[The value of cardiac MRI in the risk stratification in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To explore the value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in the risk stratification of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods: HCM patients who underwent CMR examination in Fuwai Hospital between March 2012 and May 2013 were retrospectively enrolled. Baseline clinical and CMR data were collected and patient follow-up was performed using telephone contact and medical record. The primary composite endpoint was sudden cardiac death (SCD) or and equivalent event. The secondary composite endpoint was all-cause death and heart transplant. Patients were divided into SCD and non-SCD groups. Cox regression was used to explore risk factors of adverse events. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the performance and the optimal cut-off of late gadolinium enhancement percentage (LGE%) for the prediction of endpoints. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to compare survival differences between groups. Results: A total of 442 patients were enrolled. Mean age was (48.5±12.4) years and 143(32.4%) were female. At (7.6±2.5) years of follow-up, 30 (6.8%) patients met the primary endpoint including 23 SCD and 7 SCD equivalent events, and 36 (8.1%) patients met the secondary endpoint including 33 all-cause death and 3 heart transplant. In multivariate Cox regression, syncope(HR=4.531, 95%CI 2.033-10.099, P<0.001), LGE% (HR=1.075, 95%CI 1.032-1.120, P=0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR=0.956, 95%CI 0.923-0.991, P=0.013) were independent risk factors for primary endpoint; Age (HR=1.032, 95%CI 1.001-1.064, P=0.046), atrial fibrillation (HR=2.977, 95%CI 1.446-6.131, P=0.003),LGE% (HR=1.075, 95%CI 1.035-1.116, P<0.001) and LVEF (HR=0.968, 95%CI 0.937-1.000, P=0.047) were independent risk factors for secondary endpoint. ROC curve showed the optimal LGE% cut-offs were 5.1% and 5.8% for the prediction of primary and secondary endpoint, respectively. Patients were further divided into LGE%=0, 0

Longwave IR lattice matched L-valley Ge/GeSiSn waveguide quantum cascade detector.

We propose a lattice-matched Ge/GeSiSn quantum cascade detector (QCD) capable of operating in the longwave infrared. The optical absorption and carrier transport based on intersubband transitions all occur within the L-valley of the conduction band of the group-IV material system using N-doped quantum wells (QWs). The waveguided lattice matched structure can be deposited strain free on top of a Ge buffer grown on Si substrate, and is end-coupled to low-loss on-chip Ge waveguides. We optimized the QCD structure through the analysis of the photoresponsivity and detectivity D*. The QCD operates in photovoltaic mode with narrow spectral response that is peaked anywhere in the 9 to 16 µm range, tunable by design. This work aims to push the optical response of the photodetectors made from the SiGeSn material system to longer wavelengths. The study suggests the QCD response can indeed significantly extend the spectral range beyond that of the photodiodes and photoconductors made from the same group-IV system for a wide variety of applications in imaging, sensing, lidar, and space-and-fiber communications.

Role of nasal saline irrigation in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children and adults: A systematic analysis.

BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis aims to access the efficacy of nasal saline irrigation in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) in adults and children. METHODS: Two authors independently searched databases up to December 2018. Differences in efficacy between saline irrigation and other treatments were compared. Subgroup analyses of discrepancy in effects between children and adults were performed. RESULTS: (1) Saline irrigation vs. no irrigation, in both children and adults groups, saline irrigation showed significant efficacy. (2) Saline+medication vs. medication, in children group, there was no statistical difference of efficacy between saline+medication and medication; in adults group, efficacy of saline+medicine was superior to that of medication. (3) Saline irrigation vs. medication, in children group, there was no statistical difference between efficacy of saline irrigation and medication; in adults group, efficacy of medication was superior to that of saline irrigation. (4) Hypertonic saline vs. isotonic saline, for children, efficacy of hypertonic saline was superior to that of isotonic saline. Additionally, no adults reported adverse events in all trials. Adverse effects were reported during the first nasal irrigation in 20 children, and one child withdrew due to adverse reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Saline irrigation can significantly improve symptoms of AR in children and adults. Saline irrigation can serve as a safe adjunctive treatment to medication of AR in adults. Saline irrigation can be an alternative therapy for children and pregnant women with AR. Efficacy of hypertonic saline may be better than that of isotonic saline in treating AR of children.

