scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2; What We Know so far

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 498-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huda Fatima Rajani ◽  
Fatima Ahmed Alshaikh ◽  
Amir Anushiravani

A recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected more than 1100000 (April 5, 2020) individuals worldwide and is spreading rapidly. The virus is reported to be derived from bats and the infection was first reported in China. Similar to the severe acute respiratory syndrome and the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronaviruses, it is responsible for respiratory tract infection. Real time polymerase chain reaction and radiography are the two main diagnostic methods. Guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO) should be followed for diagnostic and precautionary measures. Treatment of the infection is still not available; however, antivirals are under clinical trials.

2021 ◽  
pp. 35-39
Author(s):  
Hanna Sahhar ◽  
Karly Derwitz ◽  
Erica Rubin

Since the declaration of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), there has been an emergence of a new syndrome termed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. MIS-C is defined by the presence of fever, systemic inflammation and multiorgan dysfunction in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 exposure. Knowledge of this syndrome’s presentation and pathophysiology is constantly evolving as more cases are reported in the literature. This case identifies a 3-month-old patient who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 antigen, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and antibodies but qualified for MIS-C diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge and through extensive research at the time of diagnosing and reporting this condition to the healthcare authorities, we report the youngest pediatric patient with MIS-C diagnosis. We document this case to contribute to further understanding the variable manifestations of MIS-C and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-306
Author(s):  
Simona Roxana Gheorghe ◽  
Cătălin Marian ◽  
Ligia Gabriela Tătăranu ◽  
Anica Dricu ◽  
Cees Vermeer ◽  
...  

Abstract Meningiomas are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in three grades, based on morphological features. Independent of this grading, the presence of calcification in meningiomas influences their growth rate. The messenger RNA of matrix Gla protein (MGP), an extra-hepatic protein with different conformations involved in the homeostasis of ectopic calcification has been found in meningiomas and was shown to be regulated in breast cancer by miR-155-5p, a specific micro RNA. Therefore, we investigated the expression of miR-155-5p and its relationship with local MGP conformations in different grade meningiomas. According to the WHO classification, our 41 samples of meningiomas were stratified in groups WHO I and WHO II. Using real time polymerase chain reaction, we observed a higher miR-155-5p expression in group WHO I versus group WHO II [with a fold change (FC) of 3.83, p=0.027)]. Moreover, the expression of miR-155-5p was higher in calcified tumors compared to non-calcified tumors in all samples (FC=3.01, p=0.047) and in group WHO I (FC=3.65, p=0.048). Utilizing immunohistochemistry, we determined the concurrent presence of all MGP conformations in calcified meningiomas. This study was the first to establish higher miR-155-5p expression in grade WHO I and calcified meningiomas, which could improve molecular classification and targeted therapy and also the presence of all MGP conformations in calcified meningiomas, confirming the existence of an anti-calcification mechanism in meningiomas..


Author(s):  
Cristina Bragança ◽  
Inês Gonçalves ◽  
Luísa Guerreiro ◽  
Maria Janeiro

AbstractTuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. According to data from the World Health Organization, this disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Although it most commonly affects the lungs, tuberculosis can compromise any organ. The present study reports a rare case of vulvar tuberculosis in a postmenopausal woman with a history of asymptomatic pulmonary and pleural tuberculosis, with no prior documented contact with the bacillus. Diagnosis was based on vulvar lesion biopsies, with histological findings suggestive of infection and isolation of M. tuberculosis by microbiological culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) essays. The lesions reverted to normal after tuberculostatic therapy.


Author(s):  
Neha Saini ◽  
Prem Pandey ◽  
Mandar Shirolkar ◽  
Atul Kulkarni

Humanity is going through never seen before health crisis due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). There are 24.02 million cases and 0.82 million deaths worldwide as of 26th August 2020 due to deadly infection of COVID-19. The disease has been spreading exponentially (R-naught number: 3) and has challenged even the best healthcare infrastructure in the world. With the progression of the disease, the countries shifted the focus from cure to diagnosis and containment to flatten the curve. The review shows that the disease is spreading exponentially while the resources are still limited. We focus upon the probable vectors of the virus, different diagnostic methods with advantages & limitations, and the way forward. This review article covers the different diagnostic methods with more advantages, limitations, and the future sneak-peek into the forthcoming developments for the diagnostic processes such as RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase chain reaction).


