Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

• From Preprints
• From Clinical Trials
• From PubMed
• From Patent Search

From Preprints

• Subjective impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on schizotypy and general mental health in Germany and the UK, for independent samples in May and in October 2020 -

  Studies reported a strong impact on mental health during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in March to June, 2020. In this study, we assessed the impact of the pandemic on mental health in general and on schizoptypal traits in two independent general population samples of the UK (May sample N: 239, October sample N: 126; participation at both timepoints: 21) and in two independent general population samples of Germany (May sample N: 543, October sample N: 401; participation at both timepoints: 100) using online surveys. Whereas general psychological symptoms (global symptom index, GSI) and percentage of responders above clinical cut-off for further psychological investigation were higher in the May sample compared to the October sample, schizotypy scores (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire) were higher in the October sample. We investigated potential associations, using general linear regression models (GLM). For schizotypy scores, we found that loneliness, use of drugs, and financial burden were more strongly corrected with schizotypy in the October compared to the May sample. We identified similar associations for GSI, as for schizotypy scores, in the May and October samples. We furthermore found that living in the UK was related to higher schizotypal scores or GSI. However, individual estimates of the GLM are highly comparable between the two countries. In conclusion, this study shows that while the general psychological impact is lower in the October than the May sample, potentially showing a normative response to an exceptional situation; schizotypy scores are higher at the second timepoint, which may be due to a stronger impact of estimates of loneliness, drug use, and financial burden. The ongoing, exceptional circumstances within this pandemic might increase the risk for developing psychosis in some individuals. The development of general psychological symptoms and schizotypy scores over time requires further attention and investigation.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Subjective impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on schizotypy and general mental health in Germany and the UK, for independent samples in May and in October 2020
• Excess deaths in Spain during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak from age/sex-adjusted death rates -

  The Eurostat records of weekly deaths disaggregated by AGEGRP5 (five-year bin age groups) and sex group in Spain have been analyzed to build age/sex-specific weekly death rates and the age/sex-adjusted weekly death rate and to infer the predicted death rate, the excess death rate and the excess deaths during the first year (52-week) of the pandemic. Adjusted rates were computed extending the last available population structure back in time to assess the death rates that would have been observed if the present population had died at the age/sex-specific death rates observed in the past. Age/sex-adjusted, 52-week death rate had not been as high as the observed rate 10.67 per 1k population in the past 13 years. Poisson regression predicted death rate of 8.81 deaths per 1k population which made an excess death rate of 1.86 deaths per 1k population (Pscore=21.2% and zscore=11.9) with an unbiased standard deviation of the residuals equal to 0.156 deaths per 1k population. This translates into 88242 excess deaths (46695 males and 41532 females) with an unbiased standard deviation of the residuals equal to 7396 deaths. COVID–19 deaths (73516 deaths) accounts for 83% of the total excess. Taking into account the 9772 COVID-19 suspected deaths that occurred in nursing homes and care facilities during the spring of 2020 it is only 4950 (5.6 % of excess deaths) that remains unattributed. The infection rate during the first year of the pandemic is estimated in 17 % of population after comparing the ENE-COVID seroprevalence, the excess deaths at the end of the spring 2020 and the excess deaths at the end of the first year of the pandemic.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Excess deaths in Spain during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak from age/sex-adjusted death rates
• Perceived Severity of COVID-19 and Post-pandemic Consumption Willingness: The Roles of Boredom and Sensation-Seeking -
  The COVID-19 pandemic restricts people’s activities and makes consumer businesses suffered. This study explored the relationship between the perceived severity of COVID-19 and the post-pandemic consumption willingness. Study 1 surveyed 1464 Chinese people in March 2020, found the perceived severity of COVID-19 during the pandemic significantly increased the willingness to consume post-pandemic, and boredom stemming from limited activities and sensation-seeking expressions mediated this effect. Study 2 conducted an experiment with 174 participants in August 2020, found a high level of perceived severity of COVID-19 and the experience of life tedium during the pandemic significantly increased individuals’ impulsive buying tendencies after the pandemic. The results suggested the level of perceived severity of COVID-19 may influence people’s post-pandemic consumption patterns.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Perceived Severity of COVID-19 and Post-pandemic Consumption Willingness: The Roles of Boredom and Sensation-Seeking
• Inside UK Universities: Staff mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic -
  This report documents the mental health and wellbeing of university staff during the coronavirus pandemic, using survey data collected online in March 2021 from 1,182 staff employed across 92 UK universities. Overall, the survey data suggest that university staff are grappling with high levels of poor mental health and wellbeing: • One in two university staff reported experiencing chronic emotional exhaustion (55%), worry (53%), and stress (51%) during the academic year 2020/21. • Half of the staff surveyed (47%) described their mental health as poor. • Over a third of staff members reported low life satisfaction (36%). • More than a quarter of staff reported feeling as if the things they did in their lives were not worthwhile (27%). • One in two staff members experienced high levels of anxiety (50%) – 1.5 times higher than the national average (32%). • One in three university staff reported low levels of happiness (33%) compared with a national average1 of one in seven (14%). In this report, we explore factors that may alleviate the burden of poor mental health and wellbeing amongst HE staff. Factors that fall more within the remit of institutions include social inclusion and the alignment between skills and task demands. Factors that fall more within the remit of government and policy makers include autonomy and the value that is placed on universities and their staff. In publishing this report, we hope institutional leaders and policy makers will recognise the urgent need to improve staff mental health and wellbeing. As we approach another academic year impacted by Covid-19 and universities in England brace themselves for funding cuts in the next spending review, action is needed to prevent a further deterioration in staff mental health and wellbeing.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Inside UK Universities: Staff mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic
• Rapid, large-scale wastewater surveillance and automated reporting system enabled early detection of nearly 85% of COVID-19 cases on a University campus -

  Wastewater based surveillance has gained prominence and come to the forefront as a leading indicator of forecasting COVID-19 infection dynamics owing to its cost-effectiveness and its ability to inform early public health interventions. A university campus could especially benefit from wastewater surveillance as they are characterized by largely asymptomatic populations and are potential hotspots for transmission that necessitate frequent diagnostic testing. In this study, we employed a large-scale GIS (Geographic information systems) enabled building-level wastewater monitoring system associated with the on-campus residences of 7614 individuals. Sixty-eight automated wastewater samplers were deployed to monitor 239 campus buildings with a focus on residential buildings. Time-weighted composite samples were collected on a daily basis and analyzed within the same day. Sample processing was streamlined significantly through automation, reducing the turnaround time by 20-fold and exceeding the scale of similar surveillance programs by 10 to 100-fold, thereby overcoming one of the biggest bottlenecks in wastewater surveillance. An automated wastewater notification system was developed to alert residents to a positive wastewater sample associated with their residence and to encourage uptake of campus-provided asymptomatic testing at no charge. This system, integrated with the rest of the 9Return to Learn9 program at UC San Diego-led to the early diagnosis of nearly 85% of all COVID-19 cases on campus. Covid-19 testing rates increased by 1.9-13X following wastewater notifications. Our study shows the potential for a robust, efficient wastewater surveillance system to greatly reduce infection risk as college campuses and other high-risk environments reopen.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Rapid, large-scale wastewater surveillance and automated reporting system enabled early detection of nearly 85% of COVID-19 cases on a University campus
• Advices for Parents and Children for Better Adaptation to the Educational Space During the COVID-19 Pandemic -
  The situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic in the educational space and outside in Georgia has led to an increase in the level of anxiety and stress in children. The presented article provides parents with advices on how to deal with these problems and help children solve emotional-behavioral problems.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Advices for Parents and Children for Better Adaptation to the Educational Space During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Web-scraping the Expression of Loneliness during COVID-19 -
  We investigated the subjective experience of loneliness during COVID-19 by analyzing social media postings from March 2020 to January 2021. We collected text data from loneliness-related subgroups of Reddit and sampled 12787 posts that were written in ten consecutive days from each month. The results suggest that when individuals express their loneliness, they show an internal focus of attention on their emotions, desires, and cognitive appraisals rather than an external focus of attention on situations or other people. Linguistic markers of emotions expressed by lonely individuals included depression, anxiety, anger, hate, helplessness, and sadness. Also, loneliness-related topics were generally about their internal states pertinent to various social relationships, interpersonal interaction deficits, and their own lives in broad time perspectives. COVID-19 related loneliness was associated with negative appraisal of one’s situation and reaching out for new relationships online.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Web-scraping the Expression of Loneliness during COVID-19
• Seroconversion panels demonstrate anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody development after administration of the mRNA-1273 vaccine -

  Seroconversion panels are an important tool for investigating antibody responses in acute and chronic phases of disease and development of serological assays for viral diseases including COVID-19. Globally it is anticipated that vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 will facilitate control of the current pandemic. The two COVID-19 seroconversion panels analyzed in this study were obtained from consenting donors with samples collected before vaccination with the mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna) and after the first and second doses of the vaccine. Panel samples were tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (IgG). Individual subjects with a positive response for anti-SARS-CoV2 IgG in their pre-vaccination samples showed a significantly enhanced response to the first vaccination. In older subjects, weaker immunological responses to the first injection were observed, which were overcome by the second injection. All subjects in the study were positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG after the second dose of vaccine.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Seroconversion panels demonstrate anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody development after administration of the mRNA-1273 vaccine
• Enhancing Parental Knowledge of Child Safety: An Interventional Educational Campaign -

