Functional dissection of rice jasmonate receptors involved in development and defense.

The phytohormones, jasmonates (JAs), mediate many plant developmental processes and their responses to important environmental stresses, such as herbivore attack. Bioactive JAs are perceived by CORONATINE INSENSITIVE (COI)-receptors, and associated JAZ proteins, to activate downstream responses. To date, the JA receptors of the important monocot crop plant, rice, remain to be explored. Here, we studied all three rice COI proteins, OsCOI1a, OsCOI1b, and OsCOI2, by ligand binding, genome editing, and phenotyping and examining some of the responsible mechanisms for the different responses. OsCOI2 binds to most individual OsJAZs in the presence of endogenous JA ligands, as OsCOI1a /1b do, albeit with greater partner selectivity. Single mutants of each OsCOI and OsCOI1a/1b double mutants were constructed by CRIPSR-Cas9-based genome editing and used to phenotype developmental and defense responses. OsCOI1b is involved in root growth and grain-size control and plays overlapping roles with OsCOI1a in spikelet development, while OsCOI2 regulates leaf senescence, male sterility, root growth, and grain size. All OsCOIs mediated resistance to the devastating rice pest, the brown planthopper. However, the defense sectors regulated by OsCOI1a/1b and OsCOI2 clearly differed. Our results revealed that all three OsCOIs are functional JA receptors that play diverse roles in regulating downstream JA responses.

Neuroprotective effects of insulin-like growth factor-2 in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cellular and mouse models of Parkinson's disease.

Skin-derived precursor Schwann cells have been reported to play a protective role in the central nervous system. The neuroprotective effects of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells may be attributable to the release of growth factors that nourish host cells. In this study, we first established a cellular model of Parkinson's disease using 6-hydroxydopamine. When SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with conditioned medium from skin-derived precursor Schwann cells, their activity was greatly increased. The addition of insulin-like growth factor-2 neutralizing antibody markedly attenuated the neuroprotective effects of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells. We also found that insulin-like growth factor-2 levels in the peripheral blood were greatly increased in patients with Parkinson's disease and in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Next, we pretreated cell models of Parkinson's disease with insulin-like growth factor-2 and administered insulin-like growth factor-2 intranasally to a mouse model of Parkinson's disease induced by 6-hydroxydopamine and found that the level of tyrosine hydroxylase, a marker of dopamine neurons, was markedly restored, α-synuclein aggregation decreased, and insulin-like growth factor-2 receptor down-regulation was alleviated. Finally, in vitro experiments showed that insulin-like growth factor-2 activated the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway. These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effects of skin-derived precursor Schwann cells on the central nervous system were achieved through insulin-like growth factor-2, and that insulin-like growth factor-2 may play a neuroprotective role through the insulin-like growth factor-2 receptor/PI3K/AKT pathway. Therefore, insulin-like growth factor-2 may be an useful target for Parkinson's disease treatment.

The jasmonic acid-amino acid conjugates JA-Val and JA-Leu are involved in rice resistance to herbivores.

The phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) plays a core role in plant defence against herbivores. When attacked by herbivores, JA and its bioactive derivatives are accumulated at the damage site, and subsequently perceived by the jasmonate co-receptors COI1 and JAZ proteins. The (+)-7-iso-jasmonoyl-L-isoleucine (JA-Ile) is known to be the main active JA derivative controlling vascular plant responses to herbivores as well as other JA-regulated processes. However, whether other endogenous JA-amino acid conjugates (JA-AAs) are involved in herbivore-induced defence responses remain unknown. Here, we investigated the role of herbivore-elicited JA-AAs in the crop plant rice. The levels of five JA-AAs were significantly increased under the armyworm, leaf folder and brown planthopper attack. Of the elicited JA derivatives, JA-Ile, JA-Val and JA-Leu could serve as ligands to promote the interaction between rice COI1 and JAZs, inducing OsJAZ4 degradation in vivo. JA-Val or JA-Leu treatment increased the expression of JA- and defence-related pathway genes but not JA-Ile levels, suggesting that these JA-AAs may directly function in JA signalling. Furthermore, the application of JA-Val or JA-Leu resulted in JA-mediated plant growth inhibition, while enhancing plant resistance to herbivore attack. This study uncovers that JA-Val and JA-Leu also play a role in rice defence against herbivores.

Role of jasmonate signaling in rice resistance to the leaf folder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis.

KEY MESSAGE: Jasmonate-induced accumulation of anti-herbivore compounds mediates rice resistance to the leaf folder Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. The rice leaf folder (LF), Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, is one of the most destructive insect pests in the paddy field. LF larvae induces leaf folding and scrapes the upper epidermis and mesophyll tissues reducing photosynthesis and yield in rice. Identifying plant defense pathways and genes involved in LF resistance is essential to understand better this plant-insect interaction and develop new control strategies for this pest. Jasmonate (JA) signaling controls a plethora of plant defenses against herbivores. Using RNA-seq time series analysis, we characterized changes in the transcriptome of wild-type (WT) leaves in response to LF damage and measured the dynamics of accumulation of JA phytohormone pools in time-course experiments. Genes related to JA signaling and responses, known to mediate resistance responses to herbivores, were induced by LF and were accompanied by an increment in the levels of JA pools in damaged leaves. The accumulation of defense compounds such as phenolamides and trypsin proteinase inhibitor (TPI) also increased after LF infestation in WT but not in JA mutant plants impaired in JA biosynthesis (aoc-2) and signaling (myc2-5). Consistent with all these responses, we found that LF larvae performed better in the JA mutant backgrounds than in the WT plants. Our results show that JA signaling regulates LF-induced accumulation of TPI and phenolamides and that these compounds are likely an essential part of the defense arsenal of rice plants against this insect pest.

Molecular dissection of rice phytohormone signaling involved in resistance to a piercing-sucking herbivore.

Phytohormone, particularly jasmonate (JA) and salicylate (SA) signaling, plays a central role in plant responses to herbivore and pathogen attack. Generally, SA mediates resistance responses against biotrophic pathogens and phloem-feeding insects, while JA mediates responses against necrotrophic pathogens and chewing insects. The phytohormonal responses mediating rice resistance to a piercing-sucking herbivore, the brown planthopper (BPH), remains unknown. Here, we combined transcriptome analysis, hormone measurements, genetic analysis and a field study to address this issue. Infestation by BPH adult females resulted in significant transcriptional reprograming. The upregulated genes were enriched in the JA signaling pathway. Consistently, the concentrations of JAs, but not SA, were dramatically increased in response to BPH attack. Two JA-deficient lines (AOC and MYC2 knockout) and two SA-deficient lines (nahG overexpression and NPR1 knockout) were constructed. BPH performed better on JA-deficient lines than on wild-type (WT) plants, but similarly on SA-deficient and WT plants. During BPH attack, the accumulation of defensive secondary metabolites was attenuated in JA-deficient lines compared with WT plants. Moreover, MYC2 mutants were more susceptible to planthoppers than WT plants in nature. This study reveals that JA signaling functions in rice defense against BPH.

Women's Selection of Mode of Birth for their Breech Presentation.

OBJECTIVE: Many studies since the Term Breech Trial have demonstrated the safety of vaginal breech birth (VBB), and today it is an option for breech presentation at term. However, women with breech presentation often face a difficult decision regarding mode of birth, especially when planned cesarean was the standard of care in the not-so-distant past. We aim to clarify the decision-making process and barriers women face when making this decision. METHODS: Between January and April 2016, women who delivered with breech presentation were approached during their postpartum hospital stay to obtain consent for the study. The follow-up, semi-structured interview probed the woman's acquisition of knowledge and supports and barriers to her choices leading up to delivery. The responses were recorded and transcribed for analysis, and themes were identified for reporting. RESULTS: Of the 95 women who completed the interview, 21 preferred VBB but only 1 had a VBB. Most unplanned cesarean deliveries were performed for obstetrical indications, but 5 women expressed a lack of support for VBB or did not recall being provided options. Themes were identified with respect to the influences the women experienced, including passive external, provider-based, evidence-based, and internal. CONCLUSION: Despite the availability of options for breech pregnancy, the majority of women continue to have planned cesarean deliveries. The retrospective process reveals that women did not fully understand the eligibility criteria for VBB and all available options (including external cephalic version). Shared decision-making and continuity of care should remain a priority during the counselling process and delivery of care.

Retained Shotgun Pellets in the Vulva: Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Vulvar trauma is relatively uncommon and typically occurs in accidental or sports-related injuries. There is limited literature for management of penetrating trauma to the vulva. CASE: A 38-year-old G9, P9 woman presented to the gynaecology service for assessment of vulvar injury after a gunshot wound to the right lateral thigh. She underwent initial stabilization and operative management by the Trauma and Plastic Surgery services for predominantly soft-tissue injuries. Multiple gunshot pellets were found embedded in the right labia majora and medial thigh. On assessment, surgical removal was deemed necessary on the basis of symptoms and potential for functional impairment. CONCLUSION: We present the first reported case on the management of vulvar injury secondary to penetrating trauma. The principles of non-obstetrical vulvar trauma management are discussed.

Patterns of performance in students with frequent low stakes team based learning assessments: Do students change behavior?

Team-based learning offers an active learning strategy that provides a structure for measurement of learning and feedback to the students. Aggregating these results provides a longitudinal pattern of student performance. In this study, we analyzed results from a sequence of assessments related to TBL IRAT and GRAT assessments and traditional quizzes in a second-year musculoskeletal course in an undergraduate medical education program to determine if there are any measurable patterns, or performance trends, that students demonstrate in the course. Analyzing results from four academic years, we found evidence supporting there is predictability in student's future week's performance based on past performances across teaching modalities. We hypothesize that students are moderating their own effort regarding weekly low-stake assessments in prioritizing their academic efforts. The results from this study highlight the role of self-efficacy in medical education and suggest a new area of research for assessment of student performance patterns. Future studies could investigate whether these performance patterns are replicated in other assessment modalities and whether the same pattern holds for high-stakes assessments.

[Developments and applications of microfluidic chip-based chromatographic technique].

Microfluidic chip-based chromatographic technique has undergone rapid progress in recent years. The progress in the fabrication of chromatographic columns, the design of valves and pumps, the integration of these components into a single chip and the applications of the chip-based chromatographic systems, are reviewed, and 66 references are cited.