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BackgroundA pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been spreading over the world. However, the viral dynamics, host serologic responses, and their associations with clinical manifestations, have not been well described in prospective cohort. MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort and enrolled 67 COVID-19 patients admitting between Jan 26 and Feb 5, 2020. Clinical specimens including nasopharyngeal swab, sputum, blood, urine and stool were tested periodically according to standardized case report form with final follow-up on February 27. The routes and duration of viral shedding, antibody response, and their associations with disease severity and clinical manifestations were systematically evaluated. Coronaviral particles in clinical specimens were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ResultsThe median duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding were 12 (3-38), 19 (5-37), and 18 (7-26) days in nasopharyngeal swabs, sputum and stools, respectively. Only 13 urines (5.6%) and 12 plasmas (5.7%) were viral positive. Prolonged viral shedding was observed in severe patients than that of non-severe patients. Cough but not fever, aligned with viral shedding in clinical respiratory specimens, meanwhile the positive stool-RNA appeared to align with the proportion who concurrently had cough and sputum production, but not diarrhea. Typical coronaviral particles could be found directly in sputum by TEM. The anti-nucleocapsid-protein IgM started on day 7 and positive rate peaked on day 28, while that of IgG was on day 10 and day 49 after illness onset. IgM and IgG appear earlier, and their titers are significantly higher in severe patients than non-severe patients (p<0.05). The weak responders for IgG had a significantly higher viral clearance rate than that of strong responders (p= 0.011). ConclusionsNasopharyngeal, sputum and stools rather than blood and urine, were the major shedding routes for SARS-CoV-2, and meanwhile sputum had a prolonged viral shedding. Symptom cough seems to be aligned with viral shedding in clinical respiratory and fecal specimens. Stronger antibody response was associated with delayed viral clearance and disease severity. Summary boxesO_ST_ABSWhat is already known on this topicC_ST_ABSAs a newly appearing infectious disease, early efforts have focused on virus identification, describing the epidemiologic characteristics, clinical course, prognostics for critically illed cases and mortality. Among COVID-19 cases reported in mainland China (72 314 cases, updated through February 11, 2020), 81% are mild, 14% are severe, and 5% are critical. The estimated overall case fatality rate (CFR) is 2.3%. Some case series reported had shown that SARS-CoV-2 could shed in upper/lower respiratory specimens, stools, blood and urines of patients. However, important knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding full kinetics of viral shedding and host serologic responses in association with clinical manifestations and host factors. What this study addsThe incubation period has no change after spreading out of Wuhan, and has no sex or age differences, however, children had prolonged incubation period. Due to early recognition and intervention, COVID-19 illness of Chongqing cohort is milder than that of Wuhan patients reported. This prospective cohort study on SARS-CoV-2 infection shows clearly that the viral and serological kinetics were related in duration of infection, disease severity, and clinical manifestations of COVID-19. Our data demonstrate that nasopharyngeal, sputum and stools are major shedding routes for SARS-CoV-2, and stronger NP antibody response is associated with delayed viral clearance and disease severity.
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The article summed up the experience of CHEN Ying-yi in treating chronic diarrhea.Chen held that the main pathogenesis of chronic diarrhea were the disharmony between the liver and the spleen,commonly impairing the function of kidney,therefore the treatment principle should focus on regulating the liver and invigorating the spleen. Invigorating the spleen should distinguish replenishing qi,tonigying yin and warming yang.Regulating the liver had to discriminate the excess and defi ciency of liver's conveyance and dispersion.Long-time diarrhea will impair the function of kidney.If it damaged the kidney-yang,we should warm up Governor Vessel to lift the kidney-yang.If it damaged the kidney-yin,we should nourish kidney-yin by replenishing kidney-yang.In this article,the author listed the basic prescription of CHEN Ying-yi in treating chronic diarrhea and his clinical experience,which can be used as references in clinic practice.
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Objective To study the clinical significance of carotid atherosclerosis and the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction recurrence.Methods Carotid atherosclerosis was assessed using doppler ultrasongraphy in 312 patients with cerebral infarction, the duration of following up was 12 to 18 months,and the characteristics of carotid atherosclersis was compared to patients with or without recurrence cerebral infarction.Results Of the 312 patients with cerebral infarction, 61 patients suffered from new cerebral infarction during following up period, the recurrence rate in patients with atherothrombotic brain infarction was higher than those with lacunar infarction, and the cerebral infarction recurrence usually occurred in the same side of initial stroke of the 57 patients with severe carotid atherosclerosis, 26 patients had a sufference of new infarction, of the 48 patients with high grade stenosis, 25 had a sufference of new cerebral infarction, of the 42 patients with ulcerated plaque, 23 had sufference of new cerebral infarction,showing a recurrence rate significantly higher than those patients with non carotid atherosclerosis or those with mild carotid atherosclerosis. The logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of carotid atheroslerosis , stenosis and ulcerated plaque were positively related to the cerebral infarction recurrence.Conclusions There is a positively relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction recuurrence, and the level of carotid atherosclerosis is a risk factor of cerebral infarction recurrence.It serves as a risk marker of cerebral infarction recurrence.
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Objective: To investigate the effects of carotid arteriosclerosis on cognitive functions and current prognosis in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods: Extracranial carotid arteries were assessed using dopple ultrasongraphy in 112 patients with cerebral infarction. Cognitive functions were evaluated with the Mini-Mental state Examination (MMSE) and five neuropsychological tests assessing memory, attention, calculation psychomotor rapidity and visuospatial perception. Deficits in neurological functions were assessed on admission and 3 to 4 weeks. Results:All neuropsychological measures were found to be poorer in patients with carotid arteriosclerosis than those with no carotid arteriosclerosis, especially in cases with severe carotid arteriosclerosis and severe carotid stenosis. There was a positive relationship between severity of carotid arteriosclerosis and change in cognitive functions. The scores of SSS were higher on admission in cerebral infarction patients with carotid arteriosclerosis. Recent prognosis was also poorer in patients with carotid arteriosclerosis.Conclusions: Significant effect of carotid arteriosclerosis was shown on cognitive functions of patients with cerebral infarction. As cerebral ischemic injury is severe, prognosis in cerebral infarction patients with carotid arteriosclerosis is poor.
