Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and prediabetes and associated risk factors: a community-based screening in Zhuhai, Southern China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and prediabetes has increased in China, and at different rates in different locations. Therefore a community-based screening research was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of CKD and prediabetes, and to analyze associated risk factors of CKD and prediabetes in a city of Southern China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 7801 community residents aged 18 year and older from 6 communities were screened by a stratified random cluster sampling method. An estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albuminuria, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured. Age-standardized prevalence was calculated by the direct method with the use of data on the population distribution in China in 2006. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of CKD and prediabetes, and association of insulin resistance (IR) with CKD and prediabetes was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The age-standardized prevalence of CKD was 12.5%, eGFR < 60 ml×min(-1)×1.73 m(-2) was 2.7% and ACR (albumin to creatinine ratio) > 30 mg/g was 10.3%. The age-standardized prevalence of prediabetes was 12.1%. Logistic regression suggests that IR was a common independent risk factor of CKD and prediabetes. Further analysis show that HOMA-IR was increased with the aggravation of kidney injury and FPG.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CKD and prediabetes have become a major public health problem in Zhuhai, Southern China; insulin resistance may be an important risk factor.</p>

Clinical significance of skin prick test for inhalant allergens in 3085 children with allergic diseases / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the main inhalant allergens and their distribution patterns in children with allergic diseases from Xi'an and the surrounding area and to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Skin prick test was performed using liquid with 13 standardized allergens (ALK-ABELL, Denmark) on 3085 children from Xi'an and the surrounding area who were treated for allergic diseases between July 2006 and July 2011, to detect inhalant allergens.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 3085 patients, 1368 (44.34%) had positive SPT results, with the most prevalent inhalant allergen being Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (804 cases, 26.06%), followed by Dermatophagoides farinae (793 cases, 25.71%), Blomia tropicalis (440 cases, 14.26%), mugwort (282 cases, 9.14%), and cat hair (204 cases, 6.61%). The positive rates were 28.66% in the <4 years group, 41.85% in the 4-6 years group, and 58.61% in the 7-15 years group (P<0.01). Males had a significantly higher SPT positive rate than females (47.78% vs 38.50%；P<0.05). The SPT positive rate was highest in children with allergic rhinitis (72.41%), followed by bronchial asthma (62-25%), allergic dermatosis (45.83%), and allergic purpura (36.28%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In children from Xi'an and the surrounding area, the main inhalant allergens for allergic diseases include Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Blomia tropicalis, mugwort and cat hair. The SPT positive rate increases with age. Male children have a higher SPT positive rate than female children. The SPT positive rate is highest in children with allergic rhinitis.</p>

Comparative observation on acupuncture-moxibustion and western medication for treatment of sudden deafness / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the therapeutic effect on sudden deafness between acupuncture and moxibustion therapy of excitation-focus transfer and routine medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty cases of sudden deafness were randomly divided into two groups, 40 cases in each one. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy of excitation-focus transfer was adopted in observation group on Yongquan (KI 1) (with reducing and slightly heavy manipulation), Tinggong (SI 19), Tinghui (GB 2) and Ermen (TE 21), and associated with suspending moxibustion for thermal sensitization on Yongquan (KI 1). In control group, the routine medications were given. The therapeutic effects of two groups were compared with each other.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After three sessions of treatment, dB value of hearing loss in two groups decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), but the improvement of hearing in observation group was superior to that in control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 80.0% (32/40) in observation group, which was better than that 55.0% (22/40) in control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy of excitation-focus transfer presents superior therapeutic effect on sudden deafness as compared with the routine western therapy.</p>

Therapeutic effect of infrared radiation on skin scald in rats / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effect of infrared radiation (IR) on the skin scald in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-nine male Wistar rats were used in the study, and they were randomly divided into normal control (C, n = 13), scald (S, n = 13, no treatment after scalding) and treatment (T, n = 13, with IR radiation treatment for 5 days since 2nd post scalding day (PSD) groups. The rats in S and T groups were subjected to deep partial thickness scalding on the back. The cutaneous tissue samples from rat wound in each group were harvested on the 3rd and 7th PSD for pathomorphological examination. DNA synthesis in wound tissue was analyzed by 3H-TdR incorporation method, and the vascular permeability in cutaneous tissue, degree of tissue edema and MDA content were determined by corresponding methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Epidermal exfoliation, cutaneous ulcer, follicular atrophy and damage, and massive formation of collagen were identified in the skin wound of rats in S group on the 7th PSD compared with C group. The skin in T group was smooth with slight atrophy and a few collagen fibers in follicles. The 3H-TdR incorporation amount in the rats in T group (1856.33 +/- 343.81 cpm/mg) on the 7th PSD was significantly higher than that in S group (1353.95 +/- 274.48 cpm/mg) (P < 0.01). The tissue permeability, edema degree and MDA content in the cutaneous tissue in S group were obviously higher than those in group C, while these indices were markedly lower in T group when compared with those in S group (P < 0.01-0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Treatment with IR seemed to be beneficial to the promotion of skin tissue metabolism and tissue repair.</p>