ABSTRACT
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) colorimetric assays based on distance-dependent optical characteristics have been widely employed for bioanalysis. However, this assay is not effective for visually detecting low-concentration targets due to the faint color change. Here, we developed a handheld nano-centrifugal device which could separate the crosslinked and non-crosslinked AuNPs. Results showed that the handheld nano-centrifugal device could easily reach more than 6000 r/min within 10 s simply by stretching and tightening the coiled rope in an appropriate rhythm. Further, combined with the CRISPR/Cas12a nucleic acids recognition system, a field-deployable colorimetric platform termed handheld nano-centrifugal device assisted CRISPR/Cas12a (Hand-CRISPR) has been validated. Moreover, clinical diagnostics applications for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection with high sensitivity and accuracy (100% consistency with reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) test results) have been demonstrated. Overall, the Hand-CRISPR platform showed great promise in point-of-care-test (POCT) application, expected to become a powerful supplement to the standard nucleic acid testing method in remote or poverty-stricken areas. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41664-022-00232-0.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 is a life-threatening disease and how to improve survival of the patients is of great importance. Objective: To determine whether tocilizumab (TCZ) shows favorable results in coronavirus disease 2019 patients. Materials & methods: A retrospective study of four patients who received TCZ was conducted from 19 February to 31 March 2020 at Leishenshan Hospital, Wuhan, China. Clinical data of patients were compared before and after the administration of the agent. Results: There was not much difference in the clinical feature improvements and computed tomography images after TCZ administration in two mild patients. The other two severe patients died of disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute respiratory distress syndrome, respectively. Conclusion: Administration of TCZ was not shown a favorable outcome in this preliminary uncontrolled case series.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the feasibility of evaluation of patients with COVID-19 using combined chest CT presentations and interleukin-6(IL-6) levels for classification after initial diagnosis. Methods A retrospective analysis of medical records of 59 confirmed cases of COVID-19(moderate and severe) was conducted using the semi-quantitative scoring of chest CT presentation and the blood IL-6 count.The Spearman correlation was used to compare the association between the IL-6 counts and the CT scores in the moderate group with IL abnormality and in the severity group.By evaluating IL-6 count, CT scores and combined IL-6 count + CT scores, the area under curve(AUC) and the 95% confidence interval of the receiver operator characteristic(ROC) curve and logistic regression analysis were computed to predict the probability of the severe COVID-19 and to calculate the sensitivity and specificity. Results Among moderate patients, 9 showed normal IL-6 counts while 20 with abnormal values.The range of the IL-6 counts was 7.6-37.1 pg/ml with a mean of (20.07±9.79)pg/ml.The chest CT images were characterized by the domination of glass shadow of the lungs with or without consolidation.The CT scores were from 5 to 12 points with a mean of(8.85±1.71)points.For severe patients,30 demonstrated abnormal IL-6 counts.The range was(38.33-100.3)pg/ml and the mean was 58.53 pg/ml.From chest CT images,multiple presentations of both lungs could be seen.The range of CT scores was from 8 to 16 points with a mean of(13.00±2.61)points.The IL-6 counts [58.53(38.33-100.3)pg/ml]and CT scores[(13.00±2.61)points]of the severe patients were both significantly higher than that of the moderate patients.Within the group of severe patients,the IL-6 counts were positively correlated with the CT scores(r=0.658,P<0.05;r=0.397,P<0.05),whereas no correlation was found in the group of moderate patients.The results of ROC curve showed that the best cut-off values of IL-6 count and CT score were 33.9 pg/ml and 11 points,respectively,in the diagnosis for severe patients using the combination of the two measures.The sensitivity was 96.70% and the specificity was 89.70%,both of which were better than those when using IL-6 count or CT score alone. Conclusions The chest CT of moderate and severe COVID-19 patients after initial diagnosis exhibited distinct imaging features.Combining chest CT presentations and IL-6 levels is helpful for the classification of COVID-19 patients after initial diagnosis.