[Research progress on structure and hydrological processes in the karst critical zone of southwest China]. / è¥¿å—å–€æ–¯ç‰¹å ³é”®å¸¦ç»“æž„åŠå ¶æ°´æ–‡è¿‡ç¨‹ç ”ç©¶è¿›å±•.

The southwestern region of China is the largest exposed karst area in the world and serves as an important ecological security barrier for the upstream of Yangtze River and Pearl River. Different from the critical zone of non-karst areas, the epikarst, formed by an interwoven network of denudation pores, is the core area of karst critical zone. Water is the most active component that participates in internal material cycle and energy flow within the critical zone. We reviewed relevant research conducted in the southwestern region from three aspects: the characte-rization of critical zone structure, the hydrological processes of soil-epikarst system, and their model simulations. We further proposed potential research hotpots. The main approach involved multi-scale and multi-method integrated observations, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration. Precisely characterizing the eco-hydrological processes of the vegetation-soil-epikarst coupling system was a new trend in the future research. This review would provide scientific reference for further studies on hydrological processes in critical zones and regional hydrological water resource management in karst areas.

Effectiveness and safety of early lens extraction during par plana vitrectomy for proliferative diabetes retinopathy with mild cataract: a randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of early lens extraction during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) compared to those of PPV with subsequent cataract surgery. METHODS: This multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in three Chinese hospitals on patients with PDR, aged >45y, with mild cataracts. The participants were randomly assigned to the combined (PPV combined with simultaneously cataract surgery, i.e., phacovitrectomy) or subsequent (PPV with subsequent cataract surgery 6mo later) group and followed up for 12mo. The primary outcome was the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to 6mo, and the secondary outcomes included complication rates and medical expenses. RESULTS: In total, 129 patients with PDR were recruited and equally randomized (66 and 63 in the combined and subsequent groups respectively). The change in BCVA in the combined group [mean, 36.90 letters; 95% confidence interval (CI), 30.35-43.45] was significantly better (adjusted difference, 16.43; 95%CI, 8.77-24.08; P<0.001) than in the subsequent group (mean, 22.40 letters; 95%CI, 15.55-29.24) 6mo after the PPV, with no significant difference between the two groups at 12mo. The overall surgical risk of two sequential surgeries was significantly higher than that of the combined surgery for neovascular glaucoma (17.65% vs 3.77%, P=0.005). No significant differences were found in the photocoagulation spots, surgical time, and economic expenses between two groups. In the subsequent group, the duration of work incapacity (22.54±9.11d) was significantly longer (P<0.001) than that of the combined group (12.44±6.48d). CONCLUSION: PDR patients aged over 45y with mild cataract can also benefit from early lens extraction during PPV with gratifying effectiveness, safety and convenience, compared to sequential surgeries.

[Analysis of chemical compositions in different parts of Isodon japonicus using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technique combined with chemometrics].

In order to analyze the similarities and differences of chemical compositions between the roots and stems and leaves of Isodon japonicus(IJ), this study utilized UPLC-Q-TOF-MS technology to systematically characterize its chemical compositions, analyzed and identified the structure of its main compounds, and established a method for simultaneous determination of its content by refe-rence substance. A total of 34 major compounds in IJ, including 14 reference compounds, were identified or predicted online. Moreover, an UPLC-UV content determination method was developed for 11 compounds [danshensu, caffeic acid, vicenin-2,(1S,2S)-globoidnan B, rutin,(+)-rabdosiin,(-)-rabdosiin,(1S,2S)-rabdosiin, shimobashiric acid C, rosmarinic acid, and pedalitin]. The method exhibited excellent separation, stability, and repeatability, with a wide linear range(0.10-520.00 µg·mL~(-1)) and high linearity(R~2>0.999). The average recovery rates ranged from 94.72% to 104.2%. The principal component analysis(PCA) demonstrated a clear difference between the roots and stems and leaves of IJ, indicating good separation by cluster. Furthermore, the orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) model was employed, and six main differentially identified compounds were identified: rosmarinic acid, shimobashiric acid C, epinodosin, pedalitin, rutin, and(1S,2S)-rabdosiin. In summary, this study established a strategy and method for distinguishing different parts of IJ, providing a valuable tool for quality control of IJ and a basis for the ratio-nal utilization and sustainable development of IJ.

