Effect of Qingfei Huaxian Decoction combined with prednisone acetate on serum inflammatory factors and pulmonary function of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Qingfei Huaxian Decoction combined with prednisone acetate on serum inflammatory factors and pulmonary function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). METHODS: The clinical data of 118 patients with IPF treated in Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2019 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among the patients, 56 patients treated with prednisone acetate were assigned to the control group, and the remaining 62 patients treated with Qingfei Huaxian Decoction combined with prednisone acetate were assigned to the observation group. The efficacy and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-12 (IL-12), interleukin-18 (IL-18), hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LN) in the two groups were evaluated before and after therapy. Logistic regression was conducted to analyze the risk factors impacting the treatment efficacy in patients. RESULTS: After therapy, the observation group showed significantly higher efficacy than the control group. Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significantly higher levels of FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC, significantly lower levels of HA and LN, and a significantly higher IL-12 level (all P < 0.05). Therapeutic regimen, IL-6, IL-12, IL-18 and HA were independent risk factors impacting the efficacy of treatment in patients (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Qingfei Huaxian Decoction combined with prednisone acetate has greater treatmetn efficacy in patients with IPF by improving the serum inflammatory factors and pulmonary function.

Effect of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation Therapy on the Recovery of Neurological Function and Prognosis of Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a common cerebrovascular disease among the middle-aged and elderly, which can lead to a series of neurological disorders. Acupuncture is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine, with great value in improving the neurological deficits of stroke patients. In addition, rehabilitation therapy is also of great significance for alleviating the neurological deficits of patients and improving their activities of daily living. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with rehabilitation therapy on the recovery of neurological function and prognosis of stroke patients. METHODS: The case data of 100 stroke patients treated in the Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to July 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the treatment plan patients received, they were divided into the following two groups: an observation group (n = 52) treated with acupuncture combined with rehabilitation therapy and a control group (n = 48) treated with rehabilitation therapy alone. The two groups were compared in terms of the following items: therapeutic efficacy, plasma levels of cortisol (Cor) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), nerve function, motor function, balance ability, self-care ability, swallowing function, negative emotions, and quality of life. RESULTS: The therapeutic effect of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of Cor and NPY, as well as the neurological function, motor function, balance ability, self-care ability, swallowing function, and negative emotions, were not significantly different between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). While after intervention, all the above indexes improved in both groups, with better improvements in the observation group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). And the various dimensions concerning the quality of life of patients were also significantly better in the observation group when compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture of traditional Chinese medicine combined with rehabilitation therapy has outstanding effects in stroke treatment and can effectively improve the neurological function, prognosis, and quality of life of patients, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Efficacy of herbal medicine (Xuanfei Baidu decoction) combined with conventional drug in treating COVID-19:A pilot randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Xuanfei Baidu Decoction (XBD) combined with conventional drug therapy compared with conventional medicine alone in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: Forty-two patients with COVID-19 were randomly assigned to XBD plus conventional medicine (n = 22) and conventional medicine alone (n = 20). Both groups were treated for 1 week. The primary endpoint was the disappearance rate of main symptoms (fever, cough, and fatigue). RESULTS: Compared with the conventional medicine, the disappearance rate of clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue and loss of appetite in the experimental group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The number of white blood cells and lymphocytes in the experimental group increased significantly (P < 0.05), which all returned to normal parameters. Meanwhile, the C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the experimental group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: XBD combined with conventional medicine may significantly improve patient's clinical symptoms, increase the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes to improve immunity, and also significantly reduce C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate to play an anti-inflammatory effect. However, it needs to be confirmed by a large sample study. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: China Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000034795).