[Responses of soil microbial communities in mulberry rhizophere to intercropping and nitrogen application.] / æ¡‘æ ‘æ ¹é™ åœŸå£¤å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©å¯¹é—´ä½œå’Œæ–½æ°®çš„å“åº”.

In this study, the effects of intercropping with alfalfa and nitrogen application on the functional diversity of soil microbial community in mulberry rhizosphere were examined by Biolog-EcoplateTM technique, and principal component and canonical analyses. Compared to monoculture with no nitrogen (N) addition, monoculture with N application and intercropping with alfalfa remarkably reduced soil pH and significantly increased the contents of soil organic matter, soil available N, soil water content, and activities of peroxidase and urease. Monoculture with N application and intercropping with alfalfa (with or without N application) increased the AWCD values, diversity index, and the carbon source utilization ratios of soil microbes. Higher increments of these parameters were detected in the treatment of intercropping plus N application. The results of principal component analysis showed that N application and intercropping changed the capacity of the rhizosphere microbial community for utilizing carbon sources. The utilization of carbon sources highly related to the principal components by the rhizosphere microbial communities was similar in the treatments of monoculture with N application and intercropping without N application. The utilization of itaconic acid and D-glucamaminic acid in the latter was more than 4% and was significantly higher than that in the former. The results from redundancy analysis showed that the soil microbial diversity in mulberry rhizosphere of the treatment of monoculture without N application was positively correlated with polyphenol oxidase activity and negatively correlated with soil water content, whereas that of monoculture with N application and intercropping without N application was significantly positively correlated with soil pH and soil water content and negatively correlated with soil N avalaibility. The diversity of the microbes in the rhizosphere soil of mulberries under the treatment of intercropping with N application showed positive correlation with soil N availability and was significantly negatively correlated with soil pH.

Stereotactic neurosurgical technique and electrophysiological study in ablating the ventromedial shell of the nucleus accumbens.

OBJECTIVE: To describe in as much detail as possible the method for ablating the ventromedial shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and investigate the efficacy and safety of the ablation treatment. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with drug addictions received operations within the time frame from 2004 to 2009. The ablation targets were located in the bilateral medial posterior inferior shell of the NAc. Intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring was performed. RESULTS: Tissue impedance in the shell of the NAc varied from 185 to 355 Ω. When stimulated with a low frequency (2 Hz) and a voltage above 3 V, 57 out of 65 (87.7%) patients experienced slight throbbing sensations. During the lesion procedure, fever was detected on the head and face of 59 patients (90.8%), the heart rate decreased in 19 cases (29.2%), and restlessness, irritability and hyperalgia were noted for all patients. Among the 65 patients, 52 (80%) no longer experienced a psychological craving for the drug. CONCLUSIONS: The shell of the NAc may be a promising surgical target for psychosurgery. Electrophysiological recordings revealed that the shell is indeed an appropriate structure.

Total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacities of herbal and tea infusions.

In order to supply new information on the antioxidant function of selected beverages for nutritionists and the general public, total phenolic contents of 51 kinds of herbal and tea infusions made in China were measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and their antioxidant capacities were evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. A significant correlation between FRAP and TEAC values suggested that antioxidant components in these beverages were capable of reducing oxidants and scavenging free radicals. The high correlation between antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents indicated that phenolic compounds could be one of the main components responsible for antioxidant activities of these beverages. Generally, these beverages had high antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents, and could be important dietary sources of antioxidant phenolics for prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress.

[Microsurgical treatment of complicated tethered cord resulting from mixed lipoma in a 12-year-old patient: a case report].

OBJECTIVE: A 12-year-old boy was admitted for complaint of progressive urination disorder for over 2 years. Physical examination found dysesthesia in the perineal region and disappearance of anal reflex with anal relaxation and a spinal cleft in the sacrococcygeal region. Lumbosacral magnetic resonance imaging MRI showed a low-set of the spinal cord, tethered cord, spina bifida of sacral vertebrae, and meningocele combined with lipoma inside and outside of the spinal canal. Ultrasonography displayed a significantly increased residual urine volume. The diagnosis of tethered-cord syndrome resulting from mixed lipoma was thus established. During the microsurgery, the adhesions between the spinal cord, coccygeal nerve and lipoma were released with a laser scalpel, and the lipoma inside and outside of the spinal canal was excised, after which the dural defect was repaired. The patient recovered smoothly, and the urinary function was normal at the follow-up 6 months after the surgery. Spinal cord lipoma can be classified into 2 types based on the integrity of the dura mater, and in this case, a combined dural defect was found. A definite diagnosis can be derived from the clinical manifestations and MRI findings. Microsurgery remains the currently only effective treatment, and a favorable prognosis can be expected after an early surgical intervention, especially before the functional lesion of the spinal cord. The integrity of the local dura mater considerably affects the outcome of the treatment, and dural defect often leads to surgical difficulty and poor results. The key to a successful operation lies in a full release of the adhesion and avoidance of injury to the conus medullaris and cauda equina. A reoperation in case of recurrence should be carefully evaluated for its benefits.

Antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents of 62 fruits.

In order to supply new information on the antioxidant function of selected fruits for nutritionists and the general public, antioxidant activities and total phenolic contents of 62 fruits were evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays as well as the Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. The correlations between the FRAP value and the TEAC value as well as total phenolic content were also assessed. The results showed that different fruits had diverse antioxidant capacities and the variation was very large, and seven fruits, Chinese date, pomegranate, guava, sweetsop, persimmon, Chinese wampee and plum, possessed the highest antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents among tested fruits, and could be important dietary sources of natural antioxidants for prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents of 56 wild fruits from South China.

In order to identify wild fruits possessing high nutraceutical potential, the antioxidant activities of 56 wild fruits from South China were systematically evaluated. The fat-soluble components were extracted with tetrahydrofuran, and the water-soluble ones were extracted with a 50:3.7:46.3 (v/v) methanol-acetic acid-water mixture. The antioxidant capacities of the extracts were evaluated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays, and their total phenolic contents were measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Most of these wild fruits were analyzed for the first time for their antioxidant activities. Generally, these fruits had high antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents. A significant correlation between the FRAP value and the TEAC value suggested that antioxidant components in these wild fruits were capable of reducing oxidants and scavenging free radicals. A high correlation between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content indicated that phenolic compounds could be the main contributors to the measured antioxidant activity. The results showed that fruits of Eucalyptus robusta, Eurya nitida, Melastoma sanguineum, Melaleuca leucadendron, Lagerstroemia indica, Caryota mitis, Lagerstroemia speciosa and Gordonia axillaris possessed the highest antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents among those tested, and could be potential rich sources of natural antioxidants and functional foods. The results obtained are very helpful for the full utilization of these wild fruits.