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Regulatory T cell can protect against severe forms of coronaviral infections attributable to host inflammatory responses. But its role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is still unclear. In this study, frequencies of total and multiple subsets of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients and discharged individuals were analyzed using a multicolor flow cytometry assay. Plasma concentration of IL-10 was measured using a microsphere-based immunoassay kit. Comparing to healthy controls, the frequencies of total lymphocytes and T cells decreased significantly in both acutely infected COVID-19 patients and discharged individuals. The frequencies of total lymphocytes correlated negatively with the frequencies of CD3 − CD56 + NK cells. The frequencies of regulatory CD8 + CD25 + T cells correlated with CD4 + /CD8 + T cell ratios positively, while the frequencies of regulatory CD4 + CD25 + CD127 − T cells correlated negatively with CD4 + /CD8 + T cell ratios. Ratios of CD4 + /CD8 + T cells increased significantly in patients beyond age of 45 years. And accordingly, the frequencies of regulatory CD8 + CD25 + T cells were also found significantly increased in these patients. Collectively, the results suggest that regulatory CD4 + and CD8 + T cells may play distinct roles in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Moreover, the data indicate that NK cells might contribute to the COVID-19 associated lymphopenia.

Background Alterations in body compositions are related to poor outcomes and the presence of complications in cirrhosis. However, no predictive tools combining all these anthropometric parameters are applicable in the clinical setting. We aimed to clarify the potential utility of body compositions and develop a nomogram incorporating any independent factor for prognosticating long‐term mortality in cirrhosis. Methods A total of 414 patients were randomized into primary (n = 274) and validation (n = 140) cohorts. X‐tile was performed to identify optimal cut points for stratifying participants. Multivariate Cox regression was performed, and nomogram incorporating body compositions were generated. The utility of developed models was evaluated by Harrell concordance index (C‐index), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results Stratifying by X‐tilederived cut points, low skeletal muscle index (myopenia), high intramuscular adipose tissue content (myosteatosis), and the ratio of high visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue area (adiposity) was independently associated with 3‐year mortality. A sex‐stratified nomogram incorporating anthropometric indices and clinical factors resulted in moderate discriminative accuracy, with a C‐index of 0.787 (95% CI, 0.736–0.838) and 0.789 (95% CI, 0.727–0.851) in males and females, respectively. The calibration curve showed predictive survival corresponding optimally with the actual outcomes. Our models were feasible in the clinical settings based on DCA. Similar results were observed in the validation cohort. Additionally, participants could be classified into 3 distinct risk groups by the nomogram. Conclusions Our proposed nomogram embedding body compositions rendered an individualized predictive tool for long‐term mortality in cirrhosis.

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Background: Foreign body (FB) ingestion in the gastrointestinal tract is a common and urgent problem observed in children and adults. However, there may be difficulty locating FBs and complications associated with their removal. This study aimed to identify risk factors and complications correlated to the presence and removal of FBs.Methods: This 5-year retrospective study enrolled 1,311 patients between June 2014 and April 2019.Demographic and endoscopic data were collected, containing age, gender, types and location of FBs, duration of FB ingestion, accessory devices, endoscopic methods, and complications. Logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the predictive risk factors.Results: Among 1,131 patients, FBs were found in 90.16% of cases. A major predictor for the presence of FB was a presentation of less than 24 hours (h). The types of FBs were jujube pits (36.72%) and fish bones (22.00%), and over 80% of the FBs were discovered in the esophagus. Complications were found in 239 cases (20.22%), of which hemorrhage (162/239, 67.78%) was the most frequent. Age ≥60, duration ≥24 h, and FBs ingested in the esophagus were considered as risk factors for developing complications. Conclusions:In conclusion, the longer duration, age ≥60, and impaction in the esophagus were risk factors for developing complications following the ingestion of FBs. These factors should be considered when developing assessment and treatment plans in the management of FB ingestion.