Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 caused by Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant in Xi'an in December 2021

OBJECTIVE: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Xi 'an, Shaanxi Province during cluster outbreak and explore the prevention and control strategies for the epidemic caused by the Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. METHODS: The confirmed cases of COVID-19 who were treated in Xi'an People's Hospital, a designated hospital, were enrolled in the study, the data of the patients such as baseline data, diagnostic types and initial symptoms were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among 703 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the gender ratio of male to female was 1.16:1, the age ranged between 10 months and 94 years old, with the median age 33 years old;the patients with mild symptoms(58.46%) and the patients with common symptoms(39.12%) were dominant. 70.13% of the patients were vaccinated with 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, 13.51% have not been vaccinated. In terms of the initial symptoms of COVID-19, the patients with cough accounted for 42.96%, the patients with pharyngeal symptoms accounted for 29.87%, and the patients with fever accounted for 25.60%. Totally 129 patients did not have obvious symptoms during the initial stage. There was significant difference in the influence of age and vaccination on severity of disease(P<0.05). The patients aged no less than 60 years old were the high-risk population for the severe(57.14%) and critically severe(66.67%) symptoms;the morbidity rates of severe symptoms(50.00%) and critically severe symptoms(66.67%) were high among the patients without vaccination. CONCLUSION: The local cluster outbreak caused by Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant in Xi 'an, Shaanxi province are characterized by strong transmission power and fast transmission. It is necessary to focus on the prevention and control among the populations of infants and old people, enhance the epidemiological surgery, precisely trace and isolate close contacts, identify and take interventions to illness condition in early stage. In daily prevention and control, fever, as a typical symptom, should be monitored, and it is necessary to boost the comprehensiveness and sensitivity of symptom monitoring. Universal vaccination remains one of the effective measures for protection of vulnerable populations.

The Relationship between Short Video Flow, Addiction, Serendipity, and Achievement Motivation among Chinese Vocational School Students: The Post-Epidemic Era Context.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, people have been spending more time in the online world because of restrictions on face-to-face communication due to epidemic prevention controls. This has also brought the issue of Internet addiction, including the overuse and negative effects of short videos, to the forefront of attention. Past research has found that Internet addiction has a negative impact on well-being. However, there is a special concept of positive emotion called "serendipity" (). Serendipity provides a small, fleeting but positive experience, yet it is often associated with negative perceptions from an outside perspective. However, the relationship between short video addiction and serendipity is not yet known. Based on this, a theoretical model was developed in the context of the I-PACE model. To understand the relationship between short video addiction and serendipity among college students, in this study, we conducted snowball sampling and distributed online questionnaires using the Wenjuanxing platform. The target population of the questionnaire distribution was vocational college students in China, of whom 985 valid study participants responded, yielding a valid return rate of 82.1%. Of the respondents, 410 (41.6%) were male and 575 (58.4%) were female. The results were as follows: a. short video flow had a positive relationship with serendipity, a negative relationship with achievement motivation, and a positive effect on short video addiction; b. short video addiction had a positive effect on serendipity and a negative effect on achievement motivation; and c. serendipity had a negative impact on achievement motivation. This shows that short video addiction, like other Internet addictions, can have a negative impact on students' learning.

Investigation of a family cluster outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 in Xi-an. (Special Issue: Spatio-temporal dynamics analysis, risk assessment and emergency management for COVID-19 epidemic.) [Chinese]

Objective: To investigate the transmission characteristics of a family cluster outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Xi-an, in order to provide reference for prevention and control efforts.

Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Xi'an city. (Special Issue: Spatio-temporal dynamics analysis, risk assessment and emergency management for COVID-19 epidemic.) [Chinese]

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Xi'an, so as to provide scientific basis for the prevention and control measures.

The Relationship Among Expectancy Belief, Course Satisfaction, Learning Effectiveness, and Continuance Intention in Online Courses of Vocational-Technical Teachers College Students.

