Identification and analysis of differently expressed transcription factors in aristolochic acid nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) is a rapidly progressive interstitial nephropathy caused by Aristolochic acid (AA). AAN is associated with the development of nephropathy and urothelial carcinoma. It is estimated that more than 100 million people worldwide are at risk of developing AAN. However, the underlying mechanisms driving renal deterioration in AAN remain poorly understood, and the treatment options are limited. METHODS: We obtained GSE27168 and GSE136276 series matrix data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) related to AAN. Using the R Studio environment, we applied the limma package and WGCNA package to identify co-differently expressed genes (co-DEGs). By GO/KEGG/GSVA analysis, we revealed common biological pathways. Subsequently, co-DEGs were subjected to the String database to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The MCC algorithms implemented in the Cytohubba plugin were employed to identify hub genes. The hub genes were cross-referenced with the transcription factor (TF) database to identify hub TFs. Immune infiltration analysis was performed to identify key immune cell groups by utilizing CIBERSORT. The expressions of AAN-associated hub TFs were verified in vivo and in vitro. Finally, siRNA intervention was performed on the two TFs to verify their regulatory effect in AAN. RESULTS: Our analysis identified 88 co-DEGs through the "limma" and "WGCNA" R packages. A PPI network comprising 53 nodes and 34 edges was constructed with a confidence level >0.4. ATF3 and c-JUN were identified as hub TFs potentially linked to AAN. Additionally, expressions of ATF3 and c-JUN positively correlated with monocytes, basophils, and vessels, and negatively correlated with eosinophils and endothelial cells. We observed a significant increase in protein and mRNA levels of these two hub TFs. Furthermore, it was found that siRNA intervention targeting ATF3, but not c-JUN, alleviated cell damage induced by AA. The knockdown of ATF3 protects against oxidative stress and inflammation in the AAN cell model. CONCLUSION: This study provides novel insights into the role of ATF3 in AAN. The comprehensive analysis sheds light on the molecular mechanisms and identifies potential biomarkers and drug targets for AAN treatment.

Parental hesitancy against COVID-19 vaccination for children and associated factors in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Since July 2021, some countries and regions have initiated the vaccination of minors against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and parental COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy will affect the vaccination of minors. We aimed to identify the level of parental hesitancy to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 in Taiwan and the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, self-administered online questionnaire in Taiwan to assess parental hesitancy and the factors influencing their children's vaccination against COVID-19. RESULTS: Among 384 respondents, 64.1% were hesitant to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19. Mothers were more likely to hesitate to vaccinate their teens than their fathers (67.5% vs. 50%, P < 0.005). Multiple regression results showed that parents who were hesitant to vaccinate themselves (OR = 3.81, 95% CI:2.07-7.02) and those who scored lower on their perception of their children's vaccination (OR = 9.73, 95% CI:5.62-16.84) were more hesitant to vaccinate their children with COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: According to the study findings, 64.1% of Taiwanese parents were hesitant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Parents who were hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and had negative views of the vaccine for their children were more likely to be hesitant to vaccinate their children. An in-depth discussion of the factors affecting vaccine hesitancy and targeted health education is conducive to promoting vaccination in children with COVID-19.

Degradation of high-concentration p-nitrophenol by Fenton oxidation.

This work aimed to degrade high-concentration p-nitrophenol (PNP) by Fenton oxidation. We studied various reaction parameters during Fenton oxidation, such as the iron dosage (as Fe2+), the initial concentration and temperature of PNP, and the dosage of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), especially the influence of temperature on the PNP degradation rate and degree. Under the addition of the same molar ratio of H2O2/Fe2+ and H2O2 dosage according to the theoretical stoichiometry, the PNP degradation rate and the removal rate of total organic carbon (TOC) increased significantly with the increase in the initial PNP concentration. Moreover, the oxidative degradation effect was significantly affected by temperature. The increased reaction temperature not only significantly reduced the Fe2+ dosage, but also greatly promoted the removal rate of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and TOC, and improved the utilization efficiency of H2O2. For example, when the initial concentration of PNP was 4,000 mg·L-1, and the dosage of Fe2+ was 109 mg·L-1 (H2O2/Fe2+ = 200), the removal rates of COD and TOC at 85 °C reached 95% and 71% respectively. Both were higher than the 93% COD removal rate and 44% TOC removal rate when the dosage of Fe2+ was 1,092 mg·L-1 (H2O2/Fe2+ = 20) at room temperature.

