OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapy on moderate and severe allergic rhinitis via the comparison evaluation of western medicine.

METHODSSixty cases of moderate and severe allergic rhinitis were divided into an acupuncture group (30 cases) and a western medicine group (30 cases). In the acupuncture group, the main acupoints included Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangxing (GV 23), Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Xuehai (SP 10), Feishu (BL 13), Geshu (BL 17), Pishu (BL 20), etc. The supplementary points were selected according to syndrome differentiation. In the western medicine group, budesonide nasal spray and cetirizine tablets were prescribed. All the cases were treated for 8 weeks in the two groups. Separately, before treatment, in 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment, the scores of clinical symptoms and physical signs were observed and the clinical efficacy and safety were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSIn 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment, the scores of symptoms such as sneezing, nasal discharge, nasal obstruction, nasal itching, eye itching and turbinate hypertrophy, the score of physical signs and total score were all reduced apparently as compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 05). The differences were not significant between the acupuncture group and the western medicine group (all P>0. 05). The total effective rates were 90. 0% (27/30) and 93. 4% (28/30) in the acupuncture group after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, and were 76. 6% (23/30) and 80. 0% (24/30) in the western medicine group separately, without significant difference in comparison (all P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture achieves the similar efficacy on moderate and severe allergic rhinitis as western medicine. It is the safe therapy and has no apparent adverse reactions.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Sneezing ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To compare the effectiveness of Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments(DIMS)and High Aspheric Lenslet(HAL)defocus lenses in controlling myopia.Methods A total of 214 children and adolescents who were fitted with defocus lenses(DIMS or HAL)in our hospital from January to June 2023 were selected,including 100 cases in DIMS group and 114 cases in the HAL group.Changes in parameters such as spherical lens power,cylindrical lens power,spherical e-quivalent(SE),corneal curvature(K),axial length(AL),binocular accommodative response(BCC),positive/negative relative accommodation(PRA/NRA),distance/near latent phoria(DLP/NLP),and accommodative convergence to accommodation ratio(AC/A)were compared between the two groups before wearing and after wearing the lenses for 6 months,and the effectiveness of myopia control between DIMS and HAL was further compared.Results After wearing the lenses(DIMS or HAL)for 6 months,the average increase in axial length was(0.09±0.14)mm,the average in-crease in spherical lens power was(-0.11±0.23)D,the average increase in astigmatism was(-0.07±0.16)DC,and the average increase in spherical equivalent was(-0.15±0.24)D,with statistically significant differences observed for all these changes(t=9.24,-7.27,-6.60,-9.03,respectively,P＜0.001).Compared with parameters before wearing the lenses,statistically significant differences were noted after wearing for 6 months in spherical lens power,cylindrical lens power,SE,BCC,PRA,DLP,average K,and AL(P≤0.001),except for NRA(t=-0.12,P＞0.05),NLP(t=-0.28,P＞0.05),and AC/A(t=0.33,P＞0.05).The differences in parameters between the two groups after wearing the lenses for 6 months showed a statistically signifi-cant difference only in the AL difference(t=4.38,P≤0.001),with no statistically significant differences observed for other parameter differences(P＞0.05).Conclusion Wearing defocus lenses has a positive effect on controlling myopia,delaying axial length elongation,and maintaining binocular visual function balance.

