Background
Conventional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) does often not accurately reveal pathologies in patients with acute myocarditis and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEEF). ...Therefore, we investigated the diagnostic value of two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography compared to late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients with acute myocarditis and normal global LVEF.
Methods and results
31 patients (group 1) with the diagnosis of acute myocarditis confirmed by CMR according to the Lake Louise criteria and 20 healthy controls (group 2) were analyzed including global longitudinal strain (GLS) and regional longitudinal strain (RLS) derived by the bull’s eye plot. Although preserved LVEF was present in both groups, GLS was significantly lower in patients with acute myocarditis (group 1: GLS − 19.1 ± 1.8% vs. group 2: GLS − 22.1 ± 1.7%,
p
< 0.001). Compared to controls, lower RLS values were detected predominantly in the lateral, inferolateral, and inferior segments in patients with acute myocarditis. Additionally RLS values were significantly lower in segments without LGE.
Conclusion
In patients with acute myocarditis and preserved LVEF, a significant reduction of GLS compared to healthy subjects was detected. Further RLS adds important information to the localization and extent of myocardial injury.
Graphic abstract
The concept of hormesis in plants is critically reviewed, taking growth stimulation by low concentrations of toxic trace elements as a reference. The importance of both non-adaptive and adaptive ...mechanisms underlying ion-induced hormetic growth responses is highlighted. The activation of defense mechanisms by metal ions and pathogenic elicitors and the cross talk between the signals induced by metal ions and biotic stressors are considered. The production of reactive oxygen species and, consequently, the induction of stress-induced antioxidants, are key mechanisms in metal ion-induced hormesis in plants. It is concluded that in the current scientific literature, hormesis is used as an “umbrella” term that includes a wide range of different mechanisms. It is recommended that the term hormesis be used in plant toxicology as a descriptive term for the stimulated phase in growth response curves that is induced by low concentrations of toxic metal ions without evidence of the underlying mechanisms. If the mechanisms underlying the stimulated growth phase have been identified, specific terms, such as amelioration, defense gene activation, priming or acclimation, should be used.
Ameliorative effect of silicon (Si) (2 mM as sodium silicate (Na
2
SiO
3
)) was studied in tobacco (Nicotiana rustica L.) plants grown under control at 100% field capacity (FC), mild drought (60% ...FC), and severe drought (30% FC) conditions. Si-treated plants had higher biomass of particularly above-ground parts both under drought and control conditions. Plants with Si supply had significantly higher net assimilation rates but lower transpiration rates. Silicon supply enhanced osmotic potentials only in the leaves, but not in the roots. A considerable rise in the concentrations of soluble sugars was observed particularly in the leaves under both drought and Si treatments. Soluble proteins, free α-amino acids, and proline concentrations increased in Si-treated plants under all watering treatments. Si enhanced the activity of antioxidative enzymes and decreased hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
) concentrations. Results indicate that Si supplementation alleviates drought stress via improvement of water relation parameters, enhancement of photosynthesis, and elevation of antioxidant defenses.
•Challenges for smart intensification of marginal land are manifold•Tools for precise agriculture will aid to detect pollutant hotspots and poor soils•Crop rotation and adapted crop choice will yield ...biomass•Amendments will sequester carbon and release fertilizer when needed•Potentials of marginal soils can be unlocked and lead to ecological and economical success
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The rapid increase of the world population constantly demands more food production from agricultural soils. This causes conflicts, since at the same time strong interest arises on novel bio-based products from agriculture, and new perspectives for rural landscapes with their valuable ecosystem services. Agriculture is in transition to fulfill these demands. In many countries, conventional farming, influenced by post-war food requirements, has largely been transformed into integrated and sustainable farming. However, since it is estimated that agricultural production systems will have to produce food for a global population that might amount to 9.1 billion by 2050 and over 10 billion by the end of the century, we will require an even smarter use of the available land, including fallow and derelict sites. One of the biggest challenges is to reverse non-sustainable management and land degradation. Innovative technologies and principles have to be applied to characterize marginal lands, explore options for remediation and re-establish productivity. With view to the heterogeneity of agricultural lands, it is more than logical to apply specific crop management and production practices according to soil conditions. Cross-fertilizing with conservation agriculture, such a novel approach will provide (1) increased resource use efficiency by producing more with less (ensuring food security), (2) improved product quality, (3) ameliorated nutritional status in food and feed products, (4) increased sustainability, (5) product traceability and (6) minimized negative environmental impacts notably on biodiversity and ecological functions. A sustainable strategy for future agriculture should concentrate on production of food and fodder, before utilizing bulk fractions for emerging bio-based products and convert residual stage products to compost, biochar and bioenergy. The present position paper discusses recent developments to indicate how to unlock the potentials of marginal land.
Polymer vesicles, so-called polymersomes, can be applied as carrier-systems and universal reaction compartments, due to the possibility to encapsulate guest molecules. Compared to common lipid ...vesicles, polymersomes show an increased stability and decreased membrane permeability. Control of the mass transport across the membrane is necessary for any application, requiring the precise knowledge of the permeability. So far, data on permeability coefficients of polymersomal membranes are scarce because commonly applied release assays are confronted with the challenge of high detection limits and alternative methods developed so far are either restricted to the use of a certain permeating molecule or rely on the use of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. In contrast, an influx assay that is broadly applicable to hydrophilic molecules and does not involve specialized equipment was developed in this work, which is based on the passive diffusion of compounds into initially empty vesicles. The method is valid for hydrophilic molecules that show no membrane retention and, thus, do not accumulate within the membrane. Using this method, the permeability of polymersomes made of poly(2-methyloxazoline)15-poly(dimethylsiloxane)68-poly(2-methyloxazoline)15 for seven model compounds was investigated under varying conditions. Permeability coefficients as low as 1.9 × 10–14 cm s–1 could be measured.
Tea plants (Camellia sinensis) can hyperaccumulate and tolerate high leaf concentrations of aluminium (Al). The quality of tealeaves and the positive health effects of their infusion depend on the ...leaf concentrations of both polyphenolic substances and mineral elements. This study explored the influence of Al supply on these leaf components under low and optimal phosphorus (P) availability. After 8 weeks exposure in hydroponics, multifactorial analysis revealed a negative influence of leaf Al on magnesium (Mg), P, boron (B), and manganese (Mn) leaf concentrations. Contrastingly, these essential mineral nutrients were positively related to leaf epigallocatechin. Galloylated catechins were positively related to leaf iron (Fe). After short-term exposure (24 and 96 h), RT-qPCR (Reverse Transcription-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis revealed upregulation of galloylation-related genes by substrate acidification both in old and young leaves. Only the extremely high Al accumulation in old leaves activated genes involved in biosynthesis of galloylated catechins, while in young leaves the lower Al leaf concentrations activated genes involved in anthocyanin accumulation. In conclusion, low pH and enhanced Al availability to tea plants have a strong influence on the polyphenolic pattern of tealeaves and therefore may alter both the leaves' antioxidant properties and their ability to bind Al and Fe in non-toxic form.
Multifactorial analysis using leaf concentrations of Al, selected mineral nutrients and polyphenols in tea plant. The ANS (anthocyanidin synthase) and 3GT (3-O-glucosyltransferase) gene expression, responsibles for the synthesis of anthocyanins, are upregulated (in red) by Al and P after 24 h of treatment only in young leaves. Display omitted
•The quality of healthy tealeaves depends on the leaf levels of polyphenols and minerals.•Leaf Al accumulation causes an upregulation of galloylation-related genes.•Galloylated catechins were positively related to leaf iron.•Al influences the leaf polyphenolic pattern and alters their antioxidant properties.
This review on aluminium stress in plants specifically addresses the dynamism of early root growth responses to Al. Three response models, threshold for toxicity, hormesis, and threshold for ...tolerance, are related to current knowledge on the mechanisms of Al toxicity and resistance. Aluminium exclusion by the production of root exudates and rhizodepositions, as well as internal detoxification mechanisms are considered. Special attention is paid to the central role of chelation of Al by organic acid anions and flavonoid type phenolics outside and inside plant cells.
Soil contamination by Sb is of increasing environmental concern due to the use of this amphoterous p-block element in many industrial applications. However, still little is known about the response ...of plants to Sb. Here we report on the accumulation of Sb and other potentially toxic elements (mainly As, Pb and Cu) in plants growing around a former Sb mine in the Ribes Valley located in the Eastern Pyrenees. Soil and plant samples were taken at six locations with different concentrations of Sb, As, and polymetallic contamination. Aqua regia and EDTA extractable chemical elements from sites with low (sites 1 and 2), moderate (site 3 and 4) and high (sites 5 and 6) pollutant burdens were analyzed. While sites 1 to 4 had alkaline soil pH (7.4–8.7), sites 5 and 6 were acidic with values of 6 and 4.6, respectively. Different herbaceous plant species (Poa annua L., Echium vulgare (L.), Sonchus asper (L.) Hill, Barbera verna (Mill.) Asch.) at the low and moderately polluted sites were able to efficiently restrict Sb and As transport to the shoots showing average concentration ranges between 5.5 and 23mgkg−1 As and 1.21mgkg−1 and 4.9mgkg−1 Sb. However, at the highly polluted acidic sites (5 and 6) only Agrostis capillaris L. was found. This grass was able to withstand up to 240mg/kg As and 68mg/kg Sb in the shoots. Antimony tolerance in this A. capillaris ecotype was due to efficient exclusion, yet under lab conditions commercial, non-resistant A. capillaris plants sown into a 50% mixture of sand with this highly polluted soil showed severe toxicity symptoms and a shoot Sb concentration of 230mg/kg Sb. In the original mine spoil soil (100% without sand) from the highly polluted sites the commercial A. capillaris was unable to grow. The mechanism of Sb resistance in the mine spoil ecotype of A. capillaris deserves further investigation.
► Arsenic, Sb and Pb are the main soil pollutants around “Espinosa”, a former Sb mine. ► Presence of carbonate in the soil stimulates plant species diversity. ► High resistance to polymetallic pollution in Agrostis capillaris mine ecotype. ► Commercial A. capillaris is sensitive due to less restriction of metal uptake and transport.
Aims
To explore the mechanisms responsible for salt tolerance in Brassicaceae species, a multifactorial approach was used to clarify the functional traits underlying the differential salt tolerance ...in two
Lepidium
species, namely the halophyte
L. latifolium
and its glycophyte relative,
L. sativum
.
Methods
Parameters related to photosynthesis, nitrogen assimilation, ion accumulation, water relations and succulence, osmotic adjustment, phenolics metabolism, antioxidative defense, nitric oxide (NO) level and the expression of Na
+
antiporter (
SOS1
and
NHX
) were analyzed in plants grown under salt stress in hydroponics.
Results
In addition to significant differences regarding the majority of salt tolerance indicators, a characteristic early boost, 52 h after exposure to salt, was observed in the concentration of H
2
O
2
and NO in the halophyte, which was almost absent in the glycophyte. Following the application of detrended component analysis, discrimination between the glycophyte and halophyte could only be performed via temporal curves in the antioxdative components and NO, and less effectively, by phenolics metabolism.
Conclusion
H
2
O
2
and NO signaling and the adaptive modification of phenolics metabolism play crucial roles in determining the halophytic behavior of
L. latifolium
. These data may result in new insights concerning the studies on halophytism in the Brassicaceae.
In the field of assessing forest ecosystem service provision and biodiversity, there seems to be a gap between an existing large body of valuable expert knowledge and its application. We propose ...fuzzy logic evaluation systems as a contribution to closing that gap. With this method-focused pilot study, we explored the potential of fuzzy logic for assessing the provision of different ecosystem services in a simulation case study, covering a large forest landscape in Southern Germany. Based on expert knowledge and available literature, we designed a fuzzy logic evaluation system for biodiversity, and the ecosystem services balanced wood production, storm and bark beetle damage resistance, and recreation value. This evaluation system was applied to 100-year simulation outcomes for three contrasting forest management scenarios in the landscape of interest. While the results of the case study in general support the idea of a multifunctional forest management, fuzzy logic turned out pronouncedly useful as a method. This is due to its potential to make otherwise unused expert knowledge applicable and transparent in a formal evaluation process. Based on our results, we discuss the approach related to its potential for interdisciplinary integration of knowledge, for revealing tradeoffs and synergies, and participative planning processes.
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