[Safety of biological valves for aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive and contemporary overview of the long-term safety outcomes after aortic valve replacements (AVR) with conventional biological heart valve (stented or stentless). METHODS: English databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrial.gov) and Chinese databases (CNKI, VIP, WanFang, and SinoMed) were searched systemically from January 1, 2000 to January 26, 2019. Eligible randomized controlled trials, non-randomized clinical trials, cohort studies (retrospective or prospective), and unselected case series were included. Strict screening of the obtained literature was conducted to extract relevant data by two reviewers. Other inclusion criteria were studied reporting on outcomes of AVR with biological valves (stented or stentless), with or without coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or valve repair procedure, with mean follow-up length equal to or longer than 5 years. We excluded studies that reported only a specific patient group (e.g., patients with renal failure, or pregnancy), without the report of biological valve type, or with study population size less than 100. The meta-analysis was performed using Stata 14.0 software. RESULTS: In this study, 53 papers (in total 57 study groups) involving 47 803 patients were included. (1) The all-cause mortality was 6.33/100 patient-years (95%CI: 5.85-6.84). Subgroup analysis showed that the mortality rates of porcine and bovine valve prostheses were 5.69/100 patient-years (95%CI: 5.05-6.41) and 7.29/100 patient-years (95%CI: 6.53-8.13), respectively. The all-cause mortality rates for stented and stentless valve were 6.69/100 patient-years (95%CI: 6.12-7.30) and 5.21/100 patient-years (95%CI: 4.43-6.14), respectively. (2) The incidence rate of thromboembolism was 1.16/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.96-1.40), the incidence rate of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation was 1.08/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.75-1.54), the incidence rate of stroke was 0.74/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.51-1.06), the incidence rate of structural valve dysfunction (SVD) was 0.73/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.59-0.91), the incidence rate of major bleeding was 0.52/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.41-0.65), the incidence rate of endocarditis was 0.38/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.33-0.44), and the incidence rate of non-structural valve dysfunction (NSVD) was 0.20/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.13-0.31). The total reoperation rate for biological aortic valve was 0.77/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.65-0.91), and the SVD related reoperation rate was 0.46/100 patient-years (95%CI: 0.36-0.58). CONCLUSION: The all-cause mortality for conventional biological AVR was 6.33/100 patient-years. Thromboembolism, PPM implantation, reoperation, stroke, and SVD were major long term complications.

Drug-resistance reversal in colorectal cancer cells by destruction of flotillins, the key lipid rafts proteins.

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) of tumor cells attenuates the efficacy of anticancer drugs and has become the main reason for chemotherapy failure. It is indispensable to establish an effective way to reverse multi-drug resistance. Our previous work has shown that down-regulation of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway activity can reverse the drug-resistance of resistant cells. Further-more, the effect of signal transduction is strongly associated with lipid rafts. The drug-resistance is reversed successfully after lipid rafts are destroyed by heptakis(2, 6-di-O-methyl)-ß-cyclodextrin (MßCD). However, the reversal of the drug-resistance is not associated with down-regulation of the expression of ERK1/2. Cell membrane permeability may increase when lipid rafts are destroyed by MßCD, causing the reversal of drug-resistance due to an increase in accumulation of the drugs in the cytoplasm. To minimize the influence of MßCD on the cell membrane structure, we selected flotillin, a marker protein of lipid rafts, as the target molecule, to further investigate the mechanism of changes in drug resistance after destruction of the lipid rafts. The effect of flotillin on the reversal of the drug resistance was examined using an RNA interference (RNAi) in a retrovirus system in human drug-resistant strains of colorectal cancer cell line HCT-15. The results demonstrate that flotillin-1 downregulation by RNAi (Flot1-RNAi) reduced the drug resistance, caused cell cycle arrest and decreased the expression of ERK1/2; however, apoptosis was not significantly affected. Knockdown of flotillin-2 by RNAi (Flot2-RNAi) had effects similar to those of Flot1-RNAi except that the effects on expression of ERK1/2 and apoptosis were different. Screening of multiple pathways indicated that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was closely related. This experiment demonstrates the association between PI3K and drug resistance through the activation of PI3K and suggests that PI3K may play a key role during the development of resistance in CRC. The results reveal that the levels of IRS-1 and PI3K proteins in the Flot1-RNAi and Flot2-RNAi groups were significantly down-regulated. Knockdown of flotillins by RNAi reduced the resistance of HCT-15/ADM cells; the results investigations of the Akt pathway indicate a decrease in resistance after lipid raft destruction. These data confirm that knockdown of flotillin reduces the resistance of HCT-15/ADM cells, and the mechanism may be relevant to the PI3K/Akt pathway. Additionally, flotillin may be used as a potential target for chemotherapy in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

[Quality assessment of global guidelines on colorectal cancer screening].

