Hot and Cold Theory: A Personalized Medicine Approach.

The hot and cold theory is an important part of Traditional Medicines (TMs) which can be used in health care, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment purposes. However, little has been said about the material basis of the theory and how the hot and cold theory can be integrated with the conventional medicine. This article will summarize how the Hot and Cold Theory may help health care providers to personalize their treatment, as well as the material basis of the theory and its future prospects.

How traditional Chinese exercise (Daoyin) can help COVID-19 patients relieve psychological symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The mental health issues of individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are currently widespread. Traditional Chinese exercise (Daoyin) plays an important role in relieving patients' psychological problems. This study aims to assess the efficacy of Daoyin in mitigating mental health issues among individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods: PubMed, the Cochrane library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP database, and SinoMed were searched from their inception to October 2023. Two researchers independently selected the eligible studies. The analysis and presentation of the findings were conducted using Review Manager 5.2 software. The data were analyzed using mean difference (MD), inverse variance, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 12 studies (N = 1291) were included in this study. The results showed that Daoyin can significantly reduce the scores of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS: MD = -13.03, 95% CI -19.56 to -6.49, P<.49,yca Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS: MD = -11.13, 95% CI -14.56 to -7.71, P<.71,sion Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI: MD = -2.00, 95% CI -5.43 to 1.43, P = 0.25), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA: MD = -2.42, 95% CI -5.25 to 0.41, P = 0.09), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD: MD = -11.17, 95% CI -25.5 to 3.15, P = 0.13). Conclusion: In COVID-19 patients, Daoyin can alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression, as well as improve sleep quality. The use of Daoyin has no adverse effects and side effects and can reduce the cost of medication. Therefore, Daoyin can be widely promoted. Further research is warranted to analyze the effect of Daoyin on mental health. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#recordDetails, identifier CRD42023391845.

Fei-Yan-Qing-Hua decoction decreases hyperinflammation by inhibiting HMGB1/RAGE signaling and promotes bacterial phagocytosis in the treatment of sepsis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fei-Yan-Qing-Hua decoction (FYQHD), derived from the renowned formula Ma Xing Shi Gan tang documented in Zhang Zhong Jing's "Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Disease" during the Han Dynasty, has demonstrated notable efficacy in the clinical treatment of pneumonia resulting from bacterial infection. However, its molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects remains elusive. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of FYQHD against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP)-induced sepsis in mice and to elucidate its specific mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sepsis models were established in mice through intraperitoneal injection of LPS or CRKP. FYQHD was administered via gavage at low and high doses. Serum cytokines, bacterial load, and pathological damage were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) detection, and hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E), respectively. In vitro, the immunoregulatory effects of FYQHD on macrophages were investigated through ELISA, MIC, quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR), immunofluorescence, Western blot, and a network pharmacological approach. RESULTS: The application of FYQHD in the treatment of LPS or CRKP-induced septic mouse models revealed significant outcomes. FYQHD increased the survival rate of mice exposed to a lethal dose of LPS to 33.3%, prevented hypothermia (with a rise of 3.58 °C), reduced pro-inflammatory variables (including TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1), and mitigated tissue damage in LPS or CRKP-induced septic mice. Additionally, FYQHD decreased bacterial load in CRKP-infected mice. In vitro, FYQHD suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages activated by LPS or HK-CRKP. Mechanistically, FYQHD inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/4E-BP1 signaling pathway, thereby suppressing the translational level of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, it reduced the expression of HMGB1/RAGE, a positive feedback loop in the inflammatory response. Moreover, FYQHD was found to enhance the phagocytic activity of macrophages by upregulating the expression of phagocytic receptors such as CD169 and SR-A1. CONCLUSION: FYQHD provides protection against bacterial sepsis by concurrently inhibiting the inflammatory response and augmenting the phagocytic ability of immune cells.

