Search Results (781)

Background/Objectives: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been demonstrated as an adjustable device to generate various combinations of short-lived reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and as a promising appliance for cancer therapy. This study investigated the effects of direct and indirect treatments of Argon-based CAP to cancer cells (A2058, A549, U2OS and BCC) and fibroblasts (NIH3T3 and L929) on cell viability. We also aimed to understand whether plasma-generated RONS were involved in this process using genetic evidence. Methods: The intensity of reactive species in the plasma gas and the concentrations of RONS in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and cell culture medium were measured. A viability assay was performed after the cells were treated by plasma in PBS and medium with various volumes to realize the lethal effects of plasma under different conditions. Diverse cells were treated in the same solution to compare the sensitivities of different cells to plasma treatments. The gene expression profiles of A2058 cells after the direct and indirect treatments were analyzed by next generation gene sequencing. Accordingly, we discovered the advantages of sequential treatments on cancer therapy. Results: The cumulative concentration of hydroxyterephthalic acid (HTA) revealed that the pre-existing OH radical (•OH) in PBS increased with the treatment durations. However, there was no significant increase in the concentration of HTA in culture medium. HTA was detected in the treatment interface of PBS but not medium, showing the penetration of •OH through PBS. The concentrations of H₂O₂ and NO₂⁻ increased with the treatment durations, but that of NO₃⁻ was low. The direct treatments caused stronger lethal effects on cancer cells under certain conditions. The fibroblasts showed higher tolerance to plasma treatments. From gene expression analysis, the initial observations showed that both treatments influenced transcription-related pathways and exhibited shared or unique cellular stress responses. The pre-treatments, especially of direct exposure, revealed better cancer inhibition. Conclusions: The anti-cancer efficiency of plasma could be enhanced by pre-treatments and by adjusting the liquid interfaces to avoid the rapid consumption of short-lived RONS in the medium. To achieve better therapeutic effects and selectivity, more evidence is necessary to find optional plasma treatments. Full article

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), a type of warm-water reptile, is frequently chosen as the model animal to understand how organisms respond to environmental stressors. However, the responsive mechanism of P. sinensis to natural cold stress is unclear, especially in terms of metabolic pattern and molecular pathways. Herein, plasma biochemical, hepatic morphological, apoptotic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic detection methods were performed to investigate the response of P. sinensis to acute cold stress. A consistent increase in plasma AST and ALT activities with a decline in ALP activity was found following 14 °C and 7 °C cold stress compared with the control group. Plasma GLU, TG, CHO, and HDL contents, reflecting energy metabolism, were decreased to lower levels from 2 to 16 days post cold stress (dps). Histological and TUNEL detection in the liver demonstrated that the 14 °C and 7 °C cold stress caused severe morphological damage and cell apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. DEGs in the biosynthesis of fatty acids (Acsbg2, Acsl3, Acsl4, Acsl5, Mcat, and Acacb), as well as unsaturated fatty acids (Hsd17b12, Elovl7, Scd, and Baat), starch and sucrose metabolism (Pgm1, Pgm2, and Treh), and apoptosis (Ddit3, Gadd45a, Lmnb1, Tuba1c, Tnf, Tnfsf10, Fos, Itpr1, and Ctso) were discovered in the transcriptome under cold stress. The metabolomic data showed that metabolites, including chenodeoxycholic acid, oleoylethanolamide, uric acid, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, CMP, and S-(Hydroxymethyl)-glutathione, were remarkably altered in the cold stress groups. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic data revealed that pyrimidine metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and pyruvate metabolism were the most significant pathways regulated by the low-temperature exposure. Overall, this work suggests that 14 °C and 7 °C cold stress could induce obvious morphological damage and apoptosis in the liver at 4 dps. Moreover, energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism were the main signaling pathways in response to cold stress for P. sinensis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cold stress poses a significant threat to Asian rice cultivation, disrupting important physiological processes crucial for seedling establishment and overall plant growth. It is, thus, crucial to elucidate genetic pathways involved in cold stress tolerance response mechanisms. Methods: We mapped OsUBC7, a Radiation-sensitive 6 (RAD6)-type homolog of rice, to a low-temperature seedling survivability (LTSS) QTL and used genomics, molecular genetics, and physiological assays to assess its role in plant resilience against low-temperature stress. Results: OsUBC7 is cold responsive and has higher expression levels in cold-tolerant japonica than cold-sensitive indica. Overexpression of OsUBC7 enhances LTSS of indica and freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis, increases levels of soluble sugars and chlorophyll A, boosts leaf development after cold exposure, and increases leaf cell numbers and plants size, but it does not affect membrane stability after cold stress exposure. Additionally, OsUBC7 has a positive role for germinability in the presence of salt and for flowering and yield-related traits. The OsUBC7 protein physically interacts with the developmental stage-specific and histone-modifying E3 ligases OsRFPH2-12 and OsHUB1/2, respectively, and potential target genes such as cell cycle dependent kinases were identified. Conclusions: OsUBC7 might contribute to cold resilience by regulating sugar metabolism to provide energy for promoting cellular homeostasis restoration after cold stress exposure via new cell growth, particularly in leaf cells crucial for photosynthesis and metabolic activity, possibly by interacting with cell cycle regulating proteins. Overall, the present study suggests that OsUBC7 may be involved in plant development, reproduction, and stress adaptation, and contributes to a deeper understanding of rice plant cold stress tolerance response mechanisms. OsUBC7 may be a promising candidate for improving crop productivity and resilience to stressful environments. Full article

