Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a global epidemic disease caused by a novel virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), causing serious adverse effects on human health. In this study, we obtained a blood leukocytes sequencing data set of COVID‐19 patients from the GEO database and obtained differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We further analyzed these DEGs by protein–protein interaction analysis and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and identified the DEGs closely related to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Then, we constructed a six‐gene model (comprising IFIT3, OASL, USP18, XAF1, IFI27 , and EPSTI1 ) by logistic regression analysis and calculated the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the diagnosis of COVID‐19. The AUC values of the training group, testing group, and entire group were 0.930, 0.914, and 0.921, respectively. The six genes were highly expressed in patients with COVID‐19 and positively correlated with the expression of SARS‐CoV‐2 invasion‐related genes ( ACE2, TMPRSS2, CTSB , and CTSL ). The risk score calculated by this model was also positively correlated with the expression of TMPRSS2, CTSB , and CTSL , indicating that the six genes were closely related to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. In conclusion, we comprehensively analyzed the functions of DEGs in the blood leukocytes of patients with COVID‐19 and constructed a six‐gene model that may contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic ideas for COVID‐19. Moreover, these six genes may be therapeutic targets for COVID‐19.

Background Anaemia is prevalent in children. Therefore, this study examined the association between dietary patterns and anaemia among children in central South China. Methods Cross-sectional studies were conducted in Mayang, central South China, in 2015 and 2018. Diet data were collected using a questionnaire, and dietary patterns were identified via exploratory factor analysis. Haemoglobin was measured to assess anaemia status. Associations between dietary patterns and anaemia were assessed using a logistic regression model. Results The mean age of the infants surveyed was 14.06 months in 2015 and 16.58 months in 2018. Four dietary patterns were identified among infants aged 6–23 months: a diversified diet consisting mainly of tubers, dairy products, beans and bean products; a traditional diet consisting mainly of cereals, water, soup, vegetables and fruit; mainly breast milk, with a little powdered formula; or mainly multi-nutrient powders. The prevalence of anaemia in infants decreased from 29.49% in 2015 to 20.26% in 2018.In infants fed a diversified diet or multi-nutrient powders with top-quartile (Q4) scores, the risk of anaemia was reduced by 45%(adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.55, 95%CI0.30–0.99, P = 0.047) or 59% (AOR = 0.41, 95% CI0.22–0.78, P = 0.006), respectively, compared to infants in the lowest quartile (Q1). Infants fed mainly breast milk had a 3.26-fold greater risk of anaemia compared to those with Q1 scores (AOR = 3.26, 95% CI 1.83–5.81, P < 0.001). Conclusions Four dietary patterns were identified among infants aged 6–23 months in central South China. Infants should be fed a variety of food groups to improve their anaemia status.

Backgroud: Anemia is widely prevalent among children, and this study aims to understand dietary patterns and its’ association with anemia.Methods: A cross-sectional design in two time period was conducted at Mayang in 2015 and in 2018. The diet data was collected by questionnaire, and dietary patterns were identified by exploratory factor analysis. Hemoglobin (Hb) was measured to assess the status of anemia. The association between the dietary patterns and anemia was assessed by the logistic regression model.Results: The mean age of infants were 14.06 months in 2015 and 16.58 months in 2018. Four dietary patterns were identified among infants aged 6-23 months in central-south China. Diversified pattern: mainly tubers, dairy products, bean and bean products; traditional pattern:mainly cereals, water and soup, and other vegetables and fruits; breast milk pattern: mainly breast milk but less powered formulas; and multi-nutrient powders pattern: mainly multi-nutrient powders. The prevalence of anemia among infant reduced from 29.49% in 2015 to 20.26% in 2018. The top quartile (Q4) of diversified pattern and multi-nutrient powders pattern deminished the risk of anemia by 45% (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.99, P = 0.047) and 59% (OR = 0.41,95% CI: 0.22 to 0.78, P = 0.006) compared to the lowest quartile (Q1), while the breast milk pattern had a 3.26-fold greater risk of anemia than the lowest quartile (Q1) (OR = 3.26,95%CI:1.83 to 5.81, P <0.001).Conclusions: Four dietary patterns were identified among infants aged 6-23 months in central-south China. The pattern with a variety of food groups should be strengthened to improve anemia among infants.