Effects of Shuanghuanglian oral liquids on patients with COVID-19: a randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled, multicenter clinical trial / 医学前沿

We conducted a randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled, multicenter trial on the use of Shuanghuanglian (SHL), a traditional Chinese patent medicine, in treating cases of COVID-19. A total of 176 patients received SHL by three doses (56 in low dose, 61 in middle dose, and 59 in high dose) in addition to standard care. The control group was composed of 59 patients who received standard therapy alone. Treatment with SHL was not associated with a difference from standard care in the time to disease recovery. Patients with 14-day SHL treatment had significantly higher rate in negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 in nucleic acid swab tests than the patients from the control group (93.4% vs. 73.9%, P = 0.006). Analysis of chest computed tomography images showed that treatment with high-dose SHL significantly promoted absorption of inflammatory focus of pneumonia, which was evaluated by density reduction of inflammatory focus from baseline, at day 7 (mean difference (95% CI), -46.39 (-86.83 to -5.94) HU; P = 0.025) and day 14 (mean difference (95% CI), -74.21 (-133.35 to -15.08) HU; P = 0.014). No serious adverse events occurred in the SHL groups. This study illustrated that SHL in combination with standard care was safe and partially effective for the treatment of COVID-19.

Clinical observation on acupuncture plus tuina for insomnia / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the efficacy of acupuncture plus tuina therapy for insomnia. Methods:Totally 100 eligible patients were randomized into a treatment group (n=51) and a control group (n=49) by using the random number table. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Wangu (GB 12), Shenting (GV 24), Anmian [Extra, locates at the midpoint between Yiming (EX-HN 14) and Fengchi (GB 20)], and Neiguan (PC 6) plus tuina treatment; the control group was intervened by acupuncture alone. For both groups, the treatment was given once a day, 10 sessions as a treatment course, and the efficacies were evaluated and compared after 3 treatment courses. Results:Of the 51 subjects in the treatment group, 46 cases completed 3 treatment courses, and 17 cases were cured, 18 cases showed marked efficacy, 7 cases were improved, 4 cases had invalid result, and the total effective rate was 91.3%. Of the 49 subjects in the control group, 46 cases completed 3 treatment courses, and 8 cases were cured, 12 cases showed marked efficacy, 14 cases were improved, 12 cases had invalid result, and the total effective rate was 73.9%. The total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P Conclusion:Acupuncture plus tuina can calm the mind and activate meridian qi in treating insomnia, and it can produce a more significant efficacy than pure acupuncture treatment.