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Tree peony (Paeonia section Moutan DC.) is an excellent ornamental plant, of which Paeonia ostii (P. ostii) has a high oil value. It is widely cultivated in China, but severe drought affects its growth. In this study, the effects of exogenous calcium on drought-induced damage of P. ostii were studied. The results showed that under drought stress, leaf water content showed a downward trend, while reactive oxygen species (ROS), relative electrical conductivity (REC), proline (Pro) content, and related antioxidant enzymes increased significantly. Spraying CaCl2 could effectively slow leaf wilting and water loss, induced an increase in enzyme activity of the antioxidant enzyme system, and reduced the accumulation of ROS caused by drought stress. Simultaneously, REC and Pro content could be alleviated, and the degree of cell membrane damage could be reduced. In addition, CaCl2 improved photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. These results indicated that CaCl2 reduced the harmful effects of drought stress on the growth of P. ostii by regulating infiltration, activating photosynthesis, and enhancing the antioxidant system. These findings suggested that CaCl2 can be used to manage drought stress in P. ostii cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the segregation of indium (In) during solid-phase-epitaxial crystallization of amorphous silicon layers as a function of annealing temperature and the presence of p- and n-type dopants. Effect of the addition of p- and n-type dopants on the crystallization and segregation of In; Factors that affect impurity segregation; Description of nonequilibrium segregation; Ways of measuring the In distribution.

The growth of winter potato, which is mainly planted in South China, is negatively affected by low temperatures. However, mulching is an effective method to increase soil temperatures. Here, the effects of black plastic, white plastic and rice straw mulch were assessed on soil temperatures, as well as on potato growth and yield through field experiment. The daily mean temperatures increased by up to 7.5°C and 6.5°C under black and white plastic mulch, respectively, compared with no mulch. Furthermore, the emergence rates and dates were accelerated by mulching, with the greatest tuber yields being observed under the black mulch treatment in two growing seasons. Additionally, mulching altered the soil's fertility properties and soil microorganism composition. Taken together, mulching with black plastic film is an effective method that benefits winter potato production in Typical Pearl River Delta Plain in south China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and complications between enterocystoplasty and small intestinal submucosa (SIS) cystoplasty through follow-ups of patients with augmentation cystoplasty in Peking University People's Hospital, offering alternative approach for future treatment., Methods: In this study, retrospective analyses were carried out in 10 patients who underwent enterocystoplasty or SIS cystoplasty in Peking University People's Hospital from November 2011 to December 2016. Clinical data were collected including medical history, surgical procedures, laboratory examinations and complications. And then regular follow-ups were developed. Ten patients were separated into groups of enterocystoplasty (n=6) and SIS cystoplasty (n=4), to compare their outcomes., Results: Ten patients all completed the follow-up interview. Five cases underwent augmentation cystoplasty with sigmoid colon, one with ileum and four with SIS cystoplasty successfully. The mean operative time was (302.0±66.6) min, and blood loss was (167.0±135.0) mL. The outcomes of the group of SIS cystoplasty were better in respects of the time of operation, intestinal function recovery, postoperative hospitalization duration and drainage removal. The average scores of American Urological Association symptom score (AUASS), overactive bladder syndrome score (OABSS), International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire short form (ICI-Q-SF), and O'Leary-Sant Questionnaire were all improved in two groups. Two cases carried clean intermittent self catheterazion and two used long-term indwelling catheter. There were three patients with dilations of renal pelvises and ureters consistently or during bladder was filling preoperatively, and the situations were not going bad after the operations. The short-term complications included two cases of postoperative infection, one case of mild intestinal obstruction and one case of metabolic acidosis. The long-term complications included one case of ureteroinstestinal anastomosis strictures, three of urinary tract infection and one of long-term metabolic acidosis., Conclusion: Enterocystoplasty and SIS cystoplasty are both effective operations to improve symptoms and protect upper urinary function, with no severe complications. Cystoscopic results showed satisfactory mucosa regeneration after SIS cystoplaty in refractory interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. But the number of patients included were quite small and the follow-up period was not long enough. Prospective control study of larger number of patients with longer follow-ups are expected to find out the effectiveness and safety of SIS cystoplasty.

