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Background. The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global public health emergency. Objective. To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 in Anhui and to identify predictors of viral clearance. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the data collected from discharged patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections. We compared clinical features between viral clearance and viral persistence, and evaluated factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 shedding using multiple linear regression. Results. Among the 83 patients involved in the study, the median age was 43 years, while 60.2% were male, 35.4% had comorbidities, and the mortality was zero. The median time from illness onset to admission was 5 days (interquartile range (IQR), 2-7 days), and the median time from the illness onset to SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection was 16 days (IQR, 13-18 days). The factors influencing viral clearance were as follows: (1) delayed admission (beta 1.057, 95% CI 0.810-1.304; p≤0.001) and (2) underlying comorbidities (beta 1.907, 95% CI 0.198-3.616; p=0.029). No significant differences were observed in the length of stay (p=0.246) and pneumonia between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients based on computed tomography (CT) (p=0.124). Conclusions. Delayed admission and underlying comorbidities may effectively predict SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance. For those infected with SARS-CoV-2, even asymptomatic patients without any clinical symptoms should be traced and isolated. This practice may reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and slow the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the virus. Clinical Trial Registration Number: This trial is registered with 2020-051.

Air pollution (PM2.5) has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally and with early atherosclerosis surrogate markers in modernized China. A sizeable number of Chinese have migrated overseas, with an increase in their vulnerability to CVD. To evaluate the impact of PM2.5 air pollution on atherogenesis in native vs. overseas Chinese, we recruited 756 asymptomatic native Chinese and 507 age- and gender-matched overseas Chinese from Sydney and San Francisco. Their cardiovascular profiles were evaluated. PM2.5 was derived from remote sensing technology; atherosclerosis surrogate markers, flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured by ultrasound. The native Chinese had a higher proportion of smokers as well as higher blood pressure, glucose, metabolic syndrome and PM2.5 exposure (p < 0.001), but lower lipids and folate than the overseas Chinese (p < 0.0001). Carotid IMT was lower in the native Chinese (p < 0.0001), but the other vascular parameters were similar. A multivariate regression revealed that FMD in the native Chinese was related to the male gender, age and location; in the overseas Chinese, it was related to age, but not to PM2.5. Carotid IMT in the native Chinese was related to PM2.5, independent of atherosclerotic risk factors and location (R2 = 0.384, F = 34.5, p < 0.0001) whereas in the overseas Chinese, IMT was related to the male gender and age, but not to PM2.5 or overseas location (R2 = 0.282, F = 19.7, p < 0.0001). PM2.5 had a greater impact on atherogenesis in the native Chinese, independent of traditional risk factors, with implications for preventive strategies.

BackgroundSingle-incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SILSG) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (CLSG) in obese patients. This study aims to compare the surgical outcomes of these two techniques.MethodsA meta-analysis of existing literature obtained through a systematic literature search in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library CENTRAL databases from 2009 to 2019 was conducted.ResultsEleven articles including 1168 patients were analyzed. Patients in the SILSG group reported greater satisfaction with cosmetic scar outcomes than those in the CLSG group (SMD = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.10 to 3.83, P = 0.00). There was no significant difference between the SILSG group and the CLSG group regarding operative time, intraoperative estimated blood loss, conversion rate, intraoperative complications, length of hospital stay, postoperative analgesia, postoperative complications, excess weight loss (EWL), and improvements in comorbidities (P > 0.05).ConclusionsCompared to CLSG, SILSG resulted in improved cosmetic satisfaction and showed no disadvantages in terms of surgical outcomes; thus, SILSG can serve as an alternative to CLSG for obese patients. Nonetheless, high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with large study populations and long follow-up periods are needed.

Based on the analysis of field outcrops, drilling cores, casting thin sections, logging interpretation, and development characteristics in the southwestern region of the Qaidam Basin, combined with the sedimentary characteristics, development patterns, and injection production well networks of the Neogene saline lake facies beach and dam in the southwestern region of the Qaidam Basin, his study aims to optimize the displacement system and improve the production rate. This paper counters the difficulty of Severely reservoir heterogeneity and interlayer contradictions low producing degree of water drive utilization and unclear understanding of water drive pattern in the study area; the article adopts Reservoir Engineering Methods, applies water injection development displacement and well network optimization evaluation techniques and bases on the geological characteristics of the reservoir to conduct the first time small well spacing pilot test in Block Wu 5, The results confirm that small well spacing encryption is feasible in this block.Therefore, the deployment and adjustment of small well spacing well network encryption in high structural areas of the area. Through implementation in the past two years, The small well spacing encryption in low-permeability sandbar reservoirs can effectively reduce seepage resistance, increase effective driving capacity, improve recovery rate and recovery rate, improve reservoir development efficiency, and increase economic benefits.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) stands as a predominant cause of global morbidity and mortality. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) and COPD diagnosis in the context of immune infiltration, ultimately proposing a PRG-based diagnostic model for predicting COPD outcomes. Clinical data and PRGs of COPD patients were sourced from the GEO database. The \"ConsensusClusterPlus\" package was employed to generate molecular subtypes derived from PRGs that were identified through differential expression analysis and LASSO Cox analysis. A diagnostic signature including eight genes (CASP4, CASP5, ELANE, GPX4, NLRP1, GSDME, NOD1and IL18) was also constructed. Immune cell infiltration calculated by the ESTIMATE score, Stroma scores and Immune scores were also compared on the basis of pyroptosis-related molecular subtypes and the risk signature. We finally used qRT - PCR to detect the expression levels of eight genes in COPD patient and normal. The diagnostic model, anchored on eight PRGs, underwent validation with an independent experimental cohort. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) for the diagnostic model showcased values of 0.809, 0.765, and 0.956 for the GSE76925, GSE8545, and GSE5058 datasets, respectively. Distinct expression patterns and clinical attributes of PRGs were observed between the comparative groups, with functional analysis underscoring a disparity in immune-related functions between them. In this study, we developed a potential as diagnostic biomarkers for COPD and have a significant role in modulating the immune response. Such insights pave the way for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for COPD.

Prefabricated buildings are the reorganization and optimization of related resources such as design, component production and prefabricated construction, which are the inevitable result of market selection, industry development and productivity improvement. Prefabricated overall correlation, parallel design, modular combination and generalization have transformed the construction industry from a traditional sector to an industrial sector and presented some features of informatization. On account of the limitations of BIM, the low degree of informatization of component manufacturing and key node technology research, informationization of prefabricated technology and design has not yet taken shape, which restricts informationization of prefabricated building.Overcoming the inadequacy of building an integrated information system can help modernization of the construction industry.

Purpose:To investigate the clinical characteristics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the extraocular muscle and ocular motor nerves in congenital monocular strabismus fixus. Methods:The retrospective observational case series of three patients with congenital monocular strabismus fixus were reviewed between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2016. Ophthalmologic examination and thin-sectioned MRI of the ocular motor nerve and the orbit were performed on the three patients. Results:Three patients presented with unilateral non-progressive strabismus fixus with marked limitations of movement in all directions since birth. Of the three patients, one presented with esotropia, one with a large degree of exotropia and hypertropia, and one with an almost normal primary position. All three patients had normal ocular motor nerves, but adherences among the extraocular muscles, posterior Tenon's capsule, and the globe within the muscle cone on MRI. Two patients underwent strabismus surgery, but there were no postoperative improvements in the primary position and eye movements. Conclusions:Extensive adherences among the extraocular muscles, posterior Tenon's capsule, and globe may partially explain the cause of congenital monocular strabismus fixus and why strabismus surgery was ineffective. The findings further highlight the importance of MRI in detecting and characterizing atypical forms of strabismus.[J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2018;55(6):363–368.]

Aim： To assess associations of the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with insulin resistance and 13-cell function in a healthy Chinese female population. Methods： This cross-sectional study included 1382 female participants free of type 2 diabetes who were recruited in Shanghai. Blood samples were collected within a winter season and the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, fasting plasma glucose and insulin, and other biochemical parameters were determined. Insulin resistance and β-cell function were assessed using the homeostasis model assessments of insulin resistance （HOMA-IR） and 13-cell function （HOMA-B）, respectively. Results： Multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for age, parathyroid hormone, Ca2＋ and BMI revealed that independent inverse associations existed between the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and HOMA-IR （P〈0.001） and between the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and HOMA-B （P=0.001）. Conclusion： Serum vitamin D level is significantly and independently associated with insulin resistance and β-cell function in a healthy Chinese female population.

Based on the requirement of small errors in measuring roundness (cylindricity) error, a leveling methodology which using a dual-point vertical layout has been put forward and analyzed. According to the direction cosine of the axis of workpiece, the amount of leveling has been defined and calculated, which overcomes the problem brought by manual adjustment technology and forms theoretical bases of fast, accurate leveling and high precise measurement. The assessment of roundness (cylindricity) error is to search for a center (cylinder axis) which satisfies the minimum condition. Due to the reliance of initial solutions and relative slowness in terms of convergence precision and convergence rate when using Nelder-Mead simplex method, a combinative method of Quasi-Newton and N-M simplex method has been proposed which achieves a fast, accurate search for global optimums. With the proof of the simulation of classical testing functions using Matlab and the measured data, the convergence rate and precision will be enhanced effectively has been certified with the combination of both methods mentioned above which ensuring and improving the measuring precision of workpiece.

Water-dispersed CdSe/Bi2Se3 core/shell QDs with a photothermal conversion coefficient of 27.09% have been synthesized by a cation exchange reaction. The microstructure and crystal structure of the QDs, which were confirmed by TEM and XRD, showed that partial cation exchange occurred inside the CdSe QDs. Two main mechanisms are responsible for the excellent photothermal conversion： inhibition of radiative recombination of carriers due to the formation of type-II semiconductor heterostructures, and the large surface-to-volume ratio of the QDs. Photothermal conversion experiments indicated that the CdSe/Bi2Se3 QDs showed high photothermal conversion efficiency and excellent NIR photostability.