Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Tailored interventions into broad attitude networks towards the COVID-19 pandemic -
  This study examines how broad attitude networks are affected by tailored interventions aimed at variables selected based on their connectiveness with other variables. We first computed a broad attitude network based on a large-scale cross-sectional COVID-19 survey (N = 6,093). Over a period of approximately 10 weeks, participants were invited five times to complete this survey, with the third and fifth wave including interventions aimed at manipulating specific variables in the broad COVID-19 attitude network. Results suggest that targeted interventions that yield relatively strong effects on variables central to a broad attitude network have downstream effects on connected variables, which can be partially explained by the variables the interventions were aimed at. We conclude that broad attitude network structures can reveal important relations between variables that can help to design new interventions.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Tailored interventions into broad attitude networks towards the COVID-19 pandemic
• How compliance with behavioural measures during the initial phase of a pandemic develops over time: a longitudinal COVID-19 study -
  In this longitudinal research we adopt a complexity approach to examine temporal dynamics of variables related to compliance with behavioural measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dutch participants (N = 2,399) completed surveys with COVID-19-related variables five times over a period of 10 weeks (April 23th – June 30th 2020). With this data we estimated within-person COVID-19 attitude networks containing a broad set of psychological variables and their relations. These networks display variables’ predictive effects over time between measurements and contemporaneous effects during measurements. Results show 1) bidirectional effects between multiple variables relevant for compliance, forming potential feedback loops, and 2) a positive reinforcing structure between compliance, support for behavioural measures, involvement in the pandemic and vaccination intention. These results can explain why levels of these variables decreased throughout the course of the study. The reinforcing structure points towards potentially amplifying effects of interventions on these variables, and might inform processes of polarization. We conclude that adopting a complexity approach might contribute to understanding protective behaviour in the initial phase of pandemics by combining different theoretical models and modelling bidirectional effects between variables. Future research could build upon this research by studying causality with interventions and including additional variables in the networks.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: How compliance with behavioural measures during the initial phase of a pandemic develops over time: a longitudinal COVID-19 study
• The COVID-19 pandemic and fertility decline in Costa Rica: A brief plunge due to psychosocial and economic factors and a baby bust driven by migration decisions -
  The national birth registry shows a substantial baby bust in 2021 – the first full year plus nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic. The fertility of native Costa Rican women dropped by 13%. This decrease seems to be a continuation of preexisting fertility decline rather than an outcome of the pandemic. In contrast, a brief plunge in conceptions during the first full month of the pandemic (April 2020) decreased the fertility rate in January 2021 by as much as 24% for some groups. This plunge was a response to the hardships caused by pandemic mitigation measures as well as uncertainties and fears concerning the novel disease rather than to the physiological harm of the disease itself. The decrease in births among immigrant women (who contribute one-fifth of the birth rate) during the pandemic was 78% larger than among native women, driven mostly by pandemic-induced migration decisions. The data hint at a pandemic baby boom in low-SES communities and, especially, in families with several children.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The COVID-19 pandemic and fertility decline in Costa Rica: A brief plunge due to psychosocial and economic factors and a baby bust driven by migration decisions
• Role of Error Catastrophe in Transmission Ability of Virus -

