Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Encouraging the resumption of economic activity after COVID-19: Evidence from a large scale field experiment in China -
  As the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end, governments find themselves facing a new challenge: motivating citizens to resume economic activity. What is an effective way to do so? We investigate this question using a field experiment in the city of Zhengzhou, China immediately following the end of the city’s COVID-19 lockdown. Using self-reports and GPS trajectory data from participants’ phones, we assessed the effect of providing information about the proportion of participants’ neighbors who have resumed economic activity. We find that informing individuals about their neighbors’ plans to visit restaurants increases the fraction of participants visiting restaurants by 12 percentage points (37%), amongst those participants who underestimated the proportion of neighbors who resumed economic activity. Those who overestimated did not respond by reducing restaurant attendance, so the intervention yielded no `boomerang’ effect. We explore moderators, risk perceptions, and a placebo intervention for parks. All of these analyses suggest our intervention worked by reducing the perceived risk of going to restaurants.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Encouraging the resumption of economic activity after COVID-19: Evidence from a large scale field experiment in China
• Longitudinal change in adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international collaborative of 12 samples -
  The study aimed to examine changes in depression and anxiety symptoms from before to during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in a large, diverse, international sample of 1,339 adolescents (9-18 years, 59% female). We also examined if age, race/ethnicity, disease burden, or strictness of government restrictions moderated change in symptoms. Data from 12 longitudinal studies (10 U.S., 1 Netherlands, 1 Peru) were combined. Linear mixed effect models showed that depression symptoms increased significantly (median increase=28%), whereas anxiety symptoms remained stable overall. The most negative mental health impacts were reported by multiracial adolescents and those under ‘lockdown’ restrictions. Policy makers need to consider these impacts by investing in ways to support adolescents’ mental health during the pandemic.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Longitudinal change in adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international collaborative of 12 samples
• Assessing Self-Other Distinctions Through Decision-making Under Risk in The Era of Covid-19 -
  The current Covid-19 pandemic has demanded a degree of sacrifice from individuals for the sake of the greater good. Individuals have taken costly actions, both volitional and imposed, to reduce harm to strangers. The pandemic oers a unique opportunity to examine a fundamental question: where does the distinction between self and other lie? This question can be framed as a moral dilemma between competing motives of self-serving and pro-social behavior. Given the multifaceted uncer- tainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, we propose to assess self-other distinction using models of decision-making under risk. We administered two surveys, where participants selected between sure and risky treatments for fictitious diseases, for themselves, a loved one and a stranger. Choice of treatment option showed risk-seeking tendencies that decreased with expected disease severity, across all targets, suggesting risk preferences for the other parallel those for the self. However, distinctions across targets emerged when decisions were conditioned on treatment cost, with sure treatments cho- sen more often for self and a close other; and sure treatment assigned a higher price for diseases with low expected severity, for self and other. These findings inform on what constitutes a measure of self-other distinction; and the limits of what can be asked of an individual in service to a stranger.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Assessing Self-Other Distinctions Through Decision-making Under Risk in The Era of Covid-19
• Where All the Roads Meet? A Cross Over Perspective on Host Factors Regulating SARS-CoV-2 Replication -
  In the recent issue of Cell, four studies utilized genome wide CRISPR/Cas screens to identify host factors critical for the SARS-CoV-2 replication. We performed a comparative analysis of significant host factors (p<0.05) that were identified in these studies and found that fifteen candidates were common in at least three studies. Apart from ACE2 other common host factors included COG3, COG8, GDI2, ARPP19, SLC35B2, LIMA1, TLR9, VPS26A, CSNK2B, LRRN2, DDX51, ALG6, C1QTNF7 and BCOR. Interestingly, some of these host factors have been shown to be critical for other viruses including HIV-1, Dengue, Influenza, Zika etc., suggesting their crucial role in viral biology. Additionally, viral interactome of these host factors revealed that they were associated with several SARS-CoV-2 proteins as well. Hence, we present here, a comparative analysis of four genome wide screens against SARS-CoV-2, revealing common host factors that could be modulated to regulate SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses as well.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Where All the Roads Meet? A Cross Over Perspective on Host Factors Regulating SARS-CoV-2 Replication
• SARS-CoV-2 Worldwide Replication Drives Rapid Rise and Selection of Mutations across the Viral Genome: A Time-Course Study Potential Challenge for Vaccines and Therapies -

