Search for Resonances Decaying to Three W Bosons in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A search for resonances decaying into a W boson and a radion, where the radion decays into two W bosons, is presented. The data analyzed correspond to an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1} recorded in proton-proton collisions with the CMS detector at sqrt[s]=13  TeV. One isolated charged lepton is required, together with missing transverse momentum and one or two massive large-radius jets, containing the decay products of either two or one W bosons, respectively. No excess over the background estimation is observed. The results are combined with those from a complementary channel with an all-hadronic final state, described in an accompanying paper. Limits are set on parameters of an extended warped extra-dimensional model. These searches are the first of their kind at the LHC.

Probing Charm Quark Dynamics via Multiparticle Correlations in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

Multiparticle azimuthal correlations of prompt D^{0} mesons are measured in Pb-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. For the first time, a four-particle cumulant method is used to extract the second Fourier coefficient of the azimuthal distribution (v_{2}) of D^{0} mesons as a function of event centrality and the D^{0} transverse momentum. The ratios of the four-particle v_{2} values to previously measured two-particle cumulant results provide direct experimental access to event-by-event fluctuations of charm quark azimuthal anisotropies. These ratios are also found to be comparable to those of inclusive charged particles in the event. However, hints of deviations are seen in the most central and peripheral collisions. To investigate the origin of flow fluctuations in the charm sector, these measurements are compared to a model implementing fluctuations of charm quark energy loss via collisional or radiative processes in the quark-gluon plasma. These models cannot quantitatively describe the data over the full transverse momentum and centrality ranges, although the calculations with collisional energy loss provide a better description of the data.

First Search for Exclusive Diphoton Production at High Mass with Tagged Protons in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A search for exclusive two-photon production via photon exchange in proton-proton collisions, pp→pγγp with intact protons, is presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 9.4  fb^{-1} collected in 2016 using the CMS and TOTEM detectors at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the LHC. Events are selected with a diphoton invariant mass above 350 GeV and with both protons intact in the final state, to reduce backgrounds from strong interactions. The events of interest are those where the invariant mass and rapidity calculated from the momentum losses of the forward-moving protons match the mass and rapidity of the central, two-photon system. No events are found that satisfy this condition. Interpreting this result in an effective dimension-8 extension of the standard model, the first limits are set on the two anomalous four-photon coupling parameters. If the other parameter is constrained to its standard model value, the limits at 95% confidence level are |ζ_{1}|<2.9×10^{-13}  GeV^{-4} and |ζ_{2}|<6.0×10^{-13}  GeV^{-4}.

[Berberine inhibits erastin-induced ferroptosis of mouse hippocampal neuronal cells possibly by activating the Nrf2-HO-1/GPX4 pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanism by which berberine inhibits ferroptosis of mouse hippocampal neuronal cells (HT22).

METHODS

Cultured HT22 cells were pretreated with 30 or 60 μmol/L berberine for 2 h before exposure to 0.5 μmol/L erastin for 8 h, and the cell proliferation, intracellular ferric iron level, changes in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell apoptosis were detected using CCK-8, Fe²⁺ fluorescent probe, fluorescent dye (DAPI) and fluorescent probe (H2DCFH-DA). RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and GPX4 in the cells. We further tested the effects of treatments with 2 μmol/L ML385 (a Nrf2 inhibitor), 60 μmol/L berberine and erastin in the cells to explore the protective mechanism of berberine against erastin-induced ferroptosis in the neuronal cells.

RESULTS

Treatment with 0.5 μmol/L erastin significantly lowered the viability of HT22 cells (P < 0.05) and increased the production of ROS, cell apoptosis rate and ferric iron level (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with 30 and 60 μmol/L berberine both significantly increased the vitality of erastin-exposed cells (P < 0.05) and lowered the levels of intracellular ROS and ferric iron content (P < 0.05). RT-qPCR and Western blotting showed that berberine obviously promoted the expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and GPX4 in the cells (P < 0.05), and treatment with ML385 significantly inhibited the Nrf2-HO-1/GPX4 pathway, increased intracellular ROS and ferric iron contents and mitigated the protective effect of berberine against erastin-induced ferroptosis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Berberine can inhibit erastin-induced ferroptosis in HT22 cells possibly by activating the Nrf2-HO-1/ GPX4 pathway.

AB0122 DETECTION OF ANTINUCLEAR ANTIBODY AND ANTIBODIES TO EXTRACTABLE NUCLEAR ANTIGENS IN SERUM-DERIVED EXOSOMES

Background

Antinuclear antibody (ANA) and antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENAs) are important diagnostic biomarkers for autoimmune disease. In-direct immunofluorescence (IIF) and EUROLINE-Western Blot technology are used to detect ANA and anti-ENAs in serum respectively. However, the sensitivity of some anti-ENAs are not high, which often lead to the misdiagnosed or missed diagnosis of autoimmune disease. Much more methods are needed to increase the sensitivity of anti-ENAs. The protein of serum-derived exosomes have been used to explore the biomarker of many disease. As the level and significance of ANA and anti-ENAs in serum-derived exosomes, it has not been reported yet.

Objectives

Our study aims to detect the level of ANA and anti-ENA in serum-derived exosomes and compare the difference between serum and serum-derived exosomes.

Methods

Twenty-four patients with ANA positive in serum were enrolled into the study. Exosomes were separated from the serum by the ExoQuickTM kit combined with ExoQuickTC kit. ANA and anti-ENAs were further detected by IIF and EUROLINE-Western Blot technology in serum and serum-derived exosomes.

Results

The ANA levels in serum-derived exosomes were the same as serum. The anti-ENAs levels of serum-derived exosomes in 70% (16/24) patients were different from serum. Besides, anti-nRNP, anti-Sm, anti-SSA, anti-Ro52, anti-SSB, anti-Jo1, anti-CENPB, anti-dsDNA, anti-AHA, anti-ARPA levels of serum-derived exosomes in 11.11% (1/9), 33.30% (1/3), 46.15% (6/13), 54.55% (6/11), 50% (1/2), 100% (1/1), 66.67% (2/3), 75.0% (3/4), 66.67% (2/3), 40% (2/5) patients were different from that of serum.

Conclusion

The levels of most anti-ENAs in serum-derived exosomes are higher than that of serum, which may help to improve the sensitivity of diagnose in autoimmune disease.

References

[1]Yáñez-Mó M, Siljander P R, Andreu Z, et al. Biological properties of extracellular vesicles and their physiological functions[J]. Journal of extracellular vesicles, 2015, 4: 27066.

Figure 1.

The identification and anti-ENAs detection of serum derived exosomes. A: The morphology of EVs were detected by TEM; B: The size of EVs were detected by high sensitivity flow cytometry for nanoparticle analysis; C: The expression of CD81 and TSG101 were detected by western blot; D: The anti-ENAs detection of serum and serum derived exosomes in patient 1#.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0334 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF ABATACEPT IN CHINESE PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: REAL-WORLD DATA

Background

Abatacept (ABA) has demonstrated efficacy and safety in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Europe and the United States as one of bDMARDs [1]. However, the clinical activity of Abatacept (ABA) has not been sufficiently investigated in patients with RA from a real-world clinical setting in China.

Objectives

This study was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Abatacept in the RA patients in Chinese population who were refractory to csDMARDs, aiming to provide further reference for clinical rational drug use.

Methods

Clinical data of 55 patients with active RA who were admitted in the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from June 2020 to June 2021 and did not respond to csDMARDs was retrospectively analyzed. Patients in this study were treated with Abatacept (125 mg by subcutaneous injection once weekly combined with csDMARDs. Changes in clinical manifestations, including DAS28-ESR, CDAI, ACR 20/50/70 at week 12 and 24 from baseline and AEs during 24 weeks were observed and recorded.

Results

55 patients (46 women and 9 men) were included in this study with a mean age 50.80 ± 12.46 and a mean disease duration of 6.29 ± 6.22 years. The ACR 20 response at week 12 and 24 was 50.91% (28/55) and 87.27% (48/55), respectively. Besides, DAS 28-ESR score were significantly lower at week 12 and 24 compared to baseline (P <0.05) with 19 patients (34.55%) achieving clinical remission or low disease activity. Changes in CDAI scores revealed that 80% patients achieved clinical remission or low disease activity at week 24. DAS28-ESR score was significantly lower in previously untreated patients (Biologic-naive) (n=36) (3.40 ± 0.81) than in the previously treated patients (Biologic non-naive) (n=19) (3.83 ± 0.68) (P = 0.02) (Figure 1). RF, CCP antibody and GLOB levels were significantlyreduced in RA patients after 24-week ABA treatment compared to baseline (P﹤0.05) (Table 1). Two hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers, two patients with active tuberculosis and one patient with latent tuberculosis status showed no reactivation of HBV and no new active tuberculosis lesions 24 weeks after treatment with ABA. AEs were reported in 9.1% (5/55), but no serious infections occurred.

Table 1.

Analysis of clinical and serological parameters at baseline and after treatment with Abatacept.

IndexesBaseline12 weeks24 weeksTJC6 (4，10)3 (2，4)*2 (1，3) **SJC2 (1，4)1 (0，2)*0 (0，1)**PtGA-VAS（0-10cm）8 (7，10)5 (3，6)*2（2，3）**HAQ2 (0，4)1 (0，2)*0 (0，1)**ESR （mm/h）51 (41，89)37 (28，51)*23 (17，37)**HsCRP（mg/L）14.08 (3.7，35.0)5，77 (2.27，20.78) *4.12 (1.34，9.37) **GLOB34.47±5.69-30.33±3.81*RF-IgM (IU/mL)408.55 (68.8,566.5)-167.41 (34.9, 171.25) *RF-IgG (U/mL)8.63 (4.55, 11.1)-7.94 (3.13, 6.23) *RF-IgA (U/mL)90.18 (25.63, 99.12)-58.20 (16.81, 59.09) *CCP (RU/mL)1095.45 (66.79, 1033.28)-782.0 (58.49, 857.5) *

*p﹤0.05,TJC=Tender joint count, SJC=Swollen joint count, GLOB= immunoglobulin.

Conclusion

In the Chinese patients with active RA refractory to csDMARDs, the combination of ABA and csDMARDs showed great clinical efficacy and a favorable safety profile. Moreover, ABA resulted in better efficacy in patients previously untreated with biologics than previously treated with biologics.

References

[1]Weinblatt ME, Schiff M, Valente R,et al. Head-to-head comparison of subcutaneous abatacept versus adalimumab for rheumatoid arthritis: findings of a phase IIIb, multinational, prospective, randomized study. Arthritis Rheum 2013; 65:28-38.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0978 LUMBAR FACET JOINTS ARTHRITIS RELATES TO ITS ADJACENT MRI INFLAMMATORY LESIONS IN AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS

Background

Facet joints are frequently impaired in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), which raises high disease activity and poor physical function. However, insufficient attention is paid to the relationship between the feature of disease and facet joint arthritis (FJA) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination, because of lacking an ideal assessment tool. The Canada-Denmark (CANDEN) MRI scoring system is adopted in our study because it is a comprehensive method to assess the alteration of spine [1].

Objectives

We aimed to find relevant factors for lumbar FJA in axSpA patients.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study that analyzed the lumbar MRI of axSpA patients using the CANDEN system. Demographic and clinical information was recorded. Univariate and multivariate linear mixed model (LMM) was used to screen related factors for lumbar FJA in MRI examinations.

Results

(1) Totally 108 axSpA patients were investigated in our study, while ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA) accounted for half respectively. Sixty-five (60.19%) participants were male and their median age was 35 years. (2) Twenty (37.10%) and 1 (1.80%) AS and nr-axSpA suffered lumbar FJA (P<0.05). (3) Univariate LMM found gender, vertebral body corner inflammation subscore (VBCIS), spondylodiscitis subscore (SDS), posterolateral elements inflammation subscore (PLEIS), fat posterior elements subscore (FPES), fat vertebral body subscore (FVBS), and AS disease activity score with C-reactive protein (ASDAS) related to lumbar FJA in AS patients. Besides, gender, the duration of symptom, peripheral arthritis, enthesitis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, VCBIS, SDS, PLEIS, FPES, the ankylosis of sacroiliac joints, and bony erosion of hips were involved in the univariate LMM for nr-axSpA. (4) Multivariate LMM displayed that odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of PLEIS, FPES, and ASDAS were 0.66 (0.40, 0.91), 0.45 (0.20, 0.71), and 0.23 (0.01, 0.44) (P<0.05). OR (95%CI) for VBCIS and PLEIS were 0.02 (0.00, 0.04) and 0.23 (0.16, 0.30) in nr-axSpA patients (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Prevalence of lumbar FJA is higher in AS patients than nr-axSpA. This lesion is mainly related to MRI changes of its neighborhood structure, especially inflammatory alterations, rather than demographic and clinical characteristics.

References

[1]Krabbe S, Østergaard M, Pedersen SJ, et al. Canada-Denmark MRI scoring system of the spine in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: updated definitions, scoring rules and inter-reader reliability in a multiple reader setting. RMD Open. 2019;5(2):e001057.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0228 THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND DISEASE ACTIVITY IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background

Nutritional status is closely associated with a person’s physical condition. As for patients with autoimmune disease, nutritional status may affect the balance of immune system, which successively affects disease activity.

Objectives

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI), nutritional risk index (NRI), controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score and body mass index (BMI) are four widely used nutritional indices [1]. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between nutritional status and disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

168 RA patients and 50 healthy volunteers were retrospectively enrolled. According to the disease activity score using 28 joint counts-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), the cohort of RA patients was divided into the lower disease activity groups (DAS28-ESR≤3.2) and the higher disease activity groups (DAS28-ESR>3.2). We recorded clinical assessment and laboratory data for further analysis. Spearman’s correlation, receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves, binary logistic regression analysis were carried out.

Results

Compared to the higher disease activity group, the lower disease activity group had low-level total protein (TP), ESR and CRP (all P<0.05), while high-level albumin and PNI (all P<0.05). PNI and NRI were negatively correlated with DAS28-ESR (r=-0.395, and r=-0.200, all P<0.05), while CONUT score was positively correlated with DAS28-ESR (r=0.324, P<0.05). ROC curve illustrated that area under the curve (AUC) of PNI for RA patients with higher disease activity was superior to NRI, CONUT score and BMI. The AUC of PNI was 0.693.

Figure 1.

The diagnostic value of variables for disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis using ROC curve

Table 1.

The correlation between nutritional indices and disease activity score using 28 joint counts-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR)

PNINRICONUT scoreBMIrP valuerP valuerP valuerP valueNeutrophil(×109/L)-0.0610.4340.0450.5680.0250.7570.0790.313Monocyte(×109/L)0.1830.1630.1450.064-0.1040.1930.1520.052Lymphocyte(×109/L)0.4720.0000.2010.010-0.4360.0000.2080.007ESR (mm/h)-0.5610.000-0.2580.0010.3930.000-0.1820.020CRP (mg/L)-0.5200.000-0.0770.3260.3910.0000.0030.967RF(IU/ml)-0.2240.004-0.1160.1510.2600.001-0.0820.306CCP(IU/ml)-0.1390.088-0.2010.0140.1950.018-0.1880.022DAS28-ESR-0.3950.000-0.2000.0110.3240.000-0.1420.072

Conclusion

PNI may become a manageable marker for detector disease activity of RA patients.

References

[1]Ahn, S.S., et al., Comparison of the Clinical Implications among Five Different Nutritional Indices in Patients with Lupus Nephritis. Nutrients, 2019. 11(7).

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0528 CORRELATION BETWEEN ALBUMIN TO GLOBULIN RATIO AND DISEASE ACTIVITY IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Background

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been reported as useful inflammatory biomarkers associated with the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recently, the albumin to globulin ratio (AGR) has emerged as a potential indicator to predict the prognosis of some cancers. However, whether AGR can predict the disease activity of SLE has been rarely investigated.

Objectives

This study was to explore the relation between AGR and SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) in patients with SLE.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled 101 SLE patients and 75 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals. According to the SLEDAI-2K score, SLE patients were classified into Group 1 with a score of 9 or lower (patients with mild disease activity, N = 60) and Group 2 with a score > 9 (patients with moderate to severe disease activity, N = 41). Albumin, globulin, NLR, PLR, monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), AGR, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complement 3 (C3), complement 4 (C4), SLEDAI-2K and other clinical data were collected. Receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves were conducted to discriminate SLE patients from healthy controls and SLE patients with different disease activity. Correlations between the inflammatory markers and SLEDAI-2K were checked. The prognostic value of AGR in the SLE disease activity was tested by logistical regression analyses.

Results

Albumin and AGR in SLE patients were lower compared to those of the healthy controls (P < 0.05), while NLR, PLR, MLR, globulin and CRP were higher (P < 0.05). Patients in Group 2 had lower levels of albumin, AGR, C3 and C4 than those in Group 1 (P < 0.05), NLR and PLR were higher (P < 0.05), while MLR (P = 0.198), globulin (P = 0.704), CRP (P = 0.224) and ESR (P = 0.135) displayed no significant differences. The ROC curves for differentiating SLE patients from healthy individuals showed that the area under curve (AUC) of AGR (0.812, 95%CI: 0.750 - 0.874) and albumin (0.840, 95%CI: 0.782 - 0.898) were higher than NLR (0.786, 95%CI: 0.719 - 0.853), PLR (0.708, 95%CI: 0.629 - 0.786), MLR (0.776, 95%CI: 0.708 - 0.845) and globulin (0.630, 95%CI: 0.548 - 0.713). Similarly, the ROC curves for predicting the disease activity of SLE patients displayed that the AUC of AGR (0.779, 95%CI: 0.689 - 0.870) and albumin (0.827, 95%CI: 0.746 - 0.909) were also higher than NLR (0.644, 95%CI: 0.534 - 0.753), PLR (0.672, 95%CI: 0.565 - 0.780), MLR (0.583, 95%CI: 0.466 - 0.701), globulin (0.521, 95%CI: 0.403 - 0.639), CRP (0.567, 95%CI: 0.452 - 0.683), ESR (0.589, 95%CI: 0.475 - 0.703), C3 (0.709, 95%CI: 0.603 - 0.815) and C4 (0.655, 95%CI: 0.542 - 0.768). AGR was negatively correlated with SLEDAI-2K (r = -0.543, P < 0.001) in SLE patients. Logistical regression analyses showed that AGR (OR = 13.047, 95%CI: 3.407 - 49.966, P < 0.001) was an inverse predictor for SLE disease activity, yielding a highest hazard than other inflammatory parameters.

