Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis

Objective To investigate the release of enterogenic and hepatogenic high mobility group protein B1(HMGB1)through exosomes and its regulatory pathway.Methods We used wild-type(WT)and ASC-/-mice for this study.We randomly selected five mice per group from each strain and fed them either a normal diet(ND)or a high-fat diet(HFD)for eight weeks.The control group consisted of WT mice fed with the normal diet;the HFD group were WT mice with the HFD;the microflora disturbance(MD)group were ASC-/-mice fed with the normal diet;the high-lipid microflora disturbance(HLMD)group were ASC-/-mice with HFD.We used confocal microscopy to detect the co-localization of liver and intestinal exosome markers with HMGB1.We then measured the expression level of HMGB1 content in exosomes by Western blotting and PCR.The AML12 cells were treated with palmitic acid(PA)and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)for 24 h to build an in vitro model.We also detected HMGB1/CD63 levels using Western blotting.To understand the regulatory mechanism of exosome release,we employed siRNA intervention.Results The secretion of exosomes increased significantly in HFD group compared with control group[(3.5±0.2)ng/ml vs.(1.1±0.3)ng/ml,P<0.05],HLMD group compared with those in MD group[(3.2±0.2)ng/ml vs.(1.9±0.4)ng/ml,P<0.05].Using immunofluorescence detection,we observed increased co-localization of exosome markers(ALP or VPS16)with HMGB1 in HFD group compared with control group.We also observed this in AML12 cells treated with PA and LPS compared with blank control.The PCR data showed that HMGB1 in hepatocyte exosomes was higher in HFD group compared with control group(41.5±10.2 vs.1.3±0.3,P<0.05),HLMD group was significantly higher than that in MD group(48.6±7.2 vs.1.5±0.5,P<0.05).TLR4 expression was higher in HFD group compared with control group(13.8±6.2 vs.2.8±0.9,P<0.05),HLMD group compared with MD group(22.6±4.1 vs.2.5±1.5,P<0.05).In intestinal mucosal cells,the co-location of HMGB1 and exosome marker CD63 was significantly higher in HFD group compared with control group(0.6±0.2 vs.0.4±0.1,P<0.05),and HLMD group compared with MD group(0.9±0.2 vs.0.5±0.1,P<0.05).In vitro,the HMGB1 of exosomes was increased in endotoxin group(5.1±0.8)and high lipid endotoxin group(5.5±0.7)compared with control group(3.8±0.6,P<0.05).On the other hand,the HMGB1 of exosomes in the cell siRNA intervention group was not increased compared with control group(3.7±0.6 vs.3.8±0.6,P>0.05).Conclusion HMGB1 is released by exosomes in hepatocytes and intestinal cells,and regulated by Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)under a high-fat diet and intestinal flora disorder,which may be one of the contributing factors in promoting the development of steatohepatitis.

Objective: To investigate the demographic characteristics and clinical influencing factors which associates with the occurrence probability of persistent or intermittent hypoviremia (LLV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis was performed on patients with CHB who received outpatient NAs therapy for≥48 ± 2 weeks. According to the serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA load at 48±2 weeks treatment, the study groups were divided into LLV (HBV DNA < 20 IU/ml and < 2 000 IU/ml) and MVR group (sustained virological response, HBV DNA < 20 IU/ml). Demographic characteristics and clinical data at the start of NAs treatment (considered as baseline) were retrospectively collected for both patient groups. The differences in the reduction of HBV DNA load during treatment was compared between the two groups. Correlation and multivariate analysis were further conducted to analyze the associated factors influencing the LLV occurrence. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent samples t-test, c2 test, Spearman analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, or area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: A total of 509 cases were enrolled, with 189 and 320 in the LLV and MVR groups, respectively. Compared to patients with MVR group at baseline: (1) the demographics characteristics of patients showed that LLV group was younger in age (39.1 years, P = 0.027), had a stronger family history (60.3%, P = 0.001), 61.9% received ETV treatment, and higher proportion of compensated cirrhosis (20.6%, P = 0.025) at baseline; (2) the serum virological characteristics of patients showed that LLV group had higher HBV DNA load, qHBsAg level, qHBeAg level, HBeAg positive rate, and the proportion of genotype C HBV infection but decreased HBV DNA during treatment (P < 0.001) at baseline; (3) the biochemical characteristics of patients showed that LLV group had lower serum ALT levels (P = 0.007) at baseline; (4) the noninvasive fibrosis markers of patients showed that LLV group were characterized by high aspartate aminotransferase platelet ratio index (APRI) (P = 0.02) and FIB-4 (P = 0.027) at baseline. HBV DNA, qHBsAg and qHBeAg were positively correlated with LLV occurrence (r = 0.559, 0.344, 0.435, respectively), while age and HBV DNA reduction were negatively correlated (r = -0.098, -0.876, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that ETV treatment history, high HBV DNA load at baseline, high qHBsAg level, high qHBeAg level, HBeAg positive, low ALT and HBV DNA level were independent risk factors for patients with CHB who developed LLV with NAs treatment. Multivariate prediction model had a good predictive value for LLV occurrence [AUC 0.922 (95%CI: 0.897 ~ 0.946)]. Conclusion: In this study, 37.1% of CHB patients treated with first-line NAs has LLV. The formation of LLV is influenced by various factors. HBeAg positivity, genotype C HBV infection, high baseline HBV DNA load, high qHBsAg level, high qHBeAg level, high APRI or FIB-4 value, low baseline ALT level, reduced HBV DNA during treatment, concomitant family history, metabolic liver disease history, and age < 40 years old are potential risk factors for developing LLV in patients with CHB during the therapeutic process.
Humans ; Adult ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; DNA, Viral ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics* ; Demography

COVID-19 ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Transplant Recipients

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

Objective::To establish differential metabolites between different varieties of Angelica sinensis, and provide reference for breeding, introduction, regional cultivation and ecological cultivation of new varieties of A. sinensis. Method::Comprehensive non-target metabonomics analysis was conducted for five new varieties of A. sinensis collected at the same time from the same origin: Mingui No. 1 (MG1), Mingui No. 2 (MG2), Mingui No. 4 (MG4), Mingui No. 5 (MG5), and Mingui No. 6 (MG6). The 50% methanol extract of each variety was taken, and then the differential metabolites among varieties were found by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), software Progenesis QI, principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and non-targeted metabonomics analysis. Differential metabolites were identified based on precise molecular weight, secondary fragments, KEGG database, HMDE database and related literature information. Result::The results of UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and multivariate statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences in the metabolites of five Angelica varieties. As compared with MG1, the contents of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, tryptophan and ferulic aldehyde were significantly lower in MG2, MG4, MG5 and MG6, while the contents of ligustilide, coumarin, bovine keratin, palmitin, protocatechualdehyde and linolenic acid were significantly higher (P<0.05). The results of multivariate statistical analysis showed that the metabolites of MG2 and MG5 were similar with those of MG6, but were significantly different from those of MG4.In addition, 38 distinct metabolites were identified, involving 7 potential targeted metabolic pathways. Different varieties of A. sinensis could regulate the synthesis of their metabolites through phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and sesquiterpene-like compounds metabolism, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, carotenoids, linolenic acid, linoleic acid and some other metabolic pathways. Conclusion::UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and Progenesis QI metabonomics techniques were used to compare the chemical constituents of different varieties of A. sinensis from the overall level. The differences and their regularities were found, which could provide reference for quality control, variety sorting, identification, breeding and ecological planting of A. sinensis.