OBJECTIVE: Traditional Chinese medicine plays a significant role in the treatment of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Tanreqing Capsule (TRQC) was used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of TRQC in the treatment of COVID-19. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 82 patients who had laboratory-confirmed mild and moderate COVID-19; patients were treated with TRQC in one designated hospital. The treatment and control groups consisted of 25 and 57 cases, respectively. The treatment group was given TRQC orally three times a day, three pills each time, in addition to conventional Western medicine treatments which were also administered to the control group. The clinical efficacy indicators, such as the negative conversion time of pharyngeal swab nucleic acid, the negative conversion time of fecal nucleic acid, the duration of negative conversion of pharyngeal-fecal nucleic acid, and the improvement in the level of immune indicators such as T-cell subsets (CD3, CD4 and CD45) were monitored. RESULTS: COVID-19 patients in the treatment group, compared to the control group, had a shorter negative conversion time of fecal nucleic acid (4 vs. 9 days, P = 0.047) and a shorter interval of negative conversion of pharyngeal-fecal nucleic acid (0 vs. 2 days, P = 0.042). The level of CD3 CONCLUSION Significant reductions in the negative conversion time of fecal nucleic acid and the duration of negative conversion of pharyngeal-fecal nucleic acid were identified in the treatment group as compared to the control group, illustrating the potential therapeutic benefits of using TRQC as a complement to conventional medicine in patients with mild and moderate COVID-19. The underlying mechanism may be related to the improved levels of the immune indicator CD3
Adult ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19/pathology* ; Capsules ; DNA, Viral/analysis* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Feces/virology* ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To observe the early interventions of traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on the conversion time of nucleic acid in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and find possible underlying mechanisms of action. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 300 confirmed COVID-19 patients who were treated with TCM, at a designated hospital in China. The patients were categorized into three groups: TCM1, TCM2 and TCM3, who respectively received TCM interventions within 7, 8-14, and greater than 15 days of hospitalization. Different indicators such as the conversion time of pharyngeal swab nucleic acid, the conversion time of fecal nucleic acid, length of hospital stay, and inflammatory markers (leukocyte count, and lymphocyte count and percentage) were analyzed to observe the impact of early TCM interventions on these groups. RESULTS: The median conversion times of pharyngeal swab nucleic acid in the three groups were 5.5, 7 and 16 d (P < 0.001), with TCM1 and TCM2 being statistically different from TCM3 (P < 0.01). TCM1 (P < 0.05) and TCM3 (P < 0.01) were statistically different from TCM2. The median conversion times of fecal nucleic acid in the three groups were 7, 9 and 17 d (P < 0.001). Conversion times of fecal nucleic acid in TCM1 were statistically different from TCM3 and TCM2 (P < 0.01). The median lengths of hospital stay in the three groups were 13, 16 and 21 d (P < 0.001). TCM1 and TCM2 were statistically different from TCM3 (P < 0.01); TCM1 and TCM3 were statistically different from TCM2 (P < 0.01). Both leucocyte and lymphocyte counts increased gradually with an increase in the length of hospital stay in TCM1 group patients, with a statistically significant difference observed at each time point in the group (P < 0.001). Statistically significant differences in lymphocyte count and percentage in TCM2 (P < 0.001), and in leucocyte count (P = 0.043) and lymphocyte count (P = 0.038) in TCM3 were observed. The comparison among the three groups showed a statistically significant difference in lymphocyte percentage on the third day of admission (P = 0.044). CONCLUSION In this study, it was observed that in COVID-19 patients treated with a combination of Chinese and Western medicines, TCM intervention earlier in the hospital stay correlated with faster conversion time of pharyngeal swab and fecal nucleic acid, as well as shorter length of hospital stay, thus helping promote faster recovery of the patient. The underlying mechanism of action may be related to improving inflammation in patients with COVID-19.
Adult ; Aged ; COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2

