Prevalence and correlates of malnutrition among children in rural minority areas of China

BACKGROUND

Child growth retardation and malnutrition remain a matter of uttermost public concern in economically disadvantaged areas of China. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition with various anthropometric indices and examine its correlates in a large sample of poor rural minority children.

METHODS

A total of 2019 children under 7 years of age belonging to the Hani, Yi, Hui, Miao ethnic minority groups and the Han major group were drawn from four poor rural minority counties in the Yunnan Province of China. Well-trained investigators completed child physical measurements and maternal interviews. Protein-energy malnutrition was defined as being underweight (weight for age), wasting (weight for height) and stunting (height for age) on the basis of reference data from the National Center of Health Statistics (NCHS)/World Health Organization (WHO).

RESULTS

The respective prevalence of moderate and severe protein-energy malnutrition was 15.8 and 3.1% for underweight children, 31.8 and 19.2% for stunting and 0.9 and 0.5% for wasting. Stunting was most common in children aged 2 years. Boys were more likely to suffer from malnutrition. Logistic regression analyses showed that lower family income, lower parental height, belonging to the Miao, Yi and Hani ethnic groups compared with Han and poorer maternal child-rearing behavior significantly increased the risk for stunting of children.

CONCLUSIONS

Protein-energy malnutrition is relatively high in the rural minority children of China. Chronic socioeconomic underdevelopment and genetic effects, rather than a severe or immediate lack of food, may lead to protein-energy malnutrition.

A comparative study on the efficacy of CD8-positive cells in enhancing allogeneic bone marrow engraftment: cell sorting vs microbead selection

We have used a superparamagnetic microbead selection system to positively select a murine bone marrow CD8+ cell population. The functional ability of these cells to enhance allogeneic bone marrow engraftment was compared with that of fluorescence activated cell sorter purified CD8+ cells. The CD8+ cell population prepared by the microbead selection procedure was as effective as cell sorter purified CD8+ cells in enhancing T cell-depleted allogeneic bone marrow engraftment in lethally irradiated mice. Phenotypic characterization of these cells shows that most of these CD8+ cells express CD3 and the T cell antigen receptor complex.

[Psychological and neurobehavioral effects of aluminum on exposed workers]

OBJECTIVE

To explore neurotoxicity and the changes in psychological and neurobehavioral functions in workers exposed to aluminum.

METHODS

Psychological status and neurobehavioral functions of 103 exposed workers and 64 controls were examined with Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), and meanwhile, air concentrations of aluminum in the workplaces and urine levels of aluminum in the exposed workers were determined.

RESULTS

Urine levels of aluminum in the exposed workers were markedly higher than those in non-exposed controls, with a statistical significance. Scores for tension, depression, anger, fatigue and confusion in the workers exposed to aluminum for more than ten years were significantly more than those in non-exposed controls. Scores of the performance of Santa Ana, digit symbol and pursuit aiming in the former were significantly lower, and no other changes in psychological and behavioral functions was found in workers exposed for less than ten years, except for their scores of pursuit aiming.

CONCLUSION

Obvious changes in psychological status, neuromotor speed and their accuracy were observed in workers exposed to aluminum for a long term.

[Relationship between health status and work ability among elderly Al exposed workers]

In this study, health status and work ability of 80 elderly male workers exposed to aluminum (Al) were assessed by physiological and neurobehaviral tests. The results showed that workers with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases had lower work ability index(WAI). Vital capacity and musculoskeletal function index(MSFI) were correlated closely with work ability. Mental performance capacity decreased with the increasing of age, and mental performance score was associated with work ability. It is suggested that vital capacity and MSFI may serve as index reflecting physical work ability of Al-exposed workers. Simple reaction time, visual memory, manual dexterity and pursuit aiming may reflect mental work ability.

[Regulative effect of nuclear factor kappa B on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecular-1 in human mesangial cells]

OBJECTIVE

To study the regulative effect of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecular-1(ICAM-1) in human mesangial cells (HMC) by interleukin I-1 beta (IL-1 beta).

METHODS

Activation of NF-kappa B was measured by electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA). ICAM-1 expression was detected by Northern Blot and Cell ELISA.

