Access to Health Care in China: Comparative Study on Data from CHARLS Pilot and SHARE

This paper investigates the effect of household income per capita on the self-reported health status and health care utisation by comparing the Chinese data from CHARLS (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study) and Swedish data from SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe). The result shows that the income effect on self-reported health is bigger in China than in Sweden, but its impact on health care use is not as strong as it is on the perceived health. This study also looks at how the access to health care has improved over the three-year health reform plan in China. The result of this analysis indicated the promoted physical access to health care in China as compared to that before the health reform. However, there still is inequality in perceived health status by income as compared to that of Sweden, and the rate of hospital visits is lower in rural areas in China

Electromyographic and Kinematic Trunk Analysis of Boxing during a Dominate Straight Punch

The purpose of this study was to compare the surface electro myogram of trunk muscle activity and the three-dimensional kinematics of the trunk between experienced and novice boxers during straight punch with the rear arm. Fifteen university-age males participated in the study. Participants were ranked as experienced (n=8) or novice (n=7). The straight punch was broken into three phases as Preliminary Movements (PM), Thrown Punch (TP), and Returned Punch (RP). The surface electro myogram captured the activity of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, deltoid, and rectus femoris on the dominant side and the internal oblique-transversus abdominis (IO-TrA) and multifidus on both sides. Three-dimensional motion analysis was performed to calculate the horizontal angle of the Acromial line, the ASIS line and the Greater Trochanter of the femur (GT) line. Results of the surface electro myogram of the IO-TrA on the non-dominant side of the novice group during the PM phase were significantly higher than those of the experienced (p<0.05). Similarly, the IO-TrA of the dominant side of the novice during the TP phase were significantly higher than that of the experienced (p<0.05). In motion analysis, the ASIS line and the GT line were significantly greater in the experienced group compared with the novice (p<0.05). The novice group did not allow the entire trunk to rotate, but rather twisted the thoracolumbar vertebrae to throw the punch. Trunk rotation, not trunk twist, is important to the execution of the straight punch

Team Characteristics for Maximizing the Educational Effectiveness of Practical Lectures on Software Intensive Systems Development

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Anti-IgE Antibody Therapy for Japanese Cedar Pollinosis: Omalizumab Update

Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) induced by Japanese cedar pollens is a substantial problem in Japan. Omalizumab, a novel humanized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, has already been proven to reduce symptoms associated with SAR. To investigate the safety and efficacy of omalizumab in the treatment of patients with Japanese cedar pollen-induced SAR compared to placebo or anti-allergic drug, two randomized, double-blind studies were conducted in Japan. Omalizumab (150, 225, 300, or 375 mg) or placebo was administered subcutaneously every 2 or 4 weeks based on serum total IgE and body weight at baseline. IPD was administered 300 mg per day through the season. Primary and all secondary efficacy variable scores were significantly lower in the omalizumab group than in the placebo group (P < .01) and IPD, Th2 cytokine inhibitor group (P < .01). Omalizumab was effective and safe in the treatment of SAR induced by Japanese cedar pollens. And the methods of increasing effects by combining omalizumab with antibody-specific immunotherapy are being considered. These strategy is more effective than immune-therapy alone

Omalizumab is Effective and Safe in the Treatment of Japanese Cedar Pollen-induced Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Background: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) induced by Japanese cedar pollen is a substantial problem in Japan. Omalizumab, a novel humanized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody, has already been proven to reduce symptoms associated with SAR. We investigated the safety and efficacy of omalizumab in the treatment of patients with Japanese cedar pollen-induced SAR compared to placebo. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted in 100 Japanese patients with a history of moderate-to-severe SAR induced by Japanese cedar pollens. Omalizumab (150, 225, 300, or 375 mg) or placebo was administered subcutaneously every 2 or 4 weeks based on serum total IgE and body weight at baseline. The primary efficacy variable was the mean of daily nasal symptom medication scores (sum of the daily nasal symptom severity score and daily nasal rescue medication score) during the treatment period. Secondary efficacy variables included the daily ocular symptom medication score and related variables. Results: Primary and all secondary efficacy variable scores were significantly lower in the omalizumab group than in the placebo group (P < .01). Serum free IgE levels markedly decreased in the omalizumab group and were associated with clinical efficacy. The overall incidence of injection site reactions was higher in the omalizumab group than in the placebo group; however, the adverse reaction profile was similar between the two groups when excluding injection site reactions. No anti-omalizumab antibodies were detected. Conclusions: Omalizumab was effective and safe in the treatment of SAR induced by Japanese cedar pollen