Abstract: Due to the continued emergence of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the ongoing pandemic has resulted in severe mortality over the past two years. After the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants, the most recent new variant of concern (VOC) strain to emerge is Omicron (B.1.1.529), which evolved as a result of the accumulation of a large number of mutations. The Omicron variant, which has a much higher transmission rate than the Delta variant, soon replaced the Delta variant and others, is now the dominant variant worldwide. The emergence of Omicron poses new challenges for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and has raised a number of concerns worldwide. Recently, cases of Omicron infection have been reported in several parts of China, and therefore this paper provides a comprehensive analysis and summary of the epidemiology and immune escape mechanisms of the Omicron variant. We also suggest some therapeutic strategies against the Omicron variant, including rapid diagnosis, genome analysis of emerging variants, ramping up of vaccination drives and receiving booster doses, updating the available vaccines, designing of multivalent vaccines able to generate hybrid immunity, up-gradation of medical facilities and strict implementation of adequate prevention and control measures need to be given high priority to handle the on-going COVID-19 pandemic successfully.

Objective To investigate the application value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in monitoring the response to chemotherapy of primary bone lymphoma(PBL). Methods Sixteen consecutive patients with PBL confirmed by pathology were enrolled in this retrospective study.All patients underwent a controlled MRI including a DWI sequence before chemotherapy and after the first chemotherapy session. The ADC values of PBL lesions were measured before and after the first chemotherapy session. All patients were divided into responders and non-responders groups according to the combined response assessment criteria. The difference in ADC values between the responders and non-responders groups before and after chemotherapy and the rate of change of ADC values were compared using Wilcoxon test. The paired t test was used to compare ADC values before and after chemotherapy in each group. Results Twenty-three cases of PBL lesions were diagnosed in 16 patients before the chemotherapy. After the first chemotherapy session, 10 patients (12 lesions) and 6 patients (11 lesions) were categorized into the responder and non-responder group, respectively. The mean pre-treatment ADC value of the responder group and non-responder group were 737.1(301.7,928.4)× 10-6mm2/s and 749.2(624.4, 1186.5)× 10-6mm2/s, which had no statistically significant difference (Z=1.51,P=0.132). The mean post-treatment ADC value of the responder group and non-responder group were 1843.0(721.5,2745.8)× 10-6mm2/s and 1026.3(382.8,2100.8)× 10-6mm2/s, which had no statistically significant difference (Z=-1.75,P=0.079). The post-treatment ADC value of the responder group significantly increased [156.7(60.9,227.5)%] while the post-treatment ADC value of the non-responder group slightly increased [31.7(-44.7,147.4)%]. The difference in the percentage changes of ADC values in the responder and non-responder groups before and after the treatment was statistically significant(Z=-3.66,P<0.001). Conclusion The measurement of the percentage changes of ADC values enable a good short-term response evaluation for PBL.

Objective To evaluate and summarize a new way of forward intensity modulated radia- tion therapy (IMRT) plan for nasopharyngeal carcinoma with 3Dmulti-leaf collimator (MLC) planning sys- tems is practised routinely in our department.Methods From September 2000 to July 2003 and November 2005 to March 2006,78 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated with eonformal radiothera- py used CT simulation for localizing,then doctors supervised the delineation of the planned tumor volume (PTV),gross tumor volume (GTV) and other sensitive organs on ACQsim workstation,and then sent the CT imagines to ELEKTA Precise Plan by DICOM RT Ethernet.Then,the physicists take over the responsibility of all directions of beam projection according to these organs and PTV shape,and completed the IMRT plan by manual correction making and the optimization of fields or segments shaped with forward 3D planning sys- tem.Results To analyse all the patient's dose distributions taking conformal radiotherapy in our hospital, we found the dose distribution and DVH data excellent,even better than the inverse planning of nasopharyn- geal carcinoma.Conclusions Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced radiotherapy technique.A very good IMRT plan of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by forward planning can be obtained with 3D multiple leaf collimator (MLC) planning system.This planning method is more flexible,but the radia- tion physicists should be very much experienced in professional skill.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical data of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by scrub typhus in Guangxi, to evaluate the incidence of AKI, and to search for the prediction indicators of AKI. Methods Data of 211 patients from The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from 2014 to 2018 were collected and divided into AKI group (58 cases) and non-acute kidney injury (NAKI) group (153 cases). The auxiliary examination, treatment measures and complications of the two groups were compared. Regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors associated with AKI. Results There were 58 cases (27.49%,95% CI: 1.66-1.76, P<0.001) with AKI and 166 cases were all negative in the field test. Compared with the NAKI group, the incidence and need rate of AKI were higher than NAKI group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that blood system damage (OR=4.536, 95% CI: 1.262-16.308), the use of hormones (OR=3.261, 95% CI: 1.259-8.446) and diuretics (OR=3.870, 95% CI: 1.186-12.633) were risk factors for AKI. Low direct bilirubin (OR=0.952, 95% CI: 0.915-0.991) was a protective factor. Conclusion The incidence of scrub typhus induced AKI in Guangxi is in the middle level at domestic and abroad. Patients with scrub typhus who have complications of blood system damage and have to be treated with hormones and diuretics are risk factors for AKI.

