Iris depigmentation and cytomegalovirus in aqueous humor as predictors of uveitic activity and recurrence in chronic and recurrent anterior uveitis.

Purpose: To examine the clinical outcomes in chronic or recurrent anterior uveitis in the presence or absence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and investigate the predictive factors for uveitic activity and recurrence.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed in a prospective cohort of immunocompetent adults with recurrent or chronic anterior uveitis to detect CMV in aqueous humor. The clinical outcomes were compared between eyes with and without CMV DNA.

Changes in all-cause and cause-specific excess mortality before and after the Omicron outbreak of COVID-19 in Hong Kong.

Background: While coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) deaths were generally underestimated in many countries, Hong Kong may show a different trend of excess mortality due to stringent measures, especially for deaths related to respiratory diseases. Nevertheless, the Omicron outbreak in Hong Kong evolved into a territory-wide transmission, similar to other settings such as Singapore, South Korea, and recently, mainland China. We hypothesized that the excess mortality would differ substantially before and after the Omicron outbreak.

Characterization of METRNβ as a novel biomarker of Coronavirus disease 2019 severity and prognosis.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is increasing worldwide, with complications due to frequent viral mutations, an intricate pathophysiology, and variable host immune responses. Biomarkers with predictive and prognostic value are crucial but lacking.

Methods: Serum samples from authentic and D614G variant (non-Omicron), and Omicron-SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were collected for METRNβ detection and longitudinal cytokine/chemokine analysis.

Comparison of Resilience Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemics: A Multinational Cross-Sectional Survey in Southeast Asian Jurisdictions.

To examine the level of resilience among the frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) in four different Southeast Asian jurisdictions and identify the potential factors that may enhance healthcare workers resilience. An online cross-sectional survey was carried out among 3,048 eligible healthcare workers in Hong Kong, Nepal, Vietnam, and Taiwan from May 2021 to July 2022, and information on individual resilience, socio-demographic characteristics, organizational supports, and personal exposures were collected. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the factors that were associated with a high resilience level.

Antibiotics and probiotics impact gut antimicrobial resistance gene reservoir in COVID-19 patients.

Dysbiosis of gut microbiota is well-described in patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), but the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) reservoir, known as resistome, is less known. Here, we performed longitudinal fecal metagenomic profiling of 142 patients with COVID-19, characterized the dynamics of resistome from diagnosis to 6 months after viral clearance, and reported the impact of antibiotics or probiotics on the ARGs reservoir. Antibiotic-naive patients with COVID-19 showed increased abundance and types, and higher prevalence of ARGs compared with non-COVID-19 controls at baseline.

COVID-19 Vaccine Willingness and Related Factors Among Health Care Workers in 3 Southeast Asian Jurisdictions.

Importance: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is widespread and may lead to refusal or delay of vaccination, eventually reducing the overall vaccination coverage rate and vaccine effectiveness. Willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccination among health care workers (HCWs) is diverse across different jurisdictions.

Objective: To assess the COVID-19 vaccine willingness among HCWs in 3 Southeast Asian jurisdictions in the context of pandemic severity and vaccination policy.

Molecular Epidemiology of Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Chinese Women With Cervical Cytological Abnormalities.

Background: Virtually all invasive cervical cancers are caused by persistent genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Therefore, HPV-based screening becomes an essential tool as one of the cervical prevention strategies to reduce the disease burden. Population-specific epidemiologic information on HPV infection among women with cytological abnormalities is essential to inform the strategy of HPV-based screening programme.

Immunogenicity and safety of inactivated and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To evaluate the effects and side effects of both inactivated and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: This was a prospective, single-center, observational study. Patients with SLE planning to receive COVID-19 vaccines were recruited and matched 1:1 with healthy controls.

Case series of HIV SARS-CoV-2 co-infection in Chinese adults.

Objectives: Little is known whether differences exist in virus shedding, immune and inflammatory response related to SARS-CoV-2 in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). We assessed viral RNA and cytokine profiles of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection in Hong Kong.

Methods: PLWH hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Hong Kong were included, compared with age-matched and disease severity-matched SARS-CoV-2 infected controls (ratio of 1:5) from February 1st 2020 to July 31st 2020.

