[Clinical characteristics of children infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant combined with allergic disease].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of children with allergic diseases suffering from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant strains. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 43 pediatric patients with allergic diseases infected by SARS-CoV-2 from April 25, 2022 to June 8, 2022 in Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were selected as the allergic disease group, while 114 cases without underlying diseases and 16 cases with other underlying diseases were selected as control groups diagnosed at the same period. Clinical data including clinical features, laboratory tests, duration of hospitalization, and the time to negative turn of novel coronavirus nucleic acid were collected and analysed. Kruskal-Wallis H test, chi-square test or Fisher exact test were used for comparison among three groups. Results: Among the 43 patients with allergic diseases, 28 were males and 15 were females, with an age of 4.4 (2.1, 8.2) years on admission, including 32 mild cases and 11 common cases. The allergic disease group included 20 cases (46.5%) of atopic dermatitis and eczema, followed by 14 cases (32.6%) of rhinitis, 8 cases (18.6%) of food allergies, 7 cases (16.3%) of asthma, 4 cases (9.3%) of allergic conjunctivitis and 2 cases (4.7%) of drug allergy. Among the 114 cases without underlying diseases, 57 were males and 57 were females, with an age of 2.8 (1.2, 5.6) years on admission, including 93 mild cases and 21 common cases. Among the 16 cases with other underlying diseases, 9 were males and 7 were females, with an age of 3.0 (2.6, 10.8) years on admission, including 13 cases mild and 3 cases common cases. Children with allergic diseases had higher frequency of sore throat and vomiting than those without underlying diseases (10 cases (23.3%) vs.9 cases (7.9%), 14 cases (32.6%) vs. 11 cases (9.6%), χ²=6.93, 12.24, both P<0.05). The lymphocyte count of patients with allergic disease was lower than those without underlying disease (1.1 (0.7,1.7)×109 vs. 1.6 (1.1,2.7)×109/L, H=-28.00,P=0.005). There were no significant differences in age, gender, typing of SARS-CoV-2, the duration of hospitalization, cycle threshold values of SARS-CoV-2 and the time to negative turn of novel coronavirus nucleic acid among the three groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Children with allergic diseases may suffer from sore throat and vomiting more frequently when infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. The combination of allergic diseases hardly influenced the disease course of SARS-CoV-2 in children.

[Characteristics and related factors of viral nucleic acid negative conversion in children infected with Omicron variant strain of SARS-CoV-2].

Objective: To understand the characteristics and associated factors of viral nucleic acid conversion in children infected with Omicron variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 in Shanghai. Methods: The clinical symptoms, laboratory results and other data of 177 children infected with SARS-CoV-2 who were hospitalized in Shanghai Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (designated hospital for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Shanghai) from April 25 to June 8, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the chest imaging findings, the children were divided into mild and common type groups. According to their age, the unvaccinated children were divided into<3 years old group and 3-<18 years old group. According to the vaccination status, the children aged 3-<18 year were divided into non-vaccination group, 1-dose vaccination group and 2-dose vaccination group. Comparison between groups was performed by independent sample t-test and analysis of variance, and multivariate linear regression analysis was used for multivariate analysis. Results: Among the 177 children infected with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, 96 were males and 81 were females, aged 3 (1, 6) years. The time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion was (10.3±3.1) days. The 177 children were 138 cases of mild type and 39 cases of common type. Among the children aged 3-<18 years old, 55 cases were not vaccinated, 5 cases received 1-dose and 36 cases received 2-dose vaccination. Among the 36 children who received 2 doses of vaccination, the time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion was shorter in those vaccinated within 6 months than those over 6 months ((7.1±1.9) vs. (10.8±3.0) d, t=-3.23, P=0.004). Univariate analysis showed that the time of nucleic acid negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 was associated with age, underlying diseases, gastrointestinal symptoms, white blood cell count, proportion of neutrophils, proportion of lymphocytes, and the number of doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (t=3.87, 2.55, 2.04, 4.24, 3.51, 2.92, F=16.27, all P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that older age (ß=-0.33, 95% CI -0.485--0.182, P<0.001) and more doses of vaccination (ß=-0.79, 95% CI -1.463--0.120, P=0.021) were associated with shortened nucleic acid negative conversion time in children, while lower lymphocyte proportion (ß=-0.02, 95% CI -0.044--0.002, P=0.031) and underlying diseases (ß=1.52, 95% CI 0.363-2.672, P=0.010) were associated with prolonged nucleic acid negative conversion time in children. Conclusion: The children infected with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 with reduced lymphocyte proportion and underlying diseases may have longer time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion,while children with older age and more doses of vaccination may have shorter time of viral nucleic acid negative conversion.

