Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection has been widely spread. We aim to investigate the clinical ...characteristic and allergy status of patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2.
Methods
Electronic medical records including demographics, clinical manifestation, comorbidities, laboratory data, and radiological materials of 140 hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, with confirmed result of SARS‐CoV‐2 viral infection, were extracted and analyzed.
Results
An approximately 1:1 ratio of male (50.7%) and female COVID‐19 patients was found, with an overall median age of 57.0 years. All patients were community‐acquired cases. Fever (91.7%), cough (75.0%), fatigue (75.0%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (39.6%) were the most common clinical manifestations, whereas hypertension (30.0%) and diabetes mellitus (12.1%) were the most common comorbidities. Drug hypersensitivity (11.4%) and urticaria (1.4%) were self‐reported by several patients. Asthma or other allergic diseases were not reported by any of the patients. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 1.4%) patients and current smokers (1.4%) were rare. Bilateral ground‐glass or patchy opacity (89.6%) was the most common sign of radiological finding. Lymphopenia (75.4%) and eosinopenia (52.9%) were observed in most patients. Blood eosinophil counts correlate positively with lymphocyte counts in severe (r = .486, P < .001) and nonsevere (r = .469, P < .001) patients after hospital admission. Significantly higher levels of D‐dimer, C‐reactive protein, and procalcitonin were associated with severe patients compared to nonsevere patients (all P < .001).
Conclusion
Detailed clinical investigation of 140 hospitalized COVID‐19 cases suggests eosinopenia together with lymphopenia may be a potential indicator for diagnosis. Allergic diseases, asthma, and COPD are not risk factors for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Older age, high number of comorbidities, and more prominent laboratory abnormalities were associated with severe patients.
Decreased eosinophil count, which was positively correlated with lymphocyte counts, may be a potential biological indicator for diagnosing
COVID‐19 patients. Low prevalence of allergic diseases, COPD and patients with smoking history indicated they may not be the predisposing
factors of COVID‐19. Elder age, high number of comorbidities and more prominent laboratory abnormalities were associated with severe
patientsz.
The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), has caused an unprecedented global social and economic impact, and ...high numbers of deaths. Many risk factors have been identified in the progression of COVID‐19 into a severe and critical stage, including old age, male gender, underlying comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, chronic lung diseases, heart, liver and kidney diseases, tumors, clinically apparent immunodeficiencies, local immunodeficiencies, such as early type I interferon secretion capacity, and pregnancy. Possible complications include acute kidney injury, coagulation disorders, thoromboembolism. The development of lymphopenia and eosinopenia are laboratory indicators of COVID‐19. Laboratory parameters to monitor disease progression include lactate dehydrogenase, procalcitonin, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐1β, Krebs von den Lungen‐6 (KL‐6), and ferritin. The development of a cytokine storm and extensive chest computed tomography imaging patterns are indicators of a severe disease. In addition, socioeconomic status, diet, lifestyle, geographical differences, ethnicity, exposed viral load, day of initiation of treatment, and quality of health care have been reported to influence individual outcomes. In this review, we highlight the scientific evidence on the risk factors of severity of COVID‐19.
Background and aims
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection has recently spread worldwide and been ...declared a pandemic. We aim to describe here the various clinical presentations of this disease by examining eleven cases.
Methods
Electronic medical records of 11 patients with COVID‐19 were collected, and demographics, clinical manifestations, outcomes, key laboratory results, and radiological images are discussed.
Results
The clinical course of the eleven cases demonstrated the complexity of the COVID‐19 profile with different clinical presentations. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic cases to patients with mild and severe symptoms, with or without pneumonia. Laboratory detection of the viral nucleic acid can yield false‐negative results, and serological testing of virus‐specific IgG and IgM antibodies should be used as an alternative for diagnosis. Patients with common allergic diseases did not develop distinct symptoms and severe courses. Cases with a pre‐existing condition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or complicated with a secondary bacterial pneumonia were more severe.
Conclusion
All different clinical characteristics of COVID‐19 should be taken into consideration to identify patients that need to be in strict quarantine for the efficient containment of the pandemic.
Clinical manifestations of COVID‐19 range from asymptomatic cases to patients with mild and severe symptoms, with or without pneumonia. Laboratory detection of the viral nucleic acid can yield false‐negative results, and serological testing of virus‐specific IgG and IgM antibodies should be used as an alternative for diagnosis. Patients with common allergic diseases did not develop distinct symptoms and severe courses. Cases with a pre‐existing condition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or complicated with a secondary bacterial pneumonia were more severe.
