As the search for effective treatments for COVID-19 continues, the high mortality rate among critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) presents a profound challenge. This study explores the potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a supplementary treatment for severe COVID-19. A total of 110 critically ill COVID-19 patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vulcan Hill Hospital between Feb., 2020, and April, 2020 (Wuhan, China) participated in this observational study. All patients received standard supportive care protocols, with a subset of 81 also receiving TCM as an adjunct treatment. Clinical characteristics during the treatment period and the clinical outcome of each patient were closely monitored and analysed. Our findings indicated that the TCM group exhibited a significantly lower mortality rate compared with the non-TCM group (16 of 81 vs 24 of 29; 0.3 vs 2.3 person/month). In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, TCM treatment was associated with improved survival odds (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that TCM treatment could partially mitigate inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and contribute to the recovery of multiple organic functions, thereby potentially increasing the survival rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Humans ; COVID-19 ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Critical Illness ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND:In the process of exploring the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease,the important role of bioinformatics for common target screening has been revealed,enabling the use of its screening results as a basis for exploring the therapeutic effects of drugs on the disease. OBJECTIVE:To predict the targets of liraglutide,a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist,in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease by bioinformatics and molecular biology. METHODS:DisGeNET database and SEA database were used to obtain the common genes of Alzheimer's disease and liraglutide.GO/KEGG enrichment analysis of common targets was conducted using DAVID online database.Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using STRING database.The optimal dosage of liraglutide was determined using cell counting kit-8 assay.Expression of key proteins was analyzed using immunofluorescence and immunoblotting techniques.The mouse hippocampal neuron HT22 cell line was used for ex vivo experiments,and the cells were randomly divided into three groups:HT22 group,HT22+Aβ group,and HT22+Aβ+Lir group.No special treatment was done in the HT22 group,while Aβ1-42 was used to intervene in the HT22 cell line for 24 hours to construct an Aβ injury cell model in the HT22+Aβ group.In additional to modeling,liraglutide was added to the HT22+Aβ+Lir group for 12 hours. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 3 333 genes associated with Alzheimer's disease were screened from DisGeNET database.Then 147 potential targets of liraglutide were obtained from SEA database.Finally,64 common targets of Alzheimer's disease and Liraglutide were determined using R packets.GO/KEGG analysis of common targets using DAVID online database suggested that common targets were mainly enriched in the following biological processes:neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,renin-angiotensin system,bladder cancer,endopeptidase activity,peptide receptor activity,G protein-coupled peptide receptor activity,and transport vesicles.The obtained 64 common target proteins were imported into SRTING online database for protein-protein interaction network construction,and the top three genes,matrix metalloproteinases 2,9 and interleukin 1β,were obtained.The activity of cultured cells was detected by the cell counting kit-8 kit.Liraglutide at 100 nmol/L was the optimal concentration for antagonizing Aβ1-42.In the western blot and immunofluorescence assays,the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2,9 and interleukin 1β was significantly increased in the HT22+Aβ group compared with the HT22 group(P＜0.05)but significantly decreased in the HT22+Aβ+Lir group compared with the HT22+Aβ group(P＜0.05).To conclude,the above bioinformatics data and secondary validation of differential genes in the GEO database suggest that both matrix metalloproteinases 2,9 and interleukin 1β could be potential targets of liraglutide in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Tumor-associated macrophages （TAMs）， as the main immune cells in the human body， are key factors in maintaining the homeostasis of the tumor microenvironment. With high plasticity， they can polarize into the classically activated （M1） macrophages or alternatively activated （M2） macrophages under different conditions. M1 macrophages can inhibit tumor growth by phagocytosis， and M2 can inhibit the immune microenvironment to promote tumorigenesis and immune escape. Small molecules of traditional Chinese medicine have been widely studied in gastrointestinal tumors. These small molecules exert anti-tumor activity by enhancing TAM activity and promoting the polarization of macrophages. Targeted intervention in TAMs with these molecules has the potential to inhibit the development of gastrointestinal tumors. This article summarizes the research status and significance of small molecules of traditional Chinese medicine targeting TAMs against gastrointestinal tumors， aiming to provide reference for the future studies in this field.