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BMC Psychiatry May 2024The oxidative system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Inconsistent associations were found between hyperbilirubinemia and psychopathology as...
The associations of psychopathology and metabolic parameters with serum bilirubin levels in patients with acute-episode and drug-free schizophrenia: a 5-year retrospective study using an electronic medical record system.
BACKGROUND
The oxidative system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Inconsistent associations were found between hyperbilirubinemia and psychopathology as well as glycolipid metabolism in patients with schizophrenia at different episodes. This current study aimed to examine these associations in patients with acute-episode and drug-free (AEDF) schizophrenia.
METHODS
This is a retrospective study using 5 years of data from May 2017 to May 2022 extracted from the electronic medical record system of Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Healthy controls (HCs) from the local medical screening center during the same period were also included. Participants' data of the bilirubin levels [total bilirubin (TB), conjugated bilirubin (CB), unconjugated bilirubin (UCB)], glycolipid metabolic parameters and the score of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were collected.
RESULTS
A total of 1468 case records were identified through the initial search. After screening, 89 AEDF patients and 100 HCs were included. Compared with HCs, patients had a higher CB level, and lower levels of glycolipid metabolic parameters excluding high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (all P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that high bilirubin levels in the patients were independently associated with higher total and resistance subscale scores of BPRS, a higher HDL-C level, and lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels (all P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Bilirubin levels are elevated in patients with AEDF schizophrenia. Patients with high bilirubin levels have more severe psychopathology and relatively optimized glycolipid metabolism. In clinical practice, regular monitoring of bilirubin levels in this patient population should be carried out.
Topics: Humans; Schizophrenia; Bilirubin; Female; Male; Adult; Retrospective Studies; Electronic Health Records; Middle Aged; Hyperbilirubinemia; Glycolipids; Young Adult; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
PubMed: 38811905
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05862-5 -
BMC Plant Biology May 2024Nutritional disorders of phosphorus (P), due to deficiency or toxicity, reduce the development of Eucalyptus spp. seedlings. Phosphorus deficiency often results in...
BACKGROUND
Nutritional disorders of phosphorus (P), due to deficiency or toxicity, reduce the development of Eucalyptus spp. seedlings. Phosphorus deficiency often results in stunted growth and reduced vigor, while phosphorus toxicity can lead to nutrient imbalances and decreased physiological function. These sensitivities highlight the need for precise management of P levels in cultivation practices. The use of the beneficial element silicon (Si) has shown promising results under nutritional stress; nevertheless, comprehensive studies on its effects on Eucalyptus spp. seedlings are still emerging. To further elucidate the role of Si under varying P conditions, an experiment was conducted with clonal seedlings of a hybrid Eucalyptus spp. (Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla, A207) in a soilless cultivation system. Seedlings were propagated using the minicutting method in vermiculite-filled tubes, followed by treatment with a nutrient solution at three P concentrations: a deficient dose (0.1 mM), an adequate dose (1.0 mM) and an excessive dose (10 mM), with and without the addition of Si (2mM). This study assessed P and Si concentration, nutritional efficiency, oxidative metabolism, photosynthetic parameters, and dry matter production.
RESULTS
Si supply increased phenolic compounds production and reduced electrolyte leakage in seedlings provided with 0.1 mM of P. On the other hand, Si favored quantum efficiency of photosystem II as well as chlorophyll a content in seedlings supplemented with 10 mM of P. In general, Si attenuates P nutritional disorder by reducing the oxidative stress, favoring the non-enzymatic antioxidant system and photosynthetic parameters in seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study indicate that Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla seedlings are sensitive to P deficiency and toxicity and Si has shown a beneficial effect, attenuating P nutritional disorder by reducing the oxidative stress, favoring the non-enzymatic antioxidant system and photosynthetic parameters.
Topics: Eucalyptus; Seedlings; Silicon; Phosphorus; Photosynthesis; Antioxidants; Chlorophyll; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 38811870
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05147-9 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Eutrophication is a main threat to continental aquatic ecosystems. Prevention and amelioration actions have been taken under the assumption of a stable climate, which...
