The genome of the Paleogene relic tree Bretschneidera sinensis: insights into trade-offs in gene family evolution, demographic history, and adaptive SNPs.

Among relic species, genomic information may provide the key to inferring their long-term survival. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the genome of the Paleogene relic tree species, Bretschneidera sinensis, which is a rare endemic species within southeastern Asia. Specifically, we assembled a high-quality genome for B.

The complete chloroplast genome of (Fabaceae).

is endemic to China. It is named after its purple flowers. It is a small tree only up to 3 m.

Global blue carbon accumulation in tidal wetlands increases with climate change.

Coastal tidal wetlands produce and accumulate significant amounts of organic carbon (C) that help to mitigate climate change. However, previous data limitations have prevented a robust evaluation of the global rates and mechanisms driving C accumulation. Here, we go beyond recent soil C stock estimates to reveal global tidal wetland C accumulation and predict changes under relative sea level rise, temperature and precipitation.

Faster recovery of soil biodiversity in native species mixture than in Eucalyptus monoculture after 60 years afforestation in tropical degraded coastal terraces.

Afforestation is an effective method to restore degraded land. Afforestation methods vary in their effects on ecosystem multifunctionality, but their effects on soil biodiversity have been largely overlooked. Here, we mapped the biodiversity and functioning of multiple soil organism groups resulting from diverse afforestation methods in tropical coastal terraces.

Phosphorus addition decreases microbial residual contribution to soil organic carbon pool in a tropical coastal forest.

The soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability often constrains soil carbon (C) pool, and elevated N deposition could further intensify soil P limitation, which may affect soil C cycling in these N-rich and P-poor ecosystems. Soil microbial residues may not only affect soil organic carbon (SOC) pool but also impact SOC stability through soil aggregation. However, how soil nutrient availability and aggregate fractions affect microbial residues and the microbial residue contribution to SOC is still not well understood.

Leaf nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations of understory woody species regulated by soil phosphorus availability in a tropical forest.

Leaf soluble sugars and starch are important components of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs), which are crucial for plant growth, development, and reproduction. Although there is a large body of research focusing on the regulation of plant NSC (soluble sugars and starch) concentrations, the response of foliar NSC concentrations to continuous nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition is still unclear, especially in tropical forests. Here, we used a long-term manipulative field experiment to investigate the response of leaf NSC concentrations to continuous N and P addition (3-, 5-, and 8-year fertilization) in a tropical forest in southern China.

Changes in seasonal precipitation distribution but not annual amount affect litter decomposition in a secondary tropical forest.

In the tropics of South China, climate change induced more rainfall events in the wet season in the last decades. Moreover, there will be more frequently spring drought in the future. However, knowledge on how litter decomposition rate would respond to these seasonal precipitation changes is still limited.

Tumor-infiltrating FoxP3 Tregs predict favorable outcome in colorectal cancer patients: A meta-analysis.

FoxP3 regulatory T cells (FoxP3 Tregs) are considered to be a key mediator in immune escape and tumor progression. However, the role of FoxP3 Tregs in human colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis including 17 published studies with 3811 patients identified from PubMed and EBSCO to assess the prognostic impact of tumor-infiltrating FoxP3 Tregs in human CRC.

Prognostic role of intratumoral IL-17A expression by immunohistochemistry in solid tumors: a meta-analysis.

IL-17A is an important proinflammatory cytokine which is frequently elevated in tumor microenvironment. However, the role of intratumoral IL-17A in solid tumors remains controversial. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prognostic impact of intratumoral IL-17A in patients with solid tumor.

Phytoextraction of 55-year-old wastewater-irrigated soil in a Zn-Pb mine district: effect of plant species and chelators.

Untreated water from mining sites spreads heavy metal contamination. The present study assessed the phytoextraction performance of heavy metal-accumulating plants and the effects of chemical chelators on cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) removal from paddy fields that have been continuously irrigated with mining wastewater from mines for 55 years. Outdoor pot experiments showed that the total Pb, Zn, and Cd content was lower in the rhizosphere soil of Amaranthus hypochondriacus than in that of Sedum alfredii, Solanum nigrum, and Sorghum bicolor.

Reforestation in southern China: revisiting soil N mineralization and nitrification after 8 years restoration.

Nitrogen availability and tree species selection play important roles in reforestation. However, long-term field studies on the effects and mechanisms of tree species composition on N transformation are very limited. Eight years after tree seedlings were planted in a field experiment, we revisited the site and tested how tree species composition affects the dynamics of N mineralization and nitrification.

Doppler Echocardiographic Measurements in Normal Chinese Adults (EMINCA): a prospective, nationwide, and multicentre study.

Aims: Currently, available Doppler echocardiographic reference values are derived mainly from North American and European population studies, which may not applicable to the Chinese population. We aimed to establish normal reference values of Doppler echocardiographic parameters in a nationwide, population-based cohort of healthy Han Chinese adults.

Methods And Results: A total of 1394 qualified healthy subjects (mean age 47.

Assessment of Retrograde Coronary Venous Infusion of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Combined with Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor in Canine Myocardial Infarction Using Strain Values Derived from Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography.

Speckle-tracking echocardiography was used to assess retrograde coronary venous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) combined with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in a canine model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). AMI was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Coronary venous retroperfusion was performed at 1 wk after AMI.

Echocardiographic measurements in normal chinese adults focusing on cardiac chambers and great arteries: a prospective, nationwide, and multicenter study.

