Beriberi heart disease in London

Haemodynamic measurements before and after treatment are described in two patients with beriberi heart disease. The first patient had severe disease with a cardiac output of 17·3 litres per minute, which had returned to normal a month later. The second patient had moderate disease with a cardiac output of 7·4 litres per minute; a fall in this and a rise in systemic vascular resistance was found one and two hours after the intravenous injection of aneurine hydrochloride. The plasma pyruvate concentration was raised in the first patient but only slightly so in the second, in whom the pyruvate metabolism test was abnormal. The haemodynamic studies in both cases were of considerable help in making the diagnosis. The diagnosis of beriberi should be considered in any patient with heart disease who has a history of alcoholism, especially as prompt vitamin treatment is curative.     

闽南民间药公石松的生药鉴定

对具有闽南民间特色的草药公石松原植物进行鉴定,确认其来自兰科Orchidaceae血叶兰属植物血叶兰Ludisia discolor的全草,并对其生药性状、组织构造、粉末显微特征等进行观察描述,旨在为该药的正确鉴别应用,以及进一步研究开发提供参考。     

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Dogs in Zhanjiang,Southern China

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution. The present study investigated the prevalence of T. gondii in dogs in Zhanjiang city, southern China, using both serological and molecular detection. A total of 364 serum samples and 432 liver tissue samples were collected from the slaughter house between December 2012 and January 2013 and were examined for T. gondii IgG antibody by ELISA and T. gondii DNA by semi-nested PCR based on B1 gene, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibody was 51.9%, and T. gondii DNA was detected in 37 of 432 (8.6%) liver tissue samples. These positive DNA samples were analyzed by PCR-RFLP at 3''- and 5''-SAG2. Only 8 samples gave the PCR-RFLP data, and they were all classified as type I, which may suggest that the T. gondii isolates from dogs in Zhanjiang city may represent type I or type I variant. This study revealed the high prevalence of T. gondii infection in dogs in Zhanjiang city, southern China. Integrated measures should be taken to prevent and control toxoplasmosis in dogs in this area for public health concern.     

Cardiac Beriberi: Two Modes of Presentation

Two patients suffering from cardiovascular beriberi presented with different clinical manifestations. One had the classical features of a high cardiac output with raised jugular venous pressure and gross oedema. The other was in fulminating heart failure with clinical evidence of a low cardiac output but no peripheral oedema. The latter type of beriberi (shoshin) is rare. Cardiovascular beriberi has a high mortality when untreated. Both patients responded dramatically to thiamine, and this emphasizes the importance of considering thiamine deficiency as a cause of heart failure even when the cardiac output is low.     

U-Series dating of Liujiang hominid site in Guangxi,Southern China

It has been established that modern humans were living in the Levant and Africa ca. 100ka ago. Hitherto, this has contrasted with the situation in China where no unequivocal specimens of this species have been securely dated to more than 30ka. Here we present the results of stratigraphic studies and U-series dating of the Tongtianyan Cave, the discovery site of the Liujiang hominid, which represents one of the few well-preserved fossils of modern Homo sapiens in China. The human fossils are inferred to come from either a refilling breccia or a primarily deposited gravel-bearing sandy clay layer. In the former case, which is better supported, the fossils would date to at least approximately 68ka, but more likely to approximately 111-139ka. Alternatively, they would be older than approximately 153ka. Both scenarios would make the Liujiang hominid one of the earliest modern humans in East Asia, possibly contemporaneous with the earliest known representatives from the Levant and Africa. Parallel studies on other Chinese localities have provided supporting evidence for the redating of Liujiang, which may have important implications for the origin of modern humans.     

中国南部亚热带森林地表植被动态变化

系统研究了南方5个亚热带森林生态系统地表植被的动态变化情况.研究方法是:在每个研究区域内,按照地形梯度分别布设50个1m2 的样方,记录样方内所有物种的频度及相关的环境变量,5个研究区域共设250个样方,每个样方分别调查两次.通过单元及多元统计方法分析表明:维管植物物种频度在一个区域明显下降,另二个区域显著增加;苔藓物种频度在一个区域有明显下降,另一个区域明显增加;苔藓物种数量在3个区域显著增加,另二个区域显著下降;维管植物物种数量显著增加在二个区域;物种组成沿着第一个植被梯度轴DCA 1没有显著变化,沿着第二个植被梯度轴DCA 2在二个区域有显著变化.综合分析表明,苔藓对气候变化及其波动反映敏感,是较好的气候变化及气候波动生物指示因子,而管植物数量及频度的变化没有明显证据显示与土壤酸化和大气污染有紧密关系.     

Knowledge,Attitude, and Practice Regarding Zoonotic Risk in Wildlife Trade,Southern China

EcoHealth - Current wildlife trade practices in China lead to significant interactions between humans and animals and drive the emergence of zoonotic diseases. The at-risk behaviors, knowledge, and...     

Limnological features of glacier-fed rivers in the Southern Tibetan Plateau, China

We describe the limnological features of six glacier-fed rivers located at an altitude of over 4,000?m in Southern Tibetan Plateau, China, based on diurnal observations of the water environment and biota in the summer of 2010. The rivers showed significant diurnal changes in water level, temperature, and turbidity; clear and cool streams in the morning changed to cloudy rapid flow in the afternoon, and water temperature was elevated under strong light conditions where riparian forest did not cover the surface of the water. On the other hand, the pH and dissolved oxygen saturation did not show any diurnal fluctuations, which indicates low periphytic algal productivity. The aquatic insect communities were poor both in diversity and density, and the dominant life forms (from a functional feeding group perspective) were collectors, which depend on allochthonous organic matter; scrapers, which depend on autochthonous algal production, were scarce. We therefore suggest that diurnal or seasonal high waters transport products from marginal pools along dried riverbeds or from ponds on flood plains, and may serve as the source of organic matter in glacier-fed rivers.     