Conclusion

AGR was significantly decreased in SLE patients compared with healthy subjects and negatively associated with the disease activity of SLE. AGR might be a potential indicator for evaluating inflammation in patients with SLE.

References

[1]Zhang Y, Wang L, Lin S, et al. Preoperative albumin-to-globulin ratio as a significant prognostic indicator in urologic cancers: a meta-analysis[J]. Cancer Manag Res, 2018,10:4695-4708.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0222 THE ALBUMIN TO GLOBULIN RATIO AS A NOVEL INFLAMMATORY MARKER OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background

The albumin to globulin ratio (AGR) has recently been identified as a new prognostic factor in patients with several types of cancer. However, the correlation of AGR and the disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have not been reported.

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the clinical value of AGR in RA and its association with disease activity.

Methods

This retrospective study collected 137 RA patients and 82 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, platelet, albumin, globulin, AGR, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), Disease Activity Score of 28 joints-ESR (DAS28-ESR) and other laboratory parameters were recorded. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the area under curve (AUC) value. The relations between inflammatory indexes and DAS28-ESR were checked.

Results

The AGR was lower in RA patients than in healthy subjects (P < 0.05) and decreased significantly along with the disease activity of RA patients (P < 0.05). According to the ROC curve which was conducted to discriminate RA patients from healthy individuals, the AGR (0.881, 95% CI: 0.837 - 0.924) showed the highest AUC than albumin (0.868, 95% CI: 0.823 - 0.914), globulin (0.789, 95% CI: 0.729 - 0.849), NLR (0.801, 95% CI: 0.742 - 0.859), MLR (0.762, 95% CI: 0.699 - 0.826) and PLR (0.803, 95% CI: 0.745 - 0.860). Spearman analyses showed that AGR was reversely associated with DAS28-ESR (r = -0.545, P < 0.001). Besides, the relevance between AGR and DAS28-ESR was higher than albumin (r = -0.381, P < 0.001), globulin (r = 0.492, P < 0.001), NLR (r = 0.444, P < 0.001), MLR (r = 0.189, P = 0.027) and PLR (r = 0.423, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results demonstrated that the AGR was decreased in RA patients and may be a potential marker for monitoring the disease activity of RA patients.

References

[1]Zhang C C, Zhang C W, Xing H, et al. Preoperative Inversed Albumin-to-Globulin Ratio Predicts Worse Oncologic Prognosis Following Curative Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma[J]. Cancer Manag Res, 2020,12:9929-9939.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

[Course of disease and related epidemiological parameters of COVID-19: a prospective study based on contact tracing cohort]

Objective: To analyze the course of disease and epidemiological parameters of COVID-19 and provide evidence for making prevention and control strategies. Methods: To display the distribution of course of disease of the infectors who had close contacts with COVID-19 cases from January 1 to March 15, 2020 in Guangdong Provincial, the models of Lognormal, Weibull and gamma distribution were applied. A descriptive analysis was conducted on the basic characteristics and epidemiological parameters of course of disease. Results: In total, 515 of 11 580 close contacts were infected, with an attack rate about 4.4%, including 449 confirmed cases and 66 asymptomatic cases. Lognormal distribution was fitting best for latent period, incubation period, pre-symptomatic infection period of confirmed cases and infection period of asymptomatic cases; Gamma distribution was fitting best for infectious period and clinical symptom period of confirmed cases; Weibull distribution was fitting best for latent period of asymptomatic cases. The latent period, incubation period, pre-symptomatic infection period, infectious period and clinical symptoms period of confirmed cases were 4.50 (95%CI:3.86-5.13) days, 5.12 (95%CI:4.63-5.62) days, 0.87 (95%CI:0.67-1.07) days, 11.89 (95%CI:9.81-13.98) days and 22.00 (95%CI:21.24-22.77) days, respectively. The latent period and infectious period of asymptomatic cases were 8.88 (95%CI:6.89-10.86) days and 6.18 (95%CI:1.89-10.47) days, respectively. Conclusion: The estimated course of COVID-19 and related epidemiological parameters are similar to the existing data.

