Impact of diabetes on COVID-19 and glucocorticoids on patients with COVID-19 and diabetes during the Omicron variant epidemic: a multicenter retrospective cohort study in South China.

BACKGROUND: To explore the impact of diabetes on the clinical features and prognosis of COVID-19 and assess the influence of glucocorticoid use on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 and diabetes. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included patients admitted between December 2022 and January 2023. The patients were grouped according to diabetes and glucocorticoid use. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Among 400 patients with glucocorticoid data, 109 (27.3%) had diabetes. The inflammatory cytokines were higher in patients with diabetes, manifested by higher IL-6 (25.33 vs. 11.29 ng/L, p = 0.011), CRP (26.55 vs. 8.62 mg/L, p = 0.003), and PCT (0.07 vs. 0.04 ng/ml, p = 0.010), while CD4+ (319 vs. 506 /mL, p = 0.004) and CD8+ (141 vs. 261 /mL, p < 0.001) T lymphocytes were lower. The overall mortality rate of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with diabetes was 13.46%. The diabetic patients who received glucocorticoids vs. those who did not receive glucocorticoids had a similar mortality (15.00% vs. 11.39%, p = 0.591). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 and diabetes are more likely to experience hyperinflammatory response and T cell reduction, especially those with severe/critical disease. Glucocorticoid use was not associated with the prognosis of COVID-19 in patients with diabetes. Still, glucocorticoids should be used cautiously in diabetic patients with severe/critical COVID-19.

N-Containing Porous Carbon-Based MnO Composites as Anode with High Capacity and Stability for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

MnO has attracted much attention as the anode for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to its high specific capacity. However, the low conductivity limited its large application. An effective solution to solve this problem is carbon coating. Biomass carbon materials have aroused much interest for being low-cost and rich in functional groups and hetero atoms. This work designs porous N-containing MnO composites based on the chemical-activated tremella using a self-templated method. The tremella, after activation, could offer more active sites for carbon to coordinate with the Mn ions. And the as-prepared composites could also inherit the special porous nanostructures of the tremella, which is beneficial for Li+ transfer. Moreover, the pyrrolic/pyridinic N from the tremella can further improve the conductivity and the electrolyte wettability of the composites. Finally, the composites show a high reversible specific capacity of 1000 mAh g-1 with 98% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 100 mA g-1. They also displayed excellent long-cycle performance with 99% capacity retention (relative to the capacity second cycle) after long 1000 cycles under high current density, which is higher than in most reported transition metal oxide anodes. Above all, this study put forward an efficient and convenient strategy based on the low-cost biomass to construct N-containing porous composite anodes with a fast Li+ diffusion rate, high electronic conductivity, and outstanding structure stability.

Spatial distribution of bioaerosols and evaluation of four ventilation method on controlling their diffusion in a typical enhanced biosafety level 2 laboratory.

Biosafety laboratories are critical in many fields. However, experimenters associated the infection risk from biological aerosols. In this study, by conducting experiments on the release and collection of bioaerosols within a typical BSL-2 + laboratory, the spatial distribution of bioaerosols was tracked. Numerical calculations were employed to obtain and visualize the airflow patterns and aerosol dispersion paths of four ventilation methods. The results indicated that equipment and tables led to uneven airflow distribution within the laboratory. The comparison results of the four evaluation indicators showed that the air age distribution of UU (Upward supply and upward return) mode and CD (Cross-supply and downward return) mode was superior, with air change efficiency values of 0.595 and 0.603, respectively. Additionally, the contaminant removal index of CD mode was 1.48, significantly higher than the other ventilation methods. The statistical results of the contaminant dispersion index also indicated that CD mode was most conducive to diluting aerosols in the spatial environment. The LD (lateral supply and downward return) mode may lead to airflow short-circuiting. The UD (upward supply and downward return) mode can provide balanced protection for laboratory. Overall, CD mode performed the best among the four ventilation methods, followed by UU mode.

