Effects of Potassium-Containing Fertilizers on Sugar and Organic Acid Metabolism in Grape Fruits.

To identify suitable potassium fertilizers for grape (Vitis vinifera L.) production and study their mechanism of action, the effects of four potassium-containing fertilizers (complex fertilizer, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate) on sugar and organic acid metabolism in grape fruits were investigated. Potassium-containing fertilizers increased the activity of sugar and organic acid metabolism-related enzymes at all stages of grape fruit development. During the later stages of fruit development, potassium-containing fertilizers increased the total soluble solid content and the sugar content of the different sugar fractions and decreased the titratable acid content and organic acid content of the different organic acid fractions. At the ripening stage of grape fruit, compared with the control, complex fertilizer, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate increased the total soluble solid content by 1.5, 1.2, 3.5, and 3.4 percentage points, decreased the titratable acid content by 0.09, 0.06, 0.18, and 0.17 percentage points, respectively, and also increased the total potassium content in grape fruits to a certain degree. Transcriptome analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the berries showed that applying potassium-containing fertilizers enriched the genes in pathways involved in fruit quality, namely, carbon metabolism, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and fructose and mannose metabolism. Potassium-containing fertilizers affected the expression levels of genes regulating sugar metabolism and potassium ion uptake and transport. Overall, potassium-containing fertilizers can promote sugar accumulation and reduce acid accumulation in grape fruits, and potassium sulfate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate had the best effects among the fertilizers tested.

Water extract of Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) Hara straw increases selenium accumulation in peach seedlings under selenium-contaminated soil.

To promote the selenium (Se) uptakes in fruit trees under Se-contaminated soil, the effects of water extract of Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) Hara straw on the Se accumulation in peach seedlings under selenium-contaminated soil were studied. The results showed that the root biomass, chlorophyll content, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and soluble protein content of peach seedlings were increased by the F. dibotrys straw extract. The different forms of Se (total Se, inorganic Se, and organic Se) were also increased in peach seedlings following treatment with the F. dibotrys straw extract. The highest total shoot Se content was treated by the 300-fold dilution of F. dibotrys straw, which was 30.87% higher than the control. The F. dibotrys straw extract also increased the activities of adenosine triphosphate sulfurase (ATPS), and adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate reductase (APR) in peach seedlings, but decreased the activity of serine acetyltransferase (SAT). Additionally, correlation and grey relational analyses revealed that chlorophyll a content, APR activity, and root biomass were closely associated with the total shoot Se content. Overall, this study shows that the water extract of F. dibotrys straw can promote Se uptake in peach seedlings, and 300-fold dilution is the most suitable concentration.

The water extract of Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) Hara straw promoted the selenium (Se) uptake in peach seedlings under selenium-contaminated soil. The concentration of F. dibotrys straw extract showed a quadratic polynomial regression relationship with the total root and shoot Se. Furthermore, chlorophyll a content, APR activity, and root biomass were closely associated with the total shoot Se. This study shows that water extract of F. dibotrys straw can promote Se uptake in peach seedlings, and 300-fold dilution is the most suitable concentration.

Methylation of AcGST1 Is Associated with Anthocyanin Accumulation in the Kiwifruit Outer Pericarp.

Most red-fleshed kiwifruit cultivars, such as Hongyang, only accumulate anthocyanins in the inner pericarp; the trait of full red flesh becomes the goal pursued by breeders. In this study, we identified a mutant "H-16" showing a red color in both the inner and outer pericarps, and the underlying mechanism was explored. Through transcriptome analysis, a key differentially expressed gene AcGST1 was screened out, which was positively correlated with anthocyanin accumulation in the outer pericarp. The result of McrBC-PCR and bisulfite sequencing revealed that the SG3 region (-292 to -597 bp) of AcGST1 promoter in "H-16" had a significantly lower CHH cytosine methylation level than that in Hongyang, accompanied by low expression of methyltransferase genes (MET1 and CMT2) and high expression of demethylase genes (ROS1 and DML1). Transient calli transformation confirmed that demethylase gene DML1 can activate transcription of AcGST1 to enhance its expression. Overexpression of AcGST1 enhanced the anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit flesh and leaves of the transgenic lines. These results suggested that a decrease in the methylation level of the AcGST1 promoter may contribute to accumulation of anthocyanin in the outer pericarp of "H-16".