Lumping kinetics of ABE fermentation wastewater treatment by oleaginous yeast Trichosporon cutaneum.

Lumping kinetics models were built for the biological treatment of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation wastewater by oleaginous yeast Trichosporon cutaneum with different fermentation temperatures. Compared with high temperature (33°C, 306 K) and low temperature (23°C, 296 K), medium temperature (28°C, 301 K) was beneficial for the cell growth and chemical oxygen demand (COD) degradation during the early stage of fermentation but the final yeast biomass and COD removal were influenced little. By lumping method, the materials in the bioconversion network were divided into five lumps (COD, lipid, polysaccharide, other intracellular products, other extracellular products), and the nine rate constants (k1-k9) for the models can well explain the bioconversion laws. The Gibbs free energy (G) for this bioconversion was positive, showing that it cannot happen spontaneous, but the existence of yeast can after the chemical equilibrium and make the bioconversion to be possible. Overall, the possibility of using lumping kinetics for elucidating the laws of materials conversion in the biological treatment of ABE fermentation wastewater by T. cutaneum has been initially proved and this method has great potential for further application.

Use of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) acid hydrolysate for microbial oil production by Trichosporon cutaneum.

Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) dilute acid hydrolysate contains 34.6 g/L total sugars. The potential of lipid production by oleaginous yeast Trichosporon cutaneum grown on elephant grass acid hydrolysate was investigated for the first time. During the fermentation process on the elephant grass acid hydrolysate, glucose, xylose, and arabinose could be well utilized as carbon sources by T. cutaneum. Interestingly, xylose was almost no use before glucose was consumed completely. This illustrated that simultaneous saccharification of xylose and glucose by T. cutaneum did not occur on elephant grass acid hydrolysate. The highest biomass, lipid content, lipid yield, and lipid coefficient of T. cutaneum were measured after the sixth day of fermentation and were 22.76 g/L, 24.0%, 5.46 g/L, and 16.1%, respectively. Therefore, elephant grass is a promising raw material for microbial oil production by T. cutaneum.

Bacterial cellulose production from the litchi extract by Gluconacetobacter xylinus.

Although litchi has both nutrient and edible value, the extremely short preservation time limited its further market promotion. To explore processed litchi products with longer preservation time, litchi extract was selected as an alternative feedstock for production of bacterial cellulose (BC). After 2 weeks of static fermentation, 2.53 g/L of the BC membrane was obtained. The trace elements including magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) in the litchi extract were partly absorbed in the BC membrane, but no potassium (K) element was detected in it, curiously. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs exhibited an ultrafine network nanostructure for the BC produced in the litchi extract. Analysis of the fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the pellicles to be a cellulosic material. Interestingly, X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed the BC membrane obtained from litchi extract had higher crystallinity of 94.0% than that from HS medium. Overall, the work showed the potential of producing high value-added polymer from litchi resources.

Platinum nanoparticles/graphene-oxide hybrid with excellent peroxidase-like activity and its application for cysteine detection.

A facile approach is proposed for the growth of platinum nanoparticles on graphene oxide (PtNPs/GO). The resulting PtNPs/GO hybrid has been proved to function as peroxidase mimics that can catalyze the oxidation of peroxidase substrates in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Kinetic studies indicate that the PtNPs/GO nanocomposite has a considerably higher affinity for both 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H2O2 than those of other platinum-based peroxidase mimics. Furthermore, colorimetric recognition and sensing of L-cysteine with high sensitivity and selectivity is presented based on target-induced shielding against the peroxidase-like activity of PtNPs/GO. We envision that this material will be an ideal candidate for a wide range of potential applications in the fields of biomedicine and environmental chemistry.

Beneficial effect of corncob acid hydrolysate on the lipid production by oleaginous yeast Trichosporon dermatis.

