Covid-19 Sentry

Contents

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

From Preprints

• Stress as a meaningful variable in models of covid-19 spreading -
  Covid-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus – 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was first identified in Wuhan China in December 2019. Because of Covid-19 worldwide spreading in 2020, urgent hygiene and lockdown measures have been implemented with fundamental consequences on the lives of people in all sectors of society. Besides visible socio-economic and documented health effects, the impact of Covid-19 on people’s mental health including stress-related effects on disease spreading remains yet to be addressed. Here, we argue about the relevance of incorporating stress factors into models of covid-19 spreading and the level of detail in which such models should take stress into consideration.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Stress as a meaningful variable in models of covid-19 spreading
• The National Seroprevalence of SARS−CoV−2 Antibody in the Asymptomatic Population -

  Abstract The seroprevalence of COVID-19 in the self−reported well US population is currently unknown. In September we tested a convenience sample of 63,106 life insurance applicants for COVID−19 and found a prevalence of 6.6%. This population was specifically selected because they were not being evaluated clinically but solely being tested for mortality risk. Using 2019 US census estimates this equals more than 11.1 million (bootstrap 95% CI: 10.8 − 11.5 million) asymptomatically infected patients, which is double the number of cases reported to CDC as of September 1st.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: The National Seroprevalence of SARS−CoV−2 Antibody in the Asymptomatic Population
• Relationship between nursing home COVID-19 outbreaks and staff neighborhood characteristics -

  The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on nursing homes in the US, with upwards of a third of deaths occurring in nursing homes, and more in long-term care facilities. By combining data on facility-level COVID-19 deaths with facility-level data on the neighborhoods where nursing home staff reside for a sample of eighteen states, this paper finds that staff neighborhood characteristics are a large and significant predictor of COVID-19 outbreaks. One standard deviation increases in average staff tract population density, public transportation use, and non-white share were associated with 1.3 (SE .33), 1.4 (SE .35), and 0.9 (SE .24) additional deaths per 100 beds, respectively. These effects are larger than all facility management or quality variables, and larger than the effect of the nursing home9s own neighborhood characteristics. These results suggest that staff communities are likely to be an important source of infection, and that disparities in nursing home outbreaks may be related to differences in the types of neighborhoods nursing home staff live in.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Relationship between nursing home COVID-19 outbreaks and staff neighborhood characteristics
• Ethnicity, Household Composition and COVID-19 Mortality: A National Linked Data Study -

  Background: Ethnic minorities have experienced disproportionate COVID-19 mortality rates. We estimated associations between household composition and COVID-19 mortality in older adults (≥65 years) using a newly linked census-based dataset, and investigated whether living in a multi-generational household explained some of the elevated COVID-19 mortality amongst ethnic minority groups. Methods: Using retrospective data from the 2011 Census linked to Hospital Episode Statistics (2017-2019) and death registration data (up to 27th July 2020), we followed adults aged 65 years or over living in private households in England from 2 March 2020 until 27 July 2020 (n=10,078,568). We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for COVID-19 death for people living in a multi-generational household compared with people living with another older adult, adjusting for geographical factors, socio-economic characteristics and pre-pandemic health. We conducted a causal mediation analysis to estimate the proportion of ethnic inequalities explained by living in a multi-generational household. Results: Living in a multi-generational household was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 death. After adjusting for confounding factors, the HRs for living in a multi-generational household with dependent children were 1.13 [95% confidence interval 1.01-1.27] and 1.17 [1.01-1.35] for older males and females. The HRs for living in a multi-generational household without dependent children were 1.03 [0.97 - 1.09] for older males and 1.22 [1.12 - 1.32] for older females. Living in a multi-generational household explained between 10% and 15% of the elevated risk of COVID-19 death among older females from South Asian background, but very little for South Asian males or people in other ethnic minority groups. Conclusion: Older adults living with younger people are at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality, and this is a notable contributing factor to the excess risk experienced by older South Asian females compared to White females. Relevant public health interventions should be directed at communities where such multi-generational households are highly prevalent. Funding: This research was funded by the Office for National Statistics.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Ethnicity, Household Composition and COVID-19 Mortality: A National Linked Data Study
• LOW PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) DURING THE SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDERS TO PREVENT THE COVID-19 SPREAD: RESULTS FROM A NATIONWIDE STUDY -

