Irish journal of medical science
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Nucleic acid testing is a reliable method for diagnosing viral infection in clinical samples. However, when the number of cases is huge and there are individual differences in the virus itself, the probability of false-negative results increases. With the advancement in research on the new coronavirus, new detection technologies that use serum-specific antibodies as detection targets have been developed. These detection technologies have high efficiency and shorter turnaround time, which ultimately shortens the time required for diagnosis. This article summarizes the methods that have been reported to date for the detection of the new coronavirus and discusses their principles and technical characteristics. ⋯ With the advancement of technology and the improvement of methods, the detection methods of SARSCoV-2 have become more mature. These advances provided great help to the detection of SARS-CoV-2.
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The aim of this study is to share autopsy findings of COVID-19-positive cases and autopsy algorithms for safely handling of suspicious bodies during this pandemic. ⋯ In COVID-19 autopsies, pulmonary findings were found to be prominent and the main pathology was pneumonia. Older age and findings of chronic diseases indicate that the cases were in the multirisk group in terms of COVID-19 mortality.
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We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on emergency and cardiovascular disease-related calls in Hangzhou, China. ⋯ During the COVID-19 epidemic in Hangzhou, the numbers of emergency and cardiovascular disease-related calls have decreased significantly. These results point to a severe social problem that requires the attention of the medical community and the government.
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Healthcare workers are encouraged annually to get vaccinated against influenza. This year in view of COVID-19 pandemic, attitudes of HCWs towards vaccination are particularly important. A cross-sectional study was completed to understand how to best encourage and facilitate the vaccination of HCWs based on the previous years' findings. ⋯ In light of the increasing number of survey participants, more staff were interested in flu vaccination this year than ever before. The COVID-19 pandemic has had some influence on staff's likelihood to be vaccinated. Feasibility of immunisation and education posed the largest barriers to HCW vaccination.
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The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends the use of tumour profiling tests to guide adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. The Oncotype DX™ score (Genomic Health) has superseded more traditional tools such as PREDICT in appropriate patients (ER + ve, HER2-ve, lymph node negative and with a Nottingham Prognostic Index [NPI] ≥ 3.4). The aim of this study was to see whether the introduction of Oncotype DX within our institution resulted in an overall reduction in rates of chemotherapy. ⋯ Within our institution, overall rates of chemotherapy have reduced since the introduction of Oncotype DX with the results more marked in subgroups of traditional indicators of tumour aggression. As genomic assays provide a more accurate prediction of the benefit of chemotherapy, its overall reduction has potential cost saving implications as well as reducing risk in patients who will derive little benefit.