Systematic review and meta-analysis of Tuberculosis and COVID-19 Co-infection: Prevalence, fatality, and treatment considerations.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 co-infection poses a significant global health challenge with increased fatality rates and adverse outcomes. However, the existing evidence on the epidemiology and treatment of TB-COVID co-infection remains limited. METHODS: This updated systematic review aimed to investigate the prevalence, fatality rates, and treatment outcomes of TB-COVID co-infection. A comprehensive search across six electronic databases spanning November 1, 2019, to January 24, 2023, was conducted. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist assessed risk of bias of included studies, and meta-analysis estimated co-infection fatality rates and relative risk. RESULTS: From 5,095 studies screened, 17 were included. TB-COVID co-infection prevalence was reported in 38 countries or regions, spanning both high and low TB prevalence areas. Prevalence estimates were approximately 0.06% in West Cape Province, South Africa, and 0.02% in California, USA. Treatment approaches for TB-COVID co-infection displayed minimal evolution since 2021. Converging findings from diverse studies underscored increased hospitalization risks, extended recovery periods, and accelerated mortality compared to single COVID-19 cases. The pooled fatality rate among co-infected patients was 7.1% (95%CI: 4.0% ~ 10.8%), slightly lower than previous estimates. In-hospital co-infected patients faced a mean fatality rate of 11.4% (95%CI: 5.6% ~ 18.8%). The pooled relative risk of in-hospital fatality was 0.8 (95% CI, 0.18-3.68) for TB-COVID patients versus single COVID patients. CONCLUSION: TB-COVID co-infection is increasingly prevalent worldwide, with fatality rates gradually declining but remaining higher than COVID-19 alone. This underscores the urgency of continued research to understand and address the challenges posed by TB-COVID co-infection.

Impacts of climate warming and atmospheric deposition on recent shifts in chironomid communities in two alpine lakes, eastern China.

Climate warming and atmospheric deposition are altering alpine lake ecosystems at unprecedented rates, whereas their direct and indirect effects on primary consumer communities are unclear. This study presents sedimentary multi-proxy records including chironomids, diatoms, elements and stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in 210Pb-dated cores from two alpine lakes located above the timberline in the Taibai Mountain, eastern China. Before ∼2000 CE, chironomid communities were co-dominated by Heterotrissocladius marcidus-type and Micropsectra atrofasciata-type in the two lakes. Thereafter, Tanytarsus glabrescens-type increased rapidly to be a dominant species. Redundancy analyses (RDAs) revealed that chironomid fauna shifts were significantly correlated with rising diatom concentrations in both lakes, declining Ti content in the upstream lake and δ13C depletion in the downstream lake. Although temperature, precipitation and δ15N were not significant explanatory variables in RDAs, climate warming and atmospheric deposition likely promoted terrestrial and aquatic primary production, indicated by synchronous increases in organic matter contents and diatom concentrations in the two sediment cores. Since diatoms contain essential polyunsaturated fatty acids that are essential for chironomids, rising diatom concentrations can promote food quantity and quality. In addition, increased primary production would create organic substrates for chironomid larvae. Recent shifts in chironomid fauna driven by indirect effects of global warming and atmospheric deposition might be a widespread phenomenon in alpine lakes, probably triggering regime shifts in headwater lake ecosystems.

Asynchronous multitrophic level regime shifts show resilience to lake browning.

Lake browning is widespread due to increased supply of dissolved organic carbon under climate warming and nitrogen deposition. However, multitrophic level responses to lake browning are poorly understood. Our study aims to explore such responses across multitrophic levels based on sedimentary records of diatoms, chrysophyte stomatocysts and chironomids in a remote headwater lake in the Three Gorges Reservoir region, central China. Although all biotic proxies were analysed in the same core, the timing of shifts in chironomids (1886 ± 18 CE) preceded that in chrysophyte stomatocysts (∼1914 ± 10 CE) and diatoms (∼1941 ± 6 CE). Shifts in biotic communities were closely linked to rising temperature, δ15N depletion (a proxy for nitrogen deposition), δ13C enrichment (a proxy for littoral moss expansion), as well as biotic interactions, whereas the relative importance of the driving forces varied among the three biotic groups. Our results suggest that the zoobenthos grazing effect might be more important than bottom-up pathways in humic environments. Additionally, the coexistence of benthic, littoral and pelagic algae after the 1950s suggested that mixotrophic chrysophytes could reduce lake browning through heterotrophic processes and sustain the ecological equilibrium between littoral, pelagic and benthic productivity. Therefore, lake browning ecosystem regime shifts require analyses of multiple trophic levels. Our results suggest that heterotrophy may become more important in lake ecosystem carbon cycling with water brownification in Mulong Lake, as well as similar montane lakes.

