Experimental Evidence of Intrinsic Current Generation by Turbulence in Stationary Tokamak Plasmas.

High-ß_{θe} (a ratio of the electron thermal pressure to the poloidal magnetic pressure) steady-state long-pulse plasmas with steep central electron temperature gradient are achieved in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. An intrinsic current is observed to be modulated by turbulence driven by the electron temperature gradient. This turbulent current is generated in the countercurrent direction and can reach a maximum ratio of 25% of the bootstrap current. Gyrokinetic simulations and experimental observations indicate that the turbulence is the electron temperature gradient mode (ETG). The dominant mechanism for the turbulent current generation is due to the divergence of ETG-driven residual flux of current. Good agreement has been found between experiments and theory for the critical value of the electron temperature gradient triggering ETG and for the level of the turbulent current. The maximum values of turbulent current and electron temperature gradient lead to the destabilization of an m/n=1/1 kink mode, which by counteraction reduces the turbulence level (m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode number, respectively). These observations suggest that the self-regulation system including turbulence, turbulent current, and kink mode is a contributing mechanism for sustaining the steady-state long-pulse high-ß_{θe} regime.

Clinical and genetic features of patients with facial-sparing facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Facial-sparing scapular myopathy (SHD) is the most common atypical form of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), clinically defined as without apparent facial muscle weakness on neurological examination. The clinical profiles and genetic features of SHD are limited. METHODS: A cohort of 21 Chinese patients with SHD were confirmed by molecular genetic analysis based on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The clinical assessments and methylation analysis were noted. RESULTS: The patients had FSHD-related EcoRI fragments with 4qA haplotype ranging from 18 kb to 33 kb (mean 26.3 ± 4.6 kb). The mean onset age was 25.52 ± 8.3 years. Over half of the patients had scapular winging and asymmetry weakness consistent with FSHD, without facial symptoms during their visit. Their facial electromyogram results were almost normal or mild myogenic damage, as well as the myopathology and serum creatine kinase. A conflict was unexpectedly found in intergenerational DR1 methylation analysis. CONCLUSION: Facial-sparing scapular myopathy is characterized as mild myopathic symptoms and chronic progression of weakness. The diagnosis should be accurately confirmed through FSHD-sized fragment detection and 4qA/B variant determination. Although the next generations of SHD had more severe muscular symptoms, local hypomethylation within D4Z4 was not found as a modifier for clinical heterogeneity.

Optical and magneto-optical anisotropies in large-area two-dimensional Co antidots film.

In this work, we investigate the plasmon-induced optical and magneto-optical anisotropies in the large-area square-ordered Co antidots film. It shows that both the outline of reflectivity spectrum and Kerr spectrum are significantly modified by surface plasmon polarition (SPP) resonances. Moreover, the magnitude of Kerr angle reaches to about 10 minutes at the azimuthal angle 45°, which is over 3 times of that of pure Co film. These phenomena are attributed to the SPP resonances with different diffraction orders of reciprocal lattice vectors.

[Construction and pathological characterization of 3 animal models of temporomandibular joint degenerative joint disease in mice].

