Allometry and Yield Stability of Cereals.

Crop plants grow, and then, they allocate resources to different structures, including seeds and fruits, which represent yield in most crops. We define the yield stability of a genotype as its ability to reduce the effects of temporal variation in resources and conditions on yield production, and we argue that yield stability can be understood in terms of two processes: (1) crop survival and growth (biomass production): the ability of the crop plants to survive and produce biomass under the range of conditions to which it is exposed and (2) the pattern of allocation of this biomass to yield across this range of conditions. Plant breeders and crop physiologists have focused on (1), but much less attention has been paid to (2).

The effect of different combinations of antibiotic cocktails on mice and selection of animal models for further microbiota research.

The gut microbiota is closely related to host health and disease. However, there are no suitable animal models available at present for exploring its functions. We analyzed the effect of 3 different antibiotic cocktails (ABx) via two administration routes on the composition of murine gut microbiota, as well as on the general physiological and metabolic indices.

Inhibition of PD-1 Protects against TNBS-Induced Colitis via Alteration of Enteric Microbiota.

Methods: Colitis was induced in mice using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS), and mice were subsequently treated with either a PD-1 inhibitor or 5-amino-salicylic acid (ASA) as a positive control. Body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and tissue damage were evaluated, and the enteric microbiota was profiled using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal samples from the experimental mice.

Results: TNBS caused mice to experience IBD-like symptoms, which were attenuated by the PD-1 inhibitor, as indicated by a decrease in DAI scores ( = 0.

Fatty liver mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α DNA methylation can be reversed by a methylation inhibitor and curcumin.

Objective: Our studies in vitro and in vivo aimed to investigate the influence of DNA methylation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) gene in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis and to observe whether the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) and the herbal medicine curcumin might reverse the effect both in vivo and in vitro.

Methods: Steatotic hepatocyte model of cell lines and NAFLD rat models were established following protocols documented in previous studies. Subsequently, the models received 5-Aza-CdR and curcumin treatment.

Genotypic Variation in Yield, Yield Components, Root Morphology and Architecture, in Soybean in Relation to Water and Phosphorus Supply.

Water shortage and low phosphorus (P) availability limit yields in soybean. Roots play important roles in water-limited and P-deficient environment, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study we determined the responses of four soybean [ (L.

Pattern of Water Use and Seed Yield under Terminal Drought in Chickpea Genotypes.

Drought, particularly terminal drought, reduces the yield of chickpea ( L.). Terminal drought tolerance and water use patterns were evaluated under controlled conditions in 10 genotypes of desi chickpea.

Evolutionary agroecology: individual fitness and population yield in wheat (Triticum aestivum).

Although the importance of group selection in nature is highly controversial, several researchers have argued that plant breeding for agriculture should be based on group selection, because the goal in agriculture is to optimize population production, not individual fitness. A core hypothesis behind this claim is that crop genotypes with the highest individual fitness in a mixture of genotypes will not produce the highest population yield, because fitness is often increased by "selfish" behaviors, which reduce population performance. We tested this hypothesis by growing 35 cultivars of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.

Effect of CYP2C19 Gene Polymorphisms on Proton Pump Inhibitor, Amoxicillin, and Levofloxacin Triple Therapy for Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori.

BACKGROUND The effects of PPI are variable owing to the CYP2C19 polymorphisms. However, whether the polymorphisms could affect the Hp eradication efficacy of triple therapy is still not clear. The present study aimed to assess the effects of CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms on proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin, and levofloxacin triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication.

The role of ADIPOQ methylation in curcumin-administrated experimental nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Objective: To investigate the role of adiponectin precursor (ADIPOQ) DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the effect of curcumin on the development of NAFLD using rat models.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the control, NAFLD and curcumin-treated groups. The genetic and epigenetic features of each rat were measured and recorded.

Response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to terminal drought: leaf stomatal conductance, pod abscisic acid concentration, and seed set.

Flower and pod production and seed set of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) are sensitive to drought stress. A 2-fold range in seed yield was found among a large number of chickpea genotypes grown at three dryland field sites in south-western Australia.

Association of Fusobacterium nucleatum infection with colorectal cancer in Chinese patients.

Aim: To investigate Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) abundance in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and its association with CRC invasiveness in Chinese patients.

Methods: The resected cancer and adjacent normal tissues (10 cm beyond cancer margins) from 101 consecutive patients with CRC were collected.

Overexpression of activated leukocute cell adhesion molecule in gastric cancer is associated with advanced stages and poor prognosis and miR-9 deregulation.

Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) has been identified as a novel potential molecular marker of human tumors. The present study aimed to assess ALCAM as a prognostic marker for gastric cancer (GC), and to explore the mRNA deregulation underlying the abnormal expression of ALCAM. The mRNA and protein expression of ALCAM in GC and adjacent non‑tumor tissues from 66 patients with GC were analyzed.

The effect of miRNA-122 in regulating fat deposition in a cell line model.

Accumulating evidence supports the role of miR-122 in fatty liver disease. We investigated miR-122 expression in a steatotic hepatocyte model, the effect of miR-122 over-expression and inhibition in the pathogenesis. Human hepatic cell line L02 was induced with oleic acid to establish the steatotic hepatocyte model.

Exogenous abscisic acid reduces water loss and improves antioxidant defence, desiccation tolerance and transpiration efficiency in two spring wheat cultivars subjected to a soil water deficit.

The effect of soil drenching with 10µM abscisic acid (ABA) on the physiological responses of two spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars released in different decades was evaluated when subjected to a water deficit at jointing or at booting. Exogenous ABA application increased the ABA concentration in the leaves, reduced the stomatal conductance (gs), slowed the rate of water use, decreased the lethal leaf water potential (ψ) used to measure desiccation tolerance and lowered the soil water content (SWC) at which leaf relative water content (RWC) began to decrease and wilting was observed.

Expression of survivin and its four splice variants in colorectal cancer and its clinical significances.

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significances of the mRNA expression of survivin gene and its four splice variants in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC samples, matched adjacent tissues, and normal tissues were collected from surgical resections of 39 patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis. The mRNA expression of survivin and its four splice variants, that is, survivin-△Ex3, survivin-2B, survivin-3B, and survivin-2α, was detected using semiquantitative PCR and RT-PCR.

Nur-related receptor 1 gene polymorphisms and alcohol dependence in Mexican Americans.

Aim: To investigate the association of polymorphisms of nur-related receptor 1 (Nurr1) and development of alcohol dependence in Mexican Americans.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 374 alcoholic and 346 nonalcoholic Mexican Americans; these two groups were sex- and age-matched. Sample DNA was extracted and genomic DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction.

β-Aminobutyric acid increases abscisic acid accumulation and desiccation tolerance and decreases water use but fails to improve grain yield in two spring wheat cultivars under soil drying.

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the non-protein amino acid, β-aminobutyric acid (BABA), on the homeostasis between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defence during progressive soil drying, and its relationship with the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA), water use, grain yield, and desiccation tolerance in two spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars released in different decades and with different yields under drought. Drenching the soil with 100 µM BABA increased drought-induced ABA production, leading to a decrease in the lethal leaf water potential (Ψ) used to measure desiccation tolerance, decreased water use, and increased water use efficiency for grain (WUEG) under moderate water stress.

[Association of hepatic lipase gene promoter polymorphism -514C/T with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease].

Objective: To study the prevalence of the hepatic lipase gene (LIPC) promoter polymorphism (at position -514) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and its relationship with the susceptibility to NAFLD.

Methods: Genotype of LIPC promoter was detected with PCR-RFLP in 106 patients with NAFLD. Body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure, CHOL, HDL, LDL, TG, FPG and FINS of the patients were measured.

Effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-gamma and co-activator-1alpha genetic polymorphisms on plasma adiponectin levels and susceptibility of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese people.

Background/aims: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors-gamma (PPAR-gamma) and its co-activator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha) are involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolisms. This study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of PPAR-gamma and PGC-1alpha in Chinese people and their influence on plasma adiponectin levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) susceptibility.

Methods: Ninety-six patients with NAFLD and 96 healthy controls were included.

[Effects of RNA interference on expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in lipopolysaccharide-activated mouse macrophages].

Objective: To investigate the effects of siRNAs targeting mouse tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha gene on the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and protein in the LPS activated macrophages.

Methods: Mouse macrophages of the line RAW264.7 were cultured.

[The relationship between insulin resistance and adiponectin gene expression in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and adiponectin gene expression in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: Subcutaneous (SC) and omental (OM) adipose tissues were obtained from 21 NAFLD patients with obesity (n=10) and nonobesity (n=11) and also from 24 subjects (without NAFLD) with obesity (n=11) and nonobesity (n=13) who served as controls. Adiponectin mRNA expression levels in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues were measured using SYBR Green I quantitative real-time PCR.