Efficacy of indoor air purification in the treatment of Artemisia pollen-allergic rhinitis: A randomised, double-blind, clinical controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a high-efficiency air purifier in patients with allergic rhinitis. DESIGN: We conducted a randomised, double-blind, clinical controlled trial with active and inactive versions of an air purifier. Our study included patients with allergic rhinitis who were sensitive to Artemisia pollen and treatment of the indoor environment using air filtration at night. We evaluated the clinical efficacy of indoor air filtration during the Artemisia pollen scattering season in Yulin City in Shanxi Province, China. SETTING: The First Hospital of Yulin (Yulin City, Shanxi Province, China). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 90 patients with allergic rhinitis who were sensitive to allergens of Artemisia pollen were randomly assigned to one of two groups in equal numbers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the difference in visual analogue scale scores from baseline. Secondary outcomes were changes from baseline in nasal symptoms, allergy symptom scores, responses to the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores and tolerability scores for the air purifier. RESULTS: Based on the allergy symptom score, we found significant differences in rhinitis symptoms between the groups who used the active versus the inactive air purifier. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our investigation demonstrated the health benefits of particle filtration.

Efficacy of indoor air purification in treating Artemisia (mugwort) pollen allergic rhinitis: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a worldwide health problem. Allergen avoidance is strongly recommended for AR patients. Air purification can reduce concentrations of particles in indoor air, including those of allergens. Air purifiers have been recommended by clinicians for AR patients, but few studies have focused on the removal of airborne allergens from home environments. Such studies have been limited by a lack of blinding, small samples, or a failure to measure allergen levels, disease activity, or a combination of these factors. This study investigates the efficacy of a high-efficiency air purifier in reducing disease activity in the homes of AR patients sensitive to the allergens produced by Artemisia (mugwort) pollen. METHODS: This is a randomized, double-blind, clinical controlled trial that will test active and inactive versions of an air purifier (Atmosphere®; Amway China). Sixty AR patients sensitive to the allergens produced by Artemisia pollen will be assigned randomly to two groups of equal numbers. All patients will undergo a 4-week treatment period and a 4-week observation period. Evaluation will be conducted at baseline (day 0) and on days 7, 14, 21, 28, and 56. The primary outcome measure will be the difference in visual analog scale scores from baseline. Secondary outcomes will be changes from baseline in nasal symptoms, allergy symptom scores, responses to the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores, and tolerability scores for the air purifier. Side effects of treatment will be recorded. DISCUSSION: Reducing exposure to allergens can reduce the risk of conditions such as AR. We hypothesise that AR patients sensitive to the allergens produced by Artemisia pollen will not suffer symptoms in a pollen-free environment. AR patients can remove pollen from their homes using air purifiers, decreasing the risk of symptoms. We expect that our study results will provide reliable evidence for determining the effects of air-purification therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-INR-17012481 . (Retrospectively registered 26 August 2017).

Comparison among nasopharyngeal swab, nasal wash, and oropharyngeal swab for respiratory virus detection in adults with acute pharyngitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute pharyngitis is frequently seen in primary care. Acute viral pharyngitis may be easily misdiagnosed as acute bacterial pharyngitis. Laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of respiratory viruses is recommended. The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivities among oropharyngeal swab (OPS), nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), and nasal wash (NW) in adults with acute pharyngitis. METHODS: OPS, NPS, and NW were obtained from each participant with acute pharyngitis. The specimens were tested for 15 respiratory viruses by TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction. A sample was considered to be a true positive if any of the specimens was positive. The sensitivities among samples were compared by chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate. RESULTS: One hundred three triple samples collected consecutively by OPS, NPS, and NW were obtained. In 73 patients, one or more viruses were detected by any of the three methods. Among all viruses, the sensitivity of NPS was significantly higher than that of NW (74% vs. 49%, respectively; p < 0.01) and OPS (74% vs. 49%, respectively; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Flocked NPS collection may be the most effective alternative to NW and OPS for detection of respiratory viruses in adults with acute pharyngitis using TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction.

