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Hot Topics of the Day|PHGKB
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07/01/2020

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

Excess Deaths From COVID-19 and Other Causes, March-April 2020
SH Woolf et al, JAMA, July 1, 2020

Mortality and Morbidity-The Measure of a Pandemic
JW Zylke et al, JAMA, July 1, 2020

Death seems like it should be an accurate measure of the pandemic’s worst outcome. However, the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 in official reports is likely an underestimate of deaths caused by COVID-19. In addition, the statistic does not incorporate deaths indirectly attributable to the virus and the measures used to contain it.

Covid-19 vaccine shows positive results
M Herper, STAT News, July 1, 2020

Covid-19 sickens seniors differently. Here’s why.
JW Rowe, Washington Post, June 29, 2020

The effect of frailty on survival in patients with COVID-19 (COPE): a multicentre, European, observational cohort study
J Hewitt et al, Lancet Public Health, June 30, 2020

A cohort study was conducted at ten hospitals in the UK and one in Italy. All adults (=18 years) admitted to participating hospitals with COVID-19 were included. Patients were grouped according to frailty score. COVID-19 Disease outcomes were better predicted by frailty than either age or comorbidity.

Most People With Coronavirus Won’t Spread It. Why Do a Few Infect Many?
K Zimmer, MY Times, June 30, 2020

Growing evidence shows most infected people aren’t spreading the virus. But whether you become a superspreader probably depends more on circumstance than biology.

Combining liquid biopsies and PET-CT for early cancer detection
SQ Wong et al, Nature Medicine, June 29, 2020

The use of screening in some cancers (such as PSA testing in prostate cancer and mammography in breast cancer) may have minimal impact on mortality, and over-diagnosis may lead to more harm than good. This uncertainty also exists for liquid-biopsy approaches and raises the need to demonstrate the clinical value of the blood test before it can be widely adopted.

Clinical outcomes of a genomic screening program for actionable genetic conditions
AH Buchanan et al, Genetics in Medicine, June 30, 2020

A study of electronic health records shows that among individuals with variants in tier1 genes (BRCA, Lynch syndrome, familial hypercholesterolemia, 87% did not have a prior genetic diagnosis. Genomic screening programs can identify individuals at increased risk of cancer and heart disease and facilitate risk management and early cancer detection.

Economic value of exome sequencing for suspected monogenic disorders
BS Ferket et al, Genetics in Medicine, June 30, 2020

Assessment of the cost-effectiveness of ES and other next-generation sequencing interventions in the diagnostic work-up of infants with suspected inherited disorders will be increasingly important to support their large scale use, insurance coverage, and equitable access.

Ending the Diagnostic Odyssey—Is Whole-Genome Sequencing the Answer?
AC Wu et al. JAMA Pediatrics, June 2020

Time until diagnosis of rare diseases could be as long as 5 to 30 years through current standards of care.1 Genomic tests early in life could shorten the time to medical diagnosis, curtailing the odyssey. A WGS test traditionally takes weeks to return results, which can delay needed treatment.

Genome-wide association studies identify 137 loci for DNA methylation biomarkers of ageing
DL McCartney et al MEDRXIV, June 30, 2020

We report 137 genome wide significant loci (113 novel) via meta-analyses of six DNA methylation-based (DNAm) biomarkers in 34,962 European-ancestries and 6,482 African American individuals. Polygenic scores explained up to 4.2% of the variance and the score for a DNAm estimator of mortality risk.


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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