Effect of abscisic acid on selenium uptake and growth of Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings under selenium stress.

Improvement of selenium (Se) uptake in fruit tree can improve the source of food Se for humans. In this study, the effect of various abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations on the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings was studied under Se stress. Only the concentration of 20 µmol/L ABA promoted the growth of C. betacea seedlings by increasing the biomass and regulating the resistance physiology under Se stress. ABA also increased the Se content in C. betacea seedlings under Se stress. The concentration of ABA at 20 µmol/L got the maximum root Se and shoot Se contents, which increased by 76.64% and 55.83%, respectively, compared with the control. Correlation and grey relational analyses showed that the peroxidase activity and proline content had the first two closest relationship with the shoot Se content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress, and the concentration of 20 µmol/L ABA is the optimum for Se uptake and growth of C. betacea.

Under selenium (Se) stress, abscisic acid (ABA) promotes the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings, but only the concentration of 20 µmol/L ABA promotes the growth of C. betacea seedlings. The shoot Se content is most closely correlated with the peroxidase activity and proline content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress.

Melatonin Promotes Iron Reactivation and Reutilization in Peach Plants under Iron Deficiency.

The yellowing of leaves due to iron deficiency is a prevalent issue in peach production. Although the capacity of exogenous melatonin (MT) to promote iron uptake in peach plants has been demonstrated, its underlying mechanism remains ambiguous. This investigation was carried out to further study the effects of exogenous MT on the iron absorption and transport mechanisms of peach (Prunus persica) plants under iron-deficient conditions through transcriptome sequencing. Under both iron-deficient and iron-supplied conditions, MT increased the content of photosynthetic pigments in peach leaves and decreased the concentrations of pectin, hemicellulose, cell wall iron, pectin iron, and hemicellulose iron in peach plants to a certain extent. These effects stemmed from the inhibitory effect of MT on the polygalacturonase (PG), cellulase (Cx), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and cinnamoyl-coenzyme A reductase (CCR) activities, as well as the promotional effect of MT on the cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase (C4H) activity, facilitating the reactivation of cell wall component iron. Additionally, MT increased the ferric-chelate reductase (FCR) activity and the contents of total and active iron in various organs of peach plants under iron-deficient and iron-supplied conditions. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) linked to iron metabolism in MT-treated peach plants were primarily enriched in the aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis pathway under iron-deficient conditions. Furthermore, MT influenced the expression levels of these DEGs, regulating cell wall metabolism, lignin metabolism, and iron translocation within peach plants. Overall, the application of exogenous MT promotes the reactivation and reutilization of iron in peach plants.