Building and validating an artificial intelligence model to identify tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica by using bronchoscopic images.

BACKGROUND: Given the rarity of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO), many young doctors in primary hospitals are unable to identify TO based on bronchoscopy findings. OBJECTIVES: To build an artificial intelligence (AI) model for differentiating TO from other multinodular airway diseases by using bronchoscopic images. DESIGN: We designed the study by comparing the imaging data of patients undergoing bronchoscopy from January 2010 to October 2022 by using EfficientNet. Bronchoscopic images of 21 patients with TO at Anhui Chest Hospital from October 2019 to October 2022 were collected for external validation. METHODS: Bronchoscopic images of patients with multinodular airway lesions (including TO, amyloidosis, tumors, and inflammation) and without airway lesions in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were collected. The images were randomized (4:1) into training and validation groups based on different diseases and utilized for deep learning by convolutional neural networks (CNNs). RESULTS: We enrolled 201 patients with multinodular airway disease (38, 15, 75, and 73 patients with TO, amyloidosis, tumors, and inflammation, respectively) and 213 without any airway lesions. To find multinodular lesion images for deep learning, we utilized 2183 bronchoscopic images of multinodular lesions (including TO, amyloidosis, tumor, and inflammation) and compared them with images without any airway lesions (1733). The accuracy of multinodular lesion identification was 98.9%. Further, the accuracy of TO detection based on the bronchoscopic images of multinodular lesions was 89.2%. Regarding external validation (using images from 21 patients with TO), all patients could be diagnosed with TO; the accuracy was 89.8%. CONCLUSION: We built an AI model that could differentiate TO from other multinodular airway diseases (mainly amyloidosis, tumors, and inflammation) by using bronchoscopic images. The model could help young physicians identify this rare airway disease.

Comparison of Effects of Sugammadex and Neostigmine on Postoperative Neuromuscular Blockade Recovery in Patients with Interstitial Lung Diseases Undergoing Transbronchial Cryobiopsy: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND While many studies have been conducted on sugammadex sodium and neostigmine in patients undergoing general anesthesia, few have explored their effects in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty-three patients who underwent transbronchial cryobiopsy under general anesthesia were enrolled in a prospective randomized study. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: neostigmine combined with atropine group (group C, n=32) and sugammadex group (group S, n=31). Induction and maintenance of anesthesia were the same in both groups. Patients received rocuronium during anesthesia. At the end of the procedure, when the T2 of the train-of-four stimulation technique (TOF) monitoring appeared, neostigmine 0.04 mg/kg combined with atropine 0.02 mg/kg was injected intravenously in group C, and sodium sugammadex 2 mg/kg was injected intravenously in group S. Time from administration of muscle relaxant antagonist to recovery of TOF ratio (TOFr) to 0.9 and extubation time were recorded. The residual rate of neuromuscular blockade at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 min after extubation was calculated. RESULTS Compared to group C, group S had a significantly shorter recovery time of TOFr to 0.9 (4.0[2.0] min vs 14.0[11.0] min, P<0.001) and extubation time (4.0[3.0] min vs 11.0[7.0] min, P<0.001). The residual rate of neuromuscular blockade was remarkably lower in group S than in group C at 3, 5, and 7 min after extubation (3.2% vs 31%, 0% vs 25%, 0% vs 6%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Sugammadex is more effective than neostigmine in reversing the muscle-relaxant effect of rocuronium bromide in patients with ILDs.