RESULTS

rhIL-1 beta (10 ng/ml) could rapidly stimulate activation and translocation of NF-kappa B, and also could enhance the expression of ICAM-1 in mRNA (0.14 vs 0.35) and protein (0.92 +/- 0.10 vs 1.35 +/- 0.11, P < 0.01) level. After pretreatment with 100 mumol/L L-1-chlor-3-(4-tosylamido)-4-phenyl-2 butanon (TPCK), an inhibitor of NF-kappa B, both ICAM-1 levels of mRNA and protein stimulated by rhIL-1 beta were blocked by about 50% in these cells (0.46 +/- 0.05 vs 1.29 +/- 0.12, P < 0.01) compared with the rhIL-1 beta-stimulated group.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that NF-kappa B is one of the signaling factors for IL-1-stimulated ICAM-1 expression in HMC. It may modulate the immune-inflammatory process in glomerular diseases.

Endonuclease V (nfi) mutant of Escherichia coli K-12

Endonuclease V (deoxyinosine 3' endonuclease), the product of the nfi gene, has a specificity that encompasses DNAs containing dIMP, abasic sites, base mismatches, uracil, and even untreated single-stranded DNA. To determine its importance in DNA repair pathways, nfi insertion mutants and overproducers (strains bearing nfi plasmids) were constructed. The mutants displayed a twofold increase in spontaneous mutations for several markers and an increased sensitivity to killing by bleomycin and nitrofurantoin. An nfi mutation increased both cellular resistance to and mutability by nitrous acid. This agent should generate potential cleavage sites for the enzyme by deaminating dAMP and dCMP in DNA to dIMP and dUMP, respectively. Relative to that of a wild-type strain, an nfi mutant displayed a 12- to 1,000-fold increase in the frequency of nitrite-induced mutations to streptomycin resistance, which are known to occur in A x T base pairs. An nfi mutation also enhanced the lethality caused by a combined deficiency of exonuclease III and dUTPase, which has been attributed to unrepaired abasic sites. However, neither the deficiency nor the overproduction of endonuclease V affected the growth of the single-stranded DNA phages M13 or phiX174 nor of Uracil-containing bacteriophage lambda. These results suggest that endonuclease V has a significant role in the repair of deaminated deoxyadenosine (deoxyinosine) and abasic sites in DNA, but there was no evidence for its cleavage in vivo of single-stranded or uracil-containing DNA.

Research on the schizont cell culture vaccine against Theileria annulata infection in Xinjiang, China

Theileria annulata infection (TAI) is one of the most serious diseases of cattle in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of Uigur Minority Nationality. It has been recorded in 14 prefectures, except the Tulufan Prefecture, but the enzootic areas are mainly distributed around the Zhunger Basin and Talim Basin. According to the records collected in the ten years before vaccination with the schizont cell culture vaccine was carried out, the average incidence rate of TAI in enzootic areas was 7.22% and the mortality rate was 24%. The milk production of cattle suffering from TAI was sharply decreased, and there were usually abortions in pregnant cows. The incidence rate and mortality rate were greater in high grade cattle, so TAI was a constraint to improving cattle breeds. To control this disease effectively in Xinjiang, researchers at the Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science began to study the schizont cell culture vaccine in 1972. In 1977 an immortalised cell line was achieved from a primary cell culture starting with white blood cells from cattle suffering from acute TAI caused by an artificial tick bite. The cell culture medium mainly consisted of calf serum, lactalbumin-hydrolysate, Eagles' medium DMEM and three antibiotics. As a vaccine, the above cells were mixed with preserving medium containing gelatin. This paper describes the experiments on the immunological properties of the vaccine carried out in subsequent years. Up to 1996, vaccine doses for 1,186,150 cattle have been produced and sold. This vaccine has had a critical effect on the control of TAI in Xinjiang. Owing to the sharp decrease in the incidence rate and mortality rate of TAI after cattle were vaccinated, the annual economic benefit of the vaccine is at least 1,620,000 yuan.

