Dissecting the promotional effect of zinc on cadmium translocation from roots to shoots in rice.

It is often expected that Zn decreases Cd accumulation in plants due to competition for the same transporters. Here, we found that increasing Zn supply markedly increased the root-to-shoot translocation of Cd in rice. RNA sequencing showed that high Zn up-regulated expression of genes involved in glutathione biosynthesis and metabolism and the Zn/Cd transporter gene OsHMA2, but down-regulated expression of genes related to Zn uptake. Knockout of the iron or Zn transporter genes OsIRT1, OsIRT2, or OsZIP9 did not affect the Zn promotional effect on Cd translocation. Knockout of the manganese/Cd transporter gene OsNRAMP5 greatly reduced Cd uptake but did not affect the Zn promotional effect. Variation in the tonoplast transporter gene OsHMA3 affected Cd translocation but did not change the Zn promotional effect. Knockout of the Zn/Cd transporter gene OsHMA2 not only decreased Cd and Zn translocation, but also abolished the Zn promotional effect. Increased expression of OsHMA2 under high Zn conditions supports the hypothesis that this transporter participates in the promotional effect of Zn on Cd translocation. The results also show that OsIRT1, OsIRT2, and OsZIP9 made only small contributions to Cd uptake under low Zn conditions but not under high Zn conditions, whereas the dominant role of OsNRAMP5 in Cd uptake diminished under low Zn conditions.

[Effects of P on the Uptake and Transport of Cd and As in Wheat Seedlings].

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of P on the physiological mechanism of Cd and As uptake and transport of wheat seedlings. Taking Bainong 207 as the test material, we investigated the effects of exogenous P supply and P deficiency treatment on the growth, root morphology, photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant system, ion content, and rhizome transfer coefficient of wheat seedlings under Cd and As stress using hydroponic experiments. The results showed that compared with that in the P deficiency treatment, the supply of exogenous P significantly increased the chlorophyll content of wheat seedlings under As stress, promoted the growth and development of roots, and increased biomass, whereas there were no significant effects on the growth of wheat seedlings under Cd stress. The contents of P and Cd in the root system under the condition of Cd stress were significantly increased by the supply of exogenous P, and the contents of P and Cd in the aboveground part were reduced. At the same time, the P and As content in the shoot and the transfer coefficient of As from the root to the shoot under As stress were significantly improved. Therefore, the effects of P on the poisoning of wheat Cd and As in this study showed obvious differences. Under As stress, exogenous P supply mainly promoted the growth of wheat seedlings by improving the transport of As from the root to the shoot and the CAT activity in the root system, reducing the poisoning of As in wheat. Under Cd stress, P and Cd showed a certain synergistic effect, and the toxic effect of Cd on wheat was aggravated to a certain extent after the supply of P.

Identification of Cbp1, a c-di-GMP Binding Chemoreceptor in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 Involved in Chemotaxis and Nodulation of the Host Plant.

Cbp1, a chemoreceptor containing a PilZ domain was identified in Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571, a nitrogen-fixing free-living soil bacterium that induces nodule formation in both the roots and stems of the host legume Sesbania rostrata. Chemoreceptors are responsible for sensing signals in the chemotaxis pathway, which guides motile bacteria to beneficial niches and plays an important role in the establishment of rhizobia-legume symbiosis. PilZ domain proteins are known to bind the second messenger c-di-GMP, an important regulator of motility, biofilm formation and virulence. Cbp1 was shown to bind c-di-GMP through the conserved RxxxR motif of its PilZ domain. A mutant strain carrying a cbp1 deletion was impaired in chemotaxis, a feature that could be restored by genetic complementation. Compared with the wild type strain, the Δcbp1 mutant displayed enhanced aggregation and biofilm formation. The Δcbp1 mutant induced functional nodules when inoculated individually. However, the Δcbp1 mutant was less competitive than the wild type in competitive root colonization and nodulation. These data are in agreement with the hypothesis that the c-di-GMP binding chemoreceptor Cbp1 in A. caulinodans is involved in chemotaxis and nodulation.

Self-reported questionnaire survey on the prevalence and symptoms of adverse food reactions in patients with chronic inhalant diseases in Tangshan city, China.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of adverse food reactions in patients with chronic inhalant diseases has seldom been studied in China. This study is to investigate the prevalence of adverse food reactions and the symptoms caused in respiratory patients. METHODS: Respiratory patients in allergy clinics were asked to complete a questionnaire. Patients' information such as age, gender, family history of allergy, and adverse reactions to a list of 48 foods and the symptoms caused, was recorded. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine the prevalence of adverse food reactions and their associated symptoms. RESULTS: 459 subjects, with an average age of 32 years old, completed the questionnaire; 45.3% were male. Among the 459 subjects, 38.1% (175/459) had an adverse reaction to food: 13.6% had an adverse food reaction to crab, 12.4% had an adverse food reaction to shrimp; and 9.9% had an adverse reaction to shellfish. Peach and nectarine were also shown to be common causative foods with 6.8% of the study group showing an adverse reaction to peach and 5.2% to nectarine. Seafood mainly caused skin symptoms and fruits gave rise to more throat, oral, and gastrointestinal problems. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of adverse food reactions is high for patients with respiratory diseases. This indicates that adverse food reactions should be considered in the treatment and management of patients with chronic inhalant diseases.

A Chemotaxis-Like Pathway of Azorhizobium caulinodans Controls Flagella-Driven Motility, Which Regulates Biofilm Formation, Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis, and Competitive Nodulation.

The genome of the Azorhizobium caulinodans ORS571 contains a unique chemotaxis gene cluster (che) including five chemotaxis genes: cheA, cheW, cheY1, cheB, and cheR. Analysis of the role of the chemotaxis cluster of A. caulinodans using deletion mutant strains revealed that CheA or the Che signaling pathway controls chemotaxis behavior and flagella-driven motility and plays important roles in formation of biofilms and production of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). Furthermore, the deletion mutants (ΔcheA and ΔcheA-R) were defective in competitive adsorption and colonization on the root surface of host plants. In addition, a functional CheA or Che pathway promoted competitive nodulation on roots and stems. Interestingly, a nonflagellated mutant, ΔfliM, displayed a phenotype highly similar to that of the ΔcheA or ΔcheA-R mutant strains. These findings suggest that through controlling flagella-driven motility behavior, the chemotaxis signaling pathway in A. caulinodans coordinates biofilm formation, EPS, and competitive colonization and nodulation.

Berberine alleviates oxidative stress in rats with osteoporosis through receptor activator of NF-kB/receptor activator of NF-kB ligand/osteoprotegerin (RANK/RANKL/OPG) pathway.

Previous studies suggested that oxidative stress is related to the onset and development of osteoporosis. Moreover, it was demonstrated that berberine has a protective effect against oxidative stress-induced injuries. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of action of berberine on rats with induced osteoporosis. Sixty 8-week-old female Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following 6 groups: control saline-treated, osteoporosis saline-treated, 3 osteoporosis berberine-treated groups (Ber 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg/body weight, respectively), and osteoporosis alendronate-treated (ALD) group. Osteoporosis was induced by bilateral ovariectomy. All treatments were performed for 8 weeks. The bone mineral density (BMD), serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin, calcium, phosphorus, superoxide dismutase (SOD), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) level was determined in the rat femur tissue. The gene and protein expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR and Western blot, respectively. The BMD, SOD and GSH⁃Px levels, and the expression of OPG were significantly lower in osteoporosis compared to control group (all p < 0.05). The serum levels of osteocalcin, ALP, and MDA, and the expression of RANKL were significantly higher in osteoporosis compared to control group (all p < 0.05). Berberine, especially the high doses of berberine, effectively increased SOD, GSH⁃Px, and OPG levels as well as decreased serum osteocalcin, ALP, MDA and RANKL levels in berberine-treated osteoporosis groups (all p < 0.05). To conclude, oxidative stress may promote the development of osteoporosis in rats through the RANK/RANKL/OPG pathway. The antioxidative effect of berberine reduces the development of osteoporosis in rats to some extent.

Observations on the Therapeutic Effect of Electroacupuncture on Urinary Retention Due to Prostatic Hyperplasia / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To assess the clinical therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on urinary retention due to prostatic hyperplasia by ultrasonic measurement of bladder residual urine volume before and after treatment.Methods Seventy patients with urinary retention due to prostatic hyperplasia were randomized to a treatment group (39 cases) and a control group (31 cases).The treatment group received electroacupuncture and the control group,conventional medication.The International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) score was recorded and prostate volume (PV) and bladder residual urine volume (RUV) were measured in the two groups before and after treatment.The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the indicators (I-PSS,PV and RUV) in both groups (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the indicators between the treatment and control groups (P＜0.05).The total efficacy rate was 94.9％ in the treatment group and 96.8％ in the control group;there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion Both electroacupuncture and medication are effective ways to treat urinary retention due to prostatic hyperplasia.