This study aims to explore the mechanism of fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma against chronic bronchitis airway inflammation. The SD rats of SPF grade were divided into control group, model group, Guilongkechuanning group(GLKCN, 1.125 g·kg~(-1)), high-dose fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma group(LG-HD, 15 g·kg~(-1)), and low-dose fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma group(LG-LD, 7.5 g·kg~(-1)). The chronic bronchitis models of rats in other groups except the control group were induced by the modified smoking method. From the 15 th day of modeling, the rats were given corresponding agents by gavage for 20 consecutive days. After the last administration, the rats were sacrificed for sample collection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to detect serum transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) and interleukin-6(IL-6) levels. The protein expression of TGF-β, IL-1β and IL-6 in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemical method. Masson staining was performed to detect collagen fibers and muscle fibers in lung tissue, and HE staining to detect the pathological changes of lung tissue. Human bronchial epithelial(16 HBE) cells were cultured in vitro, and CCK-8(cell counting kit-8) method was used to detect the cytotoxicity of cigarette smoke extract(CSE) and fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma. After the exposure of 16 HBE cells to 3.5% CSE and appropriate concentration(800, 400 μg·mL~(-1)) of fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma for 24 h, quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to determine the mRNA levels of TGF-β and IL-1β, and Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of TGF-β and IL-6 in the cells. The rat model of chronic bronchitis induced by smoking was successfully established. Fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma reduced serum TGF-β and IL-6 levels, down-regulated the protein levels of TGF-β, IL-1β, and IL-6 in lung tissue, and alleviated pathological changes and fibrotic lesions in lung tissue. Moreover, it down-regulated the CSE-induced protein expression of TGF-β and IL-6 as well as the mRNA level of TGF-β in 16 HBE cells. These results indicated that fresh Phragmitis Rhizoma could prevent airway inflammation from chronic bronchitis and promote cell repair by inhibiting the TGF-β signaling pathway.
Animals ; Bronchitis, Chronic/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Poaceae/chemistry* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics*

Objective Solamargine (SM), with its anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects, inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of various tumor cells. This study was to investigate the effects of SM on the proliferation and apoptosis of human esophageal cancer KYSE150 cells and its action mechanism. Methods We treated KYSE150 cells with SM at the concentrations of 0 (the blank control group), 2, 4, 6 and 8 μmol/L for 24 hours. Then, we observed the morphological changes of the cells under the inverted microscope, detected their proliferation and apoptosis by MTT assay and flow cytometry respectively, and determined the expressions of the classical NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins NF-κB, p-NF-κB, IKKα, IKKβ, IkBα and p-IkBα) and apoptosis-related proteins Bax, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in different groups of the cells by Western blot. Results Compared with the blank control, the inhibition rate of the proliferation of the KYSE150 cells in the 2, 4, 6 and 8 μmol/L SM groups was increased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner (0 vs [15.03 ± 0.15]%, [47.94 ± 1.74]%, [68.72 ± 0.47]% and [77.51 ± 1.70]%, P<0.05), and so was the apoptosis rate ([8.17 ± 0.51]% vs [14.50 ± 0.73]%, [18.57 ± 2.08]%, [65.10 ± 10.88]% and [81.55 ± 5.48]%, P<0.05). The expression of the apoptosis-related protein Bax in the SM treated cells was up-regulated, those of Bcl-2, IKKα, IKKβ and p-IkBα down-regulated, and the activity of caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 promoted, all in a concentration-dependent manner, with statistically significant differences between the blank control and the 4, 6 and 8 μmol/L SM groups (P<0.05). Statistically significant differences were also found in the expressions of NF-κB, p-NF-κB and IkBα between the blank control and the 6 and 8 μmol/L SM groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Solamargine can significantly inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of KYSE150 cells, probably by suppressing the classical NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) after Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Methods 22 cases underwent ERCP after Roux-en-Y reconstruction from January 2015 to January 2017 were collected, the operating time, success rate of endoscopy and treatment, related complications were analyzed. Results ERCP was performed in 22 cases about Roux-en-Y reconstruction of digestive tract, the mean insertion and cannulation time was 74.1 and 22.5 minutes; the overall success rate was 81.8% (18/22) and 77.2% (17/22), and no major complications occurred. Conclusions ERCP can be used as a safe and effective method for the diagnosis and treatment on the Roux-en-Y reconstruction of digestive tract.