Angiotensinogen gene variation in a population case-control study of preeclampsia/eclampsia in Australians and Chinese

Preeclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E) is a common disease of human pregnancy with a strong genetic component. The etiology of PE/E is unknown. Two recent reports indicated that the angiotensinogen gene (AGT) could be involved in susceptibility to PE/E. We performed a population-based case-control study in Australian and Chinese populations to investigate whether AGT is a good candidate gene for PE/E. A microsatellite polymorphism within AGT was typed as well as a molecular variant T235 (Met-->Thr) of AGT using allele-specific PCR and allele-induced restriction site PCR. The allele distributions of the microsatellite and the variant T235 of AGT were significantly different between the two ethnic groups. However, no significant allele associations were found with disease when comparing PE/E patients and controls in Australian or Chinese populations, which is in contrast to the two earlier reports. The results suggest that the contribution of AGT to the occurrence of PE/E is small, if anything, and is not constant across populations.

[The effects of lidocaine on lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor at different pH]

The effects of lidocaine on beta-adrenergic receptor binding and the yield of epinephrine-stimulated cAMP at different pH were measured by radioligand binding assay and radioimmunoassay. The results showed that the binding of H-DHA to the receptor and yield of epinephrine-stimulated cAMP increased with increasing pH (P < 0.001) and lidocaine inhibitory potency also increased with increasing pH (P < 0.001); The results indicate that the response to beta-agonists would increase with pH during cardiopulmonary resuscitation when lidocaine is not present, but it would not increase with pH when lidocaine is present, suggesting that lidocaine may inhibit binding of beta-agonists to receptor by changing lipid fluidity of cell membrane with increasing pH.

A genomewide linkage study of preeclampsia/eclampsia reveals evidence for a candidate region on 4q

Preeclampsia (PE) and eclampsia (E) are potentially life-threatening conditions that can occur during human pregnancy. Generally considered to be different degrees of severity of the same disease process, the PE/E syndrome is thought to be predominantly genetic in origin, although its exact etiology and genetics are not fully understood. Here we report results of a genomewide linkage search for the gene(s) responsible for susceptibility to PE/E, using 15 informative pedigrees and 90 polymorphic DNA markers from all autosomes. Because of uncertainties concerning inheritance and diagnosis, four different models that assume maternal gene expression have been used to carry out LOD-score analysis. The region between D4S450 and D4S610 (2.8 cM) on the long arm of chromosome 4 was identified as a strong candidate region for a PE/E-susceptibility locus. The maximum multipoint LOD score within this interval was 2.9. Analysis of markers in the region around D4S450 and D4S610 by the affected-pedigree-member method also supported the possibility of a susceptibility locus in this region. However, to verify or exclude definitively linkage to this region, other groups of PE/E pedigrees will be required.

nfi, the gene for endonuclease V in Escherichia coli K-12

Endonuclease V is specific for single-stranded DNA or for duplex DNA that contains uracil or that is damaged by a variety of agents (B. Demple and S. Linn, J. Biol. Chem. 257:2848-2855, 1982). Thus, it may be a versatile DNA repair enzyme. The protein was purified to apparent homogeneity, and from its N-terminal sequence, its gene, nfi, was identified. nfi is immediately downstream of hemE, at kb 4208 (90.4 min) on the current chromosomal map of Escherichia coli K-12. This region was cloned, and plasmid insertion and deletion mutants were used to study its molecular organization. Although nfi is the third of four closely spaced, codirectional genes, it is expressed independently.

[Experimental studies of high frequency jet ventilation improved by enhancing expiratory turbulence]

OBJECTIVE

To improve the effect on CO2 elimination during high frequency jet ventilation by enhancing expiratory turbulence.

METHODS

Nine healthy dogs with steam-induced type I respiratory failure were basically applied with high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV), and high frequency two-way jet ventilation (HFTJV), HFJV combined with thoracicoabdominal compression (HFJV+TAC), and HFJV combined with thoracicoabdominal compression-decompression (HFJV+ TACD) randomly for 30 min, respectively. The parameters were determined and the Reynolds numbers (NR) were calculated.

RESULTS

Reynolds numbers were more than 3000 in all patterns, suggesting that the airflow was turbulent. Expiratory Na was higher. The NR of the latter three patterns was more significantly higher than that of HFJV (P < 0.01). CO2 elimination was 126, 111, 137 ml. min-1 in the latter three patterns, respectively and significant (P < 0.05) or very significant (P < 0.01) compared with 98.0 ml.min-1 in HFJV. Corresponding changes occurred in PaCO2. NO significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in hemodynamic parameters.

