Positive Infection Rate Research Articles

Influence of vitamin D supplementation and the vaginal microenvironment on human papillomavirus infection

This was a retrospective study, mainly explored the mediating role of vaginal microenvironment and the influence of vitamin D addition on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Five hundred and twelve participants were chosen in this study, followed by dividing into HPV positive (212 cases) and negative groups (300 cases) based on HPV 23 typing results. The high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) positive group showed higher abnormal rates of lactobacillus, catalase, cleanliness, sialidosidase, and proline aminopeptidase than the HPV negative group. No significant differences were found in pH value, leukocyte esterase, and Acetylglucosaminidase abnormality between 2 groups. The HR-HPV positive group presented a higher percentage of patients with cleanliness III and IV. Relative to low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) group, HSIL group presented a higher HPV positive infection rate. Mould infection, Gardnerella infection, and catalase were identified as independent risk elements for HR-HPV infection. Vitamin D supplementation was found to potentially reduce HR-HPV infection persistence post-Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP), improve nutritional health, reduce insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and triglyceride levels, as well as reduce high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) along with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Our results indicate that HR-HPV infection is intimately associated with the condition of the vaginal microenvironment, and vitamin D addition potentially reduces the persistence of HR-HPV infection post-LEEP, improves nutritional and metabolic health, reduces inflammation, and be well-tolerated.

Comparing the distribution of common human papillomavirus genotypes among the population of Fars province in southwest Iran with the genotypes included in the available HPV vaccines.

Given the strong association between high-risk HPV genotypes, such as HPV 16 and 18, and cervical cancer, this study aimed to compare the distribution of common HPV genotypes in the southwest Iranian population with those included in the available vaccines. Based on the sample quality, DNA was extracted from the biological samples of 8036 individuals included in the study using three different methods (automated instrument, column, and precipitation), and a total of 21 different HPV genotypes were detected using real-time PCR. The majority of participants were women (> 99%), with a positive rate of HPV infection of 29.9%, in which high-risk genotypes were dominant in 84.9% cases. The highest rate of HPV infections was observed in the age ≤ 30 years (35.9%). HPV 6 and 16 were the most frequent low- and high-risk genotypes, respectively. Multi HPV infections were observed in 35% of positive samples and the highest cross infections were observed between HPV6 and 16. Co-infection with HPV 16 and 18 was observed in 21 positive samples (1%). Although vaccination is essential to reduce the outcome of HPV infections, such as cervical cancer, other frequently occurring high-risk genotypes are not included in the 9-valent vaccine. Since the association between cervical cancer and other high-risk HPV types rather than 16 and 18 has been less studied, investigating their pathogenicity in cervical cancer is recommended. Furthermore, the new generation of HPV vaccines should contain other frequently occurring high-risk genotypes beyond those currently covered in approved vaccines.

Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of adenovirus-associated respiratory tract infection in children in Hangzhou, China, 2019-2024.

This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the prevalence of adenovirus (AdV) infection in children. This study retrospectively analyzed the changes in the epidemiological and clinical features of AdV-associated respiratory infections in children in Hangzhou, China, between January 2019 and July 2024. A total of 771 316 samples were included in the study, and the positive rate was 6.10% (47 050/771 316). Among them, the positive rate of AdV infection was highest in 2019, reaching 11.29% (26 929/238 333), while the positive rates in the remaining years were between 2% and 9%. In terms of seasonal epidemic characteristics, the summer of 2019 was the peak of AdV incidence, with the positive rate peaking at around 16.95% (7275/45 268), followed by a gradual decline and a low-level epidemic in winter, with a positive rate of 8.79% (8094/92 060). However, during the period 2020-2024, the AdV epidemic season did not show any significant regularity. Gender analysis revealed that the positive rate of male patients was generally greater than that of female patients. In different age groups, the population susceptible to AdV changed before and after the epidemic. In the early and middle stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, the susceptible population was mainly 2-5 years old, whereas in the later stages of the epidemic, the susceptible population was 5-18 years old. In addition, the main clinical symptoms of AdV-positive children from 2019-2024 were respiratory tract symptoms and fever. In summary, the COVID-19 epidemic has had a certain impact on the prevalence of AdV. These findings provide an important basis and reference for the prevention and diagnosis of AdV, especially in the context of increasing age- and gender-specific public health strategies.

