U-shaped associations between body mass index and serum liver enzyme levels.

Liver enzymes are associated with liver function, but their relationship with body mass index (BMI) remains unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify correlations between serum liver enzyme levels and BMI in the general population. The data were derived from the Dryad Digital Repository.

OsWRKY49 on qAT5 positively regulates alkalinity tolerance at the germination stage in Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica.

Integrated genome-wide association study and linkage mapping revealed genetic basis of alkalinity tolerance during rice germination. The key gene OsWRKY49 was further verified in transgenic plants. With the widespread use of the rice direct seeding cultivation model, improving the tolerance of rice varieties to salinity-alkalinity at the germination stage has become increasingly important.

The inverted U-shaped association between blood fibrinogen and rehospitalization risk in patients with heart failure.

Fibrinogen, a biomarker of thrombosis and inflammation, is related to a high risk for cardiovascular diseases. However, studies on the prognostic value of blood fibrinogen concentrations for heart failure (HF) patients are few and controversial. We performed a retrospective analysis among acute or deteriorating chronic HF patients admitted to a hospital in Sichuan, China, between 2016 and 2019, integrating electronic health care records and external outcome data (N = 1532).

Characteristics and outcomes associated with sarcomere mutations in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited heart disease that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Impact of genetic testing for the prognosis and treatment of patients with HCM needs to be improved. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the characteristics and outcomes associated with sarcomere genotypes in index patients with HCM.

Mapping of Candidate Genes for Nitrogen Uptake and Utilization in Rice at Seedling Stage.

Nitrogen (N) is one of the essential nutrients for the growth and development of crops. The adequate application of N not only increases the yield of crops but also improves the quality of agricultural products, but the excessive application of N can cause many adverse effects on ecology and the environment. In this study, genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed under low- and high-N conditions based on 788,396 SNPs and phenotypic traits relevant to N uptake and utilization (N content and N accumulation).

Whole-Transcriptome Profiling and Functional Prediction of Long Non-Coding RNAs Associated with Cold Tolerance in Japonica Rice Varieties.

Low-temperature chilling is a major abiotic stress leading to reduced rice yield and is a significant environmental threat to food security. Low-temperature chilling studies have focused on physiological changes or coding genes. However, the competitive endogenous RNA mechanism in rice at low temperatures has not been reported.

BSA-Seq for the Identification of Major Genes for EPN in Rice.

Improving rice yield is one of the most important food issues internationally. It is an undeniable goal of rice breeding, and the effective panicle number (EPN) is a key factor determining rice yield. Increasing the EPN in rice is a major way to increase rice yield.

Fine Mapping and Candidate Gene Analysis of Rice Grain Length QTL .

Grain length (GL) is one of the crucial determinants of rice yield and quality. However, there is still a shortage of knowledge on the major genes controlling the inheritance of GL in rice, which severely limits the improvement of japonica rice yields. Here, we systemically measured the GL of 667 F and 1570 BCF individuals derived from two cultivated rice cultivars, Pin20 and Songjing15, in order to identify the major genomic regions associated with GL.

Transcription factor bZIP65 delays flowering via suppressing expression in rice.

Unlabelled: Flowering time is one of the most fundamental factors that determine the distribution and final yield of rice. Ehd1 (Early heading date 1) is a B-type response regulator which functions as a flowering time activator. Although diverse flowering time genes have been reported as regulatory factors of expression, the potential regulators of largely remain to be identified.

Identification of candidate genes for salinity tolerance in rice at the seedling stage based on genome-wide association study and linkage mapping.

Background: Salinity tolerance plays a vital role in rice cultivation because the strength of salinity tolerance at the seedling stage directly affects seedling survival and final crop yield in saline soils. Here, we combined a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and linkage mapping to analyze the candidate intervals for salinity tolerance in Japonica rice at the seedling stage.

Results: We used the Na+ concentration in shoots (SNC), K+ concentration in shoots (SKC), Na+/K+ ratio in shoots (SNK), and seedling survival rate (SSR) as indices to assess the salinity tolerance at the seedling stage in rice.

qCTB7 positively regulates cold tolerance at booting stage in rice.

