Differences in incidence and fatality of COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant versus Delta variant in relation to vaccine coverage: A world-wide review

We aim to evaluate the evolution differences in the incidence and case fatality rate (CFR) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta and Omicron variants. The average incidence and CFRs were described between different countries. A gamma generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to compare the CFRs of Delta and Omicron variants based on vaccination coverage. Totally, 50 countries were included for analyses. The incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ranged from 0.16/100,000 to 82.95/100,000 during the Delta period and 0.03/100,000 to 440.88/100,000 during the Omicron period. The median CFRs were 8.56 (interquartile range [IQR]: 4.76–18.39) during the Delta period and 3.04 (IQR: 1.87–7.48) during the Omicron period, respectively. A total of 47 out of 50 countries showed decreased CFRs of the Omicron variant with the rate ratio ranging from 0.02 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01–0.03) (in Cambodia) to 0.97 (95% CI: 0.87–1.08) (in Ireland). Gamma GLMM analysis showed that the decreased CFR was largely a result of the decreased pathogenicity of Omicron besides the increased vaccination coverage. The Omicron variant shows a higher incidence but a lower CFR around the world as a whole, which is mainly a result of the decreased pathogenicity by SARS-CoV-2's mutation, while the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 still acts as a valuable measure in preventing people from death.     

Risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma at baseline and 1 year after initiation of nucleos(t)ide analog therapy for chronic hepatitis B

Nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) cannot completely suppress the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to identify the risk factors for HCC development in naïve CHB patients treated with current NA. Patients receiving NA (n = 905) were recruited retrospectively from the 17 hospitals of the Japanese Red Cross Liver Study Group. All treatment-naïve patients had been receiving current NA continuously for more than 1 year until the end of the follow-up. We analyzed the accuracy of predictive risk score using the area under receiver operating characteristic curve. The albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score was significantly improved by NA therapy (−0.171 ± 0.396; p < 0.001 at Week 48). A total of 72 (8.0%) patients developed HCC over a median follow-up of 6.2 (1.03–15.7) years. An independent predictive factor of HCC development was older age, cirrhosis, lower platelet counts at baseline and ALBI score, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) at 1 year after NA therapy according to multivariate analysis. The accuracy was assessed using the PAGE-B, mPAGE-B, aMAP, APA-B, and REAL-B scores that included these factors. Discrimination was generally acceptable for these models. aMAP and REAL-B demonstrated high discrimination with 0.866/0.862 and 0.833/0.859 for 3- and 5-year prediction from the status of 1 year after NA therapy, respectively. Baseline age and platelet count, as well as ALBI and AFP one year after NA, were useful for stratifying carcinogenesis risk. The aMAP and REAL-B scores were validated with high accuracy in Japanese CHB patients.     

PTF—V1在二尖瓣狭窄球囊扩张术中的临床效果分析

目的 探讨二尖瓣狭窄患者行经皮二尖瓣球囊扩张术（ＰＢＭＶ０前后心电图ＰＴＦ－Ｖ１的变化及其与血流动力学各指标的相关性。方法 分析２９例窦性心律的二尖瓣狭窄患者ＰＢＭＶ前后ＰＴＦ－Ｖ１的变化,并与二尖瓣面积（ＭＶＡ）、左房平均压（ＭＬＡＰ）和左房内径（ＬＡＤ）作相关分析。结果 ＰＢＭＶ术后ＰＴＦ－Ｖ１显著改善（Ｐ〈０．０１）,与ＭＬＡＰ、ＬＡＤ呈显著正相关,与ＭＶＡ呈显著负相关（Ｐ〈０．０５）。结论     

天津市汉沽区媒介生物调查初报

本文报道了天津市汉沽区域媒介生物的调查结果:本地区有蚊类6种;鼠类5种;蝇类31种;蜚蠊类3种;蚤类2种;螨类1种。     

一种关于RPM放疗呼吸门控系统束流时间延迟性能的参考质控方法

目的：提出一种关于RPM放疗呼吸门控系统束流时间延迟性能的参考质控方法,给出参考条件下VB与EDGE加速器的时间延迟测量结果。方法：首先设计梯形质控呼吸曲线并加载运动模体,利用定位CT扫描由运动模体驱动的W-L模体,然后设计用于束流出束和截止延迟测量的两类质控计划,最后在加速器上执行质控计划,使用EPID采集模体的静态参考图像与运动测量图像,通过分析致密金属球在运动图像和参考图像中的位置差,反推束流的时间延迟,分别在VB与EDGE两台加速器上做方法验证。结果：VB与EDGE加速器的束流出束时间延迟均小于100 ms,截止时间延迟基本一致,VB加速器约为14 ms,EDGE约为22 ms。10FFF各剂量率的出束时间延迟基本一致,而6FFF、6 MV和10 MV则随剂量率的变化略有增加。4个能量各剂量率的束流截止时间延迟均较小且相对一致,部分能量有随剂量率变大而延迟缩小的趋势。结论：本研究提出的RPM束流时间延迟参考质控方法和条件具有较高的测量可信度和较强的临床实操性,测量结果表明RPM呼吸门控系统响应灵敏,研究结果为呼吸门控系统的时间延迟质控提供了重要的方法学指导与数据参考。     

