[Soil nutrient status of pure birch and larch plantations based on their seedlings bioassay].

One-year-old birch (Betula platyphylla) and larch (Larix olgensis) seedlings were respectively planted in pots with the soils taken from 35-year-old pure birch and larch plantations, and the seedlings growth, biomass increment, foliar nutrient content, and soil nutrient status were monitored, aimed to evaluate the fertility levels of the two soils and the possible interspecific interaction in mixed larch-birch forest. Birch soil had significantly higher contents of total N and available N than larch soil, while larch soil had significantly higher contents of total P, available P, and total K than birch soil (P < 0.05). In the first growth season, the height and collar diameter growth and the biomass accumulation of birch seedlings growing on birch soil were 69%, 52%, and 65% (P < 0.05) higher than those growing on larch soil, and the larch seedlings also had 12%, 8%, and 37% gains of the indices, respectively. The foliar N concentration of both larch and birch seedlings growing on birch soil was higher than that on larch soil, while the foliar P concentration was higher when the seedlings were growing on larch soil than on birch soil. The birch soil had higher content of available N because of the higher litterfall, while the larch soil had greater available P because of the higher P mobilizing effect. It was predicted that in mixed birch-larch forest, the complementary interaction of soil N and P could benefit the growth of the two tree species.

[Interspecific allelopathic effect of different organs' aqueous extracts of Betula platyphylla and Larix olgensis on their seed germination and seedling growth].

In this paper, the Betula platyphylla root-, branch-, and foliage aqueous extracts and Larix olgensis root-, branch-, foliage-, and bark aqueous extracts over a range of concentrations 5.0, 12.5, 25.0, 50.0, and 100.0 mg x mL(-1) were used to study their interspecific allelopathic effect on the seed germination and seedling growth of the two tree species. All the L. olgensis organs' extracts, except its root extracts at concentration 5.0 mg x mL(-1), had inhibition effect on B. platyphylla seed germination rate, which was 54%, 58%, 59%, and 66% under the effects of L. olgensis foliage-, branch-, bark-, and root extracts, respectively, as compared with the control. With increasing concentration, the inhibition effect of L. olgensis root- and branch extracts increased while that of L. olgensis foliage- and bark extracts decreased. The L. olgensis organs' extracts, especially the foliage extracts at concentration 100.0 mg x mL(-1), had strong inhibition effect on B. platyphylla seed radicle- and hypocotyl length growth, with a decrement of 38% and 55% (P < 0.05), respectively. L. olgensis branch- and foliage extracts promoted, but root- and bark extracts inhibited B. platyphylla seedling growth and biomass production. B. platyphylla organs' extracts promoted L. olgensis seed germination, root- and branch extracts promoted hypocotyl length growth, but foliage extracts at 50.0 and 100.0 mg x mL(-1) decreased the hypocotyl length growth by 27% and 28% (P < 0.05), respectively. B. platyphylla organs' extracts mainly promoted L. olgensis seedling growth, with the height- and collar diameter growth and biomass accumulation at B. platyphylla foliage extracts concentration 5.0 mg x mL(-1) increased by 54%, 60%, and 100% (P < 0.05), respectively. Our results suggested that there existed obvious allelopathic effect between B. platyphylla and L. olgensis, and thus, mixed planting B. platyphylla and L. olgensis could have promotion effects on the growth of the two tree species.

[Clinical features of endotracheal/endobronchial metastases: analysis of 62 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentations, diagnosis and treatment of endotracheal/endobronchial metastases (EEM). METHODS: Retrospective and follow-up analyses were conducted for 62 cases of bronchoscopically confirmed EEM. Clinical staging, location in the tracheobronchial tree, the number of lesions, treatment and prognosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The most common neoplasms associated with EEM were breast cancer (17.7%), coronal cancer (17.7%), and esophageal carcinoma (14.5%). Most EEM patients presented with cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, chest pain and fever. Abnormal changes on chest X-ray were found in 87.1% cases, and CT changes were found in all patients. A total of 76 intraluminal lesions were recorded, of which 19 in the trachea and 57 in the bronchus, including 31 in the right bronchus and 26 in the left bronchus. Type I EEM accounted for 28.9%; Type II, 23.7%; Type III, 14.5%, and Type IV, 32.9%. The median survival time was 9.8 months. There was significant difference in survival time between Type IV EEM and the other three types (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EEM may occur in the trachea or in the bronchus. Flexible bronchoscopy is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of EEM. Although there are cases of long survival, the prognosis of EEM is generally poor.