Eutrophication is a main threat to continental aquatic ecosystems. Prevention and amelioration actions have been taken under the assumption of a stable climate, which needs reconsideration. Here, we show that reduced precipitation can bring a lake ecosystem to a more productive regime even with a decline in nutrient external load. By analyzing time series of several decades in the largest lake of the Iberian Peninsula, we found autocorrelated changes in the variance of state variables (i.e., chlorophyll and oxygen) indicative of a transient situation towards a new ecosystem regime. Indeed, exceptional planktonic diatom blooms have occurred during the last few years, and the sediment record shows a shift in phytoplankton composition and an increase in nutrient retention. Reduced precipitation almost doubled the water residence time in the lake, enhancing the relevance of internal processes. This study demonstrates that ecological quality targets for aquatic ecosystems must be tailored to the changing climatic conditions for appropriate stewardship.
Topics: Lakes; Ecosystem; Phytoplankton; Nutrients; Eutrophication; Rain; Chlorophyll; Climate Change; Diatoms; Spain
PubMed: 38811751
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62810-9 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Atherosclerosis is the build-up of fatty plaques within blood vessel walls, which can occlude the vessels and cause strokes or heart attacks. It gives rise to both...
Atherosclerosis is the build-up of fatty plaques within blood vessel walls, which can occlude the vessels and cause strokes or heart attacks. It gives rise to both structural and biomolecular changes in the vessel walls. Current single-modality imaging techniques each measure one of these two aspects but fail to provide insight into the combined changes. To address this, our team has developed a dual-modality imaging system which combines optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescence imaging that is optimized for a porphyrin lipid nanoparticle that emits fluorescence and targets atherosclerotic plaques. Atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein (Apo)e mice were fed a high cholesterol diet to promote plaque development in descending thoracic aortas. Following infusion of porphyrin lipid nanoparticles in atherosclerotic mice, the fiber-optic probe was inserted into the aorta for imaging, and we were able to robustly detect a porphyrin lipid-specific fluorescence signal that was not present in saline-infused control mice. We observed that the nanoparticle fluorescence colocalized in areas of CD68 macrophages. These results demonstrate that our system can detect the fluorescence from nanoparticles, providing complementary biological information to the structural information obtained from simultaneously acquired OCT.
Topics: Tomography, Optical Coherence; Animals; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Nanoparticles; Mice; Porphyrins; Optical Imaging; Disease Models, Animal; Atherosclerosis; Macrophages; Lipoproteins, HDL
PubMed: 38811670
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63132-6 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024The effects of vitamin B12 metabolism on musculoskeletal health and the exact mechanism have not been fully determined. Our study aimed to assess the association of...
INTRODUCTION
The effects of vitamin B12 metabolism on musculoskeletal health and the exact mechanism have not been fully determined. Our study aimed to assess the association of vitamin B12 and its biomarkers with musculoskeletal health in middle-aged and older adults.
METHODS
The data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2002 were used to investigate the effects of serum vitamin B12 and its biomarkers (homocysteine and methylmalonic acid) on skeletal muscle health. Bone mineral density (BMD), lean mass, gait speed and knee extensor strength were used as indicators for musculoskeletal health.
RESULTS
Serum vitamin B12 level was positively correlated with the total and appendicular lean mass (β = 584.83, = 0.044; β = 291.65, = 0.043) in older adults over 65 years of age. In the full population, plasma homocysteine was associated with total lean mass, appendicular lean mass, gait speed, and knee extensor strength (all < 0.05). Among older adults over 65 years of age, homocysteine level was significantly negatively correlated with gait speed and knee extensor strength (β = -12.75, = 0.019; β = -0.06, 0.001). Plasma methylmalonic acid was negatively associated with total BMD and femur BMD in the full population (β = -0.01, = 0.018; β = -0.01, = 0.004). In older adults, methylmalonic acid significantly affected total BMD, femur BMD and knee extensor strength (β = -0.01, = 0.048; β = -0.01, = 0.025; β = -7.53, = 0.015).
CONCLUSIONS
Vitamin B12 and its biomarkers are closely related to BMD, body composition, muscle strength and physical function in middle-aged and older adults. Vitamin B12 may be an important indicator of musculoskeletal health in the elderly.
Topics: Humans; Vitamin B 12; Aged; Female; Male; Biomarkers; Middle Aged; Bone Density; Homocysteine; Methylmalonic Acid; Muscle Strength; Muscle, Skeletal; Nutrition Surveys; Body Composition; Cross-Sectional Studies; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 38808112
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1387035 -
Plant Cell Reports May 2024Sodium nitroprusside mediates drought stress responses in tomatoes by modulating nitrosative and oxidative pathways, highlighting the interplay between nitric oxide,...
