Timing of systemic resistance induced by local exogenous ABA application within clonal network of stoloniferous herb Centella asiatica subjected to low water availability.

Resistance traits of plants can be activated both at the damaged site and undamaged parts. Systemic resistance induced by local exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) application alleviated negative effect of low water availability on growth performance of clonal plant. However, timing of systemic resistance was poorly understood. Timing of systemic resistance refers to its activation and decay time within clonal network. Clonal fragment of Centella asiatica with four successive ramets (including first-oldest, second-older, third-old and fourth-young ramets) subjected to low water availability (20% soil moisture content) was used to explore effects of local exogenous ABA application on the timing of resistance activation and decay. Systemic resistance activated by local exogenous ABA application after 4 days remained at least 28 days. Compared with control, biomass accumulation of whole clonal fragment, root biomass and ratio of belowground to aboveground biomass significantly increased by local exogenous ABA application after 28 days. It is suggested that rapid activation and delay of resistance response induced by local exogenous ABA application within clonal network may improve fitness of clonal plant subjected to abiotic stress.

Association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and depressive symptoms in young adults with acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the proteins that contributes to the survival, growth, maintenance of neurons, and plays important roles in the pathophysiology of depression. It has been reported that depression is closely associated with the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris disease. But, there is no report of serum BDNF levels in patients with acne vulgaris. The study aimed to determine the potential association between BDNF and depressive symptoms in young adults with acne vulgaris. METHODS: In this analytical cross-sectional study, the serum BDNF levels were measured in peripheral blood samples of 20 consecutive acne vulgaris patients with depression and 98 consecutive acne vulgaris patients without depression and also compared it with a 59 healthy control group by using a ELISA. The potential correlation between the BDNF levels, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and depressive symptoms such as nine-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Athens insomnia scale (AIS) were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed that levels of BDNF expression were lower in consecutive acne vulgaris patients when compared with healthy control (P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between levels of BDNF and the PHQ-9 scores (r = - 0.486, P < 0.001). Furthermore, acne vulgaris patients with depression showed lower serum BDNF levels (10.96 ± 2.12 ng/ml) compared with acne vulgaris patients without depression (13.85 ± 2.47 ng/ml), as well as with healthy control (14.35 ± 2.70 ng/mg; both P < 0.05). No difference was found in serum BDNF levels between healthy control and acne vulgaris patients without depressive symptoms (z = 0.964, P > 0.05). Similarly, the overall area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic was 0.82, indicating the highly conserving of serum BDNF levels as an biomarker for screening of depression in young adults with acne vulgaris (72% sensitivity and 85% specificity). CONCLUSION: Serum BDNF levels were decreased and negatively associated with depressive symptoms in young Chinese adults with acne vulgaris.

[Study on propagation technology of Acanthopanax trifoliatus by cuttings].

OBJECTIVE: In order to obtain substantial clonal plants, we studied the cuttings propagation technology. METHODS: The cutting roots and stems of Acanthopanax trifoliatus were used as plant materials, and different materias, seasons and other conditions for cutting propagation were tested. RESULTS: It showed that the survival rate of stem segments was higher than that of root segments. The test of age of plant materials found that high survival rate could be obtained from semi-lignified stem segments and the segments from the base stem could survive successfully. Autumn was more suitable for plants' survival. Moreover, the rooting rate reached 89.4% by inserting segments with leaves into sand soil after dipping into 1500 mg/L IBA for 10 s, and with plastic membrane and shading net covered. CONCLUSION: The rooting rate can increase significantly by collecting semi-lignified basal stems in autumn, cutting them for leaf cuttings, and inserting them into sand soil after dipping into 1500 mg/L IBA for 10 s.