On the evening of January 27, 2020, Wang Fusheng and his colleagues put on positive pressure protective clothing and walked into the isolation ward to bow three deeply to the remains of patients who had died of severe covid-19. After a 3-hour sampling operation, Wang Fusheng's team obtained the first pathological sample of the new crown death case, and on the cover of the internationally renowned medical journal "Lancet Respiratory Medicine", the research report was depicted as a lighthouse that cut through the darkness.
Wang Fusheng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an anti-epidemic doctor, participated in the treatment of patients in Beijing and Wuhan during the COVID-19 epidemic, leading the team to promote the academic understanding of the new crown virus.
At about 9 o'clock on March 2, 2022, Wang Fusheng, as the torchbearer of the Winter Paralympic Games, completed the olympic torch relay on the Grand Canal. He believes that the Winter Olympics can promote the development of winter sports on the mainland and are of great significance to improving the health level of the people. "We have common expectations for the Winter Paralympic Games and hope to better inherit the Olympic spirit through this event."
On March 2, Wang Fusheng completed the Olympic torch relay on the Grand Canal as the Winter Paralympic torchbearer. Courtesy of respondents
Puncture sampling in a 3-hour isolation ward
The first pathological report of COVID-19 deaths was obtained
In January 2020, Wang Fusheng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences at the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, changed into a positive pressure protective suit and walked into the ward after three deep bows to obtain a pathological sample from a new crown pneumonia death case.
In mid-February, the international medical journal The Lancet Respiratory Medicine published the findings. On the cover of the journal, the article is portrayed as a beacon of light that cuts through the darkness — the first death report obtained by human scientists since the outbreak began.
As of 15 February 2020, more than 60,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection have been confirmed and more than 1,000 deaths have been achieved. What reactions the new crown virus brings in the human body and how it causes death, only empirical speculation has been made before, and there is no pathological evidence. Clinically, more and more cases show that the new crown pneumonia is not the same as the SARS caused by the same coronavirus. If you want to engage in the pathogenesis of fresh crown, pathological analysis is indispensable, and for close puncture sampling of dead cases, the operator must undoubtedly face the high risk of infection.
Wang Fusheng decided to fight in person. Under the premise of complying with the regulations on the prevention and treatment of important infectious diseases, Wang Fusheng and another colleague carried out a 3-hour puncture operation. After the sampling was completed, the two bowed three times again to express their deep respect for the deceased.
The pathological results obtained two days later did differ from the original clinical inference of the cause of death. Many experts believe that heart failure may be the main cause of sudden death in patients, and pathological results confirm that patients have serious lung lesions, no lesions in the heart and liver, and "the cause of death is acute respiratory distress syndrome," Wang Fusheng said.
The research of Wang Fusheng's team also derived another point of view, based on the abnormal activation of the immune response in severe cases, short-course, low-dose hormone therapy showed good efficacy, which provided a reference for clinical treatment. In the subsequent release of the new crown diagnosis and treatment plan, it is also written that the short-term use of hormone therapy can be used as appropriate according to the progress of the patient's condition.
Wang Fusheng and his colleagues conducted rounds and consultations in the isolation ward. Courtesy of respondents
Beijing and Wuhan fought on both fronts
It is hoped that the "anti-epidemic of science and technology" will continue to exert efforts
Since the news of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, Wang Fusheng has maintained his concern about the epidemic. In January 2020, he went to an infectious disease diagnosis and treatment research center in Africa to visit mainland experts in Aiding Africa, and just returned to Beijing on the 19th, and went to Wuhan the next day.
In Beijing, the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital is one of the three designated medical institutions at the municipal level in Beijing to treat patients with new crown pneumonia, undertaking the task of receiving and treating confirmed patients and severe patients. As the leader of the medical expert group, Wang Fusheng participated in the diagnosis and treatment of cases; as an expert of the Joint Prevention and Control Scientific Research Group of the State Council, Wang Fusheng also led the team to carry out research on the pathogenesis of new crown pneumonia immunization, and cooperated with other research institutes in antibody drugs, vaccine research and development.
After the epidemic in Beijing was effectively controlled, Wang Fusheng and his team came to Wuhan to continue the fight against the epidemic. In designated hospitals such as Jinyintan and Huoshenshan, Wang Fusheng entered the isolation ward and participated in the rounds and consultations of seriously ill patients, and now recalls that time passed quickly, four hours passed in a flash, and when he came out, his clothes were soaked, and his biggest feeling was hunger.
"I am engaged in infectious diseases myself, clinical and scientific research during the anti-epidemic period are routine work, the only difference is that the impact of this epidemic is widespread, the harm is serious, it is indeed a hundred years, and it is my job that my team and I can contribute to the frontline." Wang Fusheng said.
In the process of participating in the prevention and control of the epidemic, Wang Fusheng felt that after the SARS epidemic, the mainland's ability to deal with major infectious diseases has been significantly improved, and the rapid layout of diagnosis, treatment, vaccine research, prevention and control strategies for emerging diseases has made outstanding contributions to the "anti-epidemic with science and technology".
Wang Fusheng work photo. Courtesy of respondents
"In addition to comprehensive prevention and control measures, the control of the pandemic of infectious diseases requires the concerted efforts of various countries around the world, mainly relying on three 'weapons'." Wang Fusheng said that the first is the vaccine, although there are re-infections and breakthrough infections after vaccination, but after vaccination can significantly reduce the incidence, severe illness rate and mortality rate; followed by specific antiviral drugs, recently there have been special drug research and development at home and abroad, which is of great significance for clinical treatment; the third is to rely on clinical experts to continuously summarize the experience of treatment, develop new and effective treatment programs, and improve the cure rate of severe patients.
He said that the epidemic has entered its third year, and in the face of the challenge of virus mutation, human beings need to continue to exert efforts at the scientific level.
Wang Fusheng. Courtesy of respondents
dialogue
Beijing News: How did you participate in the Winter Paralympic Torch Relay?
Wang Fusheng: It is a great honor for me to be identified as the torchbearer of the Winter Paralympic Games a few months ago, which is a very honorable thing for me, our team and my family. Although I myself participated in the Olympic Torch Relay for the first time, my team and I participated in the medical protection of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and the main task was to prevent the outbreak of various infectious diseases. I have also been following the performance of our national team at the Winter Olympics and am very proud of the excellent results achieved by the Chinese Olympic athletes.
Beijing News: How do you see the identity of the torchbearer?
Wang Fusheng: The Olympic torch is an important symbol of the Olympic movement, representing light, peace, friendship and unity. The Olympic Torch Relay is one of the most high-profile and anticipated events in every Olympic Games. As one of the representatives of infectious disease medicine, I feel very honored. It is hoped that through the torch relay, the Olympic spirit of "hope, dreams and inspiration, friendship and fair competition, and struggle for fun" will be embodied.
Beijing News: As a doctor, how do you view this year's Olympic games?
Wang Fusheng: The Winter Olympic Games have recently been successfully concluded, followed by the start of the Winter Paralympic Games, and the successful holding of this Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will not only promote the development of winter sports on the mainland, but also be of great significance to the implementation of the national strategy of national fitness and the improvement of the people's health level.
We have common expectations for the Winter Paralympic Games, and we hope to work with you to cheer for athletes from all over the world and wish them good results. I believe that this grand event will become a good memory for everyone, and I hope that through this event, I can better feel and inherit the Olympic spirit.
Biography
Wang Fusheng is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the PLA General Hospital, and the director of the National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases. He is a director of the Chinese Medical Association and the chairman-elect of the Infectious Diseases Professional Committee of the Whole Army. Pioneer in the field of cell therapy and research for difficult liver diseases and AIDS.
During the epidemic period, Wang Fusheng served as an expert of the scientific research expert group on the joint prevention and control mechanism of the new coronavirus, and participated in the prevention and control of the epidemic in Beijing and Wuhan. He has been commended as an advanced individual in the national fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic and an outstanding communist party member in the country.
Beijing News reporter Dai Xuan
Edited by Liu Xixian Proofreader Zhao Lin