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Xu F, Bian Y, Zhang GQ, Gao LY, Liu YF, Liu TX, Li G, Song RX, Su LJ, Zhou YJ, Cui JY, Yan XL, Guo FM, Zhang HY, Li QH, Zhao M, Ma LK, You BA, Wang G, Kong L, Ma JL, Zhou XF, Chang ZL, Tang ZY, Yu DY, Cheng K, Xue L, Li X, Pang JJ, Wang JL, Zhang HT, Yu XZ, Chen YG. [Safety and efficacy of the early administration of levosimendan in patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and elevated NT-proBNP levels: An Early Management Strategy of Acute Heart Failure (EMS-AHF)]. Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 2023; 62:374-383. [PMID: 37032132 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112138-20220420-00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Xu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Y Bian
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - G Q Zhang
- Department of Emergency, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - L Y Gao
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Y F Liu
- Department of Emergency, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo 255036, China
| | - T X Liu
- Department of Emergency, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang 261041, China
| | - G Li
- Department of Emergency, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - R X Song
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - L J Su
- Department of Emergency, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo 255036, China
| | - Y J Zhou
- Department of Emergency, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang 261041, China
| | - J Y Cui
- Department of Cardiology, Binzhou People's Hospital, Binzhou 256600, China
| | - X L Yan
- Emergency Medicine Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221002, China
| | - F M Guo
- Department of Cardiology, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai 264003,China
| | - H Y Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, the Central Hospital of Taian, Taian 271000, China
| | - Q H Li
- Department of Cardiology, Shenli Oilfield Central Hospital, Dongying 257000, China
| | - M Zhao
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - L K Ma
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Anhui Provincial Hospital), Hefei 230001, China
| | - B A You
- Department of Cardiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao 266031, China
| | - G Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao 266031, China
| | - L Kong
- Department of Emergency Center, Affiliated Hospital, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250011, China
| | - J L Ma
- Department of Emergency Center, Affiliated Hospital, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250011, China
| | - X F Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Weihai Municipal Hospital, Weihai 264200, China
| | - Z L Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Z Y Tang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - D Y Yu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - K Cheng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - L Xue
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - X Li
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - J J Pang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - J L Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
| | - H T Zhang
- Department of Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing 100037, China
| | - X Z Yu
- Department of Emergency, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Y G Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Acute Heart Failure Unit (AHFU), Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong University, Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Cardiopulmonary-Cerebral Resuscitation Research of Shandong Province, Shandong Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Jinan 250012, China
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Cui JY, Ma YT, Yang C, Chen XM, Wang C, Yang JY, Wang CB. [Establishment of mouse model and preliminary screening of serum biomarkers for Candidemia]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2020; 100:1185-1190. [PMID: 32311885 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20191128-02589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To establish mouse models of Candidemia, and investigates statistically significant polypeptide peaks to provide auxiliary diagnosis of this disease. Methods: A total of 170 specific pathogen free adult male ICR mice with body mass of 27-30 g were completely randomly divided into Candida albicans infection group (n=80), Candida parapsilosis infection group (n=80) and the normal control group (n=10), and the two kinds of Candidemia mouse models were established via tail vein injection. The serum samples were analyzed by Matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time of flight mass spectrometry and relevant software, and the polypeptide peaks with significant differences were screened to establish diagnostic models. Results: A total of 65 differential polypeptide peaks were obtained compared with the Candida albicans infection group and the normal control group. Combined with m/z 1 100.4, 1 581.0, 3 808.0 as differential polypeptide peaks to established