CONCLUSION

HFJV combined with inverse jet or thoracicoabdominal compression or decompression on expiratory phase could enhance expiratory turbulence and facilitate CO2 elimination in 9 dogs with steam-induced type I respiratory failure.

[Ventilation effects of added jet air flows in different directions during expiratory phase on dogs with steam inhalation injury]

Nine dogs injured by inhaling steam were subjected to high frequency jet ventilation. Jet airflows of different directions were added during the expiratory phase, and their effects on respiration, circulation and improvment in ventilation efficiency of dogs with inhalation injury were compared, and the assessment of the mechanism of high frequency two-way jet ventilation in the trachea was made. According to the direction of added airflow during expiratory phase, the animal models were classified into three groups: Model A, the control group, without any added airflow; Model B, airflow opposite to the direction of ventilation was added; Model C, airflow of the same direction was added. The results showed: 1. Model B, with its CO2 elimination (Vco2) increased significantly (P < 0.01) and PaCO2 decreased significantly (P < 0.01), was preferable to Model A. This might be due to the reduction of dead space. 2. Model C, although there was slightly reduced anatomical and physiological dead space as compared with model A, showed worse ventilation effects. The mechanism was probably related to increase in PEEP (from 0.20 +/- 0.10 to 0.59 +/- 0.08 kPa) and FRC (from 433 +/- 59 to 504 +/- 7.0 ml). It is suggested that high frequency two-way jet ventilation is preferable for the treatment of inhalation injury with type 1 respiratory failure rather than high frequency ventilation with PEEP.

[A study of human keloid with electron spin resonance]

Electron spin resonance (ESR) was used to examine human keloid, normal connective tissue and skin. The results showed that more oxygen free radicals were identified in keloid, less in normal connective tissue while no free radicals were found in skin. The author discussed the significance of the occurrence of oxygen free radicals and its relation with keloid and suggested that reduction or elimination of production of oxygen free radicals by its scavenger may be of help in preventing the excessive growth of scar tissue.

Dynamic grasp planning of multifingered robot hands based on asymptotic stability

We describe an approach for planning grasps of multifingered robot hands based on a small vibration model. Using features of the grasp configuration, we analyze asymptotic stability, contact situations, and uniaxial fingertip force constraints for the combined planning of finger posture and finger position, and characterize the generalized mass, damping, and stiffness. Choosing the largest time constant of the vibration model as an optimization criterion for planning finger postures and positions, the original problem of dynamic grasp planning is formulated as a nonlinear program. Simulation examples for a three-fingered robot hand grasping a spherical object demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

[The change in tissue oxygenation after severe steam inhalation injury]

Tissue oxygenation was observed in dogs inflicted with steam inhalation injury in this study. Main findings were as follows: there was significant decrease in cardiac output (CO), oxygen delivery (DO2), alveolar oxygen partial pressure (PAO2), arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2), mixed venous oxygen partial pressure (PVO2), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), mixed venous oxygen saturation (SVO2), and pH (P < 0.01), and marked increase in P(A-a)O2, oxygen extraction ratio (ERO2), and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). However there was no obvious change in oxygen consumption rate (VO2) within four hours after inhalation injury. The results indicated that the tissue hypoxia was caused directly by insufficient blood perfusion and oxygen supply as well.

[The investigation on actinomycete population and resources in some areas in Yunnan. IX. The actinomycetes in the west and the northeast of Yunnan]

Two hundred of soil samples of primeval forest, secondary forest, wasteland, nonirrigated farmland, vegetable farmland and paddy farmland were collected from both the west and the northeast of Yunnan in February, 1989. The actinomycetes in the samples were isolated and identified by various methods. This paper discussed the actinomycete population and its difference in the both areas of Yunnan.

Optimal design of a six-bar linkage with one degree of freedom for an anthropomorphic three-jointed finger mechanism

This research concerns the design of a three-jointed, anthropomorphic, finger mechanism for use as a prosthesis or robotic end-effector. Based on a study of finger configurations for the human hand, a six-bar linkage with one degree of freedom is proposed. A model of the fingertip displacement of the mechanism is derived by a vector analysis approach. The effects of joint friction on the transmission efficiency are analysed. By measuring the joint positions of a human finger, a mathematical model of the pinching and holding configurations are developed. Optimal parameters for the finger mechanism are obtained by non-linear programming based on an objective functional involving motion posture and locus, transmission efficiency and weight subject to geometric and bionic constraints. Simulation results indicate that the mechanism is useful for a variety of prosthetic and robotic applications.

