Exploring site-specific N application rate to reduce N footprint and increase crop production for green manure-rice rotation system in southern China.

Milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) is leguminous green manure (GM) which produces organic nitrogen (N) for subsequent crops and is widely planted and utilized to simultaneously reduce the use of synthetic N fertilizer and its environmental costs in rice systems. Determination of an optimal N application rate specific to the GM-rice system is challenging because of the large temporal and spatial variations in soil, climate, and field management conditions. To solve this problem, we developed a framework to explore the site-specific N application rate for the low-N footprint rice production system in southern China based on multi-site field experiments, farmer field survey, and process-based model (WHCNS_Rice, soil water heat carbon nitrogen simulator for rice). The results showed that a process-based model can explain >83.3% (p < 0.01) of the variation in rice yield, aboveground biomass, crop N uptake, and soil mineral N. Based on the scenario analysis of the tested WHCNS_Rice model, the simple regression equation was developed to implement site-specific N application rates that considered variations in GM biomass, soil, and climatic conditions. Simulation evaluation on nine provinces in southern China showed that the site-specific N application rate reduced regional synthetic N fertilizer input by 29.6 ± 17.8% and 65.3 ± 23.0% for single and early rice, respectively; decreased their total N footprints (NFs) by 23.4% and 49.3%, respectively; and without reduction in rice yield, compared with traditional farming N practices. The reduction in total NF was attributed to the reduced emissions from ammonia volatilization by 35.2%, N leaching by 28.4%, and N runoff by 32.7%. In this study, we suggested a low NF rice production system that can be obtained by combining GM with site-specific N application rate in southern China.

[Effects of Chinese Milk Vetch Returning Incorporated with Chemical Fertilizer Reduction on the Composition and Function of Soil Bacterial Communities in Paddy Fields].

Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) is an important organic nutrient resource in the southern Henan rice-growing area. Thus, the effects of Chinese milk vetch (MV) returning incorporated with reduced chemical fertilizer on the physicochemical properties and bacterial community characteristics in paddy soil were studied. These results can provide a certain theoretical basis for the improvement of soil fertility and reduction of chemical fertilizer in this area. A field experiment was conducted for 12 consecutive years, involving six fertilization treatments (blank control, CK; 100% chemical fertilizer, F100; 80% chemical fertilizer+22.5 t·hm-2 MV, MV1F80; 80% chemical fertilizer+45 t·hm-2 MV, MV2F80; 60% chemical fertilizer+22.5 t·hm-2 MV, MV1F60; and 60% chemical fertilizer+45 t·hm-2 MV, MV2F60). The high-throughput sequencing method was used to compare the effects of different fertilization treatments on soil bacterial community diversity, composition, and structural characteristics. The FAPROTAX function prediction method was used to analyze the abundance differences of functional groups between different fertilization treatments. Additionally, combined with soil physicochemical properties and bacterial community characteristics, we explored the key soil environmental factors that changed the structure and functional characteristics of the soil bacterial community. Compared with that under CK, the soil bulk density (BD) under the MV returning incorporated with reduced chemical fertilizer treatment was decreased, whereas soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) were increased by 12.7%-35.5%, 38.2%-65.7%, 66.7%-95.2%, and 20.3%-31.6%, respectively. Compared with that under the F100 treatment, the Sobs index and Shannon diversity index of the bacterial community under the MV returning incorporated with reduced chemical fertilizer were decreased, and the Sobs index and Shannon diversity index were significantly positively correlated with BD (P<0.05) but significantly negatively correlated with SOC and TN (P<0.05). Compared with that under the F100 treatment, the relative abundances of Firmicutes under the MV1F80 and MV2F60 treatments were significantly increased by 82.2% and 67.4% (P<0.05), but the relative abundances of Acidobacteria were significantly reduced by 32.6% and 40.5% (P<0.05), respectively. The relative abundance of Actinobacteria under the MV2F60 treatment was significantly increased by 30.0% (P<0.05) compared with that under the F100 treatment. According to RDA analysis, soil SOC, TN, and TK were the main soil environmental factors that significantly affected bacterial community (P<0.05). Compared with that under CK and the F100 treatment, the abundance of functional groups of chemoheterotrophy, nitrogen fixation, fermentation, and ureolysis under the MV returning incorporated with reduced chemical fertilizer treatment were improved, whereas the abundance of functional groups of animal parasites or symbionts, all human pathogens, and human pathogen pneumonia were reduced, particularly under MV1F80 and MV2F60. To summarize, the long-term MV returning to the field incorporated with reduced chemical fertilizer improved the soil physical and chemical properties, thus changing the structure and functional characteristics of the soil bacterial communities, contributing to the improvement in the soil fertility, stability, and health of micro-ecosystems in paddy fields, thus ensuring the green and sustainable development of regional agriculture.

