Articles tagged with Polymerase Chain Reaction
A new study found that frequent COVID-19 testing, especially using polymerase chain reaction tests paired with rapid results reporting, can achieve 98% sensitivity in detecting infection. This approach can be particularly effective in places where vaccination is not yet widespread or when variants are on the rise.
A study of 3,758 individuals found that those with diabetes, obesity, rheumatologic disease, or organ transplants had longer positive PCR test results. The median length of time for negative results was 16-22 days in immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised groups respectively.
Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a method to make commercially available PCR tests shelf-stable for up to 30 days by freeze-drying the reagents with a standard preservative. This breakthrough could enable widespread COVID-19 testing in low-resource settings and reduce logistical challenges.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a technique that allows users to preview stored DNA data files, such as image thumbnails. This innovation improves the efficiency and user experience of DNA data storage, enabling users to identify specific files without opening the entire file.
The EuroPCR 2021 digital platform hosted 8,091 physicians from over 126 countries, offering a prime learning experience through real-time exchange and interactivity. The event featured 67 late-breaking trials, live chats, and practical Training Workshops, with 3-months access to the replayed Programme.
The Cool AMI EU pivotal trial evaluated the safety and effectiveness of systemic mild hypothermia as an adjunctive therapy to primary PCI in patients with anterior STEMI. The trial showed significant differences between treatment groups, including longer randomization-to-balloon time and total ischemic time.
A randomized trial demonstrates that TAVI with a self-expanding supraannular bioprosthesis is comparable to surgical aortic valve replacement in terms of mortality and stroke risk at 24 months. Additionally, the study reveals that TAVI is superior to surgery in terms of valve hemodynamics but not in pacemaker implantation rates.
The CASTLE study investigated the role of imaging-guided percutaneous cardiac intervention (PCI) in clinical outcomes difference between ultra-thin strut biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (Orsiro) and durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (Xience). The results show no significant differences in target lesion failure rat...
A randomized trial comparing a new, thin-strut bioresorbable scaffold with a metallic stent showed non-inferiority of the bioresorbable scaffold in terms of late lumen loss and covered struts. The trial's results may revitalize the concept of bioresorbable scaffolds.
A new meta-analysis of 19,806 patients with chronic coronary syndromes found a statistically significant 21% relative risk reduction in cardiac death with revascularization plus medical therapy. The study also showed a parallel significant reduction in spontaneous myocardial infarction, but no difference in all-cause death.
The EBC MAIN trial found no significant difference in one-year clinical outcomes between planned single stenting and upfront two-stent techniques for true bifurcation distal left main disease. The primary composite endpoint of death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization occurred at a rate of 14.7% in the provision...
Dr. Morice's career spans over four decades, with a focus on pioneering the use of antiplatelet drugs in PCI and promoting education and training among young professionals. She has also been a key advocate for gender equality in medicine, co-founding Women as One to promote talent in cardiology.
We CARE aims to empower stakeholders to provide effective and timely cardiac care through knowledge, education, and training. The joint initiative seeks to restore patients' faith in pursuing timely medical treatment, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers developed a handheld MasSpec Pen to identify common types of meat and fish within 15 seconds, with 100% accuracy. The device uses molecular components to verify meat sources, eliminating the need for sample preparation steps.
A new study found that the Binax NOW rapid antigen test is comparable to PCR testing in adults with symptoms of seven days or less. However, the test detected lower rates of COVID-19 cases in symptomatic children, highlighting the need for careful interpretation and potential use of PCR confirmatory tests.
Researchers found that a significant proportion of international entrants to China test positive for asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. This study highlights the challenges in controlling the spread of COVID-19 through travel restrictions and testing.
A modeling study found daily symptom screening with PCR testing in nonhospital care sites significantly reduces COVID-19 infections and lowers healthcare costs. The study associated this intervention with substantial decreases in infections across various epidemic scenarios.
Researchers analyzed COVID-19-specific coding, transition to new codes, and PCR testing accuracy in US hospitals. The study found that the COVID-19-specific code had high accuracy rates when compared to SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing.
A study found that supervised, self-administered swabs were as effective as professional-collected nasopharyngeal swabs in detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections. The researchers identified cases where antigen tests missed infections were associated with low viral loads, but correctly identified high-load samples.
Researchers are developing a low-cost, easy-to-use platform to diagnose viral infections in point-of-care settings. The novel technology has high sensitivity and specificity, detecting viral proteins with high accuracy.
