COVID-19 in China: From epidemiology to treatment (Review)

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Priming: Potential Benefits of Administration of Molecular Hydrogen

Stem cell therapy has emerged as a promising avenue for regenerative medicine, offering the potential to treat a wide range of debilitating diseases and injuries. Among the various types of stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have garnered significant attention due to their unique properties and therapeutic potential. In recent years, researchers have been exploring novel approaches to enhance the effectiveness of MSC-based therapies. One such approach that has gained traction is the priming of MSCs with molecular hydrogen (H2). This article delves into the fascinating world of mesenchymal stem cell priming with molecular hydrogen and the potential benefits it holds for regenerative medicine.

Interactions of Neuronally Induced Stem Cells from Apical Papilla Spheres, Stems Cells from Apical Papilla, and Human Umbilical Vascular Endothelial Cells on Vasculogenesis and Neurogenesis

INTRODUCTION

Stem cell-based dental pulp regeneration has been extensively studied, mainly focusing on exploiting dental stem cells' osteogenic and angiogenic potentials. Dental stem cells' neurogenic role is often overlooked. Stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs), originating from the neural crest and capable of sphere formation, display potent neurogenic capacity. This study aimed to investigate the interactions of neuronally induced stem cells from apical papilla (iSCAP) spheres, SCAPs, and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) on vasculogenesis and neurogenesis.

METHODS

SCAPs were isolated and characterized using flow cytometry and multilineage differentiation assays. SCAP monolayer culture and spheres were neuronally induced by a small molecule neural induction medium, and the neural gene expression and neurite formation at days 0, 3, and 7 were evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and using phase-contrast light and fluorescence microscopy. Direct coculture or pulp-on-chip was used to investigate iSCAP sphere interaction with SCAPs and HUVECs. RT-qPCR, fluorescence microscopy, and immunostaining with β-tubulin III, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and CD31 were used to study neural gene expression, neurite formation, and neurovascular cell interactions.

RESULTS

Neural induction medium with small molecules rapidly induced SCAP differentiation toward neural-like cells. Gene expression of Nestin, β-tubulin III, microtubule-associated protein 2, neuron-specific enolase, and NeuN was higher in iSCAP spheres than in iSCAPs. iSCAP spheres formed more and longer neurites compared with iSCAPs. iSCAP sphere, HUVEC, and SCAP direct coculture significantly enhanced vessel formation along with up-regulated VEGF (P < .001) and multiple neural markers, such as Nestin (P < .01), microtubule-associated protein 2 (P < .001), S100 (P < .001), and NG2 (P < .001). iSCAP spheres, SCAPs, and HUVECs cultured in a pulp-on-chip system promoted endothelial and neural cell migration toward each other and alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive and CD31-positive cells assembling for the vascular constitution.

CONCLUSIONS

iSCAP-formed spheres interact with SCAPs and HUVECs, promoting vasculogenesis and neurogenesis.

Burnout, emotional distress and sleep quality among Chinese psychiatric healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a follow-up study

Background

Different from the very early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout and chronic mental health problems among health care workers (HCWs) has become a challenge. Research is lacking on the relationship between burnout, stress, emotional distress and sleep quality.

Methods

The Chinese center has been involved in the Cope-Corona project since the second survey (T2). Named after the project, a total of three cross-sectional surveys were distributed: T2 (February 16-20, 2021), T3 (May 10-14, 2022), and T4 (December 20-24, 2022). Burnout, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, workplace factors and individual resources were measured. Using the T4 data, we conducted structural equation model (SEM) to examine the mediating role of burnout in predicting emotional distress and sleep quality.

Results

96, 124, and 270 HCWs were enrolled at T2, T3, and T4, respectively. In line with the epidemic trends, the level of perceived COVID-19 related risks was significantly higher at T4, while the feeling of health and safety decreased significantly. At T4, the percentages of participants with clinically significant levels of depression and anxiety symptoms were 18.9% (51/270) and 9.3% (25/270), respectively, while 30.4% (82/270) of them reported poor or very poor sleep quality. According to the SEM, individual resources and workplace factors mainly had an indirect effect in predicting depression and anxiety via burnout. However, neither burnout nor stress was a mediator or predictor of sleep quality. Instead, individual resources, positive workplace factors, and younger age had a direct effect in predicting good sleep quality.

Conclusion

Measures designed to enhance workplace factors and individual resources should be implemented to improve psychosomatic wellbeing of HCWs.

Cognitive Attitudes of International Mainstream Media to China during the Contaminated Water and Human Health Under Big Data

The water pollution affecting human health is a crisis and big test, which tests the mainstream news media's ability and level of communication to respond to major public opinions and public emergencies. The contaminated water is a crisis and a major test, which tests the ability and level of communication of major news outlets to respond to important common views and emergencies. It aims to understand the perception and attitude of the international mainstream media towards China during the contaminated water. The work sorted out the mainstream media's reporting of China from the contaminated water to the present and selected the New York Times, The Times, and the Guardian as examples. We could understand the changes in China's international image during the water pollution through these mainstream media reports on China. The results show that these media reports on water pollution in China mainly focused on negative public opinion, which accounted for more than 70% of the total number of reports. Western developed countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States are out of consideration for their national interests. Using mainstream media to create public opinion that is not conducive to China, advocating "neo-colonialism", "China threat theory" and other false statements, trying to limit China's influence, due to the difference in cognitive habits and the influence of British and American media hegemony also affects the country The communication and understanding between the two have brought obstacles.

A German AWMF's S2e/realist synthesis and meta-narrative snapshot of craniomaxillofacial manifestations in COVID-19 patients: Rapid living update on 1 January 2021

PURPOSES

To execute a review answering the following question: "Among novel coronavirus disease (COVID19) patients, what are craniomaxillofacial (CMF) manifestations?" based on the RAMESES and the German Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF)'s S2e guidelines.

METHODS

We performed a realist synthesis and meta-narrative review extracting data in English, French, German and Thai from PubMed/Medline, Embase, Biomed Central, Cochrane Library, and Thai Journals Online, until 1 January 2021. The primary outcome variable was CMF manifestations grouped into 5 categories: (1) mouth and throat, (2) nose, paranasal sinus, and skull base (3) ocular/orbital and periorbital tissue, (4) ear, and (5) craniofacial skin. Appropriate statistics was computed.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven original articles meeting the inclusion criteria were analysed; all were in English and indexed in PubMed/Medline. Hand searches of their references yielded a total of 101 articles for the review. Most data were in low level of evidence and focused on smell and taste disturbances and non-specific orofacial lesions. Iatrogenic complications may occur in this body region. Conservative measures remained effective and were usually enough for patient care.

CONCLUSION

Because SARS-CoV-2 infection is new and becomes the stringent worldwide pandemic within a short time period, most of the data on CMF symptoms are of low level evidence. Apart from taste and smell dysfunctions, non-specific CMF lesions can be found and treated conservatively. Treatment complications are possible. Dentists and CMF surgeons are privileged to examine the orofacial region and work closely with colleagues in other specialities to combat this pandemic.