Common mtDNA variations at C5178a and A249d/T6392C/G10310A decrease the risk of severe COVID-19 in a Han Chinese population from Central China.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondria have been shown to play vital roles during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) development. Currently, it is unclear whether mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants, which define mtDNA haplogroups and determine oxidative phosphorylation performance and reactive oxygen species production, are associated with COVID-19 risk. METHODS: A population-based case-control study was conducted to compare the distribution of mtDNA variations defining mtDNA haplogroups between healthy controls (n = 615) and COVID-19 patients (n = 536). COVID-19 patients were diagnosed based on molecular diagnostics of the viral genome by qPCR and chest X-ray or computed tomography scanning. The exclusion criteria for the healthy controls were any history of disease in the month preceding the study assessment. MtDNA variants defining mtDNA haplogroups were identified by PCR-RFLPs and HVS-I sequencing and determined based on mtDNA phylogenetic analysis using Mitomap Phylogeny. Student's t-test was used for continuous variables, and Pearson's chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables. To assess the independent effect of each mtDNA variant defining mtDNA haplogroups, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with adjustments for possible confounding factors of age, sex, smoking and diseases (including cardiopulmonary diseases, diabetes, obesity and hypertension) as determined through clinical and radiographic examinations. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the most common investigated mtDNA variations (> 10% in the control population) at C5178a (in NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene, ND2) and A249d (in the displacement loop region, D-loop)/T6392C (in cytochrome c oxidase I gene, CO1)/G10310A (in ND3) were associated with a reduced risk of severe COVID-19 (OR = 0.590, 95% CI 0.428-0.814, P = 0.001; and OR = 0.654, 95% CI 0.457-0.936, P = 0.020, respectively), while A4833G (ND2), A4715G (ND2), T3394C (ND1) and G5417A (ND2)/C16257a (D-loop)/C16261T (D-loop) were related to an increased risk of severe COVID-19 (OR = 2.336, 95% CI 1.179-4.608, P = 0.015; OR = 2.033, 95% CI 1.242-3.322, P = 0.005; OR = 3.040, 95% CI 1.522-6.061, P = 0.002; and OR = 2.890, 95% CI 1.199-6.993, P = 0.018, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to explore the association of mtDNA variants with individual's risk of developing severe COVID-19. Based on the case-control study, we concluded that the common mtDNA variants at C5178a and A249d/T6392C/G10310A might contribute to an individual's resistance to developing severe COVID-19, whereas A4833G, A4715G, T3394C and G5417A/C16257a/C16261T might increase an individual's risk of developing severe COVID-19.

Single-stage soft tissue reconstruction and orbital fracture repair for complex facial injuries.

BACKGROUND: Orbital fractures with open periorbital wounds cause significant morbidity. Timing of debridement with fracture repair and soft tissue reconstruction is controversial. This study focuses on the efficacy of early single-stage repair in combined bony and soft tissue injuries. METHODS: Retrospective review. Twenty-three patients with combined open soft tissue wounds and orbital fractures were studied for single-stage orbital reconstruction and periorbital soft tissue repair. Inclusion criteria were open soft tissue wounds with clinical and radiographic evidence of orbital fractures and repair performed within 48 h after injury. Surgical complications and reconstructive outcomes were assessed over 6 months. RESULTS: The main outcome measures were enophthalmos, pre- and post-CT imaging of orbits, scar evaluation, presence of diplopia, and eyelid position. Enophthalmos was corrected in 16/19 cases and improved in 3/19 cases. 3D reconstruction of CT images showed markedly improved orbital alignment with objective measurements of the optic foramen to cornea distance (mm) in reconstructed orbits relative to intact orbits of 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] (lower 0.33, upper 0.99) mm. The mean baseline of Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale was 0.6, 95%CI (0.30-0.92), and for 6 months, the mean score was 3.4, 95%CI (3.05-3.73). Residual diplopia in secondary gazes was present in two patients; one patient had ectropion. Complications included one case of local wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: An early single-stage repair of combined soft tissue and orbital fractures yields satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcomes. Complications are low and likely related to trauma severity.

The correlation between pancreatic steatosis and metabolic syndrome in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and hepatic steatosis showed a strong correlation with metabolic syndrome. However, data on the influence of pancreatic steatosis on metabolic syndrome are lacking. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to perform the prevalence of pancreatic steatosis in adults and its association with metabolic syndrome in a Chinese population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, randomly selected. A total of 1190 health examination subjects were recruited. Pancreatic steatosis or hepatic steatosis was diagnosed via trans-abdominal sonography. The clinical and metabolic parameters were compared between the two groups, and their associations with pancreatic steatosis were examined. RESULTS: The prevalence of pancreatic steatosis was 30.7%. The presence of pancreatic steatosis was significantly increased by age, gender, central obesity, hepatic steatosis, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia. In the logistic regression analysis, age (P < 0.05), central obesity (P < 0.01), diabetes (P < 0.05), hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.05) and hepatic steatosis (P < 0.01) were independently associated with pancreatic steatosis. The number of the parameters of the metabolic syndrome in pancreatic steatosis group was more than that in non-pancreatic steatosis group [(2.5 ± 1.1) vs (1.4 ± 1.2)] (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The pancreatic steatosis is strongly associated with the parameters of metabolic syndrome, such as central obesity, diabetes, and hepatic steatosis.

[The effect of different etching time on enamel lesions of deciduous teeth].

PURPOSE: To study the effect of etching time on the demineralization of deciduous teeth enamel using confocal laser scanning microscope. METHODS: Twenty-eight primary incisors were used in this experiment. Each incisor was created 4 rectangular windows in the labial surface. The 4 windows of each tooth were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups with different etching time of 30s(A), 60s(B), 90s(C) and 120s(D). All the treatment groups were applied with 32% phosphoric acid gel. After staining by 0.1 mmol/L rhodamine B, the examination of the demineralization regions were performed by a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The data was analyzed by test of normality and S-N-K analysis with SPSS 11.0 software package. RESULTS: As the etching time increased, the CLSM band was thickening,but the scales-liked structure was becoming unsharp.All the three parameters, area of the fluorescent lesion(FLA), average lesion fluorescence(AF) and total lesion fluorescence(TF) were increasing. The FLA value of A,B,C,D were (5.5 + or - 1.6) x 10(2) microm(2), (7.4 + or - 2.7) x 10(2) microm(2), (9.2 + or - 3.0) x 10(2)microm(2), (9.6 + or - 2.9) x 10(2) microm(2); The TF value of A,B,C,D were (3.5 + or - 1.3) x 10(4), (5.7 + or - 2.9) x 10(4), (8.3 + or - 3.6) x 10(4), (9.7 + or - 3.4) x 10(4); The AF value of A,B,C,D were 128.4 + or - 35.3,166.6 + or - 21.1, 200.8 + or - 19.4 and 219.1 + or - 12.8,respectively. The pairwise comparison of AF showed significant difference between the four groups, while there was no significant difference between group C(90s) and group D(120s) in both FLA and TF. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of demineralization increases with the etching time. Etching time has a large effect on the profile of demineralization.Supported by Research Fund of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(Grant No.074119644 and 08DZ2271100) and Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (Grant No.S30206).