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Cyperus esculentus is a new industrial crop with the high comprehensive utilization value, which is a strongly resistant to stresses and has a great potential to grow in saline soil. In order to clarify its salt tolerance, five NaCl concentrations (0, 0.3%, 0.6%, 0.9%, and 1.2%) were set in this study to analyze the effects of NaCl stress on morphological and physiological indexes during germination and seedling growth. The results showed that the germination percentage, root length, and seedling height were less affected under 0.3% and 0.6% NaCl stresses. Meanwhile, the contents of indicator of membrane damage degree, malondialdehyde (MDA), and oxidative stress substance, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), did not increase significantly. However, the contents of osmoregulation substances [glycine betaine (GB), and proline (Pro)] and the activities of antioxidant enzymes [super oxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT)] were significantly increased, and the damage of salt stress was less on the whole. However, under 0.9% and 1.2% NaCl stresses, the salt stress injury was very obvious and the germination and seedling growth of Cyperus esculentus were severely inhibited. In order to further identify the genes related to salt tolerance, RNA-seq technology was used to detect the gene expression in roots under 0, 0.3%, and 0.6% NaCl stresses. 24 GO terms mainly related to oxidoreduction, transmembrane transport, chitin hydrolysis was significantly enriched, among which 15 significantly up-regulated genes were involved, through gene differential expression analysis, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and GO enrichment analysis. Among them, DN23985_c0_g1, DN2960_c0_g1, and DN8384_c1_g1 encoded zeaxanthin epoxidase, L-ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase, respectively, which had antioxidant effects and participated in antioxidant regulation. Both DN21785_c1_g1 and DN6596_c0_g1 encoded amino acid transporters, which may enhance osmoregulation by accumulating small amino acid molecules such as Pro. DN14393_c0_g1 encoded chitinase, which hydrolyzed chitin and promoted plant response to stress. In this study, it was confirmed that Cyperus esculentus had a good salt tolerance under 0.6% or less NaCl stress, and the salt-tolerance related genes were further screened out, which provided an important reference for the cultivation in saline soil and the breeding of salt-tolerant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is defined as an idiopathic cardiomyopathy manifested as heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction toward the end of pregnancy or in five months after delivery when no other causes of heart failure ars found. Peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs in previously healthy woman, with unknown origin. Although the incidence is low, the mortality rate is high, and the prognosis is different. The patients commonly have dyspnea, cough, neck vein distension and edema, some patients even occurred arrhythmia and myocardial infarction. Diagnosis relies mainly on echocardiography and magnetic resonance images. The disease can be treated by positive myodynamia, diuresis, and anticoagulant drugs. In some patients the clinical symptoms and ultrasonic cardiogram quickly improve and return normal; but in other patients, the clinical symptoms rapidly deteriorating and the drug treatment is ineffective, if persistent left ventricular dysfunction develop to chronic heart failure, ventricular assist devices and cardiac transplantation maybe required. Summarize the etiology, diagnosis and treatment management of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the predictive capabilities of serum exosomal levels of micro-RNA-520a-5p (miR-520a-5p) concerning the occurrence of severe preeclampsia (sPE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) during the first trimester of pregnancy., Methods: During the period spanning from October 2020 to October 2021, serum samples were procured from the first trimester and subsequently preserved by freezing at -80 ℃. These samples were obtained from 105 pregnant women in a nested case-control study. This cohort consisted of individuals who later developed sPE (sPE group, n = 35) and FGR (FGR group, n = 35) during the third trimester. Additionally, 35 women with normal blood pressure were denoted as normal pregnancy group. Serum samples from the first trimester were retrieved from all groups for further analysis after thawing. Exosomes were extracted from the serum samples collected during the first trimester and examined using transmission electron microscopy, western blot, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Additionally, the determination of their placental origin was also established during the course of the study. Exosome miR-520a-5p levels were measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays, primarily involving quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions. Fetal placental tissues from the 3 groups were collected shortly after birth, and miR-520a-5p expression was measured using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Serum placental exosomes and fetal placental tissues were compared for miR-520a-5p levels. Placental trophoblasts were identified as the source of serum exosomes in all 3 groups., Results: It was found that serum placental exosomes exhibited lower levels of miR-520a-5p in both the sPE and FGR groups when compared to the normal pregnancy group. This finding was consistent with observations made in postpartum placental tissues. The predictive accuracy for sPE using miR-520a-5p levels in serum placental exosomes during the first trimester was notably higher (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.806, P <.05) compared to the prediction of FGR (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.628, P <.05)., Conclusion: Placenta-derived exosomes can be extracted from maternal serum during the first trimester of pregnancy and miR-520a-5p detected from the exosomes. The downregulation of miR-520a-5p serves as a more predictive indicator for the subsequent development of sPE compared to predicting FGR., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objective: To explore the relationship between the laccase activity and growth of Ganoderma spp.,to screen the highproducing laccase strains., Methods: The mycelium was cultured in PDA solid medium,and the laccase activity was measured by ABTS+method. The content of polysaccharide was determined by phenol sulfuric acid method., Results: Ganoderma gibbosum grew more rapidly in the early stage,and the laccase activity reached maximum( 1 476. 64 U/g) in the 4th day,which was 11. 37 times larger than that of sweet Ganoderma lucidum. Ganoderma gibbosum had the significant advantage after a comprehensive analysis. The polysaccharide content of Ganoderma lucidum of Shinshu was lower; the growth rate of Ganoderma lucidum strain S3 was stable, and the content of polysaccharide was medium., Conclusion: There are some differences in the growth rate of Ganoderma spp., and there is a certain correlation between the laccase activity and growth. Ganoderma gibbosum is the highest-producing laccase strain among the screening strains.