Sodium nitroprusside mediates drought stress responses in tomatoes by modulating nitrosative and oxidative pathways, highlighting the interplay between nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide, and antioxidant systems for enhanced drought tolerance. While nitric oxide (NO), a signalling molecule, enhances plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, its precise contribution to improving tomato tolerance to drought stress (DS) through modulating oxide-nitrosative processes is not yet fully understood. We aimed to examine the interaction of NO and nitrosative signaling, revealing how sodium nitroprusside (SNP) could mitigate the effects of DS on tomatoes. DS-seedlings endured 12% polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a 10% nutrient solution (NS) for 2 days, then transitioned to half-strength NS for 10 days alongside control plants. DS reduced total plant dry weight, chlorophyll a and b, Fv/Fm, leaf water potential (Ψ), and relative water content, but improved hydrogen peroxide (HO), proline, and NO content. The SNP reduced the DS-induced HO generation by reducing thiol (-SH) and the carbonyl (-CO) groups. SNP increased not only NO but also the activity of L-cysteine desulfhydrase (L-DES), leading to the generation of HS. Decreases in S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) and NADPH oxidase (NOX) suggest a potential regulatory mechanism in which -nitrosylation [formation of S-nitrosothiol (SNO)] may influence protein function and signaling pathways during DS. Moreover, SNP improved ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) and reduced oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels in tomato plants under drought. Furthermore, the interaction of NO and HS, mediated by L-DES activity, may serve as a vital cross-talk mechanism impacting plant responses to DS. Understanding these signaling interactions is crucial for developing innovative drought-tolerance strategies in crops.
Topics: Nitroprusside; Solanum lycopersicum; Hydrogen Peroxide; Droughts; Nitric Oxide; Glutathione; Antioxidants; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Stress, Physiological; Seedlings; Plant Leaves; Nitrosation; Chlorophyll
PubMed: 38806834
DOI: 10.1007/s00299-024-03238-3 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Evaluate the impact of extracts from the Lens culinaris plant on a number of physiological and biochemical parameters in squash leaves infected with ZYMV in this work....
Evaluate the impact of extracts from the Lens culinaris plant on a number of physiological and biochemical parameters in squash leaves infected with ZYMV in this work. Compared to the untreated leaves, ZYMV infected leaves showed a range of symptoms, such as severe mosaic, size reduction, stunting, and deformation. Analysis of physiological data revealed that L. culinaris extract lectin therapies and viral infections had an impact on metabolism. Protein, carbohydrate, and pigment levels were all lowered by viral infection. However, phenolic compounds, total protein, total carbohydrates, total amino acids, proline, total chlorophyll and peroxidases levels are considerably elevated with all extract therapies. The other biochemical parameters also displayed a variety of changes. Moreover shoot length, number of leaves and number of flowers was significantly increased compared to viral control in all treatments. The L. culinaris extract treatment increases the plant's ZYMV resistance. This is detectable through reduction of the plants treated with lentil lectin pre and post virus inoculation, reduction in disease severity and viral concentration, and percentage of the infected plants has a virus. All findings demonstrate significant metabolic alterations brought by viral infections or L. culinaris extract treatments, and they also suggest that exogenous extract treatments is essential for activating the body's defences against ZYMV infection.
Topics: Plant Extracts; Lens Plant; Plant Diseases; Plant Leaves; Cucurbita; Mosaic Viruses; Chlorophyll; Disease Resistance
PubMed: 38806538
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62128-6 -
Nature Communications May 2024Cryptophyte algae are an evolutionarily distinct and ecologically important group of photosynthetic unicellular eukaryotes. Photosystem II (PSII) of cryptophyte algae...
