Combined Application Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Biochar on the Rhizosphere Fungal Community of Allium fistulosum L.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread soil endophytic fungi, forming mutualistic relationships with the vast majority of land plants. Biochar (BC) has been reported to improve soil fertility and promote plant growth. However, limited studies are available concerning the combined effects of AMF and BC on soil community structure and plant growth. In this work, a pot experiment was designed to investigate the effects of AMF and BC on the rhizosphere microbial community of Allium fistulosum L. Using Illumina high-throughput sequencing, we showed that inoculation of AMF and BC had a significant impact on soil microbial community composition, diversity, and versatility. Increases were observed in both plant growth (the plant height by 8.6%, shoot fresh weight by 12.1%) and root morphological traits (average diameter by 20.5%). The phylogenetic tree also showed differences in the fungal community composition in A. fistulosum. In addition, Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis revealed that 16 biomarkers were detected in the control (CK) and AMF treatment, while only 3 were detected in the AMF + BC treatment. Molecular ecological network analysis showed that the AMF + BC treatment group had a more complex network of fungal communities, as evidenced by higher average connectivity. The functional composition spectrum showed significant differences in the functional distribution of soil microbial communities among different fungal genera. The structural equation model (SEM) confirmed that AMF could improve the microbial multifunctionality by regulating the rhizosphere fungal diversity and soil properties. Our findings provide new information on the effects of AMF and biochar on plants and soil microbial communities.

A phase II study of preoperative chemotherapy with modified FOLFOX6 followed by surgery and postoperative chemoradiation in patients with localized gastric adenocarcinoma.

The optimal neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment for gastric cancer remains controversial. We conducted a phase II study using preoperative chemotherapy with modified FOLFOX6 followed by surgical resection and postoperative chemoradiation in patients with gastric carcinoma. Preoperative chemotherapy (two or three cycles) consisted of a 2-h infusion of oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2) and folinic acid (100 mg/m2) followed by a 46-h continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 2,400 mg/m2). Surgical resection was planned 4 weeks after the last chemotherapy cycle. Patients underwent postsurgical chemoradiation, receiving a total dose of 45 Gy and 5-FU continuous infusion (350 mg/m2/day). The primary end points were feasibility, overall response rate, and R0 resectability rate after preoperative chemotherapy. The secondary end points were tolerability, treatment-associated complications, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Nineteen patients were enrolled in this study. After neoadjuvant treatment, four patients (21.1%) experienced progressive disease, six patients (31.6%) showed partial remission, and nine patients (47.3%) showed stable disease. In 15 patients (78.9%) R0 resectability could be achieved. Eleven of these patients (73.3%) were able to undergo postoperative chemoradiation. Notably, eight (72.7%) of these patients were disease free and alive at median follow-up of 60 months. Chemotherapy associated neutropenia, neutropenic fever, and anastomotic dehiscence were observed. The combination of preoperative chemotherapy and postoperative chemoradiation is feasible in a significant subset of gastric cancer patients.

1-(4-Chloro-benzyl-ideneamino)pyridinum iodide.

In the title compound, C(12)H(10)ClN(2) (+)·I(-), the aromatic rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 54.55 (3)°. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular C-H⋯I and C-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules.

1-(Benzyl-ideneamino)pyridinum iodide.

In the title compound, C(12)H(11)N(2) (+)·I(-), the aromatic rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 73.40 (3)°. In the crystal structure, π-π contacts between the pyridine rings and the benzene and pyridine rings [centroid-centroid distances = 3.548 (3) and 4.211 (3) Å] may stabilize the structure.

Methyl 4-(4-fluoro-phen-yl)-6-isopropyl-2-(methylsulfonyl)pyrimidine-5-carbox-ylate.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(16)H(17)FN(2)O(4)S, contains three independent mol-ecules, in which the pyrimidine and benzene rings are oriented at dihedral angles of 41.72 (3)°, 26.21 (3)° and 36.49 (3)°. Intra-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds result in the formation of two six- and one seven-membered non-planar rings, which have have twist conformations. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules.

(2S,3R)-2-[(4-Ethyl-2,3-dioxopiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl-amino]-3-hydroxy-butyric acid monohydrate.

In the title compound, C(11)H(17)N(3)O(6)·H(2)O, an important building block of the medicine cefbuperazone sodium, the piperazine ring adopts a screw-boat conformation. Inter-molecular O-H⋯O and intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds are observed. The water mol-ecule participates as both donor and acceptor in this framework.

1-(4-Methyl-benzyl-ideneamino)pyridinium iodide.

The title compound, C(13)H(13)N(2) (+)·I(-), is a derivative of 1-amino-pyridinium iodide. The pyridine and benzene rings are oriented at a dihedral angle of 45.78 (3)°. In the crystal structure, weak inter-molecular C-H⋯I hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules.