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

Objectives: To analyze the incidence, blood lipid levels and cardiovascular disease of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in dyslipidemia patients receiving lipid-lowing therapy from the DYSIS-China. Methods: Dyslipidemia International Study-China (DYSIS-China) database was re-analyzed according to the criteria of "Chinese guidelines for prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia in adults-2016 version". DYSIS-China database included 25 317 dyslipidemia out-patients who received at least one lipid-lowering drug for at least three months. All the patients were divided into three groups: unlikely HF, possible FH and definite FH according to the Dutch Lipid Clinic Network diagnostic criteria. Age, gender, lipids levels, drug use and complications were compared among the three groups. Factors were compared between Possible FH group and definite FH group in terms of age stratification. Results: A total of 23 973 patients with dyslipidemia were included. The average age was (64.8±9.9) years, 11 757 patients were females (49.0%). The proportion of unlikely FH in the total population was 20 561 (85.7%), possible FH was 3294 (13.7%), and the definite FH was 118(0.5%). Patients in the definite FH group (58.3±8.5 years) was younger than in unlikely HF(65.3±9.8 years) and possible FH(61.8±9.9 years) group. LDL-C ((5.6±1.9) mmol/L) levels were significantly higher in definite FH group than in unlikely HF ((2.5±0.9) mmol/L) and possible FH ((4.3±1.0) mmol/L) group. TC ((7.4±1.8) mmol/L) levels were also significantly higher in definite FH group than in unlikely HF ((4.3±1.0) mmol/L) and possible FH ((6.0±1.0) mmol/L) group. Percent of female sex, sedentary lifestyle and systolic blood pressure value were significantly higher in definite FH group than in other two groups (all P<0.05). Statin use was similar among the 3 groups. Prevalence of ischemic cardiomyopathy (70(59.3%)) was significantly higher in the definite FH group than in unlikely FH group7519 (36.6%) and possible FH group1149 (34.9%). The rate of hypertension (82 (69.5%)) was also significantly higher in the definite FH group than in unlikely FH group (2 063 (62.6%) and in possible FH group (13 928 (67.7%)). The possible FH group had the highest proportion of patients aged 55-64 years (1 146 (34.8%)), and the prevalence of hypertension 358 (76.8%), diabetes 189 (40.6%), ischemic heart disease 186 (39.9%), cerebrovascular disease 149 (32.0%) and heart failure 28 (6.0%) was the highest in patients over 75 years old. The definite FH group had the highest proportion of patients aged 55-64 years (49 (41.52%)), and the prevalence of ischemic heart disease (70 (59.3%)) was the highest in patients aged 45-54 years old group, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of diabetes,hypertension,heart failure,peripheral artery disease and cerebrovascular disease among different age groups. Conclusion: The detection rate of FH in Chinese patients with dyslipidemia is not low, the blood lipid level is poorly controlled, and the risk of cardiovascular disease is high in Chinses FH patients.
Adult ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dyslipidemias/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II/epidemiology* ; Lipids ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Bat is nature reservoir hosts of some important viruses.It has been confirmed that bats were infected by many viruses in nature in Yunnan Province,China during 2010-2015,such as SARS-like coronavirus and another coronaviruses (Alphacoronavirus and Betacoronavirus) as well as novel reovirus,rotavirus,orthohepadnavirus,filovirus,paramyxovirus,adenovirus,bocavirus and circovirus.This paper presents a review about natural infection of bat with zoonosis-related viral pathogens in Yunnan Province,China,and its public health importance.

We investigated the molecular characteristics of the full-length genome of 5 dengue serotype 4 virus (DENV-4) strains isolated in Yunnan Province,China,2015 and their molecular epidemiological feature.Isolation of dengue virus was using C6/36 cell culture method.Viral RNA was extracted from virus isolates,then the full-length genome was amplified by RT-PCR.The homology and phylogenetic analysis was made on the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences by bioinfor matics softwares including ClastalX1.83 and MEGA6 etc.Results showed that five strains of DENV-4 isolated from dengue fe ver cases in Ruili City of Yunnan Province in 2015,of these,2 strains from indigenous cases,3 from imported cases from Lashio and Nam Can cities of Myanmar to Ruili of China.RT-PCR and sequencing indicated that the full-length genes (10 661 nt) of 5 DENV-4 strains were obtained,and their open reading frame (103-10 264) were coded 3 386 amino acid residues.Phylogenetic tree and homology analysis based on the comeplete genome or structural and non-structural protein genes showed that the 5 DENV 4 isolates were highly homologous and gathered in an evolution as well as they have a closer genetic relationship with the DENV-4 genotype Ⅰ (G-Ⅰ) strains isolated from Thailand.Results indicated that the Yunnan strains belonged to G-Ⅰ.Yunnan strains and Thailand strains compared with DENV 4 prototype strain (H241,Philippines 1956) and Guangzhou strain (B5,1990) of China and showed low homology and evolutionary relationship.When Yunnan strains compared with H241 strain,there were 21 and 45 different sites in amino acid of structural and non-structural proteins,respectively.This is the first time in Yunnan to obtain full-length genomes sequence of DENV-4 and they have closer evolutionary relationship with DENV 4G-Ⅰ strains from Southeast Asia region in recent years.The autochthonous DENV-4 epidemic in Yunnan was detected for the first time,and the virus transmission sources were from neighboring northern Myanmar.It is necessary to further study that change of the amino acid sites of Yunnan strains of DENV-4 is related to its antigenicity and virulence.

