A Numerical Investigation into the Spread Characteristics of a Human Virus-Carrying Droplet in a Classroom Environment.

In public health, the transmission characteristics and laws of highly infectious virus-carrying particles in the air environment have become a hot topic. The study on the spread characteristics of human virus-carrying droplets in a typical densely populated space is necessary. As such, a classroom space lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) model with a dense population is established to simulate and analyze the spreading and diffusing behavior of pathogenic droplets. The results show that the dispersion density is mainly affected by the mainstream wind direction in the area of concern, and particle aggregation is more likely to form in the area close to the wind disturbance. Due to the dense thermal plumes, the droplet movement is a clear convergence towards the upper space of the classroom. This could explain the fact that people living above confirmed cases are now more likely to be infected.

Type 3 innate lymphoid cells as an indicator of renal dysfunction and serum uric acid in hyperuricemia.

BACKGROUND: Type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are a newly identified group of innate immune cells that participate in the progression of several metabolic diseases by secreting interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22. These cytokines are associated with hyperuricemia (HUA) severity and development; however, the relationship between ILC3s and HUA remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To determine the characteristics of circulating ILC3s in patients with HUA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Type 3 innate lymphoid cells and their subsets were detected using flow cytometry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 80 HUA patients and 30 healthy controls (HC). Plasma levels of IL-17A and IL-22 were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical data of enrolled subjects were collected from electronic medical records. RESULTS: In patients with HUA, the frequency of circulating ILC3s was elevated and positively correlated with levels of serum uric acid and serum creatinine (Scr). Although there was no significant difference in the plasma concentration of IL-17A between the patients with HUA and healthy controls, positive correlations between plasma IL-17A and the concentration of serum uric acid and frequency of circulating ILC3s were observed in the patients with HUA. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with HUA, positive correlations were detected between circulating ILC3 levels, plasma IL-17A and serum uric acid. Therefore, ILC3s and IL-17A may be useful indicators of disease severity, and are potential new therapeutic targets in HUA.