Comparison of levofloxacin-based prophylaxis regimens for transrectal prostate biopsy: a prospective randomized single-center study.

To develop an optimal prophylactic regimen among Chinese patients who accept transrectal prostate biopsy. We enrolled 420 patients who accepted transrectal prostate biopsy. They were randomly classified into three groups (n = 140 for each): Group A received a single 500-mg tablet of levofloxacin without enema; group B received a single 500-mg tablet of levofloxacin plus enema; group C received 3-day levofloxacin orally plus enema. Patients were assessed if they had a febrile urinary tract infection (FUTI). The incidence of FUTI was compared among groups. Subgroup analysis was performed between patients at high and low risk of infection in each group. There were 15 cases developed FUTI: 7 (5%), 6 (4.3%), and 2 (1.4%), respectively, in groups A, B, and C. Of the 15 patients who developed FUTI, Escherichia coli was detected in blood culture in two cases. Urine culture results were all negative. FUTI patients (73.3% (11/15)) had at least one high risk factor. Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of FUTI in group A was significantly higher than that in group C among high-risk patients. There was no statistical difference between group A and group B among both high- and low-risk patients. A single 500-mg dose of levofloxacin without enema represents excellent prophylaxis for transrectal prostate biopsy in Chinese patients at low risk of infection. For those at high risk, 3-day levofloxacin prophylaxis is the optimal regimen. Prebiopsy enema provides no clinically significant outcome advantage and is unnecessary.

[Effects of elevated CO2 concentration and temperature on nutrient accumulation and allocation in Betula albo-sinensis seedlings].

With enclosed chamber system, this paper studied the effects of elevated CO2 concentration (ambient + 350 micromol x mol(-1), E(C)), temperature (ambient + 2 degrees C, E(T)), and their combination (E(CT)) on the nutrient accumulation and allocation in subalpine Betula albo-sinensis seedlings in western Sichuan Province. The results showed that after a growth season, the accumulation amount of N, P and K per plant increased by 44%, 45% and 11% under E(C) (P < 0.05), by 37%, 76% and 9% under E(T) (P < 0.05), and by 24%, 88% and 20% under E(CT) (P < 0.05), respectively. The N allocation to leaves reduced by 11.68% (P < 0.05) under E(C) but increased by 11.09% (P <0.05) under E(T) while that to branches, stems and roots increased by 2.95%, 3.39% and 5.34% under E(C) (P > 0.05), but decreased by 0.69%, 10.35% and 0.05% under E(T) (P > 0.05), respectively. The N allocation pattern under E(CT) was similar to that under E(C). The allocation of P and K had greater differences under E(C), E(T) and E(CT). All of these suggested that elevated CO2 concentration and temperature could promote nutrient accumulation, and change its allocation pattern in plant organs.

[Effects of Fargesia denudata density on its litterfall production, nutrient return, and nutrient use efficiency].

A two-year study on the effects of three densities (D1, 80 +/- 5 stems x m(-2); D2, 140 +/- 8 stems x m(-2); and D3, 220 +/- 11 stems x m(-2)) of Fargesia denudate in a F. denudata--Picea purpurea natural forest on the F. denudate litterfall production, nutrient return, and nutrient use efficiency showed that at the densities of D1, D2 and D3, the annual litterfall production was 793.2, 1135.7 and 1458.5 kg x hm(-2), carbon return was 370.7, 516.2 and 671.5 kg x hm(-2), and the total return of N, P, K, Ca and Mg was 16.3, 22.9 and 29.3 kg x hm(-2), respectively. Ca had the highest return (45%-48% of the total), followed by N (24%-29%), and the lowest were P and Mg (3%-5%), with the sequence of Ca > N > K > Mg and P. The peaks of litterfall production and nutrients return at the three densities were appeared in October (by the end of F. denudate growth season), and another peak at D3 was observed in August. There were no significant differences in the re-allocation of N and K in F. denudate leaves at the three densities, but the P re-allocation and the Ca and Mg accumulation increased with increasing density. The litterfall P use efficiency was the highest and increased with increasing density, implying that P could be a limiting factor for the growth and regeneration of F. denudate.