Characterization of bacterial diversity and screening of cellulose-degrading bacteria in the gut system of Glenea cantor (Fabricius) larvae.

The intestinal bacteria of longhorn beetles would be ideal targets for pest control and lignocellulosic resources by destroying or exploiting their cellulose-degrading function. This article aims to investigate the diversity and community structure of intestinal bacteria the oligophagous longhorn beetle Glenea cantor. Additionally, it seeks to identify the presence of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria in the gut, and explore their role in consuming host kapok trees Bombax malabaricum. In this study, the bacterial community from G. cantor was examined by Illumina sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) targeting the V3 and V4 regions. A total of 563,201 valid sequences and 814 OTUs were obtained. The dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, and the dominant genera were Acinetobacter and Lactococcus. The analysis of microbial diversity revealed a high bacterial diversity in the samples, with the gut bacteria playing a crucial role in the physiological activities of the host, particularly, 9 genera of intestinal bacteria with cellulose degradation function were found, highlighting their vital role in cellulose degradation. Five strains of cellulose-degrading bacteria, belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, were obtained from the intestinal tract of G. cantor larvae using traditional isolation and culture techniques as well as 16S rDNA sequencing. Among these strains, A4 exhibited a cellulase activity of 94.42 ± 0.42 U/mL, while A5 displayed the highest filter paper enzyme activity of 127.46 ± 3.54 U/mL. These results offered valuable insights into potential targets for pest control through internal attack digestion and cellulose-degrading bacteria in longhorn beetles.

Effect of Ropivacaine Intercostal Nerve Block Combined with Patient Controlled Intravenous Analgesia on Postoperative Analgesia after Breast Augmentation.

BACKGROUNDS: To observe the effect of ropivacaine intercostal nerve block combined with PCIA as early postoperative analgesia following breast augmentation surgery with prosthesis (axillary approach) METHODS: A total of 80 women with breast augmentation surgery were selected in the plastic surgery department of Chongqing Huamei Plastic Surgery Hospital from December 2021 to May 2022. They were equally randomized into control group and observation group, with 40 cases in each one. Before placing the prosthesis, the control group was given 0.9% normal saline for intercostal nerve block; the observation group was given 0.75% ropivacaine + 1‰ adrenaline for intercostal nerve block. Patient controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was used after operation. Observation indexes the visual analog scale (VAS) of resting and motor state at 4 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after operation and the adverse reactions. RESULTS: The VAS scores of patients at rest and exercise and adverse reactions in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Ropivacaine intercostal nerve block combined with PCIA can effectively alleviate the pain after breast augmentation with pectoralis major prosthesis through axillary incision, help patients more comfortably through the perioperative period, accelerate postoperative recovery, reduce the dosage of systemic opioids and effectively reduce side effects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Therapeutic drug monitoring of imipenem/cilastatin and meropenem in critically ill adult patients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors influencing imipenem/cilastatin (IMI) and meropenem (MEM) concentrations in critically ill adult patients and the role of these concentrations in the clinical outcome. METHODS: Plasma trough concentrations of IMI and MEM were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. A target value of 100%-time above MIC was used for the drugs. RESULTS: A total of 186 patients were included, with 87 receiving IMI and 99 receiving MEM. The percentages of patients reaching the target IMI and MEM concentrations were 44.8% and 38.4%, respectively. The proportions of patients infected with drug-resistant bacteria were 57.5% and 69.7% in the IMI group and MEM group, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the risk factors for an IMI concentration that did not reach the target were infection with drug-resistant bacteria, and those for MEM were infection with drug-resistant bacteria, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and diabetes mellitus. A total of 47.1% of patients had good outcomes in the IMI cohort, and 38.1% of patients had good outcomes in the MEM cohort. The duration of mechanical ventilation and IMI concentration were associated with ICU stay in patients in the IMI cohort, while MEM concentration and severe pneumonia affected the clinical outcome of patients in the MEM cohort. CONCLUSION: Infection with drug-resistant bacteria is an important factor influencing whether IMI and MEM concentrations reach the target. Furthermore, IMI and MEM concentrations are associated with the clinical outcome, and elevated doses of IMI and MEM should be given to patients who are infected with drug-resistant bacteria.

