Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of pediatric massage (tuina) for chronic cough in children. Methods: A total of 96 cases were randomized into a control group and an observation group, with 48 cases in each group. Cases in the control group received routine pediatric massage manipulations. Cases in the observation group received additional Mo-rubbing abdomen manipulation. The treatment was done 3 times a week and 12 times made up a treatment session. The cough symptom scores were evaluated before treatment and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 treatments respectively. Results: There were 8 dropouts in the observation group and 5 dropouts in the control group. Before treatment, there was no statistical difference in coughing score between the two groups (P>0.05). After 9 times of treatment, the total coughing scores were significantly reduced in both groups (both P<0.05); however, there were no statistical differences between the two groups in the score differences between before treatment and after 3, 6 and 9 times of treatment (all P>0.05). After 12 times of treatment, the total coughing scores were significantly reduced in both groups (both P<0.05), along with a statistical difference between the two groups in the score difference between before treatment and after 12 times of treatment (P<0.05). There was a statistical difference between the two groups in overall response (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 92.5％, versus 86.0％ in the control group, showing a statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: The routine pediatric massage manipulations alone or in combination with Mo-rubbing abdomen manipulation both can significantly improve chronic cough in children; however, the combination obtains a better effect.

Objective: To observe the effects of acupuncture plus spinal manipulations on the physical functioning and levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A total of 128 AS cases were allocated into a control group and an observation group using random number table method, with 64 cases in each group. Patients in both groups took sulfasalazine and meloxicam. Patients in the observation group received additional acupuncture plus spinal manipulations. The efficacy, Bath AS functional index (BASFI), Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI), and the levels of ALP, ESR, CRP and OPG were compared between the two groups after eight weeks of treatment. Results: After treatment, the symptom scores of traditional Chinese medicine in both groups were decreased (all P<0.05), and these scores in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.05); the VAS, BASFI and BASDAI scores in both groups were decreased (all P<0.05), and these scores in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.05); and the ALP, ESR, CRP and OPG levels in both groups were decreased (all P<0.05), and these levels in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P<0.05). The total efficacy rate was 92.2％ in the observation group, versus 78.1％ in the control group, presenting a statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion: Conventional medication combined with acupuncture and spinal manipulations can improve clinical symptoms, accelerate the recovery of physical functioning, and reduce the ALP, ESR, CRP and OPG levels.

This document is the revised edition of the previously issued Shanghai Expert Consensus on Clinical Protocol for Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of COVID-19 among the Elderly Population. Based on the clinical experience and the Protocol for Diagnosis and Treatment of COVID-19 (Trial 9th Edition), this revised edition provides treatment approaches and recommendations to proactively cope with Omicron variant and increase the therapeutic efficacy for coronavirus disease 2019 among the elderly population in Shanghai, China.
Aged ; COVID-19/drug therapy* ; China ; Clinical Protocols ; Consensus ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; SARS-CoV-2