Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the chest wall is a rare tumor with poor prognosis. A 70-year-old male was admitted to our hospital because of chest pain and an abnormal shadow on the chest X-ray. He had a right chest wall tumor of 7 cm insize. The tumor was surgically removed completely and the diagnosis of pleomorphic MFH was established pathologically. After surgery, adjuvant radio-chemotherapy was performed. The patient has been followed up for 7 year with no evidence of reccurence.A 65-year-old woman presented with mycosis fungoides and an anterior mediastinal tumor. Stage Ⅱa mycosis fungoides was treated with bath psoralen plus ultraviolet A, topical corticosteroids, and oral bexarotene. One month later, a surgical resection was performed for the anterior mediastinal tumor, which was a stage Ⅱ thymoma with membrane invasion. Furthermore, adjuvant radiotherapy was performed for anterior mediastinum. The mycosis fungoides lesion exacerbated after 3 months;thus, chemotherapies were performed. The patient died of respiratory insufficiency due to multiple pulmonary metastases of mycosis fungoides 1 year after the operation.A 74-year-old man underwent right upper lobectomy and systemic lymph node dissection with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Chylothorax occurred on postoperative day (POD) 1st. Under fasting management, the patient underwent pleurodesis on POD 5th and 7th, subcutaneous octreotide acetate injection on POD 6th, and lymphangiography on POD 9th. The amount of drainage decreased on POD 10th, and the drainage tube was removed on POD 12nd. Lymphangiography has been reported as one of effective procedures to treat postoperative chylothorax. The present case is also considered to be successfully treated by lymphangiography.We herein present a case of distal aortic arch aneurysm associated with the bovine arch and the isolated left vertebral artery (ILVA). Incorporating 2 fenestrations, we successfully performed an endovascular repair using the commercially available Najuta fenestrated stent graft system. During surgery, the Najuta was deployed in the aorta so as to allow for the proximal fenestration to be aligned with the orifice of the 1 branch of the aortic arch, and the distal fenestration with the orifice of the ILVA and that of left subclavian artery. Postoperatively, the patient's recovery went well without any cerebral complications, and in a subsequent computed tomography (CT), the patency of all aortic arch vessels and absence of endoleaks was confirmed. For cases of distal aortic arch aneurysm associated with arch anomalies, the endovascular treatment using the Najuta system is not only simple but also reliable in preserving blood flow to the brain and upper extremities.A 78-year-old female patient was introduced to our hospital with chief complaint of massive hemoptysis. She had a history of total arch replacement using a short elephant trunk for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection 3 years before. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed kinking of the short elephant trunk and distal aortic arch aneurysm which caused aortobronchial fistula. She was treated by emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair and long-term administration of antibiotics. Three years later, distal aortic arch aneurysm disappeared by CT and there was no recurrence of hemoptysis. This is the aortic aneurysm was considered to be caused by the short elephant trunk.A 69-year-old man developed sudden-onset chest and back pain and was brought to our hospital. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed acute Stanford type B aortic dissection extending from the distal aortic arch to a 72 mm abdominal aortic aneurysm( AAA). The acute phase was managed by antihypertensive therapy, and the patient was followed up. Twenty days after the onset of aortic dissection, entry closure of aortic dissection by thoracic endovascular aortic repair and abdominal aorta replacement were performed simultaneously. Aorta remodeling was confirmed by postoperative CT, and the patient's postoperative course was uneventful. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/terephthalic-acid.html In the treatment of patients with acute aortic dissection and AAA, surgical intervention timing and strategy must be considered carefully.An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSCA) is a relatively rare congenital anomaly of the aortic arch branches. A 63-year-old man suffered from dysphagia, and was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) revealed an aortic aneurysm (Kommerell's diverticulum) and ARSCA which routed behind the esophagus. We performed total arch replacement with the open stent-grafting technique via median sternotomy. ARSCA was anastomosed to 1 branch of the arch graft at the right side of the trachea, which released esophageal compression. Postoperatively dysphagia disappeared and CT scan indicated successful reconstruction of the distal arch and ARSCA. The open stent-grafting technique is considered to be effective for aortic disease with ARSCA.A 61-year-old man with double-chambered right ventricle( DCRV) was operated on successfully without ventriculotomy. The patient presented with cardiac murmur and electrocardiogram abnormality with exertional dyspnea. Echocardiography demonstrated double-chambered right ventricle with severe tricuspid valve regurgitation. Cardiac catheterization data revealed a 110 mmHg peak-to-peak pressure gradient in the right ventricular cavity with normal pulmonary pressure. The tricuspid valve was repaired with an annuloplasty ring, and the abnormal muscle bands in right ventricular outflow tract were resected through both right atrium and pulmonary artery. No major complications occurred after surgery. Postoperative echocardiography demonstrated a pressure gradient of 18 mmHg between the pulmonary artery and right ventricle without tricuspid regurgitation, and his clinical symptoms were improved. Surgical repair without right ventriculotomy combined with tricuspid annuloplasty was effective and feasible for DCRV in an adult patient.We report a case of right ventricular rupture caused by sternal bone fracture following chest compression at cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A 68-year-old man presented with syncope and was referred to our hospital in an ambulance. Ventricular fibrillation was confirmed by electrocardiography(ECG), and CPR was performed with chest compression. He was resuscitated and his ECG showed ST elevation. He immediately underwent percutaneous coronary intervention to the right coronary #1 which was subtotally occluded. Thereafter, massive cardiac tamponade was noted by echocardiography, and coronary injury or left ventricle( LV) rupture was suspected. Emergency exploratory surgery was performed through median sternotomy. Laceration of the right ventricle corresponding to the sternal bone fracture was found intraoperatively. We repaired the injury and he was discharged without complication. The possibility of iatrogenic cardiac tamponade should be considered when a resuscitated patient by chest compression develops hypotension.

