Effect of Positional Changes on Skin Landmarks in Midface Filling.

BACKGROUND: The design lines for midfacial filling shift upward with a patient's position changes from upright to supine during operation. This will cause the actual filled part to deviate from the target area. OBJECTIVES: This authors aimed to evaluate the effect of positional changes on midfacial landmarks and find the optimal body position for midface filling. METHODS: The process involved the grading and evaluation stages. The midfacial laxity of each sample in the evaluation stage was graded into minimal, moderate, and severe by the system established in the grading stage. Measured through the 3-dimensional images in each grade, the vertical distances from landmarks C, D, and E (representing the region of the tear trough, infraorbital area, and nasolabial fat pad, respectively) to the horizontal line of the inner canthus and depth of nasolabial fold at an angle of 90° were separately compared with those from the other angles (60°, 45°, 30°, and 0°) of the operating table. RESULTS: In the minimal midfacial laxity group, all 3 landmarks significantly moved upward when the angle decreased to 30°. However, landmark E of the moderate and severe and landmark D of the severe midfacial laxity groups both significantly moved upward when the angle decreased to 45°. The depth of the nasolabial fold at a 45° angle was significantly less than that at a 90° angle in the moderate and severe groups. CONCLUSIONS: In midface filling, a patient's body position should be optimally selected according to the midfacial laxity and filling area.

Population health risk via dietary exposure to trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) in Qiqihar, Northeastern China.

The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of six trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) in vegetables (leafy vegetable, i.e., bok choy, fruit vegetables, i.e., cucumber and tomato, and other categories, i.e., mushroom, kidney bean, and potato), cereals (rice and wheat flour), and meats (pork, mutton, and beef) most commonly consumed by adult inhabitants of Qiqihar, Northeastern China, were determined to assess the health status of local people. The average EDIs of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As were with 20.77 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1 of Cu, 288 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1 of Zn, 2.01 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1 of Pb, 0.41 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1 of Cd, 0.01 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1 of Hg, and 0.52 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1 of As, respectively, which are below the daily allowance recommended by FAO/WHO. However, the maximum EDIs of Pb and Cd were 4.56 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1 and 1.68 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1, respectively, which are above the recommended levels [i.e., 3.58 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1 for Pb and 1.0 µg (kg bw)-1 day-1 for Cd] by FAO/WHO. This finding indicates that the potential health risk induced by daily ingestion of Pb and Cd for the local residents should receive a significant concern. Similarly, we detected elevated Pb and Cd concentrations, i.e., with average of 13.58 and 0.60 mg kg-1 dw, respectively, in the adult scalp hairs. Consumption of rice, potato, bok choy, and wheat flour contributed to 75 and 82% of Pb and Cd daily intake from foodstuffs. Nevertheless, human scalp hair is inappropriate biological material for determination of the nutritional status of trace elements in this region.

Lead in the Red-Crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) in Zhalong Wetland, Northeastern China: A Report.

The dietary uptake of Cd and Pb may contribute to the decline of migratory red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) on the Asian mainland. To uncover the relevance of this hypothesis, we determined the concentrations of Pb and Cd as well as further macro and trace elements (Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Hg and As) in the gastric contents, gastric wall, intestinal wall, liver, kidney, muscle, and feathers of two individuals found dead in Zhalong Wetland in Northeastern China. Indeed, the Pb concentrations in the liver and kidney tissues was with 31.4 and 60.3 mg kg(-1) dry weight (dw), respectively, above concentrations considered as potentially toxic level in common birds (i.e. 30 mg kg(-1)). These Pb concentration may have possibly been associated with lethal toxicosis in this endangered species suggesting Pb as major threat for G. japonensis populations. Thus, the inputs of Pb into Zhalong Wetland should be reduced to maintain and reestablish environmental conditions supporting the population development of these migratory red-crowned cranes in the Zhalong Wetland, a critical crane habitat for the long-term sustainability of this species.

Characterization of heavy metal contamination in the habitat of red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) in Zhalong Wetland, northeastern China.

Heavy metal enrichment in the prey of red-crowned cranes in Zhalong Wetland, northeastern China was researched. Lead and Cd were the most abundant elements in the sediments; their concentrations ranged from 9.85 to 127 ppm and from 1.23 to 10.6 ppm, respectively. Six aquatic animal taxa contained detectable levels of heavy metals, in the decreasing order of Cyprinidae > Cobitidae > Dytiscidae > Odontobutidae > Viviparidae > Aeshnidae. Metal concentrations in these taxa followed the order: Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Hg > Cd. Metals in tissues of the red-crowned crane varied in the following order: Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Cd > Hg in feathers, and Zn > Cu > Hg > Cr > Pb > Cd in eggshells. Cadmium concentrations in the feathers of the red-crowned crane exceeded a level considered to be potentially toxic in birds (i.e., 0.22 ppm), ranging from 1.42 to 3.06 ppm.

Dietary exposure of the red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) to total and methyl mercury in Zhalong Wetland, northeastern China.

To determine the dietary exposure of the migratory red-crowned crane to mercury (Hg), this study analyzed the concentrations of total mercury (T-Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) in its prey, i.e., reeds and three aquatic animal families (Perccottus glenni Dybowski, Cybister japonicus Sharp, and Viviparidae) in northeastern China. Results indicated that the Hg concentration in Zhalong Wetland was elevated through the food chain, and the prey of the red-crowned crane contained measurable levels of T-Hg and MeHg. In prey tissues, MeHg was the main form of the Hg element and accounted for 61% of total Hg concentration in Viviparidae, 58% in C. japonicus Sharp, and 85% in P. glenni Dybowski. The highest T-Hg and MeHg concentrations ranged from 1.66 to 3.89 ppm and from 1.12 to 2.67 ppm, respectively, and they were detected in the feathers of the red-crowned cranes. The lowest T-Hg concentration was determined in the excretions of wild red-crowned cranes at 0.21 ppm; furthermore, the content of MeHg was below the detection limit. In Zhalong Wetland, the level of dietary exposure of the population of red-crowned cranes to Hg is below the threshold of Hg toxicity. Moreover, eggshells are suitable indicators of Hg risk levels to the red-crowned crane.

[Micro-scale soil characteristics in salinization area of Songnen plain].

The study by the methods of in situ observation and laboratory analysis showed that the micro-relief in salinization area of Songnen Plain area was composed of flat land, micro-slope land, depression margin, and depression. Isohumusols distributed in depression, while alkalic halosols distributed in depression margin, micro-slope land, and flat land. The exchangeable sodium percent (ESP) in alkalized layer (15-30 cm) of alkaline soil in flat land was 60%, and the maximal ESP in surface soil layer in micro-slope land could reach to 75%. The alkalized soil layer in depression margin was mainly at the depth of 10-30 cm, where the maximal ESP could reach to 30% -40%. Nearly no alkalized layer was found in the soil profile in depression. The soils developed on the four micro-relief units had obvious differences in their water retention curves. The maximal saturation moisture content in the soils of micro-slope land was only 25%, while that of 0-10 cm soil layer in depression reached to 45%. The freezing-thawing process in different micro-relief units differed markedly, with the maximal frozen depth in micro-slope land and depression being 157 and 136 cm, respectively. The surface soil moisture content in depression increased from 20% before freezing to 50% during freezing period. Among the four micro-relief units, micro-slope land had the most obvious variation of surface soil salt content during freezing-thawing, with the increment after thawing being as high as 80%.