Technical Periodicals Research Articles

Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among children in China: a systematic review.

BackgroundThere are no reliable estimates of the prevalences of autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in China.ObjectiveCombine results across studies to estimate the prevalences of autism and ASD among Chinese children under the age of 18, and assess variations in the prevalences with respect to gender, ethnicity, and urban versus rural residence.MethodsBased on pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, studies were identified by searching the following databases: Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chongqing VIP database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, WANFANG DATA, Chinese Biological Medical Literature Database, Pubmed, and Web of Science. Statistical analysis was conducted using R-2.15.2 software.ResultsThe 24 studies meeting inclusion criteria included 5 registry studies from Taiwan and Hong Kong (covering a total of 14570 369 children) and 19 community-based screening and diagnostic studies from mainland China (with a combined sample of 771 413 children). The annually reported prevalence of autism in the registry studies ranged from 1.8 to 424.6 per 10 000. A meta-analysis of 18 of the studies from mainland China (excluding a large nationwide study with the lowest prevalence of autism) with a range in rates from 2.8 to 30.4 per 10 000 generated an estimated pooled prevalence of autism of 12.8 per 10 000 (95%CI, 9.4 to 17.5). The pooled prevalence of ASD estimated from 5 of these studies (which had a range in rates from 7.3 to 75.3 per 10 000) was 24.5 per 10000 (95%CI, 10.4 to 57.4). The reported prevalence of autism varied substantially by gender, location of residence, date of publication, and source of the sample.ConclusionThe huge difference between the rates for autism reported from registry systems in Hong Kong and Taiwan (a 200-fold difference) and the large differences in rates reported from community-based screening studies in mainland China (a 10- to 15-fold difference) highlight the urgent need for establishing standardized methods for estimating the prevalences of autism and ASD. Until these methodological improvements have been made, it will not be possible to develop evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies for the management of these uncommon but seriously disabling conditions.

A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials on Acupuncture for Amblyopia

Objective. To assess the evidence of efficacy and safety of acupuncture for amblyopia and analyze the current situation of its clinical setting. Methods. We systemically searched Wanfang, Chongqing Weipu Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and PubMed. Published randomized controlled trials (RCT) and controlled clinical trials (CCT) that evaluated the effect of acupuncture for amblyopia compared with conventional treatment were identified. The methodological quality of the included trials was assessed based on the Jadad scale. Data synthesis was facilitated using RevMan 5.1. Results. Fourteen trials involving 2662 participants satisfied the minimum criteria for meta-analysis. The evidence showed that the total effective rate of treatment within the group receiving acupuncture was higher than that in conventional group; there were statistically significant differences between groups (polled random effects model (RR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (1.11, 1.24), Z = 5.56, P < 0.00001). Conclusion. The total effective rate of acupuncture for amblyopia was significantly superior to conventional treatment, indicating that acupuncture was a promising treatment for amblyopia. However, due to the limited number of CCTs and RCTs, especially those of large sample size and multicenter randomized controlled studies that were quantitatively insufficient, we could not reach a completely affirmative conclusion until further studies of high quality are available.

Acupuncture therapy for angina pectoris: a systematic review

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture therapy for angina pectoris. MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerned with acupuncture treatment of angina pectoris were identified by searching Academic Source Premier, MEDLINE, Science Citation Index Expanded, and three Chinese databases (China biology medicine database, China national knowledge infrastructure, and VIP database for Chinese technical periodicals). The valid data were extracted in accordance with our inclusion and exclusion criteria. The main outcomes of the included studies were synthesized using Revman 5.1. ResultsTwenty-one articles on 16 individual studies were included and evaluated as having high or moderate risk of bias according to the standards of the Cochrane Collaboration. Meta-analysis indicated that acupuncture combined with conventional drugs (ACCD) was superior to conventional drugs alone in reducing the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) [OR=0.18, 95%CI (0.04, 0.84), P=0.03]. Moreover, ACCD was superior to conventional drugs in the relief of angina symptoms [OR=4.23, 95%CI (2.73, 6.56), P<0.00001], and improvement of electrocardiography (ECG) [OR=2.61, 95%CI (1.83, 3.73), P<0.00001]. Acupuncture by itself was also superior to conventional drugs for angina symptoms [OR=3.59, 95%C/(1.76, 7.92), P=0.0004] and ECG improvement [OR=3.07, 95%CI (1.54, 6.10), P=0.001]. ACCD was superior to conventional drugs in shortening the time to onset of angina relief [WMD=−1.40, 95%CI (−1.65, −1.15), P< 0.00001]. However, the time to onset was significantly longer for acupuncture treatment than for conventional treatment alone [WMD=2.43, 95%CI (1.63, 3.23), P<0.000 01]. ConclusionACCD reduced the occurrence of AMI, and both acupuncture and ACCD relieved angina symptoms and improved ECG. However, compared with conventional treatment, acupuncture showed a longer delay before its onset of action. This indicates that acupuncture is not suitable for emergency treatment of heart attack. Owing to the poor quality of the current evidence, the findings of this systematic review need to be verified by more RCTs to enhance statistical power.

