The willingness for dietary and behavioral changes in frontline epidemic prevention workers after experiencing the outbreak of COVID-19 in China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had a massive impact on public health, resulting in sudden dietary and behavioral habit changes. Frontline epidemic prevention workers play a pivotal role against COVID-19. They must face high-risk infection conditions, insufficient anti-epidemic material supplies, mental pressure, and so on. COVID-19 seriously affects their dietary and behavioral habits, and poor habits make them more susceptible to COVID-19. However, their baseline dietary and behavioral habits before COVID-19 and their willingness to change these habits after the outbreak of COVID-19 remain unclear for these workers in China. This study aimed to explore the baseline dietary and behavioral habits of frontline workers and their willingness to change these habits after the outbreak of the epidemic; in addition, susceptible subgroups were identified by stratified analyses as targets of protective measures to keep them from being infected with COVID-19. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire using a sample of 22,459 valid individuals living in China, including 9402 frontline epidemic prevention workers. RESULTS: Before COVID-19, 23.9% of the frontline epidemic prevention workers reported a high-salt diet, 46.9% of them reported a high frequency of fried foods intake, and 50.9% of them smoked cigarettes. After the outbreak of COVID-19, 34.6% of them expressed a willingness to reduce salt intake, and 43.7% of them wanted to reduce the frequency of pickled vegetables intake. A total of 37.9% of them expressed a willingness to decrease or quit smoking, and 44.5% of them wanted to increase sleep duration. Significant differences in the baseline dietary and behavioral habits and the willingness to change their habits were observed between frontline epidemic prevention workers and other participants. Among the frontline epidemic prevention workers with poor dietary and behavioral habits before COVID-19, frontline epidemic prevention experience was a promoting factor for adopting worse dietary and behavioral habits, including those in the high-salt intake subgroup (OR, 2.824; 95% CI, 2.341-3.405) and the 11-20 cigarettes/day subgroup (OR, 2.067; 95% CI, 1.359-3.143). CONCLUSIONS: The dietary and behavioral habits of frontline epidemic prevention workers were worse than that those of other participants before COVID-19. They had a greater willingness to adopt healthy dietary and behavioral habits after experiencing the outbreak of COVID-19. However, frontline epidemic prevention workers with poor dietary and behavioral habits before COVID-19 continued in engage in these poor habits. Dietary and behavioral intervention policies should be drafted to protect their health, especially frontline epidemic prevention workers with poor habits at baseline.

Correlation Between Detection Results of Pepsin in Vocal Fold Polyp Tissues and the Postoperative Efficacy.

PURPOSE: To explore the correlation between detection results of pepsin in vocal fold polyp tissues and the postoperative efficacy. METHODS: The clinical data of 112 patients with vocal fold polyp who received surgical procedures in our hospital from June 2019 to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The vocal fold morphology and vocal acoustic function were assessed at postoperative week 12. Using binary logistic regression, we explored whether the factors, ie, detection result of pepsin in vocal fold polyp tissue, microscopic suturing, the use of CO2 laser, and the history of smoking, affected the postoperative morphological repair of vocal fold polyps. Then, to observe and compare the influence of the detection results of pepsin on the recovery of vocal acoustic function, we divided the enrolled patients into the pepsin group and the pepsin-free group based on the postoperative detection results of pepsin in the polyp tissues by immunohistochemistry, RESULTS: In the 112 patients with vocal fold polyps, positive staining of pepsin in the postoperative samples was found in 76 patients (67.86%) and negative in 36 (32.14%). Totally 80 patients returned to normal in vocal fold morphology, among whom 32 (88.89%) were in pepsin-free group and 48 (63.16%) in pepsin group. Binary logistic regression showed that pepsin was a clinically significant indicator that affected the postoperative morphological recovery of the vocal fold (P = 0.003). Although hoarse voice was improved in all patients at postoperative week 12, the differences were statistically significant in the proportion of patients with grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain class G, voice handicap index, maximum phonation time, Jitter, Shimmer and noise-to-harmonic ratio between the pepsin group and the pepsin-free group (P < 0.05), with the pepsin-free group being superior to the pepsin group in the improvement of vocal acoustic function. CONCLUSION: Pepsin in vocal fold polyps is a clinically significant indicator affecting the postoperative morphological recovery and acoustic efficacy, and patients with negative pepsin are superior to those with positive pepsin in the postoperative recovery of vocal fold morphology and function.

[The effect of expression of pepsin in vocal polyps on postoperative curative effect].

