scholarly journals Emerging Neuropathophysiological and Acid-base Disorder in Coronavirus Disease-19: A Close Look at Diagnostic Prospect in Containment Operations

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (T1) ◽  
pp. 387-390
Author(s):  
Kamoru Ademola Adedokun
Keyword(s):  
Standard Test ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Nucleic Acid Detection ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Effective Contact ◽  
Current Spread ◽  
Expected Performance ◽  
Base Disorder ◽  
Testing Accuracy

The two major barriers militating against rapid containment of the spread of coronavirus (CoV) disease (COVID)-19 include lack of effective contact tracing and the failure to detect and diagnose the infection early. Lack of diagnostic tools for early diagnosis has contributed to the bane of the current wild spread of COVID-19 and its containment. The current chest computed tomography (CT) for COVID-19 screening, an evolving technique, is arguably reported to have 97% diagnostic sensitivity over the viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that has detection of 70%. However, CT has largely been criticized as speculative and thus generates disagreement among various international radiology societies and organizations. Until now, nucleic acid detection by real-time PCR (advanced with next-generation sequencing) remains the gold standard test and clinical diagnosis technique for COVID-19. The use of this method in diagnoses, while it is more precise, is also time-consuming and may not meet the goal of rapid detection of early infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2. Although many available tests, such as other PCR-based, serology, isothermal nucleic amplification, and among others, are coming up, the testing accuracy and/or timeliness have hampered their expected performance level. As a result, there is still a need to develop more methods to detect the current spread of COVID-19 rapidly. COVID-19 is now associated with olfactory dysfunctions in several reports. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) established that anosmia is a notable symptom of COVID-19. Furthermore, acute systemic acidosis has been associated with COVID-19. This report critically discusses the potential pathophysiologies of COVID-19 in association with neuropathological and acid-base disorders and their prospect for diagnostics.

Review Paper on Machine learning-based prediction of Corona Virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2225-2229
Author(s):  
Miss. Aakansha P. Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Effective Contact ◽  
Machine Learning Approach ◽  
Binary Features ◽  
Simple Features ◽  
Medical Examiners

Abstract: Effective contact tracing of SARS-CoV-2 enables quick and efficient diagnosis of COVID-19 and might mitigate the burden on healthcare system. Prediction models that combine several features to approximate the danger of infection are developed. These aim to help medical examiners worldwide in treatment of patients, especially within the context of limited healthcare resources. They established a machine learning approach that trained on records from 51,831 tested individuals (of whom 4769 were confirmed to own COVID-19 coronavirus). Test set contained data from the upcoming week (47,401 tested individuals of whom 3624 were confirmed to own COVID-19 disease). Their model predicted COVID-19 test results with highest accuracy using only eight binary features: sex, age ≥60 years, known contact with infected patients, and also the appearance of 5 initial clinical symptoms appeared. Generally, supported the nationwide data publicly reported by the Israeli Ministry of Health, they developed a model that detects COVID-19 cases by simple features accessed by asking basic inquiries to the affected patient. Their framework may be used, among other considerations, to prioritize testing for COVID-19 when testing resources are limited and important. Keywords: Machine Learning, SARS-COV-2, COVID-19, Coronavirus.

scholarly journals Circulation of Respiratory Viruses in Hospitalized Adults before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brescia, Italy: A Retrospective Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (18) ◽  
pp. 9525
Author(s):  
Maria Antonia De Francesco ◽  
Caterina Pollara ◽  
Franco Gargiulo ◽  
Mauro Giacomelli ◽  
Arnaldo Caruso
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Nucleic Acid Detection ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Human Coronaviruses