[COVID-19 treated with oral Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir in 3 children].

Objective: To summarize the application experience and the therapeutic effect of Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir (trade name: Paxlovid) for COVID-19 in children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data, including collecting the clinical manifestations and clinical outcomes, dynamically monitoring the blood routine, hepatic and renal function and SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid results, and observing the related side effects during the treatment, etc, of 3 cases with COVID-19 treated with Paxlovid admitted to Shanghai Children's Hospital (designated referral hospital for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Shanghai) from May 1st to June 1st, 2022. Results: The 3 cases were 12, 14, 17 years of age, among which 2 cases were males, 1 case was female. All 3 cases were mild cases with underlying diseases and risk of developing into severe COVID-19, with symptoms of high fever, sore throat and dry cough. The treatment of Paxlovid at 3rd day of symptom onset contributed to the symptom-free after 1-2 days and negative results of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid after 2-4 days. All patients had no adverse manifestations of gastrointestinal tract and nervous system but a case had little skin rashes, which recovered after the withdrawal of Paxlovid. Three cases had normal hepatic and renal function during the Paxlovid treatment. At 3 months after discharge, no clinical manifestations of post-COVID syndrome were found in all 3 cases. Conclusion: Paxlovid was effective and relatively safe in the treatment of 3 children with COVID-19.

Cytotoxicity of NiO and Ni(OH)2 Nanoparticles Is Mediated by Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Death and Suppression of Cell Proliferation.

The use of nanomaterial-based products continues to grow with advancing technology. Understanding the potential toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) is important to ensure that products containing them do not impose harmful effects to human or environmental health. In this study, we evaluated the comparative cytotoxicity between nickel oxide (NiO) and nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) in human bronchoalveolar carcinoma (A549) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. Cellular viability studies revealed cell line-specific cytotoxicity in which nickel NPs were toxic to A549 cells but relatively nontoxic to HepG2 cells. Time-, concentration-, and particle-specific cytotoxicity was observed in A549 cells. NP-induced oxidative stress triggered dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and induction of caspase-3 enzyme activity. The subsequent apoptotic events led to reduction in cell number. In addition to cell death, suppression of cell proliferation played an essential role in regulating cell number. Collectively, the observed cell viability is a function of cell death and suppression of proliferation. Physical and chemical properties of NPs such as total surface area and metal dissolution are in agreement with the observed differential cytotoxicity. Understanding the properties of NPs is essential in informing the design of safer materials.

Scalable Super-Resolution Synthesis of Core-Vest Composites Assisted by Surface Plasmons.

The behavior of composite nanostructures depends on both size and elemental composition. Accordingly, concurrent control of size, shape, and composition of nanoparticles is key to tuning their functionality. In typical core-shell nanoparticles, the high degree of symmetry during shell formation results in fully encapsulated cores with severed access to the surroundings. We commingle light parameters (wavelength, intensity, and pulse duration) with the physical properties of nanoparticles (size, shape, and composition) to form hitherto unrealized core-vest composite nanostructures (CVNs). Unlike typical core-shells, the plasmonic core of the resulting CVNs selectively maintains physical access to its surrounding. Tunable variations in local temperature profiles ≳50 °C are plasmonically induced over starburst-shaped nanoparticles as small as 50-100 nm. These temperature variations result in CVNs where the shell coverage mirrors the temperature variations. The precision thus offered individually tailors access pathways of the core and the shell.