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has antimicrobial properties and is also known to stimulate the immune system. These properties could be useful for the development of a novel therapeutic or preventive strategy against respiratory infections in the upper respiratory tract (URT) such as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) without inducing an immune overreaction. This study investigated the cellular responses of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) after exposure to CAP in a three-dimensional (3D) model of the URT. In vitro experiments were conducted using PMNs isolated from human blood to assess cell migration, intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), NETosis, surface marker expression (CD11b, CD62L, and CD66b), and cell death with live cell imaging and flow cytometry. CAP was applied for 5 min using two distinct modalities: pressurized air plasma with a plasma intensive care (PIC) device and nebulized air plasma (NP) with a new humidity resistent surface microdischarge (SMD) plasma source, both developed by Terraplasma Medical GmbH. There were no significant signs of cell damage or overstimulation with either device under the conditions tested. However, the NP device caused milder effects on PMN functionality compared to the PIC device, but also demonstrated reduced antibacterial efficacy and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (RONS) production, as analyzed with colorimetric/fluorimetric assay kits. These findings highlight a trade-off between the two CAP modalities, each with distinct advantages and limitations. Further studies are necessary to investigate these effects in the clinical setting and evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of CAP treatment in the URT. Full article

Periprosthetic joint infections occur in 1–2% of all patients undergoing prosthetic joint surgeries. Although strong efforts have been made to reduce infection rates, conventional therapies like one- or two-stage revisions have failed to lower the infection rates. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has shown promising results in reducing bacterial loads on surfaces. In this study, we aimed to investigate the ability of CAP to reduce the bacterial load on metal surfaces with varying distances and different plasma compositions below a temperature suitable for in vivo applications. Methods: Biofilm was formed with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 cultures on TMZF discs. Plasma treatments using air plasma and argon plasma were conducted on discs containing the established biofilm while the temperature was measured. During the experiments, the duration and the distance of plasma application varied. Afterwards, colony-forming units were counted. Results: The results of this study showed that air and argon plasma could be considered for applications during surgeries at a 1 cm distance. While air plasma showed the highest efficiency in CFU reduction, the temperature generation due to the presence of oxygen poses a limitation concerning the duration of application. The use of argon as a plasma generator does not show the temperature limitation in correlation to exposure time. The use of air plasma with a distance of 1 cm to the application site and an exposure time of 5 s showed the most effective bacterial reduction while not exceeding tissue-damaging temperatures. Full article

Grapevines are widely cultivated and highly nutritious, making them economically significant among cultivated plants globally. However, important spring temperature fluctuations and frequent frost events in some production areas severely affect grape growth and yield. Therefore, enhancing the cold resistance of grapevines is of considerable importance for production. This study used the less cold-resistant grape varieties Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon and Vitis vinifera cv. Chardonnay as test materials. They were treated with the antifreeze agents ‘GuoGuang KangXiu,’ ‘Biogas Liquid’, ‘SenHuo’, and ‘Ice Shield’ for 24 and 48 h before exposure to a low-temperature treatment of −2 °C. Compared to the control (water), all four antifreeze agents significantly reduced the relative conductivity and malondialdehyde content in the tender shoots of both grape varieties, increased the Fv/Fm ratio, enhanced osmotic adjustment substance levels, and improved antioxidant enzyme activity. Moreover, relative conductivity and malondialdehyde content were significantly lower, and the Fv/Fm ratio was higher when the antifreeze agents were applied 24 h before frost compared to 48 h. This suggests that all four antifreeze agents effectively improve grapevine cold resistance, with better results observed when applied 24 h before frost. Additionally, the antifreeze agents significantly increased the soluble solid content in berries and enhanced the levels of anthocyanins, total phenols, total tannins, total flavonoids, and total flavonols in the berries’ skin. They had minimal impact on the fruit set rate, cluster weight, and berries shape index, indicating that these agents can improve berries quality to some extent. Full article

