ABSTRACT
COVID-19 is primarily known as a respiratory disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. However, neurological symptoms such as memory loss, sensory confusion, cognitive and psychiatric issues, severe headaches, and even stroke are reported in as many as 30% of cases and can persist even after the infection is over (so-called long COVID). These neurological symptoms are thought to be caused by brain inflammation, triggered by the virus infecting the central nervous system of COVID-19 patients, however we still dont fully understand the mechanisms for these symptoms. The neurological effects of COVID-19 share many similarities to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons in which the presence of cytotoxic protein-based amyloid aggregates is a common etiological feature. Following the hypothesis that some neurological symptoms of COVID-19 may also follow an amyloid etiology we performed a bioinformatic scan of the SARS-CoV-2 proteome, detecting peptide fragments that were predicted to be highly amyloidogenic. We selected two of these peptides and discovered that they do rapidly self-assemble into amyloid. Furthermore, these amyloid assemblies were shown to be highly toxic to a neuronal cell line. We introduce and support the idea that cytotoxic amyloid aggregates of SARS-CoV-2 proteins are causing some of the neurological symptoms commonly found in COVID-19 and contributing to long COVID, especially those symptoms which are novel to long COVID in contrast to other post-viral syndromes.
ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the clinical effect of acupoint injection of salmon calcitonin in the treatment of senile osteoporosis. Methods From February 2016 to July 2017,136 elderly patients with osteoporosis admitted to Wenzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were included. The patients were randomly divided into two groups,with 68 cases in each group. The acupoint－injection group was given 50IU salmon calcitonin on day 1, day 2 100IU, one time per day, continuously used for 15 days for a course of treatment, and with an interval of 90 days,and repeat the course of treatment. The patients were given 0. 9% sodium chloride diluted to 2mL,inject 0. 5mL into bilateral Shenshu and Zusanli these two points. The intramuscular injection group was given the same dose of salmon calcitonin gluteus maximus injected intramuscularly. At the same time,both two groups were given calcium Erqi D tablets one tablet a day,alendronate once a week,each time 70mg fasting taken orally. The type Ⅰ collagen β－CTx,PINP,NBAP,femoral neck,femur trochanter,lumbar (L1 －L4) lumbar BMD and osteoporosis symptom score before and after treatment were compared. Results After treatment,the NBAP and BMD of the two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (all P＜0. 05),and the β－CTx,PINP and symptoms scores were lower than before treatment (P＜0. 05). After treatment,NBAP in the acupoint injection group was (32. 36 ± 3. 03)μg/L, which was higher than (29. 66 ± 3. 20) μg/L in the intramuscular injection group(t =10. 477,P ＜0. 05). The β－CTx and PINP in the acupoint injection group were decreased to (0. 10 ± 0. 05)μg/L and (28. 78 ± 5. 23)μg/L, which were significantly lower than those in the intramuscular injection group[β－CTx(0. 20 ± 0. 05)μg/L,PINP (35.77 ±6. 49)μg/L(t =5. 983,2. 662,all P ＜0. 05)]. After treatment,the BMD of the femoral neck,femur trochanter and lumbar vertebra (L1 －L4) in the acupoint injection group were (0. 690 ± 0. 032)g/m2,(0. 620 ± 0. 010)g/m2and (0. 822 ± 0. 012)g/m2,respectively,which were higher than those in the intramuscular injection group[(0.652 ±0.012)g/m2,(0.572 ±0.022)g/m2and (0.801 ±0.011)g/m2(t=5.055,6.133,1.956,all P＜0. 05)]. After treatment,the improvements of TCM syndromes such as weakness in the waist and knees,tinnitus and deafness,loss of appetite,release of teeth,relaxation of two feet,weak tongue,weak pulse in the acupoint injection group were better than those in the intramuscular injection group (all P＜0. 05). Conclusion The acupoint injection of salmon calcitonin at Zusanli and Shenshu points is more effective than the intramuscular injection in the treatment of senile osteoporosis. It can significantly increase the serum NBAP,decrease the serum β－CTx,PINP,improve the BMD and improve the patients＇clinical symptoms,which means acupoint injection is a safe and effective way to treat senile osteoporosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the curative effect of sodium hyaluronate intraperitoneal injection combined with oral Yanghe decoction in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis .Methods 80 patients with knee osteoar-thritis were randomly divided into two groups ,40 cases in each group .The control group was given intra -articular injection of sodium hyaluronate ,and the study group was treated with Yanghe decoction in addition .The TCM symptom score , knee joint index , overall treatment effect and quality of life were compared between the two groups .Results The total score of TCM symptoms after treatment in the study group was (7.08 ±1.18)points,which was significantly lower than (10.42 ±2.01)points in the control group(t=9.063,P<0.01).The VAS score and WOMAC score after treatment in the study group were (1.48 ±0.59)points,(19.10 ±3.08)points,respectively,which were significantly lower than (3.70 ±1.12)points and (23.40 ±3.56)points in the control group (t=11.091,5.777,all P<0.01). The HSS score after treatment in the study group was (83.04 ±10.49) points,which was significantly higher than (71.81 ±9.67)points in the control group(t =4.978,P<0.01).The physiological function,physical function, physical pain,mental health and energy scores after 6 months treatment in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t=5.190,8.535,4.569,3.266,6.694,all P<0.01).The effective rate and total effective rate of the study group were 72.5％and 95.0％,respectively,which were significantly higher than those of the control group(50.0％,77.5％),the differences were statistically significant (χ2 =4.266,5.165,all P<0.05). Conclusion Sodium hyaluronate injection combined with oral Yanghe decoction is effective in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
