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Contents contributed and discussions participated by Dennis OConnor

Dennis OConnor

Informaconnect: Bioprocessing & Manufacturing - Articles & Video - 1 views

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    To see the Premium articles on Covid-19 research, you'll need to create an account. This is an archive of Informa connect publications. Covid-19 publications are marked premium and require creating an account to access. I created an account and have access to the contents. However, those marked "premium" still require setting up an account. The materials are professionally published and at first, glance seem extensive and credible. They are publishing in an easy to read and dynamic 'reader' format. It is very similar to what we are doing with Rise 360. There are lessons to be learned from this group. A question for PHE/Project Apollo: Do we want to require the public to 'join' our website to see 'premium content' like our upcoming e-learning courses? I feel the way Informaconnect is leveraging the Covid-19 research to build membership is a little crass. On the other hand, the contents are impressive and the sign-up process wasn't onerous.
Dennis OConnor

The race for coronavirus vaccines: a graphical guide - 0 views

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    "Eight ways in which scientists hope to provide immunity to SARS-CoV-2 ."
Dennis OConnor

The Challenge of Tracking COVID-19's Stealthy Spread - NIH Director's Blog - 0 views

  • The first thing that testing may help us do is to identify those SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals who have no symptoms, but who are still capable of transmitting the virus.
  • The second way we can use testing is to identify individuals who’ve already been infected with SARS-CoV-2, but who didn’t get seriously ill and can no longer transmit the virus to others.
Dennis OConnor

Webinar May 13, 2020: Wearable Technology: What's The Role In Early Detection? JLABS - 0 views

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    "If wearable devices have the ability to provide continuous sensing capabilities while accurately capturing signals, is there a role that wearable devices play in forecasting illness? What role can wearable technology play in an outbreak response at both the individual level and global level?   Join our panel with industry experts to discuss the potential for innovation in the use of wearable technologies for early detection."
Dennis OConnor

Coronavirus Antibody Tests: Can You Trust the Results? - The New York Times - 0 views

  • Of the 14 tests, only three delivered consistently reliable results. Even the best had some flaws.
  • Already Americans are scrambling to take antibody tests to see if they might escape lockdowns. Public health experts are wondering if those with positive results might be allowed to return to work.
  • these tactics mean nothing if the test results can’t be trusted
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  • The proportion of people in the United States who have been exposed to the coronavirus is likely to be 5 percent or less, Dr. Hensley said. “If your kit has a 3 percent false-positive, how do you interpret that? It’s basically impossible,” he said. “If your kit has 14 percent false positive, it’s useless.”
  • The duo recruited Dr. Jeffrey Whitman and Dr. Caryn Bern, who last year published an analysis of antibody tests for Chagas disease. Other graduate students and postdoctoral fellows volunteered to help perform the evaluations.
  • In all, the investigators analyzed 10 rapid tests that deliver a yes-no signal for antibodies, and two tests using a lab technique known as Elisa that indicate the amount of antibodies present and are generally considered to be more reliable.
  • The Bay Area team finished evaluating 12 tests in record time, less than a month. By comparison, the Chagas project required a team of three people working for more than a year just to compare four tests.
  • Having a study design already in hand helped speed the work, but there was one key difference. Decades of data have shown that Chagas disease elicits lifelong immunity.
  • Each test was evaluated with the same set of blood samples: from 80 people known to be infected with the coronavirus, at different points after infection; 108 samples donated before the pandemic; and 52 samples from people who were positive for other viral infections but had tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.
  • Tests made by Sure Biotech and Wondfo Biotech, along with an in-house Elisa test, produced the fewest false positives.
  • A test made by Bioperfectus detected antibodies in 100 percent of the infected samples, but only after three weeks of infection.
  • None of the tests did better than 80 percent until that time period, which was longer than expected, Dr. Hsu said.
  • the tests are less likely to produce false negatives the longer ago the initial infection occurred,
  • There are multiple tests that have specificities greater than 95 percent.
  • Dr. Krammer has developed a two-step Elisa test that he said has 100 percent specificity and delivers a measure of the quantity of IgM and IgG antibodies a person has.
  • Scanwell Health, a Los Angeles-based start-up, has ordered millions of test kits from Innovita, a Chinese manufacturer, and has applied to the Food and Drug Administration to market the tests for at-home use.In the new study, the Innovita test detected antibodies in 83 percent of infected people and yielded a false-positive rate of 4 percent.
  • Scanwell Health, said the study looked at an earlier version of Innovita’s test and not the “newer, improved version” his company had ordered. “It will be interesting to see how it performs,”
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    "A team of scientists worked around the clock to evaluate 14 antibody tests. A few worked as advertised. Most did not."
Dennis OConnor

COVID-19 Testing Project - Pre-print manuscript - 0 views

  • April 24, 2020: Read our pre-print manuscript. This is a preliminary report of work that has not been certified by peer review. This should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
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    "We are a multidisciplinary team of researchers and physicians at UCSF, UC Berkeley, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, and Innovative Genomics Institute."
Dennis OConnor

Researchers Cast Doubt On Theory Of Coronavirus Lab Accident : Goats and Soda : NPR - 1 views

