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Objective:To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of xerosis in elderly inpatients, to provide basis for effective prevention and management of xerosis.Methods:Using the cross-sectional survey method and the self-designed survey table of the current situation of xerosis and prevention of the elderly, the incidence of xerosis in 1 028 patients hospitalized in Suqian Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Siyang County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine was investigated, and the related factors were analyzed.Results:The incidence of xerofosis was 20.23%(208/1028); the incidence of xerosis was 20.23% (208/1 028), which was mainly found in the lower limbs, with the incidence of 53.37% (111/208), among which the incidence of mild xerosis was the most, with the incidence of 51.44% (107/208). The incidence rate of the elderly patients with xerosis between different age, qualifications, nutritional status, comorbidity, Braden score, drug use, main caregivers, departments, and daily skin care were statistically significant ( χ2 values were 6.91-35.71, all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, nutritional status, comorbidity status, Braden score and daily skin care were the independent influencing factors of skin dryness in elderly inpatients. Conclusions:There is a common skin symptom of xerosis in the elderly. It is necessary to establish a standardized management process and take targeted preventive and nursing measures.
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Hypericum perforatum L., a plant used in Chinese herbal medicine, has been proven effective against many viral diseases. In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of an extract of H. perforatum (HPE) against influenza A virus (IAV) was investigated in mice. Whether HPE would be a promising agent for influenza treatment was evaluated by measuring the protection rate, mean survival days, lung index, and viral titer, as well as the secretion of IL-6, interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in lung tissue and serum on days 3 and 5 post-infection. The results showed that HPE could reduce the lung index and viral titer of mice infected with IAV, decrease mortality, and prolong the mean survival time. HPE decreased the concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α in lung tissue and serum on day 5 post-infection. In contrast, HPE enhanced the lung and serum levels of IL-10 and IFN-γ on the days 3 and 5 post-infection. Our study indicates that HPE has significant therapeutic efficacy for mice infected with IAV. The possible reasons for these results were concluded to be pertaining to up-regulating the expression of IL-10 and IFN-γ, and down-regulating the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α in lung and serum.