Research progress on central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts for a long time and doesn't alleviate with rest. The number of the cases has been increasing during the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Acupuncture may have some effect on chronic fatigue syndrome, but its mechanism remains unclear. This article was to summarize the specific manifestations of abnormal central mechanism in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome through laboratory tests and neuroimaging. It was found from the laboratory evaluation that there were changes in the structure of the frontal cortex, thalamus and other brain tissues; factors, including IFN-α and IL-10 in cerebrospinal fluid were found abnormal; results of oxidative and nitrosative stress and changes in neurobiochemical substances, e.g. hypothalamus hormone levels and neurotransmitter concentrations, were observed. With magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, it was shown that the partial brain of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome had morphological changes with diminished grey matter and white; changes in cerebral blood flow velocity caused by decreased perfusion and functional activity with abnormal connectivity in brain were detected. In addition, there was significant decrease in glucose metabolism accompanied with neuroinflammatory response; metabolic disorders of serotonergic, cholinergic, glutamatergic and γ-aminobutyric acid energy neurotransmitters were also discovered. The regulatory effect of acupuncture on the above central neurological abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome model animals was elaborated, and the direction for further research was analyzed in order to provide ideas for further research on the central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Research progress on central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome : 针刺调控慢性疲劳综合征中枢机制研究进展

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts for a long time and doesn't alleviate with rest. The number of the cases has been increasing during the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Acupuncture may have some effect on chronic fatigue syndrome, but its mechanism remains unclear. This article was to summarize the specific manifestations of abnormal central mechanism in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome through laboratory tests and neuroimaging. It was found from the laboratory evaluation that there were changes in the structure of the frontal cortex, thalamus and other brain tissues;factors, including IFN-α and IL-10 in cerebrospinal fluid were found abnormal;results of oxidative and nitrosative stress and changes in neurobiochemical substances, e.g. hypothalamus hormone levels and neurotransmitter concentrations, were observed. With magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, it was shown that the partial brain of persons with chronic fatigue syndrome had morphological changes with diminished grey matter and white;changes in cerebral blood flow velocity caused by decreased perfusion and functional activity with abnormal connectivity in brain were detected. In addition, there was significant decrease in glucose metabolism accompanied with neuroinflammatory response;metabolic disorders of serotonergic, cholinergic, glutamatergic and γ-aminobutyric acid energy neurotransmitters were also discovered. The regulatory effect of acupuncture on the above central neurological abnormalities in chronic fatigue syndrome model animals was elaborated, and the direction for further research was analyzed in order to provide ideas for further research on the central mechanism of acupuncture treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome.

Traditional Chinese Medicine enhances absorption of lung lesions in corona virus disease 2019 patient.

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) of Huangqi (Radix Astragali Mongolici), Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), Jinyinhua (Flos Lonicerae), and Lianqiao (Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae) in absorption of lung lesions in Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. METHODS: A cohort of COVID-19 cases was recruited. During hospitalization, chest computed tomographic (CT) scan and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test were performed every three days. Comparison was held (Western Medicine, WM vs WM plus TCM) on absorption of lung lesions, time interval from admission to negative test result of RT-PCR (ATN), and medical expense. Multivariate cox regression models were built to identify the possible prognostic factor of delayed absorption of lung lesion. RESULTS: The medical expenditure (1163 ± 379 vs 1137 ± 498, P = 0.863) and ATN (13 ± 4 vs 10 ± 4, P = 0.055) were comparable between cases treated with WM plus TCM and cases only received WM. Multivariate cox regression model showed that cases receiving extra TCM had lower risk of delayed absorption of lung lesions [Hazard ratio = 0.24, 95% confidence Interval (0.06, 0.96), P = 0.043]. CONCLUSION: Compared to WM, the treatment of WM plus TCM facilitates the recovery of pulmonary infiltration on COVID-19 cases without significantly increasing medical expense.