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This study analyzed the relationships between environmental parameters and benthic macroinvertebrate faunas. Invertebrate richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, functional-group and CCA were used to evaluate conditions of waterbodies of the Hu-lan Estuary Natural Wetland Reserve and its hinterlands. We measured 10 physicochemical variables and collected 165 species belonging to 6 functional feeding groups (FFGs) during spring, summer and autumn. Some of the physicochemical factors changed with seasons. Nitrate nitrogen, total nitrogen and total phosphate significantly varied with seasons (p ˂ 0.05), unlike water temperature, depth, pH, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, Ammonia nitrogen and electronic conductivity (p > 0.05). The taxa richness of benthic macroinvertebrates did not vary significantly within the sites (p = 0.508); while the Shannon-Wiener diversity showed significantly difference (p ˂ 0.01) within the sites over these three seasons. Gathering-collectors were the most abundant macroinvertebrate FFG assemblages all over the sites, though there’s no significant difference in the total abundance of 6 functional feeding groups identified among the sites during spring, summer and autumn (p = 0.677, p = 0.681, p = 0.302, respectively). Our CCA results indicated positive correlations of macroinvertebrate community compositions with environmental variables in the Hu-lan Estuary Natural Wetland Reserve and its surrounding waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal has provided a great proportion of energy supply for the country. However, coal mining has caused lots of ecological and environmental problems. In this study, a field investigation experiment was conducted in subsided area of Zhaogu coal mine of Jiaozuo Coal Group, Henan Province, China, to explore effect of surface cracks caused by coal mining on the soil characteristics and crop growth. The results showed that during the jointing stage of wheat, the ranges within which the larger crack (C-1) and smaller crack (C-2) caused the effects on both soil water content and soil respiration were 0-60 cm and 0-30 cm from the cracks, respectively. C-1 significantly reduced the activities of soil urease and invertase within 0-60 cm from the crack but C-2 did not cause significant inhibition on soil enzymes. During the flowing stage of wheat, C-1 and C-2 significantly reduced soil water content, available nitrogen content and soil respiration within 0-60 cm and 0-30 cm from the cracks, respectively. The range within which C- 1 caused inhibition on urease activity was 0-60 cm while such range for C-2 was 0-30 cm from the crack. The ranges within which both C-1 and C-2 caused significant inhibition on invertase activity were 0-60 cm from the cracks. C-1 and C-2 caused significant inhibition on photosynthesis of wheat within 0-60 cm and 0-30cm from the cracks, respectively. C-1 and C2 significantly reduced spike number and grain yield within 0-90 and 0-60 cm from the cracks, respectively. In conclusion, surface cracks resulted in loss of water and nutrients and reduction in crop yield, which is more serious with lager cracks. Therefore, further studies are needed to address this problem and to find effective measures to resolve it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To examine the association between depression and impaired glucose regulation, newly diagnosed diabetes and previously diagnosed diabetes in middle-aged and elderly Chinese people, and whether depression was associated with different treatment regimens or durations of diabetes. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed among 229 047 adults living in the community aged ≥ 40 years from 25 centres in China. The self-reported depression rating scale Patient Health Questionnaire 9 ( PHQ-9) was used to diagnose probable and sub-threshold depression. Glucose metabolism status was determined according to World Health Organization 1999 diagnostic criteria. Results The numbers of participants with normal glucose regulation, impaired glucose regulation, newly diagnosed diabetes and previously diagnosed diabetes were 120 458, 59 512, 24 826 and 24 251, respectively. The prevalence of sub-threshold depression in the total sample of participants was 4.8% (4.8%, 4.8%, 4.4% and 5.6% from normal glucose regulation to previously diagnosed diabetes, respectively), and the prevalence of probable depression was 1.1% (1.1%, 1.0%, 0.9% and 1.8% from normal glucose regulation to previously diagnosed diabetes, respectively). Compared with participants with normal glucose regulation, those with previously