  Introduction: Little is known about how sheltering in place to contain the spread of COVID-19 over extended periods affects individuals9 psychological well-being. This study9s objective was to analyze the factors associated with MSM9s low psychological well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic context. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted online in the entire Brazilian territory (26 states and federal district) in April and May 2020. The participants were recruited using an adapted version of Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS). Data were collected using social media and MSM dating apps. We estimated the prevalence, crude prevalence ratio (PR), and respective confidence intervals (CI95%). Results: Only 44.4% of the sample presented high levels of well-being. Low psychological well-being appeared associated with the youngest age group (PR: 2.76; CI95%: 1.90-4.01), polyamorous relationships (PR: 2.78; CI95%: 1.51-5.11), not complying with social isolation measures (PR: 6.27; CI95%: 4.42-8.87), not using the social media to find partners (PR: 1.63; CI95%: 1.06-2.53), having multiple sexual partners (PR: 1.80; CI95%: 1.04-3.11), having reduced the number of partners (PR: 2.67; CI95%: 1.44-4.95), and group sex (PR: 1.82; CI95%: 1.23-2.69) Conclusion: The well-being of MSM living in Brazil was negatively affected during the social distancing measures intended to control the spread of COVID-19. Policy Implications: Planning and implementing public policies and actions to promote psychological well-being are needed to improve MSM9s resilience through the adoption of safe strategies and behavior.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: LOW PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) DURING THE SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDERS TO PREVENT THE COVID-19 SPREAD: RESULTS FROM A NATIONWIDE STUDY
• Amilorides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro by targeting RNA structures -
  The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and the likelihood of future coronavirus pandemics, has rendered our understanding of coronavirus biology more essential than ever. Small molecule chemical probes offer to both reveal novel aspects of virus replication and to serve as leads for antiviral therapeutic development. The RNA-biased amiloride scaffold was recently tuned to target a viral RNA structure critical for translation in enterovirus 71, ultimately uncovering a novel mechanism to modulate positive-sense RNA viral translation and replication. Analysis of CoV RNA genomes reveal many conserved RNA structures in the 5’-UTR and proximal region critical for viral translation and replication, including several containing bulge-like secondary structures suitable for small molecule targeting. Following phylogenetic conservation analysis of this region, we screened an amiloride-based small molecule library against a less virulent human coronavirus, OC43, to identify lead ligands. Amilorides inhibited OC43 replication as seen in viral plaque assays. Select amilorides also potently inhibited replication competent SARS-CoV-2 as evident in the decreased levels of cell free virions in cell culture supernatants of treated cells. Reporter screens confirmed the importance of RNA structures in the 5’-end of the viral genome for small molecule activity. Finally, NMR chemical shift perturbation studies of the first six stem loops of the 5’-end revealed specific amiloride interactions with stem loops 4, 5a, and 6, all of which contain bulge like structures and were predicted to be strongly bound by the lead amilorides in retrospective docking studies. Taken together, the use of multiple orthogonal approaches allowed us to identify the first small molecules aimed at targeting RNA structures within the 5’-UTR and proximal region of the CoV genome. These molecules will serve as chemical probes to further understand CoV RNA biology and can pave the way for the development of specific CoV RNA-targeted antivirals.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Amilorides inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro by targeting RNA structures
• Whole Genome Sequencing for Revealing the Point Mutations of SARS-CoV-2 Genome in Bangladeshi Isolates and their Structural Effects on Viral Proteins -
  Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is the recent global pandemic caused by the virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus has already killed more than one million people worldwide and billions are at risk of getting infected. As of now, there is neither any drug nor any vaccine in sight with conclusive scientific evidence that it can cure or provide protection against the illness. Since novel coronavirus is a new virus, mining its genome sequence is of crucial importance for drug/vaccine(s) development. Whole genome sequencing is a helpful tool in identifying genetic changes that occur in a virus when it spreads through the population. In this study, we performed complete genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 to unveil the genomic variation and indel, if present. We discovered thirteen (13) mutations in Orf1ab, S and N gene where seven (7) of them turned out to be novel mutations from our sequenced isolate. Besides, we found one (1) insertion and seven (7) deletions from the indel analysis among the 323 Bangladeshi isolates. However, the indel did not show any effect on proteins. Our energy minimization analysis showed both stabilizing and destabilizing impact on viral proteins depending on the mutation. Interestingly, all the variants were located in the binding site of the proteins. Furthermore, drug binding analysis revealed marked difference in interacting residues in mutants when compared to the wild type. Our analysis also suggested that eleven (11) mutations could exert damaging effects on their corresponding protein structures. The analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variation and their impacts presented in this study might be helpful in gaining a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this deadly virus.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Whole Genome Sequencing for Revealing the Point Mutations of SARS-CoV-2 Genome in Bangladeshi Isolates and their Structural Effects on Viral Proteins
• Machine learning analysis highlights the down-trending of the proportion of COVID-19 patients with a distinct laboratory result profile -

