Short-term continuous monocropping reduces peanut yield mainly via altering soil enzyme activity and fungal community.

Continuous monocropping can lead to soil sickness and increase of soil-borne disease, which finally reduces crop yield. Microorganisms benefit plants by increasing nutrient availability, participating in auxin synthesis, and defending against pathogens. However, little is known about the influence of short-term successive peanuts cropping on soil properties, enzyme activities, its yield, plant-associated microbes, and their potential correlations in peanut production. Here, we examined the community structure, composition, network structure and function of microbes in the rhizosphere and bulk soils under different monocropping years. Moreover, we assessed the impact of changes in the soil micro-environment and associated soil microbes on peanut yield. Our results showed that increase of monocropping year significantly decreased most soil properties, enzyme activities and peanut yield (p < 0.05). Principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA) and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) indicated that monocropping year significantly influenced the fungal community structure in the rhizosphere and bulk soils (p < 0.01), while had no effect on the bacterial community. With the increase of continuous monocropping year, peanut selectively decreased (e.g., Candidatus_Entotheonella, Bacillus and Bryobacter) or increased (e.g., Nitrospira, Nocardioides, Ensifer, Gaiella, and Novosphingobium) the abundance of some beneficial bacterial genera in the rhizosphere. Continuous monocropping significantly increased the abundance of plant pathogens (e.g., Plectosphaerella, Colletotrichum, Lectera, Gibberella, Metarhizium, and Microdochium) in the rhizosphere and negatively affected the balance of fungal community. Besides, these species were correlated negatively with L-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activity. Network co-occurrence analysis showed that continuous monocropping simplified the interaction network of bacteria and fungi. Random forest and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) analysis further showed that fungal community, pathogen abundance, soil pH, and LAP activity negatively affected peanut yield. In conclusion, short-term continuous monocropping decreased LAP activity and increased potential fungal pathogens abundance, leading to reduction of peanut yield.

Activity of daily living upon admission is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in older patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Older patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are at high risk for short-term mortality. Activity of daily living (ADL) is associated with clinical outcomes in older patients. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of ADL upon admission on the in-hospital mortality in older patients with CAP. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients aged ≥65 years admitted to Beijing Chao-Yang hospital due to CAP between June 2012 and June 2020. ADL evaluation upon admission was performed by Barthel Index (BI). Data from all patients were extracted from the electronic medical records. RESULTS: Four thousand eight hundred eighty patients were included, 131 patients (2.7%) died during their hospitalization. Median BI in the Deceased group was 45 (20-65), Deceased group had lower BI scores than Survivors group (p < 0.001). Low BI (< 60) was more frequent in patients who died in the hospital than in patients discharged alive (69.5% vs. 13%, p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was higher among patients with worse ADL upon admission (BI< 60) compared to those BI≥60 (12.6% vs. 0.9%). The worse ADL upon admission (BI< 60) was associated with an increase in the risk of death during CAP hospitalization, worse ADL upon admission (BI< 60) showed an odds ratio (OR) for in-hospital mortality of 7.53 (95%CI: 2.77-20.48; P < 0.01). This association remained significant after adjustment for age, comorbid conditions, respiratory failure, pathogens and laboratory findings (OR, 3.74; 95%CI, 2.37-5.91; P < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve revealed that BI upon admission is a predictor related to in-hospital mortality in elderly patients, the area under the ROC curve of BI in predicting in-hospital mortality was 0.81 (with 95% confidence interval: 0.78-0.85). The predictive value of ADL upon admission was better than age in our study population. CONCLUSION: Activity of daily living upon admission is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality in older patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Factors associated with acute myocardial infarction in older patients after hospitalization with community-acquired pneumonia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute myocardial infarction cardiovascular (AMI) are two important health issues in older patients. Little is known regarding characteristics of AMI in older patients hospitalized for CAP. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence, characteristics compared with younger patients, impact on clinical outcomes and risk factors of AMI during hospitalization for CAP in geriatric patients. METHODS: Eleven thousand nine adult inpatients consisted of 5111 patients≥65 years and 5898 patients< 65 years in respiratory ward diagnosed with CAP were retrospectively analyzed by electronic medical records. RESULTS: 159 (3.1%) older patients in respiratory ward experienced AMI during hospitalization for CAP. AMI were more frequently seen in patients≥65 years compared with patients< 65 years (3.1% vs. 1.0%). Patients≥65 years who experienced AMI during hospitalization for CAP had higher percentage of respiratory failure (P = 0.001), hypertension (P = 0.008), dyspnea (P = 0.046), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) ≥7 mmol/L (P < 0.001), serum sodium< 130 mmol/L (P = 0.005) and had higher in-hospital mortality compared to patients< 65 years (10.1% vs. 6.6%). AMI was associated with increased in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, OR, with 95% confidence interval: 1.49 [1.24-1.82]; P < 0.01). Respiratory failure (OR, 1.34 [1.15-1.54]; P < 0.01), preexisting coronary artery disease (OR, 1.31[1.07-1.59]; P = 0.02), diabetes (OR, 1.26 [1.11-1.42]; P = 0.02) and BUN (OR, 1.23 [1.01-1.49]; P = 0.04) were correlated with the occurrence of AMI in the older patients after hospitalization with CAP. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AMI during CAP hospitalization in geriatric patients is notable and have an impact on in-hospital mortality. Respiratory failure, preexisting coronary artery disease, diabetes and BUN was associated with the occurrence of AMI in the older patients after hospitalization with CAP. Particular attention should be paid to older patients with risk factors for AMI.