Endoscopic extraction of a submucosal esophageal foreign body piercing into the thoracic aorta: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Aorto-esophageal injury is a rare but life-threatening complication of esophageal foreign bodies, which typically requires open surgery. The best way to treat patients with this condition remains unclear. To date, few reports have described an aortic wall directly penetrated by a sharp foreign body. Here, we present a rare case of a fishbone completely embedded in the esophageal muscularis propria and directly piercing the aorta, which was successfully treated by endoscopy and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of a 71-year-old man with a 1-d history of retrosternal pain after eating fish. No abnormal findings were observed by the emergency esophagoscopy. Computed tomography showed a fishbone that had completely pierced through the esophageal mucosa and into the aorta. The patient refused to undergo surgery for personal reasons and was discharged. Five days after the onset of illness, he was readmitted to our hospital. Endoscopy examination showed a nodule with a smooth surface in the middle of the esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography confirmed a fishbone under the nodule. After performing TEVAR, we incised the esophageal mucosa under an endoscope and successfully removed the fishbone. The patient has remained in good condition for 1 year. CONCLUSION: Incising the esophageal wall under endoscope and extracting a foreign body after TEVAR may be a feasible option for cases such as ours.

Epidemiology estimates of hepatitis D in individuals co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus, 2002-2018: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is an obligate satellite of hepatitis B virus (HBV). HIV/HDV co-infection is associated with a high rate of hepatic decompensation events and death. We aimed to characterize the epidemiology of HDV infection in HIV/HBV co-infected individuals. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL and Scopus for studies published from 1 Jan 2002 to 7 May 2018 measuring prevalence of HDV among the HIV population. Pooled seroprevalence was calculated with the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Our search returned 4624 records, 38 of which met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies included data for 63 cohorts from 18 countries and regions. The overall HDV seroprevalence of HIV-infected individuals was 1.03% (95% CI 0.43-1.85) in 2002-2018 globally. Moreover, the estimated pooled HDV seroprevalence among the general population was 1.07% (95% CI 0.65-1.59) in 2002-2018, which was not significantly different from the HDV seroprevalence of individuals living with HIV (p = 0.951). The overall HDV seroprevalence of the HBsAg positive population was 12.15% (95% CI 10.22-14.20), p = 0.434 when compared with the corresponding data of HIV/HBV co-infected individuals. This meta-analysis suggested that there was no difference between the HDV seroprevalence in HIV-infected individuals and the general population.

Diagnostic value of TWEAK for predicting active lupus nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Accumulative studies showed that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) was up-regulated in the blood and urine from patients diagnosed with lupus nephritis (LN) and that it might be used as a novel biomarker for active LN. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the diagnostic value of TWEAK in active LN. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Springer, Wanfang and CNKI databases for articles published up to 20 August 2020. The diagnostic capacity of TWEAK for active LN was assessed using pooled sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Quality assessment and publication bias were also evaluated. STATA 11.0 and Meta-Disc 1.4 were used to perform these analyses. RESULTS: Nine cross-sectional studies were included in this meta-analysis. The overall pooled sensitivity of TWEAK for the diagnosis of active LN was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.63-0.75), and specificity was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.71-0.82). The overall pooled PLR and NLR were 3.31 (95% CI, 2.05-5.35) and 0.38 (95% CI, 0.26-0.55), respectively, with a DOR of 10.89 (95% CI, 6.73-17.63) and AUC (SE) of 0.8276 (0.0289). Deeks' funnel plot revealed that the publication bias was insignificant in the study (p = .32). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that TWEAK might be a potential biomarker for patients with active LN. Future cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are needed to confirm its diagnostic value, as well as to establish more definite cutoff for active LN.

