Acute and persistent symptoms of COVID-19 infection in school-aged children: a retrospective study from China.

BACKGROUND: The long-term sequelae of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children are unclear. We investigated COVID-19 symptoms in school-aged children to determine their impact on patients and their families. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, conducted on February 25-28, 2023, selected a representative kindergarten and 9-year school from Shenzhen, China. There were randomly two classes each for the 12 grades from kindergarten to junior high school. The school-aged children were aged 3-16 years. Literate parents completed an online questionnaire related to their children's COVID-19 symptoms since December 1, 2022. Descriptive statistics were computed as necessary. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed, and variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered to have a significant association with the subjective feeling scores for COVID-19 infection. RESULTS: We included 936 school-aged children, with a COVID-19 infection rate of 68.5%. The prevalence of LC 28 (illness with symptoms lasting for 28 days) was 3.4%. During acute infection, the median number of the 641 children's symptoms was 3.0 (IQR: 1.0-5.0) and the median score of subjective feelings was 15.0 (IQR: 11.0-24.5). The top three symptoms were fever, cough/expectoration, and rhinobyon. Age of 13-16 years (adjusted beta: 3.60, 95% CI: 0.32-6.88) and comorbidities (adjusted beta: 3.47, 95% CI: 1.20-5.73) were independently associated with higher subjective feelings (p < 0.05). The top three characteristics associated with LC 28 were alopecia (33.3%, 5/15), cognitive dysfunction (29.2%, 7/24), and emotional problem (28.6%, 6/21). CONCLUSIONS: Children with COVID-19 have a short duration of symptoms and milder symptoms, so they can self-medicate to minimize hospital crowding. Children with basic diseases require prompt attention. Although LC 28 is uncommon in children, mental and psychological problems after COVID-19 recovery should not be ignored.

Serological investigation on the prevalence of poliovirus in Guangdong province: A cross-sectional study.

In 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional study for polio virus seroprevalence in Guangdong province, China. We assessed the positivity rates of poliomyelitis NA and GMT in serum across various demographic groups, and the current findings were compared with pre-switch data from 2014. Using multistage random sampling method, four counties/districts were randomly selected per city, and within each, one general hospital and two township hospitals were chosen. Healthy individuals coming for medical checkups or vaccination were invited. A total of 1318 individual samples were collected and tested. In non-newborn population, age-dependent positivity rates ranged from 77.8% to 100% for PV1 NA and 70.3% to 98.9% for PV3 NA (p < .01). The lowest GMT values for both types (17.03 and 8.46) occurred in the 20 to <30 years age group, while peak GMTs for PV1 and PV3 were observed in 1 to <2 (340.14) and 0 to <1-year (168.90) age groups, respectively. GMTs for PV1 (P = .002) and PV3 (P = .007) in Eastern Guangdong were lower than those in the other three regions. Male participants showed higher GMTs than females (P = .016 and .033, respectively). In newborn population, both males and females showed higher PV1 NA positivity rates and GMTs compared to PV3 (p < .05). Post-switch PV3 NA positivity rates were higher than pre-switch rates (p = .016). GMTs of both PV1 and PV3 were significantly higher post-switch (p < .001). The positivity rates of NAs and GMTs remain high level, which play an important role in resisting poliomyelitis infection. Effect of the converted immunization program was more pronounced than that before.

Performance evaluation on vaccination rates monitoring report system of Shenzhen, China.

To evaluate the performance of "Vaccination Rates Monitoring Report System" implemented by Shenzhen CDC, we conducted an analysis of the data quality and identify key areas for system improvement. Following evaluation guidelines provided by WHO and United States CDC, we established six evaluation attributes: representativeness, simplicity, acceptability, data reliability, stability and timeliness. In eastern, central and western regions of Shenzhen, we selected one district from each region, of which the local CDC and ten CHSCs under jurisdiction were chosen for evaluation. On-site inspections, questionnaires survey and interviews were utilized for data collection, while the Likert scale method was used for attributes rating evaluation. A total of 70 participants were surveyed, consisting of 60 CHSCs and 10 CDCs staff. The gender ratio was 1:2.5 (males to females), with the majority falling within the 25-34 age range (46%). Most participants held full-time positions (80%) and had more than 5 years of work experience (62%). The system achieved 100% coverage of all CHSCs and CDCs (100%). The cumulative percentage scores for the overall favorable options of simplicity, acceptability, data reliability, stability, and timeliness were 79%, 85%, 73%, 50%, and 71% respectively. The system operates normally with strong representativeness. Acceptability was rated as "good." Simplicity, data reliability, and system timeliness were rated as "average," while system stability was rated as "poor." Based on these survey results, developers should urgently investigate reasons for poor stability, particularly addressing concerns from CHSCs users. Additionally, the issues and shortcomings identified in other attributes should also be gradually improved.