  Background: Safeguarding children from unintentional injuries is a significant concern for parents and caregivers. With children staying more at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, more educational tools and valid educational programs are warranted to improve parental knowledge and awareness about children9s safety. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of child safety campaigns on parents9 knowledge and attitude towards preventable childhood injuries. Methods: This was a pre-post experimental study, in which the pre-designed assessments were used as an evaluation tool before and after attending a Child Safety Campaign. The Pre - Post assessment question included questions to evaluate the socio-demographic status, followed by knowledge questions in line with the current child safety campaign. The outcomes of interest were assessed before and after attending the campaign9s stations. Results: Three hundred and eight parents volunteered to participate in this study. Their knowledge score improved from 36.2 (SD 17.7) to 79.3 (SD 15.6) after attending the Child Safety Campaign (t-value= 34.6, p<0.001). Both, perceptions on the preventability of accidents and the parents9 perceived usefulness of educational campaigns showed improvements, with (t-value =6.3, p<0.001) and (t-value= 3.097, p<0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The educational child safety campaign for caregivers in Saudi Arabia resulted in a significant increase in the overall knowledge and attitudes towards children9s safety. As children are currently staying at home more, additional educational tools and programs are warranted to promote childhood safe practices among parents and caregivers.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Enhancing Parental Knowledge of Child Safety: An Interventional Educational Campaign
• Association between preference and e-learning readiness among the Bangladeshi female nursing students in the Covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study -

  The COVID-19 pandemic jeopardized the traditional academic learning calendars due to the closing of all educational institutions across the globe. To keep up with the flow of learning most of the educational institutions shifted toward e-learning. However, the questions of the students e-learning preference for various sub-domains of e-learning readiness did not identify, particularly among the female nursing students for a developing country like Bangladesh, where those domains pose serious challenges. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the female nursing students perceived e-learning readiness in sub-domains of readiness; availability of technology, use of technology, self-confidence, and acceptance. About 237 nursing students were recruited, who have enrolled in e-learning at least the last 30 days of the participation. A multivariable linear regression model was fitted to find the association between students preference and the perceived e-learning readiness with demographic and e-learning related factors. The findings of the study revealed that more than half of the students, 56.54% (n=134) did not prefer e-learning. The students did not prefer e-learning compared to prefer group has significantly less availability of technology (β = -3.01, 95% CI: -4.46, -1.56), less use of technology (β = -3.08, 95% CI: -5.11, -1.06), less self-confidence (β = -4.50, 95% CI: -7.02, -1.98), and less acceptance (β = -5.96, 95% CI: -7.76, -4.16). The age, degree, residence, parents highest education, having a single room, having any eye problems significantly associated with the variation of availability of technology, use of technology, self-confidence, and acceptance for e-learning. The outcomes of the study could be helpful while developing an effective and productive e-learning infrastructure regarding the preparedness of nursing colleges for the continuation of academia in any adverse circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Association between preference and e-learning readiness among the Bangladeshi female nursing students in the Covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
• Effectiveness of Face Masks in Blocking the Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: a Preliminary Evaluation of Masks Used by SARS-CoV-2-Infected Individuals -

  In 2019, a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is trans-mitted via airborne route, caused a new pandemic namely, 9coronavirus disease 20199 (COVID-19). Although it is still debated whether the use of masks can prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, no study has evaluated the virus-blocking efficacy of masks used by patients. We aimed to evaluate this efficacy of masks used by SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. Data, masks used, and nasopharyngeal swab samples were obtained from these patients. Forty-five paired samples of nasopharyngeal swabs and masks were obtained and processed; the majority of masks were woven. Viral RNAs were amplified using quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction and detected only on the inner parts of masks. Median cycle threshold (CT) values of swabs and masks were 28.41 and 37.95, respectively. Statistically, there was a difference of ap-proximately 10 CT values between swabs and masks and no significant difference in CT values among different types of masks. There were statistically significant differences in CT values be-tween men and women and symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Our findings suggest the blocking of the transmission of the virus by different types of masks and reinforce the use of masks by both infected and non-infected individuals.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Effectiveness of Face Masks in Blocking the Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: a Preliminary Evaluation of Masks Used by SARS-CoV-2-Infected Individuals
• The evaluation of factors affecting antibody response after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine: A prospective study in Japan -

