Objective:To elucidate the changes in apparent diffusion coefficients(ADC)by quantify diffusion weighted (DW)magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in patients with Alzbeimer's disease(AD),and the relationship between micro-structure changes of white matter(WM)and the cognitive impairment thereof.Methods:The DW-MRI was performed in 30 probable AD patients and 30 normal controls with normal-appearing white matter(NAWM).The ADC was measured in different WM areas.The neurologic and neuropsychological assessments were examined with mini-mental state examination(MMSE)in patients.The ADC were determined in standard regions of the frontal,temporal,occipital and parietal white matter,genu,splenium of the corpus callosum.Results:The value of ADC was higher in frontal,splenium corpus callosum,temporal,and parietal white matter of AD group than that of control(P ＜ 0.01).There was no significant difference in the ADC value of genu and occipital white matter between AD and control groups(P＞ 0.05).The score of MMSE was 24.1±0.8 in AD group.The ADC values of parietal,splenium of the corpus callosum and frontal white matter were significantly negatively correlated with MMSE scores in AD group(P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01).There was no correlation between the ADC values of genu of the corpus eallosum,temporal and occipital white matter with the MMSE score(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion:The quantitative DWI analysis of MRI DWI may be helpful in assessing WM abnormalities in AD.The parietal WM abnormalities may play an important role in the development of dementia.It was showed that Alzheimer's cognitive decline with ADC value and micro-structure of white matter was closely related.

Objective To evaluate non-hazardous treatment efficiency of night soil in the three-grille mode septic tanks so as to give the evidence to government for policy-making. Methods One hundred and thirty normally runningthree-grille mode septic tanks were surveyed in five cities of Jiangsu Province in 2009. The fecal samples from first chamber and wastewater samples from third chamber were collected and examined for fecal coliform (FC) , parasite eggs including Schistosoma japonicum eggs, As-caris eggs and hookworm eggs, chemical oxygen demand ( COD), five-day chemical oxygen demand (BOD_5) and ammonia nitrogen (NH,-N) in lab. The data were analyzed by statistical software SPSS 13.0. Results The mean qualified rates of FC in the first chamber and third chamber of septic tanks were 3.1% and 100% respectively, showing significant difference (P <0.001). Hookworm eggs and Ascaris eggs were found in the first chamber of one and four septic tanks respectively and the density was one or two eggs in one hundred milliliter. The mean removal rates of FC, COD, BOD_5 and NH_3 -N were (99.96 ± 0.03) % , (60.69 ± 21.77) % , (60.13 ± 23. 20 ) % and (44. 14 ± 24.61) % , respectively. For the value of FC, COD, BOD, and NH_3 -N, there were significant difference between the first chamber and the third chamber (P_(FC) =0.000 1, P_(COD) =0.000 1, P_(BOD5) =0.000 1, P_(NH3-N) = 0.000 1, P < 0.001). Conclusion The treatment efficiency of septic tank could meet the sanitary standard for non-hazardous treatment of night soil, and it could use as a useful primary facility for human feces and urine treatment in rural areas.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of compound Duzhong Jiangu granule on Kashin-Beck disease (KBD), and to provide a new alternative for the treatment of patients with KBD.Methods:According to the principle of random distribution, patients with KBD diagnosed clinically in Linyou County and Yongshou County of Shaanxi Province who meet the inclusion criteria were divided into a traditional Chinese medicine group and a Western medicine group, and they were treated with compound Duzhong Jiangu granule (Chinese medicine group) and ibuprofen sustained release capsule + 21 jinvita + chondroitin sulfate (Western medicine group), respectively, for a duration of one month. Questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the clinical data of all survey respondents before and after medication by using the Joint Dysfunction Index Scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scales, for evaluation and analysis. The incidence of adverse reactions of the two groups were recorded.Results:A total of 218 KBD patients that met the inclusion criteria were selected, including 167 patients in the Chinese medicine group and 51 patients in the Western medicine group. There were 94 males and 73 females in the Chinese medicine group, aged (62.93 ± 6.72) years. In the Western medicine group, there were 18 males and 33 females, aged (63.29 ± 7.02) years. There was no statistically significant difference in age between the two groups ( Z = - 0.24, P = 0.813). After taking the compound Duzhong Jiangu granules for treatment of KBD patients in the traditional Chinese medicine group, there were significant changes in the number of patients with joint rest pain, joint movement pain, morning stiffness, maximum walking distance and lower limb mobility in the Joint Dysfunction Scale compared to before treatment. The difference between before and after medication was statistically significant (χ 2 = 37.93, 29.64, 50.40, 13.57, 25.25, P < 0.001). After 1 month of medication, there were 13 cases of significant effect, 64 cases of effectiveness, and 90 cases of ineffectiveness in the traditional Chinese medicine group, with a total effective rate of 46.11%. There were 0 cases of significant improvement, 13 cases of effectiveness, and 38 cases of ineffectiveness in the Western medicine group, with a total effective rate of 25.49%. The difference in total effective rates between the two groups was statistically significant (χ 2 = 8.62, P = 0.013). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference in the improvement of lower limb mobility (difficulty of daily activities) between the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group (χ 2 = 8.21, P = 0.017). After taking medication, the joint pain, stiffness, and difficulty of daily activities scores in the WOMAC scale of KBD patients in the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group were significantly reduced. The differences in scores before and after medication were statistically significant (Chinese medicine group, Z = - 7.60, - 7.74, - 9.75, P < 0.001; Western medicine group, Z = - 5.20, - 3.81, - 3.93, P < 0.001). There was a significant differences in the improvement degree of daily activity difficulty and total score between the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group ( Z = - 3.75, - 3.34, P < 0.01). During the medication period, the incidence of adverse reactions in the traditional Chinese medicine group was lower than that in the western medicine group (Chinese medicine group, 29.34%; Western medicine group, 45.09%, χ 2 = 4.38, P = 0.036). Conclusions:Compound Duzhong Jiangu granule has a good therapeutic effects on KBD, significantly improving joint dysfunction of patients. It has advantages in improving the activity ability of KBD patients and reducing the difficulty of daily activities, and has less adverse reactions else.