In the present study, we investigated whether high dietary Ca and exogenous parathyroid hormone 1–34 fragments (PTH 1–34) have synergistic effects on bone formation in adult mice, and explored the related mechanisms. Adult male mice were fed a normal diet, a high-Ca diet, a PTH-treated diet, or a high-Ca diet combined with subcutaneously injected PTH 1–34 (80 μg/kg per d) for 4 weeks. Bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume, osteoblast number, alkaline phosphatase (ALP)- and type I collagen-positive areas, and the expression levels of osteoblastic bone formation-related genes and proteins were increased significantly in mice fed the high-Ca diet, the PTH-treated diet, and, even more dramatically, the high-Ca diet combined with PTH. Osteoclast number and surface and the ratio of receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL):osteoprotegerin (OPG) were decreased in the high-Ca diet treatment group, increased in the PTH treatment group, but not in the combined treatment group. Furthermore, third-passage osteoblasts were treated with high Ca (5 mm), PTH 1–34 (10− 8 m) or high Ca combined with PTH 1–34. Osteoblast viability and ALP activity were increased in either the high Ca-treated or PTH-treated cultures and, even more dramatically, in the cultures treated with high Ca plus PTH, with consistent up-regulation of the expression levels of osteoblast proliferation and differentiation-related genes and proteins. These results indicate that dietary Ca and PTH play synergistic roles in promoting osteoblastic bone formation by stimulating osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.

The RNA-binding protein Hfq has been well studied as a global post-transcriptional regulator which controls diverse cellular processes in bacteria. However, the function in the genus of Serratia has remained unexplored. Here we show that beyond mutation in Hfq resulting in their growth defects, Hfq has global effects on a variety of biocontrol-related phenotypes in the endophytic strain G3 of Serratia plymuthica, including antifungal activity, production of exoenzymes, as well as motility and biofilm formation. Especially for the first time, Hfq is observed to control biosynthesis of auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and antibiotic pyrrolnitrin (PRN), which are key determinants responsible for plant growth promotion and suppression of phytopathogens, respectively by G3. Additionally, Hfq is also required for the production of RpoS, a major stress sigma factor in G3. In contrast to E. coli, translation of hfq in G3 is positively autoregulated. Further investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved in regulation of IAA and pyrrolnitrin production by Hfq and its role in the regulatory networks of G3 will help to optimize the beneficial plant-microbe interactions.

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Background Prior resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies via the regional homogeneity (ReHo) method have demonstrated inconsistent and conflicting results because of several confounding factors, such as small sample size, medicinal influence, and illness duration. Relationships between ReHo measures and cognitive impairments in patients with drug-naive first-episode schizophrenia (dn-FES) are rarely reported. This study was conducted to explore the correlations between ReHo measures, cognitive deficits, and clinical symptoms in patients with dn-FES. Methods A total of 69 patients with dn-FES and 74 healthy controls were recruited. MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used to assess cognitive function, intelligence quotient (IQ), and clinical symptoms, respectively. The correlations between ReHo map and cognitive deficits, the severity of symptoms were examined using strict correlation analyses within brain areas. Results The ReHo values in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) increased in the dn-FES group, whereas the ReHo values in the right cuneus decreased. Correlation analysis showed that the ReHo values in the right MFG were positively correlated with attention/vigilance impairments, social cognition deficits, the severity of clinical manifestations. Conclusions These findings suggested that abnormal spontaneous activities in the right MFG reflect the illness severity and cognitive deficits, which serves as a basis for establishing the objective diagnostic markers and might be a clinical intervention target for patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Prior resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies via the regional homogeneity (ReHo) method have demonstrated inconsistent and conflicting results because of several confounding factors, such as small sample size, medicinal influence, and illness duration.Relationships between ReHo measures and cognitive impairments in patients with drug-naive firstepisode schizophrenia (dn-FES) are rarely reported. This study was conducted to explore the correlations between ReHo measures, cognitive deficits, and clinical symptoms in patients with dn- FES.Methods: A total of 69 patients with dn-FES and 74 healthy controls were recruited. MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used to assess cognitive function, intelligence quotient (IQ), and clinical symptoms, respectively. The correlations between ReHo map and cognitive deficits, the severity of symptoms were examined using strict correlation analyses within brain areas. Results:The ReHo values in the right middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) increased in the dn-FES group, whereas the ReHo values in the right cuneus decreased. Correlation analysis showed that the ReHo values in the right MFG were positively correlated with attention/vigilance impairments, social cognition deficits, the severity of clinical manifestations. Conclusions:These findings suggested that abnormal spontaneous activities in the right MFG reflect the illness severity and cognitive deficits, which serves as a basis for establishing the objective diagnostic markers and might be a clinical intervention target for patients with schizophrenia.