Randomized trial of influence of vitamin D on the prevention and improvement of symptomatic COVID-19

We aimed to investigate the preventive effect of vitamin D2 on COVID-19 and the improvement of symptoms after COVID-19 infection. The study recruited 228 health care workers who tested negative PCR or antigen for COVID-19. Subjects were randomly allocated to vitamin D2 or non-intervention at a ratio 1:1. Subjects recorded PCR or antigen tests and the symptoms of COVID-19 twice a week during the follow-up visit. The concentration of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), C-reaction protein (CRP), complement component C1q and inflammatory cytokines were measured. The rates of COVID-19 infection were 50.5% in the vitamin D2 group and 52.4% in the non-intervention group (P = 0.785). There was no difference in the COVID-19 symptoms between the two groups. The mean 25(OH)D level significantly increased from 14.1 to 31.1 ng/mL after administration (P < 0.001). The difference between the two groups was not significant for the concentrations of CRP, C1q and inflammatory cytokines on the thirtieth day of the trial. According to the second level of vitamin D, there was a 14.3% difference in positive infection rates between the vitamin D adequate (> 30 ng/mL) and deficient groups (< 20 ng/mL). Adequate vitamin D had a tendency to prevent COVID-19.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05673980, dated: 12/2022.

A Retrospective Analysis of Four STI Pathogens in Obstetrics and Gynecological Patients in Hangzhou, China.

Among sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogens, UU, CT, NG, and MG are very commonly detected. A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical situations and laboratory data of patients in-fected with the four pathogens in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang Province, China. For this study, 4,716 female outpatients and inpatients of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Hangzhou Third People´s Hospital were randomly selected from January 2019 to December 2023. Multiple types of specimens were collected and four STI pathogens were detected. Data collection was taken from the hospital's electronic medical records and statistical analysis was processed with SPSS 25.0 software. In the past five years, year by year, the positive rate presented an increasing trend. Out of 4,716 patients, 2,931 were positive, and the positive rate was 62.15%. The positive rate of single infection was significantly higher than of co-infection (p < 0.05). The highest positive rate of all STI patients was found in the  20 age group, and the rate was significantly different between each age group (p < 0.05). Single infection with UU occurred significantly more often than with the other three pathogens (p < 0.05), and co-infection with UU and CT and UU, CT, and MG were significantly dominating (p < 0.05). Only three patients had an infection with all four pathogens, and it was extremely rare. The 21 - 30 and 31 - 40 age groups had high incidences of infection, with a significant difference compared with other age groups (p < 0.05). The positive rate shows an increasing trend in Hangzhou in the past five years. More single infection than co-infection and more younger patients were detected. Single infection with UU was dominant in all positive patients. The publicity and more screening testing items of STI for younger people should be strengthened in Hangzhou, and the people of Hangzhou should be made more aware that information technology is helpful in aiding the control of STI diseases.

Investigation of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Yunnan Semi-fine Wool Sheep (Ovis aries) and wild Rodents in Yunnan, China.