M, Kveton A, Tomsa J, Ayala E, Jarrin EC, Abdalla H, Assran Y, Khalil S, Lotfy A, Mahmoud MA, Bhowmik S, De Oliveira ACA, Dewanjee RK, Ehataht K, Kadastik M, Raidal M, Veelken C, Eerola P, Forthomme L, Kirschenmann H, Osterberg K, Voutilainen M, Brücken E, Garcia F, Havukainen J, Karimäki V, Kim MS, Kinnunen R, Lampén T, Lassila-Perini K, Lehti S, Lindén T, Siikonen H, Tuominen E, Tuominiemi J, Luukka P, Tuuva T, Amendola C, Besancon M, Couderc F, Dejardin M, Denegri D, Faure JL, Ferri F, Ganjour S, Givernaud A, Gras P, de Monchenault GH, Jarry P, Lenzi B, Locci E, Malcles J, Rander J, Rosowsky A, Sahin MÖ, Savoy-Navarro A, Titov M, Yu GB, Ahuja S, Beaudette F, Bonanomi M, Perraguin AB, Busson P, Charlot C, Davignon O, Diab B, Falmagne G, de Cassagnac RG, Hakimi A, Kucher I, Lobanov A, Perez CM, Nguyen M, Ochando C, Paganini P, Rembser J, Salerno R, Sauvan JB, Sirois Y, Zabi A, Zghiche A, Agram JL, Andrea J, Bloch D, Bourgatte G, Brom JM, Chabert EC, Collard C, Fontaine JC, Gelé D, Goerlach U, Grimault C, Bihan ACL, Van Hove P, Asilar E, Beauceron S, Bernet C, Boudoul G, Camen C, Carle A, Chanon N, Contardo D, Depasse P, Mamouni HE, Fay J, Gascon S, Gouzevitch M, Ille B, Jain S, Laktineh IB, Lattaud H, Lesauvage A, Lethuillier M, Mirabito L, Torterotot L, Touquet G, Donckt MV, Viret S, Khvedelidze A, Tsamalaidze Z, Feld L, Klein K, Lipinski M, Meuser D, Pauls A, Preuten M, Rauch MP, Schulz J, Teroerde M, Eliseev D, Erdmann M, Fackeldey P, Fischer B, Ghosh S, Hebbeker T, Hoepfner K, Keller H, Mastrolorenzo L, Merschmeyer M, Meyer A, Mocellin G, Mondal S, Mukherjee S, Noll D, Novak A, Pook T, Pozdnyakov A, Rath Y, Reithler H, Roemer J, Schmidt A, Schuler SC, Sharma A, Wiedenbeck S, Zaleski S, Dziwok C, Flügge G, Ahmad WH, Hlushchenko O, Kress T, Nowack A, Pistone C, Pooth O, Roy D, Sert H, Stahl A, Ziemons T, Petersen HA, Martin MA, Asmuss P, Babounikau I, Baxter S, Behnke O, Martínez AB, Anuar AAB, Borras K, Botta V, Brunner D, Campbell A, Cardini A, Connor P, Rodríguez SC, Danilov V, De Wit A, Defranchis MM, Didukh L, Damiani DD, Eckerlin G, Eckstein D, Eichhorn T, Banos LIE, Gallo E, Geiser A, Giraldi A, Grohsjean A, Guthoff M, Harb A, Jafari A, Jomhari NZ, Jung H, Kasem A, Kasemann M, Kaveh H, Kleinwort C, Knolle J, Krücker D, Lange W, Lenz T, Lidrych J, Lipka K, Lohmann W, Mankel R, Melzer-Pellmann IA, Metwally J, Meyer AB, Meyer M, Missiroli M, Mnich J, Mussgiller A, Myronenko V, Otarid Y, Adán DP, Pflitsch SK, Pitzl D, Raspereza A, Saggio A, Saibel A, Savitskyi M, Scheurer V, Schwanenberger C, Singh A, Ricardo RES, Tonon N, Turkot O, Vagnerini A, Van De Klundert M, Walsh R, Walter D, Wen Y, Wichmann K, Wissing C, Wuchterl S, Zenaiev O, Zlebcik R, Aggleton R, Bein S, Benato L, Benecke A, De Leo K, Dreyer T, Ebrahimi A, Eich M, Feindt F, Fröhlich A, Garbers C, Garutti E, Gunnellini P, Haller J, Hinzmann A, Karavdina A, Kasieczka G, Klanner R, Kogler R, Kutzner V, Lange J, Lange T, Malara A, Niemeyer CEN, Nigamova A, Rodriguez KJP, Rieger O, Schleper P, Schumann S, Schwandt J, Schwarz D, Sonneveld J, Stadie H, Steinbrück G, Vormwald B, Zoi I, Bechtel J, Berger T, Butz E, Caspart R, Chwalek T, De Boer W, Dierlamm A, Droll A, Morabit KE, Faltermann N, Flöh K, Giffels M, Gottmann A, Hartmann F, Heidecker C, Husemann U, Iqbal MA, Katkov I, Keicher P, Koppenhöfer R, Maier S, Metzler M, Mitra S, Müller D, Müller T, Musich M, Quast G, Rabbertz K, Rauser J, Savoiu D, Schäfer D, Schnepf M, Schröder M, Seith D, Shvetsov I, Simonis HJ, Ulrich R, Wassmer M, Weber M, Wolf R, Wozniewski S, Anagnostou G, Asenov P, Daskalakis G, Geralis T, Kyriakis A, Loukas D, Paspalaki G, Stakia A, Diamantopoulou M, Karasavvas D, Karathanasis G, Kontaxakis P, Koraka CK, Manousakis-katsikakis A, Panagiotou A, Papavergou I, Saoulidou N, Theofilatos K, Vellidis K, Vourliotis E, Bakas G, Kousouris K, Papakrivopoulos I, Tsipolitis G, Zacharopoulou A, Evangelou I, Foudas C, Gianneios P, Katsoulis P, Kokkas P, Manitara K, Manthos N, Papadopoulos I, Strologas J, Bartók M, Csanad M, Gadallah MMA, Lökös S, Major P, Mandal K, Mehta A, Pasztor G, Surányi O, Veres GI, Bencze G, Hajdu C, Horvath D, Sikler F, Veszpremi V, Vesztergombi G, Czellar S, Karancsi J, Molnar J, Szillasi Z, Teyssier D, Raics P, Trocsanyi ZL, Ujvari B, Csorgo T, Nemes F, Novak T, Choudhury S, Komaragiri JR, Kumar D, Panwar L, Tiwari PC, Bahinipati S, Dash D, Kar C, Mal P, Mishra T, Bindhu VKMN, Nayak A, Sahoo DK, Sur N, Swain SK, Bansal S, Beri SB, Bhatnagar V, Chaudhary G, Chauhan S, Dhingra N, Gupta R, Kaur A, Kaur S, Kumari P, Meena M, Sandeep K, Sharma S, Singh JB, Virdi AK, Ahmed A, Bhardwaj A, Choudhary BC, Garg RB, Gola M, Keshri S, Kumar A, Naimuddin M, Priyanka P, Ranjan K, Shah A, Bharti M, Bhattacharya R, Bhattacharya S, Bhowmik D, Dutta S, Ghosh S, Gomber B, Maity M, Nandan S, Palit P, Rout PK, Saha G, Sahu B, Sarkar S, Sharan M, Singh B, Thakur S, Behera PK, Behera SC, Kalbhor P, Muhammad A, Pradhan R, Pujahari PR, Sharma A, Sikdar AK, Dutta D, Kumar V, Naskar K, Netrakanti PK, Pant LM, Shukla P, Aziz T, Bhat MA, Dugad S, Verma RK, Mohanty GB, Sarkar U, Banerjee S, Bhattacharya S, Chatterjee S, Chudasama R, Guchait M, Karmakar S, Kumar S, Majumder G, Mazumdar K, Mukherjee S, Roy D, Dube S, Kansal B, Pandey S, Rane A, Rastogi A, Sharma S, Bakhshiansohi H, Zeinali M, Chenarani S, Etesami SM, Khakzad M, Najafabadi MM, Felcini M, Grunewald M, Abbrescia M, Aly R, Aruta C, Colaleo A, Creanza D, De Filippis N, De Palma M, Florio AD, Pilato AD, Elmetenawee W, Fiore L, Gelmi A, Gul M, Iaselli G, Ince M, Lezki S, Maggi G, Maggi M, Margjeka I, Mastrapasqua V, Merlin JA, My S, Nuzzo S, Pompili A, Pugliese G, Ranieri A, Selvaggi G, Silvestris L, Simone FM, Venditti R, Verwilligen P, Abbiendi G, Battilana C, Bonacorsi D, Borgonovi L, Braibant-Giacomelli S, Campanini R, Capiluppi P, Castro A, Cavallo FR, Ciocca C, Cuffiani M, Dallavalle GM, Diotalevi T, Fabbri F, Fanfani A, Fontanesi E, Giacomelli P, Giommi L, Grandi C, Guiducci L, Iemmi F, Meo SL, Marcellini S, Masetti G, Navarria FL, Perrotta A, Primavera F, Rossi AM, Rovelli T, Siroli GP, Tosi N, Albergo S, Costa S, Mattia AD, Potenza R, Tricomi A, Tuve C, Barbagli G, Cassese A, Ceccarelli R, Ciulli V, Civinini C, D’Alessandro R, Fiori F, Focardi E, Latino G, Lenzi P, Lizzo M, Meschini M, Paoletti S, Seidita R, Sguazzoni G, Viliani L, Benussi L, Bianco S, Piccolo D, Bozzo M, Ferro F, Mulargia R, Robutti E, Tosi S, Benaglia A, Beschi A, Brivio F, Cetorelli F, Ciriolo V, De Guio F, Dinardo ME, Dini P, Gennai S, Ghezzi A, Govoni P, Guzzi L, Malberti M, Malvezzi S, Massironi A, Menasce D, Monti F, Moroni L, Paganoni M, Pedrini D, Ragazzi S, de Fatis TT, Valsecchi D, Zuolo D, Buontempo S, Cavallo N, De Iorio A, Fabozzi F, Fienga F, Iorio AOM, Lista L, Meola S, Paolucci P, Rossi B, Sciacca C, Voevodina E, Azzi P, Bacchetta N, Bisello D, Bortignon P, Bragagnolo A, Carlin R, Checchia P, De Castro Manzano P, Dorigo T, Gasparini F, Gasparini U, Hoh SY, Layer L, Margoni M, Meneguzzo AT, Presilla M, Ronchese P, Rossin R, Simonetto F, Strong G, Tosi M, YARAR H, Zanetti M, Zotto P, Zucchetta A, Zumerle G, Aimè C, Braghieri A, Calzaferri S, Fiorina D, Montagna P, Ratti SP, Re V, Ressegotti M, Riccardi C, Salvini P, Vai I, Vitulo P, Biasini M, Bilei GM, Ciangottini D, Fanò L, Lariccia P, Mantovani G, Mariani V, Menichelli M, Moscatelli F, Piccinelli A, Rossi A, Santocchia A, Spiga D, Tedeschi T, Androsov K, Azzurri P, Bagliesi G, Bertacchi V, Bianchini L, Boccali T, Castaldi R, Ciocci MA, Dell’Orso R, Domenico MRD, Donato S, Giannini L, Giassi A, Grippo MT, Ligabue F, Manca E, Mandorli G, Messineo A, Palla F, Ramirez-Sanchez G, Rizzi A, Rolandi G, Chowdhury SR, Scribano A, Shafiei N, Spagnolo P, Tenchini R, Tonelli G, Turini N, Venturi A, Verdini