  Scientists and public were alarmed at first viral variant of SARS-CoV2 reported in December 2020. We have followed time course of emerging viral mutants and variants during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in ten countries. We examined complete SARS-CoV-2 nucleotide sequences in GISAID with sampling extending until January 20, 2021. These sequences originated from ten different countries: United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, USA, India, Russia, France, Spain, Germany, and China. Among the novel mutations, some previously reported mutations waned and some of them increased over time. VUI2012/01 (B.1.1.7) and 501Y.V2 (B.1.351), the UK and South Africa variants, respectively, and two variants from Brazil, 484K.V2, P.1 and P.2, increased in prevalence. Despite lockdowns, worldwide active replication in genetically and socio-economically diverse populations facilitated selection of new mutations. The data on mutant and variant SARS-CoV-2 strains provided here comprise a global resource for easy access to the myriad mutations and variants detected to date globally. Rapidly evolving new variant and mutant strains might give rise to escape variants, capable of limiting the efficacy of vaccines, therapies, and diagnostic tests.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: SARS-CoV-2 Worldwide Replication Drives Rapid Rise and Selection of Mutations across the Viral Genome: A Time-Course Study Potential Challenge for Vaccines and Therapies
• Prioritizing allocation of COVID-19 vaccines based on social contacts increases vaccination effectiveness -

  We study allocation of COVID-19 vaccines to individuals based on the structural properties of their underlying social contact network. Even optimistic estimates suggest that most countries will likely take 6 to 24 months to vaccinate their citizens. These time estimates and the emergence of new viral strains urge us to find quick and effective ways to allocate the vaccines and contain the pandemic. While current approaches use combinations of age-based and occupation-based prioritizations, our strategy marks a departure from such largely aggregate vaccine allocation strategies. We propose a novel approach motivated by recent advances in (i) science of real-world networks that point to efficacy of certain vaccination strategies and (ii) digital technologies that improve our ability to estimate some of these structural properties. Using a realistic representation of a social contact network for the Commonwealth of Virginia, combined with accurate surveillance data on spatiotemporal cases and currently accepted models of within- and between-host disease dynamics, we study how a limited number of vaccine doses can be strategically distributed to individuals to reduce the overall burden of the pandemic. We show that allocation of vaccines based on individuals9 degree (number of social contacts) and total social proximity time is significantly more effective than the currently used age-based allocation strategy in terms of number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Our results suggest that in just two months, by March 31, 2021, compared to age-based allocation, the proposed degree-based strategy can result in reducing an additional 56−110k infections, 3.2− 5.4k hospitalizations, and 700−900 deaths just in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Extrapolating these results for the entire US, this strategy can lead to 3−6 million fewer infections, 181−306k fewer hospitalizations, and 51−62k fewer deaths compared to age-based allocation. The overall strategy is robust even: (i) if the social contacts are not estimated correctly; (ii) if the vaccine efficacy is lower than expected or only a single dose is given; (iii) if there is a delay in vaccine production and deployment; and (iv) whether or not non-pharmaceutical interventions continue as vaccines are deployed. For reasons of implementability, we have used degree, which is a simple structural measure and can be easily estimated using several methods, including the digital technology available today. These results are significant, especially for resource-poor countries, where vaccines are less available, have lower efficacy, and are more slowly distributed.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Prioritizing allocation of COVID-19 vaccines based on social contacts increases vaccination effectiveness
• Assessing the performance of a serological point-of-care test in measuring detectable antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 -

