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Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the application of condensed Chinese version of the MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) in assessment of quality of life among adult patients with Kashin-Beck disease,and to provide a scientific basis in rehabilitation of the patients.Methods Four hundred and twenty seven eases of adult patients with Kashin-Back disease and 419 healthy individuals randomly selected in Kashin-Beck disease endemic areas in 8 counties of Gansu province were surveyed with the SF-36.The reliability of the SF-36 was assessed by split-half reliability and Cronbach's α coefficient and the validity through principal component factor analysis and correlation analysis,etc.The dimension scores of different people were obtained by analysis of variance and univariate t-test.Results The split-half reliability of all the 8 dimensions was greater than 0.6 and the Cronbach's α coefficient was greater than 0.8; the pearson correlate coefficients of all the items to their dimensions were greater than 0.391.SF-36 contained 8 domains and 2 summary scales in the factor analysis.The score differences of quality of life in different ages of the patients,different stages of the disease were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The SF-36 is practical in studying the quality of life among adult patients with Kashin-Beck Disease.
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Objective To understand distribution of the endemic fluorosis areas and running status of water-improving defuoridation projects in Gausu province. Methods In 2006, Gansu province endemic fluorosis areas, the content of fluoride in drinking water was measured in villages where water was not improved, running status of delluoridation projects was investigated and the content of fluoride in drinking water were determined in villages where water was improved. Dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis prevalence were examined in children in identified high-fluorlde villages. The fluorine content in drinking water was determined by F-ion selective electrode, dental fluorosis of children was diagnosed using Dean method, and adults skeletal fluorosis was diagnosed according to "National Standard for Clinical Diagnosis of Endemic Skeletal Fhiorosis" (GB 16396-1996). Results Water samples were examined in 1997 villages of 26 countries, among which water fluoride content was higher than 1.0 mg/L in 598 villages, accounting for 29.94%(598/1997). All 1215 water-improving and defluoridation projects had been investigated, among which 94.90%(1153/1215) of the projects were functioning well, and intermittent and abandoned projects accounted for 2.96%(36/1215) and 2.14%(26/1215). Mean fluoride of treated water of 1084 water-improving and defluoridation projects had water fluoride content ≤ 1.0 mg/L, accounted for 90.79%(1084/1194) ; mean fluoride of water from 1068 water-improving and defluoridation projects had water fuoride content ≤ 1.0 mg/L, accounting for 91.75%(1068/1164). Total 86 390 children of 8 to 12 year-old were examined, the detectable rate of dental fluorosis was 22.47%(19 414/86 390) and 142 211 adults above 16 year-old were examined, the detectable rate of skeletal fluorosis was 4.20%(5967/142 211). Conclusions Some villages yet have water fluoride content exceeding the standard. Some projects are abandoned and running badly, leading to fluoride content exceeding the standard. In a few areas, the prevalence of children dental fluorosis and adult skeletal fluorosis still exists in Gansu province, the task of prevention and control for endemic fluorosis is still arduous. We must raise the effect of prevention and treatment of this disease.
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Objective To investigate the distribution of water fluoride and the present status of water-improving defuoridation projects in the endmie fluorosis areas in Gansu Province in 2006. Methods The content of fluoride in drinking water in 18 endemic disease counties was screened, and the defluoridation projects built after the 1980s were supervised and inspected. The content of fluoride in drinking water was assessed by F-ion selective electrode. Results Fluoride content was determined in water of 6260 sources in 1252 fluorosis villages in 18 counties, with 63.50% (3975/6260)≤1.0 mg/L and 36.50%(2285/6260)>1.0 mg/L. Nine hundred and ninty-seven water-improving and clefluoridation projects had been investigated in 16 counties, among which 95.49% (952/997) were function well, and projects intermittently running or abandoned respectively accounted for 3.11% (31/997) and 1.40%(14/997). Nine hundred and eighty-three sources of water treated by the water-improving and defluoridation projects had been determined for fluoride content, it turned out that 91.76% (902/983) were within the standard, only 8.24% (81/983) were not; as for outlet and leftover water of 934 water-improving and defluoridatian projects determined for water fluoride content, qualified projects accounted for 92.08% (860/934) and 91.97%(859/934), leaving 7.92%(74/934) and 8.03%(75/934) disqualified, respectively. Water-improving and defluoridation projects mostly relied on drilling a well in gaining under-ground water or collecting surface-ground water, so under-ground water and surface-ground water are the majority. Conclusions Water fluoride content exceeds the standard in some of the villages. A few projects do not function well. Fluorosis damage still exists in Gansu Province, therefore countermeasures for endemic fluorosis must be carried out as promptly as possible and surveillance on water-improving and defluoridation projects must be strengthened and managed.
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Objective To investigate the prevalence of endemic fluorosis and the progress acchieved through control measures in Taian County of Gansu Province so as to provide basis and technique support for endemic fluorosis control. Methods The survey was carried out according to the National Surveillance Scheme of Endemic Fluorosis. Fulfillment of control measures and the quality of water improving projects were surveyed. Samples of household water and urine in children aged 8-12 years were collected and fluoride content was detected by iron selective electrode method. Children's dental fluorosis were examined with Dean method. Results In Qinan County, water was improved in a rate of 100%. In water-improving and defluoridation projects investigated, 81.15% (99/122) projects worked well, 18.85% (23/122) projects were closed or abandoned. The number of water improvement projects monitored were 24,81,9,8,respectively in the year through 2004 to 2007, revealing 13 projects having water fluorine content(>1.0-2.0 mg/L) in 2004, 15 and 5 projects having water fluorine content higher that 1.0-2.0 and 2.0-4.0 mg/L respectively in 2005, 2 projects having water fluorine content(>1.0-2.0 mg/L) in 2006, and no projects above 4.0 mg/L. In Anfu Village, the fluorine content of source and drinking water were all below 1.0 mg/L in 2006 and 2007. The urinary fluoride content of 8-12 years old children was equal and higher than 1.5 mg/L, dental fluorosis rate was 34.47% (354/1027), and dental fluorosis index was 0.65 in 2004-2007. Conclusions Projects running out of status and excessive levels of water fluorine are frequently seen, dental fluorosis is not controlled in Taian County of Gansu Province
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0.05).However,there were significant differences in retinal sensitivity among the other abnormalities(P