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Medicine Sep 2023This study aimed to examine whether the 3 harmonic components (HCs) of photoplethysmography (PTG) - total harmonic distortion (THD), harmonic power (HP), and normalized...
This study aimed to examine whether the 3 harmonic components (HCs) of photoplethysmography (PTG) - total harmonic distortion (THD), harmonic power (HP), and normalized harmonic amplitude (HA) - have aging effects and may serve as an arterial stiffness marker and examine the relationship between HCs and clinical severity of pathological patterns. This study had a retrospective chart review design, and electronic medical records of 173 female patients (age: 38.57 ± 11.64 years) were reviewed. Patients were asked to complete the phlegm, blood stasis (BS), and food retention (FR) pattern questionnaires and underwent PTG and the second derivative of PTG measurements. THD, HP, and HA data were extracted till the 12th HCs from the raw PTG data. THD and HA had an aging effect (β: -0.179 to -0.278) and were related to b/a (r: -02.76 to -0.455) and d/a (r: 0.265-0.360) of the second derivative of PTG. In the younger group (≤33 years), HP and HA were positively correlated with phlegm, BS, and FR patterns (r: 0.257-0.370), while HP was positively correlated with the FR pattern (r: 0.278-0.315) in the middle age group (34-45 years). In the older group (≥46 years), HP and HA were positively or negatively correlated with the phlegm pattern (r: ±0.263 to ±0.440). HCs may serve as an arterial stiffness marker, and may be partially related to phlegm, BS, and FR patterns. Aging effect needs to be considered when utilizing HCs as an indicator of phlegm, BS, and FR patterns.
Topics: Middle Aged; Humans; Female; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Photoplethysmography; Retrospective Studies; Mucus; Aging
PubMed: 37657055
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034200 -
World Journal of Clinical Cases Apr 2022Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinemia, ovarian polycystic changes, and irregular ovulation, often occurring in women of...
BACKGROUND
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinemia, ovarian polycystic changes, and irregular ovulation, often occurring in women of childbearing age for whom it can be a cause of infertility. Hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis dysregulation is important in the pathogenesis of PCOS and the associated chronic excess of sex hormones can lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, and malignancies such as endometrial cancer, and breast cancer. At present, most scholars agree that lifestyle interventions in conjunction with drug treatment can help PCOS patients achieve their goals of successful pregnancy and childbirth.
AIM
To investigate the clinical effect of an online and offline (O2O) preventive health management model on PCOS with kidney deficiency and phlegm dampness.
METHODS
A total of 82 patients with PCOS of the kidney deficiency and phlegm dampness type who were admitted to Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from April 2019 to June 2020 were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group was treated with oral Diane-35 for 3 mo and received preventive O2O medical health management for 6 mo (including eating and living, exercise, drug management). The control group was treated with oral Diane-35 for 3 mo and completed outpatient health education. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, acne score, hair score, sex hormone level and clinical effects were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention.
RESULTS
After treatment, the TCM syndrome score, acne score, and serum luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone level were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group ( < 0.05). After 3 mo of treatment, the TCM syndrome curative effect index in the treatment group was 97.30% compared to 54.05% in the control group ( < 0.05), whereas the total treatment effect in the treatment group was 91.89%, compared to 54.05% in the control group ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
An integrated therapeutic approach incorporating medication, TCM methods and social media is more effective than standard treatment for PCOS.
PubMed: 35647126
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i10.3060 -
World Journal of Clinical Cases Jul 2019Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. While it may affect any organ of the body, few cases of solitary lung involvement are... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. While it may affect any organ of the body, few cases of solitary lung involvement are published in the literature. Here, we report a rare case of pulmonary LCH (PLCH) in an adult.
CASE SUMMARY
A 52-year-old male presented to hospital in July 2018 with complaints of progressively worsening cough with sputum, breathlessness, easy fatigability, and loss of appetite since 2016, and a 32-year history of heavy cigarette smoking (average 30 cigarettes/d). Physical examination showed only weakened breathing sounds and wheezing during lung auscultation. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed irregular micronodules and multiple thin-walled small holes. Respiratory function tests showed a slight decrease. Ultrasonic cardiogram showed mild tricuspid regurgitation and no pulmonary hypertension. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy was performed with transbronchial biopsies from the basal segment of right lower lobe. LCH was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The final diagnosis was PLCH without extra-pulmonary involvement. We suggested smoking cessation treatment. A 3-mo follow-up chest CT scan showed clear absorption of the nodule and thin-walled small holes. The symptoms of cough and phlegm had improved markedly and appetite had improved. There was no obvious dyspnoea.
CONCLUSION
Imaging manifestations of nodules, cavitating nodules, and thick-walled or thin-walled cysts prompted suspicion of PLCH and lung biopsy for diagnosis.
PubMed: 31417936
DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v7.i14.1892 -
Heliyon Feb 2023There are few data regarding adult protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB). This study aimed to delineate the clinical features of PBB and evaluate their potential...