  Background: New York City (NYC) experienced an initial surge and gradual decline in the number of SARS-CoV-2 confirmed cases in 2020. A change in the pattern of laboratory test results in COVID-19 patients over this time has not been reported or correlated with patient outcome. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of routine laboratory and SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results from 5,785 patients evaluated in a NYC hospital emergency department from March to June employing machine learning analysis. Results: A COVID-19 high-risk laboratory test result profile (COVID19-HRP), consisting of 21 routine blood tests, was identified to characterize the SARS-CoV-2 patients. Approximately half of the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients had the distinct COVID19-HRP that separated them from SARS-CoV-2 negative patients. SARS-CoV-2 patients with the COVID19-HRP had higher SARS-CoV-2 viral loads, determined by cycle-threshold values from the RT-PCR, and poorer clinical outcome compared to other positive patients without COVID19-HRP. Furthermore, the percentage of SARS-CoV-2 patients with the COVID19-HRP has significantly decreased from March/April to May/June. Notably, viral load in the SARS-CoV-2 patients declined and their laboratory profile became less distinguishable from SARS-CoV-2 negative patients in the later phase. Conclusions: Our study visualized the down-trending of the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 patients with the distinct COVID19-HRP. This analysis could become an important tool in COVID-19 population disease severity tracking and prediction. In addition, this analysis may play an important role in prioritizing high-risk patients, assisting in patient triaging and optimizing the usage of resources.

