A double-blind comparative study of Chinese herbal medicine Jinlianqingre Effervescent Tablets in combination with conventional therapy for the treatment of uncomplicated hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Chinese herbal medicine Jinlianqingre Effervescent Tablets (JET) are the recommended control measure for uncomplicated hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) by the Ministry of Health of China. However, high-quality evidence to support this recommendation is limited. A total of 288 patients ranging in age from 1 to 13 years were randomly assigned to JET in combination with conventional therapy (mainly including the reduction of temperature by applying physical cooling paste or warm bathing), or conventional therapy with placebo group for 7 days. The objective was to test the hypothesis that JET combination therapy is more effective than conventional therapy for uncomplicated HFMD. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was designed. Our study showed that, compared with conventional therapy, the median time to fever resolution was significantly shorter in the JET combination therapy (8 vs. 80 h; p < 0.0001); the risk of fever resolution increased in the JET combination therapy [hazard ratio, 19.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 12.8 to 30.7]; the median healing time of rash or oral ulcer was significantly shorter in the JET combination therapy (14 vs. 74 h; p < 0.0001); and the median symptom score for skin or oral mucosa lesions improved more rapidly in the JET combination therapy during the follow-up period. The median duration of hospital stay was 6 days in the JET combination therapy and 7 days in the conventional therapy (p < 0.0001). No significant adverse events and complications were found in both groups. The addition of JET to conventional therapy reduced fever clearance time, healing time of skin or oral mucosa lesions, and duration of hospital stay in children with uncomplicated HFMD.

Effect of polyethylene Glycol Loxenatide (long-acting GLP-1RA) on lipid, glucose levels and weight in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of polyethylene glycol loxenatide (long-acting GLP-1R agonist) on the lipid, glucose levels, and weight in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with obesity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 40 obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in our hospital from July 2019 to June 2020 were randomly divided into a control group and a study group. The study group was treated with metformin and polyethylene glycol loxenatide injection, while the control group was treated with metformin. RESULTS: Before treatment, there was no significant difference in FPG (Fasting Blood Glucose) and PPG (Post Prandial Glycaemia) levels between the study group and the control group (p>0.05). After a treatment period, the FPG and PPG levels in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). With the longer treatment time, the patient's weight and BMI were lower (p<0.05). The weight and BMI of patients changed the least after one month of treatment, and the weight and BMI changed the most after more than seven months of treatment. After a period of treatment, the levels of FPG and PPG in the blood of male patients in the study group were significantly lower than those of female patients (p<0.05). After treatment, the TG level of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p<0.05). In comparison, the HDL-C level was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lipid and glucose levels of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with obesity have decreased after 12 weeks of polyethylene glycol loxanatide use. The weight of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with obesity has changed after using polyethylene glycol loxenatide for a period of treatment. Among them, there is a certain relationship between body weight and treatment time, gender, and original body weight, which is worthy of further research and promotion in clinical practice.

Mandibular odontogenic fibrosarcoma. Case report.

A rare case of mandibular odontogenic fibroma is presented which transformed to a stage 1A odontogenic fibrosarcoma with a local recurrence after surgical resection and unusually delayed pulmonary metastases eight years later. Prolonged follow-up of these patients after complete surgical resection, including regular chest X-rays, is recommended.

Risk factor analysis of patients with chronic hepatitis C in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Parenteral transmission is the major route for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, in western countries, 40% of patients with chronic hepatitis C have no apparent risk factor of HCV infection. This study was designed to investigate the possible risk factors of HCV transmission in chronic hepatitis C patients in Taiwan. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-one consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C and 161 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled. Risk factors, including blood transfusion, injection with nondisposable needles, education status, surgery, dental procedure, tattooing, ear-piercing, sexual behavior and alcoholism, were obtained in every patient through questionnairing and interviewing. RESULTS: Patients with chronic hepatitis C, compared with healthy controls, had significantly higher rates of previous history of blood transfusion, frequent nondisposable needle injections, and lower education status (43.5% vs. 10.6%, 19.9% vs. 6.2%, 42.2% vs. 23.0%, respectively, all p < 0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed blood transfusion, frequent nondisposable needle injections and low education as significant risk factors of HCV infection (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis again revealed them all to be independent significant risk factors associated with HCV infection in chronic hepatitis C patients. CONCLUSIONS: Parenteral transmission of HCV via transfusion and frequent nondisposable needle injections were the main routes of contracting HCV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C in Taiwan. Also, people with low education ran the higher risk of transmission by HCV. Meticulous screening of the transfused blood for HCV, usage of disposable needles, and mass public education are important in our efforts to decrease chronic HCV infection in Taiwan.