Overall Survival in Patients with Endometrial Cancer Treated with Dostarlimab plus Carboplatin-Paclitaxel in the Randomized ENGOT-EN6/GOG-3031/RUBY Trial.

BACKGROUND: Part 1 of the RUBY trial (NCT03981796) evaluated dostarlimab plus carboplatin-paclitaxel compared with placebo plus carboplatin-paclitaxel in patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. At the first interim analysis, the trial met one of its dual-primary endpoints with statistically significant progression-free survival benefits in the mismatch repair deficient/microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) and overall populations. Overall survival (OS) results are reported from the second interim analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: RUBY is a phase 3, global, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Part 1 of RUBY enrolled eligible patients with primary advanced stage III or IV or first recurrent endometrial cancer who were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either dostarlimab (500 mg) or placebo, plus carboplatin-paclitaxel every 3 weeks for 6 cycles followed by dostarlimab (1000 mg) or placebo every 6 weeks for up to 3 years. OS was a dual-primary endpoint. RESULTS: A total of 494 patients were randomized (245 in dostarlimab arm; 249 in placebo arm). In the overall population, with 51% maturity, RUBY met the dual-primary endpoint for OS at this second interim analysis, with a statistically significant reduction in the risk of death (HR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.54-0.89; P = 0.0020) in patients treated with dostarlimab plus carboplatin-paclitaxel versus carboplatin-paclitaxel alone. The risk of death was lower in the dMMR/MSI-H population (HR = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.17-0.63; nominal P = 0.0002) and a trend in favor of dostarlimab was seen in the mismatch repair proficient/microsatellite stable (MMRp/MSS) population (HR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.60-1.04; nominal P = 0.0493). The safety profile for dostarlimab plus carboplatin-paclitaxel was consistent with the first interim analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Dostarlimab in combination with carboplatin-paclitaxel demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival benefit in the overall population of patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer while demonstrating an acceptable safety profile.

A Dyadic Cooking-Based Intervention for Improving Subjective Health and Well-Being of Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline and Their Caregivers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Evidence on the effectiveness of cooking activities as a well-being promotion intervention for older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and their caregivers is scarce. In view of this, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine whether a dyadic cooking-based intervention can improve the subjective health and well-being of older adults with SCD and their caregivers, as well as the cooking competence of the former group. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty pairs of community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or above with SCD (mean age = 78.4 years) and their caregivers (mean age = 65.3 years) were randomly assigned to the intervention group (N = 30 pairs) and the wait-list control group (N = 30 pairs). INTERVENTION: The intervention was an innovative 5-week (two hours per week) dyadic cooking-based intervention employing procedural learning methods specifically adapted for older adults with SCD. MEASUREMENTS: The outcome measures included 1) a well-being index composed by four indicators: life satisfaction, feeling of happiness, sense of purpose and meaning in life, and perceived health, and 2) cooking competence. RESULTS: For both older adults with SCD and their caregivers, the increases in the well-being index were significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (ß = 0.508, 95% CI [0.036, 0.980]). For older adults with SCD, the increases in the cooking competence score were significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (ß = 1.629, 95% CI [0.165, 3.071]). CONCLUSION: The dyadic cooking-based intervention resulted in improvements in the cooking competence and well-being of older adults with SCD, as well as the well-being of caregivers.

Moving towards the ICOPE Approach: Evaluation of Community-Based Intervention Activities on Improving Intrinsic Capacity.