Prediction of plasma trough concentration of voriconazole in adult patients using machine learning.

OBJECTIVE: Plasma trough concentration of voriconazole (VCZ) was associated with its toxicity and efficacy. However, the nonlinear pharmacokinetic characteristics of VCZ make it difficult to determine the relationship between clinical characteristics and its concentration. We intended to present a machine learning (ML)-based method to predict toxic plasma trough concentration of VCZ (>5 µg/mL). METHODS: A single center retrospective study was conducted. Three ML algorithms were used to estimate the concentration in adult patients, including random forest (RF), gradient boosting (GB), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). The importance of variables was recognized by the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method. In addition, an external validation set was used to validate the robustness of models. RESULTS: A total of 1318 VCZ plasma concentration were included, with 33 variables enrolled in the model. Nine classification models were developed using the RF, GB, and XGBoost algorithms. Most models performed well for both the training set and test set, with an average balanced accuracy (BA) of 0.704 and an average accuracy (ACC) of 0.788. In addition, the average Matthews correlation coefficient value reached 0.484, which indicated the predicted values are meaningful. Based on the average BA and ACC values, the predictive ability of the models can be ranked from best to worst as follows: younger adult models > mixed models > elderly models, and XGBoost models > GBT models > RF models. The SHAP results showed that the top five influencing factors in younger adult patients (<60 years) were albumin, total bile acid (TBA), platelets count, age, and inflammation, while the top five influencing factors in elderly patients were albumin, TBA, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and alanine aminotransferase. Furthermore, the prediction of external validation set for VCZ concentrations verified the high reliability of the models, for the ACC value of 0.822 by the best model. CONCLUSIONS: The ML models can be reliable tools for predicting toxic concentration exposure of VCZ. The SHAP results may provide useful guidelines for dosage adjustment of VCZ.

The Role of the Mesencephalic Astrocyte-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Patients in Intensive Care Units Receiving Voriconazole Therapy.

Recent publications regarding the role of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) in various metabolic and degenerative disorders suggest that MANF is both a marker of disease and a possible therapeutic agent. We investigate the role of plasma MANF levels in patients in intensive care units (ICUs) receiving voriconazole (VCZ) therapy while also comparing MANF levels in healthy individuals. A single-center prospective study was conducted. The plasma MANF level in patients in ICU was found to have high interindividual variability and was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P < .01). Compared with patients using VCZ only, patients using both VCZ and amikacin had 3-fold lower MANF concentrations (P < .05). The MANF concentrations also decreased when alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum creatinine levels were above the upper limits of the normal range (P < .05) and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was below the lower limit of the normal range (P < .01). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that low MANF levels were associated with high ALP levels, high creatinine levels, and low eGFR. The cut-off value of MANF for ALP levels higher than 126 U/L was 0.35 ng/mL (area under curve, AUC = 0.62, 95%CI = 0.50-0.74, P = .044); for serum creatinine levels higher than 104 µmol/L, the cut-off value was 0.41 ng/mL (AUC = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.62-0.87, P = .001); and for eGFR below 80 mL/min, the cut-off value was 0.75 ng/mL (AUC = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.59-0.81, P = .002). Monitoring plasma MANF levels may be of value for clinical decision-making regarding the choice of antibiotics and the prediction of impaired liver function and renal function in patients admitted to an ICU.

Tannic acid-loaded hydrogel coating endues polypropylene mesh with hemostatic and anti-inflammatory capacity for facilitating pelvic floor repair.

The application of polypropylene mesh (PPM) in pelvic organ prolapse (POP) treatment was severely limited by the complications associated with PPM, such as mesh exposure, chronic inflammatory reactions and postoperative hematoma. This study applied a method of fabricating a hydrogel-mesh complex (PPM + TA@GelMA) to cross-link tannic acid (TA) directly with Methacrylate Gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel and thus to form a coating for PPM. This one-step coating modification improved the hydrophilicity and cyto-compatibility of PPM. The hemostatic effect of PPM+TA@GelMA was confirmed through tail amputation test. Through the defect tissue repair experiments in vivo, it was proved that PPM+TA@GelMA had effects of anti-inflammation and promoting tissue repair and regulated the M2 subtype macrophages polarization for tissue repair. The TA-loaded hydrogel coating endued PPM with multiple functions. It is believed that the novel hydrogel-mesh complex and its fabrication method will have great significance in basic research and clinical application.

