key: cord-0005376-anbcien1 authors: Hu, Chun-song title: RT-ABCDE Strategy for management and prevention of human diseases date: 2008-08-06 journal: Chin J Integr Med DOI: 10.1007/s11655-007-9009-z sha: 4ea4ca0a67de0fc241b2f7233d6370042fefef32 doc_id: 5376 cord_uid: anbcien1 In this article, the authors summarized the RT-ABCDE strategy for the management and prevention of human diseases, which includes ReTro—ABCDE (Examination regularity, Disease and risk factor control, Changing lifestyle and reducing pathways of infection and spread, Biochemical and Antagonistic index control and therapeutic treatment as well as RT—Routine and Right Treatment). The RT-ABCDE strategy, a novel concept and an essential method, should be a routine strategy for disease control and prevention. It should be proposed and applied in both clinical and preventive medicine. In this article, the RT-ABCDE strategy, a novel concept combining Right Treatment and ReTro-ABCDE strategy for the management and prevention of human diseases, is clarified. Just as in RT-PCR, it is anticipated that this strategy will be beneficial for acute and chronic disease control, resulting in a more effective health management. It is believed that as a routine and as a correct strategy for disease control and prevention, RT-ABCDE will produce far-reaching effects in the fi eld of clinical and preventive medicine. Entering the 21st century, significant changes have taken place in the spectrum of human diseases. The morbidity and mortality of some chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, are significantly trending upwards in increasingly younger patients (1) (2) (3) . Individual-or group-examination regularity is an important means that is helpful in the early discovery, early diagnosis and early treatment of diseases. which is very essential for the management and prevention of chronic diseases (4) and for health management and education. Usually, a regular examination should be conducted once per year and reexaminations should be conducted in those with abnormalities once every 6 months or 3 months or even once a month. Annual physical examination in every unit and physical examinations for the new staff and new students are a very good routine examination opportunities with no difference in age or gender. A general survey is also an examination regularity that covers a wider range of population and is usually conducted once every 3 to 5 years or even 10 years. Special examinations for females, such as breast and gynecological examinations may be helpful in finding common tumors early, including breast cancer and cervical cancer. Routine prenatal screening can effectively decrease the occurrence of congenital heart diseases (5) . Regular examination will also be helpful for the early discovery of related cardiovascular diseases such as congenital heart diseases, hypertension, myocardial ischemia and potential risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, overweight and low vitamin levels, etc (6) (7) (8) , benefi ting the primary and secondary prevention of the disease in the early stage (9) (10) (11) . Regular examination embodies the fact that prevention is the best strategy for the treatment of human diseases. (2, (9) (10) (11) . At the same time, it can lower blood lipid, control blood pressure and decrease blood sugar (14) (15) (16) and, eventually, improve the quality of life (QOL) greatly. Biochemical indices such as routine blood and urinary tests, blood lipid, blood sugar, hepatic and renal functions, blood viscosity, as well as regular physiologic indices such as temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, body weight index, waist-hip ratio (WHR), electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram and pulmonary function tests all reflect whether the physiological function of the organism is normal or in the pathologic state. 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