Projected decline in the strength of vegetation carbon sequestration under climate change in India

Tropical vegetation plays a critical role in terrestrial carbon budget and supply many ecological functions such as carbon sequestration. In recent decades, India has witnessed an increase in net primary productivity (NPP), an important measure of carbon sequestration. However, uncertainties persist regarding the sustainability of these land carbon sinks in the face of climate change. The enhanced NPP is driven by the strong CO2 fertilization effect (CFE), but the temporal patterns of this feedback remain unclear. Using the carbon flux data from the Earth System Models (ESMs), an increasing trend in NPP was observed, with projections of NPP to 2.00 ± 0.12 PgCyr-1 (25 % increase) during 2021-2049, 2.36 ± 0.12 PgCyr-1 (18 % increase) during 2050-2079, and 2.67 ± 0.07 PgCyr-1 (13 % increase) during 2080-2099 in Indian vegetation under SSP585 scenario. This suggests a significant decline in the NPP growth rate. To understand the feedback mechanisms driving NPP, the relative effects of CFE and warming were analyzed. Comparing simulations from the biogeochemically coupled model (BGC) with the fully coupled model, the BGC model projected a 74.7 % increase in NPP, significantly higher than the 55.9 % increase projected by the fully coupled model by the end of the century. This indicates that the consistent increase in NPP was associated with CO2 fertilization. More importantly, results reveal that the decrease in the NPP growth rate was due to the declining contribution of CFE at a rate of -0.62 % per 100 ppm CO2 increase. This decline could be attributed to factors such as nutrient limitations and high temperatures. Additionally, significant shifts in the strength of carbon sinks in offsetting the CO2 emissions were identified, decreasing at a rate of -1.15 % per decade. This decline in the strength of vegetation carbon sequestration may increase the societal dependence on mitigation measures to address climate change.

Population pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid and dose optimisation in adult Chinese kidney transplant recipients

1. This study aimed to establish a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model of mycophenolic acid (MPA), quantify the effect of clinical factors and pharmacogenomics of MPA, and optimise the dosage for adult kidney transplant recipients.2. One-hundred and four adult renal transplant patients were enrolled. The PPK model was established using the Phoenix® NMLE software and the stepwise methods were filtered for significant covariates. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to optimise the dosage regimen.3. A two-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination (including lag time) provided a more accurate description of MPA pharmacokinetics. Serum albumin (ALB) significantly affected the central apparent clearance (CL/F), whereas post-transplant time and creatinine clearance were associated with a central apparent volume of distribution (V/F). The estimated population values obtained by the final model were 17.5 L/h and 93.97 L for CL/F and V/F, respectively. Simulation results revealed that larger mycophenolate mofetil doses are required as the ALB concentration decreases. This study established a PPK model of MPA and validated it using various methods. ALB significantly affected CL/F and recommended optimal dose strategies were given based on the final model. These results provide a reference for the personalised therapy of MPA for kidney transplant patients.

[Circular RNA expression profiles and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA crosstalk in pre-eclamptic placenta]

Objective: To identify the expression profile of circular RNA (circRNA) in placenta of pre-eclampsia (PE) pregnant women by high-throughput sequencing, and to construct the circRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) interaction network, so as to reveal the related pathways and regulatory mechanisms of PE. Methods: The clinical data and placentas of 42 women with PE (PE group) and 30 normal pregnant women (control group) who delivered in West China Second University Hospital from November 2019 to June 2021 were collected. (1) High-throughput sequencing was used to establish the differentially expressed circRNA profiles in placental tissues of 5 pairs of PE group and the control group. (2) Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the expression levels of 6 differentially expressed circRNAs in placental tissues of PE group and control group. (3) Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the target miRNA and analyze the co-expressed mRNA to construct a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. The differentially expressed circRNAs were analyzed by Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways. (4) Logistic regression analysis, Pearson correlation and Kendall's tau-b correlation analysis were used to test the correlation between the three differentially expressed circRNAs and the risk of PE and clinical characteristics. (5) circRNA_05393 was selected for subsequent functional study. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and overexpression plasmid were used to knock down or increase the expression level of circRNA_05393 in trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo cells, respectively. Transwell assay was used to detect the migration and invasion ability of the trophoblasts in vitro. Cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation ability of the trophoblasts. Results: (1) Seventy-two differentially expressed circRNAs were identified by high-throughput sequencing, of which 35 were up-regulated and 37 were down-regulated. (2) qRT-PCR showed that compared with the control group, circRNA_00673 (1.306±0.168 vs 2.059±0.242; t=2.356, P=0.021) and circRNA_07796 (1.275±0.232 vs 1.954±0.230; t=2.018, P=0.047) were significantly increased, while circRNA_05393 (1.846±0.377 vs 0.790±0.094; t=3.138, P=0.002) was significantly decreased. (3) The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network contained 3 circRNAs, 8 miRNAs and 53 mRNAs. GO functional annotation analysis showed that the biological process was mainly enriched in iron ion homeostasis, membrane depolarization during action potential and neuronal action potential. In terms of cellular components, they were mainly enriched in cytoskeleton and membrane components. In terms of molecular function, they were mainly enriched in the activity of voltage-gated sodium channel and basic amino acid transmembrane transporter. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that mRNAs in the interaction network were mainly enriched in complement and coagulation cascade, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, p53 signaling pathway and peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling pathway. (4) Logistic regression analysis showed that down-regulation of circRNA_05393 expression was a risk factor for PE (OR=0.044, 95%CI: 0.003-0.596; P=0.019). Correlation analysis showed that circRNA_05393 was significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in PE pregnant women (both P<0.05). (5) Knock down or overexpression of circRNA_05393 significantly reduced or increased the migration and invasion abilities of HTR-8/SVneo cells (all P<0.05), but had no significant effect on the ability of tube formation and proliferation (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The construction of circRNA expression profile in placenta and the exploration of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network provide the possibility to reveal the regulatory mechanism of specific circRNA involved in PE. Inhibition of circRNA_05393 may induce the progression of PE by reducing the migration and invasion of trophoblasts.

[Establishment of a novel co-cultured liver cancer model based on tumor microenvironment]

Objective: To construct a new co-cultured liver cancer research model composed of activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSC) and liver cancer cells, explore the efficacy difference between it and traditional model, so as to establish a liver cancer research model in vitro and in vivo that can reflect the real clinical efficacy. Methods: A new co-culture model of liver cancer consisting of aHSC and liver cancer cells was constructed. The differences in efficacy between the new co-culture model and the traditional single cell model were compared by cytotoxicity test, cell migration test, drug retention test and in vivo tumor inhibition test. Western blot was used to detect the drug-resistant protein P-gp and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins. Masson staining was used to observe the deposition of collagen fibers in tumor tissues of tumor-bearing mice. CD31 immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the microvessel density in tumor tissues of tumor-bearing mice. Results: The cytotoxicity of single cell model and co-culture model was dose-dependent. With the increase of curcumin (CUR) concentration, the cell viability decreased, but the cell viability of single cell model decreased faster than that of co-culture model. When the concentration of CUR was 10 μg/ml, the cell viability of the co-culture model was 62.3% and the migration rate was (28.05±3.68)%, which were higher than those of the single cell model [38.5% and (14.91±5.92)%, both P<0.05]. Western blot analysis showed that the expressions of P-gp and vimentin were up-regulated in the co-culture model, which were 1.55 and 2.04 fold changes of the single cell model, respectively. The expression of E-cadherin was down-regulated, and the expression level of E-cadherin in the single cell model was 1.17 fold changes of the co-culture model. Drug retention experiment showed that the co-culture model could promote drug efflux and reduce drug retention. In vivo tumor inhibition experiment showed that the m-HSC+ H22 co-transplantation model had faster tumor growth and larger tumor volume than those of the H22 single cell transplantation model. After CUR treatment, the tumor growths of m-HSC+ H22 co-transplantation model and H22 single cell transplantation model were inhibited. Masson staining showed that the deposition of collagen fibers in tumor tissues of m-HSC+ H22 co-transplantation model mice was more than that of H22 single cell transplantation model. CD31 immunohistochemical staining showed that the microvessel density in tumor tissue of m-HSC+ H22 co-transplantation model was higher than that of H22 single cell transplantation model. Conclusions: The aHSC+ liver cancer cell co-culture model has strong proliferation and metastasis ability and is easy to be resistant to drugs. It is a new type of liver cancer treatment research model superior to the traditional single cell model.

