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Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma (FDR) is an effective Chinese herbal medicine with a long history of use in China. FDR is effective in heat clearing and detoxifying, promotion of blood circulation, relieving carbuncles, dispelling wind, and removing dampness. Its seeds also have high nutritional value, are rich in protein, and contain a variety of mineral elements and vitamins. Therefore, FDR is considered a natural product with medical and economic benefits, and its chemical composition and pharmacological activity are of interest to scientists. The current review provides an overview of the available scientific information on FDR, particularly its botany, chemical constituents, and pharmacological activities. Various sources of valid and comprehensive relevant information were consulted, including the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Web of Science, and PubMed. Among the keywords used were “Fagopyri Dibotryis Rhizoma”, “botanical features”, “chemical composition”, and “pharmacological activity” in combination. Various ailments are treated with FDR, such as diabetes, tumor, sore throat, headache, indigestion, abdominal distension, dysentery, boils, carbuncles, and rheumatism. FDR is rich in organic acids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and triterpenoids. Experiments performed in vitro and in vivo showed that FDR extracts or fractions had a wide range of pharmacological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic. The current review provides an integrative perspective on the botany, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of FDR. FDR may be used as a medicine and food. Based on its chemical composition and pharmacological effects, the main active ingredients of FDR are organic acids, tannins, and flavonoids, and it has obvious antitumor pharmacological activity against a variety of malignant tumors. Therefore, FDR is worthy of further study and application as a potential antitumor drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) can be conceptualized as a complex network where PSD symptoms (PSDS) interact with each other. The neural mechanism of PSD and interactions among PSDS remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the neuroanatomical substrates of, as well as the interactions between, individual PSDS to better understand the pathogenesis of early-onset PSD. Methods: A total of 861 first-ever stroke patients admitted within 7 days poststroke were consecutively recruited from three independent hospitals in China. Sociodemographic, clinical and neuroimaging data were collected upon admission. PSDS assessment with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was performed at 2 weeks after stroke. Thirteen PSDS were included to develop a psychopathological network in which central symptoms (i.e. symptoms most strongly correlated with other PSDS) were identified. Voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) was performed to uncover the lesion locations associated with overall PSDS severity and severities of individual PSDS, in order to test the hypothesis that strategic lesion locations for central symptoms could significantly contribute to higher overall PSDS severity. Results: Depressed mood, Psychiatric anxiety and Loss of interest in work and activities were identified as central PSDS at the early stage of stroke in our relatively stable PSDS network. Lesions in bilateral (especially the right) basal ganglia and capsular regions were found significantly associated with higher overall PSDS severity. Most of the above regions were also correlated with higher severities of 3 central PSDS. The other 10 PSDS could not be mapped to any certain brain region. Conclusions: There are stable interactions among early-onset PSDS with Depressed mood, Psychiatric anxiety and Loss of interest as central symptoms. The strategic lesion locations for central symptoms may indirectly induce other PSDS via the symptom network, resulting in higher overall PSDS severity. Trial registration: URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/enIndex.aspx; Unique identifier: ChiCTR-ROC-17013993. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new orchid species, Liparis macrosepala, is illustrated and described from Yunnan Province, China, based on morphological and molecular analyses. This plant is characterised by the ovoid-fusiform, slightly compressed pseudobulbs with 4 or 5 leaves with slightly crisped margins on their apical half, dorsal sepal heart-shaped, lip with a bituberculate basal callus and a thickened folded lateral lobe on each side, centrally with one cavity with slightly raised margins, the column with a single pair of broadly triangular, obtuse wings. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses of combined nrITS and plastid matK DNA sequences place this species in section Cestichis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building inland waterways affects the natural structure, formation, and extent of the riverbed and riparian zone. It alters the hydrology and sediment deposition conditions and hence damages the aquatic ecosystem. To address the effects of the construction of inland waterways on the riverine biome, benthic macroinvertebrate communities were compared at different building stages of inland waterways along a gradient of shipping traffic density at two montane rivers in China. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index of the benthic macroinvertebrate communities ranged from 0.4 to 1.6; the lowest value was recorded in the completed inland waterway, while the highest value was recorded in the unaffected stretch. Principal component analysis and canonical correlation analysis showed the communities in the inland waterways to be distinct from those in the natural riparian habitats. Our results suggest that benthic macroinvertebrate communities can reflect the damage done by the hydromorphological modifications caused by building inland waterways. Benthic macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance should therefore be included when assessing the impact of building and operating inland waterways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exploring etiological clues to adolescent depression, especially in female adolescents, might be helpful to improve the social environment of female adolescents. The aim at this study is to explore psycho-social factors of female adolescents with high depressive symptomatology and gender differences in depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents. Method: We examined 4100 adolescents from Wuhan city and Jianli county via a cross-sectional study. Depressive symptomatology was screened through the Chinese version of Center for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to explore the factors related to high depressive symptomatology in female and male adolescents, respectively. Results: The prevalence of high depressive symptomatology in female and male were 38.9 and 30.2% respectively. The psycho-social factors of high depressive symptomatology in female adolescents were age (Adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.201, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.076 ~ 1.341), single parent family (aOR = 2.004, 95%CI, 1.448 ~ 2.772) and fathers' education level (compared to primary school and below, [Junior middle school, aOR = 0.641, 95%CI, 0.439 ~ 0.934; Senior middle school, aOR = 0.603, 95%CI, 0.410 ~ 0.888; College degree and above, aOR = 0.639, 95%CI, 0.437 ~ 0.936]). Conclusion: Fathers' education level was associated with high depressive symptomatology in female adolescents. Female adolescents whose father with primary school education or below deserves more attention. Further epidemiologic researches need to be conducted to explore the different risk factors between female and male adolescents in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) is a common hematological disorder in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of Southern China. Heterozygous β-thal is usually associated with reduced hematological indices and increased Hb A2 levels. However, the preventive program of the regional government only conducts the screening of hematological indices [complete blood count (CBC)] especially at primary hospitals. In this study, we describe a male β-thal patient presenting normal hematological indices but with a high Hb A2 level. We proposed that hemoglobin (Hb) analysis and CBC should be performed together in the preventive screening program in regions with a high thalassemia incidence to avoid misdiagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to discover the biochemistry mechanism of sediments in eutrophic grass-type lakes, this study selected four grass-type lakes in north China to explore the relation between enzyme activities of sediments and lake eutrophication condition. By applying the assessment method of organic nitrogen (ON) and total phosphorus (TP), the nutrition of lake sediments were assessed. As the results show, Hengshui (HS) Lake and Baiyangdian (BY) Lake, suffering severe pollution, have much higher urease activity in comparison with Nansi (NS) Lake and Dongping (DP) Lake. In addition, there is significant positive correlation between the urease activity and the contents of total nitrogen (TN) and organic matter (OM) of sediments ( r = 0.805, p < 0.01; r = 0.840, p < 0.01). It's the same case between alkaline phosphatase (APA) activity and TP content ( r = 0.876, p < 0.01). The activities of both cellulase and protease in HS Lake and BY Lake are weaker than those of NS Lake and DP Lake. The changes in the activities of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase tend to be similar and their distributions are closely related to the degree of pollution and disruption caused by human activities. The enzymatic activity of lake sediments can serve as an indicator that reflects how serious lake eutrophication is. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decomposition of aquatic macrophytes has important consequences for wetlands because it is closely related to organic matter accumulation and nutrient cycling. A field litter bag experiment was undertaken to investigate the decomposition rates of six dominant macrophytes. And the level of nutrient transfer from plant residues to lake water was also researched in Baiyangdian Lake, a typical macrophyte-dominated lake in the Northern China Plain. Intact standing plants of Phragmites australis, Typha angustifolia, Nelumbo nucifera, Potamogeton pectinatus, Ceratophyllum demersum, and Chara sp. were collected and different plant tissues incubated near sediment traps. Litter bags were collected at days 6, 26, 60, 104, and 140 to follow biomass loss and nutrient release. Decomposition rates of different macrophytes calculated from an exponential model ranged from 0.0028 to 0.0110 day−1. For the same external environmental conditions, decomposition rates were significantly affected by initial litter chemistry. The remaining biomass was positively related to the C/N and C/P ratios and negatively related to the N and P concentrations and the N/P ratio. Both stems and roots showed a lower decomposition rate than the leaves of the same species due to the higher C/N ratio. The nutrient release from plant litter to the lake water was substantial. Over the incubation period, the release of N from the litter represented 18.10-88.79% of the initial content, and the release of P from the litter represented 24.26-92.83% of the initial content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Raised field agriculture is a typical human-modified landscape of most shallow lakes and coastal saline-alkali areas in north China. Local farmers have constructed more than 9400ha of raised fields for agricultural production in Baiyangdian Lake, the largest lake in the North China Plain. Most of the raised areas are 2- 4 m higher than the water level and 30-50 m wide. The canals surrounding these platforms are 2-10 m wide. The objective of this research was to obtain experimental information on a number of processes that affect the agricultural production of the raised fields system, such as the cultivation of Phragmites australis. Since aquatic plants mature in spring and summer, the field experiments were conducted in May, 2011. The ecological environment and economic benefits were analysed and it was concluded that raised fields have a positive impact on the control of water quality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Terrestrialization is the process by which a water body changes from a wetland to a terrestrial ecosystem. Many factors contribute to the process, including climate change and macrophyte expansion. Among such factors, water level and eutrophication result in quantitative and qualitative changes on macrophyte communities, while expansion of macrophytes can accelerate the rate of terrestrialization by bioaccumulation. The siltation of sand also greatly contributes to terrestrialization. Here, the water quality, water level, siltation of sand, and vegetation of Baiyangdian Lake were analyzed to assess the terrestrialization characteristics of this lake and understand its terrestrialization process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two new phenolic glycosides, syringic acid-4-O-α-L-rhamnoside (1) and ( - )-hydnocarpin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (2), were isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Inula cappa. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods such as 1D, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the influence of N fertilizer management on rice yield and rice quality under diversified rotations and establish a high-yield, high-quality, and environmentally friendly diversified planting technology, a rapeseed/wheat–rice rotation system for 2 successive years was implemented. In those rotation systems, a conventional N rate (Nc; 180 kg/hm2 N in rape season, 150 kg/hm2 N in wheat season) and a reduced N rate (Nr; 150 kg/hm2 N in rape season, 120 kg/hm2 N in wheat season) were applied. Based on an application rate of 150 kg/hm2 N in the rice season, three N management models were applied, in which the application ratio of base:tiller:panicle fertilizer was 20%:20%:60% in treatment M1, 30%:30%:40% in treatment M2, and 40%:40%:20% in treatment M3. Zero N was used as the control (M0). The results showed that, under Nc and Nr in the rape season, M3 management produced an increase in rice yield. The average rice yields in 2018 and 2019 were 9.41 t/hm2 and 9.54 t/hm2, respectively. An increase in rice peak viscosity, hot viscosity, break disintegration, and chalkiness was achieved. Under Nc and Nr in the wheat season, the panicle fertilizer of 40%:40%:20% in rice season produced a higher rice yield. The average yield was 9.45 t/hm2 and 9.19 t/hm2, respectively, and an increase in rice peak viscosity, hot viscosity, and break disintegration was produced. Reduced N for rapeseed and the panicle fertilizer of 40%:40%:20% in rice season under a rapeseed–rice rotation system can be recommended to stabilize yield and ensure high-quality rice production and environmentally friendly rapeseed–rice rotation systems in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficient use of nitrogen (N) for rice in a rapeseed–wheat–rice rotation system, a pot experiment was conducted. The results indicated that in the conventional 15N-labeled (Nc) and reduced 15N-labeled (Nr) urea applications, absorbed N and soil residual N was higher in rapeseed than in wheat. In the rice season, the higher accumulation of 15N was achieved with an Nr application rate during the rapeseed season and an N fertilizer management model (40% as basal fertilizer, 40% as tillering fertilizer, and 20% as panicle fertilizer) during the rice season (PrNrM3). A high 15N accumulation was also achieved under the Nc application rate during the wheat season and the N fertilizer management model during the rice season (PwNcM3). The accumulation of 15N in PrNrM3 and PwNcM3 accounted for 21.35% and 36.72% of the residual N under the Nr application rate in the rapeseed season and the Nc application rate in the wheat season, respectively. Compared with the Nc application rate in the rapeseed season and M3 N management in the rice season (PrNcM3), the N agronomy efficiency (NAE) and the N partial factor efficiency (NPFP) of rice were increased by 23.85% and 1.59%, respectively, in PrNrM3. The annual crop yield was 3.95% lower in PrNrM3, which was not significant. PrNrM3 was a stable yield, N-saving application rate for rapeseed-rice rotation systems in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation aims to provide theoretical and practical evidence for the efficient utilization of nitrogen (N) in paddy-upland rapeseed-rice rotation systems because a lack of previous research on such rotation systems leads to inefficient management practices. The effects of the N application rates and the N fertilizer management strategies for rapeseed and rice were examined, respectively, in relation to the photosynthetic productivity and yields of hybrid rice. The results indicated that the leaf area, Pn, with 40% as basal fertilizer, 40% as tillering fertilize, and 20% as panicle fertilizer and a reduced N rate (30 kg/ha) during the rape season, were higher than other nitrogen management strategies trialed, with conventional N rates in the rape season. The average rice grain yield (9545.15 kg/ha) over the two years with 40% as basal fertilizer, 40% as tillering fertilizer, and 20% as panicle fertilizer was higher than other N treatments with the reduced N rates during the rape season. The reduced N rate during the rapeseed season and 40% as basal fertilizer, 40% as tillering fertilizer, and 20% as panicle fertilizer management during the rice season for the rape-rice rotation system exhibited the highest rice yields. Our findings indicated that the N fertilizer management model was a high-yielding, N-saving, and environmentally friendly measure for rape–rice rotation systems in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Except for as a well-known tonic Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of splenic asthenia, anorexia, lassitude and weakness, the roots of Pseudostellaria heterophylla was also used in Chinese medicines for the treatment of palpitation. Aim of the study: The study was designed to determine whether fractions from Pseudostellaria heterophylla could provide cardioprotection on hypoxic cardiomyocytes, what structural types of compounds were responsible for the observed effects, and which is the possible mechanism of action. Materials and Methods: The roots of Pseudostellaria heterophylla were extracted successively with 70% aqueous ethanol and water to give a 70% ethanol extract and a water extract. The latter was first precipitated by 80% ethanol and then protein-removed by the Sevag method to give a fraction enriched in polysaccarides (PHP). The former was separated by column chromatography into a fraction enriched in small-molecule sugars and amino acids (PHSSAC), saponins (PHS), cyclopeptides (PHCP), and sapogenins (PHSG). UV spectral or chemical methods were used to confirm the five fractions. The cardioprotective effects of the fractions were evaluated by measuring the viability and the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of the fraction-pretreated cardiomyocyte H9c2 after exposure to CoCl2-induced hypoxia. The mechanism of action was studied by investigating the nature of cell death inhibition (by Annexin V/PI flow cytometric analysis) and their effects on the levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results: Fractions PHS and PHP could attenuate CoCl2-induced hypoxic damage to an extent higher than or comparable to the effect of the positive control N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Pretreatment of the cells with 800μg/mL of PHS or 10mg/mL of PHP markedly decreased the level of MDA, reduced intracellular ROS, increased the activity of SOD, and reduced leakage of LDH to the levels close to or better than that with 326μg/mL of NAC. Reduction of apoptosis was also observed for both fractions. Conclusions: The overall results suggested that the traditional use of this plant for the treatment of palpitation may be attributed to the presence of cardioprotective agents in Pseudostellaria heterophylla. PHP and PHS were the two active fractions responsible for its cardioprotective effect. The mechanism might involve protections of the cell membrane from hypoxic damage and of the cells from oxidative injury via preventing increased oxidative stress. Protection of the cells via inhibition of cellular apoptosis may also be involved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Macrophyte decomposition can significantly influence aquatic carbon and nutrient cycling, especially in eutrophic shallow lakes, in which incomplete decomposition of detritus may lead to sediment accumulation and accelerate lake aging. In order to explore the role of macrophyte decomposition in lake terrestrialization, six major aquatic plants (two submerged, two floating, and two emergent species) in Lake Baiyangdian were investigated in this study. Detritus of these species were placed at three sites with different pollution intensities to investigate the contributions of plant species, site nutrient condition, and their interactions on detritus decomposition. Detritus decomposition was represented by detritus mass remaining at each sampling time. Results of this study suggest that although decomposition processes are species and site specific, and the effects of species are stronger than site conditions. Initial detritus phosphorus (P)-related indicators were proved to be effective controllers for detritus decay at the later stage of the experiment. Significant interactions between site and species indicate that plant species also influenced site controls on detritus mass loss. Site effects on decomposition were significant for submerged and floating species (P <0.01), and slightly significant for emergent species (P <0.05). A mathematic two-stage decomposition model was developed based on the experimental results using stepwise analysis to analyze effects of detritus quality and site conditions on decomposition. The detritus quality indicators were the main contributors for both early and later stages of detritus decomposition, while the site nutrients only affected decomposition at the later stage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim of the study: This study was designed to investigate the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts and the structure-based fractions from P. capitatum so as to provide the evidence for the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of urinary tract infections and to clarify the structural types that were responsible for the clinical use of the plant. Materials and methods: The dry whole plant of P. capitatum was extracted with water and 70% aqueous ethanol and then separated, respectively, into a fraction enriched in polysaccharides and proteins (PP) and four other fractions enriched in gallic acid and its analogues (GAA), flavonoids (FV), tannins (TN), and triterpenoids and steroids (TS). UV spectral or chemical methods were used for the confirmation of the five fractions. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the aqueous (AE) and 70% aqueous ethanol (70EE) extracts as well as the fractions against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were initially evaluated by a disc diffusion test. The anti-bacterial potencies of the active extracts or fractions were then assessed in vitro by determining the MICs and MBCs. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated employing the xylene-induced mouse ear edema model. Results: Except for fraction PP, AE, 70EE, and the four fractions (GAA, FV, TN, and TS) exhibited varying degrees of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The results of the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) indicated that the crude extracts or fractions FV and TN all possess bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties. Fractions FV and TS showed significantly anti-inflammatory activity (P <0.01) with the inhibition rates of 86.15 and 73.71% at 0.6g/kg, respectively, as compared to 76.93% of the positive control dexamethasone. Conclusions: The overall results suggested that the traditional use of this plant for the treatment of urinary tract infections were attributed to the presence of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. The results also provided evidence that the studied plant extracts, as well as some of the fractions obtained from this plant might be potential sources for antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drug development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To assess the association of rs55829688 and rs75315904 polymorphisms of the lncRNA-GAS5 gene with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Guangxi population., Methods: Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the SLE group and control group. Following extraction of genomic DNA, SNPscan and Sanger sequencing were carried out to determine the genotypes for the rs55829688 and rs75315904 loci of the lncRNA-GAS5 gene., Results: No difference was found between the two groups with regard to the genotypic frequencies for rs55829688 and rs75315904 (P > 0.05). However, the frequencies of C allele of rs55829688 between the two groups was significantly different (P < 0.05). In the SLE group, the frequencies of C allele and CT+CC genotype for rs55829688 among SLE patients with nephritis were significantly lower than those of SLE patients without nephritis (P < 0.05). In addition, haplotype analysis showed that the frequency of rs55829688 C/rs75315904 A allele in the SLE group was lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: In Guangxi population, the carrier status of rs55829688 C allele of the lncRNA-GAS5 gene may reduce the risk of SLE and its complicated nephritis, and the rs55829688 C/rs75315904 A haplotype may reduce the risk for SLE.

