Signaling by the EPFL-ERECTA family coordinates female germline specification through the BZR1 family in Arabidopsis.

In most flowering plants, the female germline is initiated in the subepidermal L2 layer of ovule primordia forming a single megaspore mother cell (MMC). How signaling from the L1 (epidermal) layer could contribute to the gene regulatory network (GRN) restricting MMC formation to a single cell is unclear. We show that EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR-like (EPFL) peptide ligands are expressed in the L1 layer, together with their ERECTA family (ERf) receptor kinases, to control female germline specification in Arabidopsis thaliana. EPFL-ERf dependent signaling restricts multiple subepidermal cells from acquiring MMC-like cell identity by activating the expression of the major brassinosteroid (BR) receptor kinase BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 and the BR-responsive transcription factor BRASSINOZOLE RESISTANT 1 (BZR1). Additionally, BZR1 coordinates female germline specification by directly activating the expression of a nucleolar GTP-binding protein, NUCLEOSTEMIN-LIKE 1 (NSN1), which is expressed in early-stage ovules excluding the MMC. Mutants defective in this GRN form multiple MMCs resulting in a strong reduction of seed set. In conclusion, we uncovered a ligand/receptor-like kinase-mediated signaling pathway acting upstream and coordinating BR signaling via NSN1 to restrict MMC differentiation to a single subepidermal cell.

Curriculum implementation challenges: Development and validation of an integrated curriculum implementation challenges tool.

Objective: To develop an instrument to identify the challenges faced by faculty while implementing an integrated curriculum in an undergraduate dentistry program. Methods: The study was conducted between September 2020 and October 2021 at the University College of Medicine and Dentistry (UCMD), University of Lahore (UOL). A preliminary questionnaire, developed through literature review and faculty interviews was sent to 10 medical education experts for content validation via the Delphi technique. Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated for individual items (I-CVI) as well as for the composite scale (S-CVI). A panel agreement of more than 75% was considered as the criterion for the inclusion of items in the questionnaire. Cognitive pretesting of five faculty members was conducted and pilot testing was subsequently done with 27 faculty members. The reliability of the tool was determined by Cronbach's alpha. Results: After the Delphi process, the final Integrated Curriculum Implementation Challenges (ICIC) questionnaire had 42 items. S-CVI was 0.87 and the cut-off value for I-CVI was taken as 0.78 as the criterion for item deletion. Cognitive interviews and pretesting revealed good item interpretation. Cronbach's alpha for this tool was 0.87. Conclusion: ICIC is a useful instrument with good reliability and content validity. It can be used to identify the presence and extent of challenges faced by the faculty while implementing an integrated curriculum.

Interspecific complementation-restoration of phenotype in Arabidopsis cuc2cuc3 mutant by sugarcane CUC2 gene.

BACKGROUND: In plants, a critical balance between differentiation and proliferation of stem cells at the shoot apical meristem zone is essential for proper growth. The spatiotemporal regulation of some crucial genes dictates the formation of a boundary within and around budding organs. The boundary plays a pivotal role in distinguishing one tissue type from another and provides a defined shape to the organs at their developed stage. NAM/CUC subfamily of the NAC transcription factors control the boundary formation during meristematic development. RESULTS: Here, we have identified the CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON (CUC) genes in sugarcane and named SsCUC2 (for the orthologous gene of CUC1 and CUC2) and SsCUC3. The phylogenetic reconstruction showed that SsCUCs occupy the CUC2 and CUC3 clade together with monocots, whereas eudicot CUC2 and CUC3 settled separately in the different clade. The structural analysis of CUC genes showed that most of the CUC3 genes were accompanied by an intron gain during eudicot divergence. Besides, the study of SsCUCs expression in the RNA-seq obtained during different stages of ovule development revealed that SsCUCs express in developing young tissues, and the expression of SsCUC2 is regulated by miR164. We also demonstrate that SsCUC2 (a monocot) could complement the cuc2cuc3 mutant phenotype of Arabidopsis (eudicot). CONCLUSIONS: This study further supports that CUC2 has diverged in CUC1 and CUC2 during the evolution of monocots and eudicots from ancestral plants. The functional analysis of CUC expression patterns during sugarcane ovule development and ectopic expression of SsCUC2 in Arabidopsis showed that SsCUC2 has a conserved role in boundary formation. Overall, these findings improve our understanding of the functions of sugarcane CUC genes. Our results reveal the crucial functional role of CUC genes in sugarcane.

