[Effects of stumping on Calligonum mongolicum shelterbelt growth and soil moisture and salt distribution along Tarim Desert Highway, Xinjiang of Northwest China].

In order to ensure the stability and sustainability of the Calligonum mongolicum shelterbelt along Tarim Desert Highway, the aged C. mongolicum was stumped to investigate its growth and soil moisture and salt distribution. After stumping twice, C. mongolicum grew rapidly in its height, crown width, maximum basal diameter, and sprout number. Three years after stumping, the average height of the sprouts exceeded the control (no stumping), and the crown width and maximum basal diameter was 92.0% and 73.0% of the control, respectively. The fresh mass of the branches and assimilating branches, their dry mass, and the total fresh mass and dry mass of the aboveground parts reached 80.0%, 115.0%, 80.0%, 116.0%, 93.5%, and 88.0% of the control, respectively. Four years after stumping, the aboveground biomass surpassed the control. Comparing with the control, stumping increased the soil moisture content significantly and decreased the soil salt concentration. It was suggested that, to stump the aged C. mongolicum repeatedly could increase the soil moisture content and decrease the soil salt concentration in root zone, and effectively promote the rejuvenation and renewing of C. mongolicum.

[Effects of thinning on Calligonum arborescens growth and soil water-salt distribution in Tarim Desert Highway shelterbelt, Xinjiang of Northwest China].

In order to understand the effects of thinning on the growth of Calligonum arborescens and the soil water-salt distribution in Tarim Desert Highway shelterbelt, a thinning experiment was conducted on an aged and declined C. arborescens woodland in a demonstration section of the shelterbelt, with the growth of C. arborescens and the soil water-salt distribution monitored. Thinning had no effects on the phenophase of C. arborescens, but after thinning, the growth of the current year plant height, crown width, ground diameter, and new branch length of reserved trees was larger than that of the control, and the increment was in the order of planting space 2 mx 1 m > 1 m x 1 m > the control, with significant differences among the treatments. The assimilation branch surface area in treatments 2 mx 1 m and 1 m x 1 m were 5.97 m2 and 5.22 m2 per plant, respectively, being significantly larger than the control (3.1 m2 per plant). The soil moisture content in 0-160 cm layer was significantly higher in treatments 2 m x 1 m and 1 mx 1 m than in the control, and increased obviously with thinning intensity. The soil salt content was in the order of control > planting space 1 m x 1 m > 2 m x 1 m, and the differences among the treatments were significant. It was suggested that the best reserved plant density after thinning was planting space 2 m x 1 m.

[The short-term outcomes of patients with acute leukemia treated by thalidomide].

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of thalidomide for treating acute leukemia (AL). METHODS: 38 cases of AL were studied. 27 of the 38 cases receiving initial treatment were randomly divided into two groups, one treated with routine chemotherapy plus thalidomide (A) and the other with routine chemotherapy alone (B). 11 of the 38 were relapsing cases and all treated with routine chemotherapy plus thalidomide (C). Marrow microvascular density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were examined with factor-VIII related antigen/CD(34) immunohistological stain and ELISA respectively before and after the treatment. The initial dose of thalidomide was 200 mg/d and increased to 400 - 500 mg/d by increasing 50 mg/d weekly for 4 to 6 months. RESULTS: The complete remission (CR) rate and efficacy rate were 57.1%, 53.8% and 78.6%, 76.9% in the two groups respectively with no statistical difference. The CR rate and efficacy rate in the relapsing group were 27.3%, 54.5%. The relapsing rate 6 months after the treatment was low in the thalidomide group. MVD and VEGF were significantly different before and after the treatment (P < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between the MVD, VEGF and efficacy. The relapsing rate was low in cases with low MVD, VEGF. No particular side effects were observed in thalidomide group. CONCLUSION: Anti-angiogenesis may decrease relapse and maintain recovery state of AL patients. There are no severe side effects in the thalidomide group.