[Prediction of crown leaf mass per area for young Larix olgensis plantation]. / äººå·¥é•¿ç™½è½å¶æ¾å¹¼é¾„æž—æ ‘å† æ¯”å¶é‡.

Leaf mass per area (LMA) is an important parameter in the construction of the ecosystem process models. Accurate prediction of the dynamic validation of canopy LMA is of significance to improve the accuracy of ecosystem process models. We conducted vertical whorl-by-whorl sampling and analyzed LMA in different seasons for Larix olgensis plantation in Maoershan in Shangzhi, Heilongjiang Province, China. We analyzed the vertical and developmental variations of LMA and their main effective factors, established the dynamic prediction model of LMA for young L. olgensis plantation. The results showed that the LMA decreased with the increases of relative depth into crown (RDINC) in the vertical direction of the crown. The range of LMA in the vertical direction after leaf expanded was significantly larger than that during leaf expanding. During the different development periods of leaves, LMAs increased first and then remained stable, and this trend gra-dually weakened with the increases of crown depth. The Ra2 values were lower than 0.6 when RDINC or DOY were used as the single variable to model LMA, but were increased by 0.19 when both of them being used, and the model performed well in validation (ME=0.54 g·m-2, MAE=5.74 g·m-2). LMA varied across different crown whorls and different leaf development periods. The LMA model constructed with RDINC and DOY could well describe the vertical and temporal variations of LMA. The simulation of crown LMA provided a basis for clarifying crown development and a foundation for the establishment of ecological process model.

Post-operative care of interventional therapy for 40 liver cancer patients with obstructive jaundice.

The care of 40 patients with primary liver cancer with obstructive jaundice treated with liver puncture bile drainage or biliary stent implantation was reported. Treated with the interventional therapy, patients were observed closely to identify symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy and pain; diet care was well performed. Bile drainage tube and skin acre were performed carefully. Liver function, bilirubin and other biochemical indicators were monitored; occurrence of bleeding, acute pancreatitis, biliary tract infection, leakage of ascites around drainage tube and other complication were observed with good discharge instruction. After this operation, three rounds of liver had poor function, and hepatic encephalopathy and death occurred during hospitalisation. Seven patients had bloody bile drainage fluid after operation; eight had increased blood amylase; nine had biliary infection and four had leakage of ascites around the drainage tube. After positive treatment and care, the situation was improved with varied degrees of jaundice increase.

Roxithromycin suppresses airway remodeling and modulates the expression of caveolin-1 and phospho-p42/p44MAPK in asthmatic rats.

Roxithromycin (RXM) expresses anti-asthmatic effects that are separate from its antibiotic activity, but its effects on airway remodeling are still unknown. Here, we evaluated the effects of RXM on airway remodeling and the expression of caveolin-1 and phospho-p42/p44mitogen-activated protein kinase (phospho-p42/p44MAPK) in chronic asthmatic rats. The chronic asthma was induced by ovalbumin/Al(OH)3 sensitization and ovalbumin challenge, RXM (30mg/kg) or dexamethasone (0.5mg/kg) was given before airway challenge initiation. We measured the thickness of bronchial wall and bronchial smooth muscle cell layer to indicate airway remodeling, and caveolin-1 and phospho-p42/p44MAPK expression in lung tissue and airway smooth muscle were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, respectively. The results demonstrated that RXM treatment decreased the thickness of bronchial wall and bronchial smooth muscle cell layer, and also downregulated the phospho-p42/p44MAPK expression and upregulated the caveolin-1 expression. The above effects of RXM were similar to dexamethasone. Our results suggested that pretreatment with RXM could suppress airway remodeling and regulate the expression of caveolin-1 and phospho-p42/p44MAPK in chronic asthmatic rats.

Effects of COX-2 inhibitor on ventilator-induced lung injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation especially with large tidal volume has been demonstrated to activate inflammatory response inducing lung injury, which could be attenuated by cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors. As the main small integral membrane proteins that selectively conduct water molecules' transportation, aquaporin (AQP)-1 downregulation significantly related to lung edema and inflammation. This study aims to investigate the role of AQP1 in ventilator-induced lung injury in rats and evaluates the effects of COX-2 inhibition. METHODS: Forty rats were allocated into four groups, where rats in Groups LD (low volume+DMSO) and LN (low volume+NS-398) were given intravenously 2ml DMSO and 8mg/kg NS-398 (a specific COX-2 inhibitor, dissolved in 2ml DMSO) before 4-hour lower tidal volume ventilation (8ml/kg), respectively, while DMSO and NS-398 were administrated in the same manner before 4-hour injurious ventilation (40ml/kg) in Groups HD (high volume+DMSO) and HN (high volume+NS-398). The arachidonic acid metabolites (6-keto prostaglandin F1α, thromboxane B2), inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, 6, 8) and total protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and COX-2 mRNA and AQP1 protein expression in lung tissue were detected; water content and lung morphology were also evaluated. RESULTS: Compared to Groups LD and LN, the rats in Groups HD and HN suffered obvious lung morphological changes with higher wet-to-dry weight ratio and lung injury score, and the levels of arachidonic acid metabolites, inflammatory cytokines and total protein in BAL fluid were increased, the expression of COX-2 mRNA was significantly upregulated and AQP1 protein was downregulated in lung tissue (p<0.05). The changes in BAL fluid and the severity of lung injury were attenuated, and AQP1 expression was upregulated in Group HN as compared to HD (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ventilation with large tidal volume causes inflammatory mediator production and AQP1 downregulation, which could be attenuated by COX-2 inhibition.