Retrospective Analysis of 28 Cases Confirmed for Primary Angiitis of the Central Nervous System by Biopsy.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics, therapeutic effects, and long-term prognosis of cases confirmed with primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) by biopsy, analyze the risk factors, and provide clinical guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 28 cases of PACNS confirmed by biopsy, and the age, gender, pathological results, course of the disease, imaging manifestations, treatment, and prognosis of the patients were analyzed and summarized. RESULTS: The cohort (age 16-60 years) comprised of 16 males. The average time from the visit to diagnosis was 6 months. The first symptom was chronic headache in 18 patients. The pathological results were accompanied by demyelination in 10 cases and glial hyperplasia in 6 cases. A total of 27 patients received treatments including glucocorticoid+cyclophosphamide; of these, 3 cases of craniotomy were improved. Among the 28 patients, 15 patients improved after the treatment, 12 patients had no significant improvement, and 1 patient was deceased. Patients with a long course of the disease before diagnosis, a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score <60 at the time of diagnosis, a behavioral, cognitive abnormality before treatment, and a short-term relapse (0.3-1 month) have a poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: PACNS patients are prone to misdiagnosis and mistreatment, with unknown etiology and poor prognosis due to delayed treatment. Therefore, early biopsy, pathological diagnosis, and timely treatment with glucocorticoid shock are recommended, and patients with obvious mass effect should be treated by surgical resection.

[Ecosystem service function of green manure and its application in dryland agriculture of China]. / ç»¿è‚¥åœ¨æˆ‘å›½æ—±åœ°å†œä¸šç”Ÿæ€ç³»ç»Ÿä¸­çš„æœåŠ¡åŠŸèƒ½åŠå ¶åº”ç”¨.

Dryland agriculture, with wide distribution and high yield potential, plays an important role in ensuring food security in China. It is currently limited by water scarcity, soil depletion, water and soil loss, and low non-renewable resource-use efficiency. Green manure has the potential to improve growth environment of crops and promote sustainable high-yield crops by increasing soil quality, balancing soil nutrients, and enhancing soil water-storage capacity. In addition, green manure has ecological benefits, including enhancing agroecosystem biodiversity, increasing soil surface cover degree, reducing ineffective nutrient loss to environment, improving air balance of farmland systems, and biological control of diseases, insect pests, and weeds. Under current scenario of intensified global climate change, environmental deterioration, and agricultural product demand changes, the traditional agronomic techniques of using green manure as a fertilizer cannot satisfy the requirements of agricultural development. Thus, it is necessary to strengthen the selection and bree-ding of green manure genetic resources for dryland agriculture, to develop a new regionalization of green manure, and to establish a cropping pattern based on green manure suitable for different regions. Furthermore, it is important to study and optimize the tillage and cultivation techniques to satisfy modern production and to establish an evaluation system for the comprehensive benefits of green manure. It is needed to establish a green manure application pattern that enables resource and ecological protection for improving ecological environment and economic efficiency of dryland agriculture and provides theoretical basis and technical support for exploiting green manure benefits.

Paenibacillus rhizophilus sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from the rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

A novel Gram-stain-variable, endospore-forming, motile, rod-shaped, facultative aerobic bacterium, designated 7197T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) collected from Yakeshi County, Inner Mongolia, PR China. This isolate was found to have the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Paenibacillussabinae T27T (98.0 %), followed by Paenibacillussophorae S27T (97.9 %) and Paenibacillusforsythiae T98T (97.7 %). To ascertain the genomic relatedness of this strain to its phylogenetic neighbours, its genome sequence was determined. The average nucleotide identity values of genome sequences between the novel isolate and the type strains of related species P. sabinae T27T, P. sophorae S27T and P. forsythiae T98T were 87.9 %, 85.8 and 83.9 %, respectively. The polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminophospholipids and one unidentified aminolipid. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (56.3 %), C16 : 0 (15.7 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (14.1 %).The genome size of strain 7197T was 5.21 Mb, comprising 4879 predicted genes with a DNA G+C content of 51.9 mol%. Menaquinone-7 was reported as the major respiratory quinone. The diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was found to be meso-diaminopimelic acid. Based on phylogenetic, genomic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics, strain 7197T was classified as a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus rhizophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Paenibacillus rhizophilus is 7197T (=DSM 103168T=CGMCC 1.15699T).