Observation of Free-Boundary-Induced Chiral Anomaly Bulk States in Elastic Twisted Kagome Metamaterials.

Chiral anomaly bulk states (CABSs) can be realized by choosing appropriate boundary conditions in a finite-size waveguide composed of two-dimensional Dirac semimetals, which have unidirectional and robust transport similar to that of valley edge states. CABSs use almost all available guiding space, which greatly improves the utilization of metamaterials. Here, free-boundary-induced CABSs in elastic twisted kagome metamaterials with C_{3v} symmetry are experimentally confirmed. The robust valley-locked transport and complete valley state conversion are experimentally observed. Importantly, the sign of the group velocity near the K and K^{'} points can be reversed by suspending masses at the boundary to manipulate the onsite potential. Moreover, CABSs are demonstrated in nanoelectromechanical phononic crystals by constructing an impedance-mismatched hard boundary. These results open new possibilities for designing more compact, space-efficient, and robust elastic wave macro- and microfunctional devices.

Monolithic Strong Coupling of Topological Surface Acoustic Wave Resonators on Lithium Niobate.

Coherent phonon transfer via high-quality factor (Q) mechanical resonator strong coupling has garnered significant interest. Yet, the practical applications of these strongly coupled resonator devices are largely constrained by their vulnerability to fabrication defects. In this study, topological strong coupling of gigahertz frequency surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators with lithium niobate is achieved. The nanoscale grooves are etched onto the lithium niobate surface to establish robust SAW topological interface states (TISs). By constructing phononic crystal (PnC) heterostructures, a strong coupling of two SAW TISs, achieving a maximum Rabi splitting of 22 MHz and frequency quality factor product fQm of ≈1.2 × 1013 Hz, is realized. This coupling can be tuned by adjusting geometric parameters and a distinct spectral anticrossing is experimentally observed. Furthermore, a dense wavelength division multiplexing device based on the coupling of multiple TISs is demonstrated. These findings open new avenues for the development of practical topological acoustic devices for on-chip sensing, filtering, phonon entanglement, and beyond.

Lipid-assisted PEG-b-PLA nanoparticles with ultrahigh SN38 loading capability for efficient cancer therapy.

The topoisomerase I inhibitor, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38), has demonstrated potent anticancer activity. However, its clinical application is hindered by its low solubility and high crystallization propensity, which further complicates its encapsulation into nanoparticles for systemic delivery. Herein, we explore the utilization of lipid-assisted poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(D,L-lactide) (PEG-b-PLA) nanoparticles to achieve ultrahigh loading capability for SN38. Through the introduction of cationic, anionic, or neutral lipids, the SN38 loading efficiency and loading capacity is elevated to >90% and >10% respectively. These lipids efficiently attenuate the intermolecular π-π stacking of SN38, thereby disrupting its crystalline structure. Moreover, we assess the therapeutic activity of SN38-loaded formulations in various tumor models and identify an anionic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) sodium salt (DOPG)-assisted formulation that exhibits the highest anticancer activity and has favorable biosafety. Overall, our findings present a simple and robust strategy to achieve ultrahigh loading efficiency of SN38 using commonly employed PEG-b-PLA nanoparticles, opening up a new avenue for the systemic delivery of SN38.

[Rapid characterization and identification of non-volatile constituents in Pogostemonis Herba by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with UNIFI and an in-house library].