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review and assess the quality of guidelines on colorectal cancer screening worldwide to provide guidance for the development of high-quality colorectal cancer screening guidelines in mainland China. METHODS: CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched to identify guidelines on colorectal cancer screening from inception to Jun. 20th, 2018, and so were some websites and major search engines about the development of the guidelines from the existing literature (search date: Aug. 3rd, 2018). Two experienced reviewers independently examined these abstracts and then extracted information, and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) were used to evaluate the methodological quality of these guidelines by four well trained reviewers. RESULTS: In this study, 46 guidelines published from 1994 to 2018 were finally included in our analysis from 10 countries and 5 regions, among which 5 were from mainland China. The quality of these guidelines was relatively high in domain 1 (scope and purpose) and domain 4 (clarity of presentation), and medium in domain 2 (stakeholder involvement). While in the other three domains (domain 3: rigour of development; domain 5: applicability; domain 6: editorial independence), the results were quite different among these guidelines. The quality of evidence-based guidelines (defined by the criteria based on World Health Organization guideline development handbook) was generally higher than that of the common guidelines. Existing guidelines from mainland China were not evidence-based guidelines, which were of low quality. CONCLUSION: The colorectal cancer screening guidelines all over the world are generally large in number, low in quality, different in statements, and so are the guidelines in China. There are no evidence-based guidelines in mainland China, which cannot provide effective guidance for colorectal cancer screening, so we need to pay more attention to the establishment of guidelines with high quality and high credibility for colorectal cancer screening as well as for cancer screening based on the national condition, in order to provide reasonable guidance for practice in public health and improve the health conditions in our society.

[How OCT angiography will change our daily practice].

Fundus imaging technologies have been developing rapidly in recent years. Among these technologies, the Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) is particularly noteworthy. Unlike traditional angiography, OCTA features non-dye-injection and non-invasivion, and is capable of providing high-resolution 3D images of vascular flow in the retina and choroid in a matter of seconds. Its clinical value is being more and more recognized by retinal specialists. In this article, we will illustrate how OCTA will change our daily practice in four aspects, namely: (1) changing our understanding of the diseases, (2) helping us with differential diagnosis, (3) optimizing clinical service process, (4) redesigning treatment & follow-up process. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 241-243).

[Clinical experience of 2 543 cases of congenital heart diseases undergoing totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgery in a single center].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experience of totally thoracoscopic cardiac surgical (TTCS) at congenital heart diseases (CHD) treatment. METHODS: From April 2000 to March 2016, 2 543 patients with CHD underwent TTCS in Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, including 957 male and 1 586 female patients. The age ranged from 0.5 to 66.0 years with a mean age of (21±18) years. The body weight ranged from 6 to 118 kg with a mean of (49±30) kg. Patients were diagnosed with echocardiography or transesophagel echocardiography as complex or complicated CHD which was unsuitable for percutaneous procedure. Surgical procedures were performed through 3 holes inserted at the right chest wall, and catheters were placed in the right femoral artery and vein to set up cardiopulmonary bypass.The ascending aorta was cross-clamped with long tailor-made forceps and the myocardium was protected by coronary perfusion with cold crystalloid(blood)cardioplegia. There were 787 cases (from January 2013 to December 2015) were selected to compare with 710 cases underwent conventional thoracotomy over the same period. Statistical analysis was performed by t test, t' test, rank-sum test, χ(2) test and Fisher exact test, respectively. RESULTS: The total death rate and the major complication rate of the operation were 0.35% (9/2 543) and 2.28% (58/2 543), respectively. All patients were followed up 1 to 190 months and the average follow-up time was (75±34) months. No residual shunt or obvious mitral/tricuspid regurgitation was observed, and the patients gained better cardiac function as level Ⅰ to Ⅱ (New York Heart Association classification). There was no significant difference in aorta clamp time, ICU stay, hospital cost, and surgical fatality rate between 787 patients underwent TTCS and 710 conventional thoracotomy. The cardiopulmonary bypass time ((31±20) minuets vs. (40±17) minuets, t'=9.407, P=0.001), operation time ((91±27) minuets vs. ( 102±64) minuets, t'=4.251, P=0.000), hospital stay ((5.3±2.2) d vs. (13.0±4.0) d, t'=45.463, P=0.000), postoperative drainage (M(QR): 33(17) ml vs. 121(53) ml, T=2.632, P=0.000) and major complications (7/787 vs. 23/710, χ(2)=10.49, P=0.001) were significantly reduced and no sternal deformation occurrence (0 vs. 192/710, χ(2)=244.10, P=0.000) in TTCS group. While the cost was higher in TTCS group ((24 000±400) yuan vs. (20 000±400) yuan, t=19.320, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: TTCS is feasible, safe, and minimal invasive for patients with CHD, resulting in quick recovery and good median-long term outcomes.

