Search Results (1,580)

In the male body, zinc accumulates most abundantly in prostatic cells, where it plays a key role in producing high amounts of citrate in seminal fluid. Intraprostatic accumulation of Zn increases during the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), one of the most common diseases in men over 50 years of age. Continuing our investigations on intraprostatic androgens, in this study, we analyzed the mineral content (Zn, Ca, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, and Na) in the transitional zone (TZ) of the prostate using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Group-wise and correlation analyses demonstrated a descriptive trend toward a volume-dependent increase in Zn concentrations within TZ tissue, whereas other elements exhibited heterogeneous covariance patterns; intraprostatic hormone levels, although elevated in larger prostates, showed no consistent linear correlations with elemental concentrations. Given the observational design of the present study, the reported tissue Zn profiles cannot be interpreted as evidence supporting supplementation in BPH, and any potential clinical implications warrant evaluation in rigorously designed interventional studies. Full article

Limonium irtaense is an endangered halophyte endemic to coastal Castellón (Spain). This study aimed to support its conservation by assessing the effects of salinity on seed germination and seedling performance, as well as plants’ physiological and biochemical responses to salt stress during early vegetative growth. Seed germination was tested in the presence of 0 to 300 mM NaCl, followed by recovery assays for non-germinated seeds. Seedlings were grown under three salinity levels, by irrigation with water (control), 300 mM NaCl or 600 mM NaCl. Growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, ion contents, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant compounds were determined in plants derived from the initial germination tests and the recovery of germination assays and subjected to the different salt treatments. Germination was highest in distilled water and declined with increasing salinity; however, salt-inhibited seeds germinated rapidly and efficiently in the recovery assays. Seedlings from salt-primed seeds showed higher survival rates and biomass than those from control germination tests. Salt treatments significantly reduced growth, with plants derived from salt-treated seeds generally showing higher tolerance, probably because of enhanced proline accumulation, more efficient transport and sequestration of toxic ions in leaf vacuoles, and potassium retention. These findings provide insights into L. irtaense adaptation mechanisms and support using salt-priming to improve conservation and translocation efforts for this endangered species. Full article

Amid global freshwater scarcity and soil salinization, brackish irrigation is a potential alternative, yet its effects under low-leaching soilless systems remain unclear. We tested brackish irrigation (30 mmol L⁻¹ NaCl; EC ≈ 4.8 dS m⁻¹, including fertilizer) on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in peat–perlite substrates with non-saline (CK), mildly saline (M), and moderately–severely saline (S) initial salinity. Substrate moisture and bulk electrical conductivity (EC_b) were monitored at upper, middle, and deep layers with multi-depth sensors; lettuce physiological and growth traits were measured. Under negligible drainage, salt moved downward promptly after irrigation in CK, accumulated at the surface in M, and remained high with spatiotemporal variability in S. Brackish irrigation had minimal effects on biomass and water use efficiency in CK and M, but significantly reduced both in S. These findings support tailoring brackish irrigation to initial salinity severity and motivate future work to measure drainage and calibrate EC indices to establish operational thresholds. Full article

Naomaohu coal from the Santanghu Basin, Xinjiang, is characterized by anomalously high Na and Ca contents, which strongly affect its gasification behavior and slagging tendency. However, the genetic linkage between geological alkali enrichment and their transformation during thermal processes remains insufficiently constrained. In this study, an integrated investigation combining coal seam profile analysis, coal petrography, mineralogical characterization, and fixed-bed gasification experiments was conducted to elucidate the enrichment mechanisms and transformation pathways of alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs). A total of forty six samples were collected along a vertical seam profile to determine the depositional control of alkali and alkaline earth metals (AAEMs), and seven representative samples were further subjected to pressurized fixed-bed gasification. Alkali migration and mineral phase evolution were systematically analyzed using XRD, XRF, and SEM-EDS. The results indicate that Na enrichment is mainly controlled by groundwater infiltration and weak paleoweathering, while Ca accumulation reflects deposition in humid, Ca-rich mire environments. During gasification, Na volatilizes and recondenses as Na-feldspars (NaAlSi₂O₆) and NaCl, whereas Ca decomposes into gehlenite (Ca₂Al₂SiO₇) and brownmillerite (Ca₂AlFeO₅). The formation of these low-melting Na–Al–Si phases and Ca–Fe–Al phases dominate the ash fusion and slagging behavior. This study establishes a coupled geological–thermal transformation model for AAEMs in high-Na coal, providing mechanistic insight into mineralogical inheritance and offering guidance for mitigating alkali-induced slagging during gasification. Full article