PG, Cavallari F, Cipriani M, Re DD, Marco ED, Diemoz M, Longo E, Meridiani P, Organtini G, Pandolfi F, Paramatti R, Quaranta C, Rahatlou S, Rovelli C, Santanastasio F, Soffi L, Tramontano R, Amapane N, Arcidiacono R, Argiro S, Arneodo M, Bartosik N, Bellan R, Bellora A, Antequera JB, Biino C, Cappati A, Cartiglia N, Cometti S, Costa M, Covarelli R, Demaria N, Kiani B, Legger F, Mariotti C, Maselli S, Migliore E, Monaco V, Monteil E, Monteno M, Obertino MM, Ortona G, Pacher L, Pastrone N, Pelliccioni M, Angioni GLP, Ruspa M, Salvatico R, Siviero F, Sola V, Solano A, Soldi D, Staiano A, Tornago M, Trocino D, Belforte S, Candelise V, Casarsa M, Cossutti F, Da Rold A, Ricca GD, Vazzoler F, Dogra S, Huh C, Kim B, Kim DH, Kim GN, Lee J, Lee SW, Moon CS, Oh YD, Pak SI, Radburn-Smith BC, Sekmen S, Yang YC, Kim H, Moon DH, Francois B, Kim TJ, Park J, Cho S, Choi S, Go Y, Ha S, Hong B, Lee K, Lee KS, Lim J, Park J, Park SK, Yoo J, Goh J, Gurtu A, Kim HS, Kim Y, Almond J, Bhyun JH, Choi J, Jeon S, Kim J, Kim JS, Ko S, Kwon H, Lee H, Lee K, Lee S, Nam K, Oh BH, Oh M, Oh SB, Seo H, Yang UK, Yoon I, Jeon D, Kim JH, Ko B, Lee JSH, Park IC, Roh Y, Song D, Watson IJ, Yoo HD, Choi Y, Hwang C, Jeong Y, Lee H, Lee Y, Yu I, Maghrbi Y, Veckalns V, Juodagalvis A, Rinkevicius A, Tamulaitis G, Vaitkevicius A, Abdullah WATW, Yusli MN, Zolkapli Z, Benitez JF, Hernandez AC, Quijada JAM, Palomo LV, Ayala G, Castilla-Valdez H, De La Cruz-Burelo E, La Cruz IHD, Lopez-Fernandez R, Herrera CAM, Navarro DAP, Sanchez-Hernandez A, Moreno SC, Barrera CO, Ramirez-Garcia M, Valencia FV, Eysermans J, Pedraza I, Ibarguen HAS, Estrada CU, Pineda AM, Mijuskovic J, Raicevic N, Krofcheck D, Bheesette S, Butler PH, Ahmad A, Asghar MI, Awais A, Awan MIM, Hoorani HR, Khan WA, Shah MA, Shoaib M, Waqas M, Avati V, Grzanka L, Malawski M, Bialkowska H, Bluj M, Boimska B, Frueboes T, Górski M, Kazana M, Szleper M, Traczyk P, Zalewski P, Bunkowski K, Doroba K, Kalinowski A, Konecki M, Krolikowski J, Walczak M, Araujo M, Bargassa P, Bastos D, Boletti A, Faccioli P, Gallinaro M, Hollar J, Leonardo N, Niknejad T, Seixas J, Shchelina K, Toldaiev O, Varela J, Baginyan A, Bunin P, Ershov Y, Golunov A, Golutvin I, Gorbounov N, Gorbunov I, Kamenev A, Karjavine V, Lanev A, Malakhov A, Matveev V, Palichik V, Perelygin V, Savina M, Shalaev V, Shmatov S, Teryaev O, Voytishin N, Yuldashev BS, Zarubin A, Zhizhin I, Gavrilov G, Golovtcov V, Ivanov Y, Kim V, Kuznetsova E, Murzin V, Oreshkin V, Smirnov I, Sosnov D, Sulimov V, Uvarov L, Volkov S, Vorobyev A, Andreev Y, Dermenev A, Gninenko S, Golubev N, Karneyeu A, Kirsanov M, Krasnikov N, Pashenkov A, Pivovarov G, Tlisov D, Toropin A, Epshteyn V, Gavrilov V, Lychkovskaya N, Nikitenko A, Popov V, Safronov G, Spiridonov A, Stepennov A, Toms M, Vlasov E, Zhokin A, Aushev T, Chistov R, Danilov M, Oskin A, Parygin P, Polikarpov S, Andreev V, Azarkin M, Dremin I, Kirakosyan M, Terkulov A, Belyaev A, Boos E, Bunichev V, Dubinin M, Dudko L, Gribushin A, Klyukhin V, Kodolova O, Lokhtin I, Obraztsov S, Perfilov M, Petrushanko S, Savrin V, Blinov V, Dimova T, Kardapoltsev L, Ovtin I, Skovpen Y, Azhgirey I, Bayshev I, Kachanov V, Kalinin A, Konstantinov D, Petrov V, Ryutin R, Sobol A, Troshin S, Tyurin N, Uzunian A, Volkov A, Babaev A, Iuzhakov A, Okhotnikov V, Sukhikh L, Borchsh V, Ivanchenko V, Tcherniaev E, Adzic P, Cirkovic P, Dordevic M, Milenovic P, Milosevic J, Aguilar-Benitez M, Maestre JA, Fernández AÁ, Bachiller I, Luna MB, Bedoya CF, Cifuentes JAB, Montoya CAC, Cepeda M, Cerrada M, Colino N, De La Cruz B, Peris AD, Ramos JPF, Flix J, Fouz MC, Alonso AG, Lopez OG, Lopez SG, Hernandez JM, Josa MI, Holgado JL, Moran D, Tobar ÁN, Yzquierdo APC, Pelayo JP, Redondo I, Romero L, Navas SS, Soares MS, Triossi A, Gómez LU, Willmott C, Albajar C, de Trocóniz JF, Reyes-Almanza R, Gonzalez BA, Cuevas J, Erice C, Menendez JF, Folgueras S, Caballero IG, Cortezon EP, Álvarez CR, Sau JR, Bouza VR, Cruz SS, Trapote A, Cabrillo IJ, Calderon A, Quero BC, Campderros JD, Fernandez M, Manteca PJF, Gomez G, Rivero CM, Arbol PMRD, Matorras F, Gomez JP, Prieels C, Ricci-Tam F, Rodrigo T, Ruiz-Jimeno A, Scodellaro L, Vila I, Garcia JMV, Jayananda MK, Kailasapathy B, Sonnadara DUJ, Wickramarathna DDC, Dharmaratna WGD, Liyanage K, Perera N, Wickramage N, Aarrestad TK, Abbaneo D, Akgun B, Auffray E, Auzinger G, Baechler J, Baillon P, Ball AH, Barney D, Bendavid J, Beni N, Bianco M, Bocci A, Bossini E, Brondolin E, Camporesi T, Garrido MC, Cerminara G, Cristella L, d’Enterria D, Dabrowski A, Daci N, Daponte V, David A, De Roeck A, Deile M, Maria RD, Dobson M, Dünser M, Dupont N, Elliott-Peisert A, Emriskova N, Fallavollita F, Fasanella D, Fiorendi S, Florent A, Franzoni G, Fulcher J, Funk W, Giani S, Gigi D, Gill K, Glege F, Gouskos L, Guilbaud M, Gulhan D, Haranko M, Hegeman J, Iiyama Y, Innocente V, James T, Janot P, Kaspar J, Kieseler J, Komm M, Kratochwil N, Lange C, Laurila S, Lecoq P, Long K, Lourenço C, Malgeri L, Mallios S, Mannelli M, Meijers F, Mersi S, Meschi E, Moortgat F, Mulders M, Niedziela J, Orfanelli S, Orsini L, Pantaleo F, Pape L, Perez E, Peruzzi M, Petrilli A, Petrucciani G, Pfeiffer A, Pierini M, Quast T, Rabady D, Racz A, Rieger M, Rovere M, Sakulin H, Salfeld-Nebgen J, Scarfi S, Schäfer C, Schwick C, Selvaggi M, Sharma A, Silva P, Snoeys W, Sphicas P, Summers S, Tavolaro VR, Treille D, Tsirou A, Van Onsem GP, Vartak A, Verzetti M, Wozniak KA, Zeuner WD, Caminada L, Erdmann W, Horisberger R, Ingram Q, Kaestli HC, Kotlinski D, Langenegger U, Rohe T, Backhaus M, Berger P, Calandri A, Chernyavskaya N, De Cosa A, Dissertori G, Dittmar M, Donegà M, Dorfer C, Gadek T, Espinosa TAG, Grab C, Hits D, Lustermann W, Lyon AM, Manzoni RA, Meinhard MT, Micheli F, Nessi-Tedaldi F, Pauss F, Perovic V, Perrin G, Pigazzini S, Ratti MG, Reichmann M, Reissel C, Reitenspiess T, Ristic B, Ruini D, Becerra DAS, Schönenberger M, Stampf V, Steggemann J, Olsson MLV, Wallny R, Zhu DH, Amsler C, Botta C, Brzhechko D, Canelli MF, Burgo RD, Heikkilä JK, Huwiler M, Jofrehei A, Kilminster B, Leontsinis S, Macchiolo A, Meiring P, Mikuni VM, Molinatti U, Neutelings I, Rauco G, Reimers A, Robmann P, Schweiger K, Takahashi Y, Adloff C, Kuo CM, Lin W, Roy A, Sarkar T, Yu SS, Ceard L, Chang P, Chao Y, Chen KF, Chen PH, Hou WS, Li YY, Lu RS, Paganis E, Psallidas A, Steen A, Yazgan E, Asavapibhop B, Asawatangtrakuldee C, Srimanobhas N, Boran F, Damarseckin S, Demiroglu ZS, Dolek F, Dozen C, Dumanoglu I, Eskut E, Gokbulut G, Guler Y, Guler EG, Hos I, Isik C, Kangal EE, Kara O, Topaksu AK, Kiminsu U, Onengut G, Ozdemir K, Polatoz A, Simsek AE, Tali B, Tok UG, Turkcapar S, Zorbakir IS, Zorbilmez C, Isildak B, Karapinar G, Ocalan K, Yalvac M, Atakisi IO, Gülmez E, Kaya M, Kaya O, Özçelik Ö, Tekten S, Yetkin EA, Cakir A, Cankocak K, Komurcu Y, Sen S, Sen FA, Cerci S, Kaynak B, Ozkorucuklu S, Cerci DS, Grynyov B, Levchuk L, Bhal E, Bologna S, Brooke JJ, Clement E, Cussans D, Flacher H, Goldstein J, Heath GP, Heath HF, Kreczko L, Krikler B, Paramesvaran S, Sakuma T, Nasr-Storey SSE, Smith VJ, Stylianou N, Taylor J, Titterton A, Bell KW, Belyaev A, Brew C, Brown RM, Cockerill DJA, Ellis KV, Harder K, Harper S, Linacre J, Manolopoulos K, Newbold DM, Olaiya E, Petyt D, Reis T, Schuh T, Shepherd-Themistocleous CH, Thea A, Tomalin IR, Williams T, Bainbridge R, Bloch P, Bonomally S, Borg J, Breeze S, Buchmuller O, Bundock A, Cepaitis V, Chahal GS, Colling D, Dauncey P, Davies G, Negra MD, Fedi G, Hall G, Iles G, Langford J, Lyons L, Magnan AM, Malik S, Martelli A, Milosevic V, Nash J, Palladino V, Pesaresi M, Raymond DM, Richards A, Rose A, Scott E, Seez C, Shtipliyski A, Stoye M, Tapper A, Uchida K, Virdee T, Wardle N, Webb SN, Winterbottom D, Zecchinelli AG, Cole JE, Hobson PR, Khan A, Kyberd