ABSTRACT
Background: To adapt the scientific evaluation tool for the confusion evaluation of health rumors and to test this tool to the confusion evaluation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related health rumors on Chinese online platforms during the outbreak period of COVID-19in China. Methods: The design of our study was systematic evaluation of COVID-19-related health rumors. Retrieved from 7 rumor-repellent platforms, rumors about COVID-19 were collected during the publication from December 1, 2019, to February 6, 2020, and their origins were traced. Researchers evaluated rumors using the confusion evaluation tool in 6 dimensions(creators, evidence selection, evidence evaluation, evidence application, backing and publication platform, conflict of interest). Items were scored using a seven-point Likert scale. The scores were converted into percentages, and the median of rumors from different sources was compared with rank-sum test. Results: Our research included 127 rumors. Scores were converted to percentages, median and interquartile range are used to describe the data. The median score: creators 25.00%(interquartile range, IQR, 16.67-37.50%), evidence selection 27.78% (IQR, 13.89-44.44%),evidence evaluation 33.33% (IQR, 25.00-45.83%), evidence application 36.11% (IQR, 22.22-47.22%), backing and publication platform 8.33% (IQR, 4.17-20.83%), conflict of interest75.00% (IQR, 50.00-83.33%). Almost 40% rumors came from WeChat and the rumors with the lowest scores were concentrated on the WeChat platform. The rumors about prevention methods have relatively lower scores. Conclusion: Most rumors included were not highly confusing for evaluators of this project.WeChat is the "worst-hit area" of COVID-19 related health rumors. More than half rumors focus on the description of prevention methods, which reflects the panic, anxiety and blind conformity of the public under public health emergencies.
ABSTRACT
Objective To induce embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to differentiate into the renal cells in vitro and to spontaneously form the kidney-like structures including glomerular, proximal tubules, distal tubules and vascular network. Methods ESCs were cultured to 40%-50% of confluence. Under the action of cytokine FGF9 and CHIR99021,the differentiation of ESCs was induced to form a kidney-like structure, which was examined by im-munofluorescence staining and electron microscopy to observe its internal structures and take photo-images. Results Through the action of cytokine FGF9 and CHIR99021, ESCs can be induced to differentiate into renal like struc-tures containing glomerular, proximal tubules, distal tubules and vascular network, which were confirmed by the structural identification. Conclusions The kidney-like structure generated by the differentiation of ESCs contains complete renal units and vascular network,which is similar to the normal kidney.
