Arabidopsis Sec14 proteins (SFH5 and SFH7) mediate interorganelle transport of phosphatidic acid and regulate chloroplast development.

Lipids establish the specialized thylakoid membrane of chloroplast in eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms, while the molecular basis of lipid transfer from other organelles to chloroplast remains further elucidation. Here we revealed the structural basis of Arabidopsis Sec14 homology proteins AtSFH5 and AtSFH7 in transferring phosphatidic acid (PA) from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to chloroplast, and whose function in regulating the lipid composition of chloroplast and thylakoid development. AtSFH5 and AtSFH7 localize at both ER and chloroplast, whose deficiency resulted in an abnormal chloroplast structure and a decreased thickness of stacked thylakoid membranes. We demonstrated that AtSFH5, but not yeast and human Sec14 proteins, could specifically recognize and transfer PA in vitro. Crystal structures of the AtSFH5-Sec14 domain in complex with L-α-phosphatidic acid (L-α-PA) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphate (DPPA) revealed that two PA ligands nestled in the central cavity with different configurations, elucidating the specific binding mode of PA to AtSFH5, different from the reported phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)/phosphatidylcholine (PC)/phosphatidylinositol (PI) binding modes. Quantitative lipidomic analysis of chloroplast lipids showed that PA and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), particularly the C18 fatty acids at sn-2 position in MGDG were significantly decreased, indicating a disrupted ER-to-plastid (chloroplast) lipid transfer, under deficiency of AtSFH5 and AtSFH7. Our studies identified the role and elucidated the structural basis of plant SFH proteins in transferring PA between organelles, and suggested a model for ER-chloroplast interorganelle phospholipid transport from inherent ER to chloroplast derived from endosymbiosis of a cyanobacteriumproviding a mechanism involved in the adaptive evolution of cellular plastids.

Cytidinediphosphate diacylglycerol synthase-Mediated phosphatidic acid metabolism is crucial for early embryonic development of Arabidopsis.

Embryonic development is a key developmental event in plant sexual reproduction; however, regulatory networks of plant early embryonic development, particularly the effects and functional mechanisms of phospholipid molecules are still unknown due to the limitation of sample collection and analysis. We innovatively applied the microspore-derived in vitro embryogenesis of Brassica napus and revealed the dynamics of phospholipid molecules, especially phosphatidic acid (PA, an important second messenger that plays an important role in plant growth, development, and stress responses), at different embryonic developmental stages by using a lipidomics approach. Further analysis of Arabidopsis mutants deficiency of CDS1 and CDS2 (cytidinediphosphate diacylglycerol synthase, key protein in PA metabolism) revealed the delayed embryonic development from the proembryo stage, indicating the crucial effect of CDS and PA metabolism in early embryonic development. Decreased auxin level and disturbed polar localization of auxin efflux carrier PIN1 implicate that CDS-mediated PA metabolism may regulate early embryogenesis through modulating auxin transport and distribution. These results demonstrate the dynamics and importance of phospholipid molecules during embryo development, and provide informative clues to elucidate the regulatory network of embryogenesis.

Pyrophosphate-fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP1) regulates starch biosynthesis and seed development via heterotetramer formation in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Pyrophosphate-fructose 6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP1) reversibly converts fructose 6-phosphate and pyrophosphate to fructose 1, 6-bisphosphate and orthophosphate during glycolysis, and has diverse functions in plants. However, mechanisms underlying the regulation of starch metabolism by PFP1 remain elusive. This study addressed the function of PFP1 in rice floury endosperm and defective grain filling. Compared with the wild type, pfp1-3 exhibited remarkably low grain weight and starch content, significantly increased protein and lipid content, and altered starch physicochemical properties and changes in embryo development. Map-based cloning revealed that pfp1-3 is a novel allele and encodes the regulatory ß-subunit of PFP1 (PFP1ß). Measurement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) showed that mutation of PFP1ß markedly decreased its enzyme activity. PFP1ß and three of four putative catalytic α-subunits of PFP1, PFP1α1, PFP1α2, and PFP1α4, interacted with each other to form a heterotetramer. Additionally, PFP1ß, PFP1α1 and PFP1α2 also formed homodimers. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis revealed that mutation of PFP1ß significantly altered expression of many essential enzymes in starch biosynthesis pathways. Concentrations of multiple lipid and glycolytic intermediates and trehalose metabolites were elevated in pfp1-3 endosperm, indicating that PFP1 modulates endosperm metabolism, potentially through reversible adjustments to metabolic fluxes. Taken together, these findings provide new insights into seed endosperm development and starch biosynthesis and will help in the breeding of rice cultivars with higher grain yield and quality.