Gene polymorphisms affect postoperative imatinib plasma levels and edema in adults with gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Aim: To assess the role of genetic polymorphisms in postoperative imatinib concentrations and edema in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Methods: The relationships between genetic polymorphisms, imatinib concentrations and edema were explored. Results: Carriers of the rs683369 G-allele and rs2231142 T-allele had significantly higher imatinib concentrations. Grade ≥2 periorbital edemas were related to the carriership of two C-alleles in rs2072454 with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.85, two T-alleles in rs1867351 with an adjusted odds ratio of 3.42 and two A-alleles in rs11636419 with an adjusted odds ratio of 3.15. Conclusion: rs683369 and rs2231142 affect the metabolism of imatinib; rs2072454, rs1867351 and rs11636419 are related to grade ≥2 periorbital edemas.

Comparison of modified U-shaped and inverted L-shaped medial capsulorrhaphy in hallux valgus surgery: a prospective, randomized controlled trial of 75 patients

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to report a modified U-shaped medial capsulorrhaphy and compare its clinical and radiological differences with an inverted L-shaped capsulorrhaphy in hallux valgus (HV) surgery.

METHODS

A prospective study of 78 patients was performed between January 2018 and October 2021. All patients underwent chevron osteotomy and soft tissue procedures for HV, and the patients were randomly separated into 2 groups according to the medial capsule closing techniques: a modified U-shaped capsulorrhaphy (group U) and an L-shaped capsulorrhaphy (group L). All patients were followed for at least a year. The preoperative and follow-up data were collected for each patient and included patient demographics, weight-bearing radiographs of the foot, the active range of motion (ROM) of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) forefoot score. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of the postoperative measures between the groups.

RESULTS

In total, 75 patients with 80 affected feet met the inclusion criteria, with 38 patients (41 feet) in group U and 37 patients (39 feet) in group L. One year after surgery, the mean hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), and AOFAS score in group U improved from 29.5 to 7.1, from 13.4 to 7.1, and from 53.4 to 85.5, respectively. The mean HVA, IMA, and AOFAS score in group L improved from 31.2 to 9.6, from 13.5 to 7.9, and from 52.3 to 86.6, respectively. Comparing the 1-year postoperative measures between the 2 groups, a significant difference was found in HVA (P = 0.02), but not found in IMA and AOFAS score (P = 0.25 and P = 0.24, respectively). The mean ROM of the first MTP joint was 66.3 degrees preoperatively and 53.3 degrees at the 1-year follow-up in group U, while 63.3 and 47.5 in group L. The degrees of ROM after 1 year in group U were better than those in group L (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Compared to the inverted L-shaped capsulorrhaphy, the modified U-shaped capsulorrhaphy provided a better ROM of the first MTP joint; at 1 year following surgery, the modified U-shaped capsulorrhaphy maintained the normal HVA better.

Personalized Dose of Adjuvant Imatinib in Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors: Results from a Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis

Purpose

Imatinib is the first-line treatment for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) after surgery. However, its pharmacokinetic profile varies remarkably between individuals and has not been well characterized in postoperative Chinese patients with GIST. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model and recommend appropriate doses for different patients to achieve the target trough concentration in such a population.

Patients and Methods

A total of 110 surgically treated GIST patients were enrolled, of which 85 were applied to conduct a PPK analysis with a nonlinear mixed-effect model and 25 for external validation of the model. Demographic and biomedical covariates, as well as six single nucleotide polymorphisms were tested to explore the sources of variation in pharmacokinetic parameters of imatinib. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to establish the initial dosing regimens.

Results

A one-compartment model was established in postoperative GIST patients. The red blood cell count (RBC) and ABCG2 rs2231142 were observed to have a significant effect on the clearance of imatinib. The typical values estimated by the final model were 9.72 L/h for clearance (CL/F) and 229 L for volume of distribution (V/F). Different from the fixed dose regimen of 400 mg each day, patients carrying rs2231142 heterozygous type and with a lower level of RBC (2.9 × 10¹²/L), 300 mg imatinib daily is enough to achieve the target trough concentration. When RBC rises to 4.9 × 10¹²/L, 500 mg daily is recommended. For patients with rs2231142 GG genotype, 500 mg a day is required at RBCs of 3.9 × 10¹²/L and 4.9 × 10¹²/L.

Conclusion

RBC and rs2231142 contribute to the pharmacokinetic variation of imatinib and personalized dose recommendations based on patient characteristics may be necessary.

Circulating miR-320a-3p and miR-483-5p level associated with pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profiles of rivaroxaban

BACKGROUND

Novel biomarkers for personalizing anticoagulation remain undetermined. We aimed to investigate the association of plasma miRNAs with pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) profiles of rivaroxaban.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, exploratory study of miRNAs in a Chinese population. Healthy volunteers and patients receiving rivaroxaban were enrolled in the study. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0-t h (AUC_0-t) and anti-Xa activity at 3 h (AXA_3h) were measured in healthy volunteers, and AXA_3h was measured in patients. MiRNAs were detected by miRNA microarray in 26 healthy volunteers with 20 mg rivaroxaban, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to exclude undetectable ones. MiR-320a-3p and miR-483-5p were then quantified in 65 healthy volunteers and 71 patients. MiRNA levels at 3 h were compared between high and low AXA_3h or AUC_0-t subjects and in matched patients with or without bleeding during follow-up. The miRNA targets were predicted by TargetScan, miRTarBase, and miRDB. Validated genes were included in GO enrichment and KEGG analyses. The protein-protein interaction network was established by STRING and visualized by Cytoscape.

RESULTS

A total of 136 Chinese subjects completed the study. In healthy volunteers taking 15 mg rivaroxaban, the miR-320a level at 3 h was significantly positively correlated with AXA_3h and AUC_0-t (r = 0.359, p = 0.025; r = 0.370, p = 0.02, respectively). A positive correlation was also observed between miR-483 and AXA_3h or AUC_0-t (r = 0.372, p = 0.02; r = 0.523, p = 0.001, respectively). MiR-320a and miR-483 levels at 3 h in the higher AUC_0-t group were significantly higher than those at 0 h. MiR-483 levels at 3 h may distinguish healthy volunteers with high or low AXA_3h or AUC_0-t. In the 10 mg fed subgroup, higher 3 h mir-483 levels were also observed compared with the control group. No significant differences were found in the comparisons among patients. Bioinformatic analysis showed that these miRNAs may play a regulatory role by targeting ABCG2, ITGB3, PTEN, MAPK1/3, etc. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-320a and miR-483 levels were found to be associated with PK and PD profiles of rivaroxaban in healthy Chinese subjects. Further studies are required to verify these findings and explore the mechanisms.

Voriconazole therapeutic drug monitoring and hepatotoxicity in critically ill patients: A nationwide multi-centre retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

To characterize trough concentrations (C_min) of voriconazole and associated hepatotoxicity, and to determine predictors of hepatotoxicity and identify high-risk groups in critically ill patients.

