Genome-wide and expression analysis of B-box gene family in pepper.

BACKGROUND: BBX transcription factors are a kind of zinc finger transcription factors with one or two B-box domains, which partilant in plant growth, development and response to abiotic or biotic stress. The BBX family has been identified in Arabidopsis, rice, tomato and some other model plant genomes. RESULTS: Here, 24 CaBBX genes were identified in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), and the phylogenic analysis, structures, chromosomal location, gene expression patterns and subcellular localizations were also carried out to understand the evolution and function of CaBBX genes. All these CaBBXs were divided into five classes, and 20 of them distributed in 11 of 12 pepper chromosomes unevenly. Most duplication events occurred in subgroup I. Quantitative RT-PCR indicated that several CaBBX genes were induced by abiotic stress and hormones, some had tissue-specific expression profiles or differentially expressed at developmental stages. Most of CaBBX members were predicated to be nucleus-localized in consistent with the transient expression assay by onion inner epidermis of the three tested CaBBX members (CaBBX5, 6 and 20). CONCLUSION: Several CaBBX genes were induced by abiotic stress and exogenous phytohormones, some expressed tissue-specific and variously at different developmental stage. The detected CaBBXs act as nucleus-localized transcription factors. Our data might be a foundation in the identification of CaBBX genes, and a further understanding of their biological function in future studies.

The NAC-type transcription factor CaNAC46 regulates the salt and drought tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.

BACKGROUND: The NAC (NAM, ATAF1/ATAF2, and CUC2) transcription factors belong to a large family of plant-specific transcription factors in monocot and dicot species. These transcription factors regulate the expression of stress tolerance-related genes that protect plants from various abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, and low temperatures. RESULTS: In this study, we identified the CaNAC46 transcription factor gene in Capsicum annuum. Its open reading frame was revealed to comprise 921 bp, encoding a protein consisting of 306 amino acids, with an isoelectric point of 6.96. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that CaNAC46 belongs to the ATAF subfamily. The expression of CaNAC46 was induced by heat, cold, high salt, drought, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and methyl jasmonate treatments. Thus, CaNAC46 may be important for the resistance of dry pepper to abiotic stresses. A subcellular localization analysis confirmed that CaNAC46 is localized in the nucleus. The overexpression of CaNAC46 improved the tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants to drought and salt stresses. The CaNAC46-overexpressing lines had longer roots and more lateral roots than wild-type lines under prolonged drought and high salt stress conditions. Additionally, CaNAC46 affected the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, CaNAC46 promoted the expression of SOD, POD, RD29B, RD20, LDB18, ABI, IAA4, and P5CS. The malondialdehyde contents were higher in TRV2-CaNAC46 lines than in wild-type plants in response to drought and salt stresses. Furthermore, the expression levels of stress-responsive genes, such as ABA2, P5CS, DREB, RD22, CAT, and POD, were down-regulated in TRV2-CaNAC46 plants. CONCLUSIONS: Under saline and drought conditions, CaNAC46 is a positive regulator that activates ROS-scavenging enzymes and enhances root formation. The results of our study indicate CaNAC46 is a transcriptional regulator responsible for salinity and drought tolerance and suggest the abiotic stress-related gene regulatory mechanisms controlling this NAC transcription factor are conserved between A. thaliana and pepper.

Antimicrobial resistance and pathogen distribution in hospitalized burn patients: A multicenter study in Southeast China.

