Studies on Human Dietary Requirements and Safe Range of Dietary Intakes of Selenium in China and Their Application in the Prevention of Related Endemic Diseases

The human dietary selenium requirement in China has been estimated by various methods. The minimum dietary selenium requircment for the prevention of Keshan disease (KD) was found to be around 17 μg/d. On the other hand, an intake of 40 μg/d is required to maintain the plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity at plateau. Hence 40 μg/d is considered as the adequate dietary selenium requirement. Studies conducted in a chronic selenosis area indicate thai the toxic dietary selenlum inlake (adverse effect level), which would maintain the characteristic fingernail changes, was approximately 1600 μg/d. The mean value of dietary selenium intakes, which enabled the five patients to recover from fingernail lesions, was found to be 819 ±126μg/d. At a 95% confidence limit, the lower limit is around 600μg/d. Therefore, 600 and 400μg/d were suggested as the individual daily maximum safe selenium intake and the safe dietary selenium intake, respectively,The results were used in the prevention of Se-related endemic KD and Kashin-Beck disease (KBD)

Chemical endemic diseases and their impact on population in china

This paper deals with some endemic diseases related to selenium, iodine and fluoride in eco-environment. Keshan disease and Kaschin-Beck disease are associated with low selenium, they mainly occur in a belt zone across China ranging from North-East to South-West. Selenium contents in food grains and human hair from the disease affected areas are usually below 0.020ppm and 0.20ppm respectively. The endemic goitre caused by iodine deficiency distributes extensively in China, mainly in mountainous and hilly districts, swamp and peat areas, some sand soil and limestone areas. Also there is another kind of endemic goitre which caused by iodine excess in interior and coast areas. Endemic cretinism usually occurs in the endemic goitre seriously affected areas. Endemic fluorosis is also widely distributed in China, but mainly occurs in dry or semi-dry areas of north China. The fluoride sources for causing endemic fluorisis are drinking water and food grains polluted by coal smoke in the backing process of maize and chilli.

Predictors of complicated dengue infections in endemic region of Pakistan

Objective:To predict the factors associated with progression to severe dengue infection to prevent potentially fatal complications and to identify the determinants of severe complicated dengue.Methods:The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospitaldengue ward from September to November 2021 including confirmed dengue infected patients(positive NS1 antigen or antidengue-antibodies IgM).Secondary dengue infection was labelled by positive anti-dengue-antibodies IgG in active dengue infected patients.Detailed history,physical examination,laboratory and radiological parameters,hospital stay(days)and mortality percentages were noted.Patients were classified into three groups according to disease severity:dengue fever(DF),dengue hemorrhagic fever(DHF)and dengue shock syndrome(DSS).The predictors of complicated dengue infection were determined by regression analysis.Results:The most common symptom was fever(96.9%).Among 129 patients,62.8%had DF,31.0%had DHF and only 6.2%developed DSS.History of previous symptomatic dengue and positive anti-dengue-antibodies IgG were present in 100%DSS patients and nearly 75.0%DHF patients(P<0.05).The moratlity rate in patients with DSS,DHF and DF was 50.0%,2.5%and none respectively(P<0.05).Clinical parameters(body aches,bleeding,conjunctival hemorrhage,maculopapular rash,right hypochondrial tenderness,ascites,pleural effusion)and laboratory parameters(thrombocytopenia,raised alanine aminotransferase and secondary dengue infection)were determinants that complicate the dengue infection.Conclusions:Thrombocytopenia,raised alanine aminotransferase and secondary dengue infection are important laboratory parameters to complicate the disease process of dengue infection.

Environmental arsenic(As)and its potential relationship with endemic disease in southwestern China

Many cases of an unknown disease exhibiting the clinical features of limb gangrene,blisters,ulceration,and exfoliation have been reported in Daping village(DV)in southwestern China.However,the pathogenesis is unknown and has puzzled doctors for many years.A preliminary study on heavy metals and symptoms indicated that arsenic might pose the greatest threat to the health of local residents.Here,to explore the sources of and factors influencing arsenic enrichment in DV,whose residents exhibit signs of arsenic poisoning,the As contents in soil,water,and plants were systematically measured.The results indicated high As contents in plant and soil samples obtained from the area,and the source of As may be linked to the weathering of black shale rock.Ingestion of soil and consumption of plants were the two main As exposure pathways among children and adults,respectively,and children exhibited a higher health risk than adults.We presume and emphasize that when extreme drought events occur,humans might face unusual risks resulting from exposure to toxic elements and the direct consumption of highly polluted water.Our study provides a new perspective and sheds light on the environmental geochemistry and health links of this disease.

A study on "selenium-health" database in China

A database for 'Se and health' has been established using DATA-TRIEVE data management system on a VAX-11/780 computer. Over 5000 pieces of information including 300 kinds of samples from 28 provinces in China were stored. The information relates to endemk diseases such as Keshan disease, Kaschin-Beck disease, Se-poison disease, cancers, heart disease and so on. The database can be accessed through keywords: samples, province, county, analytical method and the Se-content values can be obtained in tabulated form. The output includes primary statistics of the retrieved data sets. A multi-variable statistic program package featuring in pattern recognition is attached to the system.

