Glutathione (GSH) plays multiple roles in plants, including stress defense and regulation of growth/development. Previous studies have demonstrated that the ascorbate (AsA) redox state is involved in flowering initiation in Oncidium orchid. In this study, we discovered that a significantly decreased GSH content and GSH redox ratio are correlated with a decline in the AsA redox state during flowering initiation and high ambient temperature-induced flowering. At the same time, the expression level and enzymatic activity of GSH redox-regulated genes, glutathione reductase (GR1), and the GSH biosynthesis genes γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH1) and glutathione synthase (GSH2), are down-regulated. Elevating dehydroascorbate (DHA) content in Oncidium by artificial addition of DHA resulted in a decreased AsA and GSH redox ratio, and enhanced dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) activity. This demonstrated that the lower GSH redox state could be influenced by the lower AsA redox ratio. Moreover, exogenous application of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), to inhibit GSH biosynthesis, and glutathione disulfide (GSSG), to decrease the GSH redox ratio, also caused early flowering. However, spraying plants with GSH increased the GSH redox ratio and delayed flowering. Furthermore, transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing Oncidium GSH1, GSH2 and GR1 displayed a high GSH redox ratio as well as delayed flowering under high ambient temperature treatment, while pad2, cad2 and gr1 mutants exhibited early flowering and a low GSH redox ratio. In conclusion, our results provide evidence that the decreased GSH redox state is linked to the decline in the AsA redox ratio and mediated by down-regulated expression of GSH metabolism-related genes to affect flowering time in Oncidium orchid.
The relationship between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was discussed for several decades. However, the long‐term effects of HRT on female patients with hepatitis C during nature postmenopausal periods are unclear. This study aimed at investigating the effect of HRT on HCC risk and overall survival. We conducted a retrospective population‐based cohort study using data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2013. The treated cohort, consisting of 1022 patients with hepatitis C who received hormone analog therapy for at least 90 days (treated cohort), was matched with the control cohort, consisting of 1022 untreated patients with hepatitis C (controls) who had never received a hormone prescription, through propensity score adjustment; furthermore, cumulative incidence was calculated, and multivariable analyses were performed. The treated and control cohorts were followed up for mean periods of 7.47 and 6.64 years, respectively. The treated cohort had a significantly lower crude hazard ratio (HR) of HCC of 0.43 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30‐0.61, P < .001), with an adjusted HR of 0.49 (95% CI 0.31‐0.76, P = .001). After adjustment for other confounders and comorbidities, the hormone analog treatment was associated with a reduced risk of HCC. Subgroup analyses provided estimates of the strength of the associations between HRT and reduced HCC risk in different age categories. Our retrospective population study in Taiwan revealed that using hormone analog reduces the risk of HCC and mortality in patients with hepatitis C virus infection who are receiving HRT, such as menopausal women.
Background: The work of homecare nurses is different from that of general hospital nurses; therefore, it is necessary to understand the risks of occupational diseases in homecare nurses. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort research conducted from 2000 to 2013, nursing staff comprised the sample obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Nursing staff were subgrouped according to practice site into homecare, medical center, regional hospital, and local community hospital nurses. The control group included 4,108 subjects. Results: The risk of severe kidney disease was higher in homecare nurses than in medical center nurses (hazard ratio [HR]: 7.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.45-21.78) and regional hospital nurses (HR: 3.30, 95% CI: 1.37-7.96). The risk of severe liver disease was higher in homecare nurses than in medical center nurses (HR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.10-3.35) and regional hospital nurses (HR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.17-3.62). Conclusions: The prevalence of occupational diseases was higher in homecare nurses than in noncaregivers. The correlation between different practice environments and disease prevalence rates revealed that various types of nurses can be ranked in the following order based on the prevalence of the aforementioned diseases: homecare nurses > local community hospital nurses > regional hospital nurses > medical center nurses.
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