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Background & AimsThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COIVD-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been characterized as a pandemic, which causes a serious public health challenge in the world. A very large group of patients infected by HBV has been reported worldwide, especially in China. In order to answer whether specific treatment strategy on the patients coinfected with HBV and SARS-CoV-2, it requires profound understanding of the clinical characteristics on those patients. However, the impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection on HBV patients remain largely unknown. Approach & ResultsIn this retrospective investigation, we included 123 COVID-19 patients admitted to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, from January 5 to March 7, 2020. All enrolled patients are the laboratory confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia cases according to the criteria reported previously. A total of 123 patients were analyzed for their Clinical records, laboratory results including the diagnosis of HBV infection and liver function. Among 123 confirmed COVID-19 patients, the mean age was 51 years old and 59.3% were females (73/123). Fifteen were previously HBV infected patients, 66.7% of them were males (10/15), patients with HBV infection appeared to have a higher incidence of liver cirrhosis and an increased level of total bilirubin. Seven (46.7%) patients with HBV infection were defined as severe cases, while the severity rate was 24.1% for the patients without HBV infection (26/108). The mortality of patients with HBV infection was 13.3% (2/15) compared to 2.8% (3/108) for the patients without HBV infection. ConclusionsSARS-CoV-2 infection may cause Live function damage in COVID-19 cases and the patients with HBV infection are likely to have more severe disease outcome.
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ObjectivesComorbidities have significant indications for the disease outcome of COVID-19, however which underlying diseases that contribute the most to aggravate the conditions of COVID-19 patients is still largely unknown. SARS-CoV-2 viral clearance is a golden standard for defining the recovery of COVID-19 infections. To dissect the underlying diseases that could impact on viral clearance, we enrolled 106 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China between Jan 5 and Feb 25, 2020. MethodologyWe comprehensively analyzed demographic, clinical and laboratory data, as well as patient treatment records. Survival analyses with Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression modelling were employed to identify factors influencing the viral clearance negatively. ResultsWe found that increasing age, male gender, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) associated factors (including hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases) adversely affected the viral clearance. Furthermore, analysis by a random forest survival model pointed out hypertension, cortisone treatment, gender, and age as the four most important variables. ConclusionsWe conclude that patients at old age, males, and/or having diseases associated with high expression of ACE2 will have worse prognosis during a COVID-19 infections.
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BackgroundViral clearance is one important indicator for the recovery of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Previous studies have pointed out that suboptimal T and B cell responses can delay viral clearance in MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV infected patients. The role of leukomonocytes in viral clearance of COVID-19 patients is not yet well defined. MethodsFrom January 26 to February 28, 2020, an observational study was launched at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. We enrolled 25 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients, whose throat-swab specimens were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection by qRT-PCR. To investigate the factors that contribute to the viral clearance, we comprehensively analyzed clinical records, counts of lymphocyte subsets including CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T cells, B cells and NK cells in the patients who successfully cleared SARS-CoV-2, and compared to those that failed to, after a standardized treatment of 8-14 days. FindingsIn 25 enrolled COVID-19 patients, lymphopenia was a common feature. After the treatment, 14 out of the 25 enrolled patients were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. The patients that cleared the infection had restored the numbers of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T cells and B cells as compared to the still viral RNA positive patients, while the recovered patients had a higher count of leukomonocytes. ConclusionsBy comparison of leukomonocytes counts in COVID-19 patients at different stages of the disease, we found that CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T cells and B cells appear to play important roles in viral clearance. The restoration of leukomonocytes counts from peripheral blood can be used as prognosis for the recovery of an COVID-19 infection. We propose that restoration of leukomonocytes counts can be added to the COVID-19 diagnostic guidance as a criterion for releasing and discharging patients.
