Identification of 7 stress-related NAC transcription factor members in maize (Zea mays L.) and characterization of the expression pattern of these genes.

NAC proteins are plant-specific transcription factors that play essential roles in plant development and various abiotic stress responses. A comprehensive analysis of maize NAC genes was performed in this study. A total of 157 non-redundant maize NAC genes including seven membrane-bound members were identified and found to be unevenly distributed on 10 maize chromosomes. Motif composition analysis indicated that the maize NAC proteins share three relatively conserved motifs in the NAC domain within the N-terminal region. Phylogenetic analysis of 157 maize NAC proteins accompanied by 117 NAC proteins from Arabidopsis and 151 from rice were presented. The NAC proteins evaluated were divided into two large groups including 18 subgroups. Gene duplication analysis indicated that gene loss occurred during maize evolution. Seven NAC members that belong to the same clade of maize NAC domain genes were isolated, and overlapping expression patterns were observed under various abiotic stresses, including low temperature, high salinity and dehydration, and phytohormone abscisic acid treatments. This suggested that NAC members function as stress-responsive transcription factors in ABA-dependent signaling pathways. Relatively higher expression levels of these selected maize NAC genes were detected in roots. The stress responsive NAC genes may have applications in molecular breeding to improve crop stress tolerance.

[Debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation via anterior approach for the treatment of tuberculosis of lower cervical vertebrae].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effects of debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation via anterior approach in treatment of tuberculosis of lower cervical vertebrae. METHODS: The clinical data of 15 patients with tuberculosis of lower cervical vertebrae who accepted the treatment of one-stage debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation from June 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 6 females, aged from 39 to 72 years with an average of (54.67±10.75) years. The lesion segment was C4 to C6. Pre- and post-operative neurologic functions were evaluated by ASIA grade. All the patients underwent the X-ray films of positive and lateral of cervical spine before and after the operation and accepted the periodic review of CT to evaluate the bone grafting. RESULTS: All the 15 operations were successful, no neurological or vascular injury occurred during the operation, and all patients were followed up for 18 to 52 months. The clinical symptoms improved significantly during the follow-up period and CT showed good bone grafting fusion. One patient suffered a relapse of the illness 3 years later, but was healed during the follow-up visit by strengthening the anti tuberculosis therapy. CONCLUSION: For the patients with vertebral destruction and loss of cervical stability, one-stage debridement and bone grafting with internal fixation via anterior approach has definite curative effects. On the basis of standard anti tuberculosis treatment before operation, the long-term standard anti-tuberculosis treatment after operation is the key to healing the tuberculosis of lower cervical vertebrae.

Corrigendum to "An Ash1-Like Protein MoKMT2H Null Mutant Is Delayed for Conidium Germination and Pathogenesis in Magnaporthe oryzae".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2016/1575430.].

An Ash1-Like Protein MoKMT2H Null Mutant Is Delayed for Conidium Germination and Pathogenesis in Magnaporthe oryzae.

Ash1 is a known H3K36-specific histone demethylase that is required for normal Hox gene expression and fertility in Drosophila and mammals. However, little is known about the expression and function of the fungal ortholog of Ash1 in phytopathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Here we report that MoKMT2H, an Ash1-like protein, is required for conidium germination and virulence in rice. We obtained MoKMT2H null mutant (ΔMoKMT2H) using a target gene replacement strategy. In the ΔMoKMT2H null mutants, global histone methyltransferase modifications (H3K4me3, H3K9me3, H3K27me3, and H3K36me2/3) of the genome were unaffected. The ΔMoKMT2H mutants showed no defect in vegetative hyphal growth, conidium morphology, conidiation, or disease lesion formation on rice leaves. However, the MoKMT2H deletion mutants were delayed for conidium germination and consequently had decreased virulence. Taken together, our results indicated that MoKMT2H plays an important role in conidium germination during appressorium formation in the rice blast fungus and perhaps other pathogenic plant fungi.