Snake antivenomimmunoglobulins are considered to be the most efficient drugs in snake envenomings. Most snake antivenomimmunoglobulins all over the world are still prepared by fragmentation of polyclonal antibodies isolated from hyper-immunized horse serum till now. In this review, we retrospect the history of snake antivenomimmunoglobulins, analysis the present situation and pay the close attention on the key technological links in the process of research and manufacturing, such as properties of IgG and its fragments, selection and preparation of immunogen, optimization of immunization schedule and protein isolation and purification, which can be available for the reference in the research and development of snake antivenom.
Animals ; Antivenins ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; pharmacology ; Snake Bites ; drug therapy ; Snakes

Methods for analyses of protein-protein interactions include: yeast two hybrid (Y2H), phage dis- play (PD), co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), glutathione S-transferase pull-down (GST pull-down), cellular co-localization, far-western blotting, virus overlay protein binding assay (VOPBA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Technologies for the detection of protein-nucleic acid interactions include: yeast one hybrid (Y1H), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), Southwestern blotting, reporter gene, Co-IP, GST pull-down, and PD. These methods are often used in the study of the human enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) by our research team. Reviews in the Chinese literature in this field are lacking, so we reviewed applications of these methods in the study of EV-A71. This review may impart important knowledge in the research of other viruses with regard to protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions.
Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Enterovirus A, Human ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer ; RNA, Viral ; metabolism ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques ; Viral Proteins ; metabolism

Bats are considered as important animal reservoirs for many pathogenic viruses to humans. The viral metagenomic analysis was performed to study gut and lung tissues of 30 insectivorous bats collected in Yunnan Province and 26 reads were noted to group A rotavirus (RVA). Further RT-PCR screening on bat samples and in vitro viral isolation on cell cultures confirmed the presence of a novel RVA, named as RVA/Bat-tc/MYAS33/2013/G3P[10], in one of 30 Stoliczka's trident bats. The VP7 gene of this strain MYAS33 was closely related to that of an equine RVA strain from Argentina and the nucleotide sequence similarity was 93%, while its VP4 gene was a rare P[10] type and obtained the maximum sequence identity (94.8%) with that of a human strain from Thailand. The present study highlights the potential role of bats as reservoirs for RVAs.
Animals ; China ; Chiroptera ; virology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Rotavirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; ultrastructure ; Rotavirus Infections ; veterinary ; virology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the variation in characterizations and genetic evolution of the matrix protein 2 or ion channel protein(M2) genes of avian influenza subtype H5N1 viruses in the boundary region of Yunnan province from 2008 to 2012.

METHODSA total of swab samples were collected from foreign poultry such as the junction between Yunnan and Vietnam, Laos,myanmar and wild birds in boundary region of Yunnan province from 2008 to 2012 and screened by H5N1 subtype-specific multiplex RT-PCR. The M genes of H5N1 virus from the positive samples were amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pMD18-T vectors for sequencing. The alignment and phylogenetic analysis of M2 genes were performed with sequences of the known reference strains.

RESULTSA total of 71 positive samples were found out of 1240 samples and the positive rate was 5.72%. A total of 14 different M2 sequences were obtained from 30 positive samples and were divided into 3 distinct clades or sub-clades(1.2.1, 1.2.2 and 2) by phylogenetic analysis, 5, 7 and 2, respectively. The M2 genes and Hemagglutinin(HA) genes of H5N1 viruses from the boundary region of Yunnan province had showed different relationship of genetic evolution. The substitution or mutation of key amino acids sites had been found among the domains of epitope, adamantane-resistance, and poultry or human original viral strains.

CONCLUSIONThe M2 genes of H5N1 subtype viruses in boundary region of Yunnan province from 2008 to 2012 showed genetic divergence and the virus of clade 1.2.2 had become dominant epidemic strain in this region.

Animals ; Birds ; virology ; Chickens ; virology ; China ; Evolution, Molecular ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; Influenza in Birds ; virology ; Phylogeny ; Poultry ; virology ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics

Objective To elucidate the genetic diversifications of avian influenza subtype H5N1 viruses in the boundary regions of Yunnan province during 2009 to July,2011.Methods Swab samples were collected from foreign poultry and wild birds in boundary regions of Yunnan province during 2009 to July,2011 and tested by H5/N1 subtype-specific multiplex RT-PCR.The HA genes of H5N1 virus from the positive samples were amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pMD 18-T vectors for sequencing.Both alignment and phylogenetic analysis were performed with sequences of the known reference strains.Results Fifteen different HA sequences were obtained from 36 representative positive samples and could be divided into 2 distinct Clades (2.3.2 and 2.3.4).Through phylogenetic analysis,Clade 2.3.2 and 2.3.4 could then be further divided into 3 ( Ⅱ -1 to Ⅱ -3 ) and 2 smaller clades ( Ⅰ -1 and Ⅰ -2),respectively.The viruses of Clade 2.3.2 Ⅱ -1 and Ⅱ-2 were new variant strains of H5N 1 virus.The cleavage sites of HA from positive samples all possessed molecular characterization of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.Mutation of key amino acids had been found among receptor binding sites,potential glycosylation sites,neutralizing epitopes and others.Conclusion It seemed evident that the H5N1 subtype viruses showed genetic diversifications and had undergone the evolution progress of multi-clade (2.3.2,2.3.4) to single caide (2.3.2) in the boundary regions of Yunnan province,during 2009 to July,2011.

China ; epidemiology ; Dengue ; epidemiology ; virology ; Dengue Virus ; classification ; genetics ; Genome, Viral ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics