Unmixing the coupling influence from driving factors on vegetation changes considering spatio-temporal heterogeneity in mining areas: a case study in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China.

Considering the spatio-temporal heterogeneity, this study resolved the coupling influence of a variety of driving factors on vegetation changes in mining areas and discovered the influencing characteristics of the respective driving factors, especially mining activities. First, the spatio-temporal characteristics of FVC (fractional vegetation cover) variation were analyzed in the Sheng-Li mining area. Second, the quantitative relationships among the natural factors (temperature, precipitation, and elevation), artificial factors (mining activities, urban activities), and FVC were constructed by GTWR (geographically and temporally weighted regression) to quantify the contribution of each factor to the change in FVC. Third, the influencing characteristics of the respective driving factors, especially mining activities, were analyzed and summarized. The results show that (1) the FVC change was mainly influenced by natural factors in the areas far from mines and towns and artificial factors in the areas close to mines and towns. (2) The contribution of mining activities to vegetation change (C-Mine) was spatially characterized by two features: (a) distance attenuation characteristics: C-Mine showed logarithmic decrement with distance; (b) directional heterogeneity: C-Mine varied significantly in different directions. In particular, there was a high C-Mine area located near multiple mining areas, and the range of this area shifted to include the mine with more production over time. Overall, unmixing the coupling influence from driving factors with spatio-temporal heterogeneity and achieving a quantitative description of the influencing characteristics in mining areas were the main contributions of this study. The quantification methods and results in this paper provide important support for decision-making on ecological protection and restoration in mining areas.

Ingested microplastics impair the metabolic relationship between the giant clam Tridacna crocea and its symbionts.

Microplastics are emerging as widespread pollutants in coral reef ecosystems worldwide; however, there is limited knowledge regarding their impact on giant clams, which are important reef builders. In the present study, the cytological, physiological, and molecular response of the giant clam Tridacna crocea to a 5 d exposure of microplastics was investigated. The concentration of microplastics in the intestine and outer mantle increased significantly and gradually after the exposure to microplastics. There were no significant changes in the density of symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae throughout the exposure period, but symbiont chlorophyll content increased significantly after 1 d of exposure. There was a significant increase in symbiont superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, but a decrease in giant clam SOD activity and symbiont glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. No significant changes in catalase (CAT) activity and caspase3 activation level were observed in the two symbiotic partners. Transcriptomic analysis of the giant clam revealed 138 significantly upregulated and 1390 significantly downregulated genes after 5 d of microplastic exposure. The top 20 GO terms overrepresented by these significantly downregulated genes were related to primary metabolic processes and cellular metabolic processes. No significantly upregulated genes were observed in symbionts, but 28 genes were significantly downregulated, including chloroplast oxygen-evolving enhancer, photosystem I reaction center subunit II, peptide/nitrate transporter, sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter, beta-glucosidase, and TPA: lipase. These results suggest that T. crocea ingests microplastics through the outer mantle and intestine, and these microplastics can suppress the photosynthesis, organic nutrient transportation, and detoxification ability of the symbionts, as well as the primary metabolism of the giant clam. This eventually could threaten their metabolic relationship and long-term survival.

Myosin XI-B is involved in the transport of vesicles and organelles in pollen tubes of Arabidopsis thaliana.

The movement of organelles and vesicles in pollen tubes depends on F-actin. However, the molecular mechanism through which plant myosin XI drives the movement of organelles is still controversial, and the relationship between myosin XI and vesicle movement in pollen tubes is also unclear. In this study, we found that the siliques of the myosin xi-b/e mutant were obviously shorter than those of the wild-type (WT) and that the seed set of the mutant was severely deficient. The pollen tube growth of myosin xi-b/e was significantly inhibited both in vitro and in vivo. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching showed that the velocity of vesicle movement in the pollen tube tip of the myosin xi-b/e mutant was lower than that of the WT. It was also found that peroxisome movement was significantly inhibited in the pollen tubes of the myosin xi-b/e mutant, while the velocities of the Golgi stack and mitochondrial movement decreased relatively less in the pollen tubes of the mutant. The endoplasmic reticulum streaming in the pollen tube shanks was not significantly different between the WT and the myosin xi-b/e mutant. In addition, we found that myosin XI-B-GFP colocalized obviously with vesicles and peroxisomes in the pollen tubes of Arabidopsis. Taken together, these results indicate that myosin XI-B may bind mainly to vesicles and peroxisomes, and drive their movement in pollen tubes. These results also suggest that the mechanism by which myosin XI drives organelle movement in plant cells may be evolutionarily conserved compared with other eukaryotic cells.