Electroacupuncture induces weight loss by regulating tuberous sclerosis complex 1-mammalian target of rapamycin methylation and hypothalamic autophagy in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

Background: Obesity can be caused by abnormalities of hypothalamic autophagy, which is closely regulated by the epigenetic modification of TSC1-mTOR. However, whether the weight-reducing effect of EA may relate to the modification of TSC1-mTOR methylation and hypothalamic autophagy remain unclear. This study was conducted to reveal the possible mechanism by which EA reduces BW by measuring the levels of TSC1-mTOR methylation and hypothalamic autophagy-related components. Methods: The weight-reducing effect of EA was investigated in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese (DIO) rats by monitoring the BW, food consumption, and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT)/BW ratio. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for morphological evaluation of eWAT. Immunofluorescence was utilized to observe the localization of LC3 in the hypothalamus. The expressions of autophagy components (Beclin-1, LC3, and p62) and mTOR signaling (mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K, and p-p70S6K) were assessed by western blot. The methylation rate of the TSC1 promoter was detected by bisulfite genomic sequencing. Results: Treatment with EA significantly reduced the BW, food consumption, and eWAT/BW ratio; attenuated the morphological alternations in the adipocytes of DIO rats. While HFD downregulated the expression levels of Beclin-1 and LC3 and upregulated those of p62, these changes were normalized by EA treatment. EA markedly decreased the methylation rate of the TSC1 gene promoter and suppressed the protein expressions of mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K, and p-p70S6K in the hypothalamus. Conclusion: EA could reduce BW and fat accumulation in DIO rats. This ameliorative effect of EA may be associated with its demethylation effect on TSC1-mTOR and regulation of autophagy in the hypothalamus.

Exercise reduces hyperlipidemia-induced kidney damage in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor of kidney damage that can lead to chronic kidney disease. Studies have shown that exercise reduces kidney damage; however, the specific mechanisms underlying the protective effects of exercise remain unclear. For 12 weeks, 8-week-old male apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups (n=7/group) as follows: Mice fed a normal diet (ND group); mice fed a ND and exercised (ND + E group); mice fed a high-fat diet (HD group); and mice fed a HD and exercised (HD + E group). Exercise training consisted of swimming for 40 min, 5 days/week. Metabolic parameters, such as low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol and creatinine levels were higher in the ApoE-/- HD mice compared with those in the ApoE-/- HD + E mice. Serum levels of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were significantly decreased in the HD group compared with those in the HD + E group. Significant pathological changes were observed in the HD + E group compared with in the HD group. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting revealed increased levels of oxidative stress (nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2) and fibrosis (Smad3 and TGF-ß) markers in the ApoE-/- HD group; however, the expression levels of these markers were significantly decreased in the ApoE-/- HD + E group. Furthermore, NF-κB expression in the HD + E group was significantly lower compared with that in the HD group. These results suggested that exercise may exert protective effects against kidney damage caused by hyperlipidemia.

The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on nursing students: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recently, mindfulness interventions have been extensively applied in the field of nursing education. However, no consensus has been reached on whether these interventions can reduce anxiety and depression in nursing students. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis was designed to determine the effect of mindfulness interventions on levels of depression, anxiety, stress and mindfulness for nursing students. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. METHODS: The following Chinese and English databases were searched for relevant articles: Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and Wanfang. The search encompassed the establishment of these databases up until January 2020. Two reviewers separately entered the data into Review Manager Software 5.3. RESULTS: A total of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were reviewed. It was found that mindfulness interventions significantly lowered levels of depression (SMD = -0.42, 95% CI:-0.56 to -0.28, P < 0.001), anxiety (SMD = -0.32, 95% CI:-0.47 to -0.17, P < 0.001) and stress (SMD = -0.50, 95% CI:-0.65 to -0.35, P < 0.001) in nursing students. Furthermore, the interventions raised levels of mindfulness in this group (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI:0.33-0.75, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness interventions can significantly reduce nursing students' negative emotions, helping them to manage their stress and anxiety. College nursing educators should consider adopting mindfulness interventions in nursing education to promote the mental health of students.

