Fungal endophytes of South China blueberry (Vaccinium dunalianum var. urophyllum).

A total of 374 fungal endophyte strains were isolated from of Vaccinium dunalianum var. urophyllum (Ericaceae), a well-known cultivated blueberry in southern China. These fungal endophytes could be categorized into 25 morphotypes according to culture characteristics and molecular identification based on the internal transcribed spacer region. All of these isolates belonged to Ascomycota. Jaccard's (Jc) and Sorenson's similarity indices indicated that the species communities from the fruits and branches were closer to each other than to those from leaves. The leaves appeared to host the highest fungal biodiversity, and the fruits displayed the lowest diversity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first on endophytic fungi isolated from fruits, branches and leaves of blueberry plants. The results contribute to the body of knowledge on the biocontrol of pathogens associated with blueberry and develop the improvement of plant growth. By comparing with the different fungal communities, the leaves appeared to host the highest biodiversity.

Clozapine prescription and quality of life in Chinese patients with schizophrenia treated in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: Clozapine is frequently used to treat schizophrenia in China. Maintenance treatment for clinically stable patients with schizophrenia is usually provided by Chinese primary care physicians, but no study has investigated the frequency of its use prescribed by primary care physicians. This study described the frequency, demographic and clinical characteristics of clozapine treatment and its impact on insight and quality of life (QOL) of patients with schizophrenia treated in primary care in China. METHOD: A total of 623 patients with schizophrenia treated in 22 primary care services in Guangzhou, China in 2013 formed the study sample. Patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics including psychopathology, medication side effects and QOL were recorded using a standardized protocol and data collection. RESULTS: The frequency of clozapine prescription was 35.6% with a mean daily dose of 127.7±88.2 mg. There were no significant differences between the patients with and without clozapine in either of the QOL domains after controlling the confounding factors. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that patients on clozapine had younger age of onset, more hospitalizations, more severe extrapyramidal side effects, but better insight and fewer prescriptions of first generation antipsychotics. CONCLUSIONS: Clozapine use was found to be common and associated with better insight in patients with schizophrenia treated in primary care in China. Further examination of the rationale and appropriateness of clozapine in primary care in China is warranted.

Optimal timing of operation for repairing atonic bladder after medullary cone injury: an experimental study in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine optimal timing of operation for repairing atonic bladder after medullary cone injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: I n all, 56 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were equally randomized into seven groups: normal control group, and 4w, 6w, 8w, 10w, 12w and 16w groups after medullary cone injury, assigned as groups A-G. The model was established by sharp transaction of spinal cord at the level of L(4/5) vertebral body. Bladder weight, cross-sectional area and ultrastructure of the detrusor muscle and its neuromuscular junction (NMJ), fibrotic change, and alpha-smooth muscle antibody (alpha-SMA) expression in the detrusor muscle were examined individually. RESULTS: Bladder weight in groups E-G was significantly increased than that in group A (P<0.05). And cross-sectional area of detrusor muscle fiber in groups E-G was significantly smaller than that in group A (P<0.05). Transmission electronic microscopy showed that the number of synaptic vesicles, mitochondria and other organelles in NMJ decreased markedly in group E. In groups F and G, NMJ further degenerated with synaptic vesicles and organelles decreased or even disappeared. Masson's stain showed that the proportion of connective tissue in the detrusor muscle of groups E-G was significantly different from that of group A (P<0.05). alpha-SMA expression in the detrusor muscle decreased with the lapse of time. CONCLUSIONS: The 10th week after rat medullary cone injury can be regarded as the time node when the detrusor muscle and NMJ undergo changes, and therefore surgical nerve repair should be performed before this.