Background: Currently available echocardiographic reference values are derived mainly from North American and European population studies, and no echocardiographic reference values are available for the Chinese population. The aim of this study was to establish normal values of echocardiographic measurements of the cardiac chambers and great arteries in a nationwide, population-based cohort of healthy Han Chinese adults.

Methods: A total of 1,586 healthy Han Chinese volunteers aged 18 to 79 years were screened at 43 collaborating laboratories throughout China.

Analysis of etiology, chromosome and prognosis for small left heart system development in 69 fetuses.

Objective: To provide a basis for evaluating the prognosis of small left heart system development in fetuses, we analyzed its related factors.

Methods: The fetal echocardiogram was performed in 3859 pregnant women, and then small left heart system development was identified in 69 fetuses. The data of prenatal and postnatal echocardiograms, postnatal cardiac surgical treatment, chromosome and autopsy after induced labor were analyzed in the 69 fetuses.

Early detection of regional and global left ventricular myocardial function using strain and strain-rate imaging in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Strain and strain-rate imaging (SRI) have been found clinically useful in the assessment of cardiac systolic and diastolic function as well as providing new insights in deciphering cardiac physiology and mechanics in cardiomyopathies, and identifying early subclinical changes in various pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the regional and global left ventricular (LV) myocardial function in metabolic syndrome (MS) with SRI so that we can provide more myocardial small lesions in patients with MS, which is robust and reliable basis for early detection of LV function.

Methods: Thirty-nine adults with MS were enrolled in the study.

Right atrial cardiac rhabdomyoma with premature foramen ovale restriction: A case report.

Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma is the most common cardiac tumor in fetuses. However, this benign tumor can cause hemodynamic repercussions and intrauterine fetal mortality. The present study reports a case of rare fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma located in the right atrium, accompanied by premature restriction of the foramen ovale and moderate pericardial effusion, as determined by tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI).

Left anterior descending coronary artery flow impaired by right ventricular apical pacing: the role of systolic dyssynchrony.

Introduction: Right ventricular (RV) pacing may affect myocardial perfusion and coronary blood flow; however, it remains unknown whether this is related to systolic dyssynchrony induced by RV pacing. This prospective study was aimed to assess the relationship between dyssynchrony and the changes of coronary blood flow.

Methods: Seventy patients with sinus node dysfunction were prospectively enrolled.

Contrasting effects of silicates on cadmium uptake by three dicotyledonous crops grown in contaminated soil.

The effects of several silicates (talcum powder (TP), calcium silicate (CS), sodium silicate (SS), and potassium silicate (PS)), in comparison with other amendments (quicklime (QL) and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (PDP)) on cadmium (Cd) uptake by three dicotyledonous crops (Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. Cv. 'K112', Amaranthus tricolor L.

Utility of echocardiographic tissue synchronization imaging to redirect left ventricular epicardial lead placement for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with biventricular pacing has demonstrated cardiac function improvement for treating congestive heart failure (HF). It has been documented that the placement of the left ventricular lead at the longest contraction delay segment has the optimal CRT benefit. This study described follow-up to surgical techniques for CRT as a viable alternative for patients with heart failure.

Ultrasound bio-microscopy for measurement of coronary artery flow and estimation of infarct size in a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction.

Ultrasound bio-microscopy was used to measure hemodynamic changes in the left main coronary artery after myocardial infarction (MI), and its usefulness in estimating infarct size was evaluated. MI was induced by left anterior descending artery ligation. Diastolic peak velocity (Vd), mean flow velocity (Vmean) and the velocity-time integral (VTI) were measured 2 and 6 h after MI.

Premature closure or restriction of the foramen ovale: prenatal diagnosis by directional enhanced flow imaging.

Premature closure or restriction of the foramen ovale may occur at any time during pregnancy and may be due to various causes. We describe 2 patients with premature closure or restriction of the foramen ovale during the third trimester. In both patients the foramen ovale was detected by directional enhanced flow imaging technology (DeFLOW; Hitachi-Aloka Medical, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan), a novel method of imaging blood flow dynamics.

Diagnostic value of an ROC curve of the size of the antepartum foramen ovale in the prediction of puerperal atrial septal defect.

The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of an ROC curve of the antepartum foramen ovale (AFO) size and the ratio of FO size to aorta (AO) size (FO/AO) for the prediction of puerperal atrial septal defect in different gestational weeks (DGWs). A total of 958 cases were divided into five groups according to number of gestational weeks. Comparisons of FO size, AO size and FO/AO were determined by variance analysis.

Non-target effects of herbicides on soil nematode assemblages.

Background: Herbicides are used extensively to control weeds. However, little is known about the non-target effects of herbicides on soil nematode assemblages. The objective of this study was to determine whether herbicides affect the abundance of nematodes in specific trophic groups.

Health risk assessment for consumption of fish originating from ponds near Dabaoshan mine, South China.

Mining effluents are a potential source of toxic metals in the surrounding aquatic ecosystem and pose a potential health risk to humans from fish consumption. The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of the long-term Dabaoshan mining operation on heavy metal accumulation in different fish species. Heavy metal accumulation (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu)) in four tissues (liver, muscle, intestine, and gills) of five carp species (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Ctenopharyngodon idellus, Megalobrama amblycephala, Aristichthys nobilis, and Carassius auratus auratus) from two fishponds exposed to effluent waters from Dabaoshan mine, South China.