Combined effects of cadmium and simulated acid rain on soil microbial communities in the early cultivation of Populus beijingensis seedlings.

The combined cadmium (Cd) and acid rain pollution poses a significant threat to the global ecological environment. Previous studies on the combined adverse effects have predominantly focused on the aboveground plant physiological responses, with limited reports on the microbial response in the rhizosphere soil. This study employed Populus beijingensis seedlings and potting experiments to simulate the impacts of combined mild acid rain (pH=4.5, MA) or highly strong acid rain (pH=3.0, HA), and soil Cd pollution on the composition and diversity of microbial communities, as well as the physiochemical properties in the rhizosphere soil. The results showed that Cd decreased the content of inorganic nitrogen, resulting in an overall decrease of 49.10 % and 46.67 % in ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, respectively. Conversely, acid rain was found to elevate the content of total potassium and soil organic carbon by 4.68 %-6.18 % and 8.64-19.16 %, respectively. Additionally, simulated acid rain was observed to decrease the pH level by 0.29-0.35, while Cd increased the pH level by 0.11. Moreover, Cd alone reduced the rhizosphere bacterial diversity, however, when combined with acid rain, regardless of its intensity, Cd was observed to increase the diversity. Fungal diversity was not influenced by the acid rain, but Cd increased fungal diversity to some extend under HA as observed in bacterial diversity. In addition, composition of the rhizosphere bacterial community was primarily influenced by the inorganic nitrogen components, while the fungal community was driven mainly by soil pH. Furthermore, "Metabolism" was emerged as the most significant bacterial function, which was markedly affected by the combined pollution, while Cd pollution led to a shift from symbiotroph to other trophic types for fungi. These findings suggest that simulated acid rain has a mitigating effect on the diversity of rhizosphere bacteria affected by Cd pollution, and also alters the trophic type of these microorganisms. This can be attributed to the acid rain-induced direct acidic environment, as well as the indirect changes in the availability or sources of carbon, nitrogen, or potassium.

Good learners or trouble makers? Study on the relationship between academic performance and antisocial behavior of junior high school students.

The school bullying incident has aroused widespread concern in current society. How to manage students' anti-social behavior has become an increasingly serious problem for administrators. This study uses a sample of 8270 junior high school students to examine the mechanism of academic achievement on students' antisocial behavior. The results showed that academic performance has a U-shaped impact on antisocial behavior. This study further found that the U-shaped effect of academic performance on antisocial behavior was mediated by the praise; In addition, this study also found that moral identity moderates the U-shaped relationship between academic performance, praise, and antisocial performance. The findings provide the implications for school administrators and teachers to pay attention to the "moral trap" of academic achievement and praise, and pay attention to excellent students' moral education, to reduce the possibility of their anti-social behavior.

Threshold effect of physical exercise duration on relieving the sadness of middle school students / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To test the relationship between duration of physical exercise and sadness of middle school students, so as to provide enlightenment for students to participate in physical exercise when they are faced with sadness.@*Methods@#Through the methods of multiple linear regression and regulatory effect test, data of 8 146 middle school students from China Education Panel Survey 2014-2015 were analyzed.@*Results@#A negative correlation was observed between physical exercise duration and sadness of middle school students (r=-0.08, P<0.01); physical exercise duration showed significant negative main effect on depressive mood of middle school students (β=-0.05,P<0.01); the square term of physical exercise students shows significant curve correlation with depressive mood of middle school students (β=-0.04, P<0.05); physical exercise students had significant negative main effect on depressive mood of urban and rural middle school students(β=-0.04,-0.05, P<0.01); the square term of physical exercise duration does not show significant curve correlation with depressive mood of rural middle school students (β=-0.01, P>0.05), but showed significant curve correlation with depressive mood of urban middle school students (β=-0.06, P<0.01).@*Conclusion@#Physical exercise duration has threshold effect on relieving middle school students’ Sadness, while the threshold effect of rural middle school students physical exercise time disappears. Attention should be paid to the understanding of the relationship between physical exercise duration and sadness of middle school students.