Phospholipase D-derived phosphatidic acid promotes root hair development under phosphorus deficiency by suppressing vacuolar degradation of PIN-FORMED2.

Root hair development is crucial for phosphate absorption, but how phosphorus deficiency affects root hair initiation and elongation remains unclear. We demonstrated the roles of auxin efflux carrier PIN-FORMED2 (PIN2) and phospholipase D (PLD)-derived phosphatidic acid (PA), a key signaling molecule, in promoting root hair development in Arabidopsis thaliana under a low phosphate (LP) condition. Root hair elongation under LP conditions was greatly suppressed in pin2 mutant or under treatment with a PLDζ2-specific inhibitor, revealing that PIN2 and polar auxin transport and PLDζ2-PA are crucial in LP responses. PIN2 was accumulated and degraded in the vacuole under a normal phosphate (NP) condition, whereas its vacuolar accumulation was suppressed under the LP or NP plus PA conditions. Vacuolar accumulation of PIN2 was increased in pldζ2 mutants under LP conditions. Increased or decreased PIN2 vacuolar accumulation is not observed in sorting nexin1 (snx1) mutant, indicating that vacuolar accumulation of PIN2 is mediated by SNX1 and the relevant trafficking process. PA binds to SNX1 and promotes its accumulation at the plasma membrane, especially under LP conditions, and hence promotes root hair development by suppressing the vacuolar degradation of PIN2. We uncovered a link between PLD-derived PA and SNX1-dependent vacuolar degradation of PIN2 in regulating root hair development under phosphorus deficiency.

Phosphatidic acid plays key roles regulating plant development and stress responses.

Phospholipids, including phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphoinositides, have emerged as an important class of cellular messenger molecules in various cellular and physiological processes, of which PA attracts much attention of researchers. In addition to its effect on stimulating vesicle trafficking, many studies have demonstrated that PA plays a crucial role in various signaling pathways by binding target proteins and regulating their activity and subcellular localization. Here, we summarize the functional mechanisms and target proteins underlying PA-mediated regulation of cellular signaling, development, hormonal responses, and stress responses in plants.

Lipidomic profiling analysis reveals the dynamics of phospholipid molecules in Arabidopsis thaliana seedling growth.

High-throughput lipidomic profiling provides a sensitive approach for discovering minor lipid species. By using an advance in electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry, a large set of phospholipid molecular species (126 species) with high resolution were identified from Arabidopsis seedling; of them 31 species are newly identified (16 are unique in plants), including 13 species of phosphatidic acid (PA), nine phosphatidylcholine, six phosphatidylinositol and three phosphatidylserine. Further analysis of the lipidomic profile reveals dynamics of phospholipids and distinct species alterations during seedling development. PA molecules are found at the lowest levels in imbibition and follow an increasing trend during seedling growth, while phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) molecules show the opposite pattern with highest levels at imbibition and a general decreasing trend at later stages. Of PA molecular species, 34:2-, 34:3-, 36:4-, 36:5-, 38:3- and 38:4-PA increase during radicle emergence, and 34:2- and 34:3-PA reach highest levels during hypocotyl and cotyledon emergence from the seed coat. Conversely, molecular species of PE show higher levels in imbibition and decrease in later stages. These results suggest the crucial roles of specific molecular species and homeostasis of phospholipid molecules in seedling growth and provide insights into the mechanisms of how phospholipid molecules are involved in regulating plant development.

