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Framingham risk score (FRS), systematic coronary risk evaluation (SCORE), the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk algorithm (ASCVD), and their modified risk scores are the most common cardiovascular risk scores. The aim of this case–control study was to evaluate the performance of cardiovascular risk scores in detecting carotid subclinical atherosclerosis (SCA) in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). A total of 123 IIMs patients (71.5% female, mean age 50 ± 14 years) and 123 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Carotid SCA was more prevalent in IIMs patients compared with controls (77.2 vs 50.4%, P < 0.001). Moreover, patients with carotid SCA+ had older age, and all risk scores were significantly higher in IIMs patients with SCA+ compared to subjects with SCA− (all P < 0.001). According to FRS, SCORE, and ASCVD risk scores, 77.9, 96.8, and 66.7% patients with SCA+ were classified as low risk category, respectively. The modified scores also demonstrated a modest improvement in sensitivity. Notably, by adopting the optimal cutoff values, these risk scores had good discrimination on patients with SCA+, with area under curves of 0.802–0.893. In conclusion, all cardiovascular risk scores had a poor performance in identifying IIMs patients at high cardiovascular risk.

Domesticated crops with high yield and quality are frequently susceptible to pathogen attack, whereas enhancement of disease resistance generally compromises crop yield. The underlying mechanisms of how plant development and disease resistance are coordinately programed remain elusive. Here, we showed that the basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factor Cucumis sativus Irregular Vasculature Patterning (CsIVP) was highly expressed in cucumber vascular tissues. Knockdown of CsIVP caused severe vasculature disorganization and abnormal organ morphogenesis. CsIVP directly binds to vascular-related regulators YABBY5 (CsYAB5), BREVIPEDICELLUS (CsBP), and AUXIN/INDOLEACETIC ACIDS4 (CsAUX4) and promotes their expression. Knockdown of CsYAB5 resulted in similar phenotypes as CsIVP-RNA interference (RNAi) plants, including disturbed vascular configuration and abnormal organ morphology. Meanwhile, CsIVP-RNAi plants were more resistant to downy mildew and accumulated more salicylic acid (SA). CsIVP physically interacts with NIM1-INTERACTING1 (CsNIMIN1), a negative regulator in the SA signaling pathway. Thus, CsIVP is a novel vasculature regulator functioning in CsYAB5-mediated organ morphogenesis and SA-mediated downy mildew resistance in cucumber.

High-temperature stress (HTS) affects the growth and production of vegetable crops, including eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Jasmonic acid (JA) plays key roles in regulating resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. Nonetheless, reports on the role of JA in heat tolerance in eggplant are rare. Herein, the effects of JA on heat tolerance in eggplant and the functions of the JA biosynthetic genes SmLOX4 and SmLOX5 were analyzed. The results showed that the JA content increased under high-temperature treatment (HTT) and exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment reduced the damage caused by HTT to eggplant. The expression of SmLOX4 and SmLOX5 was induced by HTT and significantly positively correlated with JA biosynthesis. SmLOX4 and SmLOX5 were localized in chloroplasts. The silencing of SmLOX4 and SmLOX5 by virus-induced gene silencing suppressed the heat tolerance of eggplant, whereas the overexpression of SmLOX4 and SmLOX5 enhanced the heat tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana. JA content and the expression of JA signaling–related genes decreased in the SmLOX4 - and SmLOX5 -silenced plants but increased in the OE- SmLOX4 and OE- SmLOX5 transgenic plants. These results revealed that SmLOX4 and SmLOX5 improved eggplant heat tolerance by mediating JA biosynthesis and JA signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As important transcription factors, WRKYs play a vital role in the defense response of plants against the invasion of multiple pathogens. Though some WRKY members have been reported to participate in pepper immunity in response to Ralstonia solanacearum infection, the functions of the majority of WRKY members are still unknown. Herein, CaWRKY22b was cloned from the pepper genome and its function against R. solanacearum was analyzed. The transcript abundance of CaWRKY22b was significantly increased in response to the infection of R. solanacearum and the application of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Subcellular localization assay in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana showed that CaWRKY22b protein was targeted to the nuclei. Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression in pepper leaves indicated that CaWRKY22b overexpression triggered intensive hypersensitive response-like cell death, H2O2 accumulation, and the up-regulation of defense- and JA-responsive genes, including CaHIR1, CaPO2, CaBPR1, and CaDEF1. Virus-induced gene silencing assay revealed that knock-down of CaWRKY22b attenuated pepper's resistance against R. solanacearum and the up-regulation of the tested defense- and jasmonic acid (JA)-responsive genes. We further assessed the role of CaWRKY22b in modulating the expression of JA-responsive CaDEF1, and the result demonstrated that CaWRKY22b trans-activated CaDEF1 expression by directly binding to its upstream promoter. Collectively, our results suggest that CaWRKY22b positively regulated pepper immunity against R. solanacearum in a manner associated with JA signaling, probably by modulating the expression of JA-responsive CaDEF1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism by which nitrate inhibits nitrogen fixation in soybean (Glycine max L.) is not fully understood. Accumulation of ureide in soybean plant tissues may regulate the nitrogen fixation capacity through a feedback pathway. In this study, unilaterally nodulated dual-root soybeans prepared by grafting were grown in sand culture. They were subjected to the removal of the nodulated side roots, and were given either nitrate supply or no supply to the non-nodulated side roots for 3 days (experiment I). Additionally, they received nitrate supply to the non-nodulated side roots for 1–14 days (experiment II). The results showed that nitrate supply increased the levels of asparagine and ureide in soybean shoots (Experiment I). In Experiment II, nodule dry weight, nodule number, nodule nitrogenase activity, and nodule urate oxidase activity decreased