Workers’ health is jeopardized in steel rolling workshops due to the production of particulate matter. These particles’ physicochemical properties have a direct impact on their effects on human health, emphasizing the importance of understanding these properties for exposure control. This study investigated particulate matter emissions in hot and cold steel rolling workshops, focusing on mass concentrations, particle size distributions, and elemental compositions. The findings revealed that particles predominantly range from 0.3 to 1.0 μm in size, with irregular block-like and fibrous morphologies. Elemental analysis showed distinct compositions: the main components in the hot rolling workshop were oxygen, calcium, silicon, carbon, and iron while those in the cold rolling workshop were oxygen, silicon, aluminum, carbon, and iron. The particulate matter concentrations were higher in the hot rolling workshop than in the cold rolling workshop. The Rosin–Rammler particle size distribution function was applied to characterize particle size distribution at emission sources. This paper highlights the dynamic variations and spatial distribution patterns of particulate matter during rolling processes, providing key data for understanding particulate matter behavior in industrial environments and informing targeted pollution control strategies. Full article

Environmental stress, notably the exposure to low temperatures during the early developmental stages of seedlings, has been identified as a critical determinant impacting the yield and quality of tomato crops cultivated in greenhouses. Silicon (Si), recognized as a beneficial element, is posited to mitigate the adverse effects of such stress on plant physiology. This study explores whether exogenous Si fertilizer can effectively alleviate the stress of low temperature and cold damage on tomato plant growth, fruit yield, and quality. Tomato plants were placed under low temperature conditions (6 °C at night, daily average temperature 15 °C), with normal temperature conditions as the control (below 16 °C at night, daily average temperature 28 °C), and two different concentrations of nano Si and ionic Si (50 mg·L⁻¹ and 200 mg·L⁻¹) were sprayed on the leaves, with an equivalent amount of deionized water as the control, for a total of 10 treatments. Relevant indexes were measured to investigate the effects of exogenous Si on tomato resistance, yield, and quality under low-temperature stress. The results show that compared with the control treatment, the plant height, stem diameter, and fresh weight of above-ground and underground parts of tomato seedlings decreased significantly by 46.52%, 42.53%, 28.81%, and 28.97%, respectively, after 15 days of low-temperature stress (p < 0.05), and in order to resist low temperature, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of osmotic adjustment substances were up-regulated in seedlings. Ultimately, low-temperature stress inhibited the morphological growth, nutritional quality, and yield of fruits. Both concentrations of Si application can promote the growth and biomass accumulation of tomato plants under low temperature conditions. Moreover, it significantly ameliorated the osmotic adjustment and antioxidant capacity of the plants, thereby alleviating the low-temperature stress. Under low-temperature stress, 50 mg L⁻¹ ionic Si was the most effective for increasing tomato yield per plant, which was significantly increased by 22.44% compared with the control treatment (p < 0.05). Consequently, the study advocates for the application of 50 mg·L⁻¹ ionic Si fertilizer as a strategy to mitigate the impact of low-temperature stress on tomato plants. Furthermore, the use of nano Si fertilizer has been demonstrated to exert a significant influence on enhancing both the yield and quality of tomatoes, with a 50 mg·L⁻¹ concentration of nano Si fertilizer leading to a notable increase in yield by 20.15% under normal temperature conditions (p < 0.05). These findings are intended to furnish a theoretical foundation and practical direction for advancing research aimed at combating the detrimental effects of low-temperature stress in the context of protected vegetable cultivation. Full article

Freezing temperatures impose significant constraints on plant growth and productivity. While cold tolerance mechanisms have been extensively studied in model species, the molecular basis of freezing tolerance in naturally adapted plants remains underexplored. Chorispora bungeana, an alpine plant with a strong freezing tolerance, provides a valuable model for investigating these adaptive mechanisms. In this study, we used Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics to analyze C. bungeana seedlings subjected to freezing stress (−6 °C) at 6 and 30 h, identifying 302 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) compared with controls. Our findings capture the dynamic proteomic landscape of C. bungeana under freezing stress, revealing distinct early and prolonged responses. Early responses featured upregulated proteins involved in signaling and stress protection, with no clear involvement of the ICE1-CBF pathway (ICE1: Inducer of CBF Expression 1; CBF: C-repeat Binding Factor) found in cold-acclimating plants, while calcium signaling and epigenetic modifications enabled a rapid response. Extended exposure involved DEPs in RNA modification, glutamine metabolism, and biosynthesis of polysaccharides and flavonoids, highlighting metabolic adjustments crucial for long-term adaptation. By combining protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks and functional analysis, we identified 54 key proteins validated by qRT-PCR. These findings provide comprehensive insight into freezing tolerance mechanisms, identifying candidate proteins for enhancing cold resilience in crops and mitigating agricultural cold stress impacts. Full article

