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New 'nanoPCR' technology can accurately diagnose COVID-19 in less than 20 minutes

A "nanoPCR" technology was developed for the point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19).

8 Dec 2020

High-performing multi-immunoassay for early diagnosis and prognosis of COVID-19

A new study published on the preprint server bioRxiv in December 2020 indicates the ability of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and time of induction to differentiate between severe and mild COVID-19 and could lead to the development of a prognostic biomarker for use early in the course of the illness.

8 Dec 2020

Why is COVID-19 more severe among adults than children?

Researchers in Switzerland and Australia have reviewed some of the mechanisms proposed regarding why coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is generally less severe among children than among adults.

8 Dec 2020

COVID-19 has been reported to trigger Guillain–Barré syndrome

Researchers at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have reported the first instance of COVID-19 triggering a recurrence of Guillain-Barré Syndrome - a rare disorder where the body's immune system attacks nerves and can lead to respiratory failure and death.

8 Dec 2020

Tension between awareness and fatigue can shift the shape of coronavirus pandemic

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, two human factors are battling it out: awareness of the virus's severe consequences and fatigue from nine months of pandemic precautions.

8 Dec 2020

Reducing aerosol transmission could help tackle COVID-19 pandemic

Aerosols and their spread play an essential role in the transmission of COVID-19. However, the risk of transmission could be significantly reduced if more could be done to reduce indoor airborne viruses.

8 Dec 2020

COVID-19 may be linked to acute appendicitis in children

Researchers at the University of Virginia have recently presented a case series pointing to a potential association between infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the development of acute appendicitis in children.

8 Dec 2020

Lipid storm in severe COVID-19 linked to high COX/LOX pathway activity

A potentially valuable new study discusses the role of lipids in the hyper-inflammatory phenomena that take place within the lungs of patients with severe or critical COVID-19. Involving a large variety of specialized lipids with biological activity, this process includes the generation and release of pro and anti-inflammatory lipids.

8 Dec 2020

Transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in children: an Indian case study

Researchers have studied the primary contacts of COVID-19 positive children in India in May 2020 and found all children to be asymptomatic, and only four of the parents became positive. Although this suggests lower transmission from children, no recommendations can be made yet on school reopening.

8 Dec 2020

Peracetic acid fumigation as powerful and cost-effective disinfectant of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces

In a recent study, researchers at the Public Health Agency of Canada found that dry fog fumigation using peracetic acid (PAA) completely deactivated SARS-CoV-2 on all nine of their test surfaces.

8 Dec 2020

Study confirms most common complications associated with COVID-19

A large study of patients in the United States who contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) confirms many complications of the disease, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

8 Dec 2020

Bioactive tea compounds show potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity

Scientists have revealed that certain bioactive compounds found in green, black, and oolong tea possess remarkable antiviral activities against SARS-CoV-2.

8 Dec 2020

Saliva samples may be reliable alternative to nasal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 testing

A team of researchers from various institutes in Switzerland report how saliva samples may be a strong alternative to nasal swaps in PCR-related SARS-CoV-2 testing.

8 Dec 2020

Study unveils struggles faced by surgical units during the COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers at the University of Calgary, Canada, shed light on how surgical services have been reorganized during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

8 Dec 2020

Tracking COVID’s spread inside a tight-knit Latino community

Early in the pandemic, Ximena Rebolledo León, a registered nurse at Telluride Regional Medical Center in southwestern Colorado, needed to find everyone who'd been in contact with a sick Latino worker whose boss had told him he would lose his job if he didn't show up.

8 Dec 2020