Engineering Design of a Health Service Station Sewage Treatment Station under COVID-19 Epidemic

Health service station is a place in which close contacts with the COVID-19 and other key populations are centralized quarantined for medical observation.A newly built health service station is equipped with 4 700 beds and a supporting sewage treatment station with a designed treatment scale of2 200 m~3/d.The treatment process consists of enhanced biological treatment system,sewage virus disinfection and sterilization system,aerosol disinfection and sterilization system and sludge disinfection and sterilization system.After treatment,the effluent and waste gas can meet the limit specified in Discharge Standard of Water Pollutants for Medical Organization （GB 18466-2005）.The average COD,NH3-N and SS in effluent are 14.53 mg/L,1.26 mg/L and 9.11 mg/L,respectively,and the average concentrations of H2S,NH3 and odor at the outlet are 0.01 mg/L,0.8 mg/L and 6.3,respectively.The sludge is disinfected regularly and then transported outside for disposal.This project can provide reference for sewage treatment design of emergency medical temporary isolation and observation facility and cabin hospital.

Multiple face mask wearer detection based on YOLOv3 approach

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In breaking the transmission chain of SARS-CoV-2, the government has made it compulsory for the people to wear a mask in public places to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Hence, an automated face mask detection is crucial to facilitate the monitoring process in ensuring people to wear a face mask in public. This project aims to develop an automated face and face mask detection for multiple people by applying deep learning-based object detection algorithm you only look once version 3 (YOLOv3). YOLOv3 object detection algorithm was concatenated with different backbones including ResNet-50 and Darknet-53 to develop the face and face mask detection model. Datasets were collected from online resources including Kaggle and Github and the images were filtered and labelled accordingly. The models were trained on 4393 images and evaluated based on precision, recall, mean average precision and the detection time. In conclusion, DarkNet53_YOLOv3 was chosen as the better model compared to ResNet50_YOLOv3 model with its good performance on accuracy with a mAP of 95.94% and a fast detection speed with a detection time of 50 seconds on 776 images.

Multiple face mask wearer detection based on YOLOv3 approach

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. In breaking the transmission chain of SARS-CoV-2, the government has made it compulsory for the people to wear a mask in public places to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Hence, an automated face mask detection is crucial to facilitate the monitoring process in ensuring people to wear a face mask in public. This project aims to develop an automated face and face mask detection for multiple people by applying deep learning-based object detection algorithm you only look once version 3 (YOLOv3). YOLOv3 object detection algorithm was concatenated with different backbones including ResNet-50 and Darknet-53 to develop the face and face mask detection model. Datasets were collected from online resources including Kaggle and Github and the images were filtered and labelled accordingly. The models were trained on 4393 images and evaluated based on precision, recall, mean average precision and the detection time. In conclusion, DarkNet53_YOLOv3 was chosen as the better model compared to ResNet50_YOLOv3 model with its good performance on accuracy with a mAP of 95.94% and a fast detection speed with a detection time of 50 seconds on 776 images.

Inhalable dry powder mRNA vaccines based on extracellular vesicles.

Respiratory diseases are a global burden, with millions of deaths attributed to pulmonary illnesses and dysfunctions. Therapeutics have been developed, but they present major limitations regarding pulmonary bioavailability and product stability. To circumvent such limitations, we developed room-temperature-stable inhalable lung-derived extracellular vesicles or exosomes (Lung-Exos) as mRNA and protein drug carriers. Compared with standard synthetic nanoparticle liposomes (Lipos), Lung-Exos exhibited superior distribution to the bronchioles and parenchyma and are deliverable to the lungs of rodents and nonhuman primates (NHPs) by dry powder inhalation. In a vaccine application, severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (S) protein encoding mRNA-loaded Lung-Exos (S-Exos) elicited greater immunoglobulin G (IgG) and secretory IgA (SIgA) responses than its loaded liposome (S-Lipo) counterpart. Importantly, S-Exos remained functional at room-temperature storage for one month. Our results suggest that extracellular vesicles can serve as an inhaled mRNA drug-delivery system that is superior to synthetic liposomes.

