The pattern from the first three rounds of vaccination: declining vaccination rates.

Introduction: Vaccination rates for the COVID-19 vaccine have recently been stagnant worldwide. We aim to analyze the potential patterns of vaccination development from the first three doses to reveal the possible trends of the next round of vaccination and further explore the factors influencing vaccination in the selected populations. Methods: On July 2022, a stratified multistage random sampling method in the survey was conducted to select 6,781 people from 4 provinces China, who were above the age of 18 years. Participants were divided into two groups based on whether they had a chronic disease. The data were run through Cochran-Armitage trend test and multivariable regression analyses. Results: A total of 957 participants with chronic disease and 5,454 participants without chronic disease were included in this survey. Vaccination rates for the first, second and booster doses in chronic disease population were93.70% (95% CI: 92.19-95.27%), 91.12% (95%CI: 94.43-95.59%), and 83.18% (95%CI: 80.80-85.55%) respectively. By contrast, the first, second and booster vaccination rates for the general population were 98.02% (95% CI: 97.65-98.39%), 95.01% (95% CI: 94.43-95.59%) and 85.06% (95% CI: 84.11-86.00%) respectively. The widening gap in vaccination rates was observed as the number of vaccinations increases. Higher self-efficacy was a significant factor in promoting vaccination, which has been observed in all doses of vaccines. Higher education level, middle level physical activity and higher public prevention measures play a positive role in vaccination among the general population, while alcohol consumption acts as a significant positive factor in the chronic disease population (p < 0.05). Conclusion: As the number of vaccinations increases, the trend of decreasing vaccination rate is becoming more pronounced. In future regular vaccinations, we may face low vaccination rates as the increasing number of infections and the fatigue associated with the prolonged outbreak hamper vaccination. Measures need to be found to counter this downward trend such as improving the self-efficacy of the population.

Digital technology adaptation and initiatives: a systematic review of teaching and learning during COVID-19

COVID-19 dramatically influenced students' and staff's learning and teaching experiences and approaches to learning. While many papers examined individual experiences in the context of higher education, synthesising these papers to determine enabling and hindering influences of digital adaptation was needed to guide the next phase of online learning reforms. This study explored the main dimensions of digital technology adaptation in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequences for student and staff experiences and what aspects should be sustained and developed were discussed in this review. A total of 90 articles (published between 1st January 2020 and 30th June 2021) were identified and analysed based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses framework. Four dimensions (with associated sub-factors) were found to influence student and staff experiences: techno-economic;personal and psychological;teaching, learning and assessment;and social. The findings highlighted that an integrated approach, across institutional, technical platforms, and individuals would be required to sustain digital learning initiatives during the crisis time. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12528-023-09376-z.

[Mechanisms and Management of COVID-19-Associated Taste Disorders].

The taste buds in the human tongue contain specialized cells that generate taste signals when they are stimulated. These signals are then transmitted to the central nervous system, allowing the human body to distinguish nutritious substances from toxic or harmful ones. This process is critical to the survival of humans and other mammals. A number of studies have shown that dysgeusia, or taste disorder, is a common complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which can severely affect patients' nutritional intake and quality of life. Based on the physiological process of taste perception, the direct causes of dysgeusia include dysfunction of taste receptors and damage to the taste nervous system, while indirect causes include genetic factors, aging-related changes, bacterial and viral infections, and cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The pathogenic factors of dysgeusia are complicated, further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms, and some of the reported findings and conclusions still need further validation. All these form a great challenge for clinical diagnosis of the cause and targeted treatment of dysgeusia. Herein, we reviewed published research on the physiological process of taste perception, the potential mechanisms of taste disorders related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and strategies for prevention and treatment, providing theoretical support for establishing and improving the comprehensive management of COVID-19 complicated by taste disorders.

Novel coronavirus mutations: Vaccine development and challenges.

The ongoing global pandemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 has a significant impact on global health and economy system. In this context, there have been some landmark advances in vaccine development. Over 100 new coronavirus vaccine candidates have been approved for clinical trials, with ten WHO-approved vaccines including four inactivated virus vaccines, two mRNA vaccines, three recombinant viral vectored vaccines and one protein subunit vaccine on the "Emergency Use Listing". Although the SARS-CoV-2 has an internal proofreading mechanism, there have been a number of mutations emerged in the pandemic affecting its transmissibility, pathogenicity and immunogenicity. Of these, mutations in the spike (S) protein and the resultant mutant variants have posed new challenges for vaccine development and application. In this review article, we present an overview of vaccine development, the prevalence of new coronavirus variants and their impact on protective efficacy of existing vaccines and possible immunization strategies coping with the viral mutation and diversity.