Expression characterization and cross-species complementation uncover the functional conservation of YABBY genes for leaf abaxial polarity and carpel polarity establishment in Saccharum spontaneum.

BACKGROUND: Cell polarity establishment and maintenance is indispensable for plant growth and development. In plants, the YABBY transcription factor family has a distinct role in leaf asymmetric polarity establishment and lateral organ initiation. However, for the important sugar crop Saccharum, little information on YABBY genes is available. RESULTS: In this study, a total of 20 sequences for 7 SsYABBY genes were identified in the sugarcane genome, designated as SsYABBY1-7 based on their chromosome locations, and characterized by phylogenetic analysis. We provided a high-resolution map of SsYABBYs' global expression dynamics during vegetative and reproductive organ morphogenesis and revealed that SsYABBY3/4/5 are predominately expressed at the seedling stage of stem and leaf basal zone; SsYABBY2/5/7 are highly expressed in ovules. Besides, cross-species overexpression and/or complementation verified the conserved function of SsYABBY2 in establishing leaf adaxial-abaxial polarity and ovules development. We found that the SsYABBY2 could successfully rescue the leaves curling, carpel dehiscence, and ovule abortion defects in Arabidopsis crc mutant. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our study demonstrates that SsYABBY genes retained a conserved function in establishing and preserving leaf adaxial-abaxial polarity and lateral organ development during evolution.

Transition metal-catalyzed regioselective functionalization of carbazoles and indolines with maleimides.

The directing group-assisted regioselective C-H activation of carbazoles and indolines is achieved via transition metal-catalyzed reactions. This C-H functionalization protocol provides a rapid approach to install diversely functionalized succinimide groups at the C-1 position of the carbazole moiety. In addition, this protocol demonstrates the intrinsic reactivity of indolines in providing C-2 succinimide-substituted indoles via cascade direct oxidation and C-H functionalization. This protocol also provides C-7 succinimide-substituted indolines under mild reaction conditions. The features of this reaction include a wide substrate scope and excellent regioselectivity for the installation of the succinimide moiety on biologically interesting molecules.

Big Role of Small RNAs in Female Gametophyte Development.

In living organisms, sexual reproduction relies on the successful development of the gametes. Flowering plants produce gametes in the specialized organs of the flower, the gametophytes. The female gametophyte (FG), a multicellular structure containing female gametes (egg cell and central cell), is often referred to as an embryo sac. Intriguingly, several protein complexes, molecular and genetic mechanisms participate and tightly regulate the female gametophyte development. Recent evidence indicates that small RNA (sRNA) mediated pathways play vital roles in female gametophyte development and specification. Here, we present an insight into our understanding and the recent updates on the molecular mechanism of different players of small RNA-directed regulatory pathways during ovule formation and growth.

Genome-Wide Identification of Eucalyptus Heat Shock Transcription Factor Family and Their Transcriptional Analysis under Salt and Temperature Stresses.

Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) activate heat shock protein gene expression by binding their promoters in response to heat stress and are considered to be pivotal transcription factors in plants. Eucalyptus is a superior source of fuel and commercial wood. During its growth, high temperature or other abiotic stresses could impact its defense capability and growth. Hsf genes have been cloned and sequenced in many plants, but rarely in Eucalyptus. In this study, we used bioinformatics methods to analyze and identify Eucalyptus Hsf genes, their chromosomal localization and structure. The phylogenetic relationship and conserved domains of their encoded proteins were further analyzed. A total of 36 Hsf genes were identified and authenticated from Eucalyptus, which were scattered across 11 chromosomes. They could be classified into three classes (A, B and C). Additionally, a large number of stress-related cis-regulatory elements were identified in the upstream promoter sequence of HSF, and cis-acting element analysis indicated that the expression of EgHsf may be regulated by plant growth and development, metabolism, hormones and stress responses. The expression profiles of five representative Hsf genes, EgHsf4, EgHsf9, EgHsf13, EgHsf24 and EgHsf32, under salt and temperature stresses were examined by qRT-PCR. The results show that the expression pattern of class B genes (EgHsf4, EgHsf24 and EgHsf32) was more tolerant to abiotic stresses than that of class A genes (EgHsf9 and EgHsf13). However, the expressions of all tested Hsf genes in six tissues were at different levels. Finally, we investigated the network of interplay between genes, and the results suggest that there may be synergistic effects between different Hsf genes in response to abiotic stresses. We conclude that the Hsf gene family played an important role in the growth and developmental processes of Eucalyptus and could be vital for maintaining cell homeostasis against external stresses. This study provides basic information on the members of the Hsf gene family in Eucalyptus and lays the foundation for the functional identification of related genes and the further investigation of their biological functions in plant stress regulation.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of LBD Transcription Factor Genes in Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis).

The lateral organ boundary domain (LBD) gene is a plant-specific transcription factor that plays a crucial role in plant growth and development, including the development of lateral vegetative organs such as leaf and root development, as well as floral organs such as sepal, petal, and pollen development. Passion fruit is a tropical fruit with important agricultural, economic and ornamental value. However, there is no systematic research report available on the LBD gene family of passion fruit. In this study, a genome-wide analysis of passion fruit LBD genes identified 33 PeLBDs that were unevenly distributed across nine chromosomes. According to phylogenetic and gene structure analysis, PeLBDs were divided into two categories: Class I (27) and Class II (6). Homologous protein modeling results showed that the gene members of the two subfamilies were structurally and functionally similar. Cis-acting element and target gene prediction analysis suggested that PeLBDs might participate in various biological processes by regulating diverse target genes involved in growth and development, metabolism, hormones and stress response. Collinearity analysis indicated that the expansion of the PeLBD gene family likely took place mainly by segmental duplication, and some duplicated gene pairs such as PeLBD13/15 might show functional redundancy, while most duplicated gene pairs such as PeLBD8/12 showed different expression profiles indicating their functional diversification. After filtering low expressed genes, all Class Id PeLBDs were more highly expressed during pollen development. At the same, all Class Ic and many other PeLBDs were relatively highly expressed during ovule development, similar with their homologous LBD genes in Arabidopsis, indicating their potential regulatory roles in reproductive tissue development in passion fruit. PeLBDs that were highly expressed in floral tissues were also expressed at a higher level in tendrils with some differences, indicating the close relationships of tendrils to floral tissues. Some genes such as PeLBD23/25 might be simultaneously related to floral development and leaf early formation in passion fruit, while other PeLBDs showed a strong tissue-specific expression. For example, PeLBD17/27/29 were specifically expressed in floral tissues, while PeLBD11 were only highly expressed in fruit, suggesting their specific function in the development of certain tissues. A qRT-PCR was conducted to verify the expression levels of six PeLBDs in different tissues. Our analysis provides a basis for the functional analysis of LBD genes and new insights into their regulatory roles in floral and vegetative tissue development.

ATP binding cassette transporters ABCG1 and ABCG16 affect reproductive development via auxin signalling in Arabidopsis.

Angiosperm reproductive development is a complex event that includes floral organ development, male and female gametophyte formation and interaction between the male and female reproductive organs for successful fertilization. Previous studies have revealed the redundant function of ATP binding cassette subfamily G (ABCG) transporters ABCG1 and ABCG16 in pollen development, but whether they are involved in other reproductive processes is unknown. Here we show that ABCG1 and ABCG16 were not only expressed in anthers and stamen filaments but also enriched in pistil tissues, including the stigma, style, transmitting tract and ovule. We further demonstrated that pistil-expressed ABCG1 and ABCG16 promoted rapid pollen tube growth through their effects on auxin distribution and auxin flow in the pistil. Moreover, disrupted auxin homeostasis in stamen filaments was associated with defective filament elongation. Our work reveals the key functions of ABCG1 and ABCG16 in reproductive development and provides clues for identifying ABCG1 and ABCG16 substrates in Arabidopsis.