There are few data regarding adult protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB). This study aimed to delineate the clinical features of PBB and evaluate their potential diagnostic value in adults. We recruited 55 adult patients with PBB and selected randomly 220 patients with non-PBB as control. A diagnosis of PBB was considered if patients had a cough lasting ≥3 weeks, no abnormalities of chest computed tomography, positive bacterial culture in sputum and/or response well to oral moxifloxacin for 1-4 weeks. The clinical manifestations and laboratory investigations were compared between PBB patients and non-PBB patients. Of the 55 patients with PBB, approximately three-fifths (34, 61.8%) were females with a median age of 46.0 years, which were similar to that of patients with non-PBB. We observed a shorter cough duration in PBB than non-PBB (median 3.0 versus 24.0 months, < 0.001). Compared to non-PBB patients, PBB patients had higher incidences of productive cough, yellow phlegm and a sensation of mucus in the throat (SMIT) (all < 0.001). Sputum neutrophils and lymphocytes were markedly elevated in PBB patients than non-PBB patients (both = 0.004). Bacterial pathogens were detected in eight (28.6%) of 28 cases with PBB. The multivariate analyses showed yellow phlegm, productive cough, SMIT, increased sputum lymphocytes (≥2.3%) and cough duration ≤8.5 months with moderate sensitivity (50.9-81.8%) and moderate-high specificity (60.5-94.4%) for determining PBB. In summary, adults with PBB are characterized by productive cough, yellow phlegm, SMIT and neutrophilic airway inflammation. These cough features and increased sputum lymphocytes may be useful to indicate PBB.
PubMed: 36755583
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12299 -
Journal of Agromedicine Jan 2022After observing several clinical patients with respiratory symptoms, we initiated a questionnaire survey to assess prevalence of and predictors for asthma and...
After observing several clinical patients with respiratory symptoms, we initiated a questionnaire survey to assess prevalence of and predictors for asthma and work-related symptoms among workers in fish processing plants. A questionnaire with items on work conditions, work-related symptoms, and respiratory symptoms/diseases was sent to 916 fish processing workers, the 1836 licenced fishermen in Sweden, and 1965 controls; of those, 43%, 57%, and 53%, respectively, responded. Risks, hazard ratios (HRs), and prevalence ratios (PRs) were calculated with Cox regression, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed. The risk of asthma among fish filleting workers was increased during the years working in the fish processing industry when compared to the other fish processing workers and controls (HR 3.6, 95% CI 1.6-8.1, adjusted for atopy, gender, and ever smoking). The filleters had an increased PR for most of the work-related respiratory symptoms investigated. All fish processing workers had a higher PR for flu-like symptoms. Use of a pressure sprayer was identified as a risk for asthma and respiratory symptoms among both fish processing workers and controls. Filleters had changed work tasks because of respiratory symptoms more often (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.02) than other fish processing workers. In conclusion the fish filleters and pressure sprayer users reported more adult asthma and cough with phlegm compared to the other fish processing workers and controls. The use of pressure sprayers must be reduced and machinery should be completely encased to reduce workers' exposure to bioaerosols and its effects on the respiratory tract.
Topics: Asthma; Humans; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 33091328
DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2020.1834481 -
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Oct 2023To preliminary investigate the distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution among patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and reveal the related factors...
OBJECTIVE
To preliminary investigate the distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) constitution among patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and reveal the related factors with anxiety and depression.
METHODS
Between July 2020 and June 2021, specialist doctor recruited AR patients in Beijing and Shanghai. A total of 630 patients admitted to participate in the survey, and 516 (81.9%) (male 54.3%, female 45.7%) participants completed the questionnaires. Three scales including Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) and The Patient Health Queationaire-9 (PHQ-9) were applied. The χ and the Fisher's exact test were used to evaluate the classification data, multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the related factors of anxiety and depression.
RESULTS
According to 516 AR patients, the most commonly first-constitution was deficiency (22.1%) and frequent of all constitutions was inherited-special (21.6%). One third of AR patients (33.5%) suffered from anxiety, nearly half of AR patients (46.5%) were found to be depressive. Inherited-special (27.7%) was the most common constitution in patients with anxiety whereas deficiency (26.7%) was most common constitution in patients with depression. Sex, duration of symptoms, balanced, deficiency, phlegm-dampness, stagnation, and inherited-special constitutions were related with anxiety; Sex, income, duration of symptoms, balanced, deficiency, deficiency, phlegm-dampness, stagnation, and inherited-special constitutions were related with depression.
CONCLUSIONS
According to our study, the commonly constitution types of AR were deficiency and inherited-special. We found that the prevalence value of anxiety and depression were high. People with deficiency, phlegm-dampness, stagnation, and inherited-special constitutions were more likely to have mental problems than the others. Controlling these influential factors might be beneficial for clinical health management of AR patients, and the government should apply appropriate mental health treatment services to offer psychiatric support.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Depression; Body Constitution; China; Yang Deficiency; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders
PubMed: 37946488
DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20230919.001 -
Respiratory Medicine Case Reports 2020Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) devices are frequently used in patients with respiratory muscle weakness to increase their cough peak flow and assist them in...
Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) devices are frequently used in patients with respiratory muscle weakness to increase their cough peak flow and assist them in improving cough effectiveness and clearing mucus from the airways. An 89-year-old male was admitted to our university hospital due to fever and loss of appetite. He was diagnosed with lung abscess and pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. He was unable to independently expectorate phlegm due to frailty. Subsequently, MI-E was introduced. On day 3 after its introduction, chest X-ray examination revealed bilateral pneumothorax, and use of the MI-E device was discontinued. After conservatively observing the clinical course, pneumothorax was improved on day 12 after it occurred. Although scientific evidence regarding MI-E is currently limited, healthcare professionals often do not have an alternative in clinical practice. However, treating physicians should consider the risk of MI-E-related pneumothorax, despite its low occurrence rate.
PubMed: 32071855
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2020.101017 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2022In this study, we analyzed the metabonomics of intermingled phlegm and blood stasis (IPBS) and its three concurrent syndromes in patients with stable angina pectoris of...
OBJECTIVES
In this study, we analyzed the metabonomics of intermingled phlegm and blood stasis (IPBS) and its three concurrent syndromes in patients with stable angina pectoris of coronary heart disease.
METHODS
A total of 164 sera of separated outpatients from 12 national tradition Chinese medicine clinical research centers with IPBS or concurrent syndromes were collected for the study and assessed with LC-ESI-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem-mass spectrometry)-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis.
RESULTS
Non-differential metabolites between IPBS and its separate syndrome combined with the top 100 most abundant metabolites in four groups were screened to reflect the essence of IPBS. Amino acid and its metabolomics and glycerol phospholipids were screened for common metabolites, and these metabolites were mainly enriched in valine, leucine, and isoleucine metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Principal component analysis revealed that the difference between IPBS and its separate concurrent syndromes was not distinct. Compared with IPBS, anserine, cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine, and 7,8-dihydro-L-biopterin separately significant increase in phlegm stasis and toxin (PST), phlegm stasis and Qi stagnation (PQS), and phlegm stasis and Qi deficiency (PQD). While these different metabolites were associated with histidine metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and folate biosynthesis. Three accurate identification models were obtained to identify the difference between IPBS and its concurrent syndromes.
CONCLUSION
Our study indicated that valine, leucine, and isoleucine metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism could represent the essence of IPBS; dysregulated metabolites were valuable in identifying PST from IPBS.
PubMed: 35647058
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.871142 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2020is the dried sclerotium of (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb., which was the current accepted name and was formerly known as (Schwein.) I. Johans. & Ryvarden,... (Review)
Review
is the dried sclerotium of (F.A. Wolf) Ryvarden & Gilb., which was the current accepted name and was formerly known as (Schwein.) I. Johans. & Ryvarden, (Schwein.) Fr., F.A. Wolf and Schwein. It is one of the most important crude drugs in traditional Chinese medicine, with a wide range of applications in ameliorating phlegm and edema, relieving nephrosis and chronic gastritis and improving uneasiness of minds. Its extensive pharmacological effects have attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, there is no systematic review focusing on the chemical compounds and pharmacological activities of . Therefore, this review aimed to provide the latest information on the chemical compounds and pharmacological effects of , exploring the therapeutic potential of these compounds. We obtained the information of from electronic databases such as SCI finder, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang DATA and Google Scholar. Up to now, two main active ingredients, triterpenes and polysaccharides of , have been identified from . It has been reported that they have pharmacological effects on anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, and liver and kidney protection. The review summarizes the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of , which suggest that researchers should focus on the development of new drugs about to make them exert greater therapeutic potential.
PubMed: 33071776
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.505249 -
Journal of Occupational and... Sep 2022We assessed the association of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) with respiratory symptoms, asthma, and post-bronchodilator...
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the association of formaldehyde, carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) with respiratory symptoms, asthma, and post-bronchodilator reversibility.
METHODS
We included 1629 adults in a community-based cross-sectional study in Karachi in 2015. Data were collected using the American Thoracic Society respiratory questionnaire and spirometry (available for 930 participants). YesAir eight-channel monitor was used for measuring concentrations of formaldehyde and CO, whereas PM 2.5 was measured using UCB PATS.
RESULTS
Higher levels of formaldehyde and CO were associated with cough, phlegm, and wheeze, whereas those of PM 2.5 were associated with shortness of breath and presence of any of the respiratory symptoms (combined), as well as a "lower" risk of cough, phlegm, and bronchitis.
CONCLUSION
Poorer household air quality was associated with poorer respiratory health in this population; however, further studies with a robust exposure assessment are required.
Topics: Adult; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Air Pollution, Indoor; Cough; Cross-Sectional Studies; Formaldehyde; Humans; Pakistan; Particulate Matter
PubMed: 35672913
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002573