[Semen quality and HIV RNA level in HIV/AIDS male patients after treated by highly active antiretroviral therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the semen quality of the HIV/AIDS male patients after treated by the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and their potential of transmitting HIV/AIDS and provide some evidence for this cohort of males who wish for parenthood. METHODS: We collected semen samples from 20 HIV/AIDS male patients who had been treated by HAART for over 6 months and wished for parenthood. We examined sperm concentration, viability and total motility and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (MNS) using the computer-assisted semen analysis system, measured the HIV-1 RNA loads in the semen by the Cobas Amplicor Monitor test, and counted CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The patients were aged 25－40 (30.7 ± 5.05) years. After treated by HAART for 6－26 (14.24 ± 12.26) months, the count of blood CD4+ T cells was significantly increased (341－1 058 ï¼»535.76 ± 212.021ï¼½ /µl) in comparison with the baseline (226－965 ï¼»422.38 ± 200.86ï¼½ /µl). Compared with the normal value, the semen volume was increased except in 1 case (≥2 ml) while total sperm motility was decreased in 13 cases (≥40%), and so were sperm concentration in 2 cases (≥15 × 106 / ml), sperm viability in 5 (58%), the percentage of progressively motile sperm in 18 (≥32%), and the percentage of MNS in 6 (≤4%). HIV-1 RNA in the peripheral blood was <20 copies/mL in all the cases and that in the seminal plasma was also <20 copies/ml in 18 cases but >20 copies/mL in the other 2 (ï¼»4.70 × 101ï¼½ and ï¼»2.2 × 102ï¼½ copies/ml, respectively). Of the 4 couples that had sex without protective measures for over 6 months, all the 4 female partners exhibited negative HIV antibodies in regular follow-up examinations and 1 achieved spontaneous pregnancy and healthy birth, with negative HIV-1 RNA in both the mother and the baby. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV RNA level is higher in the semen than in the blood of the HIV/AIDS male patients after HAART, which indicates the potential risk of their semen transmitting HIV/AIDS to their female partners. Their sperm concentration and total sperm motility are lower than the normal value, which suggests a decreased fertility.

Accuracy of brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide for detecting paediatric pulmonary hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening disease, especially in paediatric population. Symptoms of paediatric PH are non-specific. Accurate detection of paediatric PH is helpful for early treatment and mortality reduction. Therefore, we assessed the overall performance of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) for diagnosing PH in paediatric population. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were screened since their respective inceptions until August 2023. A bivariate random model and a hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model were used together to evaluate and summarize the overall performance of BNP and NT-proBNP for diagnosing paediatric PH. RESULTS: Eighteen studies using BNP/NT-proBNP were assessed, comprising 1127 samples. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and area under the curve (AUROC) of BNP/NT-proBNP were separately as 0.81, 0.87, 6.33, 0.21, 29.50 and 0.91, suggesting a good diagnostic performance of BNP/NT-proBNP for detecting PH in paediatric population. For BNP, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR and AUROC were 0.83, 0.89, 7.76, 0.19, 40.90 and 0.93, indicating the diagnostic accuracy of BNP for paediatric PH patients was good. For NT-proBNP, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR and AUROC were 0.81, 0.86, 5.59, 0.22, 24.96 and 0.90, showing that NT-proBNP could provide a good value for detecting paediatric PH. CONCLUSIONS: Both BNP and NT-proBNP are good markers for differentiating paediatric PH patients from non-PH individuals.

Accurate detection of paediatric PH is helpful for early treatment and mortality reduction. This study shows that both BNP and NT-proBNP are good markers for detecting paediatric PH. In clinical practice, we recommend that BNP and NT-proBNP are auxiliary biomarkers in diagnosing paediatric PH.

Successful recovery of recurrence of positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA in COVID-19 patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and review.

COVID-19 has become a global concern. A large number of reports have explained the clinical characteristics and treatment strategies of COVID-19, but the characteristics and treatment of COVID-19 patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are still unclear. Here, we report the clinical features and treatment of the first SLE patient with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia. This was a 39-year-old woman, diagnosed with SLE 15 years ago, whose overall clinical characteristics (symptoms, laboratory tests, and chest CTs) were similar to those of the general COVID-19 patients. She continued to take the previous SLE drugs (doses of glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, and immunosuppressive agents were not reduced) and was treated with strict antiviral and infection prevention treatment. After the first discharge, she got a recurrence of COVID-19 during her home isolation, and then returned to hospital and continued the previous therapy. Finally, this long-term immune suppressive patient's COVID-19 was successfully cured. The successful recovery of this case has significant reference value for the future treatment of COVID-19 patients with SLE. Key Points • COVID-19 patients with SLE is advocated to continue the medical treatment for SLE. • Hydroxychloroquine may have potential benefits for COVID-19 patients with SLE. • COVID-19 patients with SLE is prone to relapse, and multiple follow-ups are necessary.