  Objective: To investigate the performance of a rapid point-of-care antibody test, the BioMedomics COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test, in comparison with a high-quality, validated, laboratory-based platform, the Roche Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 assay. Methods: Serological testing was conducted on 708 individuals. Concordance metrics were estimated. Logistic regression was used to assess associations with seropositivity. Results: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 63.4% (449/708; 95% CI 59.8%-66.9%) using the BioMedomics assay and 71.9% (509/708; 95% CI 68.5%-75.1%) using the Elecsys assay. There were 62 discordant results between the two assays. One specimen was seropositive in the BioMedomics assay, but seronegative in the Elecsys assay, while 61 specimens were seropositive in the Elecsys assay, but seronegative in the BioMedomics assay. Positive, negative, and overall percent agreements between the two assays were 88.0% (95% CI 84.9%-90.6%), 99.5% (95% CI 97.2%-99.9%), and 91.2% (95% CI 88.9%-93.1%), respectively, with a Cohen kappa of 0.80 (95% CI 0.77-0.83), indicating excellent agreement. Excluding specimens with lower antibody titers, the agreement improved with positive, negative, and overall percent concordance of 91.2% (95% CI 88.2%-93.6%), 99.5% (95% CI 97.2%-99.9%), and 93.9% (95% CI 91.7%-95.5%), respectively, and a Cohen kappa of 0.87 (95% CI 0.84-0.89). Logistic regression confirmed better agreement with higher antibody titers. Conclusion: The BioMedomics COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test demonstrated excellent performance in measuring detectable antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, supporting the utility of such rapid point-of-care serological testing to guide the public health responses and possible vaccine prioritization.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Assessing the performance of a serological point-of-care test in measuring detectable antibodies against SARS-CoV-2
• Symptom Prediction and Mortality Risk Calculation for COVID-19 Using Machine Learning -

  Background Early prediction of symptoms and mortality risks for COVID-19 patients would improve healthcare outcomes, allow for the appropriate distribution of healthcare resources, reduce healthcare costs, aid in vaccine prioritization and self-isolation strategies, and thus reduce the prevalence of the disease. Such publicly accessible prediction models are lacking, however. Methods Based on a comprehensive evaluation of existing machine learning (ML) methods, we created two models based solely on the age, gender, and medical histories of 23,749 hospital-confirmed COVID-19 patients from February to September 2020: a symptom prediction model (SPM) and a mortality prediction model (MPM). The SPM predicts 12 symptom groups for each patient: respiratory distress, consciousness disorders, chest pain, paresis or paralysis, cough, fever or chill, gastrointestinal symptoms, sore throat, headache, vertigo, loss of smell or taste, and muscular pain or fatigue. The MPM predicts the death of COVID-19-positive individuals. Results The SPM yielded ROC-AUCs of 0.53-0.78 for symptoms. The most accurate prediction was for consciousness disorders at a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 70%. 2440 deaths were observed in the study population. MPM had a ROC-AUC of 0.79 and could predict mortality with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 70%. About 90% of deaths occurred in the top 21 percentile of risk groups. To allow patients and clinicians to use these models easily, we created a freely accessible online interface at www.aicovid.org. Conclusions The ML models predict COVID-19-related symptoms and mortality using information that is readily available to patients as well as clinicians. Thus, both can rapidly estimate the severity of the disease, allowing shared and better healthcare decisions with regard to hospitalization, self-isolation strategy, and COVID-19 vaccine prioritization in the coming months.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Symptom Prediction and Mortality Risk Calculation for COVID-19 Using Machine Learning
• Was R<1 before the English lockdowns? On modelling mechanistic detail, causality and inference about Covid-19 -

