[Characteristics of Cadmium Concentration and Transport of Pueraria thornsonii in Farmland with Different Cadmium Pollution Degrees].

This study aimed to elucidate the cadmium (Cd) concentration and transport characteristics of Pueraria thornsonii in farmland with different Cd pollution degrees, so as to provide a reference basis for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated farmland. The multi-point experiments in farmland with different Cd pollution degrees[ω(Cd) 0.32-38.08 mg·kg-1] were conducted, and the biomass (dry weight), Cd content, accumulation, concentration, and transport of Cd in P. thornsonii tissues under the main growing period were assessed. According to the results, for P. thornsonii, the tuber dry weight ranged from 5.04 to 11.98 t·hm-2, biomass ranged from 13.21 to 29.07 t·hm-2, and Cd accumulation ranged from 15.74 to 106.03 g·hm-2in the study area. The pattern of Cd uptake by P. thornsonii showed that the main vine>leaf>lateral branches>basal part of sti>tuber. The Cd content in P. thornsonii tissues considerably increased with soil Cd content (P<0.05), whereas the biomass decreased significantly (P<0.05). The Cd concentration and transport factor of aboveground parts in P. thornsonii showed a trend of initially falling, then increasing and decreasing again, whereas the Cd enrichment and transport coefficient of tubers gradually decreased. Correlation analysis revealed that the amount of Cd in the soil was a major predictor of Cd accumulation in P. thornsonii. Under light to moderate Cd contamination, the commercial portion of P. thornsonii (arrowroot)[ω(Cd) 0.03-0.22 mg·kg-1] was less than the standard limit for medicinal plants (≤ 0.30 mg·kg-1). In P. thornsonii from moderately contaminated areas, the Cd concentration and transport factor of aboveground parts were 2.43-7.97 and 3.02-9.81, respectively. This indicates that P. thornsonii is a prospective plant ideal for remediating Cd-contaminated soil because of its high capacity to transfer and enrich Cd.

[Soil fertility characteristics and their influencing factors in tea plantations of Jiangxi Pro-vince, China]. / æ±Ÿè¥¿çœèŒ¶å›­åœŸå£¤è‚¥åŠ›ç‰¹å¾åŠå ¶å½±å“å› å­.

To investigate soil fertility status and characteristics of typical tea plantations, we selec-ted 372 typical tea plantations of 21 areas across Jiangxi Province and analyzed the soil nutrient, spatial data, and their correlations with topography, soil type, elevation and plantation age. The results showed that soil pH, organic matter, alkaline nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium of tea plantation in Jiangxi reached 53.9%, 60.1%, 56.1%, 22.9%, 38.5%, 43.7%, 11.1% and 95.5% of indices of high fertility, high efficiency and high yield tea plantation, respectively, with the available phosphorus showing a strong variation. Soil available copper, zinc, iron, manganese and boron reached 76.3%, 74.2%, 96.8%, 73.1% and 0.0% of the first-class standards for soil trace elements, respectively. Tea plantations with highest soil fertility located in central Jiangxi, followed by northeastern and northwestern Jiangxi, and lowest in southern Jiangxi. Soil pH was significantly positively correlated with organic matter, alkaline nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, total nitrogen and total phosphorus but not for total potassium. For different topography, soil fertility was highest in the flat land, followed by the high mountains, and lowest in the mountains and hills. Across different soil types, soil fertility was higher in paddy soil, sandy soil and mountain yellow brown soil, followed by yellow soil, red-yellow soil and purple soil, and lowest in red soil. Soil pH, organic matter and total potassium increased while available phosphorus decreased with altitude. The organic matter, alkaline nitrogen, available phosphorus, total nitrogen and total phosphorus increased, but soil pH decreased with time. In summary, soil fertility of tea plantations in Jiangxi Province was generally good, with high organic matter, total potassium, available copper, zinc, iron and manganese. However, soil was acidic, available phosphorus and total phosphorus content was low, available boron was seriously limited. We suggest increase soil pH and potassium supply in central Jiangxi, increase potassium and nitrogen fertilizer supply in northeastern Jiangxi, increase organic matter and phosphorus fertilizer supply in northwestern Jiangxi, and increase nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium supply combined with organic fertilizers in southern Jiangxi. High mountain tea plantations should enhance available phosphorus and potassium supply. Mountain tea plantations should enhance nitrogen and phosphate supply. Tea plantations with red and yellow soil should increase pH and total potassium supply. Tea plantations with red soil should apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers combined with organic fertilizers. Tea plantations with yellow soil and mountain yellow brown soil required additional phosphorus supply, and tea plantations with purple soil should increase soil organic matter supply. Tea plantations need to increase dolomite powder, physiological alkaline fertilizers and organic fertilizers to prevent soil acidification.