Quality of life of older people in China: a systematic review

SummaryThe quality of life (QoL) of older people is of increasing interest in China, due to its ageing population. A systematic review of published QoL studies was undertaken to examine different measurements and related factors of QoL of older people in China. Papers were identified by searching the following electronic databases: Web of Science, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, China Academic Journal and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals. Fifteen studies were included in the review, using eight different QoL measurement tools. Health status, psychological well-being, social well-being, housing and socio-demographic factors were identified as important related factors of QoL. Further studies are needed using valid measurement tools to explore more factors, especially culturally specific contributors, to the QoL of older people.

Correlation of Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms in toll-like receptor 4 gene with digestive cancer risk: A meta-analysis

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the correlation between the Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms in the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene and the risk of digestive cancer. A comprehensive search in PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Database of Chinese Scientific and Technical Periodicals (VIP) and the China Biology Medical (CBM) literature databases, including all the studies until May 25 2012, was conducted in order to investigate the abovementioned correlation. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 10.1. A total of 12 case-control studies were identified comprising 1,877 cancer patients and 3,181 controls for Asp299Gly polymorphism, and 8 case-control studies with 1,062 cancer patients and 1,867 controls for Thr399Ile polymorphism. Following sensitivity analysis and excluding studies that deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in the controls, this meta-analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between the G allele of the Asp299Gly polymorphism and increased risk of gastric cancer in dominant [fixed-effect model (FEM): odds ratio (OR), 1.772; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.340-2.343] and codominant (FEM: OR, 1.761, CI, 1.347-2.301) models. However, no significant correlation was detected for overall digestive and colorectal cancer. Furthermore, following the sensitivity analysis and exclusion of studies deviating from HWE in controls, no significant effect of the T allele of Thr399Ile polymorphism on overall digestive, gastric and colorectal cancer risk was demonstrated. This study suggests that the G allele of the TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism might be correlated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. However, this result needs to be further investigated by future studies.

The Preventive and Therapeutic Effect of Acupuncture for Radiation-Induced Xerostomia in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Methods currently available to prevent and manage xerostomia which caused by radiotherapy in patients with head and neck caner have limited efficacy. Some studies suggest that acupuncture may be beneficial. The authors evaluated the preventive and therapeutic effect of acupuncture for radiation-induced xerostomia among patients with head and neck cancer. PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CBM, CAJD, Wan Fang database, and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals were electronically searched, in conjunction with further manual search for relevant articles. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were systematically evaluated. Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture were included. One RCT on the preventive effect of acupuncture was found. Because of the considerable variation among included studies, meta-analysis was not possible. Two included RCTs used placebo controls, and both observed significant improvement in the salivary flow rates between acupuncture and control groups. However, no significant differences were found. Three included RCTs suggested that acupuncture for radiation-induced xerostomia can improve patients' subjective symptoms. The only study evaluating the preventive effect of acupuncture for radiation-induced xerostomia showed positive changes in salivary flow rates (both unstimulated and stimulated) and dry mouth -related symptoms. Acupuncture treatment was well tolerated by all patients and no severe adverse effects were seen. Insufficient evidence is available to judge whether acupuncture is safe and whether it is effective in preventing or treating radiation-induced xerostomia. Significant research remains to be done before acupuncture can be recommended for routine use in radiation-induced xerostomia.

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the older in China: a meta‐analysis

This study aims to find the status and prevalence of depressive symptoms among the population aged 60 years and above in China. We conducted a meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies in older population. Epidemiological studies on depressive symptoms published in Chinese journals were identified manually and online by using the Chinese Biological Medical Literature Database, Chongqing VIP database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure database. Studies published in English journals were identified using Medlars Online. A total of 32 eligible studies were included in this review. The analysis showed that the pooled prevalence (with 95% confidence interval) of depressive symptoms for the seniors in China was 22.7% (confidence interval: 19.4-26.4%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the older was a little higher in women (24.2%) than in men (19.4%), in rural (29.2%) than urban (20.5%) areas, and in western (30.5%) than eastern (19.5%) areas. In addition, the prevalence of depressive symptoms decreased with increasing levels of education. However, it did not increase gradually with age. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the older in China was a little high, and it was varied by gender, age, area, and education level.

Chinese Herbal Medicine in Treating Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials

Background. There is no curative treatment for primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS). Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is widely used in the treatment of PSS in China. Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CHM for PSS. Methods. PubMed, Cochrane Library, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Chinese Biomedical Database, Wanfang Data, and the Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CHM or CHM plus conventional medicine for PSS compared with placebo or conventional medicine. RevMan 5.0.17 was employed to conduct data analyses and assess homogeneity. Statistical models were chosen according to heterogeneity. Results. A total of 52 RCTs were included. The overall methodological quality of included trials was low. 49 trials reported response rates, of which 32 found significant improvements favoring CHM treatment against controls; 20 trials reported lacrimal function by Schirmer test scores, of which 16 trials reported a significant difference favoring CHM treatment. 21 trials reported salivary function by salivary flow rate, of which 10 reported significant favorable effects of CHM treatment. Other trials found no difference. The reported adverse effects of CHM included nausea, diarrhea, and other minor digestive symptoms, but more frequent adverse effects occurred in conventional medicine groups. Conclusions. Preliminary evidence from RCTs suggests the effect of CHM is promising for relieving symptoms, improving lacrimal and salivary function in PSS. However, the poor methodological quality of the included trials means that further well-designed, multicentered, larger trials are needed.

Chinese herbal medicine for menopausal symptoms

This study employed a systematic review of randomized clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for menopausal symptoms. Five electronic databases, including 2 English databases (MEDLINE and Cochrane Library) and 3 Chinese databases (VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database) were searched. Thirteen high-quality, randomized, clinical trials that scored 3 to 5 using the Jadad scale were included. Two thousand two hundred ninety-one participants were involved: 1294 received CHM therapies and 997 were in the control groups. Outcomes for menopausal symptoms were measured by quantitative questionnaires or participants' symptom diaries. According to the present evidence, CHM with an adequate Chinese diagnosis for menopausal symptoms is effective and has better results than that without adequate Chinese diagnosis. The evidence also shows that CHM is safe but has some slight adverse effects.

History of EISCAT – Part 1: On the early history of EISCAT with special reference to the Swedish part of it

Abstract. The paper describes the early history of EISCAT, from the very first ideas and Nordic contacts in the late 1960s to the end of the main development phase, when the facility had become a very advanced and reliable research instrument and its users had developed full competence in the second half of the 1980s. The preparation of the ''Green Book'', the Beynon meeting in London in 1973 and the activities started there, the first EISCAT Council meeting, the ''technical period'' 1976–1981, the inauguration in 1981 and the decade of improvements in most of the 1980s are described as seen from the Swedish point of view.

Depression and related factors in older people in China: a systematic review

SummaryChina has an increasing ageing population. Depression, as one of the most common problems in older people, is a concern that merits attention. This paper reviewed published studies of the prevalence of depression and its related factors in older people in China. Seventeen papers were identified by searching the following electronic databases: Web of Science, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, China Academic Journal and VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals. Whilst prevalence varied across studies, health status, social support, financial status, living arrangements and some demographic factors were consistently related to older people's depression. Further well-designed studies are needed to explore depression in older people in China to identify more culture-specific contributors to maximize well-being.