[The characteristics of decomposition and nutrient release of Vicia villosa under different fertilization treatments.] / ä¸åŒæ–½è‚¥æ¡ä»¶ä¸‹æ¯›å¶è‹•å­çš„è è§£åŠå »åˆ†é‡Šæ”¾ç‰¹å¾.

The effects of three fertilization treatments (no fertilizer, nitrogen fertilizer, and lime) on the characteristics of Vicia villosa decomposition and nutrient release were studied using the nylon bag method in the fields. The results showed that the cumulative decomposition rate of V. villosa was 65.3%-72.5% across the three fertilization treatments. V. villosa decomposed rapidly during 0-11 d, then slowed down and tended to be stable. The nutrient release rates across the three treatments were potassium > phosphorus > carbon > nitrogen. At the end of the experiment (148 d), the cumulative release rates of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were 83.6%-84.6%, 78.2%-81.2%, 89.8%-91.4% and 96.3%-97.0%, respectively. During the whole decomposition period, the characteristics of nitrogen release and decomposition of V. villosa were similar. Compared with no fertilizer treatment, lime application promoted decomposition and release of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen fertilizer application promoted phosphorus release but inhibited potassium release. Both nitrogen application and lime application had no significant effect on carbon release. The application of nitrogen fertilizer promoted the decomposition of V. villosa and nitrogen release in 0-11 d, but inhibited those processes in 11-148 d. The first-order kinetic reaction equation and logarithmic function equation well fitted the characteristics of V. villosa decomposition and the release of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the rice fields of South Henan. The characteristic parameters of the equation were significantly correlated with the decomposition rate and nutrient release rate of V. villosa. In summary, lime application was better than nitrogen fertili-zer in promoting decomposition and nutrient release of V. villosa. Moreover, the parameters of the first-order kinetic equation and logarithmic function equation showed a good description of decomposition and nutrient release of V. villosa.

Assessment of Plant Growth Promoting and Abiotic Stress Tolerance Properties of Wheat Endophytic Fungi.

The aims of the present work were to isolate and characterize fungal endophytic communities associated with healthy wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants, collected from the North China. Segregated endophytes were screened for their PGP traits, abiotic stresses (heavy metals, salinity, drought, and temperature), and antibiotic sensitivity. A total of 16 endophytic fungi were isolated using the culture-dependent approach from different tissue parts of wheat plants. Based upon their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA gene sequencing, 15 out of 16 isolates were selected for further analysis. In the contemporary investigation, a number of the tested endophytes exhibited fairly good 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase (ACCD) (0.03±0.011 to 1.43±0.01 µmol α-KB mg-1 protein hr-1), indole acetic acid (IAA) (1.125±0.04 to36.12±0.004µgml-1), and phosphate solubilizing index (PSI) (2.08±0.03to5.16±0.36) activities. More than 30% isolates gave positive result for siderophore and ammonia tests, whereas all exhibited catalase activity but only 2 (582PDA1 and 582PDA11) produced hydrogen cyanide. Trichoderma strains showed salt, heavy metals, and drought tolerance at high levels and also exhibited resistance to all the tested antibiotics. Strain 582PDA4 was found to be the most temperature (55°C) tolerant isolate. The findings of this study indicated that the microbial endophytes isolated from wheat plants possessing a crucial function to improve plant growth could be utilized as biofertilizers or bioagents to establish a sustainable crop production system.

Malignant Intracranial High Grade Glioma and Current Treatment Strategy.

