Objective:To investigate the relationship between different types of tea intake and COVID-19 infection.Methods:Data were retrieved from a genome-wide association study(GWAS),involving 447 485,and 64 949 people for single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs).Two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis was used to investigate the relationship of different types of tea intake with four subgroups of COVID-19 infected population,including COVID-19 infected population versus general population,COVID-19 hospitalized population versus general population,COVID-19 hospitalized population versus non-hospitalized population,and very severe respiratory confirmed population versus general population.Inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method was used as the main method of causal analysis.MR Egger intercept was used for pleiotropy test,and Cochran's Q-statistic was used for heterogeneity test.Results:Compared to the general population,tea intake decreased the incidence of COVID-19 in the infection population(IVW method,OR=0.806,95%CI:0.651-0.999),and the hospitalized population(IVW method,OR=0.533,95%CI:0.369-0.770).Additionally,the underlying pleiotropy was not found following the MR-Egger regression intercept(MR intercept=-0.002,P=0.667),and the Cochran's Q-statistic showed no heterogeneity(Q-statistic=52.712,P=0.057).Compared to the general population,the underlying pleiotropy in the hospitalized patients was not found by MR-Egger regression intercept(MR intercept=-0.001,P=0.909),and the Cochran's Q-statistic showed no heterogeneity(Q-statistic=25.214,P=0.945).However,green tea and herbal tea had no effect on COVID-19 infection.Conclusions:Overall tea intake reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection in the general population compared to COVID-19 infected and hospitalized populations,while green tea and herbal tea have no protective effect against COVID-19 infection.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between different types of tea intake and COVID-19 infection.Methods:Data were retrieved from a genome-wide association study(GWAS),involving 447 485,and 64 949 people for single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs).Two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis was used to investigate the relationship of different types of tea intake with four subgroups of COVID-19 infected population,including COVID-19 infected population versus general population,COVID-19 hospitalized population versus general population,COVID-19 hospitalized population versus non-hospitalized population,and very severe respiratory confirmed population versus general population.Inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method was used as the main method of causal analysis.MR Egger intercept was used for pleiotropy test,and Cochran's Q-statistic was used for heterogeneity test.Results:Compared to the general population,tea intake decreased the incidence of COVID-19 in the infection population(IVW method,OR=0.806,95%CI:0.651-0.999),and the hospitalized population(IVW method,OR=0.533,95%CI:0.369-0.770).Additionally,the underlying pleiotropy was not found following the MR-Egger regression intercept(MR intercept=-0.002,P=0.667),and the Cochran's Q-statistic showed no heterogeneity(Q-statistic=52.712,P=0.057).Compared to the general population,the underlying pleiotropy in the hospitalized patients was not found by MR-Egger regression intercept(MR intercept=-0.001,P=0.909),and the Cochran's Q-statistic showed no heterogeneity(Q-statistic=25.214,P=0.945).However,green tea and herbal tea had no effect on COVID-19 infection.Conclusions:Overall tea intake reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection in the general population compared to COVID-19 infected and hospitalized populations,while green tea and herbal tea have no protective effect against COVID-19 infection.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of the Mulligan technique in treating cervical vertigo (CV) in a hyperbaric oxygen (HPO) environment. Methods: Sixty-eight CV patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, each of 34. Both groups were given routine treatment with ultrashortwave irradiation, but the observation group was additionally provided with 15 minutes of treatment based on the Mulligan technique in an environment with oxygen at 0.2 MPa, five days a week for two weeks. Both groups were assessed using the cervical vertigo symptoms and functional assessment scale (ESCV) and the daily frequency of vertigo was recorded before the treatment and 2, 4, 7, 14 and 60 days after treatment began. Moreover, the mean blood flow velocity in the patients′ vertebral (VA) and basilar arteries (BA) was detected using transcranial Doppler sonography before the treatment and after two weeks and two months. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measurements before the intervention. Afterward, however, significant improvement in all of the measurements was observed compared with before the treatment. After two weeks and two months the average ESCV score, daily occurrence of CV and mean VA and BA blood flows in the observation group were all significantly superior to those of the control group at the same time points. Conclusion Treatment based on the Mulligan technique in an environment with 0.2 MPa partial pressure of oxygen is a more effective way to relieve the symptoms of cervical vertigo and reduce the frequency of its occurrence. Such treatment is worthy of application in the clinic.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients with different clinical manifestations and to analyze the function of miR-197. METHODS: PBMC miRNA expression profiles in 51 healthy controls, 70 chronic asymptomatic carriers, 107 chronic hepatitis B patients, and 76 HBV-related acute on chronic liver failure patients were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). miR-197 mimic and inhibitor were transfected in THP-1 cells. qRT-PCR and ELISA for interleukin (IL)-18 mRNA and protein levels were performed, respectively. RESULTS: The microarray analysis revealed that 17 PBMC miRNA expression profiles (12 miRNAs downregulated and five miRNAs upregulated) differed significantly in HBV-induced liver disease patients presenting with various symptoms. The qRT-PCR results suggested that the PBMC miR-197 levels regularly decreased as the severity of liver disease symptoms became aggravated. IL-18, a key regulator in inflammation and immunity, was inversely correlated with miR-197 levels. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that IL-18 was a target of miR-197. Exogenous expression of miR-197 could significantly repress IL-18 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in THP-1 cells. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that multiple PBMC miRNAs had differential expression profiles during HBV infection and that miR-197 may play an important role in the reactivation of liver inflammation by targeting IL-18.
End Stage Liver Disease ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-18 ; Interleukins ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Failure ; Microarray Analysis ; MicroRNAs ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger

To investigate whether there is mutation in DC-SIGN promoter region in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and healthy persons previously infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and to explore the relationship between the mutation in dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhension molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) promoter region and HBV.Methods The studied population was composed of two cohorts:47 CHB patients and 20 healthy persons previously infected with HBV.The mutation in DC-SIGN promoter region was detected with PCR,single-stranded conformational polymorphism and heteroduplex analysis,cloning,sequencing and aligning the published DC-SIGN promoter sequence.Results The characteristic mutation within DCSIGN promoter region in HBV infected individuals was observed.In the DC-SIGN promoter region,4 hot spot mutations located in positions - 139,- 142,- 222,and - 336 were observed in the CHB patients,but only 1 spot mutation located in position - 139 was observed in the healthy persons previously infected with HBV.The -336C which was absent in the healthy persons previously infected with HBV was shown in 11 CHB patients (23.40％).The - 139T was far more frequent in the healthy persons previously infected with HBV ( 100％ ) than in the CHB patients (34.04％).Conclusion In the DC-SIGN promoter region,-336C may be a genetic risk factor for developing CHB,but -139T may be associated with protection against HBV.

Objective To investigate clinical features and antifungal therapeutic effect of chronic severe hepatitis (CSH) patients with invasive fungal infection (IFI), and to improve the diagnosis and treatment.Methods Clinical manifestation, blood routine, imageology and mycetology characteristic, antifungal treatment perscription and therapeutic effect of 79 CSH patients with IFI were retrospectively analyzed. Antifungal therapeutic effect was compared between fluconazole and voriconazole. Results Thirteen (16.5%) patients received glucocorticoid or other immunodepressants for a relatively long time, 40 (50.6%) patients had invasive operation, and 61 (77.2 %) patients were administered 1-6 kinds of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Seventy-three patients had fever. Leucocytes and neutrophilic granulocyte increased in 96.2% of the patients. Lung (31.6%), intestinal tract (26.2%) and oral cavity (14%) infections were common. Fungus was found in 70.9% of the patients. Candida albicans (40.9%) and aspergillus (21.1%) were often seen. Halo signs and crescent signs on lung CT were relatively specific in 40% of the patients with fungal pneumonia. Voriconazole was more effective than fluconazole(71.4% vs. 39.0%, P<0.05). Twelve patients with lung aspergillus infection were administered voriconazole, 8 (66.7%) patients of whom was effective, and the other 4 (33.3%) patients died. Conclusion There are high risk factors in major CSH patients with IFI. The most common clinical manifestations of CSH patients with IFI are fever, leukocytosis, lung and intestinal tract infection. Candida albicans and aspergillus infection are common. Voriconazole is more effective than fluconazole, and can increase the survival rate of CSH patients with IFI.

【Objective】To evaluate the treatment effect of maxillary protraction on skeletal class Ⅲ high angle cases in mixed dentition.【Methods】Nine patients were treated with combined posterior occlusal acrylic and maxillary protraction.The cephalometric radiographs were analyzed before and after the treatment.【Results】The maxilla and maxillary dentitions moved forward.Overjet increased by 4.18mm (P<0.001).The anterior and posterior total face height increased.The maxilla and mandible showed no significant rotation.Profiles were improved to some extent.【Conclusion】A combined posterior occlusal acrylic and maxillary protraction can correct the sagittal maxillo-madibular interrelationships,with no unfavourable influence on facial vertical dimension.But the treatment does not change the vertical skeletal pattern.

Objective To investigate gene variation and the relationship between gene variation and pathogenicity of transfusion transmitted virus(TTV).Methods The TTV DNA in the serum sample from a blood donor(BD) and a chronic non-A-G severe hepatitis(CSH) patient with TTV infection was amplified by using PCR.The purified PCR product was cloned and 10 clones from each case were sequenced.The sequences were compared among different clones and analyzed by Phylogentic tree.Results There were two different TTV strains in the BD and seven different TTV strains in the chronic non-A-G severe hepatitis patient.The TTV clones in the BD were of G1a subtype and those of the CSH were of G1a and G1b subtype.Conclusion Gene variant of TTV was much more complicated in the CSH patients than that in the BD ones.