METHODS

This was a nationwide, multi-centre, retrospective study. C_min and hepatotoxicity were studied from 2015 to 2020 in 363 critically ill patients who received voriconazole treatment. Logistic regression and classification and regression tree (CART) models were used to identify high-risk patients.

RESULTS

Large interindividual variability was observed in initial voriconazole C_min and concentrations ranged from 0.1 mg/L to 18.72 mg/L. Voriconazole-related grade ≥2 hepatotoxicity developed in 101 patients, including 48 patients with grade ≥3 hepatotoxicity. The median time to hepatotoxicity was 3 days (range 1-24 days), and 83.2% of cases of hepatotoxicity occurred within 7 days of voriconazole initiation. Voriconazole C_min was significantly associated with hepatotoxicity. The CART model showed that significant predictors of grade ≥2 hepatotoxicity were C_min >3.42 mg/L, concomitant use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or tigecycline, and septic shock. The model predicted that the incidence of grade ≥2 hepatotoxicity among these high-risk patients was 48.3-63.4%. Significant predictors of grade ≥3 hepatotoxicity were C_min >6.87 mg/L, concomitant use of at least three hepatotoxic drugs, and septic shock; the predictive incidence among these high-risk patients was 22.7-36.8%.

CONCLUSION

Higher voriconazole C_min, septic shock and concomitant use of hepatotoxic drugs were the strongest predictors of hepatotoxicity. Plasma concentrations of voriconazole should be monitored early (as soon as steady state is achieved) to avoid hepatotoxicity.

Hematologic toxicities of sunitinib in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Sunitinib offers a significant survival benefit to patients with imatinib-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). However, the incidence and risk of sunitinib-induced hematologic toxicities in such a population are often overlooked and have not been well characterized. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the summary incidence and risk of hematologic toxicities secondary to sunitinib in patients with GIST.

METHODS

Searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science as well as ClinicalTrials.gov to identify relevant studies up to April 2022. Studies with adequate safety profile, including anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia, were included to calculate the pooled incidence, relative risk (RR), and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). This study was registered with PROSPERO under number CRD42022328202.

RESULTS

A total of 2593 patients from 13 studies were included in the present meta-analysis. For patients with GIST assigned to sunitinib, the overall incidences of all-grade anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia were 26.2% (95% CI, 14.9-39.4%), 41.8% (95% CI, 29.0-55.1%), and 36.4% (95% CI, 22.8-51.1%), respectively. Regarding high-grade (grades 3 and 4) events, there were 4.7% (95% CI, 3.8-5.6%) for anemia, 9.3% (95% CI, 5.6-13.7%) for neutropenia and 5.0% (95% CI, 2.9-7.3%) for thrombocytopenia. Compared to placebo arms, sunitinib was related to an increased risk of high-grade neutropenia with an RR of 10.39 (95% CI, 1.53-70.72; p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Sunitinib carries a relatively high incidence of hematologic toxicities and a substantial increased risk of high-grade neutropenia in patients with GIST. Appropriate prevention and management seem to be inevitable.

Epifriedelanol enhances adriamycin-induced cytotoxicity towards K562/ADM cells by down regulating of P-gp and MRP2

1. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a critical issue during chemotherapy of cancers. Epifriedelanol (Epi) is the effective compounds from the Root Bark of Ulmus davidiana. This study aims to investigate the effect of Epi on MDR and its potential mechanism in the adriamycin (Adr)-resistant K562/ADM cells.2. The effect of Epi on MDR, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) were investigated in the adriamycin (Adr)-resistant K562/ADM cells. In addition, the alterations of nuclear receptor pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) mRNA expression levels in K562/ADM cells after Epi treatment were also examined.3. Epi significantly enhanced Adr-induced cytotoxicity towards K562/ADM cells. Combination of Epi and Adr can significantly reduce the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of K562/ADM cells to Adr. The reversal fold was 1.83 and 3.64 after treated with Epi at 10 and 20 μM, respectively. The intracellular accumulation of Adr was significant increased after exposure to Epi at 5-20 μM compared with the control group. Furthermore, Epi treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of P-gp and MRP2 in K562/ADM cells.4. The present study demonstrated that Epi could enhance Adr-induced cytotoxicity towards K562/ADM cells accompanied by the down-regulation of P-gp and MRP2.

Association Between Fresh Embryo Transfers and Frozen–Thawed Embryo Transfers Regarding Live Birth Rates Among Women Undergoing Long Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Antagonist Protocols

Background: The availability and use of frozen–thawed embryos after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for assisted reproduction have increased with improvements in vitrification techniques and the rise of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocols. Although evidence has shown that frozen–thawed embryo transfers (FETs) result in higher live birth rates than fresh embryo transfers, it is uncertain whether this association exists in cycles employing the GnRH antagonist protocol.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that FETs are more likely to result in a live birth than fresh embryo transfers in a GnRH antagonist protocol cycle and to investigate whether frozen blastocyst transfer increases live birth rates compared to fresh blastocyst transfer.

Design: A retrospective historical cohort study was conducted using data collected from the Department of Reproductive Medicine of Liuzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital for 1,437 patients who underwent the GnRH antagonist protocol between 1 January 2015, and 31 December 2020. The primary outcome was the live birth rate, which was compared between fresh embryo transfer and FET, and the secondary outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate, which were compared between the two groups. Analyses were adjusted to account for the age of the patient, number of embryo transfers, day of embryo transfer, and type of infertility.

Results: Fresh embryo transfers accounted for 1,026 (71.4%) of the 1,437 patients who underwent the GnRH antagonist protocol in our analysis, while FETs accounted for 411 (28.6%). Patients with fresh and frozen–thawed embryos had comparable median body mass index (body mass index; 22.3 [IQR, 24.6–20.0] vs. 22.0 [IQR, 24.5–19.9]). There was a significant difference in the median age of the fresh embryo transfer group (34.0 [IQR, 39.0–30.0]) and the Frozen–thawed embryo transfer group (32.0 [IQR, 37.0–29.0]). Blastocysts were transferred in 14.6% of the fresh embryo transfer cycles and 45.5% of the FET cycles, whereas they account for 10.4% and 13.0% of all patients, respectively. The mean number of embryos transferred was 2 (IQR, 2.0–1.0) for the fresh embryo transfer group and 1 (IQR, 2.0–1.0) for the FET group, with a significant difference in the mean number of embryos transferred. The live birth rate after fresh embryo transfer vs. FET was 28.7% vs. 34.5% (absolute difference, 5.9%; adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.15 [95% CI, 0.88–1.51]). The clinical pregnancy rates were 39.9% vs. 46.0%, respectively (absolute difference, 6.1%; aRR, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.85–1.43]). The miscarriage rates were 22.5% vs. 23.8%, respectively (absolute difference, 1.3%; aRR, 1.13 [95% CI, 0.75–1.70]).

Conclusion: In this retrospective study of women who underwent assisted reproduction using GnRH antagonists, FETs resulted in a higher live birth rates and clinical pregnancy rates than fresh embryo transfers, which parts of these differences were attributable to embryo stage. However, the interpretation of the findings is limited by the possibility of selection and confounding biases.