This study aimed to characterize and identify the non-volatile components in Pogostemonis Herba by using ultra-perfor-mance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with UNIFI and an in-house library. The chemical components in 50% methanol extract of Pogostemonis Herba were detected by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS in both positive and negative MS~E continuum modes. Then, the MS data were processed in UNIFI combined with an in-house library to automatically characterize the metabolites. Based on the multiple adduct ions, exact mass, diagnostic fragment ions, and peak intensity of compounds and the fragmentation pathways and retention behaviors of reference substances, the structures identified by UNIFI were further verified and those of the unidentified compounds were tentatively elucidated. A total of 120 compound structures were identified or tentatively identified, including flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, fatty acids, alkaloids, and phenylethanoid glycosides. Sixteen of them were accurately identified by comparison with reference substances, and 53 compounds were reported the first time for Pogostemonis Herba. This study systematically characterized and identified the non-volatile compounds in Pogostemonis Herba for the first time. The findings provide a scientific basis for revealing the pharmacodynamic material basis, establishing a quality control system, and developing products of Pogostemonis Herba.

Management for Benign Ureteral Stricture: Comparison of Robot-Assisted Laparoscopy, Conventional Laparoscopy, and Balloon Dilation.

Purpose: Robot-assisted laparoscopy (RALP), conventional laparoscopy (LP), and balloon dilation (BD) have all been identified as common treatments for benign ureteral stricture (BUS). The purpose of the research would be to compare the safety and efficacy differences in the three groups. Patients and Methods: Patients who received RALP, LP, or BD for BUS were studied retrospectively from January 2016 through December 2020. Professional and experienced surgeons performed all operations. We collect and analyze baseline characteristics, stricture details, and perioperative and follow-up information. Results: The results showed no statistically significant difference between the three groups for baseline characteristics and stricture details. No statistical difference was also found between RALP and LP in specific surgical techniques. The average operative time was longer in the LP group than RALP and BD groups (178 minutes vs 150 minutes vs 67 minutes, respectively, p < 0.001). BD had lower estimated blood loss than RALP and LP (14 mL vs 40 mL vs 32 mL, p < 0.001) and similar between the RALP and LP groups (p = 0.238). The BD group had the shortest postoperative hospital stay compared with the RALP and LP groups (2.95 days vs 5.25 days vs 6.52 days, p < 0.001), and no statistically significant difference existed between the RALP and LP groups (p = 0.098). RALP had considerably greater hospitalization expenses than both LP (p < 0.001) and BD (p < 0.001). Complications and short-term success rates (6 months) were similar. The BD group had poorer long-term success (12 and 24 months) than the RALP and LP groups, whereas there was no statistically significant difference between the RALP and LP groups. Conclusions: For the management of BUS, RALP, LP, and BD are all safe and effective, with equivalent complication rates and short-term success. In long-term success rates, BD is low than RALP and LP.

Combination of Internal Extractive Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Statistical Analysis for High-Throughput Molecular Differentiation of Rehmannia glutinosa Samples.

Rehmannia glutinosa (Gaert.) Libosch. ex Fisch. et Mey. is a perennial herb of the Scrophulariaceae family, which has long enjoyed a good reputation in China, and has a wide range of pharmacological effects and clinical applications. The place of origin is an important factor affecting the chemical composition of R. glutinosa, resulting in different pharmacological effects. Herein, internal extractive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (iEESI-MS) combined with statistical techniques was established for high-throughput molecular differentiation of different R. glutinosa samples. Dried and processed R. glutinosa samples from four different places of origin were analyzed by iEESI-MS with high throughput (>200 peaks) and rapidness (<2 min/sample) without sample pretreatment. Clear separation models created by OPLS-DA were then established for distinguishing the places of origin of dried and processed R. glutinosa by using the obtained MS data. In addition, the molecular differences between the pharmacological effects of dried and processed R. glutinosa were also investigated by OPLS-DA, and 31 different components were screened out. This work provides a promising method for evaluating the quality of traditional Chinese medicines and studying the biochemical mechanism of processing.

Prediction for recurrence following antithyroid drug therapy for Graves' hyperthyroidism.