  The role played by “error catastrophe” is explicitly taken into account in the mathematical formulation to analyze the COVID-19 data. The idea is to combine the mathematical genetics formalism of the error catastrophe of mutations in the virus gene loci with the standard model of epidemics which lacks the explicit incorporation of the mutation effect on the spreading of the viruses. We apply the formalism to the case of SARS-CoV-2 virus. We assume the “universality” of the error catastrophe in the process of analyzing the data. This means that some basic parameter to describe the error catastrophe is independent of which group (country or city) we deal with. Concretely, we analyze the omicron data of South Africa and then analyze the cases of Japan using the same value of the basic parameter derived in the South Africa analysis. The result shows the validity of our universality assumption.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Role of Error Catastrophe in Transmission Ability of Virus
• The mathematics of the reproduction number R for Covid-19: A primer for demographers -
  The reproduction number R is a key indicator to monitor the dynamics of Covid-19 and to assess the effect of control strategies that frequently have high social and economic costs. Despite having an analog in demography’s “net reproduction rate” that has been routinely computed for a century, demographers may not be familiar with the concept and measurement of R in the context of Covid-19. This article intends to be a primer for understanding and estimating R in demography. We show that R can be estimated as a ratio between the numbers of new cases today divided by the weighted average of cases in previous days. We present two alternative derivations for these weights based on how risks change over time: constant vs. exponential decay. We provide estimates of these weights and demonstrate their use in calculating R to trace the course of the first pandemic year in several countries.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The mathematics of the reproduction number R for Covid-19: A primer for demographers
• SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro mutations confer resistance to Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) in a VSV-based, non-gain-of-function system -
  Protease inhibitors are among the most powerful antiviral drugs. A first protease inhibitor against the SARS-CoV-2 protease 3CLpro, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir), has recently been authorized by the U.S. FDA for emergency use (EUA 105 Pfizer Paxlovid). To find resistant mutants against the protease-inhibitor-component of Paxlovid, nirmatrelvir, we engineered a chimeric Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV). By replacing an intergenic region, which is essential for separate gene transcription, with 3CLpro, this chimeric VSV became dependent on the protease to process two of its genes. We then applied selective pressure with nirmatrelvir to induce mutations. The effect of those mutants was confirmed by re-introduction in the 3CLpro and testing with a recently developed cellular assay. Furthermore, we found that mutations predicted by our method already exist in SARS-CoV-2 sequence depositions in NCBI and GISAID data bases. These may represent emerging resistant virus variants or a natural heterogeneity in the susceptibility to nirmatrelvir.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro mutations confer resistance to Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) in a VSV-based, non-gain-of-function system
• Hybrid immunity expands the functional humoral footprint of both mRNA and vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines -

  The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed a revolution in vaccine development, leading to the testing and approval of several global vaccine platforms that have shown tremendous promise in curbing the pandemic. Yet, despite these successes, waning immunity, and the emergence of variants of concern linked to rising breakthrough infections among vaccinees, have begun to highlight opportunities to improve vaccine platforms and deployment. Real-world vaccine efficacy has highlighted the reduced risk of breakthrough infection and disease among individuals infected and vaccinated, otherwise referred to as hybrid immunity. The hybrid immunity points to the potential for more vigorous or distinct immunity primed by the infection and may confer enhanced protection from COVID-19. Beyond augmented hybrid induced neutralizing antibody and T cell immune responses, here we sought to define whether hybrid immunity may shape the functional humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 following Pfizer/BNT162b2 and Moderna mRNA1273 mRNA-based, and ChadOx1/AZ1222 and Ad26.COV2.S vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Each vaccine exhibited a unique functional humoral immune profile in the setting of naive or hybrid immunity. However, hybrid immunity showed a unique augmentation in S2-domain specific functional humoral immunity that was poorly induced in the setting of naive immune response. These data highlight the immunodominant effect of the S1-domain in the setting of natural immunity, which is highly variable during viral evolution, and the importance of natural infection in breaking this immunodominance in driving immunity to the S2 region of the SARS-CoV-2 S2 domain that is more conserved across variants of concern.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Hybrid immunity expands the functional humoral footprint of both mRNA and vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines
• Receipt of anti-SARS-CoV-2 pharmacotherapies among U.S. Veterans with mild to moderate COVID-19, January-February 2022 -