Comorbidity of hepatic cystic echinococcosis with HBV/HCV infection, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. (Theme Issue: New advances in the precise diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.) [Chinese]

Objective: To investigate the comorbidity of hepatic cystic echinococcosis with HBV/HCV infection, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and to lay a foundation for further research on the influence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis on HBV/HCV infection, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Anti-Interferon Autoantibodies in Adult-Onset Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Severe COVID-19 Infection

Adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome due to anti-interferon (IFN)-γ autoantibodies has attracted much attention in recent years. It usually occurs in previously healthy people and usually presents as chronic, recurrent, and hard-to-control infections that can be effectively treated with aggressive antibiotic therapy. Adult-onset immunodeficiency syndrome is also referred to as AIDS-like syndrome. Anti-type I IFN (IFN-I) autoantibodies have been reported to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and preexisting anti-IFN-I autoantibodies are associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19. This review summarizes the effects of anti-IFN autoantibodies on the susceptibility and severity of various infectious diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, we discuss the role of anti-IFN autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases that are characterized by recurrent infections.

Uric acid as a prognostic factor and critical marker of COVID-19.

The purpose of this study is to explore whether uric acid (UA) can independently act as a prognostic factor and critical marker of the 2019 novel corona virus disease (COVID-19). A multicenter, retrospective, and observational study including 540 patients with confirmed COVID-19 was carried out at four designated hospitals in Wuhan. Demographic, clinical, laboratory data were collected and analyzed. The primary end point was in-hospital death of patients with COVID-19. The concentration of admission UA (adUA) and the lowest concentration of uric acid during hospitalization (lowUA) in the dead patients were significantly lower than those in the survivors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the concentration of lowUA (OR 0.986, 95% CI 0.980-0.992, p < 0.001) was able to independently predict the risk of in-hospital death. The mean survival time in the low-level group of lowUA was significantly lower than other groups. When lowUA was ≤ 166 µmol/L, the sensitivity and specificity in predicting hospital short-term mortality were 76.9%, (95% CI 68.5-85.1%) and 74.9% (95% CI 70.3-78.9%). This retrospective study determined that the lowest concentration of UA during hospitalization can be used as a prognostic indicator and a marker of disease severity in severe patients with COVID-19.

Clinical Symptom Differences Between Mild and Severe COVID-19 Patients in China: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The prognosis of mild and severe patients has prominent differences during the prevalence of COVID-19, and it will be significant to identify patients' potential risk of progressing to severe cases according to their first clinical presentations. Therefore, we aim to review the clinical symptoms of the COVID-19 epidemic systematically. Methods:We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI (Chinese Database) for studies about the clinical features of COVID-19 in China from March 18 to April 18. Then we used REVMAN to conduct a meta-analysis. Results: After screening, 20 articles including 3,326 COVID-19 confirmed cases were selected from 142 articles we retrieved at the beginning of our research. We divided all the cases into a severe group (including severe and critically severe patients) and a mild group according to the "Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Infection-Induced Pneumonia" version 4 (trial). Of all the initial symptoms (including fever, cough, abdominal pain, anorexia, chest tightness, diarrhea, dyspnea, expectoration, fatigue, headache, hemoptysis, myalgia, nausea or vomiting, and pharyngalgia) we studied, we found that cough (odds ratio [OR] = 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-1.7; p < 0.001), fever (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.9; p < 0.001), dyspnea (OR = 6.2, 95% CI: 3.6-10.6; p < 0.001), diarrhea (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.3-4.9; p < 0.001), fatigue (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.3; p < 0.01), expectoration (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2-2.6; p < 0.01), myalgia (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 0.8-3.1; p < 0.001), hemoptysis (OR = 4.0, 95% CI: 1.5-11.3; p < 0.001), abdominal pain (OR = 7.5, 95% CI: 2.4-23.4; p < 0.001), and anorexia (OR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.5-5.1; p < 0.001) had a different distribution in two groups and were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion:COVID-19 patients whose initial manifestation is dyspnea, hemoptysis, anorexia, diarrhea, or fatigue, especially abdominal pain should be closely monitored to prevent disease deterioration.

Clinical characteristics and predictive value of lower CD4+T cell level in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: In December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Moreover, it has become a global pandemic. This is of great value in describing the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 patients in detail and looking for markers which are significant to predict the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. METHODS: In this multicenter, retrospective study, 476 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled from a consecutive series. After screening, a total of 395 patients were included in this study. All-cause death was the primary endpoint. All patients were followed up from admission till discharge or death. RESULTS: The main symptoms observed in the study included fever on admission, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. The most common comorbidities were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Patients with lower CD4+T cell level were older and more often male compared to those with higher CD4+T cell level. Reduced CD8+T cell level was an indicator of the severity of COVID-19. Both decreased CD4+T [HR:13.659; 95%CI: 3.235-57.671] and CD8+T [HR: 10.883; 95%CI: 3.277-36.145] cell levels were associated with in-hospital death in COVID-19 patients, but only the decrease of CD4+T cell level was an independent predictor of in-hospital death in COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Reductions in lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets were common in COVID-19 patients, especially in severe cases of COVID-19. It was the CD8+T cell level, not the CD4+T cell level, that reflected the severity of the patient's disease. Only reduced CD4+T cell level was independently associated with increased in-hospital death in COVID-19 patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Prognostic Factors of Patients With COVID-19, NCT04292964 . Registered 03 March 2020. Retrospectively registered.

Nutritional risk and therapy for severe and critical COVID-19 patients: A multicenter retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional risk and therapy in severe and critical patients with COVID-19. METHODS: A total of 523 patients enrolled from four hospitals in Wuhan, China. The inclusion time was from January 2, 2020 to February 15. Clinical characteristics and laboratory values were obtained from electronic medical records, nursing records, and related examinations. RESULTS: Of these patients, 211 (40.3%) were admitted to the ICU and 115 deaths (22.0%). Patients admitted to the ICU had lower BMI and plasma protein levels. The median Nutrition risk in critically ill (NUTRIC) score of 211 patients in the ICU was 5 (4, 6) and Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) score was 5 (3, 6). The ratio of parenteral nutrition (PN) therapy in non-survivors was greater than that in survivors, and the time to start nutrition therapy was later than that in survivors. The NUTRIC score can independently predict the risk of death in the hospital (OR = 1.197, 95%CI: 1.091-1.445, p = 0.006) and high NRS score patients have a higher risk of poor outcome in the ICU (OR = 1.880, 95%CI: 1.151-3.070, p = 0.012). After adjusted age and sex, for each standard deviation increase in BMI, the risk of in-hospital death was reduced by 13% (HR = 0.871, 95%CI: 0.795-0.955, p = 0.003), and the risk of ICU transfer was reduced by 7% (HR = 0.932, 95%CI:0.885-0.981, p = 0.007). The in-hospital survival time of patients with albumin level ≤35 g/L was significantly decreased (15.9 d, 95% CI: 13.7-16.3, vs 24.2 d, 95% CI: 22.3-29.7, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Severe and critical patients with COVID-19 have a high risk of malnutrition. Low BMI and protein levels were significantly associated with adverse events. Early nutritional risk screening and therapy for patients with COVID-19 are necessary.

Safety and efficacy of inferoposterior access approach to the renal pedicle during transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: A retrospective comparative analysis at a single institution

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy using an inferoposterior approach to the renal pedicle. Materials and methods: A retrospective review of 89 patients who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy by a single surgeon between June 2014 and December 2019 at a single urological unit was carried out. Access to the renal pedicle was via the inferoposterior approach in 48 cases (study group) and 41 were approached via the conventional anterior approach (control group). Patient demographics, intra-operative anatomical findings, and procedural details including operative time on renal pedicles and post-operative outcomes were recorded. Post-operative complications were recorded and classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. A comparative analysis between the two groups was performed using Chi-square test and t-test. Results: The inferoposterior approach group had a shorter operative time (132.85±26.65 min vs 153.46±39.94 min;p<0.01), which could be attributed to the shorter time spent operating on the renal vasculature (46.31±6.16 min vs 64.46±7.64 min;p<0.01). Lower average blood loss was also observed in the inferoposterior approach group (42 ml vs 62 ml;p<0.05). No significant difference was identified concerning the mean patient age, body mass index, tumor size, number of renal vessels identified, and post-operative length of stay between the two groups. None of the patients required conversion to open. Conclusion: Inferoposterior approach to access the renal pedicle during transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is a safe and effective technique, which shortens the operative time when compared to the conventional anterior approach. Level of evidence_ Level 3b.

Prognostic value of NT-proBNP in patients with severe COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China has been declared a public health emergency of international concern. The cardiac injury is a common condition among the hospitalized patients with COVID-19. However, whether N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predicted outcome of severe COVID-19 patients was unknown. METHODS: The study initially enrolled 102 patients with severe COVID-19 from a continuous sample. After screening out the ineligible cases, 54 patients were analyzed in this study. The primary outcome was in-hospital death defined as the case fatality rate. Research information and following-up data were obtained from their medical records. RESULTS: The best cut-off value of NT-proBNP for predicting in-hospital death was 88.64 pg/mL with the sensitivity for 100% and the specificity for 66.67%. Patients with high NT-proBNP values (> 88.64 pg/mL) had a significantly increased risk of death during the days of following-up compared with those with low values (≤88.64 pg/mL). After adjustment for potential risk factors, NT-proBNP was independently correlated with in-hospital death. CONCLUSION: NT-proBNP might be an independent risk factor for in-hospital death in patients with severe COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials, NCT04292964. Registered 03 March 2020.