Cytogenetic and mutational analysis and outcome assessment of a cohort of 284 children with de novo acute myeloid leukemia reveal complex karyotype as an adverse risk factor for inferior survival.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is rare in children. Although complex karyotype (CK) defined as ≥ 3 cytogenetic abnormalities is an adverse risk factor in adult AML, its prognostic impact on childhood AML remains to be determined. RESULTS: We studied the prevalence, cytogenetic and mutational features, and outcome impact of CK in a cohort of 284 Chinese children with de novo AML. Thirty-four (12.0%) children met the criteria for CK-AML with atypical CK being more frequent than typical CK featured with -5/5q-, -7/7q-, and/or 17p aberration. Mutational prevalence was low and co-occurrence mutants were uncommon. Children with CK-AML showed shorter overall survival (OS) (5-year OS: 26.7 ± 10.6% vs. 37.5 ± 8.6%, p = 0.053) and event-free survival (EFS) (5-year EFS: 26.7 ± 10.6% vs. 38.8 ± 8.6%, p = 0.039) compared with those with intermediate-risk genetics. Typical CK tended to correlate with a decreased OS than atypical CK (5-year OS: 0 vs. 33 ± 12.7%.; p = 0.084), and CK with ≥ 5 cytogenetic aberrations was associated with an inferior survival compared with CK with ≤ 4 aberrations (5-year OS: 13.6 ± 11.7% vs. 50.0 ± 18.6%; p = 0.040; 5-year EFS: 13.6 ± 11.7% vs. 50.0 ± 18.6%; p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate CK as an adverse risk factor for reduced survival in childhood AML. Our findings shed light on the cytogenetic and mutational profile of childhood CK-AML and would inform refinement of risk stratification in childhood AML to improve outcomes.

Differential enrichment and physiological impacts of ingested microplastics in scleractinian corals in situ.

Microplastics are emerging contaminants and widespread in the ocean, but their impacts on coral reef ecosystems are poorly understood, and in situ study is still lacking. In the present study, the distribution patterns of microplastics in the environment and inhabiting organisms were investigated along the east coast of Hainan Island, South China Sea, and the physiological impacts of the microplastics on scleractinian corals were analyzed. We documented average microplastic concentrations of 14.90 particlesL-1 in seawater, 343.04 particleskg-1 in sediment, 4.97 particlescm-2 in corals, and 0.67-3.12 particlescm-1 in Tridacnidae, Trochidae and fish intestines. Further analysis revealed that the characteristics of microplastics in the organisms were different from those in the environment, indicating preferential enrichment in the organisms. Furthermore, there was an obvious correlation between microplastic concentration and symbiotic density in corals. Furthermore, caspase3 activity was significantly positively correlated with the microplastic content in the small-polyp coral Pocillopora damicornis, but the large-polyp coral Galaxea fascicularis showed higher tolerance to microplastics. Taken together, our results suggest that microplastics are selectively enriched in corals and other reef-dwellers, in which they exact differential stress (apoptotic) effects, with the potential to impact the coral-Symbiodiniaceae symbiosis and alter the coral community structure.

Organelle movement and apical accumulation of secretory vesicles in pollen tubes of Arabidopsis thaliana depend on class XI myosins.

