Socioeconomic status dependent medical complexities in children with sickle cell disease in Saudi Arabia

A look into the associations of socioeconomic status (SES) with prevalence of various complications in sickle cell disease (SCD) is necessary, for an improvement of societal norms, governmental health policies and strategies. We therefore studied the influence of SES indices on certain hematological and clinical parameters in children with SCD in Saudi Arabia. We included 32 female and 33 male patients aged 5–16 years, who were classified based upon their family income. Family monthly income was divided into 4 categories from lowest to highest, with socioeconomic class1 having low earnings of <5000 SAR; the middle income class divided further into class 2 with earnings >5000–10,000 SAR, and class 3 with earnings >10,000–15,000 SAR; and the higher income class 4 with earnings of >15,000 SAR. The assessment indices used were, the frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), adverse events, and hematological parameters. A higher percentage of children affected with the disease were from class1, which is the low socio-economic class. It was found that the percentage of frequency of VOC pain crisis, and adverse events was higher in social class 1 patients than in the classes 2, 3, and 4. Also, the age group 5–10 years appeared more susceptible to adverse events and VOC. Our findings suggest the need to conduct future larger studies, to deduce the modifying influence of disparity in SES on certain clinical and hematological indices in children with SCD.     

Nutrients and antinutrient constituents of Amaranthus caudatus L. Cultivated on different soils

This study investigated variations in the concentration of nutrients, antinutrients and mineral content of Amaranthus caudatus harvested from different soil types at various stages of maturity. Four out the five soils namely; sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, clayey loam and loam were experimentally formulated from primary particles of silt, clay and sand in line with the United State Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) soil triangle protocol. The unfractionated soil was used as the control. After harvesting at pre-flowering (61 days after planting), flowering (71 days after planting) and post-flowering (91 days after planting) stages, nutrient and antinutrient analyses were carried out following Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and other referenced methods while the Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometer was used to determine mineral compositions of the plant samples. The results of the study revealed that particle size and physicochemical properties of the soil influenced the number of minerals deposited in plant tissues. It was further observed that the nutritional properties of the plant change as plant ages. For an optimal yield of vitamins A and E, clayey loam proved to be the best soil particularly when A. caudatus is harvested before flowering but for vitamin C, sandy clayey loam yielded the highest output at the same stage. Similarly, clayey loam and loam soils yielded the highest proximate compositions at flowering and pre-flowering; however, mineral elements (micro and macro) were highest in control and loam soils.     

2004-2016年贵州省石漠化状况及动态演变特征

石漠化是制约我国西南地区社会、经济、生态发展的重要因素之一,及时监测评估其演变状况,对区域石漠化防治及生态环境建设具有重要科学意义。选取2004-2016年间4期TM影像,研究贵州省域尺度上、石漠化时空演变特征和未来发展趋势。结果显示：1）2004-2016年间,贵州省78.3%的区域植被覆盖度上升,平均增加了19.1%,达到63.4%,有55.4%的区域岩石裸露率下降;2）贵州省石漠化空间分布呈现从东北到西南渐次加重的特征,西部毕节市中、重度石漠化面积占该区域面积仍达62.0%-86.4%,而东部黔东南州约为18.4%-33.0%;3）2004-2016年间,贵州省石漠化状况呈现总体持续好转态势,以轻、中度石漠化转入为主体的无石漠化面积增加了1.1倍,轻度石漠化增加了20.0%左右,中度和重度石漠化面积分别减少了40.0%左右;4）截止到2016年,贵州省无石漠化、轻、中、重度石漠化区域分别占比约42.0%、24.1%、23.5%、10.4%;5）未来2020年及2024年,贵州省石漠化仍将持续改善,石漠化面积占比将分别减少8.9%和12.2%。过去十多年间,贵州省石漠化状况得到基本遏制,但局部区域仍存在高度的不稳定性,或趋于恶化的风险,未来在各类政策措施的支持下,贵州省石漠化状况仍将继续好转,但部分重度石漠化区域的治理将更为复杂而艰难。     

Correlation between chronological age and skeletal age using cvmi and modified MP3 methods

Chronological age conveys only a rough approximation of the maturational status of a person whereas skeletal maturity indicators give a more accurate estimation. Therefore, it is of interest to document the correlation between chronological and skeletal age using CVMI and modified MP3 methods. A total of 39 subjects between the age ranges of 9-16 years were selected for this study. Pre-treatment lateral cephalograms and hand-wrist radiographs of the subjects were used. The skeletal age was analyzed by the Cervical Vertebrae Maturity Index (CVMI) and modified MP3 methods. The data was analyzed with SPSS software version 23.00. Kendall''s Tau correlation test was performed to estimate the correlation between chronological age and skeletal age among the subjects and a linear regression test was also performed. Positive correlation was found between chronological age and skeletal age assessed by CVMI method (r= 0.398) and modified MP3 method (r=0.382) with p value >0.003. Thus it can be concluded that there was a positive correlation between chronological age and skeletal age among all the subjects.     