This study demonstrates that sunflower plants display integrated, multilevel responses to excessive lithium (Li) exposure. Li concentrations above 5 mM markedly impair germination, growth, and biomass accumulation. Li is preferentially accumulated in the shoots, showing high translocation and bioaccumulation factors, and disrupts mineral nutrient homeostasis, particularly potassium (K) and sodium (Na) uptake, while inducing oxidative stress. Although photosynthetic pigment contents decline, photosynthetic efficiency is largely maintained, except at 10 mM Li. Li treatment enhances superoxide anion (O₂^.−) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production exclusively in leaves. Consequently, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and glutathione reductase (GR) increase in leaves, whereas only APX and GR are stimulated in the roots. Nitric oxide (NO) accumulation is detected only in leaves, while hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and glutathione (GSH) contents decline. Leaf ascorbate (AsA) levels decrease concomitantly with dehydroascorbate (DHA) accumulation. Expression analyses of catalase, DHAR, DHAR-like, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes confirm their involvement in Li stress responses. Moreover, global DNA methylation analyses reveal hypomethylation in leaves and hypermethylation in the roots. Overall, Li exposure induces dose- and organ-specific physiological, molecular, and epigenetic adjustments in sunflower plants under environmentally relevant concentrations and controlled experimental conditions in this study. Full article

Background/Objectives: Soil salinization and alkalization critically limit global agricultural production. This study aimed to investigate the differential response mechanisms of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) varieties to saline and alkaline stresses at the seedling stage. Methods: Seedlings of a salt-tolerant variety, Huayouza 62 (H62), and a non-salt-tolerant variety, Xiangyou 15 (X15), were exposed to saline (NaCl:Na₂SO₄ = 1:1) and alkaline (Na₂CO₃:NaHCO₃ = 1:1) stresses. An integrated analysis combining physiology, biochemistry, transcriptomics, and metabolomics was conducted to systematically elucidate their differential stress responses. Results: (1) H62 maintained favorable photosynthetic and carbon–nitrogen homeostasis. Notably, under saline and alkaline stresses, the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in H62 showed a significant increasing trend, whereas it was inhibited in X15. (2) Alkaline stress triggered more differential genes than saline stress, with H62 exhibiting broader transcriptional up-regulation in carbon–nitrogen metabolism. (3) Metabolomic profiling showed that H62 accumulated more beneficial metabolites than X15 under both stresses, such as phenolic acids, amino acids, and their derivatives. (4) In multi-omics analysis, key genes in starch–sucrose and amino acid metabolism in H62 were up-regulated to accumulate osmolytes, enabling an efficient defense network. However, X15’s responses were disordered. Conclusions: H62 leverages robust transcriptional reprogramming to coordinate carbon–nitrogen metabolism, constituting a multidimensional defense network. This study provides potential physiological indicators, candidate genes, and metabolite markers associated with short-term saline–alkaline stress responses, laying a foundation for further exploration of stress response mechanisms. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, synaptic dysfunction, and the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. While prior research has focused mainly on protein aggregation and neuroinflammation, emerging evidence suggests that ionic imbalances, particularly involving sodium (Na⁺) and potassium (K⁺), may contribute to AD progression. Na⁺ and K⁺ are critical for maintaining neuronal membrane potential, regulating action potential firing, and supporting neurotransmitter function. Although studies primarily focused on absolute Na⁺ concentrations, the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio may provide a more sensitive marker of ionic dysregulation. Given that the Na⁺/K⁺ gradient is actively maintained by the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump—a target known to be vulnerable in AD—we hypothesized that the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio is altered in AD. We analyzed postmortem tissue from the prefrontal cortex, thalamus, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 97 human subjects (67 AD, 30 controls). AD cases exhibited a significant increase in the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in the thalamus and CSF, driven primarily by elevated Na⁺ levels. The Na⁺/K⁺ ratio positively correlated with Braak tangle stage, suggesting an association with AD progression. These findings provide novel insights into ionic dysregulation in AD and suggest that the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in the CSF may serve as a valuable biomarker for disease severity and progression. Future research should explore the potential of targeting ionic homeostasis as a therapeutic strategy in AD. Full article