F-actin and myosin XI play important roles in plant organelle movement. A few myosin XI genes in the genome of Arabidopsis are mainly expressed in mature pollen, which suggests that they may play a crucial role in pollen germination and pollen tube tip growth. In this study, a genetic complementation assay was conducted in a myosin xi-c (myo11c1) myosin xi-e (myo11c2) double mutant, and fluorescence labeling combined with microscopic observation was applied. We found that myosin XI-E (Myo11C2)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) restored the slow pollen tube growth and seed deficiency phenotypes of the myo11c1 myo11c2 double mutant and Myo11C2-GFP partially colocalized with mitochondria, peroxisomes and Golgi stacks. Furthermore, decreased mitochondrial movement and subapical accumulation were detected in myo11c1 myo11c2 double mutant pollen tubes. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments showed that the fluorescence recoveries of GFP-RabA4d and AtPRK1-GFP at the pollen tube tip of the myo11c1 myo11c2 double mutant were lower than those of the wild type were after photobleaching. These results suggest that Myo11C2 may be associated with mitochondria, peroxisomes and Golgi stacks, and play a crucial role in organelle movement and apical accumulation of secretory vesicles in pollen tubes of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Correlation of TET2 SNP rs2454206 with improved survival in children with acute myeloid leukemia featuring intermediate-risk cytogenetics.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may influence the disease course and outcome of hematologic neoplasms. SNP rs2454206 is common in the TET2 gene, which plays a role in epigenetic regulation of myelopoiesis. Few investigations examined the role of TET2 SNP rs2454206 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and none of those studies was performed in Chinese populations. Here, we report the prevalence and clinical relevance of TET2 SNP rs2454206 in 254 Chinese patients with childhood AML. Our data demonstrate that TET2 SNP rs2454206AG/GG is associated with improved overall survival and event-free survival in AML patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetics features. The prognostic impact of TET2 SNP rs2454206AG/GG was independent of other common AML risk factors, such as age, white blood cell count, and FLT3-ITD. No difference in TET2 expression levels in AML with TET2 SNP rs2454206AA and TET2 SNP rs2454206AG/GG was detected, indicating that TET2 SNP rs2454206 status does not affect TET2 expression in pediatric AML.

KIT mutations correlate with adverse survival in children with core-binding factor acute myeloid leukemia.

The prevalence and clinical relevance of KIT mutations in childhood core-binding factor (CBF) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have not been well characterized. In this study, a total of 212 children with de novo AML were enrolled from a Chinese population and 50 (23.5%) of the patients were deemed CBF-AML. KIT mutations were identified in 30% of the CBF-AML cohort. The KIT mutations were clustered in exon 17 and exon 8, and KIT mutations in exons 8 and 17 were correlated with a shorter overall survival (OS) (5-year OS: 30.0 ± 14.5% vs. 73.0 ± 8.5%, p = .007) and event-free survival (EFS) (5-year EFS: 30.0 ± 14.5% vs. 73.0 ± 8.5%, p = .003). Multivariate analysis revealed KIT mutations as an independent risk factor in CBF-AML. Our results suggest that KIT mutations are a molecular marker for an inferior prognosis in pediatric CBF-AML.

Genetic mutational profiling analysis of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia reveal mutant FBXW7 as a prognostic indicator for inferior survival.