RESULTS Assuming the transmission rate between children group would be increasing 10 fold after the schools open, approximately additional 60 cases are expected to occur from March 2 to March 9, and approximately additional 100 children cases are expected from March 9 to March 23. After March 23, the number of expected cases for children is 28.4 for 7 days and 33.6 for 14 days. CONCLUSION The simulation results show that the government could reduce at least 200 cases, with two announcements by the Ministry of education. After March 23, although the possibility of massive transmission in the children's age group is lower, group transmission is possible to occur. © 2020 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected pneumonia emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. In this retrospective multicenter study, we investigated the clinical course and outcomes of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from early cases in Republic of Korea. METHODS All of the cases confirmed by real time polymerase chain reaction were enrolled from the 1st to the 28th patient nationwide. Clinical data were collected and analyzed for changes in clinical severity including laboratory, radiological, and virologic dynamics during the progression of illness. RESULTS The median age was 40 years (range, 20-73 years) and 15 (53.6%) patients were male. The most common symptoms were cough (28.6%) and sore throat (28.6%), followed by fever (25.0%). Diarrhea was not common (10.7%). Two patients had no symptoms. Initial chest X-ray (CXR) showed infiltration in 46.4% of the patients, but computed tomography scan confirmed pneumonia in 88.9% (16/18) of the patients. Six patients (21.4%) required supplemental oxygen therapy, but no one needed mechanical ventilation. Lymphopenia was more common in severe cases. Higher level of C-reactive protein and worsening of chest radiographic score was observed during the 5-7 day period after symptom onset. Viral shedding was high from day 1 of illness, especially from the upper respiratory tract (URT). CONCLUSION The prodromal symptoms of COVID-19 were mild and most patients did not have limitations of daily activity. Viral shedding from URT was high from the prodromal phase. Radiological pneumonia was common from the early days of illness, but it was frequently not evident in simple CXR. These findings could be plausible explanations for the easy and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community. © 2020 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a worldwide pandemic. Less than 6 weeks after the first confirmed cases in Korea, the patient number exceeded 5,000, which overcrowded limited hospital resources and forced confirmed patients to stay at home. To allocate medical resources efficiently, Korea implemented a novel institution for the purpose of treating patients with cohort isolation out of hospital, namely the Community Treatment Center (CTC). Herein, we report results of the initial management of patients at one of the largest CTC in Korea. A total of 309 patients were admitted to our CTC. During the first two weeks, 7 patients were transferred to the hospital because of symptom aggravation and 107 patients were discharged without any complication. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/PD-98059.html Although it is a novel concept and may have some limitations, CTC may be a very cost-effective and resource-saving strategy in managing massive cases of COVID-19 or other emerging infectious diseases. © 2020 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.BACKGROUND The 24-hour uric acid excretion measurement is important in assessing disease status and helping to select the appropriate uric acid-lowering agent for patients with gout, however, it is inconvenient. The authors investigated the efficacy of the random urine uric acid-to-creatinine (UA/CR) ratio to screen the patients who under-secreted 24-hour urine uric acid. METHODS This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Ninety patients with gout, without undergoing uric acid-lowering treatment were enrolled. Twenty-four-hour urine and random urine samples were obtained on the same day. Six hundred mg of uric acid in the 24-hour urine sample was used as a standard for distinguishing between over and under-excretion groups. RESULTS The random urinary UA/CR ratio showed positive correlation with 24-hour urine uric acid excretion (γ = 0.398, P less then 0.001). All the patients with the random UA/CR less than 0.2 excreted less than 600 mg uric acid in 24-hour urine collection. When the random urine UA/CR ratio less then 0.2 was regarded as a positive result, the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity in the uric acid under-excretion were 100% (8 of 8), 64.6% (53 of 82), 21.6% (8 of 37), and 100% (53 of 53), respectively. CONCLUSION There is a moderate positive correlation between the random urinary UA/CR ratio and 24-hour urine uric acid excretion, so that UA/CR ratio may not be a good predictor of 24-hour urine uric acid excretion. However, the random urine UA/CR ratio 0.2 can be a useful predictor to screen the gouty patients who need to be treated with uricosuric drugs. © 2020 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.BACKGROUND In 1999, the Organ Transplantation Act legalized organ donation from brain-dead patients. As a result of the government's continued efforts, the number of brain-dead donors steadily increased from 2002 through 2016. However, the number has declined since 2017. This paper examined the possible reasons behind the decline in brain-dead organ donation. METHODS This investigation was an analysis of published data from the Korea Organ Donation Agency annual reports from 2013 to 2018. RESULTS The number of brain-dead organ donors in Korea rose steadily until 2016, declined in 2017 for the first time since 2002, and then dropped sharply in 2018. Although the number of brain-dead potential organ donors increased between 2017 and 2018, the number of eligible donors decreased, suggesting that patient families rejected the brain-death determination process and brain-dead organ donation. Statistics gathered during identification of brain-dead potential donors and actual donations confirm that rejection or withdrawal of consent by the family has increased.

ctrohypersensitive individuals. BACKGROUND Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in pediatric patients has the potential to prevent poor health outcomes associated with ACEs. Only a limited number of tools screen for all ten ACEs in all pediatric age groups, and none of these have demonstrated robust validity to date. OBJECTIVE In order to evaluate the validity of the Whole Child Assessment, we examined associations between poor outcomes in pediatric patients and responses to questions about exposure to and risk of ACEs. METHODS This cross-sectional study used medical record data from 499 children ages 5-11 years old who received care at one of two university-affiliated clinics in California. All Child-ACE measures were included on the Whole Child Assessment, which caregivers completed when they brought their child to a well-child visit. Medical charts were reviewed for current diagnoses and problems, current or past history of any developmental delay, and health care utilization. RESULTS Compared to lower risk patients (0-1 reported ACE exposure), patients with 2 or more reported exposures were statistically significantly more likely to experience sadness, anger, sleep problems, bullying, school problems, and enuresis. The directionality of effects and the number of statistically significant associations improved when adding questions about risk of ACEs to the total Child-ACE score. CONCLUSION We found strong relationships between Child-ACEs reported on the Whole Child Assessment and odds of poor child health and psychosocial outcomes in pediatric patients age 5-11 years old, which supports the validity of using the Whole Child Assessment at well-child visits. OBJECTIVE To investigate the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with COVID-19 in Anhui province of China. METHOD In this descriptive study, we obtained epidemiological, demographic, manifestations, laboratory data and radiological findings of patients confirmed by real-time RT-PCR in the NO.2 People's Hospital of Fuyang City from Jan 20 to Feb 9, 2020. Clinical outcomes were followed up to Feb 18, 2020. RESULTS Of 125 patients infected SARS-CoV-2, the mean age was 38.76 years (SD, 13.799) and 71(56.8%) were male. Common symptoms include fever [116 (92.8%)], cough [102(81.6%)], and shortness of breath [57(45.6%)]. Lymphocytopenia developed in 48(38.4%) patients. 