Biochar immobilized plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria enhanced the physicochemical properties, agronomic characters and microbial communities during lettuce seedling.

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is the by-products of mushroom production, which is mainly composed of disintegrated lignocellulosic biomass, mushroom mycelia and some minerals. The huge output and the lack of effective utilization methods make SMS becoming a serious environmental problem. In order to improve the application of SMS and SMS derived biochar (SBC), composted SMS (CSMS), SBC, combined plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR, Bacillus subtilis BUABN-01 and Arthrobacter pascens BUAYN-122) and SBC immobilized PGPR (BCP) were applied in the lettuce seedling. Seven substrate treatments were used, including (1) CK, commercial control; (2) T1, CSMS based blank control; (3) T2, T1 with combined PGPR (9:1, v/v); (4) T3, T1 with SBC (19:1, v/v); (5) T4, T1 with SBC (9:1, v/v); (6) T5, T1 with BCP (19:1, v/v); (7) T6, T1 with BCP (9:1, v/v). The physicochemical properties of substrate, agronomic and physicochemical properties of lettuce and rhizospheric bacterial and fungal communities were investigated. The addition of SBC and BCP significantly (p < 0.05) improved the total nitrogen and available potassium content. The 5% (v/v) BCP addiction treatment (T5) represented the highest fresh weight of aboveground and underground, leave number, chlorophyll content and leaf anthocyanin content, and the lowest root malondialdehyde content. Moreover, high throughput sequencing revealed that the biochar immobilization enhanced the adaptability of PGPR. The addition of PGPR, SBC and BCP significantly enriched the unique bacterial biomarkers. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed that 5% BCP greatly increased the network complexity of rhizospheric microorganisms and improved the correlations of the two PGPR with other microorganisms. Furthermore, microbial functional prediction indicated that BCP enhanced the nutrient transport of rhizospheric microorganisms. This study showed the BCP can increase the agronomic properties of lettuce and improve the rhizospheric microbial community.

Quantitative proteomic analyses reveal that energy metabolism and protein biosynthesis reinitiation are responsible for the initiation of bolting induced by high temperature in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.).

BACKGROUND: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), one of the most economically important leaf vegetables, exhibits early bolting under high-temperature conditions. Early bolting leads to loss of commodity value and edibility, leading to considerable loss and waste of resources. However, the initiation and molecular mechanism underlying early bolting induced by high temperature remain largely elusive. RESULTS: In order to better understand this phenomenon, we defined the lettuce bolting starting period, and the high temperature (33 °C) and controlled temperature (20 °C) induced bolting starting phase of proteomics is analyzed, based on the iTRAQ-based proteomics, phenotypic measurement, and biological validation by RT-qPCR. Morphological and microscopic observation showed that the initiation of bolting occurred 8 days after high-temperature treatment. Fructose accumulated rapidly after high-temperature treatment. During initiation of bolting, of the 3305 identified proteins, a total of 93 proteins exhibited differential abundances, 38 of which were upregulated and 55 downregulated. Approximately 38% of the proteins were involved in metabolic pathways and were clustered mainly in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Furthermore, some proteins involved in sugar synthesis were differentially expressed and were also associated with energy production. CONCLUSIONS: This report is the first to report on the metabolic changes involved in the initiation of bolting in lettuce. Our study suggested that energy metabolism and ribosomal proteins are pivotal components during initiation of bolting. This study could provide a potential regulatory mechanism for the initiation of early bolting by high temperature, which could have applications in the manipulation of lettuce for breeding.

Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Reveals Molecular Basis-Associated Auxin and Photosynthesis with Bolting Induced by High Temperature.