Effects of switching redox conditions on sediment phosphorus immobilization by calcium/aluminum composite capping: Performance, ecological safety and mechanisms.

There many materials were used in lake restoration to immobilize phosphorus (P) and reduce the effect of eutrophication. Among them, calcium/aluminum composite (CAC) showed a good capacity of P adsorption. However, a comprehensive of its performance, ecological safety, and the mechanism of P passivation in the aluminum-bound P (Al -P) dominated sediments under varying redox conditions remains incomplete. In the current study, both unwashed CAC (UCAC) and washed CAC (WCAC) showed good P adsorption properties, and the greatest maximum capacity for P adsorption (Qmax) reached 206.8 mg/g at pH 8.5 for UCAC. The SRP and TP in the overlying water of the uncapped sediments showed a decrease-increase-decrease trend in a sequence of transition from aerobic to anaerobic to re-aerobic stages. In contrast, the SRP and TP of the two CACs-capped sediments were maintained low. Phosphorus forms in the uncapped sediment also underwent significant changes during continuous variation of dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. In particular, the decrease in iron-bound P (Fe-P) and Al-P was significantly promoted in the anaerobic phase, and the released P was reabsorbed to form mainly Fe-P in the re-aerobic phase. The CACs-capping promoted the transformation of Fe-P to residual P (Res-P), forming a thick static layer in the surface sediment, thus significantly inhibiting sediment P release. Moreover, the CACs-capping did not induce the Al3+ leaching and significant changes of the microbial community in sediments, and their performances of P immobilization could keep stable to resist the redox variation, which promised to be a good choice for P passivation in eutrophic lake sediments dominated by Al/Fe-P. These findings also confirmed that the risk of P release from Al/Fe-P (mainly Al-P)-dominated sediments was strongly influenced by continuously changing redox conditions, and was probably enhanced by the formation of Fe-P from the resorption of the released P.

Novel genetic variants linked to prelabor rupture of membranes among Chinese pregnant women.

INTRODUCTION: The etiology of prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM), either preterm or term PROM (PPROM or TPROM), remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal genetic variants (GVs) and PROM and further establish a GV-based prediction model for PROM. METHODS: In this case-cohort study (n = 1166), Chinese pregnant women with PPROM (n = 51), TPROM (n = 283) and controls (n = 832) were enrolled. A weighted Cox model was applied to identify the GVs (single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs], insertions/deletions, and copy number variants) associated with either PPROM or TPROM. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was to explore the mechanisms. The suggestively significant GVs were applied to establish a random forest (RF) model. RESULTS: PTPRT variants (rs117950601, P = 4.37 × 10-9; rs147178603, P = 8.98 × 10-9) and SNRNP40 variant (rs117573344, P = 2.13 × 10-8) were associated with PPROM. STXBP5L variant (rs10511405, P = 4.66 × 10-8) was associated with TPROM. GSEA results showed that genes associated with PPROM were enriched in cell adhesion, and TPROM in ascorbate and glucuronidation metabolism. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of SNP-based RF model for PPROM was 0.961, with a sensitivity of 100.0% and specificity of 83.3%. DISCUSSION: Maternal GVs in PTPRT and SNRNP40 were associated with PPROM, and GV in STXBP5L was associated with TPROM. Cell adhesion participated in PPROM, while ascorbate and glucuronidation metabolism contributed in TPROM. The PPROM might be well predicted using the SNP-based RF model.

Lipolysis and gestational diabetes mellitus onset: a case-cohort genome-wide association study in Chinese.