Association between questionnaire-based and accelerometer-based physical activity and the incidence of chronic kidney disease using data from UK Biobank: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Prior studies on the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and physical activity (PA) mainly relied on subjective PA data and rarely considered the genetic risk. This study aims to thoroughly investigate this relationship by utilizing both accelerometer-measured and questionnaire-measured PA data. Methods: This prospective cohort study encompasses two cohorts from the UK Biobank. The questionnaire-based cohort involves 448,444 CKD-free participants who completed an International Physical Activity Questionnaire between 2006 and 2010 and had genetic data. PA was categorized into distinct activities: leisure, housework, job-related, and transportation. The accelerometer-based cohort involves 89,296 CKD-free participants who provided a full week of accelerometer-based physical activity data between 2013 and 2015 and had genetic data. PA was classified as light-intensity, moderate-intensity, vigorous-intensity, moderate to vigorous-intensity PA (LPA, MPA, VPA, MVPA), and total PA. Incident CKD was ascertained from linked hospital inpatient and death records. Genetic risk was assessed using polygenic risk scores. Cox proportional hazard models with restricted cubic splines were used for the analysis. Findings: In the questionnaire-based cohort, 18,184 (4.05%) participants developed CKD during 13.6 years of follow-up. Engaging in strenuous sports, other exercises, walking for pleasure, stair climbing, and heavy DIY were associated with a reduced risk of CKD. In the accelerometer-based cohort, 2297 (2.57%) participants developed CKD during 7.9 years of follow-up. Higher levels [highest quartile vs lowest quartile] of MPA (HR 0.639, 95% CI 0.554-0.737), VPA (HR 0.639, 95% CI 0.549-0.745), MVPA (HR 0.630, 95% CI 0.545-0.729), and total PA (HR 0.649, 95% CI 0.563-0.750) were associated with a lower CKD risk. There were significant interactions between MPA and genetic risk on the risk of CKD incidence (P for interaction = 0.025). A linear dose-response relationship was observed between MPA, total PA, and the risk of CKD incidence with no minimal or maximal threshold. These associations are robust in different subgroups and a series of sensitivity analyses. Interpretation: Engaging in multiple types of PA and higher levels of total PA, MPA, VPA, and MVPA may be associated with a lower risk of developing CKD, regardless of genetic risk. This finding holds substantial implications for clinical approaches to CKD prevention and provides evidence to inform future PA guideline development. Funding: Medical Science Advancement Program of Wuhan University, and the National Science Foundation of China.

Effects of exogenous melatonin on sugar and organic acid metabolism in early-ripening peach fruits.

To evaluated the effects melatonin (MT) on the sugar and acid metabolism of early-ripening peach fruits, the concentration of 150 µmol/L MT was sprayed on the leaves of peach trees. MT increased the contents of total soluble sugar and sucrose in peach fruits during the whole ripening period, and increased the contents of glucose and sorbitol at the mature stage. During the whole ripening period, MT also increased the activities of sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase, neutral invertase, and acidic invertase and the relative expression levels of sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase, neutral invertase, and acidic invertase genes, while decreased the activity of sorbitol oxidase and the relative expression level of sorbitol dehydrogenase to some extent. Moreover, MT decreased the contents of total organic acid, malic acid, and citric acid at mature stage. At mature stage, MT decreased the activities of citrate synthetase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and the relative expression levels of citrate synthetase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase genes, while increased the relative expression levels of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+)-malic enzyme, malate dehydrogenase, and aconitase genes. Therefore, MT promotes the sugar accumulation and organic acid degradation in early-ripening peach fruits.

Comparative analysis of the phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of different parts of two pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Cultivars: 'Tunisia' and 'Qingpi'.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), with its abundant phenolic substances and strong antioxidant activity, holds significant research and utilization potential across various organs. However, there have been few studies on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of different parts of pomegranate, especially the placenta. This study investigated the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of fruits, flowers, and leaves of two pomegranate varieties, 'Tunisia' and 'Qingpi', throughout their growth and development. Results indicated significant variations in phenolic content among different organs, with petals exhibiting the highest total polyphenol content (TPC, 49.40 mg GAE/g FW) and total anthocyanin content (TMAC, 1938.54 nmol/g FW). Placenta contained the highest levels of total flavonoids (TFC, 173.58 mg RE/g FW) and punicalagin (109.30 mg/g FW). The peel had the highest content of total flavanols (TFAC, 19.42 mg CE/g FW). Over the course of pomegranate development, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total flavanols, punicalagin, and antioxidant activity declined in different organs. Antioxidant activity followed the order: fruit > flower > leaf, with the placenta exhibiting the highest antioxidant activity among fruits. Antioxidant activity showed a significant positive correlation with total polyphenols (R2 = 0.77-1.00), total flavonoids (R2 = 0.71-0.99, except tegmens), and punicalagin (R2 = 0.71-1.00). This study provides a comparative analysis of the phenolic content and antioxidant activity in different organs of pomegranate, highlighting the placenta as the primary source of punicalagin. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of pomegranate phenolic compounds.

