Clinical observations in very elderly patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan.

BACKGROUND: In December 2019, the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in Wuhan, and is now causing a worldwide pandemic. However, the experience in very elderly patients is very limited, which has important implications for the investigation of hospital infection in medical and health institutions. METHODS: Seven patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection in the Department of Geriatrics at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University were included. Clinical data were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Laboratory tests and chest computed tomography (CT) images from the patients before and after the COVID-19 infection were compared. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 91 years old (87-96). Six patients had pneumonia in the last 6 months. Dyspnea occurred in one patient 64 h after the onset of the disease. In the other six patients, minor fatigue with low fever were the only other manifestations of the disease. Lymphopenia and a significant reduction in plasma globulin level was observed compared with levels before the onset of the disease. None had typical chest CT phenotypes during the early stage, except the critically ill patient mentioned who had developed "white lung" and then died. One patient even showed absorption of inflammation compared with previous hypostatic pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of fatal cases in very elderly patients with COVID-19 is no higher than that reported in non-elderly patients was, and probably due to a low immune response. However, the elderly patients manifested minor clinical symptoms and atypical changes in chest CT images, which usually lead to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 709-714.

Application of "micro-teaching assistant" interaction platform in the residents' standardized training of geriatrics department / 中华医学教育探索杂志

The geriatrics department of Zhongnan Hospital covers all subspecialties of internal medicine with six separated wards, so it is difficult to manage and teach the students who participate in standardized training for resident physicians. In the residents' standardized training of geriatrics department, the interactive support platform named micro-teaching assistant was applied to carry out teaching activities such as classroom check-in, classroom testing and classroom discussion of teaching rounds and small lectures. It not only effectively manages the teaching order, but also improves students' enthusiasm and autonomy by encouraging them to participate in classroom interaction actively. The case analysis quiz and interactive discussion have a good effect on consolidating and deepening the students' professional knowledge, and improving the ability of clinical analysis and problem solving. The attendance rates, class discussion and test scores were recorded in a real and objective way, so that teachers can observe the whole process of students' learning and then make a formative assessment. At the same time, teachers are urged to adjust the teaching contents and progress in time, so as to achieve the goal of promoting "teaching" and "learning" mutually.

Modulatory Effects of Gut Microbiota on Constipation: The Commercial Beverage Yakult Shapes Stool Consistency

No abstract available.

Correlation between generic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases and ulcerative colitis in Hubei Han population / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and ulcerative colitis (UC) in Hubei Han population. Methods Genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 of 270 patients with UC (UC group) who were admitted to the Zhongnan Hospital, People's Hospital of Wuhan University, Tongji Hospital and Union Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from August 2002 to December 2009 and 623 healthy people ( control group) were detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction. All UC patients were allocated to distal UC group (n= 229) and extensive UC group (n =41 ) according to the location of the lesions; and all UC patients were also allocated to mild-moderate group (n = 237) and severe group (n = 33 ). The genetic polymorphisms of GSTP1 of these patients and healthy people were detected by polymerase chain reaction. The genotypes of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 were also detected. GSTM1 and GSTT1 containing small DNA segments ( 157 bp and 480 bp) were defined as GSTM1 (+) and GSTT1 (+), otherwise, GSTM(-) and GSTT1 (-), respectively. All data were analyzed by chisquare test. Results The frequencies of GSTM1(-), GSTT1(-) and GSTP1 (Val/Val) were 70.7% (191/270),64.8% (175/270) and 48.9% (132/270) in the UC group, and 41.7% (260/623), 47.2% ( 294/623 ) and 34.3% (214/623) in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups (x2 = 63. 404,22. 320, 25. 384, P ＜0.05 ). The frequencies of GSTT1 (-) and GSTP1 (Val/Val) were 71.6% (164/229) and 57.6% (132/229) in the distal UC group, which were significantly higher than 31.7% (13/41) and 29.3%( 12/41 ) in the extensive UC group ( x2 = 24.528, 9.609, P ＜ 0.05 ). The frequencies of GSTM1 (-) were 65.1%(149/229) in the distal UC group and 56.1% (23/41) in the extensive UC group, with no significant difference between the two groups ( x2 = 1. 210, P ＞ 0.05 ). The frequencies of GSTT1 (-) and GSTP1 ( Val/Val ) were 71.6%(164/229), 31.7% ( 13/41 ) in the distal UC group and 57.6% ( 132/229), 29.3% ( 12/41 ) in the extensive UC group, with a significant difference between the two groups ( x2 = 24. 528, 9. 609, P ＜ 0. 05 ). There was no significant difference in the frequencies of GSTM1 (-), GSTT1 (-), GSTP1 (Val/Val) in the mild-moderate group and the severe group( x2 = 0. 623, 1. 884, 3. 403, P ＞ 0. 05 ). Conclusions Variant genotypes of GSTs are significantly correlated with UC in Hubei Han population. The severity of UC may not be correlated with variant genotypes of GSTs.

Health status of migrant workers in cities and policy suggestions / 中华医院管理杂志

The paper analyzes the age structure, educational background, occupation, income, migration and other sociological features of migrant workers in cities in present China and discusses the general health status of the group, including the incidence and spread of contagious diseases, workplace accidents and occupational hazards, reproductive and psychological health, and social adaptation. It also puts forward policy suggestions for improving the health status of migrant workers and raising their health level from the perspectives of perfecting the social security system, giving expression to impartial health services, showing concern for the health status of vulnerable populations, enhancing health education and promoting health.