In this report, we describe a case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which responded to Ohi-chu-zai, a new Chinese OTC antirheumatic remedy. A 53-year-old man developed RA in 1989. Various antirheumatic agents were ineffective, and RA remained highly active. A corticosteroid, immunosuppresant, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and heat-processed aconite tuber were used, but failed to exhibit sufficient effect. When ohi-chu-zai was added, the activity of RA was reduced markedly, accompanied by a gradual improvement in anemia. The man's appetite increased, his general conditions improved and he could eventually go back to work. Preparations with ephedra herd and aconite tuber have been widely used in Japan, and their effects have been reported. However, there has been no report on Ohi-chu-zai, a new Chinese OTC antirheumatic medicine. This report is the first one in Japan which describes the effect of this preparation as an antirheumatic agent.

According to analyses of the real-time performance of the visual prosthesis image processing system, down-sampling is a key factor which influences the processing speed. Based on these analyses, the algorithm of grid sampled averaging was proposed for down-sampling. Then the effect of grid parameters on the result and algorithm complexity was evaluated by using the regional-averaging algorithm as a reference. Our research shows that the grid-averaging algorithm could reduce the computation burden by 90% or more, with no significant difference from the regional-averaging algorithm.
Algorithms ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Visual Prosthesis

OBJECTIVETo learn the dietary fat intake behavior status and influencing psychological factors in teenagers.

METHODSAccording to the multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method, students were recruited from middle and high schools in Hangzhou, Wuhan and Xi'an from March to May, 2012. Chinese version of adolescent dietary fat intake behavior of psychological measurement scales was utilized in field investigations with 3 448 effective questionnaires. Under the transtheoretical model, the status quo of teenagers fat intake behavior was analyzed and it shows the relationship between stages and psychological variables, including strategy of change, decision balance and self-efficacy.

RESULTSIn the 3 448 participants, the proportion of girls were 52.4% (1 806/3 448) and boys were 47.6% (1 642/3 448), while the mean age was (14.85 ± 1.46). There are significant differences among distributed stages of behavior change, grouped by gender, grade and region (χ(2) values were 33.59, 20.53, 27.92, P < 0.001). In different gender groups, the number of boys in precontemplation came to the first and accounted for 24.2% (438/1 806), and the number of girls were more in contemplation and preparation stage, which accounted for 49.5% (813/1 642), and it was the least both in the action stage with the ratio 12.1% (218/1 806) and 14.7% (241/1 642) respectively; in different grade groups, the numbers of student in middle school and high school were the largest in contemplation and precontemplation stage, accounted for 24.9% (494/1 986) and 23.4% (343/1 462); and among different regions, the proportion in precontemplation, contemplation and preparation stage was not a few, and this ratio in Hangzhou, Wuhan, Xi'an area was 70.6% (801/1 135), 61.7% (649/1 052) and 68.8% (867/1 261), respectively. The number in action stage was the least of all, which were 144, 147, 168, respectively. Ordinal logistic mode showed that the four variables, including the scores of process of change, decision balance (pros), decision balance (cons) and self-efficacy, were factors which significantly affected the stages of behavior change, which showed a significant difference (F values were 155.12, 19.86, 44.59, 94.27, P < 0.001) in different stages. From precontemplation stage to action stage, the score of the process of change, decision balance (pros) and self-efficacy showed an upward trend, and achieved the highest score in the action stage (from 32.6 ± 12.8, 8.4 ± 2.9, 19.7 ± 6.9 to 48.4 ± 12.6, 10.1 ± 2.5, 25.9 ± 6.9, respectively); contrarily, the decision balance (cons) decreased with the development of behavioral stage (from 14.7 ± 4.4 to 12.2 ± 3.9). Post hoc comparison also found that the score of process of change, decision balance (pros) and self-efficacy after action stages were higher than those before action, while the score of decisional balance (cons) in the precontemplation stage was higher than that in the other 4 stages.