Targeted profiling of amino acid metabolome in serum by a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method: application to identify potential markers for diet-induced hyperlipidemia.

To better understand the mechanism of hyperlipidemia and discover potential biomarkers, we have used targeted metabolomics to analyze eight amino acid profiles of control and hyperlipidemia rats by a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. With high fat diet, the concentrations of serum of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were increased by 666.7%, 99.0%, 61.7% and 51.0%, whereas the concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) were decreased by 46.3% and 58.9%. The concentrations of alanine, arginine, lysine, methionine, serine, tyrosine and valine in hyperlipidemia rats were significantly decreased by 21.8%, 19.72%, 26.5%, 19.6%, 48.7%, 19.8% and 24.91%, while there was no striking change in threonine. Combined with experimental results and previous literature, we inferred that alanine and serine were gradually disordered and subsequently generated abundant acetyl-CoA through pyruvate, which resulted in energy metabolism deficiency. Furthermore, Spearman correlation analysis shows that TC was negatively associated with methionine (r = -0.640, p < 0.05), suggesting that the lowered level of methionine caused by the homocysteine pathway enhances absorption and synthesis of TC. Meanwhile, the reduction of tyrosine demonstrated that rapid metabolism of cholesterol in vivo was caused by high levels of exogenous cholesterol. Furthermore, the observed ApoB and lysine changes indicated that lysine was largely incorporated into ApoB particles during the disease process. In addition, the levels of arginine, SOD and MDA reflected the behavior of oxidative stress. Finally, the metabolism fluctuation of valine demonstrated that abnormal lipid metabolism could cause abnormal glucose metabolism. In general, disordered energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism and elevated oxidative stress were important characteristics of metabolic perturbations in hyperlipidemia. Herein, the discovery of biomarkers and the biological explanations mentioned above could be used to analyze the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia through metabolic pathways, and these results could play an important role in assisting the clinical diagnosis of hyperlipidemia.

Anti-Tumor Effects of Astaxanthin by Inhibition of the Expression of STAT3 in Prostate Cancer.

Astaxanthin is a natural product gaining increasing attention due to its safety and anti-cancer properties. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of the anti-cancer effects of astaxanthin on prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines using aggressive PCa DU145 cells. Also an instantaneous silenced cell line (si-STAT3) derived from DU145 and a control cell line (si-NK) were used for the MTT and colony formation assays to determine the role of astaxanthin in proliferation and colony formation abilities. Flow cytometry assays were used to detect the apoptosis of tumor cells. Migration and invasion assays detected the weakening of the respective abilities. Western blot and RT-PCR tests detected the levels of STAT3 protein and mRNA. Astaxanthin resulted in suppression of the proliferation of DU145 cells and the level of STAT3. The treatment of DU145 cells with astaxanthin decreased the cloning ability, increased the apoptosis percentage and weakened the abilities of migration and invasion of the cells. Furthermore, astaxanthin reduced the expression of STAT3 at protein and mRNA levels. The effects were enhanced when astaxanthin and si-STAT3 were combined. The results of animal experiments were consistent with the results in cells. Thus, astaxanthin inhibits the proliferation of DU145 cells by reducing the expression of STAT3.

Effect of auriculotherapy and intervention types on weight control: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity characterized by abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, can cause many complications. Auriculotherapy, as the traditional Chinese technique, is widely applied in clinical trials for the management of body weight. The program aims to evaluate the effect and safety of auriculotherapy therapy and intervention types on weight control. METHODS: All randomized controlled trials related to auriculotherapy targeting overweight and obesity will be searched in online databases, such as Medline, EMbase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, AMED, CBM, Wanfang Data, and other databases from their inception to July 2019. The primary outcome is the difference in BMI from baseline to the end of studies. Secondary outcomes include the change of weight, percentage of body fat, waist circumference, serum lipid before and after treatment. Study selection, data extraction, and assessment of risk of bias will be performed independently by 2 reviewers. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 3; Biostat Inc.) will be used for data synthesis. RESULTS: This study will provide a comprehensive review of the available evidence for the treatment of obesity with auriculotherapy. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this study will provide evidence to judge whether auriculotherapy is an effective therapeutic intervention for obesity. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019136827.

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma detected in hepatogastric ligament: A case report and review of the literature.

The most common organ where follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) occurs is in cervical lymph nodes, while few cases are found in extranodal organs such as liver, spleen, and soft tissue. This is a case report that FDCS occurs in the hepatogastric ligament. To our knowledge, there is no such case that has been reported previously. A 47-year-old male patient was found to have an intraabdominal mass during an annual physical examination. Computed tomography showed a 4.2 cm × 4.1 cm mass located at the lesser curvature of the stomach, above the pancreas. During operation, a tumor mass was found in the hepatogastric ligament and a radical resection was performed. The tumor was diagnosed as FDCS by pathology and immunohistochemical testing. The patient had a favorable recovery, and no obvious abnormality was found 3 months post-operation.

Identification and Field Evaluation of the Sex Pheromone of Orthaga achatina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Orthaga achatina (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is the most serious pest in south China of camphor trees, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl, an important urban tree species. Gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) of the sex pheromone of O. achatina showed three EAD-active components. Coupled gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses identified these as (Z)-11-hexadecenol (Z11-16:OH), (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:OAc), and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-tricosapentaene (Z3,Z6,Z9,Z12,Z15-23:H). In field tests using different combinations of the three compounds, male moths were attracted to a mixture of Z11-16:OAc and Z3,Z6,Z9,Z12,Z15-23:H, but less attracted to other blends. Further field tests with different ratios of the two compounds determined the optimal ratio of the binary blend as 500:250. The addition of Z11-16:OH to Z11-16:OAc, or to the binary mixture of Z11-16: OAc and the pentaene did not yield higher catches. This shows that O. achatina uses a mixture of Type I and Type II sex pheromone components. Orthaga achatina is the third Pyraloidea species found to utilize Z3,Z6,Z9,Z12,Z15-23:H as a sex pheromone component.

In Silico System Pharmacology for the Potential Bioactive Ingredients Contained in Xingnaojing Injection () and Its Material Basis for Sepsis Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the action mechanism of Xingnaojing Injection (, XNJI) for sepsis, and to target screen the potential bioactive ingredients. METHODS: An integrated protocol that combines in silico target screen (molecular docking) and database mapping was employed to find the potential inhibitors from XNJI for the sepsis-related targets and to establish the compound-target (C-T) interaction network. The XNJI's bioactive components database was investigated and the sepsis-associated targets were comprehensively constructed; the 3D structure of adenosine receptor A2a and 5-lipoxygenase proteins were established and evaluated with homology modeling method; system network pharmacology for sepsis treatment was studied between the bioactive ingredients and the sepsis targets using computational biology methods to distinguish inhibitors from non inhibitors for the selected sepsis-related targets and C-T network construction. RESULTS: Multiple bioactive compounds in the XNJI were found to interact with multiple sepsis targets. The 32 bioactive ingredients were generated from XNJI in pharmacological system, and 21 potential targets were predicted to the sepsis disease; the biological activities for some potential inhibitors had been experimentally confirmed, highlighting the reliability of in silico target screen. Further integrated C-T network showed that these bioactive components together probably display synergistic action for sepsis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The uncovered mechanism may offer a superior insight for understanding the theory of the Chinese herbal medicine for combating sepsis. Moreover, the potential inhibitors for the sepsis-related targets may provide a good source to find new lead compounds against sepsis disease.

