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Background: Clinical research on exercise-based home pulmonary rehabilitation (HPR) effectiveness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment is rising, as are associated systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs). However, different SRs/MAs vary in outcome indicators, analysis methodologies, literature quality, and findings. This overview aimed to describe the findings of these SRs/MAs and assess their methodological quality. Methods: From inception until April 2022, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan Fang. Two researchers searched these SRs/MAs separately, collected the data, and cross-checked it using predetermined rules. The Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2) was used to evaluate the methodological quality of each contained SR/MA. The evidence was assessed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2009 (PRISMA-2009). The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to determine the validity of the results. Results: A total of 433 records were found, with 44 chosen for full-text review. There were 11 SRs/MAs that matched the inclusion criteria. Our overview included studies published from 2010 to 2022. According to the AMSTAR 2 tool, one had low methodological quality, while the other 10 SRs/MAs had very low quality. The PRISMA statement revealed a low rate of complete reporting for eight items. The GRADE tool, on the other hand, revealed that the evidence quality for most outcomes was very low to moderate. Conclusion: According to current research, exercise-based HPR may benefit COPD patients. Nevertheless, this finding is restricted by the low quality of the included SRs/MAs. And more high-quality and large-sample studies are needed in the future. Prospero: ID: CRD42022322768. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successive planting and monoculture, as common forest management methods, are widely used globally, especially in Chinese fir plantations in the subtropical areas of southern China. Although soil fertility depletion and productivity decline caused by successive planting have been widely reported, the underlying mechanism is still ambiguous. In this study, the composition and diversity of soil microorganisms (rhizosphere and bulk soils) in Chinese fir seedlings exposed to successive planting soils (firstgeneration Chinese fir seedings, FCP. second-generation Chinese fir seedings, SCP. third-generation Chinese fir seedings, TCP) and broadleaf tree species soil (Phoebe zhennan S. Lee et F. N. Wei, CK) were examined with highthroughput sequencing technology. Our findings revealed that the diversity and richness of bacterial and fungal communities were remarkably reduced in TCP than FCP and SCP, and were remarkably different between FCP and SCP. At the phylum level, the fungi with greatest relative abundance were Basidiomycota (5.74-32.88%) and Ascomycota (57.63-87.38%), while the bacteria with the greatest relative abundance were Acidobacteria (23.16-31.17%) and Proteobacteria (24.71-29.32%) for all treatments in both soil types. Additionally, the relative abundance of some pathogens (Penicillium and Burkholderia) was significantly higher in TCP than in FCP and SCP, suggesting that the presence of pathogens is an important factor in increasing the incidence of soil-borne sickness. Moreover, changes in fungal and bacterial communities were predominantly driven by soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC), DOC/DON ratio (DOCN), NO3--N, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and MBC/MBN ratio (MBCN). Overall, the long-term monoculture of Chinese fir promotes the microecological imbalance of rhizosphere and bulk soil, and remarkably reduced soil microbial community diversity. These results can provide a scientific support for the implementation of future management measures for fir plantations (e.g., fertilization, addition of microbial fungicides, and construction of mixed forests). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wulian complex is located on the northern margin of the Sulu orogenic belt, and was formed by collision between the North China Craton (NCC) to the north and South China Craton (SCC) to the south. It consists of the metasedimentary Wulian Group, gneissic granite and meta-diorite. The U–Pb analyses for the detrital zircons from the Wulian Group exhibit one predominant age population of 2600–2400 Ma with a peak at c. 2.5 Ga and several secondary age populations of > 3000, 3000–2800, 2800–2600, 2200–2000, 1900–1800, 1500–1300 and 1250–950 Ma; some metamorphic zircons have metamorphic ages of c. 2.7, 2.55–2.45, 2.1–2.0 and 1.95–1.80 Ga, which are consistent with magmatic-metamorphic events in the SCC. Additionally, the Wulian Group was intruded by the gneissic granite and meta-diorite at c. 0.76 Ga, attributed to Neoproterozoic syn-rifting bimodal magmatic activity in the SCC and derived from partial melting of Archaean continental crust and depleted mantle, respectively. The Wulian Group therefore has tectonic affinity to the SCC and was mainly sourced from the SCC. The detrital zircons have positive and negative ϵHf(t) values, indicating that their source rocks were derived from reworking of both ancient and juvenile crustal rocks. The major early Precambrian crustal growth took place during c. 3.4–2.5 Ga with a dominant peak at 2.96 Ga and several secondary peaks at 3.27, 2.74 and 2.52 Ga. The two oldest zircons with ages of 3307 and 3347 Ma record the recycling of ancient continental crust (> 3.35 Ga) and crustal growth prior to c. 3.95 Ga in the SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizome of Dioscorea bulbifera L. (DBL) is a popular traditional herb in the treatment of goiters, breast lumps, and tumors. Unfortunately, DBL can give rise to severe hepatotoxicity. More than 100 cases of liver injury, due to the usage of DBL in China, have been reported in the past half-century. The main toxic components of DBL are furanoditerpenoids diosbulbin B (DSB) as well as 8-epidiosbulbin E (EEA). This toxic effect requires metabolic oxidation of the furan ring mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes, and the P450 3A subfamily is the main enzyme responsible for the reported hepatotoxicity. cis-Enedial intermediates resulting from furan ring oxidation can react with nucleophilic sites of macromolecules, such as protein and DNA, which may trigger the toxicities. This review illustrates the liver injury induced by DBL including metabolic activation of DSB and EEA, the essential components responsible for DBL-induced hepatotoxicity, along with biochemical mechanisms of their toxic actions. It will facilitate the development of approaches to prevent and intervene in liver injury induced by DBL for its safe use in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sanghuangporus toxicodendri (Hymenochaetales) is described as new based on collections made from Shennongjia Forestry District, Hubei Province, China. All studied basidiocarps grew on living trunks of Toxicodendron sp. This new species is characterized by having perennial, effused-reflexed to pileate basidiocarps; pore surface brownish yellow or yellowish brown, pores 7-9 per mm; context 1-5 mm thick or almost invisible; setae ventricose, dark brown, 26-42 × 7-10 µm; basidia 4-sterigmate or occasionally 2-sterigmate; basidiospores broadly ellipsoid, smooth, brownish yellow, slightly thick-walled, mostly 3.5-4 × 2.8-3 µm. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference phylogenies inferred from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA indicated that Sanghuangporus spp. formed a monophyletic clade and resolved as a sister to Tropicoporus spp., and six strains of S. toxicodendri formed a monophyletic group which is sister to S. quercicola. An identification key to known species of Sanghuangporus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late Mesozoic destruction of the eastern North China Craton (NCC) resulted from intense crust-mantle interaction, culminating in the formation of world-class gold deposits in the Jiaodong Peninsula at ca. 120 Ma. We present zircon U-Pb geochronological data, Hf isotopic compositions, whole-rock major and trace element, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions for two suites of granitoids: one (the Linglong suite) that hosts significant mineralization and the other (the Weideshan suite) that is largely unmineralized. The Linglong suite was emplaced in the Late Jurassic at 160 ± 3 Ma to 155 ± 3 Ma, whereas the Weideshan suite was emplaced in the Early Cretaceous at 121 ± 2 Ma to 118 ± 1 Ma, coeval with gold mineralization. Geochemical data indicate the Linglong suite was derived from the melting of thickened lower crust of the NCC, mixed with material from the Yangtze Craton (YC) and intervening Su-Lu Orogenic Belt, whereas the Weideshan suite was formed from the partial melting of lower continental crust, with the addition of enriched lithospheric mantle components. The Late Jurassic magmatism was associated with crustal growth resulting from the continental collision between the NCC and YC and subsequent subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Oceanic Plate (PPOP). In contrast, Early Cretaceous magmatism was triggered by rapid lithospheric thinning and asthenospheric upwelling resulting from slab roll-back and stagnation of the PPOP beneath the NCC. Lithospheric delamination induced the widespread development of secondary structures associated with the major Tan-Lu Fault, providing favorable loci for the accumulation of auriferous fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the reform and opening up, China's construction industry has been growing at a high speed in the vigorous development with the development of the national economy, but it also has faced a huge challenge in recent years. Aiming at the problems in the traditional engineering construction, the use of the way of collaborative design is helpful for the communication and coordination for the participation of all parties. Therefore, the construction project collaborative design and construction collaboration platform based on cloud BIM platform was established, and applied to the construction application. In the construction project collaborative design platform based on cloud, the establishment of the model, the designer's rights management, the task management, the knowledge management, the conflict detection and elimination as well as the function of the expansion of the six parts were included, and the work flow of corresponding collaborative design and the work flow of construction simulation were put forward, the cooperative work run through the whole process of the whole construction project. Finally, through the application of specific projects, it can be seen that the collaboration platform with the combination of cloud computing technology and BIM can improve the efficiency of the design and construction and the quality of the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

n inter-laboratory comparison of the AOAC mouse bioassay for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxicity in shellfish was carried out among 25 Chinese laboratories to examine the overall performance for PSP testing in China, and to analyze the main factors affecting the performance of this method. The toxic scallop Patinopecten yessoensis collected from coast of Bohai Sea, China, was used as a test sample in the comparison study. The results were reported and evaluated using robust statistical methods. The z scores showed that 80%, 8%, and 12% of laboratories reported satisfactory results, unsatisfactory results, and questionable results, respectively. This evaluation demonstrates that the PSP mouse bioassay is an appropriate method for screening and testing PSP toxicity in shellfish. However, it was found that the experience and skill of technicians, as well as the body weight and health status of mice being used significantly affected the accuracy of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the relationship between the changes of environment and the transmission of Schistosomiasis japonica after the construction of the Three Gorge Reservoir. Methods: On the basis of the predictive data on changes of water level and sediment in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River after the dam construction provided by the Yangtze River Committee on Water Conservancy, corresponding data were collected and analyzed. In order to understand the effects of changes of water level and sediment on Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, field surveys and ecologically intimated experiments were done. The prevalence status and factors related to transmission were investigated by epidemiology, medical geography and public health. Results: Positive impact on control of schistosomiasis is that floods in the Yangtze River will occur less and will decrease the dispersal of snails and the chances of infection for humans and animals as well. Snail habitats’ beach will be reduced in the flushed area