Seedling establishment of deciduous trees in various topographic positions

Abstract. We investigated the effect of topography‐related environmental factors (i.e., ground‐surface stability and soil moisture) on seedling establishment of 8 deciduous tree species. A field experiment was carried out using canopy species, which were classified into 3 groups based on the spatial distribution of adult trees (ridge, slope and valley). Demographic parameters were compared among species during the early stage of seedling establishment among 3 topographic positions in combination with gap and canopy conditions. The percentage of emerging seedlings tended to be lower on the ridge irrespective of the adult topographical distribution patterns. There was no clear trend in seedling emergence among the species groups classified by their spatial distribution. Seedling survival during 2 growing seasons was significantly different among species, topographic positions and light conditions. On the ridge, seedlings of the species dominating ridge tops had greater survival than those of other species, probably due to differences in demand for soil moisture. On the slope, frequent physical damage caused by surface material movement was observed and some species showed greater adaptability to the disturbed slope habitat. Survival of all seedlings was highest in the valley plots. Light conditions were the critical factor for seedling survival in some species. The results of this study suggest that topography creates diverse habitats for the establishment of tree seedlings. In addition to soil moisture, surface material movement may be a significant factor affecting seedling establishment.     

Identification of two novel missense WFS1 mutations,H696Y and R703H,in patients with non-syndromic low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss

Non-syndromic low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss(LFSNHL) is an unusual type of hearing loss in which frequencies≤2000 Hz predominantly are affected.To date,different mutations in two genes,DIAPH1 and WFS1,have been found to be associated with LFSNHL. Here,we report a five-generation Chinese family with postlingual and progressive LFSNHL.We mapped the disease locus to a 2.5 Mb region on chromosome 4p16 between markers SNP_A-2167174 and D4S431,overlapping with the DFNA6/14/38 locus.Sequencing of cand...     

Piezoelectric urea biosensor based on immobilization of urease onto nanoporous alumina membranes

The urease was immobilized onto nanoporous alumina membranes prepared by the two-step anodization method, and a novel piezoelectric urea sensing system with separated porous alumina/urease electrode has been developed through measuring the conductivity change of immobilized urease/urea reaction. The process of urease immobilization was optimized and the performance of the developed urea biosensor was evaluated. The obtained urea biosensor presented high-selectivity monitoring of urea, better reproducibility (S.D. = 0.02, n = 6), shorter response time (30 s), wider linear range (0.5 μM to 3 mM), lower detection limit (0.2 μM) and good long-term storage stability (with about 76% of the enzymatic activity retained after 30 days). The clinical analysis of the urea biosensor confirmed the feasibility of urea detection in urine samples.     

Serum lipoprotein (a) concentrations are inversely associated with T2D,prediabetes, and insulin resistance in a middle-aged and elderly Chinese population

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], an LDL-like particle, has been proposed as a causal risk factor for CVD among general populations. Meanwhile, both serum Lp(a) and diabetes increase the risk of CVD. However, the relationship between serum Lp(a) and T2D is poorly characterized, especially in the Asian population. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 10,122 participants aged 40 years or older in Jiading District, Shanghai, China. Our study found that the prevalence of T2D was decreased from 20.9% to 15.0% from the lowest quartile to the highest quartile of serum Lp(a) concentrations (P for trend <0.0001). Logistic regression analyses showed that the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of prevalent T2D for quartiles 2–4 versus quartile 1 were 0.86 (0.73–1.01), 0.88 (0.75–1.04), and 0.76 (0.64–0.90) (P for trend = 0.0002), after adjustment for traditional confounding factors. Moreover, the risks for prevalent prediabetes, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia were also decreased from the lowest to the top quartile. This inverse association between serum Lp(a) and T2D was not appreciably changed after we adjusted hypoglycemic medications or excluded the subjects with hypoglycemic and/or lipid-lowering agents and/or a history of self-reported CVD.     

Adverse Events of Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor α Therapy in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Objective

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of short-term and long-term adverse events associated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blocker treatment in Chinese Han patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

The study included 402 Chinese Han AS patients treated with TNF-α blockers. Baseline data was collected. All patients were monitored for adverse events 2 hours following administration. Long-term treatment was evaluated at 8, 12, 52 and 104 weeks follow-up for 172 patients treated with TNF-α blockers.

Results

Short-term adverse events occurred in 20.15% (81/402), including rash (3.5%; 14/402), pruritus (1.2%; 5/402), nausea (2.2%; 9/402), headache (0.7%; 3/402), skin allergies (4.0%; 16/402), fever (0.5%; 2/402), palpitations (3.0%; 12/402), dyspnea (0.5%; 2/402), chest pain (0.2%; 2/402), abdominal pain (1.0%; 4/402), hypertension (2.2%; 9/402), papilledema (0.5%; 2/402), laryngeal edema (0.2%; 1/402) and premature ventricular contraction (0.2%; 1/402). Long-term adverse events occurred in 59 (34.3%; 59/172) patients, including pneumonia (7.6%; 13/172), urinary tract infections (9.9%; 17/172), otitis media (4.7%; 8/172), tuberculosis (3.5%; 17/172), abscess (1.2%; 2/172), oral candidiasis (0.6%; 1/172), elevation of transaminase (1.7%; 3/172), anemia (1.2%; 2/172), hematuresis (0.6%; 1/172), constipation (2.3%; 4/172), weight loss (0.6%; 1/172), exfoliative dermatitis (0.6%; 1/172). CRP, ESR and disease duration were found to be associated with an increased risk of immediate and long-term adverse events (P<0.05). Long-term treatment with Infliximab was associated with more adverse events than rhTNFR-Fc (P<0.01).

Conclusion

This study reports on the prevalence of adverse events in short-term and long-term treatment with TNF-α blocker monotherapy in Chinese Han AS patients. Duration of disease, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and c-reactive protein serum levels were found to be associated with increased adverse events with anti-TNF-α therapy. Long-term treatment with Infliximab was associated with more adverse events than rhTNFR-Fc.     

Trichaptum (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetales) from China with a description of three new species

Trichaptum imbricatum, T. perenne and T. podocarpi are three new species from China. They are described, illustrated and compared in this paper with similar species. Trichaptum imbricatum is unique in its imbricate basidiocarps, white to cream hymenophores, small and regular pores, and scattered and thin-walled cystidia. Trichaptum perenne differs from other species in the genus in its perennial and pileate habit, its large pores and entire dissepiments, and oblong, ellipsoid basidiospores. Trichaptum podocarpi is distinguished in having totally resupinate basidiocarps, distinctly long cystidia, and in its habitat on Podocarpus. A key to species of Trichaptum occurring in China is provided; statistical variations of spore dimensions for each species are included in the key.