P, Mackay CK, Reid ID, Teodorescu L, Zahid S, Abdullin S, Brinkerhoff A, Call K, Caraway B, Dittmann J, Hatakeyama K, Kanuganti AR, Madrid C, McMaster B, Pastika N, Sawant S, Smith C, Wilson J, Bartek R, Dominguez A, Uniyal R, Hernandez AMV, Buccilli A, Charaf O, Cooper SI, Gleyzer SV, Henderson C, Rumerio P, West C, Akpinar A, Albert A, Arcaro D, Cosby C, Demiragli Z, Gastler D, Rohlf J, Salyer K, Sperka D, Spitzbart D, Suarez I, Yuan S, Zou D, Benelli G, Burkle B, Coubez X, Cutts D, Duh YT, Hadley M, Heintz U, Hogan JM, Kwok KHM, Laird E, Landsberg G, Lau KT, Lee J, Narain M, Sagir S, Syarif R, Usai E, Wong WY, Yu D, Zhang W, Band R, Brainerd C, Breedon R, De La BarcaSanchez MC, Chertok M, Conway J, Conway R, Cox PT, Erbacher R, Flores C, Funk G, Jensen F, Ko W, Kukral O, Lander R, Mulhearn M, Pellett D, Pilot J, Shi M, Taylor D, Tos K, Tripathi M, Yao Y, Zhang F, Bachtis M, Cousins R, Dasgupta A, Hamilton D, Hauser J, Ignatenko M, Lam T, Mccoll N, Nash WA, Regnard S, Saltzberg D, Schnaible C, Stone B, Valuev V, Burt K, Chen Y, Clare R, Gary JW, Hanson G, Karapostoli G, Long OR, Manganelli N, Negrete MO, Paneva MI, Si W, Wimpenny S, Zhang Y, Branson JG, Chang P, Cittolin S, Cooperstein S, Deelen N, Duarte J, Gerosa R, Gilbert D, Krutelyov V, Letts J, Masciovecchio M, May S, Padhi S, Pieri M, Sharma V, Tadel M, Würthwein F, Yagil A, Amin N, Campagnari C, Citron M, Dorsett A, Dutta V, Incandela J, Marsh B, Mei H, Ovcharova A, Qu H, Quinnan M, Richman J, Sarica U, Stuart D, Wang S, Bornheim A, Cerri O, Dutta I, Lawhorn JM, Lu N, Mao J, Newman H, Ngadiuba J, Nguyen TQ, Pata J, Spiropulu M, Vlimant JR, Wang C, Xie S, Zhang Z, Zhu RY, Alison J, Andrews MB, Ferguson T, Mudholkar T, Paulini M, Sun M, Vorobiev I, Cumalat JP, Ford WT, MacDonald E, Mulholland T, Patel R, Perloff A, Stenson K, Ulmer KA, Wagner SR, Alexander J, Cheng Y, Chu J, Cranshaw DJ, Datta A, Frankenthal A, Mcdermott K, Monroy J, Patterson JR, Quach D, Ryd A, Sun W, Tan SM, Tao Z, Thom J, Wittich P, Zientek M, Albrow M, Alyari M, Apollinari G, Apresyan A, Apyan A, Banerjee S, Bauerdick LAT, Beretvas A, Berry D, Berryhill J, Bhat PC, Burkett K, Butler JN, Canepa A, Cerati GB, Cheung HWK, Chlebana F, Cremonesi M, Elvira VD, Freeman J, Gecse Z, Gottschalk E, Gray L, Green D, Grünendahl S, Gutsche O, Harris RM, Hasegawa S, Heller R, Herwig TC, Hirschauer J, Jayatilaka B, Jindariani S, Johnson M, Joshi U, Klabbers P, Klijnsma T, Klima B, Kortelainen MJ, Lammel S, Lincoln D, Lipton R, Liu M, Liu T, Lykken J, Maeshima K, Mason D, McBride P, Merkel P, Mrenna S, Nahn S, O’Dell V, Papadimitriou V, Pedro K, Pena C, Prokofyev O, Ravera F, Hall AR, Ristori L, Schneider B, Sexton-Kennedy E, Smith N, Soha A, Spalding WJ, Spiegel L, Stoynev S, Strait J, Taylor L, Tkaczyk S, Tran NV, Uplegger L, Vaandering EW, Weber HA, Woodard A, Acosta D, Avery P, Bourilkov D, Cadamuro L, Cherepanov V, Errico F, Field RD, Guerrero D, Joshi BM, Kim M, Konigsberg J, Korytov A, Lo KH, Matchev K, Menendez N, Mitselmakher G, Rosenzweig D, Shi K, Sturdy J, Wang J, Wang S, Zuo X, Adams T, Askew A, Diaz D, Habibullah R, Hagopian S, Hagopian V, Johnson KF, Khurana R, Kolberg T, Martinez G, Prosper H, Schiber C, Yohay R, Zhang J, Baarmand MM, Butalla S, Elkafrawy T, Hohlmann M, Noonan D, Rahmani M, Saunders M, Yumiceva F, Adams MR, Apanasevich L, Gonzalez HB, Cavanaugh R, Chen X, Dittmer S, Evdokimov O, Gerber CE, Hangal DA, Hofman DJ, Mills C, Oh G, Roy T, Tonjes MB, Varelas N, Viinikainen J, Wang X, Wu Z, Ye Z, Alhusseini M, Dilsiz K, Durgut S, Gandrajula RP, Haytmyradov M, Khristenko V, Köseyan OK, Merlo JP, Mestvirishvili A, Moeller A, Nachtman J, Ogul H, Onel Y, Ozok F, Penzo A, Snyder C, Tiras E, Wetzel J, Amram O, Blumenfeld B, Corcodilos L, Eminizer M, Gritsan AV, Kyriacou S, Maksimovic P, Mantilla C, Roskes J, Swartz M, Vámi TÁ, Barrera CB, Baringer P, Bean A, Bylinkin A, Isidori T, Khalil S, King J, Krintiras G, Kropivnitskaya A, Lindsey C, Minafra N, Murray M, Rogan C, Royon C, Sanders S, Schmitz E, Takaki JDT, Wang Q, Williams J, Wilson G, Duric S, Ivanov A, Kaadze K, Kim D, Maravin Y, Mitchell T, Modak A, Mohammadi A, Rebassoo F, Wright D, Adams E, Baden A, Baron O, Belloni A, Eno SC, Feng Y, Hadley NJ, Jabeen S, Jeng GY, Kellogg RG, Koeth T, Mignerey AC, Nabili S, Seidel M, Skuja A, Tonwar SC, Wang L, Wong K, Abercrombie D, Allen B, Bi R, Brandt S, Busza W, Cali IA, Chen Y, D’Alfonso M, Ceballos GG, Goncharov M, Harris P, Hsu D, Hu M, Klute M, Kovalskyi D, Krupa J, Lee YJ, Luckey PD, Maier B, Marini AC, Mcginn C, Mironov C, Narayanan S, Niu X, Paus C, Rankin D, Roland C, Roland G, Shi Z, Stephans GSF, Sumorok K, Tatar K, Velicanu D, Wang J, Wang TW, Wang Z, Wyslouch B, Chatterjee RM, Evans A, Hansen P, Hiltbrand J, Jain S, Krohn M, Kubota Y, Lesko Z, Mans J, Revering M, Rusack R, Saradhy R, Schroeder N, Strobbe N, Wadud MA, Acosta JG, Oliveros S, Bloom K, Chauhan S, Claes DR, Fangmeier C, Finco L, Golf F, Fernández JRG, Kravchenko I, Siado JE, Snow GR, Tabb W, Yan F, Agarwal G, Bandyopadhyay H, Harrington C, Hay L, Iashvili I, Kharchilava A, McLean C, Nguyen D, Pekkanen J, Rappoccio S, Roozbahani B, Alverson G, Barberis E, Freer C, Haddad Y, Hortiangtham A, Li J, Madigan G, Marzocchi B, Morse DM, Nguyen V, Orimoto T, Parker A, Skinnari L, Tishelman-Charny A, Wamorkar T, Wang B, Wisecarver A, Wood D, Bhattacharya S, Bueghly J, Chen Z, Gilbert A, Gunter T, Hahn KA, Odell N, Schmitt MH, Sung K, Velasco M, Bucci R, Dev N, Goldouzian R, Hildreth M, Anampa KH, Jessop C, Karmgard DJ, Lannon K, Loukas N, Marinelli N, Mcalister I, Meng F, Mohrman K, Musienko Y, Ruchti R, Siddireddy P, Taroni S, Wayne M, Wightman A, Wolf M, Zygala L, Alimena J, Bylsma B, Cardwell B, Durkin LS, Francis B, Hill C, Lefeld A, Winer BL, Yates BR, Das P, Dezoort G, Elmer P, Greenberg B, Haubrich N, Higginbotham S, Kalogeropoulos A, Kopp G, Kwan S, Lange D, Lucchini MT, Luo J, Marlow D, Mei K, Ojalvo I, Olsen J, Palmer C, Piroué P, Stickland D, Tully C, Malik S, Norberg S, Barnes VE, Chawla R, Das S, Gutay L, Jones M, Jung AW, Negro G, Neumeister N, Peng CC, Piperov S, Purohit A, Qiu H, Schulte JF, Stojanovic M, Trevisani N, Wang F, Wildridge A, Xiao R, Xie W, Cheng T, Dolen J, Parashar N, Baty A, Dildick S, Ecklund KM, Freed S, Geurts FJM, Kilpatrick M, Kumar A, Li W, Padley BP, Redjimi R, Roberts J, Rorie J, Shi W, Leiton AGS, Bodek A, de Barbaro P, Demina R, Dulemba JL, Fallon C, Ferbel T, Galanti M, Garcia-Bellido A, Hindrichs O, Khukhunaishvili A, Ranken E, Taus R, Chiarito B, Chou JP, Gandrakota A, Gershtein Y, Halkiadakis E, Hart A, Heindl M, Hughes E, Kaplan S, Karacheban O, Laflotte I, Lath A, Montalvo R, Nash K, Osherson M, Salur S, Schnetzer S, Somalwar S, Stone R, Thayil SA, Thomas S, Wang H, Acharya H, Delannoy AG, Spanier S, Bouhali O, Dalchenko M, Delgado A, Eusebi R, Gilmore J, Huang T, Kamon T, Kim H, Luo S, Malhotra S, Mueller R, Overton D, Perniè L, Rathjens D, Safonov A, Akchurin N, Damgov J, Hegde V, Kunori S, Lamichhane K, Lee SW, Mengke T, Muthumuni S, Peltola T, Undleeb S, Volobouev I, Wang Z, Whitbeck A, Appelt E, Greene S, Gurrola A, Janjam R, Johns W, Maguire C, Melo A, Ni H, Padeken K, Romeo F, Sheldon P, Tuo S, Velkovska J, Arenton MW, Cox B, Cummings G, Hakala J, Hirosky R, Joyce M, Ledovskoy A, Li A, Neu C, Tannenwald B, Wang Y, Wolfe E, Xia F, Karchin PE, Poudyal N, Thapa P, Black K, Bose T, Buchanan J, Caillol C, Dasu S, De Bruyn I, Everaerts P, Galloni C, He H, Herndon M, Hervé A, Hussain U, Lanaro A, Loeliger A, Loveless R, Sreekala JM, Mallampalli A, Pinna D, Savin A, Shang V, Sharma V, Smith WH, Teague D, Trembath-reichert S, Vetens W. Search for low-mass dilepton resonances in Higgs boson decays to four-lepton final states in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV

A search for low-mass dilepton resonances in Higgs boson decays is conducted in the four-lepton final state. The decay is assumed to proceed via a pair of beyond the standard model particles, or one such particle and a Z boson. The search uses proton-proton collision data collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb - 1 , at a center-of-mass energy s = 13 TeV . No significant deviation from the standard model expectation is observed. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on model-independent Higgs boson decay branching fractions. Additionally, limits on dark photon and axion-like particle production, based on two specific models, are reported.

Clinical features and risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis

OBJECTIVE

This study was carried out to explore the clinical features and risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Through a retrospective analysis of 3,000 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis history or active pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis in the inpatient department of pulmonary tuberculosis in Shandong Provincial Public Health Clinical Center from January 2017 to January 2021, 70 cases of pulmonary aspergillosis were selected and diagnosed. In addition, 70 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis without other fungal infections in the same period were randomly selected as the control group. The risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis were analyzed by multi-factor logistic analysis, and the clinical characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis were analyzed by collecting the basic information of patients, drug use of pulmonary tuberculosis, imaging characteristics, past medical history, and test indicators.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that the single risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis were: the types of pulmonary tuberculosis (initial diagnosis or previous reexamination), hormone application time, antibiotic application time (rifampicin), hemoptysis/sputum blood, C-reactive protein, and pulmonary cavity were significantly correlated with pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis (p-value <0.05). The proportion of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis was higher than that of patients with simple pulmonary tuberculosis in the follow-up of pulmonary tuberculosis, the time of antibiotics application ≥ 1 month, the time of hormone application ≥ 1 week and C-reactive protein. The incidence of hemoptysis/blood in sputum in the clinical symptoms of pulmonary aspergillosis group (24/70) was higher than that of simple pulmonary tuberculosis group (20/70), and the difference was statistically significant (p-value < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that there were significant differences between the two groups in the two indexes of "hormone application time ≥ 1 week" and "antibiotic application time ≥ 1 month" (p-value < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Hemoptysis/blood in sputum can be considered as the main clinical feature of pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis. The main risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with pulmonary aspergillosis were the application time of antibiotics ≥ 1 month and the application time of hormones ≥ 1 week.

Non-magnetic ion site disorder effects on the quantum magnetism of a spin-1/2 equilateral triangular lattice antiferromagnet

With the motivation to study how non-magnetic ion site disorder affects the quantum magnetism of Ba₃CoSb₂O₉, a spin-1/2 equilateral triangular lattice antiferromagnet, we performed DC and AC susceptibility, specific heat, elastic and inelastic neutron scattering measurements on single crystalline samples of Ba_2.87Sr_0.13CoSb₂O₉with Sr doping on non-magnetic Ba²⁺ion sites. The results show that Ba_2.87Sr_0.13CoSb₂O₉exhibits (i) a two-step magnetic transition at 2.7 K and 3.3 K, respectively; (ii) a possible canted 120 degree spin structure at zero field with reduced ordered moment as 1.24μ_B/Co; (iii) a series of spin state transitions for bothH∥ab-plane andH∥c-axis. ForH∥ab-plane, the magnetization plateau feature related to the up-up-down phase is significantly suppressed; (iv) an inelastic neutron scattering spectrum with only one gapped mode at zero field, which splits to one gapless and one gapped mode at 9 T. All these features are distinctly different from those observed for the parent compound Ba₃CoSb₂O₉, which demonstrates that the non-magnetic ion site disorder (the Sr doping) plays a complex role on the magnetic properties beyond the conventionally expected randomization of the exchange interactions. We propose the additional effects including the enhancement of quantum spin fluctuations and introduction of a possible spatial anisotropy through the local structural distortions.

Search for strongly interacting massive particles generating trackless jets in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV

A search for dark matter in the form of strongly interacting massive particles (SIMPs) using the CMS detector at the LHC is presented. The SIMPs would be produced in pairs that manifest themselves as pairs of jets without tracks. The energy fraction of jets carried by charged particles is used as a key discriminator to suppress efficiently the large multijet background, and the remaining background is estimated directly from data. The search is performed using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 16.1 fb - 1 , collected with the CMS detector in 2016. No significant excess of events is observed above the expected background. For the simplified dark matter model under consideration, SIMPs with masses up to 100 GeV are excluded and further sensitivity is explored towards higher masses.

[Application of oral fluid in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and antibody detection]

This study aimed to explore the application value of new biological specimen oral fluid in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and antibody detection. Oral fluid and paired respiratory and blood specimens from 7 confirmed cases of two COVID-19 cluster epidemic were collected in Beijing from October to November 2021. SARS-CoV-2 virus and IgG antibody were detected by real time PCR kits and serum antibody detection reagents, and SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in oral fluids was detected by a new established method of magnetic particle chemiluminescence. The results showed that the nucleic acid amplification test of SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swabs, throat swabs and oral fluid specimens from 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 was positive, among which the Ct value for ORF1a/b and N gene of oral fluid samples in 2 cases was close to that of throat swab, and the Ct value of oral fluid sample for 1 case was higher than that of throat swab. The complete genome sequence of one oral fluid specimen was obtained, which belonged to the VOC/Delta variant strain. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies of the paired oral fluid and serum were all positive, and the S/CO values of oral fluid were all lower than those of serum. The series of oral fluid results showed that SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody level increased from 11 to 32 days after the onset of the disease.