CONCLUSIONFat intake behavior in teenagers showed different stages, whose psychological factors had significant influences, with decision balance (pros) hindered the progress of stages of behavior change, while other three factors played a positive role.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; Decision Making ; Dietary Fats ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Self Efficacy ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the stages of health-related behaviors, family and peer support situation about adolescent in Wuhan, and to provide evidence for health intervention and health promotion.

METHODSBased on the principle of multi-stage stratified cluster sampling, extracted two junior middle school and two high school in two cities in Wuhan from March 2012 to May. A total of 1 200 students, which were part of the first and second grade class in middle school and high school, toke as the investigation object. The study surveyed following content, including the demographic situation, adolescent health-related behavior (physical activity, sedentary behavior, high-fat diet behavior, fruit and vegetable intaking behavior), stages of adolescent health related behavior (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance) and adolescent support got from family and peer. The questionnaire was distributed in 1 200 copies, the valid questionnaires were 1 052 and the effective rate was 87.67%. Using χ² test to compare the different stages of change in health related behavior, t test was used to compare different groups of social support and using analysis of variance and post test to analyze social support of the four types behavior.

RESULTSIn 1 052 students, there was 555 (52.8%) middle school students, 497 (47.2%) high school students, and 553 (52.6%) boys, 499 (47.4%) girls. In physical exercise and sedentary behavior, numbers of precontemplation was respectively accounting for 42.2% (444/1 200) and 28.4% (299/1 200). In high-fat diet behavior, the stages of preparation and maintain was occupied 46.7% (492/1 200). In fruit and vegetable intake behavior, there was 32.9% (346/1200) students in contemplation. Numbers in action stage was both less in the above four behavior, accounting for 6.2% (65/1 200), 8.9% (94/1 200), 14.0% (147/1 200) and 6.3% (66/1 200) separately. Adolescent peer support score respectively (2.9 ± 0.7), (2.8 ± 0.8) and (2.9 ± 0.9), which was higher than the family support scores ((2.7 ± 1.1), (2.5 ± 1.2) and (2.9 ± 1.2)) (t values were -8.72, -11.22 and -2.59, respectively. All P values were < 0.001) in physical exercise, sedentary behavior and high fat diet, but in the intake of fruits and vegetables behavior, family support score was higher than peer support (score was respectively (3.3 ± 0.9) and (3.5 ± 1.2); t < 9.97, P < 0.001). ANOVA and post hoc comparison showed that the score of family and peer support in the after-action stage was significantly higher than that the before-action stage in physical exercise, high-fat diet and fruit and vegetable intake behavior, while the differences in sedentary behavior was not significant.

CONCLUSIONYouth health-related behaviors remained in its infancy, there was a certain impact on its stages which showed that the higher social support the more advanced stages of behavior.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; Diet, High-Fat ; Exercise ; Family ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Fruit ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Peer Group ; Schools ; Social Support ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vegetables

OBJECTIVETo develop a suitable fat intake behavior of psychological measurement scales for the Chinese adolescents and evaluate its validity and reliability.

METHODSAccording to the multi-stage stratified cluster sampling principle, a total of 3 600 junior students were recruited from the classes in 12 selected high schools in Hangzhou, Wuhan and Xi'an from March to May, 2012. Based on introducing and translating the original scale abroad, Chinese version of adolescent fat intake behavior of psychological measurement scales was utilized in field investigations. The reliability was assessed, using Cronbach's α and split-half reliability; while exploratory factor analysis used to test its validity, with entries-dimension correlation coefficient (IIC), correlation coefficient between the scores and the dimension, and the dimension of correlation coefficient test content validity.