Toxoplasma gondii, a globally distributed zoonotic obligate intracellular parasite, infects a wide array of mammals, including humans, sheep, and birds. As a unique sheep breed in southwestern China, Yunnan semi-fine wool sheep occupies an important position in animal husbandry in Zhaotong due to its strong adaptability, high reproductive rate, and excellent wool quality. Lambs infected with T. gondii are prone to neurological symptoms and growth retardation, while T. gondii infection in ewes can cause abortions, stillbirths, and deformities, thus affecting sheep reproduction and sheep product quality. Meanwhile, mutton and dairy products contaminated with T. gondii can become potential sources of human infection, potentially threatening public health and safety. To understand the T. gondii infection in semi-fine wool sheep in Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, 586 blood samples were collected and subjected to indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) for T. gondii antibodies, and the infection-related factors were analyzed through cross-sectional analysis. In the meantime, nested PCR was conducted on a total of 217 samples collected from 31 rodents caught in and around the sheep breeding ground to test the T. gondii B1 gene in rodent tissues. A total of 94 sera tested positive for T. gondii antibodies, with a total positive rate of 16.04% (94/586) (95% CI: 14.77-20.89). Cross-sectional statistical analysis on factors related to semi-fine wool sheep infection rate, including sampling season, sex, age, and weight, suggested that age (< 6 months: 23.81%; 6-12 months: 11.74%; > 12 months: 15.83%) was a significant factor explaining the infection rate differences (P = 0.003 < 0.05, χ2 = 11.62, df = 2). Thus, age was considered a key risk factor for T. gondii infection in this study (odds ratio, OR = 2.35, 95% CI: 1.42-3.87). Nested PCR analysis on 217 (heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, and muscle) tissues from the 31 rodents indicated that 11 tested positive. The total infection rate of rodents in and around the breeding ground was 35.48% (11/31), and 14 samples tested positive, with a positive infection rate of 6.45% (14/217). The T. gondii infection rates of semi-fine wool sheep and rodents from their breeding environment in Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, were high, necessitating enhanced prevention, control, and treatment measures to ensure the healthy breeding of semi-fine wool sheep and veterinary public health and safety.

Sero-epidemiological study and infection rate evaluation of pertussis in Henan Province

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological distribution characteristics, influencing factors, and infection rates of pertussis in the population of Henan Province. Methods: From 2022 to 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate the permanent population in Henan Province. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect anti-pertussis toxin IgG (PT-IgG), analyze the antibody positivity rate (≥20 IU/ml) and median concentration (MC), and estimate the pertussis infection rate based on PT IgG ≥40 IU/ml. The rank sum test was used to compare antibody levels among groups, and the χ2 test was used to compare antibody positive rates and infection rates among groups. Results: A total of 4 810 research subjects were included in this study. The overall positive rate of PT-IgG was 12.10% and MC was 3.04 (0.35, 10.36) IU/ml. There were significant differences both in positive rates and antibody levels of PT-IgG among different regions or age groups (region positive rate: χ2=134.06, P<0.001, MC: H=337.74, P<0.001; age group positive rate: χ2=45.27, P<0.001, MC: H=134.49, P<0.001). Both the positive rate of PT-IgG (25.26%) and MC (8.01 IU/ml) were the highest within one year after completing a full course of vaccination. There were significant differences in positive rates and antibody levels among people receiving different types of pertussis vaccines (positive rate: χ2=12.38, P=0.006, MC: H=17.93, P<0.001). The antibody positivity rate (35.71%) and MC (8.88 IU/ml) of the people who received cell-free pertussis inactivated poliomyelitis influenza type b (combined) vaccine throughout the course were higher than those who received other types of vaccines. The natural infection rate of pertussis was evaluated for individuals aged≥3 years who had no history of pertussis vaccine immunization within the year prior to sampling. With a high vaccination rate, the estimated infection rate of pertussis in the population was 5 757.22/100 000. The infection rates in the 3-year-old (1 940.16/100 000) and 4-year-old (1 765.68/100 000) populations were at a low level among the entire population, reaching their peak at the age of 6 (12 656.71/100 000). Subsequently, although the infection rate continued to decline, it remained at a high level and peaked again at the age of 40-49 years (8 740.39/100 000). There was a statistically significant difference in the estimated infection rate of pertussis among different age groups (χ2=53.21, P<0.001). Conclusion: The PT-IgG level of pertussis in the population of Henan Province is generally at a low level. The estimated infection rate of pertussis is much higher than the reported incidence rate. A booster dose of pertussis vaccine is recommended at 6 years old.

Prevalence and Genotype Distribution of HPV in Hangzhou, China.

