[Relationship between sleep status and occasional hypertension in preschool children in three provinces in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of occasional hypertension in preschool children in three provinces in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China, and analyze the relationship between their sleep status and occasional hypertension. Methods: From October to November 2017, a total of 24 842 preschool children from 109 kindergartens in 11 cities in Hubei, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces were selected by intentional sampling method. A self-made questionnaire was used to collect basic information about the subjects, and the sleep status data was collected by the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Physical examinations were performed on the subjects, and height, weight and blood pressure were measured on-site. The difference in occasional hypertension detection rate among preschool children with different characteristics was compared, and the correlation between sleep status and occasional hypertension detection rate was analyzed by the multivariate logistic regression model. Results: The age of the subjects was (4.4±1.0) years, including 12 729 boys (51.2%). The prevalence of occasional hypertension was 31.8% (7 907/24 842). The prevalence of occasional hypertension among preschool children in three provinces of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River was 31.8%. There were statistically significant differences in the detection rate of occasional hypertension among preschool children of different genders, age groups, family residence, family economic status and parents' education level (all P values<0.05). The detection rate of occasional hypertension in children with less than 10 hours of sleep was higher than those with sufficient sleep, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for factors such as gender, age, family residence, family economic status, parental education level, parental smoking history, and physical constitution, the ORs (95%CI) for less than 10 hours of sleep, turning on the lights while sleeping, and poor sleep quality were 1.09 (1.03-1.15), 1.17 (1.07-1.28) and 1.04 (0.91-1.18), respectively, compared with the corresponding reference group. Conclusion: The detection rate of occasional hypertension is high in preschool children in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and there is a positive correlation between insufficient sleep and turning on the light when sleeping and occasional hypertension in preschool children.

De novo transcriptome assembly and EST-SSR markers development for Zelkova schneideriana Hand.-Mazz. (Ulmaceae)

Zelkova schneideriana Hand.-Mazz. of the Ulmaceae family is a Tertiary relict and economically deciduous tree species endemic to Central and Southern China. In this study, we performed a transcriptome sequencing of Z. schneideriana using high-throughput sequencing approach to detect polymorphic expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeats (EST-SSR) markers. A total of 3,235 microsatellite loci were detected from 53,517 unigenes. A set of 30 microsatellite markers were randomly selected to validate in 41 individuals from three populations, of which 10 were polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 11. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.366 to 0.829 and 0.439 to 0.848, respectively. These polymorphic SSR primers showed good transferability across different Zelkova species, and are valuable for future studies on genetic diversity, conservation, phylogeography, and species delimitation in Z. schneideriana, as well as other Zelkova species.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02968-5.

The complete chloroplast genome of Zelkova serrata and its phylogenetic position within Ulmaceae

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of the Tertiary relict tree Zelkova serrata was reported in this study. The chloroplast genome is 158,875 bp in length with a typical angiosperm quantitative structure consisting of a large single copy (87,412 bp) and a small single copy (18,683 bp) separated by a pair of inverted repeat (26,390 bp). Genome annotation revealed a total of 129 genes comprising 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenomic analysis based on the whole plastomes indicated that Z. serrata and Z. schneideriana formed a well-supported monophyletic clade sister to genus Ulmus in Ulmaceae.

[Emotional and behavioral problems associated with health-risk behaviors in preschool children]

Objective: To explore the relationship between multiple health-risk behaviors and emotional and behavioral problems in preschool children. Method: From October to November 2017, 27 987 children aged 3 to 6 years from 109 kindergartens of 11 cities from Hubei, Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River were selected by using the cluster sampling method. Finally, 27 200 valid questionnaires were collected. A questionnaire was used to investigate the demographic characteristics, video time and outdoor activities, eating behavior, sleep time, emotional and behavioral problems of parents and children. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to quantify the association between multiple health-risk behaviors and emotional and behavioral problems. Results: Emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, total difficulties and prosocial behavior abnormalities were detected in 9.5% (2 587), 9.5% (2 590), 18.2% (4 958), 24.5% (6 670), 11.2% (3 058) and 10.2% (2 770), respectively. Three groups of low, medium and high scores of multiple health-risk behaviors were accounted for 30.6% (8 316), 60.9% (16 568) and 8.5% (2 316), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that after controlling for the confounding factors, compared with those in the low score group, preschool children in the middle and high score groups had higher risks of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer problems, total difficulties and prosocial behavior (all P values<0.05). Conclusion: Health-risk behaviors are associated with the emotional and behavioral problems of preschool children.

