Normal pancreatic volume assessment using abdominal computed tomography volumetry.

ABSTRACT: To determine the normal range of pancreatic volume (PV) in Chinese adults using computed tomography (CT) volumetry. To assess the relationships of PV with patient demographics and clinical parameters. To analyze the degree of correlation between PV values determined by manual segmentation and those calculated by formulas.A total of 240 adults (120 women, 120 men) between the ages of 18 and 79 years were reviewed. There were 6 groups of patients, with 40 patients in each decade regarding age. PV was segmented manually on computed tomography images slice by slice for each patient, and 2 formulas were used to calculate PV∗ and PV#.The mean PV was 77.44 ±â€Š19.11 cm3 (range from 28.55-138.15 cm3). PV was significantly correlated with height (r = 0.427, P < .001), weight (r = 0.525, P < .001), body mass index (r = 0.377, P < .001), the width of the first lumbar vertebral body (r = 0.166, P = .01), the transverse abdominal diameter (r = 0.455, P < .001), and the sagittal abdominal diameter (r = 0.456, P < .001). There was a negative correlation between PV and age (r = -0.209, P = .001). The correlation coefficients between PV and PV∗ and PV# were 0.676 and 0.376, respectively, with both P < .001.PV associated with patient demographics and clinical parameters. A more accurate and simpler formula should be used in the future to calculate and monitor changes in PV.

[Heavy Pollution Characteristics and Assessment of PM2.5 Predicted Model Results in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region and Surrounding Areas During November 23 to December 4, 2018].

This study discusses the concentration characteristics of PM2.5 and PM10, as well as pollution meteorology in large-scale and long-term heavy pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and its surrounding areas from November 23 to December 4, 2018, where the primary pollutants are comprised of PM2.5 and PM10. The monitoring results obtained from ground-based and vehicle-mounted lidars, as well as the HYSPLIT-4 backward trajectory combined with meteorological factors analysis are discussed. The accuracy and uncertainty of the air quality forecast model of NAQPMS, CMAQ, and CAMx during heavy air pollution were analyzed retrospectively. The results show that PM2.5 and sand dust in most cities in the south-central region contribute to severe pollution levels. The hourly peak concentrations of PM10 in Zhangjiakou, Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Handan, and Zhengzhou were 1589, 864, 794, 738, and 766 µg·m-3, respectively. The respective hourly peak concentrations of PM2.5 were 239, 319, 387, 321, and 380 µg·m-3. Ground static pressure field, high humidity, inversion, and other static and stable conditions, as well as sand dust transmitted from the northwest, were important pollution meteorological and weather factors. The monitoring data of ground-based lidar and vehicle-mounted lidar combined with the HYSPLIT-4 backward trajectory analysis showed that the air pollutant transmitted from the Southwest and Southeast during the heavy pollution period was primarily PM2.5. The air pollutant transmitted from the Northwest during the two sand dust processes. Moreover, the model of NAQPMS, CMAQ, and CAMx performed well in forecasting the heavy pollution process in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and its surrounding areas. However there are slight deviations for some individual cities, related to uncertainty in the meteorological model prediction, atmospheric chemical reaction mechanism, and pollution source list. Furthermore, the reduction in pollution source emissions caused by pollution emergency measures was also one of the main reasons for the overestimation.

Multiple metal(loid)s bioaccessibility from cooked seafood and health risk assessment.

Seafood has been generally considered to be the main diet exposure source of metal(loid)s. We evaluated health risk of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) through consumption of cooked seafood based on bioaccessibility, which was obtained by physiologically based extraction test method. Results showed that cooking practices could decrease metal(loid)s concentration from seafood (by 6.0-45.7%). Metal(loid)s release from seafood in this study followed the descending order of Hg > Zn > Ni > Cd > Pb > As > Cu > Cr. On average, cooking lowered the bioaccessibility of As, Hg, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cu, and Zn by 15.2, 26.1, 30.9, 30.7, 25.7, 31.2, 17.6, and 22.4%, respectively. Health risk calculation results showed that Cr, Ni, and Zn in seafood species in this study were within the human health benefits range. Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cu exposure from cooked seafood was within the safe dose. However, we found that there is a potential of having cancer (especially bladder and lung cancer) for people exposure to iAs from seafood based on bioaccessible contents the first time.