  Detail is a double edged sword in epidemiological modelling. The inclusion of mechanistic detail in models of highly complex systems has the potential to increase realism, but it also increases the number of modelling assumptions, which become harder to check as their possible interactions multiply. Knock et al (2020) fit an age structured SEIR model with added health service compartments to data on deaths, hospitalization and test results from Covid-19 in seven English regions for the period March to December 2020. The simplest version of the model has 684 states per region. One main conclusion is that only full lockdowns brought the pathogen reproduction number, R, below one, with R >> 1 in all regions on the eve of March 2020 lockdown. We critically evaluate the Knock et al. epidemiological model, and the semi-causal conclusions made using it, based on an independent reimplementation of the model designed to allow relaxation of some of its strong assumptions. In particular, Knock et al. model the effect on transmission of both non-pharmaceutical interventions and weather using a piecewise linear function, b(t), with 12 breakpoints at selected government announcement or intervention dates. We replace this representation by a smoothing spline with time varying smoothness, thereby allowing the form of b(t) to be substantially more data driven. We conclude that there is no sound basis for using the Knock et al. model and their analysis to make counterfactual statements about the number of deaths that would have occurred with different lockdown timings. However, if fits of this epidemiological model structure are viewed as a reasonable basis for inference about the time course of incidence and R, then without very strong modelling assumptions, the pathogen reproduction number was probably below one, and incidence in substantial decline, some days before either of the first two English national lockdowns. Of course this does not imply that lockdowns had no effect, but it does suggest that other non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) were much more effective than Knock et al. imply.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Was R&lt;1 before the English lockdowns? On modelling mechanistic detail, causality and inference about Covid-19
• The Benefits of Living with Close Others: A Longitudinal Examination of Mental Health Before and During a Global Stressor -
  For better or worse, the people we live with may exert a powerful influence on our mental health, perhaps especially during times of stress. The COVID-19 pandemic—a large-scale stressor that prompted health recommendations to stay home to reduce disease spread—provided a unique opportunity to examine how the people we share our homes with may shape our mental health. A seven-wave longitudinal study assessed mental health month-to-month before and during the pandemic (February through September, 2020) in two diverse samples of U.S. adults (N=656; N=544). Pre-registered analyses demonstrated that people living with close others (children and/or romantic partners) experienced better well-being, before and during the pandemic’s first six months. These groups also experienced unique increases in ill-being during the pandemic’s onset, but parents’ ill-being also recovered more quickly. These findings highlight the crucial protective function of close relationships for mental health both generally and amidst a pandemic.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The Benefits of Living with Close Others: A Longitudinal Examination of Mental Health Before and During a Global Stressor
• Pharmacokinetics of Orally Administered GS-441524 in Dogs -
  Despite being FDA-approved for COVID-19, the clinical efficacy of remdesivir (Veklury) remains contentious. We previously described the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicological rationales on the greater suitability of its parent nucleoside, GS-441524, for COVID-19 treatment. Here, we assess the oral bioavailability of GS-441524 in beagle dogs and show that plasma concentrations approximately 24-fold higher than the EC50 against SARS-CoV-2 are easily and safely sustained. These data support translation of GS-441524 as an oral agent for COVID-19.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Pharmacokinetics of Orally Administered GS-441524 in Dogs
• Serological Profile Of Specific Antibodies Against Dominant Antigens Of SARS-CoV-2 In Chilean COVID-19 Patients. -
  Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and has been a pandemic since March 2020. Currently, the virus has infected more than 50 million people worldwide and more than half a million in Chile. For many coronaviruses, Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins are described as major antigenic molecules, inducing seroconversion and production of neutralizing antibodies. In this work, we evaluated the presence in serum of IgM, IgA and IgG antibodies against N and S proteins of SARS-CoV-2 using western blot, and developed an ELISA test for the qualitative characterization of COVID-19 patients. Patients with an active infection or who have recovered from COVID-19 showed specific immunoblotting patterns for the recombinants S protein and its domains S1 and S2, as well as for the N protein of SARS-CoV-2. Anti-N antibodies were more frequently detected than anti-S or anti-S1-RBD antibodies. People who were never exposed to SARS-CoV-2 did not show reactivity. Finally, indirect ELISA assays using N and S1-RBD proteins, alone or in combination, were established with variable sensitivity and specificity depending on the antigen bound to the solid phase. Overall, Spike showed higher specificity than the nucleocapsid, and comparable sensitivity for both antigens. Both approaches confirmed the seroconversion after infection and allowed us to implement the analysis of antibodies in blood for research purposes in a local facility.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Serological Profile Of Specific Antibodies Against Dominant Antigens Of SARS-CoV-2 In Chilean COVID-19 Patients.
• Furin cleavage of the SARS-CoV-2 spike is modulated by O-glycosylation -
  The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus responsible for the global pandemic contains a unique furin cleavage site in the spike protein (S) that increases viral infectivity and syncytia formation. Here, we show that O-glycosylation near the furin cleavage site is mediated by specific members of the GALNT enzyme family and is dependent on the novel proline at position 681 (P681). We further demonstrate that O-glycosylation of S decreases furin cleavage. Finally, we show that GALNT family members capable of glycosylating S are expressed in human respiratory cells that are targets for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our results suggest that O-glycosylation may influence viral infectivity/tropism by modulating furin cleavage of S and provide mechanistic insight into the potential role of P681 mutations in the recently identified, highly transmissible B.1.1.7 variant.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Furin cleavage of the SARS-CoV-2 spike is modulated by O-glycosylation
• Post-infection treatment with a protease inhibitor increases survival of mice with a fatal SARS-CoV-2 infection -
  Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection continues to be a serious global public health threat. The 3C-like protease (3CLpro) is a virus protease encoded by SARS-CoV-2, which is essential for virus replication. We have previously reported a series of small molecule 3CLpro inhibitors effective for inhibiting replication of human coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture and in animal models. Here we generated a series of deuterated variants of a 3CLpro inhibitor, GC376, and evaluated the antiviral effect against SARS-CoV-2. The deuterated GC376 displayed potent inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 in the enzyme and the cell-based assays. The K18-hACE2 mice develop mild to lethal infection commensurate with SARS-CoV-2 challenge doses and was proposed as a model for efficacy testing of antiviral agents. We treated lethally infected mice with a deuterated derivative of GC376. Treatment of K18-hACE2 mice at 24 hr post infection with a derivative (compound 2) resulted in increased survival of mice compared to vehicle-treated mice. Lung virus titers were decreased, and histopathological changes were ameliorated in compound 2-treated mice compared to vehicle-treated mice. Structural investigation using high-resolution crystallography illuminated binding interactions of 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV with deuterated variants of GC376. Taken together, deuterated GC376 variants have excellent potential as antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Post-infection treatment with a protease inhibitor increases survival of mice with a fatal SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Protein glycosylation is essential for SARS-CoV-2 infection -
  SARS-CoV-2 extensively N-glycosylates its surface spike (S) proteins. This post-translational modification is essential to modulate protein conformation and host cell invasion. Each S monomer can be modified with up to 22 N-glycans. To meet the high demand of protein glycosylation during virus replication, SARS-CoV-2 upregulates the expression of host N-glycosylation genes. Although a substantial amount of detail is known about the structure of S protein N-glycans, the role of N-glycosylation in SARS-CoV-2 infection remains largely undetermined. Here, we investigated the essentiality of the host N-glycosylation pathway and viral N-glycans for SARS-CoV-2 infection. When either monkey or human cells were preincubated with glycosylation inhibitors, including FDA-approved iminosugars, virus infection was significantly reduced. This infection phenotype was confirmed after RNAi knockdown of several glycosylation genes. In addition, enzymatic deglycosylation of whole viral particles confirmed that accessible oligosaccharides on the SARS-CoV-2 surface are essential for host cell infection. Altogether, we show evidence that the normal functioning of the host N-glycosylation machinery is essential not only for SARS-CoV-2 to infect, but also to produce new functional virions. These findings open the door for developing new approaches targeting N-glycosylation against COVID-19.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Protein glycosylation is essential for SARS-CoV-2 infection