For women, cervical cancer is the most prevalent cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is causatively linked to over 90% of cervical cancer cases. Our retrospective study explored the clinical and laboratory data of outpatients with HPV infection to analyze the prevalence and genotype distribution of 3,793 outpatients in the Hangzhou area by using HPV genotype tests. It could provide value for an effective prevention and treatment of HPV infection. In total, 3,793 female outpatients were randomly selected from January 2022 to December 2023. Exfoliated cervical cells were collected using a cytobrush and HPV genotype screening was conducted for testing. Data of all outpatients were collected from the hospital's electronic medical records, and SPSS 26.0 software was used to perform the statistical analysis. Out of 3,793 outpatients, 953 were detected as positive, and the positive rate was 25.13%. The age of the outpatients ranged from 15 - 97, with an average age of 39.91. All outpatients were divided into six age groups. Among the six age groups, the HPV positive rates were, with ascending age, 43.90%, 33.27%, 21.49%, 16.99%, 27.30%, and 25.48%, and the highest positive rate was observed in those aged  20 with a rate of 43.90%. There were significant differences in the positive rates among different age groups (p < 0.05). There were more outpatients with a single infection than with multiple infection (p < 0.05). The positive rate of single infection was the highest in the 31 - 40 and 41 - 50 age groups (74.32% for both) and the positive rate of multiple infection was the highest in the  20 age group (66.67%). Among 24 genotypes, HPV 52, 58, and 51 were the most commonly detected. All three were high-risk genotypes, and HPV 52 was the most dominant in all age groups. As distribution according to quarter, more HPV infection occurred in the fourth quarter, which had a significant difference (p < 0.05). And in the first quarter, the number of HPV positive infections was the lowest. Prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV in the Hangzhou area were different from those of other regions. More single infection, and more multiple infection occurring in low age and in the fourth quarter were the characteristics of HPV infection in the Hangzhou area. It was suggested that vaccine containing HPV 52 might be a better choice for this region.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine to prevent and treat COVID-19 household close contacts in Hong Kong: an open-label, randomized controlled trial.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM in the prevention of COVID-19 infection and treatment for COVID-19 related symptoms. Prospective open-label randomized controlled trial. Participants' home in Hong Kong. Participants who had household close contact with COVID-19-infected family members. Close contacts were stratified into 4 groups (cohort A, B, C, D) based on symptoms and infection status and were randomized in 4:1 ratio to receive CHM granules (9g/sachet, two times daily) or blank control for 7 days with 2 weeks of follow-up. The primary outcome measure was the rate of positive nucleic acid tests. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of developed COVID-19 related symptoms and adverse events during the whole 3-week study period. Subgroup analysis was used to evaluate demographic factors associated with positive infection rates. A total of 2163 contacts were enrolled and randomly assigned to the CHM group (1720 contacts) and blank control (443 contacts) group. During the 21 days, the rate of PCR-positive cases in cohort A was markedly lower in the CHM group (3.6%) compared to the control group (7.0%) (P=0.036). Overall, the rate of infection in the CHM group was significantly lower than that in the control group (10.69% vs. 6.03%; RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.39-0.82) after 7-day treatment. No serious adverse events were reported during the medication period. The preliminary findings indicate that CHM may be effective and safe in preventing COVID-19. Future double-blind, randomized controlled trials and long-term follow-up are needed to fully evaluate the efficacy of CHM in a larger contact population. ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05269511.

Development and application of a TaqMan-probe-based multiplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection of porcine circovirus 2, 3, and 4 in Guangdong province of China.

Porcine circoviruses disease (PCVD), caused by porcine circovirus (PCVs), is an important swine disease characterized by porcine dermatitis, nephrotic syndrome and reproductive disorders in sows. However, diseases caused by PCV2, PCV3, or PCV4 are difficult to distinguish, so a simple, rapid, accurate and high-throughput diagnostic and identification method is urgently needed to differentiate these three types. In this study, specific primers and probes were designed based on the conserved region sequences of the Rep gene of PCV2, and the Cap gene of PCV3 and PCV4. A multiplex qPCR assay was developed and optimized that the limit of detection concentration could reach as low as 3.8 copies/μL, with all correlation coefficients (R2) exceeding 0.999. Furthermore, the method showed no cross-reaction with other crucial porcine viral pathogens, and both intra-repeatability and inter-reproducibility coefficients of variation were below 2%. The assay was applied to the detection of 738 pig samples collected from 2020 to 2021 in Guangdong Province, China. This revealed positive infection rates of 65.18% for PCV2, 29.27% for PCV3, and 0% for PCV4, with a PCV2/PCV3 co-infection rate of 23.17%. Subsequently, complete genome sequences of 17 PCV2 and 4 PCV3 strains were obtained from the above positive samples and pre-preserved positive circovirus samples. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the 17 PCV2 strains shared 96.7-100% complete nucleotide identity, with 6 strains being PCV2b and 11 strains being PCV2d; the 4 PCV3 strains shared 98.9-99.4% complete nucleotide identity, with 2 strains being PCV3a-1 and 2 strains being PCV3b. This research provides a reliable tool for rapid PCVs identification and detection. Molecular epidemiological investigation of PCVs in pigs in Guangdong Province will help us to understand PCV2 and PCV3 epidemiological characteristics and evolutionary trends.