  Background: Older adults and persons with medical co-morbidities are at increased risk for severe COVID-19. Several pharmacotherapies demonstrated to reduce the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization and death have been authorized for use. We describe factors associated with receipt of outpatient COVID-19 pharmacotherapies in the Veterans Health Administration. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among Veterans with risk factors for severe COVID-19 who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during January and February 2022. We compared receipt of any COVID-19 pharmacotherapy, including sotrovimab, nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, molnupiravir, or remdesivir versus no antiviral or monoclonal antibody treatment according to demographic characteristics, place of residence, underlying medical conditions, and COVID-19 vaccination using multivariable logistic regression. Results: During January and February 2022, 16,546 courses of sotrovimab, nirmatrelvir, and molnupiravir were allocated across the Veterans Health Administration. Among 111,717 Veterans testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, 4,233 (3.8%) received any COVID-19 pharmacotherapy, including 2,870 of 92,396 (3.1%) in January and 1,363 of 19,321 (7.1%) in February. Among a subset of 56,206 Veterans with documented COVID-19-related symptoms in the 30 days preceding positive SARS-CoV-2 test, 3,079 of 53,206 (5.5%) received any COVID-19 pharmacotherapy. Untreated Veterans had a median age of 60 years (interquartile range [IQR] 46-71 years) and median 3 underlying medical conditions (IQR 2-5). Veterans receiving any treatment were more likely to be older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52-1.80, 65-74 versus 50-64 years; aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.53-1.84 ≥75 versus 50-64 years) and have a higher number of underlying conditions (aOR 1.63, 95% CI 1.48-1.79, 3-4 versus 1-2 conditions; aOR 2.17, 95% CI 1.98-2.39, ≥5 versus 1-2 conditions). Persons of Black versus White race (aOR 0.65, 95% CI 0.60-0.72) and well as persons of Hispanic ethnicity (aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.77-0.99) were less likely to receive treatment. Conclusions and Relevance: Although supply of outpatient COVID-19 pharmacotherapies during January and February 2022 was limited, prescription of these pharmacotherapies was underutilized, consistent with early national patterns in dispensing. Racial and ethnic minorities were less likely to receive any pharmacotherapy.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Receipt of anti-SARS-CoV-2 pharmacotherapies among U.S. Veterans with mild to moderate COVID-19, January-February 2022
• Assessment of Reproductive Health Status and Quality of Life of Female Adolescents Living in the Slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh During COVID-19 Pandemic Situation: A Mixed-Method Study -
  Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges of vulnerable adolescents who had reproductive health problems even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: We investigated this vulnerability through cross-sectional studies with a mixed-method approach. on female adolescents aged 15-19 years, residing in the Bauniabadh and the Ta block Jhil Par slums together with service providers. The quantitative method included a household survey of adolescents (n=144) through a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire. The qualitative method included interviews with service providers (n=10) and with adolescents (n=9). Result: The study revealed changes in length, duration and flow of menstruation, substandard menstrual hygiene practices and impediments to the uptake of reproductive health (RH) information by adolescents during the pandemic. Married pregnant adolescents are inclined in taking their antenatal checkups (ANC) only during the last trimester and preferred delivery at home during the pandemic. There was also an increase in marriage among these adolescents and service providers had difficulty providing door-to-door RH services. Most of our female adolescents were married off during the pandemic, they lost connection with their friends and this made them feel lonely and secluded. They did not receive the support of their friends as before the pandemic. Conclusion: The study will enable the adolescent health expert to focus on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of vulnerable adolescents living in impoverished conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Assessment of Reproductive Health Status and Quality of Life of Female Adolescents Living in the Slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh During COVID-19 Pandemic Situation: A Mixed-Method Study
• Re-Actualization of the Community Economy Based on Mutualism and Brotherhood Post-Covid-19 in Digital Economic Transactions -
  Even though the Covid-19 outbreak caused anxiety, it must be interpreted as having brought positive things to economic life. One of them is the emergence of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (UKKM) whose business activities are facilitated by information technology. The business relationships that have been built are characterized by family values, mutual cooperation values, and efforts to deal with the epidemic period, as well as being forward-looking after the outbreak ends. This social phenomenon is to actualize the people’s economy in digital economic transactions. This study assumes a people’s economy paradigm based on mutualism and the principle of kinship in digital economic transactions. The paradigm of economic development based on the values of local wisdom and Indonesianness is a new hope for the people’s economy in realizing the constitutional mandate that prioritizes the interests of the people. The role of technology in the economy during the Covid-19 era is very large, having an impact on efficiency and effectiveness in meeting the economic needs of the community. Based on this, it is necessary to conduct a legal study of the actualization of the people’s economy based on mutualism and the principle of kinship as an economic recovery post-covid-19. The purpose of the research is to examine the legal basis for the People’s Economy on community economic activities based on the post-covid-19 digital economy. The research method uses secondary data, in the form of legal documents on laws and regulations in the economic field, various research results from legal and economic experts and field data in the form of interviews and observations. The data were analyzed qualitatively juridically, through legal interpretation, harmonization and synchronization of laws. The results of the study show that, the concept of a populist economy is actualized in community economic transactions based on post-covid-19 digital economic technology; Mutualism and familial values can be used as a legal basis in the paradigm of constitutional national economic development.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Re-Actualization of the Community Economy Based on Mutualism and Brotherhood Post-Covid-19 in Digital Economic Transactions
• The Popularity of Milk Tea Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of Selected Entrepreneurs in Minglanilla, Cebu Philippines -
  Milk tea became so popular that numerous entrepreneurs tried to venture into this business. The Philippines is dubbed the second-most populous country in Southeast Asia regarding bubble tea users. Though the Philippines was dubbed as such, it was not until late 2019 that Pearl Milk Tea exploded its popularity in the country. It paved the way for the tea-enthusiast to venture into the business by experimenting with various creamers, flavors, and sweeteners. In Minglanilla, Cebu, Philippines, there is also a growing Milk tea shop on every corner of the street; however, before the boom reached a year, a pandemic halted every operation on every establishment. Through a phenomenological approach, the researchers of this study interviewed the owners and management of milk tea businesses in this new level of difficulty. The study’s significant findings merged the theme scope, including Covid-19 Business Impact, Digital Marketing, Adapt Delivery Services, Safety and Security Protocols, and Menu Engineering. Furthermore, findings suggest that Covid-19 negatively impacted business establishments. Nevertheless, the management and entrepreneurs still push through and invest more in their business, with a clear perspective of success and execute modern alternatives that keep the business operating.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The Popularity of Milk Tea Amidst Covid-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of Selected Entrepreneurs in Minglanilla, Cebu Philippines
• Online grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic – perspectives of adolescents and young adults -

  Objective: To assess perspectives of online grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic among youth, rural residents, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants.  Design: Open-ended text message survey data. Survey questions assessed rates of use and perspectives of online grocery shopping among youth and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative analysis of survey data from 875 participants (response rate=76.4%) to identify themes in experience with multivariable logistic regression to test associations between online grocery shopping (pickup, delivery, or either) with rurality and SNAP participation. Setting: United States Participants: Nationwide text-messaging poll of youth (14-24 years-old) recruited to meet benchmarks based on the American Community Survey. Results: During the pandemic online grocery shopping was used frequently (46.7%). Safety and convenience were the primary reasons for preferring a shopping mode (in-person or online). Most online shoppers had positive experiences (59.4%), primarily due to convenience; negative experiences (28.3%) were from inaccuracies, inconveniences of the process, and delivery costs. Rural and suburban residence was associated with higher pickup (OR 2.02 and 1.51, respectively, p=.03) and lower delivery use (OR 0.33 and 0.72, respectively, p=.003) compared to urban residence. SNAP participation was not associated with any type of online grocery shopping.  Conclusions: Online grocery shopping is common among youth and their families regardless of rurality or SNAP participation, but there are several youth-identified areas for improvement.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Online grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic – perspectives of adolescents and young adults
• Multiple effects of TNFα inhibitors on the development of the adaptive immune response after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination -

  Objectives: The humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with chronic inflammatory disease (CID) declines more rapidly with TNFα inhibition. Furthermore, the efficacy of current vaccines against Omicron variants of concern (VOC) including BA.2 is limited. Alterations within immune cell populations, changes in IgG affinity and the ability to neutralise a pre-VOC strain and the BA.2 virus were investigated in these at-risk patients. Methods: Serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgG avidity and neutralising antibodies (NA) were determined in anti-TNFα patients (n=10) and controls (n=24 healthy individuals; n=12 patients under other disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, oDMARD) before and after the second and third vaccination by ELISA, immunoblot and live virus neutralisation assay. SARS-CoV-2-specific B- and T cell subsets were analysed by multicolour flow cytometry. Results: IgG avidity and anti-pre-VOC NA titres decreased faster in anti-TNFα recipients than in controls 6 months after the second vaccination (healthy individuals: avidity: p≤0.0001; NA: p=0.0347; oDMARDs: avidity: p=0.0012; NA: p=0.0293). Total plasma cell counts were increased in anti-TNFα patients (Healthy individuals: p=0.0344; oDMARDs: p=0.0254), whereas absolute numbers of SARS-CoV-2-specific cells were comparable 7 days after vaccination. These patients had lower BA.2 NA titres compared to both other groups, even after the third vaccination. Conclusions: We show a reduced SARS-CoV-2 neutralising capacity in patients under TNFα blockade. In this cohort, the plasma cell response appears to be less specific and show stronger bystander activation. While these effects were observable after the first two vaccinations and with older VOC, the differences in responses to BA.2 were magnified.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Multiple effects of TNFα inhibitors on the development of the adaptive immune response after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination
• Impact of SARS-Cov-2 on Clinical Trial Unit workforce in the United Kingdom; An observational study -