Malignant high-grade glioma (HGG) is the most common and extremely fatal type of primary intracranial tumor. These tumors recurred within 2 to 3 cm of the primary region of tumor resection in the majority of cases. Furthermore, the blood-brain barrier significantly limited the access of many systemically administered chemotherapeutics to the tumor, pointing towards a stringent need for new therapeutic patterns. Therefore, targeting therapy using local drug delivery for HGG becomes a priority for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The main objectives to the effective use of chemotherapy for HGG include the drug delivery to the tumor region and the infusion of chemotherapeutic agents into the vascular supply of a tumor directly, which could improve the pharmacokinetic profile by enhancing drug delivery to the neoplasm tissue. Herein, we reviewed clinical and molecular features, different methods of chemotherapy application in HGGs, especially the existing and promising targeting therapies using local drug delivery for HGG which could effectively inhibit tumor invasion, proliferation and recurrence of HGG to combat the deadly disease. Undoubtedly, novel chemical medicines targeting these HGG may represent one of the most important directions in the Neuro-oncology.

Effects of different nitrogen supply levels on the yield of Orychophragmus violaceus, soil residual inorganic nitrogen, and nitrogen balance.

Understanding the responses of winter green manure February orchid (Orychophragmus violaceus) to different levels of nitrogen (N) supply in Northern China and determining the optimal soil N supply level to meet N demands of green manure production with high yield and efficiency, could provide a theoretical foundation and practice reference for maximizing ecological effects of green manure and optimizing N management for spring maize-green manure rotation system in intensive farmland in Northern China. We carried out a field experiment in a site which had received no fertilizer for many years. The aboveground biomass accumulation, N uptake of February orchid and soil residual inorganic N before green manure incorporation, as well as the N balance during the green manure growing season were determined under different levels of N supply. The results showed that N fertilizer application significantly increased the biomass and N uptake of February orchid under low soil inorganic N content (15 kg·hm-2 in 0-90 cm soil layer). At the application rate of 90 kg·hm-2, the biomass (dry mass) and N uptake reached the maximum, being 2031 and 42 kg·hm-2, respectively. The soil residual inorganic N amount rose with the increases of N fertilizer application before sowing, growing very rapidly once the application rate was over 60 kg·hm-2. With the increases of N application rate, the calculated apparent N balance changed from deficit to surplus in the growing season of February orchid. The inputs and outputs of N reached a balance at the application rates of 60 to 90 kg·hm-2. The relationships between February orchid biomass, N uptake, soil inorganic N before green manure incorporation, and soil N supply amount (0-90 cm preplant soil inorganic N content plus N application rate) could be fitted by the quadratic, linear plus plateau and exponential models respectively. Based on the simulation, we calculated the preplant soil N supply and soil residual inorganic N content before green manure incorporation would be 136 and 78 kg·hm-2 individually, as the biomass of February orchid reached the maximum (2010 kg·hm-2). While N uptake was at the highest level of 40 kg·hm-2, the biomass of February orchid was 95% of the maximum biomass mentioned above (1919 kg·hm-2) and the soil residual inorganic N before green manure incorporation decreased to 57 kg·hm-2 whose corresponding minimum soil N supply amount was 105 kg·hm-2. This value was quite near to the recommended soil residual inorganic N (100 kg·hm-2) after maize harvest under optimized N management in Nor-thern China. Taken together, our results showed that the level of soil N supply should be at approximately 100 to 105 kg·hm-2 in spring maize-winter green manure system for improving tradeoffs between agronomic and environmental impacts.

[Effects of Green Manures on Soil Dissolved Organic Matter in Moisture Soil in North China].

Soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in the biogeochemistry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus and in the transport of heavy metals and pesticides in soil. In moisture soil, green manures and soils were sampled in situ at the ploughed stage of green manures. A 56-day laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to simulate the dynamic changes of soil DOM influenced by the decomposition of green manures, the green manures were Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), February orchid (Orychophragmus Violaceus L.), Rye (Secale cereale L.), the soil without green manure was used as a control (CK). The composition and ultraviolet-visible spectrum parameters of soil DOM were investigated at different incubation stages. Results showed that green manures could increase the dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the total organic acids (TOAs) and total carbohydrate (TCs) contents, and all treatments were reached a peak on the 1st day and decreased later. Hairy vetch affected DOC and TOAs most and were increased by 114.01% and 109.10% higher than CK respectively at the 1st and 14th day. Rye influenced the total carbohydrate (TCs) most and was maximumly 323.18% higher than CK at the 42nd day. Green manures could increase the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) content, DON in all green manure treatments increased on the 1st day, decreased several days later and increased again after 20～30 d. Hairy vetch effected DON best and was 305.83% higher than CK at the 42nd day. All green manures increased in SUVA254, SUVA260, SUVA272, SUVA280 and SAUC240-400, while decreasing in A250/A365 and A240/A420. The PCA analysis of ultraviolet-visible spectrum parameters showed that SUVA254, SUVA260, SUVA272, SUVA280 had a high positive correlation between each other, and the same situation was found between A250/A365 and A240/A420. Among them, SAUC240-400 was a key factor parameter featuring the characteristics of DOM. The results suggested that green manures could increase the contents of DOM and its aromaticity, hydrophobic percentage, humification degree and average molecular weight, and could be increased and the stability of DOM could be enhanced accordingly. The ultraviolet-visible spectrum parameters could indicate the changes of characteristics of DOM in this study.

