Analysis of risk factors and short-term prognostic factors of arrhythmia in patients infected with mild/moderate SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

BackgroundComplications, including arrhythmia, following severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection continue to be of concern. Omicron is the mainstream SARS-CoV-2 mutant circulating in mainland China. At present, there are few epidemiological studies concerning the relationship between arrhythmia and Omicron variant infection in mainland China.ObjectivesTo investigate the risk factors of arrhythmia in patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and the factors influencing prognosis.MethodsData from 192 Omicron infected patients with symptoms of arrhythmia (AH group) and 100 Omicron infected patients without arrhythmia (Control group) were collected. Patients in the AH group were divided into the good and poor prognosis groups, according to the follow-up results 4–6 weeks after infection. The general and clinical data between the AH and Control groups, and between the good and poor prognosis groups were compared. The variables with differences between the groups were included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the quantitative variables were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve to obtain their cut-off values.ResultsCompared with the control group, the body mass index (BMI), proportion of patients with a history of arrhythmia, proportion of antibiotics taken, heart rate, moderate disease severity, white blood cell (WBC) count, and the aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase (CK), CK isoenzyme (CK-MB), myoglobin (Mb), high-sensitive troponin I (hs-cTnI), lymphocyte ratio and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in the AH group were significantly higher (p < 0.05). In addition, obesity (BMI ≥24 kg/m2), fast heart rate (≥100 times/min), moderate disease severity, and WBC, CK-MB and hs-cTnI levels were independent risk factors of arrhythmia for patients with Omicron infection (p < 0.05), and hs-CRP was a protective factor (p < 0.05). Compared with the good prognosis group, the age, proportion of patients with a history of arrhythmia, heart rate, proportion of moderate disease severity, and hs-CRP, CK, Mb and hs-cTnI levels were significantly higher in the poor prognosis group, while the proportion of vaccination was lower in the poor prognosis group (p < 0.05). Advanced age (≥65 years old), proportion of history of arrhythmia, moderate disease severity, vaccination, and hs-CRP, Mb and cTnI levels were independent factors for poor prognosis of patients with arrhythmia (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe factors that affect arrhythmia and the prognosis of patients infected with Omicron include obesity, high heart rate, severity of the disease, age. history of arrhythmia, WBC, hs-CRP, and myocardial injury indexes, which could be used to evaluate and prevent arrhythmia complications in patients in the future

Self-assembling subnanometer pores with unusual mass-transport properties

A long-standing aim in molecular self-assembly is the development of synthetic nanopores capable of mimicking the mass-transport characteristics of biological channels and pores. Here we report a strategy for enforcing the nanotubular assembly of rigid macrocycles in both the solid state and solution based on the interplay of multiple hydrogen-bonding and aromatic π − π stacking interactions. The resultant nanotubes have modifiable surfaces and inner pores of a uniform diameter defined by the constituent macrocycles. The self-assembling hydrophobic nanopores can mediate not only highly selective transmembrane ion transport, unprecedented for a synthetic nanopore, but also highly efficient transmembrane water permeability. These results establish a solid foundation for developing synthetically accessible, robust nanostructured systems with broad applications such as reconstituted mimicry of defined functions solely achieved by biological nanostructures, molecular sensing, and the fabrication of porous materials required for water purification and molecular separations

A Renewable and Ultrasensitive Electrochemiluminescence Immunosenor Based on Magnetic RuL@SiO2-Au∼RuL-Ab2 Sandwich-Type Nano-Immunocomplexes

