Meta-analysis on Asymptomatic Endometrial Thickening and Its Association with Endometrial Cancer Risk in Women Over 50 Years of Age.

Purpose: This study systematically assesses the correlation between asymptomatic endometrial thickening after the age of 50 and the risk of endometrial cancer (EC). Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and Chinese biomedical literature databases Wanfang, Weipu, and CNG until August 2022. The included literature was analyzed using RevMan 5.3 software to explore heterogeneity in each study. Results: Five studies were finally included. The assessment of odds ratio (OR) heterogeneity between women with endometrial thickening and the risk of EC showed P = .18, I2=95%, indicating significant heterogeneity. A random-effects model was applied for meta-analysis, revealing a result of 0.96, 95% CI (0.92, 1.02), P = .18, indicating no statistical significance between the two groups (P > .05). The funnel plot demonstrated asymmetry, suggesting evident publication bias. Conclusion: There is no consistent correlation between asymptomatic endometrial thickening and the occurrence of EC in individuals over 50 years of age.

Screening and Resistance Locus Identification of the Mutant fcrZ22 Resistant to Crown Rot Caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum.

Crown rot caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum is a devastating wheat disease worldwide. In addition to yield losses, the fungi causing Fusarium crown rot (FCR) also deteriorate the quality and safety of food because of the production of mycotoxins. Planting resistant cultivars is an effective way to control FCR. However, most wheat cultivars are susceptible to FCR. Therefore, development of new sources and detection of loci for FCR resistance are necessary. In the present study, a resistant mutant, fcrZ22, was identified from an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized population of the cultivar Zhoumai 22, and then fcrZ22 was crossed with the wild type to produce an F2 population. Genetic analysis of the F2 population was carried out by the mixed inheritance model of major genes plus polygenes, and 20 resistant and 20 susceptible plants were selected to assemble mixed pools. Combining 660K SNP arrays, the resistance loci were detected by bulked segregant analysis. The resistance to FCR caused by F. pseudograminearum in the F2 population was in accordance with the "mixed model with two major genes of additive-epistasis effect + additive-dominant polygenes," and the heritability of the major gene was 0.92. Twenty-one loci were detected, which were located on 10 chromosomes, namely, 1B (1), 1D (1), 2A (3), 1B (1), 3A (3), 3B (3), 4A (2), 5A (2), 7A (3), and 7B (2). Among the 21 loci, eight were new loci for FCR resistance. This is the first report of detecting loci for FCR resistance from a mutant. The results of the present study provided excellent germplasm resources for breeding wheat cultivars with FCR resistance and laid the foundation for fine mapping of FCR resistance loci.

Mutagenesis-Derived Resistance to Black Point in Wheat.

Black point, a severe global wheat disease, necessitates deploying resistant cultivars for effective control. However, susceptibility remains prevalent among most wheat cultivars. Identifying new sources of resistance and understanding their mechanisms are crucial for breeding resistant cultivars. This study pinpointed black point resistance in an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized wheat population of Wanyuanbai 1 (WYB) and analyzed resistant mutants using RNA-Seq. The findings revealed the following: (i) wyb-18, among 10,008 EMS-mutagenized lines, exhibited robust resistance with significantly lower black point incidence under artificial Bipolaris sorokiniana inoculation in 2020 and 2021 (average incidence of 5.2% over 2 years), markedly reduced compared with WYB (50.9%). (ii) wyb-18 kernels displayed black point symptoms at 12 days after inoculation (dai), 3 days later than WYB. At 15 dai, wyb-18 kernels had isolated black spots, unlike WYB kernels, where the entire embryo turned black. (iii) wyb-18 showed heightened antioxidant enzyme activity, including peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. (iv) Analysis of 543 differentially expressed genes between wyb-18 and WYB at 9 dai identified enrichment in the MAPK signaling pathway through KEGG analysis. Ten genes in this pathway exhibited upregulated expression, while one was downregulated in wyb-18. Among these genes, PR1, WRKY11, SAPK5, and TraesCS1A02G326800 (chitin recognition protein) consistently showed upregulation in wyb-18, making them potential candidates for black point resistance. These results offer valuable germplasm resources for breeding and novel insights into the mechanisms of black point resistance.