Different preventive public health measures were adopted globally to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, such as hand hygiene and the use of masks, travel restrictions, social distance actions such as the closure of schools and workplaces, case and contact tracing, quarantine and lockdown. These measures, in particular physical distancing and the use of masks, might have contributed to containing the spread of other respiratory viruses that occurs principally by contact and droplet routes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of different respiratory viruses (influenza viruses A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza viruses 1, 2, 3 and 4, rhinovirus, adenovirus, metapneumovirus and human coronaviruses) after one year of the pandemic. Furthermore, another aim was to evaluate the possible impact of these non-pharmaceutical measures on the circulation of seasonal respiratory viruses. This single center study was conducted between January 2017–February 2020 (pre-pandemic period) and March 2020–May 2021 (pandemic period). All adults >18 years with respiratory symptoms and tested for respiratory pathogens were included in the study. Nucleic acid detection of all respiratory viruses was performed by multiplex real time PCR. Our results show that the test positivity for influenza A and B, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and human coronaviruses decreased with statistical significance during the pandemic. Contrary to this, for adenovirus the decrease was not statistically significant. Conversely, a statistically significant increase was detected for rhinovirus. Coinfections between different respiratory viruses were observed during the pre-pandemic period, while the only coinfection detected during pandemic was between SARS-CoV-2 and rhinovirus. To understand how the preventive strategies against SARS-CoV-2 might alter the transmission dynamics and epidemic patterns of respiratory viruses is fundamental to guide future preventive recommendations.

BIOM-02. LEPTOMENINGEAL DISEASE SECONDARY TO MELANOMA: UPDATES ON THE VALIDITY OF THE VERIDEX CELLSEARCH SYSTEM

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi10-vi10
Author(s):  
yolanda Pina ◽  
Sepideh Mokhtari ◽  
Youngchul Kim ◽  
Brittany Evernden ◽  
Nam Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Median Survival ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Leptomeningeal Disease ◽  
Csf Cytology ◽  
Cellsearch System ◽  
Additional Tool

Abstract BACKGROUND Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is devastating with a median survival of 8-10 weeks without treatment. LMD affects approximately 5% to 25% of melanoma patients. Its pathophysiology remains unknown and effective treatments are virtually non-existent. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of Veridex CellSearch® System (VCS) compared to Gold Standard test (i.e., CSF cytology). MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed of subjects with suspected LMD from melanoma enrolled in the MCC 19332/19648 at Moffitt Cancer Center. Patients underwent standard of care with different treatments as deemed appropriate by treating physician. CSF samples were obtained from lumbar punctures, surgeries, and Ommaya reservoir. CSF was evaluated for quantification of CSF circulating tumor cells (CTCs) with the Veridex CellSearch® System (VCS). RESULTS Forty-eight patients were identified with melanoma as primary tumor, ages 29-80. Twenty-seven had LMD (median age 62) with median KPS 70. N=19 (70%) were diagnosed radiographically and n=5 (19%) with CSF cytology; n=14 (54%) had positive cytology on first LP. From 24 patients with LMD who underwent VCS, n=22 (92% patients had positive CSF CTCs. Number of CTCs/mL CSF was significantly higher in patients with LMD versus in patients without LMD (mean SD 227.6 vs. 0.07, p < 0.001). VCS sensitivity and specificity was analyzed. AUC was 0.515, with TPR 0.250 and FPR 0.286. CSF analysis and treatments were described. The median survival of those with LMD was 2.7 months. CONCLUSION These results indicate the potential value of the VCS as an additional tool to the gold standard in the diagnosis of LMD in patients with high suspicion of the disease. Future directions involve doing prospective studies to further validate this method, and to better understand this patient population to enhance diagnostic tools and management of LMD.

Face masks are an essential tool to mitigate the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: a call to action

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-159
Author(s):  
P. Dehgani-Mobaraki ◽  
A. Kamber Zaidi ◽  
J.M. Levy ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Upper Airway ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Current Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Over the past several months, an increasing volume of infor- mation has expanded awareness regarding the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus associated with COVID-19. Following the pandemic declaration by the World Health Orga- nization (WHO), global authorities immediately took measures to reduce the transmission and subsequent morbidity associa- ted with this highly contagious disease. However, despite initial success in “flattening the curve” of viral transmission, many areas of the world are currently experiencing an increase in com- munity transmission, threatening to replicate the early public health emergencies experienced by Italy (1,2). In addition, the possibility of contact tracing through geosocial applications and public service platforms have been met with variable interest (3). Given current spread and the upcoming influenza season, it is essential that we use our voices as experts in upper airway health and disease to educate and encourage all communities to adopt appropriate protective measures, including the routine use of facemasks.

scholarly journals Metabolic and volume status evaluation of hemodialysis patients with and without residual renal function in the long interdialytic interval

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenina Ludimila Sampaio de Almeida ◽  
Luís Henrique Bezerra Cavalanti Sette ◽  
Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca ◽  
Leila Silveira Vieira da Silva Bezerra ◽  
Francisco Hélio Oliveira Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Function ◽  
Serum Potassium ◽  
Ph Value ◽  
Residual Renal Function ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Interdialytic Weight Gain ◽  
Base Disorder ◽  
Acid Base Status

Abstract Introduction: It is unclear whether residual renal function (RRF) in dialysis patients can attenuate the metabolic impact of the long 68-hour interdialytic interval, in which water, acid, and electrolyte accumulation occurs. Objective: to evaluate serum electrolyte levels, water balance, and acid-base status in dialytic patients with and without RRF over the long interdialytic interval (LII). Methodology: this was a single-center, cross-sectional, and analytical study that compared patients with and without RRF, defined by diuresis above 200 mL in 24 hours. Patients were weighed and serum samples were collected for biochemical and gasometric analysis at the beginning and at the end of the LII. Results: 27 and 24 patients with and without RRF were evaluated, respectively. Patients without RRF had a higher increase in serum potassium during the LII (2.67 x 1.14 mEq/L, p < 0.001), reaching higher values at the end of the study (6.8 x 5.72 mEq/L, p < 0.001) and lower pH value at the beginning of the interval (7.40 x 7.43, p = 0.018). More patients with serum bicarbonate < 18 mEq/L (50 x 14.8%, p = 0.007) and mixed acid-base disorder (57.7 x 29.2%, p = 0.042), as well as greater interdialytic weight gain (14.67 x 8.87 mL/kg/h, p < 0.001) and lower natremia (137 x 139 mEq/L, p = 0.02) at the end of the interval. Calcemia and phosphatemia were not different between the groups. Conclusion: Patients with RRF had better control of serum potassium, sodium, acid-base status, and volemia throughout the LII.

scholarly journals SARPPIC: Exploiting COVID-19 Contact Tracing Recommendation through Social Awareness

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Nana Yaw Asabere ◽  
Amevi Acakpovi ◽  
Emmanuel Kwaku Ofori ◽  
Wisdom Torgby ◽  
Marcellinus Kuuboore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Contact Point ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Contact Points ◽  
Trace Back ◽  
Effective Contact ◽  
Hygiene Measures ◽  
Real World Datasets ◽  
Recommender Algorithm ◽  
Prevention Methods

Globally, the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is resulting in high fatality rates. Consequently, the prevention of further transmission is very vital. Until vaccines are widely available, the only available infection prevention methods include the following: contact tracing, case isolation and quarantine, social (physical) distancing, and hygiene measures (washing of hands with soap and water and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers). Contact tracing, which is key in preventing the spread of COVID-19, refers to the process of finding unreported people who maybe infected by using a verified case to trace back possible infections of contacts. Consequently, the wide and fast spread of COVID-19 requires computational approaches which utilize innovative algorithms that build a memory of proximity contacts of cases that are positive. In this paper, a recommender algorithm called socially aware recommendation of people probably infected with COVID-19 (SARPPIC) is proposed. SARPPIC initially utilizes betweenness centrality in a social network to measure the number of target contact points (nodes/users) who have come into contact with an infected contact point (COVID-19 patient). Then, using contact durations and contact frequencies, tie strengths of the same contact points above are also computed. Finally, the above algorithmic computations are hybridized through profile integration to generate results for effective contact tracing recommendations of possible COVID-19-infected patients who will require testing in a healthcare facility. Benchmarking experimental results in the paper demonstrate that, using two interconnected relevant real-world datasets, SARPPIC outperforms other relevant methods in terms of suitable evaluation metrics such as precision, recall, and F-measure.

