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Objective To summarize and analyze the features of liver function in pediatric patients infected with Delta variant versus Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS - CoV - 2). Methods In this study,an analysis was performed for the liver function test results of the locally transmitted or imported pediatric patients with SARS - CoV - 2 infection during isolation who were admitted to Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital,Guangzhou Medical University,since May 21,2021,and the clinical data and the constituent ratio of liver injury were compared between the pediatric patients infected with Delta variant and those infected with Omicron variant. The independent samples t - test or the Mann - Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups,and the chi - square test or the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. Results A total of 85 pediatric patients infected with SARS - CoV - 2 were enrolled,among whom there were 32 (37. 6%)pediatric patients infected with Delta variant and 53 (62. 4%)pediatric patients infected with Omicron variant,and there were no significant differences between the two groups in age,sex, body height,body weight,and comorbidities (all P > 0. 05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),alkaline phosphatase (ALP),gamma - glutamyl transpeptidase,total bilirubin,albumin,and cholinesterase (all P > 0. 05),and the pediatric patients infected with Omicron variant had a significantly higher level of total bile acid (TBA)than those infected with Delta variant (Z = - 2. 336,P = 0. 020). However,the median values of TBA were within the normal range and the ratios of abnormal TBA were no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0. 05). Among the 85 pediatric patients,10 (11. 8%)had a mild increase in liver function parameters,among whom 7 had an increase in TBA,1 had an increase in ALT, 1 had increases in ALT and AST,and 1 had an increase in ALP. The analysis of liver injury in the pediatric patients infected with Delta variant or Omicron variant showed that there was no significant difference in the constituent ratio of liver injury caused by the two variants (6. 3% vs 15. 1%,chi2 = 0. 691,P = 0. 406). Conclusion Mild liver injury is observed in pediatric patients infected with Delta and Omicron variants of SARS - CoV - 2,but further studies are needed to evaluate the long - term influence of such infection on liver function.Copyright © 2022 Editorial Board of Jilin University
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The current respiratory infectious disease has expanded over the world, posing a serious threat to people's physical and mental health, as well as their lives. Science and technology immediately united to fight against such deadly infectious disease in the past 100 years. Mathematical models have proved invaluable to understand and help control infectious disease epidemics. By simplifying real world phenomena, these models describe, analyze, and predict disease transmission patterns, producing tractable solutions in the face of quickly changing situations. In this Chapter, we firstly summarized the history and development of the mathematical models in infectious diseases. Afterwards, the specific transmission dynamics models with different model structures used in fitting and forecasting the situation of the current respiratory infectious disease were introduced, aiming different analytical objectives including but not limited to parameter estimation, trend prediction and early warning, prevention and control measures effectiveness evaluation, and transmission uncertainty exploration. Summary in values of transmission dynamics models is followed to illustrate their contribution in understanding and combating infectious disease outbreaks. Despite their utility, however, mathematical models are facing several important challenges which, if ignored, would result in biased estimation of the crucial epidemiological parameters, bad fitting of the data, or misinterpretation of the results. In conclusion, mathematical modeling should be one of the most valuable tools to reflect such huge uncertainties or, on the other hand, warn of the worst situation. An appreciation of models' shortcomings not only clarifies why they cannot do but helps anticipate what they can. © People's Medical Publishing House, PR of China 2022.
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COVID-19 has swept across the world, causing widespread epidemics and millions of life lost worldwide. After infected with 2019-nCoV, the body quickly mobilizes the innate immune response and produces type interferon (IFN-). IFN- plays an important role in virus clearance in the early stage of disease. This article reviews the innate immune recognition after virus infection and the interaction between 2019-nCoV and IFN-, which would be conductive to understanding the pathogenesis and antiviral treatment of COVID-19.Copyright © 2021 Chinese Medical Association
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COVID-19 has swept across the world, causing widespread epidemics and millions of life lost worldwide. After infected with 2019-nCoV, the body quickly mobilizes the innate immune response and produces type interferon (IFN-). IFN- plays an important role in virus clearance in the early stage of disease. This article reviews the innate immune recognition after virus infection and the interaction between 2019-nCoV and IFN-, which would be conductive to understanding the pathogenesis and antiviral treatment of COVID-19.Copyright © 2021 Chinese Medical Association
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COVID-19 has swept across the world, causing widespread epidemics and millions of life lost worldwide. After infected with 2019-nCoV, the body quickly mobilizes the innate immune response and produces type interferon (IFN-). IFN- plays an important role in virus clearance in the early stage of disease. This article reviews the innate immune recognition after virus infection and the interaction between 2019-nCoV and IFN-, which would be conductive to understanding the pathogenesis and antiviral treatment of COVID-19.Copyright © 2021 Chinese Medical Association
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Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can cause a variety of inflammatory autoimmune tissue damage, referred to as immune-related adverse events (irAEs). COVID-19 is associated with increased amounts of proinflammatory cytokines, which may synergistically affect the outcome of irAEs. Data are limited regarding the impact of COVID-19 on irAEs in ICI-treated cancer patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed adult patients with malignant solid tumors treated with ICIs at AdventHealth Orlando between August 2020 and August 2021. All COVID-19 infections were confirmed by PCR. Patients who had the most recent ICI treatment over one month before or after the positive COVID- 19 test were excluded from the study. For COVID-19 positive group, only the irAEs that developed after COVID-19 infection were considered as events. Results: A total of 579 patients were included in our study, with 46 (7.9%) in COVID-19 positive group, and 533 (92.1%) in COVID-19 negative group. The baseline characteristics of patients in the two groups were similar in terms of age, ethnicity, ECOG, cancer histology, and type of ICI. With a median follow-up of 10 months (1-73 months), no differences in the time from ICI initiation to irAE onset, corticosteroid use, or additional immunosuppressant use were seen. A trend in higher incidence of all-grade diarrhea/colitis (8.7% vs. 3.0%, p=0.07) and grade 3 and 4 hepatitis (4.3% vs. 0.8%, p=0.08) was noted in the COVID-19 positive group, however the difference was not statistically significant. No significant difference in the incidence of pneumonitis (2.2% vs. 1.1%, p=0.44), nephritis (2.2% vs. 0.8%, p=0.34) or dermatitis (6.5% vs. 6.4%, p=1.00) were noted between COVID-19 positive and negative groups. We noticed a higher incidence of all-grade irAEs in the COVID-19 positive group (30.4% vs. 19.9%, p=0.18), but the difference was not statistically significant. The incidence of grade 3 and 4 irAEs was significantly higher in the COVID- 19 positive group (10.9% vs. 3.2%, p=0.02). Nine COVID-19 related death occurred while no irAE-related death was noted in the entire cohort. Conclusions: Our study suggested that COVID-19 may pose a risk of severe irAEs in cancer patients receiving ICIs. Close monitoring and possible delaying ICI administration could be considered when cancer patients were infected with COVID-19. (Table Presented).
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Owing to a swift shift in hospitality and tourism (H&T) education from physical to online since the breakout of COVID-19, quality assurance measure is required to gauge effectiveness of students' online learning. This study aims to explore the influence of H&T students' personality traits on flow experience and performance in online classes. It further assesses the cross-regional comparison among three regions in Greater China (including Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao). A questionnaire instrument was developed and distributed in the abovementioned three regions. From a total of 895 respondents, results showed that the students' personality traits influenced their experience and performance in online classes in a few ways. In addition, regional differences in education were used as a moderator to examine potential learning behavior differences in the three regions, and result confirms their existence. Theoretical and managerial implications were then discussed.
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Hospitality programs have relatively heavier hands-on components, and many subjects (if not all) are conventionally taught face-to-face. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has forced teaching and learning activities onto online platforms, in theoretical and practical components. Considering that hospitality students are used to the uniformed and face-to-face interaction dominant environment, how are they coping with their online classes? The current study explores hospitality students' online learning experience, taking into consideration their personality differences, learning skill levels, and perceived difficulty of learning tasks. A questionnaire was designed and distributed among hospitality students in Macao and Mainland China. Data were collected online from mid-May to early August 2020 using the platform Sojump. Over 700 students from all over the country responded to the survey, and 643 valid responses were included in the data analysis by using multiple regression models. Results suggest that the perceived level of challenge poses a good level of influence over students' learning experience, and personality differences add complications. Theoretical development and managerial implications are discussed, and suggestions regarding online teaching for hospitality students are provided.
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As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most tertiary teaching and learning activities, including hospitality programs, have shifted to online platforms for an extended period. This is probably the first time that hospitality institutions have implemented mandatory synchronous online classes. While this has been deemed the best available solution, various issues and hurdles have hindered the learning process and harmed students' learning experience. Drawing mainly on qualitative data from a large-scale qualitative survey and seven focus group interviews involving 44 students, this study identifies factors that cause students anxiety and frustrate their learning process. These are categorized into interaction barriers, technical barriers, psychological and emotional barriers, perceived learning outcomes, lecturers' experience, class and course administration, and physical discomfort. Recommended adjustments to practice are discussed.