  🖺 Full Text HTML: Machine learning analysis highlights the down-trending of the proportion of COVID-19 patients with a distinct laboratory result profile
• Head Start and Families’ Recovery from Economic Recession: Policy Recommendations for COVID-19 -
  Objective: This article examines whether the availability of Head Start during the Great Recession mitigated the impact of this crisis on poverty rates among families with young children. Background: The first two decades of the 21st century have witnessed two major economic crises: the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. Poverty rates among families with young children grew substantially during the Great Recession. Families with young children are also more vulnerable to instability during the COVID-19 pandemic as job losses have been steeper and childcare availability has been significantly curtailed. Programs like Head Start that support at-risk families may mitigate such negative consequences. Method: This study uses data from the American Community Survey from 2006 through 2016 and state-level data on Head Start availability from Program Information Reports. Growth curve modeling is used to examine how the availability of Head Start predicted poverty growth during the Great Recession and the speed of recovery post-recession. Results: States with higher rates of Head Start enrollment had a smaller increase in family poverty during the Great Recession and a more stable recovery than states with lower Head Start enrollment. Conclusions: These findings suggest that greater access to Head Start programs prevented many families from falling into poverty and helped others exit poverty during the Great Recession. Implications: The findings provide clear, evidence-based policy recommendations. Increased federal funding for Head Start is needed to support families during a COVID-19 recession. States should supplement these allocations to expand Head Start enrollment for all eligible families.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Head Start and Families’ Recovery from Economic Recession: Policy Recommendations for COVID-19
• Racial Disparities in COVID-19 and Excess Mortality in Minnesota -
  The COVID-19 pandemic has produced vastly disproportionate deaths for communities of color in the United States. Minnesota seemingly stands out as an exception to this national pattern, with white Minnesotans accounting for 80% of the population and 82% of COVID-19 deaths. We examine confirmed COVID mortality alongside deaths indirectly attributable to the pandemic – ‘excess mortality’ – in Minnesota. This analysis reveals profound racial disparities: age-adjusted excess mortality rates for whites are exceeded by a factor of 2.8-5.3 for all other racial groups, with the highest rates among Black, Latino, and Native Minnesotans. The seemingly small disparities in COVID deaths in Minnesota reflect the interaction of three factors: the natural history of the disease whose early toll was heavily concentrated in nursing homes; an exceptionally divergent age distribution in the state; and a greatly different proportion of excess mortality captured in confirmed-COVID rates for white Minnesotans compared with most other groups.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Racial Disparities in COVID-19 and Excess Mortality in Minnesota
• Psychological responses during the COVID-19 outbreak among university students in Bangladesh -
  Mental health problems in students are considered a public health challenge. We assessed the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) with the DASS-21, as well as associated factors, among university students in Bangladesh early in the COVID-19 outbreak. We hypothesized high levels of DAS and associations between DAS and factors previously reported (poor sleep, lack of exercise, heavy internet use) and those linked to disadvantage (e.g., low monthly family income). We also enquired about participants’ satisfaction with their pursuit of their academic studies while living under COVID-19 restrictions. An internet-based survey was conducted during the month of April 2020, involving 3,122 Bangladeshi university students aged 18 to 29 years (59.5% males; mean age 21.4±2 years). Prevalence estimates of depression, anxiety and stress were, respectively, 76.1%, 71.5% and 70.1% for at least mild symptoms, 62.9%, 63.6% and 58.6% for at least moderate symptoms, 35.2%, 40.3%, and 37.7% for at least severe symptoms and 19.7%, 27.5% and 16.5% for at least very severe symptoms. There was a suggestion that these rates were higher than in previous, pre-COVID-19 studies among Bangladeshi students. Regression analyses with DASS-21-score as a dependent variable revealed associations with factors mostly as hypothesized. The largest effect size on DAS symptoms was related to students’ satisfaction with their academic studies during the pandemic. As this survey used cross-sectional and self-reported methods, causality cannot be inferred. Mental health monitoring of students attempting to cope with the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak may be useful and feasible.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Psychological responses during the COVID-19 outbreak among university students in Bangladesh
• Emergency Physicians and Personal Narratives Improve the Perceived Effectiveness of COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations on Social Media: A Randomized Experiment -
  Background: Containment of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic requires the public to change behavior under social distancing mandates. Social media are important information dissemination platforms that can augment traditional channels communicating public health recommendations. The objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 public health messaging on Twitter when delivered by emergency physicians and containing personal narratives. Methods: On April 30, 2020, we randomly assigned 2007 U.S. adults to an online survey using a 2x2 factorial design. Participants rated 1 of 4 simulated Twitter posts varied by messenger type (emergency physician vs federal official) and content (personal narrative vs impersonal guidance). Main outcomes were: perceived message effectiveness (35-point scale); perceived attitude effectiveness (15-point scale); likelihood to share Tweets (7-point scale); and writing a letter to their governor to continue COVID-19 restrictions (write letter or none). Results: The physician/personal message had the strongest effect and significantly improved all main messaging outcomes except for letter-writing. Unadjusted mean differences between physician/personal and federal/impersonal were: perceived messaging effectiveness (3.2 [95%CI, 2.4-4.0]); perceived attitude effectiveness (1.3 [95%CI, 0.8-1.7]); likelihood to share (0.4 [95%CI, 0.15-0.7]). For letter-writing, physician/ personal made no significant impact compared to federal/ impersonal (odds ratio 1.14 [95%CI, 0.89-1.46]). Conclusions: Emergency physicians sharing personal narratives on Twitter are perceived to be more effective at communicating COVID-19 health recommendations compared to federal officials sharing impersonal guidance.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Emergency Physicians and Personal Narratives Improve the Perceived Effectiveness of COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations on Social Media: A Randomized Experiment
• The aging whole blood transcriptome reveals a potential role of FASLG in COVID-19 -
  The risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases with age as older patients are at the highest risk. Although it is still unclear whether the virus is blood-transmitted, the viral RNA is detected in serum. Identifying how Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) interacts with specific blood components during aging is expected to guide proper therapies. Considering that all human coronavirus require host cellular molecules to promote infection, we investigated the aging whole blood transcriptome from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database to explore differentially expressed genes (DEGs) translated into proteins potentially interacting with viral proteins. From a total of 22 DEGs in aged blood, five genes (FASLG, CTSW, CTSE, VCAM1, and BAG3) changed expression during aging. These age-related genes are involved in immune response, inflammation, cell component and cell adhesion, and platelet activation/aggregation. Both males and females older than 50 overexpress FASLG compared with younger adults (20-30 years old), possibly inducing a hyper-inflammatory cascade that activates specific immune cells. Furthermore, the expression of cathepsins (CTSW and CTSE) and the anti-apoptotic co-chaperone molecule BAG3 was significantly increased throughout aging in both gender. By exploring publicly available Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing (scRNA-Seq) data on peripheral blood of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, we found FASLG and CTSW expressed mainly in natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ (cytotoxic) T lymphocytes whereas BAG3 was expressed in CD4+ T cells, naive T cells, and CD14+ monocytes. The increased expression of FASLG in blood during aging may explain why older patients are more prone to severe acute viral infection complications. These results indicate FASLG as a prognostic candidate and potential therapeutic target for more aggressive clinical manifestation of COVID-19.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: The aging whole blood transcriptome reveals a potential role of FASLG in COVID-19
• Significant inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by a green tea catechin, a catechin-derivative and galloylated theaflavins in vitro -
  Potential effects of teas and their constituents on SARS-CoV-2 infection were studied in vitro. Infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 was significantly reduced by a treatment with green tea, roasted green tea or oolong tea. Most remarkably, exposure to black tea for 1 min decreased virus titer to an undetectable level (less than 1/1,000 of untreated control). An addition of (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) significantly inactivated SARS-CoV-2, while theasinensin A (TSA) and galloylated theaflavins including theaflavin 3, 3’-di-gallate (TFDG) had more remarkable anti-viral activities. Virus treated with TSA at 500 M or TFDG at 100 M showed less than 1/10,000 infectivity compared with untreated virus. TSA and TFDG significantly inhibited interaction between recombinant ACE2 and RGD of S protein. These results strongly suggest that EGCG, and more remarkably TSA and galloylated theaflavins, inactivate the novel coronavirus.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Significant inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by a green tea catechin, a catechin-derivative and galloylated theaflavins in vitro
• Ecological Countermeasures for Pandemic Prevention -
  Ecological restoration should be regarded as a public health service. Unfortunately, the lack of quantitative linkages between environmental and human health has limited recognition of these principle. Advent of COVID-19 pandemic provides the impetus for the further discussion. We propose ecological countermeasures as highly targeted, landscape-based interventions to arrest the drivers of land use-induced zoonotic spillover. We provide examples of ecological restoration activities that reduce zoonotic disease risk and a five-point action plan at the human-ecosystem health nexus. In conclusion, we make the case that ecological countermeasures are a tenant of restoration ecology with human health goals.
  🖺 Full Text HTML: Ecological Countermeasures for Pandemic Prevention