HO-1 upregulation promotes mitophagy-dependent ferroptosis in PM2.5-exposed hippocampal neurons.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been extensively implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Recent studies have revealed that PM2.5 plays a role in regulating iron metabolism and redox homeostasis in the brain, which is closely associated with ferroptosis. In this study, the role and underlying mechanism of ferroptosis in PM2.5-induced neurotoxicity were investigated in mice, primary hippocampal neurons, and HT22 cells. Our findings demonstrated that exposure to PM2.5 could induce abnormal behaviors, neuroinflammation, and neuronal loss in the hippocampus of mice. These effects may be attributed to ferroptosis induced by PM2.5 exposure in hippocampal neurons. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the upregulation of iron metabolism-related protein Heme Oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and the activation of mitophagy might play key roles in PM2.5-induced ferroptosis in HT22 cells. Subsequent in vitro experiments showed that PM2.5 exposure significantly upregulated HO-1 in primary hippocampal neurons and HT22 cells. Moreover, PM2.5 exposure activated mitophagy in HT22 cells, leading to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, alterations in the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3, P62, and mTOR, as well as an increase in mitophagy-related protein PINK1 and PARKIN. As a heme-degradation enzyme, the upregulation of HO-1 promotes the release of excess iron, genetically inhibiting the upregulation of HO-1 in HT22 cells could prevent both PM2.5-induced mitophagy and ferroptosis. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of mitophagy in HT22 cells reduced levels of ferrous ions and lipid peroxides, thereby preventing ferroptosis. Collectively, this study demonstrates that HO-1 mediates PM2.5-induced mitophagy-dependent ferroptosis in hippocampal neurons, and inhibiting mitophagy or ferroptosis may be a key therapeutic target to ameliorate neurotoxicity following PM2.5 exposure.

Ferroptosis contributes to airway epithelial E-cadherin disruption in a mixed granulocytic asthma mouse model.

Aberrant expression of airway epithelial E-cadherin is a key feature of asthma, yet the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Ferroptosis is a novel form of regulated cell death involved in asthma pathogenesis. This study was aimed to evaluate the role of ferroptosis and to investigate whether ferroptosis mediates E-cadherin disruption in mixed granulocyte asthma (MGA). Two murine models of MGA were established using toluene diisocyanate (TDI) or ovalbumin with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (OVA/CFA). Specific antagonists of ferroptosis, including Liproxstatin-1 (Lip-1) and Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) were given to the mice. The allergen-exposed mice displayed markedly shrunk mitochondria in the airway epithelia, with decreased volume and denser staining accompanied by down-regulated GPX4 as well as up-regulated FTH1 and malondialdehyde, which are markers of ferroptosis. Decreased pulmonary expression of E-cadherin was also observed, with profound loss of membrane E-cadherin in the airway epithelia, as well as increased secretion of sE-cadherin. Treatment with Lip-1 not only showed potent protective effects against the allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammatory responses, but also rescued airway epithelial E-cadherin expression and inhibited the release of sE-cadherin. Taken together, our data demonstrated that ferroptosis mediates airway epithelial E-cadherin dysfunction in MGA.

Airway necrosis and granulation tissue formation caused by Rhizopus oryzae leading to severe upper airway obstruction: a case report.

Pulmonary Mucormycosis is a fatal infectious disease with high mortality rate. The occurrence of Mucormycosis is commonly related to the fungal virulence and the host's immunological defenses against pathogens. Mucormycosis infection and granulation tissue formation occurred in the upper airway was rarely reported. This patient was a 60-year-old male with diabetes mellitus, who was admitted to hospital due to progressive cough, sputum and dyspnea. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and bronchoscopy revealed extensive tracheal mucosal necrosis, granulation tissue proliferation, and severe airway stenosis. The mucosal necrotic tissue was induced by the infection of Rhizopus Oryzae, confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in tissue biopsy. This patient was treated with the placement of a covered stent and local instillation of amphotericin B via bronchoscope. The tracheal mucosal necrosis was markedly alleviated, the symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, as well as exercise tolerance were significantly improved. The placement of airway stent and transbronchial microtube drip of amphotericin B could conduce to rapidly relieve the severe airway obstruction due to Mucormycosis infection.

Palliation of malignant esophageal stent esophagorespiratory fistula with rigid bronchoscope and Y silicone trachea stent: experience with seven patients.

