Clinical characteristics and analysis of risk factors for disease progression of patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection: A retrospective study of 25207 cases in a Fangcang hospital.

Objectives: To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant and explore the risk factors affecting the progression in a Fangcang hospital, Shanghai, China. Methods: A total of 25,207 patients were retrospectively enrolled. We described the clinical characteristics and performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for non-severe to severe COVID-19 or death. Results: According to the outcomes, there were 39 severe patients (including 1 death) and 25,168 non-severe patients enrolled in this study. Among the 25,207 cases, the median age was 45 years (IQR 33-54), and 65% patients were male. Cough (44.5%) and expectoration (38.4%) were the most two common symptoms. Hypertension (10.4%) and diabetes (3.5%) were most two common comorbidities. Most patients (81.1%) were fully vaccinated. The unvaccinated and partially vaccinated patients were 15.1% and 3.9%, respectively. The length of viral shedding time was six days (IQR 4-9) in non-severe patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that age (OR=1.062, 95%CI 1.034-1.090, p<0.001), fever (OR=2.603, 95%CI 1.061-6.384, p=0.037), cough (OR=0.276, 95%CI 0.119-0.637, p=0.003), fatigue (OR=4.677, 95%CI 1.976-11.068, p<0.001), taste disorders (OR=14.917, 95%CI 1.884-118.095, p=0.010), and comorbidity (OR=2.134, 95%CI 1.059-4.302, p=0.034) were predictive factors for deterioration of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant infection. Conclusions: Non-critical patients have different clinical characteristics from critical patients. Age, fever, cough, fatigue, taste disorders, and comorbidity are predictors for the deterioration of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant infection.

Enhanced response of sensor on serotonin using nickel-reduced graphene oxide by atomic layer deposition.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a promising method for preparing nanomaterials. The thickness and uniformity of nanomaterials can be precisely controlled. Hence, the uniform Ni nanoparticles (Ni NPs) deposited on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by ALD and got the optimal combination interface. The morphology, structure, and electrochemical behavior of Ni NPs-rGO nanocomposite are investigated. By experiment results, the Ni NPs could occupy some active surface of rGO, resulting in high conductivity and large specific surface area of Ni NPs-rGO nanocomposite. The Ni NPs-rGO nanocomposite exhibits high electrocatalytic activity for serotonin and speeds up the electron transfer between the surface of the electrode and the solution. Therefore, the sensor is prepared by Ni NPs-rGO nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and used to sensitive detection of serotonin. By differential pulse voltammetric, the Ni NPs-rGO/GCE enhanced the current responses and showed a wide linear range of 0.02-2 µM with a low detection of 0.01 µM for serotonin (S/N = 3). The Ni NPs-rGO/GCE exhibited good stability, selectivity, and anti-interference ability that can be used for real sample detection. According to these results, the Ni NPs-rGO nanocompositeis successfully prepared by ALD. The properties of Ni NPs-rGO nanocomposite make it an attractive material for potential applications in sensors and catalysis.

An atomic-layer NiO-BaTiO3 nanocomposite for use in electrochemical sensing of serotonin.

The NiO films were deposited on the surface of BaTiO3 (BTO) by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The thickness of NiO film was controlled by the number of ALD cycles, which the optimum number of ALD cycles were 400 cycles. The morphology of NiO-BTO nanocomposite was observed by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscopy. The sensor based on NiO-BTO nanocomposite displays good electrocatalytic activity and high sensitivity for serotonin (at 0.36 V vs. Ag/AgCl). In the range of 0.05-5 µM, the concentrations of serotonin are linearly related to current intensity and the detection limit is 0.03 µM (S/N = 3). The NiO-BTO/GCE was successfully applied in serum samples. It shows that the NiO-BTO nanocomposite prepared by ALD can serve as electrochemical sensor devices and applications in the fields of biosensors.

