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(1) Background--Ecological compensation is the compensation for the positive externalities of forest re sources exerting ecological benefits, and it is an important content of ecological civilization construction. The ecological compensation system of China' s public welfare forest is an important policy tool to realize the value of forest ecological products. The existing studies mainly discuss the ecological benefits of ecological compensation policies and the economic and social benefits of ecological compensation systems, but few studies analyze the historical evolution and existing problems of the ecological compensation system of China' s public welfare forest. (2) Methods--In this paper, qualitative policy analysis and quantitative data evaluation were used to re view the legislative milestones and academic discourses of the ecological compensation system of China's public welfare forest in detail. Using the framework of "historical logic-practice exploration-realistic dilemma-paths exploration", this paper systematically analyzed the historical evolution, current dilemma and paths selection of the ecological compensation system of China's public welfare forest. (3)Results--From the perspective of historical evolution, the ecological compensation system of China's public welfare forest has experienced four stages; the initial stage (1956-1993), the exploration stage (1994- 2003), the promotion stage (2004-2015) and the deepening stage (2016-present). From the perspective of practical exploration, the ecological compensation standard of China's public welfare forest is gradually improving, and at the same time, it is gradually promoting classified compensation and exploring market-oriented ecological compensation and diversified ecological compensation. From the perspective of current dilemma, the ecological compensation standard of China's public welfare forest is single and relatively low, and the channels for raising compensation funds are narrow. At the same time, due to policy restrictions and management challenges, the self-financing ability of China's public welfare forest is also weak. (4) Conclusions and Discussions--Based on the above research conclusions, the following policy suggestions are proposed: First, adjust the compensation standard of public welfare forest dynamically according to price changes, economic inflation and other factors to arouse the enthusiasm of forest farmers. Second, explore classified compensation methods for public welfare forest. Increase the classification compensation of key ecological locations, widen the gap in the amount of classification compensation, and implement classification compensation according to different ownership, so as to improve the fairness and effectiveness of the compensation sys tem. Third, construct the financing channels of diversified compensation. Promote the positive interaction between protectors and limiters, establish horizontal ecological compensation funds between regions, and include ecological public welfare forest in the forestry carbon sinks projects. Fourth, optimize the management mode of public welfare forest. It mainly includes innovating the renewal and transformation methods of public welfare forest, exploring the mode of sharing shares of public welfare forest, encouraging the pledge loan of the compensation in come rights of public welfare forest, and increasing special funding support for areas that use public welfare forest to develop understory economy and forest tourism, so as to improve the self-compensation ability of public welfare forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) can co-contaminate foodstuffs and have been associated with hepatocellular and esophageal carcinomas in humans at high risk for exposure. One strategy to reduce exposure (and toxicity) from contaminated foodstuffs is the dietary inclusion of a montmorillonite clay (UPSN) that binds AFs and FBs in the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, the binding capacity of UPSN was evaluated for AFB1, FB1 and a combination thereof in Fischer 344 rats. Rats were pre-treated with different dietary levels of UPSN (0.25% or 2%) for 1 week. Rats were gavaged with a single dose of either 0.125 mg AFB1 or 25 mg FB1 per kg body weight and a combination thereof in the presence and absence of an aqueous solution of UPSN. The kinetics of mycotoxin excretion were monitored by analyzing serum AFB1-albumin, urinary AF (AFM1) and FB1 biomarkers over a period of 72 h. UPSN decreased AFM1 excretion by 88-97%, indicating highly effective binding. FB1 excretion was reduced, to a lesser extent, ranging from 45% to 85%. When in combination, both AFB1 and FB1 binding occurred, but capacity was decreased by almost half. In the absence of UPSN, the combined AFB1 and FB1 treatment decreased the urinary biomarkers by 67% and 45% respectively, but increased levels of AFB1-albumin, presumably by modulating its cytochrome metabolism. UPSN significantly reduced bioavailability of both AFB1 and FB1 when in combination; suggesting that it can be utilized to reduce levels below their respective thresholds for affecting adverse biological effects. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine whether pretreatment status of thymidine phosphorylase (TP), and hypoxia-inducible factor alpha (HIF-1α) could predict pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy with oxaliplatin and capecitabine (XELOXART) and outcomes for clinical stage II/III rectal cancer patients. A total of 180 patients diagnosed with clinical stage II/III rectal cancer received XELOXART. The status of TP, and HIF-1α were determined in pretreatment biopsies by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Tumor response was assessed in resected regimens using the tumor regression grade system and TNM staging system. 5-year disease free survival (DFS) and 5-year overall survival (OS) were evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared by the log-rank test. Over expression of TP and low expression of HIF-1α were associated with pathologic response to XELOXART and better outcomes (DFS and OS) in clinical stage II/III rectal cancer patients (P < 0.05). Our result suggested that pretreatment status of TP and HIF-1α were found to predict pathologic response and outcomes in clinical stage II/III rectal cancer received XELOXART. Additional well-designed, large sample, multicenter, prospective studies are needed to confirm the result of this study.

Aflatoxins (AFs) and fumonisins (FBs) can co-contaminate foodstuffs and have been associated with hepatocellular and esophageal carcinomas in humans at high risk for exposure. One strategy to reduce exposure (and toxicity) from contaminated foodstuffs is the dietary inclusion of a montmorillonite clay (UPSN) that binds AFs and FBs in the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, the binding capacity of UPSN was evaluated for AFB1, FB1 and a combination thereof in Fischer 344 rats. Rats were pre-treated with different dietary levels of UPSN (0.25% or 2%) for 1 week. Rats were gavaged with a single dose of either 0.125 mg AFB1 or 25 mg FB1 per kg body weight and a combination thereof in the presence and absence of an aqueous solution of UPSN. The kinetics of mycotoxin excretion were monitored by analyzing serum AFB1 -albumin, urinary AF (AFM1) and FB1 biomarkers over a period of 72 h. UPSN decreased AFM1 excretion by 88-97%, indicating highly effective binding. FB1 excretion was reduced, to a lesser extent, ranging from 45% to 85%. When in combination, both AFB1 and FB1 binding occurred, but capacity was decreased by almost half. In the absence of UPSN, the combined AFB1 and FB1 treatment decreased the urinary biomarkers by 67% and 45% respectively, but increased levels of AFB1 -albumin, presumably by modulating its cytochrome metabolism. UPSN significantly reduced bioavailability of both AFB1 and FB1 when in combination; suggesting that it can be utilized to reduce levels below their respective thresholds for affecting adverse biological effects., (Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

We aim to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients treated by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in Chinese cohort. A total of 2,493 HCC patients treated by TACE were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into the younger group (n=1,877) or the elderly group (n=616) based upon their ages (cut-off value of 60 y/o). Chi-square test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare patients' characteristics. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine prognostic factors. When compared with the younger group, the elderly group had lower male/female ratio and family liver disease history ratio, as well as advanced stage or Child-Pugh grade B patients. The median survival time was 8 months and 27 months for the younger and the elderly group, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates in the younger group and the elderly group were 31.82%, 12.5%, 6.53%, and 84.66%, 53.28%, 28.39%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that HBV infection, AFP value, TNM stage, Child-Pugh class, portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and tumor number were independent prognostic factors for the younger patients; the elderly ones had similar independent prognostic factors except for HBV infection. The elderly group had lower male/female ratio and family history ratio, as well as advanced stage or Child-Pugh grade B patients. The elderly seems to have better prognosis than the younger ones, which is probably related to the fact that the elderly have lower tumor burden and better liver function.