Genomic analysis of SBP gene family in Saccharum spontaneum reveals their association with vegetative and reproductive development.

BACKGROUND: SQUAMOSA promoter binding proteins (SBPs) genes encode a family of plant-specific transcription factors involved in various growth and development processes, including flower and fruit development, leaf initiation, phase transition, and embryonic development. The SBP gene family has been identified and characterized in many species, but no systematic analysis of the SBP gene family has been carried out in sugarcane. RESULTS: In the present study, a total of 50 sequences for 30 SBP genes were identified by the genome-wide analysis and designated SsSBP1 to SsSBP30 based on their chromosomal distribution. According to the phylogenetic tree, gene structure and motif features, the SsSBP genes were classified into eight groups (I to VIII). By synteny analysis, 27 homologous gene pairs existed in SsSBP genes, and 37 orthologous gene pairs between sugarcane and sorghum were found. Expression analysis in different tissues, including vegetative and reproductive organs, showed differential expression patterns of SsSBP genes, indicating their functional diversity in the various developmental processes. Additionally, 22 SsSBP genes were predicted as the potential targets of miR156. The differential expression pattern of miR156 exhibited a negative correlation of transcription levels between miR156 and the SsSBP gene in different tissues. CONCLUSIONS: The sugarcane genome possesses 30 SsSBP genes, and they shared similar gene structures and motif features in their subfamily. Based on the transcriptional and qRT-PCR analysis, most SsSBP genes were found to regulate the leaf initial and female reproductive development. The present study comprehensively and systematically analyzed SBP genes in sugarcane and provided a foundation for further studies on the functional characteristics of SsSBP genes during different development processes.

Assembly and comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Suaeda glauca.

BACKGROUND: Suaeda glauca (S. glauca) is a halophyte widely distributed in saline and sandy beaches, with strong saline-alkali tolerance. It is also admired as a landscape plant with high development prospects and scientific research value. The S. glauca chloroplast (cp) genome has recently been reported; however, the mitochondria (mt) genome is still unexplored. RESULTS: The mt genome of S. glauca were assembled based on the reads from Pacbio and Illumina sequencing platforms. The circular mt genome of S. glauca has a length of 474,330 bp. The base composition of the S. glauca mt genome showed A (28.00%), T (27.93%), C (21.62%), and G (22.45%). S. glauca mt genome contains 61 genes, including 27 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and 5 rRNA genes. The sequence repeats, RNA editing, and gene migration from cp to mt were observed in S. glauca mt genome. Phylogenetic analysis based on the mt genomes of S. glauca and other 28 taxa reflects an exact evolutionary and taxonomic status of S. glauca. Furthermore, the investigation on mt genome characteristics, including genome size, GC contents, genome organization, and gene repeats of S. gulaca genome, was investigated compared to other land plants, indicating the variation of the mt genome in plants. However, the subsequently Ka/Ks analysis revealed that most of the protein-coding genes in mt genome had undergone negative selections, reflecting the importance of those genes in the mt genomes. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we reported the mt genome assembly and annotation of a halophytic model plant S. glauca. The subsequent analysis provided us a comprehensive understanding of the S. glauca mt genome, which might facilitate the research on the salt-tolerant plant species.

ERECTA signaling regulates plant immune responses via chromatin-mediated promotion of WRKY33 binding to target genes.

