The effects of N-addition on litter mixture effects depend on decomposition time: A case from mixed-litter decomposition in the Gurbantunggut Desert.

Changes in nitrogen (N) deposition and litter mixtures have been shown to influence ecosystem processes such as litter decomposition. However, the interactive effects of litter mixing and N-deposition on decomposition process in desert regions remain poorly identified. We assessed the simultaneous effects of both N addition and litter mixture on mass loss in a litterbag decomposition experiment using six native plants in single-species samples with diverse quality and 14-species combinations in the Gurbantunggut Desert under two N addition treatments (control and N addition). The N addition had no significant effect on decomposition rate of single-species litter (expect Haloxylon ammodendron), whereas litter mass loss and decomposition rate differed significantly among species, with variations positively correlated with initial phosphorus concentration and negatively correlated with initial lignin concentration. After 18 months, the average mass loss across litter mixtures did not overall differ from those predicted from single species either in control or N addition treatments, that is, mixing of different species had no non-additive effects on decomposition. The N addition, however, did modify the direction of mixture effects and interacted with incubation time. Added N transformed synergistic effects of litter mixtures to antagonistic effects on mass loss after 1 month of decomposition, while transforming neutral effects of litter mixture to synergistic effects after 6 months of decomposition. Our results demonstrated that initial chemical properties played an important role in litter decomposition, while no effects of litter mixture on decomposition process in this desert region. The N addition altered the litter mixture effects on mass loss with incubation time, implying that increased N deposition in the future may have profound effects on carbon turnover to a greater extent than previously thought in desert ecosystems.

[Therapeutic effect of adjuvant treatment of acupuncture in a period of day from 7:00 am to 9:00 am on non-dipper essential hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the infuences on circadian rhythm of blood pressure in the patients with non-dipper essential hypertension between the combined treatment of time acupuncture and western medication and the simple western medication. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with non-dipper essential hypertension were randomized into an acupuncture plus western medication group (35 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a western medication group (35 cases). In the western medication group, levamlodipine maleate tablets were taken orally, 2.5 mg each time, once daily. In the acupuncture plus western medication group, on the base of the treatment as the western medication group, acupuncture was applied specially in the period of the day from 7:00 am to 9:00 am. The acupoints included Fengchi (GB 20), Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. Acupuncture was given once daily, 5 treatments a week. The duration of treatment in the two groups was 4 weeks. The clinic blood pressure before and after treatment, 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and the levels of serum melatonin (MT) and 5-serotonin (5-HT) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate of anti-hypertension was 75.8% (25/33) in the acupuncture plus western medication group, better than 54.3% (19/35) in the western medication group (P<0.05). The 24 h average systolic blood pressure, the daytime average systolic blood pressure, the daytime average diastolic pressure, and the nighttime average systolic blood pressure were all reduced after treatment in the two groups (P<0.05). The reduction effect of the aforementioned 4 indexes in the acupuncture plus western medication group was much more obvious as compared with the western medication group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum level of MT was increased and 5-HT decreased in the patients of two groups (P<0.05). The serum level of MT in the acupuncture plus western medication group was higher than that in the western medication group and the level of 5-HT was lower than the western medication group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Time acupuncture therapy in the period of the day from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, combined with western medication effectively reduce blood pressure and regulate the levels of serum MT and 5-HT so as to maintain the circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with non-dipper essential hypertension. The therapeutic effect of this combined treatment is superior to simple western medication.

[Research progress on pathogenesis of temporary osteoporosis in hip].

Transient osteoporosis of the hip(TOH) is classified as a type of bone marrow edema syndrome. TOH is lack of previous study and there is still controversy about his pathogenesis. In recent years, with the development of multi-discipline, such as imaging, pathology, molecular biology, the study has found that the pathological mechanism is complex, while its mechanism is still not clear, which need further research. This paper summarizes the research progress on the pathogenesis of TOH from neurogenic, osteonecrosis, abnormal vascular function, subchondral fracture, heredity and regional acceleration and son on.

[Effect of long-term fertilization on winter wheat yield from the dry land under different precipitation patterns]. / 不同降水年型下长期施肥旱地小麦产量效应.

