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We evaluated the efficacy and safety of stir-fried white pepper in the treatment of infant and children diarrhea. This was a randomized trial conducted in the pediatric emergency department of the hospital affiliated to Jining Medical College. One hundred seventy four patients were selected from outpatients from 2011 to 2012. Participants were randomly assigned to treatment with stir-fried white pepper (n = 88) or montmorillonite powder (n = 86). The proportions of chronic diarrhea patients (n = 52) showing success of treatment were similar for both groups. There were great differences between the two groups in acute diarrhea (n = 62) and persistent diarrhea (n = 60), and the cure rate of stir-fried white pepper was higher than montmorillonite powder in both groups. The prescription of stir-fried white pepper significantly decreased the frequency of diarrhea in infants and children under 2.5 years with diarrhea compared to treatment with montmorillonite powder, especially for the patients with acute diarrhea or persistent diarrhea.

Dengue fever is an important epidemic disease with a high prevalence in tropical and subtropical countries. We aimed to investigate the effects of a treatment integrating traditional Chinese (TCM) and Western medicines on dengue inpatients with warning signs (i.e., group B) according to the World Health Organization dengue classification in this retrospective cohort study of medical records. Inpatients who were treated with conventional Western therapies in the absence or presence of TCM were assigned to the control and treatment groups, respectively. Data were compared using an analysis of variance, general linear analysis, and chi-square test. The most common clinical symptoms and signs of dengue fever were fever and muscle ache. The treatment group patients were significantly more likely to present general weakness and poor appetite than the control group patients. Patients in the treatment group were more likely to experience stomachache than those in the control group. Moreover, comparisons of the changes in hemoglobin and alanine aminotransferase levels over time revealed significant differences between the patient groups. Zhu Ye Shi Gao Tang, Gui Pi Tang, Paeonia suffruticosa, and Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum were the most commonly administered TCM formula and single herbs in this study. Patients in the treatment group experienced a resolution of symptoms, signs, and laboratory data and were discharged smoothly, without deterioration to death or critical care. Our findings suggest that the integration of TCM and Western medicine may yield an appropriate treatment for dengue fever.

Since the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Hubei province, the epidemic scale has increased rapidly, and no effective antiviral drug therapy has been identified yet. This study aimed to evaluate the adjuvant efficacy of Natural Herbal Medicine (NHM) combined with Western medicine in the treatment of COVID-19. We performed a retrospective, 1:1 matched, case-control study of the first cohort of hospitalized COVID-19-confirmed cases (January 17, 2020 to January 28, 2020). A total of 22 of the 36 confirmed patients were included in this study, split into two groups of 11: the NHM group (NHM combined standard Western medicine treatment) and control group (standard Western medicine treatment alone). All patients received appropriate supportive care and regular clinical and laboratory monitoring. Main evaluation indicators included improvement of clinical symptoms such as fever, cough and diarrhea after hospitalization; pathogen nucleic acid test result of respiratory tract and fecal specimens of the patient after hospitalization, and change of chest CT examination after hospitalization. The duration of fever in the NHM group ($3.4\pm 2.4$ days) was significantly shorter than that in the control group ($5.6\pm 2.2$ days) ($p=0.03$). During the whole hospitalization period, the number of cases with diarrhea in the NHM group (two cases) was less than that in the control group (eight cases) ($p=0.03$). Compared with the control group ($7.5\pm 1.6$), the duration for improvement (DI) of chest CT in the NHM group ($5.6\pm 2.3$) was significantly shorter ($p=0.04$). Our results suggest that NHM could improve the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients and may be effective in treating COVID-19; thus, a larger, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial should be conducted to further evaluate the adjuvant efficacy of NHM in the treatment of COVID-19.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) decoction with different intervention timepoints in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. We retrospectively collected the medical records and evaluated the outcomes of COVID-19 patients that received TCM decoction treatment at different timepoints. A total of 234 COVID-19 patients were included in this study. Patients who received TCM decoction therapy within 3 days or 7 days after admission could achieve shorter hospitalization days and disease periods compared to those who received TCM decoction $\ge$ 7 days after admission (all $p<0.05$). Patients who received TCM decoction therapy within 3 days had significantly fewer days to negative SARS-CoV-2 from nasopharyngeal/oral swab and days to negative SARS-CoV-2 from urine/stool/blood samples compared to those received TCM decoction $\ge 7$ days after admission (all $p<0.05$). Patients who received TCM decoction therapy on the 3rd to 7th day after admission had a faster achievement of negative SARS-CoV-2 from urine/stool/blood samples compared to those who received TCM decoction $\ge 7$ days after admission ($p<0.05$). Logistic models revealed that more days from TCM decoction to admission $\ge 7$ days might be a risk factor for long hospitalization days, disease period, and slower negative-conversion of SARS-CoV-2 (all $p<0.01$). Conclusively, our results suggest that TCM decoction therapy should be considered at the early stage of COVID-19 patients.

Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent condition that causes dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been used for endometriosis for many years in Asian populations. This is a retrospective study in a territory teaching hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing, China to compare the short- and long-term effectiveness and safety of CHM for endometriosis associated pain (EAP) before and after CHM treatment. A total of 338 out of 1143 women confirmed with endometriosis by ultrasonogram or surgery within three months received a CHM decoction twice a day for at least 3 and up to 24 months. All data were collected by a Structured Medical Records of Endometriosis (SMRE) in every clinic visit covering the whole treatment period. Pain score, evaluated by Numeric Rating Scale, was significantly decreased from 3rd to 12th month in women with moderate or severe pain. Frequency and severity rating of menstrual symptoms, evaluated by Cox Menstrual Symptom Scale, were significantly decreased in women with any pain level. Psychological changes rated by Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were significantly lower in 3, 6, 12, and 24 months of treatment, but those by Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) was significantly decreased in six months of treatment. There was no severe adverse event but only minor side-effects. In conclusion, our study showed that CHM relieved EAP and related symptoms with minimal side-effects after treatment. A large-scale randomized and placebo-controlled trial could be designed to confirm the efficacy and safety.