Clinical Application of BI-RADS（5th Ed）Mammography Lexicon in the Category of Suspicious Calcification / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#Objective】 To explore the clinical application of the fifth edition of BI- RADS for the category of suspicious calcification. 【Methods】 Mammograms of patients with suspicious calcification from May 2012 to May 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. The morphology（amorphous，coarse heterogeneous，fine pleomorphic，fine linear or fine linear branching）and distribution（diffuse，regional，grouped，linear，segmental）of suspected calcification according to the fifth edition of the BI- RADS were analyzed. Taking pathology as the gold standard，the positive predictive value（PPV）of morphology，distribution and combination of morphology and distribution was calculated and compared with the PPV range of the fifth edition of BI- RADS. 【Results】 A total of 170 patients were included in the study，116 were benign，54 were malignant，and PPV was 31.8%（54/170）. In terms of morphology，amorphous，coarse heterogeneous， fine pleomorphic calcification were category 4B（10%

Relationships between Dietary Diversity and Nutritional Status in Elderly Inpatient / 肠外与肠内营养

Objective: To identify the relationship between Dietary Diversity and Nutritional Status in Elderly Inpatient. Methods: 136 elderly inpatients were selected in a tertiary hospital in Yunnan Provience. Food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary information and DDS9 was calculated; We used Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) to evaluate nutritional status, then analyzed the effect of Dietary Diversity on nutritional status in elderly inpatients. Results:① Patients at risk of malnutrition and with confirmed malnutrition in participants were 46. 3％, 33. 8％,, respectively. ② The incidence of insufficient diversity, moderate diversity and adequate diversity were 19. 9％, 77. 2％ and 2. 9％, respectively; the total scores of dietary diversity were (4. 68 ± 1. 27). However, apart from vegetables, the rest 8 kinds of food all showed lower scores of intra-group variety; while the consumption of beans, nuts and seafood was seriously inadequate. ③ The incidence of malnutrition risk and confirmed malnutrition in insufficient-diversity group and moderate-diversity group were 5. 109 times and 1. 094 times of adequacy group (P＜ 0. 05). Conclusion: Dietary diversity is strongly associated with putritional status in elderly inpatient. Improvement of dietary diversity status is potentially beneficial in the prevention of malnutrition.

Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy of the 2013 Edition of BI-RADS Ultrasound Lexicon in Diagnosing Breast Categories 3 to 5 Lesions / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

[Objective] The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the 2013 edition of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) ultrasound lexicon in diagnosing breast categories 3-5 lesions.[Methods] Using our breast ultrasound database from June 2014 to June 2016,we identified 4428 BI-RADS category 3 to 5 lesions with a known pathological diagnosis in 4 428 adult women.The positive predictive value (PPV) of each BI-RADS category was calculated based on the pathological diagnoses and compared with the reference range provided by the American College of Radiology (ACR).[Results] 4 428 lesions from 4428 patients were included in this study.The PPV of each BI-RADS category waswithin the reference range provided by the ACR in 2013.1198 (27.1％) pathological malignant/borderline results were found in the 4 428 lesions,the other 3 230 (72.9％)lesions were diagnosed with benign results.Among the malignant/borderline lesions,the rate of lymph node metastasis gradually increased as the BI-RADS categories were upgraded.Malignant lesions with a diagnosis ofinvasive ductal carcinoma or invasive lobular carcinoma showed an increasing distribution trend from category 3 to 5.[Conclusion] The 2013 editionof BI-RADS ultrasound lexiconhas good diagnostic accuracy and efficiencyin clinical practice.

Size-selective catalytic growth of nearly 100% pure carbon nanocoils with copper nanoparticles produced by atomic layer deposition.