scholarly journals Climate data analysis to assess resilience of wall assemblies to moisture loads arising from the effects of wind-driven rain

2020 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 11003
Author(s):  
Zhe Xiao ◽  
Michael A. Lacasse ◽  
A. Gaur ◽  
Elena Dragomirescu
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Location ◽  
Standard Test ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Sufficient Information ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Test Protocol ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Expected Performance ◽  
Moisture Performance

In North America, and abroad, there currently exist standard test protocols for assessing the watertightness of wall assemblies and fenestration components although most of these methods are not directly related to expectations of in-field conditions as might be experienced by a wall assembly over its intended service life. How useful might such test protocols be to help determine the longevity of wall assemblies to future climate loads? Existing walls may, depending on their geographic location, be vulnerable to future climate loads and thus risk premature deterioration. For the design of new wall assemblies consideration ought to given to the non-stationarity of the climate and implications on the moisture loads on walls and the expected performance over the long-term. To permit assessing the resilience of wall assemblies to the effects of a changing climate as may occur in the future, and indeed, perhaps heightened moisture loads, one requires sufficient information on the watertightness of the assembly in relation to specified wind-driven rain loads and wall air-leakage conditions from which wall moisture retention functions could readily be developed. Such moisture functions are the basis of input of moisture loads to hygrothermal models and from which the expected long-term wall moisture performance can subsequently be derived. In this paper, a description is provided of the strategies used to analyze the WDR load for generating experimental input for a watertightness test protocol under development to assess resilience of wall assemblies to moisture loads arising from the effects of wind-driven rain in consideration of both historical climate loads and those as may arise from a changing climate.

scholarly journals Effect of hypokalemia on renal expression of the ammonia transporter family members, Rh B Glycoprotein and Rh C Glycoprotein, in the rat kidney

2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (4) ◽  
pp. F823-F832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki-Hwan Han ◽  
Hyun-Wook Lee ◽  
Mary E. Handlogten ◽  
Jesse M. Bishop ◽  
Moshe Levi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Metabolic Alkalosis ◽  
Collecting Duct ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Ammonia Excretion ◽  
Intercalated Cells ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Ammonia Metabolism ◽  
Transporter Family ◽  
Base Disorder

Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte disorder that increases renal ammonia metabolism and can cause the development of an acid-base disorder, metabolic alkalosis. The ammonia transporter family members, Rh B glycoprotein (Rhbg) and Rh C glycoprotein (Rhcg), are expressed in the distal nephron and collecting duct and mediate critical roles in acid-base homeostasis by facilitating ammonia secretion. In the current studies, the effect of hypokalemia on renal Rhbg and Rhcg expression was examined. Normal Sprague-Dawley rats received either K+-free or control diets for 2 wk. Rats receiving the K+-deficient diet developed hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis associated with significant increases in both urinary ammonia excretion and urine pH. Rhcg expression increased in the outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD). In OMCD intercalated cells, hypokalemia resulted in more discrete apical Rhcg expression and a marked increase in apical plasma membrane immunolabel. In principal cells, in the OMCD, hypokalemia increased both apical and basolateral Rhcg immunolabel intensity. Cortical Rhcg expression was not detectably altered by immunohistochemistry, although there was a slight decrease in total expression by immunoblot analysis. Rhbg protein expression was decreased slightly in the cortex and not detectably altered in the outer medulla. We conclude that in rat OMCD, hypokalemia increases Rhcg expression, causes more polarized apical expression in intercalated cells, and increases both apical and basolateral expression in the principal cell. Increased plasma membrane Rhcg expression in response to hypokalemia in the rat, particularly in the OMCD, likely contributes to the increased ammonia excretion and thereby to the development of metabolic alkalosis.

Dyselectrolytemias and acid-base disorder in acute kidney injury

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-75
Author(s):  
Ravi Prakash Deshpandey ◽  
H.S. Anoop Kumar ◽  
Subin Mathew
Keyword(s):  
Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Base Disorder
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