along the Yangtze River. Exploitation of beach and elimination of snails will benefit from the beach''s uplift in flushed area. The floods ahead of time in autumn will interfere with the development of snails. Negative impact is that the flushed beaches and migratory settlements at certain altitude may become snail habitats. So the reservoir area will be a potential transmission area of schistosomiasis due to dispersal of infectious resources and Oncomelania snails. The uprising of the water body level may cause the expending of the snail habitats in some places of Jianghan plain during the transition of spring to summer. The destruction of the embankments of the Dongting Lake will be put off by its delayed flush, which causes the beach in a situation of growing reed-grass or grass for a long time that benefits the reproduction of the snails. The chances for schistosome infection to humans and animals will be on the increase, because the water regression occurs ahead of time in the Dongting Lake beach in autumn. The distribution of snails will not be affected by the changes of water level in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River after the dam is built, but the flushed section in Anhui in the recent 80 years are suitable for the snails’ development. The environmental changes due to dam construction will not obviously affect the development of snails and the transmission of schistosomiasis in the Poyang Lake area. Conclusion: The construction of the huge dam and the formation of the Three Gorge Reservoir on the Yangtze River may have both positive and negative impact on schistosomiasis transmission and control. Great effort must be made to decrease the negative impact to avoid or, at least, to decrease S. japonicum transmission. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Orogenic gold deposits account for more than 30 % of the global gold resources. To understand the genesis of orogenic gold deposits and ultimately target new orogenic gold deposits, it is important to determine the origin of gold. However, there has been a continuing debate surrounding gold source reservoirs. The Jiaodong gold province, comprising ore hosted within Mesozoic granitoids that intruded Archean metamorphic rocks, together with other gold occurrences in the North China block, collectively constitute the only Mesozoic world-class gold resource in a Precambrian basement. This geological setting, with young deposits in ancient rocks, offers a great opportunity to better determine the gold source because it allows us to fingerprint the isotopically distinct reservoirs. Specifically, it is possible to determine whether the mass-independent isotopic fractionation sulfur (MIF-S)-bearing Archean supracrustal rocks that form the lower crust are a permissive source. We present multiple sulfur isotope (δ34S and Δ33S) measurements of pyrite grains (n = 161) from 18 gold deposits in the six main districts of the Mesozoic Jiaodong gold province. Gold-associated pyrite grains yield non-MIF-S signatures (Δ33S = 0 ‰), indicating that Archean metasedimentary rocks are not a source reservoir of sulfur and gold. The isotopically heavy S (average δ34S = +9.0 ± 3.7 ‰, 2SD) demonstrates a sulfur contribution from a subducted oceanic slab and, in particular, its overlying sediments while excluding mantle and magmatic sources. The subduction-related metamorphism released appreciable gold and sulfur from the top of the downgoing slab into aqueous-carbonic fluids that ascended into the upper plate along crustal structures traversing a tectonically thinned crust. Here, we demonstrate that these giant Mesozoic orogenic gold deposits sourced gold and sulfur during subduction-related devolatilization reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The tuff from the Macaoyuan Group was formed at 1157±19Ma. [•] The maximum depositional age of the Macaoyuan Group is not older than 1180Ma. [•] “Macaoyuan conglomerates” are made up of the slope carbonate gravity flow deposits. [•] The Macaoyuan Group is one part of the basement strata beneath the rift succession. [•] ∼2.60Ga peak age represents an important period for the Yangtze block's formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 1200 μg/mL F. schisandrae inhibited the growth of V.alginolyticus ND-01. • V. alginolyticus under high concentrations of F. schisandrae stress had insufficient ability in the whole biofilm formation process. • DEGs was involved in the following functional categories: metabolic process, single-organism process, catalytic activity and localization. Due to the abusive use of antibiotics, bacterial resistance has become a global problem and poses severe threats to aquaculture. The drug-resistant diseases caused by Vibrio alginolyticus have caused significant economic losses to cultured marine fish. Fructus schisandrae is used to treat inflammatory diseases in China and Japan. There have been no reports of bacterial molecular mechanisms associated with F. schisandrae stress. In this study, the inhibiting effect of F. schisandrae on the growth of V. alginolyticus was detected to understand response mechanisms at the molecular level. The antibacterial tests were analyzed via next-generation deep sequencing technology (RNA sequencing, RNA-seq). Wild V. alginolyticus (CK) was compared with V. alginolyticus, F. schisandrae incubated for 2 h, and V. alginolyticus, F. schisandrae incubated for 4 h. Our results revealed that there were 582 genes (236 upregulated and 346 downregulated) and 1068 genes (376 upregulated and 692 downregulated), respectively. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in the following functional categories: metabolic process, single-organism process, catalytic activity, cellular process, binding, membrane, cell part, cell, and localization. FS_2 h was compared with FS_4 h, and 21 genes (14 upregulated and 7 downregulated) were obtained. The RNA-seq results were validated by detecting the expression levels of 13 genes using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The qRT-PCR results matched those of the sequencing, which reinforced the reliability of the RNA-seq. The results revealed the transcriptional response of V. alginolyticus to F. schisandrae , which will provide new ideas for studying V. alginolyticus' complex virulence molecular mechanism and the possibility of developing Schisandra to prevent and treat drug-resistant diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Apatite xenocryst is a powerful tool for determining buried rocks at depth. • Apatite xenocryst source was