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Real time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) is widely used as the gold standard for clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2. However, due to the low viral load in patient throats and the limitations of RT-PCR, significant numbers of false negative reports are inevitable, which results in failure to timely diagnose, early treat, cut off transmission, and assess discharge criteria. To improve this situation, an optimized droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used for detection of SARS-CoV-2, which showed that the limit of detection of ddPCR is significantly lower than that of RT-PCR. We further explored the feasibility of ddPCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid from 77 clinical throat swab samples, including 63 suspected outpatients with fever and 14 supposed convalescents who were about to discharge after treatment, and compared with RT-PCR in terms of the diagnostic accuracy. In this double-blind study, we tested, surveyed subsequently and statistically analyzed 77 clinical samples. According to our study, 26 samples from COVID-19 patients with RT-PCR negative were detected as positive by ddPCR. No FPRs of RT-PCR and ddPCR were observed. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, NLR and accuracy were improved from 40% (95% CI: 27-55%), 100% (95% CI: 54-100%), 100%, 16% (95% CI: 13-19%), 0.6 (95% CI: 0.48-0.75) and 47% (95% CI: 33-60%) for RT-PCR to 94% (95% CI: 83-99%), 100% (95% CI: 48-100%), 100%, 63% (95% CI: 36-83%), 0.06 (95% CI: 0.02-0.18) and 95% (95% CI: 84-99%) for ddPCR, respectively. Moreover, 14 (42.9 %) convalescents still carry detectable SARS-CoV-2 after discharge. Overall, ddPCR shows superiority for clinical diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 to reduce the false negative reports, which could be a powerful complement to the current standard RT-PCR. It also suggests that the current clinical practice that the convalescent after discharge continues to be quarantined for at least 2 weeks is completely necessary which can prevent potential viral transmission.
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BACKGROUND: Exosomes are nano-scale vesicles that can be secreted by almost all types of cells in the body, which can participate in multiple cell signaling pathways by transporting signal molecules, such as proteins, lipids and miRNAs to perform intercellular communication, immune responses, and antigen presentation. Therefore, exosomes have a great value in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Of the cell types known to produce exosomes, mesenchymal stem cells are currently the most prolific producer closely related to the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases. OBJECTIVE: To review the origin and biological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes, the isolation and identification methods of exosomes, and the progress of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS: The literature search was performed in PubMed and CNKI databases, and the keywords were "mesenchymal stem cells; exosomes; MSC-exosomes; neurodegenerative diseases" in Chinese and English, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 61 eligible literatures were enrolled. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes have low immunogenicity and long-circulating half-life and can carry small molecular substances across the blood-brain barrier, which can promote nerve cell growth and neuronal differentiation. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes help damaged nervous system function and enhance vascular neurogenesis, which is becoming an emerging treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.
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BACKGROUND: Exosomes are nano-scale vesicles that can be secreted by almost all types of cells in the body, which can participate in multiple cell signaling pathways by transporting signal molecules, such as proteins, lipids and miRNAs to perform intercellular communication, immune responses, and antigen presentation. Therefore, exosomes have a great value in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Of the cell types known to produce exosomes, mesenchymal stem cells are currently the most prolific producer closely related to the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative diseases. OBJECTIVE: To review the origin and biological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes, the isolation and identification methods of exosomes, and the progress of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. METHODS: The literature search was performed in PubMed and CNKI databases, and the keywords were "mesenchymal stem cells; exosomes; MSC-exosomes; neurodegenerative diseases" in Chinese and English, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 61 eligible literatures were enrolled. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes have low immunogenicity and long-circulating half-life and can carry small molecular substances across the blood-brain barrier, which can promote nerve cell growth and neuronal differentiation. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes help damaged nervous system function and enhance vascular neurogenesis, which is becoming an emerging treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.
