Effects of vermicompost fertilization on soil, tomato yield and quality in greenhouse.

The excessive use of chemical fertilizer on vegetables in protected facilities resulted in soil degradation, serious soil-borne diseases, and lower vegetable yield and quality. We examined the effects of vermicompost on soil nutrient, enzyme activities, microbial quantity, tomato growth, yield and quality in greenhouse. The results showed that both broadcast and furrow application of vermicompost improved soil environment, and significantly increased contents of soil organic matter and soil nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium).

Cbl participates in shikonin-induced apoptosis by negatively regulating phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling.

Shikonin, a naturally occurring naphthoquinone, exhibits anti-tumorigenic activity. However, its precise mechanisms of action have remained elusive. In the present study, the involvement in the action of shikonin of the ubiquitin ligases Cbl-b and c-Cbl, which are negative regulators of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activation, was investigated.

Cbl-b-regulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling is involved in the shikonin-induced apoptosis of lung cancer cells .

Shikonin (SK), a naturally occurring naphthoquinone, exhibits antitumor activity. However, its precise mechanisms of action are unknown. In the present study, the effects of SK on NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells were investigated.

Effect of phenylephrine on alveolar fluid clearance in ventilator-induced lung injury.

Objective: To investigate the effect of phenylephrine (an α-adrenergic agonist) on alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) in ventilator-induced lung injury and the possible mechanism involved.

Methods: A total of 170 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 17 groups (n=10) using random number tables. Short-term (40 minutes) mechanical ventilation with high tidal volume (HVT) was performed to induce lung injury, impair active Na+ transport and lung liquid clearance in the rats.

Effect of beta3-adrenergic agonists on alveolar fluid clearance in hypoxic rat lungs.

Background: Recent research suggests that beta(2)-adrenergic agonists increase alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) under physiologic and pathologic conditions. It is unknown whether beta(3)-adrenergic agonists also increase AFC under pathologic conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of beta(3)-adrenergic agonists on AFC following hypoxic lung injury and the mechanisms involved.

Plasma metabolic profiling of Alzheimer's disease by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Objectives: The identification of Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers may allow for a less invasive and more accurate diagnosis as well as serve as a predictor of future disease progression and treatment response. The aim of this study was to map potential biomarkers in plasma for AD.

Design And Methods: Plasma metabolic perturbations between AD and healthy old person were investigated using ultra performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) and metabonomics approach.

[A multicentre study on the pathogenic agents in 665 adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia in cities of China].

Objective: To investigate the pathogenic causes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adult patients in China, the relation of previous antibiotic use and the Pneumonia Patient Outcome Research Team (PORT) classification to microbial etiology, and the prevalence of drug resistance of common CAP bacteria.

Methods: A prospective study was performed on 665 consecutive adult patients with CAP at 12 centers in 7 Chinese cities during one year. The etiology of pneumonia was considered if one of the following criteria was met: (1) valid sputum sample yielding one or more predominant strains; (2) blood cultures yielding a bacterial pathogen; (3) seroconversion, a > or = 4-fold increase or decrease titers of antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila.

[Effects of beta-adrenergic agonists on alveolar fluid clearance in rat lungs].

Objective: To study the effects of three selective beta-adrenergic agonists on alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) in the isolated rat lungs.

Methods: Isotonic 5% albumin solutions with different pharmacological agents were instilled into the distal airways in the isolated rat lungs. The lungs were inflated with 100% oxygen at 7 cm H2O (1 cm H2O = 0.