ABSTRACT
At present, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global health crisis. Scientists all over the globe are urgently looking forward to an effective solution to prevent the spread of the epidemic and avoid more casualties at an early date. In this study, we establish an effective platform for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 by combining the neutralization strategy and RNAi technology. To protect normal cells from infection, the customized cells are constructed to stably express viral antigenic receptor ACE2 on the cell membrane. These modified cells are used as bait for inducing the viral entry. The transcription and replication activities of viral genome are intercepted subsequently by the intracellular shRNAs, which are complementary to the viral gene fragments. A pseudotyped virus reconstructed from the HIV lentivirus is utilized as a virus model, by which we validate the feasibility and effectiveness of our strategy in vitro. Our work establishes an initial model and lays the foundation for future prevention and treatment of various RNA viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Chinese Journal of Polymer Science (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Introduction: It is believed that strengthening cardiopulmonary function can reduce health risks caused by the COVID-19 virus, and swimming is a practice that could benefit its practitioners during the epidemic context. Objective: Study the effect of swimming on the cardiopulmonary capacity of college students in the context of COVID-19. Methods: A total of 60 volunteers in three groups were trained twice a week for one hour each for 12 weeks. Among them, swimming group A performed freestyle exercises, swimming group B performed breaststroke exercises, and the control group performed reading activities or another study, mainly focusing on staying seated. Results: The cardiopulmonary capacity of groups A and B was improved, while the cardiopulmonary capacity of the control group experienced little change. This shows that swimming training can effectively improve cardiopulmonary capacity in college students. Conclusion: Appropriate swimming training can improve the cardiopulmonary capacity of college students, and optimize their physical fitness, in the context of COVID-19. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.
RESUMO Introdução: Acredita-se que o fortalecimento da função cardiopulmonar possa reduzir os riscos à saúde causados pelo vírus COVID-19, sendo a natação uma prática que poderia beneficiar seus praticantes durante o contexto epidêmico. Objetivo: Estudar o efeito da natação sobre a capacidade cardiopulmonar dos estudantes universitários sob o contexto da COVID-19. Métodos: Um total de 60 voluntários em três grupos foram treinados duas vezes por semana durante uma hora cada, durante 12 semanas. Entre eles, o grupo de natação A realizou exercícios de estilo livre, o grupo de natação B realizou exercícios de bruços, e o grupo de controle realizou atividades de leitura ou outro estudo, focando principalmente em manterem-se sentados. Resultados: A capacidade cardiopulmonar do grupo A e B foi melhorada, enquanto que a capacidade cardiopulmonar do grupo de controle sofreu poucas alterações. Isto mostra que o treinamento de natação pode efetivamente melhorar a capacidade cardiopulmonar dos estudantes universitários. Conclusão: O treinamento adequado de natação pode melhorar a capacidade cardiopulmonar dos estudantes universitários, otimizar sua aptidão física, no contexto da COVID-19. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.
RESUMEN Introducción: Se cree que el fortalecimiento de la función cardiopulmonar puede reducir los riesgos para la salud causados por el virus COVID-19, y la natación es una práctica que podría beneficiar a sus practicantes durante el contexto epidémico. Objetivo: Estudiar el efecto de la natación sobre la capacidad cardiopulmonar de los estudiantes universitarios en el contexto del COVID-19. Métodos: Se entrenó a un total de 60 voluntarios en tres grupos dos veces por semana durante una hora cada uno durante 12 semanas. Entre ellos, el grupo de natación A realizaba ejercicios de estilo libre, el grupo de natación B realizaba ejercicios de braza, y el grupo de control realizaba actividades de lectura u otro tipo de estudio, centrándose principalmente en permanecer sentado. Resultados: La capacidad cardiopulmonar de los grupos A y B mejoró, mientras que la capacidad cardiopulmonar del grupo de control experimentó pocos cambios. Esto demuestra que el entrenamiento de natación puede mejorar eficazmente la capacidad cardiopulmonar de los estudiantes universitarios. Conclusión: Un entrenamiento de natación adecuado puede mejorar la capacidad cardiopulmonar de los estudiantes universitarios y optimizar su aptitud física, en el contexto del COVID-19. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.