OBJECTIVES: Different types of community-based intervention activities may have differential effects in improving the intrinsic capacity (IC) of older people. This study aims to (i) identify subgroups of older people based on their IC impairments, (ii) examine the differential associations between different types of activity participations and change in IC across subgroups, and (iii) assess whether the activity participation patterns of older people align with the way that would benefit them the most. METHODS: Participants were community-dwelling older people aged 60 years or above. They were screened for IC impairments at baseline, and their participation records of different types (cognitive, physical, nutritional, mental, and social) of intervention activities were collected for one year. An aggregated IC score was created based on four IC domains including cognitive (self-rated memory), locomotor (self-rated difficulties in walking), vitality (self-rated weight loss), and psychological (subjective well-being). Cluster analysis was used to group homogenous participants. Mixed-effects regression was used to examine the associations between activity counts (i.e., number of sessions participated) and change in IC. Activity participation patterns were also compared across subgroups. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 7,357 participants (mean age = 74.72 years). Four clusters were identified, including those who were relatively robust (cluster 1, N = 4,380, 59.5%), those who had cognitive decline (cluster 2, N = 2,134, 29.0%), those who had impaired mobility and vitality (cluster 3, N = 319, 4.3%), and those with poor psychological well-being (cluster 4, N = 524, 7.1%). Overall, activity count was associated with IC improvement (ß = 0.073, 95% CI [0.037, 0.108]). However, as regards the cluster-specific results, different types of activities were associated with IC improvement for different specific clusters. For instance, cognitive activity count was associated with IC improvement only for cluster 2 (ß = 0.491, 95% CI [0.258, 0.732]). Notably, none of the activity types were associated with IC improvement for cluster 1. Regarding the activity participation patterns, there were no significant differences across the four clusters (Wilk's Λ = 0.997, F = 1.400, p = .138). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: IC improvement depended on the activity types and IC status of older people. In view of this, a people-centred and targeted approach should be adopted to maximize the overall benefits of intervention activities.

Assessing the Readiness for Implementing the World Health Organization's ICOPE Approach in Hong Kong: Perspectives from Social Care and Policy Stakeholders.

Although integrated care has been considered a key strategy in reforming health systems around the world, it seems hard to realise in practice, particularly in the part of medical social integration. Worse still, little is known about the capacity of social care professionals who implement it, or their perceived roles and responsibilities, as well as the barriers and facilitators that stakeholders from the health and social sectors identify as factors affecting the ICOPE implementation process. Therefore, the present study was performed to probe into these issues. Data were collected from an online survey based on the WHO ICOPE scorecard (N = 34), and focus groups with policy makers, managers, health and social care professionals (N = 47). Inductive analyses were performed in accordance with the service and system levels within the WHO ICOPE implementation framework. While the findings from the scorecard survey highlight the gap in actualizing the ICOPE approach within the existing social services and care structures, we found support for a model of integrated care underpinned by the WHO ICOPE approach. Factors that may hinder and facilitate ICOPE implementation include workforce capacity-building, coordinated networks and partnerships, and financial mechanisms. This finding can help inform subsequent actions that further support health and social care advancement and collaboration, and the implementation of the ICOPE approach.

Trajectories of Intrinsic Capacity: Determinants and Associations with Disability.

OBJECTIVES: Intrinsic capacity (IC) declines progressively with age, thereby increasing the risk of disability. However, it is less known whether IC trajectories are associated with disability. This study aims to identify the different patterns of IC trajectories in older people, and examine their determinants and associations with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Community centres in different regions in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Longitudinal data from community-dwelling older people aged 60 years or above (n = 1371) collected between 2016 and 2021 was analysed. Their mean age was 74.5 years, and 78.7% of them were female. Repeated measurements of a set of 14 self-reported items were used to generate IC scores at four time points using a bi-factor model. Latent class growth analysis was performed to identify classes with distinct IC trajectories. The association between class membership and IADL disability was then examined using logistic regression. RESULTS: Three distinct IC trajectories were identified. The 1st class included those with the highest level of baseline IC and the least declining trajectory, whereas the 3rd class was composed by those with the lowest level of baseline IC and the most declining trajectory. Older age, female gender, lower perceived financial adequacy, living in public or subsidized housing, and chronic diseases were associated with the 3rd class. After adjusting for demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and the number of chronic diseases, the 1st class was more likely to preserve IADL when compared against the 2nd class, with OR being 3.179 (95% CI: 2.152-4.793), whereas for the 3rd class, the OR was 0.253 (95% CI: 0.178-0.359). CONCLUSION: Monitoring IC trajectories is of relevance to clinical practice, as it helps shift the focus from treating acute episodes of illness to preserving the functional ability of older people.

