Genome-wide identification of Tomato Golden 2-Like transcription factors and abiotic stress related members screening.

BACKGROUND: Golden 2-Like (G2-like) transcription factors play an important role in plant development. However, the roles of these G2-like regulatory genes in response to abiotic stresses in tomato are not well understood. RESULTS: In this study, we identified 66 putative G2-like genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and classified them into 5 groups (I to V) according to gene structure, motif composition and phylogenetic analysis. The G2-like genes were unevenly distributed across all 12 chromosomes. There were nine pairs of duplicated gene segments and four tandem duplicated SlGlk genes. Analysis of the cis-regulatory elements (CREs) showed that the promoter regions of SlGlks contain many kinds of stress- and hormone-related CREs. Based on RNA-seq, SlGlks were expressed in response to three abiotic stresses. Thirty-six differentially expressed SlGlks were identified; these genes have multiple functions according to Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and are enriched mainly in the zeatin biosynthesis pathway. Further studies exhibited that silencing SlGlk16 in tomato would reduce drought stress tolerance by earlier wilted, lower superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) activities, less Pro contents and more MDA contents. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results of this study provide comprehensive information on G2-like transcription factors and G2-like genes that may be expressed in response to abiotic stresses.

Dynamic Response of CFRP Reinforced Steel Beams Subjected to Impact Action Based on FBG Sensing Technology.

The in-situ health condition of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforced structures has become an important topic, which can reflect the structural performance of the retrofitted structures and judge the design theory. An optical fiber-based structural health monitoring technique is thus suggested. To check the effectiveness of the proposed method, experimental testing on smart CFRP reinforced steel beams under impact action has been performed, and the dynamic response of the structure has been measured by the packaged FBG sensors attached to the surface of the beam and the FBG sensors inserted in the CFRP plates. Time and frequency domain analysis has been conducted to check the structural feature of the structures and the performance of the installed sensors. Results indicate that the packaged Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors show better sensing performance than the bare FBG sensors in perceiving the impact response of the beam. The sensors embedded in the CFRP plate show good measurement accuracy in sensing the external excitation and can replace the surface-attached FBG sensors. The dynamic performance of the reinforced structures subjected to the impact action can be straightforwardly read from the signals of FBG sensors. The larger impact energies bring about stronger impact signals.

Radiographic and clinical outcomes of minimally invasive surgery versus open osteotomies for the correction of hallux valgus.

PURPOSE: Hallux valgus is a common disease which causes pain and dysfunction of the foot. Although numerous methods of procedures have been introduced, a single procedure cannot correct all deformities of hallux valgus. The study aims to evaluate the radiographic and clinical effectiveness of a new minimally invasive surgery (MIS) versus open Chevron-Akin procedures. METHODS: This was a retrospective comparative study. Data were collected from May 2018 to January 2020. A total of 27 patients (31 feet) undergoing MIS for hallux valgus were included in this study. The average age of patients underwent MIS was 59.9 years. The mean follow-up was 25.1 months. Open osteotomies were performed in 30 patients (31 feet) during the same period. The mean age of these patients at the time of surgery was 59.1 years. The mean follow-up was 26.1 months. Pre-operative and post-operative radiographic outcome measures included HVA, IMA, DMAA, the Sgarlato's angle and the length of the first metatarsal, and distance between the dorsal cortex of first and second metatarsal necks. The AOFAS and VAS were used to assess foot function. RESULTS: The preoperative HVA in MIS group and open group were 34.8° and 33.1° respectively. The post-operative HVA were 20.4° and 13.7°. The pre-operative IMA in MIS group and open group were 13.0° and 12.1°. The post-operative IMA were 11.4° and 5.5° respectively. The pre-operative DMAA were 14.8° and 15.1° respectively. The post-operative DMAA were 6.3° and 8.7°. The AOFAS increased from 44.0 to 90.2 in MIS group and from 47.6 to 89.5 in open group. The VAS decreased from 7.3 to 1.3 in MIS group and from 7.1 to 1.2 in open group. CONCLUSION: Although open osteotomies were superior than MIS in HVA and IMA, MIS showed advantages in correcting DMAA. MIS provided equivalent functional outcomes compared to open surgery.