Diagnostic performance, stability, and acceptability of self-collected saliva without additives for SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnosis.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), leading to a global pandemic. The molecular diagnosis of this virus is mostly performed by collecting upper respiratory samples, which has many disadvantages, including patient discomfort and the need for trained healthcare professionals. Although saliva has emerged as a more comfortable sample, the use of additives to preserve viral RNA is expensive and, in some cases, difficult for self-collection. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance by RT-PCR and stability of self-collected saliva using wide-mouth specimen collection cups without stabilization and/or inactivation buffers for SARS-CoV-2 detection, compared to nasopharyngeal samples and saliva collected with additives. Additionally, the study assessed the acceptability of this sample collection method among participants and healthcare personnel. The study included 1281 volunteers with a 24.6% positive infection rate. Saliva demonstrated comparable diagnostic performance to nasopharyngeal samples, with a sensitivity of 87.6% and specificity of 99.6%, for a total percent agreement of 96.4%. The study also showed that viral RNA in saliva remained stable for at least 72h at different temperatures. Notably, saliva samples without additives exhibited a lower RdRp Ct compared to samples with additives, suggesting that the absence of stabilization and/or inactivation buffers does not significantly affect its performance. The study highlighted the acceptability of saliva among patients and healthcare personnel due to its noninvasive nature and ease of collection. This research supports the implementation of self-collected saliva as a comfortable and user-friendly alternative sample for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis.

Study of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and its relationship with lifestyle habits and dietary nutrient intake: A retrospective analysis.

To explore Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection status and its relationship with lifestyle habits and dietary factors in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis. Six hundred thirty-eight patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, who were admitted to our hospital from March 2021 to April 2023, were selected for the study. All patients underwent the 13C urea breath test. The relationship between the detection rate of Hp infection and the clinical characteristics, lifestyle habits, and dietary factors of the patients was analyzed. Among the 638 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, 531 patients were tested positive for Hp infection, the positive rate for Hp infection was approximately 83.23%. Analyzing the clinical characteristics of the patients, it was found that age, family history of gastric cancer, degree of chronic inflammation, degree of glandular atrophy, presence of low-grade dysplasia, and intestinal metaplasia all have an impact on the positive detection rate of patients (P < .05). Analyzing the patients' lifestyle habits, it was found that BMI, smoking history, alcohol consumption, preference for spicy food, dining location, consumption of pickled foods, frequent consumption of grilled/barbecued foods, preference for strong tea, consumption of sweets, and work-related stress had an impact on the positive rate of Hp infection in patients (P < .05). The discovery showed that the levels of total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, cholesterol, and the intake of livestock and poultry meat, seafood, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, and fats have an impact on the positivity rate of Hp infection in patients (P < .05). A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed, and it was found that patients' age, family history of gastric cancer, degree of chronic inflammation, degree of glandular atrophy, presence of low-grade dysplasia, presence of wasting or obesity, history of alcohol consumption, preference for spicy food, dining location, frequent consumption of strong tea, high work pressure, high intake of fish and seafood, low intake of dairy products, low intake of vegetables, low intake of fruits, and low intake of fats all had an impact on the occurrence of Hp infection in patients (P < .05). There is a certain correlation between patients' lifestyle habits, dietary factors, and clinical characteristics with the occurrence of Hp infection. These factors can assist in the prevention of Hp infection.

Human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B genotypic distributions and viral load in symptomatic infants.