This study investigates the correlation between short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and hospitalization for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Lanzhou, China. A distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was employed to examine the relationship between changes in NO₂ concentration and CKD hospitalizations. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the sensitivity of different populations to NO₂ exposure. A total of 35,857 CKD hospitalizations occurred from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2019. The average daily concentration of NO₂ was 47.33 ± 17.27 µg/m³. A significant exposure response relationship was observed between changes in NO₂ concentration and the relative risk (RR) of CKD hospitalization. At lag0 (the same day) and lag0-1 (cumulative same day and the previous 1 day) to lag0-4 (cumulative same day and the previous 4 days), NO₂ exhibited a harmful effect on CKD hospitalizations, with the maximum effect occurring at lag0-1. For every 10 µg/m³ increase in NO₂ concentration, the RR of CKD hospitalization was 1.034 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.017, 1.050]. Subgroup analyses revealed that the adverse effects of NO₂ were more pronounced in females and individuals aged ≥65 years. The harmful effects were also more significant during the cold season. In conclusion, short-term NO₂ exposure is associated with an increased relative risk of CKD hospitalization. Continuous efforts to improve air quality are essential to protect public health. Full article

Background: Diphenhydramine is an anti-tussive used periodically to treat seasonal colds, contact dermatitis, and anaphylactic reactions. This study aimed to develop a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of diphenhydramine in predicting its systemic exposure among healthy pediatrics (children and adolescents) by leveraging data files from adults (young and elderly). Methods: The data profiles comprising serum/plasma concentration over time and parameters related to diphenhydramine were scrutinized via exhaustive literature analysis and consolidated in the PK-Sim software version 11.1. This modeling methodology commences with developing an adult model and then translating it to the pediatrics which compares the predicted concentration–time datasets with the reported values. Results: The accuracy of model anticipations was then assessed for each pharmacokinetics (PK) variable, i.e., the area under the curve from 0 to infinity (AUC_0-∞), maximal serum/plasma concentration (C_max), and clearance of the diphenhydramine in plasma (CL) by employing the predicted/observed ratios (R_pre/obs), and average fold error (AFE), which fell within the pre-defined benchmark of 2-fold. The predicted and observed C_max values for pediatrics were 3-fold greater in comparison to the young adults following a 25 mg dose depicting a need to monitor dosage schedules among children closely. Conclusions: These model-based anticipations confirmed the authenticity of the developed pediatric model and enhanced the comprehension of developmental variations on PK of diphenhydramine. This may assist healthcare professionals in ensuring the significance of lifespan applicability in personalized dose regimens, promoting therapeutic efficacy and minimizing side effects in chronic conditions among children. Full article

Exposure to the cold can negatively affect muscle performance. This study compared the effects of two different full-length, lower body, next-to-skin garments on thermal sensation, countermovement jump (CMJ) height and knee frontal plane angle upon landing following cold exposure against a control. After familiarisation, 13 male and 11 female recreationally active adults attended three separate laboratory testing sessions where a randomly assigned next-to-skin garment was used (compression, thermal and control (shorts)). A pre- and post-testing protocol comprising CMJ and drop landings interspersed with a sedentary cooling period of 40 min at 0 °C was adopted. High-speed motion analysis and subjective ratings of thermal sensation were recorded. Exposure to the cold significantly reduced thermal sensation (p < 0.001) scores and CMJ height (p < 0.001). Only female participants felt significantly warmer (p ≤ 0.009) in the next-to-skin garments. Losses in CMJ height were significantly reduced by the next-to-skin garments compared to the control with the thermal garment producing better results. There was little change in knee frontal plane angle upon landing in all the garments tested. Ambient cooling at 0 °C for 40 min had a significant effect on CMJ height and thermal sensation but not knee valgus upon landing. Participants in winter sports should consider next-to-skin garments in conjunction with proper warm-ups and re-warming techniques to protect themselves from the negative effects of the cold. Full article