Bolting is a key process in the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). A high temperature can induce early bolting, which decreases both the quality and production of lettuce. However, knowledge of underlying lettuce bolting is still lacking. To better understand the molecular basis of bolting, a comparative proteomics analysis was conducted on lettuce stems, during the bolting period induced by a high temperature (33 °C) and a control temperature (20 °C) using iTRAQ-based proteomics, phenotypic measures, and biological verifications using qRT-PCR and Western blot. The high temperature induced lettuce bolting, while the control temperature did not. Of the 5454 identified proteins, 619 proteins presented differential abundance induced by high-temperature relative to the control group, of which 345 had an increased abundance and 274 had a decreased abundance. Proteins with an abundance level change were mainly enriched in pathways associated with photosynthesis and tryptophan metabolism involved in auxin (IAA) biosynthesis. Moreover, among the proteins with differential abundance, proteins associated with photosynthesis and tryptophan metabolism were increased. These findings indicate that a high temperature enhances the function of photosynthesis and IAA biosynthesis to promote the process of bolting, which is in line with the physiology and transcription level of IAA metabolism. Our data provide a first comprehensive dataset for gaining novel understanding of the molecular basis underlying lettuce bolting induced by high temperature. It is potentially important for further functional analysis and genetic manipulation for molecular breeding to breed new cultivars of lettuce to restrain early bolting, which is vital for improving vegetable quality.

Beneficial Phytochemicals with Anti-Tumor Potential Revealed through Metabolic Profiling of New Red Pigmented Lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.).

The present study aimed to compare polyphenols among red lettuce cultivars and identify suitable cultivars for the development and utilization of healthy vegetables. Polyphenols, mineral elements, and antioxidant activity were analyzed in the leaves of six red pigmented lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars; thereafter, we assessed the anti-tumor effects of cultivar B-2, which displayed the highest antioxidant activity. Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry analysis revealed four classes of polyphenols in these cultivars. The composition and contents of these metabolites varied significantly among cultivars and primarily depended on leaf color. The B-2 cultivar had the highest antioxidant potential than others because it contained the highest levels of polyphenols, especially anthocyanin, flavone, and phenolic acid; furthermore, this cultivar displayed anti-tumor effects against the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549, human hepatoma cell line Bel7402, human cancer colorectal adenoma cell line HCT-8, and HT-29 human colon cancer cell line. Hence, the new red-leaf lettuce cultivar B-2 has a distinct metabolite profile, with high potential for development and utilization of natural phytochemical and mineral resources in lettuces and can be used as a nutrient-dense food product.

Association of down-regulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P with increase of myocardial vulnerability in diabetic neuropathic rats.

Diabetic patients present high co-morbidities of neuropathy and severer consequences of coronary heart disease. But the pathological mechanism is still unclear. Here we investigated a potential association of diabetic impairment of sensory nerves with increase of vulnerability of myocardium in acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. A rat model of diabetes mellitus was induced by high fat and sugar diet plus a small dose of streptozotocin. Impairment of sensory nerves was evaluated by measurement of changes in tail flick latency to noxious thermal stimulation and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and the myocardium of the heart were examined. The myocardial injury was examined by infarct size, apoptosis ratio of cardiomyocytes and cardiac troponin I in the animals underwent acute myocardial ischemia (for 30min) and reperfusion (for 120min). The effects of CGRP and SP on cardiomyocyte injury induced by high glucose and hypoxia/reoxygenation were tested in cultured myocytes. The diabetic animals presented significant elevation of noxious thermal threshold with obvious reduction of the contents of CGRP and SP in the DRG and the myocardium. Importantly, the diabetic animals showed significant increases of infarct size, myocyte apoptosis and serum cardiac troponin I after acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion, compared to the non-diabetic control. Furthermore, exogenously administered CGRP and SP attenuated the myocyte injury induced by the high concentration of glucose and hypoxia/reoxygenation. These findings suggested that impairment of sensory nerves with significant reduction of CGRP and SP in DRG, ventricular myocardium and serum may be associated with increase of myocardial vulnerability in acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Preservation of CGRP in myocardium attenuates development of cardiac dysfunction in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays an important role in cardiovascular regulation, which was found reduced in serum of diabetic patients. To test the hypothesis that lack of CGRP in myocardium is associated with diabetic cardiac dysfunction, which may be improved by preservation of CGRP in diabetic rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by streptozotocin (50mg/kg). Two groups of the diabetic rats, one fed with standard laboratory chew and another with the laboratory food plus hot pepper (containing 0.0174% of capsaicin), to stimulate production and release of CGRP. Cardiac functions were evaluated by measurements of intraventricular pressures after 8weeks of development of diabetes. Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), CGRP, ß1-adreneregic receptor and norepinephrine were analyzed. Significantly lower levels of TRPV1 and CGRP were detected in the thoracic dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and myocardium of the diabetic animals, along with significant decline in left ventricular systolic pressure (by 24%) and heart rate (by 25%) and increase of the end-diastolic pressure (by 83%) with obvious reduction of CGRP in the DRG, by 41%, the myocardium (by 30%) and the serum (by 20%). The cardiac performance, the TRPV1 and the CGRP in the diabetic animals fed with hot pepper were well preserved. No any significant change in ß1-adreneregic receptor and norepinephrine was detected. CONCLUSION: The findings may suggest a novel mechanism underlying diabetic cardiac dysfunctions via impairing TRPV1-CGRP pathway in myocardium. Preservation of the TRPV1-CGRP mechanism may prevent the development of cardiac dysfunction in diabetes.

