Macular pigment and serum zeaxanthin levels with Goji berry supplement in early age-related macular degeneration.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of Goji berry supplementation on improving macular pigment, serum zeaxanthin levels and visual acuity in patients with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: A total of 114 patients (aged from 51 to 92y, mean age 69.53±8.41y) with early AMD were enrolled in our prospective, randomized controlled study. The included patients were assigned randomly to the Goji group (n=57) with 25 g of Goji berries supplementation per day for 90d and the control group (n=57) with their normal diet for 90d. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was measured using heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP). The levels of serum lutein (L)/zeaxanthin (Z) were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). MPOD, serum L/Z levels and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded at baseline and 90d. RESULTS: In the Goji group, there were no statistically significant differences in the serum L levels between the baseline (0.199±0.149 µmol/mL) and 90d (0.203±0.181 µmol/mL) (t=-0.186, P=0.850); however the serum Z levels were increased at 90d (0.101±0.087 µmol/mL) compared with those at the baseline (0.029±0.032 µmol/mL) (t=6.412, P<0.001). Patients treated with Goji berry for 90d showed an elevated MPOD (0.877±0.202 DU) from the baseline (0.731±0.205 DU) (t=-4.741, P=0.000). In contrast to the control group, the serum Z levels and MPOD were higher in the Goji group at 90d (both P<0.05). At 90d, patients with Goji berry supplementation had a relative decrease in BCVA (0.21±0.18 logMAR) compared with the baseline (0.27±0.20) (t=2.397, P=0.020). CONCLUSION: Overall, daily supplementation with Goji berry for 90d improves MPOD by increasing serum Z levels rather than serum L levels in early AMD patients. Goji berry may be an effective therapeutic intervention for preventing the progression of early AMD.

Effects of professional rehabilitation training on the recovery of neurological function in young stroke patients.

Young stroke patients have a strong desire to return to the society, but few studies have been conducted on their rehabilitation training items, intensity, and prognosis. We analyzed clinical data of young and middle-aged/older stroke patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Capital Medical University, China from February 2014 to May 2015. Results demonstrated that hemorrhagic stroke (59.6%) was the primary stroke type found in the young group, while ischemic stroke (60.0%) was the main type detected in the middle-aged/older group. Compared with older stroke patients, education level and incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia were higher in younger stroke patients, whereas, incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease were lower. The average length of hospital stay was longer in the young group than in the middle-aged/older group. The main risk factors observed in the young stroke patients were hypertension, drinking, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, diabetes, previous history of stroke, and heart disease. The most accepted rehabilitation program consisted of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion. Average rehabilitation training time was 2.5 hours/day. Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale scores were increased at discharge. Six months after discharge, the degree of occupational and economic satisfaction declined, and there were no changes in family life satisfaction. The degrees of other life satisfaction (such as friendship) improved. The degree of disability and functional status improved significantly in young stroke patients after professional rehabilitation, but the number of patients who returned to society within 6 months after stroke was still small.

[Effects of airborne fine particulate matter on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function].

OBJECTIVE: to explore effects of airborne fine particulate matter exposure on human respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function. METHODS: one hundred and seven field traffic policemen were recruited as airborne fine particulate matter high-exposure group and one hundred and one male residents as common exposure group. The individual sampler was used to measure fine particulate matter exposure levels of the two groups. To obtain personal information, especially respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, etc. a questionnaire survey was used. The pulmonary ventilation function was detected: forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC), the first 1 second forced expiratory volume (FEV1.0), FVC/FEV1.0% and peak flow values (PEF), and the difference of fine particulate matter exposure level and respiratory function of the two groups was compared. RESULTS: 24 h individual average fine particulate matter exposure concentration of traffic police and residents were respectively (115.4 ± 46.17) microg/m(3) and (74.94 ± 40.09) microg/m(3), the traffic police PM2.5 exposure levels were significantly higher than the residents. In the incidence of respiratory symptoms, compared with high-exposure group and common exposure group, coughing, expectoration, throat unwell, asthma, short of breath and nose discomfort, traffic police group was higher than residents group (P < 0.05). The abnormal rate of lung ventilation function indexes, such as FVC and FEV1.0 was 25.23% and 12.15% respectively in high-exposure group, 11.88% and 2.97% in common exposure group, there was no statistical difference between two groups. Besides, the abnormal rate of FVC and FEV1.0, showed rising trend in high-exposure group with seniority. CONCLUSION: long-term higher levels of airborne fine particulate matter exposure, may impact respiratory health and impair pulmonary function.