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

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases

To analyze the effectiveness and safety of intermittent lung inflation combined with rigid ureteroscopy in the treatment of upper ureteral stones that were not fully visible. The clinical and imaging data of 56 patients with upper ureteral stone undergoing rigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy combined with intermittent lung inflation in Zhejiang Quhua Hospital from March 2016 to October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Intermittentt lung inflation was used to change and stabilize the position of ureteral calculi during the operation,so as to ensure the visual field of ureteroscopy.Holmium laser lithotripsy was performed to remove the stones.Urinary tract abdominal plain X-ray or CT urography was performed 1 and 3 months after the operation to evaluate the residual stones and the clinical efficacy. Stones were successfully removed after a single attempt in 48 patients.In 5 patients,stones escaped into the kidney during ureteroscopic lithotripsy,and thus flexible ureteroscopy were performed.In 3 patients,a second session of auxiliary procedure was required,among whom 2 patients received extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and 1 patient underwent extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy+ureteroscopic lithotripsy.The stone-free rates 1 and 3 months after surgery were 94.6%(53/56)and 100%(56/56),respectively.No severe complication such as ureter perforation,gross hematuria,septic shock,or pneumothorax occurred during and after surgery. Intermittent lung inflation in tracheal intubation under general anesthesia in patients with proximal ureteral stones that can not be fully visible during rigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy was feasible and reliable.It can effectively change the location of stones and thus enable safe and effective lithotripy.It expands the indications of rigid ureteroscopy for treating upper ureteral stones.
Humans ; Lithotripsy, Laser ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureteral Calculi ; diagnostic imaging ; Ureteroscopes ; Ureteroscopy

Objective To study the effect of Corylin on A375 cells melanin synthesis,and explore its mechanism.Methods The cells were randomly divided into the control group, the estradiol group, and corylin group including 10-3μmol/L, 10-2μmol/L, 10-1μmol/L, 1μmol/L, 10μmol/L, 100μmol/L. Estradiol estradiol intervention group were given 10-3 mol/L. Corylin group (10-3μmol/L, 10-2μmol/L, 10-1μmol/L, 1μmol/L, 10μmol/L,100μmol/L) were given 10-3μmol/L, 10-2μmol/L, 10-1μmol/L, 1μmol/L, 10μmol/L, 100μmol/L corylin intervention. The activity of proliferation were detected by MTT, NaOH method, dopa oxidation , both melanin content and tyrosinase activity (tyrosinase, TYR). TYR, yrosinase related protein (tyrosinase related protein, TRP)-1 and TRP-2 expression levels of mRNA were determined by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the control group, 10, 100μmol/L of Corylin group cell proliferation rate significantly decreased (P<0.01). The 1μmol/L, 10-1μmol/L, 10-2μmol/L of Corylin group cell melanin content, TYR significantly decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The 1μmol/L corylin group TYR (0.303 ± 0.003vs. 0.628 ± 0.012), TRP-1 (0.313 ± 0.008 vs. 0.677 ± 0.022), TRP-2 (0.456 ± 0.028vs. 0.687 ± 0.020) mRNA expression level significantly decrease (P<0.01).Conclusions The results showed that Corylin could inhibit melanin synthesis, which worked probably through inhibiting the activity of TYR and cutting the mRNA expressions of TYR,TRP-1/2.

ObjectiveTo study the possible pathogenesis of infertility caused by dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and investigate the effects of Yishen Shengjing Capsules (YSC, kidney-tonifying and essence-producing capsules) on DBP-induced reproductive function injury and its possible action mechanisms in male Wistar rats.

METHODSModels of DBP-induced reproductive function injury were made in 80 male Wistar rats and another 20 were used as blank controls. After modeling, the model rats were randomly divided into a model control, a high-dose YSC, a medium-dose YSC, and a low-dose YSC group. Four weeks after intervention, all the animals were sacrified for observation of the histomorphologic changes in the testis under the light microscope, measurement of sperm concentration, motility and abnormality, and determination of the levels of serum testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSCompared with the blank controls, the model rats showed obvious pathological changes in testicular histomorphology, significantly decreased sperm concentration and motility, increased sperm abnormality, reduced contents of serum T and LH, and elevated the level of serum FSH (P<0.01). After 4 weeks of medication, the animals of the high-, medium-, and low-dose YSC groups, in comparison with the model controls, exhibited different degrees of recovery from testicular histomorphological damage, remarkably increased sperm concentration and motility, decreased sperm abnormality, elevated levels of serum T and LH, and reduced content of serum FSH (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in all the parameters above between the high-dose YSC and medium- and low-dose YSC groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDBP reduces sperm motility and concentration, increases sperm abnormality, causes damage to the morphological structure of the rat testis, decreases the contents of serum T and LH, and elevates the level of the serum FSH. Yishen Shengjing Capsules can improve DBP-induced productive function injury, increase sperm motility and concentration, decrease sperm abnormality, elevate the level of serum T and LH, reduce the content of serum FSH, improve the morphological structure of the testis, and thus promote the reproductive function of the male rat.