Objective: To explore the pathological characteristics of three mice models of temporomandibular joint degenerative joint disease (TMJDJD), including osteoarthritis and osteoarthrosis, and to provide references for animal experimental study regarding the pathological mechanism of osteoarthritis and osteoarthrosis. Methods: A total of 54 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were selected to construct three TMJDJD animal models, including bilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) injection model, bilateral TMJ monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) injection model, and right TMJ discectomy model. FCA injection model (15 mice) was divided into saline injection group, FCA injection group-1 week, FCA injection group-2 week, FCA injection group-4 week and FCA injection group-6 week, 3 mice were used at each time point, with a total of 6 TMJs on both sides. MIA injection model (15 mice) was separated into saline injection group, MIA injection group-1 week, MIA injection group-2 week, MIA injection group-4 week and MIA injection group-6 week, 3 mice were used at each time point, with a total of 6 TMJs on both sides. TMJ discectomy model (24 mice) was split into control group, discectomy group-2 week group, discectomy group-4 week and discectomy group-6 week, six mice were used at each time point, with a total of six right TMJs. General pictures of the bilateral joints area of mice were collected 1 day after drug injection, and stereoscopic images of condylar tissues were collected 4 weeks after microsurgery for discectomy. Mouse TMJ tissue sections from each time point were stained with HE and toluidine blue, respectively, synovial tissues were scored for synovial inflammation, and the percentage of proteoglycan in condylar cartilage was quantitatively analyzed. Results: One day after intra-articular FCA or MIA injection, the width of bilateral TMJ were significantly increased in FCA injection groups [(24.60±0.46) mm] compared with the saline injection group [(21.63±0.52) mm] (t=4.25, P<0.013), the width of bilateral TMJ in MIA injection groups [(24.50±0.62) mm] were also significantly higher than that in saline injection group [(21.40±0.52) mm] (t=3.82, P=0.019). The synovitis scores in FCA injection groups 1, 2, 4, 6 weeks after FCA injection were significantly higher than that of the saline injection group (F=18.09, P<0.001), with the proteoglycan of condylar cartilage increased firstly and then decreased compared with the saline injection group (F=21.59, P<0.001). Condylar cartilage proteoglycan loss in different degrees were observed 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after MIA injection (F=13.59, P<0.001), and synovitis scores were increased at different degrees compared with saline injection group (F=14.79, P<0.001). The morphology of condylar cartilage in discectomy groups mice were severely damaged, synovial tissues showed dense connective tissue lesions at 2, 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively, condylar cartilage tissues showed a time-dependent loss of proteoglycan compared with the control group (F=40.62, P<0.001). Conclusions: Intra-articular FCA injection establishes a mouse model of TMJ osteoarthritis with severe synovial inflammation. Intra-articular MIA injection constructs a mouse model of typical TMJ osteoarthritis. Discectomy establishes a mouse TMJ osteoarthrosis model with severe condylar cartilage destruction.

Anomalous electronic transport in dual-nanostructured lead telluride.

The Pb- and Sb- dual nanostructured PbTe system exhibits anomalous electronic transport behavior wherein the carrier mobility first increases and then decreases with increase in temperature. By combining in situ transmission electron microscopy observations and theoretical calculations based on energy filtering of charge carriers, we propose a plausible mechanism of charge transport based on interphase potential that is mediated by interdiffusion between coexisting Pb and Sb precipitates. These findings promise new strategies to enhance thermoelectric figure of merit via dual and multinanostructuring of miscible precipitates.

Role of active cycle of breathing technique for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A pragmatic, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: While active cycle of breathing technique for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with more sputum can improve clinic outcomes, less is known about sputum viscosity and sputum production of the intervention. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to explore the effect of active cycle of breathing technique on sputum viscosity and production among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. DESIGN: This was a two-arms, parallel, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Study enrollment, randomization and implementation were conducted in the department of respiratory medicine inpatient at the Medical Center in Changchun, China. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalized patients due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who met additional eligibility criteria were randomized to active cycle of breathing technique (n = 50) or usual care group (n = 50). METHODS: Patients in the intervention group received a week-long intervention from an experienced physical therapist. Patients in the usual care group received usual care as well as information and advice in the light of their health plan from respiratory medicine. The primary outcome was the changes on sputum viscosity and production. RESULTS: Among one hundred patients who were randomized (mean [SD] age, 54.89 [12.06] years; females, 58%), ninety-six participants completed the study. No significant differences were found between two groups on the changes of sputum viscosity (t = 0.277, P = 0.782). And there were insignificant differences between groups in the average amount of sputum among 1 h (Z=-1.848, P = 0.065) and significant differences in the average amount of sputum among 24 h (Z=-2.236, P = 0.025). From admission to one week recovery, the changes in ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (Z=-4.511, P<0.0001) and arterial oxygen saturation (Z=-2.997, P = 0.003) were better in active cycle breathing technique group. Total Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test scale were similar among two groups (Z=-1.818, P = 0.069). No adverse events occurred during the study. CONCLUSION: For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, active cycle of breathing technique can significantly result in sputum production and respiratory function, especially those of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease classification level 3, but did not result in the short-term improvement of sputum viscosity, quality of life and cost effectiveness. Registration number: ChiCTR2000033068.

[Analysis on characteristics of HIV-1 molecular network in injected drug users in Guangzhou, 2008-2017].