Objective: A common problem with antithyroid drugs (ATD) treatment in patients with Graves' disease (GD) is the high recurrence rate after drug withdrawal. Identifying risk factors for recurrence is crucial in clinical practice. We hereby prospectively analyze risk factors for the recurrence of GD in patients treated with ATD in southern China. Subjects and methods: Patients who were newly diagnosed with GD and aged > 18 years were treated with ATD for 18 months and followed up for 1 year after ATD withdrawal. Recurrence of GD during follow-up was assessed. All data were analyzed by Cox regression with P values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 127 Graves' hyperthyroidism patients were included. During an average follow-up of 25.7 (standard deviation = 8.7) months, 55 (43%) had a recurrence within 1 year after withdraw of anti-thyroid drugs. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the significant association remained for the presence of insomnia (hazard ratio (HR) 2.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47-5.88), greater goiter size (HR 3.34, 95% CI 1.11-10.07), higher thyrotrophin receptor antibody (TRAb) titer (HR 2.66, 95% CI 1.12-6.31) and a higher maintenance dose of methimazole (MMI) (HR 2.14, 95% CI 1.14-4.00). Conclusion: Besides conventional risk factors (i.e., goiter size, TRAb and maintenance MMI dose) for recurrent GD after ATD withdraw, insomnia was associated with a 3-fold risk of recurrence. Further clinical trials investigating the beneficial effect of improving sleep quality on prognosis of GD are warranted.

Engineering tumor-specific gene nanomedicine to recruit and activate T cells for enhanced immunotherapy.

PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy that eliminates T-cell inhibition signals is successful, but poor benefits are often observed. Increasing T-cell infiltration and quantity of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in tumor can improve efficacy but remains challenging. Here, we devise tumor-specific gene nanomedicines to mobilize tumor cells to secrete CXCL9 (T-cell chemokine) and anti-PD-L1 scFv (αPD-L1, PD-L1 blocking agent) for enhanced immunotherapy. The tyrosinase promoter-driven NPTyr-C9AP can specifically co-express CXCL9 and αPD-L1 in melanoma cells, thereby forming a CXCL9 gradient for T-cell recruitment and high intratumoral αPD-L1 concentration for enhancing T-cell activation. As a result, NPTyr-C9AP shows strong antimelanoma effects. Moreover, specific co-expression of CXCL9 and αPD-L1 in various tumor cells is achieved by replacing the tyrosinase promoter of NPTyr-C9AP with a survivin promoter, which increases T-cell infiltration and activation and therapeutic efficacy in multiple tumors in female mice. This study provides a strategy to maximize the immunotherapeutic outcome regardless of the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment.

[Chemical reaction mechanism of decoction of traditional Chinese medicines: a review].

Complicated chemical reactions occur in the decoction of traditional Chinese medicines(TCMs) which features complex components, influencing the safety, efficacy, and quality controllability of TCMs. Therefore, it is particularly important to clarify the chemical reaction mechanism of TCMs in the decoction. This study summarized eight typical chemical reactions in the decoction of TCMs, such as substitution reaction, redox reaction, isomerization/stereoselective reaction, complexation, and supramolecular reaction. With the "toxicity attenuation and efficiency enhancement" of aconitines and other examples, this study reviewed the reactions in decoction of TCMs, which was expected to clarify the variation mechanisms of key chemical components in this process and to help guide medicine preparation and safe and rational use of medicine in clinical settings. The current main research methods for chemical reaction mechanisms of decoction of TCMs were also summed up and compared. The novel real-time analysis device of decoction system for TCMs was found to be efficient and simple without the pre-treatment of samples. This device provides a promising solution, which has great potential in quantity evaluation and control of TCMs. Moreover, it is expected to become a foundational and exemplary research tool, which can advance the research in this field.

Hypoxic cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes regulate cardiac fibroblast activation, apoptosis, migration and ferroptosis through miR-208a/b.