Mortality rates due to Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii fungemia remain significant despite treatment with antifungal drugs. The predictive function of antifungal susceptibility and its correlation with treatment outcome remains controversial. A retrospective study was conducted from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2016, on 85 patients with C. neoformans var. grubii fungemia confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Antifungal drug susceptibility was determined using the YeastONE™ colorimetric broth microdilution method coupled with Vizion™ System following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Six antifungal agents-amphotericin B, fluconazole, flucytosine, itraconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole-were tested. The patients' demographic data and clinical information were abstracted for further analyses. Antifungal regimens consisting of amphotericin B with or without fluconazole or flucytosine were administered for induction treatment of these patients, followed with intravenous or oral fluconazole for maintenance therapy. Clinical outcomes were defined by 14- and 30-day mortality rates. Risk factors associated with outcomes were fitted in a logistic regression model by univariate or multivariate method. Eighty-five patients with C. neoformans var. grubii fungemia were enrolled in the study. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score, Glasgow Coma Scale, Charlson comorbidity score, and adequate duration of therapy for amphotericin B were predictors for mortality in univariate analysis. Antifungal susceptibility testing with YeastONE™ does not predict clinical outcomes of C. neoformans var. grubii fungemia. Greater disease severity, high comorbidities, poor consciousness level, and inappropriate treatment were associated with increased mortality in cryptococcemia cases., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) is a common hematological disorder in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of Southern China. Heterozygous β-thal is usually associated with reduced hematological indices and increased Hb A 2 levels. However, the preventive program of the regional government only conducts the screening of hematological indices [complete blood count (CBC)] especially at primary hospitals. In this study, we describe a male β-thal patient presenting normal hematological indices but with a high Hb A 2 level. We proposed that hemoglobin (Hb) analysis and CBC should be performed together in the preventive screening program in regions with a high thalassemia incidence to avoid misdiagnosis.

