Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Myriad Other Applications.

As the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic begins, it remains clear that a massive increase in the ability to test for SARS-CoV-2 infections in a myriad of settings is critical to controlling the pandemic and to preparing for future outbreaks. The current gold standard for molecular diagnostics is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but the extraordinary and unmet demand for testing in a variety of environments means that both complementary and supplementary testing solutions are still needed. This review highlights the role that loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has had in filling this global testing need, providing a faster and easier means of testing, and what it can do for future applications, pathogens, and the preparation for future outbreaks. This review describes the current state of the art for research of LAMP-based SARS-CoV-2 testing, as well as its implications for other pathogens and testing. The authors represent the global LAMP (gLAMP) Consortium, an international research collective, which has regularly met to share their experiences on LAMP deployment and best practices; sections are devoted to all aspects of LAMP testing, including preanalytic sample processing, target amplification, and amplicon detection, then the hardware and software required for deployment are discussed, and finally, a summary of the current regulatory landscape is provided. Included as well are a series of first-person accounts of LAMP method development and deployment. The final discussion section provides the reader with a distillation of the most validated testing methods and their paths to implementation. This review also aims to provide practical information and insight for a range of audiences: for a research audience, to help accelerate research through sharing of best practices; for an implementation audience, to help get testing up and running quickly; and for a public health, clinical, and policy audience, to help convey the breadth of the effect that LAMP methods have to offer.

Pooling of neglected and delayed trauma patients - Consequences of 'lockdown' and 'Unlock' phases of COVID-19 pandemic- A retrospective cohort analysis from a tertiary centre.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in nationwide lockdown and quarantine strategies to break the chain of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in India. Management of patients with trauma has been particularly challenging across the country. AIMS: To evaluate the effect of delay in surgery in patients with traumatic injuries along with the peri-operative outcomes during the 'Lockdown' and 'Unlock' phases of the COVID-19 pandemic at a Level I Trauma centre in the National Capital Region (NCR) of India. METHODS: This retrospective, observational cohort study included 488 patients. Comparative analysis to assess patient characteristics, mechanism of trauma, clinical outcomes in patients managed operatively during 'Lockdown period' (24 March 2020 to 31 May 2020) Group A with Group B, who presented during 'Unlock phases' (01 June 2020 to 31 December 2020). RESULTS: The average delay in surgery, surgical time and hospital stay was significantly increased in group B patients (p-value <0.05). The average blood loss, stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and blood transfusion requirement were clinically higher in group B but these differences were not statistically significant (p-value >0.05). Only in group B; 9.01% patients (42 out of 466) required bone grafting. CONCLUSION: 'Neglect' and delay in receiving operative management of orthopaedic trauma has led to unprecedented rise in number of complications of fractures, such as mal-union, delayed union or non-union during COVID-19 Pandemic. Patients have had to undergo longer surgical procedures with increased risk of intra-operative blood loss, need of peri-operative blood transfusion and bone grafting supplementation to facilitate union. Diligent attention to achieve the most optimal configuration of fractures should be planned in conservatively managed injuries during the pandemic to minimize future intra-operative difficulties.

Development of Autonomous Advanced Disinfection Tunnel to Tackle External Surface Disinfection of COVID-19 Virus in Public Places

Background Sleep services are assigned a non-essential status during COVID-19. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine strongly urges sleep clinicians to continue postponing non-urgent care until a later date, if such a recommendation is made by state officials due to local conditions. At the same time, one cannot ignore the fact that sleep is important for people's health and wellbeing. Therefore, to protect the health of the population, it is essential to find ways and means to continue the practice of sleep medicine even during the COVID-19 pandemic.