diagnosed diabetes had increased odds of probable depression [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.61, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.39-1.87] and sub-threshold depression ( OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.24), after adjustment for multiple confounding factors. Newly diagnosed diabetes or impaired glucose regulation was not associated with depression. Among those with previously diagnosed diabetes, insulin treatment was associated with greater odds of depression compared with no treatment or oral anti-diabetic medicine. Conclusion Previously diagnosed diabetes, but not newly diagnosed diabetes or impaired glucose regulation, was associated with a higher prevalence of depression. Patients receiving insulin were more likely to have depression than those not receiving treatment or being treated with oral anti-diabetic medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in foliar stable carbon isotope signatures (δ13C) of different plant functional groups (PFGs) and their relationships with environmental factors in China were investigated in this meta-analysis. There were some significant, but small differences in δ13C among PFGs categorised by life form (<1‰). Trees (−26.78‰) and shrubs (−26.89‰) had similar mean δ13C that were significantly higher than those of herbs (−27.49‰). Evergreen shrubs (−25.82‰) had significantly higher mean δ13C than deciduous shrubs (−26.92‰). Perennial herbs (−26.83‰) had significantly higher mean δ13C than annual herbs (−27.10‰). Grasses (−26.46‰) had significantly higher mean δ13C than forbs (−26.96‰). For pooled data, δ13C was significantly and negatively correlated with mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT), while it was significantly and positively correlated with latitude and altitude. There was a threshold value of MAP along the gradients, and δ13C did not change significantly with higher rainfall. The δ13C of PFGs changed with altitude, suggesting that increases in δ13C with altitude cannot be generalised. Differences in δ13C between PFGs were generally much <1‰ and therefore insignificant. In contrast, MAP and MAT had relatively large effects on δ13C (more than 4‰ between extremes). The δ13C of some PFGs responded to environmental gradients in the same manner, while their 'rates' of change were significantly different in some cases. This information could help predict potential changes in the distribution of PFGs in response to future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H uang Q-Q, W ang G-X, H ou Y-P & P eng S-L (2011). Distribution of invasive plants in China in relation to geographical origin and life cycle. Weed Research 51, 534-542. Summary At a continental scale, research on which areas are more likely to be invaded has often found that human socio-economic factors and biogeographic factors are important. This general pattern also holds for China, where invasive plant species richness at a provincial scale has often been found to be significantly correlated with both socio-economic (e.g. human population size and total GDP) and biogeographic factors (e.g. latitude and native plant species richness). However, these patterns are based on studies that considered invasive plants collectively rather than examining patterns within major subgroups. Here, we examine the potential role of species differences in mediating these distribution patterns in Chinese provinces. We show that distribution of invaders from Central and South America, especially perennials, is mainly determined by biogeographic factors, whereas distribution of invaders from North America and Eurasia, especially annuals, is mainly determined by socio-economic factors. The predictive power of biogeographic factors for invaders from Central and South America is stronger than socio-economic factors for invaders from North America and Eurasia. The role of socio-economic and biogeographic factors is not entangled; instead, their relative importance is dependent on species characters, such as their geographical origin and life cycle. Management and prevention policies at a national scale should consider the interactions between species characters and socio-economic and biogeographic conditions of the environment. Our results indicate that by examining the role of species differences, we may get a more realistic understanding of the cause of distribution patterns of biological invaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the overall status of the Jiangsu Province Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Registry database. Methods: The patients date of Jiangsu Province Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Registry