Objective To compare the effectiveness of Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments(DIMS)and High Aspheric Lenslet(HAL)defocus lenses in controlling myopia.Methods A total of 214 children and adolescents who were fitted with defocus lenses(DIMS or HAL)in our hospital from January to June 2023 were selected,including 100 cases in DIMS group and 114 cases in the HAL group.Changes in parameters such as spherical lens power,cylindrical lens power,spherical e-quivalent(SE),corneal curvature(K),axial length(AL),binocular accommodative response(BCC),positive/negative relative accommodation(PRA/NRA),distance/near latent phoria(DLP/NLP),and accommodative convergence to accommodation ratio(AC/A)were compared between the two groups before wearing and after wearing the lenses for 6 months,and the effectiveness of myopia control between DIMS and HAL was further compared.Results After wearing the lenses(DIMS or HAL)for 6 months,the average increase in axial length was(0.09±0.14)mm,the average in-crease in spherical lens power was(-0.11±0.23)D,the average increase in astigmatism was(-0.07±0.16)DC,and the average increase in spherical equivalent was(-0.15±0.24)D,with statistically significant differences observed for all these changes(t=9.24,-7.27,-6.60,-9.03,respectively,P＜0.001).Compared with parameters before wearing the lenses,statistically significant differences were noted after wearing for 6 months in spherical lens power,cylindrical lens power,SE,BCC,PRA,DLP,average K,and AL(P≤0.001),except for NRA(t=-0.12,P＞0.05),NLP(t=-0.28,P＞0.05),and AC/A(t=0.33,P＞0.05).The differences in parameters between the two groups after wearing the lenses for 6 months showed a statistically signifi-cant difference only in the AL difference(t=4.38,P≤0.001),with no statistically significant differences observed for other parameter differences(P＞0.05).Conclusion Wearing defocus lenses has a positive effect on controlling myopia,delaying axial length elongation,and maintaining binocular visual function balance.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium level with body mass index (BMI) and body circumferences among the older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.Methods:Subjects were older adults over 65 years old from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS) between 2017 and 2018 conducted in 9 longevity areas in China. A total of 1 968 older adults were included in this study. Information including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, diet intake, and health status was collected by using questionnaires and physical examinations. Urine samples were collected to detect urinary cadmium and creatinine levels. Body circumferences included waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference. Subjects were divided into three groups (low:<0.77 μg/g·creatinine, middle:0.77-1.69 μg/g·creatinine, high:≥1.69 μg/g·creatinine) by tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium level with BMI and body circumferences. The dose-response relationship of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration with BMI and body circumferences was analyzed by using restrictive cubic splines fitting multiple linear regression model.Results:The mean age of subjects was (83.34±11.14) years old. The median (Q1, Q3) concentration of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium was 1.13 (0.63, 2.09) μg/g·creatinine, and the BMI was (22.70±3.82) kg/m 2. The mean values of waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference were (85.42±10.68) cm, (92.67±8.90) cm, and (31.08±4.76) cm, respectively. After controlling confounding factors, the results of the multiple linear regression model showed that for each increment of 1 μg/g·creatinine in creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium, the change of BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference in the high-level group was -0.28 (-0.37, -0.19) kg/m 2, -0.74 (-0.96, -0.52) cm, -0.78 (-0.96, -0.61) cm, and -0.20 (-0.30, -0.11) cm, respectively. The restrictive cubic splines curve showed a negative nonlinear association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with BMI ( Pnonlinear<0.001) and negative linear associations of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with waist circumference ( Plinear<0.001), hip circumference ( Plinear<0.001), and calf circumference ( Plinear<0.001). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium level is significantly associated with decreased BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference among older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium level with body mass index (BMI) and body circumferences among the older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.Methods:Subjects were older adults over 65 years old from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS) between 2017 and 2018 conducted in 9 longevity areas in China. A total of 1 968 older adults were included in this study. Information including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, diet intake, and health status was collected by using questionnaires and physical examinations. Urine samples were collected to detect urinary cadmium and creatinine levels. Body circumferences included waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference. Subjects were divided into three groups (low:<0.77 μg/g·creatinine, middle:0.77-1.69 μg/g·creatinine, high:≥1.69 μg/g·creatinine) by tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium level with BMI and body circumferences. The dose-response relationship of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration with BMI and body circumferences was analyzed by using restrictive cubic splines fitting multiple linear regression model.Results:The mean age of subjects was (83.34±11.14) years old. The median (Q1, Q3) concentration of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium was 1.13 (0.63, 2.09) μg/g·creatinine, and the BMI was (22.70±3.82) kg/m 2. The mean values of waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference were (85.42±10.68) cm, (92.67±8.90) cm, and (31.08±4.76) cm, respectively. After controlling confounding factors, the results of the multiple linear regression model showed that for each increment of 1 μg/g·creatinine in creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium, the change of BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference in the high-level group was -0.28 (-0.37, -0.19) kg/m 2, -0.74 (-0.96, -0.52) cm, -0.78 (-0.96, -0.61) cm, and -0.20 (-0.30, -0.11) cm, respectively. The restrictive cubic splines curve showed a negative nonlinear association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with BMI ( Pnonlinear<0.001) and negative linear associations of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with waist circumference ( Plinear<0.001), hip circumference ( Plinear<0.001), and calf circumference ( Plinear<0.001). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium level is significantly associated with decreased BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference among older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.

Due to the decline of motor ability and the impact of the diseases, abnormalities in gait is common in the elderly population, which will raise the risk of fall and cause serious injury. This study focuses on the analysis of the gait kinematics parameters of normal adults' gait, aiming to investigate the characteristics of gait parameters in different age groups and to explore the role of gait parameters in motor function assessment and clinical diagnosis. Based on the gait data gained by electronic walkway, the relationship among the toe out angles and their correlation with age and gender etc. were quantitatively analyzed. The results show that most normal subjects walk with positive toe out angles, and the angles increase with age. Such changes are slow in the young and middle age groups. However, the elevations of the left out toe angle and the angles between the feet are statistically significant after entering elder age ( >60 years). The results also suggest that the angle between the feet is a kind of practical gait parameter for varying applications. This study concludes that feet angle analysis is potential to provide a convenient and quantitative tool for the assessment of lower limb motor ability and the diagnosis of knee joint diseases.