Cavitation threshold with respect to dP/dt: evaluation in 29 mm bileaflet, pyrolitic carbon heart valves

A total of 15 bileaflet mechanical heart valves were studied in a pulse duplicator at the Helmholtz Institute (Aachen, Germany) under conditions approximating first, a physiological pressure curve and subsequently, a sinusoidal pressure curve. In this study Edwards-Duromedics valves of the modified specification were compared with the earlier version of the Edwards-Duromedics valve as well as with St. Jude Medical valves. Each valve was tested at a series of nine (9) conditions. At each condition, without altering the valve installation or the systemic conditions, each valve was filmed by two separate video systems: the Helmholtz Institute strobe light system and a high speed video recording system. All data, as recorded by each system, was then independently analyzed by both of the two contributing groups and subsequently compared. In this manner, it was possible to objectively verify not only the consistency of the data obtained, but to also determine the relative reliability of the methods for cavitation threshold detection.

Use of sibling data to estimate family mortality effects in Guatemala

This paper examines the potential bias in estimates of child mortality determinants produced by the questionable assumption that sibling data are independent, and estimates the unmeasured familial effects shared among siblings. The parameter estimates yielded by the multivariate hazard model are very similar to those yielded by the standard hazard model. The standard errors of the parameter estimates, however, tend to be underestimated in conventional analyses. The contribution to child mortality from the familial factors seems modest net of household socioeconomic status, at least in this Guatemalan data set.

Event-history analysis for left-truncated data

"This paper aims at providing a practical guidance for coping with social science event-history data that are left-truncated, especially when the length of exposure prior to observation is known. Only the case of single events is treated, although much of the discussion should be applicable to the case of repeated events, in which only the first spell is likely to be left-truncated. Marital dissolution data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) are used as an example...."

[A clinical research on mental disability of chronic schizophrenia. 202 cases report]

202 cases of chronic schizophrenia were investigated to determine the order of severity of mental disability. 112 cases were male and 90 cases were female. The average age of the cases was 51.7 +/- 3.4 years, the onset age of the disease was 22.9 +/- 6.9 years. In order to measure the severity, we worked out "Social Disability Screening Schedule for In-patients" (SDSS-I) based on "Social Disability Screening Schedule" offered by WHO. 202 cases were measured with SDSS-I, the results showed that 6 cases were slight, 22 cases were mild, 66 cases were severe and 108 cases were profound. Most part of the cases (86.7%) were severely and profoundly mentally disabled.

Clenbuterol, a beta 2-receptor agonist, reduces net bone loss in denervated hindlimbs

Clenbuterol treatment for several weeks prevented up to one-third of the reduction in mineralization of femurs and tibias caused by sectioning of the sciatic nerve in young rats. The normalizing effect of clenbuterol on bone mineral content was directly proportional to similar alterations in muscle mass, which in turn could be abolished by ablation of the triceps surae or hindlimb unweighting and reduced by hypophysectomy. In contrast to the effects of inactivity, ovariectomy caused small reductions (2-4%) in bone density that were not affected by clenbuterol and were not accompanied by changes in ash weight. Together, our results suggest that the ability of beta 2-agonists to retard the loss in net muscle mass and enhance contractile tension can oppose net bone loss caused by denervation. Increases in contractile tension caused by beta 2-agonists may enhance the utility of exercise or electrical stimulation as countermeasures for the effects of scoliosis, prolonged bed rest, spinal cord injury, or weightlessness in space on bone mass.

The use of new model life tables at very low mortality in population projections

"New model life tables have been calculated...modifying the regional model life tables by Coale, Demeny and Vaughan published in 1983.... The purpose of the present article is not to repeat the description of the construction of the tables but to provide a systematic procedure for their use in projecting mortality into the future in low-mortality populations. The new model life tables incorporate age patterns of mortality that conform quite closely to the patterns in the lowest mortality populations yet on record and present extrapolated schedules that include systematic extensions of recent changes in age-specific mortality rates."