Comparing the effectiveness of CBT and low-frequency rTMS in reducing symptom severity and depression and improving working memory in adults with OCD: a clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and low-frequency (LF) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in reducing symptom severity and depression and improving working memory in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHODS: This is a randomized clinical trial conducted on 24 adults with OCD, randomly assigned into two groups of CBT (n = 12, received CBT with exposure and response prevention (ERP) individually at 20 sessions) and rTMS (n = 12, received LF (1-Hz) rTMS over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) at 10 sessions). They completed the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and two N-Back tasks before, immediately, and 1 month after interventions. RESULTS: Results showed a significant difference between the two methods in reducing the severity of OCD symptoms (p < 0.05) and depression (p = 0.002) immediately after interventions where the CBT with ERP was more effective, but no significant difference was found in terms of working memory (p > 0.05). No significant difference was found between groups in any study variables 1 month after interventions. CONCLUSION: Individual CBT with ERP is superior to LF rTMS for reducing the severity of symptoms and depression in OCD patients. However, there is no difference between them in improving working memory.

Simultaneous application of salicylic acid and silicon in aerial parts of Scrophularia striata L. in response to drought stress.

Plants respond to water shortage by regulating biochemical pathways which result in the biosynthesis of osmotic compounds. Active metabolites and compatible osmolytes control the inhibition of oxygen free radicals and dehydration. The physiological response of scrophularia striata to drought stress, a factorial completely randomized design (FCRD) experiment was conducted in three replication. Drought stress was induced at two levels (100% and 50% field capacity), and salicylic acid (SA) and silicon (Si) and Ecotype were also used at two levels of (0 and 100 PPM), (0 and 1 g/L) and (Ilam and Abdanan) respectively. Data analysis results indicated that the H2O2 content, Malondialdehyde (MDA), glycine betaine (GB) and the activity of the enzyme glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2) of aerial parts increased during the entire stress exposure period. Although the SA + Si + stress + ecotype interaction increased the content of soluble carbohydrate s and the GR activity in aerial parts of Ilam and Abdanan ecotypes, this interaction led to a decrease in MDA, H2O2 in Ilam ecotypes. The interaction between the stress + SA + Si + ecotype led to an increase in the phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL; EC 4.3.1.5) activity in the Abdanan ecotype, but no important difference was observed. As compared to the control treatment, the content of Polyphenol increased, The interaction between ecotype + stress + Si caused to increased the of proline content in the Abadanan ecotype. The results showed that the increase in antioxidant defense and compatible osmolytes due to the use of SA and Si can improve the drought tolerance in S.striata.

Evaluating the effect of gamma rays on Zamiifolia (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) plant in vitro and genetic diversity of the resulting genotypes using the ISSR marker.

Zamiifolia (Zamioculcas sp.) is a perennial plant in the Araceae family and one of the new apartment plants in the world. In this study, in order to increase the effectiveness of the breeding program, tissue culture technique and explants of leaf parts were used. The results indicated that 2,4-D (1 mg/l) and BA (2 mg/l) hormones affected positively and significantly callus formation and simultaneous application of NAA and BA (both in 0.5 mg/l) caused the best results regarding seedling production and number, leaves, complete tubers, and root in tissue culture of Zaamifolia. In the study, three cultivars of Zamiifolia (green, black and Dutch) and 12 genotypes resulted from callus formation stage, irradiated with different gamma rays (0 to 175 Gy, with LD50 as 68 Gy) were selected and the presence of genetic diversity was investigated using 22 ISSR primers. Applying ISSR marker showed that the highest amount of PIC values related to the F19(0.47) and F20(0.38) primers, which persuasively isolated the studied genotypes. Moreover, the highest efficiency was detected for AK66 marker based on the MI parameter. The PCA and clustering categorization via UPGMA methodology based on molecular information and Dice index, differentiated the genotypes into 6 groups. Genotypes 1(callus), 2(100 Gy) and 3(cultivar from Holland) created separated groups. The 4th group included 6(callus), 8(0 Gy), 9(75 Gy), 11(90 Gy), 12(100 Gy) and 13(120 Gy) genotypes appearing as the largest group. The 5th group included 7(160 Gy), 10(80 Gy), 14(140 Gy) and 15(Zanziber gem black) genotypes. The last group included 4(mather plant) and 5(callus) genotypes. In this context, genotypes 1, 5, and 6 had probably somaclonal variation. Moreover, genotypes that received doses of 100 and 120 Gy, had a medium diversity. There is a high possibility of introducing a cultivar with a low dose and high genetic diversity in the whole group. Genotype 7 in this classification, received the highest dose of 160 Gy. In this population, the Dutch variety, was used as a new variety. As a result, the ISSR marker could correctly group the genotypes. This is an interesting finding, and it could be hypothesized that the ISSR marker could correctly differentiate Zaamifolia genotypes and probably other ornamental plants under the effect of gamma rays mutagenesis in order to achieve novel variants.

Candidate genes for anthocyanin pigmentation in rice stem revealed by GWAS and whole-genome resequencing.

