Effects of depth of straw returning on maize yield potential and greenhouse gas emissions.

Appropriate straw incorporation has ample agronomic and environmental benefits, but most studies are limited to straw mulching or application on the soil surface. To determine the effect of depth of straw incorporation on the crop yield, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and greenhouse gas emission, a total of 4 treatments were set up in this study, which comprised no straw returning (CK), straw returning at 15 cm (S15), straw returning at 25 cm (S25) and straw returning at 40 cm (S40). The results showed that straw incorporation significantly increased SOC, TN and C:N ratio.

The prognostic value of tumor-associated macrophages in glioma patients.

Glioma is a complex tumor composed of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells, including tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TILs), and each cell type contributes to tumor formation and malignant progression. Among TILs, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are of great importance and play a key role in the immune response to cancer. In this study, 22 types of adaptive and innate TILs were evaluated in gliomas.

Effects of EEG burst suppression on cerebral oxygen metabolism and postoperative cognitive function in elderly surgical patients: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: This randomized clinical trial determined the effects of electroencephalographic burst suppression on cerebral oxygen metabolism and postoperative cognitive function in elderly surgical patients.

Methods: The patients were placed into burst suppression (BS) and non-burst suppression (NBS) groups. All patients were under bispectral index monitoring of an etomidate target-controlled infusion for anesthesia induction and intraoperative combination sevoflurane and remifentanil for anesthesia maintenance.

The response of grain yield and ear differentiation related traits to nitrogen levels in maize varieties with different nitrogen efficiency.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely distributed and important crops in China. Maize ear differentiation plays an important role grain yield formation.

Association between miRNA-499 gene polymorphism and autoimmune diseases: A meta-analysis.

Introduction: The association between miRNA-499 rs3746444 and a variety of autoimmune diseases has been reported. However, these results were contradictory and just focused on one or two autoimmune diseases. The present study aims to examine the possible association between rs3746444 polymorphism and the risk of autoimmune diseases.

Dynamic evolvement of the de Winter ECG pattern.

The de Winter electrocardiograph (ECG) pattern in patients with chest pain is associated with occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery. These patterns were once considered stable conditions, without dynamic evolution of ECG. Recently, several case reports have indicated that this ECG pattern may evolve into ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or may follow the ECG manifestations of STEMI.

Associations between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphisms and risk of ischemic cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.

Background: Many studies investigated the association between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphisms and risk of ischemic cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. However, the results were inconsistent.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, and Wanfang databases for appropriate studies.

Long noncoding RNA LINC00341 promotes the vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and migration via miR-214/FOXO4 feedback loop.

Increasing evidences have indicated the vital roles of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in the atherosclerosis. However, whether lncRNA LINC00341 play pivotal roles in the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is still unclear. This work presents the authentic functions of LINC00341 on the proliferation and migration of VSMCs and unveils the underlying mechanism.

Effects of perioperative statins on patient outcomes after noncardiac surgery: a meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiovascular complications are strongly correlated with a higher risk of mortality during follow-up after noncardiac surgery. However, controversy remains regarding whether perioperative administration of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) has a beneficial effect on patient outcomes.

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis to validate the hypothesis that perioperative statins improve patient outcomes after noncardiac surgery.

Influence of crocetin on high-cholesterol diet induced atherosclerosis in rats via anti-oxidant activity together with inhibition of inflammatory response and p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of action of crocetin on the high cholesterol diet (HCD) induced atherosclerosis rat. The Wistar rats were used in the current investigation. The rats were divided into following group, Group I: control, Group II: HCD induced AS, Group III: AS + crocetin (25 mg/kg), Group IV: AS + crocetin (50 mg/kg) and Group V: AS + Simvastatin, respectively.

Associations between erythropoietin polymorphisms and risk of diabetic microvascular complications.

We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between erythropoietin (EPO) polymorphisms and diabetic microvascular complications. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Wanfang, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for appropriate studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the associations.

An updated meta-analysis of 23 case-control studies on the association between miR-34b/c polymorphism and cancer risk.

The association between in microRNA-34b/c gene rs4938723 polymorphisms and cancer risk remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis was performed to analyze the association between microRNA-34b/c rs4938723 polymorphism and risk for cancer development. In total, 304 studies from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were examined, and 23 studies were included in this meta-analysis.

Does short preoperative statin therapy prevent infectious complications in adults undergoing cardiac or non-cardiac surgery? A meta-analysis of 5 randomized placebo-controlled trials.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of preoperative statin therapy on the incidence of postoperative infection. 

Methods: This systematic review of the literature was carried out in August 2015. Studies were retrieved via PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (1980 to 2015), and the reference files were limited to English-language articles.

Associations of MMP-2, BAX, and Bcl-2 mRNA and Protein Expressions with Development of Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND To examine changes of mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-2, Bcl-2, and BAX in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, and investigate the correlations among these 3 biomarkers. MATERIAL AND METHODS Rheumatic heart disease patients (n=158) undergoing cardiac surgical procedures for mitral valve repair or replacement were included as the AF group (n=123), containing paroxysmal AF (n=42), persistent AF (n=36), and permanent AF (n=45). Rheumatic heart disease patients with sinus rhythm (SR) (n=35) were enrolled as the SR group (control group).

Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Protects Myocardial Cells from Apoptosis via the Janus-Activated Kinase 2/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5 Pathway in Rats with Epilepsy.

Objective: To investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) and carbamylated EPO (CEPO) against myocardial cell apoptosis in epilepsy.

Methods: Rats were given an intra-amygdala injection of kainic acid to induce epilepsy. Groups of rats were treated with rhEPO or CEPO before induction of epilepsy, whereas additional rats were given a caudal vein injection of AG490, a selective inhibitor of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2).

Effect of statins on preventing infectious complications after surgery: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: *These authors contributed equally to this work.A meta-analysis to investigate the association between preoperative statin use and the risk of postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing surgery.

Methods: PubMed(®) and Embase(®) databases were searched for relevant studies.

Mild hypothermia for treatment of diffuse axonal injury: a quantitative analysis of diffusion tensor imaging.

Fractional anisotropy values in diffusion tensor imaging can quantitatively reflect the consistency of nerve fibers after brain damage, where higher values generally indicate less damage to nerve fibers. Therefore, we hypothesized that diffusion tensor imaging could be used to evaluate the effect of mild hypothermia on diffuse axonal injury. A total of 102 patients with diffuse axonal injury were randomly divided into two groups: normothermic and mild hypothermic treatment groups.