Underestimated effects of sediments on enhanced startup performance of biofilm systems for polluted source water pretreatment.

In order to evaluate the enhancement mechanisms of enhanced startup performance in biofilm systems for polluted source water pretreatment, three lab-scale reactors with elastic stereo media (ESM) were operated under different enhanced sediment and hydraulic agitation conditions. It is interesting to found the previously underestimated or overlooked effects of sediment on the enhancement of pollutants removal performance and enrichment of functional bacteria in biofilm systems. The maximum NH4+-N removal rate of 0.35 mg L-1 h-1 in sediment enhanced condition was 2.19 times of that in control reactor. Sediment contributed to 42.0-56.5% of NH4+-N removal and 15.4-41.2% of total nitrogen removal in different reactors under different operation conditions. The enhanced hydraulic agitation with sediment further improved the operation performance and accumulation of functional bacteria. Generally, Proteobacteria (48.9-52.1%), Bacteroidetes (18.9-20.8%) and Actinobacteria (15.7-18.5%) were dominant in both sediment and ESM bioiflm at  phylum level. The potentially functional bacteria found in sediment and ESM biofilm samples with some functional bacteria mainly presented in sediment samples only (e.g., Genera Bacillus and Lactococcus of Firmicutes phylum) may commonly contribute to the removal of nitrogen and organics.

Ankle joint distraction arthroplasty for severe ankle arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Ankle distraction arthroplasty is one option for the treatment of severe ankle arthritis in young patients. The outcomes and factors predicting success in distraction arthroplasty are poorly understood. METHODS: From January 2011 to May 2015, 16 patients who had undergone ankle distraction arthroplasty for ankle arthritis were operated, including six males and ten females. All patients were available for analysis. The main outcome measurements included joint space on weight bearing radiographs, AOFAS-AH scores (American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score), VAS scores and SF-36 scores. RESULTS: All 16 patients were followed for a mean follow-up of 40.9 ± 14.7 months (range, 17-67 months). Fourteen of the 16 patients still had their native ankle joints. One patient had undergone ankle arthrodesis 1 year after the operation and one patient had converted to spontaneous ankle fusion at the 3 years follow-up postoperative. The VAS score improved from 5.9 ± 0.8 to 3.7 ± 2.2 (p = 0.0028). The mean AOFAS-AH score improved from 41.9 ± 7.2 preoperatively to 68.1 ± 20.0 postoperatively (p = 0.001). The mean SF-36 score improved from 43.1 ± 7.6 preoperatively to 62.7 ± 18.8 postoperatively (p = 0.002). A weight-bearing ankle space larger than 3 mm at 1 year following distraction is a positive predictive factor. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the treatment of ankle motion distraction for end stage ankle arthritis showed benefit in 9/16 (56.25%) patients at 41 months. It is a promising method for young patients with severe ankle arthritis.

Evidence for nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation as a previously overlooked microbial methane sink in wetlands.

The process of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) was recently discovered and shown to be mediated by "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera" (M. oxyfera). Here, evidence for n-damo in three different freshwater wetlands located in southeastern China was obtained using stable isotope measurements, quantitative PCR assays, and 16S rRNA and particulate methane monooxygenase gene clone library analyses. Stable isotope experiments confirmed the occurrence of n-damo in the examined wetlands, and the potential n-damo rates ranged from 0.31 to 5.43 nmol CO2 per gram of dry soil per day at different depths of soil cores. A combined analysis of 16S rRNA and particulate methane monooxygenase genes demonstrated that M. oxyfera-like bacteria were mainly present in the deep soil with a maximum abundance of 3.2 × 10(7) gene copies per gram of dry soil. It is estimated that ∼0.51 g of CH4 m(-2) per year could be linked to the n-damo process in the examined wetlands based on the measured potential n-damo rates. This study presents previously unidentified confirmation that the n-damo process is a previously overlooked microbial methane sink in wetlands, and n-damo has the potential to be a globally important methane sink due to increasing nitrogen pollution.

Performance improvement of raw water pretreatment process with pre-inoculation biofilm: feasibility and limiting factors.