T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive neoplasm for which there are currently no adequate biomarkers for developing risk-adapted therapeutic regimens to improve the treatment outcome. In this prospective study of 83 Chinese patients (54 children and 29 adults) with de novo T-ALL, we analyzed mutations in 11 T-ALL genes: NOTCH1, FBXW7, PHF6, PTEN, N-RAS, K-RAS, WT1, IL7R, PIK3CA, PIK3RA, and AKT1. NOTCH1 mutations were identified in 51.9 and 37.9 % of pediatric and adult patients, respectively, and these patients showed improved overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS). The FBXW7 mutant was present in 25.9 and 6.9 % of pediatric and adult patients, respectively, and was associated with inferior OS and EFS in pediatric T-ALL. Multivariate analysis revealed that mutant FBXW7 was an independent prognostic indicator for inferior EFS (hazard ratio [HR] 4.38; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.15-16.71; p = 0.03) and tended to be associated with reduced OS (HR 2.81; 95 % CI 0.91-8.69; p = 0.074) in pediatric T-ALL. Mutant PHF6 was present in 13 and 20.7 % of our childhood and adult cohorts, respectively, while PTEN mutations were noted in 11.1 % of the pediatric patients. PTEN and NOTCH1 mutations were almost mutually exclusive, while IL7R and WT1 mutations were rare in pediatric T-ALL and PTPN11 and AKT1 mutations were infrequent in adult T-ALL. This study revealed differences in the mutational profiles of pediatric and adult T-ALL and suggests mutant FBXW7 as an independent prognostic indicator for inferior survival in pediatric T-ALL.

Meta-analysis: diagnostic accuracy of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody for juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of the anti-CCP test in JIA and to evaluate factors associated with higher accuracy. METHODS: Two investigators performed an extensive search of the literature published between January 2000 and January 2014. The included articles were assessed by the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. The meta-analysis was performed using a summary ROC (SROC) curve and a bivariate random-effect model to estimate sensitivity and specificity across studies. RESULTS: The bivariate meta-analysis yielded a pooled sensitivity and specificity of 10% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.0%-15.0%) and 99.0% (95% CI: 98.0%-100.0%). The area under the SROC curve was 0.96. Sensitivity estimates were highly heterogeneous, which was partially explained by the higher sensitivity in the rheumatoid factor-positive polyarthritis (RF+ PA) subtype (48.0%; 95% CI: 31.0%-65.0%) than in the other subtypes (17.0%; 95% CI: 14.0%-20.0%) and the higher sensitivity of the Inova assay (17.0%; 95% CI: 14.0%-20.%%) than the other assays (0.05%; 95% CI: 2.0%-11.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-CCP antibody test has a high specificity for the diagnosis of JIA. The sensitivity of this test is low and varies across populations but is higher in RF+ PA than in other JIA subtypes.

Diagnostic accuracy of fecal lactoferrin for inflammatory bowel disease: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To do a systematic review using meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic accuracy of fecal lactoferrin (FL) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: We performed a literature review and systematically searched the Medline and EMBASE databases for eligible studies. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the QUADAS tool. The sensitivity, specificity, and other diagnostic indexes of FL were pooled using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Seven studies, involving 1816 patients, met the inclusion criteria. In all studies, the pooled FL sensitivity and pooled specificity were 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.72, 0.89) and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.88, 0.98), respectively. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 16.63 and 0.18, respectively. The area under the summary receiver-operating characteristic curve (SROC) was 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93, 0.97), and the diagnostic odds ratio was 90.04 (95% CI: 37.01, 219.02). The pooled FL sensitivity and specificity for Crohn's disease (CD) diagnosis (sensitivity =75%, specificity =100%) was not as good as it was for ulcerative colitis (UC) diagnosis (sensitivity =82%, specificity =100%). CONCLUSION: FL, as a noninvasive and screening marker, has a high specificity and a modest specificity during the diagnosis of suspected IBD.

Hepatitis C virus infection and the risk of Sjögren or sicca syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Previous studies have suggested an association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the development of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), also known as sicca syndrome. The main objective of this study was to summarize the existing evidence and quantitatively evaluate the association between hepatitis C virus infection and SS/sicca syndrome by performing a meta-analysis of observational studies. MEDLINE and PubMed (January 1980-August 2013) were searched to identify relevant studies in English. Outcomes were calculated and are reported as odds risk (OR) and 95% CIs based on a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed with I(2) statistics. Quality assessment was performed with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Based on meta-analysis of five cross-sectional and five cohort studies, a significant positive relationship between HCV infection and development of SS/sicca syndrome was found, the pooled random effects OR being 3.31 (95% CI, 1.46-7.48; P < 0.001). In subset analyses, the studies that used European diagnostic criteria showed a higher summary OR than did studies that adopted other diagnostic criteria. When the data were stratified by source of controls, significant associations were also observed when healthy people (OR = 9.44; 95% CI = 2.67-33.40; P = 0.204) or subjects with hepatitis B virus infection (OR = 6.57; 95% CI = 1.21-35.57; P = 0.5) were used as controls, but not when the controls were hospital-based (OR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.61-1.61; P = 0.169). In summary, the findings suggest that HCV infection is associated with SS/sicca syndrome. The observed increased risk in studies in which European diagnostic criteria and healthy controls were used and the decreased risk in studies with hospital-based controls may be attributable to selection bias or other unknown factors.

