Analysis of 394 COVID-19 cases infected with Omicron variant in Shenzhen: impact of underlying diseases to patient's symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: The emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 is continuously posing pressure to the epidemic prevention and control in China. The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 having stronger infectivity, immune escape ability, and capability causing repetitive infection spread to many countries and regions all over the world including South Africa, United States and United Kingdom etc., in a short time. The outbreaks of Omicron variant also occurred in China. The aim of this study is to understand the epidemiological characteristics of Omicron variant infection in Shenzhen and to provide scientific basis for effective disease control and prevention. METHODS: The clinical data of 394 imported COVID-19 cases infected with Omicron variant from 16 December 2021 to 24 March 2022 admitted to the Third People's hospital of Shenzhen were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 of nasopharyngeal swabs and blood samples was detected using 2019-nCoV nucleic acid detection kit. Differences in Ct values of N gene were compared between mild group and moderate group. The specific IgG antibody was detected using 2019-nCoV IgG antibody detection kit. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software and graphpad prism. RESULTS: Patients were categorized into mild group and moderate group according to disease severity. The data on the general conditions, underlying diseases, COVID-19 vaccination and IgG antibody, viral load, laboratory examination results, and duration of hospitalization, etc., were compared among disease groups. Mild gorup had higher IgG level and shorter nucleic acid conversion time. Patients with underlying diseases have 4.6 times higher probability to progress to moderate infection. CONCLUSION: In terms of epidemic prevention, immunization coverage should be strengthened in the population with underlying diseases. In medical institutions, more attention needs to be paid to such vulnerable population and prevent further deterioration of the disease.

[Frozen shoulder due to cold damp treated with acupuncture and moxibustion on tender points].

OBJECTIVE: To search for a better method for frozen shoulder due to cold damp. METHODS: Sixty cases of frozen shoulder were randomly divided into an acupuncture-moxibustion group (32 cases) and an acupuncture group (28 cases). Acupuncture was applied mainly at Jianyu (LI 15), Jianliao (TE 14) and Jianzhen (SI 9) in either group. In acupuncture-moxibustion group, moxibustion on tender points was supplemented. RESULTS: In acupuncture-moxibustion group, 7 cases were cured, 15 cases markedly effective, 9 cases improved and 1 case failed. The cured and markedly effective rate was 68.8% and the effective rate was 96.9%. In acupuncture group, 2 cases were cured, 9 cases markedly effective, 13 cases improved and 4 cases failed. The cured and markedly effective rate was 39.3% and the effective rate was 85.7%. The cured and markedly effective rate in acupuncture-moxibustion group was superior to that in acupuncture group (P < 0.05) and there was no significant difference in the effective rate statistically between two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of acupuncture combined with moxibustion on tender points is superior to that of simple acupuncture on frozen shoulder due to cold damp.

[Effects of acupoint thread implantation and Chinese herb on PTH and TGF-beta1 in the rate of chronic renal failure].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the mechanisms of thread implantation at Zusanli(ST 36) and Chinese herbs in treatment of chronic renal failure(CRF). METHODS: CRF rat model was made by Platt subtotal nephrectomy. They were divided into 5 groups, sham operation group, model group, Chinese herbs group, thread implantation group and thread implantation plus Chinese herbs group. After treatment of 8 weeks, serum parathyroid hormone (PHT), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression in residual renal cells, malondialdehyde(MDA) content in the residual renal tissue, serum urea nitrogen(BUN) and creatinine(Scr), protein in urine and pathological changes were investigated. RESULTS: The above indexes after treatment by thread implantation at acupoint, Chinese herbs, and acupoint thread implantation plus Chinese herbs showed begin reversion, especially, the most obviously improvement in the acupoint thread implantation plus Chinese herbs treatment group. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of acupoint thread implantation and Chinese herbs in improvement of CRF is related with decrease of PTH, inhibition of TGF-beta1 expression, decrease of MDA content and resisting lesion of renal fibrosis.