Article Summary
May 1, 2020
Estimating Seroprevalence with Imperfect Serological Tests: A Cutoff-Free Approach
Serological tests, which measure antibody responses against pathogens, are useful for retroactively determining the total number of cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infections that have occurred within a population (i.e. seroprevalence). Bouman et al. propose a likelihood-based method for estimating population-level seroprevalence that may overcome the deficits of serological tests for SARS-CoV-2 with low sensitivity. They use simulations…
Addressing multiple gastroenterological aspects of COVID-19
Eder et al. review current evidence of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Approximately 10% of COVID-19 cases experience GI symptoms that precede respiratory symptoms and fever, and 50% of all cases report GI symptoms. Although there is growing evidence that GI manifestations are an important clinical characteristic, the mechanisms remain unclear. Although…
Potential spreading risks and disinfection challenges of medical wastewater by the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral RNA in septic tanks of Fangcang hospital
Zhang et al. identified SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in septic tanks of Wuchang Fangcang Hospital after disinfection with sodium hypochlorite (bleach). They posit that the virus may embed in fecal particles that resist disinfection. The liquid waste showed no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA when overdosed with sodium hypochlorite but this resulted in high a level of…
The COVID-19 Epidemic, Its Mortality, and the Role of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions
This review discusses the importance of understanding the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 (e.g., using the basic reproduction number (R0) to estimate the overall number of people likely to be infected). Although there is considerable uncertainty, model-based predictions of changes in transmission over time can provide insights into the epidemiological situation, support policy makers to develop…
April 30, 2020
Elevations of serum cancer biomarkers correlate with severity of COVID-19
Wei et al. retrospectively summarize a series of clinical laboratory tests on serum from 252 COVID-19 patients in a cancer center in China, including metabolic panels and a set of 13 cancer biomarkers. The authors conclude that elevations of serum cancer biomarkers positively correlated with the pathological progressions of COVID-19, including diffuse and acute lung…
Emergency Medical Services resource capacity and competency amid COVID-19 in the United States: Preliminary findings from a national survey
Preliminary findings from a national survey in the US suggest that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers may inadvertently contribute to the COVID-19 transmission. The variety of knowledge of EMS providers on COVID-19 indicates that current pandemic education may be insufficient. Providers may benefit from improved standardization in pandemic response, specifically with regard to clinical symptomatology…
Inequalities in COVID19 mortality related to ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation
Rose et al. perform a cross-sectional ecological analysis across 147 administrative municipality areas in England to assess the association between the proportion of people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, income deprivation, and COVID-19 mortality rates. This study indicates that income deprivation and ethnic minority are associated with greater COVID-19 mortality. To reduce…
A deeper look at COVID-19 CFR: health care impact and roots of discrepancy
This modeling study quantifies the impact of intensive care on critical cases by comparing the case fatality among those who did and did not receive intensive care. Findings show that the chance of survival among non-ICU receivers is less than half of ICU receivers (~24% vs ~60%). Dehkordi et al. (Apr 30, 2020). A deeper…
Correlation between heart fatty acid binding protein and severe COVID-19: A case-control study
Results from a case-control study of 46 patients indicate that the elevation of heart-fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) is positively correlated to COVID-19 severity in patients, and elevated HFAPB may cause rapid progression in disease severity. Yin et al. (Apr 29, 2020). Correlation between heart fatty acid binding protein and severe COVID-19: A case-control study….
Gender-Based Disparities in COVID-19 Patient Outcomes: A Propensity-matched Analysis
Findings from a retrospective cohort study indicate that males have a higher risk for mortality, hospitalization and mechanical ventilation when compared to a matched cohort of females with similar age, risk behavior, and comorbidities. This gender-based disparity in risk of poor outcomes among COVID-19 patients is especially pronounced in advanced ages. Singh et al. (Apr…
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