Evaluation of small bowel blood flow in healthy subjects receiving low-dose aspirin

AIM:To investigate the relationship between low-dose aspirin-induced small bowel mucosal damage and blood flow,and the effect of rebamipide. METHODS:Ten healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study.The subjects were divided into two groups:a placebo group given low-dose aspirin plus placebo and a rebamipide group given low-dose aspirin plus rebamipide for a period of 14 d.Capsule endoscopy and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were performed before and after administration of drugs.Areas under the curves and peak value of time-intensity curve were calculated. RESULTS:Absolute differences in areas under the curves were-1102.5(95%CI:-1980.3 to-224.7,P=0.0194) in the placebo group and-152.7(95%CI:-1604.2 to 641.6,P=0.8172) in the rebamipide group. Peak values of time intensity curves were-148.0(95% CI:-269.4 to-26.2,P=0.0225) in the placebo group and 28.3(95%CI:-269.0 to 325.6,P=0.8343) in the rebamipide group.Capsule endoscopy showed mucosal breaks only in the placebo group. CONCLUSION:Short-term administration of low-dose aspirin is associated with small bowel injuries and blood flow.

The Evaluation of Land Use Changes on Stream Discharge by SWAT Model and Remote Sensing in Agro-Forestry Watershed： A Case Study in Nghinh Tuong Subwatershed, Northern Vietnam

The purpose of this paper was to implement ＂Soil and Water Assessment Tool （SWAT）＂ model and Geographic Information System （GIS） to evaluate the impact of land use changes on stream discharge in Nghinh Tuong watershed （a brand of Cau River） in Northern Vietnam. The watershed was coverd by 56% forestry land, 30% agricultural land and the remain 14% for others. Stream discharge observed data from 2002 to 2007 were used for calibration period and from 2008 to 2012 for validation period. The result showed that two coefficients （NSE and PBIAS） to evaluate model performance were 0.76 and 6.54% for calibration period and 0.87 and 4.74% for validation period, respectively. Stream discharge strongly depends not only on quantity of precipitation but also on land use change. Through the scenario 1, agricultural land （corn, orchard and tea） increases 9,782.67 ha （2.45%）, meanwhile forest （forest-mixed） decreases 1,091.77 ha （2.75%） as compared to baseline scenario. Additionally, precipitation increases 3.74% in mean wet season, but decreases 0.5% in mean dry season with respect to baseline period. SWAT model was able to simulate stream discharge and sediment yield for Nghinh Tuong watershed successfully not only for baseline scenario but also for scenario 1. In brief, SWAT proves its ability in simulation stream discharge in subwatershed level. It is a useful tool to assist water quantity and quality management process in Nghinh Tuong watershed. This work one more time indicated that SWAT is useful tool for resources and environment management.

Combination of ribavirin and reduning protects mice against severe pneumonia induced by H1N1 influenza a virus

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of ribavirin administration combined with Reduning in a mouse model of influenza A(H1N1)-induced severe pneumonia.METHODS:Influenza A/Beijing/501/2009(H1N1)-infected C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four experimental groups treated with either a mock injection of phosphate-buffered saline(PBS),ribavirin(66.6 mg/kg daily)or Reduning(86.6 mg/kg daily),or a combination of both,for 7 days.Mice were monitored for clinical signs and survival,and body weight was measured daily for 14 days.Virus titer,lung wet-to-dry ratios,pathology and cytokines including interleukin(IL)-6,IL-10,and interferon(IFN)-γwere assayed on different days.RESULTS:In the untreated group injected with phosphate buffer saline,all the mice died of the infection.The survival rate of mice treated with Reduning was only 10%,whereas 100%of the ribavirin-and the combination-treated mice survived.Low lung viral loads indicated that ribavirin significantly inhibited virus replication,whereas Reduning did not.Lung wet-to-dry ratios demonstrated that both ribavirin and Reduning,administered together or separately,reduced acute lung edema compared with results in the untreated group.Pathology analyses also showed that treatment with a combination of both drugs relieved pathological lesions,whereas the single drug treatment did not.Levels of IL-6,IL-10 and IFN-γin mice treated with ribavirin or the combination of both ribavirin and Reduning were all significantly lower than in the untreated group,especially in the combination-treated group.In addition,Reduning administration significantly decreased both IL-6 and IL-10production but had no effect on IFN-γ.CONCLUSION:Due to the synergistic effect of antiviral and antiinflammation,the combination of ribavirin and Reduning could be an effective treatment for severe H1N1 which was considered to be significant to delayed antiviral and drug resistant.

Policy Review on Watershed Protection and Poverty Alleviation by the Grain for Green Program in China

The sustained growth of Chinese economy in the new century is a silver lining in the continuouslydepressed global economy. Meanwhile, the rapid development of Chinese economy is still confronted withconstraints from deteriorating environment and rural poverty issues. It has become a significant policyoption in maintaining high speed, efficiency and sound development of Chinese economy to rehabilitateforest resources, improve ecological conditions, increase farmers income and get on a sustainable roadfeaturing coordinated development of population, resources and environment. The Grain for Green Program,as a CDM activity of Chinese style, launched on trial in 1999 and implemented in 2002 across the country,is the biggest land use transition, watershed management and poverty alleviation program involving thelargest population in Chinese history and across the globe. It covers 25 provinces/regions/cities and gets over1 600 counties, 15 million households and 60 million farmers were involved. Hence the Grain for Tree policyhas a significant bearing on ecological protection and farmers poverty alleviation in the soil and watererosion-prone region. A review and assessment of the background, essentials, effects, problems and trend ofthe Grain for Tree policy is of great significance for both China and the other developing countries in theworld in their efforts to combat the deteriorating environment and alleviate poverty.