Identification of differentially expressed genes associated with aluminum resistance in the soybean plant.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major limitation to crop production in countries where acidic soil is abundant. In China, soybean production is constrained by Al stress-induced toxicity. As such, there is growing interest to develop Al-resistant varieties. In the present study, we sought to determine potential genes, functions and pathways for screening and breeding of Al-resistant varieties of soybean. First, we mined the E-GEOD-18517 dataset and identified 729 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between untreated and Al-treated groups. Next, we performed Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome pathways enrichment analysis and observed that most of the screened genes were mainly enriched in defense response, plasma membrane and molecular transducer activity. They were also enriched in three important pathways, the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant-pathogen interaction, and cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis. Utilizing weighted gene co-expression network analysis of 815 DEGs screened by Venn diagram, we identified DEGs that were the most disparate between treated and untreated groups. LOC100793667 (probable protein phosphatase 2C 60, GLYMA_17G223800), LOC100780576 (ethylene-responsive transcription factor 1B, GLYMA_02G006200), and LOC100785578 (protein ESKIMO 1, GLYMA_02G258000) were the most differentially expressed, which were consistent with the qRT-PCR results. As these genes are known to participate in essential functions, such as cell junction and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, these genes may be important for breeding Al-resistant varieties. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01018-x.

Survival of cancer patients in Fujian, Southeast China: a population-based cancer registry study.

Survival rates are usually used to evaluate the effect of cancer treatment and prevention. No study has focused on the characteristic of population-based cancer survival in Fujian, which is regarded as one of the high-risk areas of cancer in China. This study aims to analyze the 5-year relative survival of patients in Fujian Province using population-based cancer registry data. A total of 8 population-based registries in Fujian Province reported cancer cases diagnosed in 2012-2014. Relative survival was calculated as the ratio between observed survival and expected survival. The 5-year relative survival for all cancers combined was 36.19% and the age-standardized 5-year relative survival for all patients was 31.80%. Females had higher relative survival than males (38.90% and 27.00%). The patients in urban areas had higher relative survival than those in rural areas (32.34% and 31.29%). Lung, gastric, liver, colorectal, and esophageal cancers were the five most common cancers, with 5-year relative survival below 50%. This is the first study that evaluated the population-based cancer relative survival in Fujian, China. Our study suggests that the overall survival of cancer patients in Fujian Province is poor. Furthermore, the results of this study can be used as a baseline for further research in Fujian, and provide important evidence for cancer etiology research.

Exenatide, Metformin, or Both for Prediabetes in PCOS: A Randomized, Open-label, Parallel-group Controlled Study.

CONTEXT: Up to 40% of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have prediabetes; an optimal pharmacotherapy regimen for diabetes prevention in PCOS is yet to be established. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical efficacy of exenatide (EX), metformin (MET), or combination (COM) for prediabetes in PCOS. DESIGN: Randomized, open-label, parallel-group controlled trial. SETTING: Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. PATIENTS: PCOS with prediabetes (fasting plasma glucose 5.6-6.9 mmol/L and/or 2 hour post glucose 7.8-11.0 mmol/L on oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]). A total of 150 out of 183 eligible enrollees completed the study. INTERVENTION: EX (10-20µg daily), MET (1500-2000 mg daily), or COM (EX plus MET) for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sustained remission rate of prediabetes (primary endpoint, a normal OGTT after 12 weeks of treatment followed by 12 weeks of washout on no drug treatment) along with anthropometric, hormonal, metabolic, and pancreatic ß-cell function parameters (secondary endpoints) and potential mechanisms were assessed. RESULTS: Impaired glucose tolerance was found the dominant prediabetes phenotype. Overall sustained prediabetes remission rate was 50.7%. Remission rate of COM group (64%, 32/50) or EX group (56%, 28/50) was significantly higher than that of the MET group (32%, 16/50) (P = .003 and .027, respectively). EX was associated with superior suppression of 2-hour glucose increment in OGTT. A 2-step hyperglycemic clamp study revealed that EX had led to higher postprandial insulin secretion than MET, potentially explaining the higher remission rate. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with MET monotherapy, EX or COM achieved higher rate of remission of prediabetes among PCOS patients by improving postprandial insulin secretion.

Genome-wide analysis of ethylene-response factor family in adzuki bean and functional determination of VaERF3 under saline-alkaline stress.

Ethylene-response factor (ERF) proteins are members of a transcription factor family involved in plant growth and environmental stress responses, but the biological functions of ERF members in adzuki bean (Vigna angularis var. angularis) remain unknown. In addition, it is unclear whether these proteins have a role in regulating responses to abiotic stressors. Here, we identified 47 ERF genes by analyzing the adzuki bean genome. Whole-transcriptome analyses of plants under saline-alkaline stress suggested that the expression of 13 ERF genes was induced in response to saline-alkaline stress. Analysis of the cis-acting elements showed that the promoters of these saline-alkaline stress-inducible ERF genes contained LTRs, DREs, MYBs, ABREs, MYCs, CGTCA-, and TGACG-motifs, which are involved in abiotic stress responses. The expression of VaERF3 was induced by NaHCO3, polyethylene glycol 6000, NaCl, and ABA (abscisic acid), as determined by qRT-PCR. Overexpression of VaERF3 in transgenic Arabidopsis resulted in higher levels of proline accumulation and lower malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species contents in plants grown under saline-alkaline stress conditions. Moreover, VaERF3 encoded a nuclear-localized transcriptional activator that promoted the expression of stress-responsive genes. Collectively, these results are of great significance in elucidating the mechanisms of saline-alkaline stress responses in adzuki bean.