[Survival outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with salvage surgery for hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy]

Objective: To investigate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with salvage surgery for hypopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed, including 26 patients treated in Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital between January 2010 and December 2015. All patients were males, aged 48-83 years, of whom 8 cases were local residual after radiotherapy alone, 8 cases were local recurrence after postoperative radiotherapy, 2 cases were residual of cervical lymph nodes after radiotherapy alone, 2 cases were recurrence of cervical lymph nodes after radiotherapy alone, 2 cases were recurrence of cervical lymph nodes after postoperative radiotherapy and 4 cases were recurrence of tracheal stoma. The salvage operations included: local resection, local resection with neck dissection, simple neck dissection, tumor resection of tracheostomy, and additional repair according to the defect. Chi square test was used for recurrence and metastasis analysis, Kaplan-Meier method for survival analysis, Log-rank test for univariate analysis, and Cox regression model for multivariate analysis. Results: The complication rate of salvage surgery was 23.1% (6/26). The recurrence rate was 65.4% (17/26) and the distant metastasis rate was 42.3% (11/26) in the 5-year follow-up after salvage surgery. Patient's age and tumor invasion extent were correlated with recurrence. Initial treatment, tumor persistence or recurrence after radiotherapy, recurrence location and tumor invasion extent were correlated with distant metastasis (all P<0.05). Overall, 3 year and 5 year survival rates were 42.3% and 23.1% respectively. Age, recurrence location, surgical margin and tumor invasion extent were related to prognosis (χ²=6.56, 10.68, 9.32, and 7.90 respectively, all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that surgical margin and tumor invasion extent were independent risk factors for prognosis (OR (95%CI) = 3.19 (1.03-9.84), 14.37 (2.46-84.08), both P<0.05). Conclusion: Salvage surgery is the first choice for patients with recurrence after radiotherapy for hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Safe surgical margin should be ensured, especially in tumors invading muscle, bone tissue or lymph node capsule.

[Navigation-guided nasal endoscopy for removal of the cavernous hemangioma of the orbital apex through the sphenoid approach]

Objective: To explore the feasibility of navigation-guided nasal endoscopy for removal of the cavernous hemangioma of the orbital apex through the sphenoid approach. Methods: Retrospective case series study. From May 2012 to December 2019, 12 patients (12 eyes) with imaging findings of cavernous hemangioma in the orbital apex were collected at the Eye Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, including 3 males and 9 females aged 32 to 59 years. All patients underwent navigation-guided sinusoscopy through the sphenoid approach to remove the cavernous hemangioma of the orbital apex (video attached). Changes of visual function and complications after operation were analyzed. Results: In 3 patients without visual impairment, the postoperative visual function was still normal. Among the remaining 9 patients with preoperative visual impairment, visual function was fully recovered in 3 patients after operation, was improved in 2 patients, and had no change in 4 patients. There were no complications in 3 of the 12 patients, and 9 patients had transient, mildly limited intraocular rotation with diplopia after operation, which all returned to normal within 1 month. Conclusion: Navigation-guided sinus endoscopy through the sphenoid approach is effective and feasible in the removal of the cavernous hemangioma of the orbital apex. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2021, 57: 837-843).

Silencing IKBKE inhibits the migration and invasion of glioblastoma by promoting Snail1 degradation

PURPOSE

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common malignant brain tumors in adults and has high mortality and relapse rates. Over the past few years, great advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of GBM, but unfortunately, the five-year overall survival rate of GBM patients is approximately 5.1%. Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit epsilon (IKBKE) is a major oncogenic protein in tumors and can promote evil development of GBM. Snail1, a key inducer of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factor, is subjected to ubiquitination and degradation, but the mechanism by which Snail1 is stabilized in tumors remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the mechanism of IKBKE regulating Snail1 in GBM.

METHODS

First, we analyzed the correlation between the expression of IKBKE and the tumor grade and prognosis through public databases and laboratory specimen libraries. Second, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot were used to detect the correlation between IKBKE and Snail expression in glioma samples and cell lines. Western blot and immunofluorescence (IF) experiments were used to detect the quality and distribution of IKBKE and Snail1 proteins. Third, In situ animal model of intracranial glioma to detect the regulatory effect of IKBKE on intracranial tumors.

RESULTS

In this study, Our study reveals a new connection between IKBKE and Snail1, where IKBKE can directly bind to Snail1, translocate Snail1 into the nucleus from the cytoplasm. Downregulation of IKBKE results in Snail1 destabilization and impairs the tumor cell migration and invasion capabilities.

CONCLUSION

Our studies suggest that the IKBKE-Snail1 axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for GBM treatment.

Improving Constraints on Planetary Interiors With PPs Receiver Functions

Seismological constraints obtained from receiver function (RF) analysis provide important information about the crust and mantle structure. Here, we explore the utility of the free-surface multiple of the P-wave (PP) and the corresponding conversions in RF analysis. Using earthquake records, we demonstrate the efficacy of PPs-RFs before illustrating how they become especially useful when limited data is available in typical planetary missions. Using a transdimensional hierarchical Bayesian deconvolution approach, we compute robust P-to-S (Ps)- and PPs-RFs with InSight recordings of five marsquakes. Our Ps-RF results verify the direct Ps converted phases reported by previous RF analyses with increased coherence and reveal other phases including the primary multiple reverberating within the uppermost layer of the Martian crust. Unlike the Ps-RFs, our PPs-RFs lack an arrival at 7.2 s lag time. Whereas Ps-RFs on Mars could be equally well fit by a two- or three-layer crust, synthetic modeling shows that the disappearance of the 7.2 s phase requires a three-layer crust, and is highly sensitive to velocity and thickness of intra-crustal layers. We show that a three-layer crust is also preferred by S-to-P (Sp)-RFs. While the deepest interface of the three-layer crust represents the crust-mantle interface beneath the InSight landing site, the other two interfaces at shallower depths could represent a sharp transition between either fractured and unfractured materials or thick basaltic flows and pre-existing crustal materials. PPs-RFs can provide complementary constraints and maximize the extraction of information about crustal structure in data-constrained circumstances such as planetary missions.

A 1:1 matched case-control study on dietary protein intakes and hip fracture risk in Chinese elderly men and women

The role of protein intake in bone has been controversial. Our case-control study among Chinese elderly concluded that a higher consumption of protein, even substituted for fat, is associated with lowered hip fracture risk. Differences in protein sources, amino acids composition, gender, and calcium sufficiency may explain the inconsistency.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to investigate the association of dietary protein intakes with hip fracture risk among Chinese elderly.

METHODS

This was a 1:1 age and sex matched cross-sectional study of case-control design among 1070 pairs of elderly Chinese people aged 55 to 80 years. Patients who were newly diagnosed (within 2-week) hip fracture by X-ray were recruited from four hospitals in Guangdong Province of China. Dietary intakes were evaluated by a validated food frequency questionnaire for total protein, protein from different sources, amino acids profiles, and estimated renal acid load in diet.

RESULTS

Daily average intakes of total protein were 58.1±27.0 (women) and 65.7±31.8 (men) g/d for cases, and 66.8±21.5 (women) and 72.1±24.4 (men) for controls (p<0.001). Multivariable regression indicated that, compared with the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of consumption of energy adjusted total protein [OR: 0.360 (0.206~0.630) for women and 0.381 (0.153~0.949) for men] and animal protein [0.326 (0.183, 0.560) for women and 0.335 (0.136~0.828) for men] was significantly associated with the lowered risk of hip fracture in a dose-response manner (all p for trend <0.05). A significant hip fracture risk reduction was observed in women with higher intakes of sulfur amino acids [OR: 0.464 (0.286~0.753)] and aromatic amino acids [0.537 (0.326~0.884)] but not in men. Subgroup analysis suggested that these associations were more evident in elderly with lower body mass index and dietary calcium intake less than 400 mg/d.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher level of protein intake, even substituted for fat, is associated with lowered hip fracture risk.

[Research progress in endoluminal treatment of urethral stricture]

Urethral stricture is regarded as a common disease in urology whose treatment modalities usually include open surgery and endoluminal treatment. Endoluminal techniques have gradually become one of the essential treatments in urethral stricture due to easier operation, less trauma, faster recovery, higher safety and fewer complications. The popularity of plasma knife and laser, and the application of new urethral stents and grafts, make endoscopic surgery easier and less invasive. However, due to its anatomical particularity and diverse etiologies of urethral stricture, the endoluminal treatment is still not satisfactory and a considerable number of patients still experience poor long-term treatment effect. Non-operative managements, such as intracavitary brachytherapy, intracavitary injection of drugs or stem cells and new urinary catheters are also being explored in treating urethral stricture, which would improve the effect of endoscopic surgery. This review summarizes the clinical application and new progress of various kinds of endoluminal treatments and pharmacotherapy in urethral stricture at home and abroad. More prospective randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm its feasibility, effectiveness and optimal time of operation.