The signaling pathway mediated by the receptor-like kinase ERECTA (ER) plays important roles in plant immune responses, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Genetic interactions between ER signaling and the chromatin remodeling complex SWR1 in the control of plant immune responses were studied. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and yeast one-hybrid analysis were applied to identify ER-WRKY33 downstream components. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses were further investigated. In this study, we show that the chromatin remodeling complex SWR1 enhances resistance to the white mold fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Arabidopsis thaliana via a process mediated by ER signaling. We identify a series of WRKY33 target YODA DOWNSTREAM (YDD) genes and demonstrate that SWR1 and ER signaling are required to enrich H2A.Z histone variant and H3K4me3 histone modification at YDDs and the binding of WRKY33 to YDD promoters upon S. sclerotiorum infection. We also reveal that the binding of WRKY33 to YDD promoters in turn promotes the enrichment of H2A.Z and H3K4me3 at YDD genes, thereby forming a positive regulatory loop to activate YDDs expression. Our study reveals how H2A.Z, H3K4me3 and ER signaling mutually regulate YDDs gene expression upon pathogen infection, highlighting the critical role of chromatin structure in ER-signaling-mediated plant immune responses.

Interpretative immune targets and contemporary position for vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2: A systematic review.

The year 2020 started with the emergence of novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19 infection. Soon after the first evidence was reported in Wuhan, China, the World Health Organization declared global public health emergency and imminent need to understand the pathogenicity of the virus was required in limited time. Once the genome sequence of the virus was delineated, scientists across the world started working on the development of vaccines. Although, some laboratories have been using previously developed vaccine platforms from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS) and middle east respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus and apply them in COVID-19 vaccines due to genetic similarities between coronaviruses. We have conducted a literature review to assess the background and current status of COVID-19 vaccines. The worldwide implementation and strategies for COVID-19 vaccine development are summarized from studies reported in years 2015-2020. While discussing the vaccine candidates, we have also explained interpretative immune responses of SARS-CoV-2 infection. There are several vaccine candidates at preclinical and clinical stages; however, only 42 vaccines are under clinical trials. Therefore, more industry collaborations and financial supports to COVID-19 studies are needed for mass-scale vaccine development. To develop effective vaccine platforms against SARS-CoV-2, the genetic resemblance with other coronaviruses are being evaluated which may further promote fast-track trials on previously developed SARS-CoV vaccines.

Genome-wide study of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) bHLH transcription factors indicates that cryptochrome-interacting bHLH2 (AcCIB2) participates in flowering time regulation and abiotic stress response.

BACKGROUND: Transcription factors (TFs) are essential regulators of growth and development in eukaryotes. Basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLHs) is one of the most significant TFs families involved in several critical regulatory functions. Cryptochrome-interacting bHLH (CIB) and cryptochromes form an extensive regulatory network to mediate a plethora of pathways. Although bHLHs regulate critical biological processes in plants, the information about pineapple bHLHs remains unexplored. RESULTS: Here, we identified a total of 121 bHLH proteins in the pineapple genome. The identified genes were renamed based on the ascending order of their gene ID and classified into 18 subgroups by phylogenetic analysis. We found that bHLH genes are expressed in different organs and stages of pineapple development. Furthermore, by the ectopic expression of AcCIB2 in Arabidopsis and complementation of Atcib2 mutant, we verified the involvement of AcCIB2 in photomorphogenesis and abiotic stress response. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that AcCIB2 plays an essential role in flowering time regulation and abiotic stress response. The present study provides additional insights into the current knowledge of bHLH genes and suggests their potential role in various biological processes during pineapple development.

Genome-wide characterization and expression profiling of Eucalyptus grandis HD-Zip gene family in response to salt and temperature stress.

BACKGROUND: The HD-Zip transcription factors are unique to plants and play an essential role in plant growth, development and stress responses. The HD-Zip transcription factor family consists of a highly conserved homeodomain (HD) and a leucine zipper domain (LZ) domain. Although the HD-Zip gene family has been extensively studied in many plant species, a systematic study of the Eucalyptus HD-Zip family has not been reported until today. Here, we systematically identified 40 HD-Zip genes in Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis). Besides, we comprehensively analyzed the HD-Zips of Eucalyptus by studying the homology, conserved protein regions, gene structure, 3D structure of the protein, location of the genes on the chromosomes and the expression level of the genes in different tissues. RESULTS: The HD-Zip family in Eucalyptus has four subfamilies, which is consistent with other plants such as Arabidopsis and rice. Moreover, genes that are in the same group tend to have similar exon-intron structures, motifs, and protein structures. Under salt stress and temperature stress, the Eucalyptus HD-Zip transcription factors show a differential expression pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal the response of HD-Zip transcription factors under salt and temperature stresses, laying a foundation for future analysis of Eucalyptus HD-Zip transcription factors.