100(80.0%) patients showed bilateral pneumonia, 26(20.8%) patients showed multiple mottling and ground-glass opacity. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mln2480.html All patients were given antiviral therapy. 19(15.2%) patients were transferred to the intensive care unit. By February 18, 47(37.6%) patients were discharged and none of patients died. Among the discharged patients, the median time of length of stay was 14.8 days (SD 4.16). CONCLUSION In this single-center, retrospective, descriptive study, fever is the most common symptom. Old age, chronic underlying diseases and smoking history may be risk factors to worse condition. Certain laboratory inspection may contribute to the judgment of the severity of illness. OBJECTIVE To define sepsis syndromes in high-HIV burden settings in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) era. METHODS We characterized a prospective cohort of adults presenting to a tertiary emergency department in Harare, Zimbabwe with suspected community-acquired sepsis using blood and urine cultures, urine tuberculosis lipoarabinomannan (TB LAM), and serum cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) testing. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS Of 142 patients enrolled 68% (n=96/142, 95% confidence interval (CI) [60-75%]) were HIV-positive, 41% (n=39/96, 95% CI [31-50%]) of whom were ART-naïve. Among HIV-positive patients, both opportunistic pathogens (TB LAM-positivity, 36%, 95% CI [24-48%]; CrAg-positivity, 15%, 95% CI [7-23%]) and severe non-AIDS infections (S. pneumoniae urine antigen-positivity 12%, 95% CI [4-20%]; bacteraemia 17% (n=16/96, 95% CI [9-24%]), of which 56% (n=9/16, 95% CI [30-80%]) were gram-negative organisms) were common. Klebsiella pneumoniae recovered from blood and urine was uniformly resistant to ceftriaxone, as were most Escherichia coli isolates. Acknowledging the power limitations of our study, we conclude that relative to HIV-negative patients, HIV-positive patients had modestly higher 30-day mortality (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.88, 95% CI [0.78-4.55]; p=0.16, and 3.59, 95% CI [1.27-10.16], p=0.02) among those with and without viral suppression, respectively. CONCLUSION Rapid point-of-care assays provide substantial clinically actionable information in the setting of suspected sepsis, even in areas with high ART coverage. Antimicrobial resistance to first-line antibiotics in high burden settings is a growing threat. Published by Elsevier Ltd.OBJECTIVES This study was performed to determine whether Dengue virus (DENV) immunochromatographic tests can detect and differentiate nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) from each of the four DENV serotypes and do not cross-react with the Zika virus (ZIKV) NS1 protein. METHODS We compared the specificity of six NS1-based DENV immunochromatographic tests (point of care) in the detection of NS1 proteins from each of the four DENV serotypes and ZIKV. The tests were performed with NS1 proteins produced in mammalian cells. Cross-reactivity was confirmed with a purified recombinant ZIKV NS1 protein and DENV+ or ZIKV+ human serum samples. RESULTS Cross-reaction was observed in 2 out of the 6 evaluated tests using cell culture supernatants containing NS1 protein of each tested virus. Cross- reactivity with ZIKV was confirmed with purified recombinant ZIKV NS1 produced in Escherichia coli. Further analyses with serum samples collected from DENV+ or ZIKV+ patients confirmed the cross-reactivity with ZIKV protein in 2 tests. CONCLUSIONS The detection of the NS1 protein is the basis for several commercially available serological DENV diagnostic tests. The present results emphasize the relevance of testing specificity of presently available NS1-based DENV serological tests and the need of adjustments of tests that cross-react with the ZIKV protein. Our results are particularly relevant for regions where both viruses are endemically found, as in the case of Brazil.

Women with a history of unexplained miscarriage are frequently prescribed the synthetic progestin, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) during the middle trimester of pregnancy. However, little is known about the long-term behavioural effects of 17-OHPC. Work in rodents suggests that the developing brain is sensitive to progestins. Neonatal 17-OHPC impairs adult performance in set-shifting and delay discounting. The present study tested the effects of 17-OHPC (0.5 mg kg-1 ) or vehicle administration from postnatal days 1-14 on cognitive function in adulthood in rats. Cognitive function was assessed in males and females (n = 8-10 per group) by operant responding for sugar pellets, measuring delayed reinforcement or reversal learning. For delayed reinforcement, the rat must wait 15 seconds for pellets after responding on a lever. Delay is signalled by a light or is unsignalled. For reversal learning, the rat must respond on the lever under a stimulus light, and then learn to respond on the unlit lever. For delayed reinforcement, rats earned more pellets under signalled vs unsignalled conditions. Likewise, males made more responses and earned more pellets compared to females. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/azd3229.html Under signalled conditions, 17-OHPC-treated rats earned fewer pellets than controls. For reversal learning, the results were similar. Females required more trials than males to respond correctly for the new rule, and 17-OHPC-treated rats required more trials than controls. This suggests that 17-OHPC exposure during development may impair cognitive function. Considering that questions have been raised as to the efficacy of 17-OHPC to prevent miscarriage, it may be necessary to rethink the use of progestin therapy during pregnancy.Background Evaluation of pulmonary arterial pressure is crucial among cirrhotic patients considering moderate portopulmonary hypertension (POPH) is a contraindication for liver transplant. Although right heart catheterization (RHC) is the most accurate method to diagnose POPH, it is invasive. Objective Aim is to evaluate the performance of echocardiography in detecting POPH in liver transplant candidates. Methods Literature search was performed, and pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR), negative LR, and area under the summary receiver operating curve (AUC) were calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed based on different cutoff values for echocardiography and diagnostic criteria of RHC. Results Sensitivity, specificity, positive LR, negative LR, and AUC of echocardiography for detection of POPH were 0.86 (0.74, 0.94), 0.87 (0.84, 0.90), 7.17 (3.59, 14.31), 0.22 (0.13, 0.38), and 0.807 while they were 0.82 (0.74, 0.89), 0.81 (0.78, 0.84), 117.75 (16.03, 865.08), 0.28 (0.16, 0.50), and 0.876 for detection of moderate POPH, respectively. Performance of echocardiography was not significantly different in the subgroup analyses of stringency of POPH criteria and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (ePASP) cutoffs. Conclusions Our meta-analysis supports utilization of echocardiography for screening of POPH. However, RHC remains essential in highly suspicious cases. Echocardiographic data other than ePASP should be evaluated in future studies.C7-H-functionalized indoles are ubiquitous structural units of biological and pharmaceutical compounds for numerous antiviral agents against SARS-CoV or HIV-1. Thus, achieving site-selective functionalizations of the C7-H position of indoles, while discriminating among other bonds, is in high demand. Herein, we disclose site-selective C7-H activations of indoles by ruthenium(II) biscarboxylate catalysis under mild conditions. Base-assisted internal electrophilic-type substitution C-H ruthenation by weak O-coordination enabled the C7-H functionalization of indoles and offered a broad scope, including C-N and C-C bond formation. The versatile ruthenium-catalyzed C7-H activations were characterized by gram-scale syntheses and the traceless removal of the directing group, thus providing easy access to pharmaceutically relevant scaffolds. Detailed mechanistic