OBJECTIVETo research the role of lymph tracers to protect parathyroid in surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

METHODSPatients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who met selected criteria were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into carbon nanoparticle group, methylene blue group, and conventional surgery group.

RESULTSNo significant complication occurred in the patients of carbon nanoparticle and methylene blue groups. In carbon nanoparticle group, methylene blue group and conventional surgery group, the mean numbers of parathyroid glands detected during surgery were 3.1 ± 0.3, 2.9 ± 0.4 and 2.3 ± 0.3 (F = 3.78, P < 0.01) , the rates that parathyroid was cut mistakenly were 1.37% (2/146) , 2.62% (2/97) and 7.14% (6/84) respectively (χ(2) = 17.372, P < 0.05) ; and the incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia were 10.4% (5/48) , 9.1% (3/33) and 17.5% (7/40,χ(2) = 0.671, P = 0.037) .

CONCLUSIONThyroid lymphography technique is helpful to protect from the injury to the parathyroid glands in surgery.

Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Lymphography ; Parathyroid Glands ; Thyroidectomy

Alkaloids and lignans from the stems of Piper betle were studied. Compounds were isolated and purified by repeated silica gel, reverse phase silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis. From the ethyl acetate soluble fractions of the 70% acetone extract, ten compounds were isolated and identified as piperine (1), pellitorine (2), N-isobutyl-2E,4E-dodecadienamide (3), dehydropipernonaline (4), piperdardine (5), piperolein-B (6), guineensine (7), (2E,4E)-N-isobutyl-7-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2,4-heptadienamide (8), syringaresinol-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (9),pinoresinol (10). All Compounds were isolated from the plant for the first time, and compounds 9 and 10 were isolated firstly from the genus.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Lignans ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Piper betle ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry

Objective To verify the determination of iodine in foodstuff by dry ashing As3+-Ce4+catalytic speetrophotometry.Methods The mixture of foodstuff powder and the solution of K2CO3,ZnSO4,KClO3 and NaCl was heated and dried at 105℃ for 3 hours,then heated by a adjustable electric heater for around 0.5 hour,transferred into muffle fumace to eremated at 600℃ for 4 hours.The dissolved ash was measured by As3+-Ce4+catalytic speetrophotometry.The linear range of the calibration and sensitivity were tested;The precision and accuracy for three kinds of iodine in samples of difierent pumpkins were tested:The iodine contents of standard urine samples and the American standard materials were tested as well.Results This testing covers iodine ranged from 4.4 ng to 250 ng.The relevance coefficient of standard curve was from-0.9997 to-0.9993.The pumpkin iodine contents detected were 45.8,145.0,195.6 μg/kg,with constant variables of 4.3%,3.0%and 3.9%respectively.The recovery was 96.8%,97.8%and 97.6%for three kinds of iodine in samples[(47.2±2.6),(71.9 4-3.3),(95.9±2.4)μg/kg].The relative error was-6.5%when the American standard materials were assessed.The relative error were 11.0%.10.7%and 10.7%when the standard urine samples of three kinds were tested.Conclusion This method,easy to be pefformed with better precision and accuracy,is suitable to measure food iodine as well as total iodine in urine.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the active and passive mechanical properties and wall collagen and elastin contents of mesenteric small arteries (MSAs) isolated from rats of 28-day simulated microgravity (SUS), countermeasure [S + D: SUS plus 1 h/d -G(x) to simulate intermittent artificial gravity (IAG)] and control (CON) groups. Three mechanical parameters were calculated: the overall stiffness (β), circumferential stress (σ(θ))-strain (ε(θ)) relationship and pressure-dependent incremental elastic modulus (E(inc,p)). Vessel wall collagen and elastin percentage were quantified by electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that the active mechanical behavior of MSAs differs noticeably among the three groups: the active stress-strain curve of SUS vessels is very close to the passive curve, whereas the active σ(θ)-ε(θ) curves of CON and S + D vessels are shifted leftward and display a parabolic shape, indicating that for MSAs isolated from S + D, but not those from SUS rats, the pressure-induced myogenic constriction can effectively stiffen the vessel wall as the CON vessels. The passive mechanical behavior of MSAs does not show significant differences among the three groups. However, the percentage of collagen is decreased in the wall of SUS and S + D compared with CON vessels in the following order: SUS < S + D < CON. Thus, the relationship between passive mechanical behavior and compositional changes may be complex and yet depends on factors other than the quantity of collagen and elastin. These findings have provided biomechanical data for the understanding of the mechanism of postflight orthostatic intolerance and its gravity-based countermeasure.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Elasticity ; Hindlimb Suspension ; physiology ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Mechanical ; Vasoconstriction ; physiology ; Weightlessness Simulation