  • April 23, 2020
  • Virus researchers say there is virtually no chance that the new coronavirus was released as result of a laboratory accident in China or anywhere else.
  • after corresponding with 10 leading scientists who collect samples of viruses from animals in the wild, study virus genomes and understand how lab accidents can happen, NPR found that an accidental release would have required a remarkable series of coincidences and deviations from well-established experimental protocols.
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  • All of the evidence points to this not being a laboratory accident," says Jonna Mazet, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Davis and director of a global project to watch for emerging viruses called PREDICT.
  • all believe that the virus was transmitted between animals and humans in nature, as has happened in previous outbreaks — from Ebola to the Marburg virus — and with other known coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS.
  • Regardless, genetic analysis shows the virus began to spread sometime in the fall or winter of 2019, says Robert Garry, a microbiologist at Tulane University. Those same analyses refuted an earlier theory that the virus was genetically engineered in a laboratory.
  • the exact route from nature to people remains a mystery,
  • Rather than a laboratory misstep, researchers believe that this new coronavirus reached humans in the same way that other coronaviruses have: through "zoonotic spillover," or humans picking up pathogens from wildlife.
  • The CDC estimates that 6 out of 10 infectious diseases in people come from animals, including diseases caused by coronaviruses.
  • "As we change the landscape to suit our purposes, we come more and more into contact with viruses and other pathogens that we don't have much exposure to," says Dr. Brian Bird, associate director of the OneHealth Institute at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and a former CDC scientist.
  • "Zoonotic transmission" or "zoonotic spillover" generally happens three ways: through excretion (feces that comes into contact with humans), slaughter (meat consumed by humans) and vector-borne (an animal biting a human). But even under these circumstances, the virus must then overcome barriers within the human body, defeating the immune system, to successfully replicate and transmit between humans themselves.
  • Despite the evidence, misinformation about the virus's origins continue to proliferate. For Daszak, who has worked on other outbreaks, the pattern is all too familiar: "Every time we get a new virus emerging, we have people that say, 'This could have come from a lab,' " he says.
  • "It's a real shame that the conspiracy theories can get to the level they've got with policymakers,"
  • The political heat has strained the very scientific collaborations meant to detect these viruses as they emerge, warns Jonna Mazet.
  • Daszak says the time for finger-pointing is over. "We have a bat virus in my neighborhood in New York killing people," he says. "Let's get real about this."
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    "April 23, 2020"
Dennis OConnor

The Lancet: Statement in support of the scientists, public health professionals, and me... - 1 views

  • Statement in support of the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of China combatting COVID-19
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    March 7, 2020: The rapid, open, and transparent sharing of data on this outbreak is now being threatened by rumours and misinformation around its origins. We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin. Scientists from multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),1 and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 as have so many other emerging pathogens.11, 12 This is further supported by a letter from the presidents of the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine13 and by the scientific communities they represent. Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus. We support the call from the Director-General of WHO to promote scientific evidence and unity over misinformation and conjecture.14 We want you, the science and health professionals of China, to know that we stand with you in your fight against this virus.
Dennis OConnor

Pursuing Safe and Effective Anti-Viral Drugs for COVID-19 - NIH Director's Blog - 0 views

  • Remdesivir
  • when an RNA virus attempts to replicate, its polymerase is tricked into incorporating remdesivir into its genome as a foreign nucleotide, or anomalous letter.
  • undecipherable, extra letter brings the replication process to a crashing halt
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  • An important step was just posted as a preprint yesterday—a small study showed infusion of remdesivir was effective in limiting the severity of lung disease in rhesus macaques [2]. That’s encouraging news. But the only sure way to find out if remdesivir will actually help humans who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 is to conduct a randomized, controlled clinical trial.
  • NIAID’s Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, has already enrolled 805 patients at 67 testing sites.
  • All trial participants must have laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infections and evidence of lung involvement, such as abnormal chest X-rays, rattling sounds when breathing (rales) with a need for supplemental oxygen, or a need for mechanical ventilation.
  • the study is double-blind, meaning
Dennis OConnor

Everything we know about coronavirus immunity, and plenty we still don't - 0 views

  • an accurate positive test may be hard to interpret: the virus is so new that researchers cannot say for sure what sort of results will signal immunity or how long that armor will last.
  • policymakers may be making sweeping economic and social decisions — plans to reopen businesses or schools, for example — based on limited data, assumptions, and what’s known about other viruses.
  • most experts do think an initial infection from the coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, will grant people immunity to the virus for some amount of time.
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  • With data limited, “sometimes you have to act on a historical basis,” Anthony Fauci,
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    Recommended by Tyler Orion: "People who think they've been exposed to the novel coronavirus are clamoring for antibody tests - blood screens that can detect who has previously been infected and, the hope is, signal who is protected from another case of Covid-19."
Dennis OConnor

Covid-19 Antibody Test, Seen as Key to Reopening Country, Does Not Yet Deliver - The Ne... - 0 views

