[Epidemiological characteristics of a 2019-nCoV outbreak caused by Omicron variant BF.7 in Shenzhen].

Objective: To explore the epidemiological characteristic of a COVID-19 outbreak caused by 2019-nCoV Omicron variant BF.7 and other provinces imported in Shenzhen and analyze transmission chains and characteristics. Methods: Field epidemiological survey was conducted to identify the transmission chain, analyze the generation relationship among the cases. The 2019-nCoV nucleic acid positive samples were used for gene sequencing. Results: From 8 to 23 October, 2022, a total of 196 cases of COVID-19 were reported in Shenzhen, all the cases had epidemiological links. In the cases, 100 were men and 96 were women, with a median of age, M (Q1, Q3) was 33(25, 46) years. The outbreak was caused by traverlers initial cases infected with 2019-nCoV who returned to Shenzhen after traveling outside of Guangdong Province.There were four transmission chains, including the transmission in place of residence and neighbourhood, affecting 8 persons, transmission in social activity in the evening on 7 October, affecting 65 persons, transmission in work place on 8 October, affecting 48 persons, and transmission in a building near the work place, affecting 74 persons. The median of the incubation period of the infection, M (Q1, Q3) was 1.44 (1.11, 2.17) days. The incubation period of indoor exposure less than that of the outdoor exposure, M (Q1, Q3) was 1.38 (1.06, 1.84) and 1.95 (1.22, 2.99) days, respcetively (Wald χ2=10.27, P=0.001). With the increase of case generation, the number and probability of gene mutation increased. In the same transmission chain, the proportion of having 1-3 mutation sites was high in the cases in the first generation. Conclusions: The transmission chains were clear in this epidemic. The incubation period of Omicron variant BF.7 infection was shorter, the transmission speed was faster, and the gene mutation rate was higher. It is necessary to conduct prompt response and strict disease control when epidemic occurs.

Effect of ventilation mode on postoperative pulmonary complications following lung resection surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

The effect of intra-operative mechanical ventilation modes on pulmonary outcomes after thoracic surgery with one-lung ventilation has not been well established. We evaluated the impact of three common ventilation modes on postoperative pulmonary complications in patients undergoing lung resection surgery. In this two-centre randomised controlled trial, 1224 adults scheduled for lung resection surgery with one-lung ventilation were randomised to one of three groups: volume-controlled ventilation; pressure-controlled ventilation; and pressure-control with volume guaranteed ventilation. Enhanced recovery after surgery pathways and lung-protective ventilation protocols were implemented in all groups. The primary outcome was a composite of postoperative pulmonary complications within the first seven postoperative days. The outcome occurred in 270 (22%), with 87 (21%) in the volume control group, 89 (22%) in the pressure control group and 94 (23%) in the pressure-control with volume guaranteed group (p = 0.831). The secondary outcomes also did not differ across study groups. In patients undergoing lung resection surgery with one-lung ventilation, the choice of ventilation mode did not influence the risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications. This is the first randomised controlled trial examining the effect of three ventilation modes on pulmonary outcomes in patients undergoing lung resection surgery.

[Correlation between both neck/shoulder and low back pain and daily behavioral habits among middle school students in Shenzhen].

Objective: To study the relations between neck/shoulder or low back pain and their daily behavioral habits among middle school students in Shenzhen. Methods: We randomly chose 3 952 students from 10 high schools in Shenzhen to complete the questionnaires. Data was gathered and analyzed, using the IBM SPSS 23.0. Results: Of the 3 952 participants, 20.3% had neck/shoulder pain and 15.2% had low back pain. Among students experienced neck/shoulder pain, female (25.3%), high school (24.5%) and boarding students (24.4%) experienced higher rates of neck/shoulder pain (P<0.05). Female students (17.9%) also had higher rate of low back pain (P<0.05). Results from logistic regression analysis showed that factors as: gender, type of school, taking naps on the desk, staying up late, self-perceived stress from learning, overloading homework, time spent on mobile phone and TV, spending long time on computer etc. were related to the neck/shoulder pain (P<0.05). Factors as: gender, naps on the desk, stay up late, self-perceived stress, overloading homework, time spent on mobile phone and TV etc., were related to low back pain (P<0.05). Conclusion: Neck/shoulder pain and low back pain were both commonly seen while high self-perceived stress, sedentary behaviors and poor sleeping habits were associated with both neck/shoulder and low back pain in high school students in Shenzhen.