The global prevalence of premature ovarian insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review was to answer the global prevalence of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and explore the associated factors including etiopathology and regions with POI. METHODS: The search was conducted on reports from a total of eight databases that comprised Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, China BioMedical Literature Database (CBM), PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science and Ovid MEDLINE® between 1946 and 2021. To analyze the source of heterogeneity, we performed subgroup analysis based on different etiologies and regions. Meta-analysis was carried out by Stata14.0 software. RESULTS: The results showed that the global overall prevalence of POI among women was 3.5%. By subgroup analysis, the prevalence of POI among women with iatrogenic etiology was 11.2%, followed by autoimmunity (10.5%); the prevalence of POI by region was 11.3% at the highest in North America followed by South America (5.4%); and the prevalence of POI was 5.3% in a developing country, higher than 3.1% in a developed country. The trend of prevalence of POI over the past 20 years was on the rise (although p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We recommend that health and medical institutions strengthen public health awareness, achieve health-education goals related to POI and increase women's awareness of and attention to POI.

Trends in the prevalence of intellectual disability among children in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Intellectual disability (ID) is a major developmental disability. However, data on changes in the prevalence over time at the national level are limited. METHOD: Using data from the national disability registry, we conducted an ecological study to evaluate the time trends of ID among children in Taiwan. We calculated the prevalence of ID by age, sex and severity, from 2000 to 2011, and assessed the time trends. RESULTS: During the study period, the overall prevalence of ID in children aged 3-17 years increased from 3.60 to 5.91 per 1000 (ß = 0.22, P < 0.001, r2  = 0.97). The prevalence of mild ID (MID, intelligence quotient: 50-69) increased from 1.30 to 3.60 per 1000 (ß = 0.21, P < 0.001, r2  = 0.98). However, the prevalence of severe ID (SID, intelligence quotient: <50) was relatively constant, between 2.22 and 2.38 per 1000 (ß = 0.01, P = 0.076, r2  = 0.96). Boys had a higher prevalence than girls, and the average boy-to-girl prevalence ratio was 1.42 for MID and 1.31 for SID. The boy-to-girl prevalence ratios of MID and SID decreased over time (ß = -0.01, P < 0.001, r2  = 0.99 for MID; ß = -0.01, P < 0.001, r2  = 1.00 for SID). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ID in Taiwanese children increased from 2000 to 2011 and was largely attributable to increases in MID. Boys had a higher prevalence of ID and were more likely to have MID.

SOCS3 overexpression enhances ADM resistance in bladder cancer T24 cells.

The article "SOCS3 overexpression enhances ADM resistance in bladder cancer T24 cells, by M.-Z. Li, D.-H. Lai, H.-B. Zhao, Z. Chen, Q.-X. Huang, J. Situ, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2017; 21 (13): 3005-3011-PMID: 28742207" has been withdrawn due to misunderstandings among some authors (Dr. Dehui Lai and Dr. Haibo Zhao) concerning the submission of the article. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/13067.

Seeded droplet microfluidic system for small molecule crystallization.

A microfluidic approach to seeded crystallization has been demonstrated using abacavir hemisulfate, a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor, in droplet reactors to control polymorphism and produce particles with a low particle size distribution. Two techniques are introduced: (1) the first technique involves an emulsion system consisting of a dispersed phase solvent and a continuous phase, which holds slight solubility of the dispersed phase solvent. The dispersed phase contains both a dissolved active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and seeds of the desired polymorph. While the continuous phase enables solvent extraction, the negligible solubility of the API allows for growth of seeds inside droplets via extraction and subsequent API saturation. This technique demonstrates the ability to crystallize the API in spherical agglomerates via slow extraction of droplets. (2) The second technique utilizes a combined dispersed phase by joining in-flow a seed suspension stream with a supersaturated active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) stream. The combined dispersed phase is emulsified in a continuous phase for which the dispersed phase solvent and the API are both insoluble - droplets are incubated at temperatures below their saturation limit to induce crystal growth. Decreasing the concentration of seeds in its input stream resulted in a decreased number of crystals per droplet, increase in crystal size, and decrease in PSD. Temperature cycling was utilized as a proof of concept to demonstrate the ability to reduce the number of seeds per droplet where the optimal goal is to obtain a single seed per droplet for all droplets. Utilizing this approach in conjunction with the ability to produce monodispersed droplet reactors allows for enhanced control of particle size distribution (PSD) by precisely controlling the available mass for each individual seed crystal. The development of this technique as a proof-of-concept for crystallization can be expanded to manufacturing scales in a continuous manner using parallelized droplet generators and flow reactors to precisely control the temperature and crystal growth kinetics of individual droplets.

Incidentally Diagnosed Alport Syndrome in a Patient with Drug-Induced Vasculitis.

A 53-year-old woman is admitted with a serum creatinine of 16 mg/dl. Seven months earlier, she was diagnosed with heart failure and started on several medications, including Hydralazine. Laboratory studies revealed the presence of dual Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (anti-MPO and anti-PR3), anti-nuclear and anti-histone antibodies. The clinical diagnosis was Drug-Induced ANCA Vasculitis (DIAV). Kidney histology, however, did not reveal crescents, but showed characteristic features of Alport's syndrome.

MiR-492 exerts tumor-promoting function in prostate cancer through repressing SOCS2 expression.

OBJECTIVE: MiRNAs have been verified to play a role in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). However, the role of miR-492 in PCa has not been mentioned. We aim to detect the expression of miR-492 in PCa and explore its underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The relative expression of miR-492 in PCa tissue samples to normal prostate tissues was detected using quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The level of miR-492 in PCa-derived cell lines compared with the normal prostate cell line was also measured. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were employed to investigate the cell proliferation ability. Transwell assay and wound-healing assays were utilized to explore the cell invasion and migration abilities. Luciferase assay and Western blot were utilized to explore the underlying mechanism of miR-492 in PCa cells. RESULTS: MiR-492 expressed significantly higher in PCa tissues than that in the normal tissues. Its expression level was also over-expressed in PCa cells compared with that in the normal cells. The up-regulation of miR-492 promoted the growth, invasion, and migration of the cells, while down-regulation had the opposite effects. SOCS2 was identified as a potential target for miR-492 in PCa. Silencing of SOCS2 could neutralize the inhibitory function of miR-492 inhibitor in PCa cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that miR-492 was over-expressed in PCa and exerted tumor-promoting function in PCa cells via repressing SOCS2 expression. This might provide a new sight for future accurate therapy for PCa.

SOCS3 overexpression enhances ADM resistance in bladder cancer T24 cells.

OBJECTIVE: JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway widely participates in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) is a negative regulator of JAK-STAT3. SOCS3 downregulation is associated with drug resistance in breast cancer and leukemia. However, its role in bladder cancer drug resistance is still unclear. This study established ADM resistant bladder cancer cell model to investigate the role of SOCS3-JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway ADM resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ADM drug resistant cell line T24/ADM was established. SOCS3, p-JAK2, p-JAK3, and Bcl-2 expressions in T24/ADM, T24, and HBEC cells were compared. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry. T24/ADM cells were divided into five groups, including control, pSicoR-blank, pSicoR-SOCS3, FLLL32, and pSicoR-SOCS3 + FLLL32 groups. Cell proliferation was determined by EdU staining. RESULTS: SOCS3 was reduced, while p-JAK2, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2 expressions upregulated in T24 cells compared with HBEC cells. T24/ADM cells exhibited lower SOCS3, higher p-JAK2, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2 levels than T24 cells. Cell apoptosis was higher, whereas cell proliferation was weaker in T24 cells compared with T24/ADM cells. SOCS3 overexpression and/or FLLL32 treatment significantly downregulated p-JAK2, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2 expressions, attenuated cell proliferation, and elevated sensitivity to ADM induced cell apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: SOCS3 reduction was associated with bladder cancer sensitivity to ADM. SOCS3 overexpression decreased JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway activity, declined Bcl-2 expression, inhibited cell proliferation, elevated cell apoptosis, and enhanced ADM sensitivity in T24 cells.