[Clinical study on treatment of acute radiation oral mucositis of yin deficiency-induced inner heat syndrome by nourishing yin and clearing heat method].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of Chinese medicine for nourishing yin and clearing heat therapy (CM therapy) in treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients with yin deficiency-induced inner heat syndrome, and suffered from acute radiation oral mucositis. METHODS: Sixty patients with NPC fitting to the inclusion criteria and undergoing initial dose radiotherapy were assigned to two groups. The 31 patients in the treatment group received CM therapy, and the 29 in the control group were treated with standard Western medical therapy. The condition of oral mucosa and epidermal growth factor (EGF) content in saliva of patients during the therapeutic period were observed, meanwhile the quality of life (QOL) of patients was estimated with the quality of life questionnaire-core 30 (QLQ-C30) issued by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). RESULTS: Acute radiation oral mucositis occurred in all patients, but the severity in the treatment group was milder than that in the control group (P < 0.01). Salivary EGF content decreased along with the increasing radiation dosage, it decreased significantly when 40 Gy radiated and down to the minimum when 70 Gy radiated, but the decrement in the treatment group was less than that in the control group (P < 0.01). Comparison of QOL by QLQ-C30 scale showed that after radiotherapy the global health status in the treatment group was superior to the control group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Chinese medicine for nourishing yin and clearing heat therapy could actually postpone the occurrence of acute radiation oral mucositis, lessen the adverse reaction of radiotherapy and improve patient's QOL, show a favorable effect in prevention and treatment, and has definite application value for clinical spreading.

[Ecological and physiological adaptabilities of earthworm in biofilter under domestication stage].

Ecological and physiological adaptabilities of earthworm in biofilter under domestication stage is presented, as well as related factors. The results show that, due to the coercion of natural and filter environment, the number and biomass of earthworms present a gradual downward trend after added. But once the conditions become appropriate, hatching of larvae could add the number and biomass of earthworm in the filter. With the increase of temperature, circumjacent earthworms gradually move to the water distribution area, 58 days later earthworms distribution become more uniform. Earthworm density and moisture content exist the significant negative correlation. Temperature, precipitation and rainfall don't affect the ecological indicators of earthworms significantly. When temperature is below 15 degrees C, the earthworms' respiratory rate become more sensitive and decline significantly which is not conducive for earthworms treatment of sewage sludge. In a certain range, it's effective for improving the efficiency of sludge treatment to increase the density of earthworms and distribute earthworms evenly.

[Effect of hydraulic loading on antioxidant enzyme and digestive enzyme activities of earthworm in biofilter].

Through different working condition experiments, effect of hydraulic loading on antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase, catalase) and digestive enzyme (cellulose, alkaline phosphatase) activities of earthworm in biofilter were studied. The results indicated that antioxidant enzyme and digestive enzyme activities of earthworms responded to hydraulic loading stresses differently. SOD and CAT activities of earthworms increased with the increase of hydraulic loading in the scale of 2.4-6.7 m3 x (m2 x d)(-1), earthworms resisted external environmental stress by coordination function of antioxidation system, so they could survive in different conditions. In addition, digestive enzyme activity, digest ability, sludge reduction and stabilization effect showed excellent correlation (p < 0.05). When the hydraulic loading was 4.8 m3 x (m2 x d)(-1), earthworm biofilter showed a high level of AKP, FP and digest rate (41.47%), which was notably better than that of other conditions, sludge and organic matter reduction rate came to the maximum, 48.2% and 65.5% respectively. However, higher level of hydraulic loading [> or = 6.0 m3 x (m2 x d)(-1)] restrained AKP and FP activity markedly and metabolism level was affected, sludge reduction rate had certain decadence, so it was unfavorable for earthworm biofilter to bring the ecological function into play. At last it is recommended that the hydraulic loading of earthworm biofilter should not exceed 6.0 m3 x (m2 x d)(-1).

[Effect of hydraulic load distribution on sewage treatment efficiency of earthworm bio-filter].

Effect of hydraulic load distribution on sewage treatment efficiency of earthworm bio-filter was studied by analyzing influent and effluent of earthworm bio-filter and earthworm behaviors. The results show that when hydraulic load varying from 2.0 m3/(m2 x d) to 6.0 m3/(m2 x d), the concentration of each pollutant in earthworm bio-filter effluent increases slowly and is little effected by hydraulic load. When hydraulic load reaches 6.7 m3/(m2 x d), the concentration of COD, BOD5, SS, NH4(+) -N and TP in earthworm bio-filter effluent increases obviously, but the TN concentration in effluent presents descending tendency. The earthworms become rather inadaptable to the living conditions at this operating mode. As hydraulic load increasing, the earthworms' relative ingestive ability is improved at first, and then decreases. The earthworms' relative ingestive ability comes to the maximum at hydraulic load of 4.8 m3/(m2 x d), with good organic removal efficiency. The relation ships between hydraulic load and average weight, average density, unit-area biomass of the earthworms are significant negative correlation. The hydraulic load of 4.8 m3/(m2 x d) is recommended, but not over 6.7 m3/(m2 x d).