HCMV infection is widespread in humans. This retrospective study aimed to explore the relationship between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein B (gB) genotype distribution, viral load, and the demographic and clinical features of symptomatic infants. The detection rate of HCMV in blood and urine samples was also compared. Retrospective data from 265 infants who underwent urine HCMV DNA testing were analyzed. The viral load and gB genotype were detected in 91 HCMV positive infants by quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing, respectively. The positive rate of HCMV infection was 46.04% (122/265) in all infants, and increased rapidly with age. Among the 91 infants investigated, liver function abnormality was the most common diagnosis (34/91, 37.36%), followed by pneumonia (21/91, 23.07%). Sequence analysis of gB yielded two genetic subtypes: the most prevalent gB3 (47/91, 51.65%), followed by gB1 (44/91, 48.35%). The gB3 HCMV infection was more prevalent in infants aged 0-2 months than in infants aged 3-12 months (χ2 = 4.38, p = 0.0364). The data showed that ALT and AST levels were significantly higher in the anti-HCMV IgM+IgG- group than in the anti-HCMV IgM+IgG+ and IgM-IgG+ groups. In addition, this study showed that the detection rate of HCMV DNA in the blood was significantly lower than that in the urine (χ2 = 6.7131, p = 0.0096). This study presents the HCMV infection status of infants and its relationship with their demographic characteristics and clinical manifestations. In addition, this study suggests that urinary PCR is the most appropriate assay for detecting HCMV infections.

The safety and effectiveness of a self-made negative pressure suction device in the treatment of chronic wounds.

Chronic wounds are wounds that are not healed or have no healing tendency for more than 1 month due to various factors. In clinical nursing, chronic wounds are often not properly treated, and the treatment efficiency is low. Therefore, it is very important to explore effective methods to deal with chronic wounds. To explore the effect of a self-made negative pressure suction device (NPSD) in the nursing of chronic wounds in the elderly. A total of 50 elderly patients with chronic wounds who were hospitalised in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as participants by convenient sampling. According to the random number table method, they were divided into a control group and an observation group, with 25 people in each group. The control group was treated with chloroplast foam dressing, debridement gel and alginate dressing. The observation group was treated with a self-made NPSD on the basis of the control group. The wound healing of the two groups was observed. After the intervention of the self-made NPSD, the granulation tissue coverage rate and wound volume reduction rate of the observation group were significantly increased (p<0.05), and the positive rate of bacterial infection was significantly decreased (p<0.05). After 3 months of intervention, the total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (χ2 =3.869, p=0.0492). The self-made NPSD can effectively promote the healing of a chronic wound.

Impact of Latent Virus Infection in the Cornea on Corneal Healing after Small Incision Lenticule Extraction.

The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of cornea virus latent infection on corneal healing after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and predict the positive rate of virus latent infection in corneal stroma. A total of 279 patients who underwent SMILE were included in this study. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect virus infection in the lenticules, which were taken from the corneal stroma during SMILE. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were detected. Postoperative visual acuity, spherical equivalent, intraocular pressure, corneal curvature (Kf and Ks), corneal transparency, and corneal staining were compared between the virus-positive group and the virus-negative group. The number of corneal stromal cells and inflammatory cells, corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL), corneal total branch density (CTBD), and corneal nerve fiber width (CNFW) were evaluated using an in vivo confocal microscope. Out of 240 herpes simplex virus (HSV) tested samples, 11 (4.58%) were positive, among which 5 (2.08%) were HSV-1-positive and 6 (2.50%) were HSV-2-positive. None of the 91 CMV- and EBV-tested samples were positive. There was no statistical significance in the postoperative visual acuity, spherical equivalent, intraocular pressure, Kf and Ks, corneal transparency, corneal staining, the number of corneal stromal cells and inflammatory cells, CNFD, CNBD, CNFL, CTBD, and CNFW between the virus-positive and virus-negative groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, there is a certain proportion of latent HSV infection in the myopia population. Femtosecond lasers are less likely to activate a latent infection of HSV in the cornea. The latent infection of HSV has no significant impact on corneal healing after SMILE.

