Background: Severe ill patients with 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection progressed rapidly to acute respiratory failure. We aimed to select the most useful prognostic factor for severe illness incidence. Methods: The study prospectively included 61 patients with 2019-nCoV infection treated at Beijing Ditan Hospital from January 13, 2020 to January 31, 2020. Prognostic factor of severe illness was selected by the LASSO COX regression analyses, to predict the severe illness probability of 2019-CoV pneumonia. The predictive accuracy was evaluated by concordance index, calibration curve, decision curve and clinical impact curve. Results: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was identified as the independent risk factor for severe illness in patients with 2019-nCoV infection. The NLR had a c-index of 0.807 (95% confidence interval, 0.676–0.38), the calibration curves fitted well, and the decision curve and clinical impact curve showed that the NLR had superior standardized net benefit. In addition, the incidence of severe illness was 9.1% in age ≥ 50 and NLR < 3.13 patients, and half of patients with age ≥ 50 and NLR ≥ 3.13 would develop severe illness. Based on the risk stratification of NLR with age, the study developed a 2019-nCoV pneumonia management process. Conclusions: The NLR was the early identification of risk factors for 2019-nCoV severe illness. Patients with age ≥ 50 and NLR ≥ 3.13 facilitated severe illness, and they should rapidly access to intensive care unit if necessary.

Background: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) remains the most common diagnosis for intensive care unit (ICU) admission in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Methods: We conducted a single-center, prospective, open-labeled, randomized controlled trial at the ICU, Beijing Ditan Hospital, China. AIDS patients with ARF were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy or non-invasive ventilation (NIV) immediately after randomization. The primary outcome was the need for endotracheal intubation on day 28. Results: 120 AIDS patients were enrolled and 56 patients in the HFNC group and 57 patients in the NIV group after secondary exclusion. Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) was the main etiology for ARF (94.7%). The intubation rates on day 28 were similar to HFNC and NIV (28.6% vs. 35.1%, p = 0.457). Kaplan–Meier curves showed no statistical difference in cumulative intubation rates between the two groups (log-rank test 0.401, p = 0.527). The number of airway care interventions in the HFNC group was fewer than in the NIV group (6 (5–7) vs. 8 (6–9), p < 0.001). The rate of intolerance in the HFNC group was lower than in the NIV group (1.8% vs. 14.0%, p = 0.032). The VAS scores of device discomfort in the HFNC group were lower than that in the NIV group at 2 h (4 (4–5) vs. 5 (4–7), p = 0.042) and at 24 h (4 (3–4) vs. 4 (3–6), p = 0.036). The respiratory rate in the HFNC group was lower than that in the NIV group at 24 h (25 ± 4/min vs. 27 ± 5/min, p = 0.041). Conclusions: Among AIDS patients with ARF, there was no statistical significance of the intubation rate between HFNC and NIV. HFNC had better tolerance and device comfort, fewer airway care interventions, and a lower respiratory rate than NIV. Clinical Trial Number: Chictr.org (ChiCTR1900022241).

Background: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) complicated by Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is characterized by an insidious onset, rapid progression, and a critical clinical course. Severe complications, such as respiratory failure and pneumothorax, may occur in the absence of timely and effective intervention, resulting in increased mortality. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can serve as a salvage therapy by temporarily and effectively replacing cardiopulmonary function. Objective: We aimed to summarize the clinical experience of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) support in four patients with AIDS complicated by PCP. Methods: Clinical data from four patients with AIDS who were complicated by PCP and received ECMO support at Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed. The timing of ECMO initiation, mode selection, mechanical ventilation (MV) management, sedation and analgesia strategies, prognosis, and clinical experience were evaluated, and treatment experience was summarized. Results: All four patients were definitively diagnosed with AIDS complicated by PCP and respiratory failure. All patients received ventilatory support and developed barotrauma. Pneumothorax occurred in cases 1, 2, and 4, whereas pneumomediastinum was detected in case 3. All patients received V-V ECMO support, which improved clinical conditions in all cases. Finally, cases 1 and 2 died, whereas cases 3 and 4 recovered and were discharged. Among them, awake ECMO was successfully implemented in case 3. Conclusion: For patients with AIDS complicated by PCP, particularly for those with concomitant barotrauma, early initiation of ECMO support may rapidly improve systemic oxygenation and lower the intensity of MV. This approach may decrease ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), facilitate lung rest and lung protection, and provide a therapeutic window for treating the underlying disease. Clinicians should comprehensively evaluate disease reversibility, immune recovery potential, and the severity of lung injury. Withholding ECMO therapy solely due to HIV infection status should be avoided.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a life-threatening tick-borne viral disease with high mortality and limited treatment options. Understanding its transmission routes is essential for effective prevention and control. Case presentation: We report a case of a 55-year-old woman from Dalian, Liaoning Province, China, who developed high fever, malaise and diarrhea five days after being bitten by a Siberian weasel ( Mustela sibirica ). A diagnosis of SFTS was made on day 12 after SFTS virus was detected in peripheral blood by metagenomic next-generation sequencing. Despite timely antiviral and supportive treatment, the patient rapidly progressed to multiple organ dysfunction and had a poor prognosis. She had no known exposure to ticks or other animals, raising strong suspicion of SFTSV transmission through the weasel bite. Conclusion: This is a case of SFTS potentially associated with a Mustela sibirica bite, suggesting a possible but unconfirmed zoonotic transmission route. These findings highlight the urgent need for surveillance of animal hosts in endemic regions to better understand transmission pathways.