1.Saliva as an alternative to Nasopharyngeal swab specimen for reverse-transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Acta Medica Philippina 2020;54(Rapid Reviews on COVID19):1-10
Objectives
To assess the accuracy of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of saliva specimens compared to RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) in the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
COVID-19
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SARS-CoV-2
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COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing
;
Saliva
2.Environmental Monitoring of A Laboratory for New Coronavirus Nucleic Acid Testing.
Pei Yong NING ; Ai Ping YU ; Yuan WANG ; Li Ru GUO ; Dan SHAN ; Mei KONG ; Ling Qi YU ; Li Kun LYU ; Ming ZOU ; Xu SU ; Chun Nan FEI ; Yu Hui ZHOU ; Bai Qi WANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2020;33(10):771-774
3.Epidemiologic Features, Radiological Findings andClinical Outcomes of 19 Patients with COVID-19in a Single Center in Beijing, China.
Lan SONG ; Zhen Chen ZHU ; Rui Jie ZHAO ; Peng Chang LI ; Du Xue TIAN ; Tie Kuan DU ; Yan XU ; Qiwen YANG ; Wei CAO ; Wei SONG ; Zheng Yu JIN
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2021;36(2):85-96
ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and prognoses of COVID-19 confirmed patients in a single center in Beijing, China. Methods The study retrospectively included 19 patients with nucleic acid-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at our hospital from January 20 to March 5, 2020. The final follow-up date was March 14, 2020. The epidemiologic and clinical information was obtained through direct communication with the patients or their family members. Laboratory results retrieved from medical records and radiological images were analyzed both qualitatively by two senior chest radiologists as well as quantitatively via an artificial intelligence software. Results We identified 5 family clusters (13/19, 68.4%) from the study cohort. All cases had good clinical prognoses and were either mild (3/19) or moderate (16/19) clinical types. Fever (15/19, 78.9%) and dry cough (11/19, 57.9%) were common symptoms. Two patients received negative results for more than three consecutive viral nucleic acid tests. The longest interval between an initial CT abnormal finding and a confirmed diagnosis was 30 days. One patient's nucleic acid test turned positive on the follow-up examination after discharge. The presence of radiological abnormalities was non-specific for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Conclusions COVID-19 patients with mild or no clinical symptoms are common in Beijing, China. Radiological abnormalities are mostly non-specific and massive CT examinations for COVID-19 screening should be avoided. Analyses of the contact histories of diagnosed cases in combination with clinical, radiological and laboratory findings are crucial for the early detection of COVID-19. Close monitoring after discharge is also recommended.
Adult
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COVID-19/diagnostic imaging*
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COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing
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Child
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China
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Female
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Humans
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Lung/diagnostic imaging*
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Retrospective Studies
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SARS-CoV-2
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
4.Positive RT-PCR detected in patients recovered from COVID-19.
Glorijoy Shi En TAN ; Ying DING ; Lin CUI ; Tze Minn MAK ; Chee Keng MOK ; Asok KURUP ; Purnima PARTHASARATHY ; Wan Ni CHIA ; Lin Fa WANG ; Raymond T P LIN ; Yee Sin LEO ; Shawn VASOO
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2021;50(2):191-194
5.Fecal Nucleic Acid Test as a Complementary Standard for Cured COVID-19 Patients.
Mei HAN ; Jing Bo ZOU ; Huan LI ; Xiao Yu WEI ; Song YANG ; Hui Zheng ZHANG ; Peng Sen WANG ; Qian QIU ; Le Le WANG ; Yao Kai CHEN ; Pin Liang PAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2020;33(12):935-939
Adolescent
;
Adult
;
Aged
;
COVID-19/virology*
;
COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing/methods*
;
Child
;
Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/genetics*
;
Feces/virology*
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Phosphoproteins/genetics*
;
RNA, Viral/genetics*
;
SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification*
;
Young Adult
6.Pregnancy Outcomes in COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study in Singapore.
Citra Nz MATTAR ; Shirin KALIMUDDIN ; Sapna P SADARANGANI ; Shephali TAGORE ; Serene THAIN ; Koh Cheng THOON ; Eliane Y HONG ; Abhiram KANNEGANTI ; Chee Wai KU ; Grace Mf CHAN ; Kelvin Zx LEE ; Jeannie Jy YAP ; Shaun S TAN ; Benedict YAN ; Barnaby E YOUNG ; David C LYE ; Danielle E ANDERSON ; Liying YANG ; Lin Lin SU ; Jyoti SOMANI ; Lay Kok TAN ; Mahesh A CHOOLANI ; Jerry Ky CHAN
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2020;49(11):857-869
INTRODUCTION:
Pregnant women are reported to be at increased risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to underlying immunosuppression during pregnancy. However, the clinical course of COVID-19 in pregnancy and risk of vertical and horizontal transmission remain relatively unknown. We aim to describe and evaluate outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 in Singapore.
METHODS:
Prospective observational study of 16 pregnant patients admitted for COVID-19 to 4 tertiary hospitals in Singapore. Outcomes included severe disease, pregnancy loss, and vertical and horizontal transmission.
RESULTS:
Of the 16 patients, 37.5%, 43.8% and 18.7% were infected in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. Two gravidas aged ≥35 years (12.5%) developed severe pneumonia; one patient (body mass index 32.9kg/m2) required transfer to intensive care. The median duration of acute infection was 19 days; one patient remained reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive >11 weeks from diagnosis. There were no maternal mortalities. Five pregnancies produced term live-births while 2 spontaneous miscarriages occurred at 11 and 23 weeks. RT-PCR of breast milk and maternal and neonatal samples taken at birth were negative; placenta and cord histology showed non-specific inflammation; and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific immunoglobulins were elevated in paired maternal and umbilical cord blood (n=5).
CONCLUSION
The majority of COVID-19 infected pregnant women had mild disease and only 2 women with risk factors (obesity, older age) had severe infection; this represents a slightly higher incidence than observed in age-matched non-pregnant women. Among the women who delivered, there was no definitive evidence of mother-to-child transmission via breast milk or placenta.
Abortion, Spontaneous/epidemiology*
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Adult
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COVID-19/transmission*
;
COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing
;
COVID-19 Serological Testing
;
Cohort Studies
;
Disease Transmission, Infectious/statistics & numerical data*
;
Female
;
Fetal Blood/immunology*
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Humans
;
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/statistics & numerical data*
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Live Birth/epidemiology*
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Maternal Age
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Milk, Human/virology*
;
Obesity, Maternal/epidemiology*
;
Placenta/pathology*
;
Pregnancy
;
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/physiopathology*
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Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology*
;
Pregnancy Trimester, First
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Pregnancy Trimester, Second
;
Prospective Studies
;
RNA, Viral/analysis*
;
Risk Factors
;
SARS-CoV-2
;
Severity of Illness Index
;
Singapore/epidemiology*
;
Umbilical Cord/pathology*
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Young Adult