Strigolactones modulate cotton fiber elongation and secondary cell wall thickening

Cotton is one of the most important economic crops in the world,and it is a major source of fiber in the textile industry.Strigolactones(SLs)are a class of carotenoid-derived plant hormones involved in many processes of plant growth and development,although the functions of SL in fiber development remain largely unknown.Here,we found that the endogenous SLs were significantly higher in fibers at 20 days post-anthesis(DPA).Exogenous SLs significantly increased fiber length and cell wall thickness.Furthermore,we cloned three key SL biosynthetic genes,namely GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4,which were highly expressed in fibers,and subcellular localization analyses revealed that GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 were localized in the chloroplast.The exogenous expression of GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 complemented the physiological phenotypes of d27,max3,and max4 mutations in Arabidopsis,respectively.Knockdown of GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 in cotton resulted in increased numbers of axillary buds and leaves,reduced fiber length,and significantly reduced fiber thickness.These findings revealed that SLs participate in plant growth,fiber elongation,and secondary cell wall formation in cotton.These results provide new and effective genetic resources for improving cotton fiber yield and plant architecture.

Individualized nomogram improves diagnostic accuracy of stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ gallbladder cancer in chronic cholecystitis patients with gallbladder wall thickening

BACKGROUND： Early diagnosis of gallbladder cancer（GBC） can remarkably improve the prognosis of patients. This study aimed to develop a nomogram for individualized diagnosis of stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ GBC in chronic cholecystitis patients with gallbladder wall thickening.METHODS： The nomogram was developed using logistic regression analyses based on a retrospective cohort consisting of 89 consecutive patients with stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ GBC and 1240 patients with gallbladder wall thickening treated at one biliary surgery center in Shanghai between January 2009 and December 2011. The accuracy of the nomogram was validated by discrimination, calibration and a prospective cohort treated at another center between January 2012 and December 2014（n=928）.RESULTS： Factors included in the nomogram were advanced age, hazardous alcohol consumption, long-standing diagnosed gallstones, atrophic gallbladder, gallbladder wall calcification, intraluminal polypoid lesion, higher wall thickness ratio and mucosal line disruption. The nomogram had concordance indices of 0.889 and 0.856 for the two cohorts, respectively. Internal and external calibration curves fitted well. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves of the nomogram was higher than that of multidetector row computed tomography in diagnosis of stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ GBC（P〈0.001）.CONCLUSION： The proposed nomogram improves individualized diagnosis of stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ GBC in chronic cholecystitis patients with gallbladder wall thickening, especially for those the imaging features alone do not allow to confirm the diagnosis.

Phylogenetically Distinct Cellulose Synthase Genes Support Secondary Wall Thickening in Arabidopsis Shoot Trichomes and Cotton Fiber

Through exploring potential analogies between cotton seed trichomes （or cotton fiber） and arabidopsis shoot trichomes we discovered that CesAs from either the primary or secondary wall phylogenetic clades can support secondary wall thickening. CesA genes that typically support primary wall synthesis, AtCesA 1,2,3,5, and 6, underpin expansion and secondary wall thickening of arabidopsis shoot trichomes. In contrast, apparent orthologs of CesA genes that support secondary wall synthesis in arabidopsis xylem, AtCesA4,7, and 8, are up-regulated for cotton fiber secondary wall deposition. These conclusions arose from： （a） analyzing the expression of CesA genes in arabidopsis shoot trichomes; （b） observing birefringent secondary walls in arabidopsis shoot trichomes with mutations in AtCesA4, 7, or 8; （c） assaying up-regulated genes during different stages of cotton fiber development; and （d） comparing genes that were co.expressed with primary or secondary wall CesAs in arabidopsis with genes up- regulated in arabidopsis trichomes, arabidopsis secondary xylem, or cotton fiber during primary or secondary wall deposition. Cumulatively, the data show that： （a） the xylem of arabidopsis provides the best model for secondary wall cellulose synthesis in cotton fiber; and （b） CesA genes within a ＂cell wall toolbox＂ are used in diverse ways for the construction of particular specialized cell walls.

Identification and Profiling of Known and Novel Fiber MicroRNAs during the Secondary Wall Thickening Stage in Cotton(Gossypium hirsutum) via High-Throughput Sequencing

Upland cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） is an allotetraploid species originated from interspecific hybridization between AA-genome diploid （G. arboretum） and DD-genome diploid （G. raimondii） （Wendel et al., 1992）. Cotton fibers are single-celled trichomes that emerge from the ovule epidermal cells. Indexed by the number of days post-anthesis （dpa）, fiber morphogenesis includes four distinct but overlapping steps： initiation （0-3 dpa）, elongation （3-20 dpa）, secondary cell wall thickening （15-45 dpa） and maturation （40-60 dpa） （Yang et al., 2008, Du et al., 2013）. The efficiency and duration of each morphogenesis stage is important to the quality attributes of the mature fiber. Cell elongation is critical for fiber length, whereas secondary cell wall thickening is important for fiber fineness and strength （Meinert and Delmer, 1977）.