SP9.15 Rates of COVID-19 infection and mortality following elective surgery at a tertiary NHS Trust in relation to operative caseload

Abstract Aims Elective surgery globally has been halted by COVID-19 due to apparent significant mortality rates with changes in planned surgery pathways. This audit examines COVID-19 infection and mortality rates at key intervals throughout the UK COVID-19 pandemic in relation to operative elective caseload at an NHS Trust. Methods Prospective cohort of elective surgical patients at a tertiary NHS Trust between March 2020-March 2022, examining three time periods. Period 1: 1st UK Lockdown (April-July 2020). Period 2: 2nd-3rd UK Lockdowns (November 2020-March 2021). Period 3: Omicron wave (December 2021-February 2022). Post-operative PCR positive COVID-19 infection rates within 30-days, proportion fully “double-jabbed” vaccinated, 90-day mortality and any COVID-19 related deaths are reported. Audit registration 20-190C. Results Between March 2020-2022, of 50,247 operations, 518 (1.03%) developed COVID-19 infection of which 62 (11.97%) died giving an overall COVID-19 death rate of 0.12%. Between Periods 1 and 3, despite a 53% increase in operations per week (294 to 450) the proportion of COVID-19 infected patients remained similar (1.12% and 1.14%). Between Periods 2-3, despite an almost 6-fold increase in fully vaccinated patients (9.80% to 57.74%), the proportion of vaccinated COVID-19 positive patients increased (4.20% to 55.38%). However, the overall proportion of COVID-19 infections decreased (2.53% to 1.14%) as well as the mortality of those infected (15.97% to 9.23%). Conclusions Overall COVID-19 infection and mortality rates are low. These have been maintained despite increases in operative caseload, suggesting further sustained elective surgery can re-commence. This may relate to an increase in fully vaccinated patients undergoing surgery.

Auxiliary screening COVID-19 by computed tomography.

The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic remains rampant in many countries/regions. Improving the positive detection rate of COVID-19 infection is an important measure for the control and prevention of this pandemic. This meta-analysis aims to systematically summarize the current characteristics of the computed tomography (CT) auxiliary screening methods for COVID-19 infection in the real world. Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched for relevant articles published prior to 1 September 2022. Data on specificity, sensitivity, positive/negative likelihood ratio, area under curve (AUC), and diagnostic odds ratio (dOR) were calculated purposefully. One hundred and fifteen studies were included with 51,500 participants in the meta-analysis. Among these studies, the pooled estimates for AUC of CT in confirmed cases, and CT in suspected cases to predict COVID-19 diagnosis were 0.76 and 0.85, respectively. The CT in confirmed cases dOR was 5.51 (95% CI: 3.78-8.02). The CT in suspected cases dOR was 13.12 (95% CI: 11.07-15.55). Our findings support that CT detection may be the main auxiliary screening method for COVID-19 infection in the real world.

High-risk HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among women in Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China from 2016 to 2022.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and its associated disease are major problems affecting millions of individuals around the world. The distribution of HPV genotypes is specific to different areas and different populations. Therefore, understanding the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV in different populations in different geographical regions is essential to optimize HPV vaccination strategies and to maximize vaccine effects. In this study, 34,076 women from January 2016 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed at Liaocheng People's Hospital. Of these, 7540 women were high-risk HPV positive and the infection rate was 22.13%. The top ten genotypes were as follows in descending order: HPV16, HPV52, HPV58, HPV53, HPV39, HPV59, HPV66, HPV51, HPV18, and HPV56 and the least frequent genotypes were, in order, HPV 26, HPV45, and HPV82. The HPV16 positive infection rate was 25.37% and was reduced with the increase in the number of individuals who had undergone HPV screening. The HPV52 infection rate increased with increasing numbers of individuals undergoing HPV screening, and then remained unchanged. The proportion of 20-29-year-olds among all positive women began to decrease since the vaccine was available in 2018. The 30-39-year-old group accounted for the highest percentage of positive women, and the 50-59-year-old group of HPV-positive women with cervical cancer accounted for most infections. This study confirmed that HPV16, HPV52, HPV 58, and HPV53 is widely distributed in this population and the total HR-HPV infection rate remains high in this region. Our findings indicate that prevention of HPV infection in this region still faces important challenges.