From Clinical Trials

• Convalescent Plasma for Treatment of COVID-19: An Open Randomised Controlled Trial - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Biological: SARS-CoV-2 convalescent plasma;   Other: Standard of care
  Sponsors:   Joakim Dillner;   Karolinska Institutet;   Danderyd Hospital;   Falu Hospital
  Not yet recruiting

• Ivermectin for Severe COVID-19 Management - Condition:   COVID-19
  Intervention:   Drug: Ivermectin
  Sponsors:   Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University;   NeuTec Pharma
  Completed

• IFN-beta 1b and Remdesivir for COVID19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: Interferon beta-1b;   Drug: Remdesivir
  Sponsor:   The University of Hong Kong
  Recruiting

• COVID-19 And Geko Evaluation: The CAGE Study - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Device: geko T3
  Sponsor:   Lawson Health Research Institute
  Not yet recruiting

• A Phase Ⅱ Clinical Trial of Recombinant Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) Vaccine (Sf9 Cells) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Biological: Low-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (18-59 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (18-59 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (18-59 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (18-59 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (60-85 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (60-85 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (60-85 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose Recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (Sf9 cells) (60-85 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose placebo (18-59 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose placebo (18-59 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose placebo (18-59 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose placebo (18-59 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose placebo (60-85 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: Low-dose placebo (60-85 years) & Three dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose placebo (60-85 years) & Two dose regimen;   Biological: High-dose placebo (60-85 years) & Three dose regimen
  Sponsors:   Jiangsu Province Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;   West China Hospital
  Recruiting

• Resolving Inflammatory Storm in COVID-19 Patients by Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids - - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Omegaven®;   Drug: Sodium chloride
  Sponsor:   Karolinska University Hospital
  Recruiting

• LYT-100 in Post-acute COVID-19 Respiratory Disease - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: LYT-100;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsors:   PureTech;   Clinipace Worldwide;   Novotech (Australia) Pty Limited
  Not yet recruiting

• Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial 4 (ACTT-4) - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Drug: Baricitinib;   Drug: Dexamethasone;   Other: Placebo;   Drug: Remdesivir
  Sponsor:   National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
  Recruiting

• Vitamin D and Zinc Supplementation for Improving Treatment Outcomes Among COVID-19 Patients in India - Condition:   COVID-19
  Interventions:   Dietary Supplement: Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol);   Dietary Supplement: Zinc (zinc gluconate);   Dietary Supplement: Zinc (zinc gluconate) & Vitamin D (cholecalciferol);   Other: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Harvard School of Public Health;   Foundation for Medical Research;   University Health Network, Toronto
  Not yet recruiting

• WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Trial for COVID-19 Treatments - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: Remdesivir;   Drug: Acalabrutinib;   Drug: Interferon beta-1a;   Other: Standard of Care
  Sponsor:   The University of The West Indies
  Not yet recruiting

• COVID-19 Thrombosis Prevention Trials: Post-hospital Thromboprophylaxis - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: Apixaban 2.5 MG;   Drug: Placebo
  Sponsors:   Thomas Ortel, M.D., Ph.D.;   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  Not yet recruiting

• Efficacy and Safety of Ovotransferrin in COVID-19 Patients - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Dietary Supplement: Ovotransferrin
  Sponsor:   Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone Palermo
  Not yet recruiting

• Using Travelan to Boost Immune Response in Vitro to COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Other: Travelan OTC
  Sponsor:   Hadassah Medical Organization
  Active, not recruiting

• A Single-Arm Safety and Feasibility Study of Defibrotide for the Treatment of Severe COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Intervention:   Drug: Defibrotide
  Sponsors:   Brigham and Women’s Hospital;   Jazz Pharmaceuticals
  Not yet recruiting

• The Efficacy and Safety of SCTA01 in Hospitalized Patients With Severe COVID-19 - Condition:   Covid19
  Interventions:   Drug: SCTA01;   Other: Placebo
  Sponsor:   Sinocelltech Ltd.
  Not yet recruiting

From PubMed

• A five day course of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 may reduce the duration of illness - Ivermectin, an FDA-approved anti-parasitic agent, was found in vitro to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication. To determine the rapidity of viral clearance and safety of ivermectin among adult SARS-CoV-2 patients we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral ivermectin alone (12 mg once daily for 5 days) or in combination with doxycycline (12 mg ivermectin single dose and 200 mg stat doxycycline day-1 followed by 100 mg 12hrly for next 4 days) compared with placebo among 72…

• 2-Pyridone natural products as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease - The disease, COVID-19, is caused by the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for which there is currently no treatment. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (M^(pro)) is an important enzyme for viral replication. Small molecules that inhibit this protease could lead to an effective COVID-19 treatment. The 2-pyridone scaffold was previously identified as a possible key pharmacophore to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 M^(pro). A search for natural, antimicrobial products with the 2-pyridone moiety was…

• Synergism of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma Triggers Inflammatory Cell Death, Tissue Damage, and Mortality in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Cytokine Shock Syndromes - COVID-19 is characterized by excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute lung damage associated with patient mortality. While multiple inflammatory cytokines are produced by innate immune cells during SARS-CoV-2 infection, we found that only the combination of TNF-α and IFN-γ induced inflammatory cell death characterized by inflammatory cell death, PANoptosis. Mechanistically, TNF-α and IFN-γ co-treatment activated the JAK/STAT1/IRF1 axis, inducing nitric oxide production and…

• CD147-spike protein is a novel route for SARS-CoV-2 infection to host cells - In face of the everlasting battle toward COVID-19 and the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2, no specific and effective drugs for treating this disease have been reported until today. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor of SARS-CoV-2, mediates the virus infection by binding to spike protein. Although ACE2 is expressed in the lung, kidney, and intestine, its expressing levels are rather low, especially in the lung. Considering the great infectivity of COVID-19, we speculate that…

• Proton pump inhibitor or famotidine use and severe COVID-19 disease: a propensity score-matched territory-wide study - No abstract

• MBD2 serves as a viable target against pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting macrophage M2 program - Despite past extensive studies, the mechanisms underlying pulmonary fibrosis (PF) still remain poorly understood. Herein we demonstrated that lungs originated from different types of PF patients including coronavirus disease 2019, systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and mice following bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF are characterized by the altered methyl-CpG-binding domain 2 (MBD2) expression in macrophages. Depletion of Mbd2 in macrophages…

• Safety and Efficacy of Ixekizumab and Antiviral Treatment for Patients with COVID-19: A structured summary of a study protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial - OBJECTIVES: A severe epidemic of COVID-19 has broken out in China and has become a major global public health event. We focus on the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)-like changes and overactivation of Th17 cells (these produce cytokines) in patients with COVID-19. We aim to explore the safety and efficacy of ixekizumab (an injectable drug for the treatment of autoimmune diseases) to prevent organ injury caused by the immune response to COVID-19. Ixekizumab is a human monoclonal…