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz Dziedzic

The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the declaration of pandemic by the World Health Organization have made an enormous impact on medical and dental care across the world. The current COVID-19 situation may teach dental teams a better approach and optimal ways concerning the management of patients with special needs, by bringing people together to discuss and optimize standards of care, as often happens in challenging situations. We can always learn new things that turn out to be valuable and useful even in exceptionally difficult times, and in addition, dental services can benefit from enabling positive attitudes and introducing constructive changes. Clinicians just need to keep in mind that adjustment to a new future reality appears inevitable for both patients and professionals who provide care.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanes Nyoman D. Widiswara Mawan

Abstract: Malaria is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium remains a health problem in the world, especially in tropical countries and subtropical. Incidence of malaria from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that in 2010 as many as 219 million cases of clinical malaria episodes show and 660,000 of them died. Therefore we need a means of early diagnosis has a sensitivity and specificity are good. This study compared the sensitivity and specificity of detection of Plasmodium spp using Immunochromatographic Assay method commonly known as rapid inspection test and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This study is a diagnostic test with a sample of 30 people who were taken with random sampling method in malaria patients who come to Budi Mulia Hospital since September 2013 - November 2013. The sample is a blood specimen taken at the brachial vein previously given informed consent in patients with the triad of symptoms of malaria in the area of ​​Bitung, Manado. From the blood samples examined by PCR. The results of the rapid tests and PCR in the detection of Plasmodium spp diagnostic test is then performed to determine the level of sensitivity and specificity. Result: The level of sensitivity of rapid tests in general by 89,2%, specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 40%. Conclusions: The sensitivity is moderate but has high specificity. Keywords:   Immunochromatographic Assay, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), rapid tests, sensitivity, specificity  Abstrak: Malaria yang disebabkan oleh protozoa dari genus Plasmodium masih menjadi masalah kesehatan di dunia terutama di negara- negara tropis dan subtropis. Kejadian malaria dari World Health Organization (WHO) menunjukan bahwa pada 2010 sebanyak 219 juta kasus menunjukan episode klinik malaria dan 660.000 diantaranya meninggal dunia. Oleh karena itu diperlukan suatu alat diagnosa dini yang memiliki sensitivitas dan spesifisitas yang yang baik. Penelitian ini membandingkan tingkat sensitivitas dan spesifisitas deteksi Plasmodium spp dengan menggunakan metode Immunochromatographic Assay yang biasa dikenal dengan pemeriksaan rapid tes dan Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian uji diagnostik dengan sampel sejumlah 30 orang yang diambil secara random sampling pada pasien malaria yang datang ke RSU Budi Mulia sejak bulan September 2013 - November 2013. Sampel adalah spesimen darah yang diambil pada vena brachialis yang sebelumnya telah diberikan inform consent pada pasien dengan gejala trias malaria di daerah Bitung, Manado. Dari sampel darah tersebut dilakukan pemeriksaan dengan PCR. Hasil dari rapid tes dengan metode Immunochromatographic dan PCR dalam mendeteksi Plasmodium spp selanjutnya dilakukan uji diagnostik untuk mengetahui tingkat sensitivitas dan spesifisitasnya. Hasil : Tingkat sensitivitas rapid tes secara umum sebesar 89,2%, spesifisitas sebesar 100%, nilai duga positif sebesar 100% dan nilai duga negatif sebesar 40%. Simpulan: Nilai sensitivitas yang sedang tetapi  memiliki  nilai spesifisitas  yang tinggi. Kata Kunci : Immunochromatographic Assay, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), rapid tes, sensitivitas, spesifisitas


Author(s):  
KRISHNANJANA S. NAIR ◽  
SHIVALI KAMATH ◽  
ARYA RAJAN ◽  
SACHIN THOMAS ◽  
ASWIN D. ◽  
...  

