Resumo Fundamento Os resultados de estudos anteriores sobre a relação entre ácido úrico sérico (AUS) e o risco de doença cardiovascular (DCV) até agora são inconsistentes devido aos fatores de confusão causados por outros fatores de risco cardiovascular conhecidos. Objetivos Este estudo tem o objetivo de avaliar a relação entre o AUS e as DCV incidentes em chineses de meia-idade e idosos, que foram estratificados de acordo com o índice de massa corporal (IMC). Métodos Recrutamos 5.721 participantes com idades entre 40 e 75 anos que não tinham diagnóstico de DCV na linha de base, e que foram monitorados de 2008 a 2017. Os participantes foram categorizados em quintis de AUS. A regressão de Cox e a análise de sobrevivência de Kaplan-Meier foram utilizadas para comparar a incidência de DCV entre os grupos de AUS. As correlações entre AUS e a incidência de DCV em grupos com IMC e circunferência de cintura (CC) variados também foram analisadas. Um P valor <0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. Resultados Durante um período médio de monitoramento de 7,6 anos, a incidência de DCV aumentou com o AUS (teste de Log-rank p<0,001). Em comparação com o primeiro quintil, as razões de risco padronizadas (intervalos de confiança de 95%) para p desenvolvimento de DCV foram 1,08 (0,78–1,65), 1,17 (0,88–1,77), 1,47 (1,12–2,21), e 1,68 (1,28–2,44) para o segundo, terceiro, quarto e quinto quintis, respectivamente. Essa relação ficou mais clara em participantes com IMC e CC normais. A razão de risco ajustada para cada aumento de 100 μmol/L de AUS foi de 1,13 (intervalo de confiança de 95%: 1,02–1,39) para eventos de DCV. Conclusões O AUS alto é um fator de risco de DCV independente em pessoas de meia-idade e idosas do norte da China. Esse efeito é mantido mesmo depois da estratificação de acordo com medidas de magreza/obesidade.

Abstract Background The results of previous studies of the relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been inconsistent due to confounding factors caused by other known cardiovascular risk factors. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between SUA and incident CVD in middle-aged and elderly Chinese people, who were stratified according to body mass index (BMI). Methods This study recruited 5,721 participants of 40–75 years of age, who were free of CVD at baseline and who underwent follow-up from 2008 to 2017. Participants were categorized in SUA quintiles. Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to compare CVD incidence among the SUA groups. The correlations between SUA and CVD incidence in groups with differing BMI and waist circumference (WC) were also analyzed. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results During a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years, CVD incidence increased with SUA (log-rank test p<0. 001). Compared with the first quintile, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval (CI)) for the development of CVD were 1.08 (0.78–1.65), 1.17 (0.88–1.77), 1.47 (1.12–2.21), and 1.68 (1.28–2.44) for the second to fifth quintiles, respectively. This relationship was clearer in participants with normal BMI and WC. The adjusted hazard ratio for each 100 μmol/L increase in SUA was 1.13 (95% CI: 1.02–1.39) for CVD events. Conclusions High SUA is an independent risk factor for CVD in middle-aged and elderly northern Chinese people. This effect is maintained even after stratification according to measures of leanness/obesity.

SUMMARY: To reveal the regular patterns of water transport in fruit-bearing shoots of walnut (Juglans regia), water transport pathways for various organs were observed using dye-tracing technique; water potential, water status and water transport rate were determined for each of these organs. Water potential in the pedicel, petiole, lateral shoot and main shoot was -2.59, -2.85, -1.68 and -0.37 MPa, respectively. Significant differences were noted among various organs in terms of water status. The ratio of bound water to free water in the petiole was the highest (1.93 RBC), followed by the main shoot, lateral shoot and pedicel. Water transport speed in the petiole was the fastest (3.13 cm/min), followed by the lateral shoot, pedicel and main shoot. However, the water transport rate of the main shoot was the highest, and higher than the sum of the other three organs. The xylem in the petiole was separated from the main shoot; at the top of the main shoot, the xylem was divided into two parts, one of which was connected to the xylem of the pedicel and the other to the lateral shoot. During the shell-hardening period of fruits, the dye was found at the edge of the fruit vascular bundle, although, it was not at the central vascular bundle. No dye was found in the main and accessory buds, instead, only a small part of the xylem was dyed between the accessory bud and the main shoot. Water transport pathways were different for various organs. Thus, the transport and distribution of water in various organs was affected by their water potential, tissue structure and water requirement.

RESUMEN: Para revelar pautas regulares de transporte de agua en brotes frutales de nogal (Juglans regia), se observaron vías de transporte de agua de diversos órganos mediante rastreo de tintes; se determinó: potencial hídrico, estado del agua y tasa de transporte de agua de cada órgano. El potencial hídrico en el pedicelo, peciolo, brote lateral y brote principal fue de -2,59, -2,85, -1,68 y -0,37 MPa, respectivamente. El estado del agua mostró diferencias significativas entre los órganos. La relación entre el agua ligada y el agua libre en el pecíolo fue la mayor (1,93 RBC), seguida por: brote principal, brote lateral y pedicelo. La velocidad de transporte de agua en el pecíolo fue la mayor (3,13 cm/min), seguida del brote lateral, pedicelo y brote principal. Pero la tasa de transporte de agua del brote principal fue la mayor y más alta que la suma de los otros tres órganos. El xilema del peciolo estuvo separado del brote principal; en su parte superior estuvo conectado al xilema del pedicelo y al brote lateral. Durante el período de endurecimiento de la cáscara del fruto, el colorante estuvo en el borde del haz vascular del fruto, pero no en el haz vascular central. No se encontró colorante en yemas principales ni accesorias, en cambio, solo se tiñó una pequeña parte del xilema entre la yema accesoria y el brote principal. Las vías de transporte de agua fueron diferentes para los distintos órganos. El transporte y distribución del agua en varios órganos fueron afectados por su potencial hídrico, la estructura de los tejidos y las necesidades de agua.

Abstract: Background: Tetracentron sinense Oliv., is an endangered, broad-leaved tree distributed in south-central China. Structural characteristics of the community and dominant tree population niches in T. sinense communities are currently unclear. Questions: (1) What is the status of T. sinense populations in the community? (2) What are the interspecies interactions between T. sinense populations and its associated species. Study sites and dates: T. sinense communities in Meigu Dafengding Nature Reserve in southwest China in 2014. Methods: Six sites of 400 m2 were studied for importance value, special diversity, niche breadth, and overlap of dominant tree populations. Results: There were 80 species, 67 genera, and 41 families of vascular plants. Sixty-one genera of seed plants in T. sinense communities were classified into 9 types. The North Temperate genus was the largest, accounting for 44.26 %. Species richness, species diversity, and evenness indexes were all low. There were 6 dominant tree populations in T. sinense communities, and the importance values and niche breadths of T. sinense populations were significantly higher than other species. Horizontal niche overlaps between T. sinense and Pterocarya stenoptera, Acer pictum subsp. mono, and Cercidiphyllum japonicum were high; the vertical niche overlaps between T. sinense and these species were all greater than 0.7. Conclusions: T. sinense communities have North Temperate character, and are immature and unstable communities, still in the early stage of succession. T. sinense is the edificator tree in the communities. A high similarity of habitat demand and strong interspecific competition for light exist between T. sinense and its associated trees.

Abstract: Background: Tetracentron sinense, distributed mainly in central and southwest China, is a threatened deciduous broad-leaved canopy tree. Presently, little is known about the phenotypic diversity in natural populations of T. sinense, and its fitness and evolutionary potential to the fragmental habitat, which is very important for its conservation. Questions: (1) How is the level of phenotypic diversity in natural populations of T. sinense? (2) Which factors influenced the phenotypic variation? Species study: Tetracentron sinense. Study dates: Between September and October 2014 Methods: 20 phenotypic traits from 11 populations were measured. Nested analysis of variance, multi-comparison, principal components analysis, cluster analysis and correlation analysis were used to study the phenotypic variation and its relation to geo-climate factors. Results: Analysis of nested variance showed significant difference among and within populations, but the phenotypic differentiation coefficient and variance component among populations was higher than that within populations. Variation of phenotypic traits in T. sinense was mainly associated with annual sunshine hours, and showed cline variation along longitude and elevation. 11 provenances of T. sinense were clustered into four groups based on PCA. Conclusions: Phenotypic variation in T. sinense mainly existed among population, and there was moderate level of phenotypic differentiation among populations and low level of phenotypic variation within populations in T. sinense. Autogamy or geitonogamy may be the major factor contributing to the low phenotypic variation and moderate genetic divergence within this species. Suggestions for conservation strategies are provided.