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

By the in-depth excavation of prescriptions containing herbal pair Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma-Polygalae Radix in the Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescriptions, this study analyzed their formulation rules, so as to provide reference for their clinical application and new drug development. First, the prescriptions containing Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma-Polygalae Radix were collected from the Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescriptions, and their indications, herbal compatibility, and dosage forms were analyzed statistically using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System(TCMISS). Meanwhile, the formulation rules and common dosage forms for the top four indications(amnesia, palpitation, mania, and epilepsy) sorted by frequency were analyzed with Apriori algorithm. A total of 507 prescriptions containing Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma-Polygalae Radix were screened out, involving 15 indications(frequency>10) like amnesia, palpitation, mania, and epilepsy. There were 30 commonly used Chinese herbs(frequency≥60), with the Qi-tonifying herbs(Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome), mind-tranquilizing herbs(Poria and Poria cum Radix Pini), and Yin-nourishing herbs(Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Ophiopogonis Radix) being the core ones. The commonly used dosage forms were honey pill, paste pill, decoction, and powder. These have indicated that the herbal pair Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma-Polygalae Radix is often combined with Qi-tonifying, Yin-nourishing, and mind-tranquilizing herbs for the treatment of "heart or brain diseases" caused by phlegm production due to spleen deficiency, Qi and blood deficiency, and phlegm-turbidity blocking orifice. In the treatment of amnesia, supplementing essence and replenishing marrow are considered on the basis of tonifying Qi, nourishing Yin, and tranquilizing mind. In the treatment of palpitation and mania, tranquilizing mind is emphasized. In the treatment of epilepsy, the emphasis is placed on resolving phlegm, extinguishing wind, and stopping convulsion.
Data Mining ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Roots ; Prescriptions ; Rhizome

OBJECTIVES: To explore the optimal maintenance dose of caffeine citrate for preterm infants requiring assisted ventilation and caffeine citrate treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 566 preterm infants (gestational age ≤34 weeks) who were treated and required assisted ventilation and caffeine citrate treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit of 30 tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province of China between January 1 and December 31, 2019. The 405 preterm infants receiving high-dose (10 mg/kg per day) caffeine citrate after a loading dose of 20 mg/kg within 24 hours after birth were enrolled as the high-dose group. The 161 preterm infants receiving low-dose (5 mg/kg per day) caffeine citrate were enrolled as the low-dose group. RESULTS: Compared with the low-dose group, the high-dose group had significant reductions in the need for high-concentration oxygen during assisted ventilation (P=0.044), the duration of oxygen inhalation after weaning from noninvasive ventilation (P<0.01), total oxygen inhalation time during hospitalization (P<0.01), the proportion of preterm infants requiring noninvasive ventilation again (P<0.01), the rate of use of pulmonary surfactant and budesonide (P<0.05), and the incidence rates of apnea and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.01), but the high-dose group had a significantly increased incidence rate of feeding intolerance (P=0.032). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the body weight change, the incidence rates of retinopathy of prematurity, intraventricular hemorrhage or necrotizing enterocolitis, the mortality rate, and the duration of caffeine use (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS This pilot multicenter study shows that the high maintenance dose (10 mg/kg per day) is generally beneficial to preterm infants in China and does not increase the incidence rate of common adverse reactions. For the risk of feeding intolerance, further research is needed to eliminate the interference of confounding factors as far as possible.
Caffeine/therapeutic use* ; Citrates ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and outcome of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in southwest Hubei, China. METHODS: According to the Montreux definition of neonatal ARDS, a retrospective clinical epidemiological investigation was performed on the medical data of neonates with ARDS who were admitted to Department of Neonatology/Pediatrics in 17 level 2 or level 3 hospitals in southwest Hubei from January to December, 2017. RESULTS: A total of 7 150 neonates were admitted to the 17 hospitals in southwest Hubei during 2017 and 66 (0.92%) were diagnosed with ARDS. Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 23 (35%) had mild ARDS, 28 (42%) had moderate ARDS, and 15 (23%) had severe ARDS. The main primary diseases for neonatal ARDS were perinatal asphyxia in 23 neonates (35%), pneumonia in 18 neonates (27%), sepsis in 12 neonates (18%), and meconium aspiration syndrome in 10 neonates (15%). Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 10 neonates (15%) were born to the mothers with an age of ≥35 years, 30 neonates (45%) suffered from intrauterine distress, 32 neonates (49%) had a 1-minute Apgar score of 0 to 7 points, 24 neonates (36%) had abnormal fetal heart monitoring results, and 21 neonates (32%) experienced meconium staining of amniotic fluid. Intraventricular hemorrhage was the most common comorbidity (12 neonates), followed by neonatal shock (9 neonates) and patent ductus arteriosus (8 neonates). All 66 neonates with ARDS were treated with mechanical ventilation in addition to the treatment for primary diseases. Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 10 died, with a mortality rate of 15% (10/66), and 56 neonates were improved or cured, with a survival rate of 85% (56/66). CONCLUSIONS Neonatal ARDS in southwest Hubei is mostly mild or moderate. Perinatal asphyxia and infection may be the main causes of neonatal ARDS in this area. Intraventricular hemorrhage is the most common comorbidity. Neonates with ARDS tend to have a high survival rate after multimodality treatment.
China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of preoperative three-dimensional image reconstruction in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). METHODS: We reviewed data on 40 patients (22 male cases, and 18 female cases) diagnosed with UPJO in Peking University First Hospital from May 2017 to April 2019. The median age was 26.5 years (IQR 23.25-38.75) years. There were 11 patients complicated with ectopic vessels, 14 patients with kidney stones, 3 patients with horseshoe kidney, and 6 patients with obstruction after pyeloplasty. All the patients underwent preoperative enhanced CT scan, and the CT data were reconstructed into three-dimensional image models. The obstruction position of ureteropelvic junction and the relationship between ureteropelvic junction and blood vessels and organs were observed by three-dimensional models to assist planning surgery. Thirty-seven patients underwent laparoscopic pyeloplasty (including 3 cases combined with pyelolithotomy with flexible cystoscope, 1 case combined with pyelolithotomy by sun-style cystoscope, 1 case with laparoscopic ureter resection and anastomosis, 3 cases of laparoscopic pyeloplasty of horseshoe kidney), 2 patients underwent laparoscopic ventral onlay lingual mucosal graft ureteroplasty, and 1 patient underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty. RESULTS: Three-dimensional CT image clearly showed the relationship between the obstruction of ureteropelvic junction and blood vessels and organs after three-dimensional reconstruction. The type, diameter, position and direction of the ectopic vessels could be observed clearly before operation according to the three-dimensional reconstruction model, and the number, size, location and shape of renal calculi or other masses, the number of involved renal calyces and the anatomical distribution in the renal pelvis and calyces could be also evaluated preoperatively. After comprehensive analysis of the above information, individualized operation plans were performed on the patients, all the 40 cases were successfully completed with the surgery without any transfer to open surgery. The average operative time was (129.91±37.90) min (range: 75 to 273), the average blood loss was (48.1±78.0) mL (range: 10 to 400), the average hospitality was (5.04±1.99) d (range: 2 to 10), and the average postoperative drainage time was (3.8±1.4) d (range: 2 to 8). CONCLUSION The preoperative three-dimensional image reconstruction has a high clinical value in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, and it is of great help to assist surgery planning and is worthy of further clinical promotion and application.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Kidney Pelvis ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureteral Obstruction/diagnostic imaging* ; Urologic Surgical Procedures ; Young Adult