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    DeAunne Denmark, MD, PhD: "To date, the FDA has granted EUA for only these 4 companies: Cellex, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Chembio Diagnostic Systems and the Mount Sinai Laboratory. Really looking forward to the validation and head-to-head comparison data promised here from the FDA, Chan Zuckerberg (supposedly this week?), and others. That should be telling... "
Dennis OConnor

Detect - App Scripps Research - 0 views

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    Download the Mydatahelps app -- "When your heart beats faster than usual, it can mean that you're coming down with a cold, flu, coronavirus, or other viral infection. That's the conclusion of recent medical research. So wearable devices that measure your resting heart rate-made by Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, and others-might help scientists spot viral outbreaks, and also give you more insight into your own health. At Scripps Research, we've designed DETECT (Digital Engagement & Tracking for Early Control & Treatment), a study that will monitor your heart rate and allow you to record symptoms like fever or coughing."
Dennis OConnor

COVID-19 Wearables Data Study | Stanford Healthcare Innovation Lab - 0 views

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    "Join us in our crowdsourced effort to analyze and predict potential COVID-19 cases by donating your wearables data. " This page describes study participation opportunities: Wearables Data Study, Molecular Profiling, and Global Relief Coalition
Dennis OConnor

COVID-19 Coronavirus Data & Resources - 1 views

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    Wolfram is offering free access to their data tools for educators and researchers.
Dennis OConnor

Mimi Guarneri MD Covid-19 Antibody Tests, Immune Support - YouTube - 0 views

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    In this video, Dr. Guarneri explains basic antibody concepts and shares some insights from small N research at Pacific Pearl
Dennis OConnor

Mimi Guarneri: Coronavirus Patient Testing & Care Health Services Flowchart - Pacific P... - 0 views

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    "How Will Coronavirus Patients Flow through Health Services? Many of you have called asking to be tested for Coronavirus. Given recent testing challenges, the CDC and County have provided physicians with a simple coronavirus patient testing & care health services flowchart. As you can see, if symptoms are mild, testing is not indicated at this time. It is my hope that we will soon be able to test everyone! The 211 number mentioned below is a San Diego County information line that helps people efficiently access appropriate services, and provides vital data and trend information. The website for 211 is https://211sandiego.org/"
Dennis OConnor

Can a Wearable Detect Covid-19 Before Symptoms Appear? - WIRED - 0 views

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    This overview article mentions Ben Smarr's work along with Eric Topol's research and a newly launched project from Stanford.
Dennis OConnor

Antibodies and coronavirus immunity: everything we know. - 0 views

  • Antibodies will probably be key to getting us out of this—in one way or another. By Shannon Palus
  • one promising solution is the idea of antibodies and antibody tests.
  • as with everything about the virus, it’s not yet clear what role antibody tests will be able to play in getting us out of this, and it’s even not completely clear how much getting the coronavirus once prevents you from getting it again
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  • What is an antibody?
  • How do I get the anti-coronavirus antibodies?
  • The most basic (and worst) way to get the antibodies is to get the coronavirus.
  • So once you have the antibodies, you are immune against the virus?
  • We can’t count on immunity right now.
  • Wait, but aren’t there people out there who have gotten the novel coronavirus twice, within a short period of time?
  • So if I’ve been sick with COVID-19 already, should I assume I’m immune, or not?
  • OK. Let’s get to the tests. What’s the deal?
  • The fantasy of antibody tests is that they might be deployed to help us determine who can go back to work and school and normal social gatherings.
  • That sounds very promising!
  • even though the tests can provide a guess at immunity, even a positive result cannot guarantee anything.
  • So what are antibody tests actually good for right now?
  • They are tools to gather more data.
  • This is why the National Institutes of Health is currently recruiting 10,000 volunteers to take antibody tests.
  • There’s one clear way that they could help right now on an individual level: We’ve all been asked to basically assume we have the coronavirus; an antibody test could help clarify our own narratives.
  • If you test positive, you can also apply to donate plasma.
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    Recommended by Dr. Michael Kurisu D.O. 4/15/2020 Good summary. Not scientific or too detailed but good overall big picture view
Dennis OConnor

Apple and Google have a clever way of encouraging people to install contact-tracing app... - 0 views

  • Apple and Google surprised us with an announcement that the companies are spinning up a system to enable widespread contact tracing in an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The basic idea is that as jurisdictions flatten the curve of infection and begin to consider re-opening parts of society, they need to implement a comprehensive “test and trace” scheme.
  • First, the companies said that by phase two of their effort, when contact tracing is enabled at the level of the operating system, they will notify people who have opted in to their potential exposure to COVID-19 even if they have not downloaded the relevant app from their public health authority.
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  • Apple and Google said they recognized the importance of not allowing people to trigger alerts based on unverified claims of a COVID-19 infection. Instead, they said, people who are diagnosed will be given a one-time code by the public health agency, which the newly diagnosed will have to enter to trigger the alert.
  • Google said it would distribute the operating system update through Google Play services, a part of Android controlled by the company that allows it to reach the majority of active devices.
  • Singapore saw only 12 percent adoption of its national contact-tracing app. Putting notifications at the system level represents a major step forward for this effort, even if still requires people to opt in.
  • the companies promised to use the system only for contact tracing, and to dismantle the network when it becomes appropriate.
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