[Efficacy of interventional therapy on paravalvular leakage after mitral valve replacement].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter intervention of paravalvular leakage (PVL) after mitral valve replacement. METHODS: Present respective study included 15 patients (8 males and mean age (53.5±11.7) years) with mitral PVL who underwent interventional therapy in our hospital from April 2014 to May 2015. There were 9 cases with NYHA heart function Ⅲ, 6 cases with NYHA heart function Ⅳ. Left ventricular ejection fraction was (46.8±8.2)%, and mitral regurgitation volume was 12.0 (10.0, 15.0)ml before the intervention. Transcatheter intervention was carried out in the catheterization laboratory or the hybrid operation room with initial local anesthesia. By puncturing femoral artery and implantation of different congenital heart disease devices, the mitral PVL were occluded interventionally. To some complicated cases, the occluder was implanted by puncturing apex and atrial septum. Follow-up evaluation included peri-operational mortality, complications and postoperative residual shunt. RESULTS: The median time between transcatheter intervention and previous operation was 5.0 (0.6, 7.0) years. One patient did not tolerate the operation and occlude was not implanted in this patient. The success rate of transcatheter intervention was 93.3% (14/15). The average operation time was (126.7±56.4)min, and X ray exposure time was (21.0±10.0)min, and median hospitalization time was 7.0 (6.0, 10.0)d. The main post-operative complications included 1 case of hemoptysis, 1 case of acute renal failure, 1 case of hematuria and 4 cases of blood transfusion. The median follow-up time was 7.0 (4.0, 12.0) months. During the follow-up, there was no death and no serious complications. One month after the procedure, left ventricular ejection fraction significantly increased to(52.1±4.3)%, and median mitral regurgitation significantly reduced to 0.5 (0, 2.0)ml (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The interventional therapy for PVL after mitral valve replacement is safe and effective, and further studies are warranted to observe the long-term effect of this procedure.

Association between serum angiopoietin-2 concentration and clinicopathological parameters in patients with colorectal cancer.

We examined the expression of angiopoietin-2 in serum samples from patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and healthy volunteers and investigated the feasibility of using angiopoietin-2 as a potential diagnostic colorectal cancer biomarker. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to measure the levels of angiopoietin-2 in patients with colorectal cancer and healthy control subjects. Correlations between serum angiopoietin-2 levels and clinicopathological factors were investigated. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to predict cut-off values of the markers. Serum concentrations of angiopoietin-2 were significantly higher in patients with colorectal cancer than in controls (2896 ± 1273 vs 1554 ± 991 pg/mL, P = 0.004). Serum angiopoietin-2 expression levels were significantly positively correlated with TNM stage (P = 0.003), lymph node involvement (P = 0.04), and distant metastases (P = 0.005). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that serum level of angiopoietin-2 was a potential biomarker for differentiating colorectal cancer patients from controls and had a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.859 (95% confidence interval = 0.740-0.978). At a cut-off value of 2710 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 79.3% and the specificity was 82.4%. Our results suggest that angiopoietin-2 can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer in clinical practice. Additional studies are needed to clarify the detailed mechanism of angiopoietin-2 in the carcinogenesis and metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Raman scattering reveals strong LO-phonon-hole-plasmon coupling in nominally undoped GaAsBi: optical determination of carrier concentration.