Objective: To understand the characteristics of the HIV-1 molecular networks in injected drug users (IDUs) in Guangzhou from 2008 to 2017, and provide reference for the prevention and control of AIDS in this population. Methods: The serum samples of newly diagnosed HIV-1 positive IDUs in Guangzhou from 2008 to 2017 were collected, HIV-1 RNA was extracted for pol gene amplification and sequencing. The molecular cluster in the phylogenetic tree was identified by Cluster Picker 1.2.3 for cluster analysis. TN93 model in HyPhy2.2.4 was used to calculate the gene distance between the cluster sequences. Software Cytoscape3.8.2 was used to visualize the molecular network, and χ2 test or exact probability method was used for cluster analysis and centrality analysis. Results: A total of 586 sequences were successfully amplified (73.9%, 586/793), and 80 molecular clusters were produced, with a clustering rate of 46.6% (273/586). In molecular clusters, the proportions of the strains from IDUs in Han ethnic group (48.4%, 260/537), IDUs who were local residents in Guangdong (52.7%, 146/277) and IDUs whose strain sequence subtype was CRF55_01B (93.3%, 14/15) were higher. In the molecular network, the degree range was 1-7, and nodes with degree ≥3 accounted for 12.8% (24/187), which was associated with another 81 nodes in the molecular network (43.3%, 81/187). The centrality analysis showed that the proportions of housework/unemployed with high degree centrality (19.0%, 19/100), high intermediary (22.0%, 22/100), and high proximity centrality (32.0%, 32/100) were higher in IDUs infected with HIV-1. Conclusion: The risk of HIV-1 clustering in IDUs in Guangzhou was high, suggesting that IDUs who were from both Guangdong and Guangxi and were house workers or unemployed should be viewed as the key targets, and precise intervention should be implemented to reduce the HIV-1 infection rate in this population.

Role of the active cycle of breathing technique combined with phonophoresis for the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): study protocol for a preliminary randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by coughing, the production of excess sputum, and dyspnea. Patients with excessively thick sputum may have frequent attacks or develop more serious disease. The guidelines recommend airway clearance for patients with excessive sputum who are hospitalized with COPD. The active cycle of breathing technique is the most common non-pharmacological airway clearance technique used by physiotherapists. However, the effectiveness of the technique is not always guaranteed. Active cycle of breathing techniques require the initial dilution of the sputum, usually by inhalation drugs, which may have limited effects. Recent studies have found that phonophoresis decreases inflammation, suggesting the potential of the combined usage of active cycle of breathing techniques and phonophoresis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness and safety of combining active cycle of breathing technique and phonophoresis in treating COPD patients. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We propose a single-blind randomized controlled trial using 75 hospitalized patients diagnosed with COPD with excessive sputum production. The patients will be divided into three groups. The intervention group will receive active cycle of breathing techniques combined with phonophoresis. The two comparison groups will be treated with active cycle of breathing techniques and phonophoresis, respectively. The program will be implemented daily for 1 week. The primary outcomes will be changes in sputum viscosity and production, lung function, and pulse oximetry. Secondary outcomes include the assessment of COPD and anxiety, measured by the COPD Assessment Test scale and the Anxiety Inventory for Respiratory Disease, respectively; self-satisfaction; the degree of cooperation; and the length of hospital stay. All outcome measures, with the exception of sputum production and additional secondary outcomes, will be assessed at the commencement of the study and after 1 week's intervention. Analysis of variance will be used to investigate differences between the groups, and a p-value of less than 0.05 (two-tailed) will be considered statistically significant. DISCUSSION: This study introduces a combination of active cycle of breathing techniques and phonophoresis to explore the impact of these interventions on patients hospitalized with COPD. If this combined intervention is shown to be effective, it may prove to be a better treatment for patients with COPD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered prospectively on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on 24 December 2019.ClinicalTrials.gov ChiCTR1900028506 . Registered on December 2019.

Interpenetrating network hydrogels via simultaneous "click chemistry" and atom transfer radical polymerization.

Simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks (sIPNs) from concurrent copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition "click chemistry" and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) are described. Semi-sIPN of poly(ethylene glycol)/poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (semi-PEG/PHEMA-sIPN) was first prepared via simultaneous "click chemistry" and ATRP from a mixture of poly(ethylene glycol)-diazide (N3-PEG-N3, Mn=4000 g/mol), tetrakis(2-propynyloxymethyl)methane (TPOM), ethyl-2-bromobutyrate (EBB), CuBr, pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA), and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in dimethylformamide (DMF). Full sIPN of PEG/PHEMA (full-PEG/PHEMA-sIPN) was then prepared via simultaneous "click chemistry" and ATRP from a mixture of N3-PEG-N3 (Mn=4000 g/mol), TPOM, EBB, CuBr, PMDETA, HEMA, and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate) (PEGDA, Mn=575) in DMF. Both the semi- and full-sIPNs exhibit a fast gelation rate and high gel yield. The sIPNs also exhibit high swelling ratios and good mechanical and antifouling properties. The morphology and thermal behavior of the sIPNs were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). These sIPNs could find applications as biomaterials for contact lenses, biomedical materials, artificial organs, and drug delivery systems.

[Epidemiological and molecular characteristics of human brucellosis in Qinghai province, 2005-2019].

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of human brucellosis in Qinghai province from 2005 to 2019 and provide basic data for brucellosis prevention and control. Method: The data about human brucellosis in Qinghai from 2005 to 2019 were collected from the information system of China CDC to describe the spatial, population and time distributions of human brucellosis cases in Qinghai. The isolated strains were identified and typed with traditional methods, BCSP31-PCR, AMOS-PCR and multi-locus variablenumber tandem repeat (MLVA-16). Results: A total of 577 human brucellosis cases were reported in Qinghai from 2005 to 2019, the average prevalence rate was 0.07 per 100 000 person, there were statistic differences among different years. The disease occurred all the year around, but mainly during March-October. The 577 cases were distributed in 31 counties (cities/districts) from 6 autonomous prefectures (cities). The prevalence rats of five counties were high, i.e. Menyuan Hui autonomous county (22.88%, 132/577), Tianjun county (10.57%, 61/577)、Xining city (10.57%, 61/577), Henan Mongol Autonomous County (10.51%, 58/577) and Haiyan county (9.53%, 55/577). Age of the cases ranged from 8 years to 82 years, and the male to female ratio of the cases was 1.8∶1 (374/203). The prevalence rate in herdsman (47.83%, 276/577) was highest among different occupational populations. Ten isolates were all Brucella melitensis strains, belonging to biovar 3, and clustering analysis indicated that the 10 strains had 5 genotypes, in which 2 were distinct, the remaining 3 were same. MLVA-16 analysis indicated that the 10 strains had close relationship with 26 B. melitensis strains isolated in Qinghai previously. Conclusions: The prevalence of brucellosis increased in Qinghai in recent years, we should strengthen the population based brucellosis surveillance and reporting. MLVA-16 indicated the gene diversity of the Brucella strains, suggesting that MLVA-16 can be used for genetic diversity analysis and molecular epidemiology survey to improve brucellosis surveillance.

[Prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance in treatment-naive injecting drug users infected with HIV-1 in Guangzhou, 2008-2015].

Objective: To understand the prevalence of drug resistance in treatment-naive injecting drug users (IDUs) infected with HIV-1 in Guangzhou. Methods: HIV-1 RNA were extracted from the serum specimens of the newly confirmed HIV-1 positive IDUs living in Guangzhou, being infected through injecting drug use and receiving no antiretroviral therapy at the time of confirmation during 2008-2015. Full sequence of pol protease (PR) gene and partial sequence of reverse transcriptase (RT) gene were amplified by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) and sequenced. After that, data were submitted to the HIV resistance database of Stanford University for drug resistance analysis. Results: Among the 518 HIV-1 infected IDUs, HIV-1pol gene segments were successfully obtained from the serum samples of 407 HIV-1 infected IDUs (78.57%) aged 18-64 (37.44±8.14) years. Among them, males accounted for 89.68% (365/407), those of Han ethnic group accounted for 89.93% (366/407), the unmarried accounted for 55.28% (225/407), and those with education level of junior high school or below accounted for 83.78% (341/407). The distribution of subtypes was predominated by CRF07_BC (47.18%, 192/407), followed by CRF01_AE (23.83%, 97/407), CRF08_BC (22.85%, 93/407), and other subtypes (6.14%, 25/407). The overall prevalence of drug resistance was 3.44% (14/407). The prevalence of drug resistance to protease inhibitors, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were 1.47%(6/407), 0.25% (1/407) and 1.72% (7/407) respectively. The mutation rate was 12.29% (50/407). No major drug resistance mutation was detected in protease and nucleoside reverse transcriptase regions. Higher rate of V179E mutation in the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase region was detected in other subtypes and subtype CRF07_BC. Mutation seemed to have occurred in all 8 cases of subtype CRF55_01B in other subtypes. The highest mutation rate of E138A was detected in subtype CRF08_BC (3.23%). Two cases were resistant to all four drugs of NNRTIs. Conclusions: The prevalence of drug resistance in treatment-naive HIV-1 positive IDUs remained at a relatively low level during 2008-2015, in Guangzhou. Most infections were sensitive to existing antiviral drugs. However, drug resistance surveillance in IDUs infected with HIV should be strengthened to prevent the prevalence of multi-drug resistance and cross drug resistance.

[Etiologic characteristics of Shigella sonnei strains isolated from some areas of Guangdong province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, 2014-2016].

Objective: To investigated the etiologic characteristics of Shigella (S.) sonnei strains causing outbreaks and sporadic cases in some areas of Guangdong province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during 2014-2016. Methods: Fourteen S. sonnei strains isolated from outbreaks and 6 S. sonnei strains from sporadic cases from Guangdong and Liuzhou of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were tested for antimicrobial resistance and analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Six typical strains were selected for whole genome sequencing typing and compared with 51 strains isolated both at home and abroad from NCBI genome database. Results: The antibiotic resistance test indicated the isolates had high resistance rate to ampicillin, tetracycline, gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and nalidixic acid, while sensitive to azithromycin, chloromycetin and imipenem. PFGE showed high similarity (93.2%) among the strains isolated from different areas. The whole genome sequencing analysis also revealed that all the typical strains were clustered into a same evolution branch, close to some strains from Korea. Conclusions: The S. sonnei strains isolated from some areas of Guangdong and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region showed high resistance to commonly used antibiotics, but they were sensitive to azithromycin, chloramphenicol and imipenem. The isolates in this study also showed similar PFGE patterns and close phylogenic evolution.

Superficial peroneal sensory and sural nerve conduction studies in peripheral neuropathy.

The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate sensory nerve conduction studies (NCS) in the distal lower limbs in the electrodiagnosis of peripheral neuropathy. We prospectively studied 316 consecutive patients with surface stimulation and recording, in comparison with 90 control subjects. A total of 310 patients were found to have lower limb sensory NCS abnormalities. In these patients, the rate of detection of peripheral neuropathy with superficial peroneal NCS (88.5%) was significantly higher (P<0.001) compared with sural NCS (75%). The superficial peroneal NCS appeared to have a higher detection rate for peripheral neuropathy in our study, and its study can be adjunctive to sural NCS.

Operation of bolometer system using Pt foil on SiN substrate detector for EAST tokamak.

The foil resistive bolometer diagnostic on experimental advanced superconducting tokamak has been upgraded partly with a new generation of detectors. The new detectors have faster response time. However, the microwave interference is still a serious issue for the bolometer system. The system response to microwave is tested, and the test results show that the closed Wheatstone bridge circuit in the detector is the most sensitive component to high power microwave field. Simulation results of microwave transmission by the high frequency structure simulator software and shielding design are also presented.

Gene expression profiling in human insulinoma tissue: genes involved in the insulin secretion pathway and cloning of novel full-length cDNAs.

Insulinoma is a clinically common cause of organic hypoglycemia. The prominent characteristic of insulinoma is endogenous hyperinsulinism. Until now, the molecular biology of human insulinoma has been little understood. In this study, gene expression profiling of human insulinoma was established by expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing and cDNA array. A total of 2063 clones were obtained, of these, 1589 clones were derived from EST sequencing, 975 clones were derived from cDNA array and 501 clones were shared by the two methods. G protein alpha-stimulating activity polypeptide (Gsalpha) and carboxypeptidase E (CPE) were the most highly expressed genes in human insulinoma, as derived by EST sequencing and cDNA array respectively. The genes involved in the protein/insulin secretion pathway were strongly expressed in human insulinoma tissue. Meanwhile, eight full-length cDNAs of novel genes were cloned and sequenced. The results demonstrated the molecular biology of human insulinoma tissue at the level of transcript abundance and validated the efficacy of EST sequencing combined with cDNA array in the construction of gene expression profiling. In conclusion, the predominance of the genes participating in the secretory pathway suggested that regulation of secretion might be a major mechanism by which insulin release is abnormally increased in patients with insulinomas. It was also concluded that overexpression of the Gsalpha gene played an important role in the pathogenesis of insulinoma.

Posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve conduction studies in normal subjects.

OBJECTIVE: The posterior antebrachial cutaneous (PABC) nerve is a sensory nerve that branches out from the radial nerve at the level of the spiral groove. Thus it can be affected in a radial nerve lesion at or proximal to its origin in the spiral groove. However, there has been limited knowledge about the normal values of PABC nerve conduction studies. This study was done to determine these normal values. METHODS: Sixty-three healthy adults (23 males) with a mean age of 41.5+/-10.6 (range, 20-90) years were recruited with informed consent. A total of 126 nerves were studied. The nerve conduction studies were performed using a Dantec Counterpoint EMG machine (Dantec, Skovlunde, Denmark). RESULTS: The mean+/-standard deviation values for the onset as well as peak latency, conduction velocity, amplitude and side-to-side amplitude ratio were 2.07+/-0.16 (range, 1.80-2.60) ms, 2.35+/-0.15 (range, 2.05-2.90) ms, 58.21+/-4.29 (range, 46.15-66.67) m/s, 6.10+/-2.11 (range, 2.90-13.00) microV and 0.83+/-0.12 (range, 0.60-0.99), respectively. There was a significant correlation between the subject age and the PABC onset and peak latencies as well as the amplitudes. CONCLUSIONS: The PABC nerve is assessable for nerve conduction studies and these normal values may be useful in evaluation of patients with suspected radial nerve lesions.

Posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve conduction study in radial neuropathy.

Radial neuropathy most commonly occurs as a result of external compression at the spiral groove region. The posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve (PACN) conduction study was performed in 15 consecutive patients with radial palsy. Unilateral PACN abnormalities were present in 11 patients. A normal PACN study was correlated with clinical improvement at 3 months. Conversely, PACN abnormality was correlated with radial motor axon loss and a poorer prognosis. The PACN study is a simple adjunct which provides additional information relating to the diagnosis and prognosis of radial lesions.

Infantile hookworm disease in China. A review.

Hundreds of cases of infantile hookworm disease which shows bloody stools, melena, anorexia, listlessness and oedema, have been reported in China since the 1960s. Hookworm eggs were detected in due course in the faeces of the reported cases. With the exception of a single worm identified as Necator americanus, all the adult worms expelled following chemotherapy or examined at autopsy were Ancylostoma duodenale. Many children showed clinical manifestations and eggs in their faeces on day 1-26 after birth, and more cases occurred within 3 months of birth. Evidently, these infections were mostly transmitted from the mothers by transplacental and/or transmammary routes.

The effects of humic acid on the chemical and biological properties of selenium in the environment.

To shed light on the causes of Kaschin-Beck disease, which can be prevented by supplementation of the diet with sodium selenite, the interactions between inorganic selenium compounds (selenite and selenate) and humic/fulvic acid were investigated. Selenate was found to be slowly reduced to selenite by humic acid in acidic solution. Selenite was adsorbed on manganese dioxide and iron(III) oxide from solution to a much greater degree than on kaolin, humic acid, Yongshu soil, or silicon dioxide. Feeding mice a diet supplemented with sodium selenite increased the selenium concentration in the kidney, liver, spleen, lung, heart and blood. A diet containing sodium selenite and fulvic acid caused the selenium concentrations in the organs, with the exception of the spleen, to be lower than observed with the selenite-only diet. Selenium and fulvic acid increase the activity of glutathione peroxidase. Sodium selenite and fulvic acid injected in combination into the abdominal cavity of mice and rats were less toxic than either substance alone. Selenite and fulvic acid applied separately enhanced the luminosity of photobacterium phosphoreum T-3 at low concentrations but depressed the luminosity at higher concentrations. Selenite and fulvic acid in combination caused a larger enhancement and a smaller depression of the luminosity than observed with either substance alone. The hypothesis is formulated that Kaschin-Beck disease is caused by selenium levels insufficient to prevent the toxic effects of the organic compounds present in the drinking water of the regions in which the disease is endemic.

Selenium in Kashin-Beck disease areas.

In this article, the duplication portion technique was used to determine the daily intakes of selenium and ten other elements in the 24-h total diets collected in the typical Kashin-Beck endemic areas, i.e., Shanxi Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous of China. The contents of Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Al, Sr, Ba, and P in freeze-dried samples were determined by ICP-AES. Se was determined by differential pulse catalytic polarography. The average Se contents in total diets of Shanxi Kashin-Beck endemic and nonendemic areas were 0.009 and 0.021 micrograms/g (dry weight), respectively (P less than 0.001), corresponding to the daily intakes for Se of 4.6 and 10.5 micrograms. After the Se-supplemented fertilizer was applied (225 g of Na2SeO3/ha), the average Se content in total diets of Kashin-Beck disease area was increased to 0.0336 micrograms/g, which corresponded to the average daily intake for Se of 16.8 micrograms. In Inner Mongolia Kashin-Beck endemic and nonendemic areas, the average Se contents in total diets were 0.006 and 0.017 micrograms/g, respectively (p less than 0.001), corresponding to the average daily intakes for Se of 3 and 8.5 micrograms. The contents of other ten elements in total diets in endemic and nonendemic areas were reported and compared.