Objective:To investigate the effect of tissue pepsin expression of vocal polyps on the postoperative curative effect. Methods:Retrospectively analyze the data of 112 patients diagnosed with vocal cord polyps and undergone surgery from June 2019 to March 2021. The cases were divided into positive group and negative group according to the immunohistochemical pepsin expression. The preoperative reflux symptom index （RSI） and the reflux finding score （RFS） were compared, and the recovery of the voice acoustic function and postoperative vocal cord morphology were analyzed. Results:Among the postoperative specimens of 112 patients,76 cases were positive for pepsin staining, accounting for 67.9%, and 36 cases were negative, accounting for 32.1%. In the pepsin-positive group, 48 cases of vocal cord morphology returned to normal, and 20 cases remained scar or edema in the operation area, 8 cases of polyps relapsed; in the pepsin-negative group, a total of 32 cases of vocal cord morphology returned to normal, 4 cases of remained scar or edema in the operation area, no relapsed cases, the difference in vocal cord morphology recovery was significant （χ²=8.689, P=0.013）. The symptoms of hoarseness improved after 12 weeks. The differences between pre and post operative of G grade, VHI, MPT, fundamental frequency perturbation and amplitude perturbation assessed by GRBAS were significant （P<0.05）; postoperative G grade, VHI, MPT, fundamental frequency perturbation and amplitude perturbation were compared between the pepsin-positive group and the pepsin-negative group, and the differences were significant （all P<0.05）. Conclusion:The expression of pepsin in vocal polyps is a significant clinical indicator that affects the acoustic effect and morphological recovery of vocal cords after surgery. For patients with positive expression, acid suppression treatment should be strengthened after surgery.

Occurrence and distribution characteristics of heavy metals in the surface water of Yongding River Basin, China.

Yongding River is a vital socioeconomic zone in China in providing daily usage for humans, animals, and running of industries and agriculture. This study first provides a comparative assessment for the heavy metal pollution in the surface water from 82 estuarine locations along the basin, including the Guanting Reservoir and seven wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The occurrence, distribution, potential sources, and water quality relating to the detected heavy metals were addressed. Eleven typical elements (Pb, Cr, As, Cd, Sb, Ba, V, Ti, Zn, Ni, and Be) were investigated, and the results showed that all the measured concentrations were below the WHO guideline limits. Most heavy metals exhibited higher levels in the middle of Yongding River basin due to the discharge of WWTPs. Pb, Ti, Zn, and Cd in the surface water mainly originated from anthropogenic discharge, while Sb and V were mostly contributed to geogenic sources according to the principal component analysis. Three documented methods, water quality index (WQI), heavy metal pollution (HPI), and Nemerow pollution index (Pn) values, were used to evaluate the contamination monitoring of surface water. All the locations were classified as low and moderate risk except Y12, B2, and Y13 for their Pn values were higher than 1.0. The present study highlights the status of heavy metals in Yongding River basin which is helpful in providing fundamental data for assessment of water quality and the effective protection for Yongding River basin in the future.

Identifying trends and driving factors of spatio-temporal water quality variation in Guanting Reservoir Basin, North China.

Assessment of river quality has been attracting a great deal of attention because of its important implications for the living environment of human beings and aquatic organisms. This study investigated the spatial and temporal variation of water quality and its possible driving factors of Guanting Reservoir Basin. For this purpose, water quality was assessed with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index, together with nutrient inputs and social-economic data which were collected and analyzed during the period 2009-2019. The results showed that the overall water quality in Guanting Reservoir increased over time and was rated as "good" during the studied decade. Spatially, water quality in tributary upstream of Yanghe River and Sanggan River was better than that in Guishui River, resulting in better quality in West Reservoir than in East Reservoir. Among water quality indices, total nitrogen was the main pollutant affecting the water quality of the studied area. In addition, principal component analysis and correlation analysis were applied to evaluate the relationships between the socio-economic factors and water quality variation. Urbanization and industry structure were significantly correlated with the water quality variation in upstream tributaries. The findings provide insightful understanding into the spatio-temporal variations of water quality and the associated driving factors of Guanting Reservoir basin, which would help managers in executing theoretical reference for water quality protection.