Genetic analyses of Chinese isolates of Toxoplasma gondii reveal a new genotype with high virulence to murine hosts.

A great deal of evidence demonstrates that a strongly clonal population structure of Toxoplasma gondii strains exists in humans and animals in North America and Europe, while the strains from South America are genetically separate and more diverse. Potential differences in virulence between different strains mean that an understanding of strain diversity is important to human and animal health. However, to date, only one predominant genotype, ToxoDB#9 (Chinese I), and a few other genotypes, including ToxoDB#205, have been identified in China. By using DNA sequence-based phylogenetic analyses, we have re-evaluated the population structure of T. gondii strains collected from China and compared them with other global strains. Based on phylogenetic analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms, multilocus sequence typing and intron sequences from T. gondii, we propose that the Chinese isolates described as Chinese I are divided into two groups called Chinese I and Chinese III. Our results demonstrate that significant differences were found in mouse mortality caused by some Chinese strains, and also the archetypal I, II, III strains in mice. Furthermore, a comparison of cyst loading in the brains of infected rats showed some Chinese strains to be capable of a high degree of cyst formation. Furthermore we show that genotyping using neutral genetic markers may not be a useful predictor of pathogenic phenotypes.

rs9939609 FTO genotype associations with FTO methylation level influences body mass and telomere length in an Australian rural population.

BACKGROUND: The fat mass- and obesity-associated (FTO) gene influences energy homeostasis in humans. Although the obesity-related variant, rs9939609 has been replicated across a number of cohort studies, there remains significant variance and a low to modest association. Telomere length is another commonly reported obesity risk factor. We hypothesize understanding the associations between FTO rs9939609 with FTO methylation and telomere length will provide a more accurate assessment of obesity risk. METHODS: Overall, 942 participants free of diabetes or pre-diabetes were included in the retrospective study. Leukocyte genomic DNA was analyzed for rs9939609 genotyping, FTO gene methylation and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) measurement. RESULTS: In general linear models, rs9939609 AA genotypes were associated with increased fat percentage (3.15%, P=0.001), fat mass (4.16 kg, P=0.001), body mass index (BMI) (1.38, P=0.006) and waist circumference (3.35 cm, P=0.006), but not with FTO methylation or LTL in this overall population. However, when participants were stratified into higher and lower FTO methylation groups, the AA genotype possesses a 2.04-fold increased obesity risk in comparison to TT genotype (95%CI, 1.07-3.89, P=0.031) in participants with a higher FTO methylation level, but this association was absent in the lower FTO methylation sub-group. Moreover, AT and AA genotype carriers were associated with shorter LTL compared to TT carriers (P=0.020 and P=0.111, respectively) in the higher FTO methylation level group. However, this association was absent in the lower methylation group. Furthermore, FTO gene methylation level was significantly associated with LTL in the 942 samples (P=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: FTO rs9939609 is associated with obesity risk and LTL in this study, where this association is only observed at higher, but not lower, FTO methylation levels of participants. Our data suggest association of multiple factors, including FTO methylation level, may be involved in one of several mechanisms underlying the commonly reported obesity risk of this FTO polymorphism.

Local modulation of double optomechanically induced transparency and amplification.

We consider the probe absorption properties in a mechanically coupled optomechanical system in which the two coupled nanomechanical oscillators are driven by the time-dependent forces, respectively. It is found that the mechanical interaction splits the transparency window for a usual single-mode optomechanical system into two parts and then leads to appearance of the double optomechanically induced transparency. The distance between the two transparency positions (the frequency for the maximal transparency) is determined by the mechanical interaction amplitude. This can be explained by using optomechanical dressed-mode picture which is analogue to the interacting dark resonances in coherent atoms. When the mechanical resonators are driven by the external forces, the transparencies in the double-transparency spectrum can be increased into amplifications or be suppressed by tuning the amplitude of the forces. Additionally, it is shown that the double transparencies or the amplifications oscillate with the initial phases of the forces with a period of 2π. These investigations will be useful for more flexible controllability of multi-channel optical communication based on the optomechanical systems.