BACKGROUND: Genetic knowledge of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Chinese women is quite limited. This study aimed to identify the risk factors and mechanism of GDM at the genetic level in a Chinese population. METHODS: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array genotyping (ASA-CHIA Bead chip, Illumina) and a case-cohort study design. Variants including SNPs, copy number variants (CNVs), and insertions-deletions (InDels) were called from genotyping data. A total of 2232 pregnant women were enrolled in their first/second trimester between February 2018 and December 2020 from Anqing Municipal Hospital in Anhui Province, China. The GWAS included 193 GDM patients and 819 subjects without a diabetes diagnosis, and risk ratios (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by a regression-based method conditional on the population structure. The calling and quality control of genotyping data were performed following published guidelines. CNVs were merged into CNV regions (CNVR) to simplify analyses. To interpret the GWAS results, gene mapping and overexpression analyses (ORAs) were further performed to prioritize the candidate genes and related biological mechanisms. RESULTS: We identified 14 CNVRs (false discovery rate corrected P values < 0.05) and two suggestively significant SNPs (P value < 0.00001) associated with GDM, and a total of 19 candidate genes were mapped. Ten genes were significantly enriched in gene sets related to lipase (triglyceride lipase and lipoprotein lipase) activity (LIPF, LIPK, LIPN, and LIPJ genes), oxidoreductase activity (TPH1 and TPH2 genes), and cellular components beta-catenin destruction complex (APC and GSK3B genes), Wnt signalosome (APC and GSK3B genes), and lateral element in the Gene Ontology resource (BRCA1 and SYCP2 genes) by two ORA methods (adjusted P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Genes related to lipolysis, redox reaction, and proliferation of islet ß-cells are associated with GDM in Chinese women. Energy metabolism, particularly lipolysis, may play an important role in GDM aetiology and pathology, which needs further molecular studies to verify.

Exploring and attributing change to fractional vegetation coverage in the middle and lower reaches of Hanjiang River Basin, China.

The middle and lower reaches of Hanjiang River Basin (MLHB), areas that have an important ecological function in China, have experienced great changes in the vegetation ecosystem driven by natural environmental change and human activity. Here, we explored the spatio-temporal dynamics of fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) and quantitatively analyzed its driving factors to advance current understanding of how the ecological environment has changed. Specifically, we used the dimidiate pixel model to calculate the FVC of the MLHB from 2001 to 2018 based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data. We then used Theil-Sen median slope (Sen's slope) and coefficient of variation (CV) to explore spatial and temporal variations, as well as characteristics in fluctuations. Finally, we utilized a geographical detector model (with spatial scale effects and spatial data discretization tests) to quantify the influence of the detected natural and human factors. Results showed that average annual FVC was 0.30-0.75 for ~90% of the study area over the 19-year study period with a heterogeneous spatial distribution. FVC variation trend displayed stability and improvement. Areas with higher FVC displayed greater stability. All 10 detected natural and anthropogenic factors were responsible for changes in FVC. The primary factors causing FVC to change were precipitation (in 2001) and slope (in 2018), followed by landform type, distance to water, and nighttime light (NTL) (in 2018). Precipitation and slope consistently displayed the largest interaction across all years. The interaction between human and topographical factors had gradually increasing significance on changes in FVC over the research period. The range and type of factors suitable for promoting vegetation growth were detected in the study area. Results of this study can provide a scientific basis for developing effective strategies for local vegetation protection, restoration, and land resource management.

The effects of aqueous extract from watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) peel on the growth and physiological characteristics of Dolichospermum flos-aquae.

Nowadays, the increasing Dolichospermum (Anabaena) blooms pose a major threat to the aquatic environment and public health worldwide. The use of naturally derived chemicals from plants to control cyanobacteria blooms has recently received a tremendous amount of attention. This study investigates the possibility of transforming watermelon peel (WMP) into a biological resource to allelopathically inhibit Dolichospermum flos-aquae blooms. The results demonstrated that the growth of D. flos-aquae was efficiently restricted by the aqueous extract of watermelon peel (WMPAE) in a concentration-dependent manner. Cell viability decreased quickly, intracellular structural damage occurred, chlorophyll a in algal cells degraded, and photosynthesis was clearly inhibited. At the same time, the levels of reactive oxygen species in viable cells increased significantly, as did malondialdehyde levels, indicating that WMPAE elucidated strong oxidative stress and corresponding damage to D. flos-aquae. Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) levels increased in all treatment groups, which represents an adaptive response indicative of the development of resistance to WMPAE stress and oxidative damage. Despite this, WMPAE had clear inhibitory effects on D. flos-aquae. These findings provide fundamental information on an allelopathic system that could be a novel and attractive approach for suppressing D. flos-aquae blooms in small aquatic environments, especially aquaculture ponds.

