Carbon-nitrogen trading in symbiotic nodules depends on magnesium import.

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation provides large amounts of nitrogen for global agricultural systems with little environmental or economic costs. The basis of symbiosis is the nutrient exchange occurring between legumes and rhizobia, but key regulators controlling nutrient exchange are largely unknown. Here, we reveal that magnesium (Mg), an important nutrient factor that preferentially accumulates in inner cortical cells of soybean nodules, shows the most positive correlation with nodule carbon (C) import and nitrogen (N) export. We further identified a pair of Mg transporter genes, GmMGT4 and GmMGT5, that are specifically expressed in the nodule cortex, modulating both nodule Mg import and C-N transport processes. The GmMGT4&5-dependent Mg import activates the activity of a plasmodesmata-located ß-1,3-glucanase GmBG2 and consequently keeps plasmodesmata permeable for C-N transport in nodule inner cortical cells. Our studies discovered an important regulating pathway for host plants fine-tuning nodule C-N trading to achieve optimal growth, which may be helpful for optimizing nutrient management for soybean production.

Effect and mechanism of Angelic Shaoyaosan mediated AMPK/SIRT1 positive feedback loop to promote autophagy and regulate the systemic inflammatory response in acute pancreatitis.

This research was carried out to investigate the effect and mechanism of Angelic Shaoyaosan mediated AMPK/SIRT1 positive feedback loop to promote autophagy and regulate systemic inflammatory response in acute pancreatitis. In this study, the rat pancreatic acini AR42J cells were chosen as the research object, the application of hyla induced pancreatic acinar cells made model for acute pancreatitis, application of different concentrations of angelica peony spread effect on building cells, thus divided into control group, built in the module, the low concentration group, concentration and high concentration groups, determined by MTT method was applied to explore the above categories in cell proliferation, cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry, the expression of inflammatory factors in cell supernatant was determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay, and the expression of autophagy marker proteins LC3- ? and P62 was determined by Western-Bolt method. In order to explore the relationship between AMPK and SIRT1, immunoco-precipitation method was used to determine the interaction between AMPK and SIRT1, and dual luciferase experiment was used to explore the effect of AMPK on SIRT1. The AICAR group, BLM-275 group and negative control group were established. To explore the effect of SIRT1 on AMPK, we established SRT 1720 group, EX-527 group and control group. Direct binding between AMPK and SIRT1 should be determined by chromatin co-precipitation assay. In order to further explore the effect of AMPK/SIRT1 positive feedback loop on the systemic inflammatory response of acute pancreatitis, this study selected the medium-concentration Danggui Shaoyajiao SAN group as the control group (group C), and applied AMPK inhibitor BLM-275 and SIRT1 inhibitor EX 527 to the effect of medium-concentration Danggui Shaoyajiao SAN cells, respectively. The expression of autophagy marker proteins LC3- ? and P62 in groups A and B were determined by the Western-Bolt method. Results showed that compared with the control group, the cell survival rate, the expression of AMPK, SIRT1 and LC3-II in the model group were decreased, and the apoptosis rate of iNOS, IL-2, TNF-?, P62 and apoptosis were increased in the model group (P<0.05). the levels of iNOS, IL-2, TNF-?, P62 and cell survival rate in low, medium and high concentration groups decreased gradually, while the expressions of AMPK, SIRT1, LC3-II and cell apoptosis rate increased (P<0.05). The levels of iNOS, IL-2 and TNF-? in the three groups were gradually decreased with the increase of the concentration (P<0.05). Immunoprecipitation showed that AMPK and SIRT1 could bind to each other in cells. The double luciferase experiment indicated that the reporter gene containing the SIRT1 binding site was constructed. The luciferase activity was increased in THE AICAR group and decreased in the BLM-275 group (P<0.05). The reporter gene containing the AMPK promoter binding site was constructed. The luciferase activity in SRT1720 group was increased, while that in EX-527 group was decreased. SIRT1 could directly bind to the AMPK promoter. SIRT1 and LC3- ? protein expressions in group A were down-regulated, and P62 protein was increased (P<0.05). The protein expressions of AMPK and LC3- ? in group B were down-regulated, and the protein expression of P62 was increased (P<0.05). It concluded that AMPK can directly bind to activate SIRT1 expression, and SIRT1 expression can also activate AMPK, forming a positive feedback loop between the two. Therefore, Angelic Shaoyaodong decoction can mediate AMPK/SIRT1 positive feedback pathway to promote autophagy and regulate systemic inflammatory response in acute pancreatitis.