Objective: To explore the impact of the natural killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor/human leukocyte antigen (KIR/HLA) receptor-ligand model in single unrelated cord blood transplantation (sUCBT) . Methods: Between July 2012 and June 2018, 270 patients with malignant hematologic diseases receiving single-unit UCBT were divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=174) patients lacked a C-ligand for inhibitory KIR on UCB NK cells (patients homozygous C1/C1 or C2/C2) . Group 2 (n=96) patients expressed both C ligands for inhibitory KIR in the receptor (patients heterozygous C1/C2) . Results: A total of 270 patients (146 males, 124 females) with a median age of 13 years (1-62) were included in this retrospective study. All patients received a myeloablative conditioning regimen (without ATG) . The ratio of neutrophil engraftment for group 1 and 2 were both 98.9%, the median time of neutrophil engraftment for group 1 and 2 was 16 (10-41) days vs 17 (11-33) days (P=0.705) . The ratio of platelet engraftment was 88.5% for group 1 and 87.5% for group 2, the median time of platelet engraftment was 35 (11-113) days vs 38.5 (13-96) days (P=0.317) . The cumulative incidence of Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD in 100 days was 38.7% (95%CI 31.4%-45.9%) for group 1 and 50.0% (95%CI 39.6%-59.6%) for group 2 (P=0.075) , but multivariate analysis showed that HLA-C ligand absence was an independent protective factor for Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD after transplantation (P=0.036) . Patients in absence of a C-ligand for inhibitory KIRs (Group 1) showed a lower relapse rate than patients with both C-ligands (group 2) : 17.7% (95%CI 11.7%-24.9%) vs 22.7% (95%CI 4.4%-32.2%) after 3 years (P=0.288) . The median follow-up time was 742 (335-2 512) days. The 3-year OS was 72.1% for group 1 and 60.5% for group 2 (P=0.079) . There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in 3-year disease-free survival [64.9% (95%CI 56.2%-72.3%) vs 55.4% (95%CI 44.4%-65.0%) (χ(2)=3.027, P=0.082) ]. Non-relapse mortality for group 1 was 12.1% (95%CI 7.7%-17.4%) and for group 2 was 16.7% (95%CI 10.0%-24.8%) (P=0.328) . Conclusion: Patients lacking a KIR-ligand of HLA group C1 or C2 had a lower incidence of grades Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD after sUCBT.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; HLA Antigens ; Hematologic Neoplasms/therapy* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Receptors, KIR ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

