1.Dihydromyricetin improves Parkinson's disease-like lesions in T2DM rats by activating AMPK/ULK1 pathway.
Qi LI ; Nian CHEN ; Jin-Ding LUO ; Hui-Lin WU ; Zi-Han WANG ; Meng-Wei LI ; Shui-Dong FENG ; Hong-Yan LING
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2023;75(1):59-68
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			The purpose of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on Parkinson's disease (PD)-like lesions in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats. The T2DM model was established by feeding Sprague Dawley (SD) rats with high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ). The rats were intragastrically administered with DHM (125 or 250 mg/kg per day) for 24 weeks. The motor ability of the rats was measured by balance beam experiment, the changes of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and the expression of autophagy initiation related protein ULK1 in the midbrains of the rats were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the protein expression levels of α-synuclein (α-syn), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), as well as AMPK activation level, in the midbrains of the rats were detected by Western blot. The results showed that, compared with normal control, the rats with long-term T2DM exhibited motor dysfunction, increased α-syn aggregation, down-regulated TH protein expression, decreased number of DA neurons, declined activation level of AMPK, and significantly down-regulated ULK1 expression in the midbrain. DHM (250 mg/kg per day) treatment for 24 weeks significantly improved the above PD-like lesions, increased AMPK activity, and up-regulated ULK1 protein expression in T2DM rats. These results suggest that DHM may improve PD-like lesions in T2DM rats by activating AMPK/ULK1 pathway.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Rats
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Animals
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Parkinson Disease
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Rats, Sprague-Dawley
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
2.Value of postoperative radiotherapy and analysis of prognostic factors in early-stage neuroendocrine carcinoma of cervix.
Xiao Chen SONG ; Hui ZHANG ; Sen ZHONG ; Xian Jie TAN ; Shui Qing MA ; Ying JIN ; Ling Ya PAN ; Ming WU ; Dong Yan CAO ; Jia Xin YANG ; Yang XIANG
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2023;58(9):680-690
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective: To evaluate the effect of postoperative radiotherapy and high-risk pathological factors on the prognosis of early-stage neuroendocrine carcinoma of cervix (NECC). Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study of early-stage NECC in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2011 to April 2022 were enrolled. The patients were treated with radical hysterectomy±adjuvant treatment. They were divided into postoperative non-radiation group and postoperative radiation group. The possible postoperative recurrence risk factors identified by univariate analysis were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), recurrence rate, and mortality rate. Results: (1) Sixty-two cases were included in the study, including 33 cases in postoperative non-radiation group and 29 cases in postoperative radiation group. (2) The median follow-up time was 37 months (ranged 12-116 months), with 23 cases (37%) experienced recurrences. There were 7 cases (11%) pelvic recurrences and 20 cases (32%) distant recurrences, in which including 4 cases (6%) both pelvic and distant recurrences. Compared with postoperative non-radiation group, the postoperative radiation group had a lower pelvic recurrence rate (18% vs 3%; P=0.074) but without statistic difference, a slightly elevated distant recurrence rate (24% vs 41%; P=0.150) and overall recurrence rate (33% vs 41%; P=0.513) without statistically significances. Univariate analysis showed that lymph-vascular space invasion and the depth of cervical stromal invasion≥1/2 were risk factors for postoperative recurrence (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed lymph-vascular space invasion was an independent predictor for postoperative recurrence (OR=23.03, 95%CI: 3.55-149.39, P=0.001). (3) During the follow-up period, 18 cases (29%, 18/62) died with tumor, with 10 cases (30%, 10/33) in postoperative non-radiation group and 8 cases (28%, 8/29) in postoperative radiation group, without significant difference (P=0.814). The postoperative 3-year and 5-year survival rate was 79.2%, 60.8%. The depth of cervical stromal invasion≥1/2 was more common in postoperative radiation group (27% vs 64%; P=0.011), and postoperative radiation in such patients showed an extended trend in PFS (32.3 vs 53.9 months) and OS (39.4 vs 73.4 months) but without statistic differences (P=0.704, P=0.371). Compared with postoperative non-radiation group, the postoperative radiation did not improve PFS (54.5 vs 37.3 months; P=0.860) and OS (56.2 vs 62.4 months; P=0.550) in patients with lymph-vascular space invasion. Conclusions: Postoperative radiation in early-stage NECC patients has a trend to reduce pelvic recurrence but not appear to decrease distant recurrence and overall recurrence, and has not improved mortality. For patients with the depth of cervical stromal invasion≥1/2, postoperative radiation has a trend of prolonging OS and PFS but without statistic difference. Lymph-vascular space invasion is an independent predictor for postoperative recurrence, but postoperative radiation in such patients does not seem to have any survival benefits.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Female
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Cervix Uteri/surgery*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Prognosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Retrospective Studies
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/surgery*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/surgery*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Recurrence
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
3.Acupuncture for glaucoma-induced optic atrophy: a randomized controlled trial.
Shui-Ling CHEN ; Li-Qun CHU ; Fang-Fang TAO ; Lu LIU ; Hang SHI ; Wen-Tao FU ; Jian-Guo WU ; Yu LIANG
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2023;43(4):432-436
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVE:
		                        			To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture for glaucoma-induced optic atrophy.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			A total of 70 patients (89 affected eyes) with glaucoma-induced optic atrophy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The control group was given basic western medicine treatment. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupuncture was applied at main acupoints i.e. Baihui (GV 20), Shangjingming (Extra), Chengqi (ST 1), Fengchi (GB 20), Zusanli (ST 36), combined with supplementary acupoints based on syndrome differentiation, once every three days, twice a week. The treatment for 3 months was required in both groups. Before treatment, after treatment and in follow-up of 6 months after treatment, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), indexes of visual field (visual field index [VFI], mean deviation [MD], pattern standard deviation [PSD]) and mean thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) were observed in the two groups.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			Compared before treatment, BCVA was decreased after treatment and in follow-up in the control group (P<0.05); in the follow-up, BCVA in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). On each time point before and after treatment, there was no significant difference within or between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment and in the follow-up, the mean thickness of RNFL was larger than the control group (P<0.05).
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSION
		                        			On the basis of the basic western medicine treatment, acupuncture can delay the decline of vision and the thinning of retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with glaucoma-induced optic atrophy.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Retinal Ganglion Cells
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Glaucoma/therapy*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Optic Atrophy/therapy*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Intraocular Pressure
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Acupuncture Therapy
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
4.Analysis of biofilm-forming ability and drug resistance for Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Jian SHUI ; Li LUO ; Yan Gen XIANG ; Guo Min SHI ; Jia Ling WU ; Jian Hua PAN
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023;57(9):1452-1457
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Investigate the biofilm-forming ability and drug resistance of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP) to provide scientific basis for the treatment of HvKP-infection. A total of 96 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical infection specimens in Changsha Central Hospital from January to December in 2021 were retrospectively collected, and the clinical data of patients were collected. The string test preliminarily distinguished between HvKP and classic Klebsiella pneumoniae (CKP). The biofilm-forming ability of clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) was determined by microplate method. The Vitek 2 Compact automatic microbial identification/drug sensitivity analysis system was used for bacterial identification and drug sensitivity test. The clinical data of patients, biofilm forming ability and drug resistance in the HvKP group and those in the CKP group were compared and analyzed. The results showed that a total of 20 strains of HvKP were isolated from 96 non-repetitive KP, and the detection rate was 20.8%. HvKP mainly come from respiratory specimens, up to 75.0%.The prevalence of hepatobiliary diseases and the infection rate of multiple sites in patients with HvKP infection were higher than those in patients with CKP infection, and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=5.184,7.488;P=0.023,0.006).There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, ICU admission, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, lung disease, urinary system disease, central nervous system disease and laboratory test indexes (all P>0.05).17 (85.0%) strains of HvKP can form biofilm, including 2 strains with weak biofilm-forming ability (10.0%), 10 strains with moderate biofilm-forming ability (50.0%) and 5 strains with strong biofilm-forming ability (25.0%). Among the 76 CKP, 71 (93.4%) could form biofilm, including 13 (17.1%) with weak biofilm-forming ability, 30(39.5%) with moderate biofilm-forming ability and 28 (36.8%) with strong biofilm-forming ability. There was no significant difference in biofilm-forming ability between HvKP and CKP (χ2=1.470,P=0.225).The overall resistance rate of HvKP was not high, but a multi-resistant HvKP resistant to carbapenems was found. The detection rate of multi-resistant HvKP (5.0%) was lower than that of multi-resistant CKP (28.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.984, P=0.026).The resistance rate of HvKP to piperacillin/tazobactam, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, tobramycin, minocycline, doxycycline, and compound sulfamethoxazole was lower than that of CKP, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). In conclusion, most of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae can form biofilm in this study, but the difference of biofilm-forming ability is not obvious compared with classic Klebsiella pneumoniae. HvKP maintains high sensitivity to commonly used antibacterial drugs, but the drug resistance monitoring of the bacteria cannot be ignored.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
5.Analysis of biofilm-forming ability and drug resistance for Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Jian SHUI ; Li LUO ; Yan Gen XIANG ; Guo Min SHI ; Jia Ling WU ; Jian Hua PAN
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023;57(9):1452-1457
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Investigate the biofilm-forming ability and drug resistance of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP) to provide scientific basis for the treatment of HvKP-infection. A total of 96 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical infection specimens in Changsha Central Hospital from January to December in 2021 were retrospectively collected, and the clinical data of patients were collected. The string test preliminarily distinguished between HvKP and classic Klebsiella pneumoniae (CKP). The biofilm-forming ability of clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) was determined by microplate method. The Vitek 2 Compact automatic microbial identification/drug sensitivity analysis system was used for bacterial identification and drug sensitivity test. The clinical data of patients, biofilm forming ability and drug resistance in the HvKP group and those in the CKP group were compared and analyzed. The results showed that a total of 20 strains of HvKP were isolated from 96 non-repetitive KP, and the detection rate was 20.8%. HvKP mainly come from respiratory specimens, up to 75.0%.The prevalence of hepatobiliary diseases and the infection rate of multiple sites in patients with HvKP infection were higher than those in patients with CKP infection, and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=5.184,7.488;P=0.023,0.006).There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, ICU admission, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, lung disease, urinary system disease, central nervous system disease and laboratory test indexes (all P>0.05).17 (85.0%) strains of HvKP can form biofilm, including 2 strains with weak biofilm-forming ability (10.0%), 10 strains with moderate biofilm-forming ability (50.0%) and 5 strains with strong biofilm-forming ability (25.0%). Among the 76 CKP, 71 (93.4%) could form biofilm, including 13 (17.1%) with weak biofilm-forming ability, 30(39.5%) with moderate biofilm-forming ability and 28 (36.8%) with strong biofilm-forming ability. There was no significant difference in biofilm-forming ability between HvKP and CKP (χ2=1.470,P=0.225).The overall resistance rate of HvKP was not high, but a multi-resistant HvKP resistant to carbapenems was found. The detection rate of multi-resistant HvKP (5.0%) was lower than that of multi-resistant CKP (28.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.984, P=0.026).The resistance rate of HvKP to piperacillin/tazobactam, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, tobramycin, minocycline, doxycycline, and compound sulfamethoxazole was lower than that of CKP, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). In conclusion, most of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae can form biofilm in this study, but the difference of biofilm-forming ability is not obvious compared with classic Klebsiella pneumoniae. HvKP maintains high sensitivity to commonly used antibacterial drugs, but the drug resistance monitoring of the bacteria cannot be ignored.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
6.Expert consensus on clinical application of GBE50 Dispersible Tablets for ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Wen-Ming YANG ; Han WANG ; Su-Lun SUN ; Yun-Ling ZHANG ; Xiao-Hu CHEN ; Jian-Qi LU ; Bo-Shui WU ; Jian-Ning SUN ; Wei CHEN ; Lu-Lu TANG ; The Editorial Team REPRESENTED
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2022;47(2):301-305
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Ginkgo biloba Extract( GBE50) Dispersible Tablets is a new standardized prescription,which is widely used in the treatment of ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However,there are still many problems in its clinical application.Rational and safe use of GBE50 Dispersible Tablets is pivotal to the medication safety and clinical prognosis of patients. This consensus has been jointly formulated by clinical experts of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and followed the Manual for the Clinical Experts Consensus of Chinese Patent Medicine published by the China Association of Chinese Medicine. The present study identified clinical problems based on clinical investigation,searched the research papers according to PICO clinical problems,carried out evidence evaluation,classification,and recommendation by GRADE system,and reached the expert consensus with nominal group technique. The consensus combines evidence with expert experience. Sufficient evidence of clinical problems corresponds to " recommendations",while insufficient evidence to " suggestions". Safety issues of GBE50 Dispersible Tablets,such as indications,usage and dosage,and medication for special populations,are defined to improve clinical efficacy,promote rational medication,and reduce drug risks. This consensus needs to be revised based on emerging clinical issues and evidencebased updates in practical applications in the future.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Cerebrovascular Disorders/drug therapy*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Consensus
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Medicine, Chinese Traditional
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Tablets
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
7.Association of sexually transmitted infection with semen quality in men from couples with primary and secondary infertility.
Shun BAI ; Yuan LI ; Mei-Hong HU ; Li WU ; Li-Jun SHUI ; Xiao-Han WANG ; Yi-Xun LIU ; Qiu-Ling YUE ; Li-Na YU ; Kai-Qiang FU ; Xian-Hong TONG ; Xue-Chun HU ; Bo XU
Asian Journal of Andrology 2022;24(3):317-322
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			This study aims to compare the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with semen quality in men from couples with primary and secondary infertility. Semen samples were collected from 133 men who requested fertility evaluation. Seminal tract infection with Ureaplasma spp. (UU), Mycoplasma hominis (MH), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) was assessed by PCR-based diagnostic assays. Among all patients, the prevalence of STIs was higher in men from couples with primary infertility than that in men from couples with secondary infertility (39.7% vs 21.7%, P = 0.03). The prevalence of UU was 28.8% and 13.3% in men from couples with primary and secondary infertility, respectively. Men from couples with primary infertility were more likely to be positive for UU than men from couples with secondary infertility (P = 0.04). Regarding the UU subtype, the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uuu) and Ureaplasma parvum (Uup; including Uup1, Uup3, Uup6, and Uup14) did not differ between the two groups. No associations between the prevalence rates of MH, MG, and CT were found in men from either infertility group. A lower sperm concentration was associated with STI pathogen positivity in men with primary infertility according to the crude model (P = 0.04). The crude and adjusted models showed that semen volume (both P = 0.03) and semen leukocyte count (both P = 0.02) were independently associated with secondary infertility. These findings suggest the importance of classifying the type of infertility during routine diagnosis of seminal tract infections.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Female
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Infertility, Male/epidemiology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Male
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mycoplasma genitalium
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Mycoplasma hominis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Prevalence
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Semen
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Semen Analysis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Ureaplasma urealyticum
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
8.Survival of children with recurrent medulloblastoma undergoing sequential therapy: an analysis of 101 cases.
Yan-Ling SUN ; Jing-Jing LIU ; Shu-Xu DU ; Wan-Shui WU ; Li-Ming SUN
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2021;23(2):164-168
		                        		