  The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibody reaction after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine, and to reveal the factors that affect antibody production. This prospective study was carried out in the Association of EISEIKAI Medical and Healthcare Corporation Minamitama Hospital, in Tokyo, Japan, from April 15, 2021 to June 09, 2021. All our hospital9s workers who were administered the BNT162b2 vaccine as part of a routine program were included in this study. We calculated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibody titter 1) before vaccination, 2) seven to twenty days after the first vaccination, and 3) seven to twenty days after the second vaccination. The low-antibody titer group (LABG) was defined as the group having less than 25 percentiles of antibody titer. Univariate and Multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to ascertain the effects of factors on the likelihood of LABG. 374 participants were eventually included in our study, and they were divided into 94 LABG and 280 non-LABG. All samples showed significant antibody elevation in the second antibody test, with a mean value of 3476 U/mL. When comparing the LABG and non-LABG groups, the median age, blood sugar, and HbA1c were significantly higher in the LABG group. The rates of participants with low BMI (<18.5) and high BMI (>30) were significantly higher in the LABG group. The proportion of chronic lung disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, autoimmune disease, and cancer were significantly higher in the LABG group. Although there was no significant difference confirmed with respect to the exercise hours per day, the proportion of participants that did not perform outdoor activities was significantly higher in the LABG group. The time interval between the second vaccination and the second antibody test, and between the first and the second vaccination was significantly longer in the non-LABG group. Our logistic regression analysis revealed that the age, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, antihypertensive drug, antilipid drug, γ-GT, BS, HbA1c, and lack of outdoor activity were significant suppressors of antibody reaction, whereas maintaining the appropriate time interval between the first and the second vaccination could promote a significant antibody response. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, age, obesity, and lack of outdoor activities were significant suppressors of antibody reaction, whereas the length of days from the first to the second vaccination promoted a significant antibody response. Our single-center study demonstrates that age, obesity, and lack of outdoor activities were significant suppressors of antibody response, whereas maintaining the appropriate time interval between the first and the second vaccination could promote a significant antibody response. Evidence from multi-center studies is needed to develop further vaccination strategies.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: The evaluation of factors affecting antibody response after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine: A prospective study in Japan
• Taiwan on track to end third COVID-19 community outbreak -

  Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on December 31st, 2019, with the World Health Organization being notified of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan (China), Taiwan has successfully ended two COVID-19 community outbreaks. For 19 days, the third community outbreak has now been successfully suppressed, putting Taiwan on path to end it too around Aug. 16th based on our forecast using an exponential model. Since May 28th the 7-day average of reported confirmed infected, which peaked at 593, has been falling to 204 on June 16th and the 7-day average of reported suspected and excluded cases increased to above 25 000. Resulting in a decrease in the ratio of the 7-day average of local & unknown confirmed to suspected cases—the identified control variable—to less than one third of its peak value. The later is a hallmark of working contact tracing, which together with testing and isolation of infected are the keys to ending the community outbreak.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Taiwan on track to end third COVID-19 community outbreak
• More complaints than findings - Long-term pulmonary function in children and adolescents after COVID-19 -

  Background: The frequency of persistent symptoms after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults varies from 4.5% to 87%. Pulmonary function can also show long-term impairment in adults: 10% of hospitalised adults had reduced spirometry values, and 24% had decreased diffusion capacity. To date, only preliminary evidence is available on persistent respiratory sequelae in children and adolescents, therefore our objective was to examine the long-term effects of COVID-19 on pulmonary function in this age group. Methods: Multiple-breath washout, body plethysmography, and diffusion capacity testing were performed after an average of 2.6 months (range 0.4-6.0) following COVID-19 in 73 children and adolescents (age 5-18 years) with different disease severity. Cases were compared to 45 controls with and without infection within six months prior to assessment after exclusion of severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 infection (SARS-CoV-2). Results: Of the 19 patients (27.1%) who complained about persistent or newly emerged symptoms since COVID-19, 8 (11.4%) reported respiratory symptoms. Comparing patients with COVID-19 to controls, no significant differences were detected in frequency of abnormal pulmonary function (COVID-19: 12, 16.4%; controls: 12, 27.7%; OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.22-1.34). Only two patients with persistent respiratory symptoms showed abnormal pulmonary function. Multivariate analysis revealed reduced forced vital capacity (p=0.045) in patients with severe infection regardless of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Discussion: Pulmonary function is rarely impaired in children and adolescents after COVID-19, except of those with severe infection. The discrepancy between persistent respiratory symptoms and normal pulmonary function suggests a different underlying pathology such as dysfunctional breathing.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: More complaints than findings - Long-term pulmonary function in children and adolescents after COVID-19
• The Impact of COVID-19 on Americans’ Attitudes toward China: Does Local Incidence Rate Matter? -
  Linking local COVID-19 and population statistics to a U.S.-based survey we recently conducted, we study the spatial variation in the impact of COVID-19 on Americans’ attitudes toward China. The research strategy capitalizes on differential local COVID-19 incidence rates as varying dosages of the COVID-19 impact across local contexts in the U.S. Our results reveal negative yet heterogeneous effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on Americans’ attitudes toward China. We find that a greater local exposure to COVID-19 is associated with a lower level of trust in Chinese and a less favorable attitude toward China. These findings lend consistent support to behavioral immune system theory by bridging the literature on contextual variations in public opinion, with broader implications for U.S.–China relations.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The Impact of COVID-19 on Americans’ Attitudes toward China: Does Local Incidence Rate Matter?