In December 2019, a rare case of pneumonia was reported in Wuhan, China. This was later analyzed and known to have similar characteristics as viral pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus. Later, on 11 February 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially named the disease as COVID19. The Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) ought to taint both the upper respiratory tract and the lower respiratory tract. This COVID-19 is spreading quickly with an immense rise in cases around the world. This infection's mechanism stays obscure, and the medications explicit for the infection were not grown at this point. Infection is highly contagious. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) is one of seven kinds of crown infection, including the one which causes severe maladies like Middle East respiratory disorder (MERS) and abrupt, intense respiratory syndrome(SARS). Since its revelation, the infection has spread and has caused anxiety and fear among people. Recent vaccines are tracked, and clinical trials can bring an immediate protocol on a medication approach. By including different therapeutic approaches, it is easier to combat the disease quickly. With very low mortality and high transmission rate, new approaches to vaccines and nanomedicines bring down the spread. Controlled patient care is also crucial. On 11 March, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease as 'global pandemic’. COVID-19, therefore, poses a significant threat to global public health. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic methods. The review also focuses on repurposed drugs, traced vaccines, and a quick view of prophylactic nanomedicines as an alternative for COVID 19. For this review, the complete database has been collected from various search engines such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Elsevier, etc., from the year 2001-2020 using the following keywords.


Author(s):  
Emily A. Bruce ◽  
Meei-Li Huang ◽  
Garrett A. Perchetti ◽  
Scott Tighe ◽  
Pheobe Laaguiby ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented need for rapid diagnostic testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend a standard assay that includes an RNA extraction step from a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab followed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detect the purified SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The current global shortage of RNA extraction kits has caused a severe bottleneck to COVID-19 testing. We hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 RNA could be detected from NP samples via a direct RT-qPCR assay that omits the RNA extraction step altogether, and tested this hypothesis on a series of blinded clinical samples. The direct RT-qPCR approach correctly identified 92% of NP samples (n = 155) demonstrated to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by traditional clinical diagnostic RT-qPCR that included an RNA extraction. Thus, direct RT-qPCR could be a front-line approach to identify the substantial majority of COVID-19 patients, reserving a repeat test with RNA extraction for those individuals with high suspicion of infection but an initial negative result. This strategy would drastically ease supply chokepoints of COVID-19 testing and should be applicable throughout the world.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 633
Author(s):  
Edyta Janik ◽  
Marcin Niemcewicz ◽  
Marcin Podogrocki ◽  
Ireneusz Majsterek ◽  
Michal Bijak

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since that time, the virus has spread around the world, which resulted in an announcement of the World Health Organization (WHO), dated in March 2020, that COVID-19 was a worldwide pandemic, and since then, the world has been struggling with this disease. SARS-CoV-2, similar to other RNA viruses, continually mutates, and new variants are appearing. Among large numbers of detected SARS-CoV-2 variants, only an insignificant amount of them are able to pose a risk to public health, as they are more contagious and cause more severe conditions. The emerged variants were classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG) according to strictly defined pattern. Variants were classified as variants of concern, variants of interest, and variants of high consequence. In the last few months, three variants of concern (B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1) and four variants of interests (B.1.526, B.1.525, B.1.427/B.1.429, and P.2) were distinguished and are essential for close monitoring. This analysis summarizes the principal information concerning SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as their infectivity, severity, mutations, and immune susceptibility.


2012 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 686-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Maria Sena Andrade Slater ◽  
Luiz Claudio Pereira Ribeiro ◽  
Marzia Puccioni-Sohler

The World Health Organization recommends the use of Osame's criterion (1990) for the diagnosis of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP). In 2006, a group of neurologists developed a Brazilian criterion that can diagnose HAM/TSP from its onset. OBJECTIVE: It was to test the agreement between both criteria. METHODS: The study included evaluation of clinical and laboratory findings of 35 patients. The ELISA, Western blot and/or polymerase chain reaction was used to search for anti-HTLV-I antibodies. The analysis of agreement was based on the calculation of Kappa. RESULTS: Concordance of 100% (Kappa=1) occurred in cases of "defined" HAM/TSP, but not in patients with "probable" diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian criteria was as effective as Osame's criteria for the diagnosis of "defined" HAM/TSP. However, both require more specific biological markers in cerebrospinal fluid for the laboratory diagnosis of probable cases.


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