Studies have found that cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) can communicate through exosomes, thereby affecting each other's biological functions, but there are few studies on the mechanism. miR-208a/b are specifically expressed in the heart and highly expressed in exosomes derived from various myocardial diseases. Hypoxia induced cardiomyocytes to secrete exosomes (H-Exo) with high expression of miR-208a/b. When H-Exo were added to CFs for co-culture, it was found that CFs took up exosomes, thereby upregulating the expression of miR-208a/b. H-Exo significantly promoted the viability and migration of CFs, enhanced the expression of α-SMA, collagen I and III, and promoted the secretion of collagen I and III. miR-208a or/and miR-208b inhibitors significantly attenuated the effects of H-Exo on CF biological functions. miR-208a/b inhibitors significantly enhanced the levels of apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in CFs, while H-Exo significantly attenuated the pro-apoptotic effects of miR-208a/b inhibitors. Further treatment of CFs with ferroptosis inducer Erastin found that H-Exo further enhanced the accumulation of ROS, MDA and Fe2+, the main indicators of ferroptosis, and inhibited the expression of GPX4, a key regulator of ferroptosis. miR-208a or/and miR-208b inhibitors significantly attenuated the effects of Erastin and H-Exo on ferroptosis. In conclusion, hypoxic cardiomyocyte-derived exosomes can regulate the biological functions of CFs through highly expressed miR-208a/b.

Design, synthesis and glycosidase inhibition of DAB derivatives with C-4 peptide and dipeptide branches.

A series of DAB-peptide and DAB-dipeptide derivatives were synthesized from D-tartrate-derived nitrone 18. The DAB peptides 16 are derivatives of trans,trans-3,4-dihydroxy-L-proline. Glycosidase inhibition assay found four of them to be weak and selective bovine liver ß-galactosidase inhibitors, and the C-2' methyl substituted compound 23b showed the most potent ß-galactosidase inhibition (IC50 = 0.66 µM). Molecular docking studies revealed different docking modes of compound 23b compared to those of other DAB-peptides, and partial similarity of compound 23b to DGJ.

Nanomolar ß-glucosidase and ß-galactosidase inhibition by enantiomeric α-1-C-alkyl-1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-arabinitol derivatives.

A series of α-1-C-alkyl DAB (1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-arabinitol) and LAB (1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-arabinitol) derivatives with aryl substituents have been designed as analogues of broussonetine W (12), and assayed as glycosidase inhibitors. While the inhibition spectrum of α-1-C-alkyl DAB derivative 16 showed a good correlation to that of broussonetine W (12), introduction of substituents on the terminal aryl (17a-f) or hydroxyl groups at C-1' position of the alkyl chains (18a-e) decreased their α-glucosidase inhibitions but greatly improved their inhibitions of bovine liver ß-glucosidase and ß-galactosidase. Furthermore, epimerization of C-1' configurations of compounds 18a-e clearly lowered their inhibition potency of bovine liver ß-glucosidase and ß-galactosidase. Notably, some of the α-1-C-alkyl DAB derivatives were also found to have potent human lysosome ß-glucosidase inhibitions. In contrast, enantiomers of compounds 18a-e and 1'-epi-18a-e generally showed increased α-glucosidase inhibitions, but sharply decreased bovine liver ß-glucosidase and ß-galactosidase inhibitions. Molecular docking calculations unveiled the novel two set of binding modes for each series of compounds; introduction of C-1' hydroxyl altered the conformations of the pyrrolidine rings and orientation of their long chains, resulting in improved accommodation in the hydrophobic grooves. The compounds reported herein are very potent ß-glucosidase and ß-galactosidase inhibitions with novel binding mode; and the structure-activity relationship provides guidance for design and development of more pyrrolidine pharmacological chaperones for lysosomal storage diseases.