[Long-Term Different Fertilizations Changed the Chemical and Spectrum Characteristics of DOM of the Irrigation-Desert Soil in North-Western China].

By using Ultraviolet-visible Spectrometry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer and Elemental Analyzer, spectrum and chemical characteristics of soil DOM affected by long-term different fertilizations were investigated in irrigation-desert soil in North-western China based on an experiment started from 1988. Four different fertilization treatments were included, i. e., organic fertilizer (OF), green manure (GM), chemical fertilizer (CF) and a control of no fertilization (CK). The results showed that fertilization could increase the contents of DOM. Compared to CK, the treatments of OF, GM, CF increased the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by 37%, 29%, 16%; increased the dissolved nitrogen (DON) by 334%, 257%, 182%; increased the total carbohydrate (TCs) by 90%, 25%, 2%; and increased the total organic acids (TOAs) by 195%, 116%, 58%; respectively. Furthermore, DOC, DON, TCs, and TOAs in the OF treatment were significantly higher than those in CK, they were also significantly higher in the GM and CF treatments except for TCs. The ultraviolet-visible analysis showed that fertilizations enhanced the SUVA(254), SUVA(260), SUVA(272) and SUVA(280) of DOM, indicating that fertilizations increased the aromatic and hydrophobic percentage, humification degree, and average molecular weight, and thus resulting in more stability of DOM. Same trends were showed for all the 4 ultraviolet spectrum absorption values in different fertilizations, i. e., the strongest effect was found in the OF treatment, and then was the GM treatment and CF treatment successively. From the results by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry, the characteristic peak of aromatic in the OF treatment was observed shifting from 1 625 to 1 649 cm(-1), which was close to the characteristic peak of humin, suggesting that the aromaticity of DOM in the OF treatment was higher than the other treatments. The characteristic peaks of C-O at 1 260-1 000 cm(-1) belonging to sugar, alcohol, and carboxylic acid were highest in the GM treatment, showing that the green manure could increase rich oxygen radicals. The highest characteristic peaks of N-H at 3 559, 3 419 and 1 456 cm(-1) were observed in the CF treatment, indicating that the chemical fertilizer could increase amine substances. The contents of C, O and N in the OF, GM, CF treatments were also increased respectively according to the elemental analysis.

[Effects of rotations and different green manure utilizations on crop yield and soil fertility].

A 4-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of three rotation systems and three corresponding leguminous green manure (LGM) application methods on wheat yield and soil properties. The rotation patterns were summer fallow--winter wheat (SW), LGM-- winter wheat (LW) and LGM--spring maize--winter wheat (LMW). The three LGM application methods of LW included: early mulch, early incorporation and late incorporation while the three LGM application methods of LMW were: stalk mulch, stalk incorporation and stalk move-away. The results indicated that for LW, LGM consumed more soil water, thus the wheat yield was not stable. The nitrate storage in 0-200 cm soil after wheat harvest was significantly higher than that of the others, indicating an increasing risk of nitrate leaching. Early mulch under LW had the highest soil organic carbon (SOC) content and storage of SOC (SSOC) in 0-20 cm soil. For LMW, wheat yield was comparatively stable among years, because of higher water storage before wheat seeding, and the nitrate storage in 0-200 cm soil after wheat harvest was significantly lower than LW, which decreased the risk of nitrate leaching. Stalk mulch had higher SOC content in 0-20 cm soil after wheat harvest compared with move-away. In addition, compared with the soil when the experiment started, stalk much also increased SSOC in 0-20 cm soil. In conclusion, LMW with stalk mulch could increase soil water storage, stabilize crop yield, improve soil fertility and decrease 0-200 cm soil nitrate storage. This system could be treated as a good alternative for areas with similar climate.