From Clinical Trials

• Cognitive and Psychological Disorders After Severe COVID-19 Infection - Condition:   COVID 19
  Interventions:   Diagnostic Test: Cognitive assessment;   Diagnostic Test: Imaging;   Diagnostic Test: Routine care;   Other: Psychiatric evaluation
  Sponsors:   Central Hospital, Nancy, France;   Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon;   University Hospital, Strasbourg, France;   Centre Hospitalier Régional Metz-Thionville;   Centre hospitalier Epinal;   Hopitaux Civils de Colmar
  Not yet recruiting

• MP1032 Treatment in Patients With Moderate to Severe COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: MP1032;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsors:   MetrioPharm AG;   Syneos Health, LLC
  Not yet recruiting

• Efficacy and Safety of XAV-19 for the Treatment of Moderate-to-severe COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: XAV-19;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Xenothera SAS
  Recruiting

• Study of Codivir in Patients With COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: Covidir injections;   Diagnostic Test: One Step Test;   Diagnostic Test: IgM and IgG dosage;   Diagnostic Test: RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2;   Diagnostic Test: Screening blood test;   Diagnostic Test: ECG;   Diagnostic Test: Medical evaluation;   Diagnostic Test: NEWS-2 score;   Diagnostic Test: WHO score
  Sponsors:   Code Pharma;   Zion Medical
  Active, not recruiting

• Study to Evaluate the Safety and Concentrations of Monoclonal Antibody Against Virus That Causes COVID-19 Disease. - Condition:   COVID-19 Virus Disease
  Interventions:   Biological: MAD0004J08;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Toscana Life Sciences Sviluppo s.r.l.;   Cross Research S.A.
  Active, not recruiting

• Clinical Trial With N-acetylcysteine and Bromhexine for COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Vitamin C;   Drug: N-acetylcysteine (NAC);   Drug: NAC + Bromhexine (BMX)
  Sponsors:   Universidade Federal do Ceara;   Paulista School of Medicine-EPM, UNIFESP;   Health Surveillance Secretariat - SVS;   Central Laboratory of Public Health of Ceara - LACEN-CE;   Leonardo da Vinci Hospital - HLV;   São José Hospital for Infectious Diseases - HSJ;   Ceará Health Secretariat - SESA;   Municipal Health Secretary - SMS-Fortaleza
  Not yet recruiting

• Augmentation of Immune Response to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination Through OMT With Lymphatic Pumps - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Other: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)
  Sponsors:   Western University of Health Sciences;   American College of Osteopathic Physicians;   American Osteopathic Foundation;   Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California;   Xavier-Nichols Foundation
  Recruiting

• Safety and Immunogenicity of LNP-nCOV saRNA-02 Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2, the Causative Agent of COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: LNP-nCOV saRNA-02 Vaccine
  Sponsor:   MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit
  Not yet recruiting

• Efficacy of Inhaled Therapies in the Treatment of Acute Symptoms Associated With COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: inhaled beclametasone;   Drug: Inahaled beclomethasone / formoterol / glycopyrronium
  Sponsors:   UPECLIN HC FM Botucatu Unesp;   Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.
  Not yet recruiting

• Dapsone Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Trial (DAP-CORONA) COVID-19 - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Dapsone 85 mg PO BID;   Drug: Placebo 85 mg PO BID
  Sponsors:   McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre;   Pulmonem Inc.
  Not yet recruiting

• Clinical Investigation for 2019-nCoV Antigen Saliva Rapid Test Kit and V-CHEK SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Kit to Detect COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Device: V-CHECK SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Detection Kit and 2019-nCoV Antigen Saliva Rapid Test Kit
  Sponsors:   Medical College of Wisconsin;   Reliable, LLC.
  Not yet recruiting

• Ivermectin Versus Standard Treatment in Mild COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Drug: Ivermectin Tablets
  Sponsor:   Assiut University
  Not yet recruiting

• Tolerability,Safety of JS016 in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2
  Intervention:   Drug: Combination Product: JS016 (anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody)
  Sponsor:   Peking Union Medical College Hospital
  Recruiting

• Open Label, Single-Center Study Utilizing BIOZEK COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test - Condition:   Covid-19 Testing
  Intervention:   Diagnostic Test: Biozek Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test (Saliva)
  Sponsor:   Mach-E B.V.
  Recruiting