We report room-temperature Raman scattering studies of nominally undoped (100) GaAs1−xBix epitaxial layers exhibiting Bi-induced (p-type) longitudinal-optical-plasmon-coupled (LOPC) modes for 0.018 ≤ x ≤ 0.048. Redshifts in the GaAs-like optical modes due to alloying are evaluated and are paralleled by strong damping of the LOPC. The relative integrated Raman intensities of LO(Γ) and LOPC ALO/ALOPC are characteristic of heavily doped p-GaAs, with a remarkable near total screening of the LO(Γ) phonon (ALO/ALOPC → 0) for larger Bi concentrations. A method of spectral analysis is set out which yields estimates of hole concentrations in excess of 5×1017cm−3 and correlates with the Bi molar fraction. These findings are in general agreement with recent electrical transport measurements performed on the alloy, and while the absolute size of the hole concentrations differ, likely origins for the discrepancy are discussed. We conclude that the damped LO-phonon-hole-plasmon coupling phenomena plays a dominant role in Raman scattering from unpassivated nominally undoped GaAsBi.

Effects of AlGaAs cladding layers on the luminescence of GaAs/GaAs1-xBix/GaAs heterostructures.

The structural and optical properties of GaAs1-xBix quantum wells (QWs) symmetrically clad by GaAs barriers with and without additional confining AlGaAs layers are studied. It is shown that a GaAs/GaAs1-xBix/GaAs QW with x ~ 4% and well width of ~ 4 nm grown by molecular beam epitaxy demonstrates efficient photoluminescence (PL) that becomes significantly more thermally stable when a cladding AlGaAs layer is added to the QW structure. The PL behavior for temperatures between 10 and 300 K and for excitation intensities varying by seven orders of magnitude can be well described in terms of the dynamics of excitons including carrier capture in the QW layer, thermal emission and diffusion into the cladding barriers. Understanding the role of these processes in the luminescence of dilute GaAs1-xBix QW structures facilitates the creation of highly efficient devices with reduced thermal sensitivity and low threshold current.

Challenges for room temperature operation of electrically pumped GeSn lasers.

Recent demonstrations of room-temperature lasing in optically pumped GeSn show promise for future CMOS compatible lasers for Si-photonics applications. However, challenges remain for electrically pumped devices. Investigation of the processes that limit device performance is therefore vital in aiding the production of future commercial devices. In this work, a combined experimental and modelling approach is utilised to explore the dominant loss processes in current devices. By manipulating the band structure of functioning devices using high hydrostatic pressure techniques at low temperature, the dominant carrier recombination pathways are identified. This reveals that 93 ± 5% of the threshold current is attributable to defect-related recombination at a temperature, T = 85 K. Furthermore, carrier occupation of L-valley states (carrier leakage) is responsible for 1.1 ± 0.3% of the threshold current, but this sharply increases to 50% with a decrease of just 30 meV in the L- Γ separation energy. This indicates that thermal broadening of a similar order may reproduce these adverse effects, limiting device performance at higher temperatures. Temperature dependent calculations show that carrier occupation of indirect valley L-states strongly affects the transparency carrier density and is therefore very sensitive to the Sn composition, leading to an effective operational temperature range for given Sn compositions and strain values. Recommendations for future device designs are proposed based on band structure and growth optimisations.

[Single-cell transcriptomic sequencing coupled with Mendelian randomization analysis elucidates the pivotal role of CTSC in chronic rhinosinusitis].