Fei-Yan-Qing-Hua decoction exerts an anti-inflammatory role during influenza by inhibiting the infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils through NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Fei-Yan-Qing-Hua decoction (FYQHD) is an empirical formula that has shown clinical success in treating community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) for two decades. Influenza viral infection is a significant trigger for severe pneumonia, yet the role of FYQHD in treating influenza remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to assess the potential efficacy of FYQHD in treating influenza viral infection and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protective effects of FYQHD against influenza were evaluated through survival assessments and pathological analyses. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to identify the genes and pathways influenced by FYQHD in influenza. The anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of FYQHD were studied in macrophages stimulated by Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 ligation in vitro. The key constituents of FYQHD absorbed in mouse sera were identified using untargeted metabolomics, and the anti-inflammatory activity of some of these compounds in macrophages was evaluated using ELISA. RESULTS: Our findings demonstrate that FYQHD enhances survival and reduces lung damage in PR8-infected mice, primarily through its anti-inflammatory properties. Lung indexes and organ damage were significantly lower in the PR8 + OSV + FYQHD group compared to the PR8 + OSV group, indicating a potential complementary therapeutic effect of FYQHD and OSV in treating influenza. FYQHD effectively reduced chemokine expression, thereby decreasing the chemotaxis and infiltration of inflammatory monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils in the lungs. The anti-inflammatory effects of FYQHD in macrophages were achieved through the inhibition of NF-κB activation and p38 phosphorylation. The key constituents of FYQHD absorbed in mouse sera were identified, with some, such as wogonin, luteolin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin, showing anti-inflammatory effects in primary macrophages. CONCLUSION: FYQHD demonstrates protective efficacy against influenza and shows promise as an adjuvant therapeutic agent, particularly when used in combination with antiviral drugs like OSV. The potent anti-inflammatory components within FYQHD provide a basis for further exploration in drug research and development aimed at combating influenza.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Patent Medicine Combined with Oseltamivir for the Treatment of Adult Influenza: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Influenza is a sudden and serious viral breathing and lung-related infectious disease that causes significant deadliness and death worldwide. Now, the international treatment is oseltamivir. Chinese patent medicine (CPM) as a kind of different therapy is used in the treatment of influenza in China. The aim of this study was to interpret the clinical efficacy and safety of CPM combined with oseltamivir in the treatment of adult influenza by reviewing all relevant randomized controlled trials, and to provide new ideas and methods for the treatment of influenza. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI, and Wanfang Database were searched from the date of beginning until 1 June 2021, for the references on treatment of influenza with CPM. According to standard information extraction tables, two people worked to find and aggregate information independently. Review Manager 5.2 was used to study data carefully and evaluate risk of bias. A total of nine trials of 906 patients were included. Based on the meta-analysis, compared to oseltamivir, CPM combined with oseltamivir had better effect in the time of defervescence [MD = -17.68, 95% CI (-25.93, -9.44), P < 0.0001], the time of symptom improvement [MD = -22.28, 95% CI (-26.77, -17.80), P < 0.00001], and the time of hospitalization [MD = -2.04, 95% CI (-3.45, -0.63), P = 0.005]. Related to safety [RR = 0.69, 95% CI (0.38, 1.23), P = 0.21], the experimental group had fewer adverse reactions than the control group, but there is no statistical significance. The findings show that CPM combined with oseltamivir in adult influenza has a better efficacy in shortening the time of defervescence and symptom improvement, reducing the time of hospitalization. However, publication bias is inevitable due to the low methodological quality check of the clinical research about diagnostic criteria, definition of adult influenza, and small number of articles, and further large sample sizes and multi-center clinical trials are needed to give better proof for its efficacy and safety.

Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Children With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Scoping Review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently widely spread across the world. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) plays an important role in the overall treatment process. As a special group of population, the treatment outcome of children with COVID-19 has attracted much attention. Our study summarizes the current situation of TCM treatment of children with COVID-19. The results showed that TCM displayed a positive role in the treatment process, and that no significant adverse reactions were found. Our findings provide analytical evidence for the efficacy and safety of TCM participation in the treatment of COVID-19 in children.

Efficacy and Safety of Chinese Patent Medicine Combined With Oseltamivir in Treatment of Children With Influenza: A meta-Analysis.

Background: Recently, Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) have been widely used to treat children with influenza in China, with curative effects. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of such treatment require further evaluation. The present meta-analysis integrated data from several independent studies to determine overall treatment trends in children with influenza. Methods: The following databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from their inception to December 12, 2020: CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane library, and Embase. Two researchers independently extracted the data, assessed the methodological quality of the studies, and conducted a meta-analysis of the results using Review Manager 5.2. The results were assessed using forest plots, and publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot. Results: A total of 21 RCTs involving 2960 cases were included. Compared to oseltamivir alone, CPMs combined with oseltamivir reduced the duration of symptoms, including that of fever (mean difference [MD] = -0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.86 to -0.41, P < 0.00001), cough (MD = -0.82, 95% CI: -1.02 to -0.62, P < 0.00001), nasal obstruction (MD = -0.88, 95% CI: -1.15 to -0.61, P < 0.00001), and sore throat (MD = -0.92, 95% CI: -1.26 to -0.57, P < 0.00001). Combined therapy also reduced the time of viral shedding (MD = -0.53, 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.36, P < 0.00001) and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) (RR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.34 to 0.83, P = 0.005). Conclusions: CPMs combined with oseltamivir reduced the duration of symptoms, shortened the time of viral shedding, and reduced the number of ADRs. However, these results should be considered with caution because there was marked heterogeneity and publication bias in the research data. More rigorous RCTs should be designed to verify the effect of CPMs in children with influenza.