In Silico System Pharmacology for the Potential Bioactive Ingredients Contained in Xingnaojing Injection () and Its Material Basis for Sepsis Treatment / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To elucidate the action mechanism of Xingnaojing Injection (, XNJI) for sepsis, and to target screen the potential bioactive ingredients.@*METHODS@#An integrated protocol that combines in silico target screen (molecular docking) and database mapping was employed to find the potential inhibitors from XNJI for the sepsis-related targets and to establish the compound-target (C-T) interaction network. The XNJI's bioactive components database was investigated and the sepsis-associated targets were comprehensively constructed; the 3D structure of adenosine receptor A2a and 5-lipoxygenase proteins were established and evaluated with homology modeling method; system network pharmacology for sepsis treatment was studied between the bioactive ingredients and the sepsis targets using computational biology methods to distinguish inhibitors from non inhibitors for the selected sepsis-related targets and C-T network construction.@*RESULTS@#Multiple bioactive compounds in the XNJI were found to interact with multiple sepsis targets. The 32 bioactive ingredients were generated from XNJI in pharmacological system, and 21 potential targets were predicted to the sepsis disease; the biological activities for some potential inhibitors had been experimentally confirmed, highlighting the reliability of in silico target screen. Further integrated C-T network showed that these bioactive components together probably display synergistic action for sepsis treatment.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The uncovered mechanism may offer a superior insight for understanding the theory of the Chinese herbal medicine for combating sepsis. Moreover, the potential inhibitors for the sepsis-related targets may provide a good source to find new lead compounds against sepsis disease.

Correlation between severity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and pulmonary artery systolic pressure: a study of 338 patients.

PURPOSE: Study of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation between pulmonary arterial pressure and coronal Cobb angle of idiopathic scoliosis. METHODS: A total of 338 patients (82.8 % female) with idiopathic scoliosis (average age 15.6 years; range 14-20 years) were included. Preoperatively, the coronal Cobb angle of curvature and the apex location and direction were determined from radiographic records. Tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) and inferior vena cava diameter were also measured using Doppler echocardiography. Pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (sPAP) was calculated from the TRV according to the modified Bernoulli equation and correlations between sPAP and the features of scoliosis were identified by statistical analysis. RESULTS: Among the 338 patients, there were 305 thoracic curves, 276 (90.5 %) of which were right curves, and 265 thoracolumbar/lumbar curves. sPAP varied from 5.0 to 37.6 mmHg. Pulmonary hypertension could not be excluded in the case of one patient. A mild correlation (Spearman test, correlation coefficient = 0.187, P = 0.001) between sPAP and coronal Cobb angle of the main thoracic (MT) curves was identified. Correlations between sPAP and the degree of other curves were not significant. Patients with sPAP >20 mmHg also had larger thoracic curve angles (mean MT 42.16° vs. 52.45°; U test, P = 0.002). There were no differences in sPAP levels between patients with right and left thoracic curves. CONCLUSIONS: A mild positive correlation was identified between sPAP and the coronal Cobb angle of the MT curves. There was no relationship between sPAP and the direction of the curvature.

Spatial Variations of Soil Microbial Activities in Saline Groundwater-Irrigated Soil Ecosystem.

Spatial variations of soil microbial activities and its relationship with environmental factors are very important for estimating regional soil ecosystem function. Based on field samplings in a typical saline groundwater-irrigated region, spatial variations of soil microbial metabolic activities were investigated. Combined with groundwater quality analysis, the relationship between microbial activities and water salinity was also studied. The results demonstrated that moderate spatial heterogeneity of soil microbial activities presented under the total dissolved solids (TDS) of groundwater ranging from 0.23 to 12.24 g L(-1). Groundwater salinity and microbial activities had almost opposite distribution characteristics: slight saline water was mainly distributed in west Baqu and south Quanshan, while severe saline and briny water were dominant in east Baqu and west Huqu; however, total AWCD was higher in the east-center and southwest of Baqu and east Huqu, while it was lower in east Baqu and northwest Huqu. The results of correlation analyses demonstrated that high-salinity groundwater irrigation had significantly adverse effects on soil microbial activities. Major ions Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Cl(-), and SO4(2-) in groundwater decisively influenced the results. Three carbon sources, carbohydrates, amines, and phenols, which had minor utilization rates in all irrigation districts, were extremely significantly affected by high-salinity groundwater irrigation. The results presented here offer an approach for diagnosing regional soil ecosystem function changes under saline water irrigation.