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), to identify key cell subgroups and genes, to construct effective diagnostic models, and to screen for potential therapeutic drugs. Methods: Key cell subgroups in CRS were identified through single-cell transcriptomic sequencing data. Essential genes associated with CRS were selected and diagnostic models were constructed by hdWGCNA (high dimensional weighted gene co-expression network analysis) and various machine learning algorithms. Causal inference analysis was performed using Mendelian randomization and colocalization analysis. Potential therapeutic drugs were identified using molecular docking technology, and the results of bioinformatics analysis were validated by immunofluorescence staining. Graphpad Prism, R, Python, and Adobe Illustrator software were used for data and image processing. Results: An increased proportion of basal and suprabasal cells was observed in CRS, especially in eosinophilic CRS with nasal polyps (ECRSwNP), with P=0.001. hdWGCNA revealed that the "yellow module" was closely related to basal and suprabasal cells in CRS. Univariate logistic regression and LASSO algorithm selected 13 key genes (CTSC, LAMB3, CYP2S1, TRPV4, ARHGAP21, PTHLH, CDH26, MRPS6, TENM4, FAM110C, NCKAP5, SAMD3, and PTCHD4). Based on these 13 genes, an effective CRS diagnostic model was developed using various machine learning algorithms (AUC=0.958). Mendelian randomization analysis indicated a causal relationship between CTSC and CRS (inverse variance weighted: OR=1.06, P=0.006), and colocalization analysis confirmed shared genetic variants between CTSC and CRS (PPH4/PPH3>2). Molecular docking results showed that acetaminophen binded well with CTSC (binding energy:-5.638 kcal/mol). Immunofluorescence staining experiments indicated an increase in CTSC+cells in CRS. Conclusion: This study integrates various bioinformatics methods to identify key cell types and genes in CRS, constructs an effective diagnostic model, underscores the critical role of the CTSC gene in CRS pathogenesis, and provides new targets for the treatment of CRS.

[Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain: a national multi-center survey of 35 566 population].

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.

First Report of Fusicoccum aesculi Causing Leaf Spots of Paeonia suffruticosa in Henan Province, China.

Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) is regarded as the national flower of China and is cultivated throughout the country. In early August 2010, a moderately severe leaf spot was observed on tree peony cultivated in a garden of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, where approximately 15% of trees were diseased. In 2011, a less damaging leaf spot was also observed in another area of the city with approximately 10% of trees diseased. Early symptoms appeared as small, round, pale-brown lesions on the leaves. Lesions expanded into 5- to 20-mm-diameter spots that were elliptical or irregular, brown to dark brown. A fungus was consistently isolated from the leaf spots on potato dextrose agar (PDA) in grey-black colonies, but produced few pycnidia. Black pycnidia were ostiolate, globose, papillate, formed in uniloculate or multiloculate stromata that were immersed in the leaf, and became erumpent at maturity. Conidiophores or conidiogenous cells were hyaline and cylindrical. Conidia were hyaline, granular, fusoid to ellipsoid, aseptate, with a sub-truncate base, and 20 to 28 × 4.5 to 7.5 µm (mean dimensions of 50 conidia: 24.5 × 5.2 µm). The pathogen was identified as Fusicoccum aesculi, anamorphic stage of Botryosphaeria dothidea, on the basis of morphology (2). The identity of the fungus was confirmed to be F. aesculi by DNA sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (GenBank Accession No. JQ323001), which was 100% identical to those of other F. aesculi isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. GU997686.1 and GU723469.1) (1). Pathogenicity tests were done by inoculating each of 10 leaves on one 7-year-old tree with a mycelial plug (0.5 cm diameter) harvested from the periphery of a 7-day-old colony. An equal number of leaves on the same tree, serving as controls, were mock-inoculated with plugs of PDA medium. Inoculated leaves were covered with plastic for 24 h to maintain high relative humidity and incubated at about 25°C. The plugs were removed after 48 h. After 7 days, 80% of the inoculated leaves showed symptoms identical to those observed in the field under natural conditions, whereas controls remained symptom-free. Reisolation of the fungus from lesions on inoculated leaves confirmed that the causal agent was F. aesculi. Pathogenicity tests were repeated on the other two trees by the same methods with the same results. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. aesculi infecting P. suffruticosa in China. References: (1) S. Mohali et al. Mycol. Res. 110:405, 2006. (2) B. C. Sutton. The Coelomycetes. CABI Publishing, New York, 1980.

Optical evidence of a quantum well channel in low temperature molecular beam epitaxy grown Ga(AsBi)/GaAs nanostructure.

A Ga(AsBi) quantum well (QW) with Bi content reaching 6% and well width of 11 nm embedded in GaAs is grown by molecular beam epitaxy at low temperature and studied by means of high-resolution x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence (PL), and time-resolved PL. It is shown that for this growth regime, the QW is coherently strained to the substrate with a low dislocation density. The low temperature PL demonstrates a comparatively narrow excitonic linewidth of ∼ 40 meV. For high excitation density distinct QW excited states evolve in the emission spectra. The origins of peculiar PL dependences on temperature and excitation density are interpreted in terms of intra-well optical transitions.