Background: China has experienced rapid socioeconomic, and health transitions over the last four decades, and urban-rural disparities are becoming increasingly apparent. Research on depression among rural and urban students can provide evidence on the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and adolescent depression., Methods: We examined the association between sociodemographic characteristics and adolescent depression among 3605 students from Wuhan city and Jianli county that was recruited from the local junior middle school via a cross-sectional study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the sociodemographic characteristics of adolescent depression in urban and rural areas, respectively. Nomograms were constructed to calculate individual depression risk of junior middle school students., Results: 32.47% of rural students and 35.11% of urban students display depressive symptoms. The protective factors of depression in urban students are exercise habit, younger, key class, better academic achievement and males, while Left-behind children (LBC), poor academic achievement and females had higher depression risk in rural area. Two nomograms were constructed to screen the adolescent depression in urban and rural junior middle school students, respectively. The clinical tools were well calibrated., Conclusion: The field-based research examined sociodemographic characteristics potentially associated with adolescent depression and offered an effective and convenient tool of individualized depression risk evaluation for junior middle school students. Future longitudinal epidemiologic research on adolescent depression may help to further validate the discovery of present study, which will support developing policies and practices to minimize the factors of adolescent depression.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic form of self-limited vasculitis in children less than five years old, and the main complication is coronary artery injury. However, the etiology of KD remains unclear. The IL-1B polymorphisms rs16944 GG and rs1143627 AA and their diplotype GA/GA have been associated with significantly increased risk of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) resistance in a Taiwanese population, but the relationship between rs16944 A/G and rs1143627 G/A and coronary artery lesions (CALs) in patients with KD has not been investigated. The present study is aimed at investigating whether the rs16944 A/G and rs1143627 G/A polymorphisms in IL-1B were associated with KD susceptibility and CALs in a southern Chinese population., Methods and Results: We recruited 719 patients with KD and 1401 healthy children. Multiplex PCR was used to assess the genotypes of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including two SNPs of IL-1B , rs16944 A/G and rs1143627 G/A. According to the results, no significant association was observed between the IL-1B (rs16944 and rs1143627) polymorphisms and KD risk in the patients compared with the healthy controls in our southern Chinese population. However, in further stratified analysis, we found that children younger than 12 months with the rs16944 GG and rs1143627 AA genotypes of IL-1B had a higher risk of CALs than those with the AA/AG genotypes of rs16944 and GG/AG genotypes of rs1143627 (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.32-3.95, P = 0.0032, adjusted OR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.34-4.04, P = 0.0027)., Conclusions: Our results indicated that there was no association between the rs16944 A/G and rs1143627 G/A gene polymorphisms and KD susceptibility. However, the rs16944 GG and rs1143627 AA genotypes of IL-1B may significantly impact the risk of CAL formation in children younger than 12 months, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of KD. These findings need further validation in multicenter studies with larger sample sizes.

