Simultaneous monitoring of HIV viral load and screening of SARS-CoV-2 employing a low-cost RT-qPCR test workflow

Article Immunology

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RNA in Plasma Is Associated With Intensive Care Unit Admission and Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Christian Prebensen et al.

Summary: Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA in the circulation may be associated with disease severity and poor outcomes in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Immunology

Highly Sensitive Quantification of Plasma Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RNA Sheds Light on its Potential Clinical Value

David Veyer et al.

Summary: This study analyzed 58 COVID-19 patients and found that 74.1% had SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia, which correlated with disease severity. Levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia were associated with severity, suggesting that it could be a potential prognostic marker for COVID-19 patients.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Immunology

HIV infection and COVID-19 death: a population-based cohort analysis of UK primary care data and linked national death registrations within the OpenSAFELY platform

Krishnan Bhaskaran et al.

Summary: This study found that people living with HIV in the UK are at a higher risk of COVID-19 mortality compared to those without HIV. Even after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and a range of comorbidities, the elevated risk remained significant, especially among individuals of Black ethnicity. Targeted policies should be considered to address this increased risk in the evolving pandemic response.

LANCET HIV (2021)

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Article Immunology

Risk of adverse coronavirus disease 2019 outcomes for people living with HIV

Maya M. Mellor et al.

Summary: The meta-analysis showed that people living with HIV have a higher risk of COVID-19 mortality compared to those without HIV, and antiretroviral therapy may influence this risk. However, further investigation is needed to clarify the relationship between HIV and COVID-19 outcomes.

AIDS (2021)

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Article Chemistry, Analytical

Multiplexed and Extraction-Free Amplification for Simplified SARSCoV-2 RT-PCR Tests

Samantha A. Byrnes et al.

Summary: This study describes a method for amplifying SARS-CoV-2 RNA from clinical samples without the need for extraction, resulting in high sensitivity and specificity. The multiplex RT-PCR technique can provide accurate diagnosis even in the face of challenges like reagent shortages.

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY (2021)

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Article Infectious Diseases

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma samples of COVID-19 affected individuals: a cross-sectional proof-of-concept study

Luna Colagrossi et al.

Summary: This proof-of-concept study of 41 SARS-CoV-2-positive adult individuals revealed that patients with viremia had a higher mortality rate, were more frequently affected by haematological malignancies, and had higher viral loads in respiratory samples. This highlights the importance of early identification of high-risk patients for severe COVID-19, particularly among haematologic patients.

BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Simpler and faster Covid-19 testing: Strategies to streamline SARS-CoV-2 molecular assays

Nuttada Panpradist et al.

Summary: A low-cost RT-PCR kit was developed for faster detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections, with high sensitivity and specificity demonstrated in both laboratory and clinical settings. The assay showed promising performance and could potentially expand access to Covid-19 testing.

EBIOMEDICINE (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

COVID-19 Outcomes Among Persons Living With or Without Diagnosed HIV Infection in New York State

James M. Tesoriero et al.

Summary: This cohort study conducted in New York State found that persons living with diagnosed HIV had poorer outcomes related to COVID-19 compared to persons living without diagnosed HIV. Previous HIV diagnosis was associated with higher rates of severe disease requiring hospitalization, and hospitalization risk increased with progression of HIV disease stage.

JAMA NETWORK OPEN (2021)

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Article Microbiology

Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis by Using Sequence-Specific Purification of Urine Cell-Free DNA

Amy Oreskovic et al.

Summary: This study aimed to improve the diagnostic sensitivity of TB urine cfDNA by increasing recovery of short fragments during sample preparation. A highly sensitive sequence-specific purification method was developed, which showed high efficiency in capturing short TB cfDNA. In a clinical cohort study in South Africa, the urine cfDNA assay had high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing active pulmonary TB.

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Outcomes of COVID-19 patients with comorbidities in southwest Nigeria

Akin Osibogun et al.

Summary: Data on comorbidities and their impact on COVID-19 outcomes among African populations are scarce. This study from Nigeria identified hypertension, diabetes, renal disease, cancer, and HIV as comorbidities that predict death in COVID-19 patients. The study suggests the importance of public awareness, early detection, and tailored care for COVID-19 patients with comorbidities.

PLOS ONE (2021)

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Article Immunology

Overview of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults living with HIV

Juan Ambrosioni et al.

Lancet HIV (2021)

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Review Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

COVID-19 Among People Living with HIV: A Systematic Review

Hossein Mirzaei et al.

Summary: This systematic review highlights the characteristics and conditions of patients with COVID-19-HIV co-infection, revealing a predominantly male population with an average age of 52.7 years, and a high percentage receiving antiretroviral treatment. Comorbidities include hypertension, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes, with fever and cough being the most common symptoms. Indicating the importance of identifying co-infections, addressing comorbidities, and maintaining a secure supply of antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIDS AND BEHAVIOR (2021)

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Article Immunology