ABSTRACT
A significant, positive association between selenium status and prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection has been identified among COVID-19 patients in China. Moreover, a German study revealed a pronounced deficit of serum selenium and SELENOP concentrations in COVID-19 patients, and selenium deficiency was associated with mortality risk from COVID-19. The present study investigated the influence of SARS-CoV-2 on gene expression of host selenoproteins which mediate many beneficial actions of selenium. We found that SARS-CoV-2 suppressed mRNA expression of selenoproteins associated with ferroptosis (GPX4), endoplasmic reticulum stress (SELENOF, SELENOK, SELENOM and SELENOS) and DNA synthesis (TXNRD3), while SARS-CoV-2 increased gene expression of IL-6 (an inflammatory cytokine positively correlated with severity of COVID-19), in Vero cells. These results provide a deeper insight into the connection between selenium and SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tea is an important economic crop in China. Mulching, a modern agricultural practice, can modify the soil microenvironment and maintain the crop yield. RESULTS: To investigate the effect of different mulching modes on tea plant growth, filed experiments were conducted in a Shizipu tea plantation located in Langxi Country (Xuanchen City, Anhui Province, China). Five treatments were carried out in a randomized complete block arrangement: (i) clean tillage (control); (ii) black plastic film; (iii) weed barrier fabric; (iv) rice straw mulch; and (v) intercropping with Vulpia myuros. The effects of different mulch modes on soil temperature, water moisture, soil compactness, root activity, soil enzyme activity and nutrition status on tea yield, quality and economic benefits were compared at the harvest stage. In the present study, compared with other mulch treatments, intercropping with V. myuros significantly reduced the topsoil temperature (to an optimum temperature) and soil compactness, and increased the water holding capacity in the deep soil layer, which contributed to increased tea root activity and respiration. Furthermore, intercropping with V. myuros significantly increased soil enzymes activity, soil organic matter, and the available nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the main root zone. Therefore, the stronger tea root activity accelerated nutrition uptake and increased the tea yield and quality-related components of the tea, thus resulting in a larger average net income. CONCLUSION: Intercropping with V. myuros could serve as a profitable agricultural method for tea production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
Subject(s)
Camellia sinensis/growth & development , Crop Production/methods , Soil/chemistry , Camellia sinensis/chemistry , China , Nitrogen/analysis , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Leaves/growth & development , Tea/chemistry , Temperature , Water/analysisABSTRACT
Background and purpose:Risk of invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC) and its precancerous lesions following high risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection may vary according to HPV types and geographic regions. Analyzing HPV-type distribution in cervical samples from local women aged 30 years and older, this study aimed to identify HPV types with higher risk of developing CIN2+, and to compare diagnostic performance for CIN2+using these types and type combinations. Methods:Cervical samples with histology follow-up from patients of a tertiary cancer center in Shanghai were collected for HPV genotyping by PCR-RDB. The risk associations of HPV types with CIN2+were estimated by logistic regression analysis, and ROC curves were plotted for diagnostic performance evaluation. Results:A total number of 413 specimens were obtained, including 38 CIN1, 184 CIN2/3, 126 ICC patients and 65 negative control people. The 4 most common HPV types in CIN2+were HPV16, 58, 33 and 18, in descending order. And only HPV16 (P<0.000 1), 58 (P=0.002), 33 (P=0.015) were signiifcantly associated with CIN2+lesions. Besides, the area under the ROC curve of the HPV16/18/33/58 test scored statistically higher than the HPV16/18 test did (P=0.006 6). Conclusion:A combined test of HPV16/18/33/58 may offer better performance for detecting CIN2+lesions in our geographic region.