Objective To study the impact of spiritual care on the psychological stress level of the spouses of patients with cervical cancer.Methods Totals of 67 spouses of patients with cervical cancer were randomly divided into intervention group and control group.Control group treated with conventional care,while the intervention group,on the basis of routine care,received spiritual care nursing by seven professionals and 40 volunteers.All cases were investigated with General information questionnaire and Psychological Stress Scale (PSS) before and after the intervention.Results No significant difference was found in the PSS scores and dimension scores before the intervention between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).After the intervention,psychological distress,undisturbed life,negative emotions,total score of control group were (5.06 ± 3.08),(3.62 ± 2.03),(3.61 ± 2.03) and (12.29 ± 5.82),respectively; and those in intervention group respectively were (3.06 ±2.08),(2.12 ± 1.83),(2.11 ± 1.43) and (8.29 ±5.82),and the differences were statistically significantly different (t/t' =3.81,4.97,4.36,5.69;P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Spiritual care can effectively alleviate the psychological stress level of the spouses of patients with cervical cancer and improve their mental health.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qiangjing Capsule (QC) on the oxidative amd antioxidative system in the epididymis of varicocele rats in comparison with those of Shaofuzhuyu Capsule (SC) and Wuziyanzong Capsule (WC), and to explore its possible mechanism of enhancing epididymal sperm maturation.

METHODSTen of 100 adolescent male SD rats were randomized to a sham-operation group, and varicocele models were successfully established in 72 of the other 90 by narrowing of the left renal vein. Then the model rats were equally assigned to 6 groups: model control, high-dose QC (0.216 g/ml), medium-dose QC (0.108 g/ml), low-dose QC (0.054 g/ml), SC (0.146 g/ml), and WC (0.130 g/ml). After 4 weeks of treatment, we determined the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the left epididymis of different groups of rats.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operation group, the model group showed a significant decrease in GPx activity (P < 0.01) and a marked increase in the MDA level (P < 0.05). And the high-dose QC group exhibited a significantly hither GPx activity and lower MDA level than all the other groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVaricocele can reduce the activity of GPx and elevate the level of MDA in the epididymis of rats, while Qiangjing Capsule can increase the former and decrease the latter, and thereby may improve epididymal microenvironment, enhance epididymal sperm maturation and promote fertility.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Varicocele ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Xiaojin Wan on the expression of COX-2 in the prostate tissues of rats with prostatitis pain, and the action mechanism of the drug alleviating the prostatitis pain.

METHODSSixty male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups, 10 as blank controls, injected with aqua pro injection into the ventral part of prostate, and the other 50 as prostatitis pain models, given complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Three days later, the pain model rats were again equally divided into 5 subgroups: model control, Celecoxib Capsules, high-, median- and low-dose Xiaojin Wan, receiving intragastric administration of distilled water, Celecoxib Capsules and different doses of Xiaojin Wan respectively for 4 weeks. Then they were killed, the harvested tissues fixed with 10% paraformaldehyde and the changes of the COX-2 expression in the prostate detected with the immunohistochemical technique and graphics video analysis system.

RESULTSThe expression of COX-2 was strong in the model group, significantly lower in the high- and median-dose and the Celecoxib Capsules groups than in the model control (P < 0.01) as well as in the high-dose than in the median- and low-dose groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXiaojin Wan may alleviate prostatitis pain by inhibiting the expression of COX-2 in prostate tissues.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; biosynthesis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Pain ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; etiology ; Phytotherapy ; Prostate ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Prostatitis ; complications ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To understand the genotypes of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and the genetic character of hMPV attachment protein G sequence in Hunan, China. Methods 232 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) samples from hospitalized children with aeute respiratory infections were collected from Hunan, China in 2005. HMPV was detected. The full length of G glycoprotein genes were amplified and sequenced. Bioinformatics soft-wares were employed to analyze the sequences. Results 17/232 (7.3% ) were showed hMPV positive. And co-infection rate with other viruses is 35% .The diagnoses of these hMPV positive cases are pneumonia,bronchiolitis and bronchopneumonia. Phylogenetic analysis for G genes from 13 hMPVs revealed the existence of four major subgroups: A1, A2, B1, B2 in Hunan, China in 2005. There are four types of sequence lengths of hMPV G glycoprotein, which are 711, 675, 660, 696nt. It is different in potential N-linked glycosylation sites and number of eysteine residues among these hMPVs of Hunan, China and Beijing, China. Also it is different from those in Japan and North America. Conclusion The investigation of hMPV from Hunan, China in 2005 revealed the high speed of genetic variation and the marked character of geographic epidemic differences.

The full-length genome of one human bocavirus (HBoV) and the VP1 sequences of nine HBoV were amplified from patients' samples by PCR, cloned into pGEM-T vector separately, and sequenced. In this study, the one full length gemome and nine VP1 sequences of HBoV were aligened with 14 sequences of Parvoviruses which were canonical exemplars in Parvovirinae. Phylogenetic analysis showed that HBoV capsid sequences positioned closely to B19 parvovirus, although they positioned far in phylogenetic tree based on full length genome. Many similarities were found between HBoV and B19 in capsid by alignment on secondary structural elements. Because both B19 and HBoV are the only Parvoviruses that infect mankind, so study on HBoV may be used for reference to B19 which had been studied for about 30 years. By analysis of mutational sites, HBoV capsid protein showed a highly conserved secondary structural elements, but highly active in VP1-U, leading end of VP2 and insertions between the strands of the betaG-H. This cued that HBoV inclined to immune evasion and infectant adaptive faculty.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Bocavirus ; classification ; genetics ; Capsid Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Conserved Sequence ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction