Methyltransferase TaSAMT1 mediates wheat freezing tolerance by integrating brassinosteroid and salicylic acid signaling.

Cold injury is a major environmental stress affecting the growth and yield of crops. Brassinosteroids (BRs) and salicylic acid (SA) play important roles in plant cold tolerance. However, whether or how BR signaling interacts with the SA signaling pathway in response to cold stress is still unknown. Here, we identified an SA methyltransferase, TaSAMT1, that converts SA to methyl SA (MeSA) and confers freezing tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum). TaSAMT1 overexpression greatly enhanced wheat freezing tolerance, with plants accumulating more MeSA and less SA, whereas Tasamt1 knockout lines were sensitive to freezing stress and accumulated less MeSA and more SA. Spraying plants with MeSA conferred freezing tolerance to Tasamt1 mutants, but SA did not. We revealed that BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (TaBZR1) directly binds to the TaSAMT1 promoter and induces its transcription. Moreover, TaBZR1 interacts with the histone acetyltransferase TaHAG1, which potentiates TaSAMT1 expression via increased histone acetylation and modulates the SA pathway during freezing stress. Additionally, overexpression of TaBZR1 or TaHAG1 altered TaSAMT1 expression and improved freezing tolerance. Our results demonstrate a key regulatory node that connects the BR and SA pathways in the plant cold stress response. The regulatory factors or genes identified could be effective targets for the genetic improvement of freezing tolerance in crops.

Perceived parenting styles and incidence of major depressive disorder: results from a 6985 freshmen cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Even though a fair amount of studies focus on depression among college students, the effect of perceived parenting styles on the incidence of major depressive disorder (MDD) among representative freshmen in Chinese context is scarcely studied. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of parenting styles on MDD in Chinese freshmen. METHODS: A total of 9,928 Chinese freshmen were recruited in 2018. 6985 valid questionnaires were collected at one-year follow-up. Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 (CIDI-3.0) was used for the diagnosis of MDD. Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran (EMBU) questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used to assess parenting styles and baseline depressive symptoms, respectively. The associations between parenting styles and MDD incidence was analyzed with logistic regression. RESULTS: The incidence of MDD in freshmen was 2.23% (95%CI: 1.91-2.60%). Maternal overprotection (OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01-1.05) and disharmony relationship between parents (OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.42-3.89) increased the risk of new-onset MDD in freshmen, respectively. Mild depressive symptoms (OR = 2.06, 95%CI: 1.06-4.02), moderate (OR = 4.64, 95%CI: 2.55-8.44) and severe depressive symptoms (OR = 7.46, 95%CI: 2.71-20.52) at baseline increased the risk of new-onset MDD. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal overprotection, disharmony relationship between parents and baseline depressive symptoms are risk factors for new-onset MDD in Chinese freshmen.

Effects of negative life events on depression in middle school students: The chain-mediating roles of rumination and perceived social support.

Background: Negative life events in middle school students have a significant impact on depression. However, the mechanism of this association is not fully understood. This study used rumination and perceived social support as mediating variables to explore the influence of negative life events on depression. Materials and methods: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, a convenient sampling method was adopted to collect information about middle school students in Shandong Province by means of online questionnaire. Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List, Ruminative Responses Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale and Children's Depression Inventory were used. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were conducted for four variables of middle school students, including life events, depression, rumination thinking and perceived social support, and the chain mediated effect was tested by using process plug-in. All statistically analysis was conducted by SPSS 23.0. Results: 493 middle school students (16.7000 ± 0.9500 years) including 343 female students (69.6000%) from Shandong Province recruited. Results showed that the total effect between life events and depression was significant (effect = 0.2535, 95%CI: 0.2146, 0.2924). The total indirect effect was significant (effect = 0.1700, 95%CI: 0.1349, 0.2072). The indirect effect was significant (effect = 0.0988, 95%CI: 0.0741, 0.1252) with rumination as the mediating variable. The indirect effect of pathway with perceived social support as the mediating variable was significant (effect = 0.0476, 95%CI: 0.0295, 0.0674). The indirect effect of pathway with rumination and perceived social support as mediating variables was also significant (effect = 0.0236, 95%CI: 0.0147, 0.0339). Conclusion: This study indicated that ruminant thinking and perceived social support had a significant chain mediating effect on adolescents' life events and depression. Life events can not only directly affect depressive emotions, but also indirectly affect depressive emotions by affecting ruminant thinking and perceived social support. The results of this study not only provide new directions for the relationship between life events and depression, but also provide possible approaches for future prevention and intervention of depression in middle school students.

Histone acetyltransferase TaHAG1 interacts with TaPLATZ5 to activate TaPAD4 expression and positively contributes to powdery mildew resistance in wheat.

Plants have evolved a two-branched innate immune system to detect and cope with pathogen attack, which are initiated by cell-surface and intracellular immune receptors leading to pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI), respectively. A core transducer including PAD4-EDS1 node is proposed as the convergence point for a two-tiered immune system in conferring pathogen immunity. However, the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling expression of these key transducers remain largely unknown. Here, we identified histone acetyltransferase TaHAG1 as a positive regulator of powdery mildew resistance in wheat. TaHAG1 regulates expression of key transducer gene TaPAD4 and promotes SA and reactive oxygen species accumulation to accomplish resistance to Bgt infection. Moreover, overexpression and CRISPR-mediated knockout of TaPAD4 validate its role in wheat powdery mildew resistance. Furthermore, TaHAG1 physically interacts with TaPLATZ5, a plant-specific zinc-binding protein. TaPLATZ5 directly binds to promoter of TaPAD4 and together with TaHAG1 to potentiate the expression of TaPAD4 by increasing the levels of H3 acetylation. Our study revealed a key transcription regulatory node in which TaHAG1 acts as an epigenetic modulator and interacts with TaPLATZ5 that confers powdery mildew resistance in wheat through activating a convergence point gene between PTI and ETI, which could be effective for genetic improvement of disease resistance in wheat and other crops.

Gender-Specific Related Factors for Suicidal Ideation During COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown Among 5,175 Chinese Adolescents.

Background: Suicide was an urgent issue during the pandemic period in adolescents. However, few studies were focused on suicide during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 5,175 Chinese adolescents from June 9th to 29th in 2020 to investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation (SI) during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. A gender-specific stepwise logistic regression model was used. All analyses were performed with STATA 15.0. Results: About 3% of the participants had reported having SI during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. The prevalence of female SI (3.64%, 95% CI: 2.97-4.45%) was higher than that of males (2.39%, 95% CI: 1.88-3.05%) (χ2 = 6.87, p = 0.009). Quarreling with parents [odds ratio (OR) = 9.73, 95% CI: 5.38-17.59], insomnia (OR = 5.28, 95% CI: 2.81-9.93), previous suicide attempt history (OR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.69-8.03), previous SI history (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.30-6.06), and feeling depressed during pandemic lockdown (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.22-4.18) were positively associated with the males' SI. However, having emptiness inside (OR = 4.39, 95% CI: 2.19-8.79), quarreling with parents (OR = 3.72, 95% CI: 2.16-6.41), insomnia (OR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.85-5.80), feeling anxious (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.46-4.70), and longing for father's emotional warmth (OR = 0.38, 0.20-0.72) were associated mostly with females' SI. Conclusions: Female adolescents, who felt emptiness from their families and their fathers' emotional warmth, were at much higher risk of having SI during COVID-19 lockdown. We must specify a suicide prevention policy and interventions for adolescents in the pandemic crisis based on gender gaps.

The prevalence and incidence of major depressive disorder in 8079 Chinese university freshmen before and during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic may impact the prevalence and incidence of depression in college students. However, there is no longitudinal study focusing on major depressive disorder (MDD) before and during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cohort study was carried out among 8079 Chinese college freshmen. The baseline survey was conducted in 2018 (T0) and annual follow-ups were in 2019 (T1, before COVID-19) and in 2020 (T2, during COVID-19). CIDI-3.0 was used to diagnose MDD. Random effects logistic models of panel data analysis were used for the risk of MDD incidence. STATA 15.1 was used for all analysis. RESULTS: The weighted 12-month prevalence of MDD at T2 (2.10%) was significantly lower than that at T1 (2.67%) (p < 0.001). However, among students who reported exposure to the COVID-19 events, the annual prevalence of MDD at T2 was higher than that at T1 (4.21% vs. 2.79%, p < 0.001). The incidence from T0 to T1, incidence from T1 to T2, and the 2-year incidence was 2.23%, 1.34% and 3.75%, respectively. Only 8.93% of MDD students had chosen to seek professional help during the COVID-19 pandemic period. LIMITATIONS: The computer assisted CIDI may not be as sensitive and specific as the diagnosis made by a psychiatrist and may have caused report bias. CONCLUSIONS: Although the MDD incidence of college students was decreasing over time, the impact of the pandemic on student mental health may depend on exposure to COVID-19 events. Not seeking professional help in the Chinese college students is still an important issue.

The impact of physical conditions on the incidence of major depressive disorder in Chinese university students: Results from a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is prevalent, and highly comorbid with physical illnesses. Few longitudinal studies have investigated the relationship between physical health conditions and MDD. The objectives of this study were to investigate the comorbid relationship between physical conditions and MDD, and the association between physical conditions and the 2-year risk of MDD. METHODS: A study was conducted in first-year Chinese university students (n = 8,079) over two and half years, using a longitudinal design. An adapted version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI - 3.0) was used to assess for MDD. The presence of physician diagnosed physical conditions was assessed using ten self-report questions. Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between self-reported physical conditions and MDD were estimated, adjusting for possible confounders. RESULTS: The most frequently reported physical conditions were migraines, chronic rhinitis, and gastritis. We found that migraines, gastritis, and stomach ulcers were associated with a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of MDD than those without any physical health conditions. In those without a lifetime MDD, migraines, gastritis and stomach ulcers were also found to be significant predictors for 2-year risk of new onset MDD. LIMITATIONS: Recall and selection biases are possible when using self-reporting measures. Additionally, the COVID-19 outbreak impacted the response rate at the second follow-up assessment. Lastly, the severity of the physical conditions was not measured. CONCLUSIONS: Physical conditions and MDD are highly prevalent and comorbid in university students. Migraines, gastritis and stomach ulcers are associated with the risk of developing MDD. Future studies should further investigate how this information can be used to prevent MDD.

Gene-gene interaction and new onset of major depressive disorder: Findings from a Chinese freshmen nested case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The gene-gene interaction is known to be the genetic cause of major depressive disorder (MDD). Several genes have been found to be related to MDD. The objectives of this study were to verify the susceptibility genes of MDD in a sample of university students in China, and to investigate possible gene-gene interactions in relation to the risk of MDD. METHODS: 7,627 Chinese Han freshmen were enrolled at baseline survey in 2018. After a 2-year follow-up, 170 new onset MDD cases and 680 controls with DNA samples reserved were sequenced and genotyped for 4 selected Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in a nested case-control study (ratio of 1:4). Chi-square test was used to identify the relationships between SNPs and risk of MDD. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was used to analyze the gene-gene interactions. RESULTS: The 2-year incidence of MDD in Chinese college students was 3.75% (95% CI: 3.24%, 4.34%). There was no statistical difference in MDD incidences between males (3.74%, 95% CI: 3.12%, 4.49%) and females (3.77%, 95% CI: 2.97%, 4.78%) (p>0.05). TMEM161B (rs768705) was positively associated with new onset MDD (χ2 = 0.75, p = 0.023). The AG genotype of rs768705 was significant (OR=1.640, 95%CI:1.414-2.358). The gene-gene interaction between TMEM161B (rs768705) and LHPP (rs35936514) was statistically significant in this nested case-control study (p = 0.011). The CV consistency was 9/10 and the testing accuracy was 0.5274. LIMITATIONS: The results could not be inferred to other ethnics. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence that combined rs768705 (TMEM161B) and rs35936514 (LHPP) may modulate the risk of MDD.

The impact of self-efficacy on first onset and prognosis of major depressive disorder: findings from a longitudinal study in a sample of Chinese first-year university students.

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy is a pivotal factor in the etiology and prognosis of major depression. However, longitudinal studies on the relationship between self-efficacy and major depressive disorder (MDD) are scarce. The objectives were to investigate: (1) the associations between self-efficacy and the 1-year and 2-year risks of first onset of MDD and (2) the associations between self-efficacy and the 1-year and 2-year risks of the persistence/recurrence of MDD, in a sample of first-year university students. METHODS: We followed 8079 first-year university students for 2 years from April 2018 to October 2020. MDD was ascertained by the Chinese version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-3.0) based on self-report. Self-efficacy was measured by the 10-item General Self-efficacy (GSE) scale. Random effect logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the associations. RESULTS: Among participants without a lifetime MDD, the data showed that participants with high baseline GSE scores were associated with a higher risk of first onset of MDD over 2 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.08]. Among those with a lifetime MDD, participants with high baseline GSE scores were less likely to have had a MDD over 2 years (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.99) compared to others. CONCLUSIONS: A high level of GSE may be protective of the risk of persistent or recurrent MDD. More longitudinal studies in university students are needed to further investigate the impact of GSE on the first onset of MDD.

Negative life events increase the risk of suicidal ideation in 6653 Chinese freshmen: From a 1-year longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is one of the leading causes of juvenile death. Suicidal ideation (SI) is a strong predictor of suicide, while negative life events are associated with SI in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of negative life events on SI in a sample of Chinese freshmen. METHODS: The current study employed a cluster sampling method with 7118 freshmen at baseline and 6653 at follow-up. Negative life events were assessed by using the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Check List (ASLEC), and SI was assessed by a separate question for self-report. The PHQ-9 was used to measure depression at baseline. RESULTS: The incidence of suicidal ideation was 1.52% (95% CI: 1.22%-1.81%). Two dimensions of negative life events, interpersonal relationship and others were risk factors for SI, while female students were more susceptible to them. Consistently, interpersonal relationship and others were risk factors for SI in participants without depression and with mild depression. However, health & adaptation was found to be the only dimension of negative life events contributing to the risk of SI in participants with moderate, severe and extremely severe depression. LIMITATIONS: There may be recall bias in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Negative life events increase the risk of SI in college students. Female students are more susceptible to negative life events. The effect of different dimensions of negative life events on SI varies in participants with and without depression.

Associations between borderline personality disorder features and the risk of first onset major depressive disorder: Findings from a 2-year longitudinal study in a sample of first-year university students in China.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to estimate the associations between specific BPD features on the risk of first onset MDD over 2 years and to investigate the roles of sex, baseline depression and anxiety in the associations. METHODS: A longitudinal study of Chinese first-year university students aged between 15 and 24 years and who did not have a lifetime MDD (n = 7,627). Random effect logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the associations between specific BPD features, the number of BPD features, and the risk of MDD. RESULTS: The feeling of emptiness (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.57, 2.92), paranoid/ dissociation (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.82), affective instability (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.39) conferred significant risk of MDD. Baseline depression and anxiety interacted with unstable relationship, identity disturbance and paranoid/disassociation in relation to the risk of MDD. A higher number of BPD features is associated with an increased risk of MDD. LIMITATIONS: Data collection relied on self-report. Thus, recall and reporting biases are possible. Due to the pandemic public health restrictions, we had to change the method of data collection at second annual assessment, which resulted in a lower response rate (66.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Mental health professionals should pay attention to the presence of BPD features in youth and young adults, as they are at high risk of developing a MDD in a short time period, and the risk increases with the number of BDP features.

The Association Between Folate and Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of neurodegenerative disease leading to dementia in the elderly. Increasing evidence indicates that folate plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. To investigate the role of folate deficiency/possible deficiency in the risk of AD and the benefical effect of sufficient folate intake on the prevention of AD, a systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. The Web of Science, PubMed, CENTRAL, EBSCO, CNKI, CQVIP, and Wanfang databases were searched. The analysis of cross-sectional studies showed that the standardized mean difference (SMD) was -0.60 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.65, -0.55), indicating that plasma/serum folate level is lower in AD patients than that in controls. Moreover, the combined odds ratio (OR) of case-control studies was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93, 0.99), while the combined ORs were 0.86 (95% CI: 0.46, 1.26) and 1.94 (95% CI: 1.02, 2.86) in populations with normal levels of folate (≥13.5 nmol/L) and folate deficiency/possible deficiency (<13.5 nmol/L), respectively. In addition, the risk ratio (RR) of the cohort studies was 1.88 (95% CI: 1.20, 2.57) in populations with folate deficiency/possible deficiency. Furthermore, when the intake of folate was equal to or higher than the recommended daily allowance, the combined RR and hazard ratio (HR) were 0.44 (95% CI: 0.18, 0.71) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.99), respectively. These results indicate that folate deficiency/possible deficiency increases the risk for AD, while sufficient intake of folate is a protective factor against AD.

Antidepressants use and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at examining the effects of different antidepressants on the new onset of T2DM. METHODS: Systematic literature retrieval for cohort and case-control studies was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Clinical Trials Register of the Cochrane Collaboration and CENTRAL published from January 2000 to October 2020. Pooled estimates were calculated and subgroup analyses were conducted by a fixed or random effects model according to the heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Egger's test were performed to evaluate publication bias. Stata Version 15.1 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Thirty studies (24 cohort, 4 nested case-control and 2 case-control studies) were included covering 2,875,567 participants with the follow-up periods from 1 year to 18 years (Median=8.4 years). The pooled estimates of antidepressants use and new-onset T2DM were HR=1.24 (95% CI: 1.18, 1.31), RR=1.42 (95% CI: 0.99, 2.05) and OR=1.17 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.32), respectively. However, subgroup analyses showed that only tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) use was positively associated with the new onset of T2DM in both cohort studies (combined RR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.17, 1.65) and case-control studies (combined OR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.50). Moreover, the risk of T2DM was increased with the duration of antidepressants use in a linear trend (R2= 88.51%, P = 0.009). LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity might impact the results and inference. CONCLUSIONS: Antidepressants use might be a risk factor for the new onset of T2DM. Patients with long-term antidepressants use should be evaluated cautiously for T2DM risk. Routine T2DM screening is necessary in antidepressants users.