Identifying conditions for a third dose intention of COVID-19 vaccination in college students: A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis.

Background: During the pandemic, a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine effectively reduces the proportion of severe cases in those infected, but vaccine hesitancy impedes this reasonable prevention method. Epidemic control in China is being tested due to the large population base, especially in crowded places like college campuses. This study aimed to explore the configuration paths of psychological antecedents for college students to receive a third COVID-19 vaccine. Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional survey was carried out in five universities in Wuhan using convenience sampling. A long version of the 5C 7-point Likert scale was used to measure college students' intention and psychological antecedents on the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) approach was performed to explore the configuration of conditions to the vaccination willingness. Results: 31.67% of respondents surveyed did not receive their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The score of intention to get the vaccine for college students who did not receive the booster vaccine was 4.93 (±1.68). Average scores of 5.19 (±1.24), 4.35 (±1.75), 4.02 (±1.45), 5.84 (±1.23), and 4.61(±1.32) were reported for confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, and collective responsibility in them. QCA showed high confidence and collective responsibility playing a central role in third dose vaccination intention. Meanwhile, low confidence and collective responsibility are the core conditions of low vaccination willingness. Conclusion: Eliminating vaccine hesitancy necessitates focusing on the psychological antecedents of vaccination intentions to identify critical targets for policy and interventions. This study identified trust and collective responsibility are core elements of the psychological antecedents of college students' intention to receive the booster vaccine for COVID-19. To achieve herd immunity as soon as possible, health administration and campus can start with vaccine confidence-building and collective responsibility cultivation to take appropriate actions and measures to improve coverage of the booster vaccination.

Circular RNA Hsa_circ_0066755 as an Oncogene via sponging miR-651 and as a Promising Diagnostic Biomarker for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a class of broad and diversified endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expressions in eukaryotes. Hsa_circ_006675 has been proven as an important circRNA molecule in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), however, its function still remains elusive. This study aims to discuss the biofunctions of hsa_circ_0066755 in NPC. Methods: We detected the expression levels of hsa_circ_0066755 in NPC patients by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the corresponding ROC curves were plotted. Functional experiments including CCK-8, colony formation, Transwell assay and Xenograft experiment were conducted. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to seek miRNAs which might have binding sites with hsa_circ_0066755. Luciferase reporter assays were finally carried out to verify the binding sites. Results: We found significant increases of hsa_circ_0066755 in the plasma and tissues of the patients. Moreover, its levels were positively correlated with clinical staging (P=0.019). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the curves (AUCs) of tissue and plasma hsa_circ_0066755 for distinguishing NPC from non-cancerous controls were 0.8537 and 0.9044, respectively. Both tissue and plasma hsa_circ_0066755 testing presented a comparable diagnostic accuracy to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our in-vitro experiment showed that the overexpression of hsa_circ_0066755 facilitated the growth, proliferation, clone formation, invasion and migration of CNE-1 NPC cells, while its down-regulation showed completely opposite effects. The xenograft experiment showed that exogenous hsa_circ_0066755 could significantly enhance the in-vivo tumorigenic ability of CNE-1 cells. Rescue assay further confirmed hsa_circ_0066755 as a tumor facilitator by sponging miR-651. Conclusions: Collectively, this study reported for the first time that hsa_circ_0066755 played a role of oncogene in NPC and could be used as an effective diagnostic marker for NPC, and that hsa_circ_0066755 / miR-651 axis also involved in the progression of NPC.

Agitation thrombolysis combined with catheter-directed thrombolysis for the treatment of non-cirrhotic acute portal vein thrombosis.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of agitation thrombolysis (AT) combined with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for the treatment of non-cirrhotic acute portal vein thrombosis (PVT). METHODS: Nine patients with non-cirrhotic acute PVT who underwent AT combined with CDT were analyzed retrospectively. Portography was carried out via the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic (commonly known as TIP) or percutaneous transhepatic (commonly known as PT) route, followed by AT combined with CDT. Complications of the procedure, and the changes in clinical symptoms, hemodynamics of the portal vein and liver function were recorded. Follow-up was scheduled at 1, 3 and 6 mo after treatment, and every 6 mo thereafter, or when the patients developed clinical symptoms related to PVT. Color Doppler ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging were performed during the follow-up period to determine the condition of the portal vein. RESULTS: AT combined with CDT was successfully performed. The portal vein was reached via the TIP route in 6 patients, and via the PT route in 3 patients. All clinical symptoms were relieved or disappeared, with the exception of 1 patient who died of intestinal necrosis 9 d after treatment. Significant differences in the changes in portal vein hemodynamics were observed, including the maximum lumen occupancy of PVT, portal vein pressure and flow velocity between pre- and post-treatment (P < 0.05). During the follow-up period, recurrence was observed in 1 patient at 19 mo after the procedure, and the portal vein was patent in the remaining patients. CONCLUSION: AT combined with CDT is a safe and effective method for the treatment of non-cirrhotic acute PVT.