Transcriptome Profiles Reveal the Promoting Effects of Exogenous Melatonin on Fruit Softening of Chinese Plum.

In this study, we investigated the effect of exogenous melatonin (MT) on cell wall metabolism leading to Chinese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) fruit softening. Exogenous MT treatment increased the endogenous MT content in plum fruits before fruit ripening. However, in mature plum fruits, exogenous MT treatment decreased the fruit hardness, pulp hardness, fruit elasticity, contents of ion-bound pectin, covalently-bound pectin, hemicellulose, and cellulose, and activities of xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase and endo-ß-1,4-glucanase, and increased the water-soluble pectin content, and activities of pectin methyl esterase, pectin lyase, polygalacturonase, ß-galactopyranosidase, and α-L-arabinofuranosidase. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with cell wall metabolism in the exogenous MT-treated plum fruits were mainly enriched in the pentose and glucuronate interconversions, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, cyanoamino acid metabolism, and galactose metabolism pathways. Analysis of these DEGs revealed that exogenous MT treatment affected the expression of genes regulating the cell wall metabolism. Overall, exogenous MT treatment promotes the fruit softening of Chinese plum.

Foliar application of salicylic acid inhibits the cadmium uptake and accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

Introduction: Salicylic acid (SA) is a multi-functional endogenous phytohormone implicated in the growth, development, and metabolism of many plant species. Methods: This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of SA (0, 25, 100, 200, and 500 mg/L) on the growth and cadmium (Cd) content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under Cd stress. The different concentrations of SA treatments were administered through foliar application. Results: Our results showed that 100-200 mg/L SA significantly increased the plant height and biomass of lettuce under Cd stress. When SA concentration was 200 mg/L, the plant height and root length of lettuce increased by 19.42% and 22.77%, respectively, compared with Cd treatment alone. Moreover, 200 mg/L and 500mg/L SA concentrations could reduce peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities caused by Cd stress. When the concentration of exogenous SA was 500 mg/L, the POD and SOD activities of lettuce leaves decreased by 15.51% and 19.91%, respectively, compared with Cd treatment. A certain concentration of SA reduced the uptake of Cd by the lettuce root system and the transport of Cd from the lettuce root system to shoots by down-regulating the expression of Nramp5, HMA4, and SAMT, thus reducing the Cd content of lettuce shoots. When the concentration of SA was 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 500 mg/L, the Cd contents of lettuce shoots were 11.28%, 22.70%, and 18.16%, respectively, lower than that of Cd treatment alone. Furthermore, principal component and correlation analyses showed that the Cd content of lettuce shoots was correlated with plant height, root length, biomass, antioxidant enzymes, and the expression level of genes related to Cd uptake. Discussion: In general, these results provide a reference for the mechanism by which SA reduces the Cd accumulation in vegetables and a theoretical basis for developing heavy metal blockers with SA components.

Genome-wide identification of the AcMADS-box family and functional validation of AcMADS32 involved in carotenoid biosynthesis in Actinidia.

MADS-box is a large transcription factor family in plants and plays a crucial role in various plant developmental processes; however, it has not been systematically analyzed in kiwifruit. In the present study, 74 AcMADS genes were identified in the Red5 kiwifruit genome, including 17 type-I and 57 type-II members according to the conserved domains. The AcMADS genes were randomly distributed across 25 chromosomes and were predicted to be mostly located in the nucleus. A total of 33 fragmental duplications were detected in the AcMADS genes, which might be the main force driving the family expansion. Many hormone-associated cis-acting elements were detected in the promoter region. Expression profile analysis showed that AcMADS members had tissue specificity and different responses to dark, low temperature, drought, and salt stress. Two genes in the AG group, AcMADS32 and AcMADS48, had high expression levels during fruit development, and the role of AcMADS32 was further verified by stable overexpression in kiwifruit seedlings. The content of α-carotene and the ratio of zeaxanthin/ß-carotene was increased in transgenic kiwifruit seedlings, and the expression level of AcBCH1/2 was significantly increased, suggesting that AcMADS32 plays an important role in regulating carotenoid accumulation. These results have enriched our understanding of the MADS-box gene family and laid a foundation for further research of the functions of its members during kiwifruit development.