Nature-based framework for sustainable afforestation in global drylands under changing climate

Drylands cover more than 40% of Earth's land surface and occur at the margin of forest distributions due to the limited availability of water for tree growth. Recent elevated temperature and low precipitation have driven greater forest declines and pulses of tree mortality on dryland sites compared to humid sites, particularly in temperate Eurasia and North America. Afforestation of dryland areas has been widely implemented and is expected to increase in many drylands globally to enhance carbon sequestration and benefits to the human environment, but the interplay of sometimes conflicting afforestation outcomes has not been formally evaluated yet. Most previous studies point to conflicts between additional forest area and water consumption, in particular water yield and soil conservation/desalinization in drylands, but were generally confined to local and regional scales. Our global synthesis demonstrates that additional tree cover can amplify water consumption through a nonlinear increase in evapotranspiration-depending on tree species, age, and structure-which will be further intensified by future climate change. In this review we identify substantial knowledge gaps in addressing the dryland afforestation dilemma, where there are trade-offs with planted forests between increased availability of some resources and benefits to human habitats versus the depletion of other resources that are required for sustainable development of drylands. Here we propose a method of addressing comprehensive vegetation carrying capacity, based on regulating the distribution and structure of forest plantations to better deal with these trade-offs in forest multifunctionality. We also recommend new priority research topics for dryland afforestation, including: responses and feedbacks of dryland forests to climate change; shifts in the ratio of ecosystem ET to tree cover; assessing the role of scale of afforestation in influencing the trade-offs of dryland afforestation; and comprehensive modeling of the multifunctionality of dryland forests, including both ecophysiological and socioeconomic aspects, under a changing climate.

The role of biodiversity in mitigating the effects of nutrient limitation and short-term rotations in plantations of subtropical China

Species diversity plays an essential role in enhancing ecosystem functions (EF) in both natural and plantation forests. However, we do not fully understand whether species diversity could maintain the sustainability of EFs in multiple-rotation plantations. Here, we hypothesized that tree species mixtures could mitigate declines in EFs along successive rotations, but could not maintain ecosystem multifunctionality. To test our hypothesis, we examined the effects of species diversity on four EFs, i.e., aboveground biomass (AGB), soil available nitrogen (SAN) and phosphorus (SAP), and soil organic matter (SOM), based on pure model simulation in plantations of subtropical China. The model fusion framework was set up by the integration of the process-based FORECAST and Multivariate Diversity-Interactions models. In the simulation, four local typical plantation tree species (two conifers, one evergreen broadleaf, and one deciduous N-fixing broadleaf) were selected and combined to form four monoculture and 11 mixture stands, and for each stand, the simulation was made for four 25-year rotations. The results showed that all the four EFs declined with the progress of rotations in both monoculture and mixtures, and the declining range was larger in monoculture than in mixtures in each rotation. Particularly, SAP significantly decreased while AGB, SAN, and SOM increased with diversity evenness from 0 (monoculture) to 1 (four species being equal abundant in the mixture). Overall, SAP and AGB displayed higher sensitivity to the disturbance of successive rotations compared with SAN and SOM. These results suggest that mixing species could not maintain EFs along with successive rotations because it could not alleviate SAP deficiencies in the soils resulted from the disturbances of silvicultural measures.

Machine learning-based method for tacrolimus dose predictions in Chinese kidney transplant perioperative patients

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVES

Tacrolimus (TAC), a first-line immunosuppressant in solid-organ transplant, has a narrow therapeutic window and large inter-individual variability, which affects its use in clinical practice. Successful predictions using machine learning algorithms have been reported in several fields. However, a comparison of 10 machine learning model-based TAC pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic dosing algorithms for kidney transplant perioperative patients of Chinese descent has not been reported. The objective of this study was to screen and establish an appropriate machine learning method to predict the individualized dosages of TAC for perioperative kidney transplant patients.

METHODS

The records of 2551 patients were collected from three transplant centres, 80% of which were randomly selected as a 'derivation cohort' to develop the dose prediction algorithm, while the remaining 20% constituted a 'validation cohort' to validate the final algorithm selected. Important features were screened according to our previously established population pharmacokinetic model of tacrolimus. The performances of the algorithms were evaluated and compared using R-squared and the mean percentage in the remaining 20% of patients.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This study identified several factors influencing TAC dosage, including CYP3A5 rs776746, CYP3A4 rs4646437, haematocrit, Wuzhi capsules, TAC daily dose, age, height, weight, post-operative time, nifedipine and the medication history of the patient. According to our results, among the 10 machine learning models, the extra trees regressor (ETR) algorithm showed the best performance in the training set (R-squared: 1, mean percentage within 20%: 100%) and test set (R-squared: 0.85, mean percentage within 20%: 92.77%) of the derivation cohort. The ETR model successfully predicted the ideal TAC dosage in 97.73% of patients, especially in the intermediate dosage range (>5 mg/day to <8 mg/day), whereby the ideal TAC dosage could be successfully predicted in 99% of the patients.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

The results indicated that the ETR algorithm, which was chosen to establish the dose prediction model, performed better than the other nine machine learning models. This study is the first to establish ETR algorithms to predict TAC dosage. This study will further promote the individualized medication of TAC in kidney transplant patients in the future, which has great significance in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of drug use.

Population pharmacokinetic analysis and dosing guidelines for tacrolimus co-administration with Wuzhi capsule in Chinese renal transplant recipients

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVES

Tacrolimus (TAC) is a first-line immunosuppressant which is used to prevent transplant rejection after solid organ transplantation (SOT). However, it has a narrow therapeutic index and high individual variability in pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacogenomics (PG). It has been reported that the metabolism of TAC can be affected by genetic factors, leading to different rates of metabolism in different subjects. Wuzhi Capsule (WZC) is a commonly used TAC-sparing agent in Chinese SOT to reduce TAC dosing due to its inhibitory effect on TAC metabolism by enzymes of the CYP3A subfamily. The aims of this study were to assess the effect of TAC+WZC co-administration and genetic polymorphism on the pharmacokinetics of TAC, by using a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model. A dosing guideline for individualized TAC dosing is proposed based on the PPK study.

METHODS

The medical records of 165 adult patients with kidney transplant and their 824 TAC concentrations from two kidney transplantation centres were reviewed. The genotypes of four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP3A5*3 and ABCB1 (rs1128503, rs2032582 and rs1045642) were tested by MASSARRAY. A PPK model was constructed by nonlinear mixed effect model (NONMEM^® , Version 7.3). Finally, Monte Carlo simulations were employed to design initial dosing regimens based on the final model.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The one-compartmental PPK model with first-order absorption and elimination of TAC was established in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). CYP3A5*3 had significant impact on the PPK model. The haematocrit (HCT), postoperative time (POD) and CYP3A5*3 genotypes had a significant influence on TAC clearance when combined with WZC. The model was expressed as 23.4 × (HCT/0.3)^-0.729  × 0.837 (combination with WZC) × e^{-0.0875(POD/12.6)} ×1.18 (CYP3A5 expressors). For patients carrying the CYP3A5*3/*3 allele and with 30% HCT, the required TAC dose to achieve target trough concentrations of 10-15 ng/ml was 4 mg twice daily (q12h). For patients with the CYP3A5*3/*3 allele, the required dose was 3 mg TAC q12h when combined with WZC, and for patients with the CYP3A5*1/*1 or *1/*3 allele, the required dose was 4 mg of TAC q12h when co-administered with WZC.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Wuzhi Capsule co-administration and CYP3A5 variants affect the PK of TAC Dosing guidelines are made based on the PPK model to allow individualized administration of TAC, especially when co-administered with WZC.

Dramatic increase in water use efficiency with cumulative forest disturbance at the large forested watershed scale

BACKGROUND

Forest disturbance induced changes in the coupling of forest carbon and water have important implications for ecosystem functioning and sustainable forest management. However, this is rarely investigated at the large watershed scale with cumulative forest disturbance. We used a combination of techniques including modeling, statistical analysis, and machine learning to investigate the effects of cumulative forest disturbance on water use efficiency (WUE, a proxy for carbon and water coupling) in the 19,200 km² Chilcotin watershed situated in the central interior of British Columbia, Canada. Harvesting, wildfire, and a severe Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) infestation have gradually cumulated over the 45-year study period, and the watershed reached a cumulative equivalent clear-cut area of 10% in 1999 and then 40% in 2016.

RESULTS

Surprisingly, with the dramatic forest disturbance increase from 2000 to 2016 which was mainly due to MPB, watershed-level carbon stocks and sequestration showed an insignificant reduction. This resilience was mainly due to landscape-level carbon dynamics that saw a balance between a variety of disturbance rates and types, an accumulation of older stand types, and fast growing young regenerated forests. Watershed-level carbon sequestration capacity was sustained, measured by Net Primary Production (NPP). A concurrent significant decrease in annual evapotranspiration (ET), led to a 19% increase in WUE (defined as the ratio of NPP to ET), which is contrary to common findings after disturbance at the forest stand-level. During this period of high disturbance, ET was the dominant driver of the WUE increase.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that disturbance-driven forest dynamics and the appropriate scale must be considered when investigating carbon and water relationship. In contrast to the stand-level trade-off relationship between carbon and water, forested watersheds may be managed to maintain timber, carbon and water resources across large landscapes.

Protective effects of miRNA-589 on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

To uncover the potential influence of microRNA-589 (miRNA-589) on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and the underlying mechanism, BV2 cells were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or conditioned medium (CM) of primary cortical neurons undergoing oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Regulatory effects of miRNA-589 on the release of inflammatory factors in BV2 cells induced with LPS or CM of primary cortical neurons undergoing OGD were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The interaction between miRNA-589 and TRAF6 was finally assessed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. MiRNA-589 was downregulated in BV2 cells induced with LPS or CM of primary cortical neurons undergoing OGD. Overexpression of miRNA-589 reduced the release of inflammatory factors in LPS or CM-induced BV2 cells. TRAF6 was verified to be the downstream gene of miRNA-589, and its level was negatively regulated by miRNA-589. MiRNA-589 is downregulated following cerebral IRI and alleviates inflammatory response through negatively regulating TRAF6.

Responses of forest carbon and water coupling to thinning treatments from leaf to stand scales in a young montane pine forest

BACKGROUND

Water-use efficiency (WUE) represents the coupling of forest carbon and water. Little is known about the responses of WUE to thinning at multiple spatial scales. The objective of this research was to use field measurements to understand short-term effects of two thinning treatments (T1: 4500 stems ha^-1; and T2: 1100 stems ha^-1) and the control (NT: 27,000 stems ha^-1) on WUE at the three spatial scales (leaf level: the ratio of leaf photosynthesis to leaf transpiration; tree-level: tree growth to tree transpiration; and stand level: net primary production (NPP) to stand transpiration) and intrinsic WUEi (the ratio of leaf photosynthesis to stomatal conductance at leaf-level; and NPP to canopy conductance at stand-level) in a 16-year old natural lodgepole pine forest. Leaf-level measurements were conducted in 2017, while tree- and stand-level measurements were conducted in both 2016 (the normal precipitation year) and 2017 (the drought year).

RESULTS

The thinning treatments did not significantly affect the tree- and stand-level WUE in the normal year of 2016. However, the thinning significantly affected WUE in the drought year of 2017: T2 exhibited significantly higher tree-level WUE (0.49 mm² kg^-1) than NT (0.08 mm² kg^-1), and compared to NT, the stand-level WUE values in the thinned stands (T1 and T2) were significantly higher, with means of 0.31, 0.56 and 0.70 kg m^-3, respectively. However, the leaf-level and stand-level WUEi in the thinned stands in the drought year were significantly lower than those in the unthinned stands. No significant differences in the leaf-level WUE were found among the treatments in 2017. In addition, the thinning did not significantly change the WUE-VPD relationships at any studied spatial scale.

CONCLUSIONS

The thinning treatments did not cause significant changes in all studied WUE metrics in a normal year. However, their effects were significantly promoted under the drought conditions probably due to the decrease in soil water availability, demonstrating that thinning can improve WUE and consequently support forests to cope with the drought effects. The inconsistent results on the effects of the thinning on forest carbon and water coupling at the spatial scales and the lack of the consistent WUE metrics constraint across-scale comparison and transferring of WUE.

Systematic Review and Pharmacological Considerations for Chloroquine and Its Analogs in the Treatment for COVID-19

COVID-19 has been announced pandemic by WHO and over 17,000,000 people infected (Till April 21st 2020). The disease is currently under control in China, with a curative rate of 86.8%. Chloroquine (CQ) is an old anti-malarial drug with good tolerability, which had proved to be effective in previous SARS-coronavirus, which spread and disappeared between 2002-2003. In vitro studies demonstrated the efficacy of CQ in curing COVID-19. Consequently, via analytical PBPK modeling, a further preliminary clinical trial has proved the efficacy and safety of CQ in China., and multiple clinical trials were registered and approved to investigate the activity of other analogs of CQ against COVID-19. We have listed all the clinical trials and made a meta-analysis of published data of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). HCQ could increase the CT improvement and adverse reactions (ADRs) significantly though there was considerable heterogeneity among current researches. Actually, CQ and its analogs have unique pharmacokinetic characteristics, which would induce severe side effects in some circumstances. We have then summarized pharmacological considerations for these drugs so as to provide to the busy clinicians to avoid potential side effects when administered CQ or its analogs to COVID-19 patients, especially in the elderly, pediatrics, and pregnancies.

Effects of enriched planting of native tree species on surface water flow, sediment, and nutrient losses in a Eucalyptus plantation forest in southern China

Enriched planting of native tree species in monoculture plantation forests is a commonly recommended forest practice. However, its effect on various ecological processes is generally lacking. Here, we carried out an experiment in a 16-year-old Eucalyptus plantation in South China to assess the effects of enriched planting of native tree species on surface water, soil erosion and nutrient losses. Two treatments were conducted in 2008: (1) enriched planting of native broadleaved tree species with uniform thinning of 60% of Eucalyptus trees (TEP); and (2) enriched planting of native broadleaved tree species without thinning (NEP). The original Eucalyptus plantation stands was used as the control (CK). Runoff plots (total n=9, 3 for each treatment or CK) were established in 2009, and surface water flow, sediment, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses were monitored from major rainfall events in 2010-2012. Results showed that enriched planting in Eucalyptus plantation significantly reduced surface water flow and soil erosion. Compared with CK, TEP and NEP reduced annual surface water flow by 29-43% and 11-16%, and reduced annual soil erosion by 38-54% and 20-33% throughout the study period, respectively. TEP and NEP had significantly lower annual mean concentrations of N and P in surface water. Compared with CK, TEP reduced annual N and P losses through surface water by 42-60% and 44-64%, respectively, while NEP reduced them by 25-28% and 24-34%, respectively. N and P losses were significantly related to surface water flow. Between the two treatments, TEP was better for retaining water and soil, and for preventing nutrient loss. These results clearly demonstrated that the enriched planting of native tree species effectively retained surface water and nutrients.

Natural forests exhibit higher carbon sequestration and lower water consumption than planted forests in China

Large-scale planted forests (PF) have been given a higher priority in China for improving the environment and mitigating climate change relative to natural forests (NF). However, the ecological consequences of these PF on water resource security have been less considered in the national scale. Moreover, a critically needed comparison on key ecological effects between PF and NF under climate change has rarely been conducted. Here, we compare carbon sequestration and water consumption in PF and NF across China using combination of remote sensing and field inventory. We found that, on average, NF consumed 6.8% (37.5 mm per growing season) less water but sequestered 1.1% (12.5 g C m^-2  growing season^-1 ) more carbon than PF in the period of 2000-2012. While there was no significant difference in water consumption (p = 0.6) between PF and NF in energy-limited areas (dryness index [DI] < 1), water consumption was significantly (p < 0.001) higher in PF than that in NF in water-limited regions (DI > 1). Moreover, a distinct and larger shift of water yield was identified in PF than in NF from the 1980s to the 2000s, indicating that PF were more sensitive to climate change, leading to a higher water consumption when compared with NF. Our results suggest NF should be properly valued in terms of maximizing the benefits of carbon sequestration and water yield. Future forest plantation projects should be planned with caution, particularly in water-limited regions where they might have less positive effect on carbon sequestration but lead to significant water yield reduction.