A Novel Online Calculator Predicting Acute Kidney Injury After Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Study.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) after liver transplantation (LT) is a common complication, and its development is thought to be multifactorial. We aimed to investigate potential risk factors and build a model to identify high-risk patients. A total of 199 LT patients were enrolled and each patient data was collected from the electronic medical records. Our primary outcome was postoperative AKI as diagnosed and classified by the KDIGO criteria. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operating algorithm and multivariate logistic regression were utilized to select factors and construct the model. Discrimination and calibration were used to estimate the model performance. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was applied to assess the clinical application value. Five variables were identified as independent predictors for post-LT AKI, including whole blood serum lymphocyte count, RBC count, serum sodium, insulin dosage and anhepatic phase urine volume. The nomogram model showed excellent discrimination with an AUC of 0.817 (95% CI: 0.758-0.876) in the training set. The DCA showed that at a threshold probability between 1% and 70%, using this model clinically may add more benefit. In conclusion, we developed an easy-to-use tool to calculate the risk of post-LT AKI. This model may help clinicians identify high-risk patients.

Quantitative trait loci for resistance to black point caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana in bread wheat.

Black point disease is a serious concern in wheat production worldwide. In this study, we aimed to identify the major quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to black point caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana and develop molecular markers for marker-assisted selection (MAS). A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between PZSCL6 (highly susceptible) and Yuyou1 (moderately resistant) was evaluated for black point resistance at four locations under artificial inoculation with B. sorokiniana. Thirty resistant and 30 susceptible RILs were selected to form resistant and susceptible bulks, respectively, which were genotyped by the wheat 660 K SNP array. Two hundred and four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, among which 41(20.7%), 34 (17.2%), 22 (11.1%), and 22 (11.1%) were located on chromosomes 5A, 5B, 4B, and 5D, respectively. The genetic linkage map for the RIL population was constructed using 150 polymorphic SSR and dCAPS markers. Finally, five QTL were detected on chromosomes 5A, 5B, and 5D, designated QBB.hau-5A, QBB.hau-5B.1, QBB.hau-5B.2, QBB.hau-5D.1, and QBB.hau-5D.2, respectively. All resistance alleles were contributed by the resistant parent Yuyou1. QBB.hau-5D.1 is likely to be a new locus for black point resistance. The markers Xwmc654 and Xgwm174 linked to QBB.hau-5A and QBB.hau-5D.1, respectively, have potential utility in MAS-based breeding. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-023-01356-6.

A pilot clinical study of complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treatment via foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the feasibility of and identify problems in treating complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment using foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling. METHODS: This prospective clinical study enrolled five patients with complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treated with foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling at the 988th Hospital of People's Liberation Army Joint Logistic Force, China. During the 24-week follow-up period, the patients underwent measurements of their best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and visual field testing. Additionally, B-ultrasound and fundus photography of the patients' retinal reattachments helped evaluate the treatment's post-surgery efficacy. We determined the safety of foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling based on infection, eye pain, diplopia, elevated intraocular pressure, and other postoperative severe complications. RESULTS: All five patients' complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachments were successfully treated and evaluated via B-ultrasound and fundus photography after surgery. Visual acuity was enhanced in four patients 24 weeks after surgery, while the remaining patients developed diplopia after surgery. No other complications were observed. CONCLUSION: This pilot study preliminarily determined that foldable capsular buckle scleral buckling is feasible for efficient and safe treatment of complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. These results support this surgery as a potential and novel alternative to current extraocular procedures for treating complex rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The prospective observational clinical study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee and registered at the clinical research center in the 988th Hospital of People's Liberation Army Joint Logistic Force, China (9,882,019,000).

Activation of the TNF-α-Necroptosis Pathway in Parvalbumin-Expressing Interneurons of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex Contributes to Neuropathic Pain.