With the acceleration of the process of global integration, China's international exchanges and cooperation with other countries have been further increased. The personnel exchange has led to the frequent occurrence of imported schistosomiasis from abroad, which seriously endangers people's health. This paper reviews the prevalence and transmission risks of oversea imported schistosomiasis, providing the reference for the entry and exit health quarantine and prevention and control of schistosomiasis in China.

Objective: To study the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) gene rs66818855 and rs1078152 in Chinese Guangxi healthy population in comparison with that in different ethnic populations., Methdos: Polymerase chain reaction-single base extension (PCR-SBE) and DNA sequencing were used to detect the allele and genotype frequencies of AVP gene among 303 Chinese healthy individuals in Guangxi, China, and the results were compared with the reported frequencies in 4 other populations (HapMap-CEU, HapMap-YRI, HapMap-JPT, and HapMap-HCB) from Human Genome Project group (HapMap) data., Results: We found significant AVP gene polymorphisms in this Guangxi healthy population. The frequencies of allele and genotype of AVP gene rs66818855 and rs1078152 polymorphisms in this Guangxi population differed significantly from those in HapMap-CEU population (P<0.01), and allele frequencies of AVP gene rs66818855 polymorphism differed significantly from those in HapMap-YRI populations (P<0.05)., Conclusion: The distribution pattern of AVP gene polymorphisms in this Guangxi population is significantly different from that in other ethnic populations, which might account for the difference in the morbidity of AVP-related disease among different ethnic groups and may have important indications in the study of population genetics and anthropology.

Objective: To explore the race- and gender-specific distribution characteristics of rs1891385A/C and rs10975519C/T polymorphism of interleukin-33 (IL-33) gene in Zhuang and Han populations., Methods: The polymorphisms of rs1891385A/C and rs10975519C/T of IL-33 gene in 283 subjects from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were analyzed with single base extension (PCR-SEB) and DNA sequencing to analyze the differences in their distribution frequencies between genders and between Zhuang and Han populations., Results: Three genotypes (AA, AC and CC) were found in rs1891385A/C with frequencies of 64.3%, 32.5% and 3.2%, respectively. The genotype and allele frequencies of rs1891385A/C in this Guangxi population showed no significant difference between Zhuang and Han subpopulations and between genders (P>0.05), but differed significantly from those in European and African black populations (P<0.01). Three genotypes (CC, CT and TT) were identified in rs10975519C/T with frequencies of 34.3%, 53.0%, and 12.7%, respectively, showing no significant ethnic or gender-specific differences in this population (P>0.05). The genotype frequency of rs10975519C/T in this population differed significantly from those in the European and Japanese populations (P<0.01), but the allele frequencies only showed significant differences from those in the European population (P<0.01)., Conclusion: rs1891385A/C and rs10975519C/T polymorphisms of IL-33 gene show a race-specific difference.