From Clinical Trials

• Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of a Single Dose of STI-2020 (COVI-AMG™) to Treat COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Biological: COVI-AMG;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
  Not yet recruiting

• Study to Evaluate a Single Dose of STI-2020 (COVI-AMG™) in Adults With Mild COVID-19 Symptoms - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Biological: COVI-AMG;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc.
  Not yet recruiting

• Phase III Study of AZD7442 for Treatment of COVID-19 in Outpatient Adults - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: AZD7442;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   AstraZeneca
  Not yet recruiting

• TOCILIZUMAB - An Option for Patients With COVID-19 Associated Cytokine Release Syndrome; A Single Center Experience - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Drug: Tocilizumab
  Sponsor:   FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry
  Completed

• Convalescent Plasma in the Treatment of Covid-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Biological: Convalescent plasma from COVID-19 donors;   Biological: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Helsinki University Central Hospital;   Finnish Red Cross
  Recruiting

• A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of VB-201 in Patients With COVID-19 - Condition:   Severe COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: VB-201 + Standard of care;   Drug: Standard of care
  Sponsor:   Vascular Biogenics Ltd. operating as VBL Therapeutics
  Recruiting

• Efficacy of Nano-Ivermectin Impregnated Masks in Prevention of Covid-19 Among Healthy Contacts and Medical Staff - Condition:   Covid-19
  Intervention:   Other: ivermectin impregnated mask
  Sponsor:   South Valley University
  Recruiting

• An Outpatient Clinical Trial Using Ivermectin and Doxycycline in COVID-19 Positive Patients at High Risk to Prevent COVID-19 Related Hospitalization - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: Ivermectin Tablets;   Drug: Doxycycline Tablets;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Max Health, Subsero Health
  Recruiting

• CPI-006 Plus Standard of Care Versus Placebo Plus Standard of Care in Mild to Moderately Symptomatic Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients - Condition:   Covid-19
  Interventions:   Drug: CPI-006 2 mg/kg + SOC;   Drug: CPI-006 1 mg/kg + SOC;   Drug: Placebo + SOC
  Sponsor:   Corvus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  Recruiting

