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ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of applying sitting posture corrector on improving reading and writing posture of elementary school students， and provide scientific evidence for prevention and control of myopia in children and adolescents.MethodsOne elementary school each in urban and suburban areas of Shanghai was selected using a convenience sampling strategy. Furthermore， two classes each in Grade 3 and 4 were selected as the intervention group （282 students were included in the study）， and the other two classes each in Grades 3 and 4 were selected as the control group （294 students were included in the study）. Students in the intervention group used the sitting posture corrector in the classrooms for 4 months （from September 2020 to January 2021）， while those in the control group did not use the sitting posture corrector. Relevant data were collected before and after the intervention through a self-administered questionnaire and visual examination. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test and generalized estimating equation.ResultsBefore the intervention， 13.5% （38/282） of students in the intervention group and 12.2% （36/294） in the control group had good reading and writing posture （χ2=0.195，P>0.659）. After the intervention， 18.4% （52/282） of students in the intervention group had good reading and writing posture， which was higher than that （11.2%， 33/294） in the control group （χ2=5.957，P=0.015）. Before and after the intervention， there was no significant differences in the prevalence of myopia between students in the intervention and control groups （all P>0.05）. Generalized estimating equation analysis showed that students in the intervention group were 1.502 times more likely to have good reading and writing posture than those in the control group after the intervention （P=0.043）.ConclusionApplying sitting posture corrector in schools could improve students' reading and writing posture.

Background: Studies involving chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) have mostly focused on bilateral cases, making unilateral CRSwNP inadequately recognized. This study examined the differences in clinical characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors for poor outcomes between unilateral and bilateral CRSwNP to facilitate a better assessment in the two groups. Methods: Demographic information, tissue and blood cells, endoscopic scores, Lund‐Mackay scores, recurrence rates, and disease control conditions were compared between 310 unilateral and 596 bilateral CRSwNP patients. Furthermore, the stepwise regression multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were performed to generate risk factors for poor outcomes in the two groups. Results: Bilateral cases exhibited higher rates of smoking, AR, and asthma comorbidities, along with higher numbers of tissue eosinophils and blood inflammatory cells when compared to unilateral patients. Endoscopic nasal polyp score, total computed tomography (CT) score (with scores for each sinus cavity), and adjusted CT scores were significantly higher in the bilateral group, except for a markedly higher adjusted maxillary score in the unilateral group. Furthermore, significantly higher proportions of bilateral patients experienced nasal polyp recurrence, uncontrolled status, and most disease control‐related symptoms at follow‐up. The primary risk factors for poor outcomes were asthma, tissue eosinophils, and total CT score in the bilateral group and blood basophils in the unilateral group. Conclusions: Bilateral CRSwNP patients experience worse disease severity and outcomes than their unilateral counterparts. Primarily, asthma, tissue eosinophils, and total CT score were risk factors for poor outcomes in bilateral CRSwNP patients, with blood basophils in unilateral cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Small airway dysfunction (SAD) is associated with type 2 inflammation in patients who have non-asthmatic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs); however, the risk factors for abnormal small airway function indicators in CRSwNP patients with and without asthma remain unclear. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 41 asthmatic and 109 non-asthmatic CRSwNP patients. Clinical characteristics were compared between groups, correlations between small airway function and clinical parameters were calculated, and independent risk factors for every small airway indicator were identified in each group. Results: Asthmatic CRSwNP patients had significantly reduced small airway function, and the proportion of patients with SAD was higher in asthmatic CRSwNP patients (65.85%) than in patients without asthma (9.17%). With regard to specific airway function indicators, age and a patient's blood eosinophil (%) were identified as independent risk factors for lower FEF50% %pred and FEF25–75% pred, with age being an independent risk factor for FEF75% %pred in asthmatic CRSwNP patients. In non-asthmatic CRSwNP patients, allergic rhinitis comorbidity was found to be an independent risk factor for FEF50% %pred, FEF75% %pred, and FEF25–75% %pred. Conclusion: Physicians should pay greater attention to risk factors for abnormal small airway function indicators in patients with CRSwNPs to prevent the occurrence of SAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of performance degradation in energy tower heat pump (ETHP) systems under low temperature conditions and soil heat imbalances in ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems in cold regions, a new coupled system of ETHP and GSHP systems (the ET–GSHP system) and its operating mode were proposed. The mathematical model of the system was constructed along with the system's form and operation scheme. The COP (coefficient of performance) and total energy consumption of the coupled system were then simulated and studied under a number of common operating situations. The heating season is divided into four periods based on varying outdoor ambient temperatures: the first period operates in series mode and has an average outdoor temperature of 2.38 °C; the second period operates in parallel mode and has an average outdoor temperature of −8.56 °C; the third period uses soil source heat pumps to operate separately; and the fourth period operates in series mode and has an average outdoor temperature of −11.32 °C. Operation of the coupled system in four periods was simulated and analyzed, and the operational efficiency and energy saving of the system were analyzed using an actual commercial building in a cold region as an example. The results demonstrate that the ET–GSHP system's overall energy consumption during the heating period is reduced by 4.34% when compared to the traditional GSHP systems; the system's COP can maintain a high level throughout the heating period, with an average COP of 3.315; and the soil temperature at the conclusion of the heating period is 25 °C, which is 8.89 °C higher than that of the traditional GSHP system, providing a guarantee of summer heat return. The new ET–GSHP system significantly boosts the efficiency of the system's operation, achieves effective coupling between various heat sources through multi-stage control, and offers improved energy-saving advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]