Objective: To evaluate the status of protein and amino acids in farmers who consumed cereals predominately in Henan province, China. Method: Socioeconomic information of 101 selected families was obtained by interviewing; food consumption data were gathered by 12 separated 24 h recalls, and FFQ method. Results: The protein intake was 74 g/capita/day in average, 87% from plant sources. Lysine is the first limiting amino acid . By anthropometric measurements of children aged 5-12 years, 26% of them were stunted and 40% underweight. Conclusion: The total amount of protein matched adult requirements, but was insufficient for children growth. Lysine fortification and other measures may be suggested for relieving child undernutrition.

To revise Chinese Diet Balance Index (DBI) based on the current Chinese Dietary Guidelines and Food Guide Pagoda . Method: Seven food components [(cereals ,vegetables and fruits, bean and dairy , animal food , alcohol ,condiments (salt and edible oil))were selected in combination with food varieties and drinking water to build up Diet Balance Index Revision (DBI-07) .The components were weighed and assigned cut-offs and scores based on the Chinese Food Guide Pagoda. Three scoring methods (LBS-low bound score, HBS-high bound score, DQD-diet quality distance) were used to evaluate the dietary quality of 26300 adults aged 18 to 79 years from 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey. Results: The mean LBS, HBS and DQD were 11.5,30.0 and 41.5 respectively. About 78% adult were in moderate or severe deficit of food intake, 35.1% in moderate or severe surplus of food intake, and 43.8% in severe dietary imbalance. Conclusion: DBI-07 can reflect the principles of dietary guidelines, and the scoring method can reflect both deficit and surplus of food intake. DBI-07 can be used to evaluate the dietary quality of individual or the population.

Keshan disease was an endemic cardiomyopathy in China. The very low selenium intake of local people was considered to be an important causal factor. The main pathological characteristics of this disease was multifo-cal necrosis and fibrous replacement of myocardium that was scattered throughout the wall of all chambers.Two patterns of myocardial necrosis, myofibrillar pattern and mitochondrial pattern were distinguished in electron microscopy. The myofibrillar pattern was characterized by myofibril segmentation. It agreed well with the contraction band necrosis described in light microscopy. It was mainly seen in acute Keshan heart and might be related to circulatory disorders. Mitochondrial pattern was identical with myocytolysis of conventional pathology. It represented the typical lesion of Keshan disease.Mitochondria showed early and conspicuous changes in involved myo-cytes. Myofibrillar damage seemed to be secondary to the mitochondrial injury in the development of myocytolysis.Histochemical studies revealed that the acid phosphatase activity was obviously increased in muscle fibers surrounding the necrotic foci, and the succinic dehydrogenase activity was greatly reduced in damaged myocardio-cytes.