MiR-140-5p exerts a protective function in pregnancy-induced hypertension via mediating TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway.

Animal experiments showed that PIH rats had increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), but decreased litter size, number of viable fetuses, fetal weight, and placental weight. The higher Flt-1 and lower VEGF was observed in PIH rats with elevated TNF-α and IL-6 levels and decreased IL-10 levels. Treatment with agomiR-140-5p improved regarding the above indicators. Cell experiments demonstrated that miR-140-5p mimic increased cell invasion and migration abilities and decreased the activity of TGF-ß/Smad pathway, while TGFBR1 can reverse the role of miR-140-5p mimic in trophoblasts.

Influence of one-day diabetes mellitus clinic management on blood glucose control and prognosis in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of the one-day diabetes mellitus (DM) clinic management model on blood glucose control and prognosis in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: A total of 930 patients diagnosed with GDM by oral glucose tolerance test screening at 24-28 weeks of gestation were selected from those who underwent outpatient prenatal checkups at our hospital and were randomly divided into one-day DM clinic group (n = 509) and control group (n = 421). A one-day DM clinic intervention was conducted in the one-day DM clinic group, and individualized dietary interventions and exercise instruction were given in the control group. RESULTS: The compliance rates of fasting blood glucose and two-hour postprandial blood glucose (2-h PPBG) were higher in the one-day DM clinic group than in the control group (p < .05). The compliance rates of the oral glucose tolerance test and insulin release test were higher in the one-day DM clinic group than in the control group (p < .05). There existed statistically significant differences in fasting blood glucose before delivery, together with the difference between fasting blood glucose at enrollment and before delivery and the difference between glycated hemoglobin at enrollment and before delivery (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The one-day diabetes mellitus clinic management model is more conducive to blood glucose control in patients with GDM and more conducive to the recovery of blood glucose and islet function in patients with GDM after delivery and to reduce the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The therapeutic effects of attending a one-day outpatient service on patients with gestational diabetes and different pre-pregnancy body mass indices.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of attending a one-day outpatient service on the outcomes of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and different pre-pregnancy body mass indices (BMIs). Methods: The study recruited 311 pregnant women with GDM into a one-day outpatient service at The Fourth Hospital of Shijiazhuang from September 2019 to December 2021. They were randomly assigned to three groups, based on their pre-pregnancy BMI as follows: group A, BMI < 18.5 kg/m2; group B, 18.5 ≥ BMI > 25.0 kg/m2; group C, BMI ≥25 kg/m2. The following information was collected from all the participants: fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), insulin dose, gestational weight gain, weight gain after the one-day outpatient service, and perinatal outcomes. Results: The three groups showed significant differences in fasting blood glucose and HbA1C, insulin treatment rate, and the incidence of pregnancy hypertension/preeclampsia and neonatal jaundice (all P < 0.05). The rate of excessive gestational weight gain in all of the groups also reflected significant differences (P < 0.05). Group A showed the lowest weight gain, while group C gained the most weight. There is no significant difference in the incidences of hypertension/preeclampsia, neonatal jaundice, or premature birth between patients with weight loss/no weight gain and those with positive weight gain. Conclusion: One-day diabetes outpatient integrated management may effectively help to manage weight gain and blood glucose in patients with GDM and different pre-pregnancy BMIs. Dietary control after a GDM diagnosis may have helped to avoid weight gain entirely, as well as negative weight gain, but did not increase the risk of maternal and infant-related complications.