Application of embolization microspheres in interventional therapy of malignant non-hypervascular tumor of liver.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of transarterial embolization (TAE) using embolization microspheres in the treatment of non-hypervascular malignant liver tumors. METHODS: Patients with malignant non-hypervascular liver tumors, who were treated with TAE using embolization microspheres, were selected and analyzed retrospectively. The technical success rate, tumor response, and complications were assessed. RESULTS: Six patients were included in the study: 1 patient each with hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hepatic metastasis after resection of common bile duct carcinoma, liver metastasis from colon cancer, liver metastasis from esophageal cancer, and liver metastasis from pancreatic cancer. The technical success rate was 100%. At 1 and 3 months after TAE, tumor local reactions were seen in 6/6 and 2/6 patients, respectively, and the tumor necrosis rates were 48%-73% and 22%-68%, respectively. The main complications were those related to the embolization syndrome, including 1 case of liver abscess and 1 case of severe pain on the first day after embolization. CONCLUSION: TAE with embolization microspheres is safe and effective in non-hypervascular liver tumors. It is a feasible option for palliative therapy of these tumors.

Clinical observation of fallopian tube obstruction recanalization by ozone.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of fallopian tube obstruction recanalization by ozone. METHODS: Total 116 cases of patients undergoing the fallopian tube obstruction were randomly divided into the experimental group and control group, with 58 cases in each group. All patients underwent the interventional fallopian tube recanalization. The patients in the experimental group underwent the fallopian tube perfusion by the ozone water. Meanwhile, the patients in the control group were treated with the conventional anti-inflammatory and anti-adhesion drugs. After the follow-up visit for 6 months, the pregnancy rate and fallopian tube re-occlusion rate were counted and compared between the two groups. Meanwhile, the symptoms were evaluated and compared between the two groups after the operation for two weeks. RESULTS: The success rate of fallopian tube recanalization was 93.1% (54/58), the pregnancy rate was 79.3% (46/58) and the recurrence rate was 5.2% (3/58) in the experimental group. While the success rate of fallopian tube recanalization was 91.4% (53/58), the pregnancy rate was 60.3% (35/58) and the recurrence rate was 17.2% (10/58) in the control group. Analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the recanalization success rate between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the pregnancy rate and re-occlusion rate in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05), and the difference was statistically significant. There was no significant difference in the discomfort symptoms between the experimental group and control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Fallopian tube recanalization by ozone perfusion can effectively increase the postoperative pregnancy rate and reduce the fallopian tube re-occlusion.

The value of CTPA for diagnosing acute pulmonary thromboembolism and the ensuing right ventricular dysfunction.

The value of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for the diagnosis of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) subsequent to acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The ultrasonic cardiography (UCG) was used to assess RVD, one of the diagnostic criteria of PE caused hemodynamic collapse. Seventy six patients with confirmed PE were divided into massive (52 cases) and non-massive PE group (24 cases). The diagnostic criteria assessed for the imminent RVD were: (1) the ratio of axial diameters of the right and left ventricular chambers (RVd/LVd) exceeding 1, or (2) the right ventricular end-diastolic diameter measuring >30 mm. The CTPA diagnosed RVD was positive in 36 and negative in 40 cases. The RVD assessed by UCG was positive in 31 and negative in 45 cases. In comparison to UCG, the CTPA results UCG exhibited 96.77 % sensitivity 96.77 % and 86.67 specificity. The evaluated values both of these techniques were found in good agreement by the kappa value (κ) of 0.81, P < 0.001. In 52 cases of massive PE, CTPA determined RVD was positive in 34, and negative in 18 cases. In comparison, UCG diagnosed RVD was positive in 31 and negative in 21 cases. The sensitivity and specificity of CTPA results compared to those of UCG were 91.18 and 85.71 %, respectively. The estimates obtained were in good agreement as indicated by 0.88 κ value and P < 0.001. Twenty four cases of non-massive PE were RVD negative when assessed by CTPA, UCG however showed two cases positive in this group. Compared to UCG, the specificity of CTPA in evaluating RVD was 100 %. In the massive PE group, the average estimate of RVd/LVd ratio was significantly higher than 1 as analyzed by the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test (P < 0.001). The CTPA and UCG results showed a good correlation in massive PE cases. However, in non-massive PE group, results from two techniques were not correlated. The CTPA can accurately and reliably diagnose the PE and ensuing by estimating changes in the anatomical parameters of right ventricle. Hence, it can allow prompt diagnosis and an appropriate treatment leading to an improved prognosis.

