Soil texture is an easily overlooked factor affecting the temperature sensitivity of N2O emissions.

As a potent greenhouse gas, soil nitrous oxide (N2O) is strongly stimulated by rising temperature, triggering a positive feedback effect of global warming. However, its temperature sensitivity varies greatly among soils with different physical and chemical characteristics, while associated mechanisms remain unknown. Here we performed a meta-analysis of the effect of warming on N2O emission and found distinctions in the response of N2O to temperature increase in soils with different textures. Then, we conducted an incubation experiment on 11 arable soils with varying textures sampled across China. The results show that the temperature sensitivity of N2O emissions was lower as soil texture became more clayey and was consistent with the outcome of meta-analysis. Further analysis was conducted by classifying the soils into clay and loam subgroups. As shown in the clay soil subgroup, N2O emission was significantly correlated with both inorganic nitrogen contents and potential denitrification and nitrification activities. Correlation analysis and partial least square (PLS) path model revealed that temperature mediated N2O emission by regulating nosZ gene abundance indirectly. In loam soils, however, the indirect effect of temperature on N2O production was achieved mainly through nirS gene abundance. Additionally, soil DON content strongly correlated with N2O emission in both subgroups and affected N2O emissions by influencing the abundance of denitrifiers under warming conditions. Our findings suggest that (i) soil texture was an important factor affecting temperature sensitivity of N2O emission and (ii) variable efficacy of warming in soil N2O production might originate from the enriching DON and nitrate content and its different indirect effects on nirS- or nosZ-type denitrifiers.

Improvement of bio-based polyurethane and its optimal application in controlled release fertilizer.

In the past decades, polyurethane has emerged as a new material that has been widely developed and applied in coated controlled release fertilizers (CRFs). Particularly in recent years, the excessive consumption of petroleum resources and increasing demand for sustainable development have resulted in considerable interest in bio-based polyurethane coated controlled-release fertilizers. This review article focuses on the application and progress of environmentally friendly bio-based materials in the polyurethane-coated CRF industry. We also explore prospects for the green and sustainable development of coated CRFs. Using animal and plant oils, starch, lignin, and cellulose as raw materials, polyols can be produced by physical, chemical, and biological means to replace petroleum-based materials and polyurethane film coating for CRFs can be prepared. Various modifications can also improve the hydrophobicity and degradability of polyurethane film. A growing body of research on bio-based polyurethane has revealed its great potential in the production and application of coated CRFs. The purpose of this review is to highlight the practicality of bio-based materials in the application of polyurethane-coated CRFs and to clarify their current limitations.

Albumin-bilirubin and platelet-albumin-bilirubin grades for hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma in Child-Pugh A patients treated with radical surgery: A retrospective observational study.

Child-Pugh (CP) grade A patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are candidates for curative surgery, while some patients still have a poor outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic values of 2 new evaluation models for liver function, named albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) and platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) grades, in CP grade A patients with HCC.In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed 134 cases of CP grade A patients with hepatitis B-associated HCC who underwent radical surgery. ALBI and PALBI grades were calculated based on preoperative serologic examinations. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression. The prognostic performances of the models were estimated by using the concordance index (C-index).During a median follow-up time of 27 months, 27.6% (37/134) of patients died and 26.1% (35/134) experienced recurrence. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that ALBI and PALBI grades were significantly associated with OS and RFS. Multivariate analyses further revealed that both ALBI and PALBI grades were independent predictors for survival. Furthermore, the prognostic values of the combination of tumor size with ALBI (C-index = 0.754, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.675-0.849) or with PALBI (C-index = 0.762, 95% CI: 0.664-0.844) may be comparable with both Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer and Cancer of Liver Italian Program staging systems.The ALBI and PALBI grades, in particular the combination with tumor size, are effective models for discriminating survival in CP grade A patients with HCC.