Background: Obesity and aging are associated with the progressive loss of brown adipose tissue (BAT), an increase in visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT), and a reduction in subcutaneous white adipose tissue (sWAT). The progressive expansion of visceral obesity promotes a low grade of systemic chronic inflammation (meta-inflammation), contributing to the onset of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome, and even cancer. Thus, preserving the thermogenic activity of adipose tissue and improving the metabolic flexibility of sWAT could be an effective strategy to prevent the development of metabolic chronic diseases and promote healthy aging. Precision nutrition has emerged as a complementary approach to control the metabolic alterations associated with unhealthy obesity and aging. In a previous work, we described that a silymarin-enriched extract from milk thistle (Mthistle) increased markers of browning and thermogenesis in vitro in human differentiated adipocytes (SGBS). Objectives/Methods: Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the potential of Mthistle to activate thermogenesis in a preclinical model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity (DIO). Results: Our results demonstrate that Mthistle increases systemic energy expenditure (EE), preserves body temperature after cold exposure, improves insulin resistance, and reduces inflammatory markers in WAT. Conclusions: Based on these results, silymarin-enriched extract from Mthistle may be proposed as a nutraceutical for the management of metabolic chronic diseases and/or accelerated aging. Full article

Due to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and pro-healing properties, the application of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a new and promising therapeutic strategy in various fields of medicine, including general medicine and dentistry. In this light, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a homemade plasma jet on the cellular behaviour of two important cell types involved in gingivitis, namely gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1 cell line) and macrophages (RAW 264.7 cell line), by the direct application of CAP in different experimental conditions. The cellular behaviour of the HGF-1 cells was investigated in terms of viability/proliferation (LIVE/DEAD and CCK-8 assays), morphological features (immunofluorescent staining of the actin cytoskeleton) and fibronectin expression (immunocytochemical staining of the fibronectin network), while the macrophages’ response was evaluated through the assessment of the cellular survival/proliferation rate (LIVE/DEAD and CCK-8 assays), morphological behaviour (immunofluorescent staining of the actin cytoskeleton) and inflammatory activity (pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion profile (ELISA assay) and foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) formation (immunofluorescent staining of the actin cytoskeleton and multinuclearity index determination)). The in vitro biological assessment revealed an upward trend dependent on treatment time and number of CAP applications, in terms of fibroblasts proliferation (p < 0.0001) and fibronectin expression (p < 0.0001). On the other hand, the macrophages exposed to five consecutive CAP applications for longer treatment times (over 120 s) exhibited a strong pro-inflammatory activity, as evinced by their altered morphology, pro-inflammatory cytokine profile (p < 0.0001) and FBGCs formation. Overall, our results demonstrate that CAP exposure, when used with appropriate operating parameters, has a beneficial effect on the cellular response of HGF-1 and RAW 264.7 cells, thus paving the way for further in vitro and in vivo investigations that will allow the translation of CAP treatment from research to clinic as an alternative therapy for gingivitis. Full article

The objective of this study was to identify the Hsp70s in Paracoccus marginatus and explore their roles in P. marginatus’s resistance to temperature and insecticide stress. The full-length cDNA sequences of PmHsp70s were obtained by PCR cloning and sequencing. The physicochemical and structural characteristics of PmHsp70s were analyzed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The gene expressions of PmHsp70s were detected using qRT-PCR to explore the impacts of temperature and insecticide stress on P. marginatus. A total of 12 PmHsp70s were identified and cloned. The amino acids encoded by PmHsp70s were found to contain highly conserved regions characteristic of the Hsp70 family. The subcellular localization results showed that the majority of PmHsp70s were located in the cytoplasm. A total of 13 unique conserved motifs were identified for the PmHsp70s, of which 9 were shared motifs. The phylogenetic tree showed that the 12 PmHsp70s could be clustered into five branches, with the closest evolutionary relationship observed with the Phenacoccus solenopsis. The expression of the majority of PmHsp70s was up-regulated in P. marginatus when subjected to heat stress, with the higher expression fold change observed for PmHsp70-9, PmHsp70-11, and PmHsp70-12. The expression of specific PmHsp70s was notably suppressed under cold stress, whereas the expression of others was markedly enhanced. Upon exposure to chlorfenapyr and lambda-cyhalothrin, the expressions of PmHsp70-11 and PmHsp70-12 were significantly up-regulated with the highest expression fold change, respectively. The results revealed the significance of specific PmHsp70s in the resistance of P. marginatus to temperature and insecticide stress. This study improved our understanding of the mechanisms underlying P. marginatus’s adaptive responses to unfavorable environmental conditions. Full article