Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of hand foot, and mouth disease in a Shenzhen sentinel hospital from 2009 to 2011.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the epidemiological and clinical data of all hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in a sentinel hospital of Shenzhen, China from 2009 to 2011. METHODS: HFMD cases diagnosed in our institution were assessed from 2009 to 2011. Both epidemiological and clinical features were analyzed retrospectively. All the fatal cases were reported. RESULTS: A total of 12132 patients were diagnosed with HFMD, of which 2944 (24.3%) were hospitalized. Of the 2944 hospitalized patients, the highest proportion of diagnosed cases were admitted in May and July (989/2944, 33.6%). In 2009 all severe HFMD cases were diagnosed with enterovirus 71 (EV71). In 2010 and 2011, some of the severe HFMD were diagnosed with Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16). Incidence was highest in 0-4-year old children, with males being predominant. There were sporadic cases with HFMD the whole year except in February. All cases were cured in 2009. Six deaths were reported during 2010 and 2011. CONCLUSIONS: EV71 can cause severe complications and deaths in our region. HFMD is an important public health problem in Shenzhen in spite of stringent measures taken in preschool centers. A high degree of vigilance should be maintained over the disease situation.

Description of two new species of Lysmata Risso, 1816 (Decapoda, Lysmatidae) from the China seas, with remarks on Lysmata vittata (Stimpson 1860).

Two new species of Lysmata Risso, 1816 are described and illustrated from the China seas. L. brevrostrus sp. nov. is characterized by the short rostrum not reaching the distal margin of the eyes, and the rostral ventral margin unarmed with tooth; L. parvispinosus sp. nov. is characterized by the dactylus of posterior three pereiopods tapering (not biunguiculate) and the flexor margin of the dactylus bearing two basal inconspicuous spinules. A morphologically variable species, L. vittata (Stimpson 1860), is discussed based on specimens collected from the China seas.

A new species of the genus Alvinocaris Williams and Chace, 1982 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Alvinocarididae) from the Manus Basin hydrothermal vents, Southwest Pacific.

One new species of alvinocaridid Alvinocaris kexueae sp. nov. is described from hydrothermal vents on the Manus Basin, Southwest Pacific. This is the fifteenth species in Alvinocaris Williams & Chace, 1982. The new species is easily recognized by the combination of the rostrum distinctively overreaching the distal end of the antennular peduncle, and the armature of its dorsal and ventral margins; the unarmed third abdominal segment, and by the posterior margin of the telson having one triangular tooth medially and 6 pairs unequal spines. It is morphologically most similar to A. brevitelsonis Kikuchi & Hashimoto, 2000 described from Minami-Ensei Knoll, Okinawa Trough, but can easily be distinguished from it by the proportionally longer rostrum, by the dorsal teeth of the rostrum, by the shape of the chela of the first pereiopod, and by the teeth on the fourth abdominal segment. The genetic divergence of COI gene analyzed clearly supports the new taxon.

A new deep-sea species of the genus Urocaridella (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidea) from Yap Seamount in the Western Pacific.

A new species of palaemonid shrimp, Urocaridella liui sp. nov., is discovered from deep waters on the Yap Seamount in the Western Pacific. The new species is unique in the genus by having a pronounced triangular protrusion on the third posterior part of the third pleonal tergite and the almost colorless body, as well as for its occurrence in waters deeper than 250 meters. Other distinct characteristics of this species are the arrangement of dorsal rostral teeth; shorter fingers of the first and second pereiopods and shorter dactyli of the posterior pereiopods; the ratio of the carpus/palm length of the first and second pereiopods; the slender, but not filiform third to fifth pereiopods; and rounded postero-ventrally margin of the fifth abdominal somite. A key to the species of Urocaridella is provided.

[Three-dimensional finite element stress analysis of normal maxillary complex under two different conditions].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of stress distribution in the normal maxillary complex under different conditions and explore the feature of biomechanical reaction. METHODS: A three-dimensional finite element stress analysis has been used to investigate the characters of stress distribution at open-mouth position and in centric occlusion. RESULTS: Under the same load, the stresses of the same region in the normal maxillary complex were distributed unequally. The limits of stress at open-mouth position (8.969 N) were wider than that in centric occlusion (6.497 N). CONCLUSIONS: The stress of the whole maxillary complex in centric occlusion was lower than that at open-mouth position because of the different state of masticatory muscle. This indicated that the effect of muscles needed to be considered in the study of maxillary complex biomechanics.

[A three-dimensional finite element analysis of stress distribution in mandibular FPDs with different length pontics].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the stress distribution in the mandibular fixed partial denture (FPD) by changing the length of pontics. METHODS: Based on a 3-DFE model of the mandibular FPD, we analyzed the stress distribution in the mandibular FPDs by loading the same level force at pontics with different lengths that were 2 to 4 times of normal length. RESULTS: The distribution trends of the stresses in the mandibular FPDs with differently elongated pontics were similar, but the highest von Mises stress in the bridge was enlarged. CONCLUSION: Damages may develop in the mandibular FDP, when the length of the pontic is longer than 3 times of normal length.