Challenges and solutions to biodiversity conservation in arid lands.

The strategic goals of the United Nations and the Aichi Targets for biodiversity conservation have not been met. Instead, biodiversity has continued to rapidly decrease, especially in developing countries. Setting a new global biodiversity framework requires clarifying future priorities and strategies to bridge challenges and provide representative solutions.

New morphological and DNA evidence supports the existence of Z. M. Mao (Calligoneae, Polygonaceae) in China.

Z. M. Mao, a species regarded as endemic to China, was thought to be nonexistent owing to a lack of scientific records.

Phylogeography and conservation genetics of the endangered Tugarinovia mongolica (Asteraceae) from Inner Mongolia, Northwest China.

Tugarinovia (Family Asteraceae) is a monotypic genus. It's sole species, Tugarinovia mongolica Iljin, is distributed in the northern part of Inner Mongolia, with one additional variety, Tugarinovia mongolica var ovatifolia, which is distributed in the southern part of Inner Mongolia. The species has a limited geographical range and declining populations.

Intraspecific divergences and phylogeography of (Lamiaceae) in northwest China.

Climatic fluctuations during the Quaternary significantly affect many species in their intraspecific divergence and population structure across northwest China. In order to investigate the impact of climate change on herbaceous plants, we studied (Lamiaceae), a widely distributed species. Sequences of two chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) intergenic spacers ( and ) and a nuclear ribosomal region (nrDNA, ITS) were generated from 27 populations of and resulted in the identification of seven chloroplast haplotypes and thirty-two nuclear haplotypes.

Evolutionary response to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau uplift: phylogeny and biogeography of and tribe Thermopsideae (Fabaceae).

Previous works resolved diverse phylogenetic positions for genera of the Fabaceae tribe Thermopsideae, without a thoroughly biogeography study. Based on sequence data from nuclear ITS and four cpDNA regions (, , , ) mainly sourced from GenBank, the phylogeny of tribe Thermopsideae was inferred. Our analyses support the genera of Thermopsideae, with the exclusion of , being merged into a monophyletic Sophoreae.

Reproductive biology and variation of nuclear ribosomal ITS and ETS sequences in the complex (Polygonaceae).

To explore the biosystematics of the complex (Polygonaceae), the flowering phenological period, breeding and pollination characters and seed set of the complex ( Turze, A. Los., A.

Evolution of morphological and climatic adaptations in Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae).

Perennials and annuals apply different strategies to adapt to the adverse environment, based on 'tolerance' and 'avoidance', respectively. To understand lifespan evolution and its impact on plant adaptability, we carried out a comparative study of perennials and annuals in the genus Veronica from a phylogenetic perspective. The results showed that ancestors of the genus Veronicawere likely to be perennial plants.

Molecular Biogeography of Tribe Thermopsideae (Leguminosae): A Madrean-Tethyan Disjunction Pattern with an African Origin of Core Genistoides.

Thermopsideae has 45 species and exhibits a series of interesting biogeographical distribution patterns, such as Madrean-Tethyan disjunction and East Asia-North America disjunction, with a center of endemism in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (QTP) and Central Asia. Phylogenetic analysis in this paper employed maximum likelihood using ITS, rps16, psbA-trnH, and trnL-F sequence data; biogeographical approaches included BEAST molecular dating and Bayesian dispersal and vicariance analysis (S-DIVA). The results indicate that the core genistoides most likely originated in Africa during the Eocene to Oligocene, ca.

Influence of environmental variability on phylogenetic diversity and trait diversity within Calligonum communities.

Since phylogenetic data provide the evolutionary history of the species and traits are the result of adaptation to the environmental conditions, joint analysis of these two aspects and ecological data may illuminate that how ecological processes affect the evolution of species and assembly of communities. In this study, we compared the community structure of sibling communities in order to illuminate the influence of environmental variability. We chose different Calligonum communities as research subjects which grow in active sand dunes and stabilized sand fields.

Comparison of five Calligonum species in Tarim Basin based on morphological and molecular data.

Five species endemic to the Tarim Basin - , , , and - were compared using 14 morphological characteristics and nrDNA ITS and cpDNA molecular data. Intraspecific and interspecific morphological variation was uncovered, with variation between species significant for most characteristics. Based on Euclidean distances, and were the most similar, and and were the most divergent.

Effect of VEGF-targeted antisense gene therapy on retinoblastoma cell line SO-RB50 in vitro and in vivo.

Aim: To evaluate the possibility of generation 4 polyamidoamine (G4PAMAM) dendrimers acting as the delivery system of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (VEGFASODN), and to investigate the anti-tumor effect of G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN complex on the cultured cells and the mouse tumor xenograft model.

Methods: The transfection efficiency was assessed by Flow cytometry (FCM). Thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to determine the relative growth rate (RGR) of the cells after transfection.

Data analysis of low dose multislice helical CT scan in orbital trauma.

Aim: To explore the optimal low dose of MSCT in orbital trauma examination.

Methods: Sixty transverse images of the fracture layer were selected. Low-dose images acquired at 30, 70, 100, 140, 170, and 200 milliampere (mA) were simulated by adding noise to the image space using software.

TNF related apoptosis-inducing ligand and its receptors in ocular tumors.