		                        			OBJECTIVE:
		                        			To study the clinical features of children with recurrent medulloblastoma (MB) and treatment regimens.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			A retrospective analysis was performed on 101 children with recurrent MB who were admitted to the hospital from August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2017. The children were followed up to July 31, 2020. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. The Cox regression model was used for multivariate regression analysis.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			Of the 101 children, 95 underwent remission induction therapy, among whom 51 had response, resulting in a response rate of 54%. The median overall survival (OS) time after recurrence was 13 months, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 50.5%±5.0%, 19.8%±4.0%, and 10%±3.3% respectively. There was no significant difference in the 5-year OS rate between the children with different ages (< 3 years or 3-18 years), sexes, pathological types, or Change stages, between the children with or without radiotherapy before recurrence or re-irradiation after recurrence, and between the children with different times to recurrence (< 12 months or ≥ 12 months after surgery) (
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSIONS
		                        			As for the recurrence of MB, although remission induction therapy again can achieve remission, such children still have a short survival time. Only reoperation can significantly prolong survival time, and therefore, early reoperation can be considered to improve the outcome of children with recurrent MB.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Cerebellar Neoplasms/therapy*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Child
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Medulloblastoma/therapy*
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Retrospective Studies
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Survival Rate
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
9.Clinical effect of surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy in children with central primitive neuroectodermal tumor and prognostic analysis.
Wan-Shui WU ; Jing-Jing LIU ; Yan-Ling SUN ; Si-Qi REN ; Xiao-Guang QIU ; Shu-Xu DU ; Chun-De LI ; Li-Ming SUN
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2020;22(6):589-594
		                        		
		                        			OBJCTIVE:
		                        			To study the clinical effect of surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy in children with central primitive neuroectodermal tumor (cPNET), as well as the risks factors for poor prognosis.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 42 children who were diagnosed with cPNET from June 2012 to September 2018.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			The 42 children had a median overall survival (OS) time of 2.0 years and a median event-free survival (EFS) time of 1.3 years; the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 76.2%±6.6%, 41.4%±8.7%, 37.3%±8.8% respectively, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year EFS rates were 64.3%±7.4%, 32.7%±8.0%, 28.0%±8.1% respectively. The univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in the OS and EFS rates among the children with different patterns of surgical resection, chemotherapy cycles, and risk grades (P<0.05), and there was also a significant difference in the OS rate between the children receiving radiotherapy and those not receiving radiotherapy (P<0.05). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that chemotherapy cycles and risk grade were independent influencing factors for EFS and OS rates (P<0.05). The EFS and OS rates increased with the increase in chemotherapy cycles and the reduction in risk grade.
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSIONS
		                        			Multimodality therapy with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy is an effective method for the treatment of cPNET in children. Early diagnosis and treatment and adherence to chemotherapy for as long as possible may improve EFS and OS rates.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Child
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Combined Modality Therapy
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Disease-Free Survival
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Prognosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Retrospective Studies
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
10.Persistence and clearance of viral RNA in 2019 novel coronavirus disease rehabilitation patients.
Yun LING ; Shui-Bao XU ; Yi-Xiao LIN ; Di TIAN ; Zhao-Qin ZHU ; Fa-Hui DAI ; Fan WU ; Zhi-Gang SONG ; Wei HUANG ; Jun CHEN ; Bi-Jie HU ; Sheng WANG ; En-Qiang MAO ; Lei ZHU ; Wen-Hong ZHANG ; Hong-Zhou LU
Chinese Medical Journal 2020;133(9):1039-1043
		                        		
		                        			BACKGROUND:
		                        			A patient's infectivity is determined by the presence of the virus in different body fluids, secretions, and excreta. The persistence and clearance of viral RNA from different specimens of patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remain unclear. This study analyzed the clearance time and factors influencing 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) RNA in different samples from patients with COVID-19, providing further evidence to improve the management of patients during convalescence.
		                        		
		                        			METHODS:
		                        			The clinical data and laboratory test results of convalescent patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to from January 20, 2020 to February 10, 2020 were collected retrospectively. The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results for patients' oropharyngeal swab, stool, urine, and serum samples were collected and analyzed. Convalescent patients refer to recovered non-febrile patients without respiratory symptoms who had two successive (minimum 24 h sampling interval) negative RT-PCR results for viral RNA from oropharyngeal swabs. The effects of cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4)+ T lymphocytes, inflammatory indicators, and glucocorticoid treatment on viral nucleic acid clearance were analyzed.
		                        		
		                        			RESULTS:
		                        			In the 292 confirmed cases, 66 patients recovered after treatment and were included in our study. In total, 28 (42.4%) women and 38 men (57.6%) with a median age of 44.0 (34.0-62.0) years were analyzed. After in-hospital treatment, patients' inflammatory indicators decreased with improved clinical condition. The median time from the onset of symptoms to first negative RT-PCR results for oropharyngeal swabs in convalescent patients was 9.5 (6.0-11.0) days. By February 10, 2020, 11 convalescent patients (16.7%) still tested positive for viral RNA from stool specimens and the other 55 patients' stool specimens were negative for 2019-nCoV following a median duration of 11.0 (9.0-16.0) days after symptom onset. Among these 55 patients, 43 had a longer duration until stool specimens were negative for viral RNA than for throat swabs, with a median delay of 2.0 (1.0-4.0) days. Results for only four (6.9%) urine samples were positive for viral nucleic acid out of 58 cases; viral RNA was still present in three patients' urine specimens after throat swabs were negative. Using a multiple linear regression model (F = 2.669, P = 0.044, and adjusted R = 0.122), the analysis showed that the CD4+ T lymphocyte count may help predict the duration of viral RNA detection in patients' stools (t = -2.699, P = 0.010). The duration of viral RNA detection from oropharyngeal swabs and fecal samples in the glucocorticoid treatment group was longer than that in the non-glucocorticoid treatment group (15 days vs. 8.0 days, respectively; t = 2.550, P = 0.013) and the duration of viral RNA detection in fecal samples in the glucocorticoid treatment group was longer than that in the non-glucocorticoid treatment group (20 days vs. 11 days, respectively; t = 4.631, P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in inflammatory indicators between patients with positive fecal viral RNA test results and those with negative results (P > 0.05).
		                        		
		                        			CONCLUSIONS
		                        			In brief, as the clearance of viral RNA in patients' stools was delayed compared to that in oropharyngeal swabs, it is important to identify viral RNA in feces during convalescence. Because of the delayed clearance of viral RNA in the glucocorticoid treatment group, glucocorticoids are not recommended in the treatment of COVID-19, especially for mild disease. The duration of RNA detection may relate to host cell immunity.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        			Adult
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Aged
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Betacoronavirus
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			genetics
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Clinical Laboratory Techniques
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Coronavirus Infections
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			diagnosis
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			genetics
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			rehabilitation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Female
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Humans
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Male
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Middle Aged
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Pandemics
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Pneumonia, Viral
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			genetics
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			rehabilitation
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			RNA, Viral
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			genetics
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
		                        			;
		                        		
		                        			Retrospective Studies
		                        			
		                        		
		                        	
            
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