The initial formation of biofilm and the removal performance of pollutants in biological pretreatment process for polluted raw water were limited due to the oligotrophic niche in raw water. In this study, the feasibility of using pre-inoculation biofilm formed under nutrients enhanced condition for polluted raw water treatment was analyzed in nine batch reactors. Results showed that the pollutants removal performance of biofilm was improved under nutrients enhanced conditions. Ammonia oxidation rate (AOR) was exponentially increased with the increasing in NH4+-N levels, and organic matter removal rate (ORR) was positively related to the initial total organic carbon (TOC) concentration. The biofilm formation and microbial diversity were further improved via adding more substrates, seeding river sediment and feeding effluent from a mature biofilm reactor. However, the biofilm formed under higher substrate conditions had higher half-saturation constant values (K S) to both NH4+-N and TOC, which decreased AOR and ORR values when it was used to treat polluted raw water. The reduction percentage of AOR and ORR showed logarithmic growth modes with the increase in K S values. Fortunately, improvement of nutrients flux via accelerating influent replacement could enhance the start-up performance effectively and decrease the operation risk introduced by the changes in substrate affinity.

Anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to nitrite reduction can be a potential methane sink in coastal environments.

In the current study, we investigated nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (N-DAMO) as a potential methane sink in the Hangzhou Bay and the adjacent Zhoushan sea area. The potential activity of the N-DAMO process was primarily observed in Hangzhou Bay by means of (13)C-labeling experiments, whereas very low or no potential N-DAMO activity could be detected in the Zhoushan sea area. The measured potential N-DAMO rates ranged from 0.2 to 1.3 nmol (13)CO2 g(-1) (dry sediment) day(-1), and the N-DAMO potentially contributed 2.0-9.4 % to the total microbial methane oxidation in the examined sediments. This indicated that the N-DAMO process may be an alternative pathway in the coastal methane cycle. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera-like bacteria in all the examined sediments, while the group A members (the dominant bacteria responsible for N-DAMO) were found mainly in Hangzhou Bay. Quantitative PCR showed that the 16S rRNA gene abundance of Candidatus M. oxyfera-like bacteria varied from 5.4 × 10(6) to 5.0 × 10(7) copies g(-1) (dry sediment), with a higher abundance observed in Hangzhou Bay. In addition, the overlying water NO3 (-) concentration and salinity were identified as the most important factors influencing the abundance and potential activity of Candidatus M. oxyfera-like bacteria in the examined sediments. This study showed the evidence of N-DAMO in coastal environments and indicated the importance of N-DAMO as a potential methane sink in coastal environments.

Posterolateral ankle ligament injuries affect ankle stability: a finite element study.

BACKGROUND: We have already discovered 23 patients during the work of the outpatient department and operations whose unstable signs on the posterolateral ankle. The anterior drawer test demonstrated normal during the physical examinations while the spaces of the posterior tibiotalar joints increased in stress X-ray plain films. ATFL intact and posterolateral ligaments lax were found during operations too. It is important to make existence claims and illuminate the mechanism of posterolateral ankle instability. METHODS: A finite element model of the ankle was established for simulating to cut off posterolateral ligaments in turn. Ankle movements with tibia rotation under load on five forefoot positions were simulated as well. RESULTS: The difference values with tibia external rotation were negative, and the positive results occurred with tibia internal rotation. The tibia-talus difference values in some forefoot positions were 2 ~ 3 mm after PTFL together with CFL or/and PITFL were cut off. The tibula-talus difference values were 2.21 ~ 2.76 mm after both PTFL and CFL were cut off. The tibia-fibula difference values were small. The difference values increased by 2 ~ 5 mm after cutting off the PITFL. CONCLUSIONS: Posterolateral ankle ligaments, especially CFL and PITFL, play a significant role in maintaining ankle stability. The serious injuries of both CFL and PITFL would affect posterolateral ankle stabilities. PITFL was important to subtalar joint stability.

Redefining the Vascular Classifications of the Lateral Supramalleolar Flap.

