ABSTRACT
Objectives: The protective effects and related mechanisms of Jing-Si herbal tea (JSHT) were investigated in cellular damage mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α, on normal human lung fibroblast by multiomic platform analysis. Materials and Methods: The in silico high-throughput target was analyzed using pharmacophore models by BIOVIA Discovery Studio 2022 with ingenuity pathway analysis software. To assess cell viability, the study utilized the MTT assay technique. In addition, the IncuCyte S3 ZOOM System was implemented for the continuous monitoring of cell confluence of JSHT-treated cytokine-injured HEL 299 cells. Cytokine concentrations were determined using a Quantibody Human Inflammation Array. Gene expression and signaling pathways were determined using next-generation sequencing. Results: In silico high-throughput target analysis of JSHT revealed ingenuity in canonical pathways and their networks. Glucocorticoid receptor signaling is a potential signaling of JSHT. The results revealed protective effects against the inflammatory cytokines on JSHT-treated HEL 299 cells. Transcriptome and network analyses revealed that induction of helper T lymphocytes, TNFSF12, NFKB1-mediated relaxin signaling, and G-protein coupled receptor signaling play important roles in immune regulatory on JSHT-treated cytokine-injured HEL 299 cells. Conclusion: The findings from our research indicate that JSHT holds promise as a therapeutic agent, potentially offering advantageous outcomes in treating virus infections through various mechanisms. Furthermore, the primary bioactive components in JSHT justify extended research in antiviral drug development, especially in the context of addressing coronavirus.
ABSTRACT
Acupuncture can be conveniently used for pain control in patients with a variety of conditions, and it has obvious effects on various acute pains. In 2018, we implemented a program for emergency treatment with Chinese medicine to promote the integration of Chinese and Western medicine at the Emergency Department (ED). Ileus is a common cause of abdominal pain among patients in the ED, and it is an indication for emergency treatment with Chinese medicine. This study investigated the efficacy of acupuncture as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based treatment method for the treatment of patients with ileus in the ED. We analyzed data of patients with ileus, who visited ED between January and December 2019, and compared the length of ED stay between the Western medicine group and the Western medicine plus acupuncture group. Furthermore, pain intensity was measured by a visual analogue scale before and after acupuncture. We found that the length of ED stay was 10.8 hours lesser in the Western medicine plus acupuncture group than in the Western medicine group (Pâ =â .04), and the visual analogue scale score decreased by 2.0 on average from before to after acupuncture treatment (Pâ =â .02). Acupuncture treatment was effective and rapid in relieving the symptoms and discomfort in patients with ileus and in reducing their length of stay in the ED.
Subject(s)
Acupuncture Therapy , Ileus , Humans , Prospective Studies , Ileus/therapy , Emergency Service, Hospital , Medicine, Chinese TraditionalABSTRACT
Introduction: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has affected more than 608 million people and has killed 6.5 million people in the world. A few studies showed traditional Chinese medicine can be beneficial for COVID-19 treatment. An herbal preparation Jin Si Herbal Tea (JS) was formulated with herbal extracts known for their potential to decrease spike protein and ACE2 interaction, 3CL, and TRPMSS2 protease activity, and thus aimed to evaluate the clinical course of JS co-treatment along with the usual treatment schedule given for severe COVID-19 patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital between June and July 2021. All the patients were co-treated with JS and the primary outcome was death. The secondary outcomes included laboratory exam, Ct value, clinical course, and hospital stays. There were 10 patients recruited in this study and divided into < 70 years and ⧠70 years groups (n = 5 in each group). Results: Older patients (â§70 years) had a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, VACO index, and lower hemoglobin levels than < 70 years patients. The trend of lymphocyte count, LDH, D-dimer, and Ct value of non-survivors was not consistent with previous studies. The death rate was 20% and the recovery rate to mild illness in 14 days was 40%. Conclusion: In conclusion, this is the first clinical study of JS co-treatment in severe COVID-19 patients. JS co-treatment might reduce death rate and recovery time. Further large-scale clinical trials would be expected.