scholarly journals Rapid Response to SARS-CoV-2 in Aotearoa New Zealand: Implementation of a Diagnostic Test and Characterization of the First COVID-19 Cases in the South Island

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2222
Author(s):  
Blair Lawley ◽  
Jenny Grant ◽  
Rhodri Harfoot ◽  
Jackson M. Treece ◽  
Robert Day ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Random Access ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
The South ◽  
District Health ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Emerging Virus ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

It has been 20 months since we first heard of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus detected in the Hubei province, China, in December 2019, responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, a myriad of studies aimed at understanding and controlling SARS-CoV-2 have been published at a pace that has outshined the original effort to combat HIV during the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. This massive response started by developing strategies to not only diagnose individual SARS-CoV-2 infections but to monitor the transmission, evolution, and global spread of this new virus. We currently have hundreds of commercial diagnostic tests; however, that was not the case in early 2020, when just a handful of protocols were available, and few whole-genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences had been described. It was mid-January 2020 when several District Health Boards across New Zealand started planning the implementation of diagnostic testing for this emerging virus. Here, we describe our experience implementing a molecular test to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, adapting the RT-qPCR assay to be used in a random-access platform (Hologic Panther Fusion® System) in a clinical laboratory, and characterizing the first whole-genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences obtained in the South Island, right at the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in New Zealand. We expect that this work will help us and others prepare for the unequivocal risk of similar viral outbreaks in the future.

Registered nurse prescribing: A descriptive survey of prescribing practices in a single district health board in Aotearoa New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 61-72
Author(s):  
Melinda McGinty ◽  
◽  
Betty Poot ◽  
Jane Clarke ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Registered Nurse ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Health Board ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
District Health ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Descriptive Survey

The expansion of prescribing rights in Aotearoa New Zealand has enabled registered nurse prescribers (RN prescribers) working in primary care and specialty teams, to enhance nursing care, by prescribing medicines to their patient population. This widening of prescribing rights was to improve the population’s access to medicines and health care; however, little is known about the medications prescribed by RN prescribers. This paper reports on a descriptive survey of self-reported RN prescribers prescribing in a single district health board. The survey tool used was a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to record nurse’s area of practice, patient demographic details, health conditions seen, and medicines prescribed and deprescribed. Simple data descriptions and tabulations were used to report the data. Eleven RN prescribers consented to take part in the survey and these nurses worked in speciality areas of cardiology, respiratory, diabetes, and primary care. Findings from the survey demonstrated that RN prescribers prescribe medicines within their area of practice and within the limits of the list of medicines for RN prescribers. Those working in primary care saw a wider range of health conditions and therefore prescribed a broader range of medications. This survey revealed that the list of medications available for RN prescribers needs to be updated regularly to align with the release of evidence-based medications on the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule. It is also a useful record for both educational and clinical settings of the types of medications prescribed by RN prescribers.

Phylogeny of 2019-nCoVs and SARS-like CoVs of Human, Bat and Pangolin Origin

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
N Gene ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Human Origin ◽  
Gene Sequences ◽  
M Gene ◽  
S Gene ◽  
Shared Identity ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
S Genes

A novel coronavirus first broke out in Wuhan, China in December, 2019 has been declared a pandemic by WHO on March, 2020. This work aimed to search for probable ancestor of the virus, phylogeny of 2019-nCoVs and similar SL-CoVs based on the whole genome, M, N, ORF1ab, orf3a, and S gene sequences (n=84) obtained from GenBank using BLASTn software in the NCBI was done. Nucleotides of ORF3a and S-genes among 2019-nCoVs are identical, whereas its similar on the whole genome (99.9-100%), M-gene (99.7-100%), N-gene (99.9-100%) and ORF1ab-gene (99.7-100%). nCoVs are similar to bat CoV/RaTG13 on the whole genome (96.2%), M-gene (95.0%), N-gene (97%), ORF1ab-gene (95.3%), ORF3a-gene (99.1%) and S-gene (90.7%). Likewise, nCoVs exhibited homology to bat-CoVZXC21 on M-gene (93.2%), N-gene (91.5%), ORF1ab-gene (93.1%) and ORF3a-gene (94.4%). The emergent viruses shared identity to bat-CoVZC45 on N-gene (91.3%), ORF1ab-gene (92.8%) and ORF3a-gene (94.0%). In addition, pangolin-CoV/MP789 exhibited common sequences on M-gene (91.0%), N-gene (96.3%) and ORF3a-gene (93.3%) to nCoV. Furthermore, pangolin-CoV/MP789 is analogous to bat CoV/RaTG13 (91.3%) and bat-SL-CoVZXC21 (92.2%) on M-gene and to bat CoV/RaTG13 (94.8%) on N-gene. Nevertheless, nCoVs are distinct from the previously identified SL-CoVs of human origin. The present analysis indicates that nCoVs may have transmitted from bats, pangolin and/or unidentified hosts.

