Hypochlorous Acid Versus Saline Nasal Irrigation in Allergic Rhinitis: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Study

Clinical Efficacy of Tuomin Zhiti Decoction in Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a noninfectious inflammatory disease seriously affecting the quality of life. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the Tuomin Zhiti decoction in allergic rhinitis and to provide a reference for clinical treatment. One hundred patients with AR treated in the Department of Otolaryngology of our hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were recruited and assigned via a random number table method (1 : 1) to receive either oral loratadine and mometasone nasal spray (control group) or the Tuomin Zhiti decoction plus oral loratadine and mometasone nasal spray (study group). The total clinical efficacy was 86% (43/50) in the study group, which was significantly higher than that of 64% (32/50) in the control group. After treatment, the Total Nasal Symptoms Scores (TNSS) and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) scores between the two groups were similar, but 12 weeks after treatment, the study group had significantly lower TNSS and RQLQ scores than the control group. After treatment, the study group obtained lower levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and higher levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) than the control group. Significantly lower post-treatment peripheral blood eosinophil count (EOS) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were observed in the study group in contrast to those of the control group. The Tuomin Zhiti decoction for the treatment of AR patients alleviates their clinical symptoms, reduces the inflammatory responses, enhances the immune function of patients by regulating IL-4 and IFN-γ, and lowers the long-term recurrence rate.

Efficacy of the Sentinox Spray in Reducing Viral Load in Mild COVID-19 and Its Virucidal Activity against Other Respiratory Viruses: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial and an In Vitro Study

Sentinox (STX) is an acid-oxidizing solution containing hypochlorous acid in spray whose virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated. In this paper, results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the efficacy of STX in reducing viral load in mild COVID-19 patients (NCT04909996) and a complementary in vitro study on its activity against different respiratory viruses are reported. In the RCT, 57 patients were randomized (1:1:1) to receive STX three (STX-3) or five (STX-5) times/day plus standard therapy or standard therapy only (controls). Compared with controls, the log₁₀ load reduction in groups STX-3 and STX-5 was 1.02 (p = 0.14) and 0.18 (p = 0.80), respectively. These results were likely driven by outliers with extreme baseline viral loads. When considering subjects with baseline cycle threshold values of 20–30, STX-3 showed a significant (p = 0.016) 2.01 log₁₀ reduction. The proportion of subjects that turned negative by the end of treatment (day 5) was significantly higher in the STX-3 group than in controls, suggesting a shorter virus clearance time. STX was safe and well-tolerated. In the in vitro study, ≥99.9% reduction in titers against common respiratory viruses was observed. STX is a safe device with large virucidal spectrum and may reduce viral loads in mild COVID-19 patients.