Type III interferon exerts thymic stromal lymphopoietin in mediating adaptive antiviral immune response.

Previously, it was believed that type III interferon (IFN-III) has functions similar to those of type I interferon (IFN-I). However, recently, emerging findings have increasingly indicated the non-redundant role of IFN-III in innate antiviral immune responses. Still, the regulatory activity of IFN-III in adaptive immune response has not been clearly reported yet due to the low expression of IFN-III receptors on most immune cells. In the present study, we reviewed the adjuvant, antiviral, antitumor, and disease-moderating activities of IFN-III in adaptive immunity; moreover, we further elucidated the mechanisms of IFN-III in mediating the adaptive antiviral immune response in a thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)-dependent manner, a pleiotropic cytokine involved in mucosal adaptive immunity. Research has shown that IFN-III can enhance the antiviral immunogenic response in mouse species by activating germinal center B (GC B) cell responses after stimulating TSLP production by microfold (M) cells, while in human species, TSLP exerts OX40L for regulating GC B cell immune responses, which may also depend on IFN-III. In conclusion, our review highlights the unique role of the IFN-III/TSLP axis in mediating host adaptive immunity, which is mechanically different from IFN-I. Therefore, the IFN-III/TSLP axis may provide novel insights for clinical immunotherapy.

[The one-stage technology of epiglottis function and voice reconstruction after total laryngectomy with the sternohyoid myocutaneous flap].

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of one-stage sternohyoid musculocutaneous flap after total laryngectomy for reconstruction of epiglottis function and vocalization. Methods:A retrospective analysis of 8 patients who underwent total laryngectomy from November 2019 to September 2020. The sternohyoid myocutaneous flap was designed after total laryngectomy. The lower edge of the flap was sewed with the posterior upper edge of the tracheostomy opening, and the lateral and medial edges of the flap were anastomosed to create a vocal tube. The lateral edge of the upper end of tube was sutured with the anterolateral wall of the hypopharynx, then made full use of residual epiglottis and tongue root tissue to reconstruct epiglottis function. Results:None of the 8 patients had serious complications after total laryngectomies. Fifteen months after operation,the vocal tube flaps survived and had intact structure under fiberoptic laryngoscope. All patients could speak clearly and forcefully, and the swallowing function was intact. Conclusion:The use of adjacent myocutaneous flap to construct the vocal canal and reconstruct the epiglottis function is a simple and effective technique that can be completed in one stage and improve the voicing of patients undergoing total laryngectomy.

Sleep quality was associated with adverse reactions after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination among healthcare workers: A longitudinal paired study.

Background: Many countries have currently relied on various types of vaccines for the public to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The adverse reactions (ARs) after vaccination may affect vaccination coverage and confidence. However, whether sleep quality was associated with ARs after vaccination remains unclear. Methods: We designed a longitudinal paired study within a hospital setting. We collected data about the side effects within 7 days after two doses of scheduled vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs). All HCWs were asked to complete a sleep survey indexed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before vaccination and after a 1-month follow-up. Then, we explored the relationship between sleep quality before or after vaccination and the occurrence of ARs. Results: A total of 345 HCWs were recruited to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The sleep quality became worse after vaccination. All local and systemic reactions were mild or moderate in severity (32.46%), and no serious adverse event was reported. Binary logistic regression showed participants with poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5) than good sleep quality (PSQI ≤ 5) before the two doses of vaccination, respectively, exhibited 1.515 and 1.107 times risk of ARs after each vaccination (both p < 0.001). Conclusion: There is an apparently complex bidirectional relationship between sleep quality and COVID-19 vaccination adverse effects. Poor sleep quality significantly increases the risk of mild ARs after vaccination, while vaccination may cause a temporary decline in sleep quality.