The hyperexcitability of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been implicated in the development of chronic pain. As one of the key causes of ACC hyperexcitation, disinhibition of the ACC may be closely related to the dysfunction of inhibitory parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons (PV-INs). However, the molecular mechanism underlying the ACC PV-INs injury remains unclear. The present study demonstrates that spared sciatic nerve injury (SNI) induces an imbalance in the excitation and inhibition (E/I) of the ACC. To test whether tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) upregulation in the ACC after SNI activates necroptosis and participates in PV-INs damage, we performed a differential analysis of transcriptome sequencing using data from neuropathic pain models and found that the expression of genes key to the TNF-α-necroptosis pathway were upregulated. TNF-α immunoreactivity (IR) signals in the ACCs of SNI rats were co-located with p-RIP3- and PV-IR, or p-MLKL- and PV-IR signals. We then systematically detected the expression and cell localization of necroptosis-related proteins, including kinase RIP1, RIP3, MLKL, and their phosphorylated states, in the ACC of SNI rats. Except for RIP1 and MLKL, the levels of these proteins were significantly elevated in the contralateral ACC and mainly expressed in PV-INs. Blocking the ACC TNF-α-necroptosis pathway by microinjecting TNF-α neutralizing antibody or using an siRNA knockdown to block expression of MLKL in the ACC alleviated SNI-induced pain hypersensitivity and inhibited the upregulation of TNF-α and p-MLKL. Targeting TNF-α-triggered necroptosis within ACC PV-INs may help to correct PV-INs injury and E/I imbalance in the ACC in neuropathic pain.

Neuroinflammation in the anterior cingulate cortex: the potential supraspinal mechanism underlying the mirror-image pain following motor fiber injury.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve inflammation or lesion can affect contralateral healthy structures, and thus result in mirror-image pain. Supraspinal structures play important roles in the occurrence of mirror pain. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a first-order cortical region that responds to painful stimuli. In the present study, we systematically investigate and compare the neuroimmune changes in the bilateral ACC region using unilateral- (spared nerve injury, SNI) and mirror-(L5 ventral root transection, L5-VRT) pain models, aiming to explore the potential supraspinal neuroimmune mechanism underlying the mirror-image pain. METHODS: The up-and-down method with von Frey hairs was used to measure the mechanical allodynia. Viral injections for the designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) were used to modulate ACC glutamatergic neurons. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blotting, protein microarray were used to detect the regulation of inflammatory signaling. RESULTS: Increased expressions of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and chemokine CX3CL1 in ACC induced by unilateral nerve injury were observed on the contralateral side in the SNI group but on the bilateral side in the L5-VRT group, representing a stronger immune response to L5-VRT surgery. In remote ACC, both SNI and L5-VRT induced robust bilateral increase in the protein level of Nav1.6 (SCN8A), a major voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) that regulates neuronal activity in the mammalian nervous system. However, the L5-VRT-induced Nav1.6 response occurred at PO 3d, earlier than the SNI-induced one, 7 days after surgery. Modulating ACC glutamatergic neurons via DREADD-Gq or DREADD-Gi greatly changed the ACC CX3CL1 levels and the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold. Neutralization of endogenous ACC CX3CL1 by contralateral anti-CX3CL1 antibody attenuated the induction and the maintenance of mechanical allodynia and eliminated the upregulation of CX3CL1, TNF-α and Nav1.6 protein levels in ACC induced by SNI. Furthermore, contralateral ACC anti-CX3CL1 also inhibited the expression of ipsilateral spinal c-Fos, Iba1, CD11b, TNF-α and IL-6. CONCLUSIONS: The descending facilitation function mediated by CX3CL1 and its downstream cascade may play a pivotal role, leading to enhanced pain sensitization and even mirror-image pain. Strategies that target chemokine-mediated ACC hyperexcitability may lead to novel therapies for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Neuroimmune Mechanisms Underlying Neuropathic Pain: The Potential Role of TNF-α-Necroptosis Pathway.

