Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 from a designated hospital in Hangzhou City: a retrospective observational study

Neurological Manifestations in COVID-19 Patients: A Meta-Analysis

Common symptoms such as dizziness, headache, olfactory dysfunction, nausea, vomiting, etc. in COVID-19 patients have indicated the involvement of the nervous system. However, the exact association of the nervous system with COVID-19 infection is still unclear. Thus, we have conducted a meta-analysis of clinical studies associated with neurological problems in COVID-19 patients. We have searched for electronic databases with MeSH terms, and the studies for analysis were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and quality assessment. The Stats Direct (version 3) was used for the analysis. The pooled prevalence with 95% confidence interval of various neurological manifestations reported in the COVID-19 patients was found to be headache 14.6% (12.2-17.2), fatigue 33.6% (29.5-37.8), olfactory dysfunction 26.4% (21.8-31.3), gustatory dysfunction 27.2% (22.3-32.3), vomiting 6.7% (5.5-8.0), nausea 9.8% (8.1-11.7), dizziness 6.7% (4.7-9.1), myalgia 21.4% (18.8-24.1), seizure 4.05% (2.5-5.8), cerebrovascular diseases 9.9% (6.8-13.4), sleep disorders 14.9% (1.9-36.8), altered mental status 17.1% (12.3-22.5), neuralgia 2.4% (0.8-4.7), arthralgia 19.9% (15.3-25.0), encephalopathy 23.5% (14.3-34.1), encephalitis 0.6% (0.2-1.3), malaise 38.3% (24.7-52.9), confusion 14.2% (6.9-23.5), movement disorders 5.2% (1.7-10.4), and Guillain-Barre syndrome 6.9% (2.3-13.7). However, the heterogeneity among studies was found to be high. Various neurological manifestations related to the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) are associated with COVID-19 patients.

Defense of COVID-19 by Human Organoids

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has created an immense menace to public health worldwide, exerting huge effects on global economic and political conditions. Understanding the biology and pathogenesis mechanisms of this novel virus, in large parts, relies on optimal physiological models that allow replication and propagation of SARS-CoV-2. Human organoids, derived from stem cells, are three-dimensional cell cultures that recapitulate the cellular organization, transcriptional and epigenetic signatures of their counterpart organs. Recent studies have indicated their great values as experimental virology platforms, making human organoid an ideal tool for investigating host-pathogen interactions. Here, we summarize research developments for SARS-CoV-2 infection of various human organoids involved in multiple systems, including lung, liver, brain, intestine, kidney and blood vessel organoids. These studies help us reveal the pathogenesis mechanism of COVID-19, and facilitate the development of effective vaccines and drugs as well as other therapeutic regimes.