Background: Malignant esophageal stent esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF) is an abnormal communication between esophagus and airway among advanced tumor patients with indwelling esophageal stent, which is devastating and life-threatening. This study aims to provide a new feasible treatment scheme for malignant esophageal stent ERF and report its potential advantage compared with double stenting, which was recommended by European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Guideline. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical data of malignant esophageal stent ERF patients between January 2018 to May 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University and divided them into two groups. Group 1 consisted of patients treated with rigid bronchoscopy to remove the esophageal stent and implant Y silicone trachea stent, while group 2 consisted of patients treated with additional airway stenting without removing the esophageal stent. Demographic parameters, disease diagnoses and treatment, radiological findings before and after the intervention, and complications caused by the stents were obtained and analyzed with chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U, independent-samples t-tests, Kaplan-Meier methods, and log-rank test. Results: Ten patients (seven patients in group 1 and three in group 2) were included. No procedure complications occurred in both groups. The mean Karnofsky Performance Score after the procedure significantly improved compared to the pre-procedure (57.14 vs. 77.14, P=0.001) in group 1, while decreased in group 2 (50 vs. 40, P=0.026). The control of pneumonia in group 1 patients is better than that in group 2. There was significant improvement in the degree of dysphagia after the procedure (3.86 vs. 2.43, P=0.002) in group 1, while no improvement was found in group 2 (4.00 vs. 3.33, P=0.423). The mean survival of group 1 was significantly longer group 2 (381.00 vs. 80.33 days, P<0.001, log-rank test). No patient needed stent repositioning due to migration in both groups. Cause of death in the group 1 included disease progression, novel coronavirus pneumonia, massive hemoptysis, and respiratory insufficiency, while group 2 included severe pneumonia and disease progression. No death was directly attributed to the procedure in both groups. Conclusions: Removing the esophageal stent and implanting Y silicone trachea stent through a rigid bronchoscopy is a safe and feasible treatment for malignant esophageal stent ERF. This procedure can effectively seal the fistula, prevent from recurrent aspiration pneumonia, improve the quality of life, and prolong the survival time.

More attention should be paid to Omicron-associated sepsis: a multicenter retrospective study in south China.

Background: The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is highly transmissible but causes less severe disease compared to other variants. However, its association with sepsis incidence and outcomes is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of Omicron-associated sepsis, as per the Sepsis 3.0 definition, in hospitalized patients, and to explore its relationship with clinical characteristics and prognosis. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included adults hospitalized with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection across six tertiary hospitals in Guangzhou, China from November 2022 to January 2023. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and its components were calculated at hospital admission to identify sepsis. Outcomes assessed were need for intensive care unit (ICU) transfer and mortality. Receiver operating characteristic curves evaluated the predictive value of sepsis versus other biomarkers for outcomes. Results: A total of 299 patients (mean age: 70.1±14.4 years, 42.14% female) with SOFA score were enrolled. Among them, 152 were categorized as non-serious cases while the others were assigned as the serious group. The proportion of male patients, unvaccinated patients, patients with comorbidity such as diabetes, chronic cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease was significantly higher in the serious than non-serious group. The median SOFA score of all enrolled patients was 1 (interquartile range, 0-18). In our study, 147 patients (64.19%) were identified as having sepsis upon hospital admission, with the majority of these septic patients (113, representing 76.87%) being in the serious group, the respiratory, coagulation, cardiovascular, central nervous, and renal organ SOFA scores were all significantly higher in the serious compared to the non-serious group. Among septic patients, 20 out of 49 (40.81%) had septic shock as indicated by lactate measurement within 24 hours of admission, and the majority of septic patients were in the serious group (17/20, 76.87%). Sepsis was present in 118 out of 269 (43.9%) patients in the general ward, and among those with sepsis, 34 out of 118 (28.8%) later required ICU care during hospitalization. By contrast, none of the patients without sepsis required ICU care. Moreover, the mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with than without sepsis. Conclusions: A considerable proportion of patients infected with Omicron present with sepsis upon hospital admission, which is associated with a poorer prognosis. Therefore, early recognition of viral sepsis by evaluation of the SOFA score in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients is crucial.

