<b><i>Background:</i></b> There is still no clinical evidence available to support or to oppose corticosteroid treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To investigate the efficacy and safety of corticosteroid given to the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This was a prospective, multicenter, single-blind, randomized control trial. Adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who were admitted to the general ward were randomly assigned to either receive methylprednisolone or not for 7 days. The primary end point was the incidence of clinical deterioration 14 days after randomization. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We terminated this trial early because the number of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in all the centers decreased in late March. Finally, a total of 86 COVID-19 patients underwent randomization. There was no difference of the incidence of clinical deterioration between the methylprednisolone group and control group (4.8 vs. 4.8%, <i>p</i> = 1.000). The duration of throat viral RNA detectability in the methylprednisolone group was 11 days (interquartile range, 6–16 days), which was significantly longer than that in the control group (8 days [2–12 days], <i>p</i> = 0.030). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in other secondary outcomes. Mass cytometry discovered CD3⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, and NK cells in the methylprednisolone group which were significantly lower than those in the control group after randomization (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> From this prematurely closed trial, we found that the short-term early use of corticosteroid could suppress the immune cells, which may prolong severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 shedding in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. <b><i>Trial Registration:</i></b> ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04273321.

Tongyan spray was an effective and safe method for post-stroke dysphagia patients.

At present, the posterior cervical approach with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) remains a commonly effective treatment for unstable Atlas fracture. However, the inserted screws into the C1 lateral mass of some unstable atlas fracture are very difficult, so that the operation is forced to change into C0 to C2 fusion. In order to improve the successful rate of lateral mass screw placement, we introduced a method of fixing lateral mass with a towel clamp in posterior transpedicular fixation, and explore the efficacy and feasibility. Twenty-one consecutive patients with unstable atlas fracture were treated via this method from October 2012 to July 2017. All cases had neck pain and restricted motion of neck movement on admission. Electronic medical records and pre- and postoperative radiographs were reviewed. Screw and rod placement, bone fusion, and spinal cord integrity were assessed via long-term follow-up with anteroposterior and lateral radiographs and computed tomography. Follow-up included clinical assessment of neurological function, assessment of pain using the visual analog scale (VAS), and assessment of the activities of daily living using the neck disability index (NDI). The mean follow-up duration was 22.1 months (range: 12–54 months). No screw loosening or breakage, plate displacement, neurovascular injury, and severe complications occurred during follow-up. The mean operative time was 112.4 ± 14.9 min (range: 82–135 min), and mean blood loss was 386.2 ± 147.9 mL (range: 210–850 mL). One patient experienced continuous neck pain postoperatively, but this gradually disappeared with analgesic administration. At final follow-up, all patients had bone fusion, the VAS scores and NDI were significantly improved compared with preoperatively. Fixing the C1 lateral mass with a towel clamp during posterior transpedicular fixation for unstable atlas fracture appears to be a safe and reliable method, with the advantages of being a simple technique with few complications.