High nutrient utilization and resorption efficiency promote bamboo expansion and invasion.

Bamboos are fast-growing, aggressively-spreading, and invasive woody clonal species that often encroach upon adjacent tree plantations, forming bamboo-tree mixed plantations. However, the effects of bamboo invasion on leaf carbon (C) assimilation, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) utilization characteristics remains unclear. We selected four different stands of Pleioblastus amarus invading Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations to investigate the concentrations, stoichiometry, and allometric growth relationships of mature and withered leaves of young and old bamboos, analyzing N and P utilization and resorption patterns. The stand type, bamboo age, and their interaction affected the concentrations, stoichiometry and allometric growth patterns of leaf C, N, and P in both old and young bamboos, as well as the N and P resorption efficiency. Bamboo invasion into Chinese fir plantations decreased leaf C, N, and P concentrations, C:N and C:P ratios, N and P resorption efficiency, and allometric growth exponents among leaf C, N, and P, while it only slightly altered N:P ratios. PLS-PM analysis revealed that bamboo invasion negatively impacted leaf C, N, and P concentrations, as well as N and P utilization and resorption. The results indicate that high N and P utilization and resorption efficiency, along with the mutual sharing of C, N, and P among bamboos in interface zones, promote continuous bamboo expansion and invasion. Collectively, these findings highlight the significance of N and P utilization and resorption in bamboo expansion and invasion and provide valuable guidance for the establishment of mixed stands and the ecological management of bamboo forests.

Abnormal glycosylated hemoglobin as a predictive factor for glucose metabolism disorders in antipsychotic treatment.

The aim of this study was to observe the changes in glucose metabolism after antipsychotic (APS) therapy, to note the influencing factors, as well as to discuss the relationship between the occurrence of glucose metabolism disorders of APS origin and abnormal glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. One hundred and fifty-two patients with schizophrenia, whose fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h plasma glucose (2hPG) in the oral glucose tolerance test (2HPG) were normal, were grouped according to the HbA1c levels, one normal and the other abnormal, and were randomly enrolled into risperidone, clozapine and chlorpromazine treatment for six weeks. The FPG and 2hPG were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. In the group with abnormal HbA1c and clozapine therapy, 2HPG was higher after the study [(9.5 ± 1.8) mmol/L] than that before the study [(7.2 ± 1.4) mmol/L] and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). FPG had no statistically significant difference before and after the study in any group (P > 0.05). HbA1c levels and drugs contributing to 2HPG at the end of study had statistical cross-action (P < 0.01). In the abnormal HbA1c group, 2HPG after the study was higher in the clozapine treatment group [(9.5 ± 1.8) mmol/L] than in the risperidone treatment group [(7.4 ± 1.7) mmol/L] and the chlorpromazine treatment group [(7.3 ± 1.6) mmol/L]. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). In the normal HbA1c group there was no statistically significant difference before and after the study in any group (P > 0.05). 2HPG before [(7.1 ± 1.6) mmol/L] and after the study [(8.1 ± 1.9) mmol/L] was higher in the abnormal HbA1c group than in the normal HbA1c group [(6.2 ± 1.4) mmol/L vs (6.5 ± 1.4) mmol/L] with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.01 vs P < 0.001). As compared with normal HbA1c group, the relative risk (RR) of glucose metabolism disease occurrence was 4.7 in the abnormal HbA1c group with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.001). Patients with abnormal HbA1c are more likely to have a higher risk of having glucose metabolism disorders after APS treatment.