An ultrasensitive and renewable electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor was developed for the detection of tumor markers by combining a newly designed trace tag and streptavidin-coated magnetic particles (SCMPs). The trace tag (RuL@SiO2-Au∼RuL-Ab2) was prepared by loading Ru(bpy)32+(RuL)-conjuged secondary antibodies (RuL-Ab2) on RuL@SiO2 (RuL-doped SiO2) doped Au (RuL@SiO2-Au). To fabricate the immunosensor, SCMPs were mixed with biotinylated AFP primary antibody (Biotin-Ab1), AFP, and RuL@SiO2-Au∼RuL-Ab2 complexes, then the resulting SCMP/Biotin-Ab1/AFP/RuL@SiO2-Au∼RuL-Ab2 (SBAR) sandwich-type immunocomplexes were absorbed on screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) for detection. The immunocomplexes can be easily washed away from the surface of the SPCE when the magnetic field was removed, which made the immunosensor reusable. The present immunosensor showed a wide linear range of 0.05–100 ng mL−1 for detecting AFP, with a low detection limit of 0.02 ng mL−1 (defined as S/N = 3). The method takes advantage of three properties of the immunosensor: firstly, the RuL@SiO2-Au∼RuL-Ab2 composite exhibited dual amplification since SiO2 could load large amount of reporter molecules (RuL) for signal amplification. Gold particles could provide a large active surface to load more reporter molecules (RuL-Ab2). Accordingly, through the ECL response of RuL and tripropylamine (TPA), a strong ECL signal was obtained and an amplification analysis of protein interaction was achieved. Secondly, the sensor is renewable because the sandwich-type immunocomplexes can be readily absorbed or removed on the SPCE’s surface in a magnetic field. Thirdly, the SCMP modified probes can perform the rapid separation and purification of signal antibodies in a magnetic field. Thus, the present immunosensor can simultaneously realize separation, enrichment and determination. It showed potential application for the detection of AFP in human sera

Effects of fire disturbance on soil respiration in the non-growing season in a <i>Larix gmelinii</i> forest in the Daxing'an Mountains, China

<div><p>In boreal forests, fire is an important part of the ecosystem that greatly influences soil respiration, which in turn affects the carbon balance. Wildfire can have a significant effect on soil respiration and it depends on the fire severity and environmental factors (soil temperature and snow water equivalent) after fire disturbance. In this study, we quantified post-fire soil respiration during the non-growing season (from November to April) in a <i>Larix gmelinii</i> forest in Daxing'an Mountains of China. Soil respiration was measured in the snow-covered and snow-free conditions with varying degrees of natural burn severity forests. We found that soil respiration decreases as burn severity increases. The estimated annual C efflux also decreased with increased burn severity. Soil respiration during the non-growing season approximately accounted for 4%–5% of the annual C efflux in all site types. Soil temperature (at 5 cm depth) was the predominant determinant of non-growing season soil respiration change in this area. Soil temperature and snow water equivalent could explain 73%–79% of the soil respiration variability in winter snow-covering period (November to March). Mean spring freeze–thaw cycle (FTC) period (April) soil respiration contributed 63% of the non-growing season C efflux. Our finding is key for understanding and predicting the potential change in the response of boreal forest ecosystems to fire disturbance under future climate change.</p></div

Vegetative composition of the experimental plots.

<p>Vegetative composition of the experimental plots.</p

Regression of soil respiration (Rs) and soil temperature (T) fitted models of (a) control, (b) low burn severity, and (c) high burn severity in the non-growing season.

<p>Regression of soil respiration (Rs) and soil temperature (T) fitted models of (a) control, (b) low burn severity, and (c) high burn severity in the non-growing season.</p

Regression models of soil respiration(CO₂·m⁻2·s^–1) (Rs), soil temperature (°C) (T), and SWE is snow water equivalent (mm); T × SWE is the interaction effect of T and SWE; and <i>α</i>, <i>β</i>, <i>ε</i>, and <i>ω</i> are regression coefficients.

<p>Regression models of soil respiration(CO₂·m⁻2·s^–1) (Rs), soil temperature (°C) (T), and SWE is snow water equivalent (mm); T × SWE is the interaction effect of T and SWE; and <i>α</i>, <i>β</i>, <i>ε</i>, and <i>ω</i> are regression coefficients.</p

The parameters and statistics of soil respiration as the exponential function of soil temperature at growing season, non-growing season snow-covering, and non-growing season snow-free stand for different burn severities.

<p>Parameter values are reported as mean ± se.</p

Regression of soil respiration (Rs) and soil temperature (T) fitted models of (a) control, (b) low burn severity, and (c) high burn severity in the growing season.

<p>Regression of soil respiration (Rs) and soil temperature (T) fitted models of (a) control, (b) low burn severity, and (c) high burn severity in the growing season.</p

Plastic shed used for measuring soil respiration under the snow-free condition.

<p>Plastic shed used for measuring soil respiration under the snow-free condition.</p