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To elucidate the influence of rape straw returning on soil reducibility and to understand its effects on rice growth and yield in rape‐rice rotation system, 3 years field experiment with 8 treatments of straw incorporation carried out at Mianyang Sichuan Province of China. Results showed that the lowest RCEh value founded at 14–18 d after rice planting; With the increasing of rape straw incorporation, the amount of root (number, weight and length) and root bleeding intensity both increased significantly during 27–32 d after rice planting; 0–20 d are the fast decomposing period of rape straw in rice field. At 10–22 d after rice planting, there is negative correlation between rice root growth and soil reducibility and a negative correlation between rice root and straw incorporation. Oil seed rape straw returning into soil, either by mulching or by ploughing, make the soil more reducible with lower Eh and higher content of reducing material, Fe2+ and hinder the growth of rice root with lower amount (length, weight and number) and bleeding density during this period. Comparing with other straw returning methods, straw returning by ploughing method with the rape straw of 3.0 t/hm2 is more suitable in rice‐rape rotation farms where is convenient for mechanical operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. The authors hypothesized that interleukin 17 (IL-17) might contribute to the prehypertensive state. This study evaluated the relationship between serum levels of IL-17 and prehypertension. A total of 394 participants were enrolled, after excluding for hypertension or treated hypertension, and divided into two groups (optimal blood pressure [BP] and prehypertension) based on the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure classification of BP. Optimal BP was defined as systolic BP <120 mm Hg and diastolic BP <80 mm Hg. Prehypertension was defined as systolic BP of 120 to 139 mm Hg or diastolic BP of 80 to 89 mm Hg. IL-17A levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean serum IL-17 concentration in the prehypertension group was significantly higher than in the optimal BP group. The cohort was divided into quartiles Q1 (≤3.5 ng/L), Q2 (3.60 to 6.10 ng/L), Q3 (6.20 to 10.00 ng/L), and Q4 (≥10.10 ng/L) based on IL-17 levels. The Q2 to Q4 groups had increasing odds ratios for having prehypertension compared with the Q1 group. Elevated serum IL-17 was accompanied by a rise in systolic BP. Thus, increased serum IL-17 levels are associated with prehypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]