Lignans of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill inhibits Parkinson's disease progression through mediated neuroinflammation-TRPV1 expression in microglia.

BACKGROUND: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (S. chinensis), a member of the Magnoliaceae family, is renowned for its distinctive medicinal attributes and is commonly employed in the treatment of disorders affecting the CNS. PURPOSE: The potential therapeutic effects of a lignan-enriched extract derived from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (LSC) on PD is assessed, which focuses on its mechanisms of action in addressing neuroinflammation. METHODS: The LSC has been obtained by purifying the ethyl alcohol extract of S. chinensis. The Orbitrap-MS method has been employed to analyze the chemical composition of the LSC. In LPS-induced BV2 cells, LSC-induced changes in M1/M2 type inflammatory cytokines have been examined using the Griess reaction, Elisa, JC-1, flow cytometry, IF, and WB methods. A model of PD has been established by treatment of MPTP in C57BL/6 mice. The effect of LSC on behavioral changes, inflammatory factor levels, expression of TH and IBA-1, and production of autophagy in the midbrain has been investigated by TEM, immunohistochemistry, Elisa, and WB. RESULTS: LSC has relieved sports injuries and pathological damage, and targeted the TRPV1-AMPK-NLRP3 signaling pathway, which affected neuroinflammation and autophagy in vivo. Furthermore, in vitro investigations demonstrated that LSC has activated M1/M2 transformation, its related inflammatory factors, and protein expressions of the NLRP3-Caspase1 signaling pathway in LPS-BV2 cells. The research notably demonstrated that the LSC promoted autophagy and suppressed inflammation through targeting TRPV1. CONCLUSION: In the investigation, LSC focused on TRPV1 and controlled neuroinflammation-autophagy by regulating AMPK-NLRP3, which has been proven for the first time. The study has presented molecular data supporting the use of LSC in treating PD and offers references for developing drugs. Remarkably, LSC has the potential to be utilized as a therapeutic or health medication that could significantly decrease PD.

Changes in Notified Incidence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in China, 2005-2020.

Objective: To evaluate the trend of notified incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in China at different periods by population and region and to explore the effect of TB prevention and control in recent years. Methods: Using pooled data on TB cases reported by the TB Information Management Reporting System (TBIMS) from 2005 to 2020, we calculated the annual percentage change (APC) using the Joinpoint regression model. Results: From 2005 to 2020, a total of 16.2 million cases of PTB were reported in China, with an average notified incidence of 75.5 per 100,000 population. The age standardization rate (ASR) continued to decline from 116.9 (/100,000) in 2005 to 47.6 (/100,000) in 2020, with an average annual decrease of 5.6% [APC = -5.6, 95% confidence interval ( CI): -7.0 to -4.2]. The smallest decline occurred in 2011-2018 (APC = -3.4, 95% CI: -4.6 to -2.3) and the largest decrease in 2018-2020 (APC = -9.2, 95% CI: -16.4 to -1.3). From 2005 to 2020, the ASR in males (159.8 per 100,000 in 2005, 72.0 per 100,000 in 2020) was higher than that in females (62.2 per 100,000 in 2005, 32.3 per 100,000 in 2020), with an average annual decline of 6.0% for male and 4.9% for female. The average notified incidence was the highest among older adults (65 years and over) (182.3/100,000), with an average annual decline of 6.4%; children (0-14 years) were the lowest (4.8/100,000), with an average annual decline of 7.3%, but a significant increase of 3.3% between 2014 and 2020 (APC = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.4 to 5.2); middle-aged (35-64 years) decreased by 5.8%; and youth (15-34 years) decreased by an average annual rate of 4.2%. The average ASR in rural areas (81.3/100,000) is higher than that in urban areas (76.1/100,000). The average annual decline in rural areas was 4.5% and 6.3% in urban areas. South China had the highest average ASR (103.2/100,000), with an average annual decline of 5.9%, while North China had the lowest (56.5/100,000), with an average annual decline of 5.9%. The average ASR in the southwest was 95.3 (/100,000), with the smallest annual decline (APC = -4.5, 95% CI: -5.5 to -3.5); the average ASR in the Northwest China was 100.1 (/100,000), with the largest annual decline (APC = -6.4, 95% CI: -10.0 to -2.7); Central, Northeastern, and Eastern China declined by an average of 5.2%, 6.2%, and 6.1% per year, respectively. Conclusions: From 2005 to 2020, the notified incidence of PTB in China continued to decline, falling by 55%. For high-risk groups such as males, older adults, high-burden areas in South, Southwest, and Northwest China, and rural regions, proactive screening should be strengthened to provide timely and effective anti-TB treatment and patient management services for confirmed cases. There is also a necessity to be vigilant about the upward trend of children in recent years, the specific reasons for which need to be further studied.