database from October 2017 to December 2019 was collected retrospectively.Risk factors, history, cardiac function (New York Heart Association class), extent of coronary artery lesion, European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation Ⅱ (EuroSCORE Ⅱ), cardiopulmonary bypss, arterial grafts, the numbers and flow of grafts and postoperative major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event(MACCE) information were analyzed. The clinical data of patients underwent on-pump CABG(ONCABG) or off-pump CABG (OPCAB) were compared by t test or χ(2) test. Results: Up till December 2019, the database enrolled 7 138 patients, in which 4 661 patients receiving primary isolated CABG. There were 3 486 males and 1 175 females with the age of (64.6±8.1) years (range:31 to 87 years). There were coronary left main disease in 960 patients, triple vessel disease in 3 934 patients, both left main and triple vessel disease in 837 patients, ejection fraction > 50% in 3 841 patients, cardiac function class Ⅲ to Ⅳ in 1 664 patients. EuroSCORE Ⅱ was (2.3±0.7)% (range: 0.5% to 35.8%). There were 2 731 patients (58.59%) underwent ONCABG and 1 930 patients (41.41%) underwent OPCAB. There were 4 144 patients (88.91%) for whom the left internal thoracic artery was harvested. Seven centers (2 centers routinely) used left radial artery, 5 centers (3 centers routinely) used the transit time flow meter. The graft was 3.4±0.7 (range:1 to 7), the aortic crossclamp time was (65.0±20.4) minutes (range: 21 to 196 minutes), the cardiopulmonary bypass time was (90.0±24.2) minutes (range: 33 to 227 minutes). In-hospital death ocurred in 84 patients(1.80%), while re-operation in 93 patients (2.00%), myocardial infarction in 71 patients (1.52%), cerebral infarction in 33 patients (0.71%) and dialysis in 56 patients (1.20%). There were 2 936 patients prescribed with secondary prevention drugs(62.99%).Comparing with OPCAB group, ONCABG group had younger age, more female, more diabetes mellitus, more history of myocardial infarction and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, poorer cardiac function and coronary lesions, higher EuroSCORE Ⅱ, preoperatively (all P< 0.05), and was associated with higher MACCE (135/2 731 vs . 71/1 930, χ(2)=4.280, P= 0.039), and of more grafts, transfusion and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation application (all P< 0.05). Conclusions: Jiangsu Province Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Registry database is generally in good operation, and some parameters still need to be improved. Comparing with OPCAB group, ONCABG has more severe preoperative general conditions, while the outcomes is acceptable.

Objective: To analyze the learning curve of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for the treatment of resectable lung cancer. Methods: The clinical data of 160 patients with resectable lung cancer who underwent uniportal VATS lobectomy by a single surgical team between May 2016 and April 2017 at Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China were analyzed retrospectively. The study group consisted of 90 male and 70 female patients with age of 28 to 84 years (median: 62 years). The patients were divided into four groups from group A to D according to chronological order. The operation time, incision length, intraoperative blood loss, number of dissected lymph nodes and nodal stations, the proportion of changes in operation mode, postoperative complications, chest drainage duration and hospitalization time were individually compared among the four groups by variance analysis and χ(2) test. Results: The 4 groups were similar in terms of incision length, chest drainage duration, number of dissected lymph nodes and nodal stations and postoperative hospitalization time ( P >0.05). The difference of the operation time ((185.9±17.9) minutes vs . (139.9±10.7) minutes vs .(128.7±7.8) minutes vs .(124.0±9.3) minutes, F =219.605, P =0.000), intraoperative blood loss ((233.9±135.8) ml vs . (126.8±18.1) ml vs . (116.4±22.6) ml vs .(112.8±25.3) ml, F =26.942, P =0.000), the proportion of changes in operation mode (17.5% vs .7.5% vs . 5.0% vs . 5.0%, χ(2)=8.300, P =0.040), and the incidence of postoperative complications (27.5% vs . 10.0% vs . 10.0% vs . 7.5%, χ(2)=8.643, P =0.034) among the 4 groups was statistically significant. Conclusions: Uniportal VATS lobectomy can be safely and feasibly performed for resectable lung cancer, learning curve for uniportal VATS lobectomy is approximately 40 cases. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications and the proportion of changes in operation mode can be used as the main measures during surgery.