Relationship between pulmonary function and albuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients with preserved renal function.

BACKGROUND: Albuminuria is the early manifestation of the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The current study was to investigate the relationship of pulmonary function with albuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients with preserved renal function to evaluate the role of pulmonary function in the early stage of DN. METHODS: A total of 326 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) including 270 without albuminuria and 56 with albuminuria, and 265 non-diabetic patients were enrolled. The patients' general information, and the parameters of pulmonary function, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, total lung capacity (TLC), diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of lung (DLCO) were compared between T2DM and control groups, as well as T2DM patients with and without albuminuria groups. All pulmonary function parameters were expressed as a percentage of those predicted (%pred). Logistic regression models were constructed to test the association of albuminuria and pulmonary function. RESULTS: The values of FVC%pred, FEV1%pred, TLC%pred and DLCO%pred were lower, and the proportion of subjects with FVC%pred < 80, FEV1%pred < 80, and DLCOc%pred < 80 was higher in T2DM subjects than controls (all P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis of diabetic patients showed that the values of FVC%pred, FEV1%pred, TLC%pred, and DLCOc%pred (97.18 ± 13.45, 93.95 ± 14.51, 90.64 ± 9.97, 87.27 ± 13.13, respectively) were significantly lower in T2DM subjects with albuminuria than those without albuminuria (103.94 ± 14.12, 99.20 ± 14.25, 93.79 ± 10.36, 92.62 ± 13.45, all P < 0.05). There was a significantly negative correlation between the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) and DLCOc%pred (r = - 0.143, P = 0.010) in spearman linear correlation test. In logistic regression analysis, the FVC%pred (OR 0.965, 95%CI 0.944-0.988), FEV1%pred (OR 0.975, 95%CI 0.954-0.996), and DLCOc%pred (OR 0.974, 95%CI 0.951-0.998) were independently associated with albuminuria after adjustments for smoking index, duration, HbA1c, FBG, and TG. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated albuminuria is associated with a restrictive pulmonary function as well as pulmonary diffusion function in T2DM with preserved renal function, which remind us to be alert of the pulmonary function decline even in the early stage of DN.

Individualized intervention for frail non-dialysis elderly patients with chronic kidney disease: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Frailty describes an age-related clinical state and can be regarded as a predictive factor for fall, disability, hospitalization, and death in the elderly. Previous studies proved that frailty could be reversed or attenuated by multi-disciplinary intervention. However, only a few studies have been performed in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease. METHODS: A randomized parallel controlled trial will be conducted to compare an individualized intervention according to the consequence of the comprehensive geriatric assessment with routine treatment. A total of 242 individuals aged ≥65 years, who fulfill the Fried Phenotype of frailty and have chronic kidney disease stage 3-5 without dialysis will be recruited from the Department of Nephrology and Department of Internal Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University. The participants will be followed-up for 30 days and 12 months. DISCUSSION: This protocol would be established to examine the efficiency of targeted intervention for frailty. If a positive consequence could be obtained, a novel treatment for frail elderly patients with chronic kidney disease who have never undergone dialysis can be carried out in routine clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was prospectively registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry with the registration number ChiCTR-IOR-17013429 on November 17, 2017.