Purpose: Although the polymorphisms of erythrocyte complement receptor type 1 (CR1) in patients with malaria have been extensively studied, a question of whether the polymorphisms of CR1 are associated with severe malaria remains controversial. Furthermore, no study has examined the association of CR1 polymorphisms with malaria in Chinese population. Therefore, we investigated the relationship of CR1 gene polymorphism and malaria in Chinese population., Materials and Methods: We analyzed polymorphisms of CR1 gene rs2274567 G/A, rs4844600 G/A, and rs2296160 C/T in 509 patients with malaria and 503 controls, using the Taqman genotyping assay and PCR-direct sequencing., Results: There were no significant differences in the genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies of CR1 gene rs2274567 G/A, rs4844600 G/A, and rs2296160 C/T polymorphisms between patients with malaria and controls. Furthermore, there was no association of polymorphisms in the CR1 gene with the severity of malaria in Chinese population., Conclusion: These findings suggest that CR1 gene rs2274567 G/A, rs4844600 G/A, and rs2296160 C/T polymorphisms may not be involved in susceptibility to malaria in Chinese population.

Macrophyte decomposition is important for carbon and nutrient cycling in lake ecosystems. Currently, little is known about how this process responds to detritus quality and water nutrient conditions in eutrophic shallow lakes in which incomplete decomposition of detritus accelerates the lake terrestrialization process. In this study, we investigated the effects of detritus quality and water nutrient concentrations on macrophyte decomposition in Lake Baiyangdian, China, by analyzing the decomposition of three major aquatic plants at three sites with different pollution intensities (low, medium, and high pollution sites). Detritus quality refers to detritus nutrient contents as well as C:N, C:P, and N:P mass ratios in this study. Effects of detritus mixtures were tested by combining pairs of representative macrophytes at ratios of 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75 (mass basis). The results indicate that the influence of species types on decomposition was stronger than that of site conditions. Correlation analysis showed that mass losses at the end of the experimental period were significantly controlled by initial detritus chemistry, especially by the initial phosphorus (P) content, carbon to nitrogen (C:N), and carbon to phosphorus (C:P) mass ratios in the detritus. The decomposition processes were also influenced by water chemistry. The NO(3)-N and NH(4)-N concentrations in the lake water retarded detritus mass loss at the low and high pollution sites, respectively. Net P mineralization in detritus was observed at all sites and detritus P release at the high pollution site was slower than at the other two sites. Nonadditive effects of mixtures tended to be species specific due to the different nutrient contents in each species. Results suggest that the nonadditive effects varied significantly among different sites, indicating that interactions between the detritus quality in species mixtures and site water chemistry may be another driver controlling decomposition in eutrophic shallow lakes.

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is a rare oral leukoplakia and has four features such as chronic proliferation, multiple occurrences, refractoriness to treatment and high rate of malignant transformation. As mentioned above, most PVL cases processed to malignancy over many years, sometimes 20 years. However, this report described a case of rapid progress, which had malignant transformation in a short period. Additionally, the aetiology of PVL was discussed and immunity was proposed as the possible cause.

Objective: To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP) of FOXP3 gene with susceptibility to systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Chinese Zhuang population., Methods: Author analyzed the -2383 C/T and -3281 C/A two SNPs of the FOXP3 gene promoter in 120 patients with SLE and 160 age and sex matched controls in a Chinese Zhuang population, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) strategy and DNA sequencing., Results: The distribution of the FOXP3 gene -3281 C/A polymorphism was not different between the two groups. However, the FOXP3 gene -2383 C/T polymorphism was significantly different (P<0.05) between the two groups. The relative risk of suffering from SLE of -2383T allele carriers was 1.715 times of the -2383C allele carriers (OR=1.715, 95%CI: 1.165-2.525). Consistent with the results of the genotyping analyses, the FOXP3 -2383T/-3281A haplotype frequency in patients with SLE was significantly higher than that in controls (P<0.05). The -2383T/-3281A allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of SLE (OR=2.196, 95%CI: 1.165-4.142)., Conclusion: The FOXP3 gene -2383C/T polymorphism is associated with SLE, and the -2383T allele is risk factor for SLE in the population studied.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common cancers in southern China. In addition to environmental factors such as Epstein-Barr virus infection and chemical carcinogen exposure, genetic susceptibility has been reported to play a key role in the development of this disease. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an immunoregulatory cytokine produced by T cells and plays an important role in antitumor immunity. Variations in the DNA sequence of the IL-2 gene may lead to altered cytokine production and/or activity, and thus modulate an individual's susceptibility to NPC. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether IL-2 gene polymorphisms and its serum levels are associated with NPC in a Chinese population. We analyzed single-nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-2 gene -330 T/G and +114 T/G in 180 patients with NPC and 200 age- and sex-matched controls, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing methods, and serum IL-2 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum IL-2 levels were decreased in patients with NPC compared with controls (p < 0.01). There were significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-2 gene -330 T/G polymorphism between the group of patients with NPC and the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, genotypes carrying the IL-2 -330 G variant allele were associated with decreased serum IL-2 levels compared with the homozygous wild-type genotype in patients with NPC. Carrying the IL-2 -330 G variant allele was associated with a decreased ability to produce IL-2, which may contribute to NPC susceptibility.

Objective: The effect of dietary restriction, intense exercise and menstrual dysfunction on bone mineral density remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the skeletal health status and relationship between bone mineral density and nutrient intake, menstrual status, estrogen level and other factos in Chinese adolescent dancers., Methods: Sixty dancers and 77 healthy controls underwent measurements of bone density, body composition, and estrogen level. Nutrient intake, menstrual status and physical activity were assessed with questionnaires. The correlation between these factors were analyzed., Results: The dancers under study had a significantly lean body mass index (18.3 +/- 1.4 kg/m2 vs. 21.7 +/- 3.1 kg/m2), lower percentage of body fat (0.25 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.34 +/- 0.04) and later age at menarche (14.0 +/- 0.9 y vs. 13.0 +/- 1.3 y), and the estrogen level, daily calorie and fat intake in them were also lower than in the controls. All the dancers undertook intensive physical activity every day and up to 69% of them suffered from irregular menarche. Yet they had relatively high BMD and BMC of the total body and legs than the controls after adjusting for BMI and age. Site-specific BMD was positively correlated to BMI, body composition and training hours per week and negatively correlated to the age at menarche and menstrual frequency., Conclusions: The relatively high BMD and BMC of the dancers at the total body and legs were probably caused by high levels of weight-bearing physical activity. To ameliorate disordered eating, especially low energy intake might be helpful to prevent the Triad and to improve the bone health in adolescent dancers.

Inflammation has recently proven to be associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and inflammatory genes are good candidates for the risk of developing atherosclerosis. The early phase of atherosclerosis involves the recruitment of inflammatory cells from the circulation and their transendothelial migration. This process is mainly mediated by cellular adhesion molecules. The adhesion molecule P-selectin may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Polymorphism of P-selectin gene, which may affect the production level of the adhesion molecule, has been associated with a number of atherosclerotic disease. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship of P-selectin gene polymorphisms and ischemic stroke in a Chinese population. We analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms of P-selectin gene -2,123 G/C, -1,969 G/A, -1,817 T/C and Thr715Pro in three hundred and five patients with ischemic stroke and 280 age and sex matched controls, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing method. There were no significant differences in the genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies of P-selectin gene polymorphisms between the group of patients with ischemic stroke and the control group. Furthermore, there was no significant association of genotype, allele and haplotype at any of the polymorphism in relation to any subtype of ischemic stroke. We did not observe an association between P-selectin gene polymorphisms and ischemic stroke or any subtype of ischemic stroke. However, further studies are needed to explore the complex interaction between environmental factors and P-selectin gene polymorphisms in the risk of ischemic stroke, particularly in ethnically different populations.

Objective: To investigate the association of the single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene with the susceptibility to systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese Zhuang population., Methods: Two single nucleotide polymorphisms of the IL-18 gene promoter were analyzed, namely -137G/C and -607C/A, in 115 patients with SLE and 160 age and sex-matched controls in a Chinese Zhuang population, using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) strategy and DNA sequencing., Results: The IL-18 gene -607C/A polymorphism was significantly different between the SLE and control group (P < 0.05). The relative risk of SLE for -607C allele carrier was 1.619 times of the -607A allele carriers (OR=1.619, 95%CI: 1.150-2.281). Consistent with the results of the genotyping analyses, IL-18 -137G/-607C allele frequencies in patients with SLE was significant higher than that in controls (P < 0.05). The -137G/-607C allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of SLE (OR=1.484, 95%CI: 1.056-2.087). However, there was no difference of the distributions of the -137G/C polymorphism of the IL-18 gene between the SLE and control groups., Conclusion: IL-18 gene -607C/A polymorphism was associated with SLE, the -607C allele may be a risk factor for SLE.

The cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) may play a role in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) through the modulation of tumor immune response or enhanced angiogenesis. Polymorphism of IL-8 gene, which may affect the production level of cytokine, has been inversely associated with a number of cancers. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship of IL-8 gene polymorphisms and NPC in a Chinese population. We analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-8 gene -845 T/C, -738 T/A, -353 A/T, -251 A/T and +678 T/C in 280 patients with NPC and 290 age and sex matched controls, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers method (PCR-SSP). There were significant differences in the genotype and allele distribution of -251 A/T polymorphism of the IL-8 gene among cases and controls. The -251 AA and AT genotypes were associated with a significantly increased risk of NPC as compared with the -251 TT genotypes (OR=1.820, 95% CI, 1.120-2.959, P=0.015 and OR=1.590, 95% CI, 1.104-2.290, P=0.013, respectively). Haplotype analysis revealed that the homozygosity of the AAT haplotype (defined by SNPs at positions -353, -251 and +678) of IL-8 gene conveys the highest risk for NPC compared with the homozygosity for the TTC haplotype (OR=1.396; 95% CI, 1.064-1.831; P=0.016). The -251 A/T polymorphism of IL-8 and its haplotype are associated with NPC in a Chinese population. Our data suggests that IL-8 gene may play a role in the development of NPC.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is multifactorial, and the genetic background may be a crucial etiologic factor. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a multifunctional cytokine that induces interferon (IFN)-gamma secretion and plays an important role in antitumor immunity. Variations in the DNA sequence in the IL-18 gene promoter may lead to altered IL-18 production and/or activity, and so this can modulate an individual's susceptibility to ESCC. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the relationship of IL-18 gene promoter -137 G/C and -607 C/A polymorphisms and their haplotypes with the risk of ESCC in a Chinese population., Methods: Two hundred and thirty five patients with ESCC and 250 age- and sex-matched controls, using sequence specific primers-polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP)., Results: Two polymorphisms, -137 G/C and -607 C/A were in strong linkage disequilibrium (LD). There were significantly differences in the genotype and allele distribution of -137 G/C polymorphism of the IL-18 gene among cases and controls. The -137 GC and CC genotypes were associated with a significantly increased risk of ESCC as compared with the -137 GG genotypes (OR = 1.91, 95% CI, 1.29-2.82, p = 0.001 and OR = 2.95, 95% CI, 1.23-7.04, p = 0.012, respectively). Consistent with the results of the genotyping analyses, the -137 C/ -607 A haplotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of ESCC as compared with the -137G/-607 C haplotype (OR = 1.61; 95% CI, 1.16-2.23; p = 0.004)., Conclusion: This study shows for the first time an association between IL-18 gene promoter -137 G/C polymorphism may contribute represent a genetic risk factor for ESCC in a Chinese population.