• SCALE-UP Utah: Community-Academic Partnership to Address COVID-19 Testing Among Utah Community Health Centers - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Text-Messaging (TM);   Behavioral: Patient Navigation (PN)
  Sponsors:   University of Utah;   Association for Utah Community Health;   Utah Department of Health;   National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  Recruiting

From PubMed

• Discovery of Small Anti-ACE2 Peptides to Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity - COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which infects host cells by binding its viral spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) to the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on host cells. Blocking the SARS-CoV-2-RBD/ACE2 interaction is, therefore, a potential strategy to inhibit viral infections. Using a novel biopanning strategy, a small anti-ACE2 peptide is discovered, which shows high affinity and specificity to human ACE2. It blocks not only…

• Promising Immunotherapies against COVID-19 - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to a severe pandemic and deeply affected the livelihood of people worldwide. In response to the pandemic, researchers have been rapidly studying different aspects of COVID-19, such as virus detection, vaccinations, and epidemiological aspects of the disease. It has been reported that SARS-CoV-2 can induce uncontrolled inflammation and cause a lack of antiviral response, thereby…

• In silico approach for identification of natural compounds as potential COVID 19 main protease (M(pro)) inhibitors - With the recent pandemic outbreak and subsequent worldwide spread of COVID-19 from Wuhan city of China, millions of infections and lakhs of deaths have resulted. No registered therapies have been developed to treat infection with COVID-19. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of herbal drugs as drug target molecules against COVID-19 by molecular docking. The inhibitory effects of natural compounds were analyzed against COVID-19 main protease (M^(pro)). The inhibition of…

• SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 Forms Intracellular Aggregates and Inhibits IFNgamma-Induced Antiviral Gene Expression in Human Lung Epithelial Cells - Infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, a disease that involves significant lung tissue damage. How SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to lung injury remains elusive. The open reading frame 8 (ORF8) protein of SARS-CoV-2 (ORF8^(SARS-CoV-2)) is a unique accessory protein, yet little is known about its cellular function. We examined the cellular distribution of ORF8^(SARS-CoV-2) and its role in the regulation of human lung epithelial cell…

• Thromboplasminflammation in COVID-19 Coagulopathy: Three Viewpoints for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies - Thromboplasminflammation in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) coagulopathy consists of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced coagulopathy, activated factor XII (FXIIa)- and kallikrein, kinin system-enhanced fibrinolysis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). All three conditions induce systemic inflammation via each pathomechanism-developed production of inflammatory cytokines. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) downregulates angiotensin-converting enzyme 2,…

• Glycyrrhizic Acid for COVID-19: Findings of Targeting Pivotal Inflammatory Pathways Triggered by SARS-CoV-2 - Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now a worldwide public health crisis. The causative pathogen is severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Novel therapeutic agents are desperately needed. Because of the frequent mutations in the virus and its ability to cause cytokine storms, targeting the viral proteins has some drawbacks. Targeting cellular factors or pivotal inflammatory pathways triggered by SARS-CoV-2 may produce a broader range of therapies….

• Effect of Methylene Blue Pathogen Inactivation on the Integrity of Immunoglobulin M and G - CONCLUSION: MB treatment of plasma does not inhibit the binding capacity of IgM and IgG to their epitopes, or the Fc receptor interaction of IgG. Based on these results, MB treatment of convalescent plasma is appropriate to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission if quarantine storage is omitted.

• SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as a Predictor of Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration: Potential Treatment Strategies - The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has attracted attention to the challenge of neuroinflammation as an unavoidable component of viral infections. Acute neuroinflammatory responses include activation of resident tissue macrophages in the CNS followed by release of a variety of cytokines and chemokines associated with activation of oxidative stress and delayed neuron damage. This makes the search for treatments with indirect anti-inflammatory properties relevant. From this point of view, attention…

• Efficacy and safety of ReDuNing injection as a treatment for COVID-19 and its inhibitory effect against SARS-CoV-2 - CONCLUSIONS: RDN relieves clinical symptoms in patients with COVID-19 and reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection by regulating inflammatory cytokine-related disorders, suggestion that this medication might be a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19.

