Vaccines and antibodies are currently effective intervention strategies for preventing and treating COVID-19. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a primary binding receptor for SARS-CoV-2, is a potential target for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. At present, therapeutics based on the strategies that block the binding of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein to the ACE2 receptor have entered clinical trials. On December 5, 2022, the journal Nature published the results of a pharmacological intervention to downregulate ACE2 expression for prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The study found that a nuclear receptor, farnesoid X receptor for bile acids, regulated ACE2 expression. The clinical drug ursodeoxycholic acid that was used to treat liver diseases could downregulate ACE2 expression and prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections, showing a new potential pathway in managing COVID-19.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the dose-effect relationship between resistance exercise intervention and lower extremity muscle strength and function enhancement in the aging. MethodsEBSCO, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of resistance exercise on muscle strength and function of the lower extremities in older adults from inception to July 2022. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. A network meta-analysis was then performed by using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 15.0 software. ResultsA total of 32 RCTs with a total sample size of 1 594 individuals were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that the elements of resistance exercise prescription: intensity 50%-70% 1RM, period 8-12 weeks, frequency 3-4 times/week, duration 30-45 min, and intervals 1.1-2 min were superior to other doses. ConclusionThe optimal dose of resistance exercise for improving lower extremity muscle strength and function in older adults is moderate exercise intensity (50%-70% 1RM) for 8-12 weeks, 3-4 times per week, 30-45 min per exercise, and 1.1-2 min interval between sets.
This study reports the surgical treatment of a female patient at age of 64 years with novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) latent infection complicated with esophageal foreign body perforation with no significant changes in the lung CT. The patient was confirmed as SARS-CoV-2 infection on the 4th day after surgery and then was transferred into the Department of Infectious Disease in our hospital for treatment. This case has guiding value for the operation of thoracic surgery during the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia.
To solve the problems such as the incomplete and non-standard reporting outcomes in clinical trials, international methodologists have simultaneously launched guidelines for reporting outcomes in trial protocols and reports in 2022 on the basis of the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) 2013 and the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement 2010. The SPIRIT-Outcomes 2022 extension and CONSORT-Outcomes 2022 extension recommend outcome-specific reporting items should be included prospectively in trial protocols and reports, regardless of trial design or population. This paper introduces and interprets the two guidelines for reporting outcomes, and discusses their significance and enlightenment to the research in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. For example, using the outcome reporting guidelines will help clinical researchers comprehensively consider issues related to outcomes when reporting protocols or results, which may improve the quality of research design and reporting. For core outcome set, the five core elements of outcomes may help researchers extracting and analyzing outcomes, which will standardize research; the explanation of medical terminology in the outcome reporting guidelines will contribute to the improvement of methodology in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.
There are many problems in the selection of outcomes in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), such as insufficient research on the applicability of outcomes, insufficient research of individualized outcomes for syndrome differentiation and treatment, incomplete selection methods for overall/comprehensive evaluation outcomes, lack of evidence in the importance of outcomes for researchers, and insufficient reflection of the humanistic value of outcomes. Although the core outcome sets (COS) may help clinical trialists to select outcomes to a certain extent, the COS has not been widely used at present, and the judgment of the importance of the outcomes in the COS is mainly based on the personal experience of the participants. The lack of methodology will also lead to multiple COS in the same disease area. The authors believe that it is necessary to improve the methodology of outcomes research, especially in the development of COS. Developing evidence and humanistic values framework may be a potential way to help researchers select core outcomes in clinical efficacy evaluation of TCM.
High-quality randomized controlled trials can balance between-group confounding factors and are an important source of comprehensive information on benefits and harms. The CONSORT (consolidated standards of reporting trials) working group released the CONSORT Harms 2022 statement to further improve the harm reporting quality in randomized controlled trials. Traditional Chinese medicine formulas have unique characteristics such as compatibility taboos and using toxic herbs. The harms of traditional Chinese medicine formulas need to be reported in a standard. This study suggests that researchers should pay attention to enhancing the professional competence of research teams, developing suitable standards for reporting the harm of traditional Chinese medicine formulas in randomized controlled trials, and incorporating relevant guidelines into journal publication requirements. These efforts are essential for laying the necessary groundwork for the global dissemination and promotion of traditional Chinese medicine.
ObjectiveTo explore the innovative application and effect of lead-type close medical consortium under the epidemic situation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsDuring the epidemic of COVID-19, Jintang First People’s Hospital implemented a series of innovative countermeasures under the guidance of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, the leading hospital of a lead-type close medical consortium. To verify the implementation effect of the countermeasures, the patient satisfaction questionnaire and medical personnel satisfaction questionnaire were administered in confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients and anti-epidemic healthcare workers. The relevant health economic indicators were extracted through the hospital information system for descriptive analysis.ResultsA total of 16 patients were included, including 10 confirmed patients and 6 suspected patients. The median score of patient satisfaction was 66. All patients were cured and discharged. A total of 56 healthcare workers were included, including 18 doctors and 38 nurses, with a median satisfaction score of 81. The average length of hospital stay of patients was 11.00 d, the average hospitalization cost was 5 117.35 yuan; the average drug cost was 1 099.95 yuan, accounted for 21.49%; the average material cost was 38.63 yuan, accounted for 0.75%.ConclusionsThe innovative application of the lead-type close medical consortium in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 plays an important role in the prevention and control of epidemic, and has achieved remarkable results in patients treatment, patients satisfaction, and hospital management. It is worthy of being widely popularized.