Background
The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection has made widespread impact recently. We aim to ...investigate the clinical characteristics of COVID‐19 children with different severities and allergic status.
Methods
Data extracted from the electronic medical records, including demographics, clinical manifestations, comorbidities, laboratory and immunological results, and radiological images of 182 hospitalized COVID‐19 children, were summarized and analyzed.
Results
The median age was 6 years, ranging from 3 days to 15 years, and there were more boys (male‐female ratio about 2:1) within the studied 182 patients. Most of the children were infected by family members. Fever (43.4%) and dry cough (44.5%) were common symptoms, and gastrointestinal manifestations accounted for 11.0%, including diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and vomiting. 71.4% had abnormal chest computed tomography (CT) scan images, and typical signs of pneumonia were ground‐glass opacity and local patchy shadowing on admission. Laboratory results were mostly within normal ranges, and only a small ratio of lymphopenia (3.9%) and eosinopenia (29.5%) were observed. The majority (97.8%) of infected children were not severe, and 24 (13.2%) of them had asymptomatic infections. Compared to children without pneumonia (manifested as asymptomatic and acute upper respiratory infection), children with pneumonia were associated with higher percentages of the comorbidity history, symptoms of fever and cough, and increased levels of serum procalcitonin, alkaline phosphatase, and serum interleukins (IL)‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, and TNF‐α. There were no differences in treatments, duration of hospitalization, time from first positive to first negative nucleic acid testing, and outcomes between children with mild pneumonia and without pneumonia. All the hospitalized COVID‐19 children had recovered except one death due to intussusception and sepsis. In 43 allergic children with COVID‐19, allergic rhinitis (83.7%) was the major disease, followed by drug allergy, atopic dermatitis, food allergy, and asthma. Demographics and clinical features were not significantly different between allergic and nonallergic groups. Allergic patients showed less increase in acute phase reactants, procalcitonin, D‐dimer, and aspartate aminotransferase levels compared with all patients. Immunological profiles including circulating T, B, and NK lymphocyte subsets, total immunoglobulin and complement levels, and serum cytokines did not show any difference in allergic and pneumonia groups. Neither eosinophil counts nor serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels showed a significant correlation with other immunological measures, such as other immunoglobulins, complements, lymphocyte subset numbers, and serum cytokine levels.
Conclusion
Pediatric COVID‐19 patients tended to have a mild clinical course. Patients with pneumonia had higher proportion of fever and cough and increased inflammatory biomarkers than those without pneumonia. There was no difference between allergic and nonallergic COVID‐19 children in disease incidence, clinical features, and laboratory and immunological findings. Allergy was not a risk factor for developing and severity of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and hardly influenced the disease course of COVID‐19 in children.
There is no difference between allergic and nonallergic children in clinical features and laboratory/immunological findings, and allergy is not a risk factor for COVID‐19. The majority (97.8%) of infected children were not severe, and 24 (13.2%) of them had asymptomatic infections. Laboratory results were mostly within normal ranges, and only a small ratio of lymphopenia (3.9%) and eosinopenia (29.5%) was observed. Higher proportion of patients with pneumonia have fever, cough, comorbidities, and increased inflammatory biomarkers (procalcitonin, alkaline phosphatase and serum interleukins (IL)‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, and TNF‐α) than those without pneumonia. Abbreviations: AD, atopic dermatitis; AR, allergic rhinitis; AST, aspartate aminotransferase, AURI, acute upper respiratory infection; COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 2019; DA, drug allergy; FA, food allergy; PCT, procalcitonin; SARS‐CoV‐2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.
Background
Tyrophagus putresecentiae is an important mite species in rural and urban environments, causing sensitization and allergic disease. While evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) may ...regulate the expression of allergen‐encoding genes, no study has directly investigated this possibility. Here, this gap was addressed by profiling miRNAs and elucidating their target allergen messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in this mite species.
Methods
Small RNA and transcriptome libraries were constructed for eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults. After deep miRNA and whole‐transcriptome sequencing were performed, the miRNA and allergen‐encoding mRNA regulatory networks were explored.
