Tongue Coating in COVID-19 Patients: A Case-Control Study

It has been suggested that COVID-19 patients have distinct tongue features, which may help to monitor the development of their condition. To determine if there was any specific tongue coating feature in COVID-19, this study investigated the difference in tongue coating between COVID-19 subjects and subjects with other acute inflammatory diseases characterized by fever. Tongue images taken with smartphones from three age-matched groups, namely, COVID group (n=92), non-COVID febrile group (n=92), and normal control group (n=92), were analyzed by two blinded raters according to a tongue coating scoring scheme, which assessed the levels of thick fur, slimy or greasy fur, discolored fur and composite index of tongue coating. Compared with control, significant increases in all coating indexes were found in the COVID group (P<0.001), as well as in the non-COVID febrile group (P<0.001). However, no difference was observed between COVID and non-COVID febrile groups for all coating indexes measured. In COVID-19 subjects, their scores of coating indexes had weak but significant correlations with certain inflammatory biomarkers, including WBC and neutrophil - lymphocyte ratio. It is concluded that COVID-19 subjects have pathological tongue coating patterns that are associated with inflammatory responses, and these coating patterns can help to indicate the direction of disease development.

Pathogenesis of "pain due to meridian fullness" and its application in acupuncture treatment of pain syndrome / 中国针灸

"Pain due to meridian fullness" is one of the pathogenesis of pain proposed by Plain Questions, however there is no attention being paid to it in the later ages. This article arrives at a conclusion that the pathogenesis of "pain due to meridian fullness" is due to luxus yang and heat, blood stasis with qi stagnation and disturbance of qi-movement, similarly, its syndrome differentiation and treatment principle were studied. It is proposed that "pain due to meridian fullness" could be seen in acute soft tissue injury, arthritis of heat type, headache, qigong deviation and other diseases. It has a close relationship with the state of pain facilitation of nervous system. The article also shows that "taking away firewood from under cauldron" is the treatment principle for the pathogenesis of pain, and cites some clinical cases to illustrate, and enrich the theory of treating pain syndrome with acupuncture.

Improvement effects of puerarin on glycated brain damages in rats induced by D-galactose / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the improvement effects of puerarin on glycated brain damages in rat model induced by D-galactose.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The model rats of protein glycation were induced by intraperitoneal administration of D-galactose (150 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 8 weeks, and all rats were treated with puerarin (high dose 300 mg x kg(-1), middle dose 150 mg x kg(-1), low dose 75 mg x kg(-1)) for 6 weeks. The activity of aldose reductase in red blood cells, the amount of glycated products (fructosamine in serum, glycohaemoglobin, advanced glycation end-products) and AGEs in brain tissue, calcium ion in brain cells were measured. Moreover, mitochondria in brain hippocampus cells were observed under electronic microscope.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>High dose and middle dose of puerarin can decrease the activity of aldose reductase in red blood cells (P < 0.01), and inhibit the formation of glycation products significantly in model rats induced by D-galactose (P < 0.01). Also, puerarin can decrease the content of AGEs in brain and the level of calcium ions in brain cells (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and decrease lesions degree in mitochondria in brain hippocampus cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Puerarin can produce the protective effects on glycated brain damages through inhibiting the glycation reaction in rats induced by D-galactose.</p>

Improvement effects of berberine on glycated brain damages in rats induced by D-galactose / 中成药

AIM: To observe the improvement effects of berberine on glycated brain damages in model rats induced by D-galactose. METHODS: The model rats of protein glycation were induced by intraperitoneal administration of D-galactose(150 mg/kg?d) for 8 weeks,and all rats were treated with berberine(high dose 300 mg/kg,middle dose 150 mg/kg,low dose 75 mg/kg) for 6 weeks.The activity of aldose reductase in red blood cells,the amount of glycated products(fructosamine in serum,glycohaemoglobin,advanced gtycation end-products),and the content of AGEs in brain tissue,calcium ion in brain cells were measured.Moreover,mitochondria in brain hippocampus cells were observed under electronic microscope. RESULTS: High dose and middle dose of berberine could decrease the activity of aldose reductase in red blood cells(P

Effect of puerarin on blood pressure and serum lipid in a rat model of insulin resistance / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To observe the effects of puerarin on blood pressure(BP),serum lipid in a rat model of insulin resistance and the mechanism.METHODS: Adult SD rats were maintained on high-fat-sugar-salt diet for 12 weeks.Puerarin was administered to the rats from 9th week for 4 weeks by intramuscular injection.BP was measured at the end of 0,8th,12th week.The levels of serum glucose,serum lipid,fasting serum insulin and the levels of MDA,TNF-?,plasma rennin,angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ) and the activity of SOD were measured and the insulin-sensitivity index was also calculated at the end of the experiment.RESULTS: High and middle dosage of puerarin significantly decreased blood pressure,reduced the levels of serum lipid and AngⅡ,and also increased insulin-sensitivity index.The levels of MDA and TNF-? were significantly decreased by high dosage of puerarin.The activity of SOD was increased significantly.CONCLUSIONS: Puerarin possesses the effects of decreasing the blood pressure and serum lipid in a rat model of insulin resistance,which may be concerned with the changes of rennin-angiotensin system,the levels of oxygen-derived free radicals and TNF-?.