BACKGROUND: The blood supply of the lateral supramalleolar flap (LSMF) generally comes from the perforating branch of the peroneal artery. However, the cutaneous branch may also receive blood from the anterior tibial artery. The main objective of the present study was to clarify the vascular anatomy of the LSMF. METHODS: Anatomical dissections were performed on 28 perfused fresh cadaver legs. The cutaneous branches of LSMF were identified, and the anatomic relationship between the cutaneous branches and the peroneal and anterior tibial arteries was analyzed. RESULTS: The vascular supply for LSMF was divided into 2 main types. A collateral inferolateral branch from the anterior tibial artery anastomosed with the perforating branch of the peroneal artery around the inferior tibiofibular angle, and the main cutaneous branch of the flap arose from this arterial anastomosis in 20 of 28 limbs (71.4%). The collateral inferolateral branch was absent or very small in the other 8 of 28 dissections (28.6%), and the cutaneous branches solely arose from the perforating branch of the peroneal artery. The anastomosis of the descending branch of the peroneal artery and anterior lateral malleolar artery was always (100%) found around the tibiotalar joint. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the perforating branch of the peroneal artery, the LSMF may also receive blood from the anterior tibial artery through the collateral inferolateral branch. New modified proximally based flaps could be designed, and caution is warranted for these variations when a distally based flap is performed.

Comparison of the efficacy of three isolated gastrocnemius recession procedures in a cadaveric model of gastrocnemius tightness.

PURPOSE: Many surgical techniques for isolated gastrocnemius recession have been described. The purpose of the present study is to compare their therapeutic efficacy and intrinsic stability on a fresh cadaveric model of gastrocnemius tightness. METHODS: The cadaveric model was established by distracting the knee with spacers composed of low-temperature thermoplastic material, and was identified by the Silfverskiöld test. Procedures of gastrocnemius recession described by Barouk, Baumann and Strayer were performed. The lengthening distance and improvement of ankle dorsiflexion were measured. RESULTS: The mean ankle angle of the cadaveric models was -15.4° with the knee fully extended, and 8.4° with the knee flexed. The increased angle achieved by the Strayer procedure was significantly greater than that achieved by the Barouk procedure and the Baumann procedure with one cut (P < 0.05), but similar to that of the Baumann procedure with two cuts (P > 0.05). Compared with the intramuscular lengthening of the gastrocnemius (Baumann and Barouk procedures), the stability of the lengthening after the Strayer procedure was the lowest. CONCLUSION: The three techniques of isolated gastrocnemius recession have different efficacy and stability in cadaver trials, depending on their own anatomical characteristics. Our study supplies an anatomical guide for the selection of a proper procedure.

Vertical distribution of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane-oxidising bacteria in natural freshwater wetland soils.

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) is a recently discovered process that is catalysed by "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera". In the present study, the vertical distribution (0-10, 20-30, 50-60 and 90-100 cm) of M. oxyfera-like bacteria was investigated in Xiazhuhu wetland, the largest natural wetland on the southern Yangtze River (China). Phylogenetic analyses showed that group A of M. oxyfera-like bacteria and pmoA genes occurred primarily at depths of 50-60 and 90-100 cm. Quantitative PCR further confirmed the presence of M. oxyfera-like bacteria in soil cores from different depths, with the highest abundance of 5.1 × 10(7) copies g(-1) dry soil at depth of 50-60 cm. Stable isotope experiments demonstrated that the n-damo process occurred primarily at depths of 50-60 and 90-100 cm, with the potential rates ranging from 0.2 to 14.5 nmol CO2 g(-1) dry soil d(-1). It was estimated that the methane flux may increase by approximately 2.7-4.3% in the examined wetland in the absence of n-damo. This study shows that the deep wetland soils (50-60 and 90-100 cm) are the preferred habitats for M. oxyfera-like bacteria. The study also highlights the potential importance of these bacteria in the methane and nitrogen cycles in deep wetland soils.