• Effectiveness of Ivermectin in SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Patients - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Drug: Ivermectin
  Sponsor:   FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry
  Completed

• Famotidine vs Placebo for the Treatment of Non-Hospitalized Adults With COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Famotidine;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Northwell Health;   Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
  Recruiting

• Study to Assess Efficacy and Safety of Inhaled Interferon-β Therapy for COVID-19 - Conditions:   Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2;   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: SNG001;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Synairgen Research Ltd.
  Recruiting

• COVID-19 and Pregnancy: Placental and Immunological Impacts - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Other: Specimens specific for the study
  Sponsor:   Hopital Foch
  Recruiting

• Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy Of S-1226 in Moderate Severity Covid-19 Bronchiolitis/Pneumonia - Conditions:   Covid19;   SARS-CoV-2 Infection
  Intervention:   Drug: S-1226
  Sponsor:   SolAeroMed Inc.
  Not yet recruiting

• Restoration of Endothelial Integrity in Patients With COVID-19 (RELIC) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Biological: Thawed plasma
  Sponsor:   University of Alabama at Birmingham
  Not yet recruiting

From PubMed

• Thrombin generation in patients with COVID-19 with and without thromboprophylaxis - CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients showed increased TG at diagnosis. Standard thromboprophylaxis reduced TG to levels of healthy controls. Intermediate sub-therapeutic thromboprophylaxis more effectively inhibited TG by decreasing ETP with TM.

• PDE3-inhibitor enoximone prevented mechanical ventilation in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia - BACKGROUND: Standard care in severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia complicated by severe dyspnea and respiratory failure, consists of symptom reduction, ultimately supported by mechanical ventilation. Patients with severe SARS-CoV-2, a prominent feature of COVID-19, show several similar symptoms to Critical Asthma Syndrome (CAS) patients, such as pulmonary edema, mucus plugging of distal airways, decreased tissue oxygenation, (emergent) exhaustion due to severe dyspnea and respiratory failure. Prior…

• Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in COVID-19: Risks and Benefits - INTRODUCTION: Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) is a novel cancer immunotherapy, which is administered in patients with metastatic, refractory, or relapsed solid cancer types. From the initiation of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic many studies reported a higher severity and mortality rate of COVID-19 among patients with cancer in general.

• In silico Screening of Natural Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease and Spike RBD: Targets for COVID-19 - Historically, plants have been sought after as bio-factories for the production of diverse chemical compounds that offer a multitude of possibilities to cure diseases. To combat the current pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), plant-based natural compounds are explored for their potential to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), the cause of COVID-19. The present study is aimed at the investigation of antiviral action of several groups of…

• Structural basis for the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease by the anti-HCV drug narlaprevir - No abstract

• Potent and Selective Knockdown of Tyrosine Kinase 2 by Antisense Oligonucleotides - Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a member of the JAK family of nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, together with JAK1, JAK2, and JAK3. JAKs are important signaling mediators of many proinflammatory cytokines and represent compelling pharmacological targets for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Pan-acting small-molecule JAK inhibitors were approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis. However, their limited selectivity among JAK members have led to undesirable side effects,…

• A Neutralization Assay Based on Pseudo-Typed Lentivirus with SARS CoV-2 Spike Protein in ACE2-Expressing CRFK Cells - Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic virus that spreads rapidly. In this work, we improve the hitherto existing neutralization assay system to assess SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors using a pseudo-typed lentivirus coated with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (LpVspike +) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-transfected cat Crandell-Rees feline kidney (CRFK) cells as the host cell line. Our method was 10-fold more sensitive compared to the typical…

• Mechanisms of Coronavirus Nsp1-Mediated Control of Host and Viral Gene Expression - Many viruses disrupt host gene expression by degrading host mRNAs and/or manipulating translation activities to create a cellular environment favorable for viral replication. Often, virus-induced suppression of host gene expression, including those involved in antiviral responses, contributes to viral pathogenicity. Accordingly, clarifying the mechanisms of virus-induced disruption of host gene expression is important for understanding virus-host cell interactions and virus pathogenesis. Three…

