Protective effect of midazolam against convulsion in neonatal rats via down-regulation of LC3 and Beclin-1 expression

Purpose: To investigate the effect of midazolam on growth of neurocytes in vitro and in neonatal rats. Methods: Neurocyte proliferation and activity of lactate dehydrogenase were assessed by MTT and lactate dehydrogenase assays, respectively. Western blotting was used to determine the effect of midazolam on LC3, Bax, p62 and Beclin-1 protein expressions. Results: The suppression of neurocyte proliferation byconvulsion was alleviated significantly (p < 0.05) by midazolum treatment. Exposure of convulsion model of neurocytes to midazolum suppressed LC3, Bax, p62 and Beclin-1 protein expression. Midazolum exposure of convulsion model of neurocytes suppressed LDH, caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 activities. The 3-MA (autophagy inhibitor) treatment also significantly (p < 0.05) promoted neurocyte viability after convulsion induction. In convulsion-induced neurocytes, 3-MA exposure suppressed expression of caspase-3/8/9, LC3, Bax, Beclin-1 and p62, while application of midazolum treatment to the rats with convulsion markedly decreased brain water content and neurocyte apoptosis (p < 0.05). Treatment with midazolum inhibited LC3, p62 and Beclin-1 expression in the rat model of convulsion. Conclusion: Midazolum promotes neurocyte proliferation and inhibits edema development via downregulation of autophagy. Therefore, midazolum can potentially be used for the treatment of convulsion, but further studies need to be carried out first. Keywords: Convulsion, Neurocytes, Caspase, Autophagy, Mitochondrial pathwa

Ensuring water resource security in China; the need for advances in evidence based policy to support sustainable management.

China currently faces a water resource sustainability problem which is likely to worsen into the future. The Chinese government is attempting to address this problem through legislative action, but faces severe challenges in delivering its high ambitions. The key challenges revolve around the need to balance water availability with the need to feed a growing population under a changing climate and its ambitions for increased economic development. This is further complicated by the complex and multi-layered government departments, often with overlapping jurisdictions, which are not always aligned in their policy implementation and delivery mechanisms. There remain opportunities for China to make further progress and this paper reports on the outcomes of a science-to-policy roundtable meeting involving scientists and policy-makers in China. It identifies, in an holistic manner, new opportunities for additional considerations for policy implementation, continued and new research requirements to ensure evidence-based policies are designed and implemented and identifies the needs and opportunities to effectively monitor their effectiveness. Other countries around the world can benefit from assessing this case study in China

Economic Assessment of Selected Resource Management Techniques in Marginal Upland Agriculture: Case Studies of China

This case study was designed as an economic assessment of selected resource management techniques for marginal upland agriculture to suggest directions for sustainable resource management. For the China case, it economically assesses the effect of terracing - the most important technology for improving productivity and managing resources in Huangyuan County of Qinghai Province

Economic Assessment of Selected Resource Management Techniques in Marginal Upland Agriculture: Case Studies of China

This case study was designed as an economic assessment of selected resource management techniques for marginal upland agriculture to suggest directions for sustainable resource management. For the China case, it economically assesses the effect of terracing - the most important technology for improving productivity and managing resources in Huangyuan County of Qinghai Province.agricultural development, sustainable agriculture, terrace cropping, Farm Management,

A meta-analysis of the Timing of Chest Radiotherapy in Patients with Limited-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background and objective Although evidence for a significant survival benefit of chest radiotherapy has been proven, no conclusion could be drawn regarding the optimal timing of chest radiation. The aim of this study is to explore whether the timing of chest radiation may influence the survival of the patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LSSCLC) by performing a literature-based meta-analysis. Methods By searching Medline, CENTRAL (the Cochrane central register of controlled trials), CBM, and CNKI, et al, we collected both domestic and overseas published documents about randomized trials comparing different timing chest radiotherapy in patients with LS-SCLC. Early chest radiation was regarded as beginning within 30 days after the start of chemotherapy. Random or fixed effect models were applied to conduct meta-analysis on the trials. The combined odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to estimate the mortality in 2 or 3 years and toxicity of the two treatments. The statistical heterogeneity was determined by cochran’s Chi-square test (Q test). The Begg’ test was used to determine the publication bias. Results Six trials that included a total of 1 189 patients were analyzed in the meta-analysis 587 patients were in the early radiation group and 602 patients were in the late radiation group. Considering all 6 eligible trials, the overall survival at 2/3 years was not significantly different between early and late chest radiation (OR=0.78, 95%CI: 0.55-1.05, Z=1.68, P=0.093). For the toxicity, no obvious difference was observed for early chest radiotherapy compared with late irradiation in pneumonitis (OR=1.93, 95%CI: 0.97-3.86, P=0.797), esophagitis (OR=1.43, 95%CI: 0.95-2.13, P=0.572) and thrombocytopenia (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 0.88-1.77, P=0.746), respectively. Conclusion No statistical difference was observed in 2/3 years survival and toxicity, including pneumonitis, esophagitis and thrombocytopenia, between early radiation and late radiotherapy in LS-SCLC

新疆矿产资源开发效应及其对利益相关者的影响/Regional Effects of Mineral Resources Exploitation and Impacts on Stakeholders in Xinjiang[J]

矿产资源勘察、开发、利用等活动,对资源地的经济、社会、资源和生态环境产生一定的正面和负面效应.拥有丰富矿产资源的新疆,矿产资源开发已成为其支柱产业.矿产资源开发一方面拉动了经济的增长和投资的扩大,增加了利益相关者的收入,带动了相关产业的发展,为当地的居民提供了就业机会;另一方面,导致了产业的单一化和重型化,产生"荷兰病"效应,对人力资本和科技创新产生挤出效应,对环境造成污染,破坏生态平衡,耗费大量的水土资源等,不利于新疆的跨越式发展.矿产资源开发效应对利益相关者造成不同程度的影响,对资源开发的企业而言,直接享受资源开发的高额利润,将产生的资源效应和环境效应等负面效应转嫁给其他的企业和当地的居民;中央政府和地方政府程度不同的享受到资源开发的正面效应,但也承担着资源开发产生的负面效应;当地的居民直接享受不到资源开发正面效应,却直接承担着资源开发造成的资源诅咒效应、资源效应和环境效应等负面效应