studies through spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses shed light on the unique nature of the robust ruthenium catalysis for the functionalization of the C7-H position of indoles.Effective cleaning techniques are essential for the sterilization of rooms in hospitals and industry. No-touch devices (NTDs) that use fumigants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), formaldehyde (HCHO), ozone (O3 ), and chlorine dioxide (OClO) are a recent innovation. This paper reports a previously unconsidered potential consequence of such cleaning technologies the photochemical formation of high concentrations of hydroxyl radicals (OH), hydroperoxy radicals (HO2 ), organic peroxy radicals (RO2 ), and chlorine radicals (Cl) which can form harmful reaction products when exposed to chemicals commonly found in indoor air. This risk was evaluated by calculating radical production rates and concentrations based on measured indoor photon fluxes and typical fumigant concentrations during and after cleaning events. Sunlight and fluorescent tubes without covers initiated photolysis of all fumigants, and plastic-covered fluorescent tubes initiated photolysis of only some fumigants. Radical formation was often dominated by photolysis of fumigants during and after decontamination processes. Radical concentrations were predicted to be orders of magnitude greater than background levels during and immediately following cleaning events with each fumigant under one or more illumination condition. Maximum predicted radical concentrations (1.3 × 107 molecule cm-3 OH, 2.4 ppb HO2 , 6.8 ppb RO2 and 2.2 × 108 molecule cm-3 Cl) were much higher than baseline concentrations. Maximum OH concentrations occurred with O3 photolysis, HO2 with HCHO photolysis, and RO2 and Cl with OClO photolysis. Elevated concentrations may persist for hours after NTD use, depending on the air change rate and air composition. Products from reactions involving radicals could significantly decrease air quality when disinfectants are used, leading to adverse health effects for occupants.

The formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) is a key pathophysiological event linked not only to the onset and progression of diabetic complications, but also to neurodegeneration, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and others important human diseases. AGEs contributions to pathophysiology are mainly through the formation of cross-links and by engaging the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). Polyphenols are secondary metabolites found largely in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and beverages, and during many years, important efforts have been made to elucidate their beneficial effects on human health, mainly ascribed to their antioxidant activities. In the present review, we highlighted the beneficial actions of polyphenols aimed to diminish the harmful consequences of advanced glycation, mainly by the inhibition of ROS formation during glycation, the inhibition of Schiff base, Amadori products, and subsequent dicarbonyls group formation, the activation of the glyoxalase system, as well as by blocking either AGEs-RAGE interaction or cell signaling. The effects of pre-processing decreasing temperature (19, 15 and 10 °C) of olive fruit (cv. Leccino) harvested at three developmental stages (semi-ripe, ripe, advanced ripening) have been evaluated on oil in terms of basic quality parameters, composition, organoleptic traits, and aroma profiles. A total of 40 metabolites (volatiles and non-volatiles) were identified by 1H NMR and GC/MS analyses. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that samples obtained from ripe and advanced ripe olives cooled at 10 and 15 °C better correlated with C6 aldehydes, mainly associated with herbal/green olfactory traits. Compounds responsible for sweet/fruity traits were more abundantly present in oil extracted from 19 °C olive samples. Decreasing pulp temperature before crushing also resulted in reduced presence of 1-penten-3-ol, 1-penten-3-one, acetic acid and ethyl alcohol, associated with specific defects of the oil. Results indicate that slightly lowering fruit temperature just before crushing modulates oil composition by reducing oil off flavours while enhancing green and fresh attributes in particular when ripe olives are processed. The consumption of flowers as food is reported in various cultures around the world as part of traditional cuisine or alternative medicine, in addition to their wide use as ornaments. However, many species of edible flowers can be considered more than a delicacy or a garnish due to their nutritional value as source of protein and essential aminoacids. In this scenario, flowers represent an important segment to expand food market, due to their suitable sensory and nutritional characteristics, as well as presence of bioactive compounds beneficial to human health. Research on consumer behavior and purchase intent have been unraveling ways to explore the different attributes of edible flowers, in order to conquer this promising market in the following decades. Socio-cultural factors involved in the consumption of edible flowers have been subject of several studies aiming at popularizing and expanding this growing industry and encouraging local use of traditional flowers is important to preserve endangered traditions. On the other hand, nutritional properties, pharmacological benefits, chemical composition and the forms of preparation of edible species have been increasingly studied with the growing search for natural and health foods. Modern and effective methods for extraction of bioactive compounds from flowers are also contributing to explore their components, allowing the development of functional ingredients for food industry. Some key information as proper taxonomy and toxicological profile are still necessary to stimulate the consumption of edible flowers, as well as the creation of a good practice manual for proper management (cultivation, handling and preparation) of flowers for commercialization. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/rin1.html Scientific and technical information on nutritional, therapeutic and chemical features of edible flowers are reviewed and discussed, aiming at strengthening the knowledge, and, consequently, consuming habits and research on their benefits in human diet. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) improve survival and quality of life in refractory end-stage heart failure. However, the therapy itself is associated with some degree of morbidity and mortality at highest risk during the first 30 days postimplantation. Management of the patient with a freshly implanted LVAD requires an in-depth understanding of the acute postimplant period and common critical care issues including coagulopathy, hemodynamic lability, and metabolic derangements. This requires meticulous hemostatic control and a firm understanding of hemodynamic principles that focus on optimizing end-organ perfusion, right-ventricular function, and measured LVAD titration. This contemporary practical guide to management of the acute postimplant LVAD patient includes a focused approach to troubleshooting common LVAD issues that may arise from the operating room to discharge from critical care. Cardiogenic shock (CS) is often complicated by respiratory failure, and more than 80% of patients with CS require respiratory support. Elevated filling pressures from left-ventricular (LV) dysfunction lead to alveolar pulmonary edema, which impairs both oxygenation and ventilation. The implementation of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) improves gas exchange and can improve cardiovascular hemodynamics by reducing preload and afterload of the LV, reducing mitral regurgitation and decreasing myocardial oxygen demand, all of which can help augment cardiac output and improve tissue perfusion. In right ventricular (RV) failure, however, PPV can potentially decrease preload and increase afterload, which can potentially lead to hemodynamic deterioration. Thus, a working understanding of cardiopulmonary interactions during PPV in LV and RV dominant CS states is required to safely treat this complex and high-acuity group of patients with respiratory failure. Herein, we provide a review of the published literature with a comprehensive discussion of the available evidence on the use of PPV in CS.

Homebound older adults may be at risk of suicide due to elevated loneliness, social isolation, and depression. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide posits that thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and reduced fear of death are key components of suicide risk. To better understand suicide risk among culturally diverse, homebound older adults, we collected baseline data on the prevalence of psychological distress, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and past/present suicidality. Standardized measures were completed by 493 adults (ages 60-103) during in-home interviews, and results were compared to existing cutoffs to assess current risk. In total, 15.62% scored above the suicide risk cutoff, 23.73% of homebound older adults reported a history of suicidal ideation or behavior, 65 adults in this sample (13.18%) indicated the possibility of attempting suicide in the future, and 2.43% described a future attempt as "likely" or "very likely." There were no differences in suicide risk, thwarted belongingness, or perceived burdensomeness based on sex and race. However, there was a significant difference in psychological distress (F(3,428) = 2.624, p = .05), with White females (M = 7.90, SD = 5.63; N = 78) scoring higher than Black males (M = 5.43, SD = 5.04; N = 81). Using Aging Network services such as nutrition services (e.g.home-delivered meal programs) to intervene with at-risk older adults represents a strategy to prevent suicide. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/azd3229.html Implications for suicide intervention, including the potential to deliver services by linking them to nutrition services programs, are discussed.BACKGROUND Patients initiated on sotalol and dofetilide require inpatient monitoring and dose adjustments due to risks of corrected QT (QTc) prolongation and Torsades de pointes (TdP). Patients may receive higher initial doses than recommended due to close monitoring by specialized practitioners. The objective of this study was to describe prescribing practices of sotalol and dofetilide and to compare safety outcomes between standard and nonstandard dosing strategies. METHODS This was a single-center retrospective analysis of adult inpatients who underwent sotalol or dofetilide initiation between June 1, 2015, and August 1, 2018. The end points of this study included the percentage of patients who received standard and nonstandard dosing, incidence of QTc prolongation (≥500 milliseconds or ≥15% from baseline), incidence of TdP, and dose reduction or medication discontinuation. RESULTS A total of 379 patients (195 sotalol and 184 dofetilide) were included in this analysis. There were 110 (56.4%) patients in the sotalol group and 111 (58.4%) patients in the dofetilide group that received nonstandard initial dosing. Nonstandard dosing was associated with a greater incidence of QTc prolongation compared to standard dosing (57.5% vs 43.0%, P = .005). Only one patient in the nonstandard dosing group experienced TdP. Patients initiated on nonstandard dosing required dose reduction or therapy discontinuation (37.6% vs 23.4%, P = .003) more frequently. CONCLUSION Higher than recommended initial doses of sotalol or dofetilide were associated with higher incidence of QTc prolongation and more frequent therapy modification.Objectives Previous work has shown that high mental demands are associated with better cognitive functioning in old age. As there is a lack of a general conceptual framework for this association, the aim of the study was to investigate how mental demands and other work-related factors relate to cognitive functioning as a foundation for developing such a framework.Methods An expert panel discussion was conducted with the aim of determining relevant work-related factors, which were then tested in a survey with 346 employees aged 50+ years, who were actively working. Assessment of cognitive functioning comprised complex attention, executive function, learning/memory, language, perceptual-motor, and social cognition. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to confirm factor belonging. Associations with cognitive functioning were analyzed using structure equation modelling to confirm associations and to identify additional direct and indirect paths.Results Only 42.3% (22/52) of the work-related factors and 19.0% (4/21) of the mediating paths suggested by the experts were significant with respect to cognitive functioning. Factor analysis and structural equation modeling indicated that high mental demands are only associated with better cognitive functioning in old age to the extent that they are intellectually stimulating and this effect is embedded in individual capacities and the social context.Conclusion Based on the panel discussion and the empirical testing, we propose the Conceptual Framework of Social Dependency of Intellectual Stimulation on Cognitive Health. We recommend researchers and workplace health experts to pay attention to the component of this theory when assessing workplace risk.Objectives Self-stigma is common among persons with depression. Still, studies that examined the process of self-stigma concentrated mostly on younger adults (ages 18-65) with mental illness in general, with a limited number of studies examining older adults with depression. This study was aimed to examine and compare the self-stigma formation process and its relation to self-esteem among younger (ages 18-64) and older Israeli Arabs (age 65+) diagnosed with depression. The study was based on a self-stigma model which defines the self-stigma formation process as composed of three stages stereotypes awareness, stereotype agreement, and self-concurrence.Method A total of 160 younger and older Israeli Arabs with depression completed measures of self-stigma formation process, self-esteem, and socio-demographic and health characteristics.Results The self-stigma formation process was found as a multi-level and progressive model for both younger and older adults, despite that older adults reported significantly higher levels of self-stigma in all stages of the process. Low self-esteem was significantly associated with higher levels of stereotype agreement and self-concurrence in both age groups.Conclusion The self-stigma formation process provides an adequate model for understanding depression self-stigma in both younger and older adults. Appropriate intervention programs aiming to reduce self-stigma should be developed, focusing on reducing the three stages of self-stigma.