ZmMs33 promotes anther elongation via modulating cell elongation regulators,metabolic homeostasis,and cell wall remodeling in maize

Plant cell elongation depends on well-defined gene regulations,adequate nutrients,and timely cell wall modifications.Anther size is positively correlated with the number and viability of pollen grains,while little is known about molecular mechanisms underlying anther cell elongation.Here,we found that properly activated cell elongation regulators at transcriptional levels in loss-of-function ZmMs33 mutant(ms33-6038)anthers failed to promote maize anther elongation.ZmMs33 deficiency disrupted metabolic homeostasis mainly by inhibiting both photosynthesis in anther endothecium and lipid accumulation in anther tapetum.Importantly,ms33-6038 anthers displayed ectopic,premature and excessive secondary cell wall thickening in anther middle layer,which constrained cell elongation structurally and blocked nutrient flows across different anther wall layers.The metabolic disorder was only found in ms33-6038 mutant rather than several representative male-sterility lines at transcriptional and post-translational levels.Collectively,the disordered metabolisms and blocked nutrient flows defeated the activated cell elongation regulators,and finally inhibited anther elongation and growth with a unique‘‘idling effect”in ms33-6038 mutant.

Abdominal computed tomography in refractory coeliac disease and enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma

AIM： To evaluate computed tomography （CT） findings, useful to suggest the presence of refractory celiac disease （RCD） and enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma （EATL）. METHODS： Coeliac disease （CD） patients were divided into two groups. Group Ⅰ ： uncomplicated CD （n = 14） and RCD type Ⅰ （n = 10）. Group Ⅱ ： RCD type Ⅱ （n = 15） and EATL （n = 7）. RESULTS： Both groups showed classic signs of CD on CT. Intussusception was seen in 1 patient in group Ⅰ vs 5 in group Ⅱ （P = 0.06）. Lymphadenopathy was seen in 5 patients in group Ⅱ vs no patients in group Ⅰ （P = 0.01）. Increased number of small mesenteric vessels was noted in 20 patients in group Ⅰ vs Ⅱ in group 11 （P = 0.02）. Eleven patients （50%） in group 11 had a splenic volume 〈 122 cm^3 vs 4 in group Ⅰ （14%）, 10 patients in group Ⅰ had a splenic volume 〉 196 cm^3 （66.7%） vs 5 in group Ⅱ （33.3%） P = 0.028. CONCLUSION： CT scan is a useful tool in discriminating between CD and （Pre） EATL. RCD Ⅱ and EATL showed more bowel wall thickening, lymphadenopathy and intussusception, less increase in number of small mesenteric vessels and a smaller splenic volume compared with CD and RCD Ⅰ.

Educational Status and Risks of Cardiovascular Disease in Awka, Southeast Nigeria

Background and Objectives: All over the world, cardiovascular risks constitute a heavy healthcare burden, affecting people with different levels of education, across economies in both the developed and the developing ones. Differences in educational levels in cardiovascular risks have not been completely defined. This study was set out to evaluate the influence of levels of education on the risks of cardiovascular disease in an urban community in Awka, southeast Nigeria. Methodology: In this cross sectional study of 294 subjects conducted in Awka in 2017, biodata, anthropometric and demographic data were obtained. A questionnaire was used to extract information on smoking, alcohol use, tobacco snuff use, diabetes mellitus status, time spent at work > 10 hours daily and night sleep duration < 4 hours. Blood pressure and body mass index were measured. Data were analyzed and the association between levels of education and the potential cardiovascular risks determined. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 5.4%, tobacco snuff use 5.4%, alcohol 42.2%, thickened arterial wall 27.2%, meat protein 91.8%, diabetes mellitus 9.5%, time spent at work > 10 hours daily 29.3%, obesity 33.3%, hypertension 58.5%, night sleep < 4 hours 5.4%. Levels of education has association with tobacco use (p = 0.009), alcohol use (p = 0.013), thickened arterial wall (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), time spent at work > 10 hours daily (p < 0.001), obesity (p = 0.020), hypertension (p < 0.001), meat consumption (p = 0.047). However, smoking and night sleep < 4 hours have no significant association with levels of education, p = 0.415, and p = 0.132. Conclusion: There was variability in the prevalence of cardiovascular risks at different levels of education. The prevalence of smoking and night sleep duration < 4 hours did not vary with levels of education. The prevalence of tobacco snuff and thickened arterial wall was high in primary education holders and meat consumption in secondary education. Alcohol prevalence increased with increasing levels of education. Diabetes mellitus, time spent oat work > 10 hours daily, hypertension and obesity increased in prevalence with increasing levels of education but declined with tertiary education.

PtrCel9A6, an Endo-l,4-β-Glucanase, Is Required for Cell Wall Formation during Xylem Differentiation in Populus

ABSTRACT Endo-l,4-β-glucanases （EGases） are involved in many aspects of plant growth. Our previous study found that an EGase, PtrCel9A6, is specifically expressed in differentiating xylem cells during Populus secondary growth. In this study, the xylem-specific PtrCel9A6 was characterized for its role in xylem differentiation. The EGase is localized on the plasma membrane with catalytic domain toward the outside cell wall, hydrolyzing amorphous cellulose. Suppression of PtrCel9A6 expression caused secondary cell wall defects in xylem cells and significant cellulose reduction in Populus. Heterologous expression of PtrCelgA6 in Arabidopsis enhanced plant growth as well as increased fiber cell length. In addition, introduction of PtrCel9A6 into Arabidopsis resulted in male sterility due to defects in anther dehiscence. Together, these results demonstrate that PtrCel9A6 plays a critical role in remodeling the 1,4-β-glucan chains in the wall matrix and is required for cell wall thickening during Populus xylem differentiation.