Factors associated with negative conversion of viral RNA in hospitalized children infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Shanghai, China: a retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the related risk factors and potential predictors of SARS-CoV-2 RNA negative conversion by describing the dynamics of viral shedding in infected children admitted to two hospitals from Shanghai during the Omicron variant outbreak. METHODS: This retrospective cohort included laboratory-confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection from Shanghai between March 28 and May 31, 2022. Clinical characteristics, personal vaccination, and household vaccination rates were collected through electronic health records and telephone interviews. RESULTS: A total of 603 paediatric patients confirmed to have COVID-19 were included in this study. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to filter independent factors for the duration to viral RNA negative conversion. Data on the redetection of SARS-CoV-2 in the patients after they showed negative results on the RT‒PCR test (intermittent negative status) were also analysed. The median duration of virus shedding was 12 (interquartile range, IQR: 10-14) days. The severity of clinical outcome, personal vaccination-2doses, household vaccination rates, and abnormal defecation were factors indecently affecting negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, suggesting that patients who had abnormal defecation or with more severe conditions would have delayed virological clearance, while patients who previously had 2 doses of vaccination or had higher household vaccination rates would have accelerated virological clearance. Loss of appetite (odds ratio (OR): 5.343; 95% CI: 3.307-8.632) and abnormal defecation (OR: 2.840; 95% CI: 1.736-4.645) were significantly associated with intermittent negative status. CONCLUSION: These findings could provide clues for the early identification of paediatric patients with prolonged viral shedding and could enrich the evidence for the development of prevention and control strategies, especially vaccination policies for children and adolescents.

Analysis of epidemic characteristics and related factors of norovirus in diarrhea patients in Guangxi, 2015-2020

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and related factors of norovirus in Guangxi from 2015 to 2020, and to provide scientific recommendations for norovirus prevention and control. Methods The foodborne diseases surveillance data were collected from 11 sentinel hospitals through the National Foodborne Disease Monitoring and Reporting System from 2015 to 2020. R software with version 4.0.3 was used for descriptive and statistical analysis, including epidemic curve, chi-square test, and trend chi-square and so on. Logistic regression was used to analyze norovirus-related factors, OR values and 95% confidence intervals were calculated respectively with the statistical test level of P < 0.05. Results There were 1 008 norovirus cases detected, with a detection rate of 12.75% (1 008/7 903). Children with age less than 5 years (OR=1.43, 95%CI: 1.13-1.82) and patients at age 20-45 (OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.13-1.87) were high risk population. The detection rate was higher in autumn (OR=1.29, 95%CI: 1.08-1.53) but lower in summer (OR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.55-0.80). In addition, the tourist area (Guilin City) presented a higher detection rate than other areas (OR=1.41, 95%CI: 1.10-1.80). Aquatic products (OR=1.40, 95%CI: 1.03-1.91), meat and dairy products (OR=1.31, 95%CI: 1.06-1.61) were high-risk foods for norovirus infection. The prevention and control policies of COVID-19 can reduce the possibility of norovirus by 61% (OR=0.39, 95%CI: 0.31-0.49) showed a declining trend (Trend X2=85.33, P < 0.001). In addition, prolonged visit time can lead to 19%-23% decrease in the detection rate of norovirus (OR24-48 hours=0.81, 95%CI: 0.70-0.95;OR>48 hours=0.77, 95%CI: 0.63-0.93). Conclusions The epidemic of norovirus presented seasonal and regional distribution in Guangxi with a declining detection rate trend in diarrhea patients during recent 6 years. Young children were high-risk population in infection norovirus. The intake of seafood can increase the risk of norovirus infection. The prevention and control policies of COVID-19 can sharply decrease the possibility of infection norovirus. The monitoring of key foods such as seafood should be strengthened, and the early screening of suspected cases should be taken. The norovirus monitoring should be improved to ensure the health of the population.

The Teaching Quality Evaluation of Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools from the Perspective of Education for Sustainable Development

As one of the important ways to cultivate internationalized and highly competitive talents, Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools (CFCRS) is very significant to education for sustainable development (ESD). From the perspective of ESD, we developed a teaching quality evaluation model using 18 indicators in 4 dimensions: resource input, faculty environment, teaching process, and teaching outcome. The DANP (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory-Based Analytic Network Process) method is used to explore the mutual influence relationship of teaching quality in CFCRS, and the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) method is used in this empirical study. The results show that the evaluation dimensions listed by impact level from big to small are as follows: teaching outcome, teaching process, faculty environment, and resource input. Among them, resource input and faculty environment are the cause dimensions, while teaching process and teaching outcome are the result dimensions. Academic support is the most influential indicator, followed by teaching resource and teaching management, and the teacher's nationality is the least influential indicator. The CFCRS A of a comprehensive university in the developed region of China has the highest comprehensive score, followed by the CFCRS C of an applied science and technology university and CFCRS B of a comprehensive university in the underdeveloped region. The teaching quality of CFCRS can be improved by increasing the frequency of academic activities, strengthening teacher training, reinforcing curriculum and discipline management, and encouraging students to participate in competitions and paper publications.