Evidence for the cooccurrence of nitrite-dependent anaerobic ammonium and methane oxidation processes in a flooded paddy field.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) and nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) are two of the most recent discoveries in the microbial nitrogen cycle. In the present study, we provide direct evidence for the cooccurrence of the anammox and n-damo processes in a flooded paddy field in southeastern China. Stable isotope experiments showed that the potential anammox rates ranged from 5.6 to 22.7 nmol N2 g(-1) (dry weight) day(-1) and the potential n-damo rates varied from 0.2 to 2.1 nmol CO2 g(-1) (dry weight) day(-1) in different layers of soil cores. Quantitative PCR showed that the abundance of anammox bacteria ranged from 1.0 × 10(5) to 2.0 × 10(6) copies g(-1) (dry weight) in different layers of soil cores and the abundance of n-damo bacteria varied from 3.8 × 10(5) to 6.1 × 10(6) copies g(-1) (dry weight). Phylogenetic analyses of the recovered 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that anammox bacteria affiliated with "Candidatus Brocadia" and "Candidatus Kuenenia" and n-damo bacteria related to "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera" were present in the soil cores. It is estimated that a total loss of 50.7 g N m(-2) per year could be linked to the anammox process, which is at intermediate levels for the nitrogen flux ranges of aerobic ammonium oxidation and denitrification reported in wetland soils. In addition, it is estimated that a total of 0.14 g CH4 m(-2) per year could be oxidized via the n-damo process, while this rate is at the lower end of the aerobic methane oxidation rates reported in wetland soils.

Distribution and diversity of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane-oxidising bacteria in the sediments of the Qiantang River.

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) process was reported to be mediated by "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera", which belongs to the candidate phylum NC10. M. oxyfera-like bacteria have been detected in lake ecosystems, while their distribution, diversity and abundance in river ecosystems have not been well studied. In this study, both the 16S rRNA and the pmoA molecular biomarkers confirmed the presence of diverse NC10 phylum bacteria related to M. oxyfera in a river ecosystem-the Qiantang River, Zhejiang Province (China). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes demonstrated that the recovered M. oxyfera-like sequences could be grouped into several distinct clusters that exhibited 89.8% to 98.9% identity to the M. oxyfera 16S rRNA gene. Similarly, several different clusters of pmoA gene sequences were observed, and these clusters displayed 85.1-95.4% sequence identity to the pmoA gene of M. oxyfera. Quantitative PCR showed that the abundance of M. oxyfera-like bacteria varied from 1.32 ± 0.16 × 10(6) to 1.03 ± 0.12 × 10(7) copies g (dry weight)(-1). Correlation analysis demonstrated that the total inorganic nitrogen content, the ammonium content and the organic content of the sediment were important factors affecting the distribution of M. oxyfera-like bacterial groups in the examined sediments. This study demonstrated the distribution of diverse M. oxyfera-like bacteria and their correlation with environmental factors in Qiantang River sediments.

[Systematic report on re-evaluating parenterally administered salvianolate].

There are few articles or reports collecting evidence about parenterally administered salvianolate from premarketing and postmarketing research or studies systematically. This article is an exact miniature of a systematical report about parenterally administered salvianolate. We analyzed information from four aspects, such as quality control reports, non-clinical premarketing safety experiments, postmarketing research (efficacy studies, hospital information system data and national spontaneous reporting system data) and literature analysis. All the four aspects build an evidence body for Kudiezi Solution in order to inform its safety use in clinical practice and further study.

[Determination of plasma concentration of five phenolic acid by LC-MS/MS and study of pharmacokinetics in rats after Mailuoning injection].

