[Effects of biochar application combined with nitrogen fertilizer on soil physicochemical pro-perties and winter wheat yield in the typical ancient region of Yellow River, China]. / ç”Ÿç‰©ç‚­é æ–½æ°®è‚¥å¯¹å ¸åž‹é»„æ²³æ• é“åŒºåœŸå£¤ç†åŒ–æ€§è´¨å’Œå†¬å°éº¦äº§é‡çš„å½±å“.

The aims of this study were to reveal the effects of biochar application combined with nitrogen fertilizer on soil physicochemical properties and crop yield in the typical ancient region of Yellow River, and to clarify the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen content and soil physicochemical properties with different treatments of biochar and nitrogen, which could provide scientific basis for reasonable fertilization of soil, quality improvement of cultivated land, and yield increase of winter wheat. A two-year field experiment was conducted with different biochar applications (0, 15, 30 t·hm-2) combined with different nitrogen levels (N 270, 330 kg·hm-2) to investigate their effects on soil physicochemical property in the typical ancient of Yellow River. After 2-yr biochar application, the generalized soil structure index (GSSI) was increased and three-phase structure distance index of soil (STPSD) was decreased, and three-phase ratio was significantly improved. The most ideal state of three-phase ratio was in the condition of 30 t·hm-2 biochar application. Soil compactness and bulk density was decreased, total porosity and capillary porosity was increased, water holding capacity was improved, water and gas permeability was enhanced, and soil hardening was relieved. The composition of soil aggregate was also changed. Soil aggregate >0.25 mm particle size was increased by 70.6%-94.4%, and mean weight diameter (MWD) was improved by 24.0%-48.0%. Biochar application significantly increased organic carbon content by 15.8%-67.0%, adjusted soil C/N, reduced nitrogen release intensity, improved utilization rate of nitrogen fertili-zer, and enhanced soil fertility. However, it didn't increase soil pH. Soil pH showed a significant downward in 10-20 cm layer. With the same amount of nitrogen application, biochar application significantly increased average yield of winter wheat by 9.6%-25.6% in two years. With the same amount of biochar application, average yield of winter wheat with high nitrogen application was 2.5%-4.4% higher than that with conventional nitrogen application. In summary, combined biochar and nitrogen application could improve soil micro-environment, soil fertility and crop yield. Comprehensively considering soil modification, crop yield improvement and input cost, the optimum amount of fertilization was biochar application (30 t·hm-2) combined with nitrogen fertilizer (330 kg·hm-2).

Fasting Plasma Glucose and Coronary Heart Disease in a Rural Population of North Henan, China.

Even in individuals without diabetes, the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) increases with the rise in fasting plasma glucose (FPG); however, the threshold of FPG for CHD in rural areas of China is unclear. We retrospectively examined 2,987 people. Coronary angiography records were used to determine the presence of CHD as well as its severity. Risk factors for CHD and the relationship between different levels of FPG and CHD were analyzed. After adjusting for age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, drinking, chronic kidney disease, and previous ischemic stroke, the incidence of CHD in nondiabetic women began to increase when FPG exceeded 5.2 mmol/L (odds ratio (OR) = 1.438, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.099-1.880, p=0.008), and the degree of coronary artery lesions also became more severe (OR = 1.406, 95% CI = 1.107-1.788, p=0.005). However, no such correlations were found in nondiabetic men. In conclusion, among the nondiabetic women in rural areas of northern Henan, both the incidence of CHD and the severity of lesions increased when FPG levels were greater than 5.2 mmol/L, while no significant correlation between FPG and CHD was observed in diabetes-free men.

Promoter Methylation of DNA Repair Genes Predicts Disease-free Survival of Gastric Adenocarcinoma after Adjuvant Radiotherapy.

The relentless debate on postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) has been lasting for decades. In this study, a new biomarker, named promoter methylation burden of DNA repair genes (RPMB), was established to identify the subgroup of patients who might benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Methylation profiles of 397 GA tumor samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). RPMB for a patient was defined as the ratio of methylated DNA repair genes to the number of all DNA repair genes. Subgroup analyses in term of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) indicated that most of the subgroups favored the high-RMPB group. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that overall the patients with high RPMB after R0 resection had a significantly better clinical outcome regarding DFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.013, p = 0.042). Additionally, high-RPMB patients, who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy with both ≥T2 tumor and positive lymph nodes, showed superior DFS in comparison with the low-RPMB group (HR = 5.35 × 10-10, n = 26, p = 0.010). RPMB might be considered as a promising biomarker for decision-making with regard to postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy for GA patients.

