scholarly journals Research on pneumonia exacerbation in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Yang ◽  
Yan-Ping Tang ◽  
Guo-Xi Chen ◽  
Lin Wang ◽  
Xing Lan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia occasionally exacerbates to critical condition that is hard to manage. We aim to describe exacerbations of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia among inpatients. Methods We included confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patients with pneumonia exacerbation admitted to Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, Hubei Province, China between January 6 and February 17, 2020 and discharged or died before February 25. Their demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, CT manifestations, complications and clinical outcomes were collected. Results A total of 158 patients were collected, among them 107 patients were stable and discharged after recovery, 24 patients were already critically severe at hospital admission. 14 patients were excluded for insufficient clinical data. Eventually, 13 confirmed cases were included. The mean age was 65 (± 9.81) years. Ten of the 13 (76.9%) patients were female. Nine (69.2%) had underlying comorbidities. Fever and cough were the most common symptoms (12/13, 92.3%). 10/13(76.9%) patients had their exacerbation in the second week of disease course. All patients had both negative and positive nucleic acid test (NAT) results during the course. Increased range of ground-glass opacity (GGO) on CT imaging are consistent to disease exacerbation. ARDS, MODS, respiratory failure were found in 5/13(38.5%), 3/13(23.1%), 6/13(46.2%) patients respectively. Five (38.5%) patients did not survive. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia exacerbations often occurs in the second week of disease course. Negative NAT result could not exclude exacerbation. CT manifestation is consistent with disease progression. Early admissions have positive effects on reducing complications and mortality.

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Farnaz Tavakoli ◽  
Fatemeh Yaghoubi ◽  
Davood Babakhani ◽  
Farnoosh Tavakoli

Introduction: Patients suffering from chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) are more likely to have a small bowel obstruction, sepsis, and death. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate how the EPS is prevalent in Iranian patients suffering from continuous chronic PD. It was also tried to detect risk factors, clinical symptoms, signs, complications and mortality rate. Patients and Methods: The study population consisted of all incident patients undergoing PD for more than 6 months from 1994 until 2015. The criterion to detect EPS was either positive radiological or surgical results in terms of the clinical short bowel obstruction (SBO) or a thickened peritoneum in the absence of an alternative etiology. Control groups were non-EPS patients that were twice the EPS patients. These patients were being followed up for at least 6 months after the end of PD. Results: This study showed that in people with EPS, 58.3% were women. The mean age was 47 years. The duration of treatment with PD in these patients was 58 months. Mortality rate in patients with EPS was 61.1 percent. Conclusion: It is advisable that individuals should be treated with chronic PD for a maximum period of three to 4 years.


Author(s):  
Xuan Thi Dang ◽  
Thanh Xuan Nguyen ◽  
Thu Thi Hoai Nguyen ◽  
Hung Tran Ha

Nitrous oxide (N2O) commonly referred to as laughing gas, has significant medical uses. This study aims to describe the neurological disorders associated with N2O. We conducted across-sectional study that enrolled patients with nitrous oxide toxicity admitted to Vietnam Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam from June 2018 to July 2019. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, characteristics of using N2O, signs and clinical symptoms, neuroimaging findings, injury on electromyography (EMG) and the Total Neuropathy Score clinical version (TNSc) criteria. A total of 47 participants were included with mean age: 24.38 ± 6.20 years. The number of balloons used per week was 130.59 ± 117.43. The mean duration of N2O exposure was 8.79 ± 7.1 months. Multivariate linear logistic regression revealed that the number of N2O balloons used per week was significantly associated with TNSc point (Beta: 0.315; 95% CI: 0.001–0.022). We found that myeloneuropathy and peripheral neuropathy were the main neurological disorders related to N2O abuse, which should improve the awareness of the appearance of neurological disorders associated with N2O abuse.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenni Mao ◽  
Changlian Tan ◽  
Sainan Cai ◽  
Qin Shen ◽  
Qinru Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Backgroud: Both Chlamydia psittaci and COVID-19 virus can cause lung inflammation, which manifests extremely similarly in clinical symptoms and imaging. Especially during the epidemic of COVID-19, psittacosis pneumonia is easily misdiagnosed as COVID-19 pneumonia. The identification of the chest imaging between the two diseases is of special significance when the epidemiological contact history is unclear, and the etiology and nucleic acid test results are not available. This study conducts to compare the imaging characteristics on chest high-resolution CTs (HRCT) between patients with psittaci pneumonia and COVID-19 pneumonia.Methods: A retrospective analysis of the imaging characteristics on chest HRCTs of 10 psittaci pneumonia patients and 13 COVID-19 pneumonia patients. The similarities and differences in HRCT images of patients with psittaci pneumonia and COVID-19 pneumonia were analyzed. Results: HRCT showed that among the 10 psittaci pneumonia patients, 8 cases (80.00%) had single lobe involvement, and 2 cases (20.00%) had multiple lobe involvement. Among the 13 COVID-19 pneumonia patients, 2 cases had single lobe involvement (15.38%), and 11 cases had multiple lobe involvement (84.62%). The types of lesions in 10 psittaci pneumonia patients included simple consolidation in 5 cases (50.00%), and ground-glass opacity (GGO) with consolidation in 5 cases (50.00%). The types of lesions in 13 COVID-19 pneumonia patients included simple GGO in 6 cases (46.15%), GGO with consolidation in 4 cases (30.77%), GGO with paving stone sign in 2 cases (15.38%), and simple consolidation in 1 case (7.69%). Lymphadenopathy was observed in 1 psittaci pneumonia patient (10.00%) and 1 COVID-19 pneumonia patient (7.69%). Among the 10 psittaci pneumonia patients, 8 cases (80.00%) had bronchial inflation, and 6 patients (60.00%) had pleural effusion. Among the 13 COVID-19 pneumonia patients, 5 patients (38.46%) showed signs of bronchial inflation, while no pleural effusion was observed in 13 patients.Conclusion: Chest HRCTs can distinguish COVID-19 pneumonia from psittaci pneumonia, and can provide early diagnoses of these two diseases.


1985 ◽  
Vol 54 (04) ◽  
pp. 739-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Delaini ◽  
Elisabetta Dejana ◽  
Ine Reyers ◽  
Elisa Vicenzi ◽  
Germana De Bellis Vitti ◽  
...  

SummaryWe have investigated the relevance of some laboratory tests of platelet function in predicting conditions of thrombotic tendency. For this purpose, we studied platelet survival, platelet aggregation in response to different stimuli, TxB2 and 6-keto-PGFlα production in serum of rats bearing a nephrotic syndrome induced by adriamycin. These animals show a heavy predisposition to the development of both arterial and venous thrombosis. The mean survival time was normal in nephrotic rats in comparison to controls. As to aggregation tests, a lower aggregating response was found in ADR-treated rats using ADP or collagen as stimulating agents. With arachidonic acid (AA) we observed similar aggregating responses at lower A A concentrations, whereas at higher AA concentrations a significantly lower response was found in nephrotic rats, despite their higher TxB2 production. Also TxB2 and 6-keto-PGFlα levels in serum of nephrotic rats were significantly higher than in controls. No consistent differences were found in PGI2-activity generated by vessels of control or nephrotic rats.These data show that platelet function may appear normal or even impaired in rats with a markedly increased thrombotic tendency. On the other hand, the significance of high TxB2 levels in connection with mechanisms leading to thrombus formation remains a controversial issue.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (09) ◽  
pp. 4896
Author(s):  
Sripriya C.S.* ◽  
Shanthi B. ◽  
Arockia Doss S. ◽  
Antonie Raj I. ◽  
Mohana Priya

Scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi), is a strict intracellular bacterium which is reported to be a recent threat to parts of southern India. There is re-emergence of scrub typhus during the past few years in Chennai. Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness which generally causes non-specific symptoms and signs. The clinical manifestations of this disease range from sub-clinical disease to organ failure to fatal disease. This study documents our laboratory experience in diagnosis of scrub typhus in patients with fever and suspected clinical symptoms of scrub typhus infection for a period of two years from April 2014 to April 2016 using immunochromatography and IgM ELISA methods. The study was conducted on 648 patients out of whom 188 patients were found to be positive for scrub typhus. Results also showed that pediatric (0 -12 years) and young adults (20 – 39 years) were more exposed to scrub typhus infection and female patients were more infected compared to male. The study also showed that the rate of infection was higher between September to February which also suggested that the infection rate is proportional to the climatic condition. Statistical analysis showed that the mean age of the patients in this study was 37.6, standard deviation was 18.97, CV % was 50.45. 