Association of Copeptin With Sense of Coherence in Individuals With Varying Degrees of Glucose Intolerance.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association of serum copeptin levels, a surrogate marker of arginine-vasopressin secretion with sense of coherence (SOC) among individuals with varying degrees of glucose intolerance. METHODS: The study was conducted in 120 age- and sex-matched individuals who were divided equally into three groups. Group A included individuals with normal glucose tolerance; group B, individuals with prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance and/or impaired fasting glucose); and group C, individuals with newly detected diabetes mellitus (NDDM). SOC, perceived stress scale (PSS), copeptin, anthropometry, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, and salivary cortisol were measured in all study participants. RESULTS: The SOC score was found to be significantly lower in group C compared with group A (p < .001) and group B (p = .006). The PSS score was found to be significantly higher in group C compared with group A (p = .002). No significant difference was found between PSS scores of groups B and C (p = .25). Copeptin levels were found to be significantly higher in group C compared with group A (p = .016). Copeptin levels in group C did not differ significantly from those in group B (p = .056). There was a significant negative correlation between serum copeptin levels and SOC in the NDDM group C (r = 0.31, p = .048) and overall (r = 0.19, p = .037). In multiple regression analysis, SOC emerged as the variable with the strongest association with 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin. CONCLUSION: Individuals with NDDM displayed significantly higher serum copeptin levels that inversely correlated with SOC, a global measure of stress coping ability.

Aux/IAA14 Regulates microRNA-Mediated Cold Stress Response in Arabidopsis Roots.

The phytohormone auxin and microRNA-mediated regulation of gene expressions are key regulators of plant growth and development at both optimal and under low-temperature stress conditions. However, the mechanistic link between microRNA and auxin in regulating plant cold stress response remains elusive. To better understand the role of microRNA (miR) in the crosstalk between auxin and cold stress responses, we took advantage of the mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana with altered response to auxin transport and signal. Screening of the mutants for root growth recovery after cold stress at 4 °C revealed that the auxin signaling mutant, solitary root 1 (slr1; mutation in Aux/IAA14), shows a hypersensitive response to cold stress. Genome-wide expression analysis of miRs in the wild-type and slr1 mutant roots using next-generation sequencing revealed 180 known and 71 novel cold-responsive microRNAs. Cold stress also increased the abundance of 26-31 nt small RNA population in slr1 compared with wild type. Comparative analysis of microRNA expression shows significant differential expression of 13 known and 7 novel miRs in slr1 at 4 °C compared with wild type. Target gene expression analysis of the members from one potential candidate miR, miR169, revealed the possible involvement of miR169/NF-YA module in the Aux/IAA14-mediated cold stress response. Taken together, these results indicate that SLR/IAA14, a transcriptional repressor of auxin signaling, plays a crucial role in integrating miRs in auxin and cold responses.

Studies on genome size estimation, chromosome number, gametophyte development and plant morphology of salt-tolerant halophyte Suaeda salsa.

BACKGROUND: Soil salinization and alkalization are among the major agricultural threats that affect crop productivity worldwide, which are increasing day by day with an alarming rate. In recent years, several halophytes have been investigated for their utilization in soil remediation and to decipher the mechanism of salt-tolerance in these high salt tolerant genetic repositories. Suaeda salsa is an annual halophytic herb in the family Amaranthaceae, displaying high salt and alkali-resistance and having nutritive value. However, the fundamental biological characteristics of this valuable plant remain to be elucidated until today. RESULTS: In this study, we observed the morphology and development of Suaeda salsa, including seed morphology, seed germination, plant morphology, and flower development. Using microscopy, we observed the male and female gametophyte developments of Suaeda salsa. Also, chromosome behaviour during the meiosis of male gametophyte was studied. Eventually, the genome size of Suaeda salsa was estimated through flow cytometry using Arabidopsis as reference. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the male and female gametophyte developments of Suaeda salsa are similar to those of the model plant Arabidopsis, and the diploid Suaeda salsa contains nine pairs of chromosomes. The findings also indicate that the haploid genome of Suaeda salsa is approximately 437.5 MB. The observations and results discussed in this study will provide an insight into future research on Suaeda salsa.

