Transcriptomics and iTRAQ-proteomics analyses provide novel insights into the defense mechanism of black shank disease in tobacco.

Black shank disease caused by is one of the most important diseases in tobacco worldwide and can result in a devastating loss in tobacco cultivation. Many efforts have been carried out to identify the chromosome segment from containing a resistance locus carrying a gene named ; however, the gene has not been cloned, and knowledge of the potential mechanism of the gene in the resistant lines is limited. To further characterize the resistance mechanism of the gene, we first used the resistant line "RBST" and the susceptible cultivar "Honghuadajinyuan" (HD) to obtain the near-isogenic line RBS89 containing the gene from RBST.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of NtbHLH gene family in tobacco () and the role of NtbHLH86 in drought adaptation.

The bHLH transcription factors play pivotal roles in plant growth and development, production of secondary metabolites and responses to various environmental stresses. Although the genes have been well studied in model plant species, a comprehensive investigation of the genes is required for tobacco with newly obtained high-quality genome. In the present study, a total of 309 genes were identified and can be divided into 23 subfamilies.

Genome-Wide Identification, Gene Structure and Expression Analysis of the MADS-Box Gene Family Indicate Their Function in the Development of Tobacco ().

MADS-box genes play a pivotal role in various processes, including floral and seed development, controlling flowering time, regulation of fruits ripening, and respond to abiotic and biotic stressors in planta. Tobacco () has been widely used as a model plant for analyzing the gene function, however, there has been less information on the regulation of flowering, and the associated genes. In the present study, a total of 168 NtMADS-box genes were identified from tobacco, and their phylogenetic relationship, chromosome locations, and gene structures were further analyzed.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of HD-ZIP I Gene Subfamily in Nicotiana tabacum.

The homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) gene family, whose members play vital roles in plant growth and development, and participate in responding to various stresses, is an important class of transcription factors currently only found in plants. Although the HD-Zip gene family, especially the HD-Zip I subfamily, has been extensively studied in many plant species, the systematic report on HD-Zip I subfamily in cultivated tobacco () is lacking. In this study, 39 HD-Zip I genes were systematically identified in (Nt).

Genome-wide identification and characterization of ABA receptor PYL/RCAR gene family reveals evolution and roles in drought stress in Nicotiana tabacum.

Background: Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone for plant growth, development and responding to stresses such as drought, salinity, and pathogen infection. Pyrabactin Resistance 1 (PYR1)/PYR1-Like (PYL)/Regulatory Component of ABA Receptor (RCAR) (hereafter referred to as PYLs) has been identified as the ABA receptors. The PYL family members have been well studied in many plants.

Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the questionnaire of olfactory disorders (QOD) when used with patients having olfactory dysfunction.

To cross-culturally adapt the Questionnaire of olfactory disorders (QOD) into a Chinese version, and then evaluate its reliability and validity for testing patients with olfactory dysfunction. A Chinese version of the QOD was evaluated for test-retest reliability, split-half reliability, and internal consistency. The validity analysis included components of content validity and criterion-related validity, as well as comparisons between The Medical Outcomes Study's36-Item ShortForm Health Survey(SF-36)questionnaire and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF)questionnaire.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis reveals proteomic changes in leaves of cultivated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) in response to drought stress.

Drought is one of the most severe forms of abiotic stresses that threaten the survival of plants, including crops. In turn, plants dramatically change their physiology to increase drought tolerance, including reconfiguration of proteomes. Here, we studied drought-induced proteomic changes in leaves of cultivated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), a solanaceous plant, using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based protein labeling technology.

Interactions between soybean ABA receptors and type 2C protein phosphatases.

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays important roles in regulating plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses. Proteins in the PYR/PYL/RCAR family (hereafter referred to as PYLs) are known as ABA receptors. Since most studies thus far have focused on Arabidopsis PYLs, little is known about PYL homologs in crop plants.

Silencing brassinosteroid receptor BRI1 impairs herbivory-elicited accumulation of jasmonic acid-isoleucine and diterpene glycosides, but not jasmonic acid and trypsin proteinase inhibitors in Nicotiana attenuata.

The brassinosteroid (BR) receptor, BR insensitive 1 (BRI1), plays a critical role in plant development, but whether BRI1-mediated BR signaling is involved in plant defense responses to herbivores was largely unknown. Here, we examined the function of BRI1 in the resistance of Nicotiana attenuata (Solanaceae) to its specialist insect herbivore Manduca sexta. Jasmonic acid (JA) and JA-isoleucine conjugate (JA-Ile) are important hormones that mediate resistance to herbivores and we found that after wounding or simulated herbivory NaBRI1 had little effect on JA levels, but was important for the induction of JA-Ile.

[Assessment of dysphagia: report of 37 cases].

Objective: To explore the assessment methods of dysphagia.