Influence of Built Environment in Hygienic City in China on Self-rated Health of Residents.

Objective: To assess the subjective perception of residents on the built environment in hygienic cities and its relation to the self-rated health (SRH) status of residents, providing a basis for a better promotion on construction of health-supportive environments. Methods: The online survey was adopted with the respondents recruited from residents living in Chaoyang District of Beijing in January 2021. With SRH level as the dependent variable, two-category logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the impact of the built environment in hygienic cities on the SRH status of residents. Results: A total of 1,357 respondents were enrolled in this study. After controlling confounding factors, four aspects in the built environment in hygienic cities were detected remarkable influences on the SRH level of residents, including enough green space in the living area [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.395, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.055-1.845], clean and hygienic living environment ( OR = 1.472, 95% CI: 1.107-1.956), residents' confidence in drinking water safety in the living area ( OR = 1.856, 95% CI: 1.354-2.544) and residents' confidence in food safety in the living area ( OR = 1.405, 95% CI: 1.027-1.921). Conclusion: Regarding city construction, the government should focus more on the subjective perception of residents on built environments to build a supportive environment benefiting the health of residents.

Joint Association of Metabolic Health and Obesity with Ten-Year Risk of Cardiovascular Disease among Chinese Adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the association of metabolic phenotypes that are jointly determined by body mass index (BMI) or fat mass percentage and metabolic health status with the ten-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Chinese adults. METHODS: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study. BMI and body fat mass percentage (FMP) combined with the metabolic status were used to define metabolic phenotypes. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used to examine the effects of metabolic phenotypes on CVD risk. RESULTS: A total of 13,239 adults aged 34-75 years were included in this study. Compared with the metabolically healthy non-obese (MHNO) phenotype, the metabolically unhealthy non-obese (MUNO) and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO) phenotypes defined by BMI showed a higher CVD risk [odds ratio, OR (95% confidence interval, CI): 2.34 (1.89-2.89), 3.45 (2.50-4.75), respectively], after adjusting for the covariates. The MUNO and MUO phenotypes defined by FMP showed a higher CVD risk [ OR (95% CI): 2.31 (1.85-2.88), 2.63 (1.98-3.48), respectively] than the MHNO phenotype. The metabolically healthy obese phenotype, regardless of being defined by BMI or FMP, showed no CVD risk compared with the MHNO phenotype. CONCLUSION: General obesity without central obesity does not increase CVD risk in metabolically healthy individuals. FMP might be a more meaningful factor for the evaluation of the association of obesity with CVD risk. Obesity and metabolic status have a synergistic effect on CVD risk.