Correlates of unequal access to preventive care in China: a multilevel analysis of national data from the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey.

BACKGROUND: Preventive care has an essential role in reducing income-related health inequalities. Despite a general consensus of the need of shifting focus from disease treatment to wellness and prevention, little is known about inequalities in access to preventive care in China. Our study aimed to explore the inequalities in preventive care usage and factors that were associated with such inequalities among Chinese adults. METHODS: Multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed using national data from the 2011 Chinese Health and Nutrition Survey. The study sample comprised 13,483 adults who were covered by Basic Social Medical Insurance (BSMI). We analyzed individual socioeconomic status (marital status, education attainment, annual household income per capita, and medical insurance) and contextual factors for their influence on preventive care usage (region of residence and type of community) after controlling for health needs (age, sex, and health condition). RESULTS: Out of the participants, 6.9 % received preventive care services over the past four weeks and 3.9 % went for a general physical examination prior to the survey. We noted regional disparities in the overall use of preventive care and specific use of general physical examination, with residents from central and northeastern regions less likely to use preventive care including general physical examination than in the more affluent eastern region. Lower levels of education and income were associated with reduced use of preventive care. Subscriptions to less generous social medical insurance programs such as Urban Resident-based Medical Insurance Scheme or New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme were associated with decreased specific use of general physical examinations, but not overall use of preventive care. CONCLUSIONS: Inequalities in preventive care usage were evident in China, and were associated with health needs and socioeconomic characteristics. Current health insurance arrangements may fail to reduce inequalities relating to preventive care. A fair and more coherent policy across all BSMI schemes is needed.

[Effects of temperature on leaf lettuce vernalization.] / 温度对叶用莴苣春化的影响.

To investigate the effects of different temperatures on the vernalization of leaf lettuce, and declare their type, two easy bolting leaf lettuce varieties of GB-30 and GB-31 were selected as material, which were treated by 4 ℃, 20 ℃ and 25 ℃ for 20 d respectively and afterwards treated by high temperature stress. The process of flower bud differentiation was observed by using paraffin section technology, and combined the condition of bolting and flowering to estimate whether or not it underwent vernalization, and defined its vernalization type. The results showed that, two varieties of GB-30 and GB-31 appeared bolting to different degrees at the 8th day under high temperature stress after temperature treatments in the early stage. Different temperatures in the early stage all made flower bud differentiated of two varieties. 4 ℃ treatment did not advance the flower bud differentiation, while the high temperature in later time accelerated this progress. Furthermore, the days required for the two varieties to complete development stages differed under different temperature treatments. The effective accumulated temperature whether from pregermination to flowering or from high temperature stress to flowering of two varieties were also different. The leaf lettuce without low temperature treatment in early stage could enter into the flower bud differentiation, bolting, budding and flowering stages, and it could be considered as non-low temperature vernalization plant. The high temperature treatment in later stage could obviously promote its bolting and flowering. In addition, the effective accumulated temperature had to reach about 2500 ℃·d from germination to blossom.

