The effect of patient ethnicity on the accuracy of peripheral pulse oximetry in patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis: a single-centre,retrospective analysis

Pulse oximetry is used widely to titrate oxygen therapy and for triage in patients who are critically ill. However, there are concerns regarding the accuracy of pulse oximetry in patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis and in patients who have a greater degree of skin pigmentation. We aimed to determine the impact of patient ethnicity on the accuracy of peripheral pulse oximetry in patients who were critically ill with COVID-19 pneumonitis by conducting a retrospective observational study comparing paired measurements of arterial oxygen saturation measured by co-oximetry on arterial blood gas analysis (SaO₂) and the corresponding peripheral oxygenation saturation measured by pulse oximetry (S_pO₂). Bias was calculated as the mean difference between SaO₂ and S_pO₂ measurements and limits of agreement were calculated as bias ±1.96 SD. Data from 194 patients (135 White ethnic origin, 34 Asian ethnic origin, 19 Black ethnic origin and 6 other ethnic origin) were analysed consisting of 6216 paired SaO₂ and S_pO₂ measurements. Bias (limits of agreement) between SaO₂ and S_pO₂ measurements was 0.05% (−2.21–2.30). Patient ethnicity did not alter this to a clinically significant degree: 0.28% (1.79–2.35), −0.33% (−2.47–2.35) and −0.75% (−3.47–1.97) for patients of White, Asian and Black ethnic origin, respectively. In patients with COVID-19 pneumonitis, S_pO₂ measurements showed a level of agreement with SaO₂ values that was in line with previous work, and this was not affected by patient ethnicity.     

淫羊藿（苷）对男性生殖系统的作用和机制

淫羊藿是一种常用的中药材,淫羊藿苷是从淫羊藿中提取的一种黄酮类化合物,也是淫羊藿中最主要的活性物质。研究发现,淫羊藿苷具有促进成骨细胞的生成和活化、调节免疫、抗衰老和抗炎等多种功能。临床上淫羊藿（苷）用于治疗生殖系统、骨关节系统、呼吸系统、神经系统、心血管系统和免疫系统等多种疾病。淫羊藿（苷）对男性生殖系统的作用及机制主要包括具有雄性激素样作用,促进睾内睾酮的合成和分泌。淫羊藿（苷）通过改善精子发生的微环境、增强睾丸抗氧化作用促进精子生成,增加精子密度,改善精子活力,减缓生殖衰退。此外,淫羊藿（苷）可促进阴茎勃起,治疗勃起功能障碍及早泄。     

Paradox of complex diversity: Challenges in the diagnosis and management of bacterial keratitis

Bacterial keratitis continues to be one of the leading causes of corneal blindness in the developed as well as the developing world, despite swift progress since the dawn of the “anti-biotic era”. Although, we have expeditiously developed our understanding about the different causative organisms and associated pathology leading to keratitis, extensive gaps in knowledge continue to dampen the efforts required for early and accurate diagnosis, and management in these patients, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. The ability of the causative bacteria to subdue the therapeutic challenge stems from their large genome encoding complex regulatory networks, variety of unique virulence factors, and rapid secretion of tissue damaging proteases and toxins.In this review article, we provide an overview of the established diagnostic techniques and therapeutics for keratitis caused by various bacteria. We extensively report the recent in-roads through novel tools for accurately diagnosing mono- and poly-bacterial corneal infections. Furthermore, we outline the recent progress by our groups and others in understanding the sub-cellular genomic changes that lead to antibiotic resistance in these organisms. Finally, we discuss in detail, the novel therapies and drug delivery systems in development for the efficacious management of bacterial keratitis.     

骨免疫在口腔疾病中的作用研究进展

长期以来的研究表明先天免疫和后天免疫在宿主抵御外来微生物入侵的过程中起着至关重要的作用，而在这过程中也会同时造成宿主自身的组织或器官的损害。骨骼系统就是其中之一，在一些诸如类风湿性关节炎、牙周炎等疾病中，免疫系统的反应不仅起到去除外来致病菌的作用，还会同时造成骨骼系统的破坏。长期以来大部分的研究都致力于了解免疫系统对骨组织破坏的机制，而近些年来有研究开始探究骨反作用于免疫系统，由此衍生出了一个全新的研究领域——骨免疫。文章从骨免疫的机制、免疫与骨吸收作用通路以及在口腔相关疾病的作用机制等方面总结了近些年来相关的研究进展。     

Vaccines and autoimmunity during the COVID-19 pandemic

To control the pandemic, efficient vaccines must be applied to the population, including patients with autoimmune diseases. Therefore, one can expect that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines may influence the underlying autoimmune processes in these patients. Additionally, it is essential to understand whether COVID-19 vaccines would be effective, safe, and provide long-lasting immunological protection and memory. However, the currently available and approved COVID-19 vaccines turned out to be safe, effective, and reliable in patients with autoimmune inflammatory and rheumatic diseases. Furthermore, most patients said they felt safer after getting vaccinations for COVID-19 and reported enhanced overall quality of life and psychological wellbeing. In general, the COVID-19 vaccines have been highly tolerated by autoimmune patients. Such findings might comfort patients who are reluctant to use COVID-19 vaccines and assist doctors in guiding their patients into receiving vaccinations more easily and quickly.