Myricaria laxiflora is distributed along the riverbanks of the Yangtze River valley. The Three Gorges Dam has dramatically changed the habitat of M. laxiflora, which has evolved to develop increased resistance to flooding stress. In order to elucidate the relationship between plant endophytic fungi and flooding stress, we isolated and taxonomically characterized the endophytic fungi of M. laxiflora. One hundred and sixty-three fungi were isolated from healthy stems, leaves and roots of M. laxiflora grown under pre- and post-flooding conditions. Culture and isolation were carried out under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Based on internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis and morphological characteristics, the isolates exhibited abundant biodiversity; they were classified into 5 subphyla, 7 classes, 12 orders, 17 families, and 26 genera. Dominant endophytes varied between pre- and post-flooding plants, among different plant tissues, and between aerobic and anaerobic culture conditions. Aspergillus and Alternaria accounted for more than 55% of all isolates. Although the number of isolates from post-flooding plants was greater, endophytes from pre-flooding plants were more diverse and abundant. Endophytes were distributed preferentially in particular tissues; this affinity was constrained by both the host habitat and the oxygen availability of the host.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant neurogenetic disorder caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes and is frequently associated with hamartoma formation in multiple organ systems. Here, we report two novel mutations in the TSC2 gene, including a splicing mutation (IVS 29 +1G>C) in intron 29 and a deletion/insertion mutation (C.5090-5092delCCA- inAG) in exon 39 in two Chinese Han children with TSC whose first clinical manifestation was seizure. The identification of these two mutations confirmed the diagnosis of TSC and expands the spectrum of TSC2 mutations causing TSC.

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant neurogenetic disorder characterized by hamartomas in multiple organs and is caused by a wide spectrum of mutations in 1 of 2 causative genes (TSC1 or TSC2). Here, we present mutational analyses of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes in 4 cases of TSC in Chinese Han children, including 2 familial and 2 sporadic cases, using PCR and DNA sequencing of the entire coding region as well as exon-intron boundaries of these genes. Three mutations were identified in the TSC2 gene. Of these mutations, 2 mutations (c.3312-3313delGA and c.45delT) were novel, and the 3rd mutation (c.5238-5255del) was previously reported in Chinese Han and other populations. These mutations were not present in healthy family members or in 100 unrelated normal controls. The identification of these mutations in this study further expands the spectrum of known TSC2 gene mutations and contributes to prenatal molecular diagnosis and preimplantation genetic testing of TSC.

Background: Trichoepithelioma is a benign cutaneous tumour that originates from hair follicles and occurs either as a sporadic non-familial or a multiple-familial type. Recently, several mutations in the cylindromatosis (CYLD) gene have been reported in multiple familial trichoepithelioma (MFT)., Objectives: To report a Chinese family of MFT and to explore the genetic mutation., Methods: A Chinese pedigree of typical MFT was subjected to mutation detection in CYLD. Direct sequencing of all PCR products of the whole coding regions of CYLD gene was performed to identify the mutation., Results: The c.1178-1179delCA (p.T393fs) mutation was found in CYLD gene in the affected members, but not in the healthy individuals in the family., Conclusion: Our study found a novel mutation in exon 10 of CYLD gene., (© 2011 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2011 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is an autosomal-dominant heritable skeletal disease caused by heterozygous mutations in the RUNX2 gene. We studied a Chinese family that included three affected individuals with CCD phenotypes; the clinical features of patients with CCD include delayed closure of fontanelles, frontal bossing, dysplasia of clavicles, late tooth eruption, and other skeletal anomalies. X-ray analysis showed aplasia of the clavicles. The RUNX2 gene was studied by PCR and direct sequencing of the entire coding region and the exon-intron boundaries of the gene. A novel missense mutation (c.1259C-->T[p.T420I]) in RUNX2 gene exon 7 was identified; it was found in the affected individuals in this Chinese family, but was not present in an unaffected family member or in 100 unrelated normal controls. This is the first report that gives evidence that the T420I mutation of RUNX2 is associated with CCD, expanding the spectrum of RUNX2 mutations causing CCD.