• Identification of known drugs as potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors using ligand- and structure-based virtual screening - Background: The new coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact worldwide, and therapeutic treatment for this viral infection is being strongly pursued. Efforts have been undertaken by medicinal chemists to discover molecules or known drugs that may be effective in COVID-19 treatment - in particular, targeting the main protease (Mpro) of the virus. Materials & methods: We have employed an innovative strategy - application of ligand- and structure-based virtual screening - using a special…

• Rationale, study design and implementation of the LUCINDA Trial: Leuprolide plus cholinesterase inhibition to reduce neurologic decline in Alzheimer’s - The LUCINDA Trial (Leuprolide plus Cholinesterase Inhibition to reduce Neurologic Decline in Alzheimer’s) is a 52 week, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of leuprolide acetate (Eligard) in women with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Leuprolide acetate is a gonadotropin analogue commonly used for hormone-sensitive conditions such as prostate cancer and endometriosis. This repurposed drug demonstrated efficacy in a previous Phase II clinical trial in those women with AD who also received a stable dose…

• Rapid, reliable, and reproducible cell fusion assay to quantify SARS-Cov-2 spike interaction with hACE2 - COVID-19 is a global crisis of unimagined dimensions. Currently, Remedesivir is only fully licensed FDA therapeutic. A major target of the vaccine effort is the SARS-CoV-2 spike-hACE2 interaction, and assessment of efficacy relies on time consuming neutralization assay. Here, we developed a cell fusion assay based upon spike-hACE2 interaction. The system was tested by transient co-transfection of 293T cells, which demonstrated good correlation with standard spike pseudotyping for inhibition by…

• SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins NSP1 and NSP13 inhibit interferon activation through distinct mechanisms - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a devastating global pandemic, infecting over 43 million people and claiming over 1 million lives, with these numbers increasing daily. Therefore, there is urgent need to understand the molecular mechanisms governing SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, immune evasion, and disease progression. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 can block IRF3 and NF-κB activation early during virus infection. We also identify that the SARS-CoV-2 viral…

• Mechanism of inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M(pro) by N3 peptidyl Michael acceptor explained by QM/MM simulations and design of new derivatives with tunable chemical reactivity - The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^(pro)) is essential for replication of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the main targets for drug design. Here, we simulate the inhibition process of SARS-CoV-2 M^(pro) with a known Michael acceptor (peptidyl) inhibitor, N3. The free energy landscape for the mechanism of the formation of the covalent enzyme-inhibitor product is computed with QM/MM molecular dynamics methods. The simulations show a two-step mechanism, and give structures…

• Inhibitors of thiol-mediated uptake - Ellman’s reagent has caused substantial confusion and concern as a probe for thiol-mediated uptake because it is the only established inhibitor available but works neither efficiently nor reliably. Here we use fluorescent cyclic oligochalcogenides that enter cells by thiol-mediated uptake to systematically screen for more potent inhibitors, including epidithiodiketopiperazines, benzopolysulfanes, disulfide-bridged γ-turned peptides, heteroaromatic sulfones and cyclic thiosulfonates,…

From Patent Search

• SARS-CoV-2 anti-viral therapeutic - - link

• 폐마스크 밀봉 회수기 - 본 발명은 마스크 착용 후 버려지는 일회용 폐마스크를 비닐봉지에 넣은 후 밀봉하여 배출함으로써, 2차 감염을 예방하고 일반 생활폐기물과 선별 분리 배출하여 환경오염을 방지하는 데 그 목적이 있다. - link

• 백신 냉각 및 해동 기능을 갖는 백신 보관장치 - 본 발명은 백신 냉각 및 해동 기능을 갖는 백신 보관장치에 관한 것으로, 상, 하부하우징의 제1상, 하부누출방지공간에 냉각물질이 충입된 냉각파이프를 설치하되, 제2상, 하부누출방지공간에 가열물질이 충입된 가열파이프를 설치하여, 구획판부에 의해 구획된 백신냉각공간 및 백신해동공간 각각을 냉각 및 가열하고, 보조도어를 통해 백신냉각공간 내에 수용된 백신을 구획판부의 백신출구도어를 통해 백신해동공간으로 이동시켜, 백신해동공간 내에서 백신을 해동함으로써, 즉시 사용이 가능한 백신을 인출도어를 통해 인출할 수 있다. 본 발명에 따르면, 냉각파이프에 저장된 냉매에 의해 백신냉각공간 내의 온도가 극저온 상태로 변화되고, 극저온 상태를 유지하는 백신냉각공간 내에 백신을 저장하여, 안전하게 보관 할 수 있으며, 백신냉각공간 내의 백신을 백신해동공간 내로 이동시켜, 백신해동공간 내에서 백신을 해동할 수 있고, 이 해동된 백신을 인출도어를 통해 인출한 후 즉시 사용할 수 있어 백신을 해동하는 시간이 단축되며, 보조도어를 통해 백신냉각공간 내의 백신을 백신해동공간으로 이동시켜, 백신이 외기에 노출될 우려가 없으며, 백신냉각공간 내의 백신을 백신해동공간으로 이동시키거나 또는 인출도어를 통해 백신 인출시 정렬장치가 백신을 보조도어 및 인출도어 직하방에 자동 위치시킨다. - link