Age-period-cohort analysis of pulmonary tuberculosis reported incidence, China, 2006-2020.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) poses a severe public health challenge in China and worldwide. This study evaluated the effects of age, period, and birth cohort on reported incidence trends of TB based on population and refined the characteristics of high-risk groups. METHODS: Aggregate data that reported pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases from China Tuberculosis Management Information System (TBIMS) from 2006 to 2020 were used to analyze effect coefficients through the age-period-cohort (APC) model based on intrinsic estimator (IE) method, and converted them into relative risk (RR) to estimate trends. RESULTS: A total of 14.82 million cases of PTB were reported in China from 2006 to 2020, showing a continuous downward trend. The reporting rate increased with age by age group, with 70-74 years old being 2-3 times higher than that in 20-24 years old. APC analysis model showed that age effects were bimodal in 20-24 years old [RR = 2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.73-3.03] and 70-74 years old (RR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.67-2.27), and lower than the overall average in the groups under 15 years old. Stratified results showed that the risk was higher for women under age 40 than men and higher for men over 40. The risk was higher in urban than in rural areas under 30 years old and slightly higher in rural than in urban between 30 and 64 years old. The risk for 15-34 years old was significantly higher in the east than in other regions. The period effects showed a decreasing trend, and the risk was higher in rural in recent years. Except for cohorts born in 1961-1965 and 2001-2005, where the RR increased, the later the cohort was born, the lower the risk. The cohort 1926-1930 in eastern had the highest risk (RR = 3.49, 95% CI: 2.44-4.98). CONCLUSIONS: The reported incidence of PTB continued to decline in China from 2006 to 2020. The young (20-24 years old) and the elderly (70-74 years old) were equally at high risk. There were differences in the age, period and cohort effects on PTB incidence among gender, urban-rural and regions. Our findings better reflected the characteristics of high-risk populations, thus contributing to the development of timely and effective intervention strategies, and providing clues for etiological research.

Developing a Subjective Evaluation Scale for Assessing the Built Environments of China's Hygienic City Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a preliminary subjective evaluation scale for assessing the built environments of China's Hygienic City Initiative and to evaluate its reliability and validity. METHODS: The initial items of the scale were determined based on a review of policy documents and consultations with experts. The final items of the scale were confirmed through individual interviews with residents combined with the discretetrend method, critical ratio method, correlation coefficient method, and factor analysis method. Then, the dimensions of the scale were determined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The Cronbach's α coefficient, split-half reliability coefficient, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to assess the reliability and validity of the scale. RESULTS: A scale containing five dimensions with 22 items was established, including urban lifestyle, governance, basic functions, environmental sanitation, and amenities. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.876, and the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.796. The CFA results indicate that each inspection level was within the standard limit. CONCLUSION: The preliminarily subjective evaluation scale for assessing the built environments of China's Hygienic City Initiative demonstrates a high level of reliability and validity. Additional empirical studies should be carried out to further verify the value of the scale in terms of practical application.

The mechanism of Bushen Huoxue decoction in treating intervertebral disc degeneration based on network pharmacology.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the mechanism of Bushen Huoxue decoction (BHD) in treating intervertebral disc degeneration using the network pharmacology method. METHODS: Using of oral bioavailability >30% and drug-likeness >0.18 as the screening standards, the effective components and targets of BHD were retrieved from the TCMSP database and the BATMAN-TCM database. The disease targets of intervertebral disc degeneration were retrieved from the GeneCards database. The Wayne map of the interaction targets of the effective components of BHD and intervertebral disc degeneration were drawn using R software. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of common targets was constructed using STRING software. The network map of the interaction targets of the effective components of BHD-intervertebral disc degeneration was drawn using Cytoscape3.7.2 software. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the common targets of BHD and intervertebral disc degeneration was performed using R software and the related plug-ins to screen the potential pathways and analyze its mechanism. RESULTS: This study screened 164 effective components of BHD, 131 interaction targets, 626 targets for degenerative disc disease, and 31 common interaction targets. IL6, VEGFA, CASP3, EGFR, ESR1, and MAPK8 appeared more frequently. These were mainly enriched in the AGE-RAGE, TNF, PI3K Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: BHD mainly intervenes in intervertebral disc degeneration through IL6, VEGFA, CASP3, EGFR, ESR1, and MAPK8. The mechanism of the intervention of BHD on intervertebral disc degeneration may be related to AGE-RAGE, TNF, PI3K Akt, MAPK, and other signal pathways.