ABSTRACT
At present, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global health crisis. Scientists all over the globe are urgently looking forward to an effective solution to prevent the spread of the epidemic and avoid more casualties at an early date. In this study, we establish an effective platform for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 by combining the neutralization strategy and RNAi technology. To protect normal cells from infection, the customized cells are constructed to stably express viral antigenic receptor ACE2 on the cell membrane. These modified cells are used as bait for inducing the viral entry. The transcription and replication activities of viral genome are intercepted subsequently by the intracellular shRNAs, which are complementary to the viral gene fragments. A pseudotyped virus reconstructed from the HIV lentivirus is utilized as a virus model, by which we validate the feasibility and effectiveness of our strategy in vitro. Our work establishes an initial model and lays the foundation for future prevention and treatment of various RNA viruses. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Chinese Journal of Polymer Science (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a worldwide chronic disease combined with the COVID-19 pandemic prompts the need for improving the management of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with preexisting T2D to reduce complications and the risk of death. This study aimed to identify clinical factors associated with COVID-19 outcomes specifically targeted at T2D patients and build an individualized risk prediction nomogram for risk stratification and early clinical intervention to reduce mortality. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the clinical characteristics of 382 confirmed COVID-19 patients, consisting of 108 with and 274 without preexisting T2D, from January 8 to March 7, 2020, in Tianyou Hospital in Wuhan, China, were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were performed to identify specific clinical factors associated with mortality of COVID-19 patients with T2D. An individualized risk prediction nomogram was developed and evaluated by discrimination and calibration. RESULTS: Nearly 15% (16/108) of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with T2D died. Twelve risk factors predictive of mortality were identified. Older age (HR = 1.076, 95% CI = 1.014-1.143, p=0.016), elevated glucose level (HR = 1.153, 95% CI = 1.038-1.28, p=0.0079), increased serum amyloid A (SAA) (HR = 1.007, 95% CI = 1.001-1.014, p=0.022), diabetes treatment with only oral diabetes medication (HR = 0.152, 95%CI = 0.032-0.73, p=0.0036), and oral medication plus insulin (HR = 0.095, 95%CI = 0.019-0.462, p=0.019) were independent prognostic factors. A nomogram based on these prognostic factors was built for early prediction of 7-day, 14-day, and 21-day survival of diabetes patients. High concordance index (C-index) was achieved, and the calibration curves showed the model had good prediction ability within three weeks of COVID-19 onset. CONCLUSIONS: By incorporating specific prognostic factors, this study provided a user-friendly graphical risk prediction tool for clinicians to quickly identify high-risk T2D patients hospitalized for COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: With evidence of sustained transmission in more than 190 countries, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic. Data are urgently needed about risk factors associated with clinical outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of 323 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan was conducted. Patients were classified into 3 disease severity groups (nonsevere, severe, and critical), based on initial clinical presentation. Clinical outcomes were designated as favorable and unfavorable, based on disease progression and response to treatments. Logistic regression models were performed to identify risk factors associated with clinical outcomes, and log-rank test was conducted for the association with clinical progression. RESULTS: Current standard treatments did not show significant improvement in patient outcomes. By univariate logistic regression analysis, 27 risk factors were significantly associated with clinical outcomes. Multivariate regression indicated age >65 years (P < .001), smoking (P = .001), critical disease status (P = .002), diabetes (P = .025), high hypersensitive troponin I (>0.04 pg/mL, P = .02), leukocytosis (>10 × 109/L, P < .001), and neutrophilia (>75 × 109/L, P < .001) predicted unfavorable clinical outcomes. In contrast, the administration of hypnotics was significantly associated with favorable outcomes (P < .001), which was confirmed by survival analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Hypnotics may be an effective ancillary treatment for COVID-19. We also found novel risk factors, such as higher hypersensitive troponin I, predicted poor clinical outcomes. Overall, our study provides useful data to guide early clinical decision making to reduce mortality and improve clinical outcomes of COVID-19.