With astonishing speed, COVID-19 has become a global pandemic. As it is uncertain when the pandemic will be controlled, it is crucial for procedurists of all stripes to be familiar and confident in performing procedures for COVID-19 patients to prevent intra-hospital infection. In this article, we will detail our approach on how to perform interventional procedures for COVID-19 patients at the bedside in the isolation room and with the patient transferred to the interventional radiology centre. These workflows have been developed in conjunction with multiple other stakeholders within our hospital, drawing from valuable lessons we have learnt from the SARS outbreak of 2003.Fournier gangrene is an emergency condition that is associated with a high mortality rate. It is defined as a rapidly progressing infective necrotizing fasciitis of the perineal, perianal, and genital regions. Early diagnosis, broad-spectrum antibiotic coverage, and adequate surgical debridement are crucial and lead to better prognosis and patient survival. There is increasing utilization of computed tomography (CT) in the initial evaluation of Fournier gangrene. CT can confirm the diagnosis in equivocal cases, determine the source of infection, and evaluate the disease extent. In this pictorial review, we discuss the pathogenesis of Fournier gangrene and display the imaging spectrum with an emphasis on CT findings, including asymmetrical fascial thickening, soft tissue stranding, soft tissue gas, collection, and abscess formation. The infection originating from colorectal pathology, the affected anatomy, and the involvement of the abdominal wall are important predictors of mortality. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/jnj-64619178.html The familiarity of the varied imaging appearance of Fournier gangrene is necessary to provide an accurate diagnosis, and evaluation of disease extent is crucial for optimal surgical debridement.PURPOSE To determine preferences of clinicians and surgeons regarding radiology reporting of liver observations in patients at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Members of the American College of Radiology Liver Imaging and Data Reporting System (LI-RADS) Outreach & Education Group (30 members) as well as Society of Abdominal Radiology Disease-Focused Panel on HCC diagnosis (27 members) created and distributed an 18-question survey to clinicians and surgeons, with focus on preferences regarding radiology reporting of liver observations in patients. The survey questions were directed to physician demographics, current use of LI-RADS by their local radiologists, their opinions about current LI-RADS and potential improvements. RESULTS A total of 152 physicians responded, 66.4% (101/152) from North America, including 42 surgeons, 81 physicians and 29 interventional radiologists. Participants were predominantly from academic centers 83% (126/152), while 13.8% (21/152) worked in private/community centers and 3.2% (5/152) worked in a hybrid practice. Almost 90% (136/152) of participants preferred the use of LI-RADS (compared to nothing or other standardized reporting systems; OPTN and AASLD) to communicate liver-related observations. However, only 28.5% (43/152) of participants input was sought at the time of implementing LI-RADS in their institutions. Fifty-eight percent (88/152) of all participants found standardized LI-RADS management recommendations in radiology reports to be clinically helpful. However, a subgroup analysis of surgeons in academic centers showed that 61.8% (21/34) prefer not to receive standardized LI-RADS recommendations. CONCLUSIONS Most participants preferred the use LI-RADS in reporting CT and MRI examination. When considering inclusion of management recommendations, radiologists should consult with their referring physicians, as preference may differ.Diastolic dysfunction has correlated with adverse outcomes in various forms of unrepaired and repaired or palliated congenital heart disease (CHD). The non-invasive assessment of diastolic function in pediatric and adult patients with CHD remains challenging. Atrial size has a pivotal role in the evaluation of diastolic function; however, a growing body of evidence supports the additional role of atrial function as a more sensitive parameter of ventricular diastolic dysfunction. While the importance of atrial function is becoming clearer in adult acquired heart disease, it remains ambiguous in those with CHD. In this review we set the stage with the current understanding of diastolic function assessment in CHD, followed by insight into atrial form and function including its non-invasive assessment, and conclude with the current knowledge of atrial function in CHD. A general pattern of decrease in reservoir and conduit function with compensatory increase followed by decompensatory decrease in contractile function seems to be the common pathway of atrial dysfunction in most forms of CHD.As the potential for and scope of some types of disasters increases, so too does the need to build greater disaster resilience across the globe. Communities ideally begin building resilience prior to experiencing a disaster in order to reduce negative impacts and ease recovery processes; however, numerous environmental and sociopolitical factors can impede such efforts until a disaster occurs. While the disaster recovery period offers opportunities for communities to build resilience as they replace infrastructure and restore services, a host of new issues arise during this time that can further complicate or delay resilience building. In this study, we highlight the opportunities and challenges inherent at the intersection of disaster recovery and resilience building, which we term the "recovery-resilience nexus." To study this nexus, we analyze a first-of-its-kind disaster recovery program in Colorado, United States, that promotes resilience-building activities in disaster-affected communities by supporting the efforts of place-based watershed coalitions. Although the program faced numerous and interrelated technical, political, and fiscal hurdles, we argue that it provides an opportunity for drawing important lessons about how communities can navigate the recovery-resilience nexus via cross-boundary collaboration and creatively leveraging traditional disaster recovery funding sources to achieve resilience goals.

BACKGROUND Oleic acid (OA) is reported to show anti-inflammatory activity toward activated neutrophils. It is also an important material in nanoparticles for increased stability and cellular internalization. We aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of injectable OA-based nanoparticles for treating lung injury. Different sizes of nanocarriers were prepared to explore the effect of nanoparticulate size on inflammation inhibition. RESULTS The nanoparticles were fabricated with the mean diameters of 105, 153, and 225 nm. The nanocarriers were ingested by isolated human neutrophils during a 5-min period, with the smaller sizes exhibiting greater uptake. The size reduction led to the decrease of cell viability and the intracellular calcium level. The OA-loaded nanosystems dose-dependently suppressed the superoxide anion and elastase produced by the stimulated neutrophils. The inhibition level was comparable for the nanoparticles of different sizes. In the ex vivo biodistribution study, the pulmonary accumulation of nanoparticles increased following the increase of particle size. The nanocarriers were mainly excreted by the liver and bile clearance. Mice were exposed to intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), like lung damage. The lipid-based nanocarriers mitigated myeloperoxidase (MPO) and cytokines more effectively as compared to OA solution. The larger nanoparticles displayed greater reduction on MPO, TNF-α, and IL-6 than the smaller ones. The histology confirmed the decreased pulmonary neutrophil recruitment and lung-architecture damage after intravenous administration of larger nanoparticles. CONCLUSIONS Nanoparticulate size, an essential property governing the anti-inflammatory effect and lung-injury therapy, had different effects on activated neutrophil inhibition and in vivo therapeutic efficacy.The use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) has increased substantially in the United States (US) in the past decade. This was likely spurred in large part by the implementation of the expanded prospective payment system for the Medicare End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) program in 2011. Over the same period, there has also been growing interest in urgent start PD, which is commonly defined as initiation of PD within 14 days of catheter insertion. Ye and colleagues recently reported their experience with urgent start PD in 2059 Chinese ESRD patients over a 9-year period. Rates of complications, including peri-catheter leaks and peritonitis, were very low despite initiation of PD immediately after open catheter placement via open laparotomy in nearly all patients. Long term technique survival was good, with only 75 patients developing catheter failure. This study provides further evidence to suggest that urgent start PD is feasible and effective, although the generalizability of these results to Western populations is unclear. Recent proposed changes to the payment models in the Medicare ESRD program, designed to incentivize use of kidney transplantation and home dialysis, are likely to further propel growth of PD and urgent start PD in the US. Further studies are needed to optimize use of urgent PD and patient outcomes.BACKGROUND An aberrant composition of the salivary microbiota has been found in individuals with type 2 diabetes, and in pregnant women salivary microbiota composition has been associated with preeclampsia and pre-term birth. Pregnant women, who develop gestational diabetes (GDM), have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy. In the present study we assessed whether GDM is linked to variation in the oral microbial community by examining the diversity and composition of the salivary microbiota. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Erlotinib-Hydrochloride.html METHOD In this observational study the salivary microbiota of pregnant women with GDM (n = 50) and normal glucose regulation (n = 160) in third trimester and 9 months postpartum was assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the V1-V3 region. GDM was diagnosed in accordance with the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria. Cross-sectional difference in alpha diversity was assessed using Student's t-test and longitudinal changes were assessed by mixed linear regression. Cross-sectional and longitudinal difference in beta diversity was assessed by permutational multivariate analyses of variance. Differentially abundant genera and OTUs were identified by negative binomial regression. RESULTS In the third trimester, two species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs), while eight OTUs postpartum were differentially abundant in women with GDM compared with normoglycaemic women. OTU richness, Shannon diversity and Pielou evenness decreased from late pregnancy to 9 months after delivery regardless of glycaemic status. CONCLUSION GDM is associated with a minor aberration of the salivary microbiota during late pregnancy and postpartum. For unknown reasons richness of the salivary microbiota decreased from late pregnancy to postpartum, which might be explained by the physiological changes of the immune system during human pregnancy.BACKGROUND Biomechanical characteristics of noncontinuous ACDF and noncontinuous CDA in the treatment of noncontinuous cervical degenerative disc disease were still unclear. The aim of this research is to compare the differences between these two kinds of treatment methods and to verify the effectiveness of Prodisc-C in noncontinuous CDA. METHODS Eight FEMs of the cervical spine (C2-C7) were built based on CT images of 8 mild CDDD volunteers. In the arthroplasty group, we inserted Prodisc-C at C3/4 and C5/6. In the fusion group, CoRoent® Contour and NuVasive® Helix ACP were implanted at C3/4 and C5/6. Initial loads of 75 N were used to simulate the head weight and muscle forces. The application of 1.0 N m moment on the top on the C2 vertebra was used to create motion in all directions. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA version 14.0 (Stata Corp LP, College Station, Texas, USA). Statistical significance was set at P less then 0.05. RESULTS The IDPs in C2/3 (P less then 0.001, P = 0.005, P less then 0.

© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.OBJECTIVES Despite the rise in community health problems in populations living in urban slums, activities of community health nurses are limited in Bangladesh. This study aimed to describe how a nurse-managed health center (NMHC) was developed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. DESIGN An exploratory-descriptive research design was used. SAMPLE AND MEASUREMENTS The commitment phase was conducted to establish partnerships in the community. Involvement of community leaders and members and partnerships with various organizations were established successfully in the commitment phase. The assessment phase was completed by implementing personal interviews, community site visits, and household surveys of 172 households in the community. Action plans were developed and strategies were followed to change the community during the planning phase. RESULTS Household survey results showed that community people suffered from non-communicable diseases, risk behaviors, and inadequate housing conditions. The high-priority community needs included nutrition and chronic management services, behavior change programs, and a clean environment. Action plans for health programs based on community needs and strategies such as securing manpower and equipment were developed. CONCLUSIONS The systematic process of creating a NMHC, and the necessity of the community health nurse's role in responding to health needs of the urban poor in Dhaka, Bangladesh was confirmed. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.OBJECTIVE To explore attitudes toward immigrants and refugees living in Ecuador. DESIGN AND MEASURES A transnationalism framework informed this qualitative study, which utilized a semi-structured interview guide to elicit responses from participants about their attitudes toward immigrants and refugees. Interviews were conducted in Spanish, audio-taped, transcribed, coded, and analyzed in Spanish to identify emergent themes. Demographic data were analyzed using SPSS. SAMPLE Participants (n = 50) were recruited from five sectors that interact with refugees health care, the press, the police, nongovernmental organizations, and education. Fifty interviews were conducted with adults in Quito, Ecuador, in 2017. RESULTS Participants reported concerns about the health and well-being of immigrants and refugees, expressed a willingness to assist them, but within limits, noted discrimination and bias against refugees, and cited social policies and human rights as factors that influenced their attitudes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that immigrants and refugees face challenges which impact their health and well-being, according to participants in the study. Social policies can influence attitudes, but are also affected by rapidly shifting immigration patterns. Migration flows in South America is an under-studied area of research, with opportunity for further public health nursing inquiry. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the commutability of three external quality assessment (EQA) materials for point-of-care (POC) glucose testing using two approaches, to identify suitable EQA materials to evaluate and monitor the quality of POC testing. METHODS Commercial control materials (CCMs), pooled human serum samples (PHSs), and homemade human whole-blood samples (HWBs) were measured along with 33 individual clinical samples using five POC instruments and a Hitachi 7600 analyzer. Data were analyzed by Deming regression analysis with a 95% prediction interval as described in Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) EP30-A, and by difference in bias analysis as described by the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) Working Group on Commutability. RESULTS Using the CLSI approach, HWBs, CCMs, and PHSs were commutable with five, one, and two instruments, respectively. With the IFCC approach, HWBs were commutable with two instruments, while CCMs and PHSs were largely inconclusive or non-commutable on five instruments. CONCLUSIONS HWBs were commutable on all instruments by the CLSI approach and may be a suitable EQA material for POC testing. Although some results differed between the IFCC and CLSI approaches, both indicated that HWBs were far superior to CCMs and PHSs in commutability. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals Inc.BACKGROUND The first European case series are detecting a very high frequency of chemosensitive disorders in COVID-19 patients, ranging between 19.4% and 88%. METHODS Olfactory and gustatory function was objectively tested in 72 COVID-19 patients treated at University Hospital of Sassari. RESULTS Overall, 73.6% of the patients reported having or having had chemosensitive disorders. Olfactory assessment showed variable degree hyposmia in 60 cases and anosmia in two patients. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/dbet6.html Gustatory assessment revealed hypogeusia in 33 cases and complete ageusia in one patient. Statistically significant differences in chemosensitive recovery were detected based on age and distance from the onset of clinical manifestations. CONCLUSION Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions represent common clinical findings in COVID-19 patients. Otolaryngologists and head-neck surgeons must by now keep this diagnostic option in mind when evaluating cases of ageusia and nonspecific anosmia that arose suddenly and are not associated with rhinitis symptoms. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 pandemic continues to produce a large number of patients with chronic respiratory failure and ventilator dependence. As such, surgeons will be called upon to perform tracheotomy for a subset of these chronically intubated patients. As seen during the SARS and the SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks, aerosol-generating procedures (AGP) have been associated with higher rates of infection of medical personnel and potential acceleration of viral dissemination throughout the medical center. Therefore, a thoughtful approach to tracheotomy (and other AGPs) is imperative and maintaining traditional management norms may be unsuitable or even potentially harmful. We sought to review the existing evidence informing best practices and then develop straightforward guidelines for tracheotomy during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This communication is the product of those efforts and is based on national and international experience with the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the SARS epidemic of 2002/2003.