The association of apolipoprotein B with chronic kidney disease in the Chinese population.

Background: Whether serum apolipoprotein B (ApoB) is a risk factor for the development of Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not been fully established in the general population. Therefore, our study evaluated the correlation between serum ApoB level and CKD to look for an alternative approach for CKD prevention and treatment in the general population. Methods: There were 146,533 participants in this cross-sectional study. 3,325 participants with more than 2 measurements were enrolled in the retrospective longitudinal study with at least a 3-year follow-up. ApoB was measured by the immunoturbidimetric method in 6 centers. Our study defined CKD as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2. The Spearman rank correlation analysis and the Random Forest algorithm were applied to rank the importance of variables determining the levels of eGFR. We used the logistic regression model to explain the correlation between serum ApoB and CKD. We used the Cox model to detect the correlation between baseline serum ApoB and the subsequent occurrence of CKD. Results: Based on a cross-sectional study, 66.5% of the participants were males, with a median age of 49 (interquartile range [IQR] 43-55). Compared to the non-CKD group, the CKD group has higher levels of lipid profile and fasting glucose as well as the proportion of hypertension and hyperuricemia. The Spearman rank correlation analysis and the Random Forest algorithm revealed that ApoB has the highest correlation with eGFR decline among lipid profiles. The logistic regression analysis revealed that ApoB had a positive correlation with the prevalence of CKD after fully controlling confounders (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.11). Moreover, baseline ApoB level was correlated with a new-onset CKD in the longitudinal cohort after full adjustment for confounding factors (hazard ratio [HR], 1.61; 95% CI: 1.02-2.54). The correlation between ApoB level and the new-onset CKD was consistently observed in all sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: Serum ApoB had the strongest correlation with CKD among all lipid variables. Moreover, high serum ApoB levels might precede the occurrence of CKD, suggesting that monitoring and reducing serum ApoB levels may provide an alternative method to prevent and treat CKD.

AcMADS32 positively regulates carotenoid biosynthesis in kiwifruit by activating AcBCH1/2 expression.

Fruits provide abundant carotenoid nutrients for humans, whereas the understanding of the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of carotenoids in fruits is still limited. Here, we identified a transcription factor AcMADS32 in kiwifruit, which was highly expressed in the fruit, correlated with carotenoid content and localized in the nucleus. The silencing expression of AcMADS32 significantly reduced the content of ß-carotene and zeaxanthin and expression of ß-carotene hydroxylase gene AcBCH1/2 in kiwifruit, while transient overexpression increased the accumulation of zeaxanthin, suggesting that AcMADS32 was an activator involved in the transcriptional regulation of carotenoid in fruit. When AcMADS32 was further stably transformed into kiwifruit, the content of total carotenoid and components in the leaves of transgenic lines significantly increased, and the expression level of carotenogenic genes was up-regulated. Moreover, Y1H and dual luciferase reporter experiments confirmed that AcMADS32 directly bound the AcBCH1/2 promoter and activated its expression. Through Y2H assays, AcMADS32 can interact with other MADS transcription factor AcMADS30, AcMADS64 and AcMADS70. These findings will contribute to our understanding of the transcriptional regulation mechanisms underlying carotenoid biosynthesis in plants.

Association between one-year exposure to air pollution and the prevalence of pulmonary nodules in China.

PM2.5is a well-known airborne hazard to cause various diseases. Evidence suggests that air pollution exposure contributes to the occurrence of pulmonary nodules. Pulmonary nodules detected on the computed tomography scans can be malignant or progress to malignant during follow-up. But the evidence of the association between PM2.5exposure and pulmonary nodules was limited. To examine potential associations of exposures to PM2.5and its major chemical constituents with the prevalence of pulmonary nodules. A total of 16 865 participants were investigated from eight physical examination centers in China from 2014 to 2017. The daily concentrations of PM2.5and its five components were estimated by high-resolution and high-quality spatiotemporal datasets of ground-level air pollutants in China. The logistic regression and the quantile-based g-computation models were used to assess the single and mixture impact of air pollutant PM2.5and its components on the risk of pulmonary nodules, respectively. Each 1 mg m-3increase in PM2.5(OR 1.011 (95% CI: 1.007-1.014)) was positively associated with pulmonary nodules. Among five PM2.5components, in single-pollutant effect models, every 1µg m-3increase in organic matter (OM), black carbon (BC), and NO3-elevated the risk of pulmonary nodule prevalence by 1.040 (95% CI: 1.025-1.055), 1.314 (95% CI: 1.209-1.407) and 1.021 (95% CI: 1.007-1.035) fold, respectively. In mixture-pollutant effect models, the joint effect of every quintile increase in PM2.5components was 1.076 (95% CI: 1.023-1.133) fold. Notably, NO3-BC and OM contributed higher risks of pulmonary nodules than other PM2.5components. And the NO3-particles were identified to have the highest contribution. The impacts of PM2.5components on pulmonary nodules were consistent across gender and age.These findings provide important evidence for the positive correlation between exposure to PM2.5and pulmonary nodules in China and identify that NO3-particles have the highest contribution to the risk.

Elevated methylmercury in Antarctic surface seawater: The role of phytoplankton mass and sea ice.

Methylmercury is a neurotoxin that is biomagnified in marine food webs. Its distribution and biogeochemical cycle in Antarctic seas are still poorly understood due to scarce studies. Here, we report the total methylmercury profiles (up to 4000 m) in unfiltered seawater (MeHgT) from the Ross Sea to the Amundsen Sea. We found high MeHgT levels in oxic unfiltered surface seawater (upper 50 m depth) in these regions. It was characterized by an obviously higher maximum concentration level of MeHgT (up to 0.44 pmol/L, at a depth of 3.35 m), which is higher than other open seas (including the Arctic Ocean, the North Pacific Ocean and the equatorial Pacific), and a high MeHgT average concentration in the summer surface water (SSW, 0.16 ± 0.12 pmol/ L). Further analyses suggest that the high phytoplankton mass and sea-ice fraction are important drivers of the high MeHgT level that we observed in the surface water. For the influence of phytoplankton, the model simulation showed that the uptake of MeHg by phytoplankton would not fully explain the high levels of MeHgT, and we speculated that high phytoplankton mass may emit more particulate organic matter as microenvironments that can sustain Hg in-situ methylation by microorganisms. The presence of sea-ice may not only harbor a microbial source of MeHg to surface water but also trigger increased phytoplankton mass, facilitating elevation of MeHg in surface seawater. This study provides insight into the mechanisms that impact the content and distribution of MeHgT in the Southern Ocean.