Quantifying the effect of government interventions and virus mutations on transmission advantage during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major public health threat. This study aims to evaluate the effect of virus mutation activities and policy interventions on COVID-19 transmissibility in Hong Kong.

Methods: In this study, we integrated the genetic activities of multiple proteins, and quantified the effect of government interventions and mutation activities against the time-varying effective reproduction number R.

Gut microbiota dynamics in a prospective cohort of patients with post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.

Background: Long-term complications after COVID-19 are common, but the potential cause for persistent symptoms after viral clearance remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate whether gut microbiome composition is linked to post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS), defined as at least one persistent symptom 4 weeks after clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 106 patients with a spectrum of COVID-19 severity followed up from admission to 6 months and 68 non-COVID-19 controls.

Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and In Silico Studies of Pyrazole-Based NH-Acyl Oseltamivir Analogues as Potent Neuraminidase Inhibitors.

Oseltamivir represents one of the most successful neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors in the current anti-influenza therapy. The 150-cavity of NA was identified as an additional binding pocket, and novel NA inhibitors have been designed to occupy the 150-cavity based on the structure information of oseltamivir carboxylate () in complex with NA. In this study, a series of C-5-NH-acyl derivatives of containing the pyrazole moiety were synthesized.

Gut microbiota composition reflects disease severity and dysfunctional immune responses in patients with COVID-19.

Objective: Although COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory illness, there is mounting evidence suggesting that the GI tract is involved in this disease. We investigated whether the gut microbiome is linked to disease severity in patients with COVID-19, and whether perturbations in microbiome composition, if any, resolve with clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Methods: In this two-hospital cohort study, we obtained blood, stool and patient records from 100 patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Chemopreventive Role of Apigenin against the Synergistic Carcinogenesis of Human Papillomavirus and 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.

Tobacco smoke and human papillomavirus (HPV) are both crucial causes of cancer, and their cooperative carcinogenesis has drawn more attention in recent years. Apigenin (AP), a typical flavonoid abundantly found in flowers of plants, vegetables, and fruits, has been demonstrated to exert an anti-carcinogenic effect on various types of cancer. In this study, we investigated the capability of AP against malignant transformation and DNA damage of immortalized human esophageal epithelial (SHEE) cells induced by the synergism of HPV18 and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK).

Acceptability and Feasibility of HPV Self-Sampling as an Alternative Primary Cervical Cancer Screening in Under-Screened Population Groups: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and about 90% of cervical cancer can be reduced by regular screening. The Pap smear has been well in place as a primary cervical screening method since 1950s; however, coverage is still not optimal. This study explored the feasibility of HPV self-sampling in two under-screened population groups in Hong Kong (HK): never screened and not regularly screened females, to estimate the uptake rate and preference rate in the future.

Depicting SARS-CoV-2 faecal viral activity in association with gut microbiota composition in patients with COVID-19.

Objective: Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA was detected in faeces of patients with COVID-19, the activity and infectivity of the virus in the GI tract during disease course is largely unknown. We investigated temporal transcriptional activity of SARS-CoV-2 and its association with longitudinal faecal microbiome alterations in patients with COVID-19.

Design: We performed RNA shotgun metagenomics sequencing on serial faecal viral extractions from 15 hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

Systematic review of human gut resistome studies revealed variable definitions and approaches.

In this review, we highlight the variations of gut resistome studies, which may preclude comparisons and translational interpretations. Of 22 included studies, a range of 12 to 2000 antibiotic resistance (AR) genes were profiled. Overall, studies defined a healthy gut resistome as subjects who had not taken antibiotics in the last three to 12 months prior to sampling.

Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the novel cytokine interleukin-38 in allergic asthma.

We elucidated the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of IL-38 in allergic asthma. Human bronchial epithelial cells and eosinophils were cocultured upon stimulation with the viral RLR ligand poly (I:C)/LyoVec or infection-related cytokine TNF-α to induce expression of cytokines/chemokines/adhesion molecules. House dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic asthma and humanized allergic asthma NOD/SCID murine models were established to assess anti-inflammatory mechanisms in vivo.