Since the beginning of year 2020, when the whole world were undergoing the COVID-19 epidemic, all schools were lockout and classes were suspended until e-learning was rushed to be online for students to continue their learning, including the students in China. Although many studies had discussed the effectiveness of online learning from many different points of views, it still remained many uncertainties on the qualities of distance learning, especially when under the circumstances of rush and students' involuntary learning. This manuscript attempted to determine whether students' learning expectation reach the qualities of distance learning or not. In this manuscript, the snowball sampling method was adopted to have 356 students who studied at vocational-technical teachers' college in China. Based on the expectation confirmation theory and its model, five hypotheses were proposed to construct a research model to determine relationship between student's expectancy belief, course satisfaction, learning effectiveness, and continuous learning intention when facing the dilemma of classes suspended but learning continues, learning online during this ongoing pandemic. The results of this study showed that: (1) The expectancy value belief were positively related with theoretical course satisfaction, but negatively related with practical course satisfaction; (2) Theoretical course satisfaction and practical course satisfaction were positively related with learning effectiveness; and (3) Learning effectiveness was positively related with continuance to learn. In addition, three factors influencing the most on the qualities of theoretical course were environmental interference such as surrounding noises, poor internet connection, and poor absorption of learning contents, respectively, while three factors influencing the most on the qualities of practical course were inaccessible to practice, poor absorption of learning content, and lack of practical materials, respectively. Based on the results analyzed, this study suggested schools and teachers focused on how to improve the qualities and to reduce or prevent any disturbances to the class given to fulfill students' class expectation first and then to ensure students' learning effectiveness and intention to continuous learning.

Alterations in the Composition of Intestinal DNA Virome in Patients With COVID-19.

Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection mainly present with respiratory issues and related symptoms, in addition to significantly affected digestive system, especially the intestinal tract. While several studies have shown changes in the intestinal flora of patients with COVID-19, not much information is available on the gut virome of such patients. In this study, we used the viromescan software on the latest gut virome database to analyze the intestinal DNA virome composition of 15 patients with COVID-19 and investigated the characteristic alternations, particularly of the intestinal DNA virome to further explore the influence of COVID-19 on the human gut. The DNA viruses in the gut of patients with COVID-19 were mainly crAss-like phages (35.48%), Myoviridae (20.91%), and Siphoviridae (20.43%) family of viruses. Compared with healthy controls, the gut virome composition of patients with COVID-19 changed significantly, especially the crAss-like phages family, from the first time of hospital admission. A potential correlation is also indicated between the change in virome and bacteriome (like Tectiviridae and Bacteroidaceae). The abundance of the viral and bacterial population was also analyzed through continuous sample collection from the gut of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. The gut virome is indeed affected by the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and along with gut bacteriome, it may play an important role in the disease progression of COVID-19. These conclusions would be helpful in understanding the gut-related response and contribute to the treatment and prevention strategies of COVID-19.

Alterations in the Composition of Intestinal DNA Virome in Patients With COVID-19

Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection mainly present with respiratory issues and related symptoms, in addition to significantly affected digestive system, especially the intestinal tract. While several studies have shown changes in the intestinal flora of patients with COVID-19, not much information is available on the gut virome of such patients. In this study, we used the viromescan software on the latest gut virome database to analyze the intestinal DNA virome composition of 15 patients with COVID-19 and investigated the characteristic alternations, particularly of the intestinal DNA virome to further explore the influence of COVID-19 on the human gut. The DNA viruses in the gut of patients with COVID-19 were mainly crAss-like phages (35.48%), Myoviridae (20.91%), and Siphoviridae (20.43%) family of viruses. Compared with healthy controls, the gut virome composition of patients with COVID-19 changed significantly, especially the crAss-like phages family, from the first time of hospital admission. A potential correlation is also indicated between the change in virome and bacteriome (like Tectiviridae and Bacteroidaceae). The abundance of the viral and bacterial population was also analyzed through continuous sample collection from the gut of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19. The gut virome is indeed affected by the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and along with gut bacteriome, it may play an important role in the disease progression of COVID-19. These conclusions would be helpful in understanding the gut-related response and contribute to the treatment and prevention strategies of COVID-19.

A Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Approach to Investigate the Anticoronavirus-Induced Diseases Effect of Yinqiao Powder Combined With Modified Sangju Decoction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) once caused great harm in China, but now it is the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has become a huge threat to global health, which raises urgent demand for developing effective treatment strategies to avoid the recurrence of tragedies. Yinqiao powder, combined with modified Sangju decoction (YPCMSD), has been clinically proven to have a good therapeutic effect on COVID-19 in China. This study aimed to analyze the common mechanism of YPCMSD in the treatment of SARS and COVID-19 through network pharmacology and molecular docking and further explore the potential application value of YPCMSD in the treatment of coronavirus infections. Firstly, the active components were collected from the literature and Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database platform. The COVID-19 and SARS associated targets of the active components were forecasted by the SwissTargetPrediction database and GeneCards. A protein–protein-interaction network was drawn and the core targets were obtained by selecting the targets larger than the average degree. By importing the core targets into database for annotation, visualization, and integrated discovery, enrichment analysis of gene ontology, and construction of a Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway was conducted. Cytoscape 3.6.1 software was used to construct a “components–targets–pathways” network. Active components were selected to dock with acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-COV-2) 3CL and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) through Discovery Studio 2016 software. A network of “components–targets–pathways” was successfully constructed, with key targets involving mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, caspase-3 (CASP3), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin 6. Major metabolic pathways affected were those in cancer, the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signaling pathway, the TNF signaling pathway, the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The core components, such as arctiin, scopolin, linarin, and isovitexin, showed a strong binding ability with SARS-COV-2 3CL and ACE2. We predicted that the mechanism of action of this prescription in the treatment of COVID-19 and SARS might be associated with multicomponents that bind to SARS-COV-2 3CL and ACE2, thereby regulating targets that coexpressed with them and pathways related to inflammation and the immune system.

A Cluster Transmission of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and the Prevention and Control Measures in the Early Stage of the Epidemic in Xi'an, China, 2020.

BACKGROUND At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a cluster outbreak caused by an imported case from Hubei Province was reported in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China. Ten patients from 2 families and 1 hospital were involved in the transmission. MATERIAL AND METHODS We conducted an epidemiological investigation to identify the cluster transmission of COVID-19. The demographic, epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and cluster characteristics were described and analyzed. RESULTS From January 27 to February 13, 2020, a total of 10 individuals were confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by the nucleic acid testing of nasopharyngeal swabs from 2 families and 1 hospital. Among the confirmed cases, 7 had atypical clinical symptoms and 3 were asymptomatic. The median times from onset to diagnosis and to discharge were 3.5 days (range, 1-5 days) and 19.5 days (range, 16-38 days), respectively. There were 4 patients whose exposure dates were 1, 3, 3, and 2 days earlier than the onset dates of their previous-generation cases, respectively. Four prevention and control measures were effectively used to interrupt the disease transmission. CONCLUSIONS SARS-CoV-2 can be easily transmitted within families and in hospitals, and asymptomatic patients could act as a source of disease transmission. The results of this outbreak at the early epidemic stage support the recommendation that individuals with confirmed COVID-19 and all their close contacts should be subjected to medical quarantined observation and nucleic acid screening as early as possible, even if they do not have any symptoms. Meanwhile, people in high-risk areas should improve their protective measures.

The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COVID-19.

This editorial reviews the evidence supporting benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation in #COVID19 patients, as well as some unanswered research questions https://bit.ly/39JY3SU.

Modular composite building in urgent emergency engineering projects: A case study of accelerated design and construction of Wuhan Thunder God Mountain/Leishenshan hospital to COVID-19 pandemic.

Wuhan Leishenshan/Leishenshan ("Leishenshan" for short) hospital is a makeshift emergency hospital for treating patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia (NCIP). Engineering construction uses modular composite building finished products to the greatest extent, which reduces the workload of field operations and saves a lot of time. The building information model (BIM) technology assists in design and construction work to meet rapid construction requirements. Besides, based on the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) data analysis and application platform, digitization and intelligence in engineering construction are improved. Simultaneously, on-site construction and overall hoisting were carried out to achieve maximum efficiency. This article aims to take the construction of Leishenshan Hospital as an example to illustrate how to adopt BIM technology and other high-tech technology such as big data, artificial intelligence, drones, and 5G for the fast construction of the fabricated steel structure systems in emergency engineering projects.

