BACKGROUND: Effective interventions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic require an understanding of patients' knowledge and perceptions that influence their behaviour. Our study assessed knowledge of COVID-19 among kidney transplant recipients and donors, hitherto unevaluated. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 325 kidney transplant recipients and 172 donors between 1 May 2020 and 30 June 2020. The survey questionnaire assessed knowledge levels of COVID-19, sociodemographic data, health status, psychosocial impact of COVID-19 and precautionary behaviours during the pandemic. RESULTS: The mean COVID-19 knowledge score of the study population was 7.5 (standard deviation: 2.2) out of 10. The mean score was significantly higher among kidney recipients compared to kidney donors (7.9 [1.9] vs. 6.7 [2.6]; P <0.001). Younger age (21-49 vs. ≥50 years) and higher education (diploma and higher vs. secondary and lower) were associated with significantly higher knowledge scores in donors, but not among recipients ( P -interactions ≤0.01). In both kidney recipients and donors, financial concerns and/or social isolation were associated with lower knowledge levels. CONCLUSIONS Concerted efforts are needed to improve COVID-19 knowledge in kidney transplant recipients and donors, particularly older donors, donors with lower education and patients with financial concerns or feelings of social isolation. Intensive patient education may mitigate the impact of education levels on COVID-19 knowledge levels.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Kidney Transplantation ; Middle Aged ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Transplant Recipients/psychology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue Donors/psychology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Young Adult ; Aged ; Pandemics

Objective:This study aims to explore the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in patients and the screening value of serological indicators for HEV infection patients.Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted on 97 440 cases of anti-HEV IgM and IgG simultaneously tested in two Beijing hospitals from January 1, 2018 to August 31, 2023. Among them, there were 61 005 males and 36 435 females, with an average age of 51.65±13.05 years old. According to the positivity of anti HEV specific antibodies, they were divided into anti-HEV IgM positive group (3 588 cases), anti-HEV IgG positive group (18 083 cases), and anti-HEV antibody negative group (78 892 cases). Results of HEV RNA, liver function, AFP, PIVKA-Ⅱ and PT were collected, and their basic clinical information were recorded. The prevalence of HEV infection in patients, as well as the relationship between the positivity of anti-HEV specific antibodies and the patient′s age group, HEV RNA, and clinical characteristics were analyzed.Results:Among 97 440 patients who tested anti-HEV IgM and IgG simultaneously, the positivity rate of anti-HEV IgM was 3.68% (3 588/97 440), and was 18.56% for anti-HEV IgG (18 083/97 440). The overall positivity rates of anti-HEV IgM in two Beijing hospitals from 2018 to 2023 were 2.51%, 2.53%, 3.02%, 4.59%, 5.72%, and 4.26% ( χ2=1 401.73, P<0.001), while the positivity rates of anti-HEV IgG were 12.56%, 12.32%, 12.85%, 22.65%, 27.42%, and 26.66% ( χ2=1 058.29, P<0.001). These rates showed a gradual increase until 2023 when a decline was observed. The positivity rates of anti-HEV IgM (2.28%, 3.60%, 4.47%) ( χ2=89.62, P<0.001) and IgG (4.71%, 17.86%, 25.94%) ( χ2=2 017.32, P<0.001) increased with age in patients who aged 1-30, >30-60, and over 60 years old. The age and ALB values of patients in the anti-HEV IgM positive group were lower than the IgG-positive group, while the proportion of males, TBIL, ALT, AFP and PT values were higher than the IgG-positive group, and the differences were statistically significance ( P<0.05). Furthermore, patients in both the anti-HEV IgM and IgG positive groups had higher age, male proportion, TBIL, ALT, AFP, PIVKA-Ⅱ, and PT values than the anti-HEV negative group. Additionally, both groups had lower ALB values than the anti-HEV negative group, all of which were statistically significant ( P<0.05). 2 162 HEV infected patients were grouped based on HEV RNA positivity. The proportion of anti-HEV IgM single positive, IgG single positive, IgM+IgG double positive, and antibody negative patients in the HEV RNA positive group were 5.42% (18/332), 3.62% (12/332), 90.36% (300/332), and 0.60% (2/332), respectively. Among them, the proportion of anti-HEV IgM+IgG double positive patients in the HEV RNA positive group was higher than that in the HEV RNA negative group ( χ2=302.87, P<0.001), while the proportion of anti-HEV IgG single positive ( χ2=174.36, P<0.001) and anti-HEV antibody negative patients ( χ2=59.28, P<0.001) were lower than that in the HEV RNA negative group, both of which were statistically significant ( P<0.001). In addition, the positive rates of HEV RNA in anti-HEV IgM positive, IgG positive, and antibody negative patients were 29.23% (318/1 088), 17.59% (312/1 774), and 0.65% (2/306), respectively. Conclusion:The HEV infection rate among patients declined in 2023. HEV infection is age-related, with older individuals being more susceptible. Abnormal liver function and jaundice were commonly observed during HEV infection. It is crucial to note that the absence of anti-HEV specific antibodies cannot rule out HEV infection; therefore, additional testing for HEV RNA and/or HEV Ag is necessary for accurate diagnosis.

