Efficacy and Safety of Azvudine in Patients With COVID-19 in China: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

BACKGROUND: Azvudine (FNC) is a novel small molecule antiviral drug for treating COVID-19 that is available only on the Chinese market. Despite being recommended for treating COVID-19 by the Chinese guidelines, its efficacy and safety are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of FNC on COVID-19 outcomes and its safety. METHODS: We followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and searched the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases to evaluate studies on the effectiveness of FNC in treating COVID-19 in China, focusing on mortality and overall outcomes. Additionally, its impact on the length of hospital stay (LOHS), time to first nucleic acid negative conversion (T-FNANC), and adverse events was evaluated. The inclusion criterion was that the studies were published from July 2021 to April 10, 2024. This study uses the ROBINS-I tool to assess bias risk and employs the GRADE approach to evaluate the certainty of the evidence. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 24 retrospective studies involving a total of 11 830 patients. Low-certainty evidence revealed no significant difference in mortality (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.76-1.08) or LOHS (WMD = -0.24, 95% CI: -0.83 to 0.35) between FNC and Paxlovid in COVID-19 patients. Low-certainty evidence shows that the T-FNANC was longer (WMD = 1.95, 95% CI: 0.36-3.53). Compared with the Paxlovid group, low-certainty evidence shows the FNC group exhibited a worse composite outcome (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63-0.95) and fewer adverse events (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46-0.85). Compared with supportive treatment, low certainty shows FNC significantly reduced the mortality rate in COVID-19 patients (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.51-0.74) and decreased the composite outcome (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.50-0.91), and very low certainty evidence shows significantly decreased the T-FNANC (WMD = -4.62, 95% CI: -8.08 to -1.15). However, in very low certainty, there was no significant difference in LOHS (WMD = -0.70, 95% CI: -3.32 to 1.91) or adverse events (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 0.48-8.17). CONCLUSIONS: FNC appears to be a safe and potentially effective treatment for COVID-19 in China, but further research with larger, high-quality studies is necessary to confirm these findings. Due to the certainty of the evidence and the specific context of the studies conducted in China, caution should be exercised when considering whether the results are applicable worldwide. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO number: CRD42024520565.

Damage Self-Healing Property of Dissolved Salt Columns in Solid Potash Mine.

The objective of this work was to investigate the self-healing properties and mechanical damage characteristics of dissolved salt columns under different humidity and time conditions. Based on the results of electron microscope scanning and uniaxial mechanical tests, the microscopic element distribution of the ore and the microscopic morphology of the minerals were investigated, and the healing, mechanical, and damage properties of the specimens were analyzed, which revealed the microscopic reinforcement mechanism of the damage healing of the dissolved salt columns. The results showed that the healing reinforcement, compressive strength, and modulus of elasticity of dissolved salt columns under uniaxial compression show a tendency to increase, then decrease with the increase of humidity, and gradually increase with the increase of the maintenance time and reach the maximum value at 10% humidity and 30 days of maintenance time, which are 3.48, 8.07, and 650 MPa, respectively. The damage type of the healed specimen as a whole gradually transitioned from tensile damage to shear-slip type, indicating that the brittle damage characteristics of the specimen under loading became more and more significant. Based on the principle of strain equivalence, the damage evolution equation under uniaxial compression of solid potash dissolved salt columns describes the damage evolution law and destruction process of the specimen, and the results of the damage characterization of the dissolved salt columns are consistent with the change rule of the healing properties and mechanical properties with humidity and conservation time. Based on the fine morphological features of the dissolved salt column specimens after self-healing, three different self-healing microscopic mechanisms for damage recovery of solid potash dissolved salt columns are summarized, namely, healing of damaged microcracks based on diffusion, recrystallization healing of brine-filled microfractures, and healing adhesion of crystal particles in dissolved zones. These microstructures effectively transform cracks into isolated sections and play a key role in improving mechanical properties. In addition, the higher the humidity, the thicker adsorbed water film is produced on the fissure surface, which accelerates the transportation of materials on the fissure surface, and the healing rate of the dissolved salt columns increases. However, when the humidity is too high, it causes the evaporation of the liquid film to be less than the recharge of water vapor, which reduces the healing rate of the dissolved salt columns. Thus, suitable humidity produces a more pronounced healing effect than an environment maintained at a constant high humidity level. The research results can provide theoretical guidance for the filling mining of solid potassium salt.

Modified Frailty Index and Albumin-Fibrinogen Ratio Predicts Postoperative Seroma After Laparoscopic TAPP.

Background: Postoperative seroma is the most common minor complication after inguinal hernia repair surgery and can have negative consequences. The objective of this study was to identify potential risk factors for postoperative seroma. Methods: This study consecutively included 354 elderly patients with inguinal hernia who underwent laparoscopic Transabdominal preperitoneal Patch Plasty (TAPP). Seroma diagnosis was conducted by the same experienced surgeon based on the physical examinations combined with ultrasound. Risk factors for seroma were identified through univariate analysis and subsequently included in the binary multivariate logistic regression model. Results: A total of 40 patients experienced postoperative complications of seroma, with an incidence rate of 11.3% (40/354). The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that obesity (OR: 2.98, 95% CI: 1.20-7.41, P = 0.018), disease duration ≥ 4.5 years (OR: 4.88, 95% CI: 2.14-11.18, P < 0.001), albumin-fibrinogen ratio (AFR) level < 9.25 (OR: 6.13, 95% CI: 2.00-18.76, P = 0.001), and modified frailty index (mFI) score ≥ 0.225 (OR: 6.38, 95% CI: 2.69-15.10, P < 0.001) were four independent risk factors for postoperative seroma. Conclusion: Obesity, prolonged disease duration, decreased AFR level, and increased mFI score independently predict postoperative seroma after laparoscopic TAPP.

Study on Damage Characteristics and Failure Modes of Gypsum Rock under Dynamic Impact Load.

The objective of this work was to investigate the damage characteristics and failure modes of gypsum rock under dynamic impact loading. Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) tests were performed under different strain rates. The strain rate effects on the dynamic peak strength, dynamic elastic modulus, energy density, and crushing size of gypsum rock were analyzed. A numerical model of the SHPB was established using the finite element software, ANSYS 19.0, and its reliability was verified by comparing it to laboratory test results. The results showed that the dynamic peak strength and energy consumption density of gypsum rock increased exponentially with strain rate, and the crushing size decreased exponentially with the strain rate, both findings exhibited an obvious correlation. The dynamic elastic modulus was larger than the static elastic modulus, but did not show a significant correlation. Gypsum rock fracture can be divided into crack compaction, crack initiation, crack propagation, and breaking stages, and is dominated by splitting failure. With increasing strain rate, the interaction between cracks is noticeable, and the failure mode changes from splitting to crushing failure. These results provide theoretical support for improvements of the refinement process in gypsum mines.

Effect of Huangqin Tang on Urine Metabolic Profile in Rats with Ulcerative Colitis Based on UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS.

As a classic prescription, Huangqin Tang (HQT) has been widely applied to treat ulcerative colitis (UC), although its pharmacological mechanisms are not clear. In this study, urine metabolomics was first analysed to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of HQT in UC rats induced by TNBS. We identified 28 potential biomarkers affected by HQT that might cause changes in urine metabolism in UC rats, mapped the network of metabolic pathways, and revealed how HQT affects metabolism of UC rats. The results showed that UC affects amino acid metabolism and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and impairs the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle). UC induced inflammatory and gastrointestinal reactions by inhibiting the transport of fatty acids and disrupting amino acid metabolism. HQT plays key roles via regulating the level of biomarkers in the metabolism of amino acids, lipids, and so on, normalizing metabolic disorders. In addition, histopathology and other bioinformatics analysis further confirm that HQT altered UC rat physiology and pathology, ultimately affecting metabolic function of UC rats.