Analysis of factors influencing public employees' work cognition under a public health crisis: A survey of China's response to COVID-19.

The work cognition of public employees lays importance on tackling an escalating health crisis situation. At the micro-level and macro-level, different factors contribute to different degrees of public employees' work cognition. However, there are limited studies examining the work cognition of public employees and its influencing factors, particularly in situations such as a public health crisis. Our research takes China's response to COVID-19 as an example. The data have been taken from six Chinese provinces, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong, through a total of 738 questionnaires and telephonic interviews. Furthermore, this study used a logistic multiple regression model to analyze the factors that influenced the public employees' work cognition when working under a public health crisis. The results of our study showed that at a micro-level, the educational background, attitudes, and actions (initiative, responsibility, administrative capacity, and timeliness of feedback), and their level of concern with work influenced the work cognition of the public employees. At a macro-level, we found that it was the anti-epidemic measures that most influenced public employees' work cognition. Our findings provide important policy implications for emergency preparedness and handling of major emergencies, and have important reference value for the management of public employees and the improvement of national governance capabilities under similar major challenges in the future.

The roles of inactivated vaccines in older patients with infection of Delta variant in Nanjing, China.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading around the world. The COVID-19 vaccines may improve concerns about the pandemic. However, the roles of inactivated vaccines in older patients (aged ≥60 years) with infection of Delta variant were less studied. METHODS: We classified the older patients with infection of Delta variant into three groups based on the vaccination status: no vaccination (group A, n = 113), one dose of vaccination (group B, n = 46), and two doses of vaccination (group C, n = 22). Two inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (BBIBP-CorV or CoronaVac) were evaluated in this study. The demographic data, laboratory parameters, and clinical severity were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 181 older patients with infection of Delta variant were enrolled. 111 (61.3%) patients had one or more co-morbidities. The days of "turn negative" and hospital stay in Group C were lower than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). The incidences of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute kidney injury, and cardiac injury in Group A were higher than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). The MV-free days and ICU-free days during 28 days in Group A were also lower than those in the other groups (P < 0.05). In patients with co-morbidities, vaccinated cases had lower incidences of MODS (P = 0.015), septic shock (P = 0.015), and ARDS (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: The inactivated COVID-19 vaccines were effective in improving the clinical severity of older patients with infection of Delta variant.

[Omicron Variant of SARS-CoV-2 and Its Potential Impact on Dental Practice].

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been raging across the world for over two years, but the daily reported numbers of new infections and deaths are still increasing. The newly identified Omicron variant has significant changes in its transmissibility and pathogenicity due to the multiple mutations in the spike protein, posing new challenges to the global public health. World Health Organization has categorized Omicron as a variant of concern (VOC). The spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants has caused disruptions to the dental practice worldwide. During the course of diagnosis and treatment of dental care, face-to-face communication at close quarters, droplets, aerosols, and exposure to saliva and blood increase the risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The emergence of new variants, especially the Omicron variant, has formed new challenges to dental healthcare provision. In addition, oral tissues, including the tongue and oral mucosa, can overexpress the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is also the binding receptors of SARS-CoV-2. As a result, the oral cavity is one of the target sites of SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection in oral cavity may cause different oral complications, such as loss of taste. However, there are few reports about Omicron and the other variants of SARS-CoV-2 and their impacts on dental healthcare provision. Herein we made an overview of the Omicron variant and its characteristics, including its pathogenicity and immune evasion, and its potential impact on dental practice. We also proposed some control measures with the aim of reducing the possible transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants during dental care.

Changes in Serum Neutralizing Antibodies Levels During Convalescence of COVID-19 Patients.

Detection of serum-specific SARS-CoV-2 antibody has become a complementary means for the identification of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As we already know, the neutralizing antibody titers in patients with COVID-19 decrease during the course of time after convalescence, whereas the duration of antibody responses in the convalescent patients has not been defined clearly. In the current study, we collected 148 serum samples from 37 confirmed COVID-19 cases with different disease severities. The neutralizing antibodies (Nabs), IgM and IgG against COVID-19 were determined by CLIA Microparticle and microneutralization assay, respectively. The time duration of serum titers of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were recorded. Our results indicate that IgG (94.44%) and Nabs (89.19%) can be detected at low levels within 190-266 days of disease onset. The findings can advance knowledge regarding the antibody detection results for COVID-19 patients and provide a method for evaluating the immune response after vaccination.