Research progress of quality control for the seed of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F. Chow (Suan-Zao-Ren) and its proprietary Chinese medicines.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (SZS), the seed of Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H.F. Chow (Chinese name Suan-Zao-Ren), is widely distributed in China, Laos, Myanmar, and Iran. It is a classic traditional Chinese medicine with sedative and sleeping effects. In clinical practice, there are more than 155 proprietary Chinese medicines containing SZS. However, many commercial SZS products are difficult to qualify using current methods. Moreover, there is a scarcity of quality standards for SZS in proprietary Chinese medicines. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to clearly reveal the quality indicators during the entire production process of SZS and its products. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study reviewed more than 230 articles and related books on the quality control of SZS and its proprietary Chinese medicines published over the last 40 years (from January 1979 to October 2022). Moreover, where available, information on the quality of SZS and its proprietary Chinese medicines was also collected from websites for comparison, including online publications (e.g. PubMed, CNKI, Google Scholar, and Web of Science), the information at Yaozhi website and China Medical Information Platform, along with some classic books on Chinese herbal medicine. The literature and information search were conducted using keywords such as "Suan-Zao-Ren", " Ziziphus jujuba" and "quality control", and the latest results from various databases were combined to obtain valid information. The active components, which in vivo exposure, and Q-markers were also summarized. RESULTS: The jujuboside A, jujuboside B, and spinosin were revealed as the key Q-markers for SZS. Moreover, the advancements and prospects of the quality control for SZS and its extract, proprietary Chinese medicines, health foods, and adulterants were comprehensively summarized. The high-performance liquid chromatography-UV/evaporative light scattering detection and fingerprint analysis were found to be the mainstream methods for the SZS quality control. In particular, the novel quality evaluation method based on the unit content was applied for SZS and its proprietary Chinese medicines. Significant fluctuations were found in the contents of Q-markers. Moreover, the mass transfer rule of Q-markers was comprehensively clarified based on the entire production process, including production origins, ripening time, primary process, processing, compatibility decoction/extract, and storage. Ultimately, the crushing and compatibility of SZS were found to be the key steps affecting the active components. CONCLUSIONS: In short, this study provides solid evidences to reveal quality indicators for the entire production process of developing rational quality standards for SZS and its products. Moreover, this study also provides a template quality control overview, which could be extended to other traditional Chinese medicines.

Optimized Cationic Lipid-assisted Nanoparticle for Delivering CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides to Treat Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

PURPOSE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is such a global health problem that hundreds of millions of people are HBV carriers. Current anti-viral agents can inhibit HBV replication, but can hardly eradicate HBV. Cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are an adjuvant that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) to induce therapeutic immunity for HBV eradication. However, efficient delivery of CpG ODNs into pDCs and cDCs remains a challenge. In this study, we constructed a series of cationic lipid-assisted nanoparticles (CLANs) using different cationic lipids to screen an optimal nanoparticle for delivering CpG ODNs into pDCs and cDCs. METHODS: We constructed different CLANCpG using six cationic lipids and analyzed the cellular uptake of different CLANCpG by pDCs and cDCs in vitro and in vivo, and further analyzed the efficiency of different CLANCpG for activating pDCs and cDCs in both wild type mice and HBV-carrier mice. RESULTS: We found that CLAN fabricated with 1,2-Dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP) showed the highest efficiency for delivering CpG ODNs into pDCs and cDCs, resulting in strong therapeutic immunity in HBV-carrier mice. By using CLANCpG as an immune adjuvant in combination with the injection of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg), HBV was successfully eradicated and the chronic liver inflammation in HBV-carrier mice was reduced. CONCLUSION: We screened an optimized CLAN fabricated with DOTAP for efficient delivery of CpG ODNs to pDCs and cDCs, which can act as a therapeutic vaccine adjuvant for treating HBV infection.

[Mean transit time of water bodies in a typical soil-plant-atmosphere continuum of the subtropical monsoon region]. / äºšçƒ­å¸¦å­£é£ŽåŒºå ¸åž‹åœŸå£¤-植物-大气连续体中水体平均滞留时间.