[Salt stress tolerance of cucumber-grafted rootstocks].

Taking 4 different Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata rootstocks for cucumber (Cucumis sativus) as test materials, a solution culture experiment was conducted to study their growth and antioxidative enzyme activities under the stresses of Ca(NO3)2 and NaCl, with the salt stress tolerance of the rootstocks evaluated by subordinate function. At 30 mmol x L(-1) of Ca (NO3)2 or 45 mmol x L(-1) of NaCl, the growth of the rootstock seedlings was improved; but at 60 and 120 mmol x L(-1) of Ca(NO3)2 or 90 and 180 mmol x L(-1) of NaCl, the growth and the antioxidative systems of the seedlings were inhibited, and the salt injury index of 'Qingzhen No. 1' was the smallest, with the decrement of biomass and SOD, POD and CAT activities and the increment of relative conductance being significantly lower than those of the others. Under the stress of high concentration Ca(NO3)2, the SOD, POD and CAT activities of test rootstocks were higher, and the salt injury index and relative conductance were lower, as compared with those under high concentration NaCl, suggesting that the damage of Ca(NO3)2 stress to cucumber-grafted rootstock were smaller than that of NaCl stress. Among the 4 rootstocks, 'Qingzhen No. 1' had the strongest salt stress tolerance, followed by 'Zuomu Nangua', 'Fengyuan Tiejia', and 'Chaoba Nangua'.

[Culture and quality of life assessment in Chinese populations].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of cultural factors on quality of life (QOL) and to identify appropriate ways of dividing sub-populations for population norm-based quality of life assessment. METHODS: The WHOQOL-BREF was used as a QOL instrument. Another questionnaire was developed to assess cultural values. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 1090 Guangzhou residents, which included 635 respondents from communities and 455 patients who visited outpatient departments of hospitals. Cronbach's a coefficients and item-domain correlation coefficients were calculated to test the reliability and validity of the WHOQOL-BREF, respectively. Student t test, ANOVA and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis were performed to identify the variables that might have an impact on the QOL. Two regression models with and without including cultural variables were constructed, and the extent of impact exerted by the cultural factors was assessed through a comparison of the change of adjusted R square values. RESULTS: A total of 1052 (96%) valid questionnaire were returned. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the WHOQOL-BREF ranged from 0.67 to 0.78. Age, education, occupation and family income were correlated with all of the domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Chronic condition was correlated with physical, psychological, and social relationship domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. Gender was correlated with physical and psychological domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. The multiple regression analysis showed that social and demographic factors contributed to 6.3%, 13.6%, 10.4% and 8.7% of the predicted variances for the physical, psychological, social relationship, and environment domains, respectively. Social support, horizontal collectivism, vertical individualism, escape acceptance, fear of death, health value, supernatural belief had a significant impact on QOL. However, social support was the only one factor that had an impact on all of the four QOL domains. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to divide sub-cultural populations for population norm-based QOL assessment. Further research is needed to develop a practical approach to the sub-cultural population division.

Associations between poor health and school-related behavior problems at the child and family levels: a cross-sectional study of migrant children and adolescents in southwest urban China.

BACKGROUND: Due to urbanization in China, the numbers of migrant children and adolescents in urban environments have increased. Previous studies have indicated that children and adolescents are more likely to suffer from health problems and poor school achievement. The present study identified associations between poor health and school-related behavior problems (ie, learning attitudes and learning disabilities [LL], antisocial behavior and risk behavior [AR], and social adaptation and role function [SR]) at the child and family levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used. Seven hundred and eighty-one participants were recruited in inclusive settings. Correlational analysis was conducted to assess the associations between demographic variables and the primary study variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine which study factors were the strongest predictors of general health problems. RESULTS: School-aged migrants who had poorer health tended to be more likely to suffer from school-related behavior problems. Poor health was also found to hinder scholastic achievement in migrant children and adolescents through a higher prevalence of school-related behavior problems, including negative learning attitudes and learning disabilities, antisocial behavior and risk behavior, and social maladjustment. Health risk factors included inappropriate parental education methods, fewer classmates, and less social support. CONCLUSIONS: Health and individual risk factors should be explored further to determine their causal role in migrant children and adolescents with school-related behavior problems. These results have implications for future school health education for these students.

