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Biomedical subjects

X C Chen

Publications and source records attributed to X C Chen.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Low levels of zinc in hair and blood, pica, anorexia, and poor growth in Chinese preschool children.

Zinc concentrations in plasma and hair were measured in 703 children, aged between 1 and 6 yr, and correlated with parameters of physical development. In the first group of 187 children brought to the Child Health Clinic for routine observation there was a positive correlation of hair zinc content and height for age, with an increased prevalence of low hair zinc content in children of shorter stature. A second group of 303 children in nurseries and kindergartens in Beijing exhibited a hair zinc content of 92 micrograms/g, and 34% of these had very low zinc values below 70 micrograms/g. The third group consisted of 213 children who were brought into the outpatient clinic for a variety of complaints, including pica, anorexia, and poor growth; these had significantly lower values of zinc in hair and plasma than well-nourished children and responded to zinc supplementation with improvement of growth and the disappearance of pica and anorexia. These results suggest that the diet consumed by the population studied may be marginal or inadequate in its content of available zinc.

Anorexia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ability of caregivers to read delayed hypersensitivity skin tests in children exposed to and infected by HIV. The Pediatric Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Complications of Vertically Transmitted HIV Study Group.

OBJECTIVES: To identify whether nonmedical home caregivers (parents, guardians) could accurately interpret the results of delayed hypersensitivity skin tests in children, thereby obviating the need for a return visit for a professional reading. METHODS: Patients who were enrolled in the Pediatric Pulmonary and Cardiac Complications of HIV (P2C2HIV) study were given annual skin tests to tuberculin purified protein derivative, Candida, and tetanus as part of the study protocol. Caregivers were instructed verbally about how to read and measure erythema and induration. They were given written instructions to take home as well and were asked to return in 48 to 72 hours for the professional reading. On the morning of their return visit, they were to read the skin tests and record the results before coming to the clinic. RESULTS: When compared with readings by professional staff, caregivers had a high percentage of false-negative readings for both Candida (24%) and tetanus (41%) skin tests. These false-negative readings did not correlate with age, gender, race, or educational level of the caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: The high percentage of false-negative readings by the caregivers emphasizes the need for professional reading of delayed hypersensitivity skin tests.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on iron deficiency anemia, rickets and zinc deficiency and their prevention among Chinese preschool children.

The incidence of iron deficiency anemia, rickets, and zinc deficiency is very high in Chinese preschool children and a method for prevention is urgently needed. From our studies, it can be seen that a soft drink powder is a convenient vehicle for the supplementation of iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin, and ascorbic acid. Table salt is also a good, low-cost carrier for iron and zinc, and cow's milk can only be used for the enrichment of vitamins A and D. In our study the therapeutic dose of iron was lower than 3 mg/kg body weight recommended by the WHO Expert Committee. As ascorbic acid can enhance the absorption of iron in the body, so 300 mg vitamin C was added to 100 g of soft drink powder containing 100 mg of elemental iron. Ten g of powder is not only enough for the prevention of iron deficiency anemia but it can also cure iron deficiency anemia within 3 months. One hundred mg of iron in 100 g of table salt is an adequate level, because an adult or a child taking 10 or 5 g of salt will receive 10 and 5 mg of elemental iron respectively. This dosage is adequate for the prevention of anemia. From our results, 10 mg of zinc daily is enough for the prevention and treatment of zinc deficiency in preschool children. Four hundred IU of vitamin D (from fortified soft drink powder or enriched fresh cow's milk) orally-administered daily, is a good way to prevent rickets in infants and young children.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