In this work, corncob acid hydrolysate and its simulated medium whose sugar composition was the same as the corncob acid hydrolysate were used as fermentation substrate for lipid production by oleaginous yeast Trichosporon dermatis. On the corncob acid hydrolysate, after 7 days of fermentation, the biomass, lipid content, lipid yield, and lipid coefficient of T. dermatis were 17.3 g/L, 40.2%, 7.0 g/L, and 16.5%, respectively. Interestingly, during the lipid fermentation on the corncob acid hydrolysate, glucose, xylose, arabinose, and even acetic acid could be well utilized as carbon sources by T. dermatis. Surprisingly, the lipid yield (7.0 g/L) of T. dermatis on the corncob acid hydrolysate was much higher than that (3.8 g/L) on the simulated medium, in spite of the fact that the lipid coefficient (17.4%) on the simulated medium was a little higher. This phenomenon further showed that lignocellulosic acid hydrolysate was a suitable substrate for lipid fermentation by T. dermatis. This work would help the comprehensive utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for lipid production.

Beneficial Effect of Acetic Acid on the Xylose Utilization and Bacterial Cellulose Production by Gluconacetobacter xylinus.

In this work, acetic acid was found as one promising substrate to improve xylose utilization by Gluconacetobacter xylinus CH001. Also, with the help of adding acetic acid into medium, the bacterial cellulose (BC) production by G. xylinus was increased significantly. In the medium containing 3 g l(-1) acetic acid, the optimal xylose concentration for BC production was 20 g l(-1). In the medium containing 20 g l(-1) xylose, the xylose utilization and BC production by G. xylinus were stimulated by acetic acid within certain concentration. The highest BC yield (1.35 ± 0.06 g l(-1)) was obtained in the medium containing 20 g l(-1) xylose and 3 g l(-1) acetic acid after 14 days. This value was 6.17-fold higher than the yield (0.21 ± 0.01 g l(-1)) in the medium only containing 20 g l(-1) xylose. The results analyzed by FE-SEM, FTIR, and XRD showed that acetic acid affected little on the microscopic morphology and physicochemical characteristics of BC. Base on the phenomenon observed, lignocellulosic acid hydrolysates (xylose and acetic acid are main carbon sources present in it) could be considered as one potential substrate for BC production.

CT whole lung radiomic nomogram: a potential biomarker for lung function evaluation and identification of COPD.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) plays a great role in characterizing and quantifying changes in lung structure and function of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to explore the performance of CT-based whole lung radiomic in discriminating COPD patients and non-COPD patients. METHODS: This retrospective study was performed on 2785 patients who underwent pulmonary function examination in 5 hospitals and were divided into non-COPD group and COPD group. The radiomic features of the whole lung volume were extracted. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression was applied for feature selection and radiomic signature construction. A radiomic nomogram was established by combining the radiomic score and clinical factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the predictive performance of the radiomic nomogram in the training, internal validation, and independent external validation cohorts. RESULTS: Eighteen radiomic features were collected from the whole lung volume to construct a radiomic model. The area under the curve (AUC) of the radiomic model in the training, internal, and independent external validation cohorts were 0.888 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.869-0.906], 0.874 (95%CI 0.844-0.904) and 0.846 (95%CI 0.822-0.870), respectively. All were higher than the clinical model (AUC were 0.732, 0.714, and 0.777, respectively, P < 0.001). DCA demonstrated that the nomogram constructed by combining radiomic score, age, sex, height, and smoking status was superior to the clinical factor model. CONCLUSIONS: The intuitive nomogram constructed by CT-based whole-lung radiomic has shown good performance and high accuracy in identifying COPD in this multicenter study.

Relationship between COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and willingness to pay for the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine of oncology patients in Taizhou, China.