[Remediation of Cadmium Contaminated Paddy Fields Using Soil Conditioners].

Four soil conditioners, SAMMNS, CCT01, Mineral, and Tebeigai were selected for this study. The effects of the four conditioners on soil pH, bulk density, organic matter, available nutrients, texture, microaggregates, Cd available in soil, and Cd content in brown rice were investigated using field-controlled cadmium tests conducted in cadmium-contaminated paddy fields in Pingxiang. The results showed that compared to the control, soil conditioners could increase pH, bulk density, and cation exchange capacity in soil. SAMMNS and CCT01 soil conditioners increased the amount of silt and clay, but that of sand decreased, whereas the Mineral and Tebeigai soil conditioners decreased silt and clay, and sand increased. In addition to the CCT01 soil conditioner, the application of soil conditioners increased large-scale agglomerates and reduced small-scale microaggregates. The effects of soil conditioners on soil physical and chemical properties promoted the conversion of Cd from contaminated soil from high activity to low activity, which reduced available Cd content in soil (5.21%-34.78%) and Cd content in brown rice (51.39%-68.06%). Correlation analysis showed that Cd content in brown rice was significantly positively correlated with available Cd and available phosphorus in soil, whereas it was negatively correlated with pH and bulk density in soil. Considering the effects of soil and brown rice on cadmium reduction and physicochemical properties, Tebeigai soil conditioner exhibited the best repair effects, followed by SENMES and Mineral soil conditioner.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and colorectal cancer prognosis: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The present study focused on understanding the prognostic value of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) single nucleotide polymorphisms rs1801133 (C667T) and rs1801131 (A1298C) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in March 2016. Databases, including Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane and Chinese databases (including CNKI, Wanfang and VIP), were searched to identify the relevant articles describing MTHFR polymorphisms in patients with CRC. Data regarding overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were collected and analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies with 5423 patients with CRC were included. Significant differences in OS, PFS and DFS were not observed among the different comparisons of patients carrying different alleles of the MTHFR rs1801133 polymorphism (including TT versus CC, TT versus CT + CC, CT + TT versus CC and CT versus CC). Compared with patients with the rs1801131 CA + AA genotypes, patients with the CC genotype had a shorter OS (hazard ratio = 1.85; 95% confidence interval = 1.30-2.65) and DFS (hazard ratio = 2.16; 95% confidence interval= 1.19-3.93). Significant differences in OS, PFS and DFS were not observed among the other patient groups (including CC versus AA, CC + CA versus AA and CA versus AA). Subgroup analysis of rs1801133 and rs1801131 showed that patients with CRC from Asian regions and Western regions demonstrated similar results. CONCLUSIONS: The MTHFR rs1801133 polymorphism was not associated with the prognosis of patients with CRC; however, rs1801131 may be associated with the prognosis of patients with CRC. Well-designed prospective studies are necessary to obtain a better understanding of the prognostic value of rs1801133 and rs1801131.

[Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Different Rice Varieties].

Field experiments were conducted on the heavy metal contents (Cd, Pb, Cr, inorganic As, and total Hg) of the 129 main cultivated rice varieties in southern China. We analyzed the effects of different varieties and types of rice on the absorption capacities of these heavy metals. The results showed that the Cd content in 35 brown rice of early rice was 0.35-0.60 mg·kg-1, exceeding the standard rate of 100%. The Pb content in brown rice was 0.08-0.30 mg·kg-1, exceeding the rate of 14.29%. The Cd content in 54 brown rice of medium rice was 0.03-0.45 mg·kg-1, exceeding the rate of 33.33%. The Cd content in 40 brown rice of late rice was 0.08-0.20 mg·kg-1, which did not exceed the national standard. Early, middle, and late rice all showed that the Cd content of three-line hybrid rice was higher than that of two-line hybrid rice, but the difference was not obvious. The contents of Cr and total Hg in brown rice of three-line hybrid rice in early rice were significantly higher than that of two-line hybrid rice. There was a significant positive correlation between Cd content in brown rice and Pb and total Hg content in medium rice, and there was a significant negative correlation between inorganic Cd content and inorganic As content, whereas there was no significant correlation between Cd and Cr content. In short, rice's absorption and accumulation of heavy metals is greatly affected by genetic background, species types, and heavy metal interactions.