Increases in Height among Chinese Children and Adolescents by Gender: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine increases in average height among Chinese children and adolescents. METHODS: The data were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey conducted during the period 1989-2015. A stratified multistage cluster sampling method was utilized to select participants aged 2-22 years in each province. Linear regression was used to examine the effects of age, birth cohort, and survey period on height. RESULTS: A total of 15,227 males and 13,737 females were included in the final analysis. Age (A) showed a continuous effect on height. The average heights of the investigated groups increased continuously during the investigation period. By 2015, the average height of the overall group increased by 7.87 cm compared to the average height during the 1989 survey. Moreover, birth year (cohort, C) also had a stable effect on height. Using the height of individuals born in or before 1975 as a reference, the average height of each birth cohort increased in comparison to the previous birth cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The height of Chinese children and adolescents was affected by age, period, and cohort effects, and this effect is governed by certain rules. The age-period-cohort model can be used to analyze the trends of children's and adolescent's heights. The findings provide a scientific basis for the formulation of children's and adolescents' growth and development policies in China.

Functional analysis of GbAGL1, a D-lineage gene from cotton (Gossypium barbadense).

Cotton fibres originate from the outer ovule integument and D-lineage genes are essential for ovule development and their roles can be described by the 'ABCDE' model of flower development. To investigate the role of D-lineage genes during ovule and fibre development, GbAGL1 (GenBank accession number: FJ198049) was isolated from G. barbadense by using the SMART RACE strategy. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that GbAGL1 was a member of the D-lineage gene family. Southern blot analysis showed that GbAGL1 belonged to a low-copy gene family. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and RNA in situ hybridization analyses revealed that the GbAGL1 gene in G. barbadense was highly expressed in whole floral bud primordia and the floral organs including ovules and fibres, but the signals were barely observed in vegetative tissues. GbAGL1 expression increased gradually with the ovule developmental stages. Over-expression of GbAGL1 in Arabidopsis caused obvious homeotic alternations in the floral organs, such as early flowering, and an extruded stigma, which were the typical phenotypes of the D-lineage gene family. In addition, a complementation test revealed that GbAGL1 could rescue the phenotypes of the stk mutant. Our study indicated that GbAGL1 was a D-lineage gene that was involved in ovule development and might play key roles in fibres development.

Association between Selenium in Soil and Diabetes in Chinese Residents Aged 35-74 Years: Results from the 2010 National Survey of Chronic Diseases and Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between soil selenium levels and the risk of diabetes in Chinese adults aged 35-74 years. METHODS: Data for this study were derived from the China Chronic Diseases and Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance 2010 survey. Selenium concentrations in soil were obtained from the Atlas of Soil Environmental Background Values in China. A two-level binary logistic regression model was used to determine the association between soil selenium concentrations and the risk of diabetes, with participants nested within districts/counties. RESULTS: A total of 69,332 participants aged 35-74 years, from 158 districts/counties were included in the analysis. Concentrations of selenium in soil varied greatly across the 158 districts/counties, with a median concentration of 0.219 mg/kg ( IQR: 0.185-0.248). The results showed that both Quartile 1 (0.119-0.185 mg/kg) and Quartile 4 (0.249-0.344 mg/kg) groups were positively associated with diabetes compared to a soil selenium concentration of 0.186-0.219 mg/kg (Quartile 2), crude odds ratios ( ORs) (95% CI) were 1.227 (1.003-1.502) and 1.280 (1.048-1.563). The P values were 0.045 and 0.013, for Quartile 1 and Quartile 4 groups, respectively. After adjusting for all confounding factors of interest, the Quartile 1 group became non-significant, and the Quartile 4 group had an adjusted OR (95% CI) of 1.203 (1.018-1.421) relative to the reference group (Quartile 2), the P values was 0.030. No significant results were seen for the Quartile 3 group (0.220-0.248 mg/kg) compared to the reference group. CONCLUSION: Excessive selenium concentrations in soil could increase the risk of diabetes among Chinese adults aged 35-74 years.

