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Hot Topics of the Day|PHGKB
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04/07/2021

Hot Topics of the Day are picked by experts to capture the latest information and publications on public health genomics and precision health for various diseases and health topics. Sources include published scientific literature, reviews, blogs and popular press articles.

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Archived Hot Topics of the Day By Date

Measuring voluntary and policy-induced social distancing behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yan Youpei et al. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2021 4 (16)

Americans showed nontrivial voluntary behavioral changes in response to COVID-19 risk. The magnitude of voluntary response likely would have increased with increasing cases. Stay-at-home orders overlapped and replaced the voluntary response to cases. However, mandates kept more people home earlier in the epidemic, and epidemiological processes are sensitive to the magnitude and timing of behavioral changes.

Digital Health Passes in the Age of COVID-19- Are “Vaccine Passports” Lawful and Ethical?
LO Gostin et al, JAMA, April 7, 2021

Digital health passes could become an important vehicle for a rapid return to commerce, recreation, and travel. To ensure their success, they must be scientifically well grounded and the least restrictive alternative. Above all, DHPs must be administered equitably, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to return to a normal life.

SARS-CoV-2 is detectable using sensitive RNA saliva testing days before viral load reaches detection range of low-sensitivity nasal swab tests
ES Savela et al, MEDRXIV, April 7, 2021

Levels of produced antibodies after vaccination with mRNA vaccine; effect of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2
T Konstantinidis et al, MEDRXIV, April 7, 2021

Co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 and P.1
P Stefanelli et al, MEDRXIV, April 7, 2021

Phylogenetic estimates of SARS-CoV-2 introductions into Washington State
DM Tordoff et al, MEDRXIV, April 7, 2021

Molecular Profiling of COVID-19 Autopsies Uncovers Novel Disease Mechanisms
E Pujadas et al, MEDRXIV, April 7, 2021

Detection of two CAL.20C SARS-CoV-2 variants in Monterrey metropolitan area in Northeast Mexico
KA Galan-Huerta et al, MEDRXIV, April 7,2021

SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by viral load, S gene variants and demographic factors and the utility of lateral flow devices to prevent transmission
LYW Lee et al, MEDRXIV, April 5, 2021

Genomic Sequencing of SARS-COV-2 in Rwanda: evolution and regional dynamics
Y Butera et al, MEDRXIV, April 7, 2021

Mental health inequalities in healthcare, economic, and housing disruption during COVID -19: an investigation in 12 longitudinal studies
G Di Gessa et al, MEDRXIV, April 7, 2021

Those suffering from psychological distress before the pandemic were more likely to experience healthcare disruptions, economic disruptions related to unemployment and loss of income, and to clusters of disruptions across multiple domains during the pandemic. The pandemic may exacerbate existing mental health inequalities. Individuals with poor mental health may need additional support to manage these pandemic-associated disruptions.

Tracking COVID-19 in Pac-12 athletes using smartwatches
H Armitage, Stanford Blog, April 2021

The association of ABO blood group with the asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in India
PP Singh et al, MEDRXIV< April 6, 2021

As Variants Have Spread, Progress Against the Virus in U.S. Has Stalled
L Leatherby, NY Times April 6, 2021

Digital health interventions in palliative care: a systematic meta-review
AM Finucane, et al, NPJ Digital Medicine, April 2021

This meta-review revealed 21 relevant systematic reviews, encompassing 332 publications. Interventions delivered via videoconferencing (17%), electronic healthcare records (16%) and phone (13%) were most frequently described in studies within reviews. DHIs were typically used in palliative care for education (20%), symptom management (15%), decision-making (13%), information provision or management (13%) and communication (9%).

Achieving fairness in medical devices.
Kadambi Achuta et al. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2021 4 (6537) 30-31

The hardware or software that operates medical devices can be biased. A biased device is one that operates in a manner that disadvantages certain demographic groups and influences health inequity. As one measure of fairness, reducing bias is related to increasing fairness in the operation of a medical device. Initiatives to promote fairness are rapidly growing in a range of technical disciplines, but this growth is not rapid enough for medical engineering.


Disclaimer: Articles listed in Hot Topics of the Day are selected by Public Health Genomics Branch to provide current awareness of the scientific literature and news. Inclusion in the update does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does it imply endorsement of the article's methods or findings. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinion, findings and conclusions expressed by the original authors of items included in the Clips, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the opinion or views of CDC or DHHS. References to publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.
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