Burn infections pose a serious obstacle to recovery. To investigate and analyze the antimicrobial resistance and distribution of pathogenic bacteria among hospitalized burn patients. A 3-year retrospective study was conducted in the southeast of China.The electronic medical records system was used to collect all clinical data on 1449 hospitalized patients from Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, the 180th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the 92nd Hospital of PLA, and the First Hospital of Longyan City.A total of 1891 strains of pathogenic bacteria were detected from 3835 clinical specimens, and the total detection rate was 49.3% (1891/3835). The main pathogens were gram-negative bacteria (1089 strains; 57.6%), followed by gram-positive bacteria (689 strains; 36.4%), and fungi (113 strains; 6.0%). The predominant five bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (19.0%), Acinetobacter baumannii (17.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.4%), and Enterococcus faecalis (4.5%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for 74.1% (265/359) of S aureus isolates. Staphylococcus epidermidis accounted for 40.6% (69/170) of coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates, 72.5% (50/69) of which were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE). Both MRSA and MRSE were 100% resistant to penicillin and ampicillin. A baumannii was the most commonly isolated strain of gram-negative bacteria with 100% resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and aztreonam. More than 80% of K pneumoniae isolates were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin and cefazolin. More than 80% of Escherichia coli isolates were resistant to ampicillin, piperacillin, cefazolin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim. The detection rates of extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) among K pneumoniae and E coli isolates were 44.6% (62/139) and 67.2% (41/61), respectively. Low-resistance antibiotics included teicoplanin, tigecycline, vancomycin, and linezolid.The pathogens presented high resistance to antimicrobial agents, especially MRSA and A baumannii. Monitoring of bacterial population dynamics should be established to inhibit the progression of bacterial resistance.

The effect of a rehabilitation nursing intervention model on improving the comprehensive health status of patients with hand burns.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of a rehabilitation intervention on the comprehensive health status of patients with hand burns. BACKGROUND: Most studies of hand-burn patients have focused on functional recovery. There have been no studies involving a biological-psychological-social rehabilitation model of hand-burn patients. DESIGN: A randomized controlled design was used. METHODS: Patients with hand burns were recruited to the study, and sixty patients participated. Participants were separated into two groups: (1) The rehabilitation intervention model group (n=30) completed the rehabilitation intervention model, which included the following measures: enhanced social support, intensive health education, comprehensive psychological intervention, and graded exercise. (2) The control group (n=30) completed routine treatment. Intervention lasted 5 weeks. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Student's t test were conducted. RESULTS: The rehabilitation intervention group had significantly better scores than the control group for comprehensive health, physical function, psychological function, social function, and general health. The differences between the index scores of the two groups were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The rehabilitation intervention improved the comprehensive health status of patients with hand burns and has favorable clinical application. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The comprehensive rehabilitation intervention model used here provides scientific guidance for medical staff aiming to improve the integrated health status of hand-burn patients and accelerate their recovery. What does this paper contribute to the wider global clinical community?

The Effects of Dinner-to-Bed Time and Post-Dinner Walk on Gastric Cancer Across Different Age Groups: A Multicenter Case-Control Study in Southeast China.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a major killer throughout the world. Despite the dramatic decrease in GC over the last century, its etiology has not yet been well characterized. This study investigated the possible independent and combined effects of the dinner-to-bed time and post-dinner walk on the risk for GC across different age groups. A population-based, case-control study was conducted in southeast China, including 452 patients with GC and 465 age-, race-, and gender-matched controls. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic characteristics, dinner-to-bed time, post-dinner walk, and other behavioral factors. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of the dinner-to-bed time and post-dinner walk as well as their joint effect on the risk for GC across different age groups. Individuals with dinner-to-bed time <3 hours were more prone to have GC (P < 0.001), and the shorter the dinner-to-bed time was, the higher was the risk for GC (Ptrend < 0.001). Post-dinner nonwalk was associated with a 2.9-fold increased risk for GC compared with post-dinner walk (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.942, 95% confidence intervals [95% CIs] = 2.072-4.179). The interaction effect of dinner-to-bed time and post-dinner walk on GC risk was detected (AOR = 1.862, 95% CIs = 1.584-3.885, synergy index [SI] = 2.654, 95% CIs = 2.27-3.912). Participants with dinner-to-bed time <3 hours who did not walk after dinner were 7.4 times likely to suffer from GC (AOR = 7.401, 95% CIs = 4.523-13.16) than those with dinner-to-bed time ≥4 hours who took such walk. The risk of GC due to dinner-to-bed time <3 hours, post-dinner nonwalk and their interaction was positively correlated with age. The strongest risk was observed among people ≥70 years old, but the effects were not significant for people ≤55 years old. Dinner-to-bed time <3 hours and post-dinner nonwalk are independent risk factors for GC; the synergistic interaction between the 2 factors was positively related to age, which might significantly increase the risk for GC among people >55 years old.