  Objective: The clinical trial unit (CTU) workforce in the UK have been delivering COVID19 research since the inception of the pandemic. Challenges associated with COVID19 research have impacted the global healthcare communities differently. Thus, the overall objective of the study was to determine the mental health impact among CTU staff working during the COVID19 pandemic. Design: A mixed-methods based observational study was designed using a new workforce impact questionnaire using validated mental health assessments of Vancouver Index of Acculturation (VIA), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pandemic Stress Index (PSI), Burnout Assessment Tool 12 (BAT12), General Self Efficacy Scale (GSE) and The Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS). Setting: The Qualtrics platform was used to deploy the questionnaire where a quantitative analysis was conducted. The qualitative part of the study used the Microsoft Teams digital application to complete the interviews. Participants All participants were CTU staff within the United Kingdom.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Impact of SARS-Cov-2 on Clinical Trial Unit workforce in the United Kingdom; An observational study
• Mechanistic model for booster doses effectiveness in healthy, cancer and immunosuppressed patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 -

  SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are effective at limiting disease severity, but effectiveness is lower among patients with cancer or immunosuppression. Effectiveness wanes with time and varies by vaccine type. Moreover, vaccines are based on the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein that emerging variants may evade. Here, we describe a mechanistic mathematical model for vaccination-induced immunity, validate it with available clinical data, and predict vaccine effectiveness for varied vaccine platforms in the setting of variants with ability to escape immunity, increased virulence, or enhanced transmissibility. We further account for concurrent cancer or underlying immunosuppression. The model confirms enhanced immunogenicity following booster vaccination in immunosuppressed patients but predicts at least one more booster dose is required for these individuals to maintain protection. We further studied the impact of variants on immunosuppressed individuals as a function of the interval between multiple booster doses. Our model is useful for planning future vaccinations, and tailoring strategies to risk groups.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Mechanistic model for booster doses effectiveness in healthy, cancer and immunosuppressed patients infected with SARS-CoV-2

From Clinical Trials

• Immuno-bridging Study of COVID-19 Protein Subunit Recombinant Vaccine - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: COVID-19 Protein Subunit Recombinant Vaccine;   Biological: Active Comparator
  Sponsors:   PT Bio Farma;   Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia;   Faculty of Medicine Universitas Diponegoro;   Faculty of Medicine Universitas Andalas;   Faculty of Medicine Universitas Hassanudin
  Recruiting

• A Study to Learn About the Study Medicines (Called Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir) in People 12 Years Old or Older With COVID-19 Who Are Immunocompromised - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Nirmatrelvir;   Drug: Ritonavir;   Drug: Placebo for nirmatrelvir;   Drug: Placebo for ritonavir
  Sponsor:   Pfizer
  Not yet recruiting

• A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Digital, Self-testing Strategy for COVID-19 Infection in South Africa. - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Device: Abbott Panbio rapid antigen self-tests;   Other: COVIDSmart CARE! app
  Sponsors:   McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre;   University of Cape Town Lung Institute
  Not yet recruiting

• Discussing COVID-19 Vaccines in Private Facebook Groups - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Behavioral: Gist messages on COVID-19 vaccination;   Behavioral: COVID-19 vaccine information
  Sponsor:   George Washington University
  Completed

• Immunogenicity and Safety Study of One Booster Dose of Trivalent COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Trivalent COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated, Prototype Strain, Delta Strain and Omicron Strain;   Biological: COVID-19 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated
  Sponsors:   Sinovac Biotech (Colombia) S.A.S.;   Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• Home-Based Exercise Tele-Rehabilitation After COVID-19 - Condition:   Post SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19)
  Intervention:   Other: Tele-exercise
  Sponsors:   VA Office of Research and Development;   Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center;   Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center
  Not yet recruiting

• IMM-BCP-01 in Mild to Moderate COVID-19 - Conditions:   SARS-CoV2 Infection;   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: IMM-BCP-01;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Immunome, Inc.;   United States Department of Defense
  Recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Variant (COVID-19 Omicron) mRNA Vaccine (Phase 1) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Biological: ABO1009-DP
  Sponsor:   Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Variant (COVID-19) mRNA Vaccines - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: ABO1009-DP;   Biological: ABO-CoV.617.2;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Suzhou Abogen Biosciences Co., Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