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pathological autopsy practices in Japan

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, autopsies have provided valuable insights into the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The precise effect of this pandemic on autopsy procedures in Japan, especially in instances unrelated to COVID-19, has not yet been established. Therefore, we conducted a questionnaire survey from December 2020 to January 2021 regarding the status of pathological autopsy practices in Japan during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was sent to 678 medical facilities with pathologists, of which 227 responded. In cases where a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 was not made at the time of autopsy, many facilities counted them as suspected COVID-19 cases if pneumonia was suspected clinically. At around half of the sites, autopsies were prohibited for suspected COVID-19 cases. In addition, the number of autopsies of non-COVID-19 cases during the pandemic period was also investigated, and a significant decrease was observed compared with the incidence in the pre-pandemic period. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected not only the autopsies of COVID-19 cases but also the entire practice of pathological autopsies. It is necessary to establish a system that supports the implementation of pathological autopsy practices during the pandemic of an emerging infectious disease.     

Effects of local muscle fatigue on three-dimensional scapulohumeral rhythm

The relationship of scapulothoracic motion to glenohumeral motion, commonly referred to as the scapulohumeral rhythm, has been the subject of numerous investigations. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of localized muscular fatigue on three-dimensional scapulothoracic motion and the resulting scapulohumeral rhythm during elevation of the humerus in the plane of the scapula. A six-degree-of-freedom digitizing system (Metrecom(TM)) was used to define scapular and trunk reference frames, and three-dimensional Eulerian angles were determined for scapular motion for 0-135 degrees of humeral elevation before and after fatigue of the upper and lower trapezius muscles. Local muscle fatigue was determined using spectral analysis of electromyographic signals for the upper and lower trapezius muscles. The results demonstrated an average of 22% decrease in the median frequencies of the muscles sampled following resistive exercise, suggesting a state of local muscle fatigue. Concomitant with the fatigue was a selective decrease in scapulothoracic motion about two of the three scapular axes. RELEVANCE: Occupational and recreational conditions often require repetitive overhead elevations of the arms, resulting in muscular fatigue and various pathologies. During repetitive arm elevations the scapulohumeral rhythm or synchronization between the humerus and the scapula is balanced to allow the most efficient elevation of the arm. A better understanding of this much-discussed scapulohumeral rhythm and the changes induced by muscular fatigue may provide insight into the pathomechanics associated with shoulder dysfunction.     

妇科门诊患者生殖道支原体感染及耐药性分析

目的:了解妇科门诊患者生殖道支原体感染状况及支原体的耐药性。方法:采用法国BioMerieux 公司的Mycoplasma IST试剂盒,对妇科门诊患者的生殖道分泌物标本进行支原体培养和耐药性检测。结果:受检者中解脲脲原体( Uu)阳性率为60% ,人型支原体( Mh) 阳性率为26 % ;6 种抗生素的药敏试验显示,Uu 和Mh 对红霉素完全耐药,对氧氟沙星耐药在60% 以上,对交沙霉素和普那霉素最为敏感。结论:妇科门诊患者中存在较大比例的支原体感染和携带,且对常用抗生素已产生一定的耐药性,这种状况应引起临床医生的注意     

全血活化凝血时间在局部枸橼酸盐抗凝血透中的应用

目的：开展局部枸橼酸抗凝血液透析,监控枸橼酸盐的输注量;方法：采用全血活化凝血时间（ＡＣＴ）监测患者的凝血状态;结果：基础ＡＣＴ值为１１０．５±１０．０９ｓ;透析结束时动脉端ＡＣＴ值为１１５．３±１１．６１ｓ,与基础值相比无明显差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）;透析结束时静脉端ＡＣＴ值为１４６．６±３０．３５ｓ,与基础值相比有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）,枸橼酸钠输注速度为３０～４０ｍｌ／ｈ;结论：静脉端ＡＣＴ值较基础值延长３０％,枸橼酸盐能在体外循环达到有效抗凝效果,不会引起出血并发症     

臂丛下干的应用解剖观察

目的了解斜角肌间隙内臂丛下干与邻近组织结构及胸１神经干与第１肋的关系,为临床诊治臂丛下干卡压症提供解剖学依据。②方法在２１具４２侧成人标本上观测臂丛下干与邻近结构的位置关系。③结果在４２侧标本的斜角肌间隙内,有３３侧在前斜角肌的后内侧存在孤立的肌束,臂丛下干分别从其前下方（２３侧）或后上方（１０侧）通过;组成臂丛下干的胸１神经干在斜越第１肋前内侧面时部分穿行于骨纤维管内。④结论该肌束的压迫或拱抬均可成为臂丛下干受压的因素之一;组成臂丛下干的胸１神经干在越过第１肋时易受压迫。