[Effects of increased planting density with reduced nitrogen fertilizer application on rice yield, N use efficiency and greenhouse gas emission in Northeast China].

The traditional rice growing practice has to change to save resource and protect environment, and it' s necessary to develop new technology in rice cultivation. Therefore, a two-year field experiment of Japonica rice (Liaoxing 1) was conducted in Northeast China in 2012 and 2013 to investigate the integrated effects of dense planting with less basal nitrogen (N) and unchanged top-dressing N (IR) on rice yield, N use efficiency (NUE) and greenhouse gas emissions. Compared with traditional practice (CK), we increased the rice seedling density by 33.3% and reduced the basal N rate by 20%. The results showed that the average N agronomy efficiency and partial factor productivity were improved by 49.6% (P<0.05) and 20.4% (P<0.05), respectively, while the area and yield-scaled greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 9.9% and 12.7% (P<0.05), respectively. Although IR cropping mode decreased panicle number and biomass production, it significantly enhanced rice seed setting rate and harvest index, resulting in an unchanged or even highei yield. NH4+-N and NO3(-)-N concentrations in rice rhizosphere soil were reduced, resulting in an increment of N recovery efficiency. Generally, proper dense planting with less basal N applicatior could be a good approach for the trade-off between rice yield, NUE and greenhouse gas emission.

High-frequency ultrasound as an adjunct to neural electrophysiology: Evaluation and prognosis of Bell's palsy.

Bell's palsy is a form of temporary facial nerve paralysis that occurs primarily in young adults. Previously, various methods were used to assess outcomes in facial nerve disease. The aim of the present study was to characterize the main branches of the normal and abnormal facial nerve using high-frequency ultrasonography (HFUS). A total of 104 healthy volunteers, 40 patients with acute onset of Bell's palsy and 30 patients who underwent 3-month routine therapy for Bell's palsy disease were included in the study. The healthy volunteers and patients were selected for HFUS examination and VII nerve conduction. The results showed significant differences in nerve diameter, echogenicity, delitescence and amplitude in different groups. Statistically significant correlations were identified for severity grading in one of the experimental groups during HFUS examinations. In conclusion, HFUS as a complementary technique paired with neural electrophysiology may establish the normal values of facial nerve. Additionally, HFUS was beneficial in the process of evaluation and prognosis of Bell's palsy disease.

[A multicenter study of respiratory multiple index in predicting weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the result of respiratory multiple index(compliance, respiratory rate, oxygenation, pressure, CROP) in predicting weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). METHODS: A prospective study was conducted. Two hundred and fifteen patients weaning from mechanical ventilation with AECOPD in intensive care unit (ICU) of five tertiary hospitals from September 2010 to October 2012 were enrolled. All of the AECOPD patients were troubled with respiratory failure and received non-invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours. They were conscious and cooperative at the time of extubation, and passed the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) for 30 minutes. Before weaning, the maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax), the peak airway pressure (Ppeak), the total positive end expiratory pressure (PEEPtot), tidal volume (VT) and respiratory frequency (f) were recorded; the arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) were detected; the effective compliance of the respiratory system (Crs) and alveolar oxygen pressure(PAO2) were calculated. The above indexes were substituted into the formula: CROP= Crs × 1/f × PaO2/PAO2× PImax to get the value of CROP. Successful weaning from mechanical ventilation was defined if there was no indication for intubation within 72 hours. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to analyze the predict value of CROP on result of weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with AECOPD. RESULTS: In 215 patients, 182 patients successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation, and 33 failed. There were no significant differences in gender, age and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHEII) score between the successfully weaned patients and the failed. Before weaning from mechanical ventilation, PaCO2 in failed group was significantly higher than that in successful group (60.69 ± 10.47 mm Hg vs. 51.24 ± 8.81 mm Hg, P<0.05), the CROP was significantly lowered (10.286 ± 1.392 ml × breath⁻¹ ×min⁻¹ vs. 58.746 ± 7.283 ml×breath⁻¹×min⁻¹, P<0.01), and the duration of mechanical ventilation was prolonged (10.28 ± 3.94 days vs. 6.21 ± 2.87 days, P<0.05). The best critical value of CROP which could predict the result of weaning from mechanical ventilation was 13.521 ml×breath⁻¹×min⁻¹. CROP≥ 13.521 ml×breath⁻¹×min⁻¹ had a specificity of 91.9% and sensitivity of 87.9% in predicting extubation succeed. The positive predicted value was 0.97, and the negative predicted value was 0.58; Odds ratio (OR)<1, which confirmed that CROP was a strong and independent predictor of extubation. CONCLUSIONS: For the AECOPD patients received mechanical ventilation, most extubation parameter was limited. Complex parameter of CROP has higher specificity and sensitivity, and has important value in predicting extubation outcome. When CROP ≥ 13.521 ml×breath⁻¹×min⁻¹, the successful rate is high, otherwise the rate is low.

