Diarrhea may be underestimated: a missing link in 2019 novel coronavirus

The outbreak of pneumonia caused by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was reported in Wuhan City, China. However, the clinical symptoms varied in different reports. Based on results of inter-group difference test, we found that the incidence of diarrhea differed in three recent reports. As 2019-nCoV utilizes the same cell entry receptor ACE2 as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and ACE2 tightly controls intestinal inflammation, to trace the route of infection mediated by 2019-nCoV, we used the single-cell RNA sequencing data for analysis. We found that the ACE2 mRNA was highly expressed in the healthy human small intestine rather than the lung. Besides, single-cell RNA sequencing data showed that ACE2 was significantly elevated in the proximal and distal enterocytes, where the small intestinal epithelium is exposed to the foreign pathogen. Thus, we suspect that ACE2-expressing small intestinal epithelium cells might be vulnerable to 2019-nCoV infection when people eat infected wild animals and diarrhea may serve as an indicator for infection, suggesting that clinicians should pay more attention to patients with diarrhea during the outbreak of pneumonia.

Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Relapse and Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Treated by DHAOx Regimen / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

[Objective]To evaluate the clinical efficacy and side effects of DHAOx±R regimen in the patients with relapsed and refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL).[Methods]Twenty patients with relapsed or refractory NHL were enrolled into this study in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University.These patients were treated with DHAOx±R regimen(Dexamethasone 20 mg/day intravenous(Ⅳ)on day 1 to day 4,cytarabine 2 000 mg/m~2 3 h Ⅳ,every 12 hours on day 2;oxaliplatin 130 mg/m~2 2 h Ⅳ on day 1;with or without rituximab 375 ms/m~2 on day 0).Six patients were followed by high dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.Response to treatment wag assessed according to The International Working Group Criteria,including CR,PR,SD and PD.Side effects were graded according to WHO criteria,including 0-Ⅳ grades.[Results]Twenty patients received 47 cycles chemotherapy,13 patients(65%)received DHAOx chemotherapy and 7(35%)received DHAOx+R.The response rate(RR)for the whole group was 55%(11/20)with comeplete response(CR)rate 35%(7/20).The response can also be obtained in the patients who were already treated by platinum-based regimen before.The major toxicity Wag myelosuppression.The incidence of grade Ⅲ～Ⅳ neutropenia Wag 35%(16/47),and febrile neutropenia was 17%(8/47).The incidence of grade Ⅲ～Ⅳ thrombocytopenia was 20%(9/47).Eight cycles(17%)occurred mild neumtoxicity.With median follow-up of 12 months,1 and 2-year overall survival rate were 70.6%.[Conclusion]DHAOx was an effective regimen for recurrent and relapsed NHL patients with mild side effects and further investigation is needed.

Long-term Outcomes of Patients with Newly Diagnosed NK/T-cell Lymphoma Treated by EPOCH Regimen / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

[Objective]This study was aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes and toxicity of continuous-infusion EPOCH regimen for NK/T-cell lymphoma(NK/TCL).[Methods]From June 2003 to June 2008,34 patients including 30 nasal NK/TCL (88.2%)and 4 nasal type NK/TCL(11.8%)received doxorubicin,vincfistine,etoposide over 96 hours infusion with bolus eyelophosphamide and oral predinisone(EPOCH)chemotherapy as first-line treatment.Median cycles of EPOCH administered were 2.5(1-6 cycles).Additional involved field radiation therapy(IFRT)was administered to patients with localized nasal focus after chemotherapy.[Results]Among 34 patients,33 were eligible for response evaluation.The response rate(RR)was 60.6% (20/33)with complete remission(CR)rate of 45.5%(15/33).The RR of patients with nasal NK/TCL was 66.7%(20/30)with CR rate of 50%(15/30).Only one of the 3 nasal type NK/TCL patients achieved stable disease(SD),the other 2 had progressive disease(PD)during chemotherapy.After a median follow-up of 22(2-68)months,the estimated 3-year overall survival rate(OS)was 52.2%.For patients with nasal NK/TCL,the estimated median survival time was not reached,the 3-year OS was 59.4%.For patients with nasal type NK/TCL,the estimated median survival time was only 7 months.The CR rate was 75.0% for localized nasal NK/TCL who received initial EPOCH chemotherapy followed IFRT with the 3-year OS of 75.0%.Major adverse effect was myelosuppression.The incidence of grade Ⅲ～Ⅳ neutropenia was 30.9%.No treatment-related mortality occurred.[Conclusions]EPOCH regiment was effective and well tolerant for nasal NK/TCL.Combined EPOCH chemotherapy followed by IFRT produced promising outcome for patients with localized disease.However,patients with nasal type NK/TCL responded poorly and more efficacious treatment strategies are urgently needed.