OBJECTIVE: This population-based study aimed to determine the hesitancy and willingness to pay (WTP) for the booster dose of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine among patients with cancer in Taizhou, China. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A self-administered online questionnaire was administered to patients with cancer in Taizhou, China. The chi-square test, binary logistic regression model were used to evaluate the WTP for the booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The minimum sample size was 218, determined by G*Power software (latest ver. 3.1.9.7). A total of 354 patients received the survey, and 256 (72.3%) patients responded. RESULTS: Overall, 69.9% (179/256) of respondents were willing to pay for the booster dose, and 78.8% (141/179) of these patients were willing to pay 1-99 CNY. Furthermore, 50.4% (129/256) of respondents were hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Being unhesitant was significantly associated with WTP for the booster dose (aOR: 3.040; 95% CI: 1.669-5.540). CONCLUSION: Hesitant patients with cancer had a lower WTP for the booster dose against COVID-19 than non-hesitant participants. These results imply that further health education programmes are essential to decrease the hesitancy of patients with cancer and enhance booster dose vaccination rates for public health improvements.KEY MESSAGESOur research showed that 70% of patients with cancer are willing to pay for the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and most are willing to pay less than 100 CNY, and this result reflects the economic value and affordability of the third dose of vaccination.COVID-19 vaccine-hesitant patients with cancer had a lower willingness to pay for a booster dose against COVID-19 than non-hesitant participants and few patients are still unwilling to pay among patients do not hesitate to receive the third dose.Therefore, promoting willingness to pay among oncology patients and addressing vaccine hesitancy remains key.

Willingness of college students to receive COVID-19 heterologous vaccination in Taizhou, China.

This study aimed to determine the willingness of college students to choose COVID-19 heterologous vaccination and its associated influencing factors in Taizhou, China. A population-based, self-administered online questionnaire was conducted from March 15 to 17, 2022. Of the 2,463 participants who had received the invitation, 1,821 responded to the survey (response rate = 73.9%). Only 14% (86/614) of those willing to receive a booster would chose a heterologous vaccination; the perception of better effectiveness of a COVID-19 heterologous vaccination booster was the significant factor (X2 = 22.671, p < .001). Additionally, female college students'older age (χ2 = 7.523, P = .023), major of medical (χ2 = 6.294, P = .012), and better perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 heterologous vaccination booster (χ2 = 22.659, P < .001), were more willing to receive heterologous booster doses. Chinese college students have a strong willingness to receive booster shots, but the percentage of those willing to receive a heterologous vaccine is only 14.0%, and the lack of understanding of its effectiveness is an important factor in the low proportion of heterologous vaccine selection. Health education, public health awareness, and the disclosure of heterologous vaccine information can help improve the public's understanding of heterologous vaccines and provide them with more choices.

Parents' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine in Taiwan, China: A cross-sectional study.

Most COVID-19 studies aim to assess factors influencing willingness to pay for vaccines between the public and medical staff. However, few studies focus on parents' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine. The current study aimed to assess parents' willingness to pay for their children's vaccination against COVID-19 and its influencing factors. This population-based cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire. The inclusion criterion was parents with at least one child younger than 18 years. The final analysis included 384 valid data points. A total of 89.1% of the parents indicated that they are willing to pay for their children's vaccination against COVID-19. Among them, both fathers' and mothers' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine was 89.6%. The mean and median willingness to pay were% would pay for their children. Excluding other confounding factors, willingness to pay for the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves and hesitation to vaccinate their children were significantly associated with parents' willingness to pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine. We found that 89.1% of the parents in Taiwan would pay for their children's COVID-19 vaccine. Parents' willingness to pay for themselves and hesitation to vaccinate their children were associated with willingness to pay. Reducing hesitation about vaccines and developing policies for vaccine payment may have a positive impact on willingness to pay for vaccines and promoting COVID-19 vaccination.

Impact of household decision makers' hesitancy to vaccinate children against COVID-19 on other household members: A family-based study in Taizhou, China.