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect of chitosan-coated basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) slow-releasing microspheres on the knee osteoarthritis in the rabbit.

METHODSFrom November 2008 to July 2009, 54 New Zealand rabbits were divided into 6 groups at random, which were the control group, the model group, the PBS-M group, the bFGF-S group, the 10-bFGF-M group and the 100-bFGF-M group, respectively. The model of knee osteoarthritis was induced by the injection of papain in the rabbit. Except the control and model groups, all the experimental groups were implanted 1 ml intervention solution at the third and sixth weeks, including the PBS microspheres, bFGF solution, 10 µg bFGF microspheres and 100 µg bFGF microspheres, respectively. The rabbits were sacrificed at the ninth week after operation, and then articular cartilage was conducted the morphological and histopathological evaluation.

RESULTSThe damage of articular cartilage in the model group was more serious than that in the control group, with statistical differences according to the Ink score (t = 8.22, P = 0.00) and Mankin score (t = 17.20, P = 0.00). The damage of articular cartilage in the PBS-M and bFGF-S groups were similar with that in the model group, according to the Ink score (t = 0.26, P = 0.79; t = 0.80, P = 0.45) and Mankin score (t = 1.51, P = 0.17; t = 0.56, P = 0.60). The Ink and Mankin scores in the 10-bFGF-M and 100-bFGF-M groups were better than that in the model group (Ink score: t = 3.58, P = 0.01; t = 6.82, P = 0.00; Mankin score: t = 3.41, P = 0.01; t = 5.00, P = 0.00), with the 100-bFGF-M group much better (t = 5.29, P = 0.00; t = 2.80, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONSThe bFGF slow-releasing microsphere can keep its effective intra-articular concentration, which may accelerate the synthesis of proteoglycan and inhibit its decomposition to reverse the damage of articular cartilage.

Animals ; Drug Carriers ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Microspheres ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy ; Rabbits

To explore the effects of extract of selenium-enriched Astragalus membranaceus(ESAM)on insulin resistance(IR)in streptozotocin(STZ)diabetic rats. In this study, type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)was established; ESAM and pioglitazone were used to intervene T2DM model rats; the general condition of rats in each group was observed, and body weight and fasting blood glucose(FBG)were recorded before modeling and after modeling. At the end of the fourth week, the blood and liver tissues of each group were collected. The total cholesterol(CHOL), triglyceride(TG), high-density lipoprotein(HDL), low-density lipoprotein(LDL)in blood were detected by biochemical detector; ELISA was used to detected content changes of blood fasting insulin(FINS), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), C-reactive protein(CRP), interleukin-1β(IL-1β); Western blotting was used for the detection of insulin receptor substrate protein 1(IRS1), phosphorylated IRS1(p-IRS1), nuclear factor κB inhibitor kinase β(IKKβ), phosphorylated IKKβ(p-IKKβ), c -Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK), phosphorylated JNK(p-JNK)protein changes. Results showed that compared with the blank group, the body weight of the model group was significantly decreased. FBG, CHOL, TG, LDL, TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, IL-1β in the blood and p-IRS1, p-IKKβ, p-JNK in the liver was increased significantly; after intervention, pioglitazone, ESAM can reverse the body weight of the model rats and the changes of the above cytokines and proteins. In conclusion, ESAM can reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines in T2DM rats, inhibit the increase of free fatty acids(FFA), decrease the activation of IKKβ and JNK phosphorylation in surrounding tissues, activate insulin pathway and improve the IR effect of T2DM.