Prion Mutations in Republic of Republic of Korea,China, and Japan

Prion gene (PRNP) mutations are associated with diverse disease phenotypes, including familiar Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (CJD), Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker disease (GSS), and fatal familial insomnia (FFI). Interestingly, PRNP mutations have been reported in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease, and frontotemporal dementia. In this review, we describe prion mutations in Asian countries, including Republic of Republic of Korea, China, and Japan. Clinical phenotypes and imaging data related to these mutations have also been introduced in detail. Several prion mutations are specific to Asians and have rarely been reported in countries outside Asia. For example, PRNP V180I and M232R, which are rare in other countries, are frequently detected in Republic of Korea and Japan. PRNP T188K is common in China, and E200K is significantly more common among Libyan Jews in Israel. The A117V mutation has not been detected in any Asian population, although it is commonly reported among European GSS patients. In addition, V210I or octapeptide insertion is common among European CJD patients, but relatively rare among Asian patients. The reason for these differences may be geographical or ethical isolation. In terms of clinical phenotypes, V180I, P102L, and E200K present diverse clinical symptoms with disease duration, which could be due to other genetic and environmental influences. For example, rs189305274 in the ACO1 gene may be associated with neuroprotective effects in cases of V180I mutation, leading to longer disease survival. Additional neuroprotective variants may be possible in cases featuring the E200K mutation, such as KLKB1, KARS, NRXN2, LAMA3, or CYP4X1. E219K has been suggested to modify the disease course in cases featuring the P102L mutation, as it may result in the absence of prion protein-positive plaques in tissue stained with Congo red. However, these studies analyzed only a few patients and may be too preliminary. The findings need to be verified in studies with larger sample sizes or in other populations. It would be interesting to probe additional genetic factors that cause disease progression or act as neuroprotective factors. Further studies are needed on genetic modifiers working with prions and alterations from mutations.     

Oilseeds and oil in the people's Republic of China

This article reviews some experiences and information gathered by the author on agricluture, cereal grains, oilseeds and oilseed production, oil and fat consumption, foreign trade, and oil extraction in the People's Republic of China.     

The peat fund of the Republic of Belarus

In this article, new problems related to an increase in the operational effectiveness of the peat sector of the Republic of Belarus are formulated and new approaches to its further development in scientific and practical aspects are demonstrated. The new composition of the peat fund classified according to the directions of its development in the near future is reported. An analysis of new production based on peat developed at the Institute for Nature Management, Belarussian Academy of Sciences was performed with the recognition of the applicability parameters of the used raw materials. The sufficiency of the peat resources suitable for the new technologies of complex peat processing with the production of called-for materials was evaluated.     

韩国水泥工业概况

２００２年８月７～１１日，中国水泥协会一行１６人对韩国水泥工业进行了考察。韩国水泥工业协会举行仪式欢迎中国水泥协会考察团的到来，双方举行座谈，就今后技术交流，技术合作达成一致意见。考察团还参观了韩国水泥公司浦项水泥厂，并与韩国企业高层管理人员进行了交流。现将此行了解掌握的韩国水泥工业１９９６年～２００１年概况刊出，供广大水泥工作者参考。韩国水泥工业概况@武洪明$中国水泥协会!北京100831