[Response of photosynthesis and growth to weak light regime in different Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) varieties].

In order to determine the adaptability of Adzuki beans as the interplanting crops in fruit yards, field and pot experimental treatments with full natural light and weak light (48% of full natural light) regimes were conducted to test the shade tolerance and physiological responses of three Adzuki bean varieties including Funan green Vigna angularis (FGVA), early-mature black V. angularis (EBVA) and late-mature black V. angularis (LBVA). The leaf photosynthetic characteristic parameters, photosynthetic pigment contents and the activity of RuBPCase were measured during the first bloom stage. The response of growth to weak light was likewise studied. The results showed that the photosynthetic characteristic parameters, i.e., the maximum net photosynthetic rate, light saturation point and light compensation point of the three Adzuki bean varieties under the weak light stress changed differently. The weak light stress induced the reduction of net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency and RuBPCase activity of the three Adzuki bean varieties significantly. The contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in leaves of FGVA increased significantly, while Chl a/b and carotenoid content in the leaves decreased significantly after shading. But the other two varieties did not change obviously in photosynthetic pigments content after shading. The weak light changed the growth of the three Adzuki bean varieties, such as decreasing dry matter yield and dry matter accumulation efficiency, reducing root nodule and root-shoot ratio, debasing leaves quantity and leaf area index. The first bloom stage and maturing stage of FGVA advanced, while that of EBVA delayed under weak light. However, flowers were not strong enough to seed for LBVA under the weak light. In conclusion, according to the photosynthetic characteristics changes after shading, as well as the growth status, we concluded that the shade tolerance of the three Adzuki beans was ranked as FGVA>EBVA>LBVA.

Correlation between ¹8F-fluoromisonidazole PET and expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in newly diagnosed and recurrent malignant gliomas.

PURPOSE: Hypoxia and its consequences at the molecular level promote tumour progression and affect patient prognosis. One of the main early cellular events evoked by hypoxia is induction of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and subsequent upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this study we sought to determine whether hypoxia detected by (18)F-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) PET accurately reflects the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in the tumour and can be used as a biomarker of antiangiogenic treatment and as a prognostic factor in newly diagnosed and recurrent malignant gliomas. METHODS: Enrolled in this study were 32 patients with newly diagnosed glioma and 16 with recurrent glioma of grade III or grade IV. All the patients had undergone FMISO PET preoperatively. The maximum tumour-to-blood FMISO activity ratio (T/Bmax) was used to evaluate the degree of tumour hypoxia and the hypoxic volume (HV) was calculated using a tumour-to-blood FMISO uptake ratio of ≥1.2. Immunohistochemical expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF were evaluated semiquantitatively using the immunoreactivity score (IRS, scores 0 to 12) and the correlation was examined between IRS of HIF-1α or VEGF and FMISO uptake of the tumour (SUVtumour) using navigation-based sampling. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method in relation to the T/Bmax and the HV. RESULTS: The T/Bmax and the HV in grade IV gliomas were significantly higher than in grade III gliomas (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). Moderate to strong HIF-1α and VEGF expression was observed in the majority of malignant gliomas. The IRS of HIF-1α and VEGF in the tumour were not significantly different between grade III and grade IV gliomas. The IRS of HIF-1α in the tumour did not correlate with the SUVtumour of FMISO in either newly diagnosed or recurrent glioma. There was a significant but weak correlation between the IRS of VEGF and the SUVtumour of FMISO in newly diagnosed glioma, but not in recurrent glioma. The overall survival time in patients with a small HV and a low FMISO T/Bmax was significantly longer than in those with a large HV and a high FMISO T/Bmax (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Preoperative FMISO uptake is significantly correlated with the expression of VEGF in the tumour and might be used as a biomarker of antiangiogenic treatment in newly diagnosed malignant gliomas. However, caution is required because the correlation was weak and there was a large overlap of FMISO uptake between glioma with high and low VEGF expression. In addition, hypoxia determined by FMISO PET appears to be a suitable biomarker for predicting a highly malignant tumour and a poor prognosis in patients with malignant glioma.

