[Influences of biochar and nitrogen fertilizer on soil nematode assemblage of upland red soil].

The use of biochar as soil remediation amendment has received more and more concerns, but little attention has been paid to its effect on soil fauna. Based on the field experiment in an upland red soil, we studied the influences of different application rates of biochar (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 t · hm⁻²) and nitrogen fertilizer (60, 90, 120 kg N · hm⁻²) on soil basic properties and nematode assemblages during drought and wet periods. Our results showed that the biochar amendment significantly affect soil moisture and pH regardless of drought or wet period. With the increasing of biochar application, soil pH significantly increased, while soil moisture increased first and then decreased. Soil microbial properties (microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, microbial biomass C/N, basal respiration) were also significantly affected by the application of biochar and N fertilizer. Low doses of biochar could stimulate the microbial activity, while high doses depressed microbial activity. For example, averaged across different N application rates, biochar amendment at less than 30 t · hm⁻² could increase microbial activity in the drought and wet periods. Besides, the effects of biochar also depended on wet or drought period. When the biochar application rate higher than 30 t · hm⁻², the microbial biomass C was significantly higher in the drought period than the control, but no differences were observed in the wet period. On the contrary, microbial biomass N showed a reverse pattern. Dissolved organic matter and mineral N were affected by biochar and N fertilizer significantly in the drought period, however, in the wet period they were only affected by N fertilizer rather than biochar. There was significant interaction between biochar and N fertilizer on soil nematode abundance and nematode trophic composition independent of sampling period. Combined high doses of both biochar and N fertilization promoted soil nematode abundance. Moreover, the biochar amendment increased the proportion of fungivores especially in the drought period, suggesting the biochar was the preferred fungal energy channel in comparison to soil without biochar addition. In summary, complex patterns occurred not only due to the application rate of biochar as well as their interactions with N fertilization but also due to the drought and wet periods. It is, therefore, necessary to consider different ecological factors when evaluating the effects of biochar in future.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with medicine on mild cognition disorders in patients with post-stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the curative effect and safety of acupuncture for mild cognitive disorders after stroke. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial was adopted and one hundred cases conforming to criteria were divided into a combined acupuncture and medication group (group A) and a medication group (group B), 50 cases in each group. The basic treatment of cerebrovascular disease was applied in two groups. The group A treated was with acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24) and Qucha (BL 4) etc. and oral administration of Nimodipine. In group B, Nimodipine was taken orally. The treatment lasted for 3 months, the scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), modified Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R) and Barthel Index (BI) were observed before and after treatment in two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate in group A was 66.7% (32/48), which was superior to 30.4% (14/46) in group B (P < 0.05). The scores of MMSE, HDS-R and BI after treatment were apparently improved as compared with those before treatment in two groups (all P < 0.01). The improvements in group A were superior to those in group B (all P < 0.05). There was no adverse event reported during the treatment in two groups. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can improve activity of daily living and has significant effect in treating mild cognition disorders after stroke without adverse reactions.

[Clinical observation on therapeutic effect of three-step acupuncture for the secondary prevention of ischemic cerebral apoplexy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect and safety of three-step acupuncture for the secondary prevention of ischemic cerebral apoplexy. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cases of first-episode ischemic cerebral apoplexy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group according to the visiting sequence, 60 cases in each group. Both groups were treated on the basis of the routine treatment, the observation group was treated with three-step acupuncture combined with oral administration of Aspirin for six months. The threestep acupuncture includs scalp acupuncture, body point acupuncture and rehabilitation training. The control group was treated with oral administration of Aspirin alone. Six-month follow-up was done in two groups. Then the recurrence rate of ischemic cerebral apoplexy, the improvement of neurologic impairment, activity of daily living and TCM symptom scores and the safety of three-step acupuncture between two groups were compared. RESULTS: The recurrence rate was 10.2% (5/49) in observation group, and 16.7% (9/54) in control group. There was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The observation group was superior to the control group in improving the scores of the neurologic impairment, activity of daily living and TCM symptom (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). There was no severe adverse reaction in two groups except 2 cases of gastrointestinal reaction caused by oral administration of Aspirin in control group. CONCLUSION: Three-step acupuncture has a certain therapeutic effect for both treatment and the secondary prevention of ischemic cerebral apoplexy, and it is one of the safe and effective methods for treating and preventing ischemic cerebral apoplexy in clinic.

