Identification of QTLs for relative root traits associated with phosphorus efficiency in two culture systems in Brassica napus

Modifications of root system morphology and architecture are considered important strategies of plant tolerance to phosphorus (P) deficiency. However, the effect of culture system on the responses of root traits to P deficiency is not well documented. In this study, the responses of root traits to P deficiency were recorded in a Brassica napus double haploid (DH) population consisting of 182 lines derived from a cross between cultivar ‘Tapidor’ and ‘Ningyou 7’ using an ‘agar’ system and a ‘pouch and wick’ system. Under P deficient conditions, more DH lines had greater total root length, primary root length, total lateral root length, mean lateral root length and less lateral root density in the ‘pouch and wick’ system than the ‘agar’ system. Ten and two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected for the relative root traits in the ‘agar’ system and the ‘pouch and wick’ system, respectively. The QTL for the same trait in the ‘agar’ system did not overlap with that in the ‘pouch and wick’ system. Two and one QTL clusters identified in the ‘agar’ system were located on chromosome A09 (Cluster1 and Cluster2) and C04 (Cluster3), respectively. RLRN_A04b, RSDW_A09a and Cluster1 were found to affect the seed yield and/or yield-related traits in two field trials. Overall, this study demonstrated a significant impact of different culture systems on the responses of root traits to P deficiency and on the detection of QTLs for the relative root traits, and identified three major QTLs that could be employed for marker assisted selection of P efficient cultivars

Prognostic value of copeptin in patients with acute coronary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the value of copeptin in predicting mortality including both short-term and long-term mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).MethodsPotential studies were searched and selected through PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases up to December 2019. The predictive performance was evaluated by the pooled sensitivity and specificity, and summary receiver operating characteristic curves. Cochran's Q test and I2 index were used to assess between-study heterogeneity, and Deek's test and funnel plots were used to assess publication bias.ResultsTotal six studies comprising 2269 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of copeptin in predicting mortality in patients with ACS was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.77). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of copeptin were 0.77 (95% CI: 0.59-0.89) and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.47-0.71), respectively. Significant between-study heterogeneity was identified in both sensitivity (P = 0.01; I2 = 69.76%) and specificity (PConclusionsCopeptin has acceptable prognostic value for mortality in patients with ACS. Further studies based on multimarker strategy are needed to evaluate the prognostic value of copeptin for ACS in conjunction with other well-established biomarkers

Nitrogen Assimilation Related Genes in Brassicanapus: Systematic Characterization and Expression Analysis Identified Hub Genes in Multiple Nutrient Stress Responses

Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient for plants. However, little is known about the molecular regulation of N assimilation in Brassica napus, one of the most important oil crops worldwide. Here, we carried out a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the N assimilation related genes (NAGs) in B. napus. A total of 67 NAGs were identified encoding major enzymes involved in N assimilation, including asparagine synthetase (AS), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), glutamine oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT), glutamine synthetase (GS), nitrite reductase (NiR), nitrate reductase (NR). The syntenic analysis revealed that segmental duplication and whole-genome duplication were the main expansion pattern during gene evolution. Each NAG family showed different degrees of differentiation in characterization, gene structure, conserved motifs and cis-elements. Furthermore, diverse responses of NAG to multiple nutrient stresses were observed. Among them, more NAGs were regulated by N deficiency and ammonium toxicity than by phosphorus and potassium deprivations. Moreover, 12 hub genes responding to N starvation were identified, which may play vital roles in N utilization. Taken together, our results provide a basis for further functional research of NAGs in rapeseed N assimilation and also put forward new points in their responses to contrasting nutrient stresses

Physiological Responses of Cigar Tobacco Crop to Nitrogen Deficiency and Genome-Wide Characterization of the NtNPF Family Genes

Tobacco prefers nitrate as a nitrogen (N) source. However, little is known about the molecular components responsible for nitrate uptake and the physiological responses of cigar tobacco to N deficiency. In this study, a total of 117 nitrate transporter 1 (NRT1) and peptide transporter (PTR) family (NPF) genes were comprehensively identified and systematically characterized in the whole tobacco genome. The NtNPF members showed significant genetic diversity within and across subfamilies but showed conservation between subfamilies. The NtNPF genes are dispersed unevenly across the chromosomes. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that eight subfamilies of NtNPF genes are tightly grouped with their orthologues in Arabidopsis. The promoter regions of the NtNPF genes had extensive cis-regulatory elements. Twelve core NtNPF genes, which were strongly induced by N limitation, were identified based on the RNA-seq data. Furthermore, N deprivation severely impaired plant growth of two cigar tobaccos, and CX26 may be more sensitive to N deficiency than CX14. Moreover, 12 hub genes respond differently to N deficiency between the two cultivars, indicating the vital roles in regulating N uptake and transport in cigar tobacco. The findings here contribute towards a better knowledge of the NtNPF genes and lay the foundation for further functional analysis of cigar tobacco

Hospital Variation of Spironolactone Use in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure in China—The China PEACE Retrospective Heart Failure Study