An endophenotype approach to the genetics of alcohol dependence: a genome wide association study of fast beta EEG in families of African ancestry.

Fast beta (20-28 Hz) electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillatory activity may be a useful endophenotype for studying the genetics of disorders characterized by neural hyperexcitability, including substance use disorders (SUDs). However, the genetic underpinnings of fast beta EEG have not previously been studied in a population of African-American ancestry (AA). In a sample of 2382 AA individuals from 482 families drawn from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA), we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on resting-state fast beta EEG power. To further characterize our genetic findings, we examined the functional and clinical/behavioral significance of GWAS variants. Ten correlated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (r2>0.9) located in an intergenic region on chromosome 3q26 were associated with fast beta EEG power at P<5 × 10-8. The most significantly associated SNP, rs11720469 (ß: -0.124; P<4.5 × 10-9), is also an expression quantitative trait locus for BCHE (butyrylcholinesterase), expressed in thalamus tissue. Four of the genome-wide SNPs were also associated with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Alcohol Dependence in COGA AA families, and two (rs13093097, rs7428372) were replicated in an independent AA sample (Gelernter et al.). Analyses in the AA adolescent/young adult (offspring from COGA families) subsample indicated association of rs11720469 with heavy episodic drinking (frequency of consuming 5+ drinks within 24 h). Converging findings presented in this study provide support for the role of genetic variants within 3q26 in neural and behavioral disinhibition. These novel genetic findings highlight the importance of including AA populations in genetics research on SUDs and the utility of the endophenotype approach in enhancing our understanding of mechanisms underlying addiction susceptibility.

[Intratympanic steroid intervention as initial therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review of reviews].

Objective:The aim of this overview is to evaluate the relevant systematic reviews and Meta-analysis that focus on intratympanic steroid intervention as initial therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.Method:The literature search was based on the published systematic reviews and Meta analysis. According to the include and exclude critera, the important data was extracted. Quality assessment was rigorously performed using the 11-item Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) and main outcome indicators of literature evidence quality were evaluated by Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE).Result:Sixteen related systemic reviews and Meta-analysis (6 Chinese literatures and 10 English literatures) published during 2009-2016 were included; AMSTAR score was 4 to 9 points,14 studies was medium quality and 2 was high quality. However, the clinical evidence was controversial and there is no consensus regarding the efficacy of intratympanic steroid therapy for sudden sensorineural hearing loss.Conclusion:As an initial treatment, there is no sufficient high quality evidence to recommend the ITS therapy. There is a need for further systematic reviews that adhere to strict scientific methods.

The protective effect of Shenfu injection against elderly severe pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Shenfu injection (SFI) on the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the interleukin (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10) of elderly patients who suffered from severe pneumonia. METHODS: From June 2012 to September 2014, we performed in our department 89 cases of elderly patients with severe pneumonia. These patients were randomly divided into two groups: the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (44 cases). The control group was given the treatment of anti-infection, reducing sputum, and support therapy, while the treatment group was fed by SFI intravenously based on the control group. The TNF-α and the interleukin were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Meanwhile, the changes in the inflammatory response indicators, the blood gas analysis, and the parameters of vital signs were measured and compared before and after therapy. RESULTS: Prior to treatment, there is no significant difference between the treatment group and the control group (p > 0.05); after the treatment for 7 days, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly decreased, while the level of IL-10 was obviously increased. The APACHE II score was significantly decreased in comparison to that before the treatment (p < 0.05), and the time of mechanical ventilation, the duration of time in ICU, and the application time of vasoactive drugs were notably shortened. CONCLUSION: The application of Shenfu injection exhibited a positive and effective effect on removing the inflammation media during the treatment of elderly severe pneumonia.