Jing Si Herbal Drink as a prospective adjunctive therapy for COVID-19 treatment: Molecular evidence and mechanisms

Background: SARS-CoV-2 has led to a sharp increase in the number of hospitalizations and deaths from pneumonia and multiorgan disease worldwide;therefore, SARS-CoV-2 has become a global health problem. Supportive therapies remain the mainstay treatments against COVID-19, such as oxygen inhalation, antiviral drugs, and antibiotics. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been shown clinically to relieve the symptoms of COVID-19 infection, and TCMs can affect the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Jing Si Herbal Drink (JSHD), an eight herb formula jointly developed by Tzu Chi University and Tzu Chi Hospital, has shown potential as an adjuvant treatment for COVID-19 infection. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) of JSHD as an adjuvant treatment in patients with COVID-19 infection is underway Objectives: This article aims to explore the efficacy of the herbs in JSHD against COVID-19 infection from a mechanistic standpoint and provide a reference for the rational utilization of JSHD in the treatment of COVID-19. Method(s): We compiled evidence of the herbs in JSHD to treat COVID-19 in vivo and in vitro. Result(s): We described the efficacy and mechanism of action of the active ingredients in JSHD to treat COVID-19 based on experimental evidence. JSHD includes 5 antiviral herbs, 7 antioxidant herbs, and 7 anti-inflammatory herbs. In addition, 2 herbs inhibit the overactive immune system, 1 herb reduces cell apoptosis, and 1 herb possesses antithrombotic ability. Conclusion(s): Although experimental data have confirmed that the ingredients in JSHD are effective against COVID-19, more rigorously designed studies are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of JSHD as a COVID-19 treatment.Copyright © 2021

ONLINE EXERCISE CLASS EXPERIENCE AMONG OLDER ADULTS' MEMBERS OF COMMUNITY CENTERS IN HONG KONG DURING COVID-19

Due to the social distancing measures, community-centres in Hong Kong has been converting exercise classes to online delivery mode through video-conferencing software since the outbreak of COVID-19. The phenomenon is new, and no research has been done to investigate older adults' experience on it. This study adopted a descriptive qualitative methodologically orientation to understand the phenomenon. Twenty-three older adults (aged 55-89 years), with experience of participating online exercise class since COVID-19 participated in the study. Six major themes regarding their experiences emerged. Regarding positive experiences, older adults experienced convenience, increased exercise regularity, technical transformation and motivation in this new form of home-based exercise. At the same time, they experienced specific technical barriers and compensated supervision quality from the instructor. The findings of the study gave important future research direction and implications to the development of smart aging in community centres in Hong Kong.

Responses to telehealth expansion for older adults with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Synchronous video visits (“telehealth”) were rapidly adopted to facilitate provision of cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with little time to comprehensively assess patient and provider needs. Attitudes toward telehealth use during active treatment (vs. survivorship care) were largely unknown, as were perceptions of, experiences with, and needed support for telehealth use among older adults with cancer. Older adults in particular may face increased vulnerability to inequities in access to care due to limited digital literacy. Methods: We conducted surveys and semi-structured interviews with providers, staff, and older patients (age ≥60) from a comprehensive cancer center. Data collection occurred between Dec 2020 - Nov 2021. Results: We completed a total of 106 provider/staff surveys, 128 patient surveys, 20 provider/staff interviews, and 15 patient interviews. A majority of surveyed providers/staff felt that telehealth should “definitely be offered” during treatment-phase encounters (55.9% treatment follow-up;69.1% results communication;70.2% discussing treatment side effects). Similarly, most patients indicated they would be willing to have video visits with a member of their care team for: discussing treatment side-effects (73.5%), results communication (69.6%), and treatment follow-up (65.7%). Patients reported experiencing challenges with joining video visits (29%) and understanding the telehealth process (28%). Similarly, less than a third (30.8%) of providers/ staff agreed or strongly agreed that the institution did a good job of preparing patients for their first telehealth encounter. Patients felt the institution should do more to communicate the advantages of telehealth to older adults in handouts and videos, which included: engaging multiple family members in critical appointments (e.g., treatment decisions, end-of-life), seeing their doctor when they were too sick to travel, and reducing potential exposure to infectious disease at the clinic. Participants suggested several strategies to assist patients with limited digital literacy: offering video tutorials of the connection process, creating “fake appointments” to practice online connections, and hiring a digital navigator to assist with technical difficulties and setup of the online portal. Despite challenges, a majority of surveyed patients (65.7%) and providers/staff (76.9%) intend to continue using telehealth after the COVID-19 pandemic passes. Conclusions: Use of telehealth for cancer care was received positively by older patients and providers/staff. Taking targeted steps to enhance implementation could reduce barriers to care, including among older adults and other populations with limited digital literacy, thereby promoting greater equity of access to telehealth benefits beyond the pandemic.

Apply IOT technology to practice a pandemic prevention body temperature measurement system: A case study of response measures for COVID-19

Today, the most serious threat to global health is the continuous outbreak of respiratory diseases, which is called Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought severe challenges to public health and has attracted great attention from the research and medical communities. Most patients infected with COVID-19 will have fever. Therefore, the monitoring of body temperature has become one of the most important basis for pandemic prevention and testing. Among them, the measurement of body temperature is the most direct through the Forehead Thermometer, but the measurement speed is relatively slow. The cost of fast-checking body temperature measurement equipment, such as infrared body temperature detection and face recognition temperature machine, is too high, and it is difficult to build Disease Surveillance System (DSS). To solve the above-mentioned problems, the Intelligent pandemic prevention Temperature Measurement System (ITMS) and Pandemic Prevention situation Analysis System (PPAS) are proposed in this study. ITMS is used to detect body temperature. However, PPAS uses big data analysis techniques to prevent pandemics. In this study, the campus field is used as an example, in which ITMS and PPAS are used. In the research, Proof of Concept (PoC), Proof of Service (PoS), and Proof of Business (PoB) were carried out for the use of ITMS and PPAS in the campus area. From the verification, it can be seen that ITMS and PPAS can be successfully used in campus fields and are widely recognized by users. Through the verification of this research, it can be determined that ITMS and PPAS are indeed feasible and capable of dissemination. The ITMS and PPAS are expected to give full play to their functions during the spread of pandemics. All in all, the results of this research will provide a wide range of applied thinking for people who are committed to the development of science and technology.