A new lab-on-a-chip developed at Imperial College London can process and present results in minutes, cutting costs and time of traditional PCR tests. The chip, called TriSilix, has been used to diagnose bacterial infections and a synthetic version of the genetic material from SARS-CoV-2.
A new study published in Science Advances found that frequent and rapid testing can be more effective than sensitive tests in curbing the spread of COVID-19. By targeting contagious individuals with stay-at-home orders, the virus could be driven towards elimination within weeks.
The PCR Valves e-Course will unite global experts in valvular heart disease for a 3-day digital initiative. Key findings include virtual LIVE demonstrations and classroom environment workshops offering simulation-based learning on cardiac anatomy and pathophysiology.
A review of 77 studies worldwide confirms people with mild symptoms may be infectious for up to 10 days, while those severely ill may remain contagious for 20 days. The CDC's guidance is in line with these findings.
A new method, Sonication Inverse PCR (SIP), has been developed to identify any genome sequence located next to a known sequence. This approach uses high-frequency sound waves to randomly cut DNA, eliminating bias from enzyme use, and is applied across clinical settings and molecular evolutionary analyses.
A study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine found that rapid bedside testing for COVID-19 can reduce time to results by up to 80 hours and improve infection control. The test, known as QIAstat-Dx POCT, allows patients to be quickly isolated and treatment to be started immediately.
The NeoALTTO BIG-06 trial found that women who achieved pathological complete response (pCR) after treatment had better long-term survival without cancer recurrence. Patients receiving both lapatinib and trastuzumab in combination also had a higher rate of pCR, resulting in improved overall survival rates.
A study found that SARS-CoV-2 emergence was associated with a significant decrease in the circulation of other common respiratory viruses. Patients with COVID-19 had worse clinical outcomes and were more likely to develop pneumonia compared to those with co-infections.
A new non-invasive ultrasound therapy has been shown to be safe and effective in improving heart condition and clinical status of patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. The therapy, developed by Cardiawave, widens the aortic valve opening using high-intensity ultrasounds, eliminating the need for invasive treatment.
A meta-analysis of randomized trials found routine revascularization associated with lower non-procedural MI and unstable angina risk, but higher procedural MI rates. The benefits of routine revascularization compared to medical therapy are still uncertain.
The ISCHEMIA trial results show that initial medical therapy is more beneficial than invasive interventions like revascularization in reducing hard outcomes and improving health outcomes for patients with chronic coronary syndromes. The study's findings have significant implications for current guidelines and future clinical practices.
Chronic diseases account for 50-75% of global health care costs, with current delivery models poorly constructed to manage these conditions. Healthcare systems must develop strategies to care for severely ill patients while continuing treatment for those with chronic disease.
The systematic two-stent approach significantly improved clinical outcomes compared to provisional stenting in patients with complex coronary bifurcation lesions. TVMI and TLR rates were lower in the two-stent group, while cardiac death rates were similar.
The DynamX Bioadaptor combines acute performance with unique benefits of arterial 'uncaging', allowing for positive adaptive remodeling and reduced target vessel revascularization. This innovation in device design may mitigate the persistent annualized event rate beyond one year.
In a multicenter randomized controlled trial, crossover patients who received renal denervation due to elevated ambulatory blood pressures experienced significant reductions in daytime ambulatory systolic BP. The blood pressure lowering effect was consistent with primary RADIANCE-HTN SOLO results.
A large-scale assessment of long-term survival and reintervention after aortic ViV found that smaller failed bioprostheses were associated with lower survival rates. The type of transcatheter valve used also influenced the need for reintervention, with EBEV being a significant risk factor.
A large-scale analysis of mitral valve-in-valve (ViV) and valve-in-ring (ViR) found significant residual mitral stenosis and regurgitation in patients, leading to repeat valve replacements. The four-year Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 62.5% for ViV vs. 49.5% for ViR.
A pooled analysis of DEFINE FLAIR and iFR SWEDEHEART trials reveals similar safety profiles for iFR and FFR in deferring revascularisation. However, FFR-based deferral shows a strong interaction with age, which may be related to varying age-related responses to adenosine.
New trials and the Global Symplicity Registry report consistent and clinically meaningful ambulatory and office BP reductions in patients with mild to moderate uncontrolled hypertension. RDN is effective and durable in these high-risk populations, with low rates of new-onset end-stage renal disease.
Researchers at NC State University developed DORIS, a new approach to DNA data storage that enables users to read or modify files without destroying them. This allows for increased information density and easier scalability.
Researchers tested 27 published diagnostic PCR assays and found seven with potential sequence mismatch issues that may lead to underperforming or false-negative COVID-19 test results. This study highlights the importance of re-evaluating current tests periodically to ensure their efficacy in detecting circulating variants of the virus.
A new surfactant-free method produces up to 100 microcapsules per second, ideal for pharmaceutical or skin care applications. The technique involves creating tiny channels and injecting immiscible liquids, which are then polymerized and solidified to trap the liquid core.
Researchers at KAIST developed a universal virus detection platform using reactive polymer-grafted double-stranded RNAs, which can detect viruses without prior knowledge of their genomic sequences. This platform provides enhanced sensitivity and can be used to quickly differentiate infected populations from non-infected ones.
A new assay has been developed to improve prenatal detection of alpha-thalassemia, allowing for clinical diagnosis and large-scale population screening. The one-step nested asymmetric PCR melting curve analysis assay shows high sensitivity and specificity, and can be completed in under 2.5 hours.
A new one-minute test developed at Ben-Gurion University can identify asymptomatic and affected carriers of COVID-19 with greater than 90% accuracy. The test kit costs approximately $50, making it less costly than standard PCR tests.
Researchers propose genetic barcodes to guarantee DNA samples' authenticity before reaching the lab, mitigating cyberbiosecurity threats. The system introduces non-harmful material into samples as they're collected, which acts as a password ensuring their genuineness upon processing.
A multi-disciplinary team is studying how COVID-19 spreads and mutates in the environment, aiming to inform public health agencies and predict transmission risk. Citizen scientists can participate by collecting environmental samples and uploading data.
Researchers have created a faster and more accurate COVID-19 test using plasmonic photothermal sensing, detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA in minutes. The test can discriminate between SARS-CoV-2 and its close relative, reducing false-positive results.
Researchers found almost 60% of patients were over 65, and nearly a third lived in socio-economically deprived areas. The study also revealed high rates of the disease in regions with previously low numbers of cases, including Canterbury and Hawkes Bay.
The American Heart Association statement addresses the controversy surrounding paclitaxel-eluting stents and drug-coated balloons in peripheral interventions. Despite a 2018 meta-analysis suggesting increased mortality with paclitaxel exposure, individual sponsor-driven analyses have failed to replicate these findings.
The EAPCI has generated consensus statements detailing the clinical utility of IC imaging, based on existing clinical evidence and contemporary best practice. IC imaging is beneficial for guiding percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and understanding stent failure mechanisms.
Pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with lower recurrence risk and higher overall survival in breast cancer patients. The association between pCR and outcomes was similar among those who received additional adjuvant chemotherapy versus those who did not.
A novel point-of-care Hepatitis C assay has been developed to diagnose chronic cases in asymptomatic patients, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The assay detects HCV RNA reliably, faster than existing methods, and can be used at the point of care, reducing the need for centralized laboratories.
A study by German Center for Infection Research scientists found that molecular diagnostic tests for the Zika virus in Brazil were not always reliable, resulting in false-positive or false-negative results. This highlights the need for reliable diagnostics to prevent fatal consequences and inform preventive measures.
Researchers found that patients who received a combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors before and after surgery had a six-fold increase in time to progression compared to standard-of-care surgery. The study suggests that presurgical targeted therapy may improve outcomes for patients with high-risk stage 3 melanoma.
The I-SPY 2 TRIAL found that achieving pathological complete response (pCR) is a strong predictor of event-free and distant disease-free survival in high-risk breast cancer patients. pCR rates varied by breast cancer subtype, but the relationship between pCR and EFS was significant across all subtypes.
Researchers at University of Michigan develop new PCR-based approach to study chromosomes' centers, yielding clues about Down syndrome. The technique accelerates analysis of centromere DNA, potentially leading to breakthroughs in birth defects and cancers.
The 11,800 participants shared the latest developments and best practices in treating cardiovascular conditions, including coronary and valvular heart disease and stroke. EuroPCR 2017 also celebrated the 40th anniversary of angioplasty with an exhibition tracing its pioneering history.
Seven novel bioresorbable stent technologies were reported to deliver low medium-term event rates and favorable laminar flow. The RENASCENT II study showed no events at one year, while the DESolve Nx Study demonstrated a mean lumen gain of 9% at six months.
The EURO-CTO trial found that PCI had a higher procedural success rate (86.3%) and lower procedural risk compared to optimized medical therapy. Patients treated with PCI also showed significant improvements in clinical symptoms and quality of life, while those on medical therapy experienced less pronounced improvements.