The Chinese medicinal herbs Radix Isatidis and Viola yedoensis Makino have been suggested to possess antiviral activity. This study tests whether these and other Chinese and Western herbal medicinal formulas can modulate the immune functions involving virus-suppression in BALB/c mouse. We first confirmed the extract from Viola yedoensis Makino, but not from Radix Isatidis, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Chui-Uren-Chien (CUC), or a Western homeopathic medicinal drink Método Canova, could inhibit the replications of herpes simplex virus-1 and enterovirus 71 in the human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cell line. Subsequently, the same herbal extracts and drink underwent toxicity and immunomodulatory tests on mice of 5-7 weeks old. After 8 weeks of feeding different herbal medicinal formulas, no hepatic or renal toxicity was noted in any tested animal; whereas among the immune function evaluations, only the mice treated with CUC extract were found to be associated with significant increases (p < 0.05) in both the level of plasma IgG and the percentage of monocyte in blood mononuclear cells as well as the activation of macrophage Raw264.7 cells for nitric oxide production, suggesting its role in modulating the non-specific immune response. Analyses using protein arrays showed CUC was the most potent herbal medicinal formula eliciting fluctuations in plasma cytokine and chemokine concentrations. Taking all experimental data together, we conclude Chui-Uren-Chien possesses immunomodulatory capability in mouse, but none of the herbal medicinal formulas tested here are involved in strengthening antiviral immunity.

This study evaluated the value of procalcitonin (PCT) levels in pleural effusion to differentiate the etiology of parapneumonic effusion (PPE). Forty-one consecutive PPE patients were enrolled and were divided into bacterial and non-bacterial PPE. Blood and pleural effusion samples were collected for PCT measurement on admission and analyzed for diagnostic evaluation. PCT of pleural fluid was significantly increased in the bacterial PPE group (0.24 ng/mL) compared to the non-bacterial PPE group (0.09 ng/mL), but there was no significant difference for serum PCT. A PCT concentration of pleural fluid >0.174 ng/mL (best cut-off value) was considered positive for a diagnosis of bacterial PPE (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 76%; AUC, 0.84). Pleural effusion PCT in the bacterial PPE is significantly different from those of the non-bacterial PPE and control groups, so the diagnostic use of PCT still warrants further investigation.

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AimsTo develop and psychometrically test Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self‐management Scale in people with type 2 diabetes.DesignCross‐sectional design.MethodsBased on literature reviews and examination by experts, a 20‐item scale was developed and administered to 350 participants with type 2 diabetes who were enrolled from two endocrine clinics by convenience sampling in Taiwan. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), concurrent and predictive validity as well as reliability were used to examine the psychometric characteristics of the scale. Data were collected from November 2021 to March 2022.ResultsEFA and CFA supported a 12‐item scale with three factors, namely learning proactively, taking on challenges and thinking positively, fit the data well. The total score of the 12‐item scale significantly and positively correlated with diabetes‐specific quality of life, and significantly and negatively correlated with baseline and 9‐month haemoglobin A1c levels. Cronbach's α for overall scale and subscales ranged between .78 and .91.ConclusionThe 12‐item Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self‐management Scale demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability in people with type 2 diabetes.ImpactNurses could apply this new scale to identify the degree of using character strengths in self‐management in people with type 2 diabetes; accordingly, character strength‐based interventions could be provided to improve self‐management in such patients with diabetes. Furthermore, the 12‐item Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self‐management Scale has the potential to be used to measure the effectiveness of strength‐based interventions in people with Type 2 diabetes.Patient or Public ContributionFive patients with type 2 diabetes were invited to take the original 20‐item scale to evaluate the clarity, readability and comprehensiveness of the 20 items.