Objective: To analyze the incidence trends and to describe the characteristics of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) among residents in Beijing from 1999 to 2013. Methods: Medical information of the cases diagnosed as STS(ICD10: C47&C49) from 1999 to 2013 in Beijing was extracted from the population-based database of Beijing Cancer Registry.Crude incidence rate, age-standardized incidence rates to Chinese population (ASRC)and the world population(ASRW) were calculated. The characteristics of the STS cases in different gender and age groups from urban and rural areas were respectively analyzed.The incidence trends and annual percentage changes (APC) during last 15 years were analyzed by using JoinPoint 3.4.3 software. Results: A total of 2 048 cases were diagnosed as STS during the study period and the incidence rate of STS was 1.15 per 100 000 person-years. The ASRC was 0.74 per 100 000 person-years and ASRW was 0.86 per 100 000 person-years, respectively. Except for the impact of changes in the age composition, the APC of ASRW from 1999 to 2013 was 3.95%. For males, the incidence rate was increased from 0.65 per 100 000 in 1999 to 1.51 per 100 000 in 2013, and the APC was 4.27% ( P <0.05); For females, the incidence rate was increased from 0.61 per 100 000 in 1999 to 0.91 per 100 000 in 2013, and the APC was 3.38% ( P <0.05). In urban area, the incidence rate increased from 1.14 per 100 000 in 2000 to 1.35 per 100 000 in 2013, and the APC was 2.70% ( P =0.05); In rural area, the incidence rate increased from 0.57 per 100 000 in 2000 to 0.98 per 100 000 in 2013, and the APC was 4.66% ( P =0.04). 85.89%cases were pathologically diagnosed.Among them, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was the most common subtype, which accounting for 19.22%, followed by liposarcoma (19.04%), malignantnerve sheath tumor (10.18%), fibrosarcoma (10.06%)and sarcoma without definite type(7.22%). Conclusions: The incidence rate of STS is still increasing, especially in the rural area of Beijing. The most common subtypes of STS in different age-groups were different. Further study is needed to explore the high risks of STS in the population with specific characteristics.

C-repeat-binding factor (CBF)/dehydration-responsive element (DREB) transcription factors play key roles in plant stress responses. However, little information is available on the regulation of CBF/DREB expression. In this study, we isolated and characterized the FeDREB1 promoter sequence from the common buckwheat accession Xinong 9976. To identify the upstream region of the FeDREB1 gene required for promoter activity, we constructed a series of FeDREB1 promoter deletion derivatives. Each deletion construct was analyzed through Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation in tobacco leaves treated with 4°C cold or drought stress. Promoter-beta-glucuronidase fusion assays revealed that the pCD1 (-270 bp) deletion in the upstream region of FeDREB1 could activate expression of the GUS gene at 4°C. The pCD1 (-270 bp), pCD2 (-530 bp), and pCD3 (-904 bp) deletion induced low-level GUS expression under drought stress. However, the pCD4 (-1278 bp) deletion clearly activated GUS gene expression. Our results suggest that sections pCD1 (-270 bp) and pCD4 (-1278 bp) in the FeDREB1 gene promoter are new sources of induced promoters for adversity-resistance breeding in plant genetic engineering.

The therapeutic effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) was evaluated among 15 APL patients at relapse after all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induced and chemotherapy maintained complete remission (CR). As2O3 was administered intravenously at the dose of 10 mg/d. Clinical CR was achieved in nine of 10 (90%) patients treated with As2O3 alone and in the remaining five patients treated by the combination of As2O3 and low-dose chemotherapeutic drugs or ATRA. During the treatment with As2O3, there was no bone marrow depression and only limited side effects were encountered. Pharmacokinetic studies, which were performed in eight patients, showed that after a peak level of 5.54 micromol/L to 7.30 micromol/L, plasma arsenic was rapidly eliminated, and the continuous administration of As2O3 did not alter its pharmacokinetic behaviors. In addition, increased amounts of arsenic appeared in the urine, with a daily excretion accounting for approximately 1% to 8% of the total daily dose administered. Arsenic contents in hair and nail were increased, and the peak content of arsenic could reach 2.5 to 2.7 microg/g tissue at CR. On the other hand, a decline of the arsenic content in hair and nail was observed after withdrawal of the drug. We conclude that As2O3 treatment is an effective and relatively safe drug in APL patients refractory to ATRA and conventional chemotherapy.

A clinical trial was conducted in order to evaluate the therapeutic effect and side-effects of low-dose ATRA in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). We compared the pharmacokinetic features in normal individuals with single oral ATRA at 15 mg/m2 and 45 mg/m2, respectively. The results showed that maximal plasma concentration (Cpmax) with oral 15 mg/m2 ATRA was high enough (10(-6) M) to induce APL cell differentiation. Based on these results, 27 cases of de novo APL patients were treated with continuous oral ATRA at the dose of 15-20 mg/m2/day and 24/26 evaluable cases (92%) achieved clinical CR after 13 to 67 days of ATRA treatment. No patient experienced RAS and DIC. The Cpmax with a single dose of ATRA on day 1 of treatment and immediately at CR obtained with continuous ATRA in three cases demonstrated similar values in one patient and an approximately two-fold decrease in two patients. More importantly, compared with a relatively well-matched historic group of 20 APL patients treated with high-dose ATRA, our results suggest that low-dose ATRA is as effective as high-dose in treating APL patients and may provide advantages through decreased hyperleukocytosis and other side-effects.