The mean transit time (MTT) is a good indicator of water cycle processes. We know little about the MTT of different water bodies within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) in the subtropical monsoon region. We estimated the MTT of stratified soil water at different depths as well as the xylem water and leaf water in typical Cinnamomum camphora woodland located in Changsha City from March 2017 to October 2019. The main methods used in this study included the stable isotope technology, the linear mixed model and the sine wave fitting method. The results showed that the stable isotopes were more depleted in summer and enriched in winter for different water bodies within the SPAC. The δ2H values of soil water gradually decreased as depth increased. The δ2H values of xylem water closely resembled those of soil water, but the δ2H values of leaf water were more positive and exhibited larger variation. Results of the linear mixed model indicated that the lower MTT values of soil water and plant water occurred between June and September, while the higher values were often observed around January and from April to May. The precipitation replenishment exhibited a significant negative correlation with the MTT. The MTT of soil water generally increased with depth, although preferential flow could enhance the replenishment of deeper soil water and subsequently reduce the MTT. The mean MTT values of xylem water and leaf water were similar. Results of the sine wave fitting method showed that the young water fraction (Fyw) of soil water gradually decreased as depth increased, while the MTT of soil water gradually increased as depth increased. The Fyw and MTT of xylem water were lower and higher than those of leaf water, respectively. Both the mean MTT values of soil water based on the linear mixed model or the sine wave fitting method increased from the surface to the deeper soil layers. The former exhibited a smaller variation range and the latter showed a larger variation range. The mean MTT value of xylem water based on the linear mixed model was 2.4 days less than that of leaf water, while the MTT value of xylem water in the sine wave fitting method was 87.4 days higher than that of leaf water. These differences may be due to the parameterization of "new/young water", the uncertainty of results, and the effect of evaporative fractionation. This study contributes to a better understanding of water transport and consumption processes within the SPAC and provides valuable insights for agricultural production and water resources management in the subtropical monsoon region.

Descriptions of the last instar larvae of Anotogaster chaoi Zhou, 1998 and Neallogaster annandalei (Fraser, 1923) from Erhai Lake Basin, Yunnan, China (Odonata: Cordulegastrids).

The exuviae of Anotogaster chaoi Zhou, 1998 and Neallogaster annandalei (Fraser, 1923) are described and illustrated for the first time from Erhai Lake Basin, Yunnan Province, China, based on the final stage larvae reared in a laboratory. Diagnostic differences between the larvae of congeneric A. chaoi, A. gregoryi Fraser, 1923, as well as N. annandalei and N. hermionae (Fraser, 1927) are discussed, and notes on their habitats are provided.

Prediction for recurrence following antithyroid drug therapy for Graves' hyperthyroidism

ABSTRACT Objective: A common problem with antithyroid drugs (ATD) treatment in patients with Graves' disease (GD) is the high recurrence rate after drug withdrawal. Identifying risk factors for recurrence is crucial in clinical practice. We hereby prospectively analyze risk factors for the recurrence of GD in patients treated with ATD in southern China. Subjects and methods: Patients who were newly diagnosed with GD and aged > 18 years were treated with ATD for 18 months and followed up for 1 year after ATD withdrawal. Recurrence of GD during follow-up was assessed. All data were analyzed by Cox regression with P values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 127 Graves' hyperthyroidism patients were included. During an average follow-up of 25.7 (standard deviation = 8.7) months, 55 (43%) had a recurrence within 1 year after withdraw of anti-thyroid drugs. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the significant association remained for the presence of insomnia (hazard ratio (HR) 2.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47-5.88), greater goiter size (HR 3.34, 95% CI 1.11-10.07), higher thyrotrophin receptor antibody (TRAb) titer (HR 2.66, 95% CI 1.12-6.31) and a higher maintenance dose of methimazole (MMI) (HR 2.14, 95% CI 1.14-4.00). Conclusions: Besides conventional risk factors (i.e., goiter size, TRAb and maintenance MMI dose) for recurrent GD after ATD withdraw, insomnia was associated with a 3-fold risk of recurrence. Further clinical trials investigating the beneficial effect of improving sleep quality on prognosis of GD are warranted.