To establish a LC-MS/MS method for quantification of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 3,4-DCQA, ferulic acid and cinnamic acid in rats plasma and study its pharmacokinetics after administration of Mailuoning injection at a single dose to rats. Plasma samples were acidified with hydrochloric acid and extracted with ethyl acetate. The analytes were determined by LC-MS-MS using a ZOBAX SB C18 column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (containing 2 mmol x L(-1) ammonium acetic) (60:40)at a flow rate of 0.5 mL x min(-1) and detected using ESI with negative ionization mode. Ions monitored in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode were m/z 353.1/191.0 [M-H]- for chlorogenic acid, m/z 178.9/134.9 [M-H]- for caffeic acid, m/z 515.2/353.0 [M-H]-for 3,4-DCQA, m/z 193.0/133.9 [M-H]-for ferulic acid, m/z 146.9/102.9 [M-H]- for cinnamic acid and m/z 246.0/125.8 [M-H]- for tinidazole (IS). After administration of Mailuoning injection at a single dose to eight Sprague-Dawley rats, the concentrations of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 3,4-DCQA, ferulic acid and cinnamic acid in plasma were determined by LC-MS/MS method. The main pharmacokinetics parameters of measured data were caluculated by using DASver 1.0 software. The linear concentration ranges of the calibration curves for chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 3,4-DCQA and cinnamic acid were 2.006-1,027 microg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 6), 1.953-1,000 microg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 7), 28.51-1.459 x 10(4) microg x L(-1) (r = 0.998 9), 1.836-940.0, g x L(-1) (r = 0.997 7) and 4.780-2,447 microg x L(-1) (r = 0.998 6) respectively. The inner and inter-days relative standard deviations were both less than 5.0%, indicating legitimate precise and accuracy to the requirement of biological sample analysis. For chlorogenic acid, the pharmacokinetic parameter t1/2, AUC0-t, and CL were (49.78 +/- 12.81) min, (123.55 +/- 14.82) mg x min x L(-1) and (0.004 3 +/- 0.000 5) L x min(-1), respectively. For caffeic acid, the pharmacokinetic parameter t1/2, AUC0-t, and CL were (36.65 +/- 10.59) min, (91.67 +/- 11.77) mg x min L(-1) and (0.005 7 +/- 0.000 7) L x min(-1), respectively. For 3,4-DCQA, the pharmacokinetic parameter t1/2, AUC0-t, and CL were (50.08 +/- 13.78) min, (278.34 +/- 31.82) mg x min x L-1 and (0.001 6 +/- 0.000 2) L x min(-1), respectively. For ferulic acid, the pharmacokinetic parameter t1/2, AUC0-t, and CL were (51.39 +/- 15.52) min, (34.72 +/- 4.67) mg x min x L(-1) and (0.000 4 +/- 0.0001) L x min(-1), respectively. For cinnamic acid, the pharmacokinetic parameter t1/2, AUCo-t, and CL were (74.42 +/- 18.32) min, (34.63 +/- 4.82) mg x min x L(-1) and (0.007 7 +/- 0.001 1) L x min-', respectively. The assay method is proved to be sensitive, accurate and convenient. It can be applied to the pharmacokinetic study of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 3,4-DCQA, ferulic acid and cinnamic acid.

Does the Sagittal Radiographic Morphology of Subtalar Joint Affect the Alignment of Foot?

OBJECTIVES: The etiology of flatfoot and cavus foot is multicausal and controversial. So far, no literature reports the relationship between the sagittal morphology of subtalar joint and the alignment of foot. The purpose of this study was to explore whether the subtalar alignment would influence the configuration of foot. METHODS: From January 2017 to January 2020, we included 109 feet in the flatfoot group, 95 feet in the cavus group, and 104 feet in the control group in this retrospective comparative study. The Gissane angle and calcaneal posterior articular surface inclination angle represented the sagittal morphology of the subtalar joint. Meary's angle, calcaneal pitch angle, and talar pitch angle reflected the alignment of foot. They were measured in the weightbearing foot X-rays. The angles in different groups were compared via Mann-Whitney U test. We calculated the correlation between the sagittal alignment of subtalar joint and the alignment of foot using Spearman's correlation analysis. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were calculated. RESULTS: The Gissane angle, calcaneal posterior articular surface inclination angle, Meary's angle, talar pitch angle, and calcaneal pitch angle were significantly different in the three groups. The Gissane angle had an excellent correlation with the Meary's angle (r = 0.850, p < 0.0001), and the talar pitch angle (r = -0.825, p < 0.0001), and a good correlation with the calcaneal pitch angle (r = 0.638, p < 0.0001). The calcaneal posterior articular surface inclination angle had an excellent correlation with the Meary's angle (r = -0.902, p < 0.001), and the talar pitch angle (r = 0.887, p < 0.0001), and a good correlation with the calcaneal pitch angle (r = -0.702, p < 0.0001). The interobserver and intraobserver reliability for all radiographic measurements was good to excellent. CONCLUSION: A subtalar joint with a larger Gissane angle and a more horizontal calcaneal posterior articular surface angle tended to have a higher foot arch and vice versa. The inspiration from this study was that the deformities of flatfoot and cavus foot may relate to the subtalar deformity.

