Influencing factors on efficacy of summer acupoint application treatment for allergic rhinitis: a retrospective study

AbstractObjectiveAllergic rhinitis (AR) is a common health problem. Summer acupoint application treatment (SAAT) is reported to effectively treat and prevent AR from seasonal onset. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate its effects, especially on the course of AR, through a retrospective study.MethodA cross-sectional multicenter study was performed based on patients treated between 2008 and 2009 in 13 clinical centers in China. A total of 1058 outpatients aged ≥2 years with documented AR and ≥1 year SAAT were eligible for enrollment. A case report form (CRF) was completed by both patient and doctor. The CRF was designed to collect data on the patient's history of SAAT, AR condition, and self-reported health condition. The outcomes (dependent variables) were incidence and intensity of AR and concomitant medications used. Data were analyzed with ordinal logistic regression (OLR).ResultsTreatment course and seasonal pattern of AR were related to all dependent variables positively. After controlling for sample bias and confounding factors, the findings suggested that a 3-year treatment course had better efficacy (OR/incidence of AR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.76–3.76; OR/intensity of AR: 2.17, 95%CI: 1.50–3.17; OR/concomitant medications: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.50–3.23) compared with a 2-year or less treatment course.ConclusionThe results showed that: 1) the length of treatment course was positively associated with the efficacy of SAAT (the longer the treatment course, the better the efficacy); and 2) SAAT was more efficacious in treating seasonal AR than non-seasonal AR

High-Performance Integrated Window and Façade Solutions for California

The researchers developed a new generation of high-performance façade systems and supporting design and management tools to support industry in meeting California’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, reduce energy consumption, and enable an adaptable response to minimize real-time demands on the electricity grid. The project resulted in five outcomes: (1) The research team developed an R-5, 1-inch thick, triplepane, insulating glass unit with a novel low-conductance aluminum frame. This technology can help significantly reduce residential cooling and heating loads, particularly during the evening. (2) The team developed a prototype of a windowintegrated local ventilation and energy recovery device that provides clean, dry fresh air through the façade with minimal energy requirements. (3) A daylight-redirecting louver system was prototyped to redirect sunlight 15–40 feet from the window. Simulations estimated that lighting energy use could be reduced by 35–54 percent without glare. (4) A control system incorporating physics-based equations and a mathematical solver was prototyped and field tested to demonstrate feasibility. Simulations estimated that total electricity costs could be reduced by 9-28 percent on sunny summer days through adaptive control of operable shading and daylighting components and the thermostat compared to state-of-the-art automatic façade controls in commercial building perimeter zones. (5) Supporting models and tools needed by industry for technology R&D and market transformation activities were validated. Attaining California’s clean energy goals require making a fundamental shift from today’s ad-hoc assemblages of static components to turnkey, intelligent, responsive, integrated building façade systems. These systems offered significant reductions in energy use, peak demand, and operating cost in California

Anti-hypoxia effects of ginseng (Panax Ginseng C A Meyer) oligopeptides in mice

Purpose: To study the anti-hypoxia effects of ginseng oligopeptides (GOPs) in mice. Methods: Mice were randomly assigned to six groups: vehicle control group, whey protein-fed group (0.30 g/kg body weight, BW), and four groups given GOP at doses of 0.075, 0.150, 0.300, 0.600 g/kg BW. All treatments were administered via gavage once a day for a total of 30 days. Results: GOPs significantly extended survival times under normobaric hypoxia, sodium nitrite toxicosis and acute cerebral ischemia. Moreover, GOPs enhanced the levels of RBC, Hb and Hct; decreased brain malonaldehyde (MDA) and lactate contents, enhanced brain lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and upregulated the mRNA expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Conclusion: GOPs exert anti-hypoxia effects via mechanisms which may involve improvement of oxygen-carrying capacity of blood and oxygen utilization, reduction of lipid peroxidation-associated lesions, enhancement of brain capacity to buffer against lactic acidosis, promotion of angiogenesis, and regulation of response to hypoxia

Colonic phosphocholine is correlated with Candida tropicalis and promotes diarrhea and pathogen clearance

Abstract Diarrhea is characterized by alterations in the gut microbiota, metabolites, and host response to these changes. Studies have focused on the role of commensal bacteria in diarrhea; however, the effect of fungi on its pathogenesis remains unexplored. Here, using post-weaned piglets with or without diarrhea, we found an unexpected decrease in the abundance of Candida tropicalis in diarrheal piglets. We also observed increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the colonic tissues of diarrheal piglets. Using dectin-1-knockout mice, we found that the over-accumulation of ROS killed C. tropicalis by promoting NET formation, which was dependent on dectin-1. The decreased abundance of C. tropicalis resulted in reduced phosphocholine consumption. Then, colonic phosphocholine accumulation drives water efflux by increasing cAMP levels by activating adenylyl cyclase, which promotes the clearance of pathogenic bacteria. Collectively, we demonstrated that phosphocholine is correlated with colonic C. tropicalis and promotes diarrhea and pathogen clearance. Our results suggest that mycobiota colonizing the colon might be involved in maintaining intestinal metabolic homeostasis through the consumption of certain metabolites

A robust self-stabilized electrode based on Al-based metallic glasses for a highly efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

An electrode with low performance or limited endurance for water splitting hydrogen generation has been the key limitation for application of hydrogen in contemporary clean-energy technologies. In this paper, an Al80Ni6Co3Mn3Y5Au3 metallic glass ribbon with outstanding catalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in acidic solutions is fabricated for the first time. Its overpotential is about 70 mV @ 10 mA cm(-2) and Tafel slope is about 39 mV dec(-1), which are comparable to those of commercial noble Pt/C electrodes (33 mV @ 10 mA cm(-2) and 38 mV dec(-1)). Such a high catalytic reactivity is attributed to the synergic effect of multiple elements that disperse atomically homogeneously on the nanoporous surface. The outstanding catalytic activity persists and even becomes much better over a long-time reaction, which is attributed to the formation of a protective Au-rich layer in the interface. The Al-based metallic glass ribbon is flexible with high yield strength, large elasticity and good electrical conductivity, which are desirable and promising characteristics for a free-standing catalytic electrode in the HER

High-Performance Integrated Window and Façade Solutions for California

The researchers developed a new generation of high-performance façade systems and supporting design and management tools to support industry in meeting California’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, reduce energy consumption, and enable an adaptable response to minimize real-time demands on the electricity grid. The project resulted in five outcomes: (1) The research team developed an R-5, 1-inch thick, triplepane, insulating glass unit with a novel low-conductance aluminum frame. This technology can help significantly reduce residential cooling and heating loads, particularly during the evening. (2) The team developed a prototype of a windowintegrated local ventilation and energy recovery device that provides clean, dry fresh air through the façade with minimal energy requirements. (3) A daylight-redirecting louver system was prototyped to redirect sunlight 15–40 feet from the window. Simulations estimated that lighting energy use could be reduced by 35–54 percent without glare. (4) A control system incorporating physics-based equations and a mathematical solver was prototyped and field tested to demonstrate feasibility. Simulations estimated that total electricity costs could be reduced by 9-28 percent on sunny summer days through adaptive control of operable shading and daylighting components and the thermostat compared to state-of-the-art automatic façade controls in commercial building perimeter zones. (5) Supporting models and tools needed by industry for technology R&D and market transformation activities were validated. Attaining California’s clean energy goals require making a fundamental shift from today’s ad-hoc assemblages of static components to turnkey, intelligent, responsive, integrated building façade systems. These systems offered significant reductions in energy use, peak demand, and operating cost in California