Associations of muscle mass and strength with new-onset diabetes among middle-aged and older adults: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study (CHARLS).

BACKGROUND: The associations of muscle mass and strength with new-onset Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remain controversial. We aimed to longitudinally evaluate muscle mass and strength in predicting T2DM among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: We enrolled 6033 participants aged ≥ 45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a cohort survey, between 2011 and 2012. The appendicular skeletal muscle mass (normalized by weight, ASM/BW%), relative hand grip strength (normalized by weight, HGS/BW), and five-repetition chair stand test (5CST). were all categorized into tertiles (lowest, middle, and highest groups) at baseline, respectively. Individuals were followed up until the occurrence of diabetes or the end of CHARLS 2018, whichever happened first. Cox proportional hazards models to calculate hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and mediation analysis were used. RESULTS: During follow-up, 815 (13.5%) participants developed T2DM. After adjusting for covariates, lower ASW/BW% was not associated with a higher risk of diabetes. Compared with individuals in the highest tertile of HGS/BW, those in the lowest tertile had 1.296 (95%CI 1.073-1.567) higher risk of diabetes. Compared with individuals in the lowest tertile of 5CST, those in the highest tertile had 1.329 times (95%CI 1.106-1.596) higher risk of diabetes. By subgroup, both the lowest HGS/BW and highest 5CST were risk factors for diabetes among obesity. The mediation analysis revealed that the effect of HGS/BW on the risk of diabetes is mainly mediated by insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Lower muscle strength is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, especially in obese populations.

Activities of daily living associated with postoperative intensive care unit survival in elderly patients following elective major abdominal surgery: An observational cohort study.

ABSTRACT: Elderly patients who undergo major abdominal surgery are being in increasing numbers. Intensive care unit (ICU) survival is critical for surgical decision-making process. Activities of daily living (ADL) are associated with clinical outcomes in the elderly. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ADL and postoperative ICU survival in elderly patients following elective major abdominal surgery.We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients aged ≥65 years admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) following elective major abdominal surgery. Data from all patients were extracted from the electronic medical records. The Barthel Index (BI) was used to assess the level of dependency in ADL at the time of hospital admission.ICU survivors group had higher Barthel Index (BI) scores than non-survivors group (P < .001). With the increase of BI score, postoperative ICU survival rate gradually increased. The ICU survivals in patients with BI 0-20, BI 21-40, BI 41-60, BI 61-80 and BI 81-100 were 55.7%, 67.6%, 72.4%, 83.3% and 84.2%, respectively. In logistic regression, The Barthel Index (BI) was significantly correlated with the postoperative ICU survival in elderly patients following elective major abdominal surgery (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.20-1.47, P = .02). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of Barthel Index in predicting postoperative ICU survival was 0.704 (95% CI, 0.638-0.771). Kaplan-Meier survival curve in BI≥30 patients and BI < 30 patients showed significantly different.Activity of daily living upon admission was associated with postoperative intensive care unit survival in elderly patients following elective major abdominal surgery. The Barthel Index(BI) ≥30 was associated with increased postoperative ICU survival. For the elderly with better functional status, they could be given more surgery opportunities. For those elderly patients BI < 30, these results provide useful information for clinicians, patients and their families to make palliative care decisions.

Age-related up-regulation of beta3-adrenergic receptor in heart-failure rats.

Stimulation of beta1- and beta2-adrenergic receptors (ARs) in the heart results in positive inotropy. In contrast, it has been reported that the beta3-AR is also expressed in the heart and that its stimulation leads to negative inotropic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of beta3-AR in age-related heart-failure rats and its relevance to left ventricular dysfunction. Aging male Wistar rats were divided into young and aging groups according to age, and each group included sham-operation and heart-failure subgroups. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and the ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight (LV/BW) were significantly higher for the aging heart-failure versus young heart-failure and the heart-failure versus sham-operation groups (P < 0.01, respectively). However, the left ventricular end-systolic pressure (LVESP) and the maximal rate of rise or fall of left ventricular pressure were all significantly lower for the aging heart-failure versus young heart-failure and the heart-failure versus sham-operation groups (P < 0.01, respectively). beta3-AR protein levels increased significantly when heart failure worsened in aging rats. These results suggest that beta3-AR expression in age-related heart-failure rats and left ventricular function were highly correlated.