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COVID-19 has swept across the world, causing widespread epidemics and millions of life lost worldwide. After infected with 2019-nCoV, the body quickly mobilizes the innate immune response and produces type Ⅰ interferon (IFN-Ⅰ). IFN-Ⅰ plays an important role in virus clearance in the early stage of disease. This article reviews the innate immune recognition after virus infection and the interaction between 2019-nCoV and IFN-Ⅰ, which would be conductive to understanding the pathogenesis and antiviral treatment of COVID-19. © 2021 Chinese Medical Association
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Purpose: While the COVID-19 virus has been spreading worldwide, some studies have related the pandemic with various aspects of accounting and therefore emphasized the importance of accounting research in understanding the impact of COVID-19 on society as a whole. Recent studies have looked into such an impact on various industries such as retail and agriculture. The current study aims at applying a sociological framework, sociology of worth (SOW), to the gaming industry in Macau, the largest operator of state-allowed gambling and entertainment in China, which will allow for its development during the COVID-19 pandemic to be charted. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses the theory of SOW as a framework and collects data from various sources, such as the government, gaming operators and the public, to create timelines and SOW frameworks to analyze the impact of the virus on the gaming industry and the society as a whole. Findings: Detailed content analysis and the creation of different SOW matrices determined that the notion of a “lonely economy” during a time of a critical event may be ameliorated in the long term through compromises of the different worlds and actors of the SOW. Practical implications: Though largely theory-based, this study offers a thorough account of the COVID-19 incident for both the government and the gaming industry to reflect on and to consider new ways to fight against degrowth caused by disasters or crises. Social implications: The SOW framework divides society into different worlds of different worths. The current study shows how the worths of the different worlds are congruent during normal periods, and how cracks appear between them when a sudden crisis, such as COVID-19, occurs. The article serves as a social account of how these cracks are formed and how could they be resolved through compromise and reconstruction. Originality/value: This study is a first attempt to apply SOW to a controversial industry (gaming) while the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are ongoing. It offers a significant contribution to the social accounting literature through its consideration of the combination of unprecedented factors in a well-timed study that pays close attention to analyses and theoretical elaboration. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.
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Objective: To infer the start time of the resurgent COVID-19 epidemic in Xinfadi wholesale market in Beijing in June 2020 and evaluate the effect of comprehensive prevention and control measures in this epidemic. Methods: SEIR dynamics model was used to fit daily onset infections to search the start date of this resurgent COVID-19 epidemic in Beijing. The number of cumulative infections from June 12 to July 1 in Beijing were fitted considering different levels of control strength. Results: The current reemerged COVID-19 epidemic in Beijing probably started between May 22 and May 28 (cumulative probability: 95%), with the highest probability on May 25 (23%). The R(0) of the current reemerged COVID-19 epidemic was 4.22 (95%CI: 2.88-7.02). Dynamic model fitting suggested that by June 11, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases would reached 99 (95%CI: 77-121), which was in line with the actual situation, and without control, by July 1, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases would reach 65 090 (95%CI: 39 068-105 037). Since June 12, comprehensive prevention and control measures have been implemented in Beijing, as of July 1, compared with uncontrolled situation, the number of infections had been reduced by 99%, similar to the fitting result of a 95% reduction of the transmission rate. The sensitivity analysis showed consistent results. Conclusions: For the emergent outbreak of COVID-19, the dynamics model can be used to infer the start time of the transmission and help tracing the source of epidemic. The comprehensive prevention and control measures taken in Beijing have quickly blocked over 95% of the transmission routes and reduced 99% of the infections, containing the sudden epidemic timely and effectively, which have value in guiding the prevention and control of the epidemic in the future.
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COVID-19 , Beijing , Humans , Models, Statistical , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess the risk of COVID-19 foreign imports cases to China. Methods: We collected epidemic data (cumulative daily confirmed cases in each country, cumulative confirmed imported cases), demographic data (population density, population) and information on potential source groups of tourists (the daily estimated number of overseas Chinese, overseas Chinese students, overseas workers, foreign students coming to China and flight passengers) and the global health security index (GHS) to assess and predict risk of imported cases for recent (February 1(st) to April 25(th)) and future (after April 26(th)). Results: Strong positive correlation was found among variables including the number of imported cases, cumulative confirmed cases, attack rate, number of overseas Chinese, number of overseas Chinese students, number of foreign students coming to China, number of flight passengers and GHS. In the recent risk analysis, imported cases of Russian were the highest, followed by United Kingdom, United States, France and Spain. In the future risk prediction, 44 countries including United States and Singapore are evaluated as potential high-risk countries in the future through the attack rate index of each country and the estimated average number of daily passengers. Conclusion: The risk assessment of COVID-19 imported cases can be used to identify high-risk areas in recent and future, and might be helpful to strengthen the prevention and control of the epidemic and ultimately overcome the epidemic.