OsGA3ox genes regulate rice fertility and plant height by synthesizing diverse active GA.

Gibberellin (GA) is an important hormone, which is involved in regulating various growth and development. GA biosynthesis pathway and synthetase have been basically clarified. Gibberellin 3ß hydroxylase (GA3ox) is the key enzyme for the synthesis of various active GA. There are two GA3ox genes (OsGA3ox1 and OsGA3ox2) in rice, and their physiological functions have been preliminarily studied. However, it is not clear how they work together to synthesize active GA to regulate rice development. In this study, the knockout mutants ga3ox1 and ga3ox2 were obtained by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The pollen fertility of ga3ox1 decreased significantly, while the plant height of ga3ox2 decreased significantly. It shows that OsGA3ox1 is necessary for normal pollen development, while OsGA3ox2 is necessary for stem and leaf elongation. Tissue expression analysis showed that OsGA3ox1 was mainly expressed in unopened flowers, while OsGA3ox2 was mainly expressed in unexpanded leaves. The GA in different tissues of wild type (WT), and two ga3ox mutants were detected. It was found that pollen fertility is most closely related to the content of GA7, and plant height is most closely related to the content of GA1. It was found that OsGA3ox1 catalyzes GA9 to GA7 in flowers, which is closely related to pollen fertility; OsGA3ox2 catalyzes the GA20 to GA1 in unexpanded leaves, thereby regulating plant height; OsGA3ox1 catalyzes the GA19 to GA20 in roots, regulating the generation of GA3. OsGA3ox1 and OsGA3ox2 respond to developmental and environmental signals, and cooperate to synthesize endogenous GA in different tissues to regulate rice development. This study provides a reference for clarifying its role in GA biosynthesis pathway and further understanding the function of OsGA3ox.

Moxibustion Ameliorates Ovarian Reserve in Rats by Mediating Nrf2/HO-1/NLRP3 Anti-Inflammatory Pathway.

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is an increasingly emerging reproductive disorder that disturbs reproductive-aged women, which is closely linked with inflammation. In clinic, moxibustion has already been applied for reproductive problems. In the present study, we examined the involvement of inflammation in DOR and investigated the effect of moxibustion for its anti-inflammatory activities. Methods. DOR rat model was established using tripterygium glycosides A tablets (TGs) suspension by intragastric administration and was then treated with either moxibustion or hormone replacement therapy (HRT), respectively. Estrus cycles were observed through vaginal cytology. Ovarian morphological alterations were observed by HE staining. The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E 2), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured through ELISA. The expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NLRP3 were detected using immunohistochemistry. Nrf2, HO-1, and NLRP3 mRNA were examined by RT-PCR. Results. Moxibustion improved estrus cycles, FSH, E 2, and AMH levels relative to DOR rats as well as HRT, while also inhibiting ovarian tissue injury. Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in peripheral blood was upregulated, and proinflammatory factor TNF-α was decreased after treatment with moxibustion. Moxibustion enhanced the expression of mRNA and protein of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1); in the mean time, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) was suppressed. Conclusions. We demonstrated that moxibustion could ameliorate the ovarian reserve in rats induced by TGs. Overall, the effect of moxibustion was comparable to that of HRT. The underlying mechanism could be attributed to the anti-inflammatory effects of moxibustion, which suppressed NLRP3 activation by upregulating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

[Effect of moxibustion on Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in rats with diminished ovarian reserve].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion on Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in rats with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), and to explore the protective mechanism of moxibustion on ovarian reserve function. METHODS: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a moxibustion group and a hormone group, 10 rats in each group. The rats in the model group, moxibustion group and hormone group were treated with intragastric administration of tripterysium glycosides turbid liquid to prepare DOR model. The rats in the blank group were treated with intragastric administration of sodium chloride solution with the same volume, once a day for 14 days. The rats in the hormone group were treated with hormone sequential therapy for 14 days from the day of modeling; the rats in the moxibustion group were treated with moxibustion at bilateral "Shenshu" (BL 23) or "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zhongwan" (CV 12) from the day of modeling, and the two groups acupoints were alternated every other day, 10 min each time, for 14 consecutive days. The estrus cycle was observed every day by vaginal exfoliated cell smear, and the estrus cycle disorder rate in each group was calculated. After the intervention, the HE staining was used to observe the histological morphology of ovaries; ELISA was used to detect the contents of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), anti Mullerian hormone (AMH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA); the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 in ovarian tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry; real-time PCR (TaqMan probe method) was used to detect the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, the rate of estrus cycle disorder in the model group was increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the rate of estrus cycle disorder in the moxibustion group and hormone group was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the serum contents of FSH, LH and MDA in the model group were increased (P<0.01), and the serum contents of E2, AMH and SOD were decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum contents of FSH, LH and MDA in the moxibustion group and hormone group were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the serum contents of E2, AMH and SOD were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the model group were decreased (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the moxibustion group and hormone group were increased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion could reduce the rate of estrus cycle disorder, improve the level of serum sex hormones and antioxidant stress in DOR rats, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Comparison of dietary energy and macronutrient intake at different levels of glucose metabolism.