Laparoscopic Versus Open Hepatectomy in Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of the Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) has been reported as a safe and efficacious treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. However, in cirrhosis patients, LH may be more complex and challenging. So, the short- and long-term outcomes should be well evaluated between LH and open hepatectomy (OH) in HCC patients with cirrhosis. Objectives: To compare the short- and long-term outcomes of LH with OH in HCC patients with cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were systematically searched to identify the clinical trials published until July 2018 on the comparison of LH and OH in HCC patients with cirrhosis. The statistical analysis was conducted by the Review Manager 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, United Kingdom). Short-term outcomes included blood loss, operation time, blood transfusion, postoperative complications, mortality, postoperative hospital stay, tumor size, and surgical margin. Long-term outcomes included 1-, 3-, 5-year overall survival (OS) and 1-, 3-, 5-year disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Seventeen studies with 2004 patients were included in this meta-analysis. For short-term outcomes, LH suggested less blood loss, lower blood transfusion rates, reduced occurrence of postoperative complications, wider surgical margin, shorter postoperative hospital stay, and declined rate of mortality (all P < .05). However, there was no significant difference in operation time (P = .67) between the two groups, whereas tumor size was larger in OH (P = .004). As to long-term outcomes, 1-, 3-, 5-year OS and 1-year DFS were higher in LH group (all P < .05). Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in 3- and 5-year DFS (P = .23 and .83, respectively). Conclusions: For the HCC patients with cirrhosis, current evidence suggests that LH shows not only better outcomes in short term, but also a comparable and even improved long-term prognosis.

Surgical removal of adult recurrent neuroblastoma located in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneum: A case report.

RATIONALE: Adult recurrent neuroblastoma is extremely rare, especially in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneal cavity. The surgical treatment of this special part of the tumor is also a clinical difficulty. PATIENT CONCERNS: This study reports a case of a 24-year-old man with a history of treated posterior mediastinal neuroblastoma. Enhanced computed tomography found a heterogeneously enhancing mass occupying the retroperitoneal and posterior mediastinum, and the initial impression was recurrent neuroblastoma. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with recurrent neuroblastoma based on his medical history and histopathological results. INTERVENTIONS: The young adult underwent radical resection of recurrent neuroblastoma in posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneum through thoracoabdominal incision. OUTCOMES: The young patient recovered to normal within 10 days after surgery and had no relapse for following-up 12 months. LESSONS: Despite the difficulty of surgery, it is feasible to remove the tumor in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneal cavity safely.

Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of HSDL2 suppresses cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignant tumor of the bile duct epithelium, including intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal CCA based on anatomical location. Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-like 2 (HSDL2) belongs to the SDR subfamily of oxidoreductases, and it is involved in glioma oncogenesis, as it can promote cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of HSDL2 in the process of CCA. METHODS: HSDL2 expression levels were observed in CCA and adjacent (normal control) tissues by analyzing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was carried out. In vitro, we overexpressed HSDL2 in RBE cells (a human CCA cell line) using a stable lentivirus-mediated transduction strategy. We then used quantitative real-time-PCR and Western blotting methods to detect the efficiency of HSDL2 overexpression. Cell proliferation was assessed using a Celigo Image Cytometer, MTT assays, and the expression of PCNA. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry analysis, caspase3/7 activity, and the expression of the apoptotic markers BCL-2 and BAX. RESULTS: We observed a downregulation of HSDL2 in CCA tissues based on The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus data analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that HSDL2 could be an excellent efficacy biomarker for CCA. In vitro, HSDL2 overexpression largely suppressed the proliferation of RBE cells. In addition, apoptosis was induced by HSDL2 overexpression. CONCLUSION: The results of the data analysis indicated that, compared with adjacent tissues, HSDL2 was downregulated in CCA tissues, and overexpressing HSDL2 in CCA cells suppressed growth and proliferation, which involved activating apoptosis. This helps to understand the underlying HSDL2-related molecular mechanisms in the process of CCA.

The contrasting effects of N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) on N2O emissions in arable soils differing in pH are underlain by complex microbial mechanisms.