less than 11 km under the paleo-surface at 120 Ma. • Apatite xenocrysts were from buried Triassic S-type granites and metamorphic rocks. • Unaltered apatite xenocrysts constrain the bottom of gold mineralization. Obtaining geological information at depth by lower-cost proxies is important. Apatite grains from hydrothermal quartz veins and their host K-feldspar altered granites from the Jiaodong gold province reveal key insights into the buried rocks and vertical distribution of ores at depth. Two types of apatite grains from hydrothermal quartz veins and their host K-feldspar altered granites are identified. Type I apatite grains in granites coexist with amphibole and feldspar, indicating a magmatic origin. They yield U-Pb Tera–Wasserburg concordia lower intercept dates of 162 ± 13 Ma and 158 ± 9 Ma, which are within uncertainty of zircon U-Pb dates of ca. 160 Ma, representing the crystallization ages for these rocks. Support vector machine (SVM) apatite classification biplots show that the Type I apatite grains have lower LREEs than their I-type granitoid protolith, indicating that LREEs were leached during alteration, which is also suggested by monazite inclusions in altered domains of the Type I apatite. Apatite xenocrysts (Type II) are observed in hydrothermal veins and yield Tera–Wasserburg concordia lower intercept dates of 227 ± 3 Ma and 227 ± 4 Ma. Two subsets of Type II apatite are recognized. SVM apatite classification biplots show that they were derived from the Late Triassic S-type granites and high-grade metamorphic rocks related to the Late Triassic collision between North China and South China blocks. These rocks were less than 11 ± 1 km under the paleosurface during gold mineralization (ca. 120 Ma) estimated by the closure temperature of apatite U-Pb system (460 ± 10 °C), surface temperature at Jiaodong (20 °C), and paleogeothermal gradient (40 ± 5 °C/km). Given the ore-forming paleodepth of about 7 km calculated by previous fluid inclusion works, the unaltered Type II apatite xenocrysts mark that gold ores in the footwall at Jiaodong didn't exceed 4 ± 1 km vertically relative to the sample location. The high preservation potential for apatite in hydrothermal veins illustrates the potential to employ apatite xenocryst as a powerful tool for determining buried rocks at depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of floods on the transmission of schistosomiasis in the Yangtze River valley, People''s Republic of China. Retrospective analyses of malacologic, clinical and epidemiologic data, covering a 22-year period, were carried out to elucidate the dispersal patterns of intermediate host snails (Oncomelania hupensis), and acute and chronic infections with Schistosoma japonicum in humans in relation to floods. Potential O. hupensis habitats in years with floods were 2.6–2.7 times larger than in years when water levels were normal. Both the density and infection rate of O. hupensis dropped in the first two years after a flood, but significantly increased in the third year. The number of acute cases with schistosomiasis japonica was markedly higher in years characterized by floods; on average, 2.8 times more cases were observed when compared to years that the Yangtze River had normal water levels. In view of our findings, emergency responses are warranted as soon as possible after the occurrence of a flood in order to avoid or mitigate the reemergence and spread of human schistosomiasis in the People''s Republic of China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The description of schistosomiasis in China dates back more than two millennia. The disease caused social and economic hardship, and the rates of morbidity and mortality were high. In the mid 1950s, when China''s population was approximately 600 million, an estimated 11.6 million people were infected with Schistosoma japonicum. Hence, a national control programme was launched, with an emphasis on intermediate host snail control by means of environmental management. Over the past 50 years, the national control programme has made great progress and praziquantel-based morbidity control became the mainstay of control. In 2000, the number of infected people had been reduced to an estimated 694,788, the snail-infested area has been abridged by over 75%, and the disease had been eliminated in five of the 12 previously endemic provinces. Between the mid 1980s and 2003, the criteria of transmission interruption have been reached in 260 counties (60.0%), transmission control has been achieved in 63 counties (14.5%), but the disease was still endemic in the remaining 110 counties (25.4%). Comparison between the number of cases in 2000 and 2003 suggests that schistosomiasis has re-emerged; an estimated 843,011 people were infected with S. japonicum in 2003. Here, we provide a short historical account of the pubic health significance of schistosomiasis in China, highlight the progress made to date with the national control programme, and place particular emphasis on the most recent trends. Finally, we discuss remaining challenges for schistosomiasis control with the ultimate goal of disease elimination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To assess the impact level on physical fitness and working capacity in patients with advanced Schistosomiasis japonica, a field study was carried out. According to the records of patients with advanced schistosomiasis in Susong County, Anhui Province, 48 advanced cases without other serious chronic diseases from endemic areas in two townships and 56 healthy individuals from non-endemic area, served as control group with matched ages between 40 and 70 years and matched sex were investigated with questionnaire, anthropometric measure and hemoglobin level. The impairment level of the liver was measured by ultrasonography and physical fitness was measured by the Step test in the case and control groups. All situations including lifestyle, working, socio-economic status and residing environment was similar in the case and control groups. Average height and weight was significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (height=156.29 and 159.41 cm; weight=50.72 and 53.92 kg; respectively, all P<0.05). Thirteen individuals (28.3%) in the case group had moderate reduction of working capacity or even unable to work, but only seven (12.7%) individuals in the control group had moderate reduction of working capacity and all in the control group were able to work (P<0.01). In the past 1 year, the average working days lost was 4.11 days in the case group and 0.86 day in the control group (P<0.01). Both groups differed significantly in symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea and weakness (all P<0.05). Twenty-one cases (43.8%) had grade II impairment of the liver and eight cases (16.7%) had grade III impairment of the liver in the case group, whereas seven individuals (12.7%) had grade II impairment of the liver in the control group (P<0.01), as assessed by ultrasound. The hemoglobin levels and the power of gripping in the case group were significantly lower than those in the control group (Hb=111.06 and 122.27 g/l; grip=303.83 and 344.20 N, respectively, all P<0.01). Physical fitness scores showed the control group (score: 71.84) was significantly fitter than the case group (score: 61.09, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the physical fitness of the case group reduced by 15%. The results showed that physical fitness and working capacity were reduced in advanced cases. Although most of the cases were treated and had reached a status of ‘clinical cure’, the impact on physical fitness and working capacity still existed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Six new bisabolane-type phenolic sesquiterpenoids, including plakordiols A-D (1-4), (7R, 10R)-hydroxycurcudiol (5) and (7R, 10S)-hydroxycurcudiol (6) were isolated from the marine sponge Plakortis simplex collected from the South China Sea. Their structures were determined based on extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. Their configurations were assigned by coupling constant analysis, NOESY correlations, and the modified Mosher's method. Furthermore, their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities were evaluated., (Copyright © 2021 China Pharmaceutical University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Multiple lines of evidence have suggested that genetic factors may contribute to steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH). Complement receptor 2 (CR2), constituting a family of regulators of complement activation, has been recently reported to be associated with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in Koreans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between polymorphisms of the CR2 gene and susceptibility to SONFH in the male Han Chinese population. Materials and Methods: A total of 468 SONFH patients and 1224 healthy controls were recruited for this study. Ten tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within the CR2 gene were genotyped. Genetic association analyses, including SNP and haplotypic analyses, were performed for the 10 SNPs. Furthermore, bioinformatic analyses were conducted to examine the functional consequences of SNPs shown to be significantly associated with SONFH. Results : An intronic SNP, rs311306, was identified to be significantly associated with the risk of SONFH ( p  = 0.0008, odds ratio = 1.44). Allelic analyses showed that the C allele of this SNP significantly elevated the risk of SONFH, which was replicated in genotypic association analyses. Moreover, a 3-SNP haplotype was significantly associated with SONFH (rs311306-rs17044576-rs3767933, p  = 7.49 × 10 -8 ). Furthermore, bioinformatic analyses indicated limited functional consequences of SNP rs311306, but a complex interaction network was constructed for the protein encoded by the SLC44A2 gene and proteins encoded by the CD19 , CD81 , and C3 genes. Conclusion: Our findings shed new light on the link between the CR2 gene and SONFH in Han Chinese males, providing clues as to the nature of the mechanisms involved in the etiology of ONFH.

To investigate the resources of medicinal plant, such as wild Apocynum, supervised classification based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and texture feature were used to monitor wild medicinal plants from image captured by ZY-3 and World-view-2 and compare which satellite Image are more appropriate to monitor the wild medicinal plants. The research results shows that: for more complex growth conditions wild medicinal plants Apocynum, high-resolution images Worldview-2 is more suitable for its remote identification, the low-resolution satellite ZY-3 can only recognizes the wild medicinal plants which distributed intensively. If the study target distribution is more intensive and larger scale, and cultivated type medicinal plants, the use of satellite ZY-3 in low resolution remote sensing data to identify the target can be a good choice, it is not necessary to buy high-resolution data, in order to avoid waste of expenditure, for the scattered distribution, the high-resolution satellite imagery data may be indispensable to identify targets.

Taking the Berberis aggregate shrubs in the ecotone of dry valley and montane forests in upper reaches of Minjiang River as study objects, and by the methods of tracking grazing and field survey, this paper studied the characteristics of habitat utilization by livestock and the features of grazing-path. The major factors affecting the features of grazing-path were screened by redundancy analysis (RDA), and the relationships of the grazing-path features with the coverage, size class, and distribution pattern of the shrubs were analyzed. It was shown that the distribution pattern of the grazing-path could intuitively reflect the characteristics of the habitat utilization by livestock, being in accordance with the results of tracking grazing. The Morisita index at 5 m scale could objectively reflect the distribution type of the grazing-path. Sample plots 1, 2 and 6 presented a contagious distribution of grazing-path, while the other plots showed regular distribution. In slope scale, the coverage and height of the shrubs were the notable affecting factors, which had negative correlations with the grazing-path features. There was a significant negative correlation between the coverage of B. aggregate population and the area of grazing-path. The population structure of B. aggregate had a close correlation with the distribution of grazing-path. The ratio of the long axis to short axis of the shrubs was averagely 1.29, and the shape of the shrubs approached to round. It was considered that the grazing-path landscape and the livestock on the grazing-paths had the function of reconstructing the shape of the shrubs. The directionality of the population pattern of B. aggregate was generally in line with the distribution type of grazing-path, but actually, they were opposite in distribution. The patches of the shrubs were in aggregated or uniform distribution in the areas deviated from the grazing-path.