精准营养联合生长抑素对胃癌根治术患者的临床疗效

目的探讨生长抑素联合精准营养疗法对胃癌根治术患者术后营养指标水平和肠道菌群的影响。方法选取我院2017年10月至2019年1月收治并拟行胃癌根治术治疗的92例胃癌患者为研究对象,随机分为对照组(46例)和观察组(46例)。两组患者术后均给予常规处理。对照组患者同时给予生长抑素+常规肠外营养支持,观察组患者同时给予生长抑素+精准营养支持。于营养干预前后统计两组患者营养相关指标[体质量、血清白蛋白(ALB)、前白蛋白(PA)、淋巴细胞计数(LC)、肌酐(Ct)以及尿素氮(UN)]水平;对肠道菌群进行alpha分析,并计算肠杆菌、肠球菌、乳杆菌和双歧杆菌数量。结果营养干预前,两组患者营养相关指标水平以及肠道菌群相关指标水平之间差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。营养干预后,(1)观察组患者平均体质量以及血清ALB、PA、LC水平分别为(56.98±5.34)kg、(29.98±6.03)mg/L、(137.14±35.17)g/L、(1.15±0.26)×10⁹,对照组分别为(53.29±5.18)kg、(26.12±5.29)mg/L、(104.53±27.66)g/L、(0.82±0.18)×10⁹,两组之间差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);(2)观察组患者肠道菌群Chao指数和Ace指数水平分别为(397.84±75.23)、(408.26±78.34),对照组分别为(362.13±66.23)、(371.19±70.09),两组之间差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);(3)观察组患者肠道肠杆菌、肠球菌数量明显低于对照组,而乳杆菌、双歧杆菌数量明显高于对照组(均P<0.05)。结论胃癌根治术患者术后联合生长抑素和精准营养疗法能够显著改善患者的营养状况,保持肠道菌群丰度,平衡肠道菌群分布,值得临床研究和应用。     

多学科协作诊治模式下的营养干预在老年骨折患者围术期的应用

目的研究多学科协作诊治模式(MDT)下的营养干预对围术期老年骨折患者的干预效果。方法选取新疆维吾尔自治区人民医院骨科2018年9月至2019年9月收治的42例行常规治疗的围术期老年患者作为非MDT组,选取同期43例实施MDT模式并给予营养干预的围术期老年患者作为MDT组,比较两组患者术后基本情况、并发症发生情况及恢复情况。结果术后MDT组患者总蛋白、白蛋白水平均高于非MDT组,NRS2002评分、CRP、IL-6水平均低于非MDT组,差异均有统计学意义(t=-3.679 6、-4.138 8、9.073 3、-6.669 5、-4.500 2,P=0.000 4、0.000 1、0.000 1、0.000 1、0.000 1)。MDT组患者住院时间少于非MDT组,差异有统计学意义(髋关节置换术:t=2.154 8,P=0.034 1;膝关节置换术:t=2.491 9,P=0.018 9)。MDT组患者肠道功能恢复情况明显优于非MDT组,差异有统计学意义(χ~2=10.512 1,P=0.001 2)。结论 MDT模式下的营养干预能够有效促进老年骨折患者的术后康复,有利于预防并发症的发生。     

Trait‐based diatom functional diversity as an appropriate tool for understanding the effects of environmental changes in soda pans