Alleviation of heavy metal phytotoxicity in sewage sludge by vermicomposting with additive urban plant litter

The handling of sewage sludge (SS) and urban plant litter (UPL) has become an important concern. Immobilizing heavy metals (HMs) is regarded as a necessary process for recycling SS in agriculture and forestry. Here, HM removal and HM phytotoxicity in SS during vermicomposting with different additive UPLs was investigated. The results show that vermicomposting with additive UPL significantly reduced the content of HMs, and increased organic carbon content and the proportion of macroaggregates in SS. This process also significantly immobilized HMs by mainly transforming extractable and reducible HMs into residual products. The litters of Dracontomelon duperreanum and Bauhinia purpurea increased oxidizable HMs in SS and the accumulation capacity of HMs of earthworms during vermicomposting. The Cd content in vermicomposts with the B. purpurea litter addition was decreased by 31% relative to the initial SS. Maize in vermicomposts with UPL additions, especially with B. purpurea litter, exhibited significan5tly higher seed germination rates, seedling biomass, root activity, and a lower accumulation of HMs than in SS compost without UPL additions. These results suggest that vermicomposting with additive UPL can alleviate the phytotoxicity of HMs in SS and provides a new method for simultaneously recycling SS and UPL.

Tacrolimus population pharmacokinetic models according to CYP3A5/CYP3A4/POR genotypes in Chinese Han renal transplant patients

Aim: To develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model of tacrolimus in Chinese Han renal transplant population and establish the influence of different covariates (especially different CYP3A5/3A4/POR genotype) on PK properties. Materials & methods: Trough tacrolimus concentrations, clinical characteristics and CYP3A5/CYP3A4/POR genotypes were collected from 141 adult renal transplant recipients after transplantation. The population PK analysis was carried out using the nonlinear mixed-effect modeling software NONMEM version 3.4.2. Results: Tacrolimus PK profiles exhibited high interpatient variability. A two compartment model with first-order input and elimination described the tacrolimus PK profiles in the studied population. Among the genotypes, only CYP3A5 genotype was confirmed to have clinical significance. Conclusion: Our final model confirmed that CYP3A5*3 plays a more significant role in tacrolimus PK and could affect the blood concentrations and CL/F (clearance rate/bioavailbility). This model is expected to help to improve individualized tacrolimus dosing.

[Microvesicles derived from LPS-induced microglia aggravate the injury of tight junction in rat brain microvascular endothelial cells under oxygen-glucose deprivation]

Objective To study the effect of the administration of the circulating microvesicles (MV) obtained from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia supernatant into rat brain endothelial cells (RBECs) on the injury of tight junction in RBECs under the condition of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) as well as the underlying mechanism. Methods The circulating MV was isolated from the supernatant of microglia stimulated with LPS 1 mg/L for 24 hours and subjected to morphological identification. The expression of miR-27a in MV was detected by real-time PCR. RBECs were randomly divided into control group, MV-RBECs control group, OGD 6-hour group and OGD-MV group. The expressions of occludin and claudin-5 were detected by immunofluorescence staining in the four groups. Western blot analysis was used to investigate the expressions of occludin, claudin-5, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), NF-κBp65 and p38 proteins in RBECs, and ELISA was applied to detect the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in RBECs. Results The shape of MV was approximately circular double membrane vesicles, with an average diameter of 150 nm, in accordance with the morphological characteristics of MV. Under LPS stimulation, the level of miR-27a in the circulating MV was abnormally elevated. Compared with the control group, RBECs were not obviously influenced by the incubation of MV; under OGD condition, tight junction of RBECs was damaged with the decreasing expressions of occluding and claudin-5. The degree of injury was further damaged after the treatment with MV. Fluorescence intensity of occludin and claudin-5 were further reduced. Meanwhile, Western blot analysis showed the levels of occludin and claudin-5 proteins decreased in the OGD group after MV treatment, which was consistent with immunofluorescence staining. Compared with the control group, the expression of TLR4 protein and the phosphorylation of NF-κBp65 and p38 proteins increased in OGD group; after MV treatment, the level of TLR4 protein and the phosphorylation of NF-κBp65 and p38 proteins further increased, and the release of IL-1β and TNF-α increased as well. Conclusion Treatment with the circulating MV containing miR-27a obtained from LPS-stimulated microglia supernatant damages the tight junction of RBECs under the OGD condition. The mechanism may be related to up-regulation TLR4 and phosphorylation of NF-κBp65 and p38.

Vegetation cover-another dominant factor in determining global water resources in forested regions

Forested catchments provide critically important water resources. Due to dramatic global forest change over the past decades, the importance of including forest or vegetation change in the assessment of water resources under climate change has been highly recognized by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); however, this importance has not yet been examined quantitatively across the globe. Here, we used four remote sensing-based indices to represent changes in vegetation cover in forest-dominated regions, and then applied them to widely used models: the Fuh model and the Choudhury-Yang model to assess relative contributions of vegetation and climate change to annual runoff variations from 2000 to 2011 in forested landscape (forest coverage >30%) across the globe. Our simulations show that the global average variation in annual runoff due to change in vegetation cover is 30.7% ± 22.5% with the rest attributed to climate change. Large annual runoff variation in response to vegetation change is found in tropical and boreal forests due to greater forest losses. Our simulations also demonstrate both offsetting and additive effects of vegetation cover and climate in determining water resource change. We conclude that vegetation cover change must be included in any global models for assessing global water resource change under climate change in forest-dominant areas.

Zinc improves learning and memory abilities of fetal growth restriction rats and promotes trophoblast cell invasion and migration via enhancing STAT3-MMP-2/9 axis activity

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a well-known risk factor for cognitive dysfunction, especially for learning and memory abilities. However, knowledge about prevention and treatment methods of learning and memory abilities of fetal are limit. Here, Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests showed zinc supplementation could protect the impairment of the learning and memory abilities caused by FGR. As accumulating evidence suggested that insufficiency of placental trophoblast cell invasion was closely related to FGR fetal neurodevelopmental dysplasia, we further explored the relationship between zinc supplementation during pregnancy and placental trophoblast. Microarray identified 346 differently expressed genes in placental tissues with and without zinc supplementation, and GO and KEGG analyses showed these differently expressed genes were highly enriched in cell invasion and migration and STAT3 pathway. Protein-protein interaction(PPI) analysis found that STAT3 interacted with matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP-2/9). In vivo, western blot results authenticated that the expression levels of phospho-STAT3, STAT3, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were up-regulated in placental tissues after zinc treatment. To validate whether zinc could promotes trophoblast cell invasion and migration via enhancing STAT3-MMP-2/9 activity. In vitro, Transwell assay was performed, and we observed that abilities of invasion and migration were obviously increased in zinc treated trophoblast cells. And phospho-STAT3, STAT3, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression levels were correspondingly increased in zinc treated trophoblast cells, which were dose-dependent. Moreover, gain-of-function and loss-of-function of STAT3 confirmed that zinc promotes cell invasion and migration via regulating STAT3 mediated up-regulation of MMP-2/9 activity. We propose that activation of MMP-2/9 mediated by STAT3 may contribute to invasion and migration of trophoblast cells, which improved neurodevelopmental impairment of FGR rats probably via contributing to placental development. Our findings are the first to show a possible mechanism of reversing neurodevelopmental impairment of FGR rats by zinc supplementation, holding promise for the development of novel therapeutic modalities for learning and memory abilities impairment caused by FGR.