A meta-analysis of single-stage versus two-stage management for concomitant gallstones and common bile duct stones.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of single-stage [laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC)+laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE)] vs. two-stage management [preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)+LC] for concomitant gallstones and common bile duct stones. METHODS: RCTs that met the inclusion criteria for data extraction were identified from electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Science Citation Index, and the Cochrane Library) up to August 2014. The relevant congressional proceedings were also searched. The primary outcomes were stone clearance from the common bile duct, postoperative morbidity and mortality. The secondary outcomes were conversion to other procedures, length of hospital stay, total operative time, and hospitalization charges. The outcomes were calculated as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using RevMan 5.2. RESULTS: Eight RCTs, which included 1130 patients, were identified for analysis in our study. The meta-analysis revealed that the common bile duct stone clearance rate in the single-stage group was higher (OR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.05 to 2.33, P=0.03). The lengths of hospital stay (MD=-1.02, 95% CI: -1.99 to -0.04, P=0.04) and total operative times (MD=-16.78, 95% CI: -27.55 to -6.01, P=0.002) were also shorter in the single-stage group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding postoperative morbidity (OR=1.12, 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.59, P=0.52), mortality (OR=0.29, 95% CI: 0.06 to 1.41, P=0.13) and conversion to other procedures (OR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.37 to 1.82, P=0.62). CONCLUSION: Single- and two-stage management for cholecysto-choledocholithiasis had similar mortality and complication rates; however, the single-stage strategy was better in terms of stone clearance, hospital stay and total operative time.

Laparoscopic versus open surgery in children with choledochal cysts: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy between laparoscopic and open cyst excision with hepaticojejunostomy for children with choledochal cysts using meta-analysis. METHODS: Studies comparing the laparoscopic and the open choledochal cyst excision that met the inclusion criteria for data extraction were identified from electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Science Citation Index, and the Cochrane Library) up to November 2014. The proceedings of relevant congress were also searched. The outcomes were operative time, intraoperative blood loss, time to food intake, postoperative morbidity and mortality, length of hospital stay. Outcomes were calculated as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using RevMan 5.2. RESULTS: Seven retrospective studies were finally included, involving a total of 1016 patients, of whom, 408 cases underwent laparoscopic cyst excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (LH) and 608 cases underwent open cyst excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (OH). In LH group compared with OH group, the operative time was longer (MD = 59.11, 95% CI 27.61-90.61, P = 0.0002), while the length of postoperative hospital stay was less (MD = -2.01, 95% CI -2.49 to -1.54, P < 0.00001), the intraoperative blood loss was lower (MD = -37.14, 95% CI -66.69 to -7.60, P = 0.01) and time to food intake was less (MD = -1.14, 95% CI -1.61 to -0.67, P = 0.01). The rate of postoperative morbidity was more in the OH group, but there is no statistically significant difference between the two groups in postoperative morbidity (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.13-2.06, P = 0.35). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery is a feasible, safe treatment of choledochal cyst with less postoperative morbidity, a shorter length of stay and a lower blood loss when compared with open approach. With the improvement of laparoscopic techniques and deftness of surgeons practice, laparoscopic surgery may become the first choice procedure for choledochal cyst.

[Application of pancreaticojejunostomy procedures selection strategy in pancreaticoduodenectomy and risk factors analysis of pancreatic fistula after operation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pancreaticojejunostomy procedures selection strategy in pancreaticoduodenectomy and to analyze risk factors of pancreatic fistula. METHODS: Clinical data of 352 patients who received pancreaticoduodenectomy from September 2009 to September 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. For patients with soft pancreas, binding pancreaticojejunostomy was applied to 153 patients. For patients with hard pancreas, duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (DMPJ) was applied (199 cases). The clinical efficacy and incidence of postoperative complications were compared among 2 groups. Risk factors of pancreatic fistula were screened out from many factors by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The overall incidence of pancreatic leakage was 13.9% (49/352). There were no significant difference in incidences of pancreatic leakage (χ(2) = 0.512), peritoneal bleeding (χ(2) = 0.784), abdominal infection (χ(2) = 1.161), digestive dysfunction rate (χ(2) = 4.753) and mean duration of hospital stay (t = 2.13) among 2 groups (all P > 0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed pancreatic tube diameter < 3 mm (OR = 5.748), preoperative total bilirubin level > 171 µmol/L (OR = 5.112), duration of preoperative jaundice > 8 weeks (OR = 5.090), preoperative albumin level < 30 g/L (OR = 4.464) were independent risk factors of pancreatic fistula (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bunding pancreatojejunostomy was as good as soft pancreatic; for duct diameter ≥ 3 mm suggested using duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy. For the risk factors for pancreatic leakage actively cooperate with preoperative nutritional support and timely treatment of jaundice, the incidence of postoperative pancreatic leakage will be further reduced.