Blockade of the Notch Signaling Pathway Promotes M2 Macrophage Polarization to Suppress Cardiac Fibrosis Remodeling in Mice With Myocardial Infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is regarded as a serious ischemic heart disease on a global level. The current study set out to explore the mechanism of the Notch signaling pathway in the regulation of fibrosis remodeling after the occurrence of MI. First, experimental mice were infected with recombination signal binding protein J (RBP-J) shRNA and empty adenovirus vector, followed by the establishment of MI mouse models and detection of cardiac function. After 4 weeks of MI, mice in the sh-RBP-J group were found to exhibit significantly improved cardiac function relative to the sh-NC group. Moreover, knockdown of RBP-J brought about decreased infarct area, promoted cardiac macrophages M2 polarization, reduced cardiac fibrosis, and further decreased transcription and protein expressions of inflammatory factors and fibrosis-related factors. Furthermore, downregulation of cylindromatosis (CYLD) using si-CYLD reversed the results that knockdown of RBP-J inhibited fibrogenesis and the release of inflammatory factors. Altogether, our findings indicated that the blockade of Notch signaling promotes M2 polarization of cardiac macrophages and improves cardiac function by inhibiting the imbalance of fibrotic remodeling after MI.

A VIT-like transporter facilitates iron transport into nodule symbiosomes for nitrogen fixation in soybean.

Effective legume-rhizobia symbiosis depends on efficient nutrient exchange. Rhizobia need to synthesize iron-containing proteins for symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in nodules, which depends on host plant-mediated iron uptake into the symbiosome. We functionally investigated a pair of vacuolar iron transporter like (VTL) genes, GmVTL1a/b, in soybean (Glycine max) and evaluated their contributions to SNF, including investigations of gene expression patterns, subcellular localization, and mutant phenotypes. Though both GmVTL1a/b genes were specifically expressed in the fixation zone of the nodule, GmVTL1a was the lone member to be localized at the tonoplast of tobacco protoplasts, and shown to facilitate ferrous iron transport in yeast. GmVTL1a targets the symbiosome in infected cells, as verified by in situ immunostaining. Two vtl1 knockout mutants had lower iron concentrations in nodule cell sap and peribacteroid units than in wild-type plants, suggesting that GmVTL1 knockout inhibited iron import into symbiosomes. Furthermore, GmVTL1 knockout minimally affected soybean growth under nonsymbiotic conditions, but dramatically impaired nodule development and SNF activity under nitrogen-limited and rhizobia-inoculation conditions, which eventually led to growth retardation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that GmVTL1a is indispensable for SNF in nodules as a transporter of ferrous iron from the infected root cell cytosol to the symbiosome.

Magnesium Deficiency Triggers SGR-Mediated Chlorophyll Degradation for Magnesium Remobilization.

Magnesium (Mg) is a relatively mobile element that is remobilized in plants under Mg-limited conditions through transport from old to young tissues. However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying Mg remobilization in plants remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated Mg remobilization in rice (Oryza sativa) as facilitated through a Mg dechelatase gene involved in chlorophyll degradation, STAY-GREEN (OsSGR). We first observed that mid-aged leaves of rice are more susceptible to Mg deficiency. Expression of OsSGR was specifically upregulated by Mg deficiency, and the response was more pronounced in mid-aged leaves. Knockout of OsSGR exhibited the stay-green phenotype, which hindered the mobility of Mg from mid-aged leaves to young developing leaves. This decline in Mg mobility was associated with inhibited growth of developing leaves in mutants under Mg-limited conditions. Furthermore, Mg deficiency enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in mid-aged leaves. ROS levels, particularly hydrogen peroxide, in turn, positively regulated OsSGR expression, probably through chloroplast-to-nucleus signaling, which triggers chlorophyll degradation to protect mid-aged leaves from photodamage. Taken together, these results show that OsSGR-mediated chlorophyll degradation contributes to not only internal remobilization of Mg from mid-aged leaves to developing leaves, but also photooxidative protection of mid-aged leaves under Mg-limited conditions. ROS appear to act as feedback regulators of OsSGR expression to precisely govern chlorophyll degradation in mid-aged leaves where Mg and photosynthetic capacities are relatively high.

Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Kinase 6-fusion Protein (MAP2K6-FP) Potentiates the Anti-tumor effects of Paclitaxel in Ovarian Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumor effects of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase fusion protein, TAT-OSBP-MKK6E (MAP2K6-FP), and paclitaxel as single agents and in combination against HO8910 human ovarian cancer cells. METHODS: We previously synthesized a MAPK kinase-recombinant fusion protein, MAP2K6-FP, that contains three domains: a protein transduction domain TAT, a human ovarian cancer HO8910 cell-specific binding peptide (OSBP), and a potential anti-tumor effector domain MKK6 (E). The HO8910 cells were exposed to MAP2K6-FP, paclitaxel, or both for 24 h. The antiproliferative effects were determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Antitumor synergy was determined by computing the combination index. The in vivo antitumor effects of both drugs as single agents and in combination were tested using HO8910 cells implanted subcutaneously in female BALBC/c nude mice. TUNEL assay, immunohistochemical evaluation, and western blotting were performed to investigate the mechanism of action. RESULTS: A synergistic anti-proliferative effect was observed between MAP2K6-FP and paclitaxel at multiple drug concentrations, resulting in combination indices ranging from 0.3-0.85. In vivo testing against HO8910 cells in a xenograft tumor model indicated that both drugs were effective as single agents and that MAP2K6-FP and paclitaxel in combination had a synergistic antitumor effect. The combination treatment resulted in significantly altered caspase-3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression compared to treatment with the single agents (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both MAP2K6-FP and paclitaxel can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer HO8910 cells. Interestingly, the combination of MAP2K6-FP and paclitaxel had a synergistic antitumor effect on HO8910 cells, which induced apoptosis by increasing caspase-3 expression and decreasing VEGF expression.

Subclinical eating disorders in female medical students in Anhui, China: a cross-sectional study / Subclínica de trastornos de la alimentación en mujeres estudiantes de medicina en Anhui, China: un estudio transversal

Purpose: This cross-sectional study explored the prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) and possible associated factors (depressive symptoms, anxiety and BMI, etc) on EDs in female medical students in China. Methods: A total of 1,135 students in Wuhu, Anhui Province were sampled to participate in this survey. The survey collected sociodemographic data, depressive symptoms, anxiety and eating behaviours of students. Results: The students at risk for eating disorders were 2.17%. Eating disorder risk was more frequent in students with poor parent’s relationship, students with poor relationship with parents, students with high body mass index, students who were excessive focus on slimming propaganda, and students whose relatives have a diet. Also, the mean scores for the psychological factors of depression and anxiety were higher in students with eating disorder risk. A multiple linear regression model was produced depicting that depression, anxiety, high level of BMI, focusing on slimming propaganda, and dieting status among relatives were risk factors of having an eating disorder risk. Conclusions: A significant fraction of female medical students in Anhui are at high risk of development of eating disorders. A comprehensive intervention focusing on family environment and emotion management should be designed to prevent occurrence of such disorders among medical students that would undoubtedly hamper the availability of dependable medical services in future (AU)

Objetivo: Este estudio transversal exploró la prevalencia de los trastornos de la Alimentación (eds) y posibles factores asociados (síntomas depresivos, ansiedad y BMI, etc) sobre EDS en mujeres estudiantes de medicina en China. Métodos: un total de 1135 estudiantes en Wuhu, provincia de Anhui fueron seleccionadas para participar en esta encuesta. La encuesta recoge datos sociodemográficos, síntomas depresivos, ansiedad y conductas alimentarias de estudiantes. Resultados: los estudiantes en situación de riesgo para los trastornos alimentarios eran 2,17%.Trastorno alimenticio riesgo fue más frecuente en los estudiantes con la relación de los estudiantes con la pobre padre, mala relación con los padres, los alumnos con alto índice de masa corporal, los estudiantes que son la excesiva atención a la propaganda de adelgazamiento, y estudiantes cuyos familiares tienen una dieta. Además, la media de las puntuaciones para los factores psicológicos de la depresión y la ansiedad fueron mayores en los estudiantes con trastorno alimentario riesgo. Un modelo de regresión lineal multiple fue producido que muestran que la depresión, la ansiedad, el alto nivel de IMC, centrándose en la propaganda y la dieta de adelgazamiento, condición entre parientes eran factores de riesgo de tener un trastorno alimenticio y riesgo. Conclusiones: una importante fracción de mujeres estudiantes de medicina en Anhui están en alto riesgo de desarrollo de trastornos de la alimentación. Una intervención integral centrado en el entorno familiar y manejo de emociones deben ser diseñados para prevenir la ocurrencia de tales trastornos entre los estudiantes de medicina que, sin duda, obstaculizar la disponibilidad de servicios médicos de confianza en el futuro (AU)