[Imaging findings of non-contrast CT scan, enhancement and HRCT of pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the imaging findings of non-contrast CT scan, enhancement and HRCT of pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. METHODS: All the patients with pathologically proven pulmonary MALT lymphoma underwent non-contrast CT scan, of which 7 underwent CT enhancement and 9 had HRCT. CT features of 16 patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Major CT signs of 16 cases were consolidations, nodules and masses, of which 11 had two or more signs and 5 had only one. Together with them, normal or dilated air bronchograms were seen in 13 cases, ground-glass opacity (GGO) in 10, interstitial changes and cysts in respective 5, partial atelectasis and mediastinal and hilar lymphoadenopathy in respective 4, pleural effusion in 2 and MALT lymphoma of tracheobronchial tree in 1. Multiple lesions were found in 12 cases and solitary lesion in 4 cases. Consolidations, greater tubercles and masses mostly had a peribronchovascular distribution. Micronodules occurred in a perilymphatic distribution, of which 8 accompanied other signs.On CT enhancement scans, greater tubercles in the trachea had mild enhancement; most of the consolidations and masses had obvious enhancement, while greater tubercles mostly mild enhancement. CT angiogram sign was found in 3 cases. CONCLUSION: Most cases with pulmonary MALT lymphoma have consolidations, greater tubercles and masses with normal or dilated air bronchograms which have a peribronchovascular distribution, together with GGO and micronodules in a perilymphatic distribution; the distinctive manifestations are obvious enhancement with CT angiogram sign. Minority cases have interstitial changes, cysts, partial atelectasis, mediastinal and hilar lymphoadenopathy, pleural effusion and MALT lymphoma of tracheobronchial tree.

Improvement of percutaneous transhepatic biliary internal-external drainage and its initial experience in patients with malignant obstruction of the upper biliary tree.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility and clinical results of modified percutaneous transhepatic biliary internal-external drainage (PTBIED) vs. conventional PTBIED in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. METHODOLOGY: Conventional PTBIED was modified by applying side-holes to an 8.5Fr external biliary drainage catheter. Eligible patients were randomly assigned 1:1 by the doctors to receive modified PTBIED (group A) or conventional PTBIED (group B). Technical success rate, complications, hepatic function and white cell count were recorded pre- and post-procedure. All patients were followed-up until death. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were assigned in group A and 21 patients were involved in group B. Successful drainage was all achieved in both groups. Biliary tract infections were significantly reduced in group A (1/22) compared to group B (7/21, p<0.05). The leukocyte count fell slightly in group A post-procedure, while it rose in group B (group A: 8.45±3.22-109/L to 7.53±2.46-109/L; group B: 7.92±3.08-109/L to 10.52±5.09-109/L). Both procedures had similar effects in the recovery of hepatic function, median survival time and alleviating clinical symptoms (such as pruritis and abdominal pain). CONCLUSIONS: Modified PTBIED can reduce the complications resulting from retrograde reflux of duodenal contents. Improved PTBIED should be used for patients with inoperable high malignant biliary obstruction.

Human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles: the effect on neuron-like differentiation in vitro.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential for self-renewal and multipotential differentiation to regenerate damaged tissues or recover functional absence in diseases. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for labeling cells in vitro and for tracking SPION-labeled cells after transplantation in vivo. Human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAM-dMSCs) have the capacity for neuron-like differentiation that could be used to cure central nervous system (CNS) diseases. The study investigated the impacts of cytotoxicity of SPIONs on neuron-like differentiation of hAM-dMSCs in both single (1×) and multiple (4×) SPIONs-labeled methods. hAM-dMSCs could be efficiently labeled at safe concentrations of SPIONs (≤14 µg/ml) without significantly affecting their viability (>80% after a MTT assay), special surface antigens (CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105 through flow cytometry), and neuron-like differentiation (nestin and neuron-specific enolase through immunocytochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction). Compared with multiple (4×) SPION-labeled methods, a single (1×) SPION-labeled method avoided multiple SPION-labeled hAM-dMSCs and minimized the impact of cytotoxicity of SPIONs on neuron-like differentiation of hAM-dMSCs. Under safe concentrations of SPIONs, a single (1×) SPION-labeled method provided appropriate viability for SPIONs-labeled hAM-dMSCs and facilitated the MRI evaluation of hAM-dMSCs after transplantation.