1.Bibliometric analysis of a leadership indicator system in the medical field
Sen YANG ; Hua JIN ; Jianwei SHI ; Chen CHEN ; Xuhua GE ; Hanzhi ZHANG ; Le MA ; Dehua YU
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2024;23(3):244-250
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To investigate the current status of research on the construction of leadership indicator system in the medical field at home and abroad, and to analyze the characteristics of the indicator system therein.Methods:This was a bibliometric study. The group applied subject keywords to search relevant literature on the construction of leadership indicator system in the medical field at home and abroad on English websites PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Scopus and Chinese websites Baidu Academic, CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, with a time frame of 2016-2023. The basic characteristics of the literature, the theoretical framework of the research application and the research theme were extracted, and the content of the indicator system in the literature was reviewed and summarized.Results:A total of 21 literatures were included, including 7 Chinese literatures and 14 English literatures. Of these literatures, 10 focused on physician leadership, 5 on medical manager leadership, and 2 on general practitioner leadership. Among 16 research literatures, 9 informed the theoretical basis of leadership, and 4 literatures were applied research. Five main themes were identified: leadership studies of individual healthcare administrators, leadership development in healthcare, interest and attitudes of healthcare workers towards leadership learning, applications of leadership in healthcare, and the impact of leadership in healthcare on patients and healthcare organizations.Conclusions:At present, research on the construction of the leadership indicator system in the medical field presents is diverse, with differences in theoretical basis and content. The original and empirical research is still insufficient.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
2.The application value of artificial intelligence in evaluating brain atrophy in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3
Sidan CHEN ; Jiaojiao WU ; Boyu CAO ; Kuanghui XU ; Yugang LI ; Zhouyao HU ; Rui HUA ; Feng SHI ; Xiaochuan WANG ; Le QI
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(7):1037-1042
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective To evaluate the degree of brain atrophy in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3(SCA3)patients based on artificial intelligence(AI)technology,and to explore the correlation between the degree of brain atrophy and the severity of the disease.Methods The clinical and imaging data of 23 SCA3 patients(SCA3 group)and 24 healthy controls(HC)(HC group)were collected.The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale(ICARS)was used to evaluate the severity of ataxia in patients with SCA3.AI technology was used to process the 3D-T1 WI MR image data of the SCA3 and HC groups to segment and measure the volume and volume percentage of brain,followed by correlation analyses between brain structural alterations and the severity of ataxia in SCA3 patients.Results There were no significant differences in gender and age between the two groups(P>0.05).The SCA3 group had a significant reduction in the volume and volume percentage of various brain regions,such as the frontal,temporal,parietal,occipital,limbic,right cerebral white mat-ter,subcortical gray matter,cerebellum and brainstem,compared to the HC group(multiple hypothesis testing adjusted P<0.01).In the SCA3 group,the ICARS showed positive correlation with patient age(r=0.571,P=0.004)and negative correlation with the vol-ume of the left cerebellar white matter,vermis,medulla oblongata,and the volume percentages of bilateral cerebellar white matter,vermis,pons,medulla oblongata(P<0.05).Conclusion The significant atrophy of the supratentorial and subtentorial regions of the brain in SCA3 patients.The globus pallidus exhibits the most substantial atrophy,suggesting its potential as an imaging diagnostic marker of SC A3.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
3.Analysis of influencing factors and clinical value of anterior peritoneal reflection for patients with rectal cancer.
