No Clear Benefit to the Use of Corticosteroid as Treatment in Adult Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 : A Retrospective Cohort Study

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is becoming an increasing global health issue which has spread across the globe. We aimed to study the effect of corticosteroids in the treatment of adult inpatients with COVID-19. MethodsA retrospective cohort of 115 consecutive adult COVID-19 patients admitted to The Third Peoples Hospital of Hubei Province between Jan 18, 2020, and Feb 28, 2020 was analysed to study the effectiveness of corticosteroid. They were categorized according to whether or not corticosteroid therapy was given, and compared in terms of demographic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory indicators and clinical outcomes. The primary endpoint was defined as either mortality or intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Known adverse prognostic factors were used as covariates in multiple logistic regressions to adjust for their confounding effects on outcomes. ResultsAmong 115 patients, 73 patients (63.5%) received corticosteroid. The levels of age, C-reactive protein, D-dimer and albumin were similar in both groups. The corticosteroid group had more adverse outcomes (32.9% vs. 11.9%) and statistically significant differences were observed (p=0.013). In multivariate analysis, corticosteroid treatment was associated with a 2.155-fold increase in risk of either mortality or ICU admission, although not statistically significant. ConclusionNo evidence suggests that adult patients with COVID-19 will benefit from corticosteroids, and they might be more likely to be harmed with such treatment.

Clinical Study of Three Trembling Needles for Early Parkinson's Disease / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of needling the three trembling points plus rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride.Method Ninety-three patients with early Parkinson's disease were randomized into group A of 32 cases, group B of 30 cases, and group C of 31 cases. Group A was intervened by needling the three trembling points plus rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride, group B by rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride, while group C by taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride. UPDRSⅢ scores and Berg balance scale (BBS) scores were observed.Result After intervention, UPDRSⅢ scores and BBS scores were significantly changed in all groups (P<0.05). UPDRSⅢ scores of group A were markedly different form that of group B and C (P<0.05). BBS scores of group A and B were markedly different form that of group C (P<0.05).Conclusion Needling the three trembling points plus rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride can improve motor function and equilibrium function in the early Parkinson's disease patients.

Health management and metabolic syndrome in 207 employees / 中华健康管理学杂志

Objective To analyze the effects of health management of metabolic syndrome on the control of related risk factors. Methods A total of 430 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome in 2008completed questionnaire and before randomly assigned to the health management group ( n = 207 ) and the control group (n=223). One year later, all the participants were investigated for the risk factors of food intake, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, staying-up and emotion, and the changes of body mass index ( BMI), blood pressure ( BP), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and fasting blood glucose (FBG). Student's t test and x2 test were used for data analysis. Results For the health management group, the incidence of high-salt, high-fat and high-sugar intake, overtake of food, lack of physical exercises,staying-up and alcohol drinking was significantly decreased at 1 year (P ＜ 0. 05 ), when compared with baseline and the control group ( both P ＜ 0. 05 ). For the health management group, BMI,systolic blood pressure (SBP),TG and FBG was improved at 1 year (P＜0. 05). In comparison with the control group, BMI, SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP),TG and FBG of the management group were significantly improved (P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusions Patients with metabolic syndrome may have better treatment compliance after receiving systematized and individualized health management.

Health examination results of primary or middle school teachers / 中华健康管理学杂志

Objective To investigate health status of primary or middle school teachers. Methods A total of 4482 physical examination results of the teachers from Qiaokou District of Wuhan in 2008 were compared with 5526 data obtained in 2006. The rate of healthy to unhealthy participants was evaluated. The overall and age-specific disease incidence, including overweight, hypertension, hyperlipidmia, hyperglycemia,liver dysfunction, abnormal EGG, concrement, adiposis hepatica, and HBV infection, was recorded. X2 test was used for statistical analysis. Results Abnormal examination results were more common in 2008 when compared with those in 2006( X2 = 28. 35, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The incidence of hypertension was descended ( X2 =4. 51 ,P ＜ 0. 05 ), although the rates of hyperlipidimia, hyperglycemia, liver dysfunction, abnormal ECG,concrement, and adiposis hepatica were increased in 2008 ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The incidence of hyperlipidimia, liver dysfunction, abnormal ECG, and adiposis hepatica increased in all age groups ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The incidence of hyperglycemia and concrement increased in those ＞ 35 years old ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion Except for hypertension and HBV infection, the incidence of common diseases has been increased in the young and middle-aged teachers during the last 2 years. Thus the health management for the primary or middle school teacher should be improved in the future.

Clinical Study on 29 Cases of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Insulin Resistance Treated by Strengthening Spleen,Tonifying Kidney,Invigorating Blood Flow and Dissolving Phlegm plus Rosiglitazone / 中医杂志

Objective To observe the effect of herbal treatment to strengthen spleen,tonify kidney,invigorate blood flow and dissolve phlegm plus Rosiglitazone on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with insulin resistance (IR).Methods The 90 cases were randomized into 3 groups:blank group of 29 cases;western medicine group of 32 cases,treated with Rosiglitazone;treatment group of 29 cases treated with herbal medicine plus Rosiglitazone.The changes in liver function,blood lipid,fasting blood glucose (FBG),fasting insulin (FIN),insulin resistance index (IRI),serum leptin and adiponcetin were observed.Results In the treatment group,changes of liver function,blood lipid,FBG,FIN,IRI,serum leptin and adiponcetin compared after treatment was significant (P