Leaf-root-soil N:P stoichiometry of ephemeral plants in a temperate desert in Central Asia.

Ephemeral plants are a crucial vegetation component in temperate deserts of Central Asia, and play an important role in biogeochemical cycle and biodiversity maintenance in desert ecosystems. However, the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) status and interrelations of leaf-root-soil of ephemeral plants remain unclear. A total of 194 leaf-root-soil samples of eight ephemeral species at 37 sites in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China were collected, and then the corresponding N and P concentrations, and the N:P ratio were measured.

The Validity and Reliability of a Tire Pressure-Based Power Meter for Indoor Cycling.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of a tire pressure sensor (TPS) cycling power meter against a gold standard (SRM) during indoor cycling. Twelve recreationally active participants completed eight trials of 90 s of cycling at different pedaling and gearing combinations on an indoor hybrid roller. Power output (PO) was simultaneously calculated via TPS and SRM.

Early renal injury indicators can help evaluate renal injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B with long-term nucleos(t)ide therapy.

Background: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with long-term nucleos(t)ide therapy may experience renal insufficiency. Traditional renal function indicators, such as urine protein, serum urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine, are normal when early mild lesions occur. Therefore, more sensitive renal function indicators are needed.

[Evaluation of safety of meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in children aged 5-24 months old].

Objective: To evaluate the safety of meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine among children aged 5-24 months old.

Methods: From July 2011 to June 2012, a total of 34 411 children aged 5-24 month-old who voluntarily vaccinated meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in Zhongshan city were included. The adverse effects within 72 hours were recorded and analyzed.

[The difference of IL-28B polymorphisms between hepatitis C patients with and without cryoglobulinemia].

Objective: To determine whether patients infected with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) show a differential distribution profile of IL-28B polymorphisms according to the presence of concomitant cryoglobulinemia.

Methods: Sixty-two consecutive CHC patients were enrolled in the study between December 2008 and December 2010. All patients received combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (weekly, 180 g, subcutaneous injection) plus ribavirin (daily, 10to15 mg/kg body weight, oral) for 48 weeks, with individualized dosage adjustments according to the patient's clinical situation.

Cryoglobulinemia is an independent factor negatively associated with sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Background: Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is one of the most common and severe symptoms in chronic hepatitis C patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mixed cryoglobulinemia is a factor associated with sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin.

Methods: This is a single-center study including 57 chronic hepatitis C patients who received combination treatments of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin.

Efficacy of pegylated interferon-alpha-2a plus ribavirin for patients aged at least 60 years with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: In China, patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease are getting older, and thus the number of deaths due to such disease is increasing. The efficacy of combination therapy with ribavirin and interferon for chronic HCV infection in elderly patients has not been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the combination therapy in the elderly patients.

[The effect of cryoglobulinemia on the antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C].

Objective: To investigate the possible influence of cryoglobulinemia on the antiviral effect in chronic hepatitis C patients, who were treated with combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin.

Methods: Forty consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) were enrolled in the study. They received pegylated interferon alfa-2a (40kD, 180mug/w) along with ribavirin.

De novo combination therapy with lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Aim: To investigate the appropriate time for combination therapy in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

Methods: Thirty HBeAg positive CHB patients with decompensated cirrhosis were enrolled in the study. All of the patients were given 48 wk combination therapy with lamivudine (LAM) and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV).

[Variants and quasispecies of reverse transcriptase region in polymerase gene of hepatitis B virus during lamivudine treatment].

Objective: To investigate the variants and quasispecies of reverse transcriptase region in polymerase gene of hepatitis B virus (HBV) during lamivudine treatment and their relationship with genotypes and viral loads.

Methods: HBV DNA of 117 chronic hepatitis B patients treated with lamivudine were amplified by using PCR. The PCR products including the YMDD motif were sequenced by DNA sequencer, of which, HBV DNA viral loads of 99 patients were determined by real-time PCR and 64 samples were sequenced by Pyrosequencing.

[Protection and mechanisms of salvianolic-acid B on experimental renal interstitial fibrosis in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of salvianolic acid B (SA-B) on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).

Methods: 18 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, 6 in each group. After the models were established, the rats were treated with SA-B for 2 weeks.

Prevalence of abnormal glycometabolism in patients with chronic hepatitis C and related risk factors in China.

