SARS-CoV-2: A Storm is Raging

The Journal of Clinical Investigation

Pedersen, Savannah F.; Ho, Ya-Chi

Abstract

The pandemic coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is rapidly spreading across the globe. In this issue of the JCI, Chen and colleagues compared the clinical and immunologic characteristics between moderate versus severe COVID-19. The authors found that respiratory distress on admission is associated with unfavorable outcomes. Increased cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-10 and TNFα), lymphopenia (in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells), and decreased IFNγ expression in CD4+ T cells are associated with severe COVID-19. Overall, this study characterized the cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 and provides insights into immune therapeutics and vaccine design.

Keywords

COVID-19, infection, anesthesia, safety

Safe Delivery for COVID-19 Infected Pregnancies

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Qi, Hongbo; Luo, Xin; Zheng, Yangxi; Zhang, Hua; Li, Jiafu; Zou, Li; Feng, Ling; Chen, Dunjin; Shi, Yuan; Tong, Chao; Baker, Philip N.

Abstract

Since December 2019, a new coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has rapidly become prevalent in central China1. On the basis of knowledge obtained from a previous coronavirus outbreak2, pregnant women are believed to be susceptible to this virus. Once a maternal infection of COVID-19 is suspected or confirmed, childbirth becomes complicated and challenging. Efficient obstetric treatment is required, and is key to optimizing the prognosis for both mother and child. Care should be taken in determination of the timing of delivery, assessment of the indications for caesarean section, preparation of the delivery room to prevent infection, choice of the type of anesthesia, and newborn management.

Keywords

COVID-19, infection, delivery, solutions