Imaging features and deep learning for prediction of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in CT images.

Background: Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare vascular tumour, and its early diagnosis remains challenging. This study aims to comprehensively analyse the imaging features of PEH and develop a model for predicting PEH. Methods: Retrospective and pooled analyses of imaging findings were performed in PEH patients at our center (n=25) and in published cases (n=71), respectively. Relevant computed tomography (CT) images were extracted and used to build a deep learning model for PEH identification and differentiation from other diseases. Results: In this study, bilateral multiple nodules/masses (n=19) appeared to be more common with most nodules less than 2 cm. In addition to the common types and features, the pattern of mixed type (n=4) and isolated nodules (n=4), punctate calcifications (5/25) and lymph node enlargement were also observed (10/25). The presence of pleural effusion is associated with a poor prognosis in PEH. The deep learning model, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69-0.72], has a differentiation accuracy of 100% and 74% for the training and test sets respectively. Conclusions: This study confirmed the heterogeneity of the imaging findings in PEH and showed several previously undescribed types and features. The current deep learning model based on CT has potential for clinical application and needs to be further explored in the future.

Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after orthognathic surgery: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common adverse events following orthognathic surgery. It's a distressing feeling for patients and continues to be the cause of postoperative complications such as bleeding, delayed healing, and wound infection. This scoping review aims to identify effective PONV prophylaxis strategies during orthognathic surgery that have emerged in the past 15 years. METHODS: We searched Pubmed, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, and Embase from 2008 to May 2023. Studies meeting the following criteria were eligible for inclusion: (1) recruited patients undergo any orthognathic surgery; (2) evaluated any pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic method to prevent PONV. Studies meeting the following criteria were excluded: (1) case series, review papers, or retrospective studies; (2) did not report our prespecified outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included in this review. Pharmacological methods for PONV prevention include ondansetron and dexamethasone (3 studies), peripheral nerve block technique (4 studies), dexmedetomidine (1 study), pregabalin (2 studies), nefopam (2 studies), remifentanil (1 study), propofol (2 studies), and penehyclidine (1 study). Non-pharmacologic methods include capsicum plaster (1 study), throat packs (2 studies) and gastric aspiration (2 studies). CONCLUSIONS: Based on current evidence, we conclude that prophylactic antiemetics like dexamethasone, ondansetron, and penehyclidine are the first defense against PONV. Multimodal analgesia with nerve block techniques and non-opioid analgesics should be considered due to their notable opioid-sparing and PONV preventive effect. For the non-pharmacological methods, throat packs are not recommended for routine use because of their poor effect and serious complications. More prospective RCTs are required to confirm whether gastric aspiration can prevent PONV effectively for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.

Association Between Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and the Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment in a Chinese Urban Area: A Case-Control Study.

Background: As a prodromal stage of dementia, significant emphasis has been placed on the identification of modifiable risks of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Research has indicated a correlation between exposure to air pollution and cognitive function in older adults. However, few studies have examined such an association among the MCI population inChina. Objective: We aimed to explore the association between air pollution exposure and MCI risk from the Hubei Memory and Aging Cohort Study. Methods: We measured four pollutants from 2015 to 2018, 3 years before the cognitive assessment of the participants. Logistic regression models were employed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) to assess the relationship between air pollutants and MCI risk. Results: Among 4,205 older participants, the adjusted ORs of MCI risk for the highest quartile of PM2.5, PM10, O3, and SO2 were 1.90 (1.39, 2.62), 1.77 (1.28, 2.47), 0.56 (0.42, 0.75), and 1.18 (0.87, 1.61) respectively, compared with the lowest quartile. Stratified analyses indicated that such associations were found in both males and females, but were more significant in older participants. Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the growing evidence suggesting that air pollution increases the risk of mild cognitive decline, which has considerable guiding significance for early intervention of dementia in the older population. Further studies in other populations and broader geographical areas are warranted to validate these findings.

