Objective To study the clinical features and spirometry of children with chronic cough and positive findings by bronchial provocation test.Methods Four hundred and fifty children with chronic cough from 3 hospitals of Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong Medical University School of Medicine,Gong Li Hospital of Pudong New Area,Pudong Hospital,were enrolled in this study from December 2012 to December 2014,and among them,373 cases completed the questionnaires,spirometry and bronchial provocation test.The differences in clinical features and spirometry between the bronchial provocation test positive group and negative group were compared.And the further evaluation of their clinical value was performed.Results Two hundred and thirty-six cases of children with bronchial provocation tests positive showed much higher rate of dry [72.03％ (170/236 cases)] and night cough[58.90％ (139/236 cases)] than those in the negative group[27.00％ (37/137 cases),22.63％ (31/137cases)],and the differences were significant (x2 =71.154,45.973,all P ＜0.01).Children in positive group also had higher morbidity of eczema[52.12％ (123/236 cases)],allergic conjunctivitis [24.15％ (57/236 cases)] and inhaled allergy history[40.25％ (95/236 cases)] than those in negative group[32.85％ (45/137 cases),10.95％ (15/137cases),18.98％ (26/137 cases)],and there existed significant differences (x2 =13.006,9.701,17.904,all P ＜0.01).And they also had higher asthma heredity [18.22％ (43/236 cases)] than that in negative group [9.49％(13/137 cases)],and the difference was significant (x2 =5.179,P =0.023);with worse small airway function [50.85％ (120/137 cases) vs 36.50％ (50/137 cases)] (x2 =7.197,P =0.007).For further study,the sensitivity and specificity for dry cough were both high(72.03％ and 72.99％).For specificity,family history was the most highest one (90.51％),and night cough and allergic conjunctivitis were also high.Conclusions Pulmonary function tests to reflect small airway function abnormalities,combined with a family history of asthma and chronic cough in children related to eczema,allergic conjunctivitis,and inhalation allergy history clinical features,can better predict airway hyperresponsiveness.

With the increasing number of Chinese medical aid and the overseas development of Chinese medicine, acupuncture has spreaded to and the Republic of Guinea and saw develoment. At present, only China Guinea Friendship Hospital and Astatin Hospital have set up Acupuncture Department, which have equipped with basic acupuncture instruments and acupuncture is used as the main treatment method, and acupuncture is a self funded project. There is no acupuncture major in the local education system, neither laws and regulations on acupuncture and moxibustion. Language barrier also makes it difficult for doctors in the two countries to communicate. Thus, it is recommended to consider geographic, diet, and medical factors when formulating acupuncture treatment plans which are suitable for local conditions, and launching new projects such as laser acupuncture treatment and ear concha electroacupuncture treatment, while improving the language level of foreign aid physicians, designing suitable teaching materials, and using multimedia technology for teaching. Besides, we should promote legislation, conduct academic and cultural exchanges, so as to better promote the development of acupuncture and moxibustion in Guinea.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect difference between acupuncture combined with western medication and simple western medication for Meniere's disease. METHODS: Ninety-six patients with Meniere's disease were randomly assigned into a combination group (48 cases, 12 cases dropping) and a medication group (48 cases, 9 cases dropping). Betastatin mesylate tablets (once 12 mg, 3 times a day) and mecobalamin tablets (once 0.5 mg, 3 times a day) were prescribed orally in the two groups. Acupuncture was used in the combination group, twice a week, 20 min a time, and the acupoints were Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Tinggong (SI 19), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Taichong (LR 3), Taixi (KI 3) and Tianshu (ST 25). All the treatment was given for continuous 12 weeks. The symptoms were observed by dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), tinnitus handicap inventory (THI), pure tone audiometry score and stuffy ear visual analogue scale (VAS). The effects were compared in the aspects of dizziness, hearing and activity. RESULTS: The scores of DHI, THI, pure tone audiometry and VAS scores after treatment were lower than those before treatment in the two groups (all <0.05), with lower scores of the above 4 indexes in the combination group after treatment (all <0.05). The difference values before and after treatment of the 4 indexes in the combination group were higher than those in the medication group (all <0.05). The effective rates of dizziness, hearing and activity in the combination group were 97.2% (35/36), 91.7% (33/36), 88.9% (32/36), which were better than 71.8% (28/39), 74.4% (29/39) and 69.2% (27/39) in the medication group (all <0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture combined with conventional medication achieve better effect than simple conventional medication.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; therapy ; Tinnitus ; Treatment Outcome