Background: Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing outbreaks of infectious diseases, and family ;decision makers play an important role in decision-making regarding family matters and may influence other family members to take an active role in vaccinating children against COVID-19. Purpose: This study examined the influence of family decision makers on the hesitation of other family members to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Methods: A population-based, self-administered online questionnaire was administered in Taizhou, China, from September 1, 2021, to September 15, 2021. The questionnaire included demographic information, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine as well as hesitation regarding the use of the COVID-19 vaccination in children. In total, 490 respondents were included in this study. Logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Results: In total, 490 respondents from 190 households were interviewed. Of the 190 family decision makers, 43.7% (83/190) were hesitant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. When family decision makers were hesitant to vaccinate children against COVID-19, 65.1% (82/126) of the other family members expressed similar hesitancy regarding vaccination. When family decision makers were not hesitant to vaccinate children, only 21.3% (37/174) of other family members were hesitant to do so. In the regression analysis, family decision makers' hesitation to vaccinate their children was associated with other family members' hesitation (OR=6.264, 95% CI:3.132-12.526). In addition, decision makers' perceptions of the safety of the vaccine (OR=0.422, 95% CI:0.215-0.826) and hesitation to vaccinate themselves (OR=8.967, 95% CI:4.745-16.948) influenced their hesitation to vaccinate their children. Conclusion: The present study found that family decision makers' hesitation to vaccinate children against COVID-19 influenced other family members' hesitation to vaccinate children. In addition, family decision makers' perceptions of the safety of the vaccine and their hesitation to vaccinate themselves influenced other family members' hesitation to vaccinate their children.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy between teachers and students in a college, a cross-sectional study in China.

Studies have identified teacher effects on students' attitudes. This study explored the differences in and associations between teachers' and students' COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and the factors that affect it. A population-based self-administered online survey was conducted to evaluate the COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy of teachers and students in a college in Taizhou, China. A total of 835 valid questionnaires were obtained. All data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics 26.0 software. The proportions of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for teachers and students were 31.7%, and 23.8%, respectively. In the binary logistic regression analysis, teachers who perceived the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine as low (OR = 6.794 , 95%CI: 1.701-27.143), did not pay continuous attention to the vaccine news (OR = 3.498, 95%CI: 1.150-10.640), and suffered chronic diseases (OR = 2.659, 95%CI: 1.135-6.227) were more likely to hesitate to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The group of students who perceived the COVID-19 vaccine safety as being low (OR = 1.805, 95%CI: 1.094-2.979) were more hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine. While both teachers and students were hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine, teachers were found to be more so. Perceptions regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, attention to and awareness of vaccine news, and chronic medical conditions were the main factors that influenced the hesitation regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, students' vaccine hesitancy may depend largely on the perceptions of the vaccine's safety rather than teachers' vaccine hesitancy.

Willingness-to-pay for a booster dose of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in Taizhou, China.

This study was conducted to ascertain whether people in China would be willing to pay for an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. An online survey estimating participants' willingness to pay (WTP) for a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine was conducted in Taizhou, China. The participants received ane-mail or e-poster on WeChat. A total of 1576 subjects participated the survey. A total of 66.4% (1046/1576) of the respondents were willing to pay for a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine for themselves. Using binary logistic regression analysis, the following factors were significantly related to a WTP for a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine: 1) confidence in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines (high vs. low, OR: 4.30, 95%CI: 1.61-11.43), 2) confidence in the preventive effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 virus (moderate vs. little, OR: 1.76, 95%CI: 1.30-2.38; great vs. little, OR: 2.244, 95%CI: 1.62-3.12), and 3) COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (unhesitant vs. very unhesitant, OR: 0.67, 95%CI: 0.45-1.02; hesitant vs. very unhesitant, OR: 0.29, 95%CI: 0.19-0.44; very hesitant vs. very unhesitant, OR: 0.09, 95%CI: 0.03-0.27). This study revealed that a moderate proportion of participants responded that they would be willing to pay for a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine. These findings suggest the importance of a detailed assessment and a health education plan that better understands the population's risk perception as well as the potential health risks in China.

Why do parents willingness-to-pay to vaccinate their children against COVID-19? A real-world evidence in Taizhou, China.

PURPOSE: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted to explore whether parents are willing to pay to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 in China. METHODS: With a self-administered online questionnaire, we investigated parents' willingness to pay for their children to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Taizhou, China. Of the 1,845 parents who answered the structured questionnaire when they received an e-mail or e-poster invitation, 1788 samples with valid data underwent data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 66.1% of parents reported being willing to pay to inoculate their children with the COVID-19 vaccine. After adjustment for confounding factors, lower education level, one-child family (yes vs. no, OR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.04-1.74), knowledge score of vaccination against COVID-19 (high vs. low, OR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.01-1.69), awareness of the permitted use of the vaccine (yes vs. no, OR = 1.51, 95%CI: 1.16-1.97), and willingness to pay for a COVID-19 vaccine for themselves (yes vs. no, OR = 16.31, 95%CI: 12.59-21.14) were significantly associated with parents' willingness to pay for their children. CONCLUSION: We found that a moderate proportion of parents reported unwillingness to pay for their child to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The results indicate that further detailed assessment and more health education planning are required to increasing parents' WTP for the vaccination of children in China.

