Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major global challenge requiring urgent action, and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019)(2020) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) includes a target on the issue. Meeting the target requires an understanding of invasion patterns. However, national or regional analyses of invasions are limited to developed countries. We identified 488 IAS in China's terrestrial habitats, inland waters and marine ecosystems based on available literature and field work, including 171 animals, 265 plants, 26 fungi, 3 protists, 11 procaryots, and 12 viruses. Terrestrial plants account for 51.6% of the total number of IAS, and terrestrial invertebrates (104 species) for 21.3%. Of the total numbers, 67.9% of plant IAS and 34.8% of animal IAS were introduced intentionally. All other taxa were introduced unintentionally despite very few animal and plant species that invaded naturally. In terms of habitats, 64.3% of IAS occur on farmlands, 13.9% in forests, 8.4% in marine ecosystems, 7.3% in inland waters, and 6.1% in residential areas. Half of all IAS (51.1%) originate from North and South America, 18.3% from Europe, 17.3% from Asia not including China, 7.2% from Africa, 1.8% from Oceania, and the origin of the remaining 4.3% IAS is unknown. The distribution of IAS can be divided into three zones. Most IAS are distributed in coastal

BackgroundThis meta-analysis was updated with results from a new trial and final data to reassess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy in ovarian cancer (OC).MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane clinical trials, Web of Science and clinicaltrial.gov databases. Outcomes included the progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR) and common adverse events. The hazard ratio (HR), risk ratio (RR) and odds ratio (OR) were pooled when the meta-analysis was performed.ResultsFive RCTs with 4994 patients were included. In overall newly diagnosed OC, bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy did not significantly improve PFS (HR 0.85, 95%CI 0.70-1.02) or OS (HR 0.94, 95%CI 0.84-1.05). In the high-risk progression subgroup, the addition of bevacizumab significantly improved PFS (HR 0.76, 95%CI 0.68-0.84) and OS (HR 0.85, 95%CI 0.74-0.96). In recurrent OC, the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy significantly extended PFS (HR 0.53, 95%CI 0.45-0.63) and OS (HR 0.87, 95%CI 0.77-0.99). The ORR was improved (OR 2.37, 95%CI 1.99-2.82) in the overall population. Bevacizumab increased the incidence of hypertension (RR 21.27, 95%CI 9.42-48.02), proteinuria (RR 4.77, 95%CI 2.15-10.61), bleeding (RR 3.16, 95%CI 1.59-6.30), GI perforations (RR 2.76, 95%CI 1.51-5.03), arterial thrombosis events (RR 2.39, 95%CI 1.39-4.10) and venous thrombosis events (RR 1.43, 95%CI 1.04-1.96).ConclusionsBevacizumab combined with chemotherapy significantly improved PFS and OS in both patients with high-risk of progression and patients with recurrent OC, with an increased incidence of common adverse events. However, no statistically significant survival benefit was identified in the front-line settings.

BackgroundPercutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) is the first-line treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) that can immediately relieve pain and allow the quick recovery of lost mobility. However, some studies reported that after PKP, the incidence of vertebral refracture, particularly adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF), was high. Our previous meta-analysis suggested that the risks for vertebral refracture and AVF did not increase after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in OVCF patients. Despite the negative results of our meta-analysis, there is still significant evidence regarding the relationship between kyphoplasty and AVF, so a new prospective cohort study is warranted. In addition, in our previous retrospective study, we found that advanced age, female sex and low oestradiol (E2) concentrations might be related to the occurrence of postoperative vertebral refracture after PKP. To sufficiently evaluate the probable factors involved in the occurrence of postoperative vertebral refracture, we designed this prospective study.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort study of patients admitted for PKP to treat painful OVCFs. The baseline data, including demographic information, lifestyle, bone metabolic status, sex hormone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels, and clinical characteristics will be collected at the time of enrolment. Surgical features of PKP will be recorded on the operation day. Lifestyle, bone metabolic status, sex hormone levels, and SHBG levels will be assessed during the follow-up period at 1 m, 3 m, 12 m, and 24 m postoperatively. Patients suffering from acutely aggravated back pain will be referred to an orthopaedist, and refractured vertebrae will be confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. The primary outcome will be the incidence of vertebral refracture. Multivariate analyses will be carried out to evaluate the variables that are independently correlated with vertebral refracture.DiscussionTo evaluate the risk of postoperative refracture preoperatively and to identify the surgical points related to postoperative refracture, this study will explore the risk factors related to vertebral refracture after PKP. The results may provide new information about defining OVCF patients suitable for PKP treatment.Trial registrationChiCTR-ROC-17011562. Registered on July 4th, 2017.

