Articles: disease.
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Comparative Study
Acupuncture therapy for Alzheimer's disease: A protocol for an overview of systematic reviews.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the fifth-leading cause of death in people more than 65 years old. Acupuncture therapy has been traditionally used to treat various kinds of health problems including AD. This protocol aims to summarize the available evidence from current systematic reviews (SRs) for the efficacy of acupuncture therapy for AD. ⋯ We expect to compile evidence from multiple systematic reviews of acupuncture therapy in AD patients in an accessible and useful document.Registration number: INPLASY202040035.
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Psoriasis is a common, chronic, and recurrent skin inflammatory disease, with psoriasis vulgaris considered as the most prevalent type of psoriasis. Chinese herbal bath, a type of traditional Chinese medicine, is an external therapy widely used to treat psoriasis vulgaris in China, and it has achieved satisfactory clinical effects. However, there are few studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of Chinese herbal bath compared with other external therapies administered under similar conditions. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of Chinese herbal bath in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris through a systematic evaluation of the literature, so as to provide a reference basis for future clinical applications. ⋯ This study will provide a theoretical basis for the standardized administration of Chinese herbal bath. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER:: doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/4HRPJ.
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Eczema is a relapsing and persistent inflammatory skin disease affecting about one-fifth of children worldwide. As in other developed countries, the prevalence of this chronic disease in Hong Kong is approximately 30%. Moreover, the number of local cases reported has been on a rising trend since 1995. Eczema frequently starts in early infancy. A total of 45% of all cases begin within the first six months of life, 60% during the first year and 85% before the age of 5. The pathophysiology of eczema is multi-factorial and is a complex inter-relationship between skin barrier, genetic predisposition, immunologic development, microbiome, environment, nutrition, and pharmacological and psychological factors. ⋯ This study will evaluate the association between gut microbiome, environmental factors and the development of eczema in Chinese infants. Findings from this study may be used to develop a predictive path model to guide effective health promotion, disease prevention and management.
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In China, the over 60 population is estimated to grow from 12% in 2010 to 33% of the overall population by 2050. The escalation in the aging population is projected to result in an Alzheimer's disease prevalence of 27.7 million people in China by 2050 causing substantial health and economic burden. While there are some published studies on multicomponent, non-pharmacological interventions for people with dementia, we have found no published community-based approach to care that encompasses personalized selection of non-pharmacological interventions, active social participation, and dementia education. ⋯ The community-based, multicomponent dementia social care program described in this case report has enabled a socially isolated patient with Alzheimer's disease to reduce her social isolation with an associated improvement in her mood and prevention of cognitive decline. Educating the community was an essential part of re-integrating the patient into the social setting. Reducing social isolation and increasing community engagement were essential to maintaining the patient's independence in her own home.
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Observational Study
Prevalence and risk factors of prehypertension in university students in Sabah, Borneo Island of East Malaysia.
Unhealthy lifestyle contributes mainly to an increased prevalence of non-communicable diseases including hypertension and cardiovascular diseases tend to increase in Malaysia. These diseases lead to an increased risk of end organ damage and cardiovascular complications. In this study, the prevalence of prehypertension and its associated risk factors among a cohort of university students in Sabah was determined. ⋯ Well-known risk factors for hypertension including family history of hypertension, reduced sleep duration, reduced physical activity, smoking, being overweight or obese were significantly associated with the risk of developing prehypertension (P < .05) among UMS students. However, no association was observed between ethnicity, age, and gender with prehypertension. A worryingly high percentage of UMS students are prehypertensive, indicating the need of early preventive strategies aimed at increasing awareness, early screening, and lifestyle modification to reduce the rising burden of the disease and the associated complications in this age group.