Persistent clinical symptoms and their association with CM syndromes in post-COVID-19 rehabilitation patients in Hong Kong

Background

Heterogeneous clinical conditions were observed in individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and some symptoms were found to persist for an extended period post-COVID. Given the non-specific nature of the symptoms, Chinese medicine (CM) is advantageous in providing holistic medical assessment for individuals experiencing persisting problems. Chinese medicine is a type of treatment that involves prescribing regimens based on CM Syndromes diagnosed by CM practitioners. However, inadequate research on CM elements behind the practice has faced scrutiny.

Methods

This study analysed 1058 CM medical records from 150 post-COVID-19 individuals via a semi-text-mining approach. A logistic model with MCMCglmm was then utilised to analyse the associations between the indicated factors and identified conditions. Calculations were performed using R Studio and related libraries.

Results

With the semi-text-mining approach, three common CM Syndromes (Qi and Yin Deficiency, Lung and Spleen Deficiency, Qi Deficiency of both Spleen and Lung) and nine clinical conditions (fatigue, poor sleep, dry mouth, shortness of breath, cough, headache, tiredness, sweating, coughing phlegm) were identified in the CM clinical records. Analysis via MCMCglmm revealed that the occurrence of persisting clinical conditions was significantly associated with female gender, existing chronic conditions (hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus), and the three persisting CM Syndromes. The current study triangulated the findings from our previous observational study, further showing that patients with certain post-COVID CM Syndromes had significantly increased log-odds of having persisting clinical conditions. Furthermore, this study elucidated that the presence of chronic conditions in the patients would also significantly increase the log-odds of having persistent post-COVID clinical conditions.

Conclusion

This study provided insights on mining text-based CM clinical records to identify persistent post-COVID clinical conditions and the factors associated with their occurrence. Future studies could examine the integration of integrating exercise modules, such as health qigong Liuzijue, into multidisciplinary rehabilitation programmes.

Association between XPG gene polymorphisms and development of gastric cancer risk in a Chinese population

We conducted a case-control study to investigate the role of three common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group G (XPG) gene (rs2094258, rs751402 and rs17655) in the development of gastric cancer in a Chinese population. Between January 2012 and December 2014, samples from a total of 177 patients with gastric cancer and 237 control subjects were collected from the Ankang City Central Hospital. XPG rs2094258, rs751402 and rs17655 polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that the CC genotype of rs17655 was associated with an elevated risk of gastric cancer, and the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were 1.91 and 1.07-3.41, respectively. Moreover, individuals carrying the GC + CC genotype of rs17655 had an increased susceptibility to gastric cancer (OR = 1.61, 95%CI = 1.03-2.54). However, we did not observe a significant association between XPG rs2094258 and rs751402 polymorphisms and development of gastric cancer. In conclusion, our study suggests that the rs17655 polymorphism in XPG is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. The results of our findings should be further validated by further large sample size studies.

Changes of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors in the penumbra area after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and effects of astragaloside IV on rats

This study investigated the changes in peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) in the penumbra after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and examined the effects of astragaloside IV (AST) on PBRs in rats. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a sham operation group, a model group, and three AST treatment groups. Cerebral ischemic models were induced by the clue-blocked method. Neurological deficits were examined. The animals were sacrificed after 2 h of ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion, and mitochondria from the penumbra were purified. PBR density (Bmax) and affinity were measured by radioligand assays. Mitochondrial [(3)H]PK11195 binding was correlated with neurological deficits in rats. Compared to the model group, the 10 mg/kg AST group, 40 mg/kg AST group, and 100 mg/kg AST group had fewer neurological deficits. The effects in the 40 mg/ kg group did not significantly differ from the effects in the 100 mg/ kg group. Compared to the model group, the 10 mg/kg AST group, 40 mg/kg group, and 100 mg/kg group had a decreased Bmax in the penumbra. The Bmax decreased in the 40 mg/kg AST group and in the 100 mg/kg AST group compared with the 10 mg/kg group. The Bmax and neurological deficits in the 40 mg/kg did not significantly differ from those in the 100 mg/kg group. By contrast, the AST-treated rats showed no significant changes in the binding parameter equilibrium dissociation constant compared with those in the sham operation group and the model group. AST protects ischemic brain tissue by inhibiting PBR expression after cerebral ischemia.

Blocking L-calcium current by l-tetrahydropalmatine in single ventricular myocyte of guinea pigs

AIM

To study the effect of l-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) on L-type calcium channel.

METHODS

Patch clamp technique (whole cell recording) was used to record L-Ca2+ current in single cardiac myocyte.

RESULTS

1) l-THP 1, 10, and 100 micromol.L-1 reduced ICa-max from (999 +/- 93) pA to (700 +/- 111) pA, (582 +/- 66) pA, and (420 +/- 112) pA (n = 6, P < 0.01), respectively. 2) l-THP reduced the voltage at half-maximal inactivation (V1/2) of L-Ca2+ channel to more negative potentials by 9 mV (n = 5, P < 0.05). 3) l-THP caused both tonic and use-dependent reduction of Ca2+ current. Tonic block of l-THP on Ca2+ current was 46% +/- 8% (n = 6, P < 0.01). The degree of use dependent blocking was 13.5% +/- 2.4% (n = 6, P < 0.05) at 1 Hz, the degree increased to 44% +/- 5% (n = 6, P < 0.01) at 3 Hz. 4) l-THP delayed half-recovery time of Ca2+ channel recovery from inactivity from (94 +/- 39) ms to (170 +/- 42) ms(n = 6, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

l-THP has a moderate inhibitory effect on L-Ca2+ current.

[Noradrenaline release induced by electrical field stimulation during ischemia and reperfusion in rat hearts]

The effects of the electrical field stimulation (6 Hz 5 v 2ms) on noradrenaline (NA) release during cardiac ischemia and reperfusion were studied in isolated perfused rat hearts. Endogenous NA was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography. Reproducible release during two subsequent stimulations (S1, S2) in all preparations showed that electrical field stimulation is a sufficient method for inducing exocytotic NA release. Ischemic periods of 10 min reduced markedly NA overflow from rat hearts (S2/S1 = 0.34, P < 0.01), while during the subsequent reperfusion period this suppression was abolished. These results indicate that excessive accumulation of NA is prevented by the endogenous inhibitor during early ischemia, a protective mechanism in early myocardial ischemia.