scholarly journals Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nepal: A Lockdown Scenario Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kusum Sharma ◽  
Amrit Banstola ◽  
Rishi Ram Parajuli
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Entry And Exit ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
The Government ◽  
Economy And Education

The Government of Nepal issued a nationwide lockdown from 24 March to 21 July 2020, prohibiting domestic and international travels, closure of the border and non-essential services. There were only two confirmed cases from 610 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests and no fatalities when the government introduced nationwide lockdown. This study aimed to explore the overall scenario of COVID-19 including spatial distribution of cases; government efforts, and impact on public health, socio-economy, and education during the lockdown in Nepal. We collated and analyzed data using official figures from the Nepalese Ministry of Health and Population. Nepal had performed 7,791 RT-PCR tests for COVID-19, the highest number of tests during the lockdown. It has recorded its highest daily rise in coronavirus infections with a total of 740 new cases from the total of 4,483 RT-PCR tests performed on a single day. Nepal had reported a total of 17,994 positive cases and 40 deaths at the end of lockdown. The spatial distribution clearly shows that the cases were rapidly spreading from the southern part of the country where most points of entry and exit from India are located. To contain the spread of the virus, the government has also initiated various preventive measures and strategies during the lockdown. The Government of Nepal needs to allocate more resources, increase its capacity to test and trace, establish dedicated isolation and quarantine facility and impose local restrictions such as a local lockdown based on risk assessment rather than a nationwide lockdown.

scholarly journals Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nepal: A Lockdown Scenario Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kusum Sharma ◽  
Amrit Banstola ◽  
Rishi Ram Parajuli
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Economic Education ◽  
Entry And Exit ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
The Government

AbstractThe Government of Nepal issued a nationwide lockdown from 24 March to 21 July 2020. Here we present the overall scenario of COVID-19, government efforts, impact on socio-economic, education, and health care, and prevailing challenges when the lockdown was lifted. We collated and analysed data provided by the Nepalese Ministry of Health and Population. There were only two confirmed cases from 610 Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests and no fatalities when the government introduced nationwide lockdown. Nepal had performed 7791 RT-PCR tests for COVID-19, the highest number of tests during the lockdown. It has recorded its highest daily rise in coronavirus infections with a total of 740 new cases from the total of 4483 RT-PCR tests performed on a single day. Nepal had reported a total of 17994 positive cases and 40 deaths at the end of lockdown. The spatial distribution clearly shows that the cases were rapidly spreading from the southern part of the country where most points of entry and exit from India are located. The government needs to allocate more resources, increase its capacity to test and trace, establish dedicated isolation and quarantine facilities, and impose local restrictions to manage potential COVID-19 outbreaks after easing lockdown.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctiva and Tears and Ocular Symptoms of Patients with COVID-19

Vision ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Teresa Rodríguez-Ares ◽  
David Lamas-Francis ◽  
Mercedes Treviño ◽  
Daniel Navarro ◽  
María Cea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ocular Surface ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Ocular Surface Disease Index ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ocular Symptoms ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Polymerase Chain

This study investigates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival secretions and tears and evaluates ocular symptoms in a group of patients with COVID-19. We included 56 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in this cross-sectional cohort study. Conjunctival secretions and tears were collected using flocked swabs and Schirmer strips for SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Assessment of ocular surface manifestations included an OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) questionnaire. Patients had been admitted to hospital for an average of 2.4 days (range 0–7) and had shown general symptoms for an average of 7.1 days (range 1–20) prior to ocular testing. Four (7.1%) of 56 conjunctival swabs and four (4%) of 112 Schirmer strips were positive for SARS-CoV-2. The mean E-gene cycle threshold values (Ct values) were 31.2 (SD 5.0) in conjunctival swabs and 32.9 (SD 2.7) in left eye Schirmer strips. Overall, 17 (30%) patients presented ocular symptoms. No association was found between positive ocular samples and ocular symptoms. This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected on the conjunctiva and tears of patients with COVID-19. Contact with the ocular surface may transmit the virus and preventive measures should be taken in this direction.

scholarly journals Is a stable positive rate of <0.1% an indication of a fresh outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Boretti
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Viral Load ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Vulnerable Populations ◽  
Healthy Population ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Positive Rate ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
The Government

This letter gives a short analysis of the rate of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests in New Zealand and the restrictions that were implemented in response to these rates changing. Concerned about the growth of the number of positive cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the New Zealand government introduced stricter lockdown measures on August 16, 2020, and on August 18, 2020, it postponed elections planned for September. Growth in the number of positive cases was an artifact of the number of tests growing at a higher rate than the number of positive cases. The positive rate on August 16 was 0.05% (13 positive cases from 26,014 tests). On August 2, the positive rate was higher at 0.18% (three positive cases from 1,692 tests), despite the government considering that the virus was eradicated at this time. A better approach to this pandemic would be the development of policies based on the positive rate, not solely on positive case numbers, and to include viral load using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests with an appropriate cycle threshold to properly identify infectious cases. It is also advised to protect vulnerable populations and avoid unnecessary limitations to the healthy population. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic will last longer than several months, and the sooner life gets back to nearly normal, the better.