[Community structure of collembolan in degraded red soil under different restoration vegetation types].

With the degraded red soils of eroded bare land (I), xeric mesophilous herbosa (II), sparse coniferous woodland (III), coniferous woodland (IV), coniferous-broadleaf mixed woodland (V), and evergreen broadleaf forest (CK) as test objects, this paper studied the effects of vegetation restoration on the collembolan communities in degraded red soil. A total of 23 genera belonging to seven families and two suborders were observed, including dominant taxa such as Folsomia, Folsomina, and Sminthurinus. The characteristics of soil collembolan community were analyzed by using the indices such as individual density, taxa number, diversity, abundance, and evenness. The test indices were the lowest in I, and the highest in CK. The soil collembolan communities in II, III, IV and V were restored to some extent, but the restoration was still at early stage, with less difference observed. Bray-Curtis index had the largest difference (0.99) between eroded bare land and CK, larger differences between the four restored plantations and CK, and less difference between four restored plantations.

[Reversal of multidrug resistance in drug-resistant human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADR by calmodulin antagonist O-(4-ethoxyl-butyl)-berbamine].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reversal effect of O-(4-ethoxyl-butyl)-berbamine (EBB) on multidrug resistance (MDR) in MCF-7/ADR cell. METHODS: 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to assess the antitumor effect of EBB and determine the reversal effects of different concentrations ( < or = IC20) of EBB on MCF-7/ADR cell. Flow cytometry was applied to observe the intracellular accumulation of Rh123 and cell cycle in the presence of EBB. The expressions of MDR-related genes mdr 1 and topoisomerase II b (top II b) were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The sensitivity of MCF-7/ADR to adriamycin (ADR) was enhanced up to 50. 40, 89.80, and 14.88 folds after exposure of the cells to 3 micromol/L EBB, 7.5 micromol/L EBB, and 10 micromol/L verapamil (VPL), respectively. After 2 hours of incubation with 6 micromol/L EBB, intracellular Rh123 accumulation in MCF-7/ADR cells was increased to the level comparable to that in MCF-7 cells. When 6 micromol/L EBB was added together with 2 micromol/L ADR, MCF-7/ ADR cells showed to be arrested in the G2/M phase. The declination of mdr 1 gene expression was observed when 6 micromol/L EBB, 12 micromol/L EBB, and 10 micromol/L VPL were added for 48 hours; meanwhile, the expression of top II b mRNA showed no significant change. CONCLUSION: EBB has a strong reversal effect on MDR in MCF-7/ ADR cell, which may be achieved by enhancing the arrestment of MCF-7/ADR cells at G2/M phase and increasing intracellular drug concentration.

[Effect of calmodulin antagonist EBB on invasion of human fibrosarcoma cell HT1080].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential effect of EBB, a calmodulin antagonist, on invasion of human fibrosarcoma cells HT1080. METHODS: The antitumor effect of EBB was assessed by 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were measured by Zymogrophy analysis. The mRNA levels, of MMP-2, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 were evaluated by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Transwell chamber assay was applied to measure the effect of EBB on the invasion of HT1080 cells. RESULTS: Calmodulin antagonist EBB inhibited the proliferation of HT1080 cells with an IC50 of (8.2 +/- 1.2) microg/ml. EBB down-regulated the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and down-regulated the mRNA levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9, while up-regulated the mRNA levels of TIMP-1. The invasive ability of HT1080 cells was decreased to (31.13 +/- 2.265)%, (59.91 +/- 2.566)%, and (71.58 +/- 0.5960)% after exposure of the cells with 2, 5, and 10 microg/ml EBB, respectively. CONCLUSION: Treatment with calmodulin antagonist EBB is effective in suppressing tumor invasion. The possible mechanism is the down-regulation of MMPs.