Assessment of Long-Term Effects on Pulmonary Functions Between Severe and Non-Severe Convalescent COVID-19 Patients: A Single-Center Study in China.

Objective: To explore the long-term effects of SARS-Cov-2 infection on the pulmonary function in the severe convalescent COVID-19 patients for 6 to 9 months follow-up in Beijing, China. Methods: A total of 64 cases of COVID-19 patients were recruited for the study and discharged from the Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, for 6 to 9 months. COVID-19 patients were divided into non-severe (mild and moderate) and severe groups. The follow-up investigated the lung function tests, the novel coronavirus antibody (IgM and IgG), chest CT and blood tests. Results: About 25.00% (16/64) patients had pulmonary ventilation dysfunction and 35.9% (23/64) had diffusion dysfunction. In the severe group, 56.50% (13/23) individuals showed decreased diffusion function. The diffusion dysfunction of the severe group was significantly decreased than the non-severe group (P = 0.01). Among 56 cases, the positive rate of IgG titers was 73.2% (41/56). The result of chest CT showed 55.36% (31/56) cases in nodules, 44.64% (25/56) in strip-like changes, 37.5% (21/56) in-ground glass shadow, and 5.36% (3/56) in grid shadow, which was significantly different between the severe group and the non-severe group. Patients tended to have ground glass changes in the severe group while nodules in the non-severe group. Conclusion: For the 6 to 9 months in convalescent COVID-19 patients, 56.50% (13/23) of severe patients had pulmonary diffusion dysfunction. Convalescent COVID-19 patients should have their pulmonary function regularly tested, especially those with severe illness.

Clinical Characteristics of HIV-Infected Patients with Venous Thromboembolism and Different CD4+ T Lymphocyte Levels.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of HIV-infected patients complicated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). METHODS: Seventy HIV-infected patients complicated with VTE were enrolled from Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University from October 2009 to December 2020 and divided into two groups according to CD4+. The clinical data of 70 patients were observed, including general conditions, laboratory indexes, viral load, antiretroviral therapy (ART) before the diagnosis of VTE, and thrombus treatment. RESULTS: The patients were divided into two groups according to the CD4+ T lymphocyte count. There were 27 patients with a CD4+ T lymphocyte count ≥200 cells/ul, classified as group A (27/70, 38.6%), and there were 43 patients with a CD4+ T lymphocyte count <200 cells/ul, classified as group B (43/70, 61.4%). In group B, these patients included 37 males and 6 females. The average age was 47.1±12.1 years old. The average levels of the following indexes were: D-dimer, 3.5 mg/L (0.7, 6.9); total cholesterol, 4.4 mmol/L (3.3, 5.5); triglycerides, 1.4 mmol/L (0.9, 2.0); low density lipoprotein, 1.9 mmol/L (1.5,2.5); albumin, 31.8±6.4 g/L; CD4+, 66 cells/ul (18, 127); viral load, 12347 copies/mL (27, 203936). Sixty-three patients (63/70, 90%) had started highly active ART (HAART) before VTE was diagnosed, 37 patients (37/70, 52.9%) were complicated with bacterial pneumonia, 16 patients had Mycobacterium tuberculosis (16/70, 22.9%), 13 patients had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) (13/70, 18.6%), and eight patients were complicated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (8/70, 11.4%). Twenty-four patients had tumors, and 15 patients had HIV-related tumors (15/70, 21.4%). There were significant differences between the two groups in the time from the diagnosis of HIV to the discovery of thrombosis, the time from ART to the discovery of thrombosis and bacterial pneumonia, and the differences in WBC, PLT, Hb, CRP, PTA, INR, TCHO, LDL-C, ALB, and viral load were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of VTE in HIV-infected people in the last 11 years was 1.4%. In patients with a high viral load, CRP, D-dimer levels, and low CD4+ and albumin levels, 11.4-22.9% were complicated with an opportunistic infection, and 21.4% had HIV-related tumors. There were significant differences between the two groups in high viral load, CRP, D-dimer, and low albumin.

Misidentification of hepatic tuberculosis as cholangiocarcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic tuberculosis (TB) is uncommon clinically. Because of a lack of specific signs, characteristic symptoms and clinical manifestations and because pathological samples are difficult to obtain, hepatic TB is easily missed or misdiagnosed. CASE SUMMARY: A 62-year-old Chinese man presented with jaundice for 1 wk and no abnormal laboratory tests other than elevated bilirubin, aminotransferases and C-reactive protein. Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed a mass in the left lobe of the liver and hepatic hilum with striped calcified foci. Mild enhancement was visible at the edges, along with extensive intrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation in the right lobe of the liver. In the arterial phase of both CT and magnetic resonance imaging, the main trunk and right branch of the portal artery were partially visualized. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) indicated that the left lobe of the liver and most of the bile ducts in the hilum were not visible. Pathological examination revealed coagulative necrosis, and granulomatous nodules were seen around areas of necrosis; therefore, TB was considered. CONCLUSION: Hepatic tuberculosis is easily misdiagnosed or missed on imaging. Percutaneous puncture biopsy is the most useful tool for definitive diagnosis.

[Effect of Qingfei Decoction on Nitric Oxide and 8-isoPG in Exhaled Breath Condensate of ARDS Patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical significance of nitric oxide (NO) and 8-isoprostane (8-isoPG) changes in exhaled breath condensate ( EBC) of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients after treated by Qingfei Decoction (QD). METHODS: Totally 48 ARDS patients receiving mechanical ventilation were equally assigned to the QD treatment group and the control group by random digit table. EBC specimens were collected by modified Ecoscreen breath condensate collector (German JAEGER Company) on the first day and the fifth day after confirmed diagnosis of ARDS. Concentrations of NO and 8-isoPG in EBC were measured by ELISA. The oxygenation index and APACHE II scores were recorded at the same time. RESULTS: (1) The fatality rate in the QD treatment group was lower than that in the control group (8.3% vs 37.5%, P < 0.05). (2) After treatment NO and 8-isoPG concentrations in EBC were lower in the QD treatment group (34.49 ± 5.67 µmol/L, 30.09 ± 7.89 ng/L) than in the control group (39.78 ± 9.27 µmol/L, 35.65 ± 8.90 ng/L; P < 0.05). (3) After treatment improved oxygenation index value was higher in the QD treatment group than in the control group (120.88 ± 35.16 vs 101.50 ± 37.70, P < 0.05). After treatment APACHEII scores was lower in the QD treatment group than in the control group (6.21 ± 3.51 vs 10. 26 ± 4.33, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Treatment of ARDS patients by QD was favorable in controlling inflammation, alleviating lung injury, and improving clinical efficacy.