The aim of this study was to evaluate energy and glycolipid metabolism by determining the intake of energy and macronutrients in persons with differing glucose metabolisms. In total, 147 patients who were newly diagnosed with pre-diabetes, 177 patients with diabetes, 139 patients who were previously diagnosed with diabetes, and 140 patients with normal blood sugar were selected from the 103rd Regiment of Xinjiang. All patients had Han nationality and were over 30 years old. Their energy and macronutrient intakes were analyzed from data obtained from a 3-day food weighing household investigation. Compared to the normal group, the patients in the previously and newly diagnosed diabetic groups were older, less educated, and had a greater prevalence of hypertension (P<0.05). Compared to the normal group, patients with abnormal glucose metabolism had larger waist circumferences; higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure; higher postprandial glucose; higher total cholesterol; lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; P<0.05); higher intakes of energy, carbohydrates, and fat; and lower intakes of protein and fiber. In addition, the newly and previously diagnosed patients had higher fasting glucose levels (P<0.05). Compared to the normal group, patients with abnormal glucose metabolism in each sex subgroup also had larger waist circumferences, and more men had abdominal obesity (P<0.05). Diabetes or pre-diabetes patients had a higher intake of energy, carbohydrates, and fat, but a lower intake of proteins and fiber. They had severe abdominal obesity, a greater prevalence of hypertension, higher total cholesterol levels, lower HDL-C, and poor blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels, especially postprandial plasma glucose levels.

[Epidemiological investigation and comparison of three different diagnostic criteria regarding metabolic syndrome among population age 30 - 80 in Xinjiang Uigur areas].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among Xinjiang Uigur population aged 30 - 80 and to compare the differences of the three diagnostic criteria used for MS. The three diagnostic criteria were developed by the National Cholesterol Education Program (ATP III), International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Chinese Medical Association Diabetes Branch (CDS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2053 Xinjiang Uigur people aged 30 - 80. The prevalence of MS and the degree of agreement were both calculated according to the three definitions. The results of MS components were also analyzed. RESULTS: (1) According to the three definitions (ATP III, IDF and CDS), the prevalence and adjusted prevalence rates of MS were 35.80% (29.64%), 39.41% (35.88%) and 23.72% (19.17%). (2) According to the three definitions (the ATP III, IDF and CDS), the prevalence rates of subjects who had at least 3 risk factors were 98.64%, 97.90% and 92.81%. (3) Among all the subjects with MS, the MS diagnostic criteria of ATP III and IDF were in good accordance with the Kappa index (0.7801), Youden index (0.7928) and the concordance rate (0.9026). CDS was in relatively weak agreement when comparing with other definitions (ATP III and IDF). CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed big differences regarding the prevalence rates, the degree of agreement and the aggregation of risk components on MS among Xinjiang Uigur population. The detection rate of IDF criteria on MS and the highest while detection rate of ATP III criteria on subjects presented at least 3 risk factors were the highest. The concordance of ATP III criteria and IDF seemed to be a better one.

[A study on the difference between International Diabetes Federation worldwide definition and Adult Treatment Panel III in diagnosing metabolic syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the difference between the metabolic syndrome (MS) diagnosis made with International Diabetes Federation (IDF) worldwide definition and the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII) of National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). METHODS: Cross-sectional study and descriptive study were used. RESULTS: There were 1328 MS patients diagnosed with IDF and 1527 MS patients diagnosed with ATPIII. There were 199 MS patients diagnosed with ATPIII but not with IDF and these MS patients all had 3 - 4 risk factors. According to the abnormality of glucose, blood pressure and lipid regulation stated in ATPIII criteria, 759 more patients were diagnosed as MS than with IDF criteria. CONCLUSIONS: MS diagnosed with ATPIII criteria is more objective than with IDF criteria and ATPIII criteria has more space for further theoretical study.