Hua Qing ZHANG ; Shi Tian WANG ; Zhen SUN ; Guo Le LIN ; Bin WU ; Bei Zhan NIU ; Jun Yang LU ; Lai XU ; Yi XIAO
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2023;61(9):791-797
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objectives: To investigate the factors influencing the height of anterior peritoneal reflection (APR) for patients with rectal cancer, and to analyze the relationship between the APR and the lateral lymph node metastasis. Methods: Clinical data of 432 patients with tumor located within and below APR were retrospectively collected from the rectal cancer database at the Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2020 to September 2022. Ninty-eight non-rectal cancer patients were also enrolled as a control group. There were 308 males and 124 females in the tumor group, aged (M(IQR)) 62 (16) years (range: 24 to 85 years) and 53 males and 45 females in the control group, aged 60 (22) years (range: 27 to 87 years). The APR height, pelvis, and tumor-related parameters were measured by MRI. A multifactor linear regression model was established to analyze the dependent correlation factors of APR height. These factors of the two groups were matched by propensity score matching and their APR heights were compared after matching. An ordinal Logistic regression model was established to explore the relationship between APR-related parameters and radiographic lateral lymph node metastasis. Results: The APR height of the tumor group was (98.7±14.4) mm (range: 43.3 to 154.0 mm) and the control group was (95.1±12.7) mm (range: 68.0 to 137.9 mm). Multivariable linear regression revealed that the greater the weight (B=0.519, 95%CI: 0.399 to 0.640, P<0.01), the anterior pelvic depth (B=0.109, 95%CI: 0.005 to 0.213, P=0.039) and the smaller the bi-ischial diameter (B=-0.172, 95%CI:-0.294 to -0.049, P=0.006), the higher the APR height. The tumor group had a higher APR height than the control group after propensity score matching ((98.3±14.2) mm vs. (95.1±12.7) mm, t=-1.992, P=0.047). Ordinal Logistic regression indicated that the longer segment of the tumor invade the nonperitoneal rectum was an independent influencing factor of radiographic lateral lymph node metastasis (OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.002 to 1.030, P=0.021), while the distance between the anal verge and the tumor was not (OR=0.986, 95%CI: 0.972 to 1.000, P=0.058). Conclusions: The higher the weight, the deeper and narrower the pelvis, the higher the APR height. There is a certain relationship between APR and lateral lymph node metastasis on imaging.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
4.Primary study of heat stress inducing early expression and secretion of tissue factor in vascular endothelial cells
Jing QIAN ; Fan-Fan WANG ; Lu-Lu WAN ; Jia-Le YANG ; Xue-Zhi SHI ; Hua-Sheng TONG ; Wei-Liang ZHOU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2023;48(12):1412-1419
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective To explore the pattern of early expression and secretion of tissue factor(TF)in vascular endothelial cells induced by heat stress.Methods Thirty SPF-rated C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into five groups:the control group and groups of indicated recovery time,including 0,3,6,and 9 h in room temperature after heat stress(n=6).Mice in the heat stress groups were exposed to an animal incubator to reach 42.5℃for core body temperature for heat stroke.We analyzed the histopathological changes in the liver,lung,and kidney tissues with HE staining.We measured the TF mRNA in mice tissues by RT-qPCR and the plasma concentration of TF in mice with a commercial ELISA kit.Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were placed in a culture incubator to build an in vitro heat stress model.HUVECs were divided into five groups,including a control group and groups of indicated recovery time,including 0,3,6,and 9 h after heat stress.We quantified the expression of TF mRNA and protein in HUVEC cells by RT-qPCR,Western blotting,and immunofluorescence and measured the secreted TF with a commercial ELISA kit.Results No significant pathological injury was observed in the tissues of the control group.Mice treated with heat stress had various degrees of structural injuries and hemorrhagic and inflammatory changes in multiple tissues.Compared to control group,the expression of TF mRNA significantly increased in the kidney of heat stress-treated mice with 0 and 3 h recovery time(1.719±0.018,1.241±0.178 vs.1.000±0.063),the lung with 3 h recovery time(2.444±0.511 vs.1.000±0.106)and the liver with 6 h recovery time(7.312±0.618 vs.1.000±0.147)(P<0.05).The concentration of TF in plasma also sustainedly elevated in mice with 0,3,6,and 9 h recovery time after heat stress as compared to control group[(132.426±17.920)pg/ml,(119.400±10.267)pg/ml,(107.374±13.495)pg/ml,(163.767±22.810)pg/ml vs.(75.479±13.831)pg/ml,respectively,P<0.01].The expression levels of TF mRNA were higher in heat stress HUVECs with 6 h and 9 h recovery time than the control cells(1.905±0.354,2.564±0.297 vs.1.000±0.097,P<0.01).Secreted TF in the supernatant from HUVECs treated with heat stress and different recovery time also increased significantly[(36.309±4.101)pg/ml,(38.425±5.484)pg/ml,(41.655±4.380)pg/ml,(43.586±4.718)pg/ml vs.(14.996±0.254)pg/ml,P<0.01].Conclusion Heat stress increased early expression and secretion of TF in vascular endothelial cells.Vascular endothelial cells may be a main source of circulating TF in heat stroke.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
5.Investigation on prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild mice in Shitai County, Anhui Province, 2018
Jia-chang HE ; Xue-feng CHEN ; Tian-ping WANG ; Feng-hua GAO ; Wei TAO ; Bo DAI ; Song-jun DING ; Ting LIU ; Yi LI ; Hao WANG ; Wei-fei MAO ; Le-sheng ZHANG ; Xiao-juan XU ; Shi-qing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2022;34(6):622-625
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			 Objective To investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection in wild mice in Shitai County, Anhui Province, so as to provide insights into precise control of the source of S. japonicum infections. Methods Wild mice were captured using the trapping method for three successive nights at snail-infested settings from Jitan Village of Jitan Township, and Shiquan Village and Xibai Village of Dingxiang Township, Shitai County, Anhui Province in June and October, 2018. All trapped wild mice were sacrificed and liver and mesenteric vein specimens were collected for detection of S. japonicum eggs using microscopy, while the fecal samples in mouse intestines were collected for identification of S. japonicum infections using Kato-Katz technique. In addition, the population density of trapped wild mice was estimated and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection was calculated in trapped wild mice. Results A total of 376 wild mice were trapped from three villages in Shitai County. The population density of trapped wild mice was 9.1% (376/4 124), and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection was 24.2% (91/376) in trapped wild mice. The highest prevalence of S. japonicum infection was detected in Shiquan Village of Dingxiang Township (30.1%), and the lowest prevalence was seen in Xibai Village of Dingxiang Township; however, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in trapped wild mice among three villages (χ2= 4.111, P > 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in wild mice captured between on June (26.8%, 34/127) and October (22.9%, 57/249) (χ2 = 0.690, P = 0.406). The trapped wild mice included 6 species, including Rattus norvegicus, Niviventer niviventer, R. losea, Apodemus agrarius, Mus musculus and N. coning, and the two highest prevalence of S. japonicum infection was detected in R. losea (34.9%, 22/63) and R. norvegicus (31.2%, 44/141). Conclusions The prevalence of S. japonicum infections is high in wild mice in Shitai County, and there is a natural focus of schistosomiasis transmission in Shitai County. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
6.Rabies Virus Neutralizing Activity, Safety, and Immunogenicity of Recombinant Human Rabies Antibody Compared with Human Rabies Immunoglobulin in Healthy Adults.
Jun Nan ZHANG ; Ya Juan MENG ; Yun Hua BAI ; Yu Feng LI ; Li Qing YANG ; Nian Min SHI ; Hui Xia HAN ; Jian GAO ; Li Juan ZHU ; Shu Ping LI ; Jing ZHANG ; Qin Hua ZHAO ; Xiu Qin WANG ; Jing Shuang WEI ; Le Min REN ; Chen Hua CAO ; Chen CHEN ; Wei ZHAO ; Li LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2022;35(9):782-791
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVE:
		                        			Preliminary assessment of rabies virus neutralizing activity, safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant human rabies antibody (NM57) compared with human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) in Chinese healthy adults.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			Subjects were randomly (1:1:1) allocated to Groups A (20 IU/kg NM57), B (40 IU/kg NM57), or C (20 IU/kg HRIG). One injection was given on the day of enrollment. Blood samples were collected on days -7 to 0 (pre-injection), 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42. Adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs) were recorded over a period of 42 days after injection.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			All 60 subjects developed detectable rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (RVNAs) (> 0.05 IU/mL) on days 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42. The RVNA levels peaked on day 3 in all three groups, with a geometric mean concentration (GMC) of 0.2139 IU/mL in Group A, 0.3660 IU/mL in Group B, and 0.1994 IU/mL in Group C. At each follow-up point, the GMC in Group B was significantly higher than that in Groups A and C. The areas under the antibody concentration curve over 0-14 days and 0-42 days in Group B were significantly larger than those in Groups A and C. Fifteen AEs were reported. Except for one grade 2 myalgia in Group C, the other 14 were all grade 1. No SAEs were observed.
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSION
		                        			The rabies virus neutralizing activity of 40 IU/kg NM57 was superior to that of 20 IU/kg NM57 and 20 IU/kg HRIG, and the rabies virus neutralizing activity of 20 IU/kg NM57 and 20 IU/kg HRIG were similar. Safety was comparable between NM57 and HRIG.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Adult
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Antibodies, Neutralizing
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Antibodies, Viral
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Data Collection
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rabies/prevention & control*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rabies Vaccines/adverse effects*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rabies virus/genetics*
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
7.Polysaccharide Krestin Prevents Alzheimer's Disease-type Pathology and Cognitive Deficits by Enhancing Monocyte Amyloid-β Processing.
Si-Han CHEN ; Chen-Yang HE ; Ying-Ying SHEN ; Gui-Hua ZENG ; Ding-Yuan TIAN ; Yuan CHENG ; Man-Yu XU ; Dong-Yu FAN ; Cheng-Rong TAN ; An-Yu SHI ; Xian-Le BU ; Yan-Jiang WANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2022;38(3):290-302
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Deficits in the clearance of amyloid β protein (Aβ) by the peripheral system play a critical role in the pathogenesis of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Impaired uptake of Aβ by dysfunctional monocytes is deemed to be one of the major mechanisms underlying deficient peripheral Aβ clearance in AD. In the current study, flow cytometry and biochemical and behavioral techniques were applied to investigate the effects of polysaccharide krestin (PSK) on AD-related pathology in vitro and in vivo. We found that PSK, widely used in therapy for various cancers, has the potential to enhance Aβ uptake and intracellular processing by human monocytes in vitro. After administration of PSK by intraperitoneal injection, APP/PS1 mice performed better in behavioral tests, along with reduced Aβ deposition, neuroinflammation, neuronal loss, and tau hyperphosphorylation. These results suggest that PSK holds promise as a preventive agent for AD by strengthening the Aβ clearance by blood monocytes and alleviating AD-like pathology.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Alzheimer Disease/pathology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/metabolism*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cognition
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Disease Models, Animal
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mice, Transgenic
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Monocytes/pathology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Polysaccharides/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Proteoglycans
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
8.Incidence of extrauterine growth retardation and its risk factors in very preterm infants during hospitalization: a multicenter prospective study.