Wetland changes and mangrove restoration planning in Shenzhen Bay, Southern China

Mangrove forests and associated gei wai (excavated ponds used for shrimp and fish farming) provide important ecosystem services in Shenzhen Bay. Much of the mangrove and gei wai wetlands, however, have been lost because of intensified human activities in the past 30 years. Using five-phase remote-sensing images, we describe the recent history of the spatial–temporal dynamics for the wetlands in the bay. From 1986 to 2007, mangrove area increased from 1.8 to 4.8 km², while the area of gei wai decreased from 36.6 to 17.2 km². Reclamation of gei wai mainly occurred in western and northern Shenzhen Bay, and changed the tidal water environment. The bay has five typical mangrove communities: Avicennia marina + Kandelia candel + Aegiceras corniculatum, Kandelia candel + Aegiceras corniculatum + Acanthus ilicifolius, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza + Excoecaria agallocha, Aegiceras corniculatum, and Sonneratia apetala + Sonneratia caseolaris. The distribution of these communities and their dominant species in the bay exhibit a spatial pattern and temporal (successional) sequence. We describe a mangrove restoration program based on the mangrove successional sequence and the interaction of mangrove and gei wai in the bay. We have planned six mangrove protection and restoration projects in closed areas, semiclosed areas, and open areas to reconstruct the ecological integrity of the entire Shenzhen Bay.     

值得注意的中国南部植物

通过整理和研究华南植物园标本馆(IBSC)、中山大学植物标本馆(SYS)等馆藏标本,发现我国南部生长的而在《中国植物志》或“Flora of China”有未收载的物种及需处理1个新组合和2个新异名外,还有省级新记录等情况。现补充增加3个归化种白花假马鞭、毛苘麻和大花假番薯;广西2个新记录夜牵牛和红岩野桐(新组合);广东1个新记录粘毛苘麻,并处理本种的1个新异名;粗糠柴为西藏新记录。此外,处理隶于东南野桐的1个新异名;补充隶于草牵牛的1个异属名。     

Desmids from Southern Bays of the Donghu Lake,Wuhan, China

A total of 48 algae samples were collected from southern bays of the Donghu Lake from September in 1963 to December in 1964．The desmids were very plentiful,164 species,75 varieties and 13 forms belonging to 20 genera were identified．Among these,two species,seven varieties and two forms are new to science**,and 12 species,25 varieties and five forms are recorded for the first time in China．The dominant species with frequent occurrence were 11 species and one variety in four seasons． The result of counting and analysing the samples collected in different seasons (six times for each) shows that the number of the taxa of Desmids in summer (June and August)was the highest,that in autumn and winter (September,October and December) the next,and that in spring (April) is the lowest．Fourty five of 252 desmids taxa are tropical and subtropical,among which 19 are either endemic to or common in S and SE Asia． The desmid flora of Wuhan district is therefore subtropical in nature and closely related to the S and     

Heterogeneity among Orf Virus Isolates from Goats in Fujian Province,Southern China

Orf virus is a parapoxvirus that causes recurring contagious ecthyma or orf disease in goat, sheep and other wild and domestic ruminants. Infected animals show signs of pustular lesions on the mouth and muzzle and develop scabs over the lesions. Although the infection is usually cleared within 1–2 months, delayed growth and associated secondary infections could still impact the herds. Orf virus can also infect humans, causing lesions similar to the animals in pathological histology. Prior infection of orf virus apparently offers little protective immunity against future infections. Several gene products of orf virus have been identified as responsible for immunomodulatory functions. In our recent study of orf virus isolates from an area along the Minjiang River in northern Fujian Province, we found a high heterogeneity among isolates from 10 farms within a 120-kilometer distance. Only two isolates from locations within 1 km to each other had same viral genes. There is no correlation between the geographical distance between the corresponding collection sites and the phylogenetic distance in ORFV011 or ORV059 genes for any two isolates. This finding suggests that there are diverse populations of orf virus present in the environment. This may in part contribute to the phenomenon of recurring outbreaks and heighten the need for better surveillance.     

Stratified Communities of Methanogens in the Jiulong River Estuarine Sediments, Southern China

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and produced mainly by methanogens. Few studies have specifically dealt so far with methanogens in estuarine environments. In this study, diversity and distribution of methanogens were investigated by clone library and T-RFLP analysis in a Jiulong River estuarine sediment core which contained clear sulfate–methane-transition zone. The majority of obtained sequences in clone libraries and T-RF peaks from T-RFLP analysis were assigned mainly to Methanosaeta, Methanomicrobiales and Methanosarcinales/ANME. The fragments of Methanosarcinales/ANME were most dominant group (mean 51 %) and composed largely of ANME-2a. In addition, Methanosaeta and Methanomicrobiales accounted for 21 and 28 % of all fragments. Therefore, the presence of Methanomicrobiales, Methanosaeta and ANME-2a was indicative of acetoclastic methanogenesis, hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, and anaerobic methane oxidation in Jiulong River estuarine sediments. This study provided the important knowledge towards understanding methane cycling association of representative of methanogens involved in estuarine environments.