An investigation on cervical cancer and human papillomavirus vaccine knowledge, and analysis of influencing factors for choosing domestic or imported 2vHPV vaccine among females in Shenzhen, China.

In 2020, the domestic (Chinese native) 2v human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was approved for use in females. At present, there are obvious differences in demand for different HPV vaccines. We aimed to investigate knowledge level of cervical cancer and HPV vaccine and its influencing factors among the eligible female recipients in Shenzhen, China, and to analyze the factors influencing choice of 2vHPV vaccine (domestic or imported) would be selected. A self-administered questionnaire was carried out on this investigation, and respondents were selected by random sampling method conducted by vaccination doctors. A total of 1197 valid questionnaires were collected, of which 729 (60.9%) were vaccinated with domestic vaccines and 468 (39.1%) were vaccinated with imported. Four hundred and fifty (61.7%) and 306 (65.4%) got a passing grade, respectively (χ2 = 1.637, P = .201). Logistic regression analysis showed that age (P = .002), ethnicity (P < .001), duration of residence in Shenzhen (P < .001), educational level (P < .001) and occupation (P < .001) were significant. It also showed that the manufacturers (P < .001), efficacy (P < .001), safety (P < .001), cognitive approach (P < .001), public opinion (P < .001), convenient acquisition (P < .001) and knowledge reserve (P = .035) were statistically significant. While price (P = .371) and doctor's suggestion (P = .114) were not. In conclusion, eligible female recipients had a high degree of knowledge regarding cervical cancer and HPV vaccine, education level and occupation were the most important factors for scores. Domestic 2vHPV vaccine was more widely utilized than imported, manufacturer, efficacy, safety, cognitive approach, public opinion, convenient acquisition, and knowledge reserve had an impact on selection for recipients, while price and doctor's suggestion did not.

Mortality characteristics and prediction of female breast cancer in China from 1991 to 2011.

AIMS: To analyze time-dependent changes in female breast cancer (BC) mortality in China, forecast the trend in the ensuing 5 years, and provide recommendations for prevention and management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mortality data of breast cancer in China from 1991 to 2011 was used to describe characteristics and distribution, such as the changes of the standardized mortality rate, urban-rural differences and age differences. Trend-surface analysis was used to study the geographical distribution of mortality. In addition, curve estimation, time series modeling, Gray modeling (GM) and joinpoint regression were performed to estimate and predict future trends. RESULTS: In China, the mortality rate of breast cancer has increased yearly since 1991. In addition, our data predicted that the trend will continue to increase in the ensuing 5 years. Rates in urban areas are higher than those in rural areas. Over the past decade, all peak ages for death by breast cancer have been delayed, with the first death peak occurring at 55 to 65 years of age in urban and rural areas. Geographical analysis indicated that mortality rates increased from Southwest to Northeast and from West to East. CONCLUSIONS: The standardized mortality rate of breast cancer in China is rising and the upward trend is predicted to continue for the next 5 years. Since this can cause an enormous health impact in China, much better prevention and management of breast cancer is needed. Consequently, disease control centers in China should place more focus on the northeastern, eastern and southeastern parts of China for breast cancer prevention and management, and the key population should be among women between ages 55 to 65, especially those in urban communities.

Rapid Sanger sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for identification of some common pathogens.

Conventional Sanger sequencing remains time-consuming and laborious. In this study, we developed a rapid improved sequencing protocol of 16S rRNA for pathogens identification by using a new combination of SYBR Green I real-time PCR and Sanger sequencing with FTA® cards. To compare the sequencing quality of this method with conventional Sanger sequencing, 12 strains, including three kinds of strains (1 reference strain and 3 clinical strains, which were previously identified by biochemical tests), which have 4 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 4 Staphyloccocus aureus and 4 Escherichia coli, were targeted. Additionally, to validate the sequencing results and bacteria identification, expanded specimens with 90 clinical strains, also comprised of the three kinds of strains which included 30 samples respectively, were performed as just described. The results showed that although statistical differences (P<0.05) were found in sequencing quality between the two methods, their identification results were all correct and consistent. The workload, the time consumption and the cost per batch were respectively light versus heavy, 8 h versus 11 h and $420 versus $400. In the 90 clinical strains, all of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphyloccocus aureus strains were correctly identified, but only 26.7% of the Escherichia coli strains were recognized as Escherichia coli, while 33.3% as Shigella sonnei and 40% as Shigella dysenteriae. The protocol described here is a rapid, reliable, stable and convenient method for 16S rRNA sequencing, and can be used for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphyloccocus aureus identification, yet it is not completely suitable for discriminating Escherichia coli and Shigella strains.