Lipoprotein(a) distribution and its association with carotid arteriopathy in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The distribution of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has not been well-studied in a large population in China. The relationship between Lp(a) and carotid atherosclerosis remains undefined. In this study, we aimed to investigate the distribution of Lp(a) levels and to assess their association with carotid arteriopathy in China. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 411,634 adults with Lp(a) measurements from 22 health check-up centers were used to investigate Lp(a) distribution in China. Among participants with Lp(a) data, carotid ultrasound was performed routinely at seven health check-up centers covering 75,305 subjects. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid plaque were used as surrogate biomarkers of carotid arteriopathy. The multivariate logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the association of increased Lp(a) levels with carotid arteriopathy. RESULTS: The distribution of Lp(a) concentrations was right-skewed, with a median concentration of 10.60 mg/dL. The proportions of Lp(a) levels ≥30 mg/dL and ≥50 mg/dL were 16.75% and 7.10%, respectively. The median Lp(a) level was higher in females individuals in northern China, and increased with age. Spearman's analysis revealed weak correlations between the Lp(a) concentration as a continuous variable and other lipid profiles. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that participants with Lp(a) levels ≥50 mg/dL had an increased risk of cIMT ≥1.0 mm (OR = 1.138, 95% CI, 1.071-1.208) and carotid plaque (OR = 1.296, 95% CI, 1.219-1.377) compared with those with Lp(a) levels <50 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of the Lp(a) distribution in a large population in China. Our findings revealed a positive association between elevated Lp(a) levels (≥50 mg/dL) and increased prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis, which implies an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in the future.

Association of the components of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and chronic kidney disease prevalence in China.

Previous research has implicated PM2.5 as a potential environmental risk factor for CKD, but little is known about the associations between its components and CKD. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study using the updated air pollution data in the nationwide population (N = 2,938,653). Using generalized additive models, we assessed the association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its components (i.e., black carbon [BC], organic matter [OM], nitrate [NO3-], ammonium [NH4+], sulfate [SO42-]), and CKD prevalence. The air pollution data was estimated using high-resolution and high-quality spatiotemporal datasets of ground-level air pollutants in China. Besides, we adopted a novel quantile-based g-computation approach to assess the effect of a mixture of PM2.5 constituents on CKD prevalence. The average concentration of PM2.5 was 78.67 ± 22.5 µg/m3, which far exceeded WHO AQG. In the fully adjusted generalized additive model, at a 10 km × 10 km spatial resolution, the ORs per IQR increase in previous 1-year average PM2.5 exposures was 1.380 (95%CI: 1.345-1.415), for NH4+ was 1.094 (95%CI: 1.062-1.126), for BC was 1.604 (95%CI: 1.563-1.646), for NO3- was 1.094 (95%CI: 1.060-1.130), for SO42- was 1.239 (95%CI: 1.208-1.272), and for the OM was 1.387 (95%CI: 1.354-1.421), respectively. Subgroup analysis showed females, younger, and healthier were more vulnerable to this effect. In the further exploration of the joint effect of PM2.5 compositions (OR 1.234 [95%CI 1.222-1.246]) per quartile increase in all 5 PM2.5 components, we found that PM2.5SO42- contributed the most. These findings provide important evidence for the positive relationship between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its chemical constituents and CKD prevalence in a Chinese health check-up population, and identified PM2.5SO42- has the highest contribution to this relationship. This study provides clinical and public health guidance for reducing specific air particle exposure for those at risk of CKD.

Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Constituents and Vascular Damage in a Population with Metabolic Abnormality in China.

AIM: To date, PM2.5-associated vascular damage in metabolic abnormalities has remained controversial. We knew little about the vascular damage of PM2.5 constituents. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and its constituents and vascular damage in metabolic abnormalities. METHODS: A total of 124,387 participants with metabolic abnormalities (defined as at least one metabolic disorder, such as obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated triglyceride level, elevated fasting glucose level, or low HDL cholesterol level) were recruited in this study from 11 representative centers in China between January 2011 and December 2017. PM2.5 and its constituents (black carbon [BC], organic matter [OM], sulfate [SO42-], nitrate [NO3-], and ammonium salts [NH4＋]) were extracted. Elevated brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) (≥ 1,400 cm/s) and declined ankle-brachial index (ABI) (＜0.9) indicated vascular damage. Multivariable logistic regression and Quantile g-Computation models were utilized to explore the impact on outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 124,387 participants (median age, 49 years), 87,870 (70.64%) were men. One-year lag exposure to PM2.5 and its constituents was significantly associated with vascular damage in single pollutant models. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for each 1-µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was 1.013 (95% CI, 1.012-1.015) and 1.031 (95% CI, 1.025-1.037) for elevated baPWV and decreased ABI, respectively. PM2.5 constituents were also associated with vascular damage in multi-pollutant models. Among the PM2.5 constituents, BC (47.17%), SO42- (33.59%), and NH4＋ (19.23%) have the highest contribution to elevated baPWV and NO3- (47.89%) and BC (23.50%) to declined ABI. CONCLUSION: Chronic exposure to PM2.5 and PM2.5 constituents was related to vascular damage in the abnormal metabolic population in China. The heterogeneous contribution of different PM2.5 constituents to vessel bed damage is worthy of attention when developing targeted strategies.