Meta-analysis of intervention effects on obesity in Chinese pupils

To comprehensively evaluate the effect of interventions on obesity in Chinese pupils. A literature research was carried out in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, PubMed and the Excerpts Medica Database (EMBASE) databases to collect articles published between 1979 and 2010 concerning the effect of interventions for preventing obesity in Chinese pupils. Rate difference (RD) of the rate of obesity as the evaluation indicator was selected to Meta-analyze the effect of interventions on obesity. There are total 215 articles, in which 211 articles were written in Chinese and other articles were written in English. 17 literatures were used for Meta-analysis by the uniform inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results showed that the RD of obesity rate for the students in the intervention group was 3% (95%CI: 1% - 5%) after the intervention. However, the RD of obesity rate for the students in the control group was -2% (95%CI: -4% - -1%) after the intervention. Results of stratified analysis for the RD of obesity rate showed that the obesity rate for the students in the intervention group were decreased significantly after the intervention of combined programs with health education, physical exercise and nutrition interventions with moderate intervention time (1 to 2 years), the RD (95%CI) of obesity rate were 5% (2% - 8%), 3% (1% - 4%), respectively. For the studies whose baseline obesity rates was insignificant difference between the intervention group and the control group, the obesity rate for the students in the intervention group was 4% (95%CI: -7% - -1%) lower than the obesity rate for the students in the control group after the intervention. Health-education-based comprehensive intervention is effective on obesity prevention in Chinese pupils; combined intervention programs with moderate intervention time (1 to 2 years) were effective in improving efficiency of obesity prevention in pupils.

Techniques + Arts - On the Architectural Creation for Green and High-Tech Buildings

Along the context of technological development, architectural development experienced the raw type technical period; the combined period of art and technology; and that of technology, art and ecology three combined as one. Now, the context and the place of high emotion associated are again merge into high-tech buildings. Combined with our practice of creation, this paper introduces and advocates this new direction of the development of technology.

Hyperbaric oxygen for diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A systematic review

Objective To explore whether there is enough clinical evidence to confirm that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) does more good than other treatments in treating patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods Published clinical trials on hyperbaric oxygen treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy were collected through electronic searches of PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMbase, Science Citation Index Expanded, the China Biological Medicine Database (CBM-disc), the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and the VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (from the date of establishment of the databases to July 2010). The bibliographies of the retrieved articles were also checked. Results A total of 7 trials involving 446 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were included. All studies reported positive results regarding the effects,but the quality of the studies was generally poor. The main problem was that most trials were reported as randomized and controlled, but with no description of the methods of randomization, concealment and blinding. Conclusions HBO in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is promising based on present evidence. However at present,definite conclusions cannot be drawn about whether hyperbaric oxygen treatment is superior to the alternatives for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Higher quality randomized and controlled trials are required. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygen; Diabetic peripheral neuropathy; Randomized controlled trials