Rapid detection of hepatitis C virus RNA by a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay.

The usefulness of reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for the rapid diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA was evaluated. This assay showed higher sensitivities than that of nested RT-PCR, with a detection limit of 600 IU mL(-1) , and no cross-reactivity was observed with hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis E virus. Furthermore, 106 stored sera from recently diagnosed cases were retrospectively investigated with real-time RT-PCR, the nested RT-PCR, in parallel with this new assay. The general detection rates of HCV RT-LAMP, real-time PCR and the nested RT-PCR for 106 stored sera samples were 95%, 96% and 88%, respectively. This study provides the first data on the usefulness of HCV RT-LAMP in the diagnosis of HCV RNA, especially in the early clinical diagnosis of acute HCV infection.

The promoting role of an isolate of dark-septate fungus on its host plant Saussurea involucrata Kar. et Kir.

A dark-septate endophytic (DSE) fungus EF-37 was isolated from the roots of Saussurea involucrata Kar. et Kir., an endangered Chinese medicinal plant. The molecular identification of the fungus was based on internal transcribed spacer regions and the result showed that EF-37 was congeneric to Mycocentrospora. This study was conducted to clarify the influence of the root endophyte EF-37 on the host plant S. involucrata using material grown in a sterile culture bottle. After cultivation for 40 days, fungal hyphae were found to be branching repeatedly and forming "hyphae nets" in the epidermal layers. Significant differences were detected between the study groups in plant dry weight, plant height, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, and the number of hair root tips. There was a positive effect of endophyte EF-37 on plant root development, with results showing that cortical cells dissolved and formed aerate structures. There was a positive effect of endophyte EF-37 on plant growth, but chlorophyll fluorescence analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the study groups. In addition, analysis of the chemical composition of seedlings showed that the level of rutin was higher in plants cultivated with the EF-37 fungus compared to the controls. This study helps to establish a basis for germplasm conservation and for further investigation of the interaction between dark-septate fungi and this alpine plant.

[Cell suspension culture and flavonoids production in Saussurea involucrate].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a system of cell suspension culture for Saussurea involucrate. METHOD: The effects of different factors on cell growth and flavonoids production of S. involucrate were systematically studied including the media, initial pH values of the medium, carbon sources, inoculum quantity, and plant growth substance. RESULT: The optimum medium was N6, initial pH values of the medium was 5.8, sucrose concentration was 50 g x L(-1), inoculum quantity was 60-80 g x L(-1) FW. Medium supplemented with BA (0.5 mg x L(-1)) and NAA (3 mg x L(-1)) was suitable for cell growth, but medium containing BA (0.2 mg x L(-1)) and NAA (2 mg x L(-1)) was suitable for flavonoids production. CONCLUSION: Cell growth and flavonoids production in the suspention of S. involucrate culture cell should be optimized.

[Tissue culture and plantlet regeneration from embryo of Saussurea involucrate].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a protocol of rapid clonal propagation of Saussurea involucrate by using embryo as explants. METHOD: MS medium was used as basal medium and BA and NAA were supplemented to find out the optimal hormone combinations for adventitious buds initiation, adventitious bud multiplication and rooting. RESULT: All embryo explants started to grow adventitious buds within 45 days when they were cultured on the media supplemented with 0.02-0.1 mg x L(-1) NAA and 2 mg x L(-1) BA; The adventitious buds multiplicated within 30 days when they were transferred to the media containing 0.1-0.2 mg x L(-1) NAA and 2-3 mg x L(-1) BA; 92% of the adventitious buds rooted well after they were planted on the MS medium containing macroelements at half strength and 0.4 mg x L(-1) NAA for 25 days. The regenerated plantlets grew well after they were transplanted and the survival rate was up to 70%. CONCLUSION: Plantlets of S. invducrate regenerated high frequence through adventitious bud.