Lymphocytes regulate expression of the SARS-CoV-2 cell entry factor ACE2 in the pancreas of T2DM patients.

AIMS: COVID-19 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) show both poorer clinical outcomes and have an increased risk of death. SARS-CoV-2 virus infection requires simultaneous expression of the SARS-CoV-2 cell entry factors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine type 2 (TMPRSS2) in the same cell. The aim of the study was to explore the underlying mechanisms of a COVID-19 infection in patients with T2DM. METHODS: The distribution and expression of AEC2 and TMPRSS2 in different pancreatic cell types in clinical samples of T2DM patients and diabetic mouse models were analysed by single-cell sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and basic experiments. RESULTS: The results showed that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are expressed in the ducts of the human pancreas. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can infect ductal cells in vivo through ACE2 and TMPRSS2. T2DM can promote the co-expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in exocrine ducts, including in the human pancreas. We hypothesize that ACE2 expression levels are associated with increased numbers of lymphocytes in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Increased blood glucose levels are associated with increased ACE2 expression and an increased number of lymphocytes. At the same time, lymphocytes can promote ACE2 expression.

Nursing Methods and Experience of Local Anesthesia Patients under Arthroscope.

In order to solve the nursing problems of local anesthesia patients under arthroscopy, a nursing method and experience based on local anesthesia patients under arthroscopy was proposed. From June 2019 to May 2021, 478 patients who underwent knee arthroscopy under spinal anesthesia or local anesthesia were retrospectively investigated, including 186 cases (38.9%) under local anesthesia and 292 cases (61.1%) under spinal anesthesia. 2% lidocaine plus epinephrine was injected locally and intra-articular in patients with local anesthesia, and 0.75% bupivacaine in patients with spinal anesthesia. It was found that in the local anesthesia group and spinal anesthesia group, 94.1% (175/186) and 98.3% (287/292) patients did not feel pain during operation. 93.0% (173/186 cases) and 96.2% (281/292 cases) of patients in the two groups were satisfied or very satisfied with the effect of anesthesia, respectively. The experimental results showed that local anesthesia was a simple and effective anesthesia method for knee arthroscopy, which was more reliable and safer than spinal anesthesia. Local anesthesia could be used for knee arthroscopy or cleaning and rinsing, free body removal, or even common meniscinoplasty.

Self-Assembling Nanovaccine Confers Complete Protection Against Zika Virus Without Causing Antibody-Dependent Enhancement.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic poses a substantial threat to the public, and the development of safe and effective vaccines is a demanding challenge. In this study, we constructed a kind of self-assembling nanovaccine which confers complete protection against ZIKV infection. The ZIKV envelop protein domain III (zEDIII) was presented on recombinant human heavy chain ferritin (rHF) to form the zEDIII-rHF nanoparticle. Immunization of mice with zEDIII-rHF nanoparticle in the absence of an adjuvant induced robust humoral and cellular immune responses. zEDIII-rHF vaccination conferred complete protection against lethal infection with ZIKV and eliminated pathological symptoms in the brain. Importantly, the zEDIII-rHF nanovaccine induced immune response did not cross-react with dengue virus-2, overcoming the antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) problem that is a safety concern for ZIKV vaccine development. Our constructed zEDIII-rHF nanovaccine, with superior protective performance and avoidance of ADE, provides an effective and safe vaccine candidate against ZIKV.

Case Report: A Re-Positive Case of SARS-CoV-2 Associated With Glaucoma.

The current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has already become a global threat to the human population. Infection with SARS-CoV-2 leads to a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Ocular abnormalities have been reported in association with COVID-19, but the nature of the impairments was not specified. Here, we report a case of a female patient diagnosed with glaucoma on re-hospitalization for ocular complications two months after being discharged from the hospital upon recovery from COVID-19. Meanwhile, the patient was found re-positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract. The infection was also diagnosed in the aqueous humor through immunostaining with antibodies against the N protein and S protein of SARS-CoV-2. Considering the eye is an immune-privileged site, we speculate that SARS-CoV-2 survived in the eye and resulted in the patient testing re-positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Reusable Self-Sterilization Masks Based on Electrothermal Graphene Filters.

Surgical mask is recommended by the World Health Organization for personal protection against disease transmission. However, most of the surgical masks on the market are disposable that cannot be self-sterilized for reuse. Thus, when confronting the global public health crisis, a severe shortage of mask resource is inevitable. In this paper, a novel low-cost electrothermal mask with excellent self-sterilization performance and portability is reported to overcome this shortage. First, a flexible, ventilated, and conductive cloth tape is patterned and adhered to the surface of a filter layer made of melt-blown nonwoven fabrics (MNF), which functions as interdigital electrodes. Then, a graphene layer with premier electric and thermal conductivity is coated onto the MNF. Operating under a low voltage of 3 V, the graphene-modified MNF (mod-MNF) can quickly generate large amounts of heat to achieve a high temperature above 80 °C, which can kill the majority of known viruses attached to the filter layer and the mask surface. Finally, the optimized graphene-modified masks based on the mod-MNF filter retain a relatively high particulate matter (PM) removal efficiency and a low-pressure drop. Moreover, the electrothermal masks can maintain almost the same PM removal efficiency over 10 times of electrifying, suggesting its outstanding reusability.

Toxicology Advances for 21st Century Chemical Pollution.

Pollution represents a leading threat to global health and ecosystems. Systems-based initiatives, including Planetary Health, EcoHealth, and One Health, require theoretical and translational platforms to address chemical pollution. Comparative and predictive toxicology are providing integrative approaches for identifying problematic contaminants, designing less hazardous alternatives, and reducing the impacts of chemical pollution.