Expressions of SAA, CRP, and FERR in different severities of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression and significance of SAA, CRP and FERR in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 225 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to the North Hospital of First Hospital in Changsha, China, from 9th February 2020 to 7th March 2020 were enrolled. Their general data, laboratory test results and levels of SAA, CRP and FERR were extracted from electronic medical records. RESULTS: Age was an important risk factor for the severity of COVID-19 in the patients. Compared with the non-severe group, the severe group showed statistical significance in the levels of total protein, albumin, ALT and AST in liver function, UA in renal function, myocardial enzyme CK-MB and LDH, and immunoglobulin IgG and IgM. The levels of SAA, CRP, and FERR were significantly increased in patients with severe COVID-19. ROC curve analysis results showed that the AUC, from small to large, was as follows: SAA+CRP+FERR, CRP + FERR, SAA + CRP, SAA + FERR, SAA, FERR, and CRP, which indicated the benefit of the combination of the three indicators. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined detection of the three indicators were higher than those of the detection of any single indicator or two combined indicators. A Spearman correlation analysis of the data showed that the initial CRP/SAA, SAA/FERR, and CRP/FERR were positively correlated. The continuous results of SAA, CRP and FERR throughout the study period showed that the values of the severe group on a given day were higher than those of the non-severe group; the values of the two groups peaked on the 5th or 7th day and then decreased, and the decreasing trend of the severe group was more evident. CONCLUSIONS: SAA, CRP and FERR are sensitive serological indicators used to evaluate the severity of COVID-19. The combined detection of serum SAA, FERR, and CRP, which are positively related to COVID-19 infection, offers guiding significance for the occurrence of COVID-19 infection and the severity of the disease. Such detection provides effective detection indicators for the progress and prognosis of COVID-19; these indicators will enable effective intervention measures to be implemented in time and the rates of severe illness and mortality to be reduced.

Characterizing protein activities on the lysozyme and nanodiamond complex prepared for bio applications.

Recently, nanodiamond particles have attracted increasing attention as a promising nanomaterial for its biocompatibility, easy functionalization and conjugation with biomolecules, and its superb physical/chemical properties. Nanodiamonds are mainly used as markers for cell imaging, using its fluorescence or Raman signals for detection, and as carriers for drug delivery. For the success of these applications, the biomolecule associated with the nanodiamond has to retain its functionality. In this work, the protein activities of egg white lysozyme adsorbed on nanodiamond particles of different sizes is investigated. The lysozyme nanodiamond complex is used here as a protein model for analyzing its structural conformation changes and, correspondingly, its enzymatic activity after the adsorption. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is used for the analysis of the sensitive protein secondary structure. To access the activities of the adsorbed lysozyme, a fluorescence-based assay is used. The process of adsorption is also analyzed using UV-visible spectroscopic measurements in combination with analysis of nanodiamond properties with FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and ζ-potential measurements. It is found that the activity of lysozyme upon adsorption depends on the nanodiamond's size and surface properties, and that the nanodiamond particles can be selected and treated, which do not alter the lysozyme functional properties. Such nanodiamonds can be considered convenient nanoparticles for various bioapplications.