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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with considerable impairment of patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Knowledge of factors that significantly affect IBD patients’ HRQoL can contribute to better patient care. However, the HRQoL of IBD patients in non-Western countries are limited. Hence, we assessed the HRQoL of Singaporean IBD patients and identified its determinants. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at Singapore General Hospital outpatient IBD Centre. The HRQoL of IBD patients was assessed using the short IBD questionnaire (SIBDQ), Short Form-36 physical and mental component summary (SF-36 PCS/MCS) and EuroQol 5-dimensions 3-levels (EQ-5D-3L) and visual analogue scale (VAS). Independent samples t-test was used to compare HRQoL between Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Determinants of HRQoL were identified through multiple linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 195 IBD patients (103 UC, 92 CD) with a mean disease duration of 11.2 years were included. There was no significant difference in HRQoL between patients with UC and CD. Factors that significantly worsened HRQoL were presence of active disease (b=−6.293 [SIBDQ], −9.409 [PCS], −9.743 [MCS], −7.254 [VAS]), corticosteroids use (b=−7.392 [SIBDQ], −10.390 [PCS], −8.827 [MCS]), poor medication adherence (b=−4.049 [SIBDQ], −1.320 [MCS], −8.961 [VAS]), presence of extraintestinal manifestations (b=−13.381 [PCS]), comorbidities (b=−4.531 [PCS]), non-employment (b=−9.738 [MCS], −0.104 [EQ-5D-3L]) and public housing (b=−8.070 [PCS], −9.207 [VAS]). CONCLUSIONS: The HRQoL is impaired in this Asian cohort of IBD. The magnitude of HRQoL impairment was similar in UC and CD. Clinical characteristics were better determinants of patients’ HRQoL than socio-demographic factors. Recognizing the factors that impact patients’ HRQoL would improve the holistic management of IBD patients.
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Humans , Adrenal Cortex Hormones , Asian People , Cohort Studies , Colitis, Ulcerative , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hospitals, General , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Linear Models , Medication Adherence , Outpatients , Patient Care , Prospective Studies , Public Housing , Quality of Life , SingaporeABSTRACT
Objective To summarize and analyze the shielding,retention and reentry works of blood donors,and to investigate the feasibility of retention and reentry strategy.Methods The samples of ELISA single reagent reactive/NAT non-reactive and ELISA non-reactive/ NAT reactive were negative by confirmatory tests.Then the blood was weeded out and the donation qualification was reserved.The donors of shielding more than 6 months could propose the reentry application at any blood station in the province,and were allowed to return to the ranks after qualified by routine detection and re-detection by Jiangsu Provincial Blood Center.The unqualified rates were compared between the donors of again blood donation after retention and reentry with the common donors by χ2 test.Results From October 2014 to June 2016,1 615 cases were ELISA single reagent reactive/NAT non-reactive,among which 67 cases were confirmed as positive,42 cases were undetermined and 1 506 cases were negative;831 cases were ELISA non-reactive/ NAT reactive,in which 809 cases were positive by confirmation and 22 cases were negative.A total of 1 528 donors were confirmed as negative and their donation qualifications were reserved,89 donors conducted blood donation again and 79 were qualified in blood detection.The unqualified rate was 11.24%,compared with that of common donors,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).Meanwhile,596 donors applied for reentry,among them 218 persons were weeded out by the reentry blood station.In remaining 378 samples sent to Jiangsu Provincial Blood Center,359 samples were qualified and confirmed to the reentry condition.Among them,332 donors conducted blood donation and all were qualified by blood detection.Conclusion The reentry strategy in Jiangsu Province is reasonable and feasible,but the donors retention strategy needs to be further optimized and perfected.
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Objective To investigate the ultrasonic image characteristics of Zenker diverticulum(ZD).Methods The ultrasonographic features were summarized using the analysis confirmed by surgery pathology or X-ray imaging of the ZD in six eases.Results The diverticulum of Zenker located behind the thyroid gland in all the six cases,with five cases to the left and one to the right.The internal hyperechoic foci caused by air was found for all the six cases.The diverticulum wall appeared to be semicircular,narrow-band and acoustic halo low echo with an average thinckness of 0.53 mm.The Doppler sonogram of the six diverticulums showed no vascular signal.Conclusions The ZD had several unique characterisitics for identification by ultrasonic diagnosis,which included hyperechoic foci caused by air,internal changes of echo after drinking water and the special layered structure of the five-layer ZD wall.