the diagnostic model, the sensitivity was 95.24%(40/42), the specificity was 90.63%(29/32), the accuracy rate was 93.24%(69/74), and the AUC value of the ROC curve was 0.972(95%CI: 0.941-1.000). A total of 73 differential polypeptide peaks were obtained compared with Candida parapsilosis infection group and the normal control group. Combined with m/z 1 433.2, 1 148.5, 4 093.5, 4 522.2, 8 140.9, 8 234.6 as differential polypeptide peaks to established the diagnostic model, the sensitivity was 95%(38/40), the specificity was 81.25%(26/32), the accuracy rate was 88.89%(64/72), and the AUC value of the ROC curve was 0.953(95%CI: 0.903-1.000). A total of 78 differential polypeptide peaks were obtained compared with Candida albicans infection group and Candida parapsilosis infection group. Combined with m/z 2 736.9, 8 091.5, 8 153.7 as differential polypeptide peaks to established the diagnostic model, the accuracy of distinguishing C. albicans infection from C. parapsilosis infection was 98.78%(81/82). Conclusions: Successfully screened the differential polypeptides and established the related diagnostic models. Which is helpful to find serum biomarkers for the auxiliary diagnosis of Candidemia, and provides a basis for the early diagnosis and the rational use of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Y Cui
- School of Laboratory and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Y T Ma
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - C Yang
- Center of Laboratory Medicine, the First Medicine Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - X M Chen
- School of Laboratory and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - C Wang
- Center of Laboratory Medicine, the First Medicine Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - J Y Yang
- Center of Laboratory Medicine, the First Medicine Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - C B Wang
- School of Laboratory and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
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Liu XG, Li JY, Liu CL, Wang XN, Cui JY, Zhang NF, Hong C. [Analysis of the characteristics of electrocardiogram in patients of different genders with pulmonary hypertension]. Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi 2018; 41:728-733. [PMID: 30196608 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1001-0939.2018.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To analyze the characteristics of ECG in patients with pulmonary hypertension(PH) and explore their correlation with pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR), mean pulmonary arterial hypertension(mPAP) and cardiac index(CI). Methods: A total of 186 patients with right heart catheterization were enrolled in the Department of Respiratory of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from August 2015 to October 2017. Patients with normal pulmonary artery pressure, incomplete clinical data and repeated examinations were excluded and there were 101 patients with pulmonary hypertension included. The results of ECG parameters and right heart catheterization were collected to analyze the ECG characteristics of patients with different genders and their correlation with PVR, mPAP and CI. Results: Among all PH patients, the duration of QRS axial in male group was significantly longer than that of the female group [(110.38±15.829) vs. (98.63±18.041) ms, P<0.001], and the S wave amplitude in V5 was significantly higher compared to female group [(1.304±1.356) vs. (0.648±0.663) mv, P<0.001]. Their heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc), QRS axis, S wave amplitude in Ⅰ, S and R wave amplitude in V1, R/S ratio in V1, S wave amplitude V5, all had a correlation with their PVR and the S wave amplitude in V1 was negatively correlated with PVR (r=-0.441, P<0.001). In the male group, PVR was not correlated with R/S ratio in V1 and S wave amplitude in V5. While PVR in the female group was significantly correlated with QTc, R wave amplitude in V1, R / S ratio in V1. In all PH patients, their P wave duration in Ⅱ, QRS axis and S wave amplitude in Ⅰ, S wave and R wave amplitude in V1, S wave amplitude in V5, QTc, R/S ratio in V1, all had correlations with mPAP (P<0.05). In male group, mPAP was not correlated with QTc, P wave duration in Ⅱ, and the S wave amplitude in V5 (P>0.05). The mPAP in the female group was only related to the S wave and R wave amplitude in V1, and S amplitude in Ⅰ and S wave amplitude in V5 (P<0.05). The CI was positively correlated with the S wave amplitude in V1 (r=0.34, P<0.001), and negatively correlated with the QRS axis (r=-0.219, P=0.04); CI in male group was not correlated with QRS axis(P=0.073), but correlated with QTc (r=-0.296, P=0.044). Conclusion: There were gender differences in QRS duration and S wave amplitude in V5 in patients with pulmonary hypertension. The QRS axis and the S wave amplitude in V1 were related to the heart index. There was a difference in the correlation between ECG and PVR, mPAP and CI in patients of different genders with pulmonary hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- X G Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China