• SARS-CoV-2 entry inhibitors by dual targeting TMPRSS2 and ACE2: An in silico drug repurposing study - The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is spreading between human populations mainly through nasal droplets. Currently, the vaccines have great hope, but it takes years for testing its efficacy in human. As there is no specific drug treatment available for COVID-19 pandemic, we explored in silico repurposing of drugs with dual inhibition properties by targeting transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) from FDA-approved drugs. The TMPRSS2 and ACE2…

• An Urgent Industrial Scheme both for Total Synthesis, and for Pharmaceutical Analytical Analysis of Umifenovir as an Anti-Viral API for Treatment of COVID-19 - CONCLUSION: The most important pharmaceutical analytical methods containing OVI test (mainly ethanol (about 171 ppm) much lower than the limits, by gas chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) instrument), Assay content (about 99.6% by potentiometric titration), and related purity analysis (by High performance liquid chromatography-Ultraviolet Detector (HPLC-UV)) (about 99.8%) were performed and described to give a more clear industrial scheme.

• Ethical Dilemma: An Unprecedented Strike by Health care Workers in Early February 2020 in Hong Kong - Urging the government to exercise a complete border closure to inhibit the spread of the novel coronavirus from Mainland China, about 8,000 health care workers participated in a 5-day strike in early February 2020 in Hong Kong. Despite gaining 61% support from the public, dissenters criticised that the participants violated professional ethics and abandoned their accountabilities, which led to moral distress. However, the participants were guided by the four fundamental medical principles…

• Complement inhibition initiated recovery of a severe myasthenic crisis with COVID-19 - We report on a patient with refractory Myasthenia gravis with acetylcholine receptor antibodies with two prior myasthenic crises suffering from COVID-19 with rapid evolving weakness and respiratory failure. Respiratory failure developed and prolonged mechanical ventilation was necessary. After plasmapheresis, residual, severe generalized and bulbar weakness persisted. Complement inhibition with eculizumab was, therefore, introduced and lead to rapid recovery. In refractory myasthenic crisis…

• Association between antidepressant use and reduced risk of intubation or death in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: results from an observational study - A prior meta-analysis showed that antidepressant use in major depressive disorder was associated with reduced plasma levels of several pro-inflammatory mediators, which have been associated with severe COVID-19. Recent studies also suggest that several antidepressants may inhibit acid sphingomyelinase activity, which may prevent the infection of epithelial cells with SARS-CoV-2, and that the SSRI fluoxetine may exert in-vitro antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2. We examined the potential usefulness…

• Native High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) with Higher Paraoxonase Exerts a Potent Antiviral Effect against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), While Glycated HDL Lost the Antiviral Activity - Human high-density lipoproteins (HDL) show a broad spectrum of antiviral activity in terms of anti-infection. Although many reports have pointed out a correlation between a lower serum HDL-C and a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and progression, the in vitro antiviral activity of HDL against SARS-CoV-2 has not been reported. HDL functionality, such as antioxidant and anti-infection, can be impaired by oxidation and glycation and a change to pro-inflammatory properties. This study compared the…

• SARS-CoV-2 recruits a haem metabolite to evade antibody immunity - The coronaviral spike is the dominant viral antigen and the target of neutralizing antibodies. We show that SARS-CoV-2 spike binds biliverdin and bilirubin, the tetrapyrrole products of haem metabolism, with nanomolar affinity. Using cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography we mapped the tetrapyrrole interaction pocket to a deep cleft on the spike N-terminal domain (NTD). At physiological concentrations, biliverdin significantly dampened the reactivity of SARS-CoV-2 spike with immune…

From Patent Search

• SARS-CoV-2 antibodies - - link

• SARS-CoV-2 antibodies - - link

• A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION OF NITAZOXANIDE AND MEFLOQUINE AND METHOD THEREOF - A pharmaceutical composition for treating Covid-19 virus comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a nitazoxanide or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and an mefloquine or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof is disclosed. The pharmaceutical composition comprises the nitazoxanide in the ratio of 0.05% to 66% w/v and the mefloquine in the ratio of 0.05% to 90% w/v. The composition is found to be effective for the treatment of COVID -19 (SARS-CoV2). The pharmaceutical composition of nitazoxanide and mefloquine has been found to be effective and is unexpectedly well tolerated with a low rate of side-effects, and equally high cure-rates than in comparable treatments. - link

