Analysis of antibiotic usage for viral community-acquired pneumonia in adults / 医学前沿

The rationale for the antibiotic treatment of viral community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults was analyzed to develop a clinical reference standard for this condition. Clinical data from 166 patients diagnosed with viral pneumonia across 14 hospitals in Beijing from November 2010 to December 2017 were collected. The indications for medications were evaluated, and the rationale for the use of antibiotics was analyzed. A total of 163 (98.3%) patients with viral pneumonia were treated with antibiotics. A combination of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) was used as markers to analyze the possible indications for antibiotic use. With threshold levels set at 0.25 µg/L for PCT and 20 mg/L for CRP, the rate of unreasonable use of antibiotics was 55.2%. By contrast, at a CRP level threshold of 60 mg/L, the rate of antibiotic misuse was 77.3%. A total of 39 of the 163 (23.9%) patients did not meet the guidelines for drug selection for viral CAP in adults. The unreasonable use of antibacterial drugs for the treatment of viral CAP in adults is a serious concern. Clinicians must reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Clinical research of medicinal vesiculation for perennial allergic rhinitis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy differences between dog-days medicinal vesiculation and regular-day medicinal vesiculation for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), and observe their effects on serum immune globulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two patients were randomly divided into a dog-days moxibustion group (34 cases) and a regular-day moxibustion group (38 cases). In the dog-days moxibustion group, medicinal vesiculation was applied on the 1st dog-day, 2nd dog-day and last dog-day in summer by lunar calendar, 3 treatments per dog-day for totally 9 times. In the regular-day moxibustion group, the moxibustion was given on the regular day for continuous 9 times. The symptom score, rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the level of IgE and IL-4 were compared before and after treatment in two groups; the short-term and two-year efficacy evaluation were performed too.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The short-term total effective rate was 88.2% (30/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was not significantly different to 86.8% (33/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P>0.05). The long-term total effective rate was 97.1% (33/34) in the dog-days moxibustion group, which was significantly superior to 81.6% (31/38) in the regular-day moxibustion group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum IgE, IL-4 and RQLQ were significantly reduced (all P<0.01), but the difference between two groups was not significant (all P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Medicinal moxibustion could be taken as a regular treatment for PAR, which could be performed during the whole year, and dog-days moxibustion could be considered as an enhanced method for prevention and treatment of PAR.</p>

Effect of inorganic carbon source on lipid production with autotrophic Chlorella vulgaris / 生物工程学报

We studied the effects of three inorganic carbon sources, Na2CO3, NaHCO3 and CO2, and their initial concentrations on lipid production of Chlorella vulgaris. Chlorella vulgaris could utilize Na2CO3, NaHCO3 and CO2 to produce lipids. After 10-day cultivation with each of the three inorganic carbon sources, lipid yield of Chlorella vulgaris reached its peak with the concentration increase of the inorganic carbon source, but dropped again by further increase of the concentration. The pH value of the culture medium for Chlorella vulgaris increased after the cultivation on inorganic carbon source. The optimal concentration of both Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 was 40 mmol/L, and their corresponding biomass dry weight was 0.52 g/L and 0.67 g/L with their corresponding lipid yield 0.19 g/L and 0.22 g/L. When the concentration of CO2 was 6%, Chlorella vulgaris grew the fastest and its biomass dry weight was 2.42 g/L with the highest lipid yield of 0.72 g/L. When the concentration of CO2 was too low, the supply of inorganic carbon was insufficient and lipid yield was low. A too high concentration of CO2 caused a low pH and lipid accumulation was inhibited. Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 were more favorable for Chlorella vulgaris to accumulate unsaturated fatty acids than that of CO2.

Effect of acupuncture at three acupoints of eye on Bell palsy / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe the effect of acupuncture at three acupoints of eye on Bell palsy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-six cases were randomly divided into a routine acupuncture group and a Yan three needling group, 38 cases in each group. The routine acupuncture group were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at routinely selected acupoints including Yifeng (TE 17), Dicang (ST 4), etc. and the Yan three needling group were treated by EA at the routinely selected acupoints combined with acupuncture at three acupoints of eye including Jingming (BL 1), Shangming, Chengqi (ST 1). The intensity on 0.05 ms in the intensity/time (I/t) curve for frontal ventral fronto-occipital muscle and orbicular muscle of mouth at the affected side was used for assessment criteria of course of disease, and frontal ventral fronto-occipital muscle restoring the raising eyebrow action and orbicular muscle of mouth restoring to House-Brackmann grade I and II were regarded as the therapeutic time limit.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Routine EA treatment combined with acupuncture at the 3 acupoints of eye could significantly increase clinical therapeutic effect on Bell palsy with a cured rate of 89.5%, which was better than 65.8% in the routine acupuncture group (P<0.05), and the therapeutic cycle was shorted.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at the 3 acupoints of eye can significantly improve Bell palsy and promote recovery of functions of facial nerves.</p>

Effect of Du Meridian Electroacupuncture of the Scalp on Deglutition Disorder after Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

@#ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Du meridian electroacupuncture of the scalp on deglutition disorder after stroke.Methods67 patients with deglutition disorder after stroke were randomly divided into the experimental group (n=34) and control group (n=33). The patients of the experimental group were received Du meridian electroacupuncture of the scalp as main therapy, combined with routine medicine treatments; the patients of the control group were only received routine medicine treatments. Before and after treatments, deglutition function of all patients was assessed by drinking water test and clinical effect was also assessed.ResultsAfter treatment, the deglutition function of the patients in the experiment group was markedly improved and superior to those in the control group ( P<0.01).ConclusionDu meridian electroacupuncture can markedly improve the clinical effect of routine medicine treatments on deglutition disorder after stroke.