[Cross-sectional survey of autism spectrum disorders in children aged 0-6 years in Hainan province]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children aged 0-6 years old and influencing factors in Hainan province. Methods: A total of 37 862 children aged 0-6 years were selected from 18 counties in Hainan province for a screening by using questionnaire of"warning signs in child development", then field diagnosis was made, and general descriptive statistic analysis was conducted. The prevalence of ASD and related factors were analyzed with χ(2) test and unconditional logistic regression model. Results: Among 37 862 children aged 0-6 years, 235 were diagnosed with ASD, the prevalence of ASD was 0.62% (0.99% in boys, 0.17% in girls), the differences was significant (χ(2)=101.91, P=0.000). The prevalence of ASD increased with age (χ(2)=288.62, P=0.000). The prevalence of ASD was significantly higher in urban area than in other areas (χ(2)=114.77, P=0.000). Factors such as full term pregnancy or not, neonatal asphyxia, father's characteristics, father's habit of chewing areca or smoking, mother's general mood, and mother's induced abortion history were the influencing factors for ASD. Conclusion: The prevalence of ASD in children aged 0-6 years was high in Hainan and was influenced by genetic factors, pregnancy and delivery process, parents unhealthy habit before and during pregnancy and other factors.

[Regulation of P-glycoprotein gene expression by PKC/NF-κB-PXR signaling pathway]

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP binding cassette protein, plays a major role in efflux transport of drugs and xenobiotics due to its abundant expression on several barriers. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of PKC/NF-κB-PXR signaling pathway in modulation of P-gp gene expression in human colon adenocarcinoma LS174T. The effect of PMA on MDR1 luciferase activity was investigated by PXR-MDR1 dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Real-time qPCR assay and Western blot analysis were used to study the gene expression of P-gp and NF-κB, respectively. Compared to the vehicle-treated group, PMA statistically decreased P-gp luciferase activity, mRNA expression and protein expression. Moreover, PMA treatment yielded a significant and dose-dependent increase in RelA/p65 translocation to nucleus. Meanwhile, a remarkable increase of the pho-IκBα status was observed in LS174T cells after treatment with PMA (1-100 nmol·L(-1)). In addition, knockdown of PKCα, NF-κB or PXR can significantly attenuate PMA-induced P-gp suppression. These results suggested that PKC/NF-κB-PXR signaling pathway might play crucial roles in modulation of P-gp gene expression.

[OATP1B1 in drug-drug interactions between traditional Chinese medicine Danshensu and rosuvastatin]

The study was designed to explore the drug-drug interactions mechanisms mediated by OATP1B1 between traditional Chinese medicine Danshensu and rosuvastatin. First, the changes of rosuvastatin pharmacokinetics were investigated in presence of Danshensu in rats. Then, the primary rat hepatocytes model was established to explore the effects of Danshensu on the uptake of rosuvastatin by hepatocytes. Finally, HEK293T cells with overexpression of OATP1B1*a and OATP1B1*5 were established using a lentiviral delivery system to explore the effects of Danshensu on the uptake of rosuvastatin. Rosuvastatin pharmacokinetic parameters of C(max0, AUCO(0-t), AUC(0-∞) were increased about 123%, 194% and 195%, by Danshensu in rats, while the CL z/F value was decreased by 60%. Uptake of rosuvastatin in the primary rat hepatocytes was decreased by 3.13%, 41.15% and 74.62%, respectively in the presence of 20, 40 and 80 μmol x L(-1) Danshensu. The IC50 parameters was (53.04 ± 2.43) μmol x L(-1). The inhibitory effect of Danshensu on OATP1B1 mediated transport of rosuvastatin was related to the OATP1B1 gene type. In OATP1B1*5-HEK293T mutant cells, transport of rosuvastatin were reduced by (39.11 ± 4.94)% and (63.61 ± 3.94)%, respectively, by Danshensu at 1 and 10 μmol x L(-1). While transport of rosuvastatin was reduced by (8.22 ± 2.40)% and (11.56 ± 3.04)% and in OATP1B1*1a cells, respectively. Danshensu significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in rats, which was related to competitive inhibition of transport by OATPJBI. Danshensu exhibited a significant activity in the inhibition of rosuvastatin transport by OATP1B1*5-HEK293T, but not by OATP1B1*1a, suggesting a dependence on OATP1B1 sequence.

Effect of Ursolic Acid on Breast Cancer Resistance Protein-mediated Transport of Rosuvastatin In Vivo and Vitro

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether ursolic acid can inhibit breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)-mediated transport of rosuvastatin in vivo and in vitro.

METHODS

Firstly, we explored the pharmacokinetics of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, a substrate of BCRP) in rats in the presence or absence of ursolic acid. Secondly, we studied the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin in rats in the presence or absence of ursolic acid or Ko143 (inhibitor of BCRP). Finially, the concentration-dependent transport of rosuvastatin and the inhibitory effects of ursolic acid and Ko143 were examined in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) 2-BCRP421CC (wild type) cells and MDCK2-BCRP421AA (mutant type) cells.

RESULTS

As a result, significant changes in pharmacokinetics parameters of 5-FU were observed in rats following pretreatment with ursolic acid. Both ursolic acid and Ko143 could significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of rosuvastatin. The rosuvastatin transport in the BCRP overexpressing system was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. However, there was no statistical difference in BCRP-mediated transport of rosuvastatin betweent the wild type cells and mutant cells. The same as Ko143, ursolic acid inhibited BCRP-mediated transport of rosuvastatin in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Ursolic acid appears to be a potent modulator of BCRP that affects the pharmacokinetic of rosuvastatin in vivo and inhibits the transport of rosuvastatin in vitro.

[Study on action mechanism of Danhong injection based on computational system biology approach]

Danhong injection is a compound preparation of traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza and Carthamus tinctorius, and has been widely applied in treating coronary heart diseases and ischemic encephalopathy in clinic. Despite the complexity of its chemical compounds and the diversity of targets, especially in system biology, there have not a report for its action mechanism as a whole regulatory biological network. In this study, protein data of S. miltiorrhiza and C. tinctorius were searched in TCMGeneDIT database and agilent literature search (ALS) system to establish the multi-component protein network of S. miltiorrhiza, C. tinctorius and Danhong injection. Besides, the protein interaction network was built based on the protein-protein interaction in Genecards, BIND, BioGRID, IntAct, MINT and other databases. According to the findings, 10 compounds of S. miltiorrhiza and 14 compounds of C. tinctorius were correlated with proteins. The 24 common compounds had interactions with 81 proteins, and formed a protein interaction network with 60 none-isolated nodes. The Cluster ONE module was applied to make an enrichment analysis on the protein interaction network and extract one sub-network with significant difference P <0.05. The sub-network contains 23 key proteins, which involved five signaling pathways, namely Nod-like receptor signaling pathway, epithelial cell signaling in helicobacter pylori infection, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway and neurotrophin signaling pathway through KEGG signaling pathway mapping. In this study, the computational system biology approach was adopted to preliminarily explain the molecular mechanism of main compounds of Danhong injection in preventing and treating diseases and provide reference for systematic studies on traditional Chinese medicine compounds.

