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Objective:To investigate the distribution and epidemic characteristics of respiratory pathogens in children before and after COVID-19 epidemic in Lanzhou.Methods:Two hundred and eighty-six children hospitalized with acute upper respiratory tract infection in Central Hospital of Gansu Province and Gansu Maternal and Child Health Hospital from October to November of 2020 and October to November of 2021 were selected respectively as the research objects, and a retrospective analysis was made.IgM antibodies of nine pathogens, including influenza virus A(IVA), influenza virus B(IVB), parainfluenza virus(PIV), adenovirus(ADV), mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP), chlamydia pneumoniae(CP), respiratory syncytial virus(RSV), echovirus(ECHO)and coxsackie virus B(CVB), were detected, and the basic information and epidemic characteristics were statistically analyzed.Results:The total positive rates of IgM antibodies of nine pathogens before and after the epidemic in COVID-19 were 31.8%(91/286)and 5.9%(17/286)respectively, after the epidemic, the detection rates dropped significantly, and there was significant difference among them( χ2= 62.505, P<0.05); After the epidemic, the detection rates of ADV, MP and CVB were all lower than those before the epidemic, and there were significant differences among these groups( χ2= 39.281, 12.167, 10.155, all P<0.05). The positive detection rates in the age group of 1 month ~1 year, ~3 years, ~6 years and>6 years before the outbreak were 37.4%(37/99), 38.3%(36/94), 16.7%(12/72)and 28.6%(6/21)respectively, and there were significant differences among these groups( χ2=34.055, P<0.05); Among them, the detection rates of MP in the age group 1 month ~1 year, ~3 years, ~6 years and>6 years were 16.2%(6/37), 25.0%(9/36), 16.7%(2/12)and 100%(6/6)respectively, and there were significant differences among these groups( χ2=10.289, P<0.05); CVB was not detected in>6 years group, the positive detection rates of CVB were 16.2%(6/37), 22.2%(8/36)and 25.0%(3/12)in the age group of 1 month ~1 year, ~3 years, ~6 years respectively, and there were significant differences among these groups( χ2= 27.742, P< 0.05). After the epidemic, the positive detection rates of the patients in the age group of 1 month ~1 year, ~3 years, ~6 years and>6 years were 5.9%(4/68), 4.0%(3/75), 5.7%(6/106)and 10.8%(4/37), with no statistical significance( χ2=2.235, P>0.05); Among them, the positive rates of IVB were 25.0%(1/4), 33.3%(1/3)and 66.7%(4/6)in the age group of 1 month ~1 year, ~3 years, ~6 years respectively, and in the age group>6 years was not detected, and there were significant differences among these groups( χ2= 96.022, P< 0.05). The detection rates of mixed infection of pathogens before and after the epidemic were 5.6%(16/286)and 0.3%(1/286)respectively, with no statistical significance( χ2= 2.314, P>0.05). Conclusion:The distribution of common pathogens of acute upper respiratory tract infection among children in Lanzhou was different before and after COVID-19 epidemic.
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BACKGROUND: Brain ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is closely connected with the activity of Kinesin. Previous research believes that reduced activity of Kinesin, a mierotubule based motor protein, is an early mark for nerve cell death induced by brain ischemia. Erigeron breviscapus can prevent brain IR-induced proteinase C activation, reduce calcium overload, and reduce ischemic infarctional volume, thus attenuating brain IR injury. However, it still remains less reported at present whether the neuroprotective role of erigeron breviscapus is related to Kinesin activity.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of erigeron breviscapus on the activity of Kinesin, a microtubule based motor protein, in hippocampal pyramidal cells during brain IR.DESIGN: Randomized controlled study.SETTING: Anesthesia Department, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College; Anesthesiology Key Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out in the Anesthesiology Key Laboratory, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, between February and August 1999. Totally 35 male gerbils were included.METHODS: Gerbils were randomized into sham-operation group (n=5), ischemia-reperfusion control group (n=15) and erigeron breviscapus group (n=15), the latter two of which were further divided into three subgroups according to reperfusion time, namely reperfusion group Ⅰ (reperfusion of 6 hours), reperfusion group Ⅱ (reperfusion of 48 hours) and reperfusion group Ⅲ (reperfusion of 96 hours) with 5 in each subgroup. Gerbils in IR group and erigeron breviscapus group were subjected to IR model preparation before experiment by brain arterial occlusion for 10 minutes, while gerbils in sham-operation group had only bilateral common carotid artery isolated without occlusion. Gerbils in erigeron breviscapus group were pretreated 15 minutes before ischemic inducement with intraperitoneal injection of breviscapine (its effective component is erigeron breviscapus) at a dosage of 45 mg/kg, which was replaced with the same volume of isometric normal saline in sham-operation group and IR group. IHC staining was used to detect hippocampus microtubule based motor protein-Kinesin activity with the assistance of computer imaging analysis technology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Activity and changes of Kinesin of animals in each group.RESULTS: Totally 35 animals were enrolled in this experiment and all entered the result analysis with no one lost during the experiment. In hippocampal CA1 region, Kinesin activity in IR group was found to descend to 58%, 38% and 12% respectively of that in sham-operation group at IR 6 hours, 48 and 96 hours (P < 0.01). In erigeron breviscapus group at IR 6 hours, 48 hours and 96 hours it was 81%, 61% and 21% of that in shamoperation group, and was obviously higher than that in IR control group (P < 0.05). However, the changes of Kinesin activity were not obviously different in hippocampal CA2, CA3 and CA4 regions.CONCLUSION: Erigeron breviscapus can exert brain-protecting function by reducing hippocampal CA1 Kinesin activity during brain IR injury.