Results
A total of 540 miRNAs were identified, including 155 with expression levels differing significantly across the four mite developmental stages (p < .01), 59 of which were novel. The mRNA expression for allergens was higher for Tyr p 1 in adults than in other developmental stages; Tyr p 2–5, 7, 10, 13, 33, and 34 in immature stages; and Tyr p 28, 35, and 36 in eggs and adults. A combined miRNA and transcriptome bioinformatics analysis showed that allergen Tyr p 3 was regulated by miRNA PC‐5p‐5698441_1, Tyr p 4 was regulated by PC‐5p‐7050653_1, and Tyr p 34 was regulated by PC‐5p‐5534223_1 and PC‐5p‐5698441_1. These three allergen mRNA and three miRNAs were identified using qRT‐PCR, and their regulatory roles were confirmed by double‐fluorescent reporter gene system and site‐directed mutagenesis technology.
Conclusions
For the first time, allergen mRNA expression and miRNAs were profiled throughout the life cycle for an allergen‐producing mite, and the results showed that miRNAs bind to target allergen mRNAs to regulate their expression.
We collected the eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults of Tyrophagus putresecentiae. We verified mRNA (Tyr p 3, Tyr p 4, and Tyr p 34) and microRNA (PC‐5p‐5698441_1, PC‐5p‐7050653_1, PC‐5p‐5534223_1, and PC‐5p‐5698441_1) expression by RT‐PCR. The luciferase reporter assay showed that Tyr p 3 was regulated by the miRNA PC‐5p‐5698441_1, Tyr p 4 was regulated by PC‐5p‐7050653_1, and Tyr p 34 was regulated by both PC‐5p‐5534223_1 and PC‐5p‐5698441_1.
Biomimetic assembly of high-quality nanosheets into nacre-like structures can produce macroscopic films with favorable mechanical and optical performances due to the intrinsic properties and high ...level of ordering of the nanoscale building blocks. Natural ground mica is abundant and exhibits great application potential. However, large size and low aspect ratio greatly limit its biomimetic assembly. Moreover, exfoliation of ground mica into high-quality nanosheets remains a significant challenge. Here, we report that large-scale exfoliation of ground mica into mono- or few-layered mica nanosheets with a production rate of ~1.0 g h
can be successfully achieved. The mica nanosheets are then assembled into strong biomimetic polymeric mica film that inherits the high electric insulation, excellent visible transmittance, and unique ultraviolet-shielding properties of natural mica. Its overall performance is superior to that of natural sheet mica and other biomimetic films, making the polymeric mica film a suitable substrate for flexible and transparent devices.
In this review, we discuss recent publications on asthma and review the studies that have reported on the different aspects of the prevalence, risk factors and prevention, mechanisms, diagnosis, and ...treatment of asthma. Many risk and protective factors and molecular mechanisms are involved in the development of asthma. Emerging concepts and challenges in implementing the exposome paradigm and its application in allergic diseases and asthma are reviewed, including genetic and epigenetic factors, microbial dysbiosis, and environmental exposure, particularly to indoor and outdoor substances. The most relevant experimental studies further advancing the understanding of molecular and immune mechanisms with potential new targets for the development of therapeutics are discussed. A reliable diagnosis of asthma, disease endotyping, and monitoring its severity are of great importance in the management of asthma. Correct evaluation and management of asthma comorbidity/multimorbidity, including interaction with asthma phenotypes and its value for the precision medicine approach and validation of predictive biomarkers, are further detailed. Novel approaches and strategies in asthma treatment linked to mechanisms and endotypes of asthma, particularly biologicals, are critically appraised. Finally, due to the recent pandemics and its impact on patient management, we discuss the challenges, relationships, and molecular mechanisms between asthma, allergies, SARS‐CoV‐2, and COVID‐19.
The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become an evolving global health crisis. Currently, a ...number of risk factors have been identified to have a potential impact on increasing the morbidity of COVID-19 in adults, including old age, male sex, pre-existing comorbidities, and racial/ethnic disparities. In addition to these factors, changes in laboratory indices and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as possible complications, could indicate the progression of COVID-19 into a severe and critical stage. Children predominantly suffer from mild illnesses due to COVID-19. Similar to adults, the main risk factors in pediatric patients include age and pre-existing comorbidities. In contrast, supplementation with a healthy diet and sufficient nutrition, COVID-19 vaccination, and atopic conditions may act as protective factors against the infection of SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 vaccination not only protects vulnerable individuals from SARS-CoV-2 infection, more importantly, it may also reduce the development of severe disease and death due to COVID-19. Currently used therapies for COVID-19 are off-label and empiric, and their impacts on the severity and mortality of COVID-19 are still unclear. The interaction between asthma and COVID-19 may be bidirectional and needs to be clarified in more studies. In this review, we highlight the clinical evidence supporting the rationale for the risk and protective factors for the morbidity, severity, and mortality of COVID-19.
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