This study analyzes the accumulation and distribution of biomass and changes in properties of biofilm in a long-term biotrickling filter (BTF) system in order to investigate the correlation between the biofilm phase properties and the performance. After a long-term operation of 130 days, the BTF showed a deterioration in degradation performance and an increase in pressure drop with a gradual increase of biofilm thickness and uneven distribution of biomass. Meanwhile, the porosity of the upper and lower layers decreased from 85% and 82% in the start-up period to 65% and 40%, respectively, as a result of the excessive accumulation of biomass and its non-uniform distribution. The AWCD values showed a decreasing trend indicating that the biological activity decreased with the aging of biofilm in the long-term BTF. The contents of total extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and protein in the later period were twice as much as those in the start-up period. The value of protein to polysaccharide (PN/PS) ratio increased from 0.3 to 0.95, and showed positive correlation with the surface hydrophobicity of the biofilm, which increased from 33% to 73% accordingly. The mean molecular weight of EPS decreased during the operation of BTF. The result of FTIR further showed that the main chemical composition of EPS changed in the long-term BTF accordingly, possibly resulting in the deterioration of performance in the long-term BTF. The above experimental results could be very helpful for reducing the clogging and performance deterioration in long-term BTF.

It is a challenge to understand the discrete roles of each point mutation in viral evolution, but overlapping genes provide an excellent entrance for the investigation of this complicated process. We obtained 132 sequences from the largest overlapping region in the HBV genome. Based on the genetic divergence between genotypes B and C, we distinguished a set of related footprint mutations that are believed to be responsible for historical selection events. Examining the mutations in the functional domains, we found that the virus has adopted a coherent strategy in its evolutionary process that can be summarized as follows: (1) the distribution of mutations was non-random throughout the overlapping region, and more mutations were preserved in the sequence when one of the genes was under relaxed selection; (2) the viral domains were subject to different selective pressures; for instance, the PreS1 domain underwent a strict selection, whereas the overlapped Spacer domain was relatively relaxed with obvious tolerance of non-synonymous mutations with a high dN/dS ratio; (3) different selective pressures on two codon sites ultimately determined that every mutation persevered at a proper position. Taken together, the functional constraints of protein domains are believed to be primarily responsible for the different selection patterns exhibited by the distribution of mutations and amino acid changes in the region where overlapping genes reside., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Achievements for schistosomiasis control have been gained by implementation of integrated control strategies according to local conditions since the founding of the People's Republic of China. By the end of 2008, 5 of the 12 provinces reached the criteria of transmission interruption. Among 454 endemic counties, transmission was interrupted in 265 counties while 97 counties reached the criteria of transmission control. The number of schistosomiasis cases decreased from 10 million in history to 413,000. Currently, there still left 92 counties where the disease is endemic and mainly distributed in lake and mountainous regions. Limited by the environmental and socioeconomic factors, integrated control strategies could not be carried out in these places. Although the strategies based on reducing the roles of humans and cattle as resources of infection decreased the infection rate and intensity quickly, re-infection occurred frequently due to the spread of snails and numerous animal reservoirs. Chemotherapy alone could not interrupt the transmission. By changing the traditional bio-medical control model applying integrated control strategy mainly with social measures, integrating disease control with local social and economic development programs, changing the traditional life styles and agricultural production patterns, and eliminating the risk factors for schistosomiasis transmission, schistosomiasis control can be developed sustainably and reach the criteria of transmission interruption finally.

Objective: To understand the adverse and curative effects of film coated praziquantel for treatment of schistosomiasis japonica., Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 6 to 65 years old inhabitants from epidemic areas of schistosomiasis japonica in Jiangxi, Anhui and Hubei provinces, while indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA) was also administrated. The Serological positives were tested by Kato-Katz technique. A total of 509 habitats of serological positives and healthy persons were given praziquantel. 460 targets with no relative symptoms were followed up for adverse effect of drugs in one month and efficacy evaluation of praziquantel was carried out in 104 parasitological positives 3 months post-treatment., Results: The 84.7% (144/170) individuals thought film coated tablets were no smell or only with little smell while 92.9%(315/339) targets in control group fell that tablets smelled bad. The total side effect rates of film coated praziquantel group and control group in 1-2 hours post-treatment were 20.30% (27/133) and 83.18% (272/327) respectively. There was significantly different between two groups (chi(2) = 164.316, P < 0.05). The adverse effect rates of film coated praziquantel group in neuromuscular system, digestive system and cardiovascular system were 15.79% (21/133), 9.77% (13/133), 2.26% (3/133) individually which were significantly lower than those of control groups with 81.65% (267/327), 49.24% (161/327), 12.84% (42/327) in corresponding systems (chi(2)(neuromuscular system) = 175.188, chi(2)(digestive system) = 62.601, chi(2)(cardiovascular system) = 12.010, P < 0.05). And the adverse effect rate of allergic reaction of film coated group was no significant difference with control group (2.26%(3/133) versus 0.92% (3/327), chi(2) = 1.315, P = 0.235). One day after treatment, the adverse effect rate of film coated tablets of praziquantel decreased to 3.01% (4/133), significantly lower than that of control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference after 2 weeks treatment while the adverse effect rates decreased to 0.75%(1/133), 0.61% (2/327) in film coated praziquantel group and control group respectively (chi(2) = 0.029, P = 0.642). The curative rates 3 months post treatment were 84.91% (45/51) in film coated tablets of praziquantel group and 82.35% (42/53) in control group without significant difference (chi(2) = 1.536, P = 0.215)., Conclusion: The smell and adverse effects of film coated tablets of praziquantel were decreased significantly and its efficacy for treatment of schistosomiasis japonica was equal to the control tablets. The film coated tablets of praziquantel might be applied in field widely after a further verification.