The positive effect of nitrogen deposition on soil respiration was mainly in the growing season, with slightly inhibitive effect in the non-growing season.Understanding the changes of runoff, sediment transport, and hydrodynamic parameters of slopes under the influence of landscape patch coverage and connectivity is of great significance for revealing the hydrodynamic mechanism and hydrological connectivity of slope soil erosion process. In this study, the changes of runoff, sediment transport and hydrodynamic parameters of downhill surface in different coverage levels (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 90%) and different connectivity modes (vertical path, horizonal path, S-shaped path, random patches) of shrublands were analyzed by field artificial simulated rainfall test. The results showed that, with the increases of shrub cove-rage, runoff yield and sediment yield decreased exponentially. When the coverage increased to more than 60%, the capacity of shrubs to reduce runoff and sediment became stable. With the increases of shrub coverage, flow velocity, flow depth, Reynolds number, Froude number, stream power, and flow shear resistance significantly decreased, while Manning's roughness coefficient and Darcy-Weisbach resistance coefficient increased significantly. When shrub coverage increased to more than 60%, there was no significant difference in the eigenvalues of hydraulic parameters. The runoff rate under the four connectivity modes followed the order of vertical path > S-shaped path > horizonal path > random patches. The sediment rate was the largest in the vertical path, followed by the S-shaped path, and the horizonal path was not significantly different from the random patches. The path with poor connectivity (horizonal path, random patches) exhibited stronger resistance of hydraulic transmission and poor hydraulic sedimentation capacity than the well-connected path (vertical path, S-shaped path). Our results could provide important theoretical basis for soil erosion control on the Loess Plateau and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin.To clarify the morphological characteristics of soil preferential flow and the effect of plant roots on its formation, plants from the typical vegetation types of an artificial woodland (Leucaena acacia) and a dry watershed grassland (Heteropogon contortus) of Yuanmou County, Jinsha River were selected as the experimental objects. Based on the staining and tracing method combined with Photoshop CS5 and the Image-Pro Plus 6.0 image processing technology, we analyzed the morphological and distribution characteristics of soil preferential flow under the two planting types and examined the effects of plant roots. We found significant difference in soil preferential flow dyeing area between the woodland and grassland species, and the overall variation trend of the forestland dyeing area ratio decreased with increasing soil depth. The dyeing area of the grassland decreased monotonously with the increases of soil depth. The occurrence degree of soil preferential flow in forest was higher than that of grassland. Root systemaffected the formation of soil preferential flow. At the root diameter ranges of 0≤d≤5 mm and d>10 mm, root length density of the woodland showed a monotonous decreasing trend with increasing soil depth, while in the root diameter range of 5 mm5 mm. The overall change trend of soil preferential flow dyeing area of two vegetation types in the study area decreased with increasing soil depth. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/otx015.html Plant root system was closely related to the formation of soil preferential flow. Fine roots could promote while coarse roots may retard the formation of preferential flows.We examined the effects of retention density on plant DBH (diameter at breast height), height, volume growth, stand biomass, and stand economic benefit of Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation by Pingxiang, Guangxi Province. Four treatments of different retention density were set up a 14-year middle-aged Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation, 500, 750 and 1000 trees·hm-2, with stand without thinning as the control (1500 trees·hm-2). Results showed that DBH (20.55 cm), increment in height (15.70 m), and large-diameter timber volume (18.31 m3·hm-2) of the C. lanceolata plantation were the highest in 500 trees·hm-2 treatment. The volume of living trees was the highest in the control (199.63 m3·hm-2), which was significantly higher than that in 500 and 750 trees·hm-2. The biomass of arbor layer and ecosystem, as well as the economic benefit differed significantly across the treatments, with arborous biomass (90.72 t·hm-2), ecosystem biomass (94.97 t·hm-2), and economic benefit (1.184×105 yuan·hm-2) of 1000 trees·hm-2 treatment being significantly higher than others. Reducing stand retention density increased the DBH, plant height, timber diameter, proportion of large diameter timber, average volume and biomass of single timber, but it did not enhance the volume of living trees. The retention density of 1000 trees·hm-2 was the optimum for middle-aged C. lanceolata plantation. Compared with the control, it significantly increased the total stand volume, arbor biomass, ecosystem biomass, and economic benefit by 2.3%, 5.7%, 4.7%, and 5.8%, respectively.Stand age is a key factor affecting carbon stocks and fluxes of forest ecosystem. Quantification of the changes in forest productivity with stand development is critically important for optimizing forest age structure, facilitating maximum utilization of resources, and better realizing the role of forests in regulating the uptake, storage, and emission of CO2. In this study, using space for time substitution approach, we established 12 chronosequence plots in the broadleaf-Korean pine forests of Lushuihe. Using a locally parameterized Biome-BGC model, we simulated the dynamics of net primary productivity (NPP) with stand development and examined the changes with stand development in NPP of broadleaf-Korean pine forests under four developmental scenarios. Results showed that the biomass in broadleaf-Korean pine forests of different age-classes ranked in the order of young stand less then mid-age stand less then mature stand less then over-mature stand, with the average value of (224.35±20.68), (237.23±39.