Background: Twelve genetic types of autosomal dominant hereditary ataxia have been recently identified and the genes responsible for most of them cloned. Molecular identification of the type of ataxia is important to determine the disease prevalence and its natural history in various populations., Objectives: To perform molecular analysis of 75 Chinese families affected with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) and to evaluate the spectrum of mutations in these genes and the correlation between genotypes and phenotypes in Chinese patients., Setting: Neurogenetics Unit, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China., Methods: One hundred nine patients from 75 kindreds diagnosed as having autosomal dominant SCA, 16 patients with sporadic SCA or spastic paraplegia, 280 control chromosomes of the Chinese population, and 120 control chromosomes of the Sakha population were selected for this study. We conducted detailed mutational analysis by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products amplified from genomic DNA., Results: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) was identified in 5 families with 12 studied patients. All affected family members were heterozygous for a CAG repeat expansion in the SCA1 gene containing 51 to 64 trinucleotide repeats. Normal alleles had 26 to 35 repeats. Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 accounted for 7% of the studied Chinese families with ataxia. In addition, we determined the frequency of a single vs double CAT interruption in 120 control chromosomes of the Siberian Sakha population, which has the highest known prevalence of SCA1, and compared this with 280 control chromosomes from the Chinese populations. The results show that 64.7% of the Siberian normal alleles contain a single CAT interruption, whereas 92% of the Chinese had more than 1 interruption., Conclusions: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 is responsible for 7% of affected families in the Chinese population. A correlation between the prevalence of SCA1 and the number of CAT interruptions in the trinucleotide chain suggests that a CAT-to-CAG substitution may have been the initial event contributing to the generation of expanded alleles and influencing relative prevalence of SCA1.

In order to determine the seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. infection in children from Chengdu, we performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and sandwich ELISA (S-ELISA) with excretory-secretory antigens isolated from second-stage larvae of Toxocara canis (TES-Ag ELISA). The seroprevalences of T. canis antibodies in the children from rural areas, urban districts, and urban districts with recent Ascaris lumbricoides infection were 17.7% (59/333), 2.1% (4/186), and 2.6% (1/38), respectively. Among 63 suspected patients with symptoms of T. canis infection, 31 had positive antibodies. The inhibition assay showed an apparent inhibiting capacity of TES-Ag for the antibody against T. canis larvae. The result of S-ELISA demonstrated that circulating antigens of T. canis larvae could be detected in part of the serum with positive antibodies and that the detection rate for circulating antigens in the sera could be improved by polyethylene glycol-acid treatment. This is the first epidemiological study to confirm the existence of T. canis infection and Toxocara-larvae migrans in Chengdu by the combination of TES-Ag ELISA and S-ELISA.

To examine the relationship between exposure to passive smoke (herein referred to as environmental tobacco smoke, ETS), cooking fumes, other risk factors and primary adenocarcinoma of the lung, 70 adenocarcinoma lung cancer cases of non-smoking women in Nanjing were studied in a 1:1 case-control study. Results show no statistical association between exposure to ETS and pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The respective odds ratios for chronic lung disease, cooking fume pollution and family tumor history were 3.90, 2.45 and 4.36.

A case-control study was performed on 83 cases of primary pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma and 180 cases of primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma in Nanjing. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed five risk factors for pulmonary squamous carcinoma. These were: smoking, indoor air pollution due to cooking fumes, family tumor history, type of fuel used in the home, and use of coal stoves for heating in winter. The relative risks (RR) for these five risk factors were: 1.03 (95% CI, 1.00-1.06), 3.81 (95% CI, 1.06-13.73), 5.61 (95% CI, 1.23-15.79), 4.97 (95% CI, 0.8-30.88) and 3.72 (95% CI, 0.88-15.71), respectively. The respective population attributable risks (PAR) were: 68%, 52%, 28%, 55% and 36%. The four risk factors for pulmonary adenocarcinoma were smoking, cooking fumes, chronic bronchitis and family tumor history. The respective RRs were: 1.01 (95% CI, 1.00-1.03), 2.99 (95% CI, 1.68-5.34), 2.49 (95% CI, 1.68-5.34) and 4.77 (95% CI, 1.93-11.83). The respective PARs were: 20%, 47%, 18% and 18%. The combined PAR for the five risk factors for pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma was 94% and the combined PAR for the risk factors for pulmonary adenocarcinoma was 79%.