Nitrogen loss by anaerobic ammonium oxidation in a mangrove wetland of the Zhangjiang Estuary, China

Abstract(#br)Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), a microbial process in which NH 4 + is oxidized to N 2 gas, is considered a significant nitrogen cycle process, but its significance in mangrove wetland sediments, particularly its depth- and genus-specific distribution and activity have remained uncertain. Here we report the vertical distribution, abundance, activity and role of anammox bacteria in mangrove sediments of Zhangjiang Estuary, China. We used stable isotope-tracer techniques, 16S rRNA and anammox bacterial functional gene (Hydrazine synthase B: hzsB ) clone libraries and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays, along with an assessment of nutrient profiles of sediment core samples. We observed a widespread occurrence of anammox bacteria at different depths of mangrove sediments. The abundance of anammox bacterial 16S rRNA and hzsB genes ranged from 0.41×10 7 to 9.74×10 7 and from 0.42×10 6 to 6.44×10 6 copies per gram of dry soil and peaked in the upper layer of mangrove sediments. We also verified the co-occurrence of different genera of anammox microorganisms in mangrove sediments, with Candidatus Scalindua and Candidatus Kuenenia being the dominant genera. Potential anammox rates ranged from 4.83 to 277.36 nmolN 2 ·g −1 ·d −1 at different depths of sediment cores, and the highest rates were found in the deeper layer (70–100cm) of mangrove sediments. Scaling our findings up to the entire mangrove system, we estimated that anammox hotspots accounted for a loss of 751 gN·m −2 ·y −1 , and contributed to over 12% of the nitrogen lost from the deeper layer of mangrove sediments in this region

Nitrogen loss by anaerobic ammonium oxidation in a mangrove wetland of the Zhangjiang Estuary, China.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), a microbial process in which NH4+ is oxidized to N2 gas, is considered a significant nitrogen cycle process, but its significance in mangrove wetland sediments, particularly its depth- and genus-specific distribution and activity have remained uncertain. Here we report the vertical distribution, abundance, activity and role of anammox bacteria in mangrove sediments of Zhangjiang Estuary, China. We used stable isotope-tracer techniques, 16S rRNA and anammox bacterial functional gene (Hydrazine synthase B: hzsB) clone libraries and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays, along with an assessment of nutrient profiles of sediment core samples. We observed a widespread occurrence of anammox bacteria at different depths of mangrove sediments. The abundance of anammox bacterial 16S rRNA and hzsB genes ranged from 0.41×107 to 9.74×107 and from 0.42×106 to 6.44×106 copies per gram of dry soil and peaked in the upper layer of mangrove sediments. We also verified the co-occurrence of different genera of anammox microorganisms in mangrove sediments, with Candidatus Scalindua and Candidatus Kuenenia being the dominant genera. Potential anammox rates ranged from 4.83 to 277.36 nmolN2·g-1·d-1 at different depths of sediment cores, and the highest rates were found in the deeper layer (70-100cm) of mangrove sediments. Scaling our findings up to the entire mangrove system, we estimated that anammox hotspots accounted for a loss of 751 gN·m-2·y-1, and contributed to over 12% of the nitrogen lost from the deeper layer of mangrove sediments in this region

Mini-flank supra-12th rib incision for open partial nephrectomy compared with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and traditional open partial nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report our approach of partial nephrectomy (PN) using a supra-12th rib mini-flank incision. We compared mini-incision open partial nephrectomy (MI-OPN) with open partial nephrectomy (OPN) and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) to verify whether MI-OPN can be an alternative to OPN and LPN. METHODS: This was a retrospective single-center study including 194 patients who underwent partial nephrectomy (PN) between February 2005 and December 2010. Demographic, perioperative, and complication data were compared among the MI-OPN group, OPN group and LPN group. RESULTS: No statistical differences were reported in either group for age, sex, BMI, tumour side (right or left kidney), RENAL nephrometry scores, PADUA score and preoperative eGFR. The operative time was longer in LPN group when compared with MI-OPN and OPN group (all P<0.001). The warm ischemia time of LPN group was longer than MI-OPN group (P = 0.032) and OPN group (P = 0.005). The length of stay of LPN group was shorter than OPN group (P = 0.018), but was similar to MI-OPN group (P = 0.094). The incidence of renal artery clamping was lower in OPN group when compared with MI-OPN and LPN group (all P<0.001). More estimated blood loss was found in OPN group when compared with MI-OPN group (p = 0.003) and LPN group (P = 0.014). The overall incidence of postoperative complications was similar. CONCLUSIONS: The approach of MI-OPN can couple the benefits of both minimally invasive and open partial nephrectomy techniques with less estimated blood loss, shorter operative time, shorter length of stay, less postoperative complications, and a smaller incision. MI-OPN may be an effective alternative to laparoscopic or traditional open approaches, which maybe more suitable for the tumors with high RENAL nephrometry score or PADUA score

Visualization and quantification of coconut using advanced computed tomography postprocessing technology.