Cross-cultural disparities of subjective sleep parameters and their age-related trends over the first three years of human life: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Changes in nighttime sleep consolidation and daytime discontinuation have been observed in early life. Yet information about societal or cultural factors remains scant for implementing sleep recommendations. We aimed to provide pooled estimates of subjective sleep duration, number of nightwakings and sleep timing; to describe their age-related trends; and to determine potential cross-cultural disparities between predominantly-Asian (PA) and predominantly-Caucasian (PC) regions during the first three years of life. We performed this review according to the PRISMA guidelines. Overall, 102 studies with 167,886 children aged 0-3 y from 26 different countries/regions were included. Compared to PC regions, PA toddlers had shorter sleep duration and more frequent nightwakings. When PC regions were further divided into Pacific Rim and Europe, differences were much more evident between PA and Pacific Rim for all nighttime sleep parameters. Trends of nighttime sleep duration and bedtime for PC regions showed rapid changes over the first 3-6 mo before stabilizing to a plateau, whereas a different change was found for PA regions. In conclusion, an apparent cross-cultural disparity of the subjective sleep parameters already exists in early childhood. Improved operationalization of sleep parameters and more objective evidence are needed to establish cultural-sensitive recommendations this early in life.

Switching from ticagrelor to clopidogrel in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing successful percutaneous coronary intervention in real-world China: Occurrences, reasons, and long-term clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Although switching between ticagrelor and clopidogrel is common in clinical practice, the efficacy and safety of this de-escalation remain controversial. HYPOTHESIS: We assessed the occurrences, reasons, and outcomes of switching from ticagrelor to clopidogrel in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: A total of 653 patients with STEMI were randomly assigned to receive loading dose of ticagrelor or clopidogrel before PCI and then received maintenance dose, respectively, for 12 months follow-up. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stroke. The secondary outcome included unexpected rehospitalization for angina, coronary revascularization, and stent thrombosis. The safety outcome was bleeding described by the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria. RESULTS: A total of 602 participants completed the study. The rate of switching from ticagrelor to clopidogrel was 48.6% and the main reason was financial burden. The rate of secondary ischemic events in the de-escalation group was higher than that in the ticagrelor group (15.1% vs 5.6%, P = 0.008), but lower than that in the clopidogrel group (15.1% vs 24.6%, P = 0.03), while there were no significant differences in MACE among the three groups (P = 0.16). De-escalation, ticagrelor, and clopidogrel did not cause significant differences in the rates of major bleeding among the three groups (BARC ≥ 2, P = 0.34). CONCLUSION: Switching from ticagrelor to clopidogrel is very common in patients with STEMI in China. De-escalation might be safe but associated with high risk of ischemic events as compared to ticagrelor.

Parasitology should not be abandoned: data from outpatient parasitological testing in Guangdong, China.

Over the past six decades, the Chinese government made parasitoses with a high disease burden, including soil-transmitted nematode infections, malaria, leishmaniasis, filariasis, and schistosomiasis, a public health priority because they were seen to be crucial impediments to the development of rural areas. As a result, these debilitating parasitic diseases that used to be widely prevalent have been well controlled or eliminated. Consequently, less attention has been paid to parasitic infection during the rapid development of the economy, especially in developed areas. However, our investigations conducted in the parasitological laboratory of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, Guangdong, China) show that emerging parasitic diseases still threaten many people's health, with 340 of 880 outpatients (38.6%) receiving a diagnosis of parasitic disease, among whom 201 (59.1%) had clonorchiasis and 120 (35.3%) had taeniasis/cysticercosis. Furthermore, our doctors are not equipped with sufficient parasitology knowledge because this discipline is not able to maintain attraction. Many parasitic infections that result in severe consequences are treatable and preventable, but the phenomena of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis are common and merit attention.

In vitro assessment of the glucose-lowering effects of berberrubine-9-O-ß-D-glucuronide, an active metabolite of berberrubine.

Berberrubine (BRB) is the primary metabolite of berberine (BBR) that has shown a stronger glucose-lowering effect than BBR in vivo. On the other hand, BRB is quickly and extensively metabolized into berberrubine-9-O-ß-D-glucuronide (BRBG) in rats after oral administration. In this study we compared the pharmacokinetic properties of BRB and BRBG in rats, and explored the mechanisms underlying their glucose-lowering activities. C57BL/6 mice with HFD-induced hyperglycemia were administered BRB (50 mg·kg-1·d-1, ig) for 6 weeks, which caused greater reduction in the plasma glucose levels than those caused by BBR (120 mg·kg-1·d-1) or BRB (25 mg·kg-1·d-1). In addition, BRB dose-dependently decreased the activity of α-glucosidase in gut of the mice. After oral administration of BRB in rats, the exposures of BRBG in plasma at 3 different dosages (10, 40, 80 mg/kg) and in urine at different time intervals (0-4, 4-10, 10-24 h) were dramatically greater than those of BRB. In order to determine the effectiveness of BRBG in reducing glucose levels, we prepared BRBG from the urine pool of rats, and identified and confirmed it through LC-MS-IT-TOF and NMR spectra. In human normal liver cell line L-O2 in vitro, treatment with BRB or BRBG (5, 20, 50 µmol/L) increased glucose consumption, enhanced glycogenesis, stimulated the uptake of the glucose analog 2-NBDG, and modulated the mRNA levels of glucose-6-phosphatase and hexokinase. However, both BBR and BRB improved 2-NBDG uptake in insulin-resistant L-O2 cells, while BRBG has no effect. In conclusion, BRB exerts a stronger glucose-lowering effect than BBR in HFD-induced hyperglycemia mice. Although BRB significantly stimulated the insulin sensitivity and glycolysis in vitro, BRBG may have a greater contribution to the glucose-lowering effect because it has much greater system exposure than BRB after oral administration of BRB. The results suggest that BRBG is a potential agent for reducing glucose levels.

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Elimination in Hainan Province, 2002-2012.

In Hainan Province, China, great achievements in elimination of falciparum malaria have been made since 2010. There have been no locally acquired falciparum malaria cases since that time. The cost-effectiveness of elimination of falciparum malaria has been analyzed in Hainan Province. There were 4,422 falciparum malaria cases reported from 2002 to 2012, more cases occurred in males than in females. From 2002 to 2012, a total of 98.5 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were reported because of falciparum malaria. Populations in the age ranges of 15-25 and 30-44 years had higher incidences and DALYs than other age groups. From 2002 to 2012, malaria-related costs for salaries of staff, funds from the provincial government, national government, and the GFATM were US$3.02, US$2.24, US$1.44, and US$5.08 million, respectively. An estimated 9,504 falciparum malaria cases were averted during the period 2003-2012. The estimated cost per falciparum malaria case averted was US$116.5. The falciparum malaria elimination program in Hainan was highly effective and successful. However, funding for maintenance is still needed because of imported cases.

Prevention measures and socio-economic development result in a decrease in malaria in Hainan, China.

BACKGROUND: Historically, the incidence of malaria in the Hainan Province, China has been high. However, since 2001 the malaria incidence in Hainan has decreased due to large-scale, public educational, promotional campaigns and the adoption of preventative measures against malaria following the fast growth of socio-economic development. The present study analysed the correlation between prevention measures and social economic development on the incidence of malaria in Hainan from 2001 to 2013. METHODS: The data of malaria preventative measures and socio-economic development were collected from various cities and counties in Hainan Province from 2001 to 2013 and analysed by the grey correlation analysis system. RESULTS: Seasonal preventive medication and local fiscal revenue increases are significantly related to the reduction of malaria incidence from 2001 to 2013 (R1 = 0.751677; R5 = 0.764795). CONCLUSION: Malaria prevention and control measures and local economic development in Hainan decreased malaria incidence from 2001 to 2013.

MARCH2: comparative assessment of therapeutic effects of acarbose and metformin in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients.

BACKGROUND: The data of MARCH (Metformin and AcaRbose in Chinese as the initial Hypoglycaemic treatment) trial demonstrated that acarbose and metformin have similar efficacy as initial therapy for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reduction in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether the therapeutic efficacy was diversified under different body mass index (BMI) status. METHODS: All 784 subjects were divided into normal-weight group (BMI<24 kg/m2), overweight group (BMI 24-28 kg/m2) and obese group (BMI≥28 kg/m2). Patients were assigned to 48 weeks of therapy with acarbose or metformin, respectively. The clinical trial registry number was ChiCTR-TRC-08000231. RESULTS: The reduction of HbA1c levels and the proportion of patients with HbA1c of 6.5% or less were similar in the three groups after acarbose and metformin treatment. In overweight group, fasting blood glucose (FBG) after metformin treatment showed greater decline compared to acarbose group at 48 weeks [-1.73 (-1.99 to -1.46) vs. -1.37 (-1.61 to -1.12), P<0.05), however the decrease of 2 h post-challenge blood glucose (PBG) after acarbose treatment at 48 weeks was bigger compared to metformin group [-3.34 (-3.83 to-2.84) vs. -2.35 (-2.85 to -1.85), P<0.01]. Both acarbose and metformin treatment resulted in a significant decrease in waist circumference, hip circumference, weight and BMI in the three groups (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acarbose and metformin decreased HbA1c levels similarly regardless of BMI status of Chinese type 2 diabetic patients. Acarbose and metformin resulted in a significant and modest improvement of anthropometric parametres in different BMI status. Thus, acarbose treatment may contribute a similar effect on plasma glucose control compared to metformin, even in obesity patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR.org ChiCTR-TRC-08000231.

Assessment of the associations between three VEGF polymorphisms and risk of prostate cancer.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in the regulation of angiogenesis and is involved in the development and metastasis of common cancers. There were several case-controls studies published to assess the associations of VEGF polymorphisms with risk of prostate cancer, but the findings were inconsistent. We performed a meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive assessment of the associations of three VEGF polymorphisms with risk of prostate cancer. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated to assess the associations. Eleven individual case-control studies with a total of 5,209 cases of prostate cancer and 5,233 controls were finally included into our meta-analysis. Overall, VEGF rs833061 polymorphism was not associated with risk of prostate cancer (T versus C, OR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.91-1.44, P = 0.26; TT versus CC, OR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.67-1.76, P = 0.74; TT versus CC/CT: OR = 1.46, 95% CI 0.67-3.18, P = 0.34; TT/CT versus CC, OR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.82-1.43, P = 0.59). VEGF rs3025039 polymorphism was also not associated with risk of prostate cancer (T versus C, OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.91-1.16, P = 0.66; TT versus CC, OR = 1.82 95% CI 0.16-20.53, P = 0.63; TT versus CC/CT, OR = 2.00, 95% CI 0.18-22.41, P = 0.57; TT/CT versus CC, OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.38-1.36, P = 0.31). VEGF rs2010963 polymorphism was not associated with risk of prostate cancer under three models (C versus G, OR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.92-1.48, P = 0.20; CC versus GG, OR = 2.28, 95% CI 0.90-5.75, P = 0.08; CC versus GG/GC, OR = 1.57, 95% CI 0.67-3.68, P = 0.30). In conclusison, current data suggest that those three VEGF polymorphisms are not obviously associated with risk of prostate cancer.

A network approach for researching political feasibility of healthcare reform: the case of universal healthcare system in Taiwan.

This study evaluates the political feasibility of healthcare reform taking place in Taiwan in the past decade. Since Taiwan adopted National Health Insurance (NHI) in 1995, it has provided coverage for virtually all of the island's citizens. However, the imbalance between expenditure and revenue has resulted in a cycle of unsustainable spending which has necessitated financial reforms and political confrontations. By applying social network analysis, this paper examines multiple types of ties between policy elites and power distribution that have evolved in crucial policy events of the NHI's financial reforms between 1998 and 2010. Data sources include official documents and 62 social network interviews that were held with government officials and related unofficial policy participants. Blockmodeling and multidimensional scaling (MDS) are used to determine the major participants and network structures in the NHI domain, as well as the influential policy actors, based on information transmission, resource exchange, reputation attribution and action-set coalition networks in Taiwan's current political situation. The results show that although both public actors and all medical associations are the leading actors in the NHI reform, without good communication with societal actors, the promotion of reform proposals ends in failure. As a tool of political feasibility evaluation, social network analysis can map the political conflict between policy stakeholders systematically when policy makers pursue the result of policy adoption.

Mini-nutrition assessment, malnutrition, and postoperative complications in elderly Chinese patients with lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To assist healthcare professionals in using the mini nutrition assessment (MNA) and its short-form (MNASF) for early identification of malnourished elderly lung cancer patients, conducting preoperative nutritional support, and improving patients' postoperative prognosis, quality of life, and survival. METHODS: The MNA with revised cut-off points to better suit the Chinese population was conducted on 103 elderly lung cancer Chinese patients aged 60 or above in the Tianjin Cancer Hospital prior to their scheduled surgery. Patient demographic data, anthropometric parameters, biochemical markers, and postoperative complications were collected and analysed. RESULTS: Of the 103 patients studied 12.6% (13/103) were malnourished, 31.1% (32/103) were at risk of malnutrition, and 56.3% (58/103) had adequate nutrition; the average MNA score was 23.6±3.7. Significant positive correlations were found between total MNA score and body mass index (BMI), mid-arm circumference (MAC), calf circumference (CC), and hemoglobin (Hb) (p<0.05), as well as between total MNA-SF score and BMI, MAC, CC, and total MNA score. Significant negative correlations occurred between total MNA-SF score and age (p<0.05). Among postoperative complications, cardiovascular diseases had the highest morbidity rate (23%), followed by respiratory diseases (22%), and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases combined (19%). No significant relationship between nutritional status with types of morbidity (p=0.235) and postoperative complications (p=0.362) was found. CONCLUSION: The MNA scale is an effective tool to preoperatively evaluate the nutritional status of elderly Chinese patients with lung cancer. These patients have poor nutritional status. Further investigations are needed to re-examine the correlation between the MNA results and postoperative complications.

Assessment of recanalization of chronic total occlusions on left ventricular function in patients with or without previous myocardial infarction by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography.

The changes of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were assessed after successful recanalization of chronic total occlusions (CTO) with or without previous myocardial infarction (MI) by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE). 32 patients with a successfully recanalyzed CTO were included in the present prospective study. The patients were divided into group 1 without previous MI and group 2 with previous MI in the territories of total occlusion vessel that was recanalized. In addition, there was a subgroup composed of 14 patients with collateral flow or retrograde flow in group 2. In all patients, LVEF was determined by RT3DE at baseline and after 6 weeks. In group 1, the evolution of LVEF increased significantly from 59.9 ± 7.2-67.5 ± 8.7% (P < 0.05). In group 2, the evolution of LVEF increased from 48.6 ± 6.1-50.1 ± 6.4%, however, it was without statistic significance (P > 0.05). The evolution of LVEF increased from 46.8 ± 7.1-53.0 ± 7.2% (P < 0.05) in the subgroup of group 2. Left ventricular function in patients with CTO can be feasibility and actually evaluated by RT3DE. The influence of recanalization of CTO on the improvement of left ventricular function was different between MI and non-MI patients. The left ventricular function did not improve in MI patients, but improved significantly in the patients having rich collateral circulation.

Watershed-scale assessment of arsenic and metal contamination in the surface soils surrounding Miyun Reservoir, Beijing, China.

Concentrations of As and selected metals were determined in surface soils of the Miyun Reservoir watershed of Beijing, China. The degree to which concentrations of As and metals exceeded the corresponding background concentration of soils was: Cr>Cu>Zn>As>Ni with no apparent anthropogenic contamination with Cd and Pb. Based on the results of a combination of multivariate statistics and geostatistical analysis, greater concentrations of Cr and Ni in soils were determined to be primarily from iron ore mining near where the Chaohe River enters the northeast portion of the reservoir. Agricultural activities were responsible for the observed elevated concentrations of Cu and Zn in soils. Relatively great concentrations of As were found in soils near the upstream regions of the Baihe River in Chicheng County where small gold mining activities have taken place. The greatest potential for adverse effects of Cr and Cu occurred along the eastern shore of Miyun Reservoir.

[Comparison of microwave-assisted and conventional extraction of Corydalis yanhusuo].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the extraction yield and economic cost in the microwave-assisted extraction and conventional extraction of Corydalis yanhusuo. METHODS: Both of the extractions of Corydalis yanhusuo were optimized by orthogonal design. The contents of tetrahydropalmatine and total alkaloids were determined by HPLC and ultraviolet spectrophotometer, respectively. Meanwhile, the electricity consumption was determined in the extraction process. RESULTS: Comparing with conventional extraction, the microwave-assisted extraction saved time and money, and provided higher extraction yield of tetrahydropalmatine and total alkaloids. CONCLUSION: The microwave-assisted extraction has advantages in high efficiency and low cost.

A simple and sensitive HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the determination of andrographolide in human plasma.

A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method for the determination of andrographolide in human plasma was established. Dehydroandrographolide was used as the internal standard (I.S.). The plasma samples were deproteinized with methanol and separated on a Hanbon C(18) column with a mobile phase of methanol-water (70:30, v/v). HPLC-ESI-MS/MS was performed in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode using target ions at [M-H(2)O-H](-), m/z 331.1 for andrographolide and [M-H](-), m/z 331.1 for the I.S. Calibration curve was linear over the range of 1.0-150.0ng/mL. The chromatographic separation was achieved in less than 6.5min. The lower limits of quantification (LLOQ) was 1.0ng/mL. The intra and inter-run precisions were less than 6.95 and 7.22%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to determine the plasma concentrations of andrographolide in Chinese volunteers.

Simultaneous determination of GFA and its active metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and its application to pharmacokinetic studies.

A sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) method has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of guanfu base A (GFA) and its metabolites guanfu base I (GFI) and guanfu alcohol-amine (AA) in human plasma with phenoprolamine hydrochloride (DDPH) as the internal standard. The analytes were extracted from human plasma by using liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and the LC separation was performed on a Diamonsil C(18) analytical column (150 mm x 2.1 mm i.d., 5 microm). The MS acquisition was performed in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode of positive ions. Analysis was carried out in SIM mode at m/z 430.25 for GFA [M+H](+), m/z 388.25 for GFI [M+H](+), m/z 346.25 for AA [M+H](+) and m/z 344.20 for the IS DDPH [M+H](+). The calibration curves were linear over the range of 50-5000 ng/mL for GFA and 5-1000 ng/mL for GFI and AA, with coefficients of correlation above 0.999. The lower limit of quantification for GFA was 1 ng/mL, while for GFI and AA were both 5 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions (CV) of analysis were within 9%, and the accuracy ranged from 91% to 108%. The overall recoveries for GFA, GFI and AA were about 94.2%, 87.8% and 80.6%, respectively. The total LC-MS run-time was only 5.5 min. This quantitation method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of GFA and its metabolites in human plasma for the metabolic study and pharmacokinetic evaluation.

[Assessment on PCBs wastes treatment technologies including incineration, cement kiln and secure landfill].

Analytic hierarchy process and a specialist investigation were applied to value the three PCBs treatment technologies qualitatively and quantitatively, in which the environmental, technological, social and economic factors were considered. The most important factor is thought to be environmental impact. Incineration is proved to be the most suitable technology in this period according to the research. For the high concentration of PCBs pollutants, or the low concentration of PCBs pollutants with good economic performance and large quantity of waste, incineration is considered the best. For the low concentration of PCBs pollutants in the area with bad economic performance and with little quantity of waste, cement kiln and landfill are thought to be suitable. It is also suggested that pollutants be treated at the nearest place. What's more, the measures to improve the three technologies are discussed and the policy comments on PCBs treatment are presented.

Temporal changes in the inequality of early growth of Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.: a novel application of the Gini coefficient and Lorenz asymmetry.

Growth within tree populations varies among individuals due to changes in biotic and abiotic factors. The degree of such variation, defined as growth inequality, serves as a useful indicator of the uniformity of growth within a population in response to the prevalent environmental conditions. By application of the Gini coefficient (G), an index for inequality, we characterized the early growth inequality of ninety crosses of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) and their open-pollinated parental lines. Tree cumulative height was measured annually for 8 consecutive years. Both the crosses and parental lines exhibited temporal changes in growth inequality. The inequality of total height among the crosses decreased logarithmically with age by nearly 3-fold after 13 growing seasons, suggesting that tree height became less variable among the crosses as trees grew larger. Interestingly, the Lorenz asymmetry, an index reflecting the shape of the Lorenze curve from which G is derived, revealed that the inequality of annual height increment among the crosses resulted from an alternate contribution of the fast-growing and slow-growing trees. Among parental lines, two provenances with the smallest and the largest overall inequality in total height showed a similar pattern of changes in annual growth inequality, and the provenance differences were consistent over time. Compared to the other provinces, a local provenance exhibited less variation in total height among individual trees as reflected by a smaller value of inequality, and was better adapted to the field conditions. Our results demonstrated the sensitivity and usefulness of the Gini coefficient and Lorenz asymmetry for the analysis of growth inequality in non-natural populations. Growth inequality is a potentially useful evaluation criterion for early selection. Given comparable initial growth, provenances/families with lower growth inequality values would likely outperform those with higher growth inequality, and eventually tree size of the latter would be more variable due to greater variations among individual trees. Assessment of growth inequality at early ages will advance our understanding of variability of tree growth within a population, facilitate forest genetics improvement programs, and enhance the efficiency of tree breeding.