Positive rate and risk factors of latent tuberculosis infection among persons living with HIV in Jiangsu Province, China.

To analyze the latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among persons living with HIV(PLWH) in Jiangsu Province, to explore the factors affecting the positive rate of LTBI, and to take appropriate measures to control tuberculosis (TB) infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted among PLWH in Jiangsu Province from June to July 2021. All PLWH in Jiangsu Province were used as the study population. Currently, the diagnosis of LTBI lacks a "gold standard" and can only be assisted by the immunological method. In this study, Tuberculin skin test (TST), ESAT6-CFP10 test (EC), and QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube (QFT) were used to detect the positive rate of LTBI among PLWH and to analyze their risk factors. A total of 340 prisoners were included, 89.7% were male, the median age was 38 years [Interquartile Range (IQR):32-46 years], these patients were on Antiviral Therapy (ART), and median CD4 counts was 376 (IQR: 261-496), 103 (30.3%) were positive in at least one test, LTBI by TST was 16.5%, LTBI by EC was 15.9%, LTBI by QFT was 26.2%. Univariate analysis showed the results for TST, EC, and QFT were not affected by CD4 counts (p>0.05), and multivariate analysis showed that a history of incarceration was associated with an increased risk of positive TST (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.98;95% CI,1.03-3.82), EC (aOR=2.65;95% CI,1.37-5.12) and QFT (aOR=2.01;95%CI,1.12-3.57), in addition, female gender was associated with increased risk of positive TST (aOR=3.66;95%CI,1.60-8.37) and EC (aOR=3.43;95%CI,1.46-8.07), and contact history of TB patients was associated with increased risk of TST (aOR= 2.54;95%CI,1.23-5.22) and QFT (aOR=2.03;95%CI,1.03-3.99), and ethnic minorities (aOR=0.26;95%CI,0.12-0.57), longer duration of incarceration was associated with an increased risk of positive QFT (aOR=1.12;95%CI,1.02-1.24). Conclusions Female gender, and ethnic minorities, history of incarceration, longer duration of incarceration, and contact history of TB patients are risk factors for LTBI among PLWH in Jiangsu Province, and attention should be paid to TB control in this population.

Application of multiplex PCR capillary electrophoresis and analysis of distribution characteristics of HPV infection subtypes

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the distribution of HPV subtypes in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, and to explore the application evaluation of multiple PCR capillary electrophoresis fragment analysis for HPV typing test. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 434 women (age range 17 to 74 years old, 260 patients and 174 physical examinations) included from May to August 2022 in Hebei General Hospital. HPV typing was detected by multiple PCR-capillary electrophoresis fragment analysis. Using the multiple fluorescence quantitative PCR kit as a reference, Chi-square test was used to analyze the diagnostic effect of multiple PCR-capillary electrophoresis fragment analysis, and the consistency was analyzed by Kappa value. Results: The total HPV infection rate was 45.85%(199/434), including 35.48% (154/434) of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV), 3.92% (17/434) of low-risk HPV (LR-HPV), 6.45% (28/434) of HR-HPV and LR-HPV mixed infection, 27.88% (121/434) of single type HPV and 17.97% (78/434) of multi type HPV. HPV52 (9.68%, 42/434), HPV16 (6.91%, 30/434), and HPV58 (6.91%, 30/434) are common HPV subtypes. The positive rate of physical examination was 45.40% (79/174), which was slightly lower than that of patients 46.15% (120/260), there was no significant difference (χ2=0.024,P>0.05). The highest infection rate in the 17-30 age group was 54.76% (46/84), and there was no statistical difference among the age groups(χ2=4.123,P>0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of multiplex PCR capillary electrophoresis fragment analysis were 92.96% and 94.04%, respectively, and Kappa value was 0.870, with the multiplex fluorescent quantitative PCR as the reference. Conclusion: HPV infection may appear younger, and the positive rate of HR-HPV infection is the highest, with HPV52, 16, 58 as the main infection subtypes. The detection results of multiplex PCR capillary electrophoresis fragment analysis method are highly consistent with those of multiplex fluorescent quantitative PCR method, which is suitable for HPV DNA typing.