Background Previous studies on the pneumonia outbreak caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were mainly based on information from adult populations. Limited data are available for children with COVID-19, especially for infected infants. Methods We report a 55-day-old case with COVID-19 confirmed in China and describe the identification, diagnosis, clinical course, and treatment of the patient, including the disease progression from day 7 to day 11 of illness. Results This case highlights that children with COVID-19 can also present with multiple organ damage and rapid disease changes. Conclusions When managing such infant patients with COVID-19, frequent and careful clinical monitoring is essential.

Summary We reported 20 cases of discharged COVID‐19 patients whose RT‐PCR test results showed ‘re‐positive’. After finding ‘re‐positive’, these patients were admitted to hospital for the second time and were followed up until the end of May 2020. We recorded detailed treatment and follow‐up process, and collected relevant data. The possible causes and potential clinical significance of this phenomenon are discussed.

Pentoxifylline can significantly provide additive antiproteinuric effect independent from the decrease in BP or improvement in glycemic control in DN patients under blockade of angiotensin system. Further large, multicenter, high-quality studies with long duration are necessary to prove whether it really has renoprotective effects in this patient population.

BackgroundThymosin β4 (Tβ4) is closely associated with the cytoskeleton, inflammation, wound healing, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and myocardial regeneration, but the effects of Tβ4 treatment on chronic renal tubular interstitial fibrosis (CRTIF) are poorly known. This study aimed to examine the effects of Tβ4 on the renal apoptosis and the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF-β), E-cadherin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in CRTIF rat models.MethodsMale SD rats were randomized into four groups (sham group, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) group, UUO + low-dose Tβ4 group, and UUO + high-dose Tβ4 group). The pathological changes of kidney tissue and its function were assessed two weeks after UUO. In renal interstitial tissue,TGF-β, E-cadherin and α-SMA expression was detected by western blot. In tubular epithelial cells, E-cadherin and α-SMA expression was detected using Real-time qPCR and western blot. Cell apoptosis of rat renal interstitial tissue and tubular epithelial cells was evaluated by immunofluorescence and western blot.ResultsTwo weeks after UUO, no differences in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were observed between the four groups (P > 0.05). Compared to the UUO group, Tβ4 treatment decreased the 24-h proteinuria (P < 0.001) and reduced the area of pathological change (P < 0.01); this effect was more apparent in the UUO + high-dose Tβ4 group. Compared to the UUO group, a significant decrease in TGF-β and α-SMA protein expression was observed in the high-dose Tβ4 group. The level of E-cadherin protein was lower in the UUO group than the Tβ4 groups, and high-dose Tβ4 treatment further increased E-cadherin expression and improved cell apoptosis in the renal interstitial tissue. Analysis of in vitro tubular epithelial cells showed that α-SMA mRNA and protein expression decreased, while E-cadherin mRNA and protein expression increased by Tβ4 treatment. Similarly, these changes were more significant in the UUO + high-dose Tβ4 group. Tβ4 treatment improved the apoptosis of In vitro tubular epithelial cells compared with pure TGF-β stimulation, and equally, the decrease of apoptosis was more apparent in the TGF-β + high-dose Tβ4 group.ConclusionsTβ4 treatment might alleviate the renal fibrosis and apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells through TGF-β pathway inhibition in UUO rats with CRTIF.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-017-0708-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background/Aim: The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and intradialytic hypotension (IDH) has been inconsistently reported, but no further research has investigated the correlation between body composition and IDH so far. This study aimed to determine whether the lean tissue index (LTI), fat tissue index (FTI), or both derived from body composition monitoring (BCM) is associated with IDH defined as a nadir intradialytic systolic blood pressure of < 90 mm Hg and ≥3 episodes hypotension per 10 hemodialysis (HD) treatments in patients undergoing prevalent HD. Methods: The observational cohort study comprised 1,463 patients receiving thrice-weekly HD from 13 dialysis centers. LTI and FTI were assessed using a BCM machine, a multifrequency bioimpedance spectroscopy device. Unadjusted and multivariable adjusted logistic regression models were fit to estimate the association of body composition with the odds of developing IDH. Results: One hundred and seven patients (7.3%) were diagnosed as IDH. The difference in dialysis vintage, BMI, FTI, LTI, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and C-reactive protein between IDH and non-IDH groups was statistically significant (all p < 0.05). The preva-lence of diabetes among IDH patients was slightly higher than among non-IDH patients. In logistic regression models, low LTI and high FTI, but not high BMI were associated with greater odds of IDH ("high" as above median and "low" as below median). When patients were further stratified into 4 distinct body composition groups based on both the LTI and FTI, only the low LTI/high FTI group was connected with a significantly higher odds of IDH (OR 2.686, 95% CI 1.072-6.734; reference: low LTI/low FTI group). Conclusions: The LTI and FTI can provide better correlation of IDH occurrence than the BMI alone in prevalent HD patients. The low LTI/ high FTI appears to be most associated with IDH. An optimal body composition for preventing the occurrence of IDH needs to be determined.