Effect of light deprivation on expression of extended vascular endothelial growth factor and neovascularization in retina of neonatal rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of light deprivation on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and neovascularization in the retina of neonatal rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six neonatal SD rats (male and female) were used in this study. These rats were numbered randomly and assigned into 3 groups (12 rats in each group), ie. 10-day group (routine feeding after birth, eyeball enucleation on 10th day), 14-day group (routine feeding after birth, eyeball enucleation on 14th day) and light deprivation group (routine feeding within 1st week after birth, feeding with light deprivation within 2nd week after birth, eyeball enucleation on 14th day). The expression level of VEGF mRNA was measured by RT-PCR, and the percentage of the retinal vascular area was calculated by PAS staining, and the number of vascular endothelial cells was counted with a microscope in a double-blind manner. RESULTS: It was found that the expression levels of VEGF mRNA and the number of vascular endothelial cells in 10-day group and light deprivation group were significantly higher than 14-day group (p < 0.05), while the difference between the 10-day group and light deprivation group was not significant. The percentage of retinal vascular area in the 10-day group and light deprivation group was significantly lower than 14-day group (p < 0.05), while the difference between the 10-day group and the light deprivation group was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The light deprivation delayed the growth of neovessels in the retina.

[Effect of radiation dose and dose rate on pulmonary fibrosis in mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of radiation dose and dose rate on radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group (n=6) and an irradiation group(n=18). The irradiation group was further assigned to 3 subgroups according to the whole lung radiation with 15 Gy at 400 cGy/min, 20 Gy at 400 cGy/min and 20 Gy at 100 cGy/min, while the control group received sham-irradiation. All mice were scanned with computed tomograph (CT) 20 weeks post-irradiation, and then they were sacrificed and lung tissues were collected. H&E staining, sirius red staining, lung fibrosis scored and hydroxyproline content analysis were used to assess lung fibrosis and collagen deposition. Real time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of type Ⅰ collagen. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the activatin and distribution of a-SMA(+) -myofibroblasts. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, mice from irradiation groups exhibited significant pulmonary consolidation and collagen deposition.At the same dose rate, the higher irradiated dose used, the more severe pulmonary fibrosis was.On the other hand, with the same dose, the dose rate had less effect on pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSION: The effect of radiation dose on the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in mice is more than effect of the dose rate.

Tumor necrosis factor-α pathway plays a critical role in regulating interferon-γ induced protein-10 production in initial allogeneic human monocyte-endothelial cell interactions.

T-cell infiltration of allografts is a major pathologic component defining acute rejection episodes (ARE). We have shown that monocytes interact with allogeneic endothelial cells (ECs) for costimulation to achieve T-cell allorecognition. However, the production of T-cell interferon-γ induced protein-10 (IP-10) and regulation of this chemokine during the initial monocyte-EC interaction are unclear. We hypothesized that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α pathway plays a key role to regulate IP-10 production during the initial monocyte-EC interaction. Cytokine-activated ECs were analyzed for IP-10 production and adhesion molecule expression. Established, monocyte-EC cocultures were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction and a chemokine assay for IP-10 and activation factors. Anti-TNF-α antibody was used to neutralize TNF-α release during monocyte-EC interactions. TNF-α-activated ECs upregulated CD62E and CD54 as determined by flow cytometry, releasing high levels of IP-10 and interleukin (IL)-6. Interferon-γ-stimulated ECs also produced high levels of IP-10 and IL-6. Monocyte-EC interactions demonstrated upregulation of gene transcripts for TNF-α, IL-6, and IP-10. The cytokine/chemokine assay detected high levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IP-10 in coculture supernates in a time-dependent manner. Anti-TNF-α antibody dramatically reduced IP-10 production by monocyte-ECs interactions. However, anti-TNF-α antibody did not prevent the release of IL-6 by monocytes in EC cocultures. Our results showed that ECs activated by TNF-α are an important source of IP-10. The monocyte-EC interaction produces high levels of IP-10. The TNF-α pathway plays a key role to regulate IP-10 production during monocyte-EC interactions. We thus proposed that the initial monocyte-EC interaction with increased expression of IP-10 may play a critical role to initiate and augment T-cell-mediated ARE.

