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Hot Topics of the Day|PHGKB
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07/17/2020

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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Assessing the impact of coordinated COVID-19 exit strategies across Europe
NW Ruktanonchai et al, Science, July 17, 2020

We provide an evidence base for coordinated exit strategies across Europe using mobile phone data and a metapopulation model of COVID-19 transmission. Specifically, we quantify the progression of a second epidemic continent-wide if countries act in a coordinated or uncoordinated manner.

The explosion of new coronavirus tests that could help to end the pandemic
G Guglielmi, Nature News, July 17, 2020

Epidemiologists say mass testing for SARS-CoV-2 — requiring millions of tests per country per week — is the most practical way out of the current crisis. The most promising way to perform large numbers of tests may be to use a mix of methods that rely on different instruments and supply chains so that a sudden worldwide demand won’t deplete any key materials.

Susceptible supply limits the role of climate in the early SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
RE Baker et al, Science, July 17, 2020

Introductions and early spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the New York City area
AS Gonzales-Reiche et al, Science, July 17, 2020

The authors sampled some of the early patients seeking assistance in February and March of 2020 at the Mount Sinai Health System. Phylogenetic analysis of virus sequencesshowed that the virus had been independently introduced many times from Europe and elsewhere in the United States. Subsequent clusters of community transmission occurred.

Aging immunity may exacerbate COVID-19
AN Akbar et al, Science, July 17, 2020

Rapid SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing and analysis for informed public health decision-making in the Netherlands
BBO Munink et al, Nature Medicine, July 16, 2020

The combination of near to real-time whole-genome sequence analysis and epidemiology resulted in reliable assessments of the extent of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community, facilitating early decision-making to control local transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Netherlands.

Sample pooling methods for efficient pathogen screening: Practical implications
T Furstenau et al, BIORXIV, July 16, 2020

Mutational dynamics and transmission properties of SARS-CoV-2 superspreading events in Austria
A Popa et al BIORXIV, July 17, 2020

COVID-19 Detection on Chest X-Ray and CT Scan Images Using Multi-image Augmented Deep Learning Model
K Purohit et a, BIORXIV, July 17, 2020

Polygenic risk scores and breast and epithelial ovarian cancer risks for carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants
DR Barnes et al, Genetics in Medicine, July 15, 2020

We assessed the associations between population-based polygenic risk scores (PRS) for breast (BC) or epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) with cancer risks for 18,935 BRCA1 and 12,339 BRCA2 pathogenic variant carriers of European ancestry. PRS are strongly associated with BC and EOC and predict substantial absolute risk differences at PRS distribution extremes.

Participant choices for return of genomic results in the eMERGE Network
C Howell et al, Genetics in Medicine, July 16 2020

Across the ten eMERGE sites, 4664 participants including adolescents and adults were offered some type of choice. Categories of choices offered and methods for selecting categories varied. Most participants (94.5%) chose to learn all genetic results, while 5.5% chose subsets of results.

Evaluating the extent of reusability of CYP2C19 genotype data among patients genotyped for antiplatelet therapy selection
AL Beitelshees et al, Genetics in Medicine, July 17, 2020

We assembled a cohort of patients from eight sites performing CYP2C19 genotyping to inform antiplatelet therapy. More than half of patients genotyped received another medication impacted by CYP2C19 in the following year. Given that genotype is stable for a patient’s lifetime, this finding has implications beyond the indication for which it was originally performed.

The National Lung Matrix Trial of personalized therapy in lung cancer.
Middleton Gary et al. Nature 2020 Jul

Despite pre-clinical data supporting the drug–biomarker combinations, current evidence shows that a limited number of combinations demonstrate clinically relevant benefits, which remain concentrated in patients with lung cancers that are associated with minimal exposure to tobacco smoke.

An umbrella approach to test lung cancer therapies
A Drilon et al, Nature News, July 15, 2020

A clinical trial has tested the use of gene-sequencing results for lung cancer to match patients to targeted therapies. Some paired treatments were a good fit, but others did not succeed, for reasons that will require further exploration.


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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