Cryptophyte algae are an evolutionarily distinct and ecologically important group of photosynthetic unicellular eukaryotes. Photosystem II (PSII) of cryptophyte algae associates with alloxanthin chlorophyll a/c-binding proteins (ACPs) to act as the peripheral light-harvesting system, whose supramolecular organization is unknown. Here, we purify the PSII-ACPII supercomplex from a cryptophyte alga Chroomonas placoidea (C. placoidea), and analyze its structure at a resolution of 2.47 Å using cryo-electron microscopy. This structure reveals a dimeric organization of PSII-ACPII containing two PSII core monomers flanked by six symmetrically arranged ACPII subunits. The PSII core is conserved whereas the organization of ACPII subunits exhibits a distinct pattern, different from those observed so far in PSII of other algae and higher plants. Furthermore, we find a Chl a-binding antenna subunit, CCPII-S, which mediates interaction of ACPII with the PSII core. These results provide a structural basis for the assembly of antennas within the supercomplex and possible excitation energy transfer pathways in cryptophyte algal PSII, shedding light on the diversity of supramolecular organization of photosynthetic machinery.
Topics: Photosystem II Protein Complex; Cryptophyta; Cryoelectron Microscopy; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll Binding Proteins; Protein Multimerization; Chlorophyll A; Models, Molecular; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes
PubMed: 38806516
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48878-x -
Medical Sciences (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Gastric cancer has been demonstrating a reduction in the number of cases over the past decades, largely attributed to advancements in public health practices and...
Gastric cancer has been demonstrating a reduction in the number of cases over the past decades, largely attributed to advancements in public health practices and increased accessibility to educational initiatives for the general population. Nevertheless, it persists as the third leading cause of mortality globally among both men and women. These fatalities are typically associated with delayed disease detection. The current study assessed the levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folic acid as a means of establishing a screening biomarker profile that could be integrated into routine testing protocols to facilitate swift diagnosis of the illness. A total of 207 control subjects and 207 individuals with gastric cancer were scrutinized, with biochemical measurements conducted using chemiluminescence for homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B12. The two groups were matched based on age, tumor location, subtype, tumor classification, presence of Epstein-Barr Virus infection (EBV), and Helicobacter pylori (). Significant statistical variances were identified in the mean levels of the triad of substances among cancer patients when compared to the control group for all corresponding variables. In conclusion, our study indicated that analyzing the triad of homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folic acid holds diagnostic value for gastric cancer and could potentially serve as an effective screening marker for this type of cancer in the future.
Topics: Humans; Stomach Neoplasms; Vitamin B 12; Folic Acid; Homocysteine; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Early Detection of Cancer; Aged; Adult; Case-Control Studies
PubMed: 38804380
DOI: 10.3390/medsci12020024 -
BMC Plant Biology May 2024Saline-sodic stress can limit the absorption of available zinc in rice, subsequently impacting the normal photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism of rice plants. To...
Saline-sodic stress can limit the absorption of available zinc in rice, subsequently impacting the normal photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism of rice plants. To investigate the impact of exogenous zinc application on photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in rice grown in saline-sodic soil, this study simulated saline-sodic stress conditions using two rice varieties, 'Changbai 9' and 'Tonghe 899', as experimental materials. Rice seedlings at 4 weeks of age underwent various treatments including control (CT), 2 μmol·L zinc treatment alone (Z), 50 mmol·L saline-sodic treatment (S), and 50 mmol·L saline-sodic treatment with 2 μmol·L zinc (Z + S). We utilized JIP-test to analyze the variations in excitation fluorescence and MR820 signal in rice leaves resulting from zinc supplementation under saline-sodic stress, and examined the impact of zinc supplementation on carbohydrate metabolism in both rice leaves and roots under saline-sodic stress. Research shows that zinc increased the chloroplast pigment content, specific energy flow, quantum yield, and performance of active PSII reaction centers (PI), as well as the oxidation (V) and reduction rate (V) of PSI in rice leaves under saline-sodic stress. Additionally, it decreased the relative variable fluorescence (W and V) and quantum energy dissipation yield (φ) of the rice. Meanwhile, zinc application can reduce the content of soluble sugars and starch in rice leaves and increasing the starch content in the roots. Therefore, the addition of zinc promotes electron and energy transfer in the rice photosystem under saline-sodic stress. It enhances rice carbohydrate metabolism, improving the rice plants' ability to withstand saline-sodic stress and ultimately promoting rice growth and development.
Topics: Oryza; Zinc; Seedlings; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Chlorophyll; Fluorescence; Photosynthesis; Plant Leaves
PubMed: 38802756
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05170-w