The neuroimmune mechanism underlying neuropathic pain has been extensively studied. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a key pro-inflammatory cytokine that drives cytokine storm and stimulates a cascade of other cytokines in pain-related pathways, induces and modulates neuropathic pain by facilitating peripheral (primary afferents) and central (spinal cord) sensitization. Functionally, TNF-α controls the balance between cell survival and death by inducing an inflammatory response and two programmed cell death mechanisms (apoptosis and necroptosis). Necroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, is receiving increasing attraction and may trigger neuroinflammation to promote neuropathic pain. Chronic pain is often accompanied by adverse pain-associated emotional reactions and cognitive disorders. Overproduction of TNF-α in supraspinal structures such as the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and hippocampus plays an important role in pain-associated emotional disorders and memory deficits and also participates in the modulation of pain transduction. At present, studies reporting on the role of the TNF-α-necroptosis pathway in pain-related disorders are lacking. This review indicates the important research prospects of this pathway in pain modulation based on its role in anxiety, depression and memory deficits associated with other neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, we have summarized studies related to the underlying mechanisms of neuropathic pain mediated by TNF-α and discussed the role of the TNF-α-necroptosis pathway in detail, which may represent an avenue for future therapeutic intervention.

NLRP3-Mediated Piezo1 Upregulation in ACC Inhibitory Parvalbumin-Expressing Interneurons Is Involved in Pain Processing after Peripheral Nerve Injury.

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is particularly critical for pain information processing. Peripheral nerve injury triggers neuronal hyper-excitability in the ACC and mediates descending facilitation to the spinal dorsal horn. The mechanically gated ion channel Piezo1 is involved in the transmission of pain information in the peripheral nervous system. However, the pain-processing role of Piezo1 in the brain is unknown. In this work, we found that spared (sciatic) nerve injury (SNI) increased Piezo1 protein levels in inhibitory parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons (PV-INs) but not in glutaminergic CaMKⅡ+ neurons, in the bilateral ACC. A reduction in the number of PV-INs but not in the number of CaMKⅡ+ neurons and a significant reduction in inhibitory synaptic terminals was observed in the SNI chronic pain model. Further, observation of morphological changes in the microglia in the ACC showed their activated amoeba-like transformation, with a reduction in process length and an increase in cell body area. Combined with the encapsulation of Piezo1-positive neurons by Iba1+ microglia, the loss of PV-INs after SNI might result from phagocytosis by the microglia. In cellular experiments, administration of recombinant rat TNF-α (rrTNF) to the BV2 cell culture or ACC neuron primary culture elevated the protein levels of Piezo1 and NOD-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3). The administration of the NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 in these cells blocked the rrTNF-induced expression of caspase-1 and interleukin-1ß (key downstream factors of the activated NLRP3 inflammasome) in vitro and reversed the SNI-induced Piezo1 overexpression in the ACC and alleviated SNI-induced allodynia in vivo. These results suggest that NLRP3 may be the key factor in causing Piezo1 upregulation in SNI, promoting an imbalance between ACC excitation and inhibition by inducing the microglial phagocytosis of PV-INs and, thereby, facilitating spinal pain transmission.

Umbilical artery thrombosis diagnosed at different gestational ages and fetal outcomes: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical artery thrombosis is a rare complication of pregnancy strongly associated with poor fetal and perinatal outcomes, such as intrauterine asphyxia, fetal growth restriction, and stillbirth. Its pathogenesis remains unclear, and there is the added challenge of selecting an appropriate delivery time to achieve excellent neonatal outcomes. METHODS: Our Hospital is a critical maternal rescue center with approximately 7000 births annually. We present a series of 8 cases of umbilical artery thrombosis diagnosed at the hospital between Apr 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2020. We identified the cases through a keyword search of the maternity and pathology information management systems. RESULTS: Three patients were diagnosed with a transabdominal ultrasound scan and hypoxia on fetal heart monitoring. All three patients had emergency cesarean section delivery. Four patients were observed closely for 5 to 13 weeks from initial detection by an ultrasound scan to delivery. Only one patient was diagnosed after vaginal delivery by Hematoxylin-eosin staining of umbilical cord sections. Seven patients had deliveries by cesarean section, and one patient had a vaginal delivery. All infants were born alive. CONCLUSIONS: Umbilical artery thrombosis is a challenging and rare condition that can occur at different gestational ages, especially when diagnosed in the third trimester and accompanied by fetal growth restriction. Consequently, these patients require close monitoring of umbilical blood flow and fetal growth and intervention at the appropriate time to achieve an optimal outcome.

A Review of the Current Status of Clinical Management of COVID-19 in the Elderly.

The high infectivity and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), and our limited understanding of the biology of the novel coronavirus, as well as the lack of an effective treatment for COVID-19, have created a global pandemic. Those most likely to become seriously ill with COVID-19 are adults, especially the elderly and those who are already weak or sick. At present, a specific drug for treatment of COVID-19 has not been developed. This, combined with the typical coexistence of a variety of chronic diseases in elderly patients, makes treatment challenging at present. In addition, for elderly patients, COVID-19 isolation measures during the epidemic can easily lead to psychological problems. Thus, how to manage elderly patients has become a focus of social attention in the current circumstances. This article reviews the effects of COVID-19 and makes management suggestions for elderly patients during this epidemic period. In addition to the elderly, critically ill people are also highly susceptible to this novel coronavirus. For elderly COVID-19 patients, antiviral therapy, immune regulation, and even auxiliary respiratory therapy can be given after a comprehensive evaluation of the disease. With the approval and use of COVID-19 vaccines, it is reasonable to expect that we can conquer SARS-CoV-2.

Oxymatrine ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasis pruritus and inflammation through inhibiting heat shock protein 90 and heat shock protein 60 expression in keratinocytes.

In this work, we aimed to investigate whether oxymatrine exerts its anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory efficacy in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis mice and the related mechanism. We established the psoriasis model by applying the imiquimod ointment topically and oxymatrine was injected intraperitoneally as the treatment. The behavior and skin morphology results indicated that oxymatrine inhibits imiquimod-induced pruritus alleviating keratinization of skin and inflammatory infiltration. Moreover, we examined the expression of various indicators and found heat shock protein (HSP) 90 and 60 upregulated in model group, which were reversed in oxymatrine treated groups. Molecular docking and the studies in vivo confirmed that HSP90 and HSP60 participate in the inhibitory effect of oxymatrine on the phenotypes of psoriasis mice. Mechanically, immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that oxymatrine-induced downregulation of HSP90 and HSP60 was mainly in keratinocytes. In vitro results showed that oxymatrine decreases the expression of HSP90 and HSP60 upregulated by TNF-α and IFN-γ in HaCaTs cells and the siRNA mediated HSP90 and HSP60 silencing reverses inflammation inhibited by oxymatrine. Taken together, these results indicate that oxymatrine relieves psoriasis pruritic and inflammation by inhibiting the expression of HSP90 and HSP60 in keratinocytes through MAPK signaling pathway.

Assessing Genetic Resistance in Wheat to Black Point Caused by Six Fungal Species in the Yellow and Huai Wheat Area of China.

The most effective and environmentally sustainable method for controlling black point disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is to plant resistant cultivars. To identify sources of resistance to black point, 165 selected cultivars/lines were inoculated with isolates of six fungal species (Bipolaris sorokiniana, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium equiseti, Exserohilum rostratum, Epicoccum sorghinum, and Curvularia spicifera) known to cause black point in wheat using spore suspensions under controlled field conditions in 2016 and 2017. Inoculation of the isolates significantly increased the incidence of black point in the cultivars/lines compared with those grown under natural field conditions (NFC). The disease incidence of plants inoculated with B. sorokiniana and E. rostratum was 15.5% and 18.8% in 2016, and 20.4% and 23.0% in 2017, whereas those under NFC were 5.7% (2016) and 1.5% (2017), respectively. Furthermore, disease symptoms varied with pathogen. Among the 165 cultivars/lines tested, 3.6%, 50.9%, 60.0%, 1.8%, 47.3%, and 58.8% were resistant to B. sorokiniana, A. alternata, F. equiseti, E. rostratum, E. sorghinum, and C. spicifera, respectively. In addition, we identified one line ('SN530070') resistant to black point caused by all six pathogens. This is the first study to assess resistance to wheat black point caused by six fungal species under controlled conditions. The black point-resistant cultivars/lines could be useful in breeding and also in research on the mechanisms of resistance to black point.

[Preparation of a New Type of Silk Birth-canal Microecology Transporter].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the preparation parameters of the new silk birth-canal microecology transporter (BMT) for transferring the symbiotic bacteria of the birth canal efficiently. METHODS: Birth canal microbial samples of 30 full term pregnant women at admission were collected as the control group (NC, n=30). The experimental group included 18 pregnant women terminated by Cesarean section, who were divided into 6 sub-groups （M1-M6, n=3) to complete the transfer tests of the birth-canal microecology. The new silk BMT was processed in the sterile liquid of the different osmotic pressure with the different immersion depth, and was placed in the vagina of the pregnant women for 1 h before sealed. All extracted DNA specimens were amplified in the V3-V4 region of the 16S rDNA, and were sequenced by Illumina Hiseq2500. Microbial diversity analysis was performed by Mothur, QIIME, Lefse and Metastat. Welch's t-test and Anosim nonparametric test were used to compare the difference between groups. RESULTS: The new silk BMT with 70% immersion depth could be fully covered by the solution, and had good solution preserving and adhesion. The subjects had no foreign body sensation with satisfied experience. Both of the microbes on the new BMT and the control group were lactobacillus as the dominant bacteria genus. The microbial diversity and bacteria constitution in the new BMT was similar to the control group in the condition of 0.45% NaCl solution and 70% immersion depth, and there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The new silk BMT can transfer the symbiotic microbes of the birth canal efficiently, and the optimal preparation parameters were 0.45% hypotonic saline solution and 70% immersion depth.

High-resolution mapping of quantitative trait loci controlling main floral stalk length in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis).

BACKGROUND: For spring-type Chinese cabbage production, premature bolting refers to the excessive elongation of dwarf stems before harvesting. Although quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for bolting-related traits have been studied extensively, the main flower stalk length (MFSL) have been rarely investigated. Two inbred lines, 06-247 and He102, have significant differences in the MFSL. In this study, these two materials were selected as parental lines for the construction of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population. High-density mapping of QTL for the MFSL was performed based on the deep resequencing of parental lines and specific locus-amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-Seq) of individual recombination inbred lines. RESULTS: An F7 population consisting of 150 lines was developed. Deep resequencing of parental lines produced 21.08 gigabases, whereas SLAF-Seq produced an average of 428.35 million bases for each progeny. The total aligned data from the parental lines identified 1,082,885 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between parental lines. Out of these, 5392 SNP markers with a segregation type of aa×bb and average integrity of > 99% were suitable for the genetic linkage map construction. The final map contained 10 linkage groups (LGs) was 1687.82 cM in length with an average distance of 0.32 cM between adjacent markers. Based on the high-density map, nine QTLs for MFSL were found to be distributed on seven chromosomes, and two major-effect QTLs were identified for the first time. The physical distance between adjacent markers of two major-effect QTLs was 44.37 kbp and 121.91 kbp, respectively. Approximately 2056 and 6769 SNP markers within confidence intervals were identified according to the results of parental line resequencing, which involved 24 and 199 mutant genes. CONCLUSIONS: The linkage map constructed in this study has the highest density in Chinese cabbage to date. Two major-effect QTLs for MFSL in Chinese cabbage were also identified. Among these, a novel QTL associated with bolting mapped on LG A04 was identified based on MFSL. The results of this study provide an important platform for gene/QTL mapping and marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding for bolting-resistant Chinese cabbage.

The Major Factors Causing the Microspore Abortion of Genic Male Sterile Mutant NWMS1 in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Male sterility is a valuable trait for genetic research and production application of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). NWMS1, a novel typical genic male sterility mutant, was obtained from Shengnong 1, mutagenized with ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). Microstructure and ultrastructure observations of the anthers and microspores indicated that the pollen abortion of NWMS1 started at the early uninucleate microspore stage. Pollen grain collapse, plasmolysis, and absent starch grains were the three typical characteristics of the abnormal microspores. The anther transcriptomes of NWMS1 and its wild type Shengnong 1 were compared at the early anther development stage, pollen mother cell meiotic stage, and binucleate microspore stage. Several biological pathways clearly involved in abnormal anther development were identified, including protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, starch and sucrose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction. There were 20 key genes involved in the abnormal anther development, screened out by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), including SKP1B, BIP5, KCS11, ADH3, BGLU6, and TIFY10B. The results indicated that the defect in starch and sucrose metabolism was the most important factor causing male sterility in NWMS1. Based on the experimental data, a primary molecular regulation model of abnormal anther and pollen developments in mutant NWMS1 was established. These results laid a solid foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of wheat male sterility.