Simultaneous occurrence of splenic diffuse large B cell lymphoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the stomach: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Although the primary malignant spleen tumor is relatively rare, lymphoma is the most common splenic malignancy. It can have quite different clinical manifestations that usually lead to relatively poor outcomes, and thus early and accurate diagnosis are of utmost importance. CASE PRESENTATION: The present study reports a case of a 67-year-old female with high fever, abnormal spleen (diagnosed by PET/CT) and no obvious lymph node enlargement. After being subjected to splenectomy, the patient was diagnosed with splenic diffuse large B cell lymphoma coexisting with gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the stomach. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, splenic lymphoma accompanied by gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the stomach is rarely reported. This case report discusses the diagnosis and case management of a patient referring to the existing literature.

Blood pressure circadian rhythms and adverse outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Patients with diabetes frequently develop orthostatic hypotension (OH). The present study was designed to examine the relationship of blood pressure (BP) circadian rhythms and outcomes in diabetes with OH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, 173 inpatients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled. Patients were divided into an OH group and a non-OH group according to the BP changes detected in the supine and standing position. Then, 24-h ambulatory BP was monitored. Patients were followed up for an average of 45 ± 10 months post-discharge. Outcomes - death and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, including heart failure, myocardial infarction and stroke - were recorded. RESULTS: There were 61 patients (35.26%) in the OH group and 112 patients (64.74%) in the non-OH group. In the OH group, the night-time systolic BP and night-time diastolic BP were higher, the blood BP rhythms were predominantly of the riser type (67.21%). OH was as an independent marker of riser type circadian rhythm (adjusted odds ratio 4.532, 95% confidence interval 2.579-7.966). In the OH group, the incidence rates of mortality, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were increased significantly compared with those in the non-OH group (11.48 vs 2.68%, P = 0.014; 37.70 vs 8.93%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients who had type 2 diabetes diagnosed with OH, the BP circadian rhythm usually showed riser patterns, and they had increased rates of mortality, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events.

Expression of ß1- and ß2-adrenergic receptors in the lungs and changes in the levels of corresponding autoantibodies in an aged rat model of heart failure.

ß-adrenergic receptors (ß-ARs) and anti-ß1-AR autoantibodies play important roles in heart failure. This study was designed to investigate the expression of ß1- and ß2-ARs in the lungs, and their relevance to the corresponding autoantibodies in an aged rat model of heart failure. In addition, we investigated the association between anti-ß-AR autoantibody and soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL). Aged male Wistar rats were divided into the sham-operated control group and the heart failure group. At 0 and 9 weeks post-surgery, the protein levels of ß1- and ß2-ARs in the heart and lungs were measured by western blot analysis. The plasma concentrations of autoantibodies, sFas and sFasL were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein levels of pulmonary ß1- and ß2-ARs were decreased in the heart failure group when compared with the control group (P<0.01). Both the frequencies of the occurrence and the titers of autoantibodies against ß2-AR increased at 9 weeks post-surgery (P<0.01). The levels of sFas and sFasL were also elevated, although there was no difference in the levels of sFas and sFasL between the groups, with positive and negative anti-ß-AR autoantibody. These findings suggested that during the development of heart failure, the densities of pulmonary ß1- and ß2-ARs decreased. The levels of anti-ß2-AR autoantibody exhibited similar changes as those of anti-ß1-AR autoantibody, and there was no definite association between anti-ß-AR autoantibody and the levels of sFas/sFasL.

ß-diketone-cobalt complexes inhibit DNA synthesis and induce S-phase arrest in rat C6 glioma cells.

