The rapid emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants that evade immunity elicited by vaccination has posed a global challenge to the control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Therefore, developing countermeasures that broadly protect against SARS-CoV-2 and related sarbecoviruses is essential. Herein, we have developed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA (mRNA-LNP) encoding the full-length Spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 (termed RG001), which confers complete protection in a non-human primate model. Intramuscular immunization of two doses of RG001 in Rhesus monkey elicited robust neutralizing antibodies and cellular response against SARS-CoV-2 variants, resulting in significantly protected SARS-CoV-2-infected animals from acute lung lesions and complete inhibition of viral replication in all animals immunized with low or high doses of RG001. More importantly, the third dose of RG001 vaccination elicited effective neutralizing antibodies against current epidemic XBB and JN.1 strains and similar cellular response against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants (BA.1, XBB.1.16, and JN.1) were observed in immunized mice. All these results together strongly support the great potential of RG001 in preventing the infection of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs).

Objective:To explore the clinical value of single-hole laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure operation using a Kirschner wire assisted double-hook water-injection hernia needle in treating complicated pediatric oblique inguinal hernia.Methods:The clinical data of 366 children with oblique inguinal hernia treated in the Department of Urology Surgery, Children′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from December 2020 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the surgical methods, the children were divided into the ordinary crochet needle group and the Kirschner wire assisted group.Children treated by a single-port laparoscopic double hook water-injection hernia crochet needle (309 cases) were classified into the ordinary crochet needle group.Children treated by a single-port laparoscopic Kirschner wire assisted double hook water-injection hernia crochet needle (57 cases) were included in the Kirschner wire assisted group.The independent sample t-test and rank sum test was used to compare the relevant clinical indicators between the two groups. Results:Compared with the ordinary crochet needle group, children in the Kirschner wire assisted group were younger at surgery[(2.87±1.88) years vs.(4.91±2.39) years] and had larger hernia sacs [17 303.89(8 622.49, 37 295.42) mm 3vs.9 650.97(3 849.24, 17 539.51) mm 3]. The differences in the age at surgery and hernia sac volume were statistically significant ( t=-5.407, Z=-4.218; all P<0.001). There was no significant difference in body mass index between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Taking hernias with sac volume >10 000 mm 3 as huge hernias, there were 70.18%(40/57 cases) and 47.25%(146/309 cases) of huge hernias in the Kirschner wire assisted group and the ordinary crochet needle group, respectively.The overall operation time of the Kirschner wire assisted group was significantly longer than that of the ordinary crochet needle group[(20(15, 20) min vs.15(15, 20) min] ( Z=-2.842, P<0.05). However, the operation time for huge oblique hernias with sac volume >10 000 mm 3 was not statistically significant between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). No recurrence in both groups was found during 6-16 months of follow-up. Conclusions:For complicated oblique inguinal hernia in children with a huge hernia or obvious retroperitoneal folds at the internal ring and heavy scar adhesion between the hernia sac and abdominal wall, the insertion of a Kirschner wire can help the hernia crochet needle to traverse the vas de-ferens and spermatic cord vessels smoothly.As a single port laparoscopic operation, the Kirschner wire assisted hernia crochet needle requires no addition of trocar holes and leaves only a small surgical scar.With good feasibility and safety, it is applicable for clinical popularization.