significantly after 3, 7, and 14 days of nitrate supply. Ureide content in the shoots and nodules increased after 1, 3, and 7 days of nitrate supply, but decreased after 14 days of nitrate supply. There was a significant positive correlation between urate oxidase activity and nitrogenase activity. Hence, we deduced that nitrate supply increased the asparagine content in soybean shoots, likely inhibiting ureide degradation, which induced the accumulation of ureide in soybean shoots and nodules, and, in turn, feedback inhibited the nodule nitrogen fixation. In addition, urate oxidase activity can be used to assess the nitrogen fixation capacity of nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw incorporation increases the amount of nutrients in soil and greatly impacts soil nitrogen and microbial communities. In this study, 15N‐labeled corn straw was used as the material, the experiment consisted of five treament (AS: placing the straw 15 cm above the soil surface, SM: using the straw to mulch the soil surface, B15: burying the straw 15 cm below the ground surface, B30: burying the straw 30 cm below the ground surface, B45: burying the straw 45 cm below the ground surface). The changes in 15N abundance in straw were analyzed. An estimation method for nitrogen release and uptake by field‐incorporated straw was proposed, and the relationships between nitrogen release and uptake and related microbes were established. The results showed that the exchange of nitrogen between maize straw buried in soil at different depths and the environment was not significant. The corn straw exposed to the air absorbed more nitrogen from the environment in the second year of decomposition, and the larger the area exposed to the air was, the more nitrogen was absorbed from the environment. The relative abundances of Burkholderiales, Flavobacteriales, Pseudomonadales, and Sphingobacteriales were significantly positively correlated with the straw decomposition rate and nitrogen release rate. The relative abundance of Rhizobiales was significantly negatively correlated with the straw decomposition rate and nitrogen release rate. The relative abundances of Sphingobacteriales, Flavobacteriales, and Pseudomonadales were significantly negatively correlated with the straw nitrogen uptake rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important member of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, MAPKs play an important role in plant defense response against biotic and abiotic stresses; however, the involvement of the majority of the MAPK family members against Ralstonia solanacearum and heat stress (HS) remains poorly understood. In the present study, CaMAPK1 was identified from the genome of pepper and its function against R. solanacearum and HS was analyzed. The transcript accumulations of CaMAPK1 and the activities of its native promoter were both significantly induced by R. solanacearum inoculation, HS, and the application of exogenous hormones, including SA, MeJA, and ABA. Transient expression of CaMAPK1 showed that CaMAPK1 can be targeted throughout the whole cells in Nicotiana benthamiana and triggered chlorosis and hypersensitive response-like cell death in pepper leaves, accompanied by the accumulation of H2O2, and the up-regulations of hormones- and H2O2-associated marker genes. The knock-down of CaMAPK1 enhanced the susceptibility to R. solanacearum partially by down-regulating the expression of hormones- and H2O2-related genes and impairing the thermotolerance of pepper probably by attenuating CaHSFA2 and CaHSP70-1 transcripts. Taken together, our results revealed that CaMAPK1 is regulated by SA, JA, and ABA signaling and coordinates responses to R. solanacearum infection and HS in pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing planting density is one of the most effective ways to increase soybean yield, but supra-optimum density leads to an increase in the risk of lodged soybean. In this study, two varieties were selected. Heinong84 (lodging-susceptible variety, HN84) had planting densities of 200,000 plants/hm2, 300,000 plants/hm2, and 400,000 plants/hm2. Henong60 (lodging-resistant, HN60) had planting densities of 300,000 plants/hm2, 400,000 plants/hm2, and 500,000 plants/hm2. When the foliar application of uniconazole (50 mg/L) occurred at the beginning of the flowering stage (R1), the plant morphology, fiber composition, and mechanical properties of soybean internodes were determined at the podding and seed filling stages, and the yield was measured at the harvest stage. The results showed that spraying uniconazole at the R1 stage changed the morphology structure of soybean plants (i.e., plant height and petiole length reduction; stem diameter and leafstalk angle increase), improved the internode quality (i.e., increased breaking force, lignin content, cellulose content, hemicellulose content, and stem dry weight per unit length), and increased the number of grains per plant at the harvest stage. Thus, it is concluded that the application of uniconazole improved the plant population structure by changing the morphology of soybean plants, which was conducive to good light transmission and ventilation, improved the internode quality and lodging resistance, and increased the yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most phosphorus (P) in soil exists in nonlabile forms, leading to poor soil P supply capacity and limiting crop growth. This study evaluated the effect of 10 years of rice straw return on rice yield, soil P budget, P fractions, and phosphatase activity to establish the relationship between soil P fractions and related microbial communities. Four treatments, i.e., no rice straw return (S0), low amount of rice straw return (S1), high amount of rice straw return (S2), and abandoned farmland (AL), were used in the evaluation. The results showed that rice straw return had no effect on the rice yield and P uptake, and the P budget was positive in the S2 treatment. Rice straw return increased the phosphatase activity and content of soil Olsen-P, total P, NaHCO3-, and NaOH-extractable P, and the phosphatase activity and P fractions were both increased with the amount of straw returned. There was a positive correlation between most soil P fractions and active organic carbon fractions. Rice straw return changed the composition and abundance of soil phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB). The findings showed that straw return decreased the proportion of soil nonlabile P, enhancing the soil P supply capacity, and they further showed that the abundance of PSB was not consistent with soil P content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]