ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical characteristics and epidemiological characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 treated early in Jiangxi province.MethodsFour-night patients with coronavirus disease 2019 treated in this hospital from January 21st to 27th, 2020 were included in this study. The epidemiological and clinical data of patients after admission were collected, and laboratory tests such as blood routine, urine routine, stool routine, liver and kidney function, electrolytes, myocardial enzymes, erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), calcitonin, coagulation, T cell subset and Chest CT were reviewed. The clinical results of common and severe/critically ill patients were compared.ResultsOf the 49 patients, 40 were common and 9 were severe/critical. Fourty-six patients had a clear history of contact with Wuhan or other areas of Hubei. The sex ratio was 2.06∶1, and the average age was 42.9 years. The symptoms were mainly fever (78.7%), cough (38.8%), and fatigue (18.4%). 28.6% (14 cases) of patients had hypertension and diabetes. Serum lymphocyte count and calcium concentration of the patients were decreased, but lactate dehydrogenase, ESR, CRP and serum amyloid A were increased in these patients. T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+) decreased significantly in these patients. Forty-seven patients (95.9%) had single or scattered patchy ground glass density shadows on the chest CT. Compared with common patients, the patients with severe/critical patients were older (P=0.023), hospitalized later (P=0.002), and had higher comorbidities (P=0.017). ESR (P=0.001）, CRP (P=0.010) and the serum amyloid A (P=0.040) increased significantly, while CD3+ (P<0.001), CD4+ (P=0.012), CD8+ (P=0.006) decreased significantly in severe/critical patients.ConclusionsThe patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Jiangxi province are commonly imported from Wuhan. Severe/critical patients are older, hospitalized later, and have more medical complications and more severe systemic inflammatory reactions than common patients.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of convalescent plasma (CP) in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, VIP, WanFang Data and CNKI databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of CP in the treatment of COVID-19 from inception to September 15th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies; then, meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.1 software. ResultsA total of 16 RCTs involving 15 301 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that CP treatment did not reduce mortality compared with no-placebo (RR=0.99, 95%CI 0.93 to 1.05, P=0.63) or normal saline (RR=1.06, 95%CI 0.60 to 1.86, P=0.84). However, compared with standard plasma, the mortality of CP group was lower (RR=0.59, 95%CI 0.37 to 0.95, P=0.03). In addition, compared with no-placebo or normal saline, CP treatment could not improve the clinical condition at 28-30 days, reduce mortality at early treatment and in patients without invasive mechanical ventilation when randomized. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that compared with no-placebo or normal saline, CP does not reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19. However, when the disease progresses to the point where standard plasma is required, CP may reduce mortality. In addition, use of CP in patients with early or non-critical COVID-19 failed to reduce mortality. Due to limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are required to verify the above conclusion.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at the end of December 2019, more than 85% of the population in China has been infected. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mainly affects the respiratory system, especially the lungs. The mortality rate of patients with severe infection is high. A percentage of 6% to 10% of patients will eventually develop into COVID-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS), which requires mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. Some patients who survive acute lung injury will subsequently develop post COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis (PCPF). Both fully treated CARDS and severe PCPF are suitable candidates for lung transplantation. Due to the special course, evaluation strategies are different from those used in patients with common end-stage lung disease. After lung transplantation in COVID-19 patients, special treatment is required, including standardized nucleic acid testing for the novel coronavirus, adjustment strategy of immunosuppressive drugs, and rational use of antiviral drugs, which is a big challenge for the postoperative management of lung transplantation. This consensus was evidence-based written and was reached by experts after multiple rounds of discussions, providing reference for assessment and postoperative management of patients with interstitial pneumonia after COVID-19 infection.
Objective To evaluate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impact on diagnosis related groups (DRGs) in a general hospital based on the front page of the medical record. Methods The first page data of discharge medical records of Nanjing First Hospital from February to March 2019 (before the epidemic) and from February to March 2020 (during the epidemic) were selected. Five indexes including total weight, number of DRGs, case mixed index index, time consumption index and cost consumption index were calculated. The rank of DRGs indexes of departments was compared by rank-sum ratio (RSR) method. The departments were sorted by frequency distribution and linear regression equation. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 impact on DRGs index of surgical departments and non operative departments was observed. Results Twenty-eight departments were included from February to March 2019, and 25 departments were included from February to March 2020. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the total DRGs index rank (RSR) decreased from 12.982 to 11.710. Ophthalmology, burn and plastic surgery, orthopedics, otorhinolaryngology, stomatology and pain department were the departments with lower ranking; the departments of gynecology, oncology, immunology and neurology were ranked higher. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the DRGs related indexes of surgical departments and non-surgical departments decreased significantly in terms of total weight and the number of DRGs (P<0.05). Conclusions COVID-19 affects the overall quality of hospital difficulty, and the surgical departments are significantly involved. The RSR level of several departments is reduced. In the face of the epidemic situation, hospitals should offset or weaken the uncertainty brought by the epidemic situation to the hospital disease treatment and ensure the high-quality hospital treatment by improving the “technical source”, ensuring the “disease source pool”, optimizing the “process chain” and strengthening the “new media”.