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Xuan Zhu ◽  
Xinxin Zhu ◽  
Min Wang ◽  
Fang Yang ◽  
Zhibing Sun ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) long-term nucleic acid positive patients (hereinafter referred to as CLTAPs). METHODS: Patients were recruited from the Xiaogan Central Hospital between 16 January 2020 and 28 March 2020. Among the 562 cases of patients with laboratory-identified COVID-19 infection by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qtPCR), 19 cases of COVID-19 patients with more than 41 days from the first to the last time of nucleic acid test were selected as the study group, and 76 cases of age- and gender-matched COVID-19 patients were selected as the control group (hereinafter referred to as C-CLTAPs). Demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, laboratory examination and computed tomography (CT) imaging characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: On admission, among the 562 cases of patients with COVID-19, there were 398 cases of ordinary COVID-19 patients, 99 cases of severe COVID-19 patients and 99 cases of critical COVID-19 patients. CLTAPs had milder clinical symptoms and longer viral shedding time in comparison to C-CLTAPs. Compared to C-CLTAPs, CLTAPs had a lower infection index at admission. CLTAPs used less oxygen therapy and a higher proportion of hydroxychloroquine treatment in comparison to C-CLTAPs. In comparison to C-CLTAPs, CLTAPs showed slower pulmonary CT progression and faster pulmonary CT absorption. CONCLUSION: In this study, out of the 562 cases, we found 19 CLTAPs. The clinical differences between CLTAPs and C-CLTAPs were compared and analyzed. We hope that these finding can provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of CLTAPs.


1983 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Leppäluoto ◽  
L. Rönnberg ◽  
P. Ylöstalo

Abstract. Seven patients suffering from severe endometriosis were treated with danazol 200 mg × 3 daily for 6 months. Clinical symptoms were alleviated and menses disappeared in response to the treatment. After cessation of the treatment the menstrual bleedings returned in 1–3 months. Blood samples for determination of gonadotrophins, prolactin (Prl), oestradiol (E2), progesterone, thyroid hormones and thyrotrophin in radioimmunoassays were taken and a combined TRF and LRF test carried out in the follicular phase before treatment, at the 6th month of treatment and after reappearance of the first menses. There were no statistically significant changes in the basal levels of serum FSH, LH or TSH during the danazol treatment. Neither was there any change in episodic secretions of FSH, LH or Prl, as determined by the mean coefficients of variation of the hormone levels in seven consecutive samples taken at 20 min intervals. On the other hand, serum E2, Prl and thyroid hormone levels were significantly decreased in the 6th month of treatment. In the TRF-LRF test the responses of serum FSH and LH were significantly higher and those of serum Prl and TSH significantly lower during danazol treatment than before. Prl responses remained lowered after the treatment. It appears that low serum oestrogen levels, induced by the danazol treatment, sensitize the pituitary gonadotrophs to exogenous LRF, but make the sensitivity of thyrotrophs and lactotrophs lower to exogenous TRF. These results thus indicate that danazol does not make the pituitary gonadotrophs insensitive to LRF, but danazol may rather inhibit the secretion of hypothalamic LRF.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel Júnior Borges do Nascimento ◽  
Dónal P. O’Mathúna ◽  
Thilo Caspar von Groote ◽  
Hebatullah Mohamed Abdulazeem ◽  
Ishanka Weerasekara ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Navigating the rapidly growing body of scientific literature on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is challenging, and ongoing critical appraisal of this output is essential. We aimed to summarize and critically appraise systematic reviews of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in humans that were available at the beginning of the pandemic. Methods Nine databases (Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Sciences, PDQ-Evidence, WHO’s Global Research, LILACS, and Epistemonikos) were searched from December 1, 2019, to March 24, 2020. Systematic reviews analyzing primary studies of COVID-19 were included. Two authors independently undertook screening, selection, extraction (data on clinical symptoms, prevalence, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, diagnostic test assessment, laboratory, and radiological findings), and quality assessment (AMSTAR 2). A meta-analysis was performed of the prevalence of clinical outcomes. Results Eighteen systematic reviews were included; one was empty (did not identify any relevant study). Using AMSTAR 2, confidence in the results of all 18 reviews was rated as “critically low”. Identified symptoms of COVID-19 were (range values of point estimates): fever (82–95%), cough with or without sputum (58–72%), dyspnea (26–59%), myalgia or muscle fatigue (29–51%), sore throat (10–13%), headache (8–12%) and gastrointestinal complaints (5–9%). Severe symptoms were more common in men. Elevated C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase, and slightly elevated aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, were commonly described. Thrombocytopenia and elevated levels of procalcitonin and cardiac troponin I were associated with severe disease. A frequent finding on chest imaging was uni- or bilateral multilobar ground-glass opacity. A single review investigated the impact of medication (chloroquine) but found no verifiable clinical data. All-cause mortality ranged from 0.3 to 13.9%. Conclusions In this overview of systematic reviews, we analyzed evidence from the first 18 systematic reviews that were published after the emergence of COVID-19. However, confidence in the results of all reviews was “critically low”. Thus, systematic reviews that were published early on in the pandemic were of questionable usefulness. Even during public health emergencies, studies and systematic reviews should adhere to established methodological standards.