Wei SHEN ; Zhi ZHENG ; Xin-Zhu LIN ; Fan WU ; Qian-Xin TIAN ; Qi-Liang CUI ; Yuan YUAN ; Ling REN ; Jian MAO ; Bi-Zhen SHI ; Yu-Mei WANG ; Ling LIU ; Jing-Hui ZHANG ; Yan-Mei CHANG ; Xiao-Mei TONG ; Yan ZHU ; Rong ZHANG ; Xiu-Zhen YE ; Jing-Jing ZOU ; Huai-Yu LI ; Bao-Yin ZHAO ; Yin-Ping QIU ; Shu-Hua LIU ; Li MA ; Ying XU ; Rui CHENG ; Wen-Li ZHOU ; Hui WU ; Zhi-Yong LIU ; Dong-Mei CHEN ; Jin-Zhi GAO ; Jing LIU ; Ling CHEN ; Cong LI ; Chun-Yan YANG ; Ping XU ; Ya-Yu ZHANG ; Si-Le HU ; Hua MEI ; Zu-Ming YANG ; Zong-Tai FENG ; San-Nan WANG ; Er-Yan MENG ; Li-Hong SHANG ; Fa-Lin XU ; Shao-Ping OU ; Rong JU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2022;24(2):132-140
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVES:
		                        			To investigate the incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and its risk factors in very preterm infants (VPIs) during hospitalization in China.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			A prospective multicenter study was performed on the medical data of 2 514 VPIs who were hospitalized in the department of neonatology in 28 hospitals from 7 areas of China between September 2019 and December 2020. According to the presence or absence of EUGR based on the evaluation of body weight at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks or at discharge, the VPIs were classified to two groups: EUGR group (n=1 189) and non-EUGR (n=1 325). The clinical features were compared between the two groups, and the incidence of EUGR and risk factors for EUGR were examined.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			The incidence of EUGR was 47.30% (1 189/2 514) evaluated by weight. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher weight growth velocity after regaining birth weight and higher cumulative calorie intake during the first week of hospitalization were protective factors against EUGR (P<0.05), while small-for-gestational-age birth, prolonged time to the initiation of total enteral feeding, prolonged cumulative fasting time, lower breast milk intake before starting human milk fortifiers, prolonged time to the initiation of full fortified feeding, and moderate-to-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia were risk factors for EUGR (P<0.05).
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSIONS
		                        			It is crucial to reduce the incidence of EUGR by achieving total enteral feeding as early as possible, strengthening breastfeeding, increasing calorie intake in the first week after birth, improving the velocity of weight gain, and preventing moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia in VPIs.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Female
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Fetal Growth Retardation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Gestational Age
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Hospitalization
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Incidence
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Infant
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Infant, Newborn
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Infant, Premature
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Prospective Studies
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Risk Factors
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
9.Effects of Tanreqing Capsule on the negative conversion time of nucleic acid in patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study.
Xing ZHANG ; Yan XUE ; Xuan CHEN ; Jia-Min WU ; Zi-Jian SU ; Meng SUN ; Lu-Jiong LIU ; Yi-Bao ZHANG ; Yi-le ZHANG ; Gui-Hua XU ; Miao-Yan SHI ; Xiu-Ming SONG ; Yun-Fei LU ; Xiao-Rong CHEN ; Wei ZHANG ; Qi CHEN
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2021;19(1):36-41
		                        		
		                        			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
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
10.Early therapeutic interventions of traditional Chinese medicine in COVID-19 patients: A retrospective cohort study.
Miao-Yan SHI ; Shi-Qi SUN ; Wei ZHANG ; Xing ZHANG ; Gui-Hua XU ; Xuan CHEN ; Zi-Jian SU ; Xiu-Ming SONG ; Lu-Jiong LIU ; Yi-Bao ZHANG ; Yi-le ZHANG ; Meng SUN ; Qi CHEN ; Yan XUE ; Hua LÜ ; Wei-An YUAN ; Xiao-Rong CHEN ; Yun-Fei LU
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2021;19(3):226-231
		                        		
		                        			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
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
            
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