• Is spironolactone the preferred renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitor for protection against COVID-19? - The high mortality of specific groups from COVID-19 highlights the importance of host-viral interactions and the potential benefits from enhancing host defenses. SARS-CoV-2 requires angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)2 as a receptor for cell entry and infection. While both ACE inhibitors and spironolactone can upregulate tissue ACE2, there are important points of discrimination between these approaches. The virus requires proteolytic processing of its spike protein by transmembrane protease…

• Amotosalen and ultraviolet A light treatment efficiently inactivates severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in human plasma - CONCLUSION: Amotosalen/UVA light treatment of SARS-CoV-2 spiked human plasma units efficiently and completely inactivated >3·32 ± 0·2 log of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity, showing that such treatment could minimize the risk of transfusion-related SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

• Evolutionary and structural analysis of SARS-CoV-2 specific evasion of host immunity - The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is spreading fast worldwide. There is a pressing need to understand how the virus counteracts host innate immune responses. Deleterious clinical manifestations of coronaviruses have been associated with virus-induced direct dysregulation of innate immune responses occurring via viral macrodomains located within nonstructural protein-3 (Nsp3). However, no substantial…

• Primidone blocks RIPK1-driven cell death and inflammation - The receptor-interacting serine/threonine protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) is a key mediator of regulated cell death and inflammation. Recent studies suggest that RIPK1 inhibition would fundamentally improve the therapy of RIPK1-dependent organ damage in stroke, myocardial infarction, kidney failure, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Additionally, it could ameliorate or prevent multi-organ failure induced by cytokine release in the context of hyperinflammation, as seen in COVID-19 patients….

• Non-Coding RNAs and SARS-Related Coronaviruses - The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 has caused a major health and economic crisis around the globe. Gaining knowledge about its attributes and interactions with human host cells is crucial. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in the host cells’ innate antiviral immune response. In RNA interference, microRNAs (miRNAs) may bind to complementary sequences of the viral RNA strand, forming an miRNA-induced silencing complex, which destroys the viral RNA, thereby inhibiting viral protein expression….

• Investigation of beta-lactoglobulin derived bioactive peptides against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): in silico analysis - The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which started in late 2019 in Wuhan, China spread to the whole world in a short period of time, and thousands of people have died due to this epidemic. Although scientists have been searching for methods to manage SARS-CoV-2, there is no specific medication against COVID-19 as of yet. Two main approaches should be followed in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2; one of which is to…

• Recovering coronavirus from large volumes of water - The need for monitoring tools to better control the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is extremely urgent and the contamination of water resources by excreted viral particles poses alarming questions to be answered. As a first step to overcome technical limitations in monitoring SARS-CoV-2 along the water cycle, we assessed the analytical performance of a dead end hollow fiber ultrafiltration coupled to different options for secondary concentrations to concentrate viral particles…

• Effects of Nitrite and Far-red Light on Coagulation - Nitric oxide, NO, has been explored as a therapeutic agent to treat thrombosis. In particular, NO has potential in treating mechanical device-associated thrombosis due to its ability to reduce platelet activation and due to the central role of platelet activation and adhesion in device thrombosis. Nitrite is a unique NO donor that reduces platelet activation in that it’s activity requires the presence of red blood cells whereas NO activity of other NO donors is blunted by red blood cells….

From Patent Search

• AN EFFICIENT METHODOLOGY TO MANAGE THE ADMISSIONS IN HOSPITALS DURING THE PANDEMICS SUCH AS COVID 19 -

• Antiinfektive Arzneiform zur Herstellung einer Nasenspülung gegen COVID-19 -

  Einzeldosierte, wasserlösliche oder wassermischbare Arzneiform, umfassend mindestens einen antiinfektiven Arzneistoff, zur Herstellung einer Nasenspülung und/oder zur Verwendung in der lokalen Behandlung des menschlichen Nasenraums.

• Antiinfektive Arzneiform zur Herstellung einer Nasenspülung gegen COVID-19 -

  Einzeldosierte, wasserlösliche oder wassermischbare Arzneiform, umfassend mindestens einen antiinfektiven Arzneistoff, zur Herstellung einer Nasenspülung und/oder zur Verwendung in der lokalen Behandlung des menschlichen Nasenraums.

• A medicine for treating coronavirus-2 infection - The invention discloses a medicine for treating coronavirus-2 infection. The invention finds that T cells in COVID-19 patients is reduced and depleted finally, indicating that cytokines such as IL-10, IL-6, TNF-a may directly mediate reduction of T cells. Therefore, ICU patients need new treatment measures, and may even high-risk patients with low T cells count require early preventive treatment.