The urease inhibitor, N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), has been proposed to reduce synthetic fertilizer-N losses, including nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils. However, the response of N2O emission to NBPT amendment is inconsistent across soils and associated microbial mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we performed a meta-analysis of the effects of NBPT on N2O emissions and found NBPT significantly reduced N2O emissions in alkaline soils whereas no obvious effects exhibited in acid soils. Based on the finding of meta-analysis that pH was a key modifier in regulating the effect of NBPT on N2O emissions, we selected two arable soils differing in pH and conducted a microcosm study. In conjunction with measurement of N2O emission, community structure and abundance of functional guilds were assessed using T-RFLP and qPCR. Our results showed NBPT retarded urea hydrolysis and inhibited nitrification, but stimulated N2O emission in alkaline soil, whereas it exhibited no remarkable effects in acid soil, thereby only partly confirming the results of meta-analysis. Abundances of AOB and ureC-containing bacteria decreased, while abundance of AOA increased in both soils with NBPT addition. For acid soil, N2O emissions were significantly correlated with both abundances and community structures of AOA and ureC-containing bacteria, as well as abundance of AOB; for alkaline soil, abundances and community structures of AOB were correlated with N2O emission, as well as community structures of ureC-containing bacteria and archaea, indicating an inconsistent response pattern of community traits of N2O emissions-related functional guilds to NBPT between alkaline soil and acid soil. Our findings suggest that (i) efficacy of NBPT in N2O emission was mainly influenced by soil pH and (ii) variable effects of NBPT on N2O emission might originate not only from the direct effect of NBPT on community traits of urease-positive microbes, but from the indirect effect on ammonia oxidizers.

Nutritional prognostic scores in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma treated by percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting combined with 125I seed intracavitary irradiation: A retrospective observational study.

We mainly aimed to preliminarily explore the prognostic values of nutrition-based prognostic scores in patients with advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA).We retrospectively analyzed 73 cases of HCCA, who underwent percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting (PTBS) combined with I seed intracavitary irradiation from November 2012 to April 2017 in our department. The postoperative changes of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and albumin (ALB) were observed. The preoperative clinical data were collected to calculate the nutrition-based scores, including controlling nutritional status (CONUT), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression model were used for overall survival (OS) analyses.The serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, ALT, AST, and ALP significantly reduced, and ALB significantly increased at 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. The median survival time of the cohort was 12 months and the 1-year survival rate was 53.1%. Univariate analysis revealed that the statistically significant factors related to OS were CA19-9, TBIL, ALB, CONUT, and PNI. Multivariate analysis further identified CA19-9, CONUT, and PNI as independent prognostic factors.Nutrition-based prognostic scores, CONUT and PNI in particular, can be used as predictors of survival in unresectable HCCA.

The effects of chilling stress after anthesis on the physicochemical properties of rice (Oryza sativa L) starch.

This study investigates the effect of chilling stress, over a period of three days after anthesis, on the physicochemical properties of starches derived from six rice cultivars. Chilling stress significantly affected the grain characteristics and physicochemical properties of rice starches, except for those of two varieties, NJ 9108 and ZD 18. In the other four rice cultivars subjected to chilling stress, the content of medium, and large sized granules showed a decrease, and an increase, respectively. Amylose content increased as a result of chilling stress, thereby resulting in starch with a lower swelling power, water solubility, and higher retrogradation enthalpy and gelatinization temperature. Chilling stress led to deterioration of cooked rice quality as determined by the pasting properties of starch. This study indicated that among the cultivars studied, the two rice varieties most resistant to chilling stress after rice anthesis were NJ 9108 and ZD 18.

Microbial composition and diversity are associated with plant performance: a case study on long-term fertilization effect on wheat growth in an Ultisol.

The association between microbial communities and plant growth in long-term fertilization system has not been fully studied. In the present study, impacts of long-term fertilization have been determined on the size and activity of soil microbial communities and wheat performance in a red soil (Ultisol) collected from Qiyang Experimental Station, China. For this, different microbial communities originating from long-term fertilized pig manure (M), mineral fertilizer (NPK), pig manure plus mineral fertilizer (MNPK), and no fertilizer (CK) were used as inocula for the Ultisol tested. Changes in total bacterial and fungal community composition and structures using Ion Torrent sequencing were determined. The results show that the biomass of wheat was significantly higher in both sterilized soil inoculated with NPK (SNPK) and sterilized soil inoculated with MNPK (SMNPK) treatments than in other treatments (P < 0.05). The activities of ß-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and cellobiohydrolase (CBH) were significantly correlated with wheat biomass. Among the microbial communities, the largest Ascomycota phylum in soils was negatively correlated with ß-1,4-glucosidase (ßG) (P < 0.05). The phylum Basidiomycota was negatively correlated with plant biomass (PB) and tillers per plant (TI) (P < 0.05). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis shows that fungal community was strongly correlated with long-term fertilization strategy, while the bacterial community was strongly correlated with ß-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity. According to the Mantel test, the growth of wheat was affected by fungal community. Taken together, microbial composition and diversity in soils could be a good player in predicting soil fertility and consequently plant growth.