Anthocyanin pigment as a phenolic secondary metabolite is accumulated in areal organs of some rice cultivars. Despite several research attempts, the majority of genomic regions and candidate genes for purple-colored stem (Ps) resulting from anthocyanin pigmentation of rice leaf sheath have not been identified. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) and whole-genome resequencing (WGR) analysis was applied for genetic dissection of anthocyanin pigmentation of rice stem. Using GWAS, the genomic regions (on chromosomes 2, 4, and 6) tagged to eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified to be significantly associated with purple stem, and in the vicinity of GWAS signals, 19 genes were highlighted as putative candidate genes. To narrow down the genomic regions more highly associated to the trait, a WGR study on recombinant inbred lines (RIL) with opposite phenotypes was conducted. After defining the DNA variation between reference genome, maternal parent and the two sister lines, a narrow genomic region on the short arm of chromosome 6 (4.7-6.2 Mbp interval) was identified to be highly associated with anthocyanin pigmentation of rice stem. In the interval, a few candidate genes with probable role in anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation were identified, which included five structural genes involved in the known pathways [one chalcone isomerase (CHI), two glycosyl transferases, and two UDP-flavonoid-3-O-glucosyl (UFGT) transferases] and two transcription factors [one basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)- and one myeloblastosis (MYB)-coding genes]. The identified candidate genes can be used in breeding programs of rice or other Gramineae species for anthocyanin accumulation in areal organs.

The isolation and expression analysis of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase and chalcone synthase genes of Scrophularia striata under different abiotic elicitors.

The phenylpropanoid pathway serves as a rich source of metabolites in plants, and it is considered as a starting point for the production of many other important compounds such as the flavonoids, flavonols, coumarins, and lignans. Scrophularia striata is a member of the Lamiaceae family with some biological activities similar to flavonoid compounds such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and Chalcone synthase (CHS) are key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway, leading to the biosynthesis of several secondary metabolites. In this study, two S. striata CHS and C4H were isolated and then analyzed. The investigation of the expression of these genes was performed under the effects of three salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and gibberellic acid (GA) at concentrations of 100 and 300 ppm with a completely randomized design at the transcript level using Real Time PCR method. These have different expression patterns at developmental stages. Moreover, these genes present different sensitivities to hormonal treatment. Considering the total results, it was found that the amount of expression of these genes during the reproductive phase is higher than that of the vegetative phase. Additionally, the treatment of 300 ppm SA in the reproductive phase is the most effective treatment on increasing the corresponding phenylpropanoid compounds. A correlation analysis was performed between the phenylpropanoid compounds content and both CHS and C4H expression values at different phenological development stages. The results indicate that the expression variations of both CHS and C4H are significantly related to the changes in total phenolic content. We believe that the isolation of CHS and C4H can be helpful in better understanding phenylpropanoid metabolis.

Effect of nitrogen sources on gene expression of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) under in vitro conditions.

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) is a non-caloric sweetener belonging to Asteraceae family. Stevia compounds such as steviol glycosides (SGs) are 200 times sweeter than sugar. Stevioside and rebaudioside A are the two major steviol glycosides. Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth and development. In this study the effects of nitrogen influenced by different concentrations of NH4NO3 (0, 825 and 1650 mg/l) and KNO3 (0, 950 and 1900 mg/l) is examined in MS medium. To analysis the UGT74G1 and UGT76G1 genes expression, involved in the synthesis of SGs, RT-qPCR technique was performed. Data showed that there were significant differences between all media. The shoot length, seedlings dry weight and leaf fresh weight of stevia increased with applying NH4NO3 along with KNO3. The highest expression of UGT74G1 gene, was observed in plantlets grown on MS medium with 0 mg/l NH4NO3 and 950 mg/l KNO3 (1.291 total lab unit) but the highest expression of UGT76G1 gene, was observed in plantlets grown on MS medium added by 1650 mg/l NH4NO3 +950 mg/l KNO3 (1.08 total lab unit). Moreover, the lowest value of UGT74G1 gene expression were revealed in MS medium added by 1650 mg/l NH4NO3 +0 mg/l KNO3 (0.80 total lab unit) and the lowest values of UGT76G1 gene expression seen in MS medium with 0 mg/l NH4NO3 +950 mg/l KNO3 (0.85 total lab unit) concentrations. The results of this study could be valuable in stevia breeding programs through glycosides biosynthesis pathways.

Recombinant production of bovine Lactoferrin-derived antimicrobial peptide in tobacco hairy roots expression system.

LFchimera is a chimerical peptide containing Lactoferricin and Lactoferrampin antimicrobial peptides of bovine lactoferrin, and it has stronger bactericidal activity. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) like LFchimera have great potential as an alternative candidate for conventional antibiotics. Plant hairy roots provide suitable platform for fast, easy and cost-effective production of various recombinant proteins. The aim of this study was to express recombinant LFchimera in Nicotiana tabacum hairy roots and investigate its antimicrobial activity. The integration and expression of the transgene in hairy roots were confirmed by PCR and RT-PCR, respectively. LFchimera levels were quantified by ELISA and the presence of LFchimera was verified by SDS-PAGE analysis of root extracts. Biological activity of the plant derived LFchimera was confirmed by investigating the antimicrobial activity of total solution protein against Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739). Hairy root biomass reached to 4.6 g and LFchimera accumulate about 4.8 µg/g fresh weight in Erlenmeyer flasks.

VRS2 regulates hormone-mediated inflorescence patterning in barley.

Plant architecture has clear agronomic and economic implications for crops such as wheat and barley, as it is a critical factor for determining grain yield. Despite this, only limited molecular information is available about how grain-bearing inflorescences, called spikes, are formed and maintain their regular, distichous pattern. Here we elucidate the molecular and hormonal role of Six-rowed spike 2 (Vrs2), which encodes a SHORT INTERNODES (SHI) transcriptional regulator during barley inflorescence and shoot development. We show that Vrs2 is specifically involved in floral organ patterning and phase duration by maintaining hormonal homeostasis and gradients during normal spike development and similarly influences plant stature traits. Furthermore, we establish a link between the SHI protein family and sucrose metabolism during organ growth and development that may have implications for deeper molecular insights into inflorescence and plant architecture in crops.