[Distribution characteristics of surface soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in forest plantation of hilly area of Taihang Mountains, Chin].

To explore the effects of forest types and slope positions on the content of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in the lower hilly area of Taihang Mountains, we examined the distribution pattern of SOC and TN contents in Quercus variabilis plantation (Qo), and Platycladus orientalis plantation (Po), and abandoned land (Al). The results showed that in the same forest type or slope position, the contents of SOC and TN gradually decreased with increasing soil depth. Under different slope conditions, the contents of SOC and TN showed the tendency of upper-slope (U) > middle-slope (M) > lower-slope (L) in the planted forests (Qo and Po), but showed the tendency of L>U>M in Al.

[Effects of irrigation with regenerated water on the growth and quality of alfalfa].

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of irrigation with regenerated water on the growth, nutrient uptake, and quality of alfalfa. Four treatments were installed, i.e.

Effect of hypoxia on RAW264.7 macrophages apoptosis and signaling.

Hypoxia, a decrease in oxygen tension occurring in pathological tissues, has a profound effect on macrophage functions. In this study, we have investigated cellular and molecular responses of murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells to low oxygen tension.

Hypoxia induces the activation of human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 through TGF-beta signaling pathway.

Hypoxia is a common environmental stress factor and is also associated with various physiological and pathological conditions such as fibrogenesis. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the key event in the liver fibrogenesis. In this study, the behavior of human HSCs LX-2 in low oxygen tension (1% O2) was analyzed.

Effects of rhDecorin on TGF-beta1 induced human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 activation.

Decorin is a small leucine-rich extracellular matrix proteoglycan composed of a core protein with a single glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain near the N-terminus and N-glycosylated at three potential sites. Decorin is involved in the regulation of formation and organization of collagen fibrils, modulation of the activity of growth factors such as transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), and exerts other effects on cell proliferation and behavior. Increasing evidences show that decorin plays an important role in fibrogenesis by regulating TGF-beta, a key stimulator of fibrosis, and by directly modulating the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) from activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Effect of WeiJia on carbon tetrachloride induced chronic liver injury.

Aim: To study the effect of WeiJia on chronic liver injury using carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver injury animal model.

Methods: Wistar rats weighing 180-220g were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (Group A), CCl(4) induced liver injury control group (Group B) and CCl(4) induction with WeiJia treatment group (Group C). Each group consisted of 14 rats.