ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The expression of m6A-related genes and their significance in COVID-19 patients are still unknown. METHODS: The GSE177477 and GSE157103 datasets of the Gene Expression Omnibus were used to extract RNA-seq data. The expression of 26 m6A-related genes and immune cell infiltration in COVID-19 patients were analyzed. Finally, we built and validated a nomogram model to predict the risk of COVID-19 infection. RESULTS: There were significant differences in 11 m6A regulatory factors between patients with COVID-19 and healthy individuals. The classification of disease subtypes based on m6A-related gene levels can be distinguished. COVID-19 patients in GSE177477 were classified into two categories based on m6A-related genes. The patients in cluster A were all symptomatic, while those in cluster B were asymptomatic. A significant correlation was also found between immune cells and m6A-related genes. Finally, seven m6A-related disease-characteristic genes, HNRNPA2B1, ELAVL1, RBM15, RBM15B, YTHDC1, HNRNPC, and WTAP, were screened to construct a nomogram model for predicting risk. The calibration curve, decision curve analysis, and clinical impact curve analysis were used to show that the nomogram model was effective and had a high net efficacy for risk prediction. CONCLUSIONS: m6A-related genes were correlated with immune cells. The nomogram model effectively predicted COVID-19 risk. Moreover, m6A-related genes may be associated with the presence or absence of symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The 7-methylguanosine (m7G)-related genes were used to identify the clinical severity and prognosis of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to identify possible therapeutic targets. Patients and Methods: The GSE157103 dataset provides the transcriptional spectrum and clinical information required to analyze the expression of m7G-related genes and the disease subtypes. R language was applied for immune infiltration analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and nomogram model construction. Results: Most m7G-related genes were up-regulated in COVID-19 and were closely related to immune cell infiltration. Disease subtypes were grouped using a clustering algorithm. It was found that the m7G-cluster B was associated with higher immune infiltration, lower mechanical ventilation, lower intensive care unit (ICU) status, higher ventilator-free days, and lower m7G scores. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between m7G-cluster A and B were enriched in viral infection and immune-related aspects, including COVID-19 infection; Th17, Th1, and Th2 cell differentiation, and human T-cell leukemia virus 1 infection. Finally, through machine learning, six disease characteristic genes, NUDT4B, IFIT5, LARP1, EIF4E, LSM1, and NUDT4, were screened and used to develop a nomogram model to estimate disease risk. Conclusion: The expression of most m7G genes was higher in COVID-19 patients compared with that in non-COVID-19 patients. The m7G-cluster B showed higher immune infiltration and milder symptoms. The predictive nomogram based on the six m7G genes can be used to accurately assess risk.
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Purpose: The Chinese government has authorized the emergency use of an inactivated vaccine for COVID-19 in children and adolescents aged 3 to 17 years. This study aimed to investigate parents' attitudes towards vaccinating their children against COVID-19 and influencing factors. Patients and Methods: Through an online questionnaire survey, we collected self-reported children's demographic characteristics, physical conditions and parents' attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination for children. The parents in the unwilling group received online consultation about the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccine and were asked to complete the questionnaire again. Results: A total of 868 participants were recruited from July 2021 to August 2021 in Nanjing, China. Overall, 76.0% of parents were willing to accept vaccination for children. Parents' willingness increased with children's age (P=0.018) and height (P=0.034), but decreased if the children fell sick within previous one month (P=0.030). Most of the unwilling parents gave a higher score to the risk of vaccination (53.76 VS 40.18). Unsafety (63.8%) and unfamiliarity (24.0%) were their major concerns. After consultation with a health worker, 24% of the unwilling parents turned willing. Conclusion: Children's age and recent physical condition are related to parents' attitudes towards vaccination for children against COVID-19. The major concerns of parents are unsafety and unfamiliarity. Parents view health workers as a reliable source of vaccine information. A successful consultation with health workers to understand the benefits and risks of vaccination can increase parents' willingness. This study provides insight into parents' attitudes towards vaccination for children against COVID-19 in China and related influencing factors. Our findings could be referenced in establishing policies for vaccinating children against COVID-19 in China.
ABSTRACT
Background: Information on the intention of parents of children with special diseases to vaccinate their children against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is scarce. Methods: In this survey, all participants (n = 914) were enrolled from a tertiary children's hospital between September 2020 and April 2021. A face-to-face questionnaire interview was conducted to collect information on the special diseases of children and parental attitudes about the COVID-19 vaccine. We compared the demographic and disease factors between the group of parents who were willing to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 and the group who were unwilling to vaccinate. Results: Among 941 children, 58.1% (n = 547) were boys. The Mean age was 1.4 (SD 1.9) years. If the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available for the child, 470 (49.9%) of parents were willing to provide vaccination for their children. The less the education levels of the father or mother, the more likely they were to vaccinate their children (P = 0.003, P = 0.007). However, more intentions to vaccinate were provided in parents of children with COVID-19 prevention and control education (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings provided evidence that some parents are willing to vaccinate their children with special diseases against COVID-19. Professional knowledge about COVID-19 prevention and control may contribute to increased parental intention.