Author(s):  
An Vinh Bui-Duc

TÓM TẮT Đặt vấn đề: Đại dịch COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019) do chủng vi rút Corona mới SARS-CoV-2 vẫn đang bùng phát trên toàn thế giới, gây gia tăng gánh nặng lên Hệ thống chăm sóc Y Tế các quốc gia. Chính vì vậy, việc phát triển hệ thống giúp hỗ trợ chẩn đoán và theo dõi bệnh nhân COVID-19 từ xa được xem là vấn đề cấp thiết hiện nay. Trong đó, chỉ số SpO2 có vai trò quan trọng đối với bệnh COVID-19 và được lựa chọn để theo dõi bệnh nhân tại các Cơ sở Y tế cũng như tại nhà. Nghiên cứu này được chúng tôi thực hiện với mục đích đánh giá hiệu quả ban đầu của hệ thống theo dõi SpO2từ xa trên các bệnh nhân COVID-19 mức độ nhẹ - trung bình. Đối tượng, phương pháp: Nghiên cứu cắt ngang, theo dõi dọc ngắn hạn các bệnh nhân COVID-19 mức độ nhẹ - trung bình điều trị tại Trung tâm Hồi sức Tích cực điều trị bệnh nhân COVID-19 trực thuộc Bệnh viện Trung Ương Huế tại TP. Hồ Chí Minh. Kết quả: Trong giai đoạn từ 8/2021 - 10/2021, 32 bệnh nhân COVID-19 được gắn thiết bị theo dõi chỉ số SpO2, trung bình là 34,2 ± 12,0 tuổi. Các yếu tố nguy cơ bao gồm: BMI xếp loại béo phì 25%, hút thuốc lá (18,8%), tăng huyết áp (15,6%) và đái tháo đường (12,5%). Phần lớn bệnh nhân vào viện do khó thở (71,9%) và chuyển từ tuyến dưới (62,5%). Triệu chứng lâm sàng chủ yếu là ho, hắt hơi, chảy mũi nước (40,6%), theo sau đó là giảm hoặc mất khứu giác, vị giác (25%). 81,3% có D-Dimer ≤ 500ng/mL. 62,5% bệnh nhân được phân độ COVID-19 mức trung bình. Tổng cộng 3.161 lượt đo SpO2, trong đó có 8 lượt cảnh báo SpO2 < 93%. SpO2 trung bình 98,1 ± 0,2 %. Tất cả bệnh nhân xuất viện thành công. Kết luận: Hệ thống theo dõi SpO2 từ xa bước đầu có hiệu quả giúp theo dõi các bệnh nhân COVID-19 mức độ nhẹ - trung bình. ABSTRACT INITIAL EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION OF THE REMOTE SPO2 MONITORING SYSTEM IN PATIENTS WITH MILD - TO - MODERATE COVID-19 DISEASE Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected by the new Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread globally, increasing the burden on countries’ Health Care systems. Therefore, generating a platform to help diagnose and monitor COVID-19 patients remotely is considered an essential issue today. In particular, the SpO2 index plays a vital role in COVID-19 disease and is selected to monitor patients at health facilities and homes. This study aimed to evaluate the initial effectiveness of the remote SpO2 monitoring system in patients with mild - to - moderate COVID-19 diseases. Methods: This cross - section study was conducted on mild - to - moderate COVID-19 patients treated at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Center operated by Hue Central Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Results: From August 2021 to October 2021, 32 COVID-19 patients were applied with SpO2 monitoring smartwatches. The mean age was 34.2 ± 12.0. Risk factors including obesity (25%), smoking (18.8%), hypertension (15.6%), and diabetes (12.5%). Most patients were admitted to the center due to shortness of breath (71.9%) and transferred from lower - level hospitals (62.5%). The main clinical symptoms are coughing, sneezing, runny nose (40.6%), followed by a decrease or loss of smell and taste (25%). 81.3% of patients had D-Dimer ≤ 500 ng/mL. 62.5% of patients had moderate COVID-19 grades. A total of 3,161 SpO2 measurements, including 8 alarms < 93%. The average SpO2 was 98.1 ± 0.2 %. All patients were discharged successfully. Conclusion: A remote SpO2 monitoring system is considered to have preliminary effectiveness in monitoring mild - to - moderate COVID-19 patients. Keywords: COVID-19, blood oxygen saturation, smartwatch, health monitoring system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksei Zulkarnaev ◽  
Andrey Vatazin ◽  
Vadim Stepanov ◽  
Ekaterina Parshina ◽  
Mariya Novoseltseva

Abstract Background and Aims The prevalence of central vein stenosis (CVS) in patients on hemodialysis (HD) is difficult to be assessed directly. This is mainly caused by the variety of clinical signs and the high frequency of asymptomatic CVS. Aim: to assess the frequency of occurrence of various CVS forms in HD patients. Method The retrospective observational study is based on the results of treatment of 1865 HD patients who underwent diagnostic and therapeutic procedures on vascular access in our center. In case of vascular access dysfunction, patients were examined according to a local protocol: ultrasound of the peripheral (to exclude lesion of peripheral AVF segments) and central veins (over the available length), followed with CT-angiography or percutaneous angiography, if necessary. Results AVF/AVG dysfunction was observed in 29.4% of patients (549 of 1865). 211 patients were diagnosed with CVS. The prevalence of CVS was 11.3% (211 of 1865) among all HD patients and 38.4% (211 of 549) in patients with AVF dysfunction. Among patients with CVS, 37% (78 of 211) had vein lesions without clinical symptoms or with minimal manifestations (a tendency to decrease KT/V). The prevalence of asymptomatic CVS was 4.2% (78 of 1865) in the general population of HD patients and 14.2% (78 of 549) in patients with AVF dysfunction. In case of asymptomatic CVS it was detected by an ultrasound examination during CVC implantation (N=38), during unsuccessful attempts to implant CVC (N=29), in the case of recurrent AVF thrombosis without underlying peripheral segments lesion (N=9) or during echocardiography (N=2). The prevalence of asymptomatic CVS among patients without AVF dysfunction was 5.9% (78 of 1316). True prevalence of subclinical CVS among HD patients without obvious signs of AVF dysfunction may vary widely. A total of 48.8% (103 of 211) of all CVS cases were treated. At the same time, in 10.7% (11 of 103) of cases, patients did not present symptoms of CVS, and surgery was performed due to recurrent AVF thrombosis without damage of the peripheral parts of AVF. Patients with clinically manifest CVS who received endovascular interventions had a significantly higher risk of AVF loss compared to patients with asymptomatic CVS: HR=2.566 [95% CI 1.706; 3.86], log rank p&lt;0.0001. However, patients with an asymptomatic CVS had a higher risk of AVF function loss compared to the general HD population (HR=2,051 [95% CI 1,243; 3,384], log rank p= 0.0004) – fig. 1. The use of CVC is a known risk factor of CVS development. We analyzed the relationship of CVS risk with multiply CVC placements and catheter dwell time using the Cox proportional hazards regression model (fig. 2). In the univariate model, a greater No of CVCs as well as longer time in place increased the risk of CVS. In the multivariate model (χ2=105.516, df=2, p&lt;0.0001), catheter dwell time was no longer associated with an increased risk of CVC, while the mean number of inserted catheters remained an important risk factor. Conclusion The prevalence of both symptomatic and asymptomatic forms of CVS in HD patients is high. Patients with vascular access dysfunction should be carefully examined to identify the asymptomatic CVS. The mean No of catheterizations is a more important risk factor of CVS than longer catheter dwell time.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document