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) after liposuction is likely a life-threatening disorder, though its incidence is low. The three chief clinical manifestations include respiratory insufficiency, cerebral involvement, and petechial rash. Although FES is a multisystem disorder, the most seriously affected organs are the lungs, brain, cardiavascular system, and skin. Many laboratory findings are characteristic but nonspecific. The pathogenesis of FES after liposuction has been looked at both mechanically and biochemically. Diagnosis is difficult; Gurd and Wilson's diagnostic criteria based on clinical examination is still extensively used in clinics at present. There is no specific therapy for FES after liposuction for the moment, so prevention, early diagnosis, and supportive therapies are important. In this article we discuss the clinical presentation, pathogensis, and current methods to prevent FES and, if possible, ways to treat this complication.

Objective: To observe the impact on the transmission of schistosomiasis in areas where the local inhabitants migrated from outside embankment to new settlements., Methods: Two villages (Chenqiao and Qingjie) where the inhabitants had moved out and another 2 villages (Jiangzhou and Xiaohuang) disused for both inhabitants and cultivated land were selected for the investigation. Data on prevalence in human and domestic animals, and Oncomelania snail habitats, were collected., Results: After moving from outside embankment to new settlements, the density of infested snails in Chenqiao and Qingjie decreased by 79.1% and 45.2% in 2005 compared with that in 2002, and the infection rate of snails decreased by 75.5% and 84.9%, respectively (P < 001). In Jiangzhou and Xiauhuang, the density of infested snails decreased by 100% and 74.9% in 2005 compared with that in 2002, and the infection rate of snails decreased by 100% and 40.0%, respectively (P > 0.05). In villages that only disused for inhabitants, the density and egg-positive rate of feces collected from the wild were higher than the other 2 villages. However, in villages disused for both inhabitants and cultivated land, the density and egg-positive rate of wild feces decreased gradually and no egg-positive feces was found in 2005. The prevalence of schistosomiasis in humans in villages disused only for inhabitants changed slightly from 2002 to 2005, but decreased gradually in villages disused for both inhabitants and cultivated land. Higher prevalence in cattle was found in villages disused only for inhabitants. Number of cattle reduced yearly and no cattle left in villages disused for both inhabitants and cultivated land in 2005., Conclusion: No significant change on the factors of schistosomiasis transmission has been found in villages disused only for inhabitants, but the transmission has been effectively controlled in villages disused for both inhabitants and cultivated land.

Results from the third nationwide cluster sampling survey on the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China, conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2004, are presented. A stratified cluster random sampling technique was used, and 239 villages were selected in 7 provinces where Schistosoma japonicum remains endemic. A total of 250,987 residents 6-65 years of age were included in the survey. Estimated prevalence rates in the provinces of Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Jiangsu were 4.2%, 3.8%, 3.1%, 2.2%, 1.7%, 0.9%, and 0.3%, respectively. The highest prevalence rates were in the lake and marshland region (3.8%) and the lowest rates were in the plain region with waterway networks (0.06%). Extrapolation to all residents in schistosome-endemic areas indicated 726,112 infections. This indicates a reduction of 16.1% compared with a nationwide survey conducted in 1995. However, human infection rates increased by 3.9% in settings where transmission is ongoing.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of routinely used assays for schistosomiasis diagnosis in the field., Methods: From late November to early December 2005, 6-65 years old inhabitants from 3 endemic villages were examined by Kato-Katz technique (3 thick smears) and nylon bag sedimentation/hatching method. At the same time, dipstick dye immunoassay(DDIA), fast enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (F-ELISA), indirect haemagglutination test A (IHA-A) and B ( IHA-B) were carried out in parallel, Results: 1864 people were examined by stool examination with an average positive rate of 9.7%. The missing rate of DDIA was relatively stable in medium and heavily endemic areas of schistosomiasis. The missing rate of nylon bag sedimentation/hatching method was 25% and relatively stable when the number of eggs per gram of feces(EPG) was larger than 100. The average positive rate of DDIA, F-ELISA, IHA-A and IHA-B was 47.8%, 50.0%, 66.3% and 40.1% respectively. Using stool examination as the gold standard, the sensitivity of DDIA, F-ELISA, IHA-A and IHA-B was 75.3%, 65.8%, 85.6% and 76.0%; and the specificity was 55.1%, 51.7%, 35.7% and 63.6%, respectively. Among the four sero-diagnostics, the specificity, Youden index, positive likelihood rate and coincidence of IHA-B were the highest., Conclusion: Kato-Katz method is more stable and effective than nylon bag sedimentation/hatching method in medium and heavily endemic areas of schistosomiasis japonica. The sensitivity and specificity of these four diagnosis kits are lower than 90%.

Objective: To detect the change of the anti-S. japonicum antibody level after people migrated from outside embankment to newly established town., Methods: Three pilot spots were established for the investigation: one spot that both inhabitancy and cultivation disuse (A), one spot that only inhabitancy disuse but farming continued (B) and the third one served as control (C). DIGFA and ELISA were used to detect the antibody level in the populations from 2002 to 2005., Results: The positive rate of anti-S. japonicum antibody declined significantly from 6.63% to 3.52% by DIGFA and from 7.26% to 3.71% by ELISA at spot A (chi2=5.2625, P<0.05; chi2=6.3296, P<0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference on the positive rate of antibody in spots B and C. The average A450 value of ELISA in the three spots was statistically analyzed by One-Way ANOVA. It was only in spot B that the average A450 value declined from 0.182 in 2003 to 0.147 in 2005 (P<0.01)., Conclusion: The anti-S. japonicum antibody level in human population has decreased at certain degree after they migrated from outside embankment to new town.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the intervention measures for schistosomiasis control adapted to the ecological environment changes in Jiang Han plain caused by the establishment of the Three Gorges Dam., Methods: Four villages in Qianjiang City were selected to implement paddy-upland rotation, crawfish-paddy alternation, water control and soil improvement, and adjusting agricultural structure to rebuild the waterlogging low yielding land and to change the snail habitat environment respectively. The snail habitat area, mean density of living snails and prevalence of schistosomiasis in human and cattle were compared with those of the control villages. Miracidia hatching methods were used to examine the prevalence in human and cattle., Results: In the four experimental villages, the snail-ridden area decreased by 100%, 51.35%, 62.16% and 87.88% respectively; mean density of living snails decreased by 100%, 69.41%, 52.30% and 75.77%, with a t value of 9.37, 4.91, 2.31 and 9.16, I'<0.01. Human prevalence of schistosomiasis in 2005 in village with crawfish-paddy alteration decreased significantly than control (chi2=39.84, I'<0.01); decreased by 73.10% in village with water control and soil improvement in 1990 than in 1987 (chi2=236.10, P<0.01)., Conclusion: Implementation of the four intervention measures reaches a remarkable benefit in reforming snail habitat and protecting environment, which can be recommended to the inner embankment type endemic regions.

The World Bank Loan Project, by far the largest effort in China for schistosomiasis control since control activities were initiated in the mid 1950s, was carried out for a 9-year period commencing in 1992 in the 8 provinces where Schistosoma japonicum remained endemic when the project started. To evaluate its impact, a retrospective economic evaluation was done in 2001. Six representative counties, i.e. Huarong in Hunan province, Qianjiang in Hubei province, Yugan in Jiangxi province, Tongling in Anhui province, Xichang in Sichuan province and Dali in Yunnan province, were selected for the study. The total financial input in these counties from 1992 to 2000 was RMB Yuan 90.334 million with the World Bank loan accounting for 40.9%. Control efforts resulted in reduction of human prevalence rates in the six counties from 0.7-9.0% in 1992 to 0.1-2.7% in 2000. With regard to S. japonicum infection in bovines, a high reduction was observed in Qianjiang, and smaller decreases were noted in four counties, while there was an increase in Dali. In general, the areas infested by the intermediate host snail fluctuated around the initial level. The net benefit-cost ratio was 6.20, which means that this project gained US$ 6.20 for every dollar spent. The correlation coefficients of the net benefit-cost ratio to the human and bovine infection rates at the beginning of the project were 0.55 and 0.66, respectively. It is conceivable that further progress in schistosomiasis control is an important feature for sustained growth of the local economy, particularly in areas where control of the disease has been most challenging.

Surveillance of schistosomiasis consists mainly of surveys carried out in formerly endemic areas to observe infection and re-infection of resident and mobile human populations, and domestic animals (e.g. bovines) plus snail monitoring. Here, we focus on the schistosomiasis situation in the five Chinese provinces which have reached the national criteria for elimination of the disease, i.e. Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Shanghai and Zhejiang. With the exception of three newly infected persons in Guangdong province, detected in 1992, repeated surveys in these provinces have not detected any new locally infected case in either humans or bovines. When the newly infected persons were discovered in Guangdong, residual snail habitats including Schistosoma japonicum-infected snails were found in the neighbourhood. These were destroyed and the infected persons treated before further spread could take place. The surveillance system in place has thus been successful in consolidating the results of the control effort. We conclude that rigorous surveillance for and control of schistosomiasis is the way to prevent resurgence of infection and disease in areas which have reached the national criteria for elimination or transmission interruption.

Objective: To understand the risk factors of schistosomiasis transmission in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) and to provide evidence for the development of control strategy., Methods: Approaches including epidemiology, immunology and field survey were applied to investigate the potential risk factors which would involve the importation of infectious resources live mobile and migrant population, and livestock in the reservoir area. Meanwhile, observation on survival and reproductive status of snail under simulation habitats was also carried out, using ecological methods on snails. Strategy in preventing the spread of snail as infectious resources was also provided., Results: 175 mobile people from schistosomaisis endemic area of were tested and one person showed immunology tests positive with indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) and circumoral precipitin test (COPT), with a positive rate of 0.57%. Through the two-year period under observation, data showed that the snails with ribbon/smooth shells could survive and reproduce under habitats of simulation., Conclusions: Once the infectious resource of schistosomiasis was introduced into the TGRA, the area became a new schistosomiasis epidemic area in TGRA which called for countermeasures to be taken.