[Features of anovulatory infertility patients of gan-yin deficiency syndrome: a primary exploration].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the laws of anovulatory infertility patients of Gan-yin deficiency syndrome (GYDS), and to analyze the correlation between GYDS and partial sex hormones and metabolic parameters. METHODS: Recruited were 103 anovulatory infertility patients, including 48 of GYDS and 55 of non-GYDS. At the same time, 20 healthy pluripara at the child-bearing period were recruited as the control group. The body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were measured. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and leptin were detected. The inter-group difference of the above indices was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Levels of BMI, FINS, HOMA-IRI, leptin, TC, TG, LDL-C, T, PRL, and LH were higher in the GYDS group and the non-GDS group than in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), while SHBG was lower in the GYDS group and the non-GYDS group than in the control group (P < 0.01). Only the PRL level was higher in the GYDS group than in the non-GYDS group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Gan-yin deficiency is a predominant manifestation in anovulatory infertility patients. Partial disorder of some sex hormones and metabolic derangement might be common pathological factors for anovulatory infertility, while increased PRL levels was dominant in GYDS.

[Effects of resolving method of Chinese medicine on the lipid metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome accompanied with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of resolving method of Chinese medicine (CM) on the lipid metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients accompanied with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), to analyze the correlation between PCOS and NAFLD, and to study its mechanisms. METHODS: Totally 70 female PCOS patients in the reproductive age (20 -40 years old) were recruited. Among them, 35 PCOS patients accompanied with NAFLD were recruited as Group A, and 35 PCOS patients without complicated NAFLD were recruited as Group B. At the same time, 20 healthy female volunteers were recruited as the control group. All subjects had their personal medical records after relevant questionnaire. Their clinical data including body height (BH), body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), leptin, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), 2 h postprandial blood glucose (2 h PBG), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), etc. were detected. Patients in Group A were treated by the resolving method for 3 months. The follow-up was continued for 6 months after ending treatment. RESULTS: The levels of BW, BMI, WHR, T, LH, LH/FSH, leptin, FINS, 2 h PBG, HOMA-IR, and LDL-C were significantly higher in Group B than in the control group (P < 0.05). The level of FSH was significantly lower in Group B than in the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of BW, BMI, WC, HC, waist-hip-ratio (WHR), leptin, FINS, 2 h PBG, HOMA-IR, TG, LDL-C, ALT, and AST were significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (P < 0.05). The HDL-C level was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (P < 0.05). In Group A after treatment by resolving method of CM, the menstrual cycle was recovered in 83.87% patients (26/31 cases), reduced fatty liver degree or disappearance of fatty liver degree occurred in 32.26% patients (10/31 cases), with the total effective rate being 85.71% (24/28 cases).48.28% (14/29) patients were pregnant. The levels of BW, BMI, FBG, leptin, TG, ALT, and AST significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05). The level of SHBG significantly increased (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of HOMA-IR, FINS, T, FSH, LH, or LH/FSH between before and after treatment (P > 0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: The metabolic disorder of glycolipid exists in PCOS patients, and more serious in PCOS patients accompanied with NAFLD. Resolving method can effectively restore the metabolic disturbance in PCOS patients accompanied with NAFLD, recover their fatty liver degrees, recover normal menstrual cycles, and elevate their pregnancy rates. Further studies are necessary on whether its mechanisms lie on lowering leptin levels and correcting lipid metabolisms to relieve patient's clinical symptoms.

