Tethered cord syndrome is a progressive disease with a typically insidious onset in infants and children, and which can lead to persistent progress of neurological deficits and a high rate of disability without timely...Tethered cord syndrome is a progressive disease with a typically insidious onset in infants and children, and which can lead to persistent progress of neurological deficits and a high rate of disability without timely intervention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the curative effect of microsurgery in children with different types of tethered cord syndrome. In this study, we analyzed 326 patients with tethered cord syndrome, aged from 2 months to 14 years old, who were followed for 3-36 months after microscopic surgery. Based on clinical manifestations and imaging findings, these patients were classified into five types： tight ilium terminale （53 cases）, lipomyelome- ningocele （55 cases）, lipomatous malformation （124 cases）, postoperative adhesions （56 cases）, and split cord malformation （38 cases）. All patients underwent microsurgery. Curative effects were measured before and 3 months after surgery by Spina Bifida Neurological Scale based on sensory and motor functions, reflexes, and bladder and bowel function. The results showed that Spina Bifida Neurological Scale scores improved in all five types after surgery. Overall effective rates in these patients were 75%. Effective rates were 91% in tight ilium terminale, 84% in lipomyelomeningocele, 65% in lipomatous malformation, 75% in postoperative adhesion, and 79% in split cord mal- formation. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that types of tethered cord syndrome （lipoma-type or not） and symptom duration before surgery were independent influencing factors of surgical outcome. These results show that therapeutic effect is markedly different in patients with different types of tethered cord syndrome. Suitable clinical classification for tethered cord syndrome will be helpful in predicting prognosis and guiding treatment. This trial has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry （registration number： ChiCTR1800016464）.展开更多
Dear Editor,Since September 2012, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases have been reported in more than 27 countries, and more than 2,000 cases have been confirmed in the laboratory (http:/...Dear Editor,Since September 2012, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases have been reported in more than 27 countries, and more than 2,000 cases have been confirmed in the laboratory (http://www.who.int/emergencies/mers-cov/en/). MERS-CoV causes an acute and severe respiratory illness with a high mortality rate(~35%) in humans (Shi et al., 2017, Zaki et al., 2012).Neutralizing antibodies targeting the spike of MERS-CoV have been shown to be a therapeutic option for treatment of lethal disease (Agrawal et al., 2016, Ying et al., 2014).展开更多
Aims Plant invasions have the potential to affect the community structure of soil nematodes,but little is known about whether such effects are mediated by aboveground herbivores since invasive plants are not completel...Aims Plant invasions have the potential to affect the community structure of soil nematodes,but little is known about whether such effects are mediated by aboveground herbivores since invasive plants are not completely released from herbivores in the introduced range.In this study,we explored how aboveground insect herbivores mediated the effect of invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides on soil nematodes and examined the temporal variations of such an herbivory-elicited effect.Methods We conducted a greenhouse experiment by applying different herbivory treatments(no insect herbivores,specialist Agasicles hygrophila and generalist Cassida piperata)to potted A.philoxeroides,and then measured the community compositions of soil nematodes in corresponding pots on the 1st,10th and 20th day after removal of all herbivores.In addition,the carbon content of roots and root exudate of A.philoxeroides were also measured.Important Findings Our results showed that aboveground herbivory significantly increased the abundance of soil nematodes of A.philoxeroides,likely plant feeder nematodes,after insect herbivores were removed immediately(1st day).However,such impacts waned with time and there was no significant difference at later stages(10th and 20th days).Furthermore,the effects of specialist A.hygrophila and generalist C.piperata herbivory were consistent on the abundance of soil nematodes.Overall,our results suggest that aboveground insect herbivores have the potential to alter the effects of plant invasions on soil nematodes,but such impacts are transient.Furthermore,our study highlighted the importance of integrating the effects of above-and belowground organisms when evaluating the impacts of plant invasions.展开更多
Aims Plant nutrient use efficiency,an important factor driving primary production,is sensitive to nitrogen(N)deposition.Because of strengthened regulations of N emissions,atmospheric N deposition is decreasing in many...Aims Plant nutrient use efficiency,an important factor driving primary production,is sensitive to nitrogen(N)deposition.Because of strengthened regulations of N emissions,atmospheric N deposition is decreasing in many countries.It remains unknown whether historical N enrichment would alter plant nutrient use efficiency and whether such impacts would be mitigated by ecosystem management strategy.Methods We assessed the effects of historical N addition and mowing on plant N and phosphorus use efficiency(NUE and PUE)at both functional group and community levels in a temperate steppe after the cessation of 6-year N addition.Important Findings Historical N addition had negative legacy effects on plant NUE but not on PUE at the functional group level.There were negative legacy effects of N addition on community-level NUE and PUE,but only in the unmown plots.Mowing mitigated the negative legacy effects of N enrichment on community-level NUE and PUE by reducing the dominance of tall rhizomatous grass but enhancing that of tall bunchgrass.Our results highlight the importance of community composition variations caused by mowing in driving the legacy effects of N enrichment on community-level nutrient use efficiency.Given the slow recovery of community composition following cessation of N deposition,our findings suggest that the lower nutrient efficiency of plant community would be long-lasting.展开更多
基金supported by the Science Foundation of Military Medical Research and Clinical Research Foundation of PLA General Hospital in China,No.2016FC-CXYY-1006(to AJS)a grant from the Application of Clinical Features of Capital City of Science and Technology Commission in China,No.Z171100001017140(to AJS)
文摘Tethered cord syndrome is a progressive disease with a typically insidious onset in infants and children, and which can lead to persistent progress of neurological deficits and a high rate of disability without timely intervention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the curative effect of microsurgery in children with different types of tethered cord syndrome. In this study, we analyzed 326 patients with tethered cord syndrome, aged from 2 months to 14 years old, who were followed for 3-36 months after microscopic surgery. Based on clinical manifestations and imaging findings, these patients were classified into five types： tight ilium terminale （53 cases）, lipomyelome- ningocele （55 cases）, lipomatous malformation （124 cases）, postoperative adhesions （56 cases）, and split cord malformation （38 cases）. All patients underwent microsurgery. Curative effects were measured before and 3 months after surgery by Spina Bifida Neurological Scale based on sensory and motor functions, reflexes, and bladder and bowel function. The results showed that Spina Bifida Neurological Scale scores improved in all five types after surgery. Overall effective rates in these patients were 75%. Effective rates were 91% in tight ilium terminale, 84% in lipomyelomeningocele, 65% in lipomatous malformation, 75% in postoperative adhesion, and 79% in split cord mal- formation. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that types of tethered cord syndrome （lipoma-type or not） and symptom duration before surgery were independent influencing factors of surgical outcome. These results show that therapeutic effect is markedly different in patients with different types of tethered cord syndrome. Suitable clinical classification for tethered cord syndrome will be helpful in predicting prognosis and guiding treatment. This trial has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry （registration number： ChiCTR1800016464）.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0500300 to Wenjie Tan)
文摘Dear Editor,Since September 2012, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases have been reported in more than 27 countries, and more than 2,000 cases have been confirmed in the laboratory (http://www.who.int/emergencies/mers-cov/en/). MERS-CoV causes an acute and severe respiratory illness with a high mortality rate(~35%) in humans (Shi et al., 2017, Zaki et al., 2012).Neutralizing antibodies targeting the spike of MERS-CoV have been shown to be a therapeutic option for treatment of lethal disease (Agrawal et al., 2016, Ying et al., 2014).
基金supported by The National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFC1200100 to J.D.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31822007 to W.H.).
文摘Aims Plant invasions have the potential to affect the community structure of soil nematodes,but little is known about whether such effects are mediated by aboveground herbivores since invasive plants are not completely released from herbivores in the introduced range.In this study,we explored how aboveground insect herbivores mediated the effect of invasive plant Alternanthera philoxeroides on soil nematodes and examined the temporal variations of such an herbivory-elicited effect.Methods We conducted a greenhouse experiment by applying different herbivory treatments(no insect herbivores,specialist Agasicles hygrophila and generalist Cassida piperata)to potted A.philoxeroides,and then measured the community compositions of soil nematodes in corresponding pots on the 1st,10th and 20th day after removal of all herbivores.In addition,the carbon content of roots and root exudate of A.philoxeroides were also measured.Important Findings Our results showed that aboveground herbivory significantly increased the abundance of soil nematodes of A.philoxeroides,likely plant feeder nematodes,after insect herbivores were removed immediately(1st day).However,such impacts waned with time and there was no significant difference at later stages(10th and 20th days).Furthermore,the effects of specialist A.hygrophila and generalist C.piperata herbivory were consistent on the abundance of soil nematodes.Overall,our results suggest that aboveground insect herbivores have the potential to alter the effects of plant invasions on soil nematodes,but such impacts are transient.Furthermore,our study highlighted the importance of integrating the effects of above-and belowground organisms when evaluating the impacts of plant invasions.
基金This work was supported by National NaturalScience Foundation of China(31770503and31822006)Liaoning Revitalizing Talents Program(XLYC1807061)+1 种基金K.C.Wong Education Foundation(GJTD-2019-10)Youth Innovation PromotionAssociation CAS(2018032).
文摘Aims Plant nutrient use efficiency,an important factor driving primary production,is sensitive to nitrogen(N)deposition.Because of strengthened regulations of N emissions,atmospheric N deposition is decreasing in many countries.It remains unknown whether historical N enrichment would alter plant nutrient use efficiency and whether such impacts would be mitigated by ecosystem management strategy.Methods We assessed the effects of historical N addition and mowing on plant N and phosphorus use efficiency(NUE and PUE)at both functional group and community levels in a temperate steppe after the cessation of 6-year N addition.Important Findings Historical N addition had negative legacy effects on plant NUE but not on PUE at the functional group level.There were negative legacy effects of N addition on community-level NUE and PUE,but only in the unmown plots.Mowing mitigated the negative legacy effects of N enrichment on community-level NUE and PUE by reducing the dominance of tall rhizomatous grass but enhancing that of tall bunchgrass.Our results highlight the importance of community composition variations caused by mowing in driving the legacy effects of N enrichment on community-level nutrient use efficiency.Given the slow recovery of community composition following cessation of N deposition,our findings suggest that the lower nutrient efficiency of plant community would be long-lasting.
