Evidence for gastrointestinal infection of SARS-CoV-2

The new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak originating from Wuhan, China, poses a threat to global health. While its evident that the virus invades respiratory tract and transmits from human to human through airway, other viral tropisms and transmission routes remain unknown. We tested viral RNA in stool from 73 SARS-CoV-2-infected hospitalized patients using rRT-PCR. 53.42% of the patients tested positive in stool. 23.29% of the patients remained positive in feces even after the viral RNA decreased to undetectable level in respiratory tract. The viral RNA was also detected in gastrointestinal tissues. Furthermore, gastric, duodenal and rectal epithelia showed positive immunofluorescent staining of viral host receptor ACE2 and viral nucleocapsid protein in a case of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results provide evidence for gastrointestinal infection of SARS-CoV-2, highlighting its potential fecal-oral transmission route.

The effect on leukocytes in peripheral blood and C-reactive protein levels after eradication of Helicobacter pylori / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To investigate the systemic effects of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection by comparing differential counts of leukocytes in peripheral blood and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels before and after eradication of Hp. Method A total of 158 Hp-positive patients underwent eradication by standard one-week triple therapy were divided into Hp eradicated group(n = 108) and Hp non-eradicated group(n = 50),the populations of peripheral blood leukocytes and CRP levels before and 0 (just after therapy),1 and 12 months after eradication were retrospectively analysed. Results In the eradicated group,blood leukecytes,neutrophils and monocytes decreased significantly after eradication,and the CRP levels were significantly lower than the levels before treatment (P < 0.05 ),but there was no significant change in eosinophils,basophils and lymphecytes (P > 0.05).In the non-eradicated group,there was no significant change in any studied pa-rameter (P > 0.05). Conclusion These findings suggest that Hp infection increase blood leukocytes,neu-trophil and monocyte counts in the peripheral blood and CRP levels,which indicates a significant role of Hp infection in systemic disorders.