[The Chinese medicine syndrome typing mode at the same level is the key point to explore the syndrome laws of disease. An inspiration from studying Chinese medicine syndrome laws of polycystic ovarian syndrome].

Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome typing methods not only provides information on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, but also embodies the whole process of their occurrence, development, and prognosis. Standard syndrome typing methods can provide a testing platform for clinical efficacy assessment and scientific research work. By my 16 years' clinical experience, inter-group comparison of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients of different CM syndrome types at the same level (reproductive endocrinology and metabolism) was conducted. They were also compared with the healthy subjects. Results showed that homogeneity and heterogeneity exist in PCOS patients of different CM syndromes in the reproductive endocrine and metabolic characteristics, which is important to understand the laws between the pathological changes and syndrome types of PCOS. It is also a good inspiration to understand and clarify the correlation between the asthenia of Zang-Fu organs in CM theories and PCOS. Therefore, I believe that it is necessary to explore the laws of each CM syndrome type at the same level of syndrome typing, thus finding out the pathogenesis of PCOS. Only in this way could the clinical efficacy and the research level of integrative medicine be effectively improved.

[Study on the correlation between different Chinese medicine syndrome types and endocrine metabolism of polycystic ovarian syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between different Chinese medicine syndrome types and endocrine metabolism of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: 223 PCOS patients were recruited. Of tem, 109 patients were classified as Pi deficiency type (PDT), 56 as Gan deficiency type (GDT), and 58 as Shen deficiency type (SDT). And twenty healthy females of the same age ranges were enrolled as the control group. The body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) were measured. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), fasting blood sugar (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), lipids [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)], and leptin were detected. The intergroup difference of each index was compared. RESULTS: Higher results of leptin, FINS, HOMA-IRI, T, LH/FSH ratio were obtained in the three PCOS groups than in the control group, while the level of SHBG was lower in the three PCOS groups than in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in the leptin level among the three PCOS groups. Higher levels of FINS and HOMA-IRI were shown in the PDT group than in the SDT group and the GDT group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Higher T and LH/FSH were shown in the SDT group than in the PDT group and the GDT group (P<0.05). Higher PRL levels were obtained in the GDT group than in the PDT group and the SDT group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Disorders of serum leptin and SHBG were the common pathological manifestations in different syndrome types of PCOS, while different syndrome types had specific endocrine metabolic features.

[Study on the relation between Pi-deficiency pattern and metabolic syndrome in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between Pi-deficiency syndrome (PDS) pattern and metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), for exploring their internal pathologic mechanism. METHODS: Among the 102 PCOS patients, 22 complicated with MS (PCOS-MS) and 80 not complicated with MS (PCOS-NMS), the Chinese medicine syndrome pattern was differentiated as PDS in 50 patients and non-PDS in 52. The clinical data, in terms of fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), waistline, body weight (BW), stature, blood pressure (BP), etc. was collected and compared and the relation between data was analyzed. RESULTS: Levels of FINS and homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistence index (HOMA-IR), in PCOS-MS patients were significantly higher than those in PCOS-NMS patients, also higher in patients of PDS pattern than those of non-PDS pattern (P < 0.01); the occurrences of MS and PDS were highly positively correlated with levels of FINS and HOMA-IR (P < 0.01); incidence of MS in patients of PDS pattern was significantly higher than those in patients of non-PDS pattern (P < 0.05); presenting of PDS was positively related with the existence of MS (P < 0.05), but in case of the FINS or HOMA-IR factor being controlled, statistical meaning of the relativity between them turned to insignificant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PCOS patients of PDS pattern are the high-risk population of MS, which might be related with the insulin resistance. So, early treatment of PCOS, especially on patients of PDS pattern, is of important significance for preventing the complication, as MS, of the disease.

[Wuling Capsule for climacteric patients with depression and anxiety state: a randomized, positive parallel controlled trial].

