The chloroplast genome of Archontophoenix alexandrae (Arecaceae): an important landscape tree for the subtropics.

Archontophoenix alexandrae, known as king palm, is an important landscape tree for the subtropics and potential sources of dietary fiber. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of A. alexandrae was determined through Illumina sequencing method. The chloroplast genome was 159,196 bp in length and contained a small single-copy region (17,763 bp), a large single-copy region (87,055 bp) and a pair of IR regions (27,189 bp). 135 genes were determined in the A. alexandrae chloroplast genome, including 86 CDS, 39 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Archontophoenix alexandrae showed the closest relationship with Veitchia arecina in the phylogenetic analysis.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Plumeria rubra cv. Acutifolia (Apocynaceae).

Plumeria rubra cv. Acutifolia is a widely planted landscape tree in the subtropics. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of P. rubra cv. Acutifolia was determined through Illumina sequencing method. The complete chloroplast genome has a length of 153,912 bp, containing a small single-copy region (18,036 bp), a large single-copy region (84,852 bp), and a pair of IR regions (25,512 bp). The chloroplast genome possesses 130 genes, including 85 CDS, 37 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. P. rubra cv. Acutifolia exhibited the closest relationship with P. cubensis in phylogenetic analysis.

Efficacy of transconjunctival approach for the treatment of orbital fractures: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the efficacy of transconjunctival approach (TCA) for the treatment of orbital fractures (OF) comprehensively and systematically. METHODS: In this study, we plan to search electronic databases of Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and for relevant randomized controlled trials. All these databases will be searched from inception to the March 1, 2020 without limitations of language and publication status. Two independent authors will carry out study selection, data collection, and study quality assessment. Any disagreements will be resolved by discussion with another author if necessary. The study quality will be assessed using Cochrane risk of bias tool. Statistical analysis will be conducted using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: This study will be the first 1 to exert direct evidence to evaluate the efficacy of TCA for the treatment of OF. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study will provide an exhaustive view of TCA for the treatment of OF. STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202040154.

Effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on behavioral impairments induced by psychological stress in rats.

This study was conducted to explore the effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on cognitive performances in psychological stress rats. An animal model of psychological stress was developed by restraint stress for three weeks. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups as follows: normal control group, stress control group and two stress groups with green tea polyphenols (GTPs) and EGCG modulation, respectively. The changes of behavioral performances of rats were examined by the open-field test and step-through test. Results showed that behavioral performances of stress control group were changed abnormally, and they were improved in GTPs and EGCG modulation groups. In addition, plasma levels of cortisol, dopamine, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, interleukin-6 and interleukin-2 were detected. Stress control group had increased contents of cortisol, interleukin-6 and interleukin-2, and meanwhile had declined levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine and catecholamines. These changes in GTPs and EGCG modulation groups were similar to that of the normal control group. The expressions of metallothioneins in the hippocampus were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In contrast with the normal control group, their expressions in all the three stress groups were enhanced clearly. The results suggested that GTPs and EGCG modulation could improve the cognitive impairments induced by psychological stress. The related mechanisms may be involved with the changes of catecholamines, 5-hydroxytryptamine, cytokines and expressions of metallothioneins.

Acute toxicity to zebrafish of two organophosphates and four pyrethroids and their binary mixtures.

BACKGROUND: Environmental pollutants, including metals, pesticides and other organics, pose serious risks to many aquatic organisms. The acute toxicities to zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio Hamilton & Buchanan) were determined for two organophosphorus insecticides, four pyrethroid insecticides and 50:50 binary mixtures. RESULTS: At 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after treatment, LC(50) of permethrin, tetramethrin, bifenthrin, etofenprox, dichlorvos and phoxim to zebrafish were 0.0052-0.0025, 0.0782-0.0460, 0.0065-0.0032, 0.0969-0.0791, 51.3-13.0 and 1.28-0.469 mg L(-1) respectively. LC(50) of permethrin + dichlorvos, permethrin + phoxim, tetramethrin + dichlorvos, tetramethrin + phoxim, bifenthrin + dichlorvos, bifenthrin + phoxim, etofenprox + dichlorvos and etofenprox + phoxim were 0.0082-0.0046, 0.0078-0.0042, 0.264-0.124, 0.141-0.121, 0.0251-0.0154, 0.0154-0.0087, 0.396-0.217 and 0.213-0.0391 mg L(-1). CONCLUSION: Toxicity levels of all pyrethroid insecticides to the zebrafish were high or very high. The organophosphate dichlorvos showed low toxicity, but phoxim showed high or intermediate toxicities to zebrafish, and the toxicities of binary mixtures of permethrin and dichlorvos or phoxim, bifenthrin and dichlorvos or phoxim and etofenprox and phoxim (48, 72 and 96 h exposure) were very high. The toxicities of binary mixtures of tetramethrin and dichlorvos or phoxim, etofenprox and dichlorvos and etofenprox and phoxim (24 h exposure) were high.

Protective effects of green tea polyphenols on cognitive impairments induced by psychological stress in rats.

This study was conducted to explore the modulation of GTPs on cognitive performances in psychological stress rats. Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups as follows: control group, stress group, and three stress groups with low, medium and high-doses of GTPs modulation respectively. The changes of cognitive performances were examined by open-field test, water maze and step-through test. Results demonstrated that serum levels of cortisol were all increased obviously in four stress groups. The cognitive performances of stress group were changed evidently. And these changes were improved in stress medium and high-doses of GTPs modulation groups. In addition, plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-2 were increased in four stress groups, serum norepinephrine and dopamine were decreased dramatically in stress group and stress low-dose GTPs modulation group. The serum norepinephrine and dopamine levels in stress medium and high-doses of GTPs modulation groups were increased in contrast to that of stress group. Furthermore, the changes of anti-oxidative capacity in brain tissue were also measured. Except superoxide dismutase, the changes of malondialdehyde, reactive oxidative species and total anti-oxidative capacity of stress group were significantly different from that of control group. These changes in stress medium and high-doses of GTPs modulation groups were improved. Our results suggested that psychological stress impaired body's cognitive performances, and moderate GTPs modulation could improve these abnormal changes. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the improving effects of GTPs on cognitive dysfunctions induced by psychological stress.

[Effects of psychological stress on performances in open-field test of rats and tyrosine's modulation].

AIM: To explore the effects of different doses of tyrosine modulation on behavioral performances in open field test of psychological stress rats. METHODS: The animal model of psychological stress was developed by restraint stress for 21 days. Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10) as follows: control group (CT), stress control group (SCT), low, medium and high-doses of tyrosine modulation stress groups (SLT, SMT and SIT). The changes of behavioral performances were examined by open-field test. Serum levels of cortisol, norepinephrine and dopamine were also detected. RESULTS: The levels of serum cortisol were all increased obviously in the four stress groups, and their bodyweight gainings were diminished. The behavioral performances of SCT rats in open-field test were changed significantly in contrast to that of CT rats. However, The behavioral performances of SMT and SHT rats were not different from that of CT rats. In addition, the serum levels of norepinephrine and dopamine were downregulated obviously in SCT and SLT groups, and no differences were observed in other groups. CONCLUSION: Psychological stress can impair body behavioral performances, and moderate tyrosine modulation may improve these abnormal changes. The related mechanisms may be involved with the changes of norepinephrine and dopamine.

Acute toxicity of organophosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides to Bombyx mori.

Acute toxicities of two organophosphorus insecticides (dichlorvos and phoxim), four pyrethroid insecticides (permethrin, tetramethrin, bifenthrin, and ethofenprox), and their combined uses to the third instar of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (L.), were determined by feeding the insect with the insecticide-treated mulberry, Morus albus (L.), leaves. Twenty-four and 48 h after treatment, toxicity levels of all insecticides to the silkworm were in the very high or high range, and the LC50 values of permethrin, tetramethrin, bifenthrin, ethofenprox, dichlorvos, and phoxim were 1.60 and 0.75, 3.86 and 2.83, 0.09 and 0.06, 2.87 and 0.80, 6.63 and 4.11, and 1.05 and 0.45 mg liter(-1), respectively. The toxicity levels of 50:50 binary mixtures of organophosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides to the silkworm were in the high or middle range. Twenty-four and 48 h after treatment, the LC50 values of 50:50 binary mixtures permethrin + phoxim, permethrin + dichlorvos, tetramethrin + phoxim, tetramethrin + dichlorvos, bifenthrin + phoxim, bifenthrin + dichlorvos, ethofenprox + phoxim, and ethofenprox + dichlorvos to the silkworm were 1.49 and 0.85, 1.24 and 0.79, 2.20 and 1.08, 14.62 and 13.16, 0.33 and 0.13, 0.12 and 0.10, 2.81 and 1.37, and 4.82 and 3.00 mg liter(-1), respectively. Based on the combinations coefficient values, the toxicities of binary mixtures of organophosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides had additive effect except for the binary mixture of etramethrin + dichlorvos, which showed antagonism effect.

[The impairment of homocysteine on neurons and the related mechanisms].

AIM: To observe the impairment of homocysteine (Hcy) on neurons in vitro and the related mechanisms. METHODS: We examined the consequences of treatment of cultured rat cortical and hippocampal neurons with Hcy and detected the neurons' apoptosis, calcium influx, DNA damage and oxidative injury. RESULTS: Primary cortical and hippocampal neurons were treated with Hcy (250 micromol/L) for 4 h resulted in apoptosis time-dependently. S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) could significantly, but MK-801, an NMDA receptor inhibitor, couldn't repress the Hcy induced neuron apoptosis. Hcy could induce neuron calcium overload through activating the NMDA receptors. The DNA of neurons was damaged by Hcy because the methylation reactions were inhibited. Hcy treatment also induced MDA level significantly increased, but did not affect the neurons' T-AOC. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that Hcy compromises neuronal homeostasis by multiple, divergent routes, including DNA damage, neuron exitotoxicity, and oxidative injury. Hcy mediated neuron apoptosis was mainly due to DNA damage.

[Effects of zinc on the expression of metallothionein isoforms in hippocampus of stressed rats].

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different doses of zinc on the expression of metallothionein isoforms in hippocampus of stressed rats. METHODS: The animal model of psychological stress was developed by restraint stress for four weeks. Wistar rats were randomly assigned to eight groups as follows: control group, zinc deficiency group, pair-feed group, zinc complementarity group and their corresponding stressed groups. RESULTS: In zinc deficiency group, plasm zinc content was decreased, while in zinc complementarity group it's slightly increased. On the one hand, the expressions of metallothionein in brain and MT-1 mRNA, MT-3 mRNA in hippocampus were downregulated in zinc deficiency group, however, their expressions were evidently enhanced in stressed zinc deficiency group. On the other hand, inductions of metallothionein and it' s mRNAs in zinc complementarity group were increased, furthermore, stressed zinc complementarity group has more significantly yield of metallothionein and it' s mRNAs. In addition, the levels of plasma cortisol, IL-6, IL-1 and NO were increased clearly in zinc deficiency group and stressed zinc deficiency group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that zinc deficiency may decrease while zinc complementarity increase the expressions of metallothionein in brain and MT-1 mRNA, MT-3 mRNA in hippocampus, moreover, stress can increased their expressions dramatically. The impairment of stress on body may be involved with the nutrition status of zinc, and zinc deficiency can lower the body's resistibility to stress.

[Effects of zinc deficiency on bone mineralization and its mechanism in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of zinc deficiency on bone mineralization. METHODS: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups with ten in each group, i.e., zinc-deficient group (ZD), control group, and pair-fed group. Histomorphological changes of bone mineralization, bone mineral content and bone density, bone contents of zinc, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper and hydroxyproline, and serum levels of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin and osteocalcin in the rats were measured. RESULTS: The results showed that the mineral deposit rate and bone contents of zinc, phosphorus and hydroxyproline, and serum levels of calcitonin and osteocalcin lowered significantly in ZD group, as compared with those in the control and pair-fed groups, with (3.26 +/- 0.34) micro m/d, (64.54 +/- 2.34) g/kg, (54.4 +/- 9.5) mg/kg, (9.28 +/- 1.62) g/kg, (41.2 +/- 13.5) micro g/L, (82 +/- 30) micro g/L in ZD group; (5.37 +/- 0.53) micro m/d, (69.01 +/- 4.05) g/kg, (117.4 +/- 8.0) mg/kg, (11.31 +/- 1.30) g/kg, (68.3 +/- 14.4) micro g/L, (131 +/- 46) micro g/L in the control group; and (5.45 +/- 0.30) micro m/d, (67.81 +/- 3.56) g/kg, (106.7 +/- 8.4) mg/kg, (10.88 +/- 1.47) g/kg, (63.7 +/- 12.0) micro g/L, (120 +/- 52) micro g/L in the pair-fed group, respectively. While the time for mineralization lag and osteoid maturation obviously prolonged, (1.08 +/- 0.19) d and (7.12 +/- 2.30) d in ZD group, (0.39 +/- 0.06) d and (2.21 +/- 1.12) d in the control group, and (0.40 +/- 0.06) d and (2.12 +/- 0.58) d in the pair-fed group, respectively. In addition, bone mineral content and bone density and serum parathyroid hormone in ZD group decreased significantly and were lower than those in the control group, but not significantly different from those in the pair-fed group. There were no significant difference in femoral contents of calcium, magnesium, manganese and copper between the ZD group and the control and pair-fed groups. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc deficiency could lower the contents of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin in blood circulation affecting bone mineral deposit and causing defect in bone mineralization.