Background: An epidemiologic link between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and abnormal glycometabolism had been established. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance, and to explore the relation between insulin resistance and hepatitis C virus genotype, serum hepatitis C virus-RNA level in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.

Methods: Three hundred and fifty-nine consecutive patients (CHC, n = 296; chronic hepatitis B (CHB), n = 63) were evaluated.

Identification of zRAP55,a gene preponderantly expressed in Stages I and II oocytes of zebrafish.

In an in silico search for gonand specific expressed genes, we have identified zRAP55 which is enriched in the ovary of zebrafish . zRAP55 encodes a protein of 382 amino acids with a highly conserved Lsm domain. zRAP55 protein shares more than 56% identities with that of other vertebrate species.

[Effect of Liuwei Dihuang pill on expression of NF-kappaB in kidney lesion induced by gentamicin in rats].

Objective: To study the effect of Liuwei Dihuang Pill on kidney lesion in rats induced by gentamicin and its mechanism.

Methods: Rats were divided into three groups: control group, gentamicin group, Liuwei Dihuang Pill group randomly. Parameters of kidney function and oxidative production in three groups were tested by biochemical analysis.

[Detection and the production mechanism of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-liver/kidney microsomal tpe 1 antibodies (anti-LKM1) in patients with chronic hepatitis C].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-liver/ kidney microsomal type 1 antibodies (anti-LKM1) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC)and to explore the mechanism of production of these autoantibodies.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 360 patients with CHC (case group), 69 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 69 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) (control group). Serum ANA and anti-LKM1 were detected by indirect immunofluorescence (HF) technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

Prevalence of antinuclear and anti-liver-kidney-microsome type-1 antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C in China.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may induce autoimmune response and autoantibodies can be detected in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. However, the reported positive rate of autoantibodies in CHC patients in China varies considerably. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-liver-kidney-microsome type 1 autoantibodies (anti-LKM-1) in a large cohort of CHC patients, and analyzed the factors related to the presence of the autoantibodies.

Novel N-containing rotenoid and seco-rotenoid from the root of Derris elliptica.

Two new rotenoids, 2-hydroxy-5-aminorotenonone (1) and elliptoic acid (2), were isolated from the roots of Derris elliptica collected in Guangdong Province, China. Their structures were established by extensive spectral analysis. Compound 1 is the first N-containing rotenoid and compound 2 is the third rotenoid with the cleavage of C(12)-C(12a).

Relationship between nm23H1 genetic instability and clinical pathological characteristics in Chinese digestive system cancer patients.

Aim: To study the relationship between nm23H1 gene genetic instability and its clinical pathological characteristics in Chinese digestive system cancer patients.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) was used to analyze the microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of nm23H1.

[Efficacy of antiviral treatment on intrahepatic HBV DNA and histology in HBeAg -positive chronic hepatitis B patients].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of antiviral agents on intrahepatic HBV DNA and histology in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Methods: Thirty-five patients were treated with lamivudine, 16 with interferon alfa (INF-alpha), 24 with sequential Lamivudine and INF-alpha. The total duration of therapy was 12 months.

[Effects of antiviral agents on intrahepatic ccc DNA in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of antiviral agents on intrahepatic HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Methods: Seventy-one HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients were enrolled in this study. Lamivudine was administered to 35 patients for 48 weeks, sequential therapy with lamivudine-IFN alpha-2b to 24 of the 71 patients for 48 weeks, and interferon alpha (IFN alpha-2b) was administered to 12 for 24 weeks.

Effects of antiviral agents and HBV genotypes on intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of antiviral agents and HBV genotypes on intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (ccc DNA) in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Methods: Seventy-one patients received lamivudine (n = 35), or sequential therapy with lamivudine- interferon alpha 2b (IFN-alpha 2b, n = 24) for 48 wk, or IFN-alpha 2b (n = 12) for 24 wk. All subjects were followed up for 24 wk.

[Effect of Kangxianling Decoction on expression of hepatocyte growth factor mRNA and phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 and p38 in renal tissue of rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction].

Objective: To study the effect of Kangxianling Decoction (KXLD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA and phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) and p38 in renal tissue of rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).

Methods: Eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated group, untreated group and KXLD-treated group. A rat model of renal interstitial fibrosis was established by UUO.