Potential biomarkers for sensitivity of gallbladder cancer cells to gemcitabine.

Gemcitabine (Gem)-based chemotherapies are the main therapeutic regimens for patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic gallbladder cancer (GBC). However, the modest ORR and mild benefit on survival demonstrates the need for finding biomarkers for sensitivity to Gem and hence improving the therapy. In present work, two GBC cell lines with vast difference in sensitivity to Gem were subjected to DNA microarray analysis. Dramatic expression difference was found in protein kinase A signaling, P2Y purigenic receptor signaling, ErbB signaling and p70S6K signaling. Predicted low expression of KRAS and inactivation of AKT/ERK signaling in Gem-resistant GBC cells was validated by quantitative PCR and immunoblotting, respectively. However, p70S6K, p38MAPK and NF-κB signaling was probably activated in Gem-resistant GBC cells, which deserves further investigation in more GBC cell lines and tissues. Our work provides potential pathway signatures for Gem sensitivity of GBC patients.

Inducible costimulator (ICOS) enhances the cytolytic activity of cytokine-induced killer cells against gallbladder cancer in vitro and in vivo.

The generation of genetically modified immunological effector cells is of potential therapeutic value in the treatment of malignancies. Cytokine-induced killer cells (CIKs) have been described as highly efficient cytotoxic effector cells capable of recognizing and lysing tumor cell targets in a non-major histocompatibility complex restricted fashion. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of inducible costimulator (ICOS) on the cytotoxicity of CIK cells against gallbladder cancer. We first prepared CIK-ICOS cells by the transfection of ICOS genes into induced CIK cells, whereas untransfected or enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-transfected CIK cells were treated as controls. We found that CIK-ICOS cells displayed better proliferation and lower apoptosis than the other two CIK control cells after culture. The interferon-gamma level in the culture supernatant of CIK-ICOS cells was also significantly elevated, compared to CIK or CIK-EGFP cells. The cytotoxic effect of CIK-ICOS cells against gallbladder cancer cells was dramatically enhanced at the E:T ratio of 20:1, compared to that of CIK or CIK-EGFP cells. When injected into gallbladder tumor-bearing SCID mice, CIK-ICOS cells significantly slowed down the growth rate of xenografts. CIK-ICOS-treated mice exhibited the least volume variation of the xenografts and more severe necrosis, compared to saline, CIK, or CIK-EGFP cell-treated mice, accompanied by a better in situ survival around xenografts than the other two control cells. Taken together, our results demonstrated that ICOS could enhance the cytotoxic activity of CIK cells, in part, by augmenting cytokine secretion and prolonging cell survival both in vitro and in vivo. This might be considered as the potential immunomodulator for clinical therapy.

Outcome of gallbladder preservation in surgical management of primary bile duct stones.

AIM: To evaluate the methods and outcome of gallbladder preservation in surgical treatment of primary bile duct stones. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with primary bile duct stones and intact gallbladders received stone extraction by two operative approaches, 23 done through the intrahepatic duct stump (RBD-IDS, the RBD-IDS group) after partial hepatectomy and 12 through the hepatic parenchyma by retrograde puncture (RBD-RP, the RBD-RP group). The gallbladders were preserved and the common bile duct (CBD) incisions were primarily closed. The patients were examined postoperatively by direct cholangiography and followed up by ultrasonography once every six months. RESULTS: In the RBD-IDS group, residual bile duct stones were found in three patients, which were cleared by a combination of fibrocholedochoscopic extraction and lithotripsy through the drainage tracts. The tubes were removed on postoperative day 22 (range: 16-42 days). In the RBD-RP group, one patient developed hemobilia and was cured by conservative therapy. The tubes were removed on postoperative day 8 (range: 7-11 days). Postoperative cholangiography showed that all the gallbladders were well opacified, contractile and smooth. During 54 (range: 6-120 months) months of follow-up, six patients had mildly thickened cholecystic walls without related symptoms and further changes, two underwent laparotomies because of adhesive intestinal obstruction and gastric cancer respectively, three died of cardiopulmonary diseases. No stones were found in all the preserved gallbladders. CONCLUSION: The intact gallbladders preserved after surgical extraction of primary bile duct stones will not develop gallstones. Retrograde biliary drainage is an optimal approach for gallbladder preservation.