New Tang Dynasty Health Expo, organized by NTD Television, “Epoch Times,” and renowned biotechnology company Genentech, was held on May 9 in Flushing, New York. The event focused on “Understanding Lupus Nephritis, Safeguarding Kidney Health” and featured five seminars that attracted a continuous flow of attendees. Experts highlighted the higher incidence of lupus nephritis among Asians, emphasizing the importance of disseminating knowledge on the treatment and prevention of lupus nephritis to the Chinese and Asian communities.
The seminars, led by five experts in Western and Chinese medicine, covered topics such as the pathology and latest treatment advancements of lupus nephritis, daily kidney care and prevention strategies, early detection of lupus nephritis, dietary control for diabetic patients, and traditional Chinese kidney care. The sessions were moderated by JoJo, a well-known host of NTD Television’s “Health 1+1” program.
Sandra Ung, the City Council Member of the 20th District in Flushing, attended the event to extend her congratulations and award commendation. She commended NTD Television for organizing at least two health expos annually to provide health education and consultations in Chinese, along with various institutions like hospitals, governmental departments, clinics, health insurance companies, and community organizations offering health information, welfare policies, and services. As the following day was Mother’s Day, she wished all mothers a happy Mother’s Day.
Grace Meng, a Congresswoman, sent a congratulatory message, recognizing the long-term commitment of the organizers in addressing diverse community needs and contributing significantly to community well-being. Ron Kim, a New York State Assembly Member, praised NTD Television and Genentech for providing valuable educational resources and services to the community, enhancing awareness of health risks among immigrants and serving as a bridge within immigrant communities.
Martha Flores-Vazquez, a community leader from the 40th District of the Democratic Party, commended NTD Television and Genentech for bridging cultural and language barriers through the health expo, making essential health and public information more accessible to those in need. Wang Xueke, Vice President of Epoch Times and NTD Media, conveyed accolades to experts from Genentech.
Kyriakos Kirou, the Director of the Lupus Nephritis Program at the Hospital for Special Surgery, delivered a lecture on “Viewing Lupus Nephritis from the Perspective of Systemic Autoimmune Diseases,” emphasizing the key principles of early detection, early treatment, and prevention of relapses. He underscored that lupus nephritis is a chronic, recurrent autoimmune disease where the immune system erroneously attacks self-tissue, affecting joints, blood, skin, and kidneys. Around 30% to 50% of lupus patients may develop kidney inflammation within a few years of diagnosis, which could lead to kidney failure, dialysis, or kidney transplant. The core of treatment involves minimizing relapses, preserving kidney function, and reducing steroid side effects. Current treatments, including new immunotherapies, biologics, CAR-T cell therapy, and precise categorization, offer many patients the ability to maintain kidney function stably without needing dialysis.
Given the higher risk of Asians developing lupus, the Hospital for Special Surgery established the “Asian Lupus Care Alliance” to publish educational materials in both Chinese and English, set up patient education counseling programs and support groups, and host free seminars.
Miriam Chung, an Associate Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, highlighted the importance of early detection in protecting kidney health from lupus nephritis. She emphasized that early detection and treatment can help manage the condition, as delayed diagnosis could lead to kidney failure or the need for dialysis. Even without obvious discomfort, lupus could already be affecting the kidneys, but with early intervention, prognosis could be positive.
Dr. Shengfeng Guo, a lead physician and Clinical Assistant Professor at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, advised kidney disease patients to adopt a healthy lifestyle. He recommended a balanced diet with moderate protein intake, limited salt, condiments, and processed foods, adequate hydration, and regular bathroom breaks to avoid withholding urine.
Dr. Jian Li, the founder of Flushing Apple Medical General and a medical doctor, explained that diabetic individuals should reduce starch intake by consuming less rice, bread, and noodles to effectively lower blood sugar levels. He stressed that vegetables and fruits, while essential, do not provide significant energy and should not substitute for a meal. Increasing protein and fat intake can greatly help in lowering blood sugar levels. To prevent and control diabetes, a diet rich in meat, dairy, eggs, oil, seafood, tofu, peanuts, sesame, walnuts, almonds, avocados, and cheese is recommended.
Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Xiao Jie Luo emphasized the importance of kidney maintenance during summer, stating that “to prevent kidney yang from collapsing in winter, maintenance during summer is crucial.” Recommended summer recipes included goji berries, rose tea, tremella soup, lily bulbs, Chinese yam, red dates, coix seeds, lotus seeds, poria, and chrysanthemum tea.
Various hospitals and clinics onsite offered health consultations and free examinations. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital provided blood pressure and obesity index tests, physical therapy consultations, podiatric consultations, lupus education, and demonstrations. Mount Sinai Hospital showcased vibrating vests for COPD and asthma patients and distributed peak flow meters. Dr. Chengde Huang, an orthopedic specialist at New York Comprehensive Bone and Joint, offered free consultations. Several eye and dermatological clinics provided counseling services.
Additionally, the Wang Medical Center provided Hepatitis B testing and counseling services, while neurologist and neuromuscular specialist Dr. Anli Wu offered free consultations. Classic Dentistry offered counseling, and TCM experts provided pulse diagnosis, massage, acupuncture, and spine health consultations. The Asian-American Association also provided insurance counseling and registration services, as well as consultations on low-income benefits, green cards, and public housing applications. NTD Television prepared a variety of prizes for attendees.
Chinese participants at the event praised NTD and “Epoch Times” for organizing the annual health expo, providing expert guidance and abundant resources to promote disease prevention and treatment knowledge, ultimately enhancing the health standards of the Chinese community.
NTD viewer June expressed her admiration as a loyal fan of JoJo, the host of NTD Television’s “Health 1+1” program. She shared that she watches the program daily and even tunes in before starting her workday. June mentioned that NTD is bold in speaking the truth and delivering authentic news. Other viewers cited their affinity for NTD’s program hosts, highlighting their dedication to watching NTD daily for obtaining genuine news and information.