[Analysis of liver function injury associated with 2019-nCoV Omicron mutant strains].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and influencing factors of liver function injury in patients with 2019-nCoV/SARS-CoV-2 Omicron mutant strains. Methods: 1 183 confirmed imported cases of SARS-CoV-2 who were admitted at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (affiliated to Fudan University) from July 1, 2021 to January 15, 2022 were collected. Clinical data, viral genotyping and laboratory test results were collected to retrospectively analyze the basic condition and clinical characteristics of liver function injury. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test, χ2 test or Fisher's exact test, Pearson correlation test and logistic regression analysis. Results: 125 (10.6%) cases had raised baseline ALT level and 60 (5.1%) cases had abnormal baseline AST level. Among them, 33 cases (2.8%) had received hepatoprotective drugs. Liver function injury was generally mild in SARS-CoV-2 infection and minimal in Omicron mutant strains. Leukocyte count was increased in patients with raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) [(6.96±1.78)×109/L vs. (6.41±1.96)×109/L, P=0.005 2], CT scan showed the proportion of liver hypodensity was significantly increased (2.4% vs. 0.3%, P=0.018 0). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein [(7.83±22.36) mg/L vs. (2.68±6.21) mg/L, P=0.007 8] and D-dimer [(0.34±0.39) µg/ml vs. (0.31±0.75) µg/ml, P=0.047 5] levels were higher in patients with raised AST than normal group. 26 cases had normal liver function at hospital admission; however, abnormal liver function was occurred during the course of the disease. Another 8 patients had abnormal liver function at hospital admission, and reduced liver function further during the course of treatment. Recovery time and length of hospital stay was significantly affected in patients with worsened liver function. Baseline body mass index value [odds ratio (OR)]=1.80, P=0.047), non-Omicron strains (OR=12.63, P=0.046), D-dimer (OR=2.36, P=0.047) and interleukin-6 levels (OR=1.03, P=0.009), and those who used glucocorticoids and/or ulinastatin after hospital admission (OR=6.89, P=0.034) had a higher risk of worsening liver function. Conclusions: Liver dysfunction could be observed among COVID-19 patients. Patients infected with omicron variant generally showed mild liver injury. Dynamic monitoring of liver function is necessary, especially among those with baseline elevated IL-6, D-Dimer level and use of antiinflammation medication during treatment.

[The distribution of blood eosinophils and the related clinical characteristics in chronic obCOPD patients].

Objective: To analyze the distribution of blood eosinophils (EOS) in COPD patients in the community and outpatient clinics, and to study the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of COPD patients with high EOS counts. Methods: This study included 237 patients with stable COPD, of which the median age was 68 years and males accounted for 81.2%. There were 45 community patients from the China Pulmonary Health study conducted in 2012-2013 and another 192 outpatients who attended the Respiratory Department of Peking University Third Hospital from August 2013 to November 2014 or from September 2015 to May 2018. Taking 100 cells/µl as the cut-off value, it was divided into high EOS group (146 people, 61.6%) and low EOS group (91 people, 38.4%). We compared demographic characteristics, respiratory symptoms, acute exacerbation, lung function, inflammation, imaging and other indicators. Results: The median EOS count of community patients was 110.4 cells/µl, and that of outpatients was 110.0 cells/µl. There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of blood EOS among community and outpatients. The median EOS count of the general population was 110.0 cells/µl, and the median percentage was 1.8%. EOS≥300 cells/µl accounted for 11.4%. In the high EOS group, the percentage of male gender was higher (85.6% vs 74.7%), the GOLD grade was more severe, and the percentage of neutrophils was lower (61.70% vs 64.70%) (P<0.05 for these three characteristics). After multivariate analysis, the high EOS group was closely related to older age (OR=1.035, 95%CI:1.004-1.067, P=0.029), heavier GOLD grade (P=0.015) and lower percentage of neutrophils (OR=0.956, 95%CI:0.923-0.991, P=0.015). Conclusion: The distribution of blood EOS of COPD patients between the community and the outpatient clinics is not significantly different. About 60% of COPD patients have blood EOS≥100 cells/µl, which is associated with advanced age, male, severe airflow limitation, and low neutrophils.

[Impact of PM2.5 on daily outpatient numbers for respiratory diseases in Shenzhen, China].

Objective: To assess the association between the concentration of the air pollutant PM2.5 and daily outpatient visits for respiratory disease. Methods: All records of daily outpatient visits to three hospitals in Shenzhen from January 1 to December 31, 2013 were collected. Daily air pollution monitoring and meteorology data from the same period were also collected in Shenzhen. The data were analyzed using a semiparametric generalized additive model with Poisson distribution of time series analysis controlling for long-term and seasonal trends, flu, DOW, public holidays, and meteorological factors. The excess risk(ER)of respiratory disease and its 95% CI value were calculated, along with the incremental increase of 10 µg/m3 in PM2.5 concentration. Results: Number of outpatient visits for respiratory diseases totaled 1 428 672(daily range: 1 790-5 228). The annual average PM2.5 concentration was 40.2 µg/m3(daily range: 7.2-137.1 µg/m3). The lag1 factor had the most significant impact on the lag effect. We estimated that a 10 µ g/m3 increase in day-before PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 1.809%(95% CI: 1.709%-1.909%)ER of visits for respiratory disease. After controlling for other pollutants(NO2, CO, and O3), the effect remained stable. When NO2, CO, and O3 were introduced separately, for every 10 µg/m3 rise in PM2.5 concentration, the excess risk of daily outpatient visits for respiratory disease was 1.814%(95% CI: 1.706%-1.923%), 2.780%(95% CI: 2.668%-2.892%), and 1.513%(95% CI: 1.403%-1.624%), respectively. With simultaneous control of NO2 and O3, NO2 and CO, and CO and O3, for every 10 µg/m3 rise in PM2.5 concentration, the excess risk of respiratory disease was 1.369%(95% CI: 1.242%-1.497%), 2.709%(95% CI: 2.590%-2.828%), and 2.577%(95% CI: 2.452%-2.702%), respectively. With simultaneous control of NO2, CO, and O3, for every 10 µg/m3 rise in PM2.5 concentration, the excess risk of respiratory disease was 2.370%(95% CI: 2.231%-2.509%). Conclusions: PM2.5 can increase the risk of outpatient visits for respiratory disease in Shenzhen.

Nanopillars by cesium chloride self-assembly and dry etching.

We introduce a method combining cesium chloride self-assembly and inductively coupled plasma to fabricate nanopillars with uniform coverage over an entire 4 inch prepatterned silicon wafer. This method can produce pillars with average diameters ranging from 50 nm to 1.5 µm, aspect ratios up to 13 and coverage ratios above 35%. Cesium chloride self-assembly utilizes the deliquescence of salt, with advantages of excellent tunability, high aspect ratio and potential for micro/nano mixed structures, which makes this technology promising in the areas of MEMS, solar cells, batteries, light emitting diodes, etc.

[The installing method and sterilizing effect of ultraviolet lamp].

Among the four types of installing method and sterilizing effect of ultraviolet lamp in China and abroad, the non-shaded suspending type was the best in this study. In a 24. 5m3 dress changing room, the bacterial numbers reached less than III class standard after one hour of irradiation. The shaded suspending type, the mobile cart-pushing type and the fixed wall-adhesive type decreased the sterilizing effect due to the obstruction of 20% approximately 40% ultraviolet irradiation by the back space of the lamp shade, and it took two hours of sterilization to reach the III class standard which maintained only one hour, Therefore, there was significant differences between the sterilizing effect of the non-shaded suspending type and that of other installing methods.