In this paper, Cu nanoparticles with narrow size distribution are synthesized by reduction of CuO films produced by atomic layer deposition (ALD), which are used as catalysts for the catalytic growth of carbon nanostructures. By properly adjusting the ALD cycle numbers, the size of produced Cu nanoparticles can be well controlled. Uniform carbon nanocoils with near 100% purity can be obtained by using 50-80 nm Cu nanoparticles, while thin straight fibers and thick straight fibers are produced by applying 5-35 and 100-200 nm Cu nanoparticles, respectively. The mechanism of the particle size-dependent growth of the carbon nanostructure was analyzed based on the experimental results and theoretical simulation. Our results can provide important information for the preparation of helical carbon nanostructures with high purity. Moreover, this work also demonstrates that ALD is a viable technique for synthesizing nanoparticles with highly controllable size and narrow size distribution suitable for studying particle size-dependent catalytic behavior and other applications.

Study and application of transmission tracking analysis technique during incubation period of respiratory infectious diseases / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a new transmission tracking analysis technique during incubation period of respiratory infectious diseases, and to discuss its practical value in the field survey of infectious diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The classical epidemiological theory was integrated with geographic information system. The transmission tracking analysis technique was established based on the modeling platform ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit 9.3, using the techniques of address matching, shortest path analysis and buffer analysis, and programming by Visual C++. Eight serious sever acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases in Shanghai in year 2003 were then chose as prototype to set up the test cases A-H. The electronic map and population density data were separately collected from Institute of Surveying and Mapping in Shanghai and Shanghai statistical yearbook 2003, to calculate and explore the parameters as length of transmission path, area of buffer zone and key departments by single and multi case analysis module.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The single case transmission tracking analysis showed that the length of transmission track of case A was 129.89 km during April 25th to 29th in 2003, including 12 tracing point and 108 intimate contacts, and the total area of buffer zone was 7.11 km(2) including 81 important institutes, naming 72 schools, 6 kindergartens and 3 gerocomiums. The multi-case transmission tracking analysis showed that the 8 cases shared 5 tracks without any temporal communication. However, there was a spatial communication whose length was 1.42 km and area was 0.60 km(2). There were no important institutes found in this communication area.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Transmission tracking technique is practicable and efficient to trace the source of infection, analyze the transmission tracks, establish the isolation buffer area and explore the important geographic positions in epidemiological investigation.</p>

Medullary Sponge Kidney Detected in the Pediatric Age

PURPOSE: Medullary sponge kidney (MSK) is a rare congenital disease characterized by diffuse ectasia or dilatation of precalyceal collecting tubules. MSK incidence and prevalence in the general population is uncertain and only a few patients are reported especially in the pediatric age. There has been increasing reports of patients with MSK who have other malformative disorders. Also several case reports concerning about etiological association of some genes. METHODS: Collaborative study through nation-wide survey was done to investigate the incidence and etiological association of some genes such as GDNF gene, ATP6V1B1, ATP6V0A4 gene in developing MSK in Korean children. RESULTS: Four cases of MSK who have various other malformative disorders were collected. There are no mutations of GDNF gene, ATP6V1B1, ATP6V0A4 gene in all patients. CONCLUSION: MSK is one of the very rare diseases in pediatric age. The etiological association of GDNF gene , ATP6V1B1, ATP6V0A4 gene in developing MSK in Korean children is not proved.

Directed differentiation of motor neuron cell-like cells from human adipose-derived stem cells in vitro.

The capacity of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) to differentiate into motor neurons and the identity of molecular factors that confer hADSCs with the competence of motor neurons have yet to be elucidated. Here, retinoic acid and sonic hedgehog were applied to examine whether hADSCs could be differentiated into motor neurons. As early as 6 h after induction, hADSCs were changed toward neuronal morphology. After induction, hADSCs showed positive immunocytochemical staining for ß-III-tubulin, choline acetyltransferase, and neuron-specific enolase. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction characterization indicated that cells differentiated from hADSCs were restricted to the ventral spinal fate (Nkx2.2, Pax6, Hb9, and Olig2). Our results suggest that hADSCs may be a potential candidate in cellular therapy for motor neuron disease.