INDIA – South Asia waters harbor drug-resistant bugs.

JAPAN – Daiichi Sankyo initiates phase 3 ENSURE-AF study, investigating patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardioversion.

SINGAPORE – Scientists discover a number of novel genetic defects which cause esophageal cancer.

SINGAPORE – NUS researchers develop world's first fluorescent sensor to detect common illicit date rape drug.

SINGAPORE – Genome Institute of Singapore partners Nutricia Research to investigate human gut microbiome.

SINGAPORE – Singapore-developed drug coated balloon enrolls its first patients in clinical study.

THE PHILIPPINES – Biodiversity loss linked to outbreaks of diseases.

VIETNAM – Mosquito genes could be key to halting dengue spread.

EUROPE – Curetis obtains key patent for Unyvero™ technology.

NEPAL – Fly ash waste used as water purifier.

UNITED STATES – Researchers discover genetic markers that may predict when people with heart disease are likely to have heart attacks.

UNITED STATES – Celluar ‘counting’ of rhythmic signals synchronizes changes in cell fate.

UNITED STATES – Potential lung cancer vaccine shows renewed promise.

UNITED STATES – Shrink wrap used to enhance detection of infectious disease biomarkers.

UNITED STATES – Triple negative breast cancer's progression and relapse pinned to a gene.

UNITED STATES – Seaweed forests could help power tropical islands.

NEWS – Canbridge Life Sciences and EUSA Pharma form agreement to commercialize prescription medical device in China.

NEWS – miacom diagnostics GmbH teams up with Fosun Diagnostics to bring diagnostic arrays to Chinese and Asian markets.

NEWS – Medtronic and Lifetech Scientific Corporation expand strategic alliance to bring pacemakers to China.

NEWS – Wearable device for the early detection of common diabetes-related neurological condition.

NEWS – Herbalife plans expansion of manufacturing capabilities in China.

NEWS – Cook Medical enrolls first patient in drug eluting peripheral stent clinical study in China.

NEWS – Provectus Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Sinopharm-China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, and Sinopharm A-THINK Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

NEWS – Scientists develop new high yield allele to improve rice production.

RESEARCH INSTITUTES – The Peking University Center of Bioinformatics.

AbbVie's First Manufacturing Facility in Asia

The QUATTROR® Dual Mobility Cup: A Technical Revolution in Total Hip Arthroplasty

SINGAPORE – NUS Study: Daily Consumption of Tea Protects the Elderly from Cognitive Decline.

SINGAPORE – Singapore Researchers Use Patients’ Stem Cells to Test for Side Effects of Drugs – Discovery Brings Doctors Closer to Personalized Medicine.

UNITED STATES – Diabetes in Your DNA? Scientists Zero in on the Genetic Signature of Risk.

UNITED STATES – Super Resolution Imaging Helps Determine a Stem Cell’s Future.

UNITED STATES – Wearable Biosensors Can Tell You When to See the Doctor.

AUSTRALIA – PromarkerD Predictive Diagnostics for DKD to Roll-out in Asia.

JAPAN – Enrollment Commences in Phase III Clinical Study of Eisai’s BACE Inhibitor Elenbecestat in Early Alzheimer’s Disease in Japan.

Background: Our main goal was to see if treatment with collagenase injection is safe and effective and to assess patient satisfaction with this new treatment.

Methods: We prospectively followed 77 consecutive patients, treated for contracture in 91 fingers and 142 joints that received total of 109 collagenase injections. The patients were reviewed on the first and second day and at 4 and 12 months. A contracture reduced to five degrees or less at 12 months after the last injection, was considered to be a successful outcome.

Results: A mean of 1.2 injections were used per patient and 0.8 injections per joint. There was a significant improvement in mean passive extension deficit. Out of the 142 joints treated, 84 (59%) met our criterion for a successful outcome; 56 (80%) out of 70 MCP joints and 28 (39%) out of 72 PIP joints. There were also significant improvements in both hand function and pain. No serious adverse events were observed. The mean patient satisfaction with the treatment at the 12-month follow up was a VAS score of 78 (0 = none; 100 = complete) and only 11% stated that they would not have consented to the treatment if they had known the outcome in advance.

Conclusions: Treatment of Dupuytren's disease with collagenase injection is both safe and effective. It is now our primary treatment for Dupuytren's disease.

A bioactive glass, previously described in literature, was clinically tested as a coating for hip prostheses. The glass was designed to be degradable in-vivo. Early implants in humans have been performed in 1991, giving 8 years as the longest follow-up. Authors investigated the clinical performance of the cementless bioactive-glass coated stem versus a cemented un-coated one; they matched two groups who had equal: a)-stem design; b)-surgical technique; c)-sex distribution. Fifty-two implants of a bioactive-glass coated hip stems were studied. They showed a good clinical response and a decrease in early-6-months thigh pain. Only two loosening have been recorded up to now. No significative differences have been observed between cementless coated stems and cemented un-coated stems; this fact stresses the point that surgical technique and stem design are probably more important than materials alone for the good outcome of hip prostheses.