Impact of High Light Intensity and Low Temperature on the Growth and Phenylpropanoid Profile of Azolla filiculoides.

Exposure to high light intensity (HL) and cold treatment (CT) induces reddish pigmentation in Azolla filiculoides, an aquatic fern. Nevertheless, how these conditions, alone or in combination, influence Azolla growth and pigment synthesis remains to be fully elucidated. Likewise, the regulatory network underpinning the accumulation of flavonoids in ferns is still unclear. Here, we grew A. filiculoides under HL and/or CT conditions for 20 days and evaluated the biomass doubling time, relative growth rate, photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic pigment contents, and photosynthetic efficiency by chlorophyll fluorescence measurements. Furthermore, from the A. filiculoides genome, we mined the homologs of MYB, bHLH, and WDR genes, which form the MBW flavonoid regulatory complex in higher plants, to investigate their expression by qRT-PCR. We report that A. filiculoides optimizes photosynthesis at lower light intensities, regardless of the temperature. In addition, we show that CT does not severely hamper Azolla growth, although it causes the onset of photoinhibition. Coupling CT with HL stimulates the accumulation of flavonoids, which likely prevents irreversible photoinhibition-induced damage. Although our data do not support the formation of MBW complexes, we identified candidate MYB and bHLH regulators of flavonoids. Overall, the present findings are of fundamental and pragmatic relevance to Azolla's biology.

Tolerance and adaptation characteristics of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) to low nitrogen supply.

Nitrogen (N) is an essential element required for sugar beet growth. Sugar beets with low N (LN) tolerance and high N use efficiency are excellent materials for breeding. Here, we comprehensively evaluated the morphological and physiological responses of nine sugar beet genotypes to LN supply. It was found that 0.5 mmol·L-1 N (LN) significantly influenced the performance of leaves and the topology of roots by reducing the bioproduction of chlorophyll a (Chl a) and soluble protein (SP) and the accumulation of N in leaves and roots (LNA and RNA), thus differentially restricting the growth (hypocotyl diameter, HD; root length, RL) and biomass (leaf and root fresh weight; LFW and RFW; leaf dry weight, LDW) of these sugar beets. Principal component and cluster analyses showed that 780016B/12 superior (F) exhibited excellent tolerance to LN; it had higher SOD activity (62.70%) and APX activity (188.92%) and a higher proline content (131.82%) than 92011 (G, LN sensitive). These attributes helped 780016B/12 superior (F) to better endure LN stress, and the morphology and N distribution changed to adapt to N deficiency, such that the root length increased by 112.48%, leaf area increased by 101.23%, and leaf nitrogen accumulation reached a peak of 14.13 g/plant. It seems that LN-tolerant genotypes increased their root length and surface area by reducing the difference in biomass, thereby expanding the contact between roots and soil, which was conducive to the absorption of nutrients (N) by sugar beets and helped distribute more assimilation products to the roots.

Can fecal calprotectin levels be used to monitor infant milk protein allergies?

BACKGROUND: Milk protein allergy is one of the most common food allergies in infants. We aimed to test whether fecal calprotectin can be used to monitor food allergies in infants by comparing the fecal calprotectin levels in infants with a milk protein allergy before and after an intervention treatment. METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective case-control trial. Stool samples were collected at follow-up, and the concentration of fecal calprotectin was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The infant's weight and length were measured. RESULTS: The allergic group comprised 90 milk-allergic infants (41 boys, 49 girls), and the nonallergic group comprised 90 nonallergic infants (51 boys, 39 girls). Compared with the fecal calprotectin level in the nonallergic group (median: 141 µg/g), that in the allergic group (median: 410 µg/g) was significantly higher (z = - 9.335, p < 0.001). After two dietary interventions and treatments, the fecal calprotectin levels of the infants with a milk protein allergy at the first (median: 253 µg/g) and second follow-up visits (median: 160 µg/g) were significantly lower than those before the intervention (z = - 7.884, p < 0.001 and z = - 8.239, p < 0.001, respectively). The growth index values (LAZ and WAZ) of the infants with a milk protein allergy at the first and second follow-up visits were significantly higher than those before dietary intervention (p < 0.05). Fecal calprotectin was negatively and significantly correlated with the WLZ and WAZ at the second follow-up visit (Spearman's rho = - 0.234, p = 0.01 and Spearman's rho = - 0.193, p = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSION: The level of fecal calprotectin in infants with a milk protein allergy decreased after dietary intervention and seems to be a promising biological indicator for monitoring intestinal allergies.

Methylphenidate and atomoxetine treatment negatively affect physical growth indexes of school-age children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

AIM: To determine the effects of drug therapy on the physical growth of school-age children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: The medical records of 86 participants (average age: 8.9 ± 2.2 years) with ADHD prescribed methylphenidate (MPH) or atomoxetine (ATX) for ≥24 weeks from the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were analysed. RESULTS: The Z-scores of height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of children with ADHD decreased significantly over the first six months of MPH treatment (P < 0.001). The slopes of the fitting lines after the first six months of MPH (-0.18, -0.58 and -0.69, respectively) returned over the entire treatment (the slopes changed to -0.027, -0.26 and -0.20, respectively). For ATX, the Z-scores of height of children decreased significantly over the first six months (P < 0.001), but the Z-scores of weight and BMI did not (P > 0.05). The slopes of the fitting lines after the first six months of ATX (-0.058, -0.032 and 0.0094, respectively) changed over the entire treatment (slopes were 0.16, 0.52 and 0.26, respectively). Children taking MPH were more likely to report decreased appetite (P < 0.05). The weight and BMI of the children receiving MPH were significantly correlated with decreased appetite (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The physical growth indexes (PGIs) of school-age children and adolescents with ADHD were negatively affected while taking MPH, and these effects were gradually mitigated with continued treatment. ATX hardly had negative effects on weight and BMI. Neither MPH nor ATX had a significant negative effect on the height of children in long-term ADHD treatment. It is necessary for clinicians to consider children's diet during treatment.