Broad distribution of diverse anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria in chinese agricultural soils.

Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria have been detected in many marine and freshwater ecosystems. However, little is known about the distribution, diversity, and abundance of anammox bacteria in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, anammox bacteria were found to be present in various agricultural soils collected from 32 different locations in China. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA genes showed "Candidatus Brocadia," "Candidatus Kuenenia," "Candidatus Anammoxoglobus," and "Candidatus Jettenia" in the collected soils, with "Candidatus Brocadia" being the dominant genus. Quantitative PCR showed that the abundance of anammox bacteria ranged from 6.38 × 10(4) ± 0.42 × 10(4) to 3.69 × 10(6) ± 0.25 × 10(6) copies per gram of dry weight. Different levels of diversity, composition, and abundance of the anammox bacterial communities were observed, and redundancy analysis indicated that the soil organic content and the distribution of anammox communities were correlated in the soils examined. Furthermore, Pearson correlation analysis showed that the diversity of the anammox bacteria was positively correlated with the soil ammonium content and the organic content, while the anammox bacterial abundance was positively correlated with the soil ammonium content. These results demonstrate the broad distribution of diverse anammox bacteria and its correlation with the soil environmental conditions within an extensive range of Chinese agricultural soils.

Minimally invasive reconstruction of lateral ligaments of the ankle using semitendinosus autograft.

BACKGROUND: Multiple techniques have been described for reconstruction of the lateral ligaments of the ankle. Most require extensive exposure and dissection, which may lead to potential problems with wound healing, higher risk of nerve injury, fibrosis, and stiffness. This study reports on the results of a minimally invasive method to reconstruct the ligaments using a semitendinosus tendon autograft and achieve a stable ankle while avoiding these problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2006 to May 2010, 25 patients (14 males, 11 females) with chronic ankle instability underwent lateral ligament reconstruction. The average age was 32.4 (range, 17 to 62) years old. A semitendinosus autograft was harvested through 2 small knee incisions. For the ankle reconstruction, 4 small incisions of 5 mm each were made at the medial and lateral side of the fibular tip, the talar neck, and the middle of the calcaneus. Anatomical reconstruction of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) was then performed through these small incisions. The mean final follow-up was 32.3 (range, 12 to 56) months. AOFAS questionnaires were used to measure clinical outcomes and donor site morbidity and patient satisfaction are also reported. Preoperative and postoperative stress tests were performed and radiographic parameters were measured. RESULTS: The mean AOFAS score increased on average from 71.1 to 95.1 (P < .001). Two patients reported residual instability on uneven ground. No patient reported weakness or disability from the donor site. The satisfaction level was excellent in 20 patients and good in 5 patients. Significant improvement in stress radiographic parameters was noted for the talar tilt angle, with reduction from a mean of 14.0 to 3.8 degrees (P < .001); anterior talar displacement reduced from a mean of 12.3 to 4.6 mm (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Reconstruction of the lateral ankle ligaments using a semitendinosus tendon autograft and a minimally invasive approach can achieve a stable ankle while avoiding extensive exposure and risk of nerve injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective case series.

[Spectra characteristic of degradation products and inhibition mechanism of Streptomyces sp. HJC-D1 on Microcystis aeruginosa].

Using 3-D fluorescence spectroscopy (EEMs), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), the composition and characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from degradation products and inhibition mechanism of Streptomyces sp. HJC-D1 on Microcystis aeruginosa were studied. The results indicated that the growth of M. aeruginosa could be effectively inhibited by the fermentation broth of HJC-D1 and the removal efficiency was 72.6% +/- 5.5% with an addition dosage of 5% (see system for text). The main fluorescent material in DOM was humic-like acid, and the molecular weight of degradation products was around 1 000 Da. The cell structure of M. aeruginosa was damaged during the biodegradation process. With the results of TEM, the antialgal mechanism was speculated as following: M. aeruginosa cell walls are destroyed by antialgal bacterium, and organelles are released which resulted in the death of algae cell finally.