ABSTRACT
Yan Lianke completed the first draft of his recent novel Central Plains (Zhongyuan) in 2020, when China was ravaged by COVID-19. The novel was then revised at the end of 2020, when Yan was awarded the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature, and published in the bimonthly literary magazine Flower City (Huacheng) in March 2021. The production timing of this novel is indicative and meaningful. This chapter first conducts a textual analysis of Central Plains, arguing that the text embodies the alienation of people in daily life under capitalism and highlights the dominance of privileged mechanisms on the fixity of mobile meanings under the current globalization and transnationalism mobility. This chapter also interprets the spatial metaphors of Gaotian Town and Balou Mountains by drawing on the imagery of Peach Blossom Spring (Taohuayuan). The imagery of utopia is closely linked to the discussion of the novel's theme. Since Yan seems to have more or less inadvertently mentioned the title of his acceptance speech for the Newman Prize for Chinese Literature at the end of the novel, that is "A Village Larger than the World” ("Yi ge bi shijie geng da de cunzhuang”), his acceptance speech may be interpreted as a subtext of the novel. It is argued that this subtext provides the context for researchers to place Central Plains within Sinophone literature, further highlighting the dialectical relationship between the novel's title and the outside world. This novel can be used as a research subject to validate the "human condition” under the discourse of Sinophone/Xenophone (Huayifeng) initiated by David Der-wei Wang. Moreover, through the intertextuality with "A Village Larger than the World,” the meaning of this novel is not limited to the alienated human relationships within the family or under capitalism but also echoes the current discourse of Chinese nationhood by drawing on the imagery of Peach Blossom Spring. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Riccardo Moratto and Howard Yuen Fung Choy;individual chapters, the contributors.
ABSTRACT
Background and aims: In trials conducted in India, recombinant granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) improved survival in alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH). The aim of this trial was to determine the safety and efficacy of pegfilgrastim, a long-acting recombinant GCSF, in patients with AH in the United States. Method: This prospective, open label trial randomized patients with a clinical diagnosis of AH and a Maddrey discriminant function score ≥32 to standard of care (SOC) or SOC+pegfilgrastim (0.6 mg subcutaneously) on Day 1 and Day 8. SOC was 28 days of either pentoxifylline or prednisolone, as determined by the patient’s primary physician. The second injection of pegfilgrastim was not administered if the white blood cell count exceeded 30, 000/mm3 on Day 8. Primary outcomewas survival at Day 90. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), hepatic encephalopathy, or infections. Results: The study was terminated early due to COVID19 pandemic. Eighteen patients were randomized to SOC and 16 to SOC+pegfilgrastim. All patients received prednisolone as SOC. Nine patients failed to receive a second dose of pegfilgrastin due to WBC>30, 000/ mm3 on Day 8. Survival at 90 days was similar in both groups (SOC: 0.83 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.57–0.94] vs. pegfilgrastim: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.44–0.89];p > 0.05). The incidences of AKI, HRS, hepatic encephalopathy, and infections were similar in both treatment arms and therewere no serious adverse events attributed to pegfilgrastim. Conclusion: This phase II trial found no survival benefit at 90 days among subjects with AH who received pegfilgrastim+prednisolone compared with subjects receiving prednisolone alone.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the psychological stress of infertile patients after COVID-19 epidemic and its related factors by Chinese version of the perceived stress scale (CPSS). Method The basic information, reproductive history, impact of the epidemic, psychological status of patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology at the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from March 29, 2021 to April 29, 2021 were collected by questionnaire. According to CPSS, group comparison and correlation analysis were used to explore factors related to patients' psychological stress. Results A total of 251 valid questionnaires were received. The average CPSS score of the patients was 22.43±7.07. During the epidemic, about 33.86% (85/251) of the infertility patients postponed the fertilization plan;there were significant differences in the psychological stress among patients of different genders, occupations, and postponed fertilization plans at different stages of fertilization (P=0.001, P=0.005, P=0.002). There was no significant difference in CPSS score between infertile patients who delayed treatment or not (P>0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the perceived stress of patients was negatively correlated with their age, income, and delay duration (r=-0.192, P=0.002;r=-0.323, P=0.001;r=-0.282, P=0.009). Among all patients who delayed treatment, patients with higher CPSS score would restart treatment sooner;most of the infertile patients knew little about the vaccine. Conclusion The COVID-19 epidemic has caused a certain impact on the psychological pressure of infertile couples who accepted treatment in our hospital. The psychological care for infertile patients is particularly important. In the future, in order to dispel the doubts of infertile patients about the vaccine, we should pay attention to the correct scientific promotion of the COVID-19 vaccine during the treatment process. © 2020 Chinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co.Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a global mass bereavement event, on a scale seldom witnessed. National health and social care systems are challenged with supporting large numbers of bereaved people whilst also negotiating the ongoing restrictions to provide this support safely. This review aimed to synthesise the evidence regarding system-level responses to mass bereavement events, including natural and human-made disasters, to inform service provision and policy during the pandemic. Methods: A rapid systematic review was conducted in April 2020, with narrative synthesis of results. MEDLINE, Global Health, PsycINFO and Scopus databases were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2020, reporting evidence on system-level responses to mass bereavement events in OECD countries (plus Singapore, China and Taiwan). Citation and reference tracking was conducted and study quality assessed. Results: Six studies were included, reporting on system responses to man-made disasters (e.g. terror attacks in the US and Norway), as well as natural disasters (e.g. Hurricane Katrina and the South-East Asian Tsunami). Despite differences across disaster types, common approaches were identified and positive impacts were reported across a range of individual and group-based support interventions. Key features of service delivery included: a proactive outreach approach, centrally organised but locally delivered interventions, event-specific professional competencies and an emphasis on psycho-educational content. However, study quality was generally low and reliant on data from retrospective evaluation designs. Conclusion: Co-ordinated responses to bereavement support which include the features we identified are required to meet the needs of bereaved people during and beyond the pandemic. Rigorous primary studies investigating the experiences of the bereaved and the services that support them are essential to inform current and future disaster response efforts.