Frequencies of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms in ethnic minority from Guizhou / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the frequencies of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms in Dong, Yi and Yao ethnic groups from Guizhou.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In 321 volunteers who were population-based, GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms were analyzed by a multiplex-PCR procedure, whereas GSTP1 polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Null genotype for GSTM1 and GSTT1 was 59.6%-71.2% and 39.4%-72.5%, respectively. The genotypic distribution of GSTP1 was 63.3%-75% for AA, 23.2%-35.8% for AG, 0-1.9% for GG, whereas the allelic frequencies were 81.2%-86.6% for the A allele, and 13.4%-18.8% for the G allele.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is a significant relationship between GSTT1 frequencies and ethnic populations.</p>

Protection of Tianshen Yizhi Recipe against low expression of nicotinic receptor and neurotoxicity induced by beta-amyloid peptide / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibition effects of Tianshen Yizhi Recipe (TSYZR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on decreased expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and the neurotoxicity as well as lipid peroxidation induced by beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. METHODS: The SH-SY5Y cells were treated by a certain concentration of TSYZR, and then exposed to Abeta(25-35). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium reduction assay was carried out to understand the influences of the drugs on cellular viability. Expressions of nAChR subunits (alpha3 and alpha7) at protein and mRNA levels were detected by Western-blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was measured by thiobarbituric acid to observe the capacity of antioxidant of the drugs. RESULTS: TSYZR at a safe concentration could increase alpha7 protein in the cells, inhibit decreased expressions of alpha3 and alpha7 nAChR subunit proteins, prevent lower expression of alpha7 mRNA in SH-SY5Y cells induced by Abeta, reduce the neurotoxicity and lipid peroxidation resulting from Abeta, but had no significant effect on the lower expression of alpha3 mRNA. CONCLUSIONS: TSYZR can up-regulate the expression of alpha7 nAChR subunit protein and prevent decreased expressions of nAChRs and neurotoxicity as well as lipid peroxidation induced by Abeta. This drug may play an important therapeutic role in treatment of Alzheimer disease.

Influence of beta-amyloid protein and cholesterol on the pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease and expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in rats / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the influence of beta-amyloid protein (Abeta) and cholesterol on the pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and on the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits in the brains of rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The rats were treated by intracerebroventricular injection of Abeta1-42 and fed with a diet containing 5% cholesterol to establish animal model of AD. The pathological changes, learning and memory, and expression of nAChRs of rats were analyzed by Bieoschowsky staining, immunohistochemistry, water-labyrinth, Western blot, and RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Abeta intracerebroventricular injection induced Abeta deposition in rat brains and high-cholesterol diet resulted in hypercholesterolemia in the animals. Injection of Abeta caused a reduction of learning and memory of rats and modifications of the expression of nAChRs. Cholesterol enhanced these effects of Abeta on neuropathology and expression of nAChRs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Abeta can induce marked neuropathological changes, influence the learning and study ability, and modify the expression of nAChRs. Cholesterol can enhance the neurotoxicity of Abeta.</p>

Influence of beta-amyloid peptide on cell membrane lipids and cholinergic receptors in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) on cell membrane lipids and cholinergic receptors of human neuroblastoma cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with different concentrations of Abeta(1-42) with and without pretreatment of vitamin E. MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] reduction, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and phospholipids were measured by spectrophotometry. Levels of cholesterol and unbiquinone were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The numbers of cholinergic receptor binding sites were determined by receptor binding assay and the protein levels of nicotinic receptor alpha3 and alpha7 subunits were studied by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SH-SY5Y cells showed decreased reduction rates of MMT and phospholipids, and increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation after exposure to Abeta (0.1 micromol/L) as compared to the control. The number of cholinergic receptor binding sites, the protein level of nicotinic receptor alpha3 and alpha7 subunits and the content of ubiquinone decreased in cells treated with high dose of Abeta (1 micromol/L). Although the level of cholesterol was not changed in any way, vitamin E partially prevented the neurotoxic effects of Abeta.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>beta-amyloid peptide reduces the level of cell membrane lipids and cholinergic receptors in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, likely through the induction of an enhanced oxidative stress.</p>