[ Objective ] To observe the effect of kaolin and propranolol on paraquat ( PQ ) concentration in the lungs of poisoned mice. [ Methods] A group of 144 ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups:PQ, treatment, and control.Then 100 mg/kg PQ were intragastrically administrated ( ig) in PQ group and treatment group, while only the same volume normal saline was given in control group.And then 48 g/kg kaolin combined with 3.2 mg/kg propranolol were administered in treatment group immediately after poisoning while only the same volume of normal saline was given in the other two groups. Pathological examination was done and PQ concentration in lungs of the mice detected 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h after poisoning. [ Results] In the lungs of the mice in PQ group occurred alveolar capillary expansion, endothelial cell swelling, small or large sheet-shaped inflammation cell infiltration and mainly neutrophils while in treatment group the above lesions were apparently alleviated.In PQ and treatment groups, PQ concentration in lungs of both groups rose significantly 0.5 h after poisoning and up to peak at 4 h.But PQ concentration in lungs decreased significantly in treatment group from 4 h to 24 h after poisoning ( P<0.05) , as compared with that in PQ group. [ Conclusion] PQ concentration in lungs of the poisoned mice was decreased and the injury alleviated when they were treated with kaolin combined with propranolol.It is held that further research is worth doing in clinical practice.

This study was purposed to detect the serum concentrations of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), and to investigate its clinical significance. the serum IL-17 levels in 33 patients with MM and 20 normal control subjects were quantified by using double antibody sandwich ELISA, and serum β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) levels were detected by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that the serum concentrations of IL-17 and β2-MG in patients with MM were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.001), the serum concentrations of IL-17 and β2-MG in active stage were significantly higher than those in stable stage (P < 0.05), the serum concentrations of IL-17 and β2-MG were significantly higher in stage III than that in stage II according to International Staging System (ISS) (P < 0.05), the serum IL-17 and β2-MG levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.690, P < 0.05). It is concluded that the serum IL-17 level correlates with active/stable stages of MM and staging of MM, IL-17 may play an important role in development stage and prognosis of this disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis

Objective To assess the changes and the leading cause of deaths for children under 5 years old,in China,during 2000-2010,with the aim of evaluation on the progress in achieving the relative goal set by "National Program of Action for Child Development in China (2001-2010)",and understanding the related challenges.Methods Data used in this study were collected from the population-based National Maternal and Child' s Health Surveillance Network of China.Infant Mortality Rate (IMR),Under-5-mortality rate (U5MR) and the leading cause of deaths for under-5 children were analyzed.Results Nationwide IMR and U5MR in 2010 dropped by 59.3％and 58.7％ respectively,compared to that in 2000.Decreases by 50.8％ and 47.1％ in IMR and U5MR were observed in urban areas,and 56.5％ and 56.0％ in rural areas during this period.Compared with data from 2000,the leading causes-specific U5MR in 2010 had significantly declined.The top 5 leading causes of death in 2010 were premature birth/low birth weight,pneumonia,birth asphyxia,congenital heart disease and accidental suffocation,but were different in urban and rural areas.In 2010,both IMR and U5MR from the rural areas were 2.8-folds than that of the urban areas.In addition,IMRs in the Middle and Western parts of China were 1.5 and 2.3-folds respectively of that in the East,and U5MR in Middle and West was 1.5 and 2.2-folds respectively of that in East.Conclusion IMR,U5MR and the leading causes specific mortality rate in China declined remarkably from 2000 to 2010,and the goal set by "National Program of Achon for Child Development in China (2001-2010)" had been successfully achieved.However,the disparity on child' s health in regions and in urban or rural areas,still remained a challenge.