Clinical features and risk factors for ICU admission in COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Previous studies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have focused on the general population. However, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common comorbidity that has rarely been investigated in detail. This study aims to describe clinical characteristics and determine risk factors for intensive care unit (ICU) admission of COVID-19 patients with CVD. In this retrospective cohort study, we included 288 adult patients with COVID-19 in Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital from January 15, 2020 to March 10, 2020. Demographic characteristics, laboratory results, radiographic findings, complications, and treatments were recorded and compared between CVD and non-CVD groups. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors associated with ICU admission for infected patients with underlying CVD. COVID-19 patients in the CVD group were older and had higher levels of troponin I (TnI), C-reactive protein (CRP), and creatinine. They were also more prone to develop into severe or critically severe cases, receive ICU admission, and require respiratory support treatment. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the following were risk factors for ICU admission in COVID-19 patients with CVD: each 1-year increase in age (odds ratio (OR), 1.08; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-1.17; p = 0.018); respiratory rate over 24 times per min (OR, 25.52; 95% CI, 5.48-118.87; p < 0.0001); CRP higher than 10 mg/L (OR, 8.12; 95% CI, 1.63-40.49; p = 0.011); and TnI higher than 0.03 µg/L (OR, 9.14; 95% CI, 2.66-31.43; p < 0.0001). Older age, CRP greater than 10 mg/L, TnI higher than 0.03 µg/L, and respiratory rate over 24 times per minute were associated with increasing odds of ICU admission in COVID-19 patients with CVD. Investigating and monitoring these factors could assist in the risk stratification of COVID-19 patients with CVD at an early stage.

Neurosensory dysfunction: A diagnostic marker of early COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To describe neurosensory dysfunctions, including hyposmia, hypogeusia, and tinnitus, in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Clinical characteristics and oropharyngeal swabs were obtained from 86 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital. The chronological analysis method was used to detail neurosensory dysfunction. The cycle threshold (Ct) values were used to approximately indicate viral load. RESULTS: Forty-four (51.2%) patients had neurosensory dysfunction: hyposmia (34, 39.5%), hypogeusia (33, 38.4%), and tinnitus (three, 3.5%). Neurosensory dysfunction was significantly more common in patients under 40 years old (p = 0.001) and women (p = 0.006). Hyposmia and hypogeusia coexisted in 23 (26.7%) patients. The interval between onset of hyposmia and hypogeusia was 0.7 ± 1.46 days. The interval from onset of hyposmia and hypogeusia to typical COVID-19 symptoms was 0.22 ± 4.57 and 0.75 ± 6.77 days; the interval from onset of hyposmia and hypogeusia to admission was 6.06 ± 6.68 and 5.76 ± 7.68 days; and the duration of hyposmia and hypogeusia was 9.09 ± 5.74 and 7.12 ± 4.66 days, respectively. The viral load was high following symptoms onset, peaked within the first week, and gradually declined. CONCLUSIONS: Neurosensory dysfunction tends to occur in the early stage of COVID-19, and it could be used as a marker for the early diagnosis of COVID-19.

Clinical Features and Risk Factors of ICU Admission for COVID-19 Patients with Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have focused on the general population. However, diabetes (DM) as one of the most common comorbidities is rarely studied in detail. This study is aimed at describing clinical characteristics and determining risk factors of ICU admission for COVID-19 patients with DM. METHODS: Data were extracted from 288 adult patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital. Demographic characteristics, laboratory results, radiographic findings, complications, and treatments were collected and compared between DM and non-DM groups. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the risk factors associated with ICU admission for COVID-19 patients with DM or non-DM. RESULTS: COVID-19 patients with DM showed as older ages, higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), myoglobin, alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST). They were also more prone to transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment. Multiple regression analysis showed that the following were the independent risk factors for COVID-19 patients with DM that received ICU admission: each 1-year increase in age (odds ratio (OR), 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.13; P = 0.007), respiratory rate over 24 times per minute (OR, 5.22; 95% CI, 2.26-16.58; P = 0.016), HbA1c greater than 7% (OR, 4.58; 95% CI, 1.82-10.55; P = 0.012), and AST higher than 40 U/L (OR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.58-8.85; P = 0.022). In addition, each 1-year increase in age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.10; P = 0.006), diarrhea (OR, 4.62; 95% CI, 2.01-9.36; P = 0.022), respiratory rate over 24 times per minute (OR, 5.13; 95% CI, 1.18-16.82; P = 0.035), CRP greater than 10 mg/L (OR, 5.19; 95% CI, 1.37-13.25, P = 0.009), and TnI higher than 0.03 µg/L (OR, 6.48; 95% CI, 1.17-21.38; P = 0.036) were risk factors for ICU admission of COVID-19 patients with non-DM. CONCLUSIONS: The older age, respiratory rate over 24 times per minute, HbA1c greater than 7%, and AST higher than 40 U/L were risk factors of ICU admission for COVID-19 patients with diabetes. Investigating and monitoring these factors could assist in the risk stratification of COVID-19 patients with DM at an early stage.

TFPIα alleviated vascular endothelial cell injury by inhibiting autophagy and the class III PI3K/Beclin-1 pathway.

Endothelium (EC) dysfunction plays an important role in vascular diseases, such as arteriosclerosis and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is the only physiological inhibitor of the TF/FVIIa complex in vivo. This experiment aimed to determine the effect of TFPIα on H/R-induced EC injury and the possible mechanisms. The MIC101 hypoxia system was used to establish an EC H/R injury model in vitro. Our results showed that 6 h after reoxygenation, the EC injury in H/R group was higher than that in the control group, whereas after adding TFPIα, the EC injury was alleviate than that in H/R group. The level of ROS was higher in the H/R group than in the control group, while it was apparently lower in the H/R+TFPIα group than in the H/R group. After H/R, the number of autophagosomes and the autophagic flux were significantly increased, whereas TFPIα could decrease the autophagy level after H/R. The expressions of LC3-II/LC3-I, Beclin-1 and PI3K were obviously higher after H/R and lower after adding TFPIα. In conclusion, autophagy contributes to EC injury during the H/R period. TFPIα could decrease autophagy in ECs, and the mechanism might be class III PI3K/Beclin-1 pathway regulation.

Risk factors for severe cases of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 has raged around the world since March, 2020. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors of severe patients with COVID-19 in Guangzhou. RESULTS: The severity and mortality of COVID-19 was 10.4% and 0.3% respectively. And each 1-year increase in age (OR, 1.057; 95% CI, 1.018-1.098; P=0.004), Wuhan exposure history greater than 2 weeks (OR, 2.765; 95% CI, 1.040-7.355; P=0.042), diarrhea (OR, 24.349; 95% CI, 3.580-165.609; P=0.001), chronic kidney disease (OR, 6.966; 95% CI, 1.310-37.058; P = 0.023), myoglobin higher than 106 µg/L (OR, 8.910; 95% CI, 1.225-64.816; P=0.031), white blood cell higher than 10×109/L (OR, 5.776; 95% CI, 1.052-31.722; P=0.044), and C-reactive protein higher than 10 mg/L (OR, 5.362; 95% CI, 1.631-17.626; P=0.006) were risk factors for severe cases. CONCLUSION: Older age, Wuhan exposure history, diarrhea, chronic kidney disease, elevated myoglobin, elevated white blood cell and C-reactive protein were independent risk factors for severe patients with COVID-19 in Guangzhou. METHODS: We included 288 adult patients with COVID-19 and compared the data between severe and non-severe group. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods to explore risk factors of severe cases.

Effect of androgen deprivation therapy on bone mineral density in prostate cancer patients.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in prostate cancer patients. METHODS: Forty-nine prostate cancer patients with their BMD determined were divided into two groups: the non-treated group included 21 patients before the commencement of ADT and the treated group, 28 patients, who had received ADT for more than 1 year. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck. RESULTS: Thirteen (62 %) non-treated and 23 (82 %) treated patients fulfilled the BMD criteria for osteopenia or osteoporosis. Z scores for age-matched control in lumbar spine and femoral neck were -0.9 +/- 0.7 and -0.6 +/- 0.5, respectively, in the treated group, and -1.8 +/- 1.1 and -1.6 +/- 1.0, respectively, in the non-treated group, the differences between the two groups were highly significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Prostate cancer patients who received ADT for more than 1 year had a significantly lower BMD in the lumbar spine and femoral neck than those before the beginning of ADT.

[Influence of androgen deprivation therapy on bone mineral density in men with prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in men with prostate cancer. METHODS: Forty-nine men with prostate cancer underwent BMD determination and then were classified into two groups: non-ADT group (21 cases), who were about to receive ADT, and ADT group (28 cases), who had received ADT for more than 1 year. BMD was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck in all the patients. The Age-Matched Z scores were used as the reference standard for controlling the difference of age, sex and weight. RESULTS: Thirteen (62%) of the non-ADT group and 23 (82%) of the ADT group fulfilled the BMD criteria for osteopenia or osteoporosis. Z scores for the Age-Matched control in the lumbar spine and femoral neck were -(0.9 +/- 0.7) and -(0.6 +/- 0.5) in the non-ADT group, and -(1.8 +/- 1.1) and -(1.6 +/- 1.0) in the ADT group, respectively (P<0.01). The men of the ADT group had significantly lower BMD in the lumbar spine and femoral neck than those of the non-ADT group. CONCLUSION: Pre-existing osteopenia and osteoporosis are common in men with prostate cancer before ADT. ADT is significantly associated with the loss of BMD and the evaluation of BMD is necessary before ADT for men with prostate cancer.