RESULTSThe valid subject of the study was 3 448(of whom males were 52.4% (1 806/3 448) and female were 47.6% (1 642/3 448)), while the mean age was (14.85 ± 1.46) years old. The internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α) for total scale score and four domains were 0.922,0.933, 0.660, 0.773 and 0.869 respectively, whose split-efficacy reliability were separately 0.927, 0.933, 0.790, 0.624 and 0.889. Data from the exploratory factor analysis revealed the following dimensions:the entries were all inclusive, with the cumulative contribution rate at 59.453%, 56.062% and 52.668%, respectively. The results of IIC showed that in the four dimensions, the contained entries between Spearman correlation coefficient have statistically significant, with the r value range of 0.584-0.793, 0.665-0.818, 0.654-0.765 and 0.622-0.747 severely, while other dimensions from weak to moderate relationships, the r value ranged from -0.028 to 0.614.

CONCLUSIONThe reliability and validity of the adolescent fat intake behavior of psychological measurement scales (Chinese version) were good, and could be used to measure the fat intake behavior of psychological conditions in Chinese adolescents.

Adolescent ; Dietary Fats ; Eating ; psychology ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psychological Tests ; Students ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To investigate the stages of health-related behaviors , family and peer support situation about adolescent in Wuhan, and to provide evidence for health intervention and health promotion. Methods Based on the principle of multi-stage stratified cluster sampling, extracted two junior middle school and two high school in two cities in Wuhan from March 2012 to May. A total of 1 200 students, which were part of the first and second grade class in middle school and high school, toke as the investigation object. The study surveyed following content, including the demographic situation, adolescent health-related behavior (physical activity, sedentary behavior, high-fat diet behavior, fruit and vegetable intaking behavior), stages of adolescent health related behavior (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance) and adolescent support got from family and peer. The questionnaire was distributed in 1 200 copies, the valid questionnaires were 1 052 and the effective rate was 87.67%. Usingχ2
test to compare the different stages of change in health related behavior, t test was used to compare different groups of social support and using analysis of variance and post test to analyze social support of the four types behavior. Results In 1 052 students, there was 555 (52.8%) middle school students, 497 (47.2%) high school students, and 553 (52.6%) boys, 499 (47.4%) girls. In physical exercise and sedentary behavior, numbers of precontemplation was respectively accounting for 42.2%(444/1 200) and 28.4%(299/1 200). In high-fat diet behavior, the stages of preparation and maintain was occupied 46.7%(492/1 200). In fruit and vegetable intake behavior, there was 32.9%(346/1200) students in contemplation. Numbers in action stage was both less in the above four behavior, accounting for 6.2% (65/1 200), 8.9% (94/1 200), 14.0%(147/1 200) and 6.3%(66/1 200) separately. Adolescent peer support score respectively (2.9±0.7),(2.8±0.8) and (2.9±0.9), which was higher than the family support scores ((2.7±1.1),(2.5±1.2) and (2.9±1.2)) (t values were-8.72,-11.22 and-2.59,respectively.All P values were <0.001) in physical exercise,sedentary behavior and high fat diet ,but in the intake of fruits and vegetables behavior,family support score was higher than peer support (score was respectively (3.3 ± 0.9) and (3.5 ± 1.2);t=9.97,P<0.001).ANOVA and post hoc comparison showed that the score of family and peer support in the after-action stage was significantly higher than that the before-action stage in physical exercise, high-fat diet and fruit and vegetable intake behavior, while the differences in sedentary behavior was not significant. Conclusion Youth health-related behaviors remained in its infancy, there was a certain impact on its stages which showed that the higher social support the more advanced stages of behavior.