The nonlinear relationship between thyroid function parameters and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease.

Background: The relationship between thyroid function parameters and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) remains controversial. Additionally, little is known about the relationship between thyroid function parameters and MAFLD in the Chinese population. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study involving 177,540 individuals with thyroid function tests and MAFLD diagnosis from 2010-2018. The association between thyroid function parameters and MAFLD was evaluated on a continuous scale with restricted cubic spline (RCS) models and by the prior-defined centile categories with multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. Thyroid function parameters included free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetra-iodothyronine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Additionally, fully adjusted RCS models stratified by sex, age, and location were studied. Results: In the RCS models, the risk of MAFLD increased with higher levels of FT3 when FT3 <5.58pmol/L, while the risk of MAFLD decreased with higher levels of FT3 when FT3 ≥5.58pmol/L (P nonlinearity <0.05). While RCS analysis suggested that the FT4 levels had a negative association with MAFLD (P nonlinearity <0.05), indicating an increase in FT4 levels was associated with a decreased risk of MAFLD. RCS analysis suggested an overall positive association between the concentration of TSH and MAFLD risk (P nonlinearity <0.05). The rising slope was sharper when the TSH concentration was less than 1.79uIU/mL, which indicated the association between TSH and MAFLD risk was tightly interrelated within this range. The multivariable logistic regression showed that populations in the 81st-95th centile had the highest risk of MAFLD among all centiles of FT3/TSH, with the 1st-5th centile as the reference category. Conclusions: Our study suggested nonlinear relationships between thyroid function parameters and MAFLD. Thyroid function parameters could be additional modifiable risk factors apart from the proven risk factors to steer new avenues regarding MAFLD prevention and treatment.

Significant increases in Donghong kiwifruit yield by a novel umbrella-shaped trellis system and identification of associated molecular mechanisms.

China is the largest kiwifruit producer in the world, accounting for more than half of the total. However, in terms of yield per unit area, China is much lower than the global average and lags behind that of other countries. Yield improvement is of critical importance for the current kiwifruit industry in China. In this study, an improved overhead pergolas trellis (OPT) system, namely, the umbrella-shaped trellis (UST) system, was developed for Donghong kiwifruit, which is now the second most popular and widely cultivated red-fleshed kiwifruit in China. Surprisingly, the estimated yield on the UST system was more than two times higher than that with a traditional OPT, while the external fruit quality was maintained and the internal fruit quality was improved. One of the mechanisms contributing to the yield improvement was the significant promotion of the vegetative growth of canes at 6 ~ 10 mm in diameter by the UST system. The upper canopy of the UST treatment served as a natural shading condition for the lower fruiting canopy and thus had positive effects on the accumulation of chlorophylls and total carotenoids in the fruiting canopy. The most productive zones on the fruiting canes (6 ~ 10 mm in diameter) contained significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels of zeatin riboside (ZR) and auxin (IAA) and ratios of ZR/gibberellin (GA), ZR/abscisic acid (ABA), and ABA/GA. A relatively high carbon/nitrogen ratio may promote the flower bud differentiation process of Donghong kiwifruit. The outcomes of this study provide a scientific basis for manifold increase in production of kiwifruit and contribute to the sustainability of the kiwifruit industry.