Publications by authors named "K Durkin"
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on the lesser-known phenomenon of oligogenic coinheritance, where individuals carry multiple heterozygous pathogenic variants (PVs) related to cancer, as opposed to the more commonly researched single gene carriers.
- Researchers examined 10 patients aged 45 or younger who had multiple primary cancers (MPCs) and used advanced genetic testing methods such as whole exome sequencing (WES) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) to identify genetic variations associated with their conditions.
- The findings revealed that most genetic variants were of uncertain significance, indicating potential additive effects in cancer development, and emphasized the need for comprehensive assessments that go beyond just identifying one PV in patients with early-onset cancers and a family history of
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on how SARS-CoV-2 evolves within immunocompromised patients, revealing new virus lineages resulting from prolonged infections, particularly the Omicron BF.7 sublineage that lasted over a year.
- Researchers analyzed eight samples from a single patient, discovering 87 genetic changes, including variants and deletions, indicating significant viral diversity within different parts of the respiratory system.
- The findings suggest that nasopharyngeal samples alone may not accurately reflect the full range of viral mutations, underlining the complexity of viral evolution in chronic infections.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.214.2, identified in Belgium in January 2021, which has a mutation that may affect its transmissibility and immune evasion, similar to the Omicron variant.
- This variant spread significantly in Central Africa and Europe, with its origin traced back to the Republic of the Congo, and its transmission correlated with human travel patterns.
- In Belgian nursing homes, the variant led to moderately severe outcomes, and unique immune responses in elderly patients suggest a need for targeted nasal vaccine strategies against emerging variants.
The United States has seen increasing trends of maternal mortality in recent years. Within this health crisis there are large disparities whereby underserved and minoritized populations are bearing a larger burden of maternal morbidity and mortality. While new interventions to improve maternal health are being developed, there are opportunities for greater integration of existing evidence-based interventions into routine practice, especially for underserved populations, including those residing in maternity care deserts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAbsence of long-term structural and functional cardiac abnormalities on multimodality imaging in a multi-ethnic group of COVID-19 survivors from the early stage of the pandemic.
Eur Heart J Imaging Methods Pract
September 2023
Article Synopsis
- Many COVID-19 survivors from the early pandemic showed signs of cardiac injury, prompting investigations into long-term heart effects using cardiac imaging techniques like CMR and TTE.
- A study involving 40 COVID-19 survivors and 12 matched controls conducted TTE and CMR at an average of 308 days post-infection, revealing no significant differences in heart structure, function, or tissue abnormalities between the groups.
- The findings suggest that there is no lasting damage or inflammation to the heart in these survivors, despite previous reports of cardiac issues during acute COVID-19.