Literary Histories

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva-Marie Kröller
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Collective Identity ◽  
Literary History ◽  
English Language ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
The South ◽  
Cultural Elite ◽  
Historical Methodology ◽  
Literary Histories

This chapter discusses national literary histories in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the South Pacific and summarises the book's main findings regarding the construction and revision of narratives of national identity since 1950. In colonial and postcolonial cultures, literary history is often based on a paradox that says much about their evolving sense of collective identity, but perhaps even more about the strains within it. The chapter considers the complications typical of postcolonial literary history by focusing on the conflict between collective celebration and its refutation. It examines three issues relating to the histories of English-language fiction in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the South Pacific: problems of chronology and beginnings, with a special emphasis on Indigenous peoples; the role of the cultural elite and the history wars in the Australian context; and the influence of postcolonial networks on historical methodology.

scholarly journals 458. Molecular SARS-CoV-2 Testing During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Experiences of a Hospital in Southeast Michigan, USA

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S296-S297
Author(s):  
Trini A Mathew ◽  
Jonathan Hopkins ◽  
Diane Kamerer ◽  
Shagufta N Ali ◽  
Daniel Ortiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Diagnostic Testing ◽  
Beaumont Hospital ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Repeat Testing ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Background The novel Coronavirus SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak was complicated by the lack of diagnostic testing kits. In early March 2020, leadership at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak Michigan (Beaumont) identified the need to develop high capacity testing modalities with appropriate sensitivity and specificity and rapid turnaround time. We describe the molecular diagnostic testing experience since initial rollout on March 16, 2020 at Beaumont, and results of repeat testing during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in MI. Methods Beaumont is an 1100 bed hospital in Southeast MI. In March, testing was initially performed with the EUA Luminex NxTAG CoV Extended Panel until March 28, 2020 when testing was converted to the EUA Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 for quicker turnaround times. Each assay was validated with a combination of patient samples and contrived specimens. Results During the initial week of testing there was > 20 % specimen positivity. As the prevalence grew the positivity rate reached 68% by the end of March (Figure 1). Many state and hospital initiatives were implemented during the outbreak, including social distancing and screening of asymptomatic patients to increase case-finding and prevent transmission. We also adopted a process for clinical review of symptomatic patients who initially tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by a group of infectious disease physicians (Figure 2). This process was expanded to include other trained clinicians who were redeployed from other departments in the hospital. Repeat testing was performed to allow consideration of discontinuation of isolation precautions. During the surge of community cases from March 16 to April 30, 2020, we identified patients with negative PCR tests who subsequently had repeat testing based on clinical evaluation, with 7.1% (39/551) returning positive for SARS- CoV2. Of the patients who expired due to COVID-19 during this period, 4.3% (9/206) initially tested negative before ultimately testing positive. Figure 1 BH RO testing Epicurve Figure 2: Screening tool for repeat COVID19 testing and precautions Conclusion Many state and hospital initiatives helped us flatten the curve for COVID-19. Our hospital testing experience indicate that repeat testing may be warranted for those patients with clinical features suggestive of COVID-19. We will further analyze these cases and clinical features that prompted repeat testing. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals Whole-genome sequencing from the New Zealand Saccharomyces cerevisiae population reveals the genomic impacts of novel microbial range expansion

