Analysis of respiratory virus detection in hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Objective It is now understood that the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated containment measures have influenced the epidemiology of other respiratory viruses. This study aimed to characterize respiratory virus infections in pediatric patients hospitalized for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in East China both prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We collected nasal secretions from 9782 pediatric ARI patients admitted to Shaoxing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital between January 2018 and December 2022. We analyzed and compared changes in viral detection rates, epidemiological features, and clinical characteristics. Results A total of 1633 strains from 7 common respiratory viruses were identified, with an overall positive rate of 16.35% (n = 821/5021) in 2018–2019 and 17.06% (n = 812/4761) in 2020–2022. Compared to 2018–2019, the positive rate for RSV significantly increased in 2020–2022, while detection rates for ADV, PIV-2, PIV-3, and flu-B showed reductions (P < 0.05). The RSV-positive rate experienced a more significant increase in winter compared to other seasons both before and during COVID-19 (P < 0.05), whereas PIV-3 predominantly circulated in spring and summer before COVID-19. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, marked variations in age distribution and seasonality of respiratory virus infections were observed among hospitalized children with ARIs in East China. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented during the pandemic yielded a limited impact on common respiratory viruses

Synthesis of activated carbon from peanut shell as dye adsorbents for wastewater treatment

In this study, the adsorption capacities of peanut shell activated carbon samples prepared using three types of peanut shell as raw material were compared. The effects of activation state, carbonization temperature, carbonization time, adsorption time during decolorization, and dosage on the performance of the peanut shell activated carbon samples were investigated. The performance of the modified peanut shell (activated carbon) on the decolorization of reactive brilliant blue X-BR and the adsorption kinetics were evaluated systematically. Among the three types of peanut shell activated carbon, the activated carbon that was first activated by phosphoric acid and then carbonized at 450°C for 3 h displayed the best performance, with an optimum dosage of 4 g l −1 and an optimum adsorption time of 2 h. The pseudo-second-order kinetics equation and the intraparticle diffusion equation could well describe the adsorption behavior of the activated carbon prepared by phosphoric acid activation. Intraparticle diffusion was not the only factor affecting the adsorption rate of the activated carbon on reactive brilliant blue X-BR

Effect of acupoint hot compress on postpartum urinary retention after vaginal delivery: a randomized clinical trial

Importance: acupoint hot compress during the early postpartum period may benefit patients after a vaginal delivery, but the evidence of this effect is limited.Objective: to assess whether acupoint hot compress involving the abdominal, lumbosacral, and plantar regions could reduce the incidence of postpartum urinary retention, relieve postpartum uterine contraction pain, prevent emotional disorders, and promote lactation.Design, setting, and participants: this multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted at 12 hospitals in China. Pregnant patients were screened for eligibility (n = 13 949) and enrolled after vaginal delivery (n = 1200) between January 17 and August 15, 2021; data collection was completed on August 18, 2021. After vaginal delivery, these participants were randomized 1:1 to either the intervention group or control group. Statistical analysis was based on per-protocol population.Interventions: participants in the control group received routine postpartum care. Participants in the intervention group received routine postpartum care plus 3 sessions of a 4-hour acupoint hot compress involving the abdominal, lumbosacral, and plantar regions within 30 minutes, 24 hours, and 48 hours after delivery.Main outcomes and measures: the primary outcome was the incidence of postpartum urinary retention, defined as the first urination occurring more than 6.5 hours after delivery and/or use of an indwelling catheter within 72 hours after delivery. The secondary outcomes were postpartum uterine contraction pain intensity (assessed with the visual analog scale [VAS]), depressive symptoms (assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), and lactation conditions (including lactation initiation time, breastfeeding milk volume, feeding mood and times, and newborn weight).Results: of the 1200 participants randomized, 1085 completed the study (537 in the intervention group and 548 in the control group, with a median [IQR] age of 26.0 [24.0-29.0] years). Participants in the intervention group compared with the control group had significantly decreased incidence of postpartum urinary retention (relative risk [RR], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35-0.98; P = .03); improved postpartum uterine contraction pain when measured at 6.5 hours (median [IQR] VAS score, 1 [1-2] vs 2 [1-2]; P &lt; .001), 28.5 hours (median [IQR] VAS score, 1 [0-1] vs 1 [1-2]; P &lt; .001), 52.5 hours (median [IQR] VAS score, 1 [0-1] vs 1 [0-1]; P &lt; .001), and 76.5 hours (median [IQR] VAS score, 0 [0-1] vs 0 [0-1]; P = .01) after delivery; reduced depressive symptoms (RR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54-0.98; P = .01); and increased breastfeeding milk volume measured at 28.5, 52.5, and 76.5 hours after delivery. No adverse events occurred in either of the 2 groups.Conclusions and relevance: results of this trial showed that acupoint hot compress after vaginal delivery decreased postpartum urinary retention, uterine contraction pain, and depressive symptoms and increased breastfeeding milk volume. Acupoint hot compress may be considered as an adjunctive intervention in postnatal care that meets patient self-care needs.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2000038417</p