Based on 30 years long-term fertilization experiment on the semiarid Loess Plateau in China, we studied the effect of different fertilizer treatments on the winter wheat yield, fertilizer contribution rate (FCR) and precipitation use efficiency (PUE) in different precipitation years (drought, normal and wet years). The result showed that the wheat yield, FCR and PUE were significantly higher in nitrogen + phosphorus (NP) and nitrogen + phosphorus +potassium (NPK) treatments than in control (CK) and phosphorus (P) treatments when winter wheat was planted for 30 consecutive years. The wheat yield, FCR and PUE in NPK treatment were highest, with values of 3480 kg·hm-2, 61.45 kg·kg-1 and 6.13 kg·mm-1·hm-2, respectively, and those in the wet years were higher than in drought and normal years. The stepwise regression analysis showed that wheat yield was mainly influenced by the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus input and precipitation during fallow period and wintering period. Accordingly, increasing nitrogen and phosphorus input accompanying with potassium and water conservation practices during the fallow period could improve the wheat yield on the semiarid Loess Plateau in China.

[Clinical observation of proximal femoral anti-rotation nail for the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the curative effect and the recessive loss of blooding of PFNA for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of femur. METHODS: From January 2012 to January 2015, a total of 49 patients with intertrochanteric fractures of femur were treated with proximal femoral anti-rotation nail including 41 males and 8 females with an average age of 79 years old ranging from 65 to 91 years old. According to the modified Evans type, 1 case was type I, 12 cases were type II, 36 cases were type III. All cases were fresh fractures. Patients had hip pain, movement limited, joint swelling, bruising, extorsion deformity, X-ray and CT examination showed completely fractures. All patients were treated by closed reduction and PFNA internal fixation. Three comminuted fractures using closed reduction were not satisfied, then were treated by limited PFNA fixation after open reduction. RESULTS: The patients' incision got the grade A healing, no complications such as infection and internal fixation failure happened. All patients were followed up from 6 to 36 months (means 22 months). The pain VAS score decreased from preoperative 7.70±1.97 to 1.00±0.26 at 6 months after operation(P<0.01). Harris hip score improved from preoperative 8.70±4.19 to 91.70±5.31 at 6 months after operation(P<0.01). The outcome at 6 months after operation was excellent in 34 cases, good in 7, poor in 1. The fracture healing time was from 8 to 16 weeks with an average of 12 weeks after operation. One patient with osteoporosis, crushing broken, poor compliance, associated with schizophrenia at the same time, appeared with the displacement of the femoral greater trochanter, with conservative treatment for healing. CONCLUSIONS: Intertrochanteric fractures of femur are common in the elderly trauma, in pain relief, recovery of hip function, to provide quality of life for the patients, PFNA achieved satisfactory effect, but its existence is worth to pay close attention to the recessive loss of blood.

[Effects of different perlite additions on physical and chemical properties of sewage sludge compost and growth of Tagetes patula].

In order to resolve the problem of poor permeability of sewage sludge compost (SSC) which was used as the substitution of peat, perlite was used to regulate the permeability of the sewage. The pure SSC was used as control. The proportions of perlite in the mixtures with SSC were 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% (V/V), respectively. The effects of different perlite ratios on the physical and chemical properties and the growth of Tagetes patula were studied. The bulk density, water holding porosity and water holding porosity to aeration porosity decreased, but the total porosity and aeration porosity increased with the increasing addition of perlite to the SSC. For the chemical properties, the pH increased, and the EC and nutrient contents decreased with the increasing addition of perlite to the SSC. The aboveground biomass and flowers of T. patula were the highest in the 60% perlite treatment, and the lowest in the pure SSC treatment. The root morphology and activity were the best in the 40%, 60% and 80% perlite treatments. Aeration was the strongest factor to impact the maximum root length and average root diameter. Perlite promoted the growth of T. patula mainly through impacting the physical properties of the SSC. The addition of 60% perlite to the SSC could significantly improve the poor aeration and decrease the high salinity greatly in the SSC and regulate the growth of the root and aboveground of T. patula.