Study on the Effects of Exogenous Abscisic Acid on Salt-alkali Tolerance of Scrophularia ningpoensis Seed-lings / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of exogenous abscisic acid(ABA)on salt-alkali tolerance of Scrophularia ning-poensis seedlings,and to provide theoretic evidence for cultivating S. ningpoensis in salt-alkali soil. METHODS:50 S. ningpoensis seedlings were divided into control group,salt-alkali group(75 mmol/L),salt-alkali(75 mmol/L)+ABA low-concentration,medi-um-concentration and high-concentration groups(10,50,100 μmol/L),with 10 plants in each group. 20 days after transplanting, the plants were sprayed with drugs every 4 days. Growth indexes of the plants(length of stem,fresh weight,dry weight,survival rate),physiological indexes [the contents of chlorophyll,soluble sugar (SS),soluble protein (SP) and free proline (Pro)],the contents of MDA and H2O2,the activities of antioxidase [the activities of SOD,POD,CAT,GR] and the contents of Na+ and K+in stem and root were determined in each group 2 weeks later. RESULTS:Compared with control group,stem height and survival rate of S. ningpoensis seedlings,SP,the contents of Na+ and K+ in the stem,the contents of Na+,CAT and GR in the roots were all decreased significantly in salt-alkali group;while chlorophyll,Pro,MDA and H2O2 contents,the content of K+ in the roots and the activities of SOD and POD were all increased significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with salt-alkali group,stem height of S. ningpoensis seedlings,fresh weight and chlorophyll content were increased significantly in salt-alkali+ABA medium-concentra-tion group,while MDA and the content of Na+ in the stem were decreased significantly;dry weight,the contents of SS and SP, the activities of SOD and CAT were increased significantly in salt-alkali+ABA low-concentration and medium-concentration groups, while the SS content was increased in salt-alkali+ABA high-concentration group;stem height and dry weight were decreased signifi-cantly in salt-alkali+ABA high-concentration group;Pro content of salt-alkali+ABA low-concentration and high-concentration groups were decreased significantly;H2O2,Na+ content in the roots were decreased significantly in salt-alkali+ABA low-concentra-tion,medium-concentration and high-concentration groups;while GR activity,K+ content in the stem and roots were increased sig-nificantly;POD activity were decreased significantly in salt-alkali+ABA medium-concentration and high-concentration groups. CON-CLUSIONS:The addition of a certain concentration of exogenous ABA can effectively increase salt-alkali tolerance of S. ningpoen-sis seedlings and strengthen the ability of the plant adapting to salt-alkali environment.

Study on Resistance Physiological Responses of Seedling of Scrophularia ningpoensis to Saline-alkali Stress / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To study the resistance physiological responses of seedling of Scrophularia ningpoensis to the stress caused by saline and alkali at different concentrations. METHODS:The seedling of S. ningpoensis was placed in the illumination in-cubator,in which the temperature was maintained at(20±2)℃,light-dark cycle at 13 h/11 h and illumination intensity at 2 000 lx. The alkali (NaHCO3) of 50,100,150,200 and 250 mmol/L and the saline (NaCl) of 50,100,150,200 and 250 mmol/L were poured once every 4 days for 16 consecutive days. The growth indexes(plant height,fresh weight,dry weight),chlorophyll (Chl) content,antioxidative indexes [superoxide dismutase (SOD),catalase (CAT),peroxidase (POD),hydrogen peroxide (H2O2),malonaldehyde (MDA),membrane penetration (RMP)],and osmotic regulation physiological indexes [soluble sugar (SS),soluble protein(SP)and proline(Pro)] of the seedling were determined. There set a blank control group(distilled water). RESULTS:For saline concentration higher than 50 mmol/L and alkali concentration higher than 150 mmol/L,the seedling height, fresh weight and Chl content were lower;for saline concentration higher than 100 mmol/L and alkali concentration higher than 150 mmol/L,the dry weight of the seedling was lower. For saline concentration of 50 mmol/L and alkali concentration of 150 mmol/L, the activities of SOD and POD were the strongest;for saline concentration of 150 mmol/L and alkali concentration of 50 mmol/L, the activity of CAT was the strongest. The contents of H2O2 and MDA increased and the content of SP decreased with the increase in saline-alkali concentration. The level of RMP increased therewith,that is to say,membrane stability decreased. For saline concen-tration higher than 100 mmol/L and alkali concentration higher than 150 mmol/L,the accumulation of SS terminated;for saline and alkali concentrations higher than 100 mmol/L,the accumulation of Pro terminated,however,the content of Pro was markedly high-er in the above-said alkali concentration than in that saline concentration. CONCLUSIONS:Saline-alkali stress causes the tissues of S. ningpoensis to produce active oxygen and its cytoplasmic membrane system to be damaged. Chl,enzymatic antioxidants such as SOD,CAT and POD,and osmoprotectants such as Pro and SS can buffer saline-alkali stress to some degree. The maximum concen-trations of NaCl and NaHCO3 that seedling of S. ningpoensis can tolerate are 50 mmol/L and 150 mmol/L respectively.