Density affects plant size in the Gobi Desert.

Plant size is a crucial functional trait with substantial implications in agronomy and forestry. Understanding the factors influencing plant size is essential for ecosystem management and restoration efforts. Various environmental factors and plant density play significant roles in plant size. However, how plant size responds to mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean annual temperature (MAT), and density in the arid areas remains incomplete. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted comprehensive vegetation surveys in the Gobi Desert in northwestern China with a MAP below 250 mm. We also collected climate data to disentangle the respective influences of climate and density on the community-weighted plant height, crown length, and crown width. Our observations revealed that the community-weighted mean plant height, crown length, and width demonstrated a positive association with MAT but negative relationships with both MAP and density. These patterns can be attributed to the predominance of shrubs over herbs in arid regions, as shrubs tend to be larger in size. The proportion of shrubs increases with MAT, while it decreases with MAP and density, resulting in higher plant height and larger crown dimensions. Although both MAP and MAT affect plant size in the Gobi Desert, our findings highlight the stronger role of plant density in regulating plant size, indicating that the surrounding plant community and competition among individuals are crucial drivers of plant size patterns. Our findings provide valuable guidance for nature-based solutions for vegetation restoration and ecosystem management, highlighting the importance of considering plant density as a key factor when designing and implementing restoration strategies in arid areas.

Safety and efficacy of Aspirin desensitization combined with long-term Aspirin therapy in Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease

OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety and efficacy of Aspirin desensitization combined with long-term Aspirin therapy in patients with Aspirinexacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). METHODS: We searched the PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases from inception to October 2018 for articles in English. We only included randomized controlled trials and parallel or cross-over studies in which adults with AERD were randomly assigned to undergo Aspirin desensitization and receive long-term Aspirin therapy or placebo. RESULTS: A total of 869 citations were retrieved, and 6 studies met the criteria for analysis. All studies indicated that nasal symptoms, asthma symptoms, or both improved significantly after Aspirin desensitization. In addition, most studies reported a decline in corticosteroid dosage (oral and inhaled). The 4 studies that reported nasal polyps did not demonstrate a change in nasal polyps with Aspirin therapy compared with placebo. The dropout rates in all studies reviewed ranged from 5.8% to 55.7%, and the most common adverse events were gastrointestinal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Clearly, Aspirin desensitization and treatment are beneficial for AERD patients, with relief of nasal symptoms, improvement in asthma control, decrease in daily corticosteroid use, and no fatal adverse events. However, the long-term adverse effects of Aspirin desensitization and optimal dosage of Aspirin merit further investigation

OBJETIVOS: Evaluar la seguridad y la eficacia de la desensibilización a la Aspirina junto con la terapia a largo plazo con Aspirina en sujetos con enfermedad respiratoria exacerbada por Aspirina (AERD). MÉTODOS: Se realizaron búsquedas en PUBMED, Ovid, Cochrane Library y Google Scholar desde el inicio hasta octubre de 2018, e impusimos una restricción del inglés en el idioma de publicación. Solo se incluyeron ensayos controlados aleatorios, paralelos o cruzados, en los cuales los sujetos adultos con AERD se asignaron al azar para recibir desensibilización a la Aspirina y terapia con Aspirina a largo plazo o placebo. RESULTADOS: Se recuperaron un total de 869 citas y 6 estudios cumplieron con los criterios de análisis. Todos los estudios indicaron que los síntomas nasales, los síntomas del asma o ambos mejoraron significativamente después del tratamiento de desensibilización con Aspirina. La mayoría de los estudios mostraron una disminución de la dosis de corticosteroides, orales o inhalados que necesitaron los pacientes. Los cuatro estudios que documentaron pólipos nasales no demostraron un cambio en los pólipos nasales con la terapia con Aspirina en comparación con el placebo. Las tasas de deserción en todos los estudios revisados varían entre el 5,8% y el 55,7% y los efectos adversos más comunes fueron los síntomas gastrointestinales. CONCLUSIONES: Claramente, la desensibilización y el tratamiento con Aspirina son beneficiosos para los pacientes con AERD, con una reducción de los síntomas nasales, mejoras en el control del asma y una disminución del uso diario de corticosteroides, sin eventos adversos fatales. Sin embargo, los efectos secundarios a largo plazo de la desensibilización a la Aspirina y la dosis óptima de la Aspirina merecen más investigación

[The Diagnostic Value of Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Needle Aspiration Biopsy for Lung or Mediastinal Lymph Node Cancer and Tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in diagnosing lung or mediastinal lymph node cancer and tuberculosis. METHODS: Clinical and pathological data of 553 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA from January 2013 to September 2016 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University were reviewed. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EBUS-TBNA for diagnosing lymph node tumor and tuberculosis of hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes were calculated. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in diagnosing hilar and mediastinal lymph node cancer were 89.2% (263/295), 100% (247/247) and 94.1% (510/542), respectively, compared with 70% (76/117), 97.2% (385/396) and 89.9% (461/513), respectively, for diagnosing tuberculosis identified though granulomatous biopsy. In the 102 cases with acid fast staining and TB-PCR, 63.7% accuracy (58/91), 90.9% (10/11) sensitivity and 66.7% (68/102) specificity were found for any positive findings from acid fast bacilli or TB-DNA. CONCLUSIONS: EBUS-TBNA has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing hilar and mediastinal tumor, which can be used in combination with acid fast staining and TB-PCR for diagnosing tuberculosis.

Antisense oligonucleotides-induced local blockade of T-bet expression leads to airway inflammation in rats.

AIM: To explore whether local blockade of T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet) expression in the lungs could lead to airway inflammation. METHODS: Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: saline group, ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized group, nonsense group, and the antisense group. The OVA-sensitized rats were sensitized and challenged with OVA, and the rats in the nonsense and antisense groups were subjected to an aerosol delivery of the nonsense and antisense oligonucleotides (AS-ODN) of T-bet (0.1%, w/v). The levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-5 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by ELISA, and the mRNA and the protein expression of T-bet and GATA-3 genes were examined by in situ hybridization and Western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of T-bet mRNA and protein in the lungs of the rats in the antisense group were inhibited effectively. The lungs of the rats in the antisense and OVA-sensitized groups showed eosinophil and lymphocyte inflammatory infiltration, and eosinophilia located predominantly around the airways. The number of GATA-3 mRNA-positive cells and the level of GATA-3 protein in the lungs of the rats in the antisense and the OVA-sensitized groups significantly increased. The level of IL-4 and IL-5 in the BALF in the antisense and OVA-sensitized groups were elevated, but the level of IFN-gamma decreased markedly. CONCLUSION: Antisense ODN-induced local blockade of T-bet expression leads to airway inflammation with a selective alteration in patterns of cytokine expression and recruitment of eosinophil cells similar to that in the OVA-sensitized animals.