• Can Intensive Insulin Therapy Improve Outcomes of COVID-19 Patients - Conditions:   COVID-19;   Dysglycemia
  Interventions:   Drug: Insulin;   Drug: Subcutaneous Insulin
  Sponsor:   Benha University
  Completed

• Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19. - Conditions:   COVID-19 Pneumonia;   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Mesenchymal stem cell;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Paulo Brofman;   Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
  Recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate Immunogenicity and Safety of MVC-COV1901 Vaccine Compared With AZD1222 - Condition:   COVID-19 Vaccine
  Interventions:   Biological: MVC-COV1901;   Biological: AZD1222
  Sponsor:   Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp.
  Not yet recruiting

• Laser Therapy on Tension-type Cephalea and Orofacial Pain in Post-covid-19 Patients - Conditions:   Tension-Type Headache;   Orofacial Pain;   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Radiation: Photobimodulation
  Sponsor:   University of Nove de Julho
  Recruiting

• Study of Self-Amplifying Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (samRNA) Vaccines Against COVID-19 in Healthy Adults and People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - Conditions:   COVID-19;   SARS-CoV-2
  Interventions:   Drug: GRT-R912, samRNA-Spikebeta-TCE11;   Drug: GRT-R914, samRNA-Spikebeta-TCE9;   Drug: GRT-R918, samRNA-SpikeOmicron-N-TCE11
  Sponsor:   Gritstone bio, Inc.
  Recruiting

• A Phase 1b Study of a Q-Griffithsin Intranasal Spray for Broad-spectrum Coronavirus Prophylaxis - Condition:   COVID-19 Prevention
  Interventions:   Drug: Q-Griffithsin 3.0;   Drug: Q-Griffithsin 6.0
  Sponsors:   Kenneth Palmer;   United States Department of Defense
  Recruiting

From PubMed

• Tissue Repair Strategies: What We Have Learned From COVID-19 in the Application of MSCs Therapy - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection evokes severe proinflammatory storm and pulmonary infection with the number of confirmed cases (more than 200 million) and mortality (5 million) continue to surge globally. A number of vaccines (e.g., Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson/Janssen and AstraZeneca vaccines) have been developed over the past two years to restrain the rapid spread of COVID-19. However, without much of effective drug therapies, COVID-19 continues to cause multiple irreversible organ…

• Recapitulating infection, thermal sensitivity and antiviral treatment of seasonal coronaviruses in human airway organoids - BACKGROUND: Human seasonal coronaviruses usually cause mild upper-respiratory tract infection, but severe complications can occur in specific populations. Research into seasonal coronaviruses is limited and robust experimental models are largely lacking. This study aims to establish human airway organoids (hAOs)-based systems for seasonal coronavirus infection and to demonstrate their applications in studying virus-host interactions and therapeutic development.

• A multi-pronged evaluation of aldehyde-based tripeptidyl main protease inhibitors as SARS-CoV-2 antivirals - As an essential enzyme of SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 pathogen, main protease (M^(Pro)) is a viable target to develop antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19. By varying chemical compositions at both P2 and P3 positions and the N-terminal protection group, we synthesized 18 tripeptidyl M^(Pro) inhibitors that contained also an aldehyde warhead and β-(S-2-oxopyrrolidin-3-yl)-alaninal at the P1 position. Systematic characterizations of these inhibitors were conducted, including their in vitro…

• Pandemic COVID-19, an update of current status and new therapeutic strategies - The global COVID-19 pandemic is underway. In recent weeks, several countries throughout the globe, and particularly in Europe, have experienced an exponential increase in the number of individuals infected with COVID-19, probably induced by a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, called the “Omicron variant.” Mass vaccination against COVID-19 continues worldwide. Are authorized mRNA vaccines effective against the new Omicron variant? Recently, several pharmaceutical companies have developed oral antiviral…

• Inhibition of a broad range of SARS-CoV-2 variants by antiviral phytochemicals in hACE2 mice - Although several vaccines and antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 are currently available, control and prevention of COVID-19 through these interventions is limited due to inaccessibility and economic issues in some regions and countries. Moreover, incomplete viral clearance by ineffective therapeutics may lead to rapid genetic evolution, resulting in the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants that may escape the host immune system as well as currently available COVID-19 vaccines. Here, we report…

