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Hot Topics of the Day|PHGKB
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05/20/2021

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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Contact Tracing for Covid-19 - A Digital Inoculation against Future Pandemics.
O'Connell James et al. The New England journal of medicine 2021 5

Digital contact tracing is not a perfect intervention, given the risks to privacy, personal data, and false positive or false negative characterization of contact status. However, as in a Swiss cheese model, imperfect interventions can work together to curb epidemics. South Korea’s deployment of digital technology to augment contact tracing was an example of speed trumping perfection.

Efficacy of NVX-CoV2373 Covid-19 Vaccine against the B.1.351 Variant.
Shinde Vivek et al. The New England journal of medicine 2021 5 (20) 1899-1909

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants threatens progress toward control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. The NVX-CoV2373 vaccine was efficacious in preventing Covid-19, with higher vaccine efficacy observed among HIV-negative participants. Most infections were caused by the B.1.351 variant.

Efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Covid-19 Vaccine against the B.1.351 Variant.
Madhi Shabir A et al. The New England journal of medicine 2021 3 (20) 1885-1898

We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) in people not infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in South Africa. A two-dose regimen of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine did not show protection against mild-to-moderate Covid-19 due to the B.1.351 variant.

What is Public Health Genomics? A Day in the Invisible Life of Public Health Genomics (an Encore)
MJ Khoury, CDC Blog Post, May 20, 2021 Brand

We published this blog a decade ago. As we celebrate 2021 public health genomics week, we republish the blog to remind our readers of the relevance of genomics to many areas of public health. The topics discussed here may be outdated but the fundamental applications of public health genomics are today more important than ever.

Privacy practices using genetic data from cell-free DNA aneuploidy screening
CM Parobek et al, Genetics in Medicine, May 19, 2021

Most laboratories allowed for prolonged use and sharing of cfDNA data, demonstrated incomplete adherence to ASHG privacy recommendations, and provided consents written in college-level language. Laboratories should revise their consent forms, and providers should help patients understand these forms.

ACMG SF v3.0 list for reporting of secondary findings in clinical exome and genome sequencing: a policy statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
DT Miller et al, Genetics in Medicine, May 20, 2021

The goal of the secondary findings gene list is to guide clinical laboratories as to which medically actionable genes unrelated to the indication for testing should be evaluated as part of clinical ES/GS, while maintaining a minimum list to balance the interests of patients with the additional burden placed on laboratories providing sequencing.

Recommendations for reporting of secondary findings in clinical exome and genome sequencing, 2021 update: a policy statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
DT MIller et al, Genetics in Medicine, May 20, 2021

Since the publication of the original ACMG Policy Statement on seoondary findings, several studies across a variety of research and clinical cohorts have sought to measure the frequency at which SFs are likely to be identified. Although these studies can differ considerably in their ascertainment strategies, variant interpretation methods, and underlying gene lists, reported SF frequencies are consistently in the range of 1–6%


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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