Investigation and analysis of trace element levels in children with osteomalacia malformation from endemic fluorosis area in Shuicheng, Guizhou / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To investigate the levels of trace elements such as fluorine(F), and aluminium (Al)etc. of osteomalacia malformation children and to make etiological diagnosis in reference with clinical manifestations.Methods Urine and occipitalia hairs of 14 diseased children(patient group) from endemic fluorosis area and 13 healthy children(control group) from non-endemic area were included in the study on November, 2008, and contents of 10 elements of fluorine(F), aluminum(Al), chromium(Cr), manganese(Mn), ferrum(Fe), cuprum(Cu), zinc(Zn), arsenic (As), selenium(Se), strontium(Sr), and barium(Ba) were tested. The data were analyzed with medical soft package PEMS 3.1. Results Urinary contents of F, Al, Mn, Cu, Sr, and Se(1.18 mg/L, 112.6 μg/L,6.62,29.86 mg/L, 177.5,4.23 ng/L) in patient group were significantly different from those in control group (0.48,47.1,2.04,16.61 mg/L, 55.17,15.52 ng/L, t = 4.592,2.486,4.850,2.210 2.078,2.912, all P＜ 0.05); Hair contents of Al, Mn, As, Sr, Ba, Fe, and Se in patient group(59.27,5.26,0.96,1.50,1.29,297.13,0.45 mg/kg)were significantly different from those of control group( 18.69,0.72,1.09,0.62,0.68,69.02,1.323 mg/kg, t = 4.583,6.318,3.309,2.704,5.606,6.294, all P ＜ 0.05); in patient group, the correlation coefficients of urinary Fe to Al,Zn, As, and Se were all bigger tan 0.662(all P＜ 0.05), those of urinary Se to Mn, Ba, Cu, Zn, Sr, and As were all bigger than 0.694(all P＜ 0.05), those among urinary Mn, Sr, As, and Ba were bigger than 0.550(all P＜0.05), those of hair Al to Mn, Cr, Fe, and Cu were bigger than 0.732(all P＜ 0.05), those of hair Ba to Mn,Cr, Fe, and Sr, and of hair Mn to Cr and Fe, and those between Cr and As, between Cu and Sr were all bigger than 0.686 (all P ＜ 0.05). In control group, the correlation coefficients of urinary Cu to Zn, Se, and Ba, those of Zn to Se and Ba, and those of Cr to Mn and Ba were all bigger than 0.516(all P ＜ 0.05), those of hair Al to Mn,Fe, Cu, As, and Se, and those of hair Se to Fe, Cu, and As, those of hair Fe to Mn, Cu, and As, those of hair Cu to Zn and As, and that between Zn and As were bigger than 0.739(all P ＜ 0.05). The correlation coefficient of urinary F to Se in patient group(0.762) was significantly different from that in control group( - 0.469, u = 2.079,P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The burden of F and Al of osteomalacia malformation children in endemic fluorosis area of Shuicheng county is too high. The contents of multi-elements in urine and hairs and their correlation are coincident with high levels of Al and F and they cause network increase of multi-element content changes and their correlation. According to bone X-ray features combining with the living environment, the diagnosis of endemic Al-F fluorosis can be made. The biological significance of reducing urinary and hair Se levels and the correlations of F and Al need to be further studied.

Effects of top pruning on fruiting characters of Platycodon grandiflorum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of top pruning on fruiting characters of Platycodon grandiflorum, and find the suitable stage, in which seed growth and development furtherly.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>One-year old seedlings were chosen and planted in field. Plant height, branching number, fruit number per plant, 1000 grains weight were measured during growth and development period, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The treatment of top pruning postponed in turn the flowering date, lowered the plant heights and the fruit number per plant, increased the branching number and influenced significantly on 1000 grains weights.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The suitable stage of top pruning for producing seeds was from June 20th to July 5th.</p>

The relations between dental fluorosis and economic status in Shuicheng, a fluorosis-endemic County in Guizhou province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the relations of dental fluorosis and the social economic status in fluorosis-stricken villages where drying the corn by burning coal was prevail.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 6 fluorosis-endemic villages and one non-endemic village were involved in the study. The general fluorine intake and the concentrations of fluorine in corn, in the pupils' were tested. Dental fluorosis among the pupils was also examen. A individual interview or household questionnaire survey was conducted to probe the economic condition and staple food structure in 600 adults.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fluorosis prevalence was lower in the villages of transportation convenience, higher income, less coal-dried corn intake. There was a declining trend of dental fluorosis in the corresponding age groups (r: 0.912, 0.916; P < 0.05); There was no significant changes in age-specified dental fluorosis in the low income villages. The correlation (r) of corn fluorine concentration and student's age-specified dental fluorosis prevalence and disparity was 0.755 - 0.980 (P < 0.05) and 0.302 - 0.811; The urine fluorine concentrations were 0.811 and 0.915 (P < 0.05). It was assumed that there was a negative correlation between family cash income and the dental fluorosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The corn fluorine concentration is closely related to age-specified dental fluorosis. With the economic improvement, taking less coal-burned corn is the one of major factors in reducing the of dental fluorosis in these areas.</p>