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) among acute respiratory infection (ARI) cases in 16 provinces of China from 2009 to 2023.Methods:The data of this study were collected from the ARI surveillance data from 16 provinces in China from 2009 to 2023, with a total of 28 278 ARI cases included in the study. The clinical specimens from ARI cases were screened for HRSV nucleic acid from 2009 to 2023, and differences in virus detection rates among cases of different age groups, regions, and months were analyzed.Results:A total of 28 278 ARI cases were enrolled from January 2009 to September 2023. The age of the cases ranged from<1 month to 112 years, and the age M ( Q1, Q3) was 3 years (1 year, 9 years). Among them, 3 062 cases were positive for HRSV nucleic acid, with a total detection rate of 10.83%. From 2009 to 2019, the detection rate of HRSV was 9.33%, and the virus was mainly prevalent in winter and spring. During the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the detection rate of HRSV fluctuated between 6.32% and 18.67%. There was no traditional winter epidemic peak of HRSV from the end of 2022 to the beginning of 2023, and an anti-seasonal epidemic of HRSV occurred from April to May 2023. About 87.95% (2 693/3 062) of positive cases were children under 5 years old, and the difference in the detection rate of HRSV among different age groups was statistically significant ( P<0.001), showing a decreasing trend of HRSV detection rate with the increase of age ( P<0.001). Among them, the HRSV detection rate (25.69%) was highest in children under 6 months. Compared with 2009-2019, the ranking of HRSV detection rates in different age groups changed from high to low between 2020 and 2023, with the age M (Q1, Q3) of HRSV positive cases increasing from 1 year (6 months, 3 years) to 2 years (11 months, 3 years). Conclusion:Through 15 years of continuous HRSV surveillance analysis, children under 5 years old, especially infants under 6 months old, are the main high-risk population for HRSV infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence and patterns of HRSV in China have changed.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) among acute respiratory infection (ARI) cases in 16 provinces of China from 2009 to 2023.Methods:The data of this study were collected from the ARI surveillance data from 16 provinces in China from 2009 to 2023, with a total of 28 278 ARI cases included in the study. The clinical specimens from ARI cases were screened for HRSV nucleic acid from 2009 to 2023, and differences in virus detection rates among cases of different age groups, regions, and months were analyzed.Results:A total of 28 278 ARI cases were enrolled from January 2009 to September 2023. The age of the cases ranged from<1 month to 112 years, and the age M ( Q1, Q3) was 3 years (1 year, 9 years). Among them, 3 062 cases were positive for HRSV nucleic acid, with a total detection rate of 10.83%. From 2009 to 2019, the detection rate of HRSV was 9.33%, and the virus was mainly prevalent in winter and spring. During the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the detection rate of HRSV fluctuated between 6.32% and 18.67%. There was no traditional winter epidemic peak of HRSV from the end of 2022 to the beginning of 2023, and an anti-seasonal epidemic of HRSV occurred from April to May 2023. About 87.95% (2 693/3 062) of positive cases were children under 5 years old, and the difference in the detection rate of HRSV among different age groups was statistically significant ( P<0.001), showing a decreasing trend of HRSV detection rate with the increase of age ( P<0.001). Among them, the HRSV detection rate (25.69%) was highest in children under 6 months. Compared with 2009-2019, the ranking of HRSV detection rates in different age groups changed from high to low between 2020 and 2023, with the age M (Q1, Q3) of HRSV positive cases increasing from 1 year (6 months, 3 years) to 2 years (11 months, 3 years). Conclusion:Through 15 years of continuous HRSV surveillance analysis, children under 5 years old, especially infants under 6 months old, are the main high-risk population for HRSV infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence and patterns of HRSV in China have changed.

Tissue engineering bone technology, grounded in seed cells, cytokines, and scaffold supports, provides an effective solution for addressing extensive bone defects, demonstrating significant potentials in the field of bone repair. However, this technology still faces numerous challenges. Focusing on vascularization in engineered bones, this article reviews various methods to enhance vascularization within tissue-engineered bones, including multicellular co-culture, application of angiogenic factors, advanced 3D printing, and aid of surgical interventions. This article also analyses the latest research developments and the limitations of the methods, and speculates future research directions for tissue engineered bone.