[Association between CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and serum transforming growth factor beta 1 in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells are associated with serum TGF beta 1 in patients with hepatitis B. METHODS: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), chronic asymptomatic carriers (AsC), normal subjects (NS) and the resolved from HBV infection (Resolved) were recruited in this study. Flow cytometric analysis was used to detect the frequency and phenotype of peripheral CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells, and Foxp3 gene expression were examined by real time PCR. Serum TGF beta 1 levels were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). RESULTS: Patients with CHB or AsC exhibited significantly higher frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells compared to healthy controls. CD4+CD25+ T cells derived from patients with CHB and AsC expressed higher level of Foxp3-mRNA. Furthermore, the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells was correlated with serum HBV DNA copy numbers in patients with CHB and AsC. Our results indicated that the serum TGF beta was increased in CHB and AsC patients compared to control patients, and that serum TGF beta was correlated with the expression of Foxp3-mRNA and the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in patients with CHB and AsC. CONCLUSIONS: The findings have important implication in the understanding of the role and mechanism of aberrant CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the maintenance of chronicity in hepatitis B patients.

[Examining the effects of reduced nitrogen fertilization on the yield and fruit quality of greenhouse cultivated cucumber]. / 减量施氮对大棚黄瓜产量和品质的影响.

A long-term fertilizer experiment was conducted to determine the precise effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization on the yield and quality of cucumber, which were grown in greenhouse located in the coastal hilly region of East China. This work included four treatments with varying levels of chemical N application (N1, 800 kg·hm-2, N2, 600 kg·hm-2 and N3, 400 kg·hm-2, CK, no fertilization) plus ON (organic N 400 kg·hm-2). Results showed that a 50% reduction of N fertilization (N3) produced no significant effects on yield, when compared with the local conventional practice (N1). Importantly, fruit nitrate content for cucumbers with N fertilization ranged from 94.2 to 136.1 mg·kg-1, which was acceptable according to the National Food Safety Standard of China. However, when compared with no fertilization control, N fertilization increased nitrate content by 18.1%-44.5%. Chemical N fertilization resulted in a decrease of vitamin C, soluble sugar and soluble protein contents in cucumber, and caused significant temporary changes of soil pH and other chemical and physical properties of the soil. No significant correlations were found between cucumber yields, economic benefit and soil property variables under the excessive use of N fertilizer. It was concluded that N fertilization could be reduced by half with no significant reduction of fruit yield and quality for cucumbers cultivated in greenhouse located in the coastal hilly region of East China.

[Polymorphisms of myocilin and optineurin in primary open angle glaucoma patients].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the myocilin (MYOC) and optineurin (OPTN) genes, and to investigate their associations with high tension glaucoma (HTG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS: SNPs were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) and fluorescent labeling automated DNA sequencing among 94 unrelated patients with HTG, 48 unrelated patients with NTG, and 77 unrelated control subjects. RESULTS: Fourteen MYOC sequence alterations were identified, five of them: V53A, I304I, T347T, 1-126T > C, and IVS2 + 172C > A, were novel. Among them, V53A was for the first time found in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patient. R76K usually occurred with the promoter polymorphism 1-83G > A. No sequence alterations in the MYOC gene showed significant differences among the HTG, NTG and control subjects (all P > 0.05). A total of 12 sequence alterations were identified in the OPTN gene, and three of them: V161M, I407T and L211L, were novel. Among them, I407T and L211L were found only in the HTG patients. The allele and genotype frequencies of T34T in the NTG patients were significantly higher than those of the controls (P = 0.001 and 0.004 respectively). In HTG, only the allele frequency of T34T was 24% (23/96), significantly higher than those of the NTG group (16.5%, 31/188) and the control group (9.1%, 14/154) (both P < 0.05). In addition, IVS8 + 20G > A was found only in the HTG (3.1%, 3/96) and NTG patients (3.7%, 7/188), and had significantly higher frequencies in the HTG and NTG patients when compared with the controls (P = 0.016 and 0.014, and P = 0.027 and 0.026). CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms in the MYOC and OPTN genes are associated with POAG in Chinese people. Moreover, sequence alterations not causing amino acid changes may play a role in the pathogenesis of POAG.