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  • Management Considerations for the Surgical Treatment of Colorectal Cancer During the Global Covid-19 Pandemic

    5 May, 2020
    Surgical practice guidelines for colorectal cancer must be modified for the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic as well as potential future outbreaks. Data to support delays in surgical care are limited. This review published in Annals of Surgery analyzes management recommendations and the strength of published evidence using the GRADE system to provide a rational basis for clinical decision-making.
    Colorectal cancer surgeries - prioritized as emergency, urgent with (a) imminent emergency or (...
  • A human monoclonal antibody blocking SARS-CoV-2 infection

    5 May, 2020

    The emergence of the novel human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China has caused a worldwide epidemic of respiratory disease (COVID-19). Vaccines and targeted therapeutics for treatment of this disease are currently lacking. Here we report a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 (and SARS-CoV) in cell culture. This cross-neutralizing antibody targets a communal epitope on these viruses and may offer potential for prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
    Click here for re...
  • SARS-CoV-2 is present in peritoneal fluid in COVID-19 patients

    4 May, 2020
    Abstract
    The excretion patho-mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 are actually unknown. No certain data exist about viral load in the different body compartments and fluids during the different disease phases. 
    In this study, specific real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction targeting three SARS-CoV-e genes were used to detect the presence of the virus. 
    Findings show that SARS-CoV-2 is present in peritoneal fluid at a higher concentration than in respiratory tract. ...
  • Contamination of Health Care Personnel During Removal of Personal Protective Equipment

    4 May, 2020
    Abstract
    Importance: Contamination of the skin and clothing of health care personnel during removal of personal protective equipment (PPE) contributes to dissemination of pathogens and places personnel at risk for infection.

    Objectives: To determine the frequency and sites of contamination on the skin and clothing of personnel during PPE removal and to evaluate the effect of an intervention on the frequency of contamination.

    Design, setting, and participants: W...
  • Imbalanced host response to SARS-CoV-2 drives development of COVID-19

    4 May, 2020
    Viral pandemics, such as the one caused by SARS-CoV-2, pose an imminent threat to humanity. Because of its recent emergence, there is a paucity of information regarding viral behavior and host response following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we offer an indepth analysis of the transcriptional response to SARS-CoV-2 as it compares to other respiratory viruses. Cell and animal models of SARS-CoV-2 infections, in addition to transcriptional and serum profiling of COVID-19 patients, consistentl...
  • A SARS-CoV-2 protein interaction map reveals targets for drug repurposing

    1 May, 2020

    The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 respiratory disease, has infected over 2.3 million people, killed over 160,000, and caused worldwide social and economic disruption. There are currently no antiviral drugs with proven clinical efficacy, nor are there vaccines for its prevention, and these efforts are hampered by limited knowledge of the molecular details of SARS-CoV-2 infection. To address this, these scientifics cloned, tagged and expressed 26 of the 29 SA...
  • Pathological evidence for residual SARS-CoV-2 in pulmonary tissues of a ready-for-discharge patient

    1 May, 2020



    SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus and causing COVID-19, has given rise to a worldwide pandemic. So far, tens of thousands of COVID-19 patients have been clinically cured and discharged, but multiple COVID-19 cases showed SARS-CoV-2 positive again in discharged patients, which raises an attention for the dis- charged patients. Also, there is an urgent need to understand the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
    Here, you can read postmortem pathologic study in a ready-for- dischar...
  • Immediate and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delivery of surgical services

    1 May, 2020
    Abstract
    The ongoing pandemic is having a collateral health effect on delivery of surgical care to millions of patients. Very little is known about pandemic management and effects on other services, including delivery of surgery. In this article, a scoping review of all available literature pertaining to COVID‐19 and surgery, using electronic databases, society websites, webinars and preprint repositories was performed.
    Several perioperative guidelines have been issued within a short ti...
  • Virtually perfect? Telemedicine for Covid-19

    1 May, 2020
    Recognizing that patients prioritize convenient and inexpensive care, Duffy and Lee recently asked whether in-person visits should become the second, third, or even last option for meeting patient needs. Previous work has specifically described the potential for using telemedicine in disasters and public health emergencies. No telemedicine program can be created overnight, but U.S. health systems that have already implemented telemedical innovations can leverage them for the respons...
  • Changes in contact patterns shape the dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak in China

    30 Apr, 2020
    AbstractIntense non-pharmaceutical interventions were put in place in China to stop transmission of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). As transmission intensifies in other countries, the interplay between age, contact patterns, social distancing, susceptibility to infection, and COVID-19 dynamics remains unclear. To answer these questions, we analyze contact surveys data for Wuhan and Shanghai before and during the outbreak and contact tracing information from Hunan Province. Daily con...
  • COVID-19 – does exercise prescription and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) have a role in risk-stratifying patients?

    30 Apr, 2020
    Abstract
    As the UK shields ‘high risk’ patients and enforces social distancing measures, patients will be at risk of significantly reducing physical activity levels. We explore the evidence base for COVID-19-specific recommendations and exercise interventions to ‘precondition’ patients prior to infection and appraise the role of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) as a risk-stratifying triage tool. We conclude that structured exercise programmes can be used to maintain physical activity l...
  • Remdesivir in adults with severe COVID-19: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial

    30 Apr, 2020
    No specific antiviral drug has been proven effective for treatment of patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Remdesivir (GS-5734), a nucleoside analogue prodrug, has inhibitory effects on pathogenic animal and human coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro, and inhibits Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV-1, and SARS-CoV-2 replication in animal models.

    A group of Chinese experts, funded by Chine...