Monocyte-derived CD40 expression is regulated by interferon-γ/interferon-γ receptor-1 pathway when acting as a bridge during their interaction with T cells and allogeneic endothelial cells.

Previous studies have showed the lack of CD40 expression on monocytes during monocyte and endothelial cell (EC) interaction in the absence of T cells indicating that the interaction between T cells, monocytes, and ECs is required for monocyte-derived CD40 expression. We investigated the role of monocytes acting as a bridge between ECs and T cells and the possible mechanisms for monocyte-derived CD40 up-regulation in allogeneic immune responses. A coculture system with tanswell was established between purified monocytes, T cells, and ECs, and the cells were analyzed by flow cytometry to detect monocyte-derived CD40 expression. Purified monocytes stimulated by ECs did not show up-regulation of CD40 expression. Ec-stimulated monocytes up-regulated interferon (IFN)-γ receptor-1 expression. Monocytes, stimulated by ECs, up-regulated CD40 expression in the presence of T cells. However, when T cells were separated from monocyte-EC interaction, these monocytes did not show CD40 up-regulation. Furthermore, IFN-γ receptor-1 blockade but not IFN-γ receptor-2 blockade inhibited monocyte-derived CD40 expression during monocyte-EC-T cell interaction. Neutralizing antibody directed to IFN-γ inhibited up-regulation of monocyte-derived CD40. We showed here that the interaction between T cells and EC-stimulated monocytes and up-regulation of monocyte-derived CD40 expression are contact-dependent, suggesting that monocytes act as bridge between ECs and T cells. The IFN-γ receptor-1 blockade inhibited the monocyte-derived CD40 up-regulation. These data suggest that the Th1 lymphocytes provide help for monocytes via IFN-γ and IFN-γ receptor-1 pathway following their interaction.

The interleukin-2 receptor α chain (CD25) plays an important role in regulating monocyte-derived CD40 expression during anti-porcine cellular responses.

Long-term xenograft survival is limited by delayed xenograft rejection, and monocytes are thought to play an important role in this process. Although typically considered a T cell surface marker, interleukin 2 the receptor chain CD25 is also functional on monocytes. We hypothesized that CD25 expression on monocytes functions to augment monocyte activation in xeno-specific cellular responses. Xenogeneic mixed lymphocyte-endothelial cell reactions were used to study the role of CD25 in facilitating xenogeneic cell-mediated immune responses an in vitro. We also tested the effect of the anti-CD25 antibody daclizumab on monocyte-mediated T cell activation during xeno-specific cellular responses. Co-culture with porcine endothelial cells (PEC) elicited a pronounced proliferative response by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that was accompanied by upregulation of CD25 and CD40 on CD14(+) monocytes. CD4(+) cells proliferated in response to PEC-conditioned monocytes, while blockade of CD25 with daclizumab reduced CD4(+) cell proliferation in the presence of PEC-conditioned monocytes. In addition, daclizumab inhibited proliferation of PBMC in responses to PEC. Analysis of monocytes from PBMC-PEC cocultures by flow cytometry indicated that daclizumab inhibited CD40 upregulation on PEC-activated monocytes. These data demonstrate that CD25 blockade prevents xenogeneic cellular responses by directly blocking CD25 expression on both activated T cells and monocytes. CD25 blockade on T cells or monocytes may indirectly affect upregulation of CD40 on xenoreactive monocytes. Our data strengthen the rationale for incorporating CD25 directed therapy in discordant xenotransplantation.