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Liu PN, Miao H, Lu HW, Cui JY, Tian GL, Wehner TC, Gu XF, Zhang SP. Molecular mapping and candidate gene analysis for resistance to powdery mildew in Cucumis sativus stem. Genet Mol Res 2017; 16:gmr-16-03-gmr.16039680. [PMID: 28873205 DOI: 10.4238/gmr16039680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Powdery mildew (PM) of cucumber (Cucumis sativus), caused by Podosphaera xanthii, is a major foliar disease worldwide and resistance is one of the main objectives in cucumber breeding programs. The resistance to PM in cucumber stem is important to the resistance for the whole plant. In this study, genetic analysis and gene mapping were implemented with cucumber inbred lines NCG-122 (with resistance to PM in the stem) and NCG-121 (with susceptibility in the stem). Genetic analysis showed that resistance to PM in the stem of NCG-122 was qualitative and controlled by a single-recessive nuclear gene (pm-s). Susceptibility was dominant to resistance. In the initial genetic mapping of the pm-s gene, 10 SSR markers were discovered to be linked to pm-s, which was mapped to chromosome 5 (Chr.5) of cucumber. The pm-s gene's closest flanking markers were SSR20486 and SSR06184/SSR13237 with genetic distances of 0.9 and 1.8 cM, respectively. One hundred and fifty-seven pairs of new SSR primers were exploited by the sequence information in the initial mapping region of pm-s. The analysis on the F2 mapping population using the new molecular markers showed that 17 SSR markers were confirmed to be linked to the pm-s gene. The two closest flanking markers, pmSSR27and pmSSR17, were 0.1 and 0.7 cM from pm-s, respectively, confirming the location of this gene on Chr.5. The physical length of the genomic region containing pm-s was 135.7 kb harboring 21 predicted genes. Among these genes, the gene Csa5G623470 annotated as encoding Mlo-related protein was defined as the most probable candidate gene for the pm-s. The results of this study will provide a basis for marker-assisted selection, and make the benefit for the cloning of the resistance gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- P N Liu
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, , , China
| | - H Miao
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, , , China
| | - H W Lu
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, , , China
| | - J Y Cui
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, , , China
| | - G L Tian
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, , , China
| | - T C Wehner
- Department of Horticultural Science, , , USA
| | - X F Gu
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, , , China
| | - S P Zhang
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, , , China
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Zuo XA, Zhao XY, Zhao HL, Guo YR, Zhang TH, Cui JY. Spatial pattern and heterogeneity of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in sand dunes related to vegetation change and geomorphic position in Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China. Environ Monit Assess 2010; 164:29-42. [PMID: 19353287 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-009-0872-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2008] [Accepted: 03/10/2009] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
To assesses the effect of geomorphology, topography, and vegetation changes on spatial pattern of soil organic carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N) in sand dunes, we used the quantitative methods to examine the spatial heterogeneity of vegetation cover, soil organic C, and total N in an 11-year naturally restored mobile dune (RMD11) and a 20-year naturally restored mobile dune (RMD20) that had been fenced to exclude grazing in Horqin Sandy Land, northern China. Our results showed that the vegetation cover, plant density, species number and diversity, soil organic C, and total N increased from RMD11 to RMD20 and increased from the 50 x 50-m plot (crest) to the 100 x 100-m plot (slope) in each dune. Geostatistical analysis showed that the spatial structural variance accounted for the largest proportion of the total sample variance in vegetation cover, soil organic C, and total N in each dune plot. Calculated spatial autocorrelation ranges of vegetation cover, soil organic C, and total N increased from RMD11 to RMD20, indicating that longer time since vegetation restoration results in a more homogeneous distribution of vegetation cover, soil organic C, and total N in sand dunes. In addition, the spatial continuity of vegetation cover, soil organic C, and total N decreased from the 50 x 50-m plot (crest) to the 100 x 100-m plot (slope) in each dune. These results suggest that the spatial distribution of soil organic C and total N in sand dunes is associated closely with geomorphic position related to the dune crest and slope, relative elevation of sampling site, and vegetation cover. Understanding the principles of this relationship between them may guide strategies for the conservation and management of semiarid dune ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- X A Zuo
- Naiman Desertification Research Station, Cold and Arid Regions of Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China.
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