[Recent Developments and Future Directions of Oral Healthcare System and Dental Public Health System in China in Light of the Current Global Emergency].

The study is aimed to help promote the development of the oral healthcare system and dental public health system in China and to help achieve the goal of improving the nation's oral health. We herein provided an overview and critical evaluation of recent developments in oral healthcare systems and dental public health systems in China and other countries, and discussed a number of potential directions for the future development of dental public health. The current global public health emergency of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was also taken into account in our discussions. Thus, to facilitate the accomplishment of the goals of the Healthy China 2030 Program, we suggested the establishment of a community-based, prevention-oriented model for the oral healthcare system and dental public health system. The model we proposed features the integration of oral and general health services, the utilization of technological innovations and big data concerning health, and a forceful promotion of remote dental services focused on prevention and early diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, under the background of COVID-19 becoming a normal part of people's lives, we should adopt differentiated prevention and protection measures and emergency response preplans appropriate for the actual epidemic situation of a particular region so that clinical services are strengthened while unnecessary wastes of resources are avoided. We should actively explore for alternative approaches to care in the face of special circumstances.

Emergence of a young case infected with avian influenza A (H5N6) in Anhui Province, East China during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, we investigated the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of a young patient infected by avian influenza A (H5N6) virus in Anhui Province, East China, and analyzed genomic features of the pathogen in 2020. Through the cross-sectional investigation of external environment monitoring (December 29-31, 2020), 1909 samples were collected from Fuyang City. It was found that the positive rate of H5N6 was higher than other areas obviously in Tianma poultry market, where the case appeared. In addition, dual coinfections were detected with a 0.057% polymerase chain reaction positive rate the surveillance years. The virus was the clade 2.3.4.4, which was most likely formed by genetic reassortment between H5N6 and H9N2 viruses. This study found that the evolution rates of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of the virus were higher than those of common seasonal influenza viruses. The virus was still highly pathogenic to poultry and had a preference for avian receptor binding.

A cross-sectional study of olfactory and taste disorders among COVID-19 patients in China.

To determine the prevalence and clinical features of olfactory and taste disorders among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in China. A cross-sectional study was performed in Wuhan from April 3, 2020 to April 15, 2020. A total of 187 patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) completed face-to-face interviews or telephone follow-ups. We found that the prevalence of olfactory and taste disorders was significantly lower in the Chinese cohort than in foreign COVID-19 cohorts. Females were more prone to olfactory and taste disorders. In some patients, olfactory and taste disorders precede other symptoms and can be used as early screening and warning signs.

Wax-oil lubricants to reduce the shear between skin and PPE.

Prolonged use of tight-fitting PPE, e.g., by COVID-19 healthcare workers leads to skin injuries. An important contributor is the shear exerted on the skin due to static friction at the skin-PPE interface. This study aims to develop an optimised wax-oil lubricant that reduces the friction, or shear, in the skin-PPE contact for up to four hours. Lubricants with different wax-oil combinations were prepared using beeswax, paraffin wax, olive oil, and mineral oil. In-vivo friction measurements involving seven participants were conducted by sliding a polydimethylsiloxane ball against the volar forearms to simulate the skin-PPE interface. The maximum static coefficient of friction was measured immediately and four hours after lubricant application. It was found that the coefficient of friction of wax-oil lubricants is mainly governed by the ratio of wax to oil and the thermal stability and morphology of the wax. To maintain long-term lubricity, it is crucial to consider the absorption of oil into the PPE material. The best performing lubricant is a mixture of 20 wt% beeswax, 40 wt% olive oil, and 40 wt% mineral oil, which compared to unlubricated skin, provides 87% (P = 0.0006) and 59% (P = 0.0015) reduction in instantaneous and 4-h coefficient of friction, respectively.

[Routine Epidemic Prevention and Control and Treatment Process Reengineering of Outpatient Dental Care].