• 疫情趋势预测方法、装置、电子设备及存储介质 - 本申请实施例提供了一种疫情趋势预测方法、装置、电子设备及存储介质，应用于医疗科技领域，该电子设备包括处理器和存储器，存储器用于存储计算机程序，计算机程序包括程序指令，处理器被配置用于调用程序指令，执行以下步骤：获取目标地区的疫情序列数据；根据疫情序列数据构建疫情序列数据对应的目标特征矩阵；调用预训练的时间序列模型以根据目标特征矩阵进行疫情趋势预测，得到第一疫情趋势预测结果，第一疫情趋势预测结果包括预测的第二预设日期范围内各日期的新增病例的数量和/或新增死亡的人数。采用本申请，可以结合多维度特征来进行疫情趋势预测，可参考性更高。本申请涉及区块链技术，如可将第一疫情趋势预测结果写入区块链中。

• SARS-CoV-2 예방을 위한 mRNA기반 항원보강제 혼합물 합성 방법 - 본 발명은 SARS-CoV-2(코로나 바이러스) 예방을 위한 mRNA 항원보강제에 관한 것으로 코로나 바이러스에 대한 백신으로서 상기의 항원에 대한 예방을 목적으로 하고 있다. 아이디어에는 보강제에 해당하는 완전프로인트항원보강제(CFA)와 불완전프로인트항원보강제(IFA), 번역과 안정성의 최적화가 된 mRNA, mRNA 운반체, 양이온성 지질 나노입자(lipid nanoparticles)로 구성되며 기존의 백신에 비해 효율성과 안정성의 측면에서 더 향상된 효과를 가지고 있다.

• A PRIMER COMBINATION FOR DETECTING 2019NCOV BY LOOP-MEDIATED ISOTHERMAL AMPLIFICATION - The invention provides a primer combination for detecting 2019nCoV by loop mediated isothermal amplification. The primer combination comprises a forward external primer NCP-F3-2 shown in SEQ ID NO.1, a reverse external primer NCP-B3 2 shown in SEQ ID NO.2, a forward inner primer NCP-FIP-2 shown in SEQ ID NO.3, a reverse inner primer NCP-BIP-2 shown in SEQ ID NO.4 and a loop primer NCP-LB 2 shown in SEQ ID No.5. The method has the advantages of short detection time, high sensitivity and strong specificity for 2019nCoV, and the detection result can be observed by naked eyes, thereby greatly improving the detection efficiency of 2019nCoV.

• Mittel zur Stärkung der Abwehrkräfte und Erhöhung der Immunität -

  Mittel zur Stärkung der Abwehrkräfte und Erhöhung der Immunität, insbesondere gegen eine Covid19-Infektion aufgrund des Sars-CoV-2-Virus, mit folgender Wirkstoffkombination:

• Plasma oder Serum, gewonnen aus dem Blut eines an Covid19 erkrankten und genesenen Menschens oder Tieres,

• zumindest einem zugelassenen Medikament oder einer Kombination von zugelassenen Medikamenten und

• zugelassenen Vitaminen und Mineralstoffe.

• Vorrichtung zum Reinigen und/oder Desinfizieren von Objekten -

  Vorrichtung (1) zum Desinfizieren von Objekten mit einer Basiseinheit (2), mit einem Aufnahmebehälter (4) für Wasser, welcher an der Basiseinheit (2) montierbar und von der Basiseinheit demontierbar ist, mit einer Objekthalterung (6) zum Halten und/oder Stützen der Objekte (10), wobei diese Objekthalterung (6) in dem Aufnahmebehälter montierbar ist und mit einer elektrisch betriebenen Reinigungseinrichtung (8), welche in dem Wasser befindliche Objekte zumindest mittelbar reinigt oder desinfiziert, wobei diese Reinigungseinrichtung in der Basiseinheit befindliche Erzeugungsmittel zum Erzeugen einer elektrischen Spannung aufweist sowie einen Plasmagenerator und/oder eine Ultraschallerzeugungseinheit.

• Methods for treating Arenaviridae and Coronaviridae virus infections - Provided are methods for treating Arenaviridae and Coronaviridae virus infections by administering nucleosides and prodrugs thereof, of Formula I:

wherein the ’ position of the nucleoside sugar is substituted. The compounds, compositions, and methods provided are particularly useful for the treatment of Lassa virus and Junin virus infections.