First in vivo Experiment with PulmValve Endobronchial Valve: Feasibility, Efficiency, and Safety.

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves has been widely recognized for treating hyperinflation in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema patients. The main challenges include the technical complexity of upper lobe implantation and the number of endobronchial valves required. These issues might be addressed by placing larger diameter valves in the lobar bronchus. This study evaluated the feasibility, efficiency, and safety of the new valve PulmValve (model PV-13) in porcine models. METHODS: Six PV-13 valves were bronchoscopically implanted into the caudal lobe bronchus of six healthy pigs. The procedure time, valve deployment, and removability were recorded. Follow-up examinations included blood tests, chest CT scans, and bronchoscopy at 30 min, 14 days, 28 days, and 84 days post-procedure, with necropsy and pathological evaluations after the final follow-up examination. RESULTS: The successful in vivo deployment and removal of PV-13 valves was established, with a median procedure time of 6.5 min. The distal lung volume reduction was evident at 30 min post-operation and was persistently monitored on day 84. No migration or malfunction of any PV-13 valves was detected, but a mild angle deviation was found in 3 cases. Coughing was observed in four pigs within the first 7 days and localized granulation tissue was observed in all pigs. No cases of pneumothorax, diffuse pneumonia, or hemoptysis were detected. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we report the successful implantation and removal of a new valve PulmValve in a short operation time. Complete lobar atelectasis was induced without device migration, malfunction, or severe complications. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the long-term, sustained effects and potential benefits in human patients.

Profiles of Cough and Associated Risk Factors in Nonhospitalized Individuals With SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Infection: Cross-Sectional Online Survey in China.

BACKGROUND: Cough is a common symptom during and after COVID-19 infection; however, few studies have described the cough profiles of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, severity, and associated risk factors of severe and persistent cough in individuals with COVID-19 during the latest wave of the Omicron variant in China. METHODS: In this nationwide cross-sectional study, we collected information of the characteristics of cough from individuals with infection of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant using an online questionnaire sent between December 31, 2022, and January 11, 2023. RESULTS: There were 11,718 (n=7978, 68.1% female) nonhospitalized responders, with a median age of 37 (IQR 30-47) years who responded at a median of 16 (IQR 12-20) days from infection onset to the time of the survey. Cough was the most common symptom, occurring in 91.7% of participants, followed by fever, fatigue, and nasal congestion (68.8%-87.4%). The median cough visual analog scale (VAS) score was 70 (IQR 50-80) mm. Being female (odds ratio [OR] 1.31, 95% CI 1.20-1.43), having a COVID-19 vaccination history (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.37-2.12), current smoking (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.41-0.58), chronic cough (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.69-2.45), coronary heart disease (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.17-2.52), asthma (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.02-1.46), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01-1.45) were independent factors for severe cough (VAS>70, 37.4%). Among all respondents, 35.0% indicated having a productive cough, which was associated with risk factors of being female (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.31-1.57), having asthma (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.52-2.22), chronic cough (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.19-1.74), and GERD (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01-1.47). Persistent cough (>3 weeks) occurred in 13.0% of individuals, which was associated with the risk factors of having diabetes (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.30-3.85), asthma (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.11-2.62), and chronic cough (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.32-2.94). CONCLUSIONS: Cough is the most common symptom in nonhospitalized individuals with Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant infection. Being female, having asthma, chronic cough, GERD, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and a COVID-19 vaccination history emerged as independent factors associated with severe cough, productive cough, and persistent cough.

Autologous transplantation of P63+ lung progenitor cells for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease therapy.