Most of the ocular tumors have poor prognosis, and they remain a difficult problem in the area of ophthalmology. With the rapid development of molecular biology and immunologic techniques and the deep research on ocular tumor related genes, it becomes possible to diagnose and treat malignant tumors from the molecular level. The tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) super family, is a promising candidate, either alone or in combination with established cancer therapies, since it can initiate apoptosis through the activation of their death receptors.

Epidemiology and molecular genetics of congenital cataracts.

Congenital cataract is a crystallin severe blinding disease and genetic factors in disease development are important. Crystallin growth is under a combination of genes and their products in time and space to complete the coordination role of the guidance. Congenital cataract-related genes, included crystallin protein gene (CRYAA, CRYAB, CRYBA1/A3, CRYBA4, CRYBB1, CRYBB2, CRYBB3, CRYGC, CRYGD, CRYGS), gap junction channel protein gene (GJA1, GJA3, GJA8), membrane protein gene (GJA3, GJA8, MIP, LIM2), cytoskeletal protein gene (BF-SP2), transcription factor genes (HSF4, MAF, PITX3, PAX6), ferritin light chain gene (FTL), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and so on.

Effects of propofol versus urapidil on perioperative hemodynamics and intraocular pressure during anesthesia and extubation in ophthalmic patients.

Aim: To compare the effect of propofol versus urapidil on hemodynamics and intraocular pressure during anesthesia and extubation for ophthalmic patients.

Methods: Eighty-two surgical patients (Class: ASA I-II) were randomly assigned to propofol (n=41) and urapidil groups (n=41). Their gender, age, body mass, operation time and dosage of anesthetics had no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.

Bibliometric analysis on retinoblastoma literatures in PubMed during 1929 to 2010.

Aim: To determine the growth rule and tendency of retinoblastoma (Rb) literature, and to provide the basis for research of diagnosis, treatment and on Rb.

Methods: Bibliometric analyses were carried out on Rb literatures which contain the descriptors of Rb in their titles or texts from 1929 to 2010 in PubMed database (www.ncbi.

Epidemiology and Rb1 gene of retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is the most common eye cancer in children and it can be inherited. Rb is quite rare and originators from the neural retina with a significant genetic component in etiology, which occurs in approximately 1 in every 20 0000 births. In children with the heritable genetic form of Rb, there is a mutation on chromosome 13, called the retinoblastoma 1 (Rb1) gene.

Development of biomedical publications on ametropia research in PubMed from 1845 to 2010: a bibliometric analysis.

Aim: We have carried out a bibliometric analysis on the development of ametropia literature to determine its growth rule and tendency, and to provide the basis for the problems related to ametropia research.

Methods: Literatures that contained the descriptors of ametropia in title or paper published before Nov. 10, 2010 in PubMed databases (www.

Effects of lysophosphatidic acid on human colon cancer cells and its mechanisms of action.

Aim: To study the effects of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) on proliferation, adhesion, migration, and apoptosis in the human colon cancer cell line, SW480, and its mechanisms of action.

Methods: Methyl tetrazolium assay was used to assess cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was employed to detect cell apoptosis.

Combined treatment of oxaliplatin and capecitabine in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and side effects of the combined therapy of oxaliplatin and capecitabine in patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) and the survival of the patients.

Methods: Sixty-four patients (median age of 63 years) with histological or cytological confirmation of ESCC received oxaliplatin 120 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1 and capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) orally twice daily on days 1 to 14 in a 21-d treatment cycle as palliative chemotherapy. Each patient received at least two cycles of treatment.

Epidemiology and gene markers of ulcerative colitis in the Chinese.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes two similar yet distinct conditions called ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). These diseases affect the digestive system and cause the inflammation of intestinal tissue, form sores and bleed easily. Most children with IBD are diagnosed in late childhood and adolescence.

Efficacy and safety of gemcitabine-oxaliplatin combined with huachansu in patients with advanced gallbladder carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine-oxaliplatin (GEMOX) combined with huachansu (cinobufagin) injection treatment in patients with locally advanced or metastatic gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), and to assess the quality of life (QOL) of such patients.

Methods: Twenty-five patients with locally advanced or metastatic GBC were treated with intravenous gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) over 30 min on days 1 and 8, 2 h infusion of oxaliplatin (120 mg/ m2) on day 1, and 2-3 h infusion of huachansu (20 mL/ m2) on days -3-11, every 3-4 wk. Treatment was continued until occurrence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.

Alterations of serum cholinesterase in patients with gastric cancer.

Aim: To understand the correlation of serum cholinesterase (CHE) activity with gastric cancer and to assess their clinical significance.

Methods: The velocity method was adopted to detect the activity of serum CHE in patients with gastric cancer and in patients with non-malignant tumor as controls.

Results: The serum CHE activity in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group with a very significant difference between the two groups (83.

Oral Xeloda plus bi-platinu two-way combined chemotherapy in treatment of advanced gastrointestinal malignancies.

Aim: To compare the effect, adverse events, cost-effectiveness and dose intensity (DI) of oral Xeloda vs calcium folinate (CF)/5-FU combination chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies, both combined with bi-platinu two-way chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 131 patients were enrolled and randomly selected to receive either oral Xeloda (X group) or CF/5-FU (control group). Oral Xeloda 1,000 mg/m2 was administered twice daily from d 1 to 14 in X group, while CF 200 mg/m2 was taken as a 2-h intravenous infusion followed by 5-FU 600 mg/m2 intravenously for 4-6 h on d 1-5 in control group.