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify valid measures for preventing outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) among protected healthcare workers in isolation units.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Architectural factors, admitted SARS cases and infection of healthcare workers in different isolation wards between January 30 and March 30, 2003 were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Four types of isolation wards were analyzed, including the ward where the thirty-first bed was located on the twelfth floor, the laminar flow ward in the Intensive Care Unit where the tenth bed was located on the fifteenth floor, the ward where the twenty-seventh bed was located on the thirteenth floor of the Lingnan Building, and thirty wards on the fourteenth to eighteenth floors of the Zhongshan Building. The ratios (m(2)/m(3)) of the area of the ventilation windows to the volume of the rooms were 0, 0, 1:95 and 1:40, respectively. Numbers of SARS cases in the wards mentioned above were 1, 1, 1 and 96, respectively. Total times of hospitalization were 43, 168, 110 and 1272 hours, respectively. The infection rates of the healthcare workers in the areas mentioned above were 73.2%, 32.1%, 27.5% and 1.7%, respectively. The difference in the infection rates was of statistical significance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Isolating SARS cases in wards with good ventilation could reduce the viral load of the ward and might be the key to preventing outbreaks of SARS among healthcare workers along with strict personal protection measures in isolation units.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Disease Outbreaks , Facility Design and Construction , Hospital Units , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional , Patient Isolation , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome , VentilationABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe a hospital outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and summarize its clinical features and therapeutic approaches.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The outbreak started with a SARS patient from the community, and a total of 96 people (76 women and 20 men, mean age (29.5 +/- 10.3) years, 93.8% of whom were health care workers) who had exposure to this source patient became infected in a short time. Clinical data in this cohort were collected prospectively as they were identified.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The incubation period ranged from 1 to 20 (mean: 5.9 +/- 3.5) days. The duration of hospitalization was (17.2 +/- 8.0) days. (2) The initial temperature was (38.3 +/- 0.6) degrees C, while the highest was (39.2 +/- 0.6) degrees C (P < 0.001), with fever duration of (9.0 +/- 4.2) days. (3) Other most common symptoms included fatigue (93.8%), cough (85.4%), mild sputum production (66.7%), chills (55.2%), headache (39.6%), general malaise (35.4%) and myalgia (21.9%). (4) The radiographic changes were predominantly bilateral in the middle or lower lung zones. The number of affected lung fields was 1.2 +/- 0.8 on presentation, which increased to 2.9 +/- 1.4 after admission (P < 0.001). The interval from the beginning of fever to the onset of abnormal chest radiographs was (3.5 +/- 2.3) days, which increased in size, extent, and severity to the maximum (6.7 +/- 3.5) days later. The time before the lung opacities were basically absorbed was (14.9 +/- 7.8) days. (5) Leukopenia was observed in 67.7% of this cohort. The time between the onset of fever and leukopenia was (4.4 +/- 2.3) days, with the lowest white blood cell count of (2.80 +/- 0.72) x 10(9)/L. (6) The lowest arterial oxygen saturation was (94.8 +/- 3.1)% with supplementary oxygen. (7) Antibiotical therapies included tetracyclines (91.0%), aminoglycosides (83.3%), quinolones (79.2%); 18.8% of the patients received a combination of tetracyclines and aminoglycosides, while 11.5% received a combination of tetracyclines and quinolones, and 63.5% received a combination of tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and quinolones. Vancomycin was used in 13.5% of the patients. (8) 68.8% of the patients were treated with methylprednisolones for a mean interval of (4.9 +/- 2.4) days. The initial dose was (67.3 +/- 28.2) mg/d and the maximal dose was (82.4 +/- 30.5) mg/d. (9) Human gamma-globulin, interferon-alpha, antiviral drugs (oral ribavirin or oseltamivir) were used respectively in 68.6%, 46.9% and 92.7% of the patients. (10) Ninety-five patients (99.0%) had a complete clinical recovery, and only 1 patient (1.0%) died.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SARS appears to be quickly infectious and potentially lethal among health care workers, characterized by acute onset and rapid progression, and mostly bilateral lung involvement on chest radiographs. Proper administration of glucocorticosteroids seems to be of some benefits. Antibiotics, human gamma-globulin, interferon-alpha, and antiviral drugs, although empirically, might be useful to shorten the clinical course.</p>