Levels of vitamin A and selenium of children with cystic echinococcosis in Aba Tibetan and Qiang and Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the levels of vitamin A and selenium in children with echinococcosis in Ganzi and Aba. METHODS: Twenty-six children with cystic echinococcosis and 104 apparently healthy controls from the Aba and Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan province in China were recruited. The serum levels of selenium and vitamin A of the cases and controls were detected and stratified by sex and age. RESULTS: The results showed that the ratio of boys to girls was 1:1.36. Compared with the healthy controls, the vitamin A serum levels of the cases significantly declined. The rate of selenium deficiency was high in the cases, but there was no significant difference compared with the control group. Additionally, the lower the vitamin A serum level, the higher the risk for developing echinococcosis. CONCLUSIONS: To improve management strategies in children with cystic echinococcosis, or possibly to prevent the disease, children living in high-risk areas for cystic echinococcosis should be given supplemental vitamin A and encouraged to consume a vitamin A-rich diet containing paw-paw, carrot, palm oil, or fish. Children with vitamin A deficiency in high-risk areas should be screened for cystic echinococcosis.

Iron Deficiency Reprograms Phosphorylation Signaling and Reduces O-GlcNAc Pathways in Neuronal Cells.

Micronutrient sensing is critical for cellular growth and differentiation. Deficiencies in essential nutrients such as iron strongly affect neuronal cell development and may lead to defects in neuronal function that cannot be remedied by subsequent iron supplementation. To understand the adaptive intracellular responses to iron deficiency in neuronal cells, we developed and utilized a Stable Isotopic Labeling of Amino acids in Cell culture (SILAC)-based quantitative phosphoproteomics workflow. Our integrated approach was designed to comprehensively elucidate the changes in phosphorylation signaling under both acute and chronic iron-deficient cell models. In addition, we analyzed the differential cellular responses between iron deficiency and hypoxia (oxygen-deprived) in neuronal cells. Our analysis identified nearly 16,000 phosphorylation sites in HT-22 cells, a hippocampal-derived neuronal cell line, more than ten percent of which showed at least 2-fold changes in response to either hypoxia or acute/chronic iron deficiency. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that iron deficiency altered key metabolic and epigenetic pathways including the phosphorylation of proteins involved in iron sequestration, glutamate metabolism, and histone methylation. In particular, iron deficiency increased glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase (GFPT1) phosphorylation, which is a key enzyme in the glucosamine biosynthesis pathway and a target of 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), leading to reduced GFPT1 enzymatic activity and consequently lower global O-GlcNAc modification in neuronal cells. Taken together, our analysis of the phosphoproteome dynamics in response to iron and oxygen deprivation demonstrated an adaptive cellular response by mounting post-translational modifications that are critical for intracellular signaling and epigenetic programming in neuronal cells.

Bone Mineral Density in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and 4-Year Follow-up Results.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a common complication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The change of bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with RA is slow, and little data are known about the long-term change of BMD. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the frequency of osteoporosis and the long-term change on BMD in a cohort of Chinese patients with RA routinely receiving calcium and vitamin D supplementation. METHODS: A total of 304 consecutive patients with RA were recruited. Bone mineral density measurements of the forearm, lumbar spine, and total hip were performed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and compared with 200 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Risk factors were analyzed by logistic regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence of osteoporosis at all measured sites in patients with RA was statistically significantly higher than in healthy controls. A total of 107 patients of the cohort had a mean of 4 years of follow-up. More patients with BMD decrease were found without calcium and vitamin D use compared with those who continuously took calcium and vitamin D (64.3% vs 19.8% at the forearm and 28.6% vs 16.1% at the total hip, respectively). Only the use of calcium and vitamin D supplementation was associated with a decreased risk of BMD decrease both at the forearm and at the total hip. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoporosis is common in Chinese patients with RA. Routine use of calcium and vitamin D supplementation decreased the risk of BMD decrease and should be recommended for all patients with RA.

Seasonal Variation and Sources of Dissolved Nutrients in the Yellow River, China.

The rapid growth of the economy in China has caused dramatic growth in the industrial and agricultural development in the Yellow River (YR) watershed. The hydrology of the YR has changed dramatically due to the climate changes and water management practices, which have resulted in a great variation in the fluxes of riverine nutrients carried by the YR. To study these changes dissolved nutrients in the YR were measured monthly at Lijin station in the downstream region of the YR from 2002 to 2004. This study provides detailed information on the nutrient status for the relevant studies in the lower YR and the Bohai Sea. The YR was enriched in nitrate (average 314 µmol·L(-1)) with a lower concentration of dissolved silicate (average 131 µmol·L(-1)) and relatively low dissolved phosphate (average 0.35 µmol·L(-1)). Nutrient concentrations exhibited substantial seasonal and yearly variations. The annual fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphate, and silicate in 2004 were 5.3, 2.5, and 4.2 times those in 2002, respectively, primarily due to the increase in river discharge. The relative contributions of nutrient inputs to nitrogen in the YR were: wastewater > fertilizer > atmospheric deposition > soil; while to phosphorus were: wastewater > fertilizer > soil > atmospheric deposition. The ratios of N, P and Si suggest that the YR at Lijin is strongly P-limited with respect to potential phytoplankton growth.

[Experimental study of laparoscopical lumbar interbody fusion with polyporus composite phosphate calcium and rhBMP-2 compounds in sheep].

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of polyporus composite phosphate calcium and rhBMP-2 compounds with laparoscopical lumbar interbody fusion in sheep. METHODS: Fourteen uniform-weight adult sheep were randomly divided into three groups for LA-5 interbody fusion with titanium mesh. Autogenous bone and titanium mesh was applied with open anterior technique in group 1 (n=4). In group 2, 4 sheep were operated with laparoscope technique for LA-5 interbody fusion with composite phosphate calcium (CPC) and titanium mesh. In group 3, 6 sheep underwent laparoscopical L4-5 interbody fusion with titanium mesh as well as polyporus composite phosphate calcium and rhBMP-2 compounds. At Weeks 6 and 12 post-operation, the sheep were sacrificed for imaging, biomechanic and morphological examinations. RESULTS: Although there was no statistical difference between open and laparoscopical interbody fusion group when comparing the remaining disc and endplate decorticated, bone fusion occurred in 3 groups after 3 months. A much larger amount of bony callus was observed earlier in laparoscopical L4-5 interbody fusion group with titanium mesh as well as polyporus composite phosphate calcium and rhBMP-2 compounds than two other groups. CONCLUSION: Polyporus composite phosphate calcium and rhBMP-2 compounds are suitable prosthetic materials for clinical trials. When these materials are utilized with a laparoscopical technique, satisfactory interbody fusion may be achieved.

[Study on the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of genuine crude and no-enuine crude Chinese Angelica].

OBJECTIVE: To provide basis for environmental factors of genuine crude Chinese angelica. METHOD: On-the-spot investigation and indoor chemical analysis were made to study the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: The physical properties and the organic matte and mineral nutrition of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica are best in Min County, Gansu Province. The ecological environment is the leading factor in forming genuine crude Chinese angelica.

Study on the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of genuine crude and no-enuine crude Chinese Angelica / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide basis for environmental factors of genuine crude Chinese angelica.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>On-the-spot investigation and indoor chemical analysis were made to study the physicochemical properties of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica.</p><p><b>RESULT AND CONCLUSION</b>The physical properties and the organic matte and mineral nutrition of cultivated soil of Chinese angelica are best in Min County, Gansu Province. The ecological environment is the leading factor in forming genuine crude Chinese angelica.</p>