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Higgins ◽  
Cooper A Grace ◽  
Soon A Lee ◽  
Matthew R Goddard
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Whole Genome Sequencing ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Range Expansion ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Copy Number Changes ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Saccharomyces cerevisiae is extensively utilized for commercial fermentation, and is also an important biological model; however, its ecology has only recently begun to be understood. Through the use of whole-genome sequencing, the species has been characterized into a number of distinct subpopulations, defined by geographical ranges and industrial uses. Here, the whole-genome sequences of 104 New Zealand (NZ) S. cerevisiae strains, including 52 novel genomes, are analyzed alongside 450 published sequences derived from various global locations. The impact of S. cerevisiae novel range expansion into NZ was investigated and these analyses reveal the positioning of NZ strains as a subgroup to the predominantly European/wine clade. A number of genomic differences with the European group correlate with range expansion into NZ, including 18 highly enriched single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and novel Ty1/2 insertions. While it is not possible to categorically determine if any genetic differences are due to stochastic process or the operations of natural selection, we suggest that the observation of NZ-specific copy number increases of four sugar transporter genes in the HXT family may reasonably represent an adaptation in the NZ S. cerevisiae subpopulation, and this correlates with the observations of copy number changes during adaptation in small-scale experimental evolution studies.

scholarly journals 2019 novel coronavirus disease with secondary ischemic stroke: two case reports

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Fu ◽  
Yun Chen ◽  
Ping Li
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Small Vessel ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Aged Patients ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Physical Examinations ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out in Wuhan in 2019, has become the global health crisis of our time. Elderly patients with certain fundamental diseases are more likely to develop severe cases. The secondary lesion following viral infection have only rarely been reported. Case presentation We here report two cases of coronavirus-infected pneumonia with acute ischemic stroke in middle-aged patients. In both COVID-19 cases, neurological physical examinations showed normal results before infection. Lymphocytopenia, accompanied by elevated cytokines and D-dimers, were found from serum clinical laboratory examination at admission. Dysarthria and limb muscle weakness are initial manifestations, occurring one week after infect-causative pathogen, SARS-CoV-2. The head CT and head/neck arterial CTA showed small-vessel occlusion. The patients were diagnosed with coronavirus diseases with secondary acute ischemic stroke. They were treated with tirofiban and followed up with daily aspirin and atorvastatin. Conclusions These cases suggested that secondary ischemic stroke, mainly manifested as small-vessel occlusion, should be considered for COVID-19 patients and diagnosed and treated promptly.

scholarly journals Clinical Features of Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients with 2019 Novel Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1139-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Wu ◽  
Jushuang Li ◽  
Geli Zhu ◽  
Yanxia Zhang ◽  
Zhimin Bi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Features ◽  
Troponin I ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Cardiac Injury ◽  
Hemodialysis Patients ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
Maintenance Hemodialysis ◽  
Computed Tomographic ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Background and objectivesPrevious reports on the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 were on the basis of data from the general population. Our study aimed to investigate the clinical features of patients on maintenance hemodialysis.Design, setting, participants, & measurements In this retrospective, single-center study, we included 49 hospitalized patients on maintenance hemodialysis and 52 hospitalized patients without kidney failure (controls) with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 at Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University from January 30, 2020 to March 10, 2020. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiologic characteristics and treatment and outcomes data were analyzed. The final date of follow-up was March 19, 2020.ResultsThe median age of 101 patients was 62 years (interquartile range, 49–72). All patients were local residents of Wuhan. In terms of common symptoms, there were differences between patients on hemodialysis and controls (fatigue [59% versus 83%], dry cough [49% versus 71%], and fever [47% versus 90%]). Lymphocyte counts were decreased (0.8×109/L [patients on hemodialysis] versus 0.9×109/L [controls], P=0.02). Comparing patients on hemodialysis with controls, creatine kinase–muscle and brain type, myoglobin, hypersensitive troponin I, B-type natriuretic peptide, and procalcitonin were increased, and the percentage of abnormalities in bilateral lung was higher in computed tomographic scan (82% versus 69%, P=0.15) and unilateral lung was lower (10% versus 27%, P=0.03). Common complications including shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, arrhythmia, and acute cardiac injury in patients on hemodialysis were significantly higher. Compared with controls, more patients on hemodialysis received noninvasive ventilation (25% versus 6%, P=0.008). As of March 19, 2020, three patients on hemodialysis (6%) were transferred to the intensive care unit and received invasive ventilation. Seven patients on hemodialysis (14%) had died.ConclusionsThe main symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia, including fever and cough, were less common in patients on hemodialysis. Patients on hemodialysis with coronavirus disease 2019 were at higher risk of death.

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