Significant increase in ecosystem C can be achieved with sustainable forest management in subtropical plantation forests

Subtropical planted forests are rapidly expanding. They are traditionally managed for intensive, short-term goals that often lead to long-term yield decline and reduced carbon sequestration capacity. Here we show how it is possible to increase and sustain carbon stored in subtropical forest plantations if management is switched towards more sustainable forestry. We first conducted a literature review to explore possible management factors that contribute to the potentials in ecosystem C in tropical and subtropical plantations. We found that broadleaves plantations have significantly higher ecosystem C than conifer plantations. In addition, ecosystem C increases with plantation age, and reaches a peak with intermediate stand densities of 1500-2500 trees ha⁻¹. We then used the FORECAST model to simulate the regional implications of switching from traditional to sustainable management regimes, using Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations in subtropical China as a study case. We randomly simulated 200 traditional short-rotation pure stands and 200 sustainably-managed mixed Chinese fir--Phoebe bournei plantations, for 120 years. Our results showed that mixed, sustainably-managed plantations have on average 67.5% more ecosystem C than traditional pure conifer plantations. If all pure plantations were gradually transformed into mixed plantations during the next 10 years, carbon stocks could rise in 2050 by 260.22 TgC in east-central China. Assuming similar differences for temperate and boreal plantations, if sustainable forestry practices were applied to all new forest plantation types in China, stored carbon could increase by 1,482.80 TgC in 2050. Such an increase would be equivalent to a yearly sequestration rate of 40.08 TgC yr⁻¹, offsetting 1.9% of China's annual emissions in 2010. More importantly, this C increase can be sustained in the long term through the maintenance of higher amounts of soil organic carbon and the production of timber products with longer life spans.

PHII-7 inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in leukemia cell line K562 as well as its MDR- counterpart K562/A02 through producing reactive oxygen species

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle that hinders the efficacy of chemotherapy in many human malignancies. PHII-7 is a derivative of indirubin, which was designed and synthesized by our laboratory. Our preliminary work indicated its potent antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, based on the model of MDR cell line, we found its powerful effects in inhibiting the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and killing multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells with the detailed mechanism remained to be explored. Reactive oxygen species are known for high reactive activity as they possess unmatched electrons. In this study, we showed that PHII-7 generated equal reactive oxygen species in parental K562 and its counterpart MDR K562/A02 cells. Pre-incubation with thiol antioxidants glutathione or N-acetyl-cysteine(NAC) almost abolished the cytotoxicity of PHII-7. Moreover, NAC abrogated DNA damage, cell cycle arrests and apoptosis induced by PHII-7. Our results collectively indicated that reactive oxygen species production induced by PHII-7 contributed to both apoptosis and cell cycle arrets in MDR K562/A02 cells, thus extending our prior related findings. Notably, JNK phosphorylation was also induced by PHII-7 and pre-incubated of K562/A02 cells with NAC or inhibitor of JNK(SP006125) eliminated P-gp downregulation. Taken together, our results may provide a detailed biochemical basis for further clinical application of PHII-7.

[Effects of reforestation on soil chemical properties and microbial communities in a severely degraded sub-tropical red soil region]

Taking the long-term reforestation experimental base established in a severely degraded sub-tropical hilly red soil region in Taihe County of Jiangxi Province in 1991 as the object, this paper studied the changes of soil nutrients and microbial communities after 19 years reforestation of Pinus elliottii forest, Liquidambarformosana forest, and P. elliotti-L. formosana forest, with the naturally restored grassland as the control. The soil organic carbon content in the L. formosana and P. elliottii-L. formosana forests (15.16+/-3.53 and 16.42+/-0.49 g kg-1, respectively) was significantly higher than that in the control (9.30+/-1.13 g kg-1), the soil total phosphorus content was in the order of the control (0.30+/-0.02 g kg-1) > P. elliottii-L. formosana forest (0.22+/-0.04 g kg-1 ) > L. formosana forest (0.14+/-0.01 g kg-1 ), while the soil available phosphorus content was 1.66+/-0.02 mg kg-1 in L. formosana forest, 2.47+/-0. 27 mg kg- in P. elliottii-L. formosana forest, and 1. 15+/-0.71 mg kg-1 in P. elliottii forest, being significantly higher than that in the control (0.01+/-0.00 mg kg-1). The total amounts of soil microbes, the amount and percentage of soil bacteria, and the amount of inorganic and organic phosphate-solubilizing microbes in L. formosana forest and P. elliottii-L. formosana forest were all significantly higher than those in P. elliottii forest and the control, while the amount and percentage of soil fungi and the percentage of soil actinomycetes in L. formosana forest and P. elliottii-L. formosana forest were significantly lower than those in the control. The soil organic carbon content was significantly positively correlated with the percentage of soil bactera, but negatively correlated with the percentage of soil fungi and actinomycetes, while the soil available phosphorus content was significantly positively correlated with the amount of organic phosphate-solubilizing microes, but not with the amount of inorganic phosphate-solubilizing microbes. It was suggested that L. formosana forest and P. elliottii-L. formosana forest could be the recommended reforestation models in sub-tropical degraded red soil region.

Effects of rapid urban sprawl on urban forest carbon stocks: integrating remotely sensed, GIS and forest inventory data

Research on the effects of urban sprawl on carbon stocks within urban forests can help support policy for sustainable urban design. This is particularly important given climate change and environmental deterioration as a result of rapid urbanization. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of urban sprawl on dynamics of forest carbon stock and density in Xiamen, a typical city experiencing rapid urbanization in China. Forest resource inventory data collected from 32,898 patches in 4 years (1972, 1988, 1996 and 2006), together with remotely sensed data (from 1988, 1996 and 2006), were used to investigate vegetation carbon densities and stocks in Xiamen, China. We classified the forests into four groups: (1) forest patches connected to construction land; (2) forest patches connected to farmland; (3) forest patches connected to both construction land and farmland and (4) close forest patches. Carbon stocks and densities of four different types of forest patches during different urbanization periods in three zones (urban core, suburb and exurb) were compared to assess the impact of human disturbance on forest carbon. In the urban core, the carbon stock and carbon density in all four forest patch types declined over the study period. In the suburbs, different urbanization processes influenced forest carbon density and carbon stock in all four forest patch types. Urban sprawl negatively affected the surrounding forests. In the exurbs, the carbon stock and carbon density in all four forest patch types tended to increase over the study period. The results revealed that human disturbance played the dominant role in influencing the carbon stock and density of forest patches close to the locations of human activities. In forest patches far away from the locations of human activities, natural forest regrowth was the dominant factor affecting carbon stock and density.

Organic matter loading affects lodgepole pine seedling growth

Organic matter plays important roles in returning nutrients to the soil, maintaining forest productivity and creating habitats in forest ecosystems. Forest biomass is in increasing demand for energy production, and organic matter has been considered as a potential supply. Thus, an important management question is how much organic matter should be retained after forest harvesting to maintain forest productivity. To address this question, an experimental trial was established in 1996 to evaluate the responses of lodgepole pine seedling growth to organic matter loading treatments. Four organic matter loading treatments were randomly assigned to each of four homogeneous pine sites: removal of all organic matter on the forest floor, organic matter loading quantity similar to whole-tree-harvesting residuals left on site, organic matter loading quantity similar to stem-only-harvesting residuals, and organic matter loading quantity more similar to what would be found in disease- or insect-killed stands. Our 10-year data showed that height and diameter had 29 and 35 % increase, respectively, comparing the treatment with the most organic matter loading to the treatment with the least organic matter loading. The positive response of seedling growth to organic matter loading may be associated with nutrients and/or microclimate change caused by organic matter, and requires further study. The dynamic response of seedling growth to organic matter loading treatments highlights the importance of long-term studies. Implications of those results on organic matter management are discussed in the context of forest productivity sustainability.