Circumferential waves on an immersed, fluid-filled elastic cylindrical shell

The existence of various types of circumferential waves, both predominantly shell or fluid borne, and the repulsion of their dispersion curves is discussed here for an infinite, thin elastic, circular-cylindrical shell immersed in a fluid and filled with another fluid. The study is based on an analytic calculation of the partial-wave resonances in the acoustic scattering amplitude of a normally incident plane wave. A large number of cases of repulsion are found in the phase-velocity dispersion curves of the various types of circumferential waves due to the shell-fluid coupling.

20-item neonatal behavioral neurological assessment used in predicting prognosis of asphyxiated newborn

From January 1989 to June 1990, 13 institutions in our country studied jointly the application of a 20-item neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) in asphyxiated babies. Of 145 cases, 125 were followed up to 1-2 years of age. The results showed that in predicting prognosis, the sensitivity and specificity of NBNA score at 7 days after birth were 88.9% and 82.6% and 12-14 days, 84.6% and 97.4% respectively. Its value in predicting prognosis is superior to Sarnat degree, cranial CT and B ultrasound. This method is practical, economical and reliable. It is worth popularizing.

Prevalence of growth hormone deficiency of children in Beijing

103,753 (male 51,994, female 51,759) primary and middle school students aged 6-15 years in two districts in Beijing city were surveyed from October 1987 to April 1989. The heights of the students were measured. According to the height standard of northern cities in China, 202 students with heights below the 3rd percentile for age were requested for detailed history, physical examination, screening GH test bone age, T4, SGPT, chest X-ray, routine urine test and sex chromatin (in female). If GH less than 10 micrograms/L, two provocative tests (L-dopa or clonidine and insulin hypoglycaemia test) were done. Then the heights of the short students were observed for 1/2-2 years. GHD was diagnosed in 12 cases based on the GH peak levels less than 10 micrograms/L in two provocative tests, whose growth velocity was slower than that for students of the same age and sex. Of these subjects with GHD, total GHD (GH less than 5 micrograms/L) was present in 7 and partial GHD (GH = 5-9.9 micrograms/L) in 5. The 12 GHD students (male 9, female 3) aged 8.9-15.7 years accounted for 1/8,646 in the total surveyed students. The male and female GHD accounted for 1/5,777 and 1/17,253 in the total males and females respectively.

Twenty-item behavioral neurological assessment for normal newborns in 12 cities of China

Based on the method of Brazelton and Amiel-Tison for behavioral neurological measurement in the newborn and our own experience, we formulated a 20-item neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA). For setting up a practical method and a normal range of its scores in China, we examined 714 normal newborns (male 369, female 345), with NBNA at the age of 2-3, 12-14, 26-28 days for a total of 2,142 times, in 12 provinces of China from May to October 1988. NBNA contains 5 clusters: behavior (6 items); passive tone (4 items); active tone (4 items); primary reflexes (3 items); and general assessment (3 items). Each item has 3 scales (0,1,2). Twenty items have a maximum of 40 scores. Among the 2,142 times examined, 90.4% of the 714 newborns had 39-40 scores, 97% greater than 37 and none below 35. Measurements of the first, second and third time revealed that the total scores increased with age. The difference was statistically significant. The abilities of auditory and visual orientations and active neck tone improved obviously with age. NBNA shows distinct stability and reliability. The score is not influenced by geographic location; the scoring system is simple and the manipulation takes only ten minutes.

Treatment of growth hormone deficient patients with recombinant somatropin for 1 year: results of a Chinese multicentre trial

Fifty-nine patients with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency were included in a Chinese multicentre trial of recombinant somatropin, 0.5-0.7 IU/kg/week s.c. given in six or seven divided doses. The height velocity increased from 2.8 +/- 1.0 cm/year to 13.1 +/- 2.5 cm/year during 1 year of treatment, and typical catch-up growth was observed. The increase in height SDS for chronological age was significant, but the increase in height SDS for bone age was not statistically significant. No adverse reactions to the treatment were recorded. Recombinant somatropin was shown to be very effective and safe during the first year of therapy in patients with growth hormone deficiency.

Clinical trial with somatonorm in idiopathic growth hormone deficiency in children

This article reports the efficacy and safety of treatment with Somatonorm in 9 children with idiopathic growth hormone (GH) deficiency in China. The growth velocity increased from 2.6 +/- 0.2 cm/year before treatment to 10.7 +/- 0.5 cm/year at the end of 1-year treatment. The increment of human growth hormone (hGH) level and area under the response curve above the baseline level were larger after one injection of Somatonorm at the dose of 0.1 IU/kg sc than that of 0.17 IU/kg im. Increments of delayed bone age were not significant. There was no correlation between the increase of height growth velocities and the serum Somatomedin-C (SMC) levels during hGH therapy (r = -0.055). Blood sugar levels and blood alkaline phosphatase concentrations increased significantly after therapy. There were no significant side effects. Serum T4 levels of 3 patients dropped below normal after treatment. Serum anti-hGH antibody appeared at 3-12 month in 2 patients, but it did not attenuate the growth velocity.