[Compression of the deep branch of ulnar nerve at the wrist].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the compression factor and clinical manifestation of the compression of deep branch of the ulnar nerve at the wrist. METHODS: Anatomic study was done on both sides of 10 cadavers, the deep branch of ulnar nerve, the Guyon's canal and the flexor digiti minimi brevis pedis were observed. Then from Jan. 1990 to Jan. 1997, 5 patients with compression of the deep branch of ulnar nerve at the wrist were treated clinically. Among them, there were 4 males and 1 female, aged from 37 to 48 years and the course of disease ranged from 1 to 5 months. RESULTS: The motor branch of the ulnar nerve passed under the tendinous arcade of flexor digiti minimi brevis pedis. Occasionally, the branch of ulnar artery overpassed the motor branch. Clinically, the tendinous arcade compressed the motor branch was released, and after 2 to 4 years follow-up, the clinical results were satisfactory. CONCLUSION: The main compression factor of the ulnar nerve at the wrist is the tendinous arcade of the flexor digiti minimi brevis pedis, the tendinous arcade should be released sufficiently during the operation.

Efficacy of tablet huperzine-A on memory, cognition, and behavior in Alzheimer's disease.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tablet huperzine-A (Hup) in patients with Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: Using multicenter, prospective, double-blind, parallel, placebo controlled and randomized method, 50 patients were administered orally 0.2 mg (4 tablets) Hup and 53 patients were given po 4 tablets of placebo bid for 8 wk. All patients were evaluated with Wechsler memory scale, Hasegawa dementia scale, mini-mental state examination scale, activity of daily living scale, treatment emergency symptom scale, and measured with BP, HR, ECG, EEG, ALT, AKP, BUN, Cr, Hb, WBC, and urine routine. RESULTS: About 58% (29/50) of patients treated with Hup showed improvements in their memory (P < 0.01), cognitive (P < 0.01), and behavioral (P < 0.01 functions. The efficacy of Hup was better than placebo (36%, 19/53) (P < 0.05). No severe side effect was found. CONCLUSION: Hup is a promising drug for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

[Primary treatment of contaminated syringes and needles in a ward].

Body fluid transmitted viruses become the major enemies of human health. These viruses have been reported as occupational hazards for health care personnel, and they may become environmental hazards as well. We conducted this study to examine the primary treatment of used syringes and needles in a ward, and to evaluate the effects of re-education. For questions such as "The used syringes with bloody contamination should isolated from those without" and "The cover of used needles should not be put back on", we recorded error rates during the 1st one-week observation. A lecture about the standard treatment methods of discarding instruments was given to all nurses in this ward after the 1st observation. The 2nd and 3rd one-week observations were repeated one day and one month after the lecture, respectively. The misclassification rates of discarded syringes were 4.4% (33/758), 1.4% (9/661) and 3.9% (18/616). There was a significant decrease between the 1st and 2nd observations (p less than 0.05), but no significant difference between the 1st and 3rd observations (p greater than 0.05). The rates of covered discarded needles were 50.4% (287/569), 44.3% (198/447) and 38.5% (269/699), respectively. These rates showed a trend to decrease (p less than 0.05). The misclassification rates of discarded syringes were low. Although re-education achieved only temporary effects, self-protective education on not re-covering used needles was effective. However, about 40% of all discarded syringes were still being covered after use. Based on our finding, some improvements have been made in this ward.

Clinical study on the pharmacokinetics of lithium carbonate.

To investigate clinical pharmacokinetics of lithium carbonate, 28 hospitalized mental patients and 8 healthy volunteers were studied. The serum concentration/time profile in the single dose peroral experiments could be fitted to a pharmacokinetic model using an open two compartmental system. Three methods, 72-h and 24-h residual method and Ritschel's repeated one-point method were used and the results compared with one another. According to the results of this paper, we suggest the use of Ritschel's repeated one-point method for clinical dosage regimen determination.