Objective: To develop a general quality of life (QOL) instrument for Chinese in accordance with the Chinese culture and to assess its reliability, validity and sensitivity., Methods: A 35-item QOL questionnaire(QOL-35) was developed with reference to the World Health Organization QOL questionnaire(WHO-100) and the 36-item medical outcomes study on short-form health status(SF-36). Thirty five items were divided into six domains (general, physical, independent, psychological, social, environment) and one item on QOL transition. The reliability of QOL-35 was assessed by a test-retest survey among 127 adults with an interval of 24-72 hours. The internal consistency and validity were evaluated by a survey on 135 adults from outpatients or general population, using QOL-35, WHO-100 and SF-36. The adaptability was assessed by application to 1356 community-based samples in Beijing., Results: (1)Test-retest reliability of QOL-35: weighted Kappa indexes for items were from 0.86 to 1.00. Intraclass correlation coefficients were from 0.68 to 0.94 for domains, and 0.94 for total score. (2) On internal consistency: Cronbach's Alphas were 0.93, 0.97 and 0.89 for QO1-35, WHO-100 and SF-36. (3)On construct validity. The accumulated proportions of variances of the preceding seven factors were 66.5%, 50.3% and 65.3% for QOL-35, WHO-100 and SF-36. (4) On criterion validity. Spearman correlation coefficients of total QOL score of QOL-35 with those of WHO-100 and SF-36 were 0.805 and 0.745. (5)The rates of chronic diseases were 53.1%, 33.1%, 26.4% and 25.1% from first to fourth quantile of the total QOL scores of QOL-35(P<0.05). (6)Cronbach's Alpha was from 0.68 to 0.93 in 135 subjects, and from 0.71 to 0.91 in 1356 individuals of natural population., Conclusion: The QOL-35 instrument satisfied test-retest reliability and was highly correlated with WHO-100 and SF-36, having fewer items but better construction validity, better internal consistency, and better discrimination ability. We suggested that QOL-35 be used as a replicable tool to assess quality of life in the Chinese general population.

Objective: To establish a RP-HPLC method for the determination of gallic acid in Chinese herb Melastoma dodecandrum, and to evaluate the quality of the herb., Method: The RP-HPLC analysis was achieved by using a Polaris C18 column and tetrahydrofuran-methanol-0.2% phosphoric acid (0.5:0.5:99) as the mobile phase, with a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1), and detected by UV at 274 nm., Result: The content of gallic acid was from 0.020% to 0.081%, in ten groups of M. dodecandrum collected from different locations., Conclusion: The method is a simple, convenient and rapid. It can be used for quality evaluation of M. dodecandrum.

Objective: To unveil the distribution of E-selectin G98T polymorphism in exon 2 and the S128R polymorphism in exon 4 of the Chinese Zhuang and Han ethnic groups in Guangxi province., Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), gene sequencing and DNA sequencing were performed on 162 healthy Zhuangs and 170 healthy Hans., Results: The allele frequencies of G, T for E-selectin polymorphism in the exon 2 were 94.8% and 5.2% in Zhuangs, 95.3% and 4.7% in Hans, respectively; The allele frequencies of S, R for E-selectin polymorphism in the exon 4 were 92.0% and 8.0% in Zhuangs, 95.9% and 4.1% in Hans, respectively. There was significant difference in frequencies of genotype and allele in E-selectin S128R polymorphism between Zhuangs and Hans(chi-square test=4.482, P=0.034)., Conclusion: There was significant difference in the E-selectin S128R polymorphism between Zhuangs and Hans. There was no significant difference in the E-selectin G98T polymorphism between Zhuangs and Hans.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) of salivary glands in Sichuan Chinese and discuss the role of EBV infection in pathogenesis of LEC., Methods: Paraffin sections of 16 cases of LEC and 4 cases of benign lymphoepithelial lesion (BLEL) of salivary glands, 4 cases of non-specific chronic sialadenitis were examined by in situ hybridization for EBV encoded small RNA-1 (EBER-1) using 30-base synthesized oligonucleotide probe., Results: Strong signals for EBER-1 were obtained in most of tumor cell nuclei in all the specimens of LEC (16/16); in contrast, there were no significant signals observed in the examination of 4 cases of BLEL and 4 cases of non-specific chronic sialadenitis., Conclusion: The results indicate that EBV plays an important role in the pathogenesis of LEC of salivary glands in Sichuan Chinese.