A5024647757- Organ Donation and Transplantation
- Renal Transplantation Outcomes and Treatments
- Renal and Vascular Pathologies
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Organ Transplantation Techniques and Outcomes
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Pediatric Urology and Nephrology Studies
- Organ and Tissue Transplantation Research
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
- Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
- Ureteral procedures and complications
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Neurological Complications and Syndromes
- Renal Diseases and Glomerulopathies
University of British Columbia
2016-2025
British Columbia Children's Hospital
2015-2025
B.C. Women's Hospital & Health Centre
2020-2025
Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership
2017-2025
University of Alberta
2025
Women's Hospital
2024
University of Botswana
2011-2024
Children's & Women's Health Centre of British Columbia
2018-2024
Pediatrics and Genetics
2024
Botswana Open University
2013-2023
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an nucleic acid (iNAAT) technique known for its simplicity, sensitivity and speed. Its low-cost feature has resulted in wide scale application, especially low resource settings. The major disadvantage of LAMP heavy reliance on indirect detection methods like turbidity non-specific dyes, which often leads to the false positive results. In present work, we have developed a direct approach, whereby labelled loop probe quenched unbound state,...
Abstract Background The success of any COVID-19 vaccine program ultimately depends on high uptake. This study determined overall intention to receive a and identified factors that predict intentions be vaccinated against in Canada, specifically key priority groups by the American Committee Immunization Practice (ACIP) National Advisory (NACI) for early immunization. Methods Individuals from research cohorts general population British Columbia aged 25–69 were invited complete an online survey...
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is a major cause of childhood deafness. Most cCMV infections are not diagnosed without newborn screening, resulting in missed opportunities for directed care.To estimate the cost-effectiveness universal and targeted screening programs compared with no screening.Models were constructed using rates outcomes from prospective cohort studies US postpartum care early hearing programs. Costs laboratory testing, treatment, loss drawn Medicaid data...
We assessed the performance, stability, and user acceptability of swab-independent self-collected saliva saline mouth rinse/gargle sample types for molecular detection severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in adults school-aged children. Outpatients who had recently been diagnosed with COVID-19 or were presenting suspected asked to have a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab collected provide at least one type.
Brian J. Boyarsky, MD; William A. Werbel, Robin K. Avery, Aaron R. Tobian, MD, PhD; Allan B. Massie, Dorry L. Segev, Jacqueline M. Garonzik-Wang, PhD
The COVID-19 pandemic has perturbed the seasonality of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. However, we lack data on how this impacted severity paediatric RSV cases. objective study was to describe clinical cases before, during and after measures in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Retrospective from September 1st, 2017 May 15th, 2023, with a review outcomes children below 18 years old at BC's hospital. Temporal changes hospitalisations were quantified using interrupted time series....
Despite the benefits of kidney transplantation, total number transplants performed in United States has stagnated since 2006. Transplant center quality metrics have been associated with a decline transplant volume among low-performing centers. There are concerns that regulatory oversight may lead to risk aversion and lack transplantation growth.A retrospective cohort study adults (age≥18 years) wait-listed for from 2003 2010 using Scientific Registry Recipients was conducted. The primary aim...
Background. Botswana introduced monovalent G1P[8] rotavirus vaccine (RV1) in July 2012, providing one of the first opportunities to assess effectiveness routine RV1 vaccination a high-burden setting Africa. We sought determine against diarrhea hospitalization using case-control evaluation. Methods. Vaccine age-eligible children <5 years age admitted with at 4 hospitals were enrolled from June 2013 April 2015. Card-confirmed history was compared between case patients (children...
Preexisting cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 occurs in the absence of prior viral exposure. However, this has been difficult quantify at population level due a lack reliably defined seroreactivity thresholds. Using an orthogonal antibody testing approach, we estimated that about 0.6% nontriaged adults from greater Vancouver, Canada, area between May 17 and June 19, 2020, showed clear evidence infection, after adjusting for false-positive false-negative test results. highly sensitive multiplex...
SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibody concentrations and angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) inhibition have been used as surrogates to live viral neutralizing titers; however, validity among vaccinated individuals is unclear. We tested the correlation of these measures participants, examined subgroups based on duration since vaccination vaccine dosing intervals. analyzed 120 samples from two-dose mRNA vaccinees without previous COVID-19. calculated Spearman coefficients between wild-type...
Introduction. Comparative immunogenicity from different mRNA booster vaccines (directed at WT, BA.1 or BA.4/5 antigens) remains unclear. Methods. We included blood samples adult paramedics who received three WT-directed plus a fourth dose of the following: (1) WT monovalent, (2) Moderna BA.1-WT bivalent (3) Pfizer vaccine. The primary outcome was angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) inhibition to antigen. used optimal pair matching (using age, sex-at-birth, preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection...
Two-hundred eighty matched bulk stool and anatomically designed flocked rectal swab samples were collected from children admitted to the hospital with acute diarrhea in Botswana. Their parents asked about acceptability of collection method compared sampling. All underwent identical testing a validated 15-target (9 bacterial, 3 viral, parasite) commercial multiplex PCR assay. The swabs had 12% higher yield for bacterial pathogen targets (241 versus 212; P = 0.003) that samples, as well...
Background: Nearly half of child pneumonia deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Microbial communities the nasopharynx are a reservoir for pathogens and remain poorly described African children. Methods: Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from children with (N = 204), upper respiratory infection symptoms 55) healthy 60) Botswana between April 2012 2014. We sequenced V3 region bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene used partitioning around medoids to cluster samples into microbiota biotypes. then...
Background. A monovalent human rotavirus vaccine (RV1) was introduced in Botswana July 2012. We assessed the impact of RV1 vaccination on childhood gastroenteritis-related hospitalizations and deaths 2013 2014. Methods. obtained data from registers 4 hospitals gastroenteritis, regardless cause, among children <5 years age. Gastroenteritis during prevaccine period (January 2009–December 2012) were compared to postvaccine 2013–December 2014). Vaccine coverage estimated collected through a...
The true severity of infection due to COVID-19 is under-represented because it based on only those who are tested. Although nucleic acid amplifications tests (NAAT) the gold standard for diagnostic testing, serological assays provide better population-level SARS-CoV-2 prevalence estimates. Implementing large sero-surveys present several logistical challenges within Canada its unique geography including rural and remote communities. Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling a practical solution but...
Emerging evidence indicates that longer SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dosing intervals results in an enhanced immune response. However, the optimal interval for achieving maximum immunogenicity is unclear.This study included samples from adult paramedics Canada who received two doses of either BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccines and provided blood six months (170 to 190 days) after first dose. The main exposure variable was (days), categorized as "short" (first quartile), "moderate" (second "long" (third...