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Background:Little is known about changes in lymphocyte subsets after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: Clinical data of 580 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from 20 December 2019, to 8 March 2020, were retrospectively analyzed. The relation of lymphocyte subsets and severity or prognosis of disease were analyzed. Results: At 2-3 weeks after the onset of symptoms, lymphocyte subsets decreased to the lowest levels. The levels of lymphocyte subsets in asymptomatic patients were close to healthy persons, except for CD8 + T lymphocyte cells. The levels of lymphocyte subsets in patients with severe illness were lower than that in patients with mild-to-moderate illness (P < 0.01). Similarly, among patients with severe illness, lower levels of lymphocyte subsets were found in dead patients compared to survivors (P < 0.001). Moreover, by comparing the results of the same patients at different stages of the disease, we found levels of lymphocyte subsets were lower in the acute phase compared to that in convalescent-phase (P < 0.001). However, the levels of lymphocyte subsets in patients who had SARS-CoV-2 viral load >5000 copies/ml and 500-5000 copies/ml were at similar levels. Conclusions: Lymphocyte subsets are a good biomarker to assess the severity and prognosis of the disease at 2-3 weeks after the onset of symptoms.

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Background Due to economic shortages and concern about occupational exposure to HIV, liver biopsy and transient elastography (TE) are rarely available in patients with HIV/HBV co-infection in China, where HIV/HBV co-infection is prevalent. Methods The accuracy of FIB-4 and APRI for predicting liver fibrosis was compared with TE results in a series of 460 HIV/HBV co-infected patients. Results FIB-4 and APRI scores were strongly correlated to liver stiffness measurement scores by TE, and the correlation index was 81.4–96.3. An FIB-4 index >1.5 had a positive predictive value of 95.2% to consider fibrosis with a sensitivity of 85.7%. An APRI index >0.5 had a positive predictive value of 98.2% to consider fibrosis with a sensitivity of 76.0%. A FIB-4 value <1.5 or APRI <0.5 were concordant with TE results to exclude fibrosis in 94.4% and 96.8%, respectively. A FIB-4 value >1.5 or APRI >0.5 were concordant with fibrosis diagnosed by TE in 77.6–89.4% and 70.7–80.9%, respectively. Conclusions In areas with limited resources, FIB-4 and APRI indexes were accurate, simple and inexpensive methods for assessing liver fibrosis in patients with HIV/HBV co-infection.

To establish a plasma model to predict the risk of liver fibrosis in HIV/HBV co‐infected individuals. Quantitative liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry(LC‐MS/MS) was used to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in plasma collected from HIV/HBV co‐infected individuals with and without liver fibrosis. In total, 97 DEPs were identified, among which 11 were further validated as potential biomarkers, with immunoglobulin and complement components being the most common proteins. These markedly altered proteins were found to mediate pathophysiological pathways, including humoral immune response, complement and coagulation cascades, and complement activation. A visual logistic model, in which immunoglobulin heavy variable 3‐20 (IGHV3‐20), immunoglobulin heavy variable 1‐24 (IGHV1‐24), and macrophage colony‐stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) proteins were included, has been established to predict liver fibrosis in HIV/HBV co‐infected individuals. The preliminary conclusion showed that the combination of IGHV3‐20, IGFHV1‐24, and CSF1R is expected to become a predictive model for liver fibrosis in the context of HIV/HBV co‐infection and a further validation should be performed.