ß-diketone-cobalt complexes, a family of newly synthesized non-platinum metal compounds, exhibit potential antitumor activity; however, the antitumor mechanism is unclear. The current study investigated the mechanism by which ß-diketone-cobalt complexes inhibit rat C6 glioma cell proliferation. It was found that ß-diketone-cobalt complexes suppress rat C6 glioma cell viability in a dose-dependent manner (3.125-100 µg/ml). In rat C6 glioma cells, the IC50 value of ß-diketone-cobalt complexes was 24.7±3.395 µg/ml and the IC10 value was 4.37±1.53 µg/ml, indicating a strong inhibitory effect. Further investigation suggested that ß-diketone-cobalt complexes inhibit rat C6 glioma cell proliferation, which is associated with S-phase arrest and DNA synthesis inhibition. During this process, ß-diketone-cobalt complexes decreased cyclin A expression and increased cyclin E and p21 expression. In addition, ß-diketone-cobalt complexes exhibit a stronger antitumor capability than the antineoplastic agent, 5-fluorouracil.

Relationship between the autoantibody and expression of ß3-adrenoceptor in lung and heart.

BACKGROUND: Evidences suggest that ß3 -adrenoceptor (ß3-AR) plays an important role in heart failure (HF), although no data is reported indicating how these effects may change with the increasing age. Pulmonary congestion and edema are the major life-threatening complications associated with HF. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the anti-ß3-AR autoantibody and the expression of ß3-AR in the lungs and heart for both aged patients and rats with HF. METHODS: Synthetic ß3-AR peptides served as the target antigens in ELISA were used to screen the anti-ß3-AR autoantibody in aged patients and rats. Two aged rat models were constructed based on aortic banding and sham-operation. The expression of ß3-AR mRNA and protein in the lung and heart was measured in intervention and non-intervention groups by Western blot analysis at the baseline, 5(th), 7(th), 9(th) and 11(th) week, respectively. RESULTS: The frequency and titer of anti-ß3-AR autoantibody in aged patients and rats with HF were higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). The expression of ß3-AR mRNA and protein in pulmonary tissues decreased continually from the 7(th) week (p<0.05), followed by HF observed during the 9(th) week. The expression of ß3-AR in myocardial tissues continued to increase after the 9(th) week (p<0.05), and the expression of both ß3-AR mRNA and protein in the BRL group [HF group with BRL37344 (4-[-[2-hydroxy-(3-chlorophenyl)ethyl-amino] phenoxyacetic acid) (a ß3-AR agonist) injection] was positively correlated with BRL37344 when compared with non-BRL group (HF group without BRL37344 injection) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Anti-ß3-AR autoantibody was detected in aged patients and rats with HF. The expression of ß3-AR mRNA and protein in pulmonary tissues decreased continually, and began earlier than in the heart, but its expression in myocardial tissues increased continually and could be further promoted by ß3-AR agonist.

Aging might augment reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and affect reactive nitrogen species (RNS) level after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion in both humans and rats.

Previous studies indicate aging results in significantly decreased cardiac function and increased myocardial apoptosis after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) in humans or rats. The underlying mechanisms of aging-exacerbated effects remain unknown. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are known to play vital roles in aging-related MI/R injury. Heretofore, the effects of aging upon ROS and RNS formation were not investigated in humans, which is the focus of the current study. Due to experimental limitations with clinical trials, an additional animal experiment was performed. All enrolled acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) therapy. AMI patients were assigned into two groups: adult (age <65, n = 34) and elderly (age ≥65, n = 45) AMI patients. Blood samples were obtained from all study participants at 24 h and 3 days post-PCI. Plasma/white blood cell (WBC) ROS and RNS markers (malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), reduced glutathione (GSH), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, NOx, and nitrotyrosine) were determined. The same markers were determined in rat cardiac tissue after 24 h MI/R. Compared to the adult group, elderly patients manifested increased plasma MDA and MPO and decreased plasma GSH concentrations. No significant differences in plasma NOx or nitrotyrosine concentration existed between adult and elderly patients. Furthermore, WBC iNOS activity in elderly patients was significantly decreased compared to the adult group. The measurement of ROS markers in the rat experiments was consistent and supported human study data. Surprisingly, RNS markers (NOx and nitrotyrosine) in blood and heart tissue increased from young to middle-aged rats but decreased from middle age to old age. Aging augments ROS, which might exacerbate MI/R injury. Additionally, our data support aging-induced changes of RNS levels in humans and rats in vivo.