Studies on exposure status of inhabitants to water-arsenic valence states in areas with endemic arsenism in the Datong basin in Shanxi

This study aimed to describe the distribution of water-arsenic(As)valence states and its relationship to areas with endemic arsenism in the Datong basin.Drinking water samples of patients with endemic arsenism and a control group were examined using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry(HG-AFS).We analyzed the data using SPSS10.0 for Windows.The As(III)/As ratio was 52.1%in the water sample,exceeding the national standard of 0.05 mg/L.The As(III)/As ratio significantly varied among the different stages in the disease-state groups,and with the control group(χ^(2)=22.4,P<0.01).The As(III)/As(V)ratio significantly varied in the four groups(χ^(2)=26.19,P<0.01),with a tendency to increase along with the seriousness of the disease state.The most common type of drinking water arsenic valence state was As(III)in the endemic diseaseareas.Endemic arsenism was positively correlated with As(III).This led us to conclude that the fraction of each water-arsenic valence state should be studied when determining the arsenic content of drinking water.

The dengue preface to endemic in China's Mainland:the historical largest outbreak by Aedes albopictus in Guangzhou,2014

Background:Dengue was regarded as a mild epidemic in China's Mainland transmitted by Aedes albopictus.However,the 2014 record-breaking outbreak in Guangzhou could change the situation.In order to provide an early warning of epidemic trends and provide evidence for prevention and control strategies,we seek to characterize the 2014 outbreak through application of detailed cases and entomological data,as well as phylogenetic analysis of viral envelope(E)gene.Methods:We used case survey data identified through the Notifiable Infectious Disease Report System,entomological surveillance and population serosurvey,along with laboratory testing for IgM/IgG,NS1,and isolation of viral samples followed by E gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis to examine the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of the outbreak.Results:The 2014 dengue outbreak in Guangzhou accounted for nearly 80%of total reported cases that year in China's Mainland;a total of 37,376 cases including 37,340 indigenous cases with incidence rate 2908.3 per million and 36 imported cases were reported in Guangzhou,with 14,055 hospitalized and 5 deaths.The epidemic lasted for 193 days from June 11 to December 21,with the highest incidence observed in domestic workers,the unemployed and retirees.The inapparent infection rate was 18.00%(135/750).In total,96 dengue virus 1(DENV-1)and 11 dengue virus 2(DENV-2)strains were isolated.Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the DENV-1 strains were divided into genotype I and V,similar to the strains isolated in Guangzhou and Dongguan in 2013.The DENV-2 strains isolated were similar to those imported from Thailand on May 11 in 2014 and that imported from Indonesia in 2012.Conclusions:The 2014 dengue epidemic was confirmed to be the first co-circulation of DENV-1 and DENV-2 in Guangzhou.The DENV-1 strain was endemic,while the DENV-2 strain was imported,being efficiently transmitted by the Aedes albopictus vector species at levels as high as Aedes aegypti.

The year 2020,a milestone in breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and illness in China

Marking the end of the five-year programme initiated by the Chinese Government to lift more than 70 million people out of poverty,the year 2020 is a milestone.Poverty alleviation has moved strongly forward in China and the major health indicators are now better than the average of all middle-and high-income countries.However,the dual burden of infectious and chronic diseases remains a challenge with respect to achieving the health target in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development goals(SDGs).In 2015,about 44%of the poor population in China were impoverished by illness but already in 2018,multi-sectoral actions delivered by the Health-related Poverty Alleviation programme had reduced the number almost by half.In the past three years 15 million poor people(98%of the poor population)with infectious and chronic diseases had been treated and taken care of thanks to financial support through multiple health insurance schemes and other governmental subsidies.This article discusses the lessons learnt with regard to health-related poverty alleviation in China with special reference to those still remaining impoverished by illness.Consolidation of the achievements reached and provision of basic needs to those still disadvantaged and in poor health will require a major improvement of accessibility to,and affordability of,health services.The next step towards enhanced productivity and better living conditions will involve upgrading of the capacity of health professionals in the poor regions,promotion of coherent efforts in health-related poverty alleviation and rural revitalization measures.As an additional measure,data monitoring and research on health poverty alleviation should be strengthened as they are essential to generate the evidence and knowledge needed to support the move in the direction envisioned by the SDGs,and the new Healthy China 2030 programme.

Case Report:A case study of imported pulmonary coccidioidomycosis

Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic disease of the Western hemisphere.The cases in non-endemic areas are mostly imported.Determining a history of exposure is critical for performing the diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis,especially for cases occurring in a non-endemic area.In this study,a 71-year-old Chinese male presented to our hospital with chronic cough and malaise,and was found to have a mass in the middle lobe of right lung.He had been visiting Arizona,USA for four months before admission.Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis was confirmed by the results of histopathological examination after lobectomy.Typical microscopic features of Coccidioides are definitely diagnostic,but need be differentiated from other budding yeast infection or carcinoma histopathologically.