Environmental Challenges and Impacts of Land-Use Conversion in the Yellow River Basin

While the Chinese population continues to grow, Chinese policy makers are faced with a seemingly insurmountable task of satisfying demands for fresh water, electricity, agricultural products, etc. Not only is the irrigated land area presently shrinking, as previously cultivated is converted to various non-agricultural purposes, but additionally, advancing pollution from expanding mining industries, urban centers, and upstream input-intensive farmlands, are causing a reduction in the usability of the Yellow River water. Unfavorable climatic, topographic, and geomorphic preconditions further constrain food production potentials. The exceptionally high silt load and sedimentation rate in the Yellow River constitute another major challenge for engineers. Dam construction and maintenance work are aggravated by rapid sedimentation in reservoirs, undermining potentials for water supply storage and electricity production. Likewise, flood prevention measures in the Lower Reaches are counteracted by sediment build-up in the canal. In the entire basin, freshwater constitutes an advancing challenge, with regard to its usability, storage, allocation, and absolute seasonal availability. Based on a review of potential river ecological impacts of irrigation and multi-purpose dams, this report concludes that advancing intensification of agricultural practices and continuous construction of large dams may significantly alter riverine ecosystems with adverse implications for human livelihoods. The author argues that any larger intervention in the riverine landscape should by necessity be preceded by a comprehensive assessment of the river's various functions and values for its different user groups. Such an assessment should consider not only the physical, but also the water quality and biological aspects and their interrelations. Just as many scientists tend to focus only on a few research parameters, managerial strategies often tend to target only one or a few objectives at a time. Balancing the different interests at hand, based on a comprehensive but understandable environmental impact assessment, is identified as the key to successful integrated river basin management

Impaired recovery in diabetic rat nerve following anoxic conduction block

It is well documented that diabetic rats and subjects have a paradoxical resistance to ischemic conduction block although the nerves of diabetics are more susceptible to entrapment neuropathies. The aim of the present study was to further analyze the effect of anoxia on the diabetic nerve. Nerve conduction was measured in vitro in desheathed sciatic nerves from spontaneously diabetic rats (BB-Wistar) and age-matched controls. After onset of anoxia the compound action potential (CAP) decreased to 50% in 17 min in diabetic rat nerves and 8 min in normals. Following reoxygenation CAP recovered to 50% in 30 s in normal rat nerves and after 3 min the recovery was 92%. In nerves from diabetic animals 50% recovery took 4 min, but still after 12 min CAP was suppressed to a 60% level of the original. Longer periods of anoxia did not impair the recovery in normal nerve as it did in the diabetic ones. This defective recovery after anoxia in nerves from diabetic animals may be relevant for the understanding of the pathogenesis of entrapment neuropathies in diabetic subjects.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/31284/1/0000190.pd

Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy Associates With Micro- or Macroangiopathy: Results from a population-based study of type 2 diabetic patients in Sweden

OBJECTIVE—To assess associations between peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) and other diabetes-related complications

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Facilitates Healing of Chronic Foot Ulcers in Patients With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Chronic diabetic foot ulcers are a source of major concern for both patients and health care systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the management of chronic diabetic foot ulcers. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Diabetics with Chronic Foot Ulcers (HODFU) study was a randomized, single-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The outcomes for the group receiving HBOT were compared with those of the group receiving treatment with hyperbaric air. Treatments were given in a multi-place hyperbaric chamber for 85-min daily (session duration 95 min), five days a week for eight weeks (40 treatment sessions). The study was performed in an ambulatory setting. RESULTS: Ninety-four patients with Wagner grade 2, 3, or 4 ulcers, which had been present for >3 months, were studied. In the intention-to-treat analysis, complete healing of the index ulcer was achieved in 37 patients at 1-year of follow-up: 25/48 (52%) in the HBOT group and 12/42 (29%) in the placebo group (P = 0.03). In a sub-analysis of those patients completing >35 HBOT sessions, healing of the index ulcer occurred in 23/38 (61%) in the HBOT group and 10/37 (27%) in the placebo group (P = 0.009). The frequency of adverse events was low. CONCLUSIONS: The HODFU study showed that adjunctive treatment with HBOT facilitates healing of chronic foot ulcers in selected patients with diabetes

Associations of Different Types of Maternal Diabetes and Body Mass Index With Offspring Psychiatric Disorders

