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Abstract Clade A type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) are crucial components of the abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway. Research on clade A PP2Cs has focused more on their roles related to ABA signaling and stress responses than on the molecular mechanisms mediating their effects on plant growth and grain yield. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important food crop worldwide. We previously determined that OsPP2C49, which encodes a rice clade A PP2C family member, negatively controls rice responses to drought, salt, and high-temperature stresses. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effects of OsPP2C49 on ABA responses and rice grain yield. By analyzing potential interactions with core ABA components, including pyrabactin resistance 1 (PYR1)/PYR1-like (PYL)/regulatory component of the ABA receptor (RCAR) and stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), we confirmed that OsPP2C49 is involved in the ABA signaling pathway. OsPP2C49 overexpression led to decreased ABA sensitivity and increased rice grain yield; the opposite phenotypes were observed in the ospp2c49 knockout mutants. Therefore, OsPP2C49 negatively regulates ABA responses, but positively modulates rice grain yield. Furthermore, we found that OsPP2C49 can interact with and dephosphorylate five OsSAPKs in vitro. Unlike OsPP2C49, these OsSAPKs positively modulate ABA responsiveness, but negatively affect rice yield. These findings indicate that OsPP2C49 may partially regulate ABA responses and rice grain production by dephosphorylating OsSAPKs. This study preliminarily explored the molecular basis of the regulatory effects of OsPP2C49 on rice plant growth and grain yield.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and distribution of type 2 diabetes and to determine the status of type 2 diabetes awareness, treatment, and control in Xinjiang, China. Our data came from the Cardiovascular Risk Survey (CRS) study designed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in Xinjiang from October 2007 to March 2010. A total of 14 122 persons (5583 Hans, 4620 Uygurs, and 3919 Kazaks) completed the survey and examination. Diabetes was defined by the American Diabetes Association 2009 criteria.Methodology/principal findingsOverall, 9.26% of the Han, 6.23% of the Uygur, and 3.65% of the Kazak adults aged ≥35 years had diabetes. Among diabetes patients, only 53.0% were aware of their blood glucose level, 26.7% were taking hypoglycemic agents, and 10.4% achieved blood glucose control in Han, 35.8% were aware of their blood glucose level, 7.3% were taking hypoglycemic agents, and 3.13% achieved blood glucose control in Uygur, and 23.8% were aware of their blood glucose level, 6.3% were taking hypoglycemic agents, and 1.4% achieved blood glucose control in Kazak, respectively.Conclusions/significanceOur results indicate that diabetes is highly prevalent in Xinjiang. The percentages of those with diabetes who are aware, treated, and controlled are unacceptably low. These results underscore the urgent need to develop national strategies to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of diabetes in Xinjiang, the west China.

Objective: To investigate the detection rate of carotid artery plaque in Han, Uygur and Kazakh adult populations of Xinjiang., Methods: During the period of October 2007 to March 2010, the present study was performed in 13896 Han, Uygur and Kazakh adults of Xinjiang aged 35 years old and over by a four-stage random sampling method. All subjects were investigated by a standardized questionnaire, physical, biochemical examination and ultrasonography of carotid arteries. Risk factors were analyzed by a logistic regression model., Results: The prevalence of carotid artery plaque was 10.2%. After standardization, the detection rate of Chinese Han, Uygur and Kazakh populations was 2.46%, 2.31% and 1.84% respectively. By the analysis of multivariate logistic regression, age (OR 1.032, 95%CI 1.026-1.037), smoking (OR 1.358, 95%CI 1.164-1.585), total cholesterol (OR 1.075, 95%CI 1.018-1.135), blood glucose (OR 1.050, 95%CI 1.020-1.081) and systolic blood pressure (OR 1.011, 95%CI 1.008-1.014) were independent risk factors in the occurrence of carotid artery plaque. Females (OR 0.653, 95%CI 0.545-0.738) and high-density lipoprotein (OR 0.864, 95%CI 0.751-0.994) were the protective factors in the occurrence of carotid artery plaque., Conclusion: The detection of carotid artery plaque in Xinjiang increases substantially with age and difference exists between nationalities. The associated risk factors of the formation of carotid artery plaque include gender, age, smoking, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, blood glucose and systolic blood pressure. The effect of these factors is different between genders.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between stroke and ankle-brachial index (ABI), pulse wave velocity (PWV) in Han, Uighur, and Kazakh populations of Xinjiang., Methods: Data was from the investigation of cardiovascular risk survey (CRS) program among different nationalities in Xinjiang from October 2007 to March 2010. A total of 14 618 samples aged over 35 with complete data dimension were surveyed., Results: (1) There were 633 patients with stroke, including 258 Hans (4.48%), 247 Uighurs (5.18%), and 128 Kazakhs (3.13%). The incidence of stroke was significant different in the three ethnic groups (P < 0.001). (2) Compared to the Han population, the incidence of stroke was higher (OR = 1.304) in Uighur but lower (OR = 0.794) in Kazakh. (3) PWV was significant different between stroke and non-stroke patients. After adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, total cholesterol and other risk factors, the difference remained significant, indicating that PWV (OR = 1.001, P < 0.001) might associate with the occurrence of stroke., Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the incidence of stroke was significantly different in the three ethnic groups. PWV might associate with the occurrence of stroke.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and distributing feature of chronic heart failure (CHF) in adult population of Xinjiang., Methods: Four-stage random sampling method was used to analyze the prevalence and distributing feature of self-reported congestive heart failure among different nationalities in adult (35 years and over) population of Xinjiang. Sampling was collected from 6 localities (Urumqi, Kelamayi, Fukang, Turfan Basin, Hetian, Yili Hazakh)., Results: A total of 8459 adults were surveyed. The prevalence of CHF was 1.26% in this cohort. The prevalence of CHF was 0.89%, 1.11% and 2.14%(*) in Han, Uygur and Hazakh population, respectively ((*)P < 0.05 vs. Han and Uygur). The risk of CHF was higher in the males than in the females (1.61% vs. 0.93%, u = 2.79, P < 0.05). The prevalence of CHF increased in proportion with aging and was 0.29%, 0.60%, 1.32%, 2.55% and 4.10% in 35 - 44, 45 - 54, 55 - 64, 65 - 74, 75 years and over age groups, respectively. Common complications of CHF were hypertension (63.55%), coronary heart disease (42.99%), diabetes (18.69%), valvular heart disease (5.61%) and atrial fibrillation (4.67%)., Conclusion: The prevalence of CHF in Xinjiang was higher than the average level in China (0.9%) and was the highest in the Hazakh population.