[Restenosis and its management after metallic stents implantation in benign tracheal and main bronchial stenosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the occurrence of restenosis after metallic stents implantation in benign tracheal and main bronchial stenosis, and to evaluate the therapeutic effects of balloon dilatation, cryotherapy and electrocautery. METHODS: Thirty patients with benign tracheal stenosis and 35 patients with main bronchial stenosis caused by tuberculosis were treated with metallic stents implantation and a follow-up was carried out to observe the occurrence of restenosis. Combined balloon dilatation, cryotherapy and electrocautery were used to manage the restenosis. The lumen of stenotic segment, dyspnea index and pulmonary function were measured before management and after the patient's condition became stable. RESULTS: Restenosis occurred in 6 of the 30 patients receiving tracheal stenting and in 8 of the 35 patients receiving bronchial stenting, the restenosis rates were 20% and 22.86%, respectively. In total, 30 Chinese-made stents and 36 Ultraflex stents were implanted, and the restenosis rate was 20% and 22.2%, respectively (P > 0.05). The restenosis rate was 4/9 in the upper segmental tracheal stents, and was 9.09% in the middle-lower segmental stents (chi(2) = 5.114, P < 0.05, but chi(c)(2) = 3.100, P > 0.05). The restenosis rate was 16.67% in the fibrotic stage of endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB), and was 60% in the inflammatory reaction stage of EBTB (chi(2) = 4.564, P < 0.05, but chi(c)(2) = 2.437, P > 0.05). The effective rate was 4/6 in the tracheal stenting restenosis patients, and was 2/4 and 2/2 in the upper and middle-lower segment groups, respectively. The effective rate was 7/8 in the bronchial stenting restenosis patients. After management, the lumen diameter of stenotic segment in the tracheal stenting restenosis patients increased from (3.33 +/- 1.63) mm to (9.33 +/- 3.98) mm (P < 0.02), the dyspnea index decreased from (3.67 +/- 0.52) to (1.50 +/- 1.64) (P < 0.02), the vital capacity (VC) increased from (1.39 +/- 0.17) L to (2.43 +/- 0.70) L (P < 0.01), the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) increased from (1.02 +/- 0.15) L to (2.00 +/- 0.72) L (P < 0.02). After management, the lumen diameter of stenosis segment in the bronchial stenting restenosis patients increased from (3.00 +/- 0.76) mm to (7.38 +/- 2.00) mm (P < 0.001), the dyspnea index decreased from (1.63 +/- 0.52) to (0.50 +/- 0.76) (P < 0.005), VC increased from (1.74 +/- 0.16) L to (2.74 +/- 0.41) L (P < 0.001), FEV(1) increased from (1.41 +/- 0.19) L to (2.36 +/- 0.37) L (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Restenosis occurred in some patients with benign tracheal and tuberculous bronchial stenosis after metallic stent implantation. The restenosis rate was higher in the upper tracheal stenosis than that in the middle-lower tracheal stenosis. Caution should be taken when metallic stents are placed in this part of the trachea. The restenosis rate was higher in the inflammatory reaction stage of EBTB than in the fibrotic stage. Effort should be made to avoid placing metallic stents at this stage of the disease. Balloon dilatation, cryotherapy and eletrocautery are effective methods in managing restenosis after stent implantation.

[The experimental study on the inhibitory effect of tripterine on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of tripterine on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice. METHODS: 30 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a control group, an asthmatic group (ovalbumin-sensitized) and a tripterine (1 mg/kg, introperitoneally)-treated group. Pathologic changes in lung tissues, number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and expression of stem cell factor (SCF) protein in lung were observed. In vitro, we established coculture system of bone marrow derived-mast cells from C57B6 mice and fibroblast NIH3T3, which were then treated by 2 micro mol/L of tripterine, and compared with NIH3T3 and mast cells. Concentration of histamine and eotaxin in supernants of coculture was measured by fluorometry and ELISA respectively, and expression of SCF protein in fibroblasts from cocultures was analyzed with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the asthmatic group, less inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissues was observed in the tripterine-treated group. There was significant difference in the number of eosinophils in BALF between the tripterine-treated group [(0.56 +/- 0.03) x 10(6)/L] and the asthmatic group [(1.25 +/- 0.40) x 10(6)/L, P < 0.05]. So was the expression of SCF protein in lung tissue [0.74 +/- 0.20, 2.50 +/- 0.19, P < 0.01]. In vitro, the concentration of histamine and eotaxin in coculture supernants and the expression of SCF protein in fibroblasts from coculture were (3.83 +/- 0.41) ng/ml, (5.79 +/- 0.40) ng/ml and (95 +/- 3)%, respectively; after tripterine intervention, the data changed to (2.88 +/- 0.35) ng/ml, (4.24 +/- 0.29) ng/ml, (17 +/- 5)% (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Tripterine might suppress airway inflammation in asthmatic mice, probably by downregulating the expression of SCF in fibroblasts, then inhibiting the production of histamine and eotaxin in mast cells.

[Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. a case report and review of the literature].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. METHODS: With a case report and review of the related literatures, the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, management and prognosis of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma were described. RESULTS: The etiology of this rare disease remains unknown. Symptoms are scanty and usually mild; chest radiograph or computed tomography usually reveals multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules. Primitive lumen formed by a single cell is the pathologic feature. Immunohistochemical stains show that the malignant cells are of the endothelial type. There is no effective treatment for this disease and its prognosis is unpredictable. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is rare and often misdiagnosed as other pulmonary diseases.