[Assessing quality of life in an urban population in Chengdu using the SF-12].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the health-related quality of life in an urban population in Chengdu China using the SF-12. METHODS: A random sampling strategy stratified by age and sex was adopted to select the participants in Chengdu. A total of 1365 respondents with an age of older than 18 years completed the interviewer-administered SF-12 survey. The physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary measures of the SF-12 were calculated using the standard US scoring method and compared to the urban population norms of Hong Kong and Australia. RESULTS: Similar PCS and MCS scores were obtained for the urban Chengdu population compared to the Hong Kong and Australian population norms, albeit a closer similarity between the Chengdu and Hong Kong populations. The PCS and MCS scores of the SF-12 changed with sex and age. CONCLUSION: The age- and sex-adjusted PCS and MCS scores of the SF-12 in the urban Chengdu population can serve as a reference for future studies using the SF-12 in China.

Quality of life and hostile mentality trend of patients with HIV/AIDS in China.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life (QOL) and hostile mentality trend (HMT) of patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in China, and to identify their major concerns. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Short Form-36 (SF-36) was used to assess QOL, and seven items were developed to assess the HMT. In-depth interviews were conducted with patients and health workers. RESULTS: SF-36 had moderate reliability, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.75 to 0.90 and test-retest correlation coefficients ranging from 0.54 to 0.80 for the eight domains. The item-subscale correlation coefficients ranged from 0.46 to 0.97. The QOL of patients with HIV/AIDS was significantly lower than the average QOL of the general population (P<0.01). Hostile mentality of patients was significant (mean scores of the seven items ranged from 2.87 to 4.32, and the mean sum of scores was 3.45 from a range of 1-5). Cronbach's alpha coefficient of HMT items was 0.75 and the test-retest correlation coefficient was 0.80. The major concerns of patients with HIV/AIDS were financial insecurity and family responsibilities, followed by the fear of death and no cure for HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSION: SF-36 is a reliable instrument for the assessment of QOL of patients with HIV/AIDS. The QOL of patients with HIV/AIDS in China is poor. The HMT is a valuable indicator to monitor the outcomes of care for patients with HIV/AIDS.

[Quantitative assessment of risks for coronary heart diseases in urban residents in Sichuan].

OBJECTIVE: To set a quantitative criteria for determining risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) so that potential risk of an individual dying from CHD can be identified and to lay a foundation for predicting individual risk of CHD. METHODS: Data of case-control and cohort studies published during 1978 to 2002, as well as data of surveillance of behavior exposure in Sichuan province, were collected by retrieval of literatures. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and relative risks (RR) of all risk factors for CHD were estimated using various statistical models with software for meta-analysis, and attributable risk fractions of varied levels of risk factors could be converted. RESULTS: A risk score conversion table (quantitative criteria for assessment) of main risk factors for CHD were developed for men and women aged 15 - 69 at an interval of five years, including smoking, passive smoking, hypertension, high blood cholesterol level, body mass index, lack of physical activity, alcohol drinking, past history of diabetes, and family history of CHD and hypertension. Individuals with all these risk factors had a risk score beyond 1.00, and risk score for those without them was equal to or below 1.00, which would increase with rise in one's risk level. CONCLUSIONS: Estimation of risk of dying from CHD was based on risk score conversion table of risk factors for CHD, which could be used to predict individual potential risk of dying from CHD in the following 10 years. It lays a foundation for health education to persuade people to change their unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors, and could be used in community health services.