Since January 2020, due to the epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019, all universities in China have postponed their studies or even suspend their studies. In response to the teaching policy of “suspending class, but keeping teaching and learning” , college teachers have rapidly changed into online teaching mode. However, how to ensure the quality and effect of online teaching still needs further exploration. Through analyzing the course characteristics of medical imaging diagnostics and students’ learning situations, this study discusses how to design detailed online teaching projects and improve the teaching quality and how to select online software suitable for the course. A questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the effect of online teaching during the spring course in 2020, selecting a total of 297 clinical and other undergraduate students of grade 2017 from West China School of Medicine of Sichuan University. The results showed that the detailed online teaching programs including “video learning” “distance teaching” “periodic examination” “weakness tutorial” were helpful to the learning process agreed by the majority of students. During the epidemic period, online teaching method can help students master the content of medical imaging diagnosis. In the era of Internet, the “online+offline” teaching mode is expected to be popularized in the future.
ObjectiveTo investigate the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) signs of patients diagnosed with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and explore its evolution features during hospitalization.MethodsFrom January 17, 2020 to February 26, 2020, HRCT images from 15 COVID-19 patients were analyzed. All the patients had positive nucleic acid test results of SARS-CoV-2. The imaging features of initial and follow-up of each patient were reviewed and graded based on the severity of lung lesions.ResultsAmong the 15 COVID-19 patients, ground-glass opacity (GGO) was found in 14 cases. Six patients presented with consolidation and 3 with fibrosis. Five patients had multi-lobe involvement. Subpleural distribution pattern was present in 12 patients (80.0%) and peribronchovascular distribution pattern was present in 2 patients (13.3%). The severity score on HRCT images at the follow-up was significantly higher than that at the initial (4.6±3.4 vs. 3.5±2.5, P=0.018 2). Increase of random distribution pattern (5 cases) were also noted at the follow-up.ConclusionsChest HRCT of COVID-19 patients is characterized with GGO mainly distributed in subpleural areas and a rapid progression within a short time interval. HRCT could provide a sensitive monitor to observe disease progression for COVID-19 patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics and prognostic value of cellular immune function in severe patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsA cohort study was conducted to collect the clinical data of 119 severe patients admitted to the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (Eastern District) including 60 males (50.4%) and 59 females (49.6%), with an average age of 60.9±14.2 years. The primary endpoint of follow-up was death in the hospital, and the disease outcome classification was the secondary endpoint of follow-up within 30 days after admission. We analyzed the correlation between cellular immune function and COVID-19 prognosis.Results A total of 22 patients died during this process, and 47 patients were severe/critical during the follow-up period. The counts of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ in the primary endpoint events were significantly different between the survival group and the death group (all P<0.05). The counts of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ in the secondary endpoint events were significantly different between the normal group and the severe/critical group (all P<0.05). The results of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the area under the cellular immune function curve of dead patients and severe/critical patients had good predictive value (all P<0.05).ConclusionCell immune function has good clinical and prognostic value for COVID-19.
ObjectiveTo investigate a more convenient and safe sampling method for viral nucleic acid detection of coronavirus disease 2019.MethodsAn oropharyngeal swab and nasopharyngeal swab were simultaneously taken from 100 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in a hospital in Wuhan. Then the efficacies of two sampling methods were compared on the positive rates of viral nucleic acid detection.ResultsThe positive rate for SARS-CoV-2 was 54% in oropharyngeal swabs, while 89% positive in nasopharyngeal swabs. There was a significant difference in the detection rate between oropharyngeal swab and nasopharyngeal swab (χ2=3.850 4, P=0.049 7).ConclusionsThe positive rate for nucleic acid testing from nasopharyngeal swabs are significantly better than that from oropharyngeal swabs. Therefore, sampling by nasopharyngeal swabs, rather than oropharyngeal swabs, should be chosen as the preferred virological screening method for patients with coronavirus disease 2019.
ObjectiveTo explore the predictive value of a simplified signs scoring system for the severity and prognosis of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods Clinical data of 1 605 confirmed patients with COVID-19 from January to May 2020 in 45 hospitals of Sichuan and Hubei Provinces were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a mild group (n=1150, 508 males, average age of 51.32±16.26 years) and a severe group (n=455, 248 males, average age of 57.63±16.16 years). ResultsAge, male proportion, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure in the severe group were higher than those in the mild group (P<0.05). Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were lower than those in the mild group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, respiratory rate, SpO2, and GCS were independent risk factors for severe patients with COVID-19. Based on the above indicators, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of the simplified signs scoring system for predicting severe patients was 0.822, which was higher than that of the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) score and modified early warning score (MEWS, 0.629 and 0.631, P<0.001). The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of the simplified signs scoring system for predicting death was 0.796, higher than that of qSOFA score and MEWS score (0.710 and 0.706, P<0.001). ConclusionAge, respiratory rate, SpO2 and GCS are independent risk factors for severe patients with COVID-19. The simplified signs scoring system based on these four indicators may be used to predict patient's risk of severe illness or early death.
At present, there has been no report in China that novel coronavirus specific immune globulin has been used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recently, we had successfully treated one COVID-19 patient with intravenous injection of human immunoglobulin (COVID-19-IVIG). The female patient, aged 57 years, had clinical diagnosis: (1) COVID-19, common type; (2) postoperative colon cancer; (3) leukopenia; (4) low cellular immunity. 75 mL COVID-19 human immunoglobulin (Sinoptic Wuhan Blood Products Co., Ltd.) was intravenously injected twice. The patient was hospitalized for 49 days and had a good prognosis.