1504: Molecular Diagnosis and Staging of Prostate Cancer Using Clusterin in Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)

2006 ◽  
Vol 175 (4S) ◽  
pp. 485-486
Author(s):  
Sabarinath B. Nair ◽  
Christodoulos Pipinikas ◽  
Roger Kirby ◽  
Nick Carter ◽  
Christiane Fenske
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Molecular Diagnosis ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Expression of Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein V in Human Megakaryocytes and Megakaryocytic Cell Lines: A Study Using a Novel Monoclonal Antibody against GPV

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (05) ◽  
pp. 762-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiro Takafuta ◽  
Kingo Fujirmura ◽  
Hironori Kawano ◽  
Masaaki Noda ◽  
Tetsuro Fujimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Immunohistochemical Analysis ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Platelet Membrane ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Flow Cytometric ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Megakaryocytic Cell

SummaryGlycoprotein V (GPV) is a platelet membrane protein with a molecular weight of 82 kD, and one of the leucine rich glycoproteins (LRG). By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), GPV cDNA was amplified from mRNA of platelets and megakaryocytic cell lines. However, since there are few reports indicating whether GPV protein is expressed in megakaryocytes as a lineage and maturation specific protein, we studied the GPV expression at the protein level by using a novel monoclonal antibody (1D9) recognizing GPV. Flow cytometric and immunohistochemical analysis indicated that GPV was detected on the surface and in the cytoplasm of only the megakaryocytes in bone marrow aspirates. In a megakaryocytic cell line UT-7, GPV antigen increased after treatment with phorbol-12-myri-state-13-acetate (PMA). These data indicate that only megakaryocytes specifically express the GPV protein among hematopoietic cells and that the expression of GPV increases with differentiation of the megakaryocyte as GPIb-IX complex.

Polymerase chain reaction amplification and typing of rotavirus in environmental samples

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 371-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Gajardo ◽  
R. M. Pintó ◽  
A. Bosch
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Environmental Samples ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Group A ◽  
Reaction Amplification ◽  
Stool Specimens ◽  
Polymerase Chain

A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay is described that has been developed for the detection and serotyping of group A rotavirus in stool specimens and concentrated and non-concentrated sewage specimens.

scholarly journals Machine Learning Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 Polymerase Chain Reaction Results with Routine Blood Tests

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Tschoellitsch ◽  
Martin Dünser ◽  
Carl Böck ◽  
Karin Schwarzbauer ◽  
Jens Meier
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Blood Tests ◽  
Routine Blood ◽  
Machine Learning Model ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Abstract Objective The diagnosis of COVID-19 is based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory secretions, blood, or stool. Currently, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the most commonly used method to test for SARS-CoV-2. Methods In this retrospective cohort analysis, we evaluated whether machine learning could exclude SARS-CoV-2 infection using routinely available laboratory values. A Random Forests algorithm with 1353 unique features was trained to predict the RT-PCR results. Results Out of 12,848 patients undergoing SARS-CoV-2 testing, routine blood tests were simultaneously performed in 1528 patients. The machine learning model could predict SARS-CoV-2 test results with an accuracy of 86% and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.90. Conclusion Machine learning methods can reliably predict a negative SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test result using standard blood tests.

scholarly journals Report of a Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Positive Newborn after Delivery Despite Negative SARS-CoV-2 Testing on Both Parents

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. e80-e83
Author(s):  
Benjamin R. Harding ◽  
Farha Vora
Keyword(s):  
Neonatal Intensive Care ◽  
Community Hospital ◽  
Material Testing ◽  
Term Infant ◽  
Accurate Diagnosis ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Potential Case ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Negative Material

AbstractWe present a case of a term infant born to an asymptomatic mother at a community hospital who required transfer to a local neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) immediately after birth for respiratory distress. The infant was tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at 24 hours of life by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing due to the absence of prenatal maternal COVID-19 testing and was found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 at that time. A second RT-PCR test was obtained on the infant on day of life (DOL) 4 and was also positive, confirming an accurate diagnosis of COVID-19 disease in the infant. Both the mother and father remained asymptomatic and concomitantly tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 on two separate occasions. The infant subsequently clinically improved and was discharged without any complications. This case raises the potential concern for two unreported newborn issues related to COVID-19. First, the potential unreliability of negative maternal COVID-19 testing surrounding the time of delivery as it relates to routine newborn testing and isolation needs, and second, if the negative material testing was accurate, this raises the concern for a potential case of nosocomial COVID-19 infection within the first 24 hours of life.

scholarly journals A meta-analysis of accuracy and sensitivity of chest CT and RT-PCR in COVID-19 diagnosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Khatami ◽  
Mohammad Saatchi ◽  
Seyed Saeed Tamehri Zadeh ◽  
Zahra Sadat Aghamir ◽  
Alireza Namazi Shabestari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Ct Scan ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Chest Ct ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Chest Ct Scan

AbstractNowadays there is an ongoing acute respiratory outbreak caused by the novel highly contagious coronavirus (COVID-19). The diagnostic protocol is based on quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and chests CT scan, with uncertain accuracy. This meta-analysis study determines the diagnostic value of an initial chest CT scan in patients with COVID-19 infection in comparison with RT-PCR. Three main databases; PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and EMBASE were systematically searched for all published literature from January 1st, 2019, to the 21st May 2020 with the keywords "COVID19 virus", "2019 novel coronavirus", "Wuhan coronavirus", "2019-nCoV", "X-Ray Computed Tomography", "Polymerase Chain Reaction", "Reverse Transcriptase PCR", and "PCR Reverse Transcriptase". All relevant case-series, cross-sectional, and cohort studies were selected. Data extraction and analysis were performed using STATA v.14.0SE (College Station, TX, USA) and RevMan 5. Among 1022 articles, 60 studies were eligible for totalizing 5744 patients. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of chest CT scan compared to RT-PCR were 87% (95% CI 85–90%), 46% (95% CI 29–63%), 69% (95% CI 56–72%), and 89% (95% CI 82–96%), respectively. It is important to rely on the repeated RT-PCR three times to give 99% accuracy, especially in negative samples. Regarding the overall diagnostic sensitivity of 87% for chest CT, the RT-PCR testing is essential and should be repeated to escape misdiagnosis.

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