LOC_Os07g07690 on qCTB7 is associated with cold tolerance at the booting stage in rice, and analysis of transgenic plants demonstrated that qCTB7 influenced cold tolerance by altering the morphology and cytoarchitecture of anthers and pollen. Cold tolerance at the booting stage (CTB) in rice can significantly affect yield in high-latitude regions. Although several CTB genes have been isolated, their ability to induce cold tolerance is insufficient to ensure adequate rice yields in cold regions at high latitudes.

Combined QTL-sequencing, linkage mapping, and RNA-sequencing identify candidate genes and KASP markers for low-temperature germination in Oryza sativa L. ssp. Japonica.

Through QTL-seq, QTL mapping and RNA-seq, six candidate genes of qLTG9 can be used as targets for cold tolerance functional characterization, and six KASP markers can be used for marker-assisted breeding to improve the germination ability of japonica rice at low temperature. The development of direct-seeded rice at high latitudes and altitudes depends on the seed germination ability of rice under a low-temperature environment. However, the lack of regulatory genes for low-temperature germination has severely limited the application of genetics in improving the breeds.

Global Phosphoproteomic Analysis Reveals the Defense and Response Mechanisms of Japonica Rice under Low Nitrogen Stress.

Nitrogen-based nutrients are the main factors affecting rice growth and development. As the nitrogen (N) application rate increased, the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of rice decreased. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanism of rice plant morphological, physiological, and yield formation under low N conditions to improve NUE.

Transcriptome and Co-Expression Network Analysis Reveals the Molecular Mechanism of Rice Root Systems in Response to Low-Nitrogen Conditions.

Nitrogen is an important nutrient for plant growth and essential metabolic processes. Roots integrally obtain nutrients from soil and are closely related to the growth and development of plants. In this study, the morphological analysis of rice root tissues collected at different time points under low-nitrogen and normal nitrogen conditions demonstrated that, compared with normal nitrogen treatment, the root growth and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of rice under low-nitrogen treatment were significantly improved.

Effect of Digitalis on ICD or CRT-D Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Digitalis has been widely utilized for heart failure therapy and several studies have demonstrated an association of digitalis and adverse outcome events in patients receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds). Hence, we conducted this meta-analysis to assess the effect of digitalis on ICD or CRT-D recipients.

Methods: We systematically retrieved relevant studies using the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase database.

The Association of Proton Pump Inhibitors and QT Interval Prolongation in Critically Ill Patients.

Introduction: Drug-induced QT interval prolongation has been reported to be related to life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (torsade de pointes). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are prescribed widely for hospitalized patients; the QT interval prolongation and torsade de pointes caused by PPIs were reported. We conducted a study to determine the association between PPI treatment and QT interval prolongation in critically ill patients.

Mapping of Candidate Genes in Response to Low Nitrogen in Rice Seedlings.

Nitrogen is not only a macronutrient essential for crop growth and development, but also one of the most critical nutrients in farmland ecosystem. Insufficient nitrogen supply will lead to crop yield reduction, while excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer will cause agricultural and eco-environment damage. Therefore, mining low-nitrogen tolerant rice genes and improving nitrogen use efficiency are of great significance to the sustainable development of agriculture.

Response of Rice with Overlapping Growth Stages to Water Stress by Assimilates Accumulation and Transport and Starch Synthesis of Superior and Inferior Grains.

Drought stress at jointing-booting directly affects plant growth and productivity in rice. Limited by natural factors, the jointing and booting stages of short-growth-period rice varieties are highly overlapped in high-latitude areas, which are more sensitive to water deficit. However, little is known about the dry matter translocation in rice and the strategies of starch synthesis and filling of superior and inferior grains under different drought stress was unclear.

Identification and Functional Analysis of the Caffeic Acid O-Methyltransferase (COMT) Gene Family in Rice ( L.).

Caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) is one of the core enzymes involved in lignin synthesis. However, there is no systematic study on the rice COMT gene family. We identified 33 COMT genes containing the methyltransferase-2 domain in the rice genome using bioinformatic methods and divided them into Group I (a and b) and Group II.