[Relationship between vegetation C, N, P stoichiometry and species diversity in sand land.] / æ²™åœ°æ¤è¢«ç¢³æ°®ç£·åŒ–å­¦è®¡é‡ç‰¹å¾ä¸Žç‰©ç§å¤šæ ·æ€§çš„å ³ç³».

Vegetation stoichiometry represents plant nutrition limitation status. Whether it can affect the species diversity of plant community remains to be explored. In this study, we examined plant carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) concentrations and stoichiometry, and further analyzed the relationship between stoichiometry and species diversity in Artemisia ordosica community and Salix psammophila community in sand land of the Ningxia Habahu National Nature Reserve. The results showed that, for the S. psammophila community growing in mobile and semi-fixed sand dunes, there was a significant negative correlation between Simpson index and vegetation C/N ratio, but no significant correlation between Simpson index and vegetation N/P ratio. For A. ordosica community distributed in semi-fixed and fixed dunes, the Shannon index had a significant positive correlation with vegetation N/P ratio and a significant negative correlation with vegetation C/N ratio. Combined the vegetation stoichiometry with the results of regression analysis (RDA), P concentration and thus N/P ratio had different influences on the species diversity for A. ordosica community and S. psammophila community. Our results showed that vegetation stoichiometry has an important influence on species diversity of plant community in sand land.

Effects of Ganfukang on expression of connective tissue growth factor and focal adhesion kinase/protein kinase B signal pathway in hepatic fibrosis rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Ganfukang (GFK) on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) signal pathway in a hepatic fibrosis rat model and to explore the underlying therapeutic molecular mechanisms of GFK. METHODS: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: the control group, the model group (repeated subcutaneous injection of CCl4), and the three GFK treatment groups (31.25, 312.5, and 3125 mg/kg, intragastric administration). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression of CTGF, integrin α5, integrin ß1, FAK/Akt signal pathway, cyclinD1, and collagen in the different-treated rats. RESULTS: GFK attenuated the up-regulation of CTGF, integrin α5, and integrin ß1 in hepatic fibrosis rats and suppressed both the phosphorylation of FAK and the phosphorylation of Akt simultaneously (P<0.01). At the same time, the expression of cyclinD1, collagen I, and collagen III was decreased by GFK significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CTGF and FAK/Akt signal pathway were activated in the CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis rats, which contribute to increased expression of cyclinD1 and collagen genes. The mechanisms of the anti-fibrosis activity of GFK may be due to its effects against CTGF and FAk/Akt signal pathway.

[Influence of Lipoplus fat emulsion on postoperative nutritional status and early inflammatory response in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Lipoplus on postoperative nutritional status and inflammatory response in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with gastrointestinal malignancies were randomized using random digit table to receive isonitrogenous, isocaloric total parenteral nutrition for 5 days including either Lipoplus or Lipofundin with 32 patients in each group. Blood samples were obtained before the surgery, postoperative days 1, 2, 3, and 6 to evaluate the nutritional status(prealbumin, retinol binding protein, and nitrogen balance) and inflammatory response [C-reaction protein(CRP), and leukotriene(LTB) 5, LTB4]. The incidence of postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS), infection, postoperative complications, mortality, APACHEII score, length of hospital stay and other clinical indicators were recorded. RESULTS: On postoperative day 1, prealbumin and retinol binding protein were significantly lower as compared to preoperative levels. These parameters increased significantly(P<0.05) on postoperative day 6 and the nitrogen balance was positive. On postoperative day 6, CRP was significantly lower in both groups as compared to postoperative day 3 (P<0.05), and the decrease was more prominent in Lipoplus than Lipofundin(P<0.05). There was a significant increase in LTB5/LTB4 as compared to postoperative day 1(P<0.05) in the Lipoplus group, however the increase was not statistically significant in the Lipofundin group(P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative infection was significantly lower in the Lipoplus group(3.1% vs. 6.3%, P<0.05), as was that of SIRS(9.4% vs. 15.6%, P<0.05). The APACHEII score was higher in the Lipoplus group but the difference was not statistically significant(3.6±2.0 vs. 3.3±2.1, P>0.05). The length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in Lipoplus group[(6.4±1.1) d vs. (8.2±1.3) d, P<0.05]. CONCLUSION: Lipoplus can improve the postoperative nutritional status and minimize the inflammatory response in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.