A Method of Estimating Time-to-Recovery for a Disease Caused by a Contagious Pathogen Such as SARS-CoV-2 Using a Time Series of Aggregated Case Reports.

During the outbreak of a disease caused by a pathogen with unknown characteristics, the uncertainty of its progression parameters can be reduced by devising methods that, based on rational assumptions, exploit available information to provide actionable insights. In this study, performed a few (~6) weeks into the outbreak of COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2), one of the most important disease parameters, the average time-to-recovery, was calculated using data publicly available on the internet (daily reported cases of confirmed infections, deaths, and recoveries), and fed into an algorithm that matches confirmed cases with deaths and recoveries. Unmatched cases were adjusted based on the matched cases calculation. The mean time-to-recovery, calculated from all globally reported cases, was found to be 18.01 days (SD 3.31 days) for the matched cases and 18.29 days (SD 2.73 days) taking into consideration the adjusted unmatched cases as well. The proposed method used limited data and provided experimental results in the same region as clinical studies published several months later. This indicates that the proposed method, combined with expert knowledge and informed calculated assumptions, could provide a meaningful calculated average time-to-recovery figure, which can be used as an evidence-based estimation to support containment and mitigation policy decisions, even at the very early stages of an outbreak.

Short-term adoption rates for a web-based portal within the intranet of a hospital information system.

OBJECTIVE: An intranet portal that combines cost-free, open-source software technology with easy set-up features can be beneficial for daily hospital processes. We describe the short-term adoption rates of a costless content management system (CMS) in the intranet of a tertiary Greek hospital. DESIGN: Dashboard statistics of our CMS platform were the implementation assessment of our system. RESULTS: In a period of 10 months of running the software, the results indicate the employees overcame 'Resistance to Change' status. The average growth rate of end users who exploit the portal services is calculated as 2.73 every 3.3 months. CONCLUSION: We found our intranet web-based portal to be acceptable and helpful so far. Exploitation of an open-source CMS within the hospital intranet can influence healthcare management and the employees' way of working as well.

Design and virtual implementation of a biomedical registry framework for the enhancement of clinical trials: colorectal cancer example.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical trials generate a large volume of literature and a vast amount of data. Following the 'open science' model, data sharing has enormous potential to strengthen scientific research. Currently, to the best of our knowledge, there is no existing web based Hellenic biomedical registry that displays available patients for clinical trials, providing direct access to registered physicians to all data, assisting them in finding eligible patients in the initial clinical trial recruitment process. METHODS: This paper describes the design and virtual implementation of a web based prototype biomedical registry in Greece. The system represents an eGovernment framework proposal for the central storage of patients' biomedical information and the operations associated with this process. The increasing tendency to include molecular data as prerequisite elements in clinical trials is adopted in the registry philosophy. The designed system is based on free, open source software and it is implemented virtually on a local host environment. RESULTS: Using colorectal cancer as an example, valid data from patients increases the reliability index, demonstrating the functionality of the web application. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the combination of biomedical data and information technology in order to display potential participants per health unit, facilitates recruitment for clinical trials.

Bioinformatics and Regression Analyses Manifest Tumor-Specific miRNA Expression Dynamics in Pediatric Embryonal Malignancies.

Pediatric Central Nervous System (CNS) neoplasms are the second most prevalent tumors of childhood. Further on, prognosis of this type of neoplasms still remain poor and the comprehension of the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease still remains scarce. Several reports have identified microRNAs as significant molecules in the development of central nervous system tumors and propose that they might compose key molecules underlying oncogenesis. In a previous study we have identified several miRNAs, common to different subtypes of pediatric embryonal CNS malignancies as well as, we have identified miRNAs that manifest significant dynamics with respect to their expression and the neoplasmatic subtype. Overall, 19 tumor cases from children diagnosed with embryonal brain tumors were investigated. As controls, children who suffered a sudden death underwent autopsy and were not present with any brain malignancy were used (13 samples of varying localization). Our experimental approach included microarrays covering 1211 miRNAs, which appeared to manifest tumor-specific dynamics. In conclusion, it appeared that certain miRNAs are neoplasm specific and in particular, their expression manifests linear dynamics. Thus, the investigation of miRNA expression in pediatric embryonal brain tumors might contribute towards the discovery of tumor-specific miRNA signatures, which could potentially afford the identification of gene-specific biomarkers related to diagnosis, prognosis and patient targeted therapy, as well as help us understand oncogenetic dynamics.

Time­dependent and independent effects of thyroid hormone administration following myocardial infarction in rats.

Cardiac function is reduced following myocardial infarction (MI) due to myocardial injury and alterations in the viable non­ischemic myocardium, a process known as cardiac remodeling. The current treatments available for patients with acute MI (AMI) reduce infarct size, preserve left ventricular (LV) function and improve survival; however, these treatments do not prevent remodeling, which can lead to heart failure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of thyroid hormone (TH) treatment following MI in an in vivo rat model. A total of 199 rats were separated into 3 groups: Sham operated and 2 different coronary artery ligation (CAL) groups. Rats subjected to CAL were randomly divided into a further 2 groups 24 h following surgery. The first group received standard rat chow (designated the CAL group), while the second group received food containing 0.05% thyroid powder (designated the CALTH group). The mean daily intake of TH per rat was estimated at 3.0 µg T3 and 12 µg T4. Echocardiography was used to monitor the rats. Large­scale analysis confirmed the favorable effects of TH treatment following CAL on various parameters of cardiac function. TH treatment reduced LV dilation, and increased global and regional LV function. The development of cardiac hypertrophy was induced and, thus, wall stress was limited. Furthermore, TH treatment improved cardiac geometry, which manifested as an increased sphericity index. Myocardial function, as well as LV dilatation, following CAL and TH treatment was not closely associated with the extent of injury, indicating a novel therapeutic intervention that may alter the course of LV remodeling that typically leads to post­MI heart failure. Data modelling and regressions may be developed to enable the simulation of the pathophysiological processes that occur following MI, and to predict with accuracy the effects of novel or current treatments that act via the modulation of tissue injury, LV dilation, LV geometry and hypertrophy.