Genome sequencing reveals the genetic architecture of heterostyly and domestication history of common buckwheat.

Common buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum, is an orphan crop domesticated in southwest China that exhibits heterostylous self-incompatibility. Here we present chromosome-scale assemblies of a self-compatible F. esculentum accession and a self-compatible wild relative, Fagopyrum homotropicum, together with the resequencing of 104 wild and cultivated F. esculentum accessions. Using these genomic data, we report the roles of transposable elements and whole-genome duplications in the evolution of Fagopyrum. In addition, we show that (1) the breakdown of heterostyly occurs through the disruption of a hemizygous gene jointly regulating the style length and female compatibility and (2) southeast Tibet was involved in common buckwheat domestication. Moreover, we obtained mutants conferring the waxy phenotype for the first time in buckwheat. These findings demonstrate the utility of our F. esculentum assembly as a reference genome and promise to accelerate buckwheat research and breeding.

Association between facility-level adherence to phosphorus management guidelines and mortality in haemodialysis patients: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between facility-level adherence to phosphorus management guidelines and mortality among patients with haemodialysis, and to explore the facility-related factors associated with facility-level guideline adherence. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Pattern Study, which included 57 representative dialysis facilities in Japan between 2012 and 2015. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2054 adult patients who received maintenance haemodialysis were included. We defined exposure according to the following four categories, depending on whether facility-level target ranges of serum phosphorus concentration adhered to the Japanese clinical practice guidelines: adherence group (lower limit ≥3.5 mg/dL and upper limit ≤6.0 mg/dL), low-target group (lower limit <3.5 and upper limit ≤6.0), wide-target group (lower limit <3.5 and upper limit >6.0) and high-target group (lower limit ≥3.5 and upper limit >6.0). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was the patient all-cause mortality rate. RESULTS: The mortality rate among the patients was 7.3 per 100 person-years; 27 facilities (47%) set targets according to the guidelines. HRs for mortality with reference to the adherence group were 1.04 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.43) in the low-target group, 1.11 (95% CI 0.68 to 1.81) in the wide-target group and 1.95 (95% CI 1.12 to 3.38) in the high-target group. Involvement of dieticians in dialysis treatment was associated with facility-level guideline adherence (OR 4.51; 95% CI 1.15 to 17.7). CONCLUSIONS: A higher facility-level target range for phosphorus was associated with increased patient mortality. Among facilities that set the target according to the guidelines, dieticians tended to be involved in dialysis care. These findings suggest the importance of reviewing facilities' treatment policies in relation to updated guidelines and the need to work with relevant professionals.

Construction of an artificial system for ambrein biosynthesis and investigation of some biological activities of ambrein.

Ambergris, a sperm whale metabolite, has long been used as a fragrance and traditional medication, but it is now rarely available. The odor components of ambergris result from the photooxidative degradation of the major component, ambrein. The pharmacological activities of ambergris have also been attributed to ambrein. However, efficient production of ambrein and odor compounds has not been achieved. Here, we constructed a system for the synthesis of ambrein and odor components. First, we created a new triterpene synthase, "ambrein synthase," for mass production of ambrein by redesigning a bacterial enzyme. The ambrein yields were approximately 20 times greater than those reported previously. Next, an efficient photooxidative conversion system from ambrein to a range of volatiles of ambergris was established. The yield of volatiles was 8-15%. Finally, two biological activities, promotion of osteoclast differentiation and prevention of amyloid ß-induced apoptosis, were discovered using the synthesized ambrein.

Nephrology pre-dialysis care affects the psychological adjustment, not only blood pressure, anemia, and phosphorus control.

Several studies have suggested that pre-dialysis care is associated with clinical outcomes. However, little has been reported on the influence of pre-dialysis care on the psychological adjustment to dialysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of pre-dialysis care on psychological adjustment to dialysis and clinical characteristics. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 52 patients who started hemodialysis at our hospital. They were divided into two groups according to the time of referral to our hospital: the early referral group (over 1 year prior to first dialysis: 19 patients, mean age 69.3 ± 11.1) and the late referral group (within 1 year prior to first dialysis: 33 patients, mean age 72.3 ± 8.9). We measured the clinical characteristics and evaluated the psychological adjustment to dialysis by Shontz's stage theory. Compared with the late referral group, the early referral group had a significantly better clinical characteristics concerning blood pressure (140.2 ± 23.7 vs. 156.9 ± 23.3 mmHg, P = 0.0150), hemoglobin (10.3 ± 1.5 vs. 9.4 ± 1.0 g/dL, P = 0.0078), and phosphorus (4.5 ± 1.5 vs. 5.5 ± 1.3 mg/dL, P = 0.0166). In addition, psychological adjustment to dialysis evaluated by Shontz's stage theory was significantly better in the early referral group (P = 0.017). Our results indicate that nephrology pre-dialysis care affects not only blood pressure, anemia, and phosphorus control but also the psychological adjustment to dialysis.