Association of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers with chronic stress in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: Chronic stress is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Oxidative stress and inflammation are potential mediators of this risk. This study was conducted to investigate the association of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers with chronic stress and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Oxidative stress/antioxidant status (malondialdehyde [MDA], reduce glutathione [GSH], glutathione reductase [GR], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD]), inflammatory markers (highly sensitive C-reactive protein [hsCRP], adiponectin, leptin), chronic stress levels as assessed by stress scales-presumptive stressful life events scale (PSLES), perceived stress scale (PSS), sense of coherence (SOC) and stress biomarker-salivary cortisol in 125 subjects with newly detected diabetes mellitus (NDDM) were compared with an equal number of age and sex matched subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT). RESULTS: NDDM subjects as compared with NGT had significantly increased MDA (P < 0.001), hsCRP (P < 0.001), and leptin (P = 0.014) levels and increased GR (P = 0.043) and SOD (P < 0.001) activity along with decreased GSH (P < 0.001) and adiponectin (P < 0.001) levels. They also had significantly higher PSLES-LT and PSS and lower SOC scores along with elevated levels of 10:00 pm salivary cortisol and post dexamethasone salivary cortisol as compared with NGT. In stepwise logistic regression analysis, variables GSH (OR: 0.805), SOD (OR: 1.004), and adiponectin (OR: 0.771) along with PSLES-LT (OR: 1.007), PSS (OR: 1.147), SOC (OR: 0.667), salivary cortisol 10:00 pm (OR: 1.382), WC (OR: 1.087), and HOMA-IR (OR: 2.721) emerged as significant predictors of NDDM. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that chronic psychological stress and stress responses are associated significantly with inflammation and oxidative stress, which could act as mediating stress related risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Association of postprandial triglyceride responses with insulin resistance among rotational night shift healthcare workers.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Does long-term rotational night shift work among healthcare workers alter postprandial triglyceride metabolism, and are the postprandial triglyceride responses associated with insulin resistance? What is the main finding and its importance? Rotational night shift duties in healthcare workers might have a negative impact on postprandial triglyceride responses and insulin sensitivity. This is the first study in which postprandial triglyceride responses among shift workers exposed to long-term night shifts have been studied. ABSTRACT: Studies on the postprandial period demonstrate that in experimental conditions, abrupt or acute changes in sleep timing and work are followed by significantly altered postprandial glucose, insulin secretion and lipid tolerance. Whether shift work results in altered postprandial triglyceride (PPTG) metabolism in the long term is not known. In the present study, we aimed to ascertain the association between PPTG and shift work in relationship to cardiometabolic risks and to compare the PPTG response among healthcare workers with and without night shift duties. Twenty healthcare workers with rotational night shifts (group 2) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthcare workers who had not done night shift duty in the past 1 year or ever (group 1) were recruited. Only subjects with normal glucose tolerance were recruited. A standardized fat challenge test was done in all study subjects. The postprandial triglyceride area under the curve (PPTG AUC) showed overall (n = 40) a significant positive correlation with fasting insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (r = 0.40, P = 0.01 and r = 0.37, P = 0.01, respectively) and in group 2 (r = 0.49, P = 0.02 and r = 0.44, P = 0.042, respectively). The PPTG peak also showed a significant positive correlation with fasting insulin and HOMA-IR in group 2 (r = 0.52, P = 0.01 and r = 0.47, P = 0.03, respectively). No significant correlation was found in group 1. The PPTG AUC and PPTG peak were, however, comparable between both groups. The findings of this pilot study suggest that rotational night shift duties in healthcare workers might have a negative impact on metabolic parameters, including postprandial triglyceride responses and insulin sensitivity.