Altered Lipid Profile Is a Risk Factor for the Poor Progression of COVID-19: From Two Retrospective Cohorts.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread worldwide. However, the impact of baseline lipid profile on clinical endpoints in COVID-19 and the potential effect of COVID-19 on lipid profile remain unclear. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we consecutively enrolled 430 adult COVID-19 patients from two Chinese hospitals (one each in Chengdu and Wuhan). The lipid profile before admission and during the disease course and the clinical endpoint including in-hospital death or oropharyngeal swab test positive again (OSTPA) after discharge were collected. We used Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression to explore the lipid risk factors before admission associated with endpoints. Then, we assessed the lipid level change along with the disease course to determine the relationship between pathology alteration and the lipid change. Results: In the Chengdu cohort, multivariable Cox regression showed that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) dyslipidemia before admission was associated with OSTPA after discharge for COVID-19 patients (RR: 2.51, 95% CI: 1.19, 5.29, p = 0.006). In the Wuhan cohort, the patients with triglyceride (TG) dyslipidemia had an increased risk of in-hospital death (RR: 1.92, 95% CI: 1.08, 3.60, p = 0.016). In addition, in both cohorts, the lipid levels gradually decreased in the in-hospital death or OSTPA subgroups since admission. On admission, we also noticed the relationship between the biomarkers of inflammation and the organ function measures and this lipid level in both cohorts. For example, after adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, smoking, and drinking status, the C-reactive protein level was negatively associated with the TC lipid level [ß (SE) = -0.646 (0.219), p = 0.005]. However, an increased level of alanine aminotransferase, which indicates impaired hepatic function, was positively associated with total cholesterol (TC) lipid levels in the Chengdu cohort [ß (SE) = 0.633 (0.229), p = 0.007]. Conclusions: The baseline dyslipidemia should be considered as a risk factor for poor prognosis of COVID-19. However, lipid levels may be altered during the COVID-19 course, since lipidology may be distinctly affected by both inflammation and organic damage for SARS-CoV-2.

Job-related factors associated with changes in sleep quality among healthcare workers screening for 2019 novel coronavirus infection: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders may exacerbate many physical and mental health conditions, causing difficulty function in a healthcare setting. Workers screening for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection have a high risk of not only occupational exposure to the virus but also sleep disorders. However, the job-related factors associated with reduced sleep quality remain unclear. METHODS: All healthcare workers temporarily scheduled to screen the 2019-nCoV patients were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire that included questions on demographics, job-related factors, and sleep quality as assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Sleep quality was assessed over a one-month follow-up period. RESULTS: A total of 116 doctors and 99 nurses were recruited for this study. The total scheduled work time was 14.78 ± 6.69 days during follow-up. Some job-related factors, such as number of work days, years of work experience, and subjective psychological stress, were associated with changes in the PSQI score. During the study, some workers tried out cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for sleep disorders using methods that were available online and easily accessible. Adopting online CBT was shown to be associated with scores of components of sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbance (ß = -0.152, P = 0.01; ß = -0.175, P = 0.008; and ß = -0.158, P = 0.011, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare workers involved in screening for 2019-nCoV experienced reduced sleep quality, and a reasonable work schedule may help with maintaining sleep quality. In addition, interventions for healthcare workers should target self-help sleep assistance.

[Effect of cisplatin on the potassium channels of spiral ganglion neurons from neonatal rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cisplatin on outward delayed rectifier potassium currents (IKDR currents) in isolated spiral ganglion neurons cells and to analyze possible intracellular mechanism of this effects by using the patch-clamp technique. METHOD: The IKDR was recorded and measured before and after the application of 10 micromol/L cisplatin in external solution by using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. RESULT: Cisplatin could inhibit SGNs voltage-dependent potassium channels, the zero current potential and reversal potential of IKDR currents were both shift to polarizing directions by 10 micromol/L cisplatin. Moreover, the maximal magnitude of IKDR currents were decreased by 23.3% when giving the test pulse at +50 mV. Cisplatin's inhibition on IKDR has dose-dependence with cisplatin-concentration in extracellular fluid and the currents recovered completely after cisplatin being washed out. CONCLUSION: This research explained the toxic mechanism of cisplatin through its action on keeping from spiral ganglion neuron's IKDR from the electrophysiological aspect and set a foundation for further research.