Uncovering the behavioral determinants behind private car purchase intention during the new normal of COVID-19: An empirical investigation in China.

Based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the Psychological Reactance Theory (PRT), and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we revealed the psychological impact factors of individuals' private car purchase intentions during the new normal of COVID-19. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and Bayesian network (BN) were used to analyzed the car purchase decision-making mechanism. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect empirical data from April 20th to May 26th of 2020 in China. We investigated 645 participants and analyzed the data. The SEM results showed that conditional value, pro-car-purchasing attitude, and perceived behavioral control, health value, and cost factors have significant direct effects on car purchase intention. According to BN's prediction of purchase intention, the probability of high purchase intention grew by 47.6%, 97.3% and 163.0%, respectively, with perceived behavioral control, pro-car-purchasing attitude, and conditional value shifting from "low" to "medium" and "high". This study provided a new perspective for researchers to explore the purchase intention of cars during the epidemic. Meanwhile, we could provide a reference for the government and enterprises to develop measures related to the automobile market."

Development of Highly Potent Noncovalent Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro

The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) is an essential enzyme for the replication of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses and thus is a target for coronavirus drug discovery. Nearly all inhibitors of coronavirus 3CLpro reported so far are covalent inhibitors. Here, we report the development of specific, noncovalent inhibitors of 3CLpro. The most potent one, WU-04, effectively blocks SARS-CoV-2 replications in human cells with EC50 values in the 10-nM range. WU-04 also inhibits the 3CLpro of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV with high potency, indicating that it is a pan-inhibitor of coronavirus 3CLpro. WU-04 showed anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity similar to that of PF-07321332 (Nirmatrelvir) in K18-hACE2 mice when the same dose was administered orally. Thus, WU-04 is a promising drug candidate for coronavirus treatment. A novel oral noncovalent inhibitor of 3C-like protease, named WU-04, was developed as a promising drug candidate for COVID-19 treatment.

On parents' choice of the school travel mode during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the protection motivation theory (PMT), this study examines the factors that influence parental choice of school travel mode during COVID-19. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and a hybrid choice model (HCM) are used to analyze this decision-making process. The results show that trust, perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, perceived built environment, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control are significant factors. Perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, and the evaluation of pandemic risk, significantly impact the choice of public transit and private car, but not walking. Perceived built environment is the most critical factor influencing the choice of walking. The results provide a theoretical basis and reference for relevant government departments to formulate policies and measures during COVID-19.

Successful treatment of a kidney transplant patient with COVID-19 and late-onset Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (preprint)

Background: Solid transplant patients are susceptible to Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). While the vast majority of PJP cases occur within the first 6 months after transplantation, very few PJP cases are seen beyond 1 year post transplantation (late-onset PJP). PJP and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2) share quite a few common clinical manifestations and imaging findings, making the diagnosis of PJP often underappreciated during the current COVID-19 pandemic. To date, only 1 case of kidney transplantation who developed COVID-19 and late-onset PJP has been reported, but this patient also suffered from many other infections and died from respiratory failure and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. A successful treatment of kidney patients with COVID-19 and late-onset PJP has not been reported. Case presentation: We present a case of a 55-year-old male kidney transplant patient with COVID-19 who also developed late-onset PJP. He received a combined strategy, including specific anti-pneumocystis therapy, symptomatic supportive therapy, adjusted immunosuppressive therapy, and use of antiviral/antibiotics drugs, ending with a favorable outcome. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of prompt and differential diagnosis of PJP in kidney transplant patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further studies are required to clarify if kidney transplant patients with COVID-19 could be prone to develop late-onset PJP and how these patients should be treated.

Antibody response among COVID-19 patient with and without re-detectable positive RT-PCR results in convalescent phases (preprint)

Objective: To analyze the dynamic of total, IgA, IgM and IgG antibody of the confirmed COVID-19 patients during convalescent phases to understand the kinetics of antibody response among recovered patients.Methods: From March 4 to April 29, 2020, a total of 143 recovered COVID-19 patients with clear date of illness onset available were enrolled in this study. Nasopharyngeal and anal swabs were collected for SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing. Blood samples were collected for antibodies testing. Results: A total of 275 blood samples up to 96 days after illness onset were collected from 143 recovered patients. High titers of total and IgG antibodies continued to persist for over 3 months, with 100% and 99.3% patients remaining positive for total and IgG antibody. IgM antibody declined rapidly with a median time to seronegative at 67 (95%CI: 59, 75) days after illness onset. Around 25% patients were seronegative for IgA antibody at month 3 after illness onset. No statistical significance difference was founded in the antibody kinetics between patients with and without re-detectable positive RT-PCR results during in convalescent phases. Conclusion: Similar high antibody titers of total and IgG antibody continued to persist for over 3 months among recovered COVID-19 patients with and without re-detectable positive RT-PCR results.

Research on pregnant women suspected of having COVID-19 in the epidemic outbreak area (preprint)

Background COVID-19 has become a major public health problem around the world. There are limited data on maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 pneumonia. The purpose of this study is to investigate and analysis the clinical features, imaging findings, related laboratory indicators, treatments and outcomes of maternal-fetal for cases of suspected infection COVID-19 pregnant women in outbreak area in order to provide reference for clinical work.Methods A case-control study was conducted to compare clinical features, treatment, maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with and without COVID-19 pneumonia.Results One confirmed patient who was discharged from hospital after a negative RT-PCR result, was readmitted and subsequently tested positive on RT-PCR. The vaginal delivery rate and gestational week of confirmed case group showed significantly lower than 2019 control group. Pulmonary CT images were initially same between confirmed group and suspected group, but changed over time with different trends. The two case groups shared similar dynamic profiles on blood routine test. Four confirmed cases which had COVID-19 antibody test were all positive for IgG antibody and negative for IgM antibody, via both umbilical cord blood and the newborns. Fifteen of newborns (three confirmed and twelve suspected cases) at nearly three months old were tested negative by antibodies.Conclusions Pulmonary CT images showed different trends with the extending of time between confirmed group and suspected group. Blood test results weren’t strong enough to make differential diagnosis between two case groups. Perform antibody test can understand the antibody responses mounted in response to the virus, and to identify individuals who are potentially immune to re-infection. Infant obtain COVID-19 IgG antibody from maternal that only may last for less than three months.

Highly pathogenic coronavirus N protein aggravates lung injury by MASP-2-mediated complement over-activation (preprint)

An excessive immune response contributes to SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and lethality, but the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, the N proteins of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 were found to bind to MASP-2, the key serine protease in the lectin pathway of complement activation, resulting in aberrant complement activation and aggravated inflammatory lung injury. Either blocking the N protein:MASP-2 interaction or suppressing complement activation can significantly alleviate N protein-induced complement hyper-activation and lung injury in vitro and in vivo. Complement hyper-activation was also observed in COVID-19 patients, and a promising suppressive effect was observed when the deteriorating patients were treated with anti-C5a monoclonal antibody. Complement suppression may represent a common therapeutic approach for pneumonia induced by these highly pathogenic coronaviruses.

Management plan for prevention and control of novel coronavirus pneumonia among children in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University / 中国当代儿科杂志

@#Since December 2019, an epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) has occurred in China. How to effectively prevent and control NCP among children with limited resources is an urgent issue to be explored. Under the unified arrangement of the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, the Department of Pediatrics has formulated an action plan with Xiangya unique model to prevent and control NCP among children according to the current epidemic situation and diagnostic and therapeutic program in China.