In the electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring of patients with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, generalized periodic discharges are often monitored abnormal waveforms. When there are some features of generalized periodic discharges (e.g., frequency≥1.5 Hz or plus), it indicates that the patient is at high risk for seizures or has a poor prognosis. Compared with conventional EEG, the time of continuous EEG monitoring is longer, so the detection rate of these waveforms is higher. At present, scholars at home and abroad have studied these waveforms, but there is controversy about the significance of these waveforms. In this paper, the definition and characteristics of these waveforms and their significance in determining prognosis and guiding treatment in patients with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy are reviewed.

Objective To systematically evaluate the intervention effect of social psychological intervention on the health status of patients with bariatric surgery(BS).Methods 8 databases,including PubMed,PsycInfo,and Embase and Clinic Trials,were retrieved to recruit randomized controlled trials with computer from database establishing time to Sep.2022.Independent quality evaluation was conducted by 2 researchers,and Meta-analysis was performed by the RevMan5.3 software.Results Totally 23 RCTs were included.The meta-analysis showed that psychosocial interventions in BS patients improve emotional eating and binge eating behavior[SMD=-0.44,95％CI(-0.78,-0.09),P=0.010;MD=-5.88,95％CI(-8.65,-3.11),P＜0.001],promote better quality of life[SMD=0.30,95％CI(0.02,0.59),P=0.040]and physical mobility,alleviates anxiety and depression[SMD=-0.37,95％CI(-0.67,-0.08),P=0.010;SMD=-0.59,95％CI(-0.84,-0.33),P＜0.001].However,the effect on improving eating disorders[MD=-0.01,95％CI(-0.19,0.18),P=0.950]is not significant,and subgroup analysis results of different intervention measures and follow-up times showed that there was no statistically significant difference in weight changes between the social psychological intervention group and the control group.Conclusion Psychosocial intervention can effectively improve the mental state and eating behavior of the bariatric surgery patients,improve the quality of life and increase physical activity of patients.However,the effect of intervention on eating disorder and weight change is still unclear.More high-quality clinical studies need to be carried out for further verification.

Objective:To retrieve, evaluate, and sum up the evidence on target temperature management in stroke patients, and summarize the best evidence.Methods:Based on the "6S" pyramid model, clinical practice guidelines, expert consensus, evidence summary, and systematic review on target temperature management in stroke patients were searched from top to bottom in British Medical Journal Best Practice, UpToDate, Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Health Care Center, Guidelines International Network, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, European Stroke Organization, Medlive, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP and China Biology Medicine Disc. The search period was from database establishment to October 7, 2022. Two researchers received evidence-based nursing training independently evaluated the quality of the article, extracted, integrated, and summarized the best evidence.Results:A total of 12 articles were included, including three clinical practice guidelines, four systematic reviews, and five expert consensuses. 24 best pieces of evidence were summarized from five aspects, involving target temperature population, target temperature implementation, complication monitoring, nutritional support, and prognosis evaluation.Conclusions:This study adopts an evidence-based approach to systematically summarize the best evidence for target temperature management in stroke patients, which can provide the best decision-making basis for clinical medical and nursing staff to manage temperature in stroke patients, further standardize temperature monitoring and management, and offer scientific basis for future research and practice.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of liposomal doxorubicin intensive preconditioning regimen and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in treatment of leukemia.Methods:The data of 20 patients with intensive preconditioning regimen allo-HSCT who were admitted to Shenzhen Second People's Hospital from January 2016 to June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The transplantation effect, occurrence of complications and prognosis of patients were analyzed.Results:The median time of granulocyte engraftment was 17 d (13-23 d); the median time of platelet engraftment was 22.5 d (minimum 13 d, maximum >90 d). The acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD occurred in 2 cases and 1 case, respectively. Eight cases occurred hemorrhagic cystitis, 15 cases occurred Epstein-Barr viremia, 8 cases occurred cytomegaloviremia, 1 case occurred sepsis, 1 case occurred acute liver injury, and 2 cases occurred fungal pneumonia. The median follow-up time was 31.7 months (0.8-53.8 months). One patient died of intracranial infection on the 25th day after transplantation; 3 patients relapsed during the follow-up period, and 2 of them died; the other 16 patients carried 100% donor genes during the follow-up period.Conclusions:The liposomal doxorubicin intensive preconditioning regimen and allo-HSCT have a good effect on leukemia. Increasing the intensity of pretreatment does not increase the treatment-related adverse reactions. The incidence rates of Epstein-Barr viremia and cytomegaloviremia are high, but they are improved after active treatment.