Question Are different types of maternal diabetes, by themselves or in combination with maternal obesity, associated with an increased risk of offspring psychiatric disorders? Findings In this cohort study of 647 099 births, non-insulin-treated pregestational type 2 diabetes in severely obese mothers was associated with several psychiatric disorders in their offspring, with an effect size lower than that for maternal insulin-treated pregestational diabetes but higher than that for gestational diabetes. Meaning Maternal diabetes, mainly pregestational, in severely obese mothers may be associated with an excess risk of several psychiatric disorders in their offspring.This population-based cohort study uses data from Finnish nationwide registries to examine the associations of different types of maternal diabetes, separately and together with maternal obesity, with psychiatric disorders in the mothers' offspring.Importance Maternal obesity, pregestational type 1 and 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes have been reported to increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the mothers' offspring. However, the associations of maternal diabetes disorders and body mass index jointly with psychiatric disorders among offspring are less well documented, especially for type 2 diabetes. Objective To examine the associations of different types of maternal diabetes, separately and together with maternal obesity, with psychiatric disorders in the mothers' offspring. Design, Setting, and Participants This population-based cohort study used data from nationwide registries in Finland encompassing all 649 043 live births occurring between 2004 and 2014. The study and data analysis were conducted from January 1, 2019, to July 5, 2019. Exposures Maternal prepregnancy body mass index, insulin-treated pregestational diabetes, and pregestational type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes without insulin treatment. Main Outcomes and Measures Psychiatric diagnoses and prescription of psychotropic drugs among the mothers' offspring. Cox proportional hazards models were adjusted for birth year, sex, mode of delivery, maternal age, number of fetuses, parity, mother's country of birth, mother's marital status, maternal smoking, maternal psychiatric disorder, and maternal systemic inflammatory disease. Results The mean (SD) age of mothers was 30.20 (5.37) years; 357 238 of 394302 mothers (90.6%) were born in Finland. Of the 647 099 births studied, 4000 fetuses (0.62%) were exposed to maternal insulin-treated pregestational diabetes, 3724 (0.57%) were exposed to type 2 diabetes, and 98 242 (15.18%) were exposed to gestational diabetes; 34 892 offspring (5.39%) later received a diagnosis of a mild neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorder. Non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes in severely obese mothers, compared with normal-weight mothers without diabetes, was associated with psychiatric disorders in the offspring (hazard ratio, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.64-2.37), although with a lower effect size than that for severely obese mothers with insulin-treated pregestational diabetes (hazard ratio, 2.71; 95% CI, 2.03-3.61). The largest effect sizes were found for mood disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorders, and autism. Gestational diabetes in severely obese mothers had a lower overall effect size (hazard ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.50-1.72). Diabetes in normal-weight mothers was not associated with psychopathologic disorders in the offspring. Conclusions and Relevance Severe obesity in mothers with diabetes was associated with an increased overall risk for psychiatric disorders in their offspring. The risk was highest for those exposed to insulin-treated pregestational diabetes, followed by non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. These findings may have implications for managing pregnancies.</p

Presynaptic actions of 4-Aminopyridine and γ-aminobutyric acid on rat sympathetic ganglia in vitro

Responses to bath-applications of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and -aminobutyric acid (GABA) were recorded intracellularly from neurones in the rat isolated superior cervical ganglion. 4-aminopyridine (0.1–1.0 mmol/l) usually induced spontaneous action potentials and excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), which were blocked by hexamethonium. Membrane potential was unchanged; spike duration was slightly increased. Vagus nerve B-and C-fibre potentials were prolonged. In 4-AP solution (0.1–0.3 mmol/l), GABA (0.1 mmol/l), 3-aminopropanesulphonic acid or muscimol evoked bursts of spikes and EPSPs in addition to a neuronal depolarization. These bursts, which were not elicited by glycine, glutamate, taurine or (±)-baclofen, were completely antagonised by hexamethonium, tetrodotoxin or bicuculline methochloride. It is concluded that: (a) 4-AP has a potent presynaptic action on sympathetic ganglia; (b) presynaptic actions of GABA can be recorded postsynaptically in the presence of 4-AP; and (c) the presynaptic GABA-receptors revealed in this condition are similar to those on the postsynaptic membrane

Sarcopenia predicts reduced liver growth and reduced resectability in patients undergoing portal vein embolization before liver resection - A DRAGON collaborative analysis of 306 patients

Background: After portal vein embolization (PVE) 30% fail to achieve liver resection. Malnutrition is a modifiable risk factor and can be assessed by radiological indices. This study investigates, if sarcopenia affects resectability and kinetic growth rate (KGR) after PVE. Methods: A retrospective study was performed of the outcome of PVE at 8 centres of the DRAGON collaborative from 2010 to 2019. All malignant tumour types were included. Sarcopenia was defined using gender, body mass and skeletal muscle index. First imaging after PVE was used for liver volumetry. Primary and secondary endpoints were resectability and KGR. Risk factors impacting liver growth were assessed in a multivariable analysis. Results: Eight centres identified 368 patients undergoing PVE. 62 patients (17%) had to be excluded due to unavailability of data. Among the 306 included patients, 112 (37%) were non-sarcopenic and 194 (63%) were sarcopenic. Sarcopenic patients had a 21% lower resectability rate (87% vs. 66%, p &lt; 0.001) and a 23% reduced KGR (p = 0.02) after PVE. In a multivariable model dichotomized for KGR ≥2.3% standardized FLR (sFLR)/week, only sarcopenia and sFLR before embolization correlated with KGR. Conclusion: In this largest study of risk factors, sarcopenia was associated with reduced resectability and KGR in patients undergoing PVE.</p

Analysis of neural crest-derived clones reveals novel aspects of facial development

Cranial neural crest cells populate the future facial region and produce ectomesenchyme-derived tissues, such as cartilage, bone, dermis, smooth muscle, adipocytes, and many others. However, the contribution of individual neural crest cells to certain facial locations and the general spatial clonal organization of the ectomesenchyme have not been determined. We investigated how neural crest cells give rise to clonally organized ectomesenchyme and how this early ectomesenchyme behaves during the developmental processes that shape the face. Using a combination of mouse and zebrafish models, we analyzed individual migration, cell crowd movement, oriented cell division, clonal spatial overlapping, and multilineage differentiation. The early face appears to be built from multiple spatially defined overlapping ectomesenchymal clones. During early face development, these clones remain oligopotent and generate various tissues in a given location. By combining clonal analysis, computer simulations, mouse mutants, and live imaging, we show that facial shaping results from an array of local cellular activities in the ectomesenchyme. These activities mostly involve oriented divisions and crowd movements of cells during morphogenetic events. Cellular behavior that can be recognized as individual cell migration is very limited and short-ranged and likely results from cellular mixing due to the proliferation activity of the tissue. These cellular mechanisms resemble the strategy behind limb bud morphogenesis, suggesting the possibility of common principles and deep homology between facial and limb outgrowth