BACKGROUND: The incidence of menopausal anxiety and depression is increasing. It can induce and aggravate a variety of somatic symptoms. Despite of the good effects of psychotropic drugs on the disease, patients' compliance is poor. Therefore, it is necessary to find a drug which is practical, effective, and easy for patients to take. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Wuling Capsule (WC), a Chinese herbal medicine, in treatment of female climacteric syndrome with depression and anxiety state. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: A total of 96 outpatients of female climacteric syndrome from Department of Gynecology of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Department of Gynecology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University were included. The study was designed as a randomized, positive drug parallel controlled trial. The patients were divided into WC group (64 cases) and control group (32 cases) and were orally administered Wuling Capsule and Gengnianan Tablet, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The efficacy was evaluated with Kupperman menopausal index (KMI), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) before treatment, and after 3-week and 6-week treatment. RESULTS: The total response rate was 89.66% (52/58) in the WC group, which was superior to that in the control group [76.67% (23/30)]. Ridit test showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). Kupperman score of the two groups decreased markedly after the treatment (P<0.01), but there was no statistical difference between the two groups. The scales of SAS and SDS in both groups were improved obviously after the treatment (P<0.01). Covariance analysis showed that the decrease of SAS score in the WC group was more significant than that in the control group after 3- and 6-week treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01), but the SDS score was improved more significantly in the WC group than in the control group after 6-week treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both Wuling Capsule and Gengnian' an Tablet are effective in treating female climacteric patients with depression and anxiety state. Wuling Capsule is more effective to alleviate depression and anxiety as compared with Gengnianan Tablet.

Satellite remote sensing of dust aerosol indirect effects on ice cloud formation.

We undertook a new approach to investigate the aerosol indirect effect of the first kind on ice cloud formation by using available data products from the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) and obtained physical understanding about the interaction between aerosols and ice clouds. Our analysis focused on the examination of the variability in the correlation between ice cloud parameters (optical depth, effective particle size, cloud water path, and cloud particle number concentration) and aerosol optical depth and number concentration that were inferred from available satellite cloud and aerosol data products. Correlation results for a number of selected scenes containing dust and ice clouds are presented, and dust aerosol indirect effects on ice clouds are directly demonstrated from satellite observations.

[Clinical observation on treatment of 43 women with polycystic ovary syndrome based on syndrome differentiation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of treatment based on syndrome differentiation and its influence on the serum levels of testosterone and insulin in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Forty-three women, diagnosed with PCOS as well as syndrome of kidney yin deficiency or syndrome of spleen qi deficiency, were enrolled in the study. Twenty-five PCOS women with syndrome of kidney yin deficiency were treated with traditional Chinese herbs for nourishing yin to reduce fire (nourishing yin group), and 18 PCOS women with syndrome of spleen qi deficiency were treated with herbs for invigorating spleen and replenishing qi (replenishing qi group). Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist circumference (WC), and the serum levels of insulin and testosterone before and after treatment were detected. RESULTS: Among the 43 cases, 20 cases had high serum testosterone level, in which 13 cases with syndrome of kidney yin deficiency, 7 cases with syndrome of spleen qi deficiency, but the difference had no statistic significance; 17 cases had high serum insulin level, in which 11 cases with syndrome of spleen qi deficiency, 6 cases with syndrome of kidney yin deficiency, the difference had statistic significance (P<0.05). In nourishing yin group, the serum levels of insulin and testosterone declined after treatment (P<0.05), and BMI, WHR and WC showed no significant changes. In replenishing qi group, the serum level of insulin declined after treatment (P<0.01), and BMI, WHR, WC and the serum level of testosterone showed no significant changes. CONCLUSION: Traditional Chinese herbs for nourishing yin to reduce fire can significantly reduce the serum levels of testosterone and insulin in PCOS women with syndrome of kidney yin deficiency, and herbs for invigorating spleen and replenishing qi can significantly reduce the serum level of insulin in PCOS women with syndrome of spleen qi deficiency.