Objective To investigate the stages of health-related behaviors , family and peer support situation about adolescent in Wuhan, and to provide evidence for health intervention and health promotion. Methods Based on the principle of multi-stage stratified cluster sampling, extracted two junior middle school and two high school in two cities in Wuhan from March 2012 to May. A total of 1 200 students, which were part of the first and second grade class in middle school and high school, toke as the investigation object. The study surveyed following content, including the demographic situation, adolescent health-related behavior (physical activity, sedentary behavior, high-fat diet behavior, fruit and vegetable intaking behavior), stages of adolescent health related behavior (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance) and adolescent support got from family and peer. The questionnaire was distributed in 1 200 copies, the valid questionnaires were 1 052 and the effective rate was 87.67%. Usingχ2
test to compare the different stages of change in health related behavior, t test was used to compare different groups of social support and using analysis of variance and post test to analyze social support of the four types behavior. Results In 1 052 students, there was 555 (52.8%) middle school students, 497 (47.2%) high school students, and 553 (52.6%) boys, 499 (47.4%) girls. In physical exercise and sedentary behavior, numbers of precontemplation was respectively accounting for 42.2%(444/1 200) and 28.4%(299/1 200). In high-fat diet behavior, the stages of preparation and maintain was occupied 46.7%(492/1 200). In fruit and vegetable intake behavior, there was 32.9%(346/1200) students in contemplation. Numbers in action stage was both less in the above four behavior, accounting for 6.2% (65/1 200), 8.9% (94/1 200), 14.0%(147/1 200) and 6.3%(66/1 200) separately. Adolescent peer support score respectively (2.9±0.7),(2.8±0.8) and (2.9±0.9), which was higher than the family support scores ((2.7±1.1),(2.5±1.2) and (2.9±1.2)) (t values were-8.72,-11.22 and-2.59,respectively.All P values were <0.001) in physical exercise,sedentary behavior and high fat diet ,but in the intake of fruits and vegetables behavior,family support score was higher than peer support (score was respectively (3.3 ± 0.9) and (3.5 ± 1.2);t=9.97,P<0.001).ANOVA and post hoc comparison showed that the score of family and peer support in the after-action stage was significantly higher than that the before-action stage in physical exercise, high-fat diet and fruit and vegetable intake behavior, while the differences in sedentary behavior was not significant. Conclusion Youth health-related behaviors remained in its infancy, there was a certain impact on its stages which showed that the higher social support the more advanced stages of behavior.

Background Research on the relationship between ambient temperature and preterm birth has received increasing attention, but the conclusions of the previous literature are inconsistent. Objective To explore the impact of environmental temperature exposure in Ningbo on premature delivery of pregnant women. Methods The birth information, preterm birth data, and age of pregnant women from January 2016 to September 2020 were collected by the electronic medical record system of Ningbo Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Meteorological data for the same period were obtained through Ningbo Meteorological Bureau, including daily average temperature, daily average relative humidity, and daily average air pressure. Daily concentrations of SO₂, NO₂, and PM₁₀ were derived through the air quality real-time release system on the website of Ningbo Environmental Protection Bureau. A distributed lag nonlinear model was used to analyze the impact of environmental temperature on preterm birth by stratifying pregnant women’s age and birth delivery mode. Results The incidence rate of preterm birth in Ningbo from 2016 to 2020 was 5.91%. The exposure-response curve between environmental temperature and preterm birth presented a “U” shape. Taking 22.5 ℃ as a reference, the cumulative effect of 31 ℃ (the 95th percentile) and 32 ℃ (the 99th percentile) over a 21-day lag on preterm delivery was statistically significant, and the related RR (95%CI) values were 1.67 (1.05-2.65) and 1.85 (1.09-3.14) respectively. The results of stratified analysis showed that among pregnant women ≥30 years old, the 21-day cumulative effects of 31 ℃ and 32 ℃ on preterm delivery were statistically significant, and the related RR (95%CI) values were 2.09 (1.08-4.05) and 2.36 (1.11-5.03) respectively; among pregnant women with natural delivery, the 21-day cumulative effect of 32 ℃ on preterm delivery was statistically significant, and the RR (95%CI) was 1.95 (1.02-3.74). Conclusion Exposure of pregnant women to high temperature during pregnancy could increase the risk of preterm birth, and there is a delayed cumulative effect.