Willingness to receive a booster dose of inactivated coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine in Taizhou, China.

PURPOSE: This population-based study aimed to determine the willingness to receive a booster dose of vaccine against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Taizhou, China. METHODS: An online questionnaire investigation addressing participants' willingness to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was organized in Taizhou, China. Of the 2318 interviewees who received the invitation, 1576 finished a qualifying questionnaire, corresponding to a response rate of 68.0%. RESULTS: The majority of respondents (n = 1435 [91.1%]) were willing to accept a booster vaccination against COVID-19. History of allergic reaction to other vaccines (OR = 0.30), confidence in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines (OR = 3.20), confidence in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 2.25) and its variants (useful versus [vs.] useless, OR = 2.33), and vaccine recipients (OR = 3.09) remained significantly associated with willingness to accept a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines. CONCLUSION: A moderate proportion of the participants who responded were willing to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. These results are valuable for starting health education and interventions to accelerate vaccine uptake and improve public health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

The impact of the Omicron epidemic on the health behavior in Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: South Africa was the first country with a case of Omicron variant infection diagnosed; therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the impact of the Omicron mutant strain outbreak on the health behavior of the South African population and encourage the population to adopt timely protective behaviors against Omicron mutant strain infection. Study design and methods: This was a population-based, cross-sectional study conducted in Cape Town, South Africa, in December 2021. We distributed 300 questionnaires to adults aged >18 years, and they were all returned. Results: Of the South African population, 60.3% expressed a high level of concern regarding Omicron; 89.3% improved on at least one of the following three health behaviors: mask-wearing, washing hands, and reducing socialization; and only 10.7% exhibited no improvement in health behaviors. Of these, 71.3% and 57.0% increased the length of time they wore a mask and washed their hands, respectively, and 47% decreased the number of times they socialized. Age, residence, education level, chronic disease, and whether they had received the COVID-19 vaccine were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the presence and absence of enhanced health behaviors. The levels of concern and knowledge regarding the Omicron virus significantly influenced health-behavior change (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: There has been a positive change in the South African population toward adopting mask-wearing, hand washing, and reducing socialization in response to the Omicron virus strain epidemic. Based on one health approach, it is important to focus on populations with chronic diseases, those who have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, and other populations with low rates of health behavior change.

Relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: A cross-sectional study in Taizhou, China.

Objective: This study aimed to explore COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Chinese adults and analyzed the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Methods: A population-based self-administered online survey was conducted in Taizhou, China to evaluate the population's hesitancy to receive COVID-19 vaccination. A total of 2.463 adults received the invitation for the survey through WeChat (A Chinese app that is used for chat, social media, and mobile payment), and 1.788 interviewees answered the structured questionnaire. The overall response rate was 72.6%. Results: Total 45.2% of people were hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccination. Using binary logistic regression analysis, we found low perception of safety (Model 3: Odds ratio = 2.977, Confidence interval: 2.237-3.963) and efficacy (Model 3: OR = 1.904, 95%CI: 1.462-2.479) of the COVID-19 vaccine in adults is the most important risk factor for COVID-19 vaccine hesitation. People who know more about COVID-19 vaccination are less hesitant (Model 2: OR = 0.967, 95% CI: 0.951-0.983). People who did not seek information independently about the COVID-19 vaccine are more likely to be skeptical (Model 4: OR = 1.300, 95% CI: 1.058-1.598, P = 0.013). Conclusion: In China, the population had higher levels of COVID-19 vaccine hesitation, and their knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine, perceptions of safety and efficacy, and physical health status were significantly associated with vaccine hesitation. These results provide ideas for promoting COVID-19 vaccination and intervention and have far-reaching implications for further strengthening research on vaccine hesitancy in COVID-19 and exploring strategies for COVID-19 vaccine promotion.