Application of antibiotic impregnated beads on the patients with tibial chronic osteomyelitis.

To investigate the clinical efficacy of antibiotic impregnated beads on the tibial chronic osteomyelitis, so as to search for a more applicable method for the treatment. Through comparative analysis, we divided 72 patients with chronic tibial osteomyelitis who received treatment in hospital between January 2016 and December 2016 randomly into two groups: Control group (n=36) and the experiment group (n=36). Patients in the control group underwent closed lavage plus drainage for treatment, while those in the experiment group received the antibiotic impregnated beads. After treatment, we compared the times of treatment, average length of stay in hospital and the efficacy between two groups, and data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software. In the control group, average length of stay in hospital was ((3.3±0.9) months, average time of surgery was (2.9±1.8) times, cure rate was 25.0% and elimination rate of bacteria was 88.0%; in the experiment group, average length of stay in hospital was ((2.2±1.3) months, average time of surgery was (2.4±1.0) times, cure rate was 47.2%, and elimination rate of bacteria was 93.8%. Differences in the average length of stay in hospital, the cure rate and elimination rate of bacteria between two groups showed statistical significance (p<0.05). For tibial chronic osteomyelitis, antibiotic impregnated bead implantation can reduce the chance of secondary infection after operation and shorten the hospitalization time, showing a more promising effect than the closed lavage and drainage, and this method is worthy of being promoted in clinical practice.

Efficacy of pEgr-1-endostatin combined with ionizing radiation on hypoxic conditions in nude mice bearing SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma.

Hypoxia occurs in a wide range of solid tumors, and is strongly associated with radio-resistance of malignant tumors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of endostatin combined with ionizing radiation (IR) on hypoxic conditions. A total of 24 mice bearing SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma were divided into three groups. Following injection with pEgr-1-endostatin plasmid for 12 h, the mice in the endostatin-IR-treated group were exposed to 300 cGy/min X-ray for 48 h, and the IR-treated group was exposed to the same condition. Then, the expression of endostatin, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, ELISA, immunohistochemistry and western blotting. In addition, the tumor microvessel density (MVD) was examined by immunohistochemistry analysis of cluster of differentiation 31-positive cells. The results revealed that pEgr-1-endostatin was successfully induced by IR. The level of endostatin messenger RNA in the endostatin-IR-treated group was significantly higher than that in the control and IR-treated groups (F=380.078, P<0.001). Statistical differences were also examined at the protein level by western blotting and ELISA. An obvious increase in MVD was observed in the IR-treated group compared with that in the control group (t=7.040, P<0.001), and a significant decrease in MVD was observed in the endostatin-IR-treated group compared with that in the control group (t=18.153, P<0.001). By comparing the morphology of the tumor vasculature in the three groups, it was noticed that the microvessels in the endostatin-IR-treated group were more regularly distributed and had fewer giant branches than those in the IR-treated group. Further investigation revealed that the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in the endostatin-IR-treated group were lower compared with those in the control (t=5.339, P=0.001; and t=13.880, P<0.001, respectively) and the IR-treated groups (t=12.930, P<0.001; and t=14.050, P<0.001, respectively). Our findings suggested that endostatin decreased the number of microvessels via the HIF-1/VEGF signaling pathway, and that pEgr-1-endostatin combined with IR may improve hypoxic conditions and may be a novel approach for treating solid tumors.

Mechanisms of TET protein-mediated DNA demethylation and its role in the regulation of mouse development.

TET (ten-eleven translocation) protein family includes three members TET1, TET2 and TET3, which belong to alpha-ketoglutaric acid ( α-KG )- and Fe(2+)-dependent dioxygenase superfamily, and have the capacity to convert 5-methylcytosine (5 mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5 hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5 fC) and 5-carboxylcytosine (5 caC). At present, growing lines of evidence indicate that TET proteins are involved in the control of active or passive DNA demethylation via different mechanisms; moreover, their activities may be regulated by some cellular factors. TET proteins play vital roles in modulating mammal development, including primordial germ cell formation, embryonic development, stem cells pluripotency, nerve and brain development, etc. The identification of biological roles of TET proteins will open a new field in epigenetic research, and these studies on TET proteins are of great significance to life science research. Here, we review TET proteins from their structure, molecular mechanisms of DNA demethylation and function in the regulation of mouse development, which may provide the basis for understanding the functions of TET proteins.

[Inhibitory effect of Genipin on uncoupling protein-2 and energy metabolism of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the inhibitory effect of Genipin on uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) in mitochondria is involved in energy metabolism of androgen-independent PC3 prostate cancer cells. METHODS: PC3 prostate cancer cells were cultured and treated with Genipin at the concentrations of 40, 80, and 160 µmol/L for 48 hours. Then the proliferation of the cells was detected by MTT assay, the expression of UCP-2 mRNA determined by RT-PCR, and the content of intracellular pyruvic acid (PA) and the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the mitochondria measured by visible spectrophotometry. RESULTS: With the increased concentration of Genipin, the proliferative activity of the PC-3 cells, the expression level of UCP-2 mRNA, the content of intracellular PA and the activity of SDH in the cells were all decreased, namely, with the enhanced inhibitory effect of Genipin on UCP-2, a trend of reduction was observed in the proliferation of the cells, intracellular PA content, and SDH activity in the mitochondria. CONCLUSION: Genipin is involved in the energy metabolism of androgen-independent PC3 prostate cancer cells by reducing the content of intracellular PA and the activity of SDH in the mitochondria, which may be associated with its inhibitory effect on UCP-2.

[STC-1 is involved in anti-hypoxia proliferative balance of renal cancer cells by down-regulation of intracellular Ca2+ and HIF-1α levels].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) on proliferation balance under hypoxic condition in renal cancer cells and its mechanism. METHODS: Hypoxic model was induced on renal cancer GRC-1 cells (Group H), the cells were treated with STC-1 protein at concentrations of 0.1 nmol/L (H1), 0.5 nmol/L (H2), 1.0 nmol/L (H3), or normal saline (H0) for 48 h， respectively. Cells proliferation was measured by MTT assay; mRNA and protein expressions of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and STC-1 in GRC-1 cells were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively; the intracellular levels of Ca2+ and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry and spectrophotometry, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of HIF-1α, STC-1 and Ca2+ levels were increased in GRC-1 cells under hypoxia condition; STC-1 reversed these changes in a dose-effect manner. Hypoxia significantly inhibited cell proliferation and the generation of ATP in GRC-1 cells and exogenous STC-1 reversed the effects of hypoxia; ATP generation increased gradually with increasing STC-1 concentration, but the cell proliferation was reduced. CONCLUSION: Exogenous STC-1 can promote the proliferation of renal cancer cells in hypoxia condition by reducing HIF-1α expression and Ca2+ content and increased ATP production, but the progressive inhibition of HIF-1 α hindered the renal carcinoma cell proliferation further, which indicates that STC-1 may be involved in anti-hypoxia proliferative balance of renal cancer cells.

Influence of ionizing radiation on ovarian carcinoma SKOV- 3 xenografts in nude mice under hypoxic conditions.

PURPOSE: We aimed to detect the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, HPSE-1 and CD31 in SKOV3 xenografts in nude mice treated with different doses of ionizing radiation, trying to explore the possible mechanism of hypoxia and radioresistance. METHODS: Nude mice bearing SKOV3 xenografts were randomly divided into 4 groups: Group A (control group, no ionizing radiation), Group B (treated with low dose of ionizing radiation: 50cGy), Group C (treated with high dose of ionizing radiation: 300cGy), Group D ( combined ionizing radiation, treated with ionizing radiation from low dose to high dose : 50cGy first and 300cGy after 6h interval). The mRNA levels of HIF-1 and VEGF in each group were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction, while HPSE-1 expression was measured by ELISA. The microvessel density (MVD) and hypoxic cells were determined through immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of CD31 and HIF-1a. RESULTS: Significant differences of HIF-1α mRNA level could be found among the 4 groups (F=74.164, P<0.001): Group C>Group A>Group D> Group B. The mRNA level of VEGF in Group C was significantly higher than in the other three groups (t=-5.267, P=0.000), while no significant difference was observed among Group A, B and D (t=1.528, 1.588; P=0.205, 0.222). In addition, the MVD was shown to be the highest in Group C (t=6.253, P=0.000), whereas the HPSE-1 level in Group A was lower than in Group B (t=14.066, P=0.000) and higher than in Group C (t=-21.919, P=0.000), and similar with Group D (t=-2.066, P=0.058). Through IHC staining of HIF-1a, the expression of hypoxic cells in Group A was (++), Group B was (+), Group C was (+++) and Group D was (+). CONCLUSION: Ionizing radiation with lower- doses might improve tumor hypoxia through inhibiting the expression of HIF-1 and HPSE-1, whereas higher- doses worsen tumor hypoxic conditions by up-regulating HIF-1α, HPSE-1, VEGF and CD31 levels. A protocol of low-dose ionizing radiation followed by a high-dose irradiation might at least partly improve tumor hypoxia and enhance radiosensitivity.

[Effects of stanniocalcin-1 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α on mitochondrial membrane potential stability in renal carcinoma cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) on the calcium and thus on the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) in renal carcinoma cells. METHODS: We successfully established the renal carcinoma cell models with high HIF-1α gene expression. After various concentrations of STC-1 solutions were added to the culture medium, the proliferation of cells, expressions of HIF-1α and STC-1, levels of Ca(2+), Δψm, and mPTP were detected by MTT, RT-PCR, ELISA, fluorescence spectrophotometry, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, respectively. RESULTS: The proliferation of renal carcinoma cells and Δψm were improved after HIF-1α gene transfection, STC-1 protein intervention, and STC-1 protein intervention after gene transfection. While the intracellular Ca(2+) level and mPTP were decreased significantly (P<0.05), all the changes were intensified with the gradual increase of STC-1. However, the increasing trend of cell proliferation gradually declined. CONCLUSION: HIF-1α may participate in malignant proliferation of renal carcinoma cells by promoting STC-1 proliferation or down-regulating Ca(2+); however, such an effect may be gradually attenuated due to the inhibitory effect of STC-1 on HIF-1α.

Lipoic acid attenuates the expression of adhesion molecules by increasing endothelial nitric-oxide synthase activity.

We tried to study the possible effects of lipoic acid (LA) on adhesion molecule expression and its underlying mechanism in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity were determined after endothelial cells were exposed to high glucose in the absence and presence of LA. Coincubation of endothelial cells with high glucose for 24 h resulted in a significant increase of monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and the expression of ICAM-1 (P < 0.01). These effects were abolished by LA and LA significantly increased eNOS activities (P < 0.01). These findings suggested that LA may play a role in inhibiting expression of adhesion molecules by increasing eNOS activities.

Protective roles of quercetin in acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats.

Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI/R) is associated with an intense inflammatory reaction, which may lead to myocyte injury. In this study, we investigated the effect of quercetin, an inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase on ischemia/reperfusion injury in isolated rat hearts. Rat models of MI/R were induced by coronary occlusion followed by reperfusion, treatment of rats with quercetin (1.0 mg/kg, i.v.) induced a significant reduction of infarct volume and improvements in baseline hemodynamic abnormalities (P < 0.05). Quercetin treatment also attenuated the expression of both TNF-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) and lowered the serum levels of inflammatory cytokine (P < 0.05). These findings suggested that quercetin treatment significantly attenuated MI/R injury primarily through anti-inflammatory effects.

[Effects of long-term fertilization on pH buffer system of sandy loam calcareous fluvor-aquic soil].

Soil samples (0-80 cm) were collected from a 30-year fertilization experimental site in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province of East China to study the variations of the pH, calcium carbonate and active calcium carbonate contents, and pH buffer capacity of sandy loam calcareous fluvor-aquic soil under different fertilization treatments. Thirty-year continuous application of different fertilizers accelerated the acidification of topsoil (0-20 cm), with the soil pH decreased by 0.41-0.70. Under different fertilization, the soil pH buffer capacity (pHBC) varied from 15.82 to 21.96 cmol x kg(-1). As compared with no fertilization, single N fertilization decreased the pHBC significantly, but N fertilization combined with organic fertilization could significantly increase the pHBC. The soil pHBC had significant positive correlations with soil calcium carbonate and active calcium carbonate contents, but less correlation with soil organic matter content and soil cation exchange capacity, suggesting that after a long-term fertilization, the sandy loam calcareous fluvor-aquic soil was still of an elementary calcium carbonate buffer system, and soil organic matter and cation exchange capacity contributed little to the buffer system. The soil calcium carbonate and active calcium carbonate contents were greater in 0-40 cm than in 40-80 cm soil layer. Comparing with soil calcium carbonate, soil active calcium carbonate was more sensitive to reflect the changes of soil physical and chemical properties, suggesting that the calcium carbonate buffer system could be further classified as soil active calcium carbonate buffer system.

[Rainfall intensity effects on nutrients transport in surface runoff from farmlands in gentle slope hilly area of Taihu Lake Basin].

To investigate the effect of rainfall on agricultural nonpoint source pollution, watershed scale experiments were conducted to study the characteristics of nutrients in surface runoff under different rainfall intensities from farmlands in gentle slope hilly areas around Taihu Lake. Rainfall intensity significantly affected N and P concentrations in runoff. Rainfall intensity was positively related to TP, PO4(3-) -P and NH4+ -N event mean concentrations(EMC). However, this study have found the EMC of TN and NO3- -N to be positively related to rainfall intensity under light rain and negatively related to rainfall intensity under heavy rain. TN and TP site mean amounts (SMA) in runoff were positively related to rainfall intensity and were 1.91, 311.83, 127.65, 731.69 g/hm2 and 0.04, 7.77, 2.99, 32.02 g/hm2 with rainfall applied under light rain, moderate rain, heavy rain and rainstorm respectively. N in runoff was mainly NO3- -N and NH4+ -N and was primarily in dissolved form from Meilin soils. Dissolved P (DP) was the dominant form of TP under light rain, but particulate P (PP) mass loss increased with the increase of rainfall intensity and to be the dominant form when the rainfall intensity reaches rainstorm. Single relationships were used to describe the dependence of TN and TP mass losses in runoff on rainfall, maximum rainfall intensity, average rainfall intensity and rainfall duration respectively. The results showed a significant positive correlation between TN mass loss and rainfall, maximum rainfall intensity respectively (p < 0.01) and also TP mass loss and rainfall, maximum rainfall intensity respectively (p < 0.01).

Piperidinium 3-hydr-oxy-2-naphthoate.

The crystals of the title salt, C(5)H(12)N(+)·C(11)H(7)O(3) (-), were obtained from a methanol/water solution of 3-hydr-oxy-2-naphthoic acid and piperidine at room temperature. In the crystal structure, the piperidinium cations display a chair conformation and link with hydroxy-naphthoate anions via N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. An intra-molecular O-H⋯O inter-action is also present.

Development of Wistar rat model of insulin resistance.

AIM: To establish a simplified and reliable animal model of insulin resistance with low cost in Wistar rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were treated with a high fat emulsion by ig for 10 d. Changes of the diets, drinking and body weight were monitored every day and insulin resistance was evaluated by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp techniques and short insulin tolerance test using capillary blood glucose. Morphologic changes of liver, fat, skeletal muscles, and pancreatic islets were assessed under light microscope. mRNA expressions of GLUT2 and alpha-glucosidase in small intestine epithelium, GLUT4 in skeletal muscles and Kir6.2 in beta cell of islets were determined by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: K(ITT) was smaller in treated animals (4.5+/-0.9) than in untreated control Wistar rats (6.8+/-1.5), and so was glucose injection rate. Both adipocyte hypertrophy and large pancreatic islets were seen in high fat fed rats, but no changes of skeletal muscles and livers were observed. mRNA levels of GLUT2, alpha-glucosidase in small intestinal epithelium and Kir6.2 mRNA in beta cells of islets increased, whereas that of GLUT4 in skeletal muscles decreased in high fat fed group compared with normal control group. CONCLUSION: An insulin resistance animal model in Wistar rats is established by ig special fat emulsion.