Impacts of continuous cropping on the rhizospheric and endospheric microbial communities and root exudates of Astragalus mongholicus.

Astragalus mongholicus is a medicinal plant that is known to decrease in quality in response to continuous cropping. However, the differences in the root-associated microbiome and root exudates in the rhizosphere soil that may lead to these decreases are barely under studies. We investigated the plant biomass production, root-associated microbiota, and root exudates of A.

Granular bacterial inoculant alters the rhizosphere microbiome and soil aggregate fractionation to affect phosphorus fractions and maize growth.

The constraint of phosphorus (P) fixation on crop production in alkaline calcareous soils can be alleviated by applying bioinoculants. However, the impact of bacterial inoculants on this process remains inadequately understood. Here, a field study was conducted to investigate the effect of a high-concentration, cost-effective, and slow-release granular bacterial inoculant (GBI) on maize (Zea mays L.

[Characteristics and Sources of Dissolved Heavy Metals in Summer Precipitation of Taiyuan City, China].

To investigate the characteristics and sources of dissolved heavy metals in precipitation of Taiyuan, 61 precipitation samples were collected using an automated dry and wet sampler from 2013 to 2015 during summertime. The concentrations of 12 dissolved heavy metals were detected using ICP-MS, and wet deposition fluxes and sources were analyzed. The results showed that the pH ranged from 4.

[Serum retinol binding protein 4 and bone metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes].

Objective: To determine the relation between serum concentration of retinol binding protein (RBP) 4 and markers of bone metabolism, bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A total of 82 patients newly diagnosed with T2DM and 46 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Subset analyses were performed, dividing subjects on the basis of gender into M-T2DM, F-T2DM, M-NGT, and F-NGT.

[Effect of body composition on bone mineral density in males with different glucose tolerance].

Objective: To investigate the effect of body composition on bone mineral density (BMD) in males with different glucose tolerance.

Methods: A total of 87 male subjects aged 35~64 years were divided into 2 groups by glucose tolerance test, 57 diagnosed T2DM and 30 with normal glucose tolerance(NGT). BMDs of anteroposterior lumbar vertebrae (AP), left femur neck (FN), total hip (T-hip), and total bone mineral density(TBMD)were measured by dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

[Association of serum testosterone with lean body mass, body fat content, and bone mineral density in postmenopausal females].

Objective: To determine the relationship between serum testosterone level and lean body mass, body fat content, and bone mineral density (BMD).

Methods: The study involved 185 healthy females in Changsha, aged 45-81. Fasting serum testosterone was measured by radioimmunoassay.