Adult lung resident stem/progenitor cells, including P63+ progenitor cells, have demonstrated the capacity for regeneration of lung epithelium in preclinical models. Here, we report a clinical trial of intrapulmonary P63+ progenitor cell transplantation in 28 participants with stage II to IV chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Autologous P63+ progenitor cells were isolated from the airway basal layer of participants in the intervention group via bronchoscopic brushing, cultured for 3 to 5 weeks, and then transplanted back into the lungs via bronchoscopy at 0.7 × 106 to 5.2 × 106 cells per kilogram of body weight. Twenty patients were evaluable at the end of the study (intervention group, n = 17; control group, n = 3). No grade 3 to 5 adverse events (AEs) or serious AEs occurred. Although bronchoscopy-associated AEs were recorded in participants in the intervention group, other AEs were not substantial different between groups. Twenty-four weeks after transplantation, participants in the intervention group displayed improvement in gas transfer capacity [diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) change from baseline: +18.2%], whereas the control group experienced a decrease (DLCO change from baseline: -17.4%; P = 0.008). Furthermore, participants in the intervention group showed >30-meter increase in walking distance within 6 minutes. Transcriptomic analysis of progenitor cells isolated from responding and nonresponding individuals in the intervention group showed that higher expression of P63 was associated with treatment efficacy. In conclusion, transplantation of cultured P63+ lung progenitor cells was safe and might represent a potential therapeutic strategy for COPD.

The Wound Healing of Autologous Regenerative Factor on Recurrent Benign Airway Stenosis: A Canine Experimental and Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Benign airway stenosis (BAS) is a severe pathologic condition. Complex stenosis has a high recurrence rate and requires repeated bronchoscopic interventions for achieving optimal control, leading to recurrent BAS (RBAS) due to intraluminal granulation. METHODS: This study explored the potential of autologous regenerative factor (ARF) for treating RBAS using a post-intubation tracheal stenosis canine model. Bronchoscopic follow-ups were conducted, and RNA-seq analysis of airway tissue was performed. A clinical study was also initiated involving 17 patients with recurrent airway stenosis. RESULTS: In the animal model, ARF demonstrated significant effectiveness in preventing further collapse of the injured airway, maintaining airway patency and promoting tissue regeneration. RNA-seq results showed differential gene expression, signifying alterations in cellular components and signaling pathways. The clinical study found that ARF treatment was well-tolerated by patients with no severe adverse events requiring hospitalization. ARF treatment yielded a high response rate, especially for post-intubation tracheal stenosis and idiopathic tracheal stenosis patients. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that ARF presents a promising, effective, and less-invasive method for treating RBAS. ARF has shown potential in prolonging the intermittent period and reducing treatment failure in patients with recurrent tracheal stenosis by facilitating tracheal mucosal wound repair and ameliorating tracheal fibrosis. This novel approach could significantly impact future clinical applications.

Different responses of marine microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum upon exposures to WAF and CEWAF of crude oil: A case study coupled with stable isotopic signatures.

Increasing use of chemical dispersants for oil spills highlights the need to understand their adverse effects on marine microalgae and nutrient assimilation because the toxic components of crude oil can be more bioavailable. We employed the crude oil water-accommodated fraction (WAF) and chemically enhanced WAF (CEWAF) to compare different responses in marine microalgae (Phaeodactylum tricornutum) coupled with stable isotopic signatures. The concentration and proportion of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HMW PAHs), which are key toxic components in crude oil, increased after dispersant addition. CEWAF exposure caused higher percent growth inhibition and a lower chlorophyll-a level of microalgae than those after WAF exposure. Compared with WAF exposure, CEWAF led to an enhancement in the self-defense mechanism of P. tricornutum, accompanied by an increased content of extracellular polymeric substances. 13C-depletion and carbon assimilation were altered in P. tricornutum, suggesting more HMW PAHs could be utilized as carbon sources by microalgae under CEWAF. CEWAF had no significant effects on the isotopic fractionation or assimilation of nitrogen in P. tricornutum. Our study unveiled the impact on the growth, physiological response, and nutrient assimilation of microalgae upon WAF and CEWAF exposures. Our data provide new insights into the ecological effects of dispersant applications for coastal oil spills.