A review of neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders in China

Background:Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent internationally, and constitute a substantial social and economic burden for patients, their families, and society. A number of neuroimaging studies have investigated the etiology of anxiety disorders in China in the last decade. We discuss the findings of these studies, and compare them with the results of neuroimaging studies of anxiety disorders outside China.Method:A literature search was conducted using the Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, the Chinese Scientific and Technical Periodicals Database, the Chinese Journal Full-text Database, and PubMed, from 1989 to April 2009. We selected neuroimaging studies in which all participants and researchers were Chinese.Results:Twenty-five studies fit our inclusion criteria. Nine studies examined general anxiety disorder (GAD) and/or panic disorder (PD), eight examined obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and eight examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our literature review revealed several general findings. First, reduced regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was found in the frontal lobe and temporal lobe in patients with GAD and PD compared with healthy controls. Second, when viewing images with negative and positive valence, relatively increased or decreased activation was found in several brain areas in patients with GAD and PD, respectively. Third, studies with positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) imaging revealed that OCD patients exhibited hyperperfusion and hypoperfusion in some brain regions compared with healthy controls. Neuroimaging studies of PTSD indicate that the hippocampal volume and the N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA) level and the NAA/creatine ratio in the hippocampus are decreased in patients relative to controls.Conclusion:Neuroimaging studies within and outside China have provided evidence of specific neurobiological changes associated with anxiety disorders. However, results have not been entirely consistent across different studies of patients with the same diagnoses. International collaborative research using large samples and robust designs should be conducted in future.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Treatment of Cerebral Palsy in Children: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy including acupuncture, tu'ina, oral herbal medicine, herbal bathing, and collateral-channels conduct therapy for treating children with cerebral palsy (CP). We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on TCM for children with CP. We searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, databases of Chinese biomedical journals/Chinese Medical Current Contents, Wan Fang Data, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library until the end of July 2009, and searched the reference list of retrieved papers. Data were extracted by 1 author and checked for validation by another author, and data were analyzed using RevMan 4.3.2. Only one meta-analysis was performed due to the heterogeneity among the trials. Thirty-five (35) RCTs involving 3286 children with CP using TCM therapy and conventional therapy (CT) including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, cranial nerves nutrition agents, or any combination of above were included. The methodological quality was generally low in terms of allocation concealment, blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. Meta-analysis showed acupuncture combine with CT improved activities of daily living (mean difference: 6.38, 95% confidence interval 5.15-7.61; p < 0.00001, n = 160) compared with CT alone. Acupuncture plus tu'ina, or plus herbal medicine and CT showed significant beneficial effects on comprehensive function in terms of both physical and mental aspects, independence, and verbal function compared with CT alone. The combination of radix Astragali injection with CT showed significant benefit on gross motor function and social behavior adaptation comparing with CT. There are six trials reported adverse events that were not associated with acupuncture, tu'ina, and/or herbal medicine. Acupuncture with or without CT or other conventional therapy, tu'ina, herbal medicine, and collateral channels conduct treatment combined with CT may have benefit in children with CP. However, due to insufficient evidence, further rigorous trials are warranted.

Ghosts in Machines and a Snapshot of Scholarly Journal Publishing in Canada

Ghosts in Machines and a Snapshot of Scholarly Journal Publishing in Canada

A stylometric analysis of newspapers, periodicals and news scripts

Differences in the writing style of authors provide the grounds for authorship attribution or classification studies. This paper attempts to quantify the literary style of various forms of media, including broadsheet and tabloid newspapers, technical periodicals and television news scripts. The aim is to investigate the richness of vocabulary exhibited in these texts under the proposition that the writing style usually varies depending on the targeted readership or audience. In this paper we show the importance of using maximum likelihood estimates for the three parameters of the Sichel distribution, as opposed to using the inverse Gaussian Poisson distribution, which is a particular case. We then use multivariate pattern recognition techniques such as discriminant analysis, classification trees and neural networks to establish differences in the afore-mentioned types of media.

Scientific and technical periodicals and the needs they satisfy - From the Editor's Desk

Scientific and technical periodicals and the needs they satisfy - From the Editor's Desk

Évolution de paramètres cinématiques et électromyographiques pendant les différentes phases du lancer de disque : étude préliminaire

Introduction. – Examine how mass of the discus influences the kinematic characteristics and the activity of agonist muscles during throws using three-dimensional videographic and surface electromyography techniques. Methods and results. – Four throwers of high level participated in the study. Three digitals camcorders (Panasonic AG-455, 50 Hz) were used to obtain three-dimensional kinematic data. Surface electromyography activity of 11 muscles was recorded using bipolar electrodes. Surface electromyography signals were amplified and recorded by means of a ME3000P8 muscle tester. For some muscles, the integrated surface electromyography mean value, seems to be higher for the 1.7 kg discus throw and particularly for the ones which were activated during the second double support phase (deltoideus anterior, pectoralis major and biceps brachii muscles). Three-dimensional kinematic analysis provides the same absolute and relative duration for the complete movement and the different phases between the two discus. Conclusion. – A lighter discus might be used for high level training without kinematic alteration of throwing. We assume that this allows decreasing mechanical stress and injury risk during technical learning periods, especially in beginners.