safety from the modulus of rupture (MOR) to evaluate trade-offs and differences between lianas and trees. We also measured a number of anatomical features that may influence these three functional traits. Our results suggest the following: trade-offs between hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic safety and mechanical safety are weak or absent; liana branches better resist external mechanical forces (higher MOR) than tree branches; and liana and tree branches were similar in hydraulic performance (KS and P50). The anatomical features underlying KS, P50 and MOR may differ between lianas and trees. We conclude that canopy branches of lianas and trees diverged in mechanical design due to fundamental differences in wood formation, but converged in hydraulic design.

Background During the last decade buckwheat was reported to have positive health effects. The present study investigated a high-polyphenol buckwheat protein (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) prepared by enzyme-assisted processing, together with its physicochemical properties, in vitro digestibility, and antioxidant activity. Results Buckwheat protein prepared from the synergistic enzymatic action of α-amylase and amyloglucosidase (E-BWP) had much higher polyphenol content than buckwheat protein prepared by isoelectric precipitation (I-BWP) or salt extraction (S-BWP). Rutin degraded during the process, giving quercetin. The protein constituents and amino acid composition of E-BWP were very similar to those of native buckwheat and were able to meet the WHO/FAO requirements for both children and adults. During in vitro digestion, E-BWP showed anti-digestive behavior with a nitrogen release that was lower than that of I-BWP or S-BWP. The positive effect of the polyphenol content of E-BWP resulted in a higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) content and greater reducing activity. Conclusion Buckwheat protein with high polyphenol content was successfully developed by enzyme-assisted processing. It had a well-balanced amino acid profile, antidigestive behavior, and high antioxidant activities. The results suggest that enzyme-assisted processing is promising in the production of polyphenol-enriched cereal protein, contributing higher functionality with good nutritional and antioxidant properties. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Hydraulic failure caused by severe drought contributes to aboveground dieback and whole-plant death. The extent to which dieback or whole-plant death can be predicted by plant hydraulic traits has rarely been tested among species with different leaf habits and/or growth forms. We investigated 19 hydraulic traits in 40 woody species in a tropical savanna and their potential correlations with drought response during an extreme drought event during the El Niño–Southern Oscillation in 2015. Plant hydraulic trait variation was partitioned substantially by leaf habit but not growth form along a trade-off axis between traits that support drought tolerance versus avoidance. Semi-deciduous species and shrubs had the highest branch dieback and top-kill (complete aboveground death) among the leaf habits or growth forms. Dieback and top-kill were well explained by combining hydraulic traits with leaf habit and growth form, suggesting integrating life history traits with hydraulic traits will yield better predictions.

Large-diameter hail is unusual in the lowland tropics; consequently, its impact on water flux responses of trees and lianas due to foliage loss is unknown. In December 2012, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (21 degrees 55 ' N) in southern Yunnan, China, experienced the most severe hailstorm in approximately 30 years, with hailstones of 8- to 17-mm diameter falling for 10-30 min. We assessed the effect of this hailstorm on sap flux density (SFD) in response to foliage loss in six tree and three liana species. Among the trees, for a given atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD), Tectona grandis and Dipterocarpus tuberculatus showed a significant reduction in sap flux density and water use during the post-hailstorm week in comparison to pre-hailstorm week. In contrast, a liana Ventilago calyculata showed a significant increase in SFD during the first post-hailstorm week, whereas the other tree and liana species showed no significant change in their SFD and water use. T. grandis also showed visible wilting during the first 5 days post-hailstorm. However, this tree species showed recovery from wilting and also no more reduction in SFD after similar to 7-9 days. D. tuberculatus also showed SFD recovery a week post-hailstorm. We conclude that the impact of a heavy hailstorm on the water flux of tropical trees and lianas was mild or neglectable. Our study documented a rare severe hailstorm occurrence and its impact on ecosystem processes of tropical forest and enhances our understanding about water flux of tropical woody species exposed to hailstorm.