Objective To evaluate the performance verification of AFP and CEA detected by Roche Cobas 6000 automatic electrochemical luminescence analyzer.Methods Serum samples in hospital patients during April 1 to 4,2014 were collected and mixed.Samples with the different levels of AFP and CEA were prepared.Referring to CLSI EP files and other docu-ments,the precision,accuracy and the reported linear range of AFP and CEA from Roche Cobas 6000 automatic electrochem-ical luminescence analyzer were verified.Results AFP and CEA in the quality control sera with low and high values were detected by Roche Cobas 6000 automatic electrochemical luminescence analyzer.The coefficient of variations (CV)of inter batch precision were AFP (6.53%,8.38%),CEA (8.15%,7.84%),and the CV of within batch precision were AFP (3.97%,6.51%),CEA (4.77%,4.52%),respectively.10 copies of laboratory quality control were analyzed,issued by the National Center for clinical laboratory in 2013.The largest bias between detection results and“target value”were AFP (-12.62%)and CEA (-10.71%)respectively,which were all within the measurement range of quality assessment.Analysis of measuring range in the linear range experiment were AFP (0.5~1 000 IU/ml),CEA (0.2~1 000 ng/ml),and the clini-cal reportable range were AFP (0.5~1 000 IU/ml),CEA (0.2~1 000 ng/ml),respectively.Conclusion Detection of AFP and CEA from Roche Cobas 6000 automatic electrochemical luminescence analyzer had a good performance.Meanwhile,the Roche Cobas 6000 automatic electrochemical luminescence analyzer could meet the clinical routine testing requirements.

Objective To investigate the application of admission test as a medical management in the labor room.Methods Eight hundred and fifty singleton pregnant women underwent admission test in labor room at Women's Hospital,School of Medicine,Zhejiang University from Dec.2009 to Dec.2011 were enrolled into this study.They were divided into two groups:normal group (admission test was normal,n =658) and abnormal group (admission test was abnormal or undetermined,n =192).Deliveries and perinatal outcomes of them were observed.The difference between the two groups were compared with two independent sample t test and Chi-square test.Results There were no significant differences in the mean age at delivery of the women and mean birth weight of neonates between the two groups (all P＞0.05).The cesarean section rate of normal group (34.2％,225/658) was lower than that (59.4％,114/192) of abnormal group (x2=3.93,P＜0.05).The rates of prematurc rupture of membranes (72.4％,139/ 192),fetaldistress (42.2％,81/192),neonatal asphyxia (16.5％,27/192) and neonatal complications (31.8％,61/192) in abnormal group were significantly higher than those [31.0％ (204/658),24.2％ (159/ 658),0.2％(1/658) and 2.6％ (17/658)] in normal group (x2 =105.78,40.84,52.54 and 151.92,P＜0.01respectively).Conclusions Admission test is a good method to forecast placental function during labor and perinatal outcomes,which might play an important role in medical management in labor room.