[Application of bone flap pedicled on retrograde branch of radial artery for treatment of old scaphoid bone fractures of type AO-B].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate application of the bone flap pedicled on the retrograde branch of radial artery for treatment of old scaphoid bone fractures of type AO-B. METHODS: From October 2007 to October 2011,41 patients with old scaphoid bone fractures of type AO-B were treated by transplantation of the bone flap pedicled on the retrograde branch of radial artery including 26 males and 15 females with an average of (27.3±4.5) years old ranging from 16 to 43 years old. The courses before operation ranged from 6 to 22 months with an average of 11 months. All fractures belonged to the type B of AO classification, that is old wrist fracture of scaphoid bone. All patients' wrist function (pain, function, motion, grip strength) were evaluated by Cooney's modifiedwrist scoring system before and 6 months after operation,and the conditions of bone healing were observed during the follow-up time. RESULTS: Among them, 36 patients were followed up from 4 to 15 months with an average of 8.3 months. The wounds were healed well without other complications as infection appearing. X-rays or CT confirmed that all fractures were healed completely. The Cooney wrist score was improved from preoperative 53.61±13.97 to postoperative 81.81±8.71 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The operation of transplantation of the bone flap pedicled on the retrograde branch of radial artery is an effective method to treat old scaphoid bone fractures,which is scientific and has curative effects, and valuable for clinical application.

[Reconstruction of calcaneal thalamus and subtalar arthrodesis to treat old antiquated intra-articular calcaneal fractures of Sanders type III].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the outcome of treatment for serious old intra-articular calcaneal fracture by reconstruction of calcaneal thalamus and subtalar arthrodesis and to summarize the operative indications and its attention points. METHODS: From March 2006 to July 2011,26 patients with Sanders type III old intra-articular calcaneal fracture were treated including 15 males and 11 females with an average age of 34 years old ranging from 27 to 45 years old. The clinical courses ranged from 7 to 24 months with an average of 18 months. Before the operation,X-ray and CT showed that Gissane angle increased while Böhler angle decreased,and calcaneus broadened,bulging on both sides. After the operations,all patients tested by imaging examination, and the width of calcaneus, the height of calcaneal thalamus, the Böhler angle and Gissane angle were measured to compare with the preoperative data. Besides, for identification of improvement of the operation,the functions of patient's feet after the operation were graded according to AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale to compare with preoperative data. RESULTS: Among them, 24 patients were followed-up from 5 to 26 months with an average of 19 months. X-rays confirmed that all cases healed successfully. There were no serious infection, and only one skin necrosis case. Sural neurocutaneous island flap was used to repair the skin with success. According to AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, the total score increased from preoperative (41.00 +/- 8.22) to postoperative (79.04 +/- 7.46). There were 3 cases of excellent result, 15 cases of good result,and 6 cases of fair result. Postoperative width of calcaneus, the height of thalamus, Böhler angle and Gissane angle were better than that of preoperative data, and had statistical significance between two groups. CONCLUSION: Subtalar arthrodesis with the reconstruction of calcaneal thalamus is an effective way to treat old intra-articular calcaneal fractures. It can correct the calcaneal deformity, restore the shape of foot and improve the function of hind foot.

Influx of extracellular Ca2+ involved in jasmonic-acid-induced elevation of [Ca2+]cyt and JR1 expression in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The changes in cytosolic Ca2+ levels play important roles in the signal transduction pathways of many environmental and developmental stimuli in plants and animals. We demonstrated that the increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) of Arabidopsis thaliana leaf cells was induced by exogenous application of jasmonic acid (JA). The elevation of [Ca2+]cyt was detected within 1 min after JA treatment by the fluorescence intensity using laser scanning confocal microscopy, and the elevated level of fluorescence was maintained during measuring time. With pretreatment of nifedipine (Nif), a nonpermeable L-type channel blocker, the fluorescence of [Ca2+]cyt induced by JA was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, verapamil, another L-type channel blocker, had no significant effect. Furthermore, Nif repressed JA-induced gene expression of JR1 but verapamil did not. JA-induced gene expression could be mimicked by higher concentration of extracellular Ca2+. W-7 [N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide], an antagonist of calmodulin (CaM), blocked the JA induction of JR1 expression while W-5 [N-(6-aminohexyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide], its inactive antagonist, had no apparent effect. These data provide the evidence that the influx of extracellular Ca2+ through Nif sensitive plasma membrane Ca2+ channel may be responsible for JA-induced elevation of [Ca2+]cyt and downstream gene expression, CaM may be also involved in JA signaling pathway.