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the most severe global public health emergency in over a hundred years. We have collected and organized prevention and control information from China and other counties and used it as an important reference for designing routine epidemic prevention and control measures and treatment process reengineering of outpatient dental services. Suggestions are made in the following aspects: standard precaution is adopted for all patients based on situational risk assessment conducted by the medical staffs; transmission-based precautions are adopted in addition while caring for patients who are suspected of or have been confirmed of having infectious diseases, in which scenario, standard precautions may not be enough; regarding clinical services, the triage process should be further improved, clinical service delivery areas should be redesigned to maximize safe distances, minimally invasive dentistry procedures should be prioritized for treatment, and postponement of treatment should be recommended appropriately; infection prevention and control guidelines should be regularly updated and relevant trainings provided to the medical staffs accordingly; COVID-19 incidents associated with delivery of dental care should be documented and evaluated; it is also important to communicate with Chinese and international colleagues and stress research and professional training.

Research Progress of Peracetic Acid Inactivation of Virus in Wastewater Disinfection

Peracetic acid( PAA),a high-efficiency broad-spectrum disinfectant,is recommended by the government for the prevention and control of new coronavirus epidemics.The basic properties of PAA and its efficient ability of inactivating viruses were introduced in this review.The disinfection principle of PAA was clarified and the advantages of PAA were analyzed by comparing with other disinfection methods.Finally, the paper summarized the application methods of PAA in practical disinfection,in order to provide reference for its application in the prevention and control of new coronavirus epidemics.

Evaluating lubricant performance to reduce COVID-19 PPE-related skin injury.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers around the world are experiencing skin injury due to the extended use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. These injuries are the result of high shear stresses acting on the skin, caused by friction with the PPE. This study aims to provide a practical lubricating solution for frontline medical staff working a 4+ hours shift wearing PPE. METHODS: A literature review into skin friction and skin lubrication was conducted to identify products and substances that can reduce friction. We evaluated the lubricating performance of commercially available products in vivo using a custom-built tribometer. FINDINGS: Most lubricants provide a strong initial friction reduction, but only few products provide lubrication that lasts for four hours. The response of skin to friction is a complex interplay between the lubricating properties and durability of the film deposited on the surface and the response of skin to the lubricating substance, which include epidermal absorption, occlusion, and water retention. INTERPRETATION: Talcum powder, a petrolatum-lanolin mixture, and a coconut oil-cocoa butter-beeswax mixture showed excellent long-lasting low friction. Moisturising the skin results in excessive friction, and the use of products that are aimed at 'moisturising without leaving a non-greasy feel' should be prevented. Most investigated dressings also demonstrate excellent performance.

Yidu-toxicity blocking lung decoction ameliorates inflammation in severe pneumonia of SARS-COV-2 patients with Yidu-toxicity blocking lung syndrome by eliminating IL-6 and TNF-a.

The present study investigates the differences in inflammatory agents alterations, immune function, and leukocyte differential count evaluation in severe pneumonia of SARS-COV-2 patients with Yidu-toxicity blocking lung syndrome after the recommended Chinese medicine prescription of Yidu-toxicity blocking lung decoction. A total of 40 patients with yidu-toxicity blocking lung syndrome, diagnosed as severe pneumonia of SARS-COV-2 following the latest Chinese national recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia caused by SARS-COV-2 (the 5th edition), were recruited. They were randomly divided into the pure western medicine therapy group (PWM) and integrated into Chinese and Western medicine therapy group (ICW). The general strategies were given to both groups according to the national recommendations, and the ICW group was given Yidu-toxicity blocking lung decoction extraorally. A radioimmunoassay method was adopted to detect the content of IL-6, IL-8,IL-2R,TNF-α, procalcitonin (PCT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in sera. Flow cytometry was used to determine the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets (the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and the ratios of CD4+/CD8+). The white blood cell counts (WBC#), neutrophils count(N#), and lymphocyte counts (L#) were measured using a fully automatic blood rheological instrument. The t-test or Rank Sum Test and Spearman analysis were conducted to evaluate the differences. The results showed that IL-6 (P = 0.013) and TNF-α (P = 0.035) levels in the PWM group were significantly higher than those in the ICW group after treatment. Infection related indicators such as WBC#, N#, L#, hs-CRP showed no differences. The analysis showed that there was no statistical difference in the values of CD4 and CD8 between the two groups. By the end of Day 29, all patients were discharged and the final cure rate for both group were 100 %. Taken together, we conclude that Yidu-toxicity blocking lung decoction could relieve inflammation of SARS-COV-2 patients with yidu-toxicity blocking lung syndrome by eliminating inflammatory agents. CM can serve as a complementary medication to western medicine, which should be highlighted in clinical settings.