To determine the plasma protein binding rate of the nine compounds in Inula cappa extraction by the method of equilibrium dialysis. The proteins in plasma samples were precipitated by methanol, and the ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) was developed for determination of the concentrations of the nine active compounds, namely chlorogenic acid, scopolin, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, 1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, galuteolin, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, with the internal standard of puerarin. We found that all components have a good linearity(r≥0.999), and accuracy, precision, extraction recovery and stability conformed to the requirements of determination, without endogenous compounds disturbing within the range of optimum concentration. This suggested that the method was stable and reliable, and could be used for the determination of the plasma protein binding rates of the nine active compounds in rat and human plasma of I. cappa. The plasma protein binding rates of the nine active compounds in rat and human plasma respectively were(41.07±0.046)%-(94.95±0.008)%, and(37.66±0.043)%-(97.46±0.013)%. According to the results, there were differences in the plasma protein binding rates of the nine compounds in I. cappa extraction between rat and human.
Animals ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Humans ; Inula ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Rats ; Reproducibility of Results ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical outcomes of engraftment, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and survival in the patients with AML1-ETO positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treated with unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). METHODS: Forty-Five patients with high-risk refractory AML1-ETO positive AML were treated with a single UCBT in a single center from July 2010 to April 2018. All the patients underwent a myeloablative preconditioning regimen，and cyclosporine A (CSA) combined with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was used to prevent GVHD. RESULTS: The median value of total nucleated cells (TNC) in cord blood was 5.21 (1.96-12.68)×10/kg recipient body weight, and that of CD34+ cells was 5.61 (0.56-15.4)×10/kg recipient weight. The implantation rate of neutrophil at 42 d and that of platelet at 120 d were 95.6% and 86.7%, respectively. The median time of absolute neutrophil count (ANC)＞0.5×10/L and platelet 20×10/L were 16 (12-18) d and 37 (17-140) d after transplantation, respectively. The cumulative incidence of Ⅰ -Ⅳ grade acute GVHD (aGVHD) at 100 d after transplantation was 48.9% (95% CI 33.5%-62.6%), Ⅱ-Ⅳ grade aGVHD occurred in 12 cases (33.3%) (95% CI 20%-47.2%) , and Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade a GVHD in 8 cases (20%) (95% CI 9.8% -32.8%). In 5 cases of 40 patients survived over 100 days, the chronic GVHD (cGVHD) occurred after transplantation, among which 4 were localized, and 1 was extensive. 3 patients relapsed, and the 2-year cumulative relapse rate was 9.5% (95% CI 2.4%-22.8%). The median follow-up time was 23.5 (0.9-89.67) months, 10 patients died, 2-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) was 72.7%, and overall survival rate (OS) was 75.5%. Multivariate analysis showed that Ⅲ-Ⅳ. acute GVHD (aGVHD) affected overall survival. CONCLUSION UCBT is an effective rescue treatment for patients with high-risk refractory AML1-ETO positive AML.
Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Mycophenolic Acid ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Transplantation Conditioning

Background:Clinical outcomes of undifferentiated arthritis (UA) are diverse,and only 40 ％ of patients with UA develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after 3 years.Discovering predictive markers at disease onset for further intervention is critical.Therefore,our objective was to analyze the clinical outcomes of UA and ascertain the predictors for RA development.Methods:We performed a prospective,multi-center study from January 2013 to October 2016 among Chinese patients diagnosed with UA in 22 tertiary-care hospitals.Clinical and serological parameters were obtained at recruitment.Follow-up was undertaken in all patients every 12 weeks for 2 years.Predictive factors of disease progression were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression.Results:A total of 234 patients were recruited in this study,and 17 (7.3％) patients failed to follow up during the study.Among the 217 patients who completed the study,83 (38.2％) patients went into remission.UA patients who developed RA had a higher rheumatoid factor (RF)-positivity (42.9％ vs.16.8％,x2=8.228,P=0.008),anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodypositivity (66.7％ vs.10.7％,x2 =43.897,P ＜ 0.001),and double-positivity rate of RF and anti-CCP antibody (38.1％ vs.4.1％,x2 =32.131,P ＜ 0.001) than those who did not.Anti-CCP antibody but not RF was an independent predictor for RA development (hazard ratio 18.017,95％ confidence interval:5.803-55.938;P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion:As an independent predictor of RA,anti-CCP antibody should be tested at disease onset in all patients with UA.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to explore the effect of corticosteroids on atrial fibrillation (AF) following catheter ablation. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for published articles describing the effect of corticosteroids in preventing AF recurrence after catheter ablation. Data on study and patient were extracted. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by use of a random-effect model, and P values of <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies involving 846 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Within one month of catheter ablation, corticosteroid use was associated with a declined risk of recurrence of AF in RCT (RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.85, P=0.005), but without significant effect in cohort studies (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.30, P=0.94). After three months of catheter ablation, corticosteroids did not have a significant effect in the prevention of late recurrence of AF in either RCT (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.38 to 1.59, P=0.49) or cohort studies (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.31, P=0.78). CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis suggested that periprocedural administration of corticosteroids of catheter ablation was associated with reduction of early but not late recurrence of AF.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use* ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation/drug therapy* ; Catheter Ablation/adverse effects* ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome