Search

This study is conducted to explore the association between health behaviors and the COVID-19 vaccination based on the risk compensation concept among health-care workers in Taizhou, China. We conducted a self-administered online survey to estimate the health behaviors among the staff in a tertiary hospital in Taizhou, China, from May 18 to 21 May 2021. A total of 592 out of 660 subjects (89.7%) responded to the questionnaire after receiving an e-poster on WeChat. Subjects who had been inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine were asked to mention the differences in their health behaviors before and after the vaccination. The results showed that there were no statistical differences in health behaviors between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, except in terms of the type of gloves they used (62.8% in the vaccinated group and 49.2% in the unvaccinated group, p = .048). Subjects who received earlier COVID-19 vaccinations exhibited better health behaviors (22.40% increased for duration of wearing masks ( P = .007), 25.40% increased for times of washing hands ( P = .01), and 20.90% increased for times of wearing gloves ( P = .01)). Subjects also revealed better health behaviors (washing hands, wearing gloves, and wearing masks) after vaccination compared to that before. In conclusion, concept of risk compensation was not applied in our findings. The health behaviors did not reduce after the COVID-19 vaccination, which even may improve health behaviors among health-care workers in the hospital setting.

Background: A high rectal and oropharyngeal sexually transmitted infection (STI) burden has been reported among men who have sex with men (MSM) in many regions, but little data exists on rectal and oropharyngeal STIs among MSM in China. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of gonorrhea and chlamydia at different anatomic sites among MSM in Guangzhou, China., Methods: We recruited a cross-sectional sample of MSM in one Chinese city and collected detailed information about socio-demographic characteristics and sexual behaviors. Men had urine, rectal, and pharyngeal swab samples tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT). Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to evaluate factors associated with gonorrhea and chlamydia. Among men without any STI symptoms, we also examined the prevalence of gonorrhea and chlamydia by anatomical site., Results: We enrolled 463 men between January 2015 and March 2017. A total of 58/463 (12.5%) of men had gonorrhea and 84/463 (18.1%) had chlamydia. MSM with gonorrhea were more likely to have been recruited from the STI clinic (OR 3.41, 95% CI 1.94-5.99), living with HIV (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.18-4.92), diagnosed had STI co-infection (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.39-4.69). MSM with chlamydia were more likely to be students (OR 1.8, 95% CI 0.99-3.39). Most gonorrhea (34/58, 59%) and chlamydia (64/84, 76%) infections were not associated with STI symptoms., Conclusion: Asymptomatic gonorrhea and chlamydia infection were common in this sample of Chinese MSM. Further research is necessary to determine optimal STI screening programs.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study investigated the frequency of established CVD and its associated risk factors in Chinese patients with SLE. A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 1,072 consecutive patients with SLE from a single center. Patients with CVD were identified on the basis of medical record documentation. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors of CVD. Of the 1,072 patients with SLE, 71 (6.6%) had CVD. Patients with CVD were older than patients without CVD (39.0 ± 15.6 vs. 31.9 ± 13.3 years; P < 0.001), the frequency of CVD in patients aged ≤19 years, between 20 and 39 years, between 40 and 69 years, and greater than 60 years was increased by 3.4%, 5.5%, 9.2%, 20.4%, respectively. The frequency of CVD was higher in SLE patients with nephritis than without nephritis (7.6% vs. 3.8%; P = 0.026). Multivariate regression analyses confirmed that age ≥60 years (OR = 5.098; 95% CI 1.333, 19.488), higher diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.050; 95% CI 1.022, 1.078), higher serum creatinine levels (OR = 1.002; 95% CI 1.000, 1.003), and long-term use of glucocorticoids (OR = 1.005; 95% CI 1.000, 1.010) were risk factors for CVD. HDL-C levels (OR = 0.121; 95% CI 0.041, 0.358) were negatively associated with CVD in patients with SLE. Our data suggest that the frequency of CVD was high in Chinese patients with SLE, and independent risk factors for CVD were increased age, higher diastolic blood pressure, higher serum creatinine levels, long-term use of glucocorticoids, and lower HDL-C levels.

Objective: To describe the clinical phenotype in a Chinese family with congenital fibrosis of extraocular muscles and to identify the location of candidate gene of the disease in chromosome., Methods: The clinical feature of all affected members in this family were examined. A genome-wide linkage screening was conducted. Direct genomic sequencing was used to evaluate the candidate gene KIf21A., Results: Four affected members in the pedigree were born with classic phenotype of CFEOM. By linkage analysis the disease gene was mapped to chromosomal region 12p11.2-q12 defined by microsatellite markers D12S1648 and D12S1668. The maximum Lod Score was 2.12 (D12S1090). Direct sequence showed no mutation in all exons and exon-intron boundaries of the candidate gene KIF21A, a polymorphism substitution occurred in the exon 21., Conclusions: The disorder in this family should be referred as CFEOM1 which was inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The candidate gene was linked to CFEOM1 locus on chromosome 12p11.2-q12, between marker D12S1648 and D12S1668. It's more likely that KIf21A is not the disease causing gene in this family.

Objective: To investigate the mutation spectrum of phosphodiesterase beta subunit (PDE6B) gene and incidence in Chinese retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients., Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 38 patients from 35 autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (ARRP) families and 55 sporadic cases. The mutation of the PDE6B gene was detected using PCR-SSCP, and the amplified PCR product of abnormal bands was sequenced., Results: Within intron 10 of PDE6B gene, a mutation was found in an ARRP family, a G --> A transition at 19th base upstream 5'-end of exon 11. A novel complex heterozygous variant of PDE6B gene in a sporadic case, a T to C transition in codon 323 resulting in the substitution of Gly by Ser and two bp(TG) inserted between the 27th-28th bp upstream of the 5'-end of exon 10 were both present in the same isolate RP. But they were not found in 100 unrelated normal individuals. A sporadic RP was found carrying a sequence variant of PDE6B gene, a G to C transversion in intron 18, the 15th base adjacent to the 3'end of exon 18. Another isolate RP was found to have 2 bp inserted between 31st and 32nd base upstream 5'end of exon 4 (in intron 3) of PDE6B gene., Conclusion: There is a complex heterozygous mutation of PDE6B gene responsible for a sporadic RP patient in China. Several DNA variants were found in intron of PDE6B gene in the national population.

Objective: To identify the mutation spectrum of phosphodiesterase beta subunit (PDE6B) gene, the incidence in Chinese patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and their clinical phenotypic characteristics., Methods: Screening of mutations within PDE6B gene was performed using polymerase chain reaction-heteroduplex-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequence in 35 autosomal recessive (AR) RP and 55 sporadic RP cases. The phenotypes of the patients with the gene mutation were examined and analyzed., Results: Novel complex heterozygous variants of PDE6B gene in a sporadic case, a T to C transversion in codon 323 resulting in the substitution of Gly by Ser and 2 base pairs (bp: G and T) insert between the 27th-28th bp upstream of the 5'-end of exon 10 were both present in a same isolate RP. But they are not found in 100 unrelated healthy individuals. Ocular findings showed diffuse pigmentary retinal degeneration in the midperipheral and peripheral fundi, optic atrophy and vessel attenuation. Multi-focal ERG indicated that the rod function was more severely deteriorated. A mutation was found in a case with RP in a ARRP family, a G to A transversion at 19th base upstream 5'-end of exon 11 (within intron 10) of PDE6B gene. A sporadic RP carried a sequence variant of PDE6B gene, a G to C transition, at the 15th base adjacent to the 3'-end of exon l8. In another isolate case with RP was found 2 bp (GT) insert between 31st and 32nd base upstream 5'-end of exon 4 (in intron 3) of PDE6B gene., Conclusions: There are novel complex heterozygous mutations of PDE6B gene responsible for a sporadic RP patient in China. This gene mutation associated with rod deterioration and RP. Several DNA variants were found in introns of PDE6B gene in national population.