The miRNA-mRNA Networks Involving Abnormal Energy and Hormone Metabolisms Restrict Tillering in a Wheat Mutant dmc.

Tillers not only determine plant architecture but also influence crop yield. To explore the miRNA regulatory network restraining tiller development in a dwarf-monoculm wheat mutant (dmc) derived from Guomai 301 (wild type, WT), we employed miRNome and transcriptome integrative analysis, real-time qRT-PCR, histochemistry, and determinations of the key metabolites and photosynthesis parameters. A total of 91 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified between dmc and WT. Among them, 40 key DEMs targeted 45 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including the key DEGs encode growth-regulating factors (GRF), auxin response factors (ARF), and other proteins involved in the metabolisms of hormones and carbohydrates, etc. Compared with WT, both the chlorophyll contents and the photosynthesis rate were lower in dmc. The contents of glucose, sucrose, fructose, and maltose were lower in dmc. The contents of auxin (IAA) and zeatin (ZA) were significantly lower, but gibberellin (GA) was significantly higher in the tiller tissues of dmc. This research demonstrated that the DEMs regulating hormone and carbohydrate metabolisms were important causes for dmc to not tiller. A primary miRNA-mRNA regulatory model for dmc tillering was established. The lower photosynthesis rate, insufficient energy, and abnormal hormone metabolisms restrict tillering in dmc.

Enhanced Senescence Process is the Major Factor Stopping Spike Differentiation of Wheat Mutant ptsd1.

Complete differentiation of the spikes guarantees the final wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield. A unique wheat mutant that prematurely terminated spike differentiation (ptsd1) was obtained from cultivar Guomai 301 treated with ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). The molecular mechanism study on ptsd1 showed that the senescence-associated genes (SAGs) were highly expressed, and spike differentiation related homeotic genes were depressed. Cytokinin signal transduction was weakened and ethylene signal transduction was enhanced. The enhanced expression of Ca2+ signal transduction related genes and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused the upper spikelet cell death. Many genes in the WRKY, NAC and ethylene response factor (ERF) transcription factor (TF) families were highly expressed. Senescence related metabolisms, including macromolecule degradation, nutrient recycling, as well as anthocyanin and lignin biosynthesis, were activated. A conserved tae-miR164 and a novel-miR49 and their target genes were extensively involved in the senescence related biological processes in ptsd1. Overall, the abnormal phytohormone homeostasis, enhanced Ca2+ signaling and activated senescence related metabolisms led to the spikelet primordia absent their typical meristem characteristics, and ultimately resulted in the phenotype of ptsd1.

Quantitative Changes in the Transcription of Phytohormone-Related Genes: Some Transcription Factors Are Major Causes of the Wheat Mutant dmc Not Tillering.

Tiller number is an important agronomic trait for grain yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A dwarf-monoculm wheat mutant (dmc) was obtained from cultivar Guomai 301 (wild type, WT). Here, we explored the molecular basis for the restrained tiller development of the mutant dmc. Two bulked samples of the mutant dmc (T1, T2 and T3) and WT (T4, T5 and T6) with three biological replicates were comparatively analyzed at the transcriptional level by bulked RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). In total, 68.8 Gb data and 463 million reads were generated, 80% of which were mapped to the wheat reference genome of Chinese Spring. A total of 4904 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the mutant dmc and WT. DEGs and their related major biological functions were characterized based on GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) categories. These results were confirmed by quantitatively analyzing the expression profiles of twelve selected DEGs via real-time qRT-PCR. The down-regulated gene expressions related to phytohormone syntheses of auxin, zeatin, cytokinin and some transcription factor (TF) families of TALE, and WOX might be the major causes of the mutant dmc, not tillering. Our work provides a foundation for subsequent tiller development research in the future.