Effects of tetrandrine on changes of NMDA receptor channel in cortical neurons of rat induced by anoxia.

AIM: To study the effects of tetrandrine (Tet) on the changes of NMDA receptor channels in cortical neurons induced by anoxia. METHODS: Cell-attached configuration of patch-clamp techniques. Anoxia was produced by perfused cells with 95% N2 + 5% CO2 gassed bath solution. RESULTS: During anoxia, the open time constant (tau 2), open probability (Po) of 35-pS and 100-pS channels increased. Tet 7.5 mumol.L-1 reduced the Po of 35-pS and 100-pS channels, 15 and 30 mumol.L-1 inhibited open of 100-pS channel fully, and changed the open time constant of 35-pS from two to single exponential distribution. CONCLUSION: Tet inhibition of the open of NMDA receptor channels induced by anoxia was one of its protective mechanisms.

Risk of lung cancer among cigarette and pipe smokers in southern China.

Studies in Shanghai and in north-east China indicate that cigarette smoking is a major contributor to the high rates of lung cancer in those areas, but doubts persist regarding the influence of cigarette use on lung cancer rates in other areas of China. In addition, the risk of lung cancer associated with other methods of tobacco consumption--in particular, the use of bamboo water-pipes and long-stem pipes--is uncertain. A population-based case-control study of 427 male lung cancer patients residing in a mining area of Southern China and 1,011 controls was carried out to address this and other issues. Of these patients, 63% smoked cigarettes and (water and long-stem) pipes; 17% and 14% smoked only cigarettes or pipes, respectively; and 6% did not smoke. Compared to non-smokers, smokers of cigarettes only, smokers of pipes only and mixed smokers were at increased risk; OR = 2.6 (95% CI 1.1-6.2), 1.8 (95% CI 0.8-4.2) and 4.1 (95% CI 2.3-9.2), respectively. Risk increased with duration of tobacco use; however, the rate of increase with years of cigarette use was significantly greater than for years of pipe use (p = 0.03). In addition, risks increased 8-fold in the highest quartile of number of cigarettes per day compared to non-cigarette smokers vs. 2.3-fold for the highest quartile of number of liang (50 g) smoked per month compared to non-pipe-smokers; the trends in the ORs differed significantly (p less than 0.001). Results suggest that, in this area of China, tobacco use is an important cause of lung cancer, and that smoking cigarettes may be more deleterious than smoking pipes (primarily water pipes).

Dietary determinants of lung-cancer risk: results from a case-control study in Yunnan Province, China.

The relation between diet and lung cancer was studied among male residents of a mining community in Yunnan Province. After obtaining food frequency data from subjects or proxies, we compared diets of 428 cases, aged 35-74 years, and 1,011 age-matched controls. Cases tended to consume slightly more rice, but less protein-rich foods (i.e., bean curd, meat, eggs) and vegetables than did controls. The relative risks of lung cancer across increasing quartiles of meat (i.e., pork) consumption, for example, were 1.00, 0.67, 0.72 and 0.46 (p for trend less than 0.01). The relative risks of lung cancer across increasing quartiles of consumption of dark-green, leafy vegetables were 1.00, 0.62, 0.52 and 0.41 (p for trend less than 0.01). Although specific dietary constituent(s) responsible for the protective effect of vegetable consumption could not be identified, carotenoids other than beta-carotene, or compounds in cruciferous or Allium vegetables, are possibilities.