Pericytes Within A Pulmonary Neurovascular Unit in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Elicited Pathological Changes.

A pericyte-centered theory suggesting that embolisms occurring within the microvasculature of a neurovascular unit that can result in either parenchymal hemorrhage or intravascular congestion is presented here. Dysfunctional microvascular pericytes are characterized by their location in the neurovascular unit, either on the arteriole or venule side. Pathophysiological and pathological changes caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) include pulmonary hypertension, edema, focal hemorrhage, microvascular congestion, and thrombosis. In this paper, the application of the pericytes-centered hypothesis to COVID-19 has been presented by proposing the concept of a pulmonary neurovascular unit (pNVU). The application of this concept implies that human lungs contain approximately 300 million pNVUs. This concept of existing local regulation of microvascular blood flow is supported by the observation of pathophysiology in pulmonary embolism and in acute high-altitude illness. The autonomic control seen in these three disease states matches blood flow with oxygen supply in each pNVU to maintain physiological blood oxygen saturation level. This paper illustrates how the malfunction of microvascular pericytes may cause focal hemorrhage, edema or microvascular congestion and thrombosis. A bypass existing in each pNVU would autonomically deviate blood flow from a COVID-19-affected pNVU to other healthy pNVUs. This action would prevent systemically applied medicines from reaching the therapeutic threshold in COVID-19-affected pNVUs. While testing this hypothesis with experimental evidence is urgently needed, supporting therapy aimed at improving microcirculation or rebuilding the physiological function of microvascular pericytes is recommended as a potentially effective treatment of COVID 19.

Network Pharmacology Integrated Molecular Docking Reveals the Anti-COVID-19 Mechanism of Xingnaojing Injection

In the process of fighting against COVID-19 in China, Xingnaojing injection has been recommended for its clinical treatment, but the information about its active components and mechanism is still lacking. Therefore, in this work, using network pharmacology and molecular docking, we studied the active components of Xingnaojing injection having anti-COVID-19 properties. Using the DL parameter, TCMSP and CNKI databases were used to screen the active components of the Xingnaojing injection. Then, the SwissTargetPrediction webserver was used to collect the corresponding gene targets, and the gene targets related to COVID-19 were searched in the Genecards database. The DAVID database was used to enrich the function of gene targets, and the KOBAS3.0 database for the annotation of related KEGG pathways. The ?components?targets?pathways? network of Xingnaojing injection was constructed with Cytoscape 3.6.1 software. The protein?protein interaction networks were analyzed using the String database. Specific proteins, SARS-COV-2 3 Cl, ACE2, and the active components were imported into Discovery Studio 2016 Client for molecular docking studies. From the Xingnaojing injection, a total of 58 active components, including Divanillalaceton and Q27139023, were screened. These were linked to 53 gene targets including mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), tumor necrosis factorTNF, epidermal growth factor receptor, MAPK3, and 196 signaling pathways related to COVID-19, such as apoptosis, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were performed to study potential binding between the key targets and selected active components. Xingnaojing injection exhibits anti-COVID-19 effects via multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways. These results set a scientific basis for further elucidation of the anti-COVID-19 mechanism of Xingnaojing injection.

Strategies and recommendations for the management of gastrointestinal surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic: experience shared by Chinese surgeons.

Novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an ongoing public-health pandemic worldwide. Although SARS-CoV-2 has been known to spread primarily through respiratory droplets, recent evidence also supports fecal/oral as an additional route of transmission, raising concerns over gastrointestinal (GI) transmission of the infection. Herein, we, as the front-line Chinese GI surgeons, would like to share our experience and lessons in the combat against COVID-19. It is essential to create science-based, rational, and practical strategies during the outbreak of COVID-19. Here, we provide multi-institutional consensus on minimizing disease transmission while continuing to provide care from all aspects for patients in GI surgery, including outpatient clinics, inpatient units, gastrointestinal endoscopy centers, and adjustments in perioperative care. Our experiences and recommendations are worth sharing and may help to establish specific infection-control and outcome measures.