Computed tomography imaging features for amyloid dacryolith in the nasolacrimal excretory system: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Nasolacrimal duct obstruction leading to epiphora is a common ophthalmologic complaint, and it may derive from amyloidosis in rare cases. There are a few reports about localized amyloidosis, and amyloidosis with involvement and obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct is exceedingly rare. CASE SUMMARY: A 54-year-old male presented with a 2-year history of a lump overlying the left lacrimal sac that had grown rapidly for nearly half a year. Physical examination touched a firm lump in the left lacrimal sac. Nasal endoscopy discovered lesions in appearance of sediments with easy bleeding at the entry of the nasolacrimal duct of the left inferior nasal meatus. Computerized tomography scan revealed speckle high density in the left lacrimal sac and the dilated nasolacrimal duct. During an endoscopic exploration and excision, a large number of dacryoliths were exposed. Pathology indicated amorphous pink material and multinucleated giant cell reaction in the fibrous tissue. CONCLUSION: This case showed amyloidosis in localized form mimicking dacryolith with nasolacrimal duct obstruction. In clinical practice, we should be aware of the possibility of localized amyloidosis in the nasolacrimal excretory system.

[Evaluation of eutrophication level changes in Baiyangdian Lake based on multiple biological groups]. / 应用多种生物类群评价白洋淀水环境质量变化.

Baiyangdian Lake is the largest shallow lake in the North China Plain. Due to the increases in upstream water consumption in recent decades, the amount of natural water entering the lake has decreased, resulting in a significant drop in the water level of Baiyangdian Lake. Severe eutrophication has occurred in Baiyangdian Lake owing to the discharge of domestic sewage around the sub-lakes. With the establishment of the Xiong'an New Area in 2017, the importance of environmental governance and protection of Baiyangdian Lake has been unprecedentedly increased. The implementation of ecological water supplement from upstream reservoirs and other basins has significantly increased water level of Baiyangdian Lake. Moreover, domestic sewage from surrounding rural areas was collected. In order to understand the current state of water quality in Baiyangdian Lake, and to evaluate the effects of the previous water replenishment and pollution control projects, we investigated water physicochemical variables and aquatic organisms of Baiyangdian Lake in August 2019. We evaluated water quality status of Baiyangdian Lake based on water quality, phytoplankton, zooplankton and macrozoobenthos, by comparing with the evaluation based on the survey data in 2010. In addition, submerged macrophytes were used to evaluate the water ecological status. The results showed that the water quality state of Baiyangdian Lake in 2019 was greatly improved compared with 2010. Among them, total phosphorus concentration decreased by 88.6%, total nitrogen concentration decreased by 83.9%, chlorophyll a concentration decreased by 47.8%, and the Seechi depth increased by 43.4%. The diversity of zooplankton and macrozoobenthos were significantly increased, the density of phytoplankton was significantly reduced, the dominant species of phytoplankton changed from a general highly eutrophic type to a eutrophic type, and the distribution of the clean-type submerged macrophytes was narrowed. The evaluation methods based on submerged macrophytes species and based on zooplankton diversity were not suitable for water quality evaluation in Baiyangdian Lake. In the early stage, the pollution source of Baiyangdian Lake was concentrated in the west, which led to lower water quality. Nowadays, due to the water replenishment from the west, north and south, the hydrodynamic conditions changed significantly. In the west, pollution control projects were carried out, and the spatial distribution of water quality in Baiyangdian Lake are showing a characteristics of homogenization.

The association between subjective impact and the willingness to adopt healthy dietary habits after experiencing the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a cross-sectional study in China.

To investigate the associations between subjective perception of impacts and willingness to change dietary habits in China after experiencing the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an online questionnaire survey was carried out and 22,459 respondents in mainland China participated in the study, with an average age of 27.9±7.8 years old. Of them, 84.5% self-reported epidemic concern (middle or above), and 60.2%, 66.3% and 66.8% self-reported impact (middle or above) on psychology, life, work respectively. 31.9%, 46.0% and 41.0% of respondents reported their willingness to reduce their dietary intakes of salt, fried foods, and sugary foods, respectively. The stratified analysis of multinomial logistic regression models showed that, respondents with higher psychological impact were more likely to increase their dietary intake of salt, fried foods, sugary foods. Except as aforesaid, most respondents with higher epidemic concerns and higher impacts on psychology, life, work were more likely to reduce eating salt, fried foods, sugary foods. After the epidemic, early stage of positive improvement to a proper diet was observed, whereas the opposite tendency was also found in some respondents with higher impact on psychology. Thus, there is an urgent need for health care and lifestyle intervention policies for different subgroups.

Expression, purification and epitope analysis of Pla a 2 allergen from Platanus acerifolia pollen.