[Effects of parental rearing patterns and their consistency on the emotional and behavioral problems of preschool children]

Objective: To explore the effect of parental rearing patterns and their consistency on the emotional and behavioral problems of preschool children. Methods: From October to November 2017, 27 987 children aged 3 to 6 years old from 109 kindergartens in 11 cities of Hubei, Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces were selected by using the cluster sampling method. A total of 27 200 valid questionnaires which were completed by subjects' parents were collected. The emotional and behavioral problems of preschool children were collected by "strengths and difficulties questionnaire" and the parental rearing patterns were evaluated by the "Parental Behavior Scale". The differences in emotional and behavioral abnormality rates of preschool children with different characteristics were analyzed; with emotional and behavioral problems as dependent variables and parental support/participation and compulsion/hostility as independent variables, the multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the effect of parental rearing patterns and their consistency on the emotional and behavioral problems of preschool children. Results: The age of children was (4.35±0.96) years old, and 51.4% of children were 13 975 males. There were 24 634 (90.6%) urban children and 17 916 (65.9%) only children. Both parents with strong support/participation accounted for 14.9%, and those with poor support/participation accounted for 11.9%; both parents with strong compulsion/hostility accounted for 15.2%, and those with low compulsion/hostility accounted for 11.3%. The rates of emotional symptoms, conduct behavior, hyperactive behavior, peer interaction, total difficulty score, and abnormal prosocial behavior of preschool children were 9.5%, 9.5%, 18.2%, 24.5%, 11.2%, and 10.2%, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that after adjusting for gender, only child, living area, family economic status, mother's age and education level, father's education level, and other factors, compared with fathers/mothers with strong support/participation and low compulsion/hostility and parents with strong support/participation and low compulsion/hostility, preschool children who had fathers/mothers with poor support/participation and strong compulsion/hostility or parents with poor support/participation and strong compulsion/hostility were more likely to have emotional symptoms, conduct behavior, hyperactive behavior, peer interaction, total difficulty score, and abnormal prosocial behavior (P<0.05). Conclusions: Parental rearing patterns and their consistency are related to the emotional and behavioral problems of preschool children.

Characterization of the complete plastome of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk

Saposhnikovia divaricata is traditional herbal medicine with a long history in China. We reported the complete chloroplast genome of S. divaricate using the next generation sequencing. A total of 115 unique genes were annotated, consisting of 81 protein coding genes, 30 tRNA and 4 rRNA. The overall AT content was 69.2%. The molecular phylogenetic tree reveals that S. divaricate is closely related to Peucedanum in tribe Selineae.

The complete plastome of Peucedanum praeruptorum (Apiaceae)

Peucedanum praeruptorum is an important traditional herbal medicine unique to China. The complete chloroplast genome of P. praeruptorum was generated here using high-throughput sequencing. The plastome was 147,197 bp in size, which consisted of a pair of inverted repeats (IRs; 18,713 bp), a large single copy (LSC; 92,161 bp) and a small single copy (SSC; 17,610 bp). The GC content of the plastome was 37.6%, with 44.5%, 36.0%, and 31.1% in IRs, LSC, and SSC, respectively. A total of 128 genes were annotated, including 84 protein-coding genes, 35 tRNAs, eight rRNAs, and one pseudogene (Ψycf1). The phylogenomic analysis indicated that P. praeruptorum formed a monophyletic clade with Peucedanum japonicum.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of medicinal tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Melaleuca alternifolia is commonly known as the medicinal tea tree. The complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence is 160,104 bp in length, with a quantitative molecule structure comprising two copies of inverted repeats (IRa and IRb) of 26,737 bp separated by a large single copy (LSC) of 88,151bp, a small single copy (SSC) of 18,479 bp. A total of 131 genes were identified including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, eight rRNA genes and two pseudogene (Ψycf1, ΨinfA), respectively. Phylogenomic analysis suggests that M. alternifolia is closely related to the rest species of Myrtaceae with strong bootstrap values.

[The associations between nighttime sleep duration, bedtime and preschool children's obesity]

Objective: To examine the relationship of nighttime sleep duration and bedtime with preschool children's obesity, and to explore possible early life risk factors for childhood obesity. Methods: A total of 14 946 valid children from 16 439 pre-school children aged 3-6 years in 91 kindergartens in Ma'anshan city participated in the study. The body mass index cut-offs for overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adolescents aged 2-18 years was used as the criterion for judging overweight and obesity, and pathological and secondary causes of obesity were excluded. The associations of nighttime sleep duration and bedtime with preschool children's obesity was analyzed by using non-conditional multivariate binary logistic regression model. Results: Among the preschool children, 22.4% (n=3 345) had shorter sleep duration. 9.5% (n=1 415) had bedtimes after 22:00 on weekdays and 21.8% (n=3 260) had bedtimes after 22:00 on weekends. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 16.5% (n=2 466) and 10.5% (n=1 562), respectively. After the adjustent of age, gender, whether or not only child, residence in the last six months, parents' body mass index parents' educational level, diet preference, outdoor activities, TV viewing duration, sleep duration, bedtime on weekdays and weekends, only the shorter sleep duration (OR=1.25, 95%CI: 1.03-1.51) was still positively associated with the prevalence of obesity in preschool children. Conclusion: Shorter sleep duration was positively associated with the prevalence of obesity among preschool children.

The complete chloroplast genome of Glehnia littoralis, an Endangered medicinal herb of Apiaceae family

Glehnia littoralis is an important medicinal herb disjunctly distributed at sandy beaches in eastern Asia and western North America. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of G. littoralis is 147,552 bp in length and structurally divided into four distinct regions: two copies of inverted repeat of 18,365 bp separated by a large single copy (LSC) of 93,277 bp and a small single copy (SSC) of 17,545 bp. A total of 129 genes are annotated including 85 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA gene, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic relationship revealed that G. littoralis is closely related to Angelica dahurica in Apiaceae.

Chloroplast analysis of Zelkova schneideriana (Ulmaceae): genetic diversity, population structure, and conservation implications

Zelkova schneideriana is endemic to China and belongs to the Ulmaceae. It is listed as a Near Threatened species in the China Biodiversity Red Data Book. We conducted a phylogeographical study of two chloroplast regions (psbA-trnH and trnG-trnM) in several Chinese Z. schneideriana populations, in order to examine the genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary history of the species. In all, 10 haplotypes were detected. The population from Sangzhi, Hunan, had the highest nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00653) and haplotype diversity (HD = 1.000), and should be considered the most suitable population to be protected under an in situ conservation strategy. Seed collections from as many individuals as possible in other populations would preserve the genetic diversity of Z. schneideriana.

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci from Zelkova schneideriana Hand.-Mazz

Zelkova schneideriana is a highly valued hardwood species. An improved technique for isolating codominant compound microsatellite markers was used to develop simple sequence repeat markers for Z. schneideriana. A total of 12 microsatellite loci were identified. Overall, the number of alleles per locus ranged from 8-19, with an average of 11.75. Observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.109-0.709 and 0.832-0.929, respectively. Polymorphic information content is from 0.803-0.915, with an average of 0.854. These markers will be very important for future research related to the genetic diversity, population structure, patterns of gene flow, and mating system of this species.

[Study on bulblet induction of Fritillaria anhuiensis in vitro]

OBJECTIVE

To study the optimal condition for bulb induction of Fritillaria anhuiensis in vitro.

METHOD

Effects of sucrose, salicylic acid, active carbon and 5 degrees C pre-incubation on bulb formation in vitro were investigated by adopting the number of bulb and fresh weight as indexes.

RESULT

The number of bulb and fresh weight in medium added with 50 g x L(-1) sucrose were significantly higher than those with other treatments. The medium with different concentrations of salicylic acid showed no significant promotion on callus differentiation. However, 5 g x L(-1) active carbon (AC) treatment was better than other treatments. Meanwhile, a large number of plantlets formed after 5 degrees C pre-incubation for 30-40 days was suitable for bulb formation and growth.

CONCLUSION

Bulblet formation was optimal in MS + KT 2 mg x L(-1) + NAA 2 mg x L(-1) + 50 g x L(-1) sucrose +5 g x L(-1) AC after callus pre-incucation at 5 degrees 1 for 30-40 days.