Saline lakes, among the most seriously endangered ecosystems, are threatened due to climate change and human activities. One valuable feature of these environments is that they constitute areas of high biodiversity. Ecologists are, therefore, under great pressure to improve their understanding of the effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on the biodiversity of saline lakes. In this study, a total of 257 samples from 32 soda pans in Central Europe between 2006 and 2015 were examined. The effects of environmental variables and of geographical and limnoecological factors on functional diversity were analyzed. Furthermore, the explanatory power of the trait‐based approach was assessed, and the applicability of the indices for biomonitoring purposes was determined. It was found that low habitat heterogeneity and harsh environments lead to the selection of a small number of suitable traits, and consequently, to a naturally low level of functional diversity. Anthropogenic activities enhance diversity at functional level due to the shift toward freshwater characteristics. On the regional scale, the effects of the region and status (natural, degraded, reconstructed) on diatom functional diversity were significant and more pronounced than that of the environmental and other limnoecological factors. The degree of variance found in functional diversity ascribed to environmental variables is five times greater in the case of the application of a trait‐based approach, than when a taxonomic one is employed in the literature. Each of the tested functional diversity indices was sensitive to the most important environmental variables. Furthermore, these were type‐specific and proved to be more complex indicators than taxonomic metrics. It is possible to suggest four functional diversity indices (FGR, FRic, FDis, and FDiv) which emphasize their independence from substrate and seasonal variations for ecological status assessment and conservation planning.     

稀有鮈鲫对不同生境的选择性偏好

对不同生境的识别和选择性偏好是保障鱼类生存和繁衍的重要能力之一。以稀有鮈鲫（Gobiocypris rarus）为研究对象,使用沙、水草和石块在观测水缸中进行多种排列组合以构建不同的生境类型,基于在各区域的停留时长和中线跨越次数两项参数,测试稀有鮈鲫对不同生境类型的偏好以及营养状态、生境组成物数量、环境照度对该行为影响。结果表明,稀有鮈鲫对不同的生境类型具有明显的选择性偏好,对仅水草生境偏好程度最高,对仅石块生境的偏好程度最低。该偏好行为在24 h的禁食后变化不显著（P > 0.05）,但生境组成物数量和环境照度对该行为具有显著影响（P < 0.05）,其偏好程度随水草数量和照度的增加而增加,在包含8棵水草及1 000 lx的照度下最高。     

鸟类鸣声与个体适合度关系的研究进展

鸣声蕴藏着丰富的生物学信息,是鸟类间信息交流最主要的方式之一。本文综述了鸟类鸣声行为与包括个体状态(体征、激素水平和健康状况)、社会等级及繁殖(性选择和成效)在内的个体适合度关系的研究进展。文章总结发现,鸟类的鸣声水平与单一体征参数关系的研究结果不稳定,鸣声可能受个体内部的多种激素调控,并与个体的社会等级有直接关系。雌雄个体鸣声均与繁殖有一定相关性,但双亲鸣声行为策略存在差异。鸣声对繁殖适合度的影响受到其他因素如物种、婚配制度等因素的影响。鸟类鸣声代表的生物学信息是个体身体质量的综合体现,与鸟类个体适合度的关系较为复杂。为解释鸣声所代表的生物学信息,需要从适合度的多个角度(社会等级、身体状况和繁殖情况等)来考虑多种鸣声参数。     

微血管减压术联合感觉根部分切断术对原发性三叉神经痛患者疼痛评分、生活质量及睡眠状况的影响

目的:探讨微血管减压术(MVD)联合感觉根部分切断术(PSR)对原发性三叉神经痛(TN)患者疼痛评分、生活质量及睡眠状况的影响。方法:回顾性分析2015年2月~2019年3月期间我院收治的80例原发性TN患者的临床资料,根据手术方式的不同将患者分为对照组(n=40,MVD治疗)和研究组(n=40,MVD联合PSR治疗),比较两组患者疼痛评分、生活质量、围术期指标、睡眠状况、并发症发生情况以及复发率。结果:两组患者治疗后视觉疼痛模拟量表(VAS)评分均较治疗前下降,且研究组低于对照组(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗后生活质量量表(SF-36)各维度评分均较治疗前升高,且研究组高于对照组(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗后匹兹堡睡眠质量指数表(PSQI)各项目评分均较治疗前升高,且研究组高于对照组(P<0.05)。研究组住院时间短于对照组,手术时间长于对照组(P<0.05);两组术中出血量比较无统计学差异(P>0.05)。研究组的并发症总发生率低于对照组(P<0.05)。两组随访期间复发率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:MVD联合PSR治疗原发性TN,虽然手术时间较长,但是在减轻患者疼痛、改善患者生活质量及睡眠状况等方面效果显著,能够降低并发症发生率。