The Impact of the One-Day Clinic Diabetes Mellitus Management Model on Perinatal Outcomes in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of the one-day clinic diabetes mellitus (DM) management model on perinatal outcomes in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: A total of 995 patients who underwent prenatal checkups at our hospital and were diagnosed with GDM by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) screening at 24-28 weeks of gestational age were enrolled between December 2018 and August 2020. The patients were randomly divided into a study group (541 cases) and a control group (454 cases). One-day clinic intervention for DM was conducted in the study group, while individualized dietary interventions and exercise instruction were given in the control group. The perinatal outcomes of patients were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the study group, maternal weight gain, fasting blood glucose before delivery, the incidence of abnormality in postpartum OGTT, and abnormality of pancreatic islet function were lower than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The percentage of patients with insulin treatment in the study group was higher than in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The incidence of premature rupture of membranes, macrosomia, and neonatal jaundice was lower in the study group than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The one-day clinic DM management model can effectively control weight gain and blood glucose levels during pregnancy in patients with GDM, resulting in a higher recovery rate of blood glucose and islet function after delivery and a lower incidence of premature rupture of membranes, macrosomia, and neonatal jaundice. The one-day clinic DM management model could therefore have profound implications for reducing and delaying the onset of postpartum type 2 diabetes in patients with GDM.

Efficacy of carboprost tromethamine combined with leonurus japonicus for prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in high-risk pregnant women: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: No well-designed and systematic evaluation of the efficacy and safety of leonurus japonicus injection (LJI) in combination with carboprost tromethamine has been found. Therefore, we undertook a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of carboprost tromethamine combined with LJI for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in high-risk pregnant women to provide new evidence-based medical evidence for clinical treatment. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis would be performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The following databases including EMBASE, MEDICINE, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, and Cochrane central controlled trial registries were searched by 2 reviewers from inception to July 2021. Mesh and keyword search terms were "motherwort," "Yimucao," "leonurus japonicas," "carboprost tromethamine," and "postpartum hemorrhage." Any cohort studies that assessed the efficacy and safety of carboprost tromethamine combined with LJI for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage would be included. P < .05 was set as the level of significance. RESULTS: The review would add to the existing literature by showing compelling evidence and improved guidance in clinic settings. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: 10.17605/OSF.IO/2WC53.

Regime shifts in shallow lake ecosystems along an urban-rural gradient in central China.

Due to differential exploitation pressure, ecosystems along the urban to rural gradients often exhibit different status in ecological structure and function. This can be challenging for lake restoration, given the relative strengths, magnitudes and speed of the exploitation. In this paper, we reconstructed the ecological changes over the past century and identified the regime shifts based on subfossil aquatic biota (chironomid records) in three shallow lakes (Shahu, Yanxi and Futou Lake) along an urban-rural gradient in the Yangtze floodplain, China. Our results illustrated the differences among lakes in trajectories, timing of critical transition and current ecological status. Eutrophic chironomid taxa increased markedly and replaced macrophyte-related taxa in urban Shahu Lake and suburban Yanxi Lake, indicated by the shift from a stable, vegetation-dominated state to an alternative, algal-dominated state in 1963 CE and 1975 CE respectively. The ecological regime in rural Futou Lake transited around 1980 CE but it is still in a relatively clear water state with abundant macrophytes due to anthropogenic hydrological controls. The greatest variance of chironomid compositional changes in both Shahu and Yanxi Lake was captured by anthropogenic pollutants, and analyses show that when these pressures are high they may be further amplified by climate warming. Responses along the urban-rural gradient are exemplified by urban Shahu Lake having shifted to a fragile regime with weak resistance and resilience, while rural Futou Lake has stabilized in a new regime with improved ecological resilience. Suburban Yanxi Lake is still moving toward a new state, and as such is unstable, because the types and magnitudes of external stressors are changing with urbanization in the city. It is suggested that active and precise management strategies for lakes should be established along the urban-rural gradient given their distinct development trajectories, drivers and current status.

