scholarly journals Systematic Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Essential Workers in Montréal, Canada: A Prospective Observational and Cost Assessment Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathon R. Campbell ◽  
Cynthia Dion ◽  
Aashna Uppal ◽  
Cedric P. Yansouni ◽  
Dick Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Grocery Store ◽  
Positive Test ◽  
Meat Processing ◽  
Repeated Testing ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Systematic Testing ◽  
Mobile Team ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: Essential workers are at increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We did a prospective study to estimate the yield, acceptability, and costs of workplace-based systematic SARS-CoV-2 testing of asymptomatic essential workers. METHODS: We recruited non-healthcare essential businesses, in Montreal, Canada. Mobile teams, composed of two non-healthcare professionals each, visited businesses. Consenting, asymptomatic employees provided saline gargle specimens under supervision. Mobile team members self-sampled weekly. Specimens were analyzed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). If an outbreak was detected (≥2 positives), we retested all initially negative participants. We did logistic regression for factors associated with a positive test. We estimated costs ($CAD) of this strategy. RESULTS: From 27 January to 12 March 2021, 69 essential businesses were visited. Of an estimated 2348 employees onsite, 2128 (90.6%) participated. Across 2626 tests, 53 (2.0%) were positive. Self-reported non-Caucasian ethnicity (aOR 3.7, 95% CI: 1.4-9.9) and a negative SARS-CoV-2 test before the study (0.4, 0.2-0.8) were positively and negatively associated with a positive test, respectively. Five businesses--3 manufacturing/supplier and 2 meat processing--were experiencing an outbreak. At these businesses, 40 (4.4%) of 917 participants were positive on the initial test. We repeated testing at three of these businesses over 2-3 weeks: 8/350 (2.3%) were positive on the second test, and zero were positive on the third and fourth test (148 tests); no employer reported new positives to 26 March 2021. In all other businesses, 1211 participants were tested once--5 (0.4%) were positive at three childcare enterprises, one grocery store, and one manufacturing/supplier. Per person, RT-PCR costs were $34.00 and all other costs $8.67. No mobile team member tested positive. INTERPRETATION: Onsite sampling of essential workers with saline gargle is safe, acceptable, and inexpensive. Repeat testing appeared to eliminate outbreaks. Systematic testing should be considered part of SARS-CoV-2 preventive efforts.

Fetal Central Nervous System Anomalies According to RT-PCR and Trimester of Maternal Infection with ZIKV. A Prospective Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luz Ángela Gutiérrez-Sánchez ◽  
Carlos Hernán Becerra-Mojica ◽  
Mario Augusto Rojas ◽  
Luis Alfonso Díaz-Martínez ◽  
Luis Alfonso Pérez-Vera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Maternal Infection ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Central Nervous System Anomalies

scholarly journals Cardiac magnetic resonance assessment of right ventricular remodeling after anthracycline therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Ferreira de Souza ◽  
Thiago Quinaglia Silva ◽  
Lígia Antunes-Correa ◽  
Zsofia D. Drobni ◽  
Felipe Osório Costa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Ventricular Remodeling ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Systolic Dysfunction ◽  
Extracellular Volume ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Tissue Characteristics ◽  
A Prospective Study

AbstractThere are limited data on the effects of anthracyclines on right ventricular (RV) structure, function, and tissue characteristics. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of anthracyclines on the RV using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). This was a post-hoc analysis of a prospective study of 27 breast cancer (BC) patients (51.8 ± 8.9 years) using CMR prior, and up to 3-times after anthracyclines (240 mg/m2) to measure RV volumes and mass, RV extracellular volume (ECV) and cardiomyocyte mass (CM). Before anthracyclines, LVEF (69.4 ± 3.6%) and RVEF (55.6 ± 9%) were normal. The median follow-up after anthracyclines was 399 days (IQR 310–517). The RVEF reached its nadir (46.3 ± 6.8%) after 9-months (P < 0.001). RV mass-index and RV CM decreased to 13 ± 2.8 g/m2 and 8.13 ± 2 g/m2, respectively, at 16-months after anthracyclines. The RV ECV expanded from 0.26 ± 0.07 by 0.14 (53%) to 0.40 ± 0.1 (P < 0.001). The RV ECV expansion correlated with a decrease in RV mass-index (r = −0.46; P < 0.001) and the increase in CK-MB. An RV ESV index at baseline above its median predicted an increased risk of LV dysfunction post-anthracyclines. In BC patients treated with anthracyclines, RV atrophy, systolic dysfunction, and a parallel increase of diffuse interstitial fibrosis indicate a cardiotoxic response on a similar scale as previously seen in the systemic left ventricle.

scholarly journals Association between confirmed congenital Zika infection at birth and outcomes up to 3 years of life

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Najeh Hcini ◽  
Yaovi Kugbe ◽  
Zo Hasina Linah Rafalimanana ◽  
Véronique Lambert ◽  
Meredith Mathieu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Impairment ◽  
In Utero ◽  
In Utero Exposure ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Delay ◽  
Systematic Testing ◽  
Brain Anomalies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Structural Brain

AbstractLittle is known about the long-term neurological development of children diagnosed with congenital Zika infection at birth. Here, we report the imaging and clinical outcomes up to three years of life of a cohort of 129 children exposed to Zika virus in utero. Eighteen of them (14%) had a laboratory confirmed congenital Zika infection at birth. Infected neonates have a higher risk of adverse neonatal and early infantile outcomes (death, structural brain anomalies or neurologic symptoms) than those who tested negative: 8/18 (44%) vs 4/111 (4%), aRR 10.1 [3.5–29.0]. Neurological impairment, neurosensory alterations or delays in motor acquisition are more common in infants with a congenital Zika infection at birth: 6/15 (40%) vs 5/96 (5%), aRR 6.7 [2.2–20.0]. Finally, infected children also have an increased risk of subspecialty referral for suspected neurodevelopmental delay by three years of life: 7/11 (64%) vs 7/51 (14%), aRR 4.4 [1.9–10.1]. Infected infants without structural brain anomalies also appear to have an increased risk, although to a lesser extent, of neurological abnormalities. It seems paramount to offer systematic testing for congenital ZIKV infection in cases of in utero exposure and adapt counseling based on these results.

scholarly journals Eastern Cape Healthcare Workers Acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 (ECHAS): Cross-Sectional (Nested Cohort) Study Protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 323
Author(s):  
Oladele Vincent Adeniyi ◽  
David Stead ◽  
Mandisa Singata-Madliki ◽  
Joanne Batting ◽  
Leo Hyera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Infection Rate ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Increased Risk

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of infection by the virulent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Though data exist on the positivity rate of the SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test as well as COVID-19-related deaths amongst HCWs in South Africa, the overall infection rate remains underestimated by these indicators. It is also unclear whether the humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection offers durable protection against reinfection. This study will assess the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence amongst HCWs in the Eastern Cape (EC) and examine the longitudinal changes (rate of decay) in the antibody levels after infection in this cohort. Using a multi-stage cluster sampling of healthcare workers in selected health facilities in the EC, a cross-sectional study of 2250 participants will be recruited. In order to assess the community infection rate, 750 antenatal women in the same settings will be recruited. Relevant demographic and clinical characteristics will be obtained by a self-administered questionnaire. A chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) will be used for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. A nested cohort study will be conducted by performing eight-weekly antibody assays (X2) from 201 participants who tested positive for both SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and serology. Logistic regression models will be fitted to identify the independent risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate and infection fatality rate among the frontline HCWs will be estimated. In addition, the study will highlight the overall effectiveness of infection prevention and control measures (IPC) per exposure sites/wards at the selected health facilities. Findings will inform the South African Department of Health’s policies on how to protect HCWs better as the country prepares for the second wave of the SARS-CoV pandemic.

scholarly journals Cholinesterase activity in serum during general anesthesia in patients with or without vascular disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yitzhak Brzezinski-Sinai ◽  
Ester Zwang ◽  
Elena Plotnikova ◽  
Ester Halizov ◽  
Itzhak Shapira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Surgery ◽  
General Anesthesia ◽  
Vascular Disease ◽  
Cholinesterase Activity ◽  
Serum Cholinesterase ◽  
Hemodynamic Support ◽  
System A ◽  
Lower Baseline ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
A Prospective Study

AbstractMaintaining hemodynamic stability during the induction and maintenance of anesthesia is one of the challenges of the anesthesiologist. Patients with vascular disease are at increased risk of instability due to imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of the autonomic nervous system, a balance accessible by serum cholinesterase activity. We aim to characterize the dynamics of cholinesterase activity in patients undergoing general anesthesia (GA) and surgery. This was a prospective study of 57 patients undergoing ambulatory or vascular surgery under GA. Cholinesterase activity was measured before the induction of anesthesia, after 15 min and at the end of surgery by calculating the capacity of serum acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase to hydrolyze AcetylThioCholine. Data on atherosclerotic disease, anesthesia management were analyzed. Both AChE and total cholinergic status (CS) decreased significantly after GA induction at 15 min and even more so by the end of surgery. Vascular surgery patients had lower baseline cholinesterase activity compared to ambulatory surgery patients. Patients requiring intraoperative administration of phenylephrine for hemodynamic support (21.1%) had a significantly lower level of AChE and CS compared to untreated patients. Our findings serve as a mirror to the sympathetic/parasympathetic imbalance during GA, with a marked decrease in the parasympathetic tone. The data of a subgroup analysis show a correlation between low cholinesterase activity and an increase in the need for hemodynamic support.

scholarly journals The association of bullous pemphigoid with dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors: a ten-year prospective observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaia Lambadiari ◽  
Aikaterini Kountouri ◽  
Foteini Kousathana ◽  
Emmanouil Korakas ◽  
Georgios Kokkalis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bullous Pemphigoid ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Dipeptidyl Peptidase ◽  
Dermatology Department ◽  
Steroid Administration ◽  
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors ◽  
A Prospective Study

Abstract Background Bullous pemphigoid is the most common bullous chronic autoimmune skin disease. Recent studies have suggested dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors as possible predisposing agents of bullous pemphigoid. The objective of our study was to prospectively estimate the association between gliptins and the development of bullous pemphigoid. Methods We conducted a prospective study which included all patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven bullous pemphigoid in the Dermatology Department of our hospital between April 1, 2009 and December 31,2019. The diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid was based on specific clinical, histological and immunological features. Results Overall 113 consecutive patients (age 75 ± 13 years, 62 females) with the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid were enrolled. Seventy-six patients (67.3%) suffered from type 2 Diabetes and 52 (46%) were treated with dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors. The most frequent prescribed gliptin was vildagliptin, being administered to 45 cases (39.8% of total patients enrolled, 86.5% of the patients treated with gliptins). Gliptins were withdrawn immediately after the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid, which together with steroid administration led to remission of the rash. Conclusions This study revealed that treatment with dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 inhibitors, especially vildagliptin, is significantly associated with an increased risk of bullous pemphigoid development.

The prognostic efficacy of beta2-microglobulin in acute pulmonary embolism

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-59
Author(s):  
Sotirios Kakavas ◽  
◽  
Aggeliki Papanikolaou ◽  
Evangelos Balis ◽  
Evgenios Metaxas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Wbc Count ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Acute Pe

Our aim was to prospectively assess the prognostic value of beta2- microglobulin (b2-M) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted a prospective study of 109 patients admitted in a pulmonary clinic due to acute PE. A panel of inflammatory markers including b2-M white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined for each patient. In this preliminary study, baseline b2-M levels significantly correlated with the impairment of oxygenation and with all the parameters that are used for the early risk stratification of patients. In multivariate analysis, patients’ age and baseline b2-M levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of death. These findings require further prospective validation.

scholarly journals Case–control study to estimate odds of death within 28 days of positive test for SARS-CoV-2 prior to vaccination for residents of long-term care facilities in England, 2020–2021

2021 ◽  
pp. jech-2021-218135
Author(s):  
Karthik Paranthaman ◽  
Hester Allen ◽  
Dimple Chudasama ◽  
Neville Q Verlander ◽  
James Sedgwick
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Positive Test ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Care Facilities

BackgroundPersons living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are presumed to be at higher risk of adverse outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection due to increasing age and frailty, but the magnitude of increased risk is not well quantified.MethodsAfter linking demographic and mortality data for cases with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 2020 and January 2021 in England, a random sample of 6000 persons who died and 36 000 who did not die within 28 days of a positive test was obtained from the dataset of 3 020 800 patients. Based on an address-matching process, the residence type of each case was categorised into one of private home and residential or nursing LTCF. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted.ResultsMultivariable analysis showed that an interaction effect between age and residence type determined the outcome. Compared with a 60-year-old person not living in LTCF, the adjusted OR (aOR) for same-aged persons living in residential and nursing LTCFs was 1.77 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.6, p=0.0017) and 3.95 (95% CI 2.77 to 5.64, p<0.0001), respectively. At 90 years of age, aORs were 0.87 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.06, p=0.21) and 0.74 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.9, p=0.001), respectively. The model had an overall accuracy of 94.2% (94.2%) when applied to the full dataset of 2 978 800 patients.ConclusionThis study found that residents of LTCFs in England had higher odds of death up to 80 years of age. Beyond 80 years, there was no difference in the odds of death for LTCF residents compared with those in the wider community.

scholarly journals Screening and managing of suspected or confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients: experiences from a tertiary hospital outside Hubei province

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Pu ◽  
Yujun Xu ◽  
Gordon S. Doig ◽  
Yan Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Health Education ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Healthcare Team ◽  
Personnel Training ◽  
Materials Management ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Specific Protocol ◽  
Medical Materials ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo report our experiences screening and managing patients with suspected or confirmed novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease using a hospital-specific protocol.DesignLongitudinal cohort study.SettingA 1,200 bed tertiary care teaching hospital in Chengdu, Sichuan, China.Participants802 adults presenting to hospital with concerns of having COVID-19, 1,246 inpatients and 2,531 hospital visitors.InterventionsScreening and management of patients using a hospital-specific protocol, which included fever triage, monitoring visitors and patients, emergency response, personnel training for healthcare team members, health education for patients and family, medical materials management, disinfection and wastes disposal protocols.ResultsBetween 23 January and 28 February 2020, 73 people were identified as having fever plus respiratory signs with/without a history of exposure and were tested for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by our hospital lab using RT PCR. Forty-five of these 73 people were subsequently excluded based on one negative RT PCR result plus positive results to quick screening tests for flu or other respiratory viruses. The remaining 28 people received a second RT PCR test 24 h later. Three people were confirmed positive for COVID-19 based on two consecutive positive RT PCR tests whilst 25 people were excluded based on two consecutive negative tests. The three COVID-19 confirmed cases received non-critical care. There were no new infections of medical staff or new infections of other hospital inpatients.ConclusionsA hospital-specific protocol for screening and management is necessary for reliably identifying suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients during an outbreak. All three cases were detected as a result of vigilant monitoring of hospital visitors. Whilst screening out-patients presenting to a fever clinic remains important, monitoring visitors must not be overlooked.Strengths and limitations of this study►We report a hospital-specific protocol used to screen and manage people presenting to our hospital fever clinic, inpatients and visitors during an outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia in Chengdu, Sichuan province.►Key components of the protocol included: a three-level fever triage process; monitoring visitors and inpatients, formation of an emergency response team for COVID-19, personnel training for healthcare team members, health education for patients and family, medical materials management, and disinfection and wastes disposal protocols.►The ability to test nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 using RT PCR in the hospital greatly shortened the time from the detection of patients to diagnosis, and was beneficial to the control of the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2.►Although our process detected few patients, comparison with other processes, when they are published, will allow the identification of the optimal approach for screening and management.►We suggest that if all resources had been focused on screening people through our fever clinic, we would have missed important in-hospital risks of transmitting COVID-19: The detection of a hospital visitor with COVID-19 led to the detection of an inpatient with COVID-19.

scholarly journals Is asthma associated with COVID-19 infection? A UK Biobank analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 00309-2021
Author(s):  
Caroline J. Lodge ◽  
Alice Doherty ◽  
Dinh Bui ◽  
Raisa Cassim ◽  
Adrian J. Lowe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Function ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Forced Expiratory Volume ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Asthma Medication ◽  
Positive Test ◽  
Uk Biobank ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Health Related

BackgroundThe relationship between asthma and COVID-19 risk is not clear and may be influenced by level of airway obstruction, asthma medication, and known COVID risk factors. We aimed to investigate COVID-19 risk in people with asthma.MethodsWe used UK Biobank data from all participants tested for SARS-CoV-2 (n=107 412 (17 979 test positive)). Baseline questions at baseline defined ever asthma and asthma medications. Baseline Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) was categorized into quartiles. Logistic regression modelled relationships between asthma, and asthma categories (age at onset, medications, FEV1 quartiles), and risk of SARS-CoV-2 positive test. We investigated modification by sex, ethnic group, smoking, and BMI.ResultsThere was a reduced risk of a positive test associated with with early-onset asthma (<13 years), (OR 0.91(95% CI 0.84, 0.99). This was found for early-onset asthmatics in males (OR 0·87 [95% CI: 0·78, 0·98]), non-smokers (0·87 [0·78, 0·98]), overweight/obese (0.85 [0.77, 0.93]), and non-Black participants (0·90 [0·82, 0.98]). There was increased risk amongst early onset asthmatics in the highest compared to lowest quartile of lung function (1.44 [1.05, 1.72]).ConclusionAmongst males, non-smokers, overweight/obese, and non-Black participants, having early-onset asthma was associated with lower risk of a SARS-CoV-2 positive test. We found no evidence of a protective effect from asthma medication. Early-onset asthmatics of normal weight and with better lung function may have lifestyle differences placing them at higher risk. Further research is needed to elucidate the contribution of asthma pathophysiology and different health-related behaviour, across population groups, to the observed risks.

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