• Rapid Assessment of Biological Activity of Ag-Based Antiviral Coatings for the Treatment of Textile Fabrics Used in Protective Equipment Against Coronavirus - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants have rapidly spread worldwide, causing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with numerous infected cases and millions of deaths. Therefore, developing approaches to fight against COVID-19 is currently the most priority goal of the scientific community. As a sustainable solution to stop the spread of the virus, a green dip-coating method is utilized in the current work to prepare antiviral Ag-based coatings to treat cotton…

• A pilot phase Ib/II study of whole-lung low dose radiation therapy (LDRT) for the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia: First experience from Africa - CONCLUSION: LDRT was feasible, safe and shows promise in the management of severe COVID-19 pneumonia including in patients progressing on conventional systemic treatment. Additional phase II trials are warranted to identify patients most likely to benefit from LDRT.

• A novel platform for attenuating immune hyperactivity using EXO-CD24 in Covid-19 and beyond - A small but significant proportion of Covid19 patients develop life-threatening cytokine storm. We have developed a new anti-inflammatory drug, EXO-CD24, a combination of an immune checkpoint (CD24) and a delivery platform (exosomes). CD24 inhibits the NF-kB pathway and the production of cytokines/chemokines. EXO-CD24 discriminates Damage- from Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs and PAMPs) therefore does not interfere with viral clearance. EXO-CD24 was produced and purified from…

• Antiviral effects of coinage metal-based nanomaterials to combat COVID-19 and its variants - The world has been suffering from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, and millions of people have been infected through human-to-human transmission and lost their lives within months. Although multidisciplinary scientific approaches have been employed to fight against this deadly pandemic, various mutations and diverse environments keep producing constraints in treating SARS-CoV-2. Indeed, the efficacy of the developed vaccines has been limited, and…

• Cepharanthine: A Promising Old Drug against SARS-CoV-2 - Recently, the inhibiting effects of a clinically approved drug Cepharanthine on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have attracted widespread attention and discussion. However, the public does not understand the relevant research progress very well. This paper aims to introduce a brief history of studies on the effects of cepharanthine against SARS-CoV-2, including “discovery of anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of cepharanthine in vitro”, "potential mechanisms of cepharanthine…

• Therapeutic role of traditionally used Indian medicinal plants and spices in combating COVID-19 pandemic situation - The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 is a big challenge and burning issue to the scientific community and doctors worldwide. Globally, COVID-19 has created a health disaster and adversely affects the economic growth. Although some vaccines have already emerged, no therapeutic medication has yet been approved by FDA for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Traditionally, we have been using different medicinal plants like neem, tulsi, tea, and many spices like garlic, ginger,…

• Structure basis for inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by the feline drug GC376 - No abstract

• Artemisinin inhibits neutrophil and macrophage chemotaxis, cytokine production and NET release - Immune cell chemotaxis to the sites of pathogen invasion is critical for fighting infection, but in life-threatening conditions such as sepsis and Covid-19, excess activation of the innate immune system is thought to cause a damaging invasion of immune cells into tissues and a consequent excessive release of cytokines, chemokines and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). In these circumstances, tempering excessive activation of the innate immune system may, paradoxically, promote recovery. Here…

• Effect of a 2-week interruption in methotrexate treatment versus continued treatment on COVID-19 booster vaccine immunity in adults with inflammatory conditions (VROOM study): a randomised, open label, superiority trial - BACKGROUND: Immunosuppressive treatments inhibit vaccine-induced immunity against SARS-CoV-2. We evaluated whether a 2-week interruption of methotrexate treatment immediately after the COVID-19 vaccine booster improved antibody responses against the S1 receptor-binding domain (S1-RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein compared with uninterrupted treatment in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

• The adverse inflammatory response of tobacco smoking in COVID-19 patients: biomarkers from proteomics and metabolomics - Whether tobacco smoking affects the occurrence and development of COVID-19 is still a controversial issue, and potential biomarkers to predict the adverse outcomes of smoking in the progression of COVID-19 patients have not yet been elucidated. To further uncover their linkage and explore the effective biomarkers, three proteomics and metabolomics databases (i.e. smoking status, COVID-19 status, and basic information of population) from human serum proteomic and metabolomic levels were…

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