[Temporal and spatial variations of soil NO(3-)-N in Orychophragmus violaceus/spring maize rotation system in North China].

The February orchid (Orychophragmus violaceus)-spring maize rotation system is established to resolve the problems caused by the expansion of fallow fields in North China. Based on a site-specific experiment, temporal and spatial variations of soil NO(3-)-N were investigated during the period from February orchid incorporation to maize harvest. The results showed that the nitrate content in soil profiles not only showed a temporal characteristic, i. e., increasing at the beginning of the maize season and decreasing then after, but also showed a spatial characteristic, i. e., the gradual occurrence of the peak of nitrate content from shallower to deeper layer with the growth season of maize. Meanwhile, incorporation of February orchid could affect temporal and spatial variations of soil NO(3-)-N. February orchid planting reduced the soil NO(3-)-N accumulation in the profile of 0180 cm. After incorporation of February orchid, similar characteristics were observed at the seedling and bell stages of maize, i. e., the soil NO(3-)-N mainly stayed in the profile of 0-20 cm, and NO(3-)-N concentrations in the treatments with February orchid were higher in 0-100 cm layer and lower in 100-180 cm layer than those of the treatments without February orchid. After tasseling stage, opposite phenomena were found, and the soil NO(3-)-N content was all relative low. Overall, incorporation of February orchid could increase the storage capacity of soil NO(3-)-N in the profile of 0-180 cm.

MicroRNA-34a induces apoptosis in the human glioma cell line, A172, through enhanced ROS production and NOX2 expression.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNA is a type of non-coding small RNA involved in regulating genes and signaling pathways through incomplete complementation with target genes. Recent research supports key roles of miRNA in the formation and development of human glioma. METHODS: The relative quantity of miR-34a was initially determined in human glioma A172 cells and glioma tissues. Next, we analyzed the impact of miR-34a on A172 cell viability with the MTT assay. The effects of miR-34a overexpression on apoptosis were confirmed with flow cytometry and Hoechst staining experiments. We further defined the target genes of miR-34a using immunofluorescence and Western blot. RESULTS: MiR-34a expression was significantly reduced in human glioma A172 cells and glioma tissue, compared with normal glial cells and tissue samples. Our MTT data suggest that up-regulation of miR-34a inhibits cell viability while suppression of miR-34a enhances cell viability. Flow cytometry and Hoechst staining results revealed increased rates of apoptosis in A172 human glioma cells overexpressing miR-34a. Using immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses, we identified NOX2 as a target of miR-34a in A172 cells. CONCLUSION: MiR-34a serves as a tumor suppressor in human glioma mainly by decreasing NOX2 expression.

Relationship of 14-3-3zeta (ζ), HIF-1α, and VEGF expression in human brain gliomas.

Accumulating evidence suggests that tissue hypoxia and apoptosis play important roles in the malignant progression of brain tumors. We investigated the relationship of 14-3-3zeta (an apoptosis-related protein), HIF-1α, and VEGF immunohistochemistry, and evaluated the prognostic value of their expression in human brain gliomas. A semiquantitative analysis of the immunoreactivity scores (IRSs) of the 14-3-3zeta, HIF-1α, and VEGF proteins was performed in 27 patients with various grades of gliomas. The IRS of 14-3-3zeta increased with tumor grade, with grade IV gliomas having the highest score (P < 0.05). Similar results were found for the IRSs of HIF-1α and VEGF (P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between the IRSs of 14-3-3zeta and HIF-1α, 14-3-3zeta and VEGF, and HIF-1α and VEGF (P < 0.001 for all). The survival time of HIF-1α in grade III and grade IV glioma patients with low IRSs (0-6) was significantly longer than that in such glioma patients with high IRSs (8-12) (P < 0.05). These data indicate that 14-3-3zeta, HIF-1α, and VEGF are involved in the same cascade of the malignant progression of gliomas. Further studies will elucidate their detailed role in the malignant progression of glioma, and will contribute to the development of a new treatment strategy for this lethal disease.