The combined therapy of TCM and WM may have great clinical value and a potential for decreasing the relapse or metastasis rate in stage II and III colorectal cancer after conventional WM therapy.

In this study, the purification and characterization of an extracellular enzyme form Aspergillus niger was performed. With an optimized protocol, it was conducted a 42.6-fold purification with a yield of 26.2%. The purified lipase had a monomeric molecular weight of 40.5kDa and an isoelectric point of 6.01, and its maximum enzyme activity could be achieved at 40°C and pH 7.5-9.0. The enzyme could be activated by Ca2+, Mg2+ and Fe2+, while its activity could be inhibited by Zn2+ and Cu2+. Additionally, organic compounds exerted an inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity in a descending order of methanol, ethanol, DMSO, EDTA, acetone. Meanwhile, the specificity analysis of the enzyme indicated a preference to tributyrin and vegetable oils as well as long-chain fatty acid methyl esters (C12-C18). Most importantly, this enzyme could successfully transform deoxynivalenol (DON). Using HPLC analysis，it was detected a biotransformation rate of more than 70%.The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis showed that the molecular weight of the transformation product was 18.0 larger than that of DON, indicating that DON could be hydrolyzed by the enzyme. Overall, the proposed method here provides a new avenue for reducing the toxicity of DON, which appears to have a wide application outlook for DON biotransformation.

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Background:Balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) is a widely adopted minimally invasive treatment for vertebral compression fractures (VCFs), but leakage of cement is a main complication of BKP. A novel vertebral augmentation technique radiofrequency kyphoplasty (RFK) with high viscosity cement was developed in 2009. Here, we aim to evaluate whether RFK can relieve symptoms efficiently and reduce cement leakage.Methods:A literature search was performed using Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL until September 30, 2016. Both randomized controlled trial (RCT) and non-RCT studies comparing RFK and BKP were included. The main outcomes included pain relief (VAS), functionality improvement (ODI), operation time, reduction of deformity (vertebral height and kyphosis angle), and incidence of cement leakage. The origin of heterogeneity was further explored by subgroup stratification.Results:A total of 6 studies involving 833 patients with VCFs were included. The reduction of VAS score in the RFK group was 3.96 points more than that in the BKP group (P  =  .0007) postoperatively, and the improvement persisted until 12 months after the surgery (P < .00001). The operation time was shorter in RFK group than that in BKP group (P  =  .01). The increase of anterior vertebral height shortly after the operation was 0.53 mm greater in RFK group (P  =  .01). The decrease of kyphotic angle after RFK was 0.63° and 0.92° greater than that after BKP, both immediately and 6 months after operation (P  =  .002 and P < .00001, respectively). There was no significant difference between the incidence of cement leakage after RFK and BKP (P  =  .06). Further subgroup analysis stratified by study design indicated that the incidence of leakage decreased 15% in RFK than BPK (P < .00001) in non-RCT subgroup, but RFK and BKP treatments were equivalent in the RCT studies (P  =  .86).Conclusion:RFK appears to be more effective and safer than BKP in the present meta-analysis. The incidence of cement leakage diverges in RCT and non-RCT studies, so large-sample multicentered RCT studies are required to validate this new surgery system.