Effect of Nitrogen Management on the Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Rice Starch.

Nitrogen management (nitrogen application ratio at transplanting, tillering, and panicle initiation growth stages) is an important parameter in crop cultivation and is closely associated with rice yield and grain quality. The physicochemical and structural properties of starches separated from two rice varieties grown under three different nitrogen management ratios (9:1; 7:3; 6:4) were investigated. As the percentage of nitrogen used in the panicle initiation stage increased, the content of small starch granules improved, whereas the content of large granules decreased. Amylose content decreased with increasing nitrogen ratio at the panicle initiation stage, thereby resulting in high swelling power, water solubility, gelatinization enthalpy, and low retrogradation. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the starches were found to be A type. The present study indicated that the best nitrogen management ratio for the cultivation of rice with the highest yield, desirable starch physicochemical properties for high quality cooked rice, and a moderate protein level is 7:3.

The role of silicon in enhancing resistance to bacterial blight of hydroponic- and soil-cultured rice.

Here we report for the first time that bacterial blight of rice can be alleviated by silicon (Si) added. In both inoculated and uninoculated plants, shoot dry weight was significantly higher in the +Si plants than in the -Si plants. A soil-cultured trial showed that disease severity was 24.3% lower in the Si-amended plants than in the non-Si-amended plants. Plants that were switched from -Si to +Si nutrient solution and simultaneously inoculated with Xoo also exhibited the same high resistance to bacterial blight as the plants that were treated continuously with Si, with control efficiencies of 52.8 and 62.9%, respectively. Moreover, total concentrations of soluble phenolics and lignin in rice leaves were significantly higher in the +Si plants than in the -Si plants. Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities in rice leaves were observed to be higher in the +Si plants than in the -Si plants. The expression levels of Os03g0109600, Prla, Rcht2 and Lox2osPil, were also higher in +Si plants than in -Si plants post-inoculation during the experimental time. Addition of Si resulted in increased Pal transcription, and inhibited CatA and Os03g0126000 expression in the earlier and later stages of bacterial inoculation, respectively.

Multiple Hemolymphangioma of the Visceral Organs: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Hemolymphangioma is a rare disease with malformation of both lymphatic and vascular vessels. Few cases of hemolymphangioma occurring in the rectum, small intestine, pancreas, esophagus, and other organs have been reported. Nevertheless, multiple hemolymphangioma of the visceral organs are extremely rare. We report a 25-year-old female with a significantly enlarged spleen full of multiple-rounded lesions. Curiously, the splenic flexure and even retroperitoneum had many lesions. The patient recovered well after splenectomy and the pathologic diagnosis of spleen was hemolymphangioma with abnormal lymphatic and blood vessels with polycystic spaces.Usually, it is hard to cure this disease. We should take much more consideration into the diagnosis, treatment, and even pathogenesis, even though it is a benign lesion.

Down-regulated FSTL5 promotes cell proliferation and survival by affecting Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Follistatin-like 5 (FSTL5), a member of the follistatin family of genes, encodes a secretory glycoprotein. Previous study revealed that it might play a suppressive role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its clinical significances, biological functions and molecular mechanisms in HCC development are poorly understood. To gain insight to the functions of FSTL5 in HCC, We examined FSTL5 expression pattern in 117 HCC tissue samples. The results of immunohistochemical staining analysis showed that FSTL5 is more commonly down-regulated in HCC compared to adjacent tissues and further clinicopathological analysis showed that its expression level is closely correlated with tumor size, TNM stage, local infiltration and patient prognosis. Both gain function assays and recombinant human FSTL5 protein treatment assays in vitro revealed that over-expressing FSTL5 could inhibit the abilities of cancer cell proliferation and survival. Further, we found that those effects on HCC growth and survival are associated with Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Taken together, all of our results validate that FSTL5 plays a suppressive role in HCC and suggest that down-regulated FSTL5 could elevate abilities of growth and survival of HCC cells by activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

[Effect of MSX2 interference on epithelial-mesenchymal transitions of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of MSX2 interference on epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1. METHODS: Three vectors containing short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) of MSX2 (shMSX2-1, shMSX2-2, and shMSX2-3) and the empty vector (negative control) were transfected separately into PANC-1 cell line with Lipofectamine2000. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to observe changes in the expressions of MSX2, E-cadherin, and vimentin in the cells. CCK-8 assay was used to assess the changes in the cell growth, and wound scratch assay and Transwell assay were employed to evaluate the cell invasion and metastasis after the transfection. RESULTS: Among the 3 shRNA, shMSX2-1 showed the highest interference efficiency. MSX2 knockdown by the specific shRNA of MSX2 significantly increased E-cadherin expressions, lowered vimentin expressions, and suppressed the invasion, metastasis and proliferation of the cells (P<0.05). MSX2 knockdown also resulted in morphological changes of the cells into cobblestone-like cells in close contact. RT-PCR results revealed significantly reduced mRNA expressions of the transcription factors snail and twist (P<0.05) without affecting slug and zeb1 expressions in the cells with MSX2 knockdown. Conclusion MSX2 knockdown can reverse EMT and induce MET in PANC1 cells, in which process the transcription factors snail and twist may play a role.

Thymosin ß4 promotes hepatoblastoma metastasis via the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common malignant hepatic tumor in children and complete surgical resection offers the highest possibility for cure in this disease. Tumor metastasis is the principle obstacle to the development of efficient treatments for patients with HB. The present study aimed to measure the expression levels of thymosin ß4 (Tß4) in liver samples from patients with HB and to investigate the involvement of Tß4 in HB metastasis. The expression of Tß4 was significantly higher in liver samples from patients with metastatic HB and in the HepG2 metastatic HB cell line, compared with that in adjacent healthy liver samples and in the L02 healthy hepatic cell line. By contrast, the expression levels of epithelial-cadherin (E-cadherin) and cytosolic accumulation of ß-catenin, the two most prominent markers involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), were reduced in liver specimens from patients with metastatic HB compared with that of healthy adjacent control tissue. HepG2 cells were transfected with small interfering-RNA in order to downregulate Tß4 gene expression. This resulted in a reduced cell migratory capacity compared with control cells. Tß4 gene expression knockdown significantly inhibited transforming growth factor ß1-mediated-EMT in vitro by upregulating the expression of E-cadherin. The results of the present study suggested that Tß4 may promote HB metastasis via the induction of EMT, and that Tß4 may therefore be a target for the development of novel treatments for patients with HB.

Denitrification potential under different fertilization regimes is closely coupled with changes in the denitrifying community in a black soil.

Preferable inorganic fertilization over the last decades has led to fertility degradation of black soil in Northeast China. However, how fertilization regimes impact denitrification and its related bacterial community in this soil type is still unclear. Here, taking advantage of a suit of molecular ecological tools in combination of assaying the potential denitrification (DP), we explored the variation of activity, community structure, and abundance of nirS and nirK denitrifiers under four different fertilization regimes, namely no fertilization control (N0M0), organic pig manure (N0M1), inorganic fertilization (N1M0), and combination of inorganic fertilizer and pig manure (N1M1). The results indicated that organic fertilization increased DP, but inorganic fertilization had no impacts. The increase of DP was mirrored by the shift of nirS denitrifiers' community structure but not by that of nirK denitrifiers'. Furthermore, the change of DP coincided with the variation of abundances of both denitrifiers. Shifts of community structure and abundance of nirS and nirK denitrifiers were correlated with the change of soil pH, total nitrogen (TN), organic matter (OM), C:P, total phosphorus (TP), and available phosphorus (Olsen P). Our results suggest that the change of DP under these four fertilization regimes was closely related to the shift of denitrifying bacteria communities resulting from the variation of properties in the black soil tested.

Combination of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation with transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: observation of clinical effects.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 92 cases of advanced primary liver cancer underwent TACE and RFA treatment from June 2005 to 2011 at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College. A total of 88 cases with complete clinical treatment and follow-up data were divided into two groups: 43 patients treated with TACE (TACE group) and 45 patients that received TACE combined with RFA treatment (TACE + RFA group). After clinical data assessment, tumor size and survival status were not significantly different between the groups as determined by stratified analysis. RESULTS: Before and after surgery, spiral CT radiography and color comparison observed ablation conditions. The tumor necrosis rates after treatment (CR + PR) were 67.4% (29/43) and 91.1% (41/45) for the TACE and combined treatment groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The quality of life was significantly improved for patients undergoing TACE + RFA compared with the control group. Survival duration was not significantly different in patients undergoing TACE + RFA compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the effect of RFA combined with TACE treatment was better than TACE alone in treating advanced HCC.