The diagnostic value and regulatory mechanism of miR-200a targeting ZEB1 in pregnancy-induced hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value and regulatory mechanism of miR-200a targeting ZEB1 in pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS: The expression of miR-200a and ZEB1 was detected in the placenta of PIH patients, and then the human trophoblastic cell line JEG-3 was transfected and divided into different groups: control group, NC group, ZEB1 siRNA group, miR-200a inhibitor group and miR-200a inhibitor group + ZEB1 siRNA group. After transfection, cell proliferation and migration/invasion were evaluated byMTT and Transwell assays, respectively, whereas apoptosis was assessed byflow cytometry. MiR-200a was measured by qRT-PCR, while ZEB1 was detectedby Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression of miR-200a was gradually increased in the placenta of patients with hypertension and mild or severe preeclampsia, while the mRNA and protein levels of ZEB1 were downregulated. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the targeting relationship between miR-200a andZEB1.Compared to the control, the miR-200a inhibitor caused a strongdecrease in miR-200a andan upregulation of ZEB1, with a significant enhancement ofcell proliferation, migration and invasion and a decrease in apoptosis. However, no significant alteration was observedin the miR-200a level after administration of ZEB1 siRNA, while ZEB1 was downregulated, with significant suppression of growth. CONCLUSION: MiR-200a was upregulated in PIH patients, andinhibition of miR-200a may improve disease progression, as it could facilitatetrophoblastproliferation, migration and invasionandinhibitapoptosisby targeting ZEB1.

A 12-hour comprehensive nutrition care benefits blood glucose level and weight gain and improves outcomes in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse outcomes and neonatal complications. Its prevalence has been rapidly increasing over the last decade; it is estimated that one in six pregnant women are diagnosed with GDM. Thus, an effective management approach is necessary for women with GDM. This study investigated the effect of a 12-h comprehensive nutrition care (12h-HNC) on the metabolism and outcomes of pregnant women with GDM and neonatal birth weight and hypoglycemia. METHODS: The study included 312 pregnant women with GDM at 24-28 weeks of gestation who were treated in our department from January 2014 to December 2016. They were randomly assigned to receive a 12h-HNC (12h-HNC group, n=158) or traditional one-time nutrition guidance (control group, n=154). Maternal blood glucose levels and weight gain, as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes were evaluated and compared between the groups. RESULTS: Compared to those in the control group, patients in the 12h-HNC group had significantly lower 2-h postprandial glucose levels (P<0.05), lower average weight increase (P<0.05), and better outcomes (P<0.05). Neonatal birth weight and incidence of macrosomia were significantly lower in the 12h-HNC group. The incidence of cesarean section was similar in the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 12h-HNC enabled better blood glucose and weight increase control, improving both maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with GDM. This comprehensive nutrition intervention may achieve favorable effects in clinical practice.

Diatom-based water-table reconstruction in Sphagnum peatlands of northeastern China.

Peatlands are important ecosystems for biodiversity conservation, global carbon cycling and water storage. Hydrological changes due to climate variability have accelerated the degradation of global and regional ecosystem services of peatlands. Diatoms are important producers and bioindicators in wetlands, but comprehensive diatom-based inference models for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in peatlands are scarce. To explore the use of diatoms for investigating peatland hydrological change, this study established a training set consisting of diatom composition and twelve environmental factors from 105 surface samples collected from five Sphagnum peatlands in northeastern China. Diatom communities were dominated by Eunotia species. Ordination analyses showed that depth to the water table (DWT) was the most important factor influencing diatom distribution, independently accounting for 4.99% of total variance in diatom data. Accordingly, a diatom-based DWT transfer function was developed and thoroughly tested. The results revealed that the best-performing model was based on weighted averaging with inverse deshrinking (R2 = 0.66, RMSEP = 8.8 cm with leave-one-out cross validation). Quantitative reconstruction of DWT on a short peat core collected from the Aershan Peatland (Inner Mongolia) recorded climate-mediated hydrological changes over the last two centuries. This study presents the first diatom-water table transfer function in Sphagnum peatlands, and highlights the potential of diatoms as a powerful tool to assess the magnitude of past hydrological changes in peatlands of northeastern China, as well as similar peaty environments worldwide.

Effects of climate warming and nitrogen deposition on subtropical montane ponds (central China) over the last two centuries: Evidence from subfossil chironomids.

