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

Acetates ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Diving ; adverse effects ; Ear Canal ; injuries ; Nitrogen ; Oxygen ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rabbits

Diving ; Humans ; Otitis Externa ; prevention & control

Objective To investigate the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression of cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B),and the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway in the expression of COX-2 induced by LPS.Methods Human BEAS2B cells were treated for 2 hours with different concentrations of LPS (0,0.1,1,10,100 mg/L),and the expression levels of COX-2 were monitored with RT-PCR and dose-effect experiment was performed accordingly.Human BEAS-2B cells were treated with 10 mg/L LPS for 0,2,6,12 and 24 hours,and the expression levels of COX-2 were monitored with RT-PCR and dose-effect experiment was also performed.BEAS-2B cells were pretreated with 20 μmol/L SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) for 1 hour,and then exposed to 10 mg/L LPS for 2 hours.Effect of SB203580 on the expression of COX-2 was detected with RT-PCR.Results COX-2 expression tended to increase,when different concentrations of LPS treated BEAS-2B cells for 2 hours,with the expression level being obviously dose-dependent.After BEAS-2B cells were treated for 2 hours with 10 mg/L LPS,COX-2 expression reached peak,then decreased,and finally came to the basal level at 24 h.And no statistical significance could be noted,when it was compared with that of the control group (P ＜ O.05).p38 MAPK inhibitor,SB203580,could partially inhibit COX-2 expression induced by LPS in BEAS-2B cells.Conclusions LPS could induce the COX-2 expression in BEAS-2B cells in a dose-dependent manner,and the COX-2 expression reaches the peak at 2 h.p38 MAPK is involved in the COX-2 expression induced by LPS in BEAS-2B cells.

Objective To investigate the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression of cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B),and the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway in the expression of COX-2 induced by LPS.Methods Human BEAS2B cells were treated for 2 hours with different concentrations of LPS (0,0.1,1,10,100 mg/L),and the expression levels of COX-2 were monitored with RT-PCR and dose-effect experiment was performed accordingly.Human BEAS-2B cells were treated with 10 mg/L LPS for 0,2,6,12 and 24 hours,and the expression levels of COX-2 were monitored with RT-PCR and dose-effect experiment was also performed.BEAS-2B cells were pretreated with 20 μmol/L SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) for 1 hour,and then exposed to 10 mg/L LPS for 2 hours.Effect of SB203580 on the expression of COX-2 was detected with RT-PCR.Results COX-2 expression tended to increase,when different concentrations of LPS treated BEAS-2B cells for 2 hours,with the expression level being obviously dose-dependent.After BEAS-2B cells were treated for 2 hours with 10 mg/L LPS,COX-2 expression reached peak,then decreased,and finally came to the basal level at 24 h.And no statistical significance could be noted,when it was compared with that of the control group (P ＜ O.05).p38 MAPK inhibitor,SB203580,could partially inhibit COX-2 expression induced by LPS in BEAS-2B cells.Conclusions LPS could induce the COX-2 expression in BEAS-2B cells in a dose-dependent manner,and the COX-2 expression reaches the peak at 2 h.p38 MAPK is involved in the COX-2 expression induced by LPS in BEAS-2B cells.

Objective To monitor and evaluate the airborne microbial pollution in the confined environment of the 480 m saturation diving chamber and to provide evidences for a reliable evaluation of the health hazard caused by microbes in the chamber environment,as well as for the development of scientific intervention measures.Methods The level of microbes in the environment was measured with the natural sedimentation method,the growing features of indicator microbes were screened with selected medium,types of isolated strains were identified with the VITKE2 system,and airbome microbial contents in the chamber were evaluated with the General National Indoor Microbe Pollution Evaluation Standards.The effect of the environment on the related biological features of the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,the dominant pathogen in the chamber was monitored by means of the growing curve and motor ability.Results As measured in the experiment,the level of airborne microbes in the saturation diving chamber was 3.9 - 8.4 times higher than that of the national evaluation standards.Microbial types were dominantly human origin pathogens.The growth and motor ability of the prevailing Pseudomonas aeruginosa were enhanced,when compared to the control groups.Conclusions Microbial pollution in the 480 m saturation diving chamber was serious,heliox saturation could induce or enhance the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and pathogenic microbes were a potential health hazard to divers in the hyperbaric environment.

Objective To monitor and evaluate the airborne microbial pollution in the confined environment of the 480 m saturation diving chamber and to provide evidences for a reliable evaluation of the health hazard caused by microbes in the chamber environment,as well as for the development of scientific intervention measures.Methods The level of microbes in the environment was measured with the natural sedimentation method,the growing features of indicator microbes were screened with selected medium,types of isolated strains were identified with the VITKE2 system,and airbome microbial contents in the chamber were evaluated with the General National Indoor Microbe Pollution Evaluation Standards.The effect of the environment on the related biological features of the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,the dominant pathogen in the chamber was monitored by means of the growing curve and motor ability.Results As measured in the experiment,the level of airborne microbes in the saturation diving chamber was 3.9 - 8.4 times higher than that of the national evaluation standards.Microbial types were dominantly human origin pathogens.The growth and motor ability of the prevailing Pseudomonas aeruginosa were enhanced,when compared to the control groups.Conclusions Microbial pollution in the 480 m saturation diving chamber was serious,heliox saturation could induce or enhance the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and pathogenic microbes were a potential health hazard to divers in the hyperbaric environment.

OBJECTIVETo study the safety, biodistribution, and dosimetry of myocardial perfusion imaging agent 99Tc(m)N-NOET in 10 healthy volunteers.

METHODS744-792 MBq of 99Tc(m)N-NOET was injected to each volunteer. Safety parameters and adverse event was measured in 24 hours of injection. Biodistribution was studied by whole-body imaging 1, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after the injection of 99Tc(m)N-NOET. The estimation of dosimetry was based on the standard medical internal radiation dose method using MIRDOSE 3.0 analysis program. Myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging was performed at 1 and 4 hours after injection.

RESULTSNo undesirable effects were reported by the subject during 24 hours after injection of 99Tc(m)N-NOET. No clinically significant changes were found in vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram). No biochemical aspects and serology changes were measured. The myocardial SPECT imaging was clear. Cardiac uptake of 99Tc(m)N-NOET was as high as 2.68% at 2 hours after injection. The heart to lung ratio was more than 1 from 30 minutes after injection, reaching a maximum of 1.91 +/- 0.53 at 2 hours after injection. Radiation dosimetry calculations indicated an effective absorbed dose of 1.28 x 10(-5) Sv/MBq. The dosimetry in each main organ is lower then 50 mGy given 740 MBq of 99Tc(m)N-NOET in once imaging.

CONCLUSIONS99Tc(m)N-NOET exhibits high cardiac uptake and low estimated effective absorbed dose. It's a safe myocardial perfusion imaging agent.

Heart ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; Thiocarbamates ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; Tissue Distribution ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon