scholarly journals Clinical and experimental factors that affect the reported performance characteristics of rapid testing for SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Parvu ◽  
Devin Gary ◽  
Joseph Mann ◽  
Yu-Chih Lin ◽  
Dorsey Mills ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Antigen Test ◽  
Test Sensitivity ◽  
Viral Culture ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
Design Factors

ABSTRACT Tests that detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antigen in clinical specimens from the upper respiratory tract can provide a rapid means of COVID-19 disease diagnosis and help identify individuals that may be infectious and should isolate to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. This systematic review assesses the diagnostic accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection in COVID-19 symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals compared to RT-qPCR, and summarizes antigen test sensitivity using meta-regression. In total, 83 studies were included that compared SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen lateral flow testing (RALFT) to RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2. Generally, the quality of the evaluated studies was inconsistent, nevertheless, the overall sensitivity for RALFT was determined to be 75.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 71.0-78.0). Additionally, RALFT sensitivity was found to be higher for symptomatic versus asymptomatic individuals and was higher for a symptomatic population within 7 days from symptom onset (DSO) compared to a population with extended days of symptoms. Viral load was found to be the most important factor for determining SARS-CoV-2 antigen test sensitivity. Other design factors, such as specimen storage and anatomical collection type, also affect the performance of RAFLT. RALFT and RT-qPCR testing both achieve high sensitivity when compared to SARS-CoV-2 viral culture.

scholarly journals Factors that Influence the Reported Sensitivity of Rapid Antigen Testing for SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Parvu ◽  
Devin S. Gary ◽  
Joseph Mann ◽  
Yu-Chih Lin ◽  
Dorsey Mills ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Antigen Test ◽  
Test Sensitivity ◽  
Viral Culture ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
Design Factors ◽  
Antigen Testing

Tests that detect the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen in clinical specimens from the upper respiratory tract can provide a rapid means of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis and help identify individuals who may be infectious and should isolate to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission. This systematic review assesses the diagnostic accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection in COVID-19 symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals compared to quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and summarizes antigen test sensitivity using meta-regression. In total, 83 studies were included that compared SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen-based lateral flow testing (RALFT) to RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2. Generally, the quality of the evaluated studies was inconsistent; nevertheless, the overall sensitivity for RALFT was determined to be 75.0% (95% confidence interval: 71.0–78.0). Additionally, RALFT sensitivity was found to be higher for symptomatic vs. asymptomatic individuals and was higher for a symptomatic population within 7 days from symptom onset compared to a population with extended days of symptoms. Viral load was found to be the most important factor for determining SARS-CoV-2 antigen test sensitivity. Other design factors, such as specimen storage and anatomical collection type, also affect the performance of RALFT. RALFT and RT-qPCR testing both achieve high sensitivity when compared to SARS-CoV-2 viral culture.

Chondrosarcoma of the Larynx: Presentation of a Case and Review of the Literature

2008 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 864-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santino Rizzo ◽  
Francesco Strinati ◽  
Fabrizio Longari ◽  
Cristina Bizzotti ◽  
Guido Altissimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cricoid Cartilage ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Laryngeal Function ◽  
Slow Growth Rate ◽  
Good State ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
Degree Of Malignancy ◽  
Frequent Site ◽  
Upper Respiratory

Chondrosarcoma of the larynx is a rare tumor of the upper respiratory tract that originates from cartilaginous tissue. The cricoid cartilage is the most frequent site of onset at the larynx. The diagnosis is not always easy, given the tumor's slow growth rate, the aspecificity of the symptoms, and the low degree of malignancy with which most cases present and which often causes it to be mistaken for a chondroma. A case is presented of a 61-year-old woman with a chondrosarcoma of the larynx, grade 2, originating from the cricoid cartilage and measuring about 3 cm in diameter. The patient underwent extirpation of the tumor together with the cricoid cartilage, with a successive thyrotracheal anastomosis because she refused a total laryngectomy, which would have been the indicated intervention on the basis of the extent and grade of the neoplasm. At 6 years from surgery, the patient is in a good state of health with good laryngeal function and without recurrence of the disease. This fact confirms that the surgical approach to chondrosarcoma of the larynx can in most cases be conservative, reserving demolitive surgery for the more aggressive forms, for tumors of greater extent, and for recurrences. In fact, good laryngeal function and therefore a good quality of life can be maintained even for long periods of time.

Nasal disease and quality of life in athletes

2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (9) ◽  
pp. 812-815
Author(s):  
A C Walker ◽  
P Surda ◽  
M Rossiter ◽  
S A Little
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Nasal Symptoms ◽  
Nasal Disease ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Infections

AbstractObjectivesNasal disease imposes a significant disease burden upon the individual in the general population, but is relatively under studied in athletes. This study sought to define the frequency of nasal symptoms in the active population, and to quantify the impact of these symptoms on quality of life and on the frequency of upper respiratory tract infections.ResultsA total of 296 participants completed the study (246 athletes and 50 sedentary controls). Nasal symptoms were significantly more frequent in the active group than in the sedentary controls (70 per cent vs 52 per cent). Upper respiratory tract infections were significantly more common in athletes with regular nasal symptoms than in athletes without nasal symptoms. Quality-of-life scores, as measured by the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test, were significantly worse in athletes with regular nasal symptoms.ConclusionThis study suggests that regular exercise is associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of troubling nasal symptoms, and nasal symptoms in athletes are associated with increased susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections. Quality of life was negatively affected, confirming the importance of nasal health to athlete welfare.

Self-Esteem, Extraversion, Neuroticism and Health As Predictors of Quality of Life

Human Affairs ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Mikulášková ◽  
Peter Babinčák
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Disease ◽  
Stepwise Method ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Disease

AbstractThe study verified self-esteem, extraversion, neuroticism and health as predictors of subjectively-assessed quality of life. The sample included 109 adolescents (69 healthy adolescents and 40 adolescents with upper respiratory tract disease). The research tools used were WHOQOL-BREF (WHO, 1998), Rosenberg´s self-esteem scale (Rosenberg, 1965) and NEO-FFI personality questionnaire (Hřebíčková et al., 2002). The results were processed using the multiple linear regression analysis stepwise method. Health was not found to be a predictor of subjectively-assessed quality of life in the research sample. Self-esteem was found to be a predictor of psychological (48% of variance) and environmental (25% of variance) quality of life. Neuroticism was confirmed as a predictor only for physical quality of life (8% of variance). Extraversion was established as a universal predictor for all the aspects of quality of life measured: physical (20% of variance), psychological (8% of variance) and environmental (10% of variance).

Quality of life in patients with smell loss due to upper respiratory tract infections

2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 504-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adolfo Toledano ◽  
Gil Rodríguez ◽  
Ana María Martín ◽  
Tomás Onrubia ◽  
Néstor Galindo
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Smell Loss

scholarly journals Prolonged persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract of asymptomatic infected individuals

QJM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (8) ◽  
pp. 556-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Saurabh ◽  
R Kumar ◽  
M K Gupta ◽  
P Bhardwaj ◽  
V L Nag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Test ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Virus Persistence ◽  
Gamma Distributions ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
Log Normal ◽  
Chain Reaction Test

Summary Background Duration of persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract of infected individuals has important clinical and epidemiological implications. Aim We aimed to establish the duration and risk factors for persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract of asymptomatic infected individuals. Methods Data of repeat rRT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test done for SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals at our institute at Jodhpur, India were analysed from 19 March to 21 May 2020. Duration of virus persistence was estimated with parametric regression models based on weibull, log-normal, log-logistic, gamma and generalized gamma distributions. Factors associated with prolonged viral persistence were analysed with the best-fitting model. Results Fifty-one SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals with repeat rRT-PCR test were identified with 44 asymptomatics. The asymptomatic individuals had median virus persistence duration of 8.87 days (95% CI: 7.65–10.27) and 95 percentile duration of 20.70 days (95% CI: 16.08–28.20). The overall median virus persistence including both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals was found to be 9.18 days (95% CI: 8.04–10.48). Around one-fourth asymptomatics (10/44) demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 persistence beyond 2 weeks. Age <60 years and local transmission were found to be significantly associated with longer virus persistence among asymptomatic individuals on univariate regression but not in multivariate analysis. Conclusion Recommended home isolation duration for SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals in India should be extended from 17 days to at least 3 weeks. Prolonged persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in a considerable proportion of asymptomatic individuals merits attention with regard to ensuring universal infection prevention precautions irrespective of symptomatic status.

scholarly journals Oral corticosteroids for post-infectious cough in adults: study protocol for a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial in Swiss family practices (OSPIC trial)

Trials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Merlo ◽  
Stefan Essig ◽  
D. Oana Brancati-Badarau ◽  
Jörg Daniel Leuppi ◽  
Benjamin Speich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Tract Infection ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Oral Corticosteroids ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Post Infectious

Abstract Background Cough is a common reason for patients to visit general practices. So-called post-infectious cough is defined as lasting 3 to 8 weeks after an upper respiratory tract infection. It can be disabling in daily activities, with substantial impact on physical and psychosocial health, leading to impaired quality of life and increased health care costs. Recommendations for the management of post-infectious cough in primary care are scarce and incoherent. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCT) assessing patient-relevant benefits and potential harms of available treatments identified six eligible RCTs assessing different treatment regimens (i.e. inhaled fluticasone propionate, inhaled budesonide, salbutamol plus ipratropium-bromide, montelukast, nociception-opioid-1-receptor agonist, codeine, gelatine). No RCT found clear patient-relevant benefits and most had an unclear or high risk of bias. Post-infectious cough is thought to be mediated by inflammatory processes that are also present in exacerbations of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases for which there is strong evidence that oral corticosteroids provide patient-relevant benefit without relevant harm. We therefore plan to conduct the first RCT evaluating the effectiveness of oral corticosteroids for post-infectious cough. Methods We are conducting a triple-blinded randomized-controlled and multicentred superiority trial in primary health care practices in Switzerland. We will include 204 adult patients who consult their general practitioner (GP) for a cough lasting 3 to 8 weeks following an upper respiratory tract infection. Participants will be randomly allocated to either the 5-day treatment with oral corticosteroids or placebo. The primary outcome is cough-related quality of life assessed by the Leicester Cough Questionnaire score 14 days after randomization. Secondary outcomes include cough-related quality of life at several time points, overall cessation of cough and adverse events. Discussion This RCT will provide evidence on whether oral corticosteroids are beneficial and safe in patients with post-infectious cough. Results can have a substantial impact on the well-being and management of these patients in Switzerland and beyond. An evidence-based treatment for this condition may reduce re-consultations with GPs and spending for antitussive drugs, thus possibly having an impact on health care spending. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04232449. Prospectively registered on 18 January 2020.

scholarly journals Ectomesenchymal Chondromyxoid Tumour of the Dorsal Tongue Presenting with Impaired Speech

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Laura A. Schep ◽  
Martin J. Bullock ◽  
S. Mark Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Anterior Dorsal ◽  
Dorsal Tongue ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Clinical Photograph ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Impaired Speech ◽  
Slow Growing

Ectomesenchymal chondromyxoid tumours (ECTs) are rare mesenchymal soft tissue neoplasms that typically present as a slow-growing asymptomatic mass on the anterior dorsum of the tongue. Our patient presented with impaired speech articulation and pain associated with upper respiratory tract infections when the lesion on his dorsal tongue would swell, and he would accidentally bite down on it. Microscopically, ECTs appear as unencapsulated, well-circumscribed proliferations of uniform round to fusiform cells embedded within chondromyxoid matrices. Most cases of ECT have been detected in the third to the sixth decades of life, with no sex preference. ECT may cause a range of symptoms that negatively impact patients’ quality of life, including pain, dysphagia, odynophagia, bleeding, and, in the case of our patient, impairment of speech. We provide a unique preoperative clinical photograph and case description that should help readers in recognizing this neoplasm. Considering the rarity of ECT presenting clinically as well as in the literature, we believe this report will add to our growing understanding of ECT and its management. We report a case of ECT presenting on the anterior dorsal tongue that was successfully surgically resected under local anesthesia with clear margins, accompanied by a review of the pertinent literature.

scholarly journals Persistent positivity of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in asymptomatic healthcare worker: infective virion or inactive nucleic acid?

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e241087
Author(s):  
Lokesh Tiwari ◽  
Prakriti Gupta ◽  
Chandra Mani Singh ◽  
Prabhat Kumar Singh
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Test Duration ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Occupational Hazard ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
Acid Test

Asymptomatic individuals positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA constitute a significant proportion of the infected population and play a role in the transmission of the virus. We describe a healthcare worker who presented with fever and malaise and was diagnosed with mild COVID-19. The symptoms resolved within 4 days but there was persistent positivity of viral RNA in the upper respiratory tract for more than 58 days, which is the longest reported duration of persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in a healthcare worker. In this case report, we discuss clinical and administrative issues such as the role of asymptomatic cases in the transmission of the virus to patients and coworkers as an occupational hazard, interpretation of persistent positivity of nucleic acid test, duration of isolation and return-to-work guidelines pertinent to researchers and global health policymakers.

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