Many remote montane ecosystems are experiencing biogeochemical changes driven by warming climate and atmospheric pollution. Compared with circumpolar and temperate lakes, the responses of subtropical montane lakes to these external stressors have been less investigated. Here we present sedimentary multi-proxies records (i.e. chironomids, elements and stable isotope of carbon and nitrogen) in 210Pb-dated cores from two montane ponds (central China). Before the 1900s, low biomass and the dominance of opportunistic species (e.g. Chironomus anthracinus-type) in both ponds might be in response to cold and harsh condition. Thereafter, chironomid communities in both ponds experienced pronounced shifts. Nutrient-tolerant/warm-adapted species (e.g. Chironomus sp., Polypedilum nubeculosum-type and Endochironomus impar-type) proliferated and biomass increased synchronously after the 1900s, suggestive of favorable condition for chironomid growth. Redundancy analyses revealed that changes in chironomid communities in both ponds were significantly correlated with rising temperature and δ15N depletion. Prolonged growing season and nitrogen subsidy would increase primary productivity, and hence enhancing food availability for chironomids. Catchment-mediated indirect effects of warming and nitrogen deposition, such as hydrological changes and terrestrial organic matter inputs, would impose further influences on chironomid communities. Taken together, the combined effects of climate warming and nitrogen deposition have caused significant shifts in primary consumers of these montane ponds, and imposed cascading effects on structure and function of subtropical montane aquatic ecosystems.

Roles of miR-210 in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to explore the bio-function of miR-210 in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia and provide new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of pre-eclampsia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A JAR cell line cultured in standard or hypoxic conditions was used in this study. Expression levels of miR-210 and PTPN2 were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Protein and phosphorylation levels were assessed using western blotting. Proliferation of JAR cells was evaluated using MTT assay. Migration and invasion were measured using transwell assay. RESULTS: Expression of miR-210 increased significantly in a time-dependent manner after hypoxia treatment within 36 h (p < 0.05). miR-210 inhibitor significantly decreased the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion (p < 0.05), while miR-210 mimic reversed these findings (p < 0.05). Hypoxia significantly suppressed the expression of PTPN2; however, this elevation was abolished by miR-210 inhibitor (p < 0.05). Inhibition of PTPN2 or hypoxia significantly increased the proliferation, migration, and invasion of JAR cells, while miR-210 inhibitor significantly reversed these changes (p < 0.05). The phosphorylation levels of PDGFR, Akt, and Erk were markedly upregulated by hypoxia or si-PTPN2, but this effect was abolished by miR-210 inhibitor (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: miR-210 can promote proliferation, migration, and invasion via downregulating PTPN2 in the PDGFR-Akt pathway.

Effects of dam construction and increasing pollutants on the ecohydrological evolution of a shallow freshwater lake in the Yangtze floodplain.

Large river-floodplain systems which provide a variety of societal, economic and biological benefits are undergoing extensive and intensive human disturbance. However, floodplain lakes responses to multiple stressors are poorly understood. The Yangtze River and its floodplain which provide water and food resources for more than 300 million people are an important region in China. Hydrological regulation as well as socio-economic development have brought profound negative influence on this ecologically important area. To improve understanding of decadal-scale responses of floodplain lakes to multiple stressors, lake sediment proxies including particle size, geochemical elements, diatoms and chironomids were analysed in a lead-210 dated core from Futou Lake. The analyses show that dams constructed in 1935 and the early 1970s stabilized hydrological conditions in Futou Lake and impeded the interaction with the Yangtze River, resulting in a decrease in major elements (e.g., Mg, Al, Fe) transported into the lake and an increase of macrophyte-related chironomids (C. sylvestris-type, P. penicillatus-type and Paratanytarsus sp.). After the late 1990s, further decreases in major elements and increases in median grain size are attributed to the erosion of the Yangtze riverbed and declining supply of major elements-enriched sediments from the upper Yangtze caused by the impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam. Chironomid and diatom assemblages indicate that hydrological stabilization caused by dam constructions stimulated the growth of macrophytes, which may be important in buffering against an ecosystem state change towards a phytoplankton-dominated and turbid state with ongoing eutrophication. However, a recent increase in Zn, TP and the emergence of eutrophic diatom and chironomid species indicate initial signs of water quality deterioration which may be related to the combined effects of hydrological stabilization and aquaculture. Over all, the sediment record from Futou Lake emphasizes the importance of interactions between hydrological change and pollutant loads in determining floodplain lake ecosystem state.