IntroductionComputed tomography (CT) is a non-invasive examination tool that is widely used in medicine. In this study, we explored its value in visualizing and quantifying coconut.Materials and methodsTwelve coconuts were scanned using CT for three months. Axial CT images of the coconuts were obtained using a dual-source CT scanner. In postprocessing process, various three-dimensional models were created by volume rendering (VR), and the plane sections of different angles were obtained through multiplanar reformation (MPR). The morphological parameters and the CT values of the exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp, embryo, bud, solid endosperm, liquid endosperm, and coconut apple were measured. The analysis of variances was used for temporal repeated measures and linear and non-linear regressions were used to analyze the relationship between the data.ResultsThe MPR images and VR models provide excellent visualization of the different structures of the coconut. The statistical results showed that the weight of coconut and liquid endosperm volume decreased significantly during the three months, while the CT value of coconut apple decreased slightly. We observed a complete germination of a coconut, its data showed a significant negative correlation between the CT value of the bud and the liquid endosperm volume (y = -2.6955x + 244.91; R2 = 0.9859), and a strong positive correlation between the height and CT value of the bud (y = 1.9576 ln(x) -2.1655; R2 = 0.9691).ConclusionCT technology can be used for visualization and quantitative analysis of the internal structure of the coconut, and some morphological changes and composition changes of the coconut during the germination process were observed during the three-month experiment. Therefore, CT is a potential tool for analyzing coconuts

Trends in antineoplastic drug use, cost and prescribing patterns among patients with lung cancer in nine major cities of China, 2016–2020: a retrospective observational study based on inpatient and outpatient hospital data

Objectives It is unclear whether the use of antineoplastic drugs for patients with lung cancer in China has changed after the implementation of the national drug price negotiation in 2016 and continual update of clinical guidelines. This study aims to evaluate the trends in antineoplastic drug use, cost and prescribing patterns among patients with lung cancer in major cities of China.Design We conducted a retrospective observational study using data from January 2016 to December 2020.Setting This study used prescription records based on inpatient and outpatient hospital data from 97 hospitals in 9 major cities of China.Participants A total of 218 325 antineoplastic drug prescriptions in patients with lung cancer were retrospectively collected from the Hospital Prescription Analysis Cooperative Project during the study period.Outcome measures Trends in antineoplastic drug use, cost and prescribing patterns among patients with lung cancer.Results The yearly antineoplastic prescriptions increased by 85.6% from 28 594 in 2016 to 53 063 in 2020 (Z=1.71, p=0.086). Significant increases were seen in the prescriptions for protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), whereas significant decreases were observed in antimetabolites, plant alkaloids and platinum compounds. The yearly cost increased progressively by 145.0% from ¥113.6 million in 2016 to ¥278.3 million in 2020 (Z=2.20, p=0.027). The top three anticancer drug classes in terms of total cost were PKIs, antimetabolites and mAbs. In prescribing patterns of antineoplastic agents for lung cancer, monotherapy, and triple or more drug combinations gradually increased, while dual combinations decreased significantly from 30.8% to 19.6%.Conclusions Prescription practices among patients with lung cancer in China underwent major changes during the study period. The observed trends can aid in understanding the present medication use status of patients with lung cancer in China and provide information for future drug management

Surgical features stratified by group.

<p>OT = operative time; WIT = Warm ischemia time; LOS =  length of stay; EBL =  estimated blood loss.</p

The supra-12th rib mini-flank approach for managing renal lesions.

<p>Renal clear cell carcinoma in the upper pole of the right side (A, D, G): The length of incision after MI-OPN (A); The length of the lesion after MI-OPN (D); Coronal reconstruction demonstrates a renal mass in the upper pole of the right kidney (G). Renal angiomyolipoma in the left side (B, E, H): The length of incision after MI-OPN (B); The length of the lesion after MI-OPN (E); Axial computed tomography (CT) scan shows a mass in the left kidney with low-density dark areas (H). Duplex kidney in the right side (C, F, I): C The length of incision after MI-OPN (C); The length of the lesion after MI-OPN (F); Coronal reconstruction demonstrates the right duplex kidney (I).</p

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients.

<p>VS  =  versus; MI-OPN =  mini-incision open partial nephrectomy; OPN =  open partial nephrectomy; LPN =  laparoscopic partial nephrectomy; BMI =  body mass index; eGFR  =  estimated glomerular filtration rate; SD =  standard deviation.</p