ABSTRACT
Intro: Viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, are constantly changing. These genetic changes (aka mutations) occur over time and can lead to the emergence of new variants that may have different characteristics. After the first SARS-CoV-2 genome was published in early 2020, scientists all over the world soon realized the immediate need to obtain as much genetic information from as many strains as possible. However, understanding the functional significance of the mutations harbored by a variant is important to assess its impact on transmissibility, disease severity, immune escape, and the effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics. Method(s): Here in Canada, we have developed an interactive framework for visualizing and reporting mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants. This framework is composed of three stand-alone yet connected components;an interactive visualization (COVID-MVP), a manually curated functional annotation database (pokay), and a genomic analysis workflow (nf-ncov-voc). Finding(s): COVID-MVP provides (i) an interactive heatmap to visualize and compare mutations in SARS-CoV-2 lineages classified across different VOCs, VOIs, and VUMs;(ii) mutation profiles including the type, impact, and contextual information;(iii) annotation of biological impacts for mutations where functional data is available in the literature;(iv) summarized information for each variant and/or lineage in the form of a surveillance report;and (v) the ability to upload raw genomic sequence(s) for rapid processing and annotating for real-time classification. Discussion(s): This comprehensive comparison allows microbiologists and public health practitioners to better predict how the mutations in emerging variants will impact factors such as infection severity, vaccine resistance, hospitalization rates, etc. Conclusion(s): This framework is cloud-compatible & standalone, which makes it easier to integrate into other genomic surveillance tools as well. COVID-MVP is integrated into the Canadian VirusSeq data portal (https://virusseqdataportal.ca) - a national data hub for SARS-COV-2 genomic data. COVID-MVP is also used by the CanCOGeN and CoVaRR networks in national COVID-19 genomic surveillance.Copyright © 2023
ABSTRACT
Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc throughout the world, with 150 million cases to date and over 3 million lives claimed worldwide. Aim: To explore the hypoxemia in COVID-19 patients in relation with genomic mutation and co-morbidities. Study Design: Experimental Study. Methodology: A total of 16 COVID-19 positive patients admitted to Aziz Bhatti hospital were included in this study. COVID-19 was confirm through nasopharyngeal swab specimen diluted in normal saline subsequent RT-PCR was performed as per the standard operating procedure. Genome sequencing and interpretation of analysis was done through Illumina MiSeq. Results: There was statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in SaO2 in patients with N (Nucleocapisd) protein mutation compared with NSP13(Helicase) mutation. Conclusion: It was concluded that mutation of N (Nucleocapisd) protein causes more pronounced hypoxia compared with Helicase mutation of COVID-19 genome.
ABSTRACT
The whole world is suffering from COVID-19 pandemic. This disease has halted life and has a negative impact on physical and mental health of all individuals. Objectives: To identify impact of BMI on Covid-19 clinical features and its management in terms of relationship among patients at government hospitals, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methodology: This study enrolled 206 patients having both genders and was carried at Life Diabetes Centre, Gujrat and CMH Kharian Medical College (CKMC), over a period of 3 months, Kharian-Pakistan following ethical review committee's (ERC) approval. Statistical analysis: Data was analyzed by SPSS software, version 17. Parameters like age, gender and treatment taken were presented as frequency. Chi square was applied to see the correlation with p-value <0.05 as significant. Results: Total 206 patients were randomly selected, 89 male and 117 females. Among 206, patients (n=133) showed symptoms while rest of the patients (73) remained asymptomatic. There was no association of BMI with COVID-19 symptoms having P-value greater than 0.05. There was an association of BMI with gender as P-value (0.000*). There was an association of BMI with age having P-value (0.000*). Conclusion: From present study, we concluded that there was a correlation between BMI and individuals with higher BMI as they developed more serious symptoms and required active management strategies in comparison to individuals who were either underweight or normal weight.
ABSTRACT
Background: The whole world is facing one of the biggest health related disaster (COVID-19) of the century. Aim: To identify age and gender-based differences in Covid-19 clinical features and its management among patients at government hospitals, Pakistan. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methodology: This study with enrolled subjects (n=206) was carried out after ethical review committee's (ERC) approval at Life Diabetes Centre, Gujrat and CMH Kharian Medical College (CKMC), over a period of 3 months, Kharian-Pakistan. Both male and female medical subjects were enrolled. Statistical analysis: Data was analyzed by SPSS software, version 17. Parameters like age, gender and treatment taken were presented as frequency. Chi square was applied to see the correlation with p-value <0.05 as significant. Results: Total 206 patients were randomly selected, 89 male and 117 females. Among 206, patients (n=133) showed symptoms while rest of the patients (73) remained asymptomatic. There was no association of age and gender with COVID-19 symptoms having P-value greater than 0.05. There was a significant association between treatments given was significantly related with age having P-value (0.006*). Conclusion: We concluded that there was no strong association between age and gender-based differences in Covid-19 clinical features;this could be due to small sample size.
ABSTRACT
The whole world is facing one of the biggest health related disasters of the century. As a novel disease, Covid-19 has so many parameters yet to explore. Objectives: To explore any correlation between atopy and Covid-19 among residents of Gujrat and Kharian, Punjab, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methodology: This study with enrolled subjects (n=206) was carried out after ethical review committee’s (ERC) approval at Life Diabetes Centre, Gujrat and CMH Kharian Medical College (CKMC), over a period of 3 months, Kharian-Pakistan. Both male and female medical subjects were enrolled. Statistical analysis: Data was analyzed by SPSS software, version 17. Parameters like gender, allergy and treatment taken were presented as frequency and percentage. Chi square was applied to see the correlation with p-value <0.05 as significant. Results: Total 206 patients were randomly selected, 89 male and 117 females. Among 206, only 13 patients had allergy from different allergens. Only 2 patients required hospitalization and injectable treatment. Conclusion: We concluded that there is strong affiliation between atopy and Covid-19 presentations.