Methods: The data of 37 patients with dysphagia were retrospectively analyzed. These patients took the Kubota drinking test, Tengdao's evaluation, videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).

Calcium-dependent protein kinases, CDPK4 and CDPK5, affect early steps of jasmonic acid biosynthesis in Nicotiana attenuata.

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) modulate plant development and growth and are important regulators of biotic and abiotic stress responses. Recently it was found that simultaneously silencing Nicotiana attenuata NaCDPK4 and NaCDPK5 (IRcdpk4/5 plants) results in accumulation of exceptionally high JA levels after wounding or simulated herbivory treatments, which in turn induced high levels of defense metabolites that slowed the growth of Manduca sexta, a specialist insect herbivore. To investigate the mechanism by which NaCDPK4 and NaCDPK5 regulate JA accumulation, we analyzed the transcript levels of all important enzymes involved in JA biosynthesis, but these genes showed no differences between wild-type and IRcdpk4/5 plants.

Silencing Nicotiana attenuata calcium-dependent protein kinases, CDPK4 and CDPK5, strongly up-regulates wound- and herbivory-induced jasmonic acid accumulations.

The plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) plays a pivotal role in plant-insect interactions. Herbivore attack usually elicits dramatic increases in JA concentrations, which in turn activate the accumulation of metabolites that function as defenses against herbivores. Although almost all enzymes involved in the biosynthesis pathway of JA have been identified and characterized, the mechanism by which plants regulate JA biosynthesis remains unclear.

Enhanced tolerance to NaCl and LiCl stresses by over-expressing Caragana korshinskii sodium/proton exchanger 1 (CkNHX1) and the hydrophilic C terminus is required for the activity of CkNHX1 in Atsos3-1 mutant and yeast.

Sodium/proton exchangers (NHX antiporters) play important roles in plant responses to salt stress. Previous research showed that hydrophilic C-terminal region of Arabidopsis AtNHX1 negatively regulates the Na(+)/H(+) transporting activity. In this study, CkNHX1 were isolated from Caragana korshinskii, a pea shrub with high tolerance to salt, drought, and cold stresses.

The multifaceted function of BAK1/SERK3: plant immunity to pathogens and responses to insect herbivores.

Almost a decade ago BRI1-associated kinase 1 (BAK1) was identified as a co-receptor of brassinosteroid (BR) insensitive 1 (BRI1), the receptor for BRs, which plays an essential role in transducing BR signaling to regulate plant development. BAK1 is also critical in resistance to various pathogens. BAK1 rapidly binds to certain receptors for pathogen/microbeassociated molecular patterns (PAMPs/MAMPs) after the perception of pathogen elicitors and is required for the full elicitation of pathogen-induced defense responses, such as the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MPK6) and production of reactive oxygen species.

BAK1 regulates the accumulation of jasmonic acid and the levels of trypsin proteinase inhibitors in Nicotiana attenuata's responses to herbivory.

BAK1 is a co-receptor of brassinosteroid (BR) receptor BRI1, and plays a well-characterized role in BR signalling. BAK1 also physically interacts with the flagellin receptor FLS2 and regulates pathogen resistance. The role of BAK1 in mediating Nicotiana attenuata's resistance responses to its specialist herbivore, Manduca sexta, was examined here.

[MRI features of olfactory bulb volume in healthy middle and old-aged persons.].

Objective: To investigate the differences of olfactory bulb (OB) volumes between younger and older, male and female, left-side and right-side in healthy middle and old-aged persons by MRI.

Methods: Ninety five healthy middle and old-aged volunteers (male:female = 45:50) were divided into 2 groups, group one included persons aged from 50 to 69, group two included persons elder than 70. The left-side, right-side and both-side volumes of OB, the volumes of brain and the ratio of OB/brain were measured by MRI.

[Clinical analysis of otogenic intracranial complications].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and treatment protocols of otogenic intracranial complications in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Methods: Retrospective study of 14 patients (10 males and 4 females, aged between 12 - 62 years, mean age 32.1 years) hospitalized from 1982 - 2006.

[Comparison of diagnosis and localization methods in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: apneagraph vs polysomnography and apneagraph vs endoscopy].

Objective: ApneaGragh is a new device for simultaneous determination of obstructive sleep apnoeic events and continuous pressure measurements for localization of upper airway obstructive site. This study is to evaluate the clinical value of it.

Methods: From April to October in 2006, 32 obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG) were examined by two methods: Endoscopy with müller's maneuver at daytime and continuous upper airway pressure recording with ApneaGraph at night in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

[Management of nasopharyngeal stenosis following uvulopalatopharyngoplasty].

Objective: Severe nasopharyngeal stenosis (NPS) is a rare complication of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and very difficult to manage. This report presents our successful treatment experience.

Methods: From Nov 1997 to Feb 2006, 6 adults patients with NPS secondary to UPPP were treated in Peking Union Hospital.