Platanus acerifolia is one of the major sources of outdoor allergens to humans, and can induce allergic asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis and other allergic diseases. Pla a 2 is a polygalacturonase and represents the major allergen identified in P. acerifolia pollen. The aim of the present study was to express and purify Pla a 2, and to predict B and T cell epitopes of Pla a 2. The gene encoding Pla a 2 was cloned into the pET28a vector and subsequently transfected into ArcticExpress™ (DE3) Escherichia coli cells; purified Pla a 2 was analyzed by western blot analysis. The results of the present study revealed that the Pla a 2 allergen has the ability to bind immunoglobulin E within the sera of patients allergic to P. acerifolia pollen. In addition, the B cell epitopes of Pla a 2 were predicted using the DNAStar Protean system, Bioinformatics Predicted Antigenic Peptides and BepiPred 1.0 software; T cell epitopes were predicted using NetMHCIIpan ­3.0 and ­2.2. In total, eight B cell epitopes (15­24, 60­66, 78­86, 109­124, 232­240, 260­269, 298­306 and 315­322) and five T cell epitopes (62­67, 86­91, 125­132, 217­222 and 343­350) were predicted in the present study. These findings may be used to improve allergen immunotherapies and reduce the frequency of pollen­associated allergic reactions.

Anaphylactic shock caused by haemocoagulase injection in China.

Haemocoagulase injection is a mixture of purified enzymes isolated from the venom of Bothrops atrox, which is used for the prevention and treatment of haemorrhage. It is a relatively safe pharmacological agent that does not require a skin test prior to administration. However, following a literature search, 14 reported cases of anaphylactic shock caused by haemocoagulase injection were identified, including one lethal case in China. Using SDS-PAGE and protein identification, four primary components in haemocoagulase injection were characterized, including one metalloproteinase, which may be a thromboplastin-like enzyme, and two serine proteinases, which may be thrombin-like enzymes. Administering concentrated haemocoagulase injections failed to provoke a positive skin reaction in allergic patients. Basophil activation tests revealed that haemocoagulase injections did not upregulate cluster of differentiation 63 or C-C chemokine receptor type 3 expression. These findings suggest that haemocoagulase injection may cause fetal anaphylaxis. Although it is difficult to determine a clear conclusion without being able to evaluate the patients that underwent haemocoagulase injection-induced shock, it is unlikely that the venomous components of haemocoagulase injection cross-react with common allergens in allergic patients. It is possible that haemocoagulase injection-induced anaphylaxis is caused by its additive components, such as mannitol and succinylated gelatin.

Analysis of anaphylactic shock caused by 17 types of traditional Chinese medicine injections used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Several reports describing anaphylactic shock following treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases with Chinese herbal injections were described. Our analysis of these reports showed that anaphylactic shock caused by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injections for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is common but also sometimes fatal. Therefore, we proposed the following four suggestions for improving the clinical safety of delivering Chinese herbal injections and reducing the occurrence of allergic shock. First, patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are at high risk, so they should only be given TCM injections after a doctor's diagnosis and approval. Second, people in allergic groups can suffer anaphylactic shock, so vigilance is important in the treatment of all age groups, although even more caution should be exercised when treating children or elderly people. In fact, TCM injections may not be appropriate for those age groups, so that they should be carefully considered before treatment. Third, no significant gender differences have been noted in patients with anaphylactic shock, so all patients should be carefully monitored, irrespective of gender. Fourth, the timeframe in which different drugs cause anaphylactic shock varies; thus, patients should be observed as long as possible.

Simultaneous quantification of metronidazole, tinidazole, ornidazole and morinidazole in human saliva.

The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and sensitive method for the simultaneous quantification of metronidazole (MEZ), tinidazole (TNZ), ornidazole (ONZ) and morinidazole (MNZ) in human saliva. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with ultraviolet (UV) detection at 318 nm was carried out on a C18 column, using a mixture of potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer, acetonitrile, and methanol (55:15:30, v/v/v) as a mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The saliva samples (100 µl) were firstly deproteinized by precipitation with methanol (400 µl), after which they were centrifuged and the supernatants were directly injected into the HPLC system. This method produced linear responses in the concentration ranges of 25.2-5040.0, 23.9-4790.0, 25.4-5080.0, 25.0-5000.0 ng/ml with detection limits of 6.0, 17.6, 10.0 and 11.3 ng/ml for MEZ, TNZ, ONZ and MNZ (S/N=3), respectively. The methods were validated in terms of intra- and inter-batch precision (within 7.3% and 9.1%, respectively), accuracy, linearity, recovery and stability. The study proved that HPLC is both sensitive and selective for the simultaneous quantification of MEZ, TNZ, ONZ and MNZ in human saliva using a single mobile phase.