Background Although aldosterone antagonists improve outcomes in select individuals with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, studies in the United States have raised concerns about underuse and overuse. Variations in the prescription of aldosterone antagonist in China are unknown. Methods and Results In the multicenter, hospital‐based, retrospective China PEACE (China Patient‐Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events) study, we identified a nationally representative cohort of admissions for heart failure in a nationally representative sample of Chinese hospitals in 2015. Patients were classified into 1 of 3 groups according to their eligibility for spironolactone—“ideal” (left ventricular ejection fraction <40% and without contraindications), “contraindicated” (a documented contraindication, irrespective of left ventricular ejection fraction), and “uncertain‐benefit” (all others). We measured hospital variation of spironolactone prescriptions at discharge in the “ideal” and “contraindicated” group and calculated the median odds ratio (MOR), a measure of institution‐level variation for 2 individuals with similar characteristics discharged at 2 randomly selected hospitals. Hospital characteristics associated with spironolactone use were identified using multivariable linear regression model. Among 1222 ideal patients from 97 hospitals, the median rate of spironolactone prescription was 78.6% (interquartile range [IQR], 42.8%–89.6% [range, 0%–100%], MOR, 3.4 [95% CI, 2.7–4.0]) at discharge. Among 900 contraindicated patients from 83 hospitals, the median rate of spironolactone prescription was 30.0% (IQR, 9.1%–50.0% [range, 0%–100%], MOR, 3.1 [95% CI, 2.4–3.9]) at discharge. Hospitals with independent departments of cardiology and located in Eastern China were associated with a 38.0% (95% CI, 18.7–57.3; P<0.001) and a 14.6% (95% CI, 2.3%–26.9%; P=0.020) higher rate of spironolactone use for ideal patients. Conclusions In this national study of hospitals in China, the use of spironolactone among ideal patients and the inappropriate use of spironolactone among patients with contraindications was substantial, with rates that varied markedly by institution. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02877914

Age‐Related Trends in the Predictive Value of Carotid Intima‐Media Thickness for Cardiovascular Death: A Prospective Population‐Based Cohort Study

Background The age‐related trends in the predictive ability of carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) for cardiovascular risk remain unclear. We aimed to identify the age‐related trends in the predictive value of CIMT for cardiovascular death. Methods and Results In a prospective cohort of adults aged 35 to 75 years without history of cardiovascular disease who were enrolled between 2014 and 2020, we measured CIMT at baseline and collected the vital status and cause of death. We divided the study population into 4 age groups (35–44, 45–54, 55–64, and 65–75 years). Competing risk models were fitted to estimate the associations between CIMT and cardiovascular death. The added values of CIMT in prediction were assessed by the differences of the Harrell's concordance index and the net reclassification improvement index. We included 369 478 adults and followed them for a median of 4.7 years. A total of 4723 (1.28%) cardiovascular deaths occurred. After adjusting for the traditional risk factors, the hazard ratios for CIMTmean per SD decreased with age, from 1.27 (95% CI, 1.17–1.37) in the 35 to 44 years age group to 1.14 (95% CI, 1.10–1.19) in the 65 to 75 years age group (P for interaction <0.01). Meanwhile, the net reclassification improvement indexes for CIMTmean were attenuated with age, from 22.60% (95% CI, 15.56%–29.64%) in the 35 to 44 years age group to 7.00% (95% CI, −6.82% to 20.83%) in the 65 to 75 years age group. Similar results were found for maximum CIMT in all age groups. Conclusions CIMT may improve cardiovascular risk prediction in the young and middle‐aged populations, rather than those aged ≥55 years

Individual Trajectories of Health Status During the First Year of Discharge From Hospitalization for Heart Failure and Their Associations With Death in the Following Years

Background Improving health status is one of the major goals in the management of heart failure (HF). However, little is known about the long‐term individual trajectories of health status in patients with acute HF after discharge. Methods and Results We enrolled 2328 patients hospitalized for HF from 51 hospitals prospectively and measured their health status via the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire–12 at admission and 1, 6, and 12 months after discharge, respectively. The median age of the patients included was 66 years, and 63.3% were men. Six patterns of Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire–12 trajectories were identified by a latent class trajectory model: persistently good (34.0%), rapidly improving (35.5%), slowly improving (10.4%), moderately regressing (7.4%), severely regressing (7.5%), and persistently poor (5.3%). Advanced age, decompensated chronic HF, HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction, HF with preserved ejection fraction, depression symptoms, cognitive impairment, and each additional HF rehospitalization within 1 year of discharge were associated with unfavorable health status (moderately regressing, severely regressing, and persistently poor) (P<0.05). Compared with the pattern of persistently good, slowly improving (hazard ratio [HR], 1.50 [95% CI, 1.06–2.12]), moderately regressing (HR, 1.92 [1.43–2.58]), severely regressing (HR, 2.26 [1.54–3.31]), and persistently poor (HR, 2.34 [1.55–3.53]) were associated with increased risks of all‐cause death. Conclusions One‐fifth of 1‐year survivors after hospitalization for HF experienced unfavorable health status trajectories and had a substantially increased risk of death during the following years. Our findings help inform the understanding of disease progression from a patient perception perspective and its relationship with long‐term survival. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; unique identifier: NCT02878811