• TREATMENT OF COVID-19 WITH REBAMIPIDE - - link

• METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACQUIRING POWER CONSUMPTION IMPACT BASED ON IMPACT OF COVID-19 EPIDEMIC - - link

• A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION OF ARTESUNATE AND MEFLOQUINE AND METHOD THEREOF - A pharmaceutical composition for treating Covid-19 virus comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an artesunate or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and a mefloquine or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof is disclosed. The pharmaceutical composition comprises the artesunate in the ratio of 0.25% to 66% w/v and mefloquine in the ratio of 0.25% to 90% w/v. The composition is found to be effective for the treatment of COVID -19 (SARS-CoV2). The pharmaceutical composition of Artesunate and Mefloquine has been found to be effective and is unexpectedly well tolerated with a low rate of side-effects, and equally high cure-rates than in comparable treatments. The present invention also discloses a method to preparing the pharmaceutical composition comprising of Artesunate and Mefloquine. - link

• Zahnbürstenaufsatz, elektrische Versorgungseinheit einer elektrischen Zahnbürste, elektrische Zahnbürste mit einem Zahnbürstenaufsatz, Zahnbürste sowie Testaufsatz für eine elektrische Zahnbürste -

  Zahnbürstenaufsatz für eine elektrische Zahnbürste (20) umfassend einen Koppelabschnitt (2), über den der Zahnbürstenaufsatz (1) mit einer elektrischen Versorgungseinheit (10) der elektrischen Zahnbürste (20) verbindbar ist und einen Bürstenabschnitt (3), der zur Reinigung der Zähne ausgebildete Reinigungsmittel (3.1) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an dem Zahnbürstenaufsatz (1) eine Sensoreinheit (4) vorgesehen ist, die dazu ausgebildet ist, selektiv das Vorhandensein eines Virus oder eines Antigen im Speichel eines Nutzers des Zahnbürstenaufsatzes (1) durch Messen zumindest eines virusspezifischen Parameters zu bestimmen.

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• 一种医用可佩戴式防护口鼻的微型气幕系统 - 本发明公开了一种医用可佩戴式防护口鼻的微型气幕系统，包括框柱，框柱一侧开凿有气幕送风口和呼吸用送风口，气幕送风口和呼吸用送风口内分别连接有软管一和软管二，框柱内开凿有水平条缝和垂直条缝，水平条缝与垂直条缝均与气幕送风口相连通，框柱靠近水平条缝的一侧贯穿开凿有出风口，出风口内设有滤网，出风口贯穿框柱的一端连接有高效过滤器，滤网与高效过滤器之间连接有吸气泵，框柱靠近出风口的一侧连接有电池和开关。本发明通过提出一种在口腔处应用洁净空气幕阻挡气溶胶传播的可佩戴装置，可以在口腔类相关诊疗过程，保护医生和周围人的健康，避免引起可能引发的呼吸道疾病交叉感染。 - link

• COVID-19 CLASSIFICATION RECOGNITION METHOD BASED ON CT IMAGES OF LUNGS - - link

• Vorrichtung umfassend einen Schutzschirm und einen Filter zum Herausfiltern von Viren aus einem Schall erzeugenden Luftstrom -

  Vorrichtung (10) umfassend einen Schutzschirm (12) und einen Filter (14) zum Herausfiltern von Viren (16) aus einem Schall erzeugenden Luftstrom (18), der von einem Musiker (20) beim Musizieren mit einem Musikinstrument oder beim Singen erzeugt wird, wobei der Schutzschirm (12) zur Verringerung des Risikos einer Infektion mit den Viren (16) dafür vorgesehen ist, wenigstens einen Teil der mit dem Luftstrom transportierten Viren (16) aufzufangen, der Schutzschirm (12) eine erste Seite (22) und eine zweite Seite (24) aufweist, die voneinander abgewandt sind, und der Schutzschirm (12) wenigstens einen sich von der ersten (22) bis zu der zweiten Seite (24) erstreckenden Durchlass (26) aufweist, wobei dieser Durchlass (26) zum Durchströmen mit wenigstens einem Teil des beim Musizieren erzeugten Luftstroms (18) vorgesehen ist und der Filter (14) zum Herausfiltern von Viren (16) aus dem Luftstrom (18) in dem Durchlass (26) des Schutzschirms (12) angeordnet ist.

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