Soil salinization is a major threat to agricultural sustainability. Poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), a biopolymer produced by microbial fermentation, has received attention as a biostimulant due to its positive effects on crop performance. However, the function of γ-PGA in crop salt stress tolerance and its effect on the rhizosphere are unclear. This study explores the effects of γ-PGA application on rhizosphere soil nutrients and the soil–physical environment and examines the salt tolerance response of maize seedlings grown in saline–alkali soil under such an application regime. The results show a significant promotion of maize seedling growth and of nutrient accumulation with γ-PGA application under salt stress; plant dry weight, stem diameter, and plant height increased 121%, 39.5%, 18.4%, respectively, and shoot accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and carbon increased by 1.38, 2.11, 1.50, and 1.36 times, respectively, under an optimal-concentration γ-PGA treatment (5.34 mg kg⁻¹ (12 kg ha⁻¹)) compared with the control. γ-PGA treatment significantly decreased rhizospheric pH and soil electrical conductivity and significantly increased nutrient availability in the rhizosphere, especially available nitrogen (AN) and available potassium (AK). Compared with the control, AN, available phosphorus (AP), and AK increased by 13.9%, 7.70%, and 17.7%, respectively, under an optimal concentration treatment with γ-PGA. γ-PGA application also significantly increased the activities of urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, and cellulose in rhizosphere soil by 35.5–39.3%, 35.4–39.3%, 5.59–8.85%, 18.9–19.8%, and 19.2–47.0%, respectively. γ-PGA application significantly decreased Na⁺ concentration and increased K⁺ concentration in shoots, resulting in a lowering of the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio by 30.5% and an increase in soluble sugar and soluble protein contents. Therefore, rhizosphere application of water-soluble and biodegradable γ-PGA facilitates the creation of an optimized rhizospheric environment for maize seedling and overcomes osmotic and ionic stresses, offering possibilities for future use in drip-irrigation systems in the cultivation of crops on saline-alkali land. Full article

Pre-sowing seed treatment (priming) is a strategic tool for programming future crop yield, aimed at improving early plant development and enhancing stress resilience. This study investigated the effects of priming wheat seeds with 100 µM ibuprofen on early ontogeny under optimal conditions and salt stress (100 mM NaCl). An evaluation of germination energy, growth parameters, phytohormone levels (abscisic acid, indolylacetic acid, and cytokinins) and the status of the antioxidant system in 7-day-old seedlings demonstrated that ibuprofen treatment stimulates wheat growth and tolerance, despite its absence of accumulation in plant tissues. Modulation of hormonal balance plays a key role in these protective effects: under optimal conditions, ibuprofen elevates abscisic acid and indolylacetic acid levels, while under salt stress, it prevents excessive abscisic acid accumulation and mitigates the stress-induced decline in indolylacetic acid and cytokinins. Furthermore, ibuprofen promotes a coordinated increase in glutathione, ascorbate, and H₂O₂ levels, concomitant with the activation of key enzymes (glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase), thereby enhancing the plants’ antioxidant potential. Under saline conditions, ibuprofen pretreatment also reduces stress-induced dysregulation of this system. Therefore, ibuprofen acts as a hormetic preconditioning agent that improves seedling vigor and stress tolerance by fine-tuning hormonal signaling and redox metabolism. Full article

OsHKT1;1, a member of the high-affinity K⁺ transporter (HKT) family, plays a key role in Na⁺ homeostasis and salinity tolerance in rice. In our previous study, multiple potential OsHKT1;1 splicing variants were identified, as well as the full-length (FL) OsHKT1;1 transcript from the salt-tolerant rice Pokkali. However, most previous studies focused solely on the full-length protein, leaving the transport functions of splice variants largely unexamined. In this study, we focused on the splice variant OsHKT1;1-V2 and compared its function and gene expression with those of OsHKT1;1-FL. Two-electrode voltage clamp experiments using Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed that the 1st start codon of OsHKT1;1-V2 is functional to exhibit bidirectional currents in bath solutions containing NaCl. Unlike the Na⁺-selective feature of OsHKT1;1-FL, OsHKT1;1-V2 primarily mediated Cl⁻ transport with weak Na⁺ selectivity, which was supported by the higher Cl⁻ accumulation in OsHKT1;1-V2–expressing oocytes. Subcellular localization analyses using oocytes and Arabidopsis mesophyll cells indicated plasma membrane localization of OsHKT1;1-V2, similar to OsHKT1;1-FL. Functional assays using a yeast mutant further indicated that OsHKT1;1-FL, but not OsHKT1;1-V2, mediates Na⁺ uptake. The same OsHKT1;1 variants were identified in the japonica cultivar Nipponbare, and OsHKT1;1-V2 of the cultivar showed Cl⁻ transport properties similar to the one from Pokkali. Quantitative PCR analyses revealed higher abundance of OsHKT1;1-FL transcripts in Nipponbare than in Pokkali with markedly lower OsHKT1;1-V2 levels in Pokkali under salt stress. This study provides a new insight into HKT-mediated ion homeostasis under salinity stress. Full article

Soil salinization severely constrains crop productivity and ecosystem services in arid regions. While the application of soil amendments represents a promising mitigation strategy, it remains uncertain whether this practice can effectively enhance soil quality index (SQI), crop productivity, and ecosystem service value (ESV) in saline–alkali farmlands. To address this, a three-year field experiment was conducted to analyze the effects of different amendments (rotary-tilled straw return (RT), plowed straw return (PL), biochar (BC), desulfurized gypsum (DG), DG combined with organic fertilizer (DGO), and an unamended control (CK)) on SQI, sunflower productivity, and ESV in a saline–alkali farmland of arid Northwest China. Results indicated that the BC treatment significantly reduced bulk density by 5.1–7.6% and increased porosity by 6.3–8.3% compared to CK. Both BC and DGO significantly increased soil organic matter and available nutrients while reducing saline ions (HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, Na⁺), which reduced soil salinity by 21.2–33.6% and 19.9–26.5%, respectively. These synergistic improvements enhanced the SQI by 76.8% and 74.1% for BC and DGO, respectively, relative to CK. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships between SQI and crop nitrogen uptake and yield. Accordingly, BC and DGO increased nitrogen uptake by 74.9–129.0% and yield by 12.2–45.2%, with BC offering more stable benefits over time. Furthermore, BC increased the values of agricultural product supply, nutrient accumulation and climate regulation, thereby increasing the total ESV by 13.7–53.9% relative to CK. In summary, BC and DGO are effective strategies to synergistically enhance soil quality, crop productivity, and ecosystem services in saline–alkali farmlands of arid regions. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants with widespread global distribution, continuously accumulating in soils and posing risks of cross-media pollution. Current soil MP detection methods lack unified standards, suffering from high inter-laboratory variability and cost, which become key bottlenecks limiting data comparability and global microplastics pollution control. Here, we systematically reviewed soil MPs studies (2020–2024) and based on stepwise verification, we established a standardized, reproducible detection method: soil samples were dried at 80 °C for 12 h; density separation was performed in Erlenmeyer flasks with decantation, 10 s glass rod stirring, and 12 h settling, repeated five times; digestion was conducted using a 1:2 volume ratio of H₂O₂ to supernatant at 80 °C for 8 h; and MPs were quantified via stereo-microscopy combined with ImageJ. It should be noted that the use of NaCl limits the recovery of high-density polymers (e.g., PVC, PET), and the minimum detectable particle size is approximately 127 µm. The method was validated in sandy, loam, and clay soils, achieving an average recovery rate of 96.4%, with a processing time of 68 h and a cost of USD 9.77 per sample. In contrast to previous fragmented, non-standardized protocols, this workflow synergistically optimizes high recovery efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and broad applicability, offering a low-cost, efficient, and widely applicable approach for soil MPs monitoring, supporting data comparability across studies and contributing to global pollution assessment and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Full article

The accumulation of proline, an important osmoprotective and antioxidant compound, is a key defense mechanism induced in plants in response to stress factors, including salinity, and is likely dependent on abscisic acid (ABA). However, in barley grown for 8 days under salinity conditions (125 mM NaCl), proline accumulation was not accompanied by changes in ABA content. Co-application of 0.5 mM molybdenum (Mo) significantly reduced NaCl-induced oxidative stress, as measured by H₂O₂, O₂⁻, MDA, and chlorophyll content, and increased the activity of Mo-containing aldehyde oxidase (AO), an enzyme involved in de novo ABA synthesis. As a result, elevated ABA levels were observed, but proline content under salinity conditions was similar in Mo-treated and non-Mo-treated plants. In contrast, exposing plants to 0.5 mM tungsten (W), an antagonist of Mo, inhibited AO activity without significantly altering ABA content, while proline and oxidative stress marker levels increased dramatically under both non-saline and saline conditions. The observed changes in proline content are mainly due to modulation of the rate of synthesis and, to a lesser extent, the rate of degradation, as revealed by transcript abundance of P5CS1 and PDH, which encode D1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase and proline dehydrogenase, respectively. The results indicate that in barley grown under salinity conditions, proline accumulation is ABA-independent but depends on the level of oxidative stress modulated by Mo and W ions. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of foliar silicon (Si) and sulfur (S) applications under contrasting climatic conditions on macro- and micronutrient accumulation in oat grain. The three-year field experiment (2022–2024) was conducted in Debrecen, Hungary, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD)with three replications. Grain samples were analyzed for macroelements (K, P, S, Mg, Ca) and micronutrients (Na, Si, Fe, Mn, Cu). Environmental conditions markedly influenced nutrient accumulation. Severe drought promoted the highest concentrations of K, S, and Mg, while mild drought significantly increased the accumulation of P, Ca, Si, Fe, and Cu contents. Moderate drought favored Na accumulation. Foliar S application under relatively favorable water supply significantly enhanced the concentration of all measured elements, with the strongest response observed for Cu (+47.4% compared with the control) and the weakest for Mg (8.5%). In contrast, Si application alone had only limited or negative effects, particularly under severe drought, where it reduced K (6.4%), S (2.4%), and Ca (13%) concentrations, despite increased Si accumulation in the grain. During drought stress, however, the combined Si + S treatment significantly increased the grain macro- and micronutrient concentrations. Among the tested genotypes, ‘Mv Pehely’ exhibited the highest macronutrient accumulation, while ‘GK Kormorán’ and ‘Mv Pehely’ showed superior micronutrient accumulation. ‘GK Pillangó’ and ‘Mv Szellő’ showed consistently lower nutrient contents. These results highlight the importance of genotype × environment × nutrient management strategies for improving nutrient composition in oat grain. Full article

Facing water scarcity and environmental contamination, a sustainable approach combining bioeconomy and circular economy principles has emerged: the use of onshore oil and gas produced water (PW) to irrigate Nopalea cochenillifera. This study evaluated the ability of Nopalea cochenillifera to phytoextract contaminants, focusing on translocation and bioaccumulation factors for the recovery of degraded soils. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with five treatments (T1: 100% supply water; T2: 75% supply water + 25% PW; T3: 50% supply water + 50% PW; T4: 25% supply water + 75% treated PW; T5: 100% PW) and five replicates in 20 L pots. After 240 days, plant and soil samples were analyzed for micronutrients (Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Na⁺) and heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cd and Pb). The highest median TF was observed for Mn in treatment T3 (10.55), while the highest median BF occurred for Cu in treatment T2 (10.852). Nopalea cochenillifera effectively translocated Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb from roots to shoots and bioaccumulated all analyzed nutrients, particularly Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn. PW irrigation altered elemental transport and intensified metals accumulation. Thus, Nopalea cochenillifera demonstrates strong phytoextraction potential for environmental remediation in semi-arid regions. Full article