• COST EFFECTIVE PORTABLE OXYGEN CONCENTRATOR FOR COVID-19 - - link

• 백신 인출용 보조도어를 갖는 백신 저온 보관장치 - 본 발명은 백신정렬 기능을 갖는 백신 저온 보관장치에 관한 것으로, 상, 하부하우징의 이중 격벽 안에 냉매가 충입된 냉매파이프를 설치하여, 이 냉매파이프에 의해 상, 하부하우징의 백신 보관 공간이 극저온 상태를 유지하도록 하고, 하부하우징의 가이드벽 사이에 수용된 백신을 정렬장치로 가압하여, 상부하우징의 보조도어 직하방에 백신이 위치되도록 하되, 이때, 보조도어를 개방하여 하부하우징 내에 수용된 백신을 인출하면, 정렬장치가 가이드벽 사이에 수용된 백신을 보조도어 방향으로 밀어내어, 보조도어 직하방에 백신이 순차적으로 자동 위치된다. 본 발명에 따르면, 상, 하부하우징의 이중 격벽 내에 냉매 파이프가 설치되어, 이 냉매 파이프에 저장된 냉매에 의해 백신 보관공간 내의 온도가 극저온 상태로 변화되고, 이 극저온 상태를 유지하는 백신 보관공간 내에 백신을 저장하여, 안전하게 보관 할 수 있으며, 수분이나 외부 공기 유입이 차단되어 백신을 안전하게 보관되고, 온도계와 압력계를 이용하여 백신 보관공간과 냉매 압력을 실시간으로 감지할 수 있고, 보조도어를 통해 백신 보관공간 내의 백신을 독립적으로 인출할 수 있으며, 보조도어를 통해 백신 인출시 정렬장치가 백신을 보조도어 방향으로 밀어내어, 보조도어 직하방에 백신이 자동 위치되고, 외기 유입 방지로 백신 보관공간 내의 온도가 극저온 상태로 유지된다. - link

• SAFE TOUCH ANTI VIRAL LUGGAGE TROLLEY HANDLE - The invention is directed to a safe-touch, anti-viral luggage trolley handle, comprising PVC plastic with the addition of a silver-based antimicrobial additive. - link

• METHOD OF IDENTIFYING SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME CORONA VIRUS 2 (SARS-COV-2) RIBONUCLEIC ACID (RNA) - - link

• Erweiterbare Desinfektionsvorrichtung -

  Erweiterbare Desinfektionsvorrichtung, umfassend: einen Hauptkörper, der eine umgekehrt U-förmige Basisplatte aufweist, wobei die umgekehrt U-förmige Basisplatte mit einer Öffnung versehen ist und jeweils eine Seitenplatte sich von zwei Seiten der umgekehrt U-förmigen Basisplatte nach außen erstreckt; und mindestens eine Desinfektionslampe, die in den auf zwei Seiten des Hauptkörpers befindlichen Seitenplatten angeordnet ist und eine Lichtemissionseinheit, eine Erfassungseinheit, eine Steuereinheit und eine Stromversorgungseinheit umfasst.

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• Einfache Sterilisationsvorrichtung -

  Einfache Sterilisationsvorrichtung, mit einem Hauptkörper (11), der in Längsrichtung einen ersten Plattenabschnitt (111) und in Querrichtung einen zweiten Plattenabschnitt (112) aufweist, wobei der erste Plattenabschnitt (111) und der zweite Plattenabschnitt (112) L-förmig miteinander verbunden sind; und einer Sterilisationslampe (12), die an dem Hauptkörper (11) angeordnet ist und eine Lichtemissionseinheit (121), eine Sensoreinheit (122), eine Steuereinheit (123) und eine Stromeinheit (124) aufweist.

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• Klemmarme aufweisende Desinfektionsvorrichtung -

  Klemmarme aufweisende Desinfektionsvorrichtung, umfassend: einen Hauptkörper; eine Desinfektionslampe, die im Hauptkörper angeordnet ist und eine Lichtemissionseinheit, eine Erfassungseinheit, eine Steuereinheit und eine Stromversorgungseinheit umfasst; einen Klemmabschnitt, der auf einer Seite des Hauptkörpers angeordnet ist, wobei der Klemmabschnitt zwei gegenüberliegende Greifbacken umfasst, wobei mindestens eine der beiden Greifbacken mit einer Schwenkachse versehen ist, wobei ein Klemmraum durch passgenaues Schließen der beiden Greifbacken entsteht und die beiden Greifbacken jeweils mit einem Durchgangsloch versehen sind; einen Befestigungsabschnitt, der durch die Durchgangslöcher der beiden Greifbacken hindurchgeführt ist;und ein Schild, das auf einer Seite des Klemmabschnitts angeordnet und mit einem Aufnahmeloch versehen ist.

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