Subclinical eating disorders in female medical students in Anhui, China: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study explored the prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) and possible associated factors (depressive symptoms, anxiety and BMI, etc) on EDs in female medical students in China. METHODS: A total of 1,135 students in Wuhu, Anhui Province were sampled to participate in this survey. The survey collected sociodemographic data, depressive symptoms, anxiety and eating behaviors of students. RESULTS: The students at risk for eating disorders were 2.17%. Eating disorder risk was more frequent in students with poor parent's relationship, students with poor relationship with parents, students with high body mass index, students who were excessive focus on slimming propaganda, and students whose relatives have a diet. Also, the mean scores for the psychological factors of depression and anxiety were higher in students with eating disorder risk. A multiple linear regression model was produced depicting that depression, anxiety, high level of BMI, focusing on slimming propaganda, and dieting status among relatives were risk factors of having an eating disorder risk. CONCLUSIONS: A significant fraction of female medical students in Anhui are at high risk of development of eating disorders. A comprehensive intervention focusing on family environment and emotion management should be designed to prevent occurrence of such disorders among medical students that would undoubtedly hamper the availability of dependable medical services in future.

Objetivo: Este estudio transversal exploró la prevalencia de los trastornos de la Alimentación (eds) y posibles factores asociados (síntomas depresivos, ansiedad y BMI, etc) sobre EDS en mujeres estudiantes de medicina en China. Métodos: un total de 1135 estudiantes en Wuhu, provincia de Anhui fueron seleccionadas para participar en esta encuesta.La encuesta recoge datos sociodemográficos, síntomas depresivos, ansiedad y conductas alimentarias de estudiantes. Resultados: los estudiantes en situación de riesgo para los trastornos alimentarios eran 2,17%.Trastorno alimenticio riesgo fue más frecuente en los estudiantes con la relación de los estudiantes con la pobre padre, mala relación con los padres, los alumnos con alto índice de masa corporal, los estudiantes que son la excesiva atención a la propaganda de adelgazamiento, y estudiantes cuyos familiares tienen una dieta.Además, la media de las puntuaciones para los factores psicológicos de la depresion y la ansiedad fueron mayores en los estudiantes con trastorno alimentario riesgo.Un modelo de regresion lineal multiple fue producido que muestran que la depresión, la ansiedad, el alto nivel de IMC, centrándose en la propaganda y la dieta de adelgazamiento, condición entre parientes eran factores de riesgo de tener un trastorno alimenticio y riesgo. Conclusiones: una importante fracción de mujeres estudiantes de medicina en Anhui están en alto riesgo de desarrollo de trastornos de la alimentación.Una intervención integral centrado en el entorno familiar y manejo de emociones deben ser diseñados para prevenir la ocurrencia de tales trastornos entre los estudiantes de medicina que, sin duda, obstaculizar la disponibilidad de servicios médicos de confianza en el futuro.

[Factors affecting the quality of life of elderly diabetic patients: survey in north and south Wanjiang river regions].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quality of life of elderly diabetic patients and its influencing factors. METHODS: By randomized cluster sampling, we conducted a survey in 1450 elderly residents (over 60 years old) living in urban, suburban and rural areas in south and north Anhui province. We evaluated the quality of life of the elderly diabetic patients using a demographic information questionnaire and full items on Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: The elderly diabetic patients had lower scores in all dimensions of quality of life than the elderly without diabetes. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a linear regression in the quality of life among the elderly diabetic patients in terms of geographic regions, education, personality, sleep quality, and age. CONCLUSION: Elderly diabetic patients have generally poor quality of life, which was subjected to the influences by geographic regions, education, personality, sleep quality, and age, suggesting the necessity of corresponding interventions to improve the quality of life of these patients.

[The estimation of cirrus cloud particulate shape using combined simulation and a three-wavelength lidar measurement].

The global occurrence of cirrus clouds can reach as high as 30%, whose scattering properties are essential impact on the climatic model, radiative transfer, and remote sensing. Their scattering properties are determined by the ice crystal shape, size distribution, refractive index and so on. Retrieval of the backscattering color ratios of cirrus cloud using a 355, 532 and 1 064 nm three-wavelength lidar, combined with the simulation of the three backscattering color ratios of different ice crystal shape, the shape of the lidar-measured ice crystal can be estimated. The results indicate that the shape of cirrus cloud over Hefei city is mostly composed by aggregates.

[Effect and mechanism of gene therapy of lentivirus mediated RhoA shRNA on ovarian cancer xenograft in vivo].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate treatment effects of lentivirus mediated RhoA short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on xenograft tumor of ovarian cancer in nude mice in vivo and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Human ovarian cancer cell line HO8910 were inoculated to establish subcutaneous xenograft model of human ovarian cancer. Tumor-bearing nude mice were assigned randomizely to three groups: Lenti-RhoA-sh group, Lenti- negative control (NC) group and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group.lentivirus mediated RhoA shRNA, negative control lentivirus and PBS were respectively injected in the three groups. Effects of treatment were observed by tumor growth curve, tumor volume, tumor weight, and tumor inhibition rate. Xenograft tissues and liver, spleen, lung, and renal tissues were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining or were detected by streptavidin-perosidase(SP)immunochemical method. The changes of RhoA gene expression in xenograft tissues after lentivirus mediated RhoA shRNA treated were also detected by real-time qPCR, immunochemistry and Western blot assay. Cell apoptosis in xenograft tissues were examined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method and apoptotic index (AI) were counted. RESULTS: Compared with Lenti-NC group and PBS group, the growth speed of xenograft in Lenti-RhoA-sh group delayed significantly after injection 9 days (P < 0.01) . Tumor volume (338 ± 114) mm(3) decreased significantly in the Lenti-RhoA-sh group when compared with those in Lenti-NC group (1190 ± 332) mm(3) and PBS group (1101 ± 396) mm(3) (P < 0.01) . Tumor weight (0.23 ± 0.11) g decreased significantly in the Lenti-RhoA-sh group when compared with Lenti-NC group (0.79 ± 0.19) g and PBS group (0.74 ± 0.17) g (P < 0.01) . Real-time qPCR result shown that the expression of RhoA mRNA (0.30 ± 0.05) decreased significantly in the Lenti-RhoA-sh group compared with Lenti-NC group (0.95 ± 0.06) and PBS group(1.00 ± 0.11; P < 0.01) .Western blot result showed that the expression level of RhoA protein decreased significantly in the Lenti-RhoA-sh group (0.14 ± 0.06) compared with those in Lenti-NC group(0.78 ± 0.14) and PBS group (0.75 ± 0.13;P < 0.01). TUNEL staining displayed that AI significantly increased in the Lenti-RhoA-sh group (20.9 ± 3.4) % compared with those in Lenti-NC group (5.2 ± 2.0) % and PBS group (6.0 ± 2.1) % (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Lentivirus mediated RhoA shRNA may be effectively down-regulate of the expression of RhoA, inhibit the growth of subcutaneous xenograft tumor of ovarian cancer in nude mice by increasing the cell apoptosis.

Efficacy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and an extended-interval dosing regimen in the treatment of patients with adenomyosis and endometriosis.

AIMS: To determine the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) and an extended-interval dosing regimen in the treatment of patients with adenomyosis and endometriosis. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study in the setting of a hospital outpatient clinic. Seventy women suffering from adenomyosis and endometriosis were randomly divided into 2 groups: extended-interval dosing (experimental group) and conventional dosing (control group). METHODS: Patients in the experimental group received a 4-dose regimen (triptorelin 3.75 mg by intramuscular injection every 6 weeks for a total of 4 doses). The patients in the control group received a conventional regimen (1 injection every 4 weeks for a total of 6 doses). The main outcome measures were relief and recurrence of dysmenorrhea and related climacteric symptoms, reduction of uterine volume, and serum levels of 17-beta-oestradiol (E(2)), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). RESULTS: The reliving rate of dysmenorrhea was 100% in patients treated with both the new regimen and the convention regimen after 6 months. The uterine volume was reduced 37.6% and 39.2%, respectively. And the levels of LH, FSH and E(2) were decreased significantly (p < 0.001). The E(2 )levels were reduced to the postmenopausal level. The hormone profile of the experimental group was similar to that of the control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of the extended-interval dosing regimen of triptorelin depot in patients with adenomyosis or endometriosis results in a consistent hypo-oestrogenised state, which is similar to that achieved by the conventional regimen. The new regimen reduces the cost of treatment.