[Slit lamp optical coherence tomography study of anterior segment changes after phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate quantitative changes of the anterior segment configuration after clear corneal incision phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with slit-lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography (SL-OCT). METHODS: In prospective consecutive case series, clear corneal incision phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation were performed in 44 eyes of 40 patients. The changes of the anterior segment configuration were performed by SL-OCT before and 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month after surgery. SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyze statistical difference. RESULTS: For all patients, the central corneal thickness (CCT) and the incisional corneal thickness (ICT) increased significantly 1 day after surgery (CCT increased 99.59 microm, ICT increased 234.57 microm; P = 0.490). At 1 month, the CCT almost had returned to baseline, but the ICT had been thicker about 19.25 microm than baseline(P = 0.001). The measurements of ACD, AOD500, AOD750, TISA500, TISA750 also increased significantly 1 day after surgery. Although the ACD had no changes within 2 weeks (all P < 0.05), it had been not stable. The changes of the width of the anterior chamber had been stable in the early period after surgery (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The SL-OCT could impersonality and quantificationally evaluate the anterior segment changes induced by cataract surgery.

[Changes in monochromatic higher-order aberrations in different pupil sizes with accommodation in young emmetropes].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of accommodation on monochromatic higher-order aberrations in different pupil sizes in the young emmetropes. METHODS: Intervention trial design was used in the study. The monochromatic aberrations were measured in 12 eyes from 12 undulated young emmetropes in 4.0 mm, 3.0 mm, and 2.0 mm pupil sizes with a ray tracing wavefront aberrometer under accommodative stimuli from 0 to 4.00 D. RESULTS: RMS values of total high-order aberrations (HOAs), total coma, total higher-order astigmatism, total spherical, and total trefoil aberrations significantly decreased as pupil size decreased in the relax state. In 4.0 mm, 3.0 mm, and 2.0 mm pupil sizes, the average root mean square (RMS) value of total coma was the highest item of HOAs in the relaxed state. With accommodation up to 3.00 D, the RMS of HOAs remained constant but changed significantly at 4.00 D stimulation (P <0.05) in all these three pupil sizes. The 4th spherical aberration decreased and changed from positive to negative with increasing accommodation over 4.0 mm size, whereas it remained positive under all accommodative levels over the 3.0 mm and 2.0 mm zones, and no trend was found. The 3rd order trefoil 0 changed from negative to positive with increasing accommodation, with 4.0 mm, 3.0 mm, and 2.0 mm pupil sizes. CONCLUSIONS: In 4.0 mm, 3.0 mm, and 2.0 mm pupil sizes, under accommodative stimuli from 0.00 to 4.00 D, dramatical trends amongst the HOAs, spherical, coma, and trefoil aberrations were demonstrated. Most of the higher-order aberrations induced by accommodation deserves further investigation. Simple elimination of the higher-order aberrations will be replaced by the optimization of aberrations.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase is involved in the oxidation stress induced by HIV-1 gp120 in human retina pigment epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: The human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein gp120 has been implicated in the development of AIDS-associated retinopathy. The present study tested the hypothesis that gp120 may induce oxidative stress including up regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) to mediate retinopathy in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. METHODS: Human RPE cell line D407 was cultured and treated with gp120. HIV-1 gp120 protein induced lipid peroxidation product MDA. NO production and iNOS expression were examined in vitro by spectrophomtometry, real-time PCR, Western blotting, and confocal microscope. RESULTS: Addition of gp120 was able to induce RPE cells to produce NO and MDA in time- and dose-dependent manners (P < 0.05). Similarly, gp120 was also capable of up-regulating iNOS mRNA and protein in D407 cells in time- and dose-dependent manners. CONCLUSIONS: Gp120 induces oxidative stress in D407 cell by stimulating MDA and NO production, which is mediated by up-regulating iNOS expression. Gp120 may mediate oxidation stress in AIDS-associated retinopathy.

[Selection of accurate IOL formula in patients with cataract and high hyperopia].

OBJECTIVE: To audit intraocular lens (IOL) power predictions for cataract surgery in high hyperopia by comparing the accuracy of different formulae of Haigis, SRKII, Hoffer Q, Hollady, and SRK/T. METHODS: A comparative study was used in 31 eyes with cataract and high hyperopia underwent phacoemulsification and posterior chamber IOL implantation. Eyes were examined with A-scan and IOL Master before the operation. Postoperative refraction was examined 3 months after surgery. We compared the accuracy of prediction between these different formulae using IOL Master, and then compared the errors using the two different methods for axial length measurement. RESULTS: (1) Using IOL Master, the Haigis formula showed the smallest mean prediction errors (0.37 +/- 0.14), followed by the Hoffer Q, Holladay, SRK/T, and SRK II formulae (-0.70 +/- 0.12, -0.97 +/- 0.15, -1.25 +/- 0.14, -1.46 +/- 0.13). The Haigis formula generated a slightly myopic result, but the other formulae generated hyperopic result at different degrees. (2) The A-scan led to a prediction error that was toward positive values (equivalent to underestimating axial length), whereas the IOL Master error was towards the negative. Hoffer Q formula appeared to be more accurate when measuring axial lengths with A-Scan, whereas Haigis formula was more accurate when combined with IOL Master (0.37 +/- 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: For selection of IOL formula in cataract patients with high hyperopia, the Haigis would be the most accurate in IOL Master analysis, but the Hoffer Q was better when using A-scan.