List of Open Clinical Trials for Patients with COVID-19 in the USA VA and Department of Defense facilities.

There is an urgent need to find effective treatment or a vaccine for COVID-19. Worldwide there are over 1,800 trials addressing COVID-19-related health care. There are 10 trials developed by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), US Department of Defense, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have provided important data on effective treatment options. The clinical trials listed below are all open as of May 31, 2020.

Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT)

This study is an adaptive, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel therapeutic agents in hospitalized adults diagnosed with COVID-19. The study will compare different investigational therapeutic agents to a control arm. ID: NCT04280705

Study to Evaluate the Safety and Antiviral Activity of Remdesivir (GS-5734) in Participants with Severe Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of 2 remdesivir (RDV) regimens with respect to clinical status assessed by a 7-point ordinal scale on Day 11 (NCT04292730) or Day 14 (NCT04292899).

Expanded Access Remdesivir (RDV; GS-5734)

The treatment of communicable Novel Coronavirus of 2019 with Remdesivir (RDV; GS-5734) also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Tocilizumab in Patients With Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia (COVACTA)

This study will evaluate the efficacy, safety, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of tocilizumab  compared with a matching placebo in combination with standard of care in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Administration of Intravenous Vitamin C in Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19) and Decreased Oxygenation (AVoCaDO)

The study evaluates if Vit C is safe and tolerable in COVID-19 subjects given early or late in the disease course and may reduce the risk of respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and development of ARDS along with reductions in supplemental oxygen demand and inflammatory markers.

Treatment Of CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) With Anti-Sars-CoV-2 Convalescent Plasma (ASCoV2CP)

This is an expanded access open-label, single-arm, multi-site protocol to provide convalescent plasma as a treatment for patients diagnosed with severe, or life-threatening COVID-19.

A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of MSTT1041A (Astegolimab) or UTTR1147A in Patients With Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia (COVASTIL)

This is a Phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to assess the efficacy and safety of MSTT1041A (astegolimab) or UTTR1147A in combination with standard of care (SOC) compared with matching placebo in combination with SOC in patients hospitalized with severe coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia.

Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial 2 (ACTT-II)

ACTT-II will evaluate the combination of baricitinib and remdesivir compared to remdesivir alone. Subjects will be assessed daily while hospitalized. If the subjects are discharged from the hospital, they will have 3 home visits.  

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Dr. Brook's interview about becoming a laryngectomee, and coping with COVID-19

Dr. Itzhak Brook is a physician and laryngectomee.

In the interview made for the International Association of Laryngectomees 69th Annual Meeting - Voice Institute 60th meeting on June 13, 2020, he describes how he dealt with throat cancer, and became a laryngectomee. He also discusses how laryngectomees can protect themselves from COVID-19 virus and deal with the challenges of caring for their airways during this period.

Dr. Itzhak Brook is a physician and laryngectomee.

In the interview made for the International Association of Laryngectomees 69th Annual Meeting - Voice Institute 60th meeting on June 13, 2020, he describes how he dealt with throat cancer, and became a laryngectomee. He also discusses how laryngectomees can protect themselves from COVID-19 virus and deal with the challenges of caring for their airways during this period.

Treatments for COVID-19 What helps, what doesn't, and what's in the pipeline for COVID-19

Most who become ill with COVID-19 will be able to recover at home. No specific treatments for COVID-19 exist right now. But some of the same things you do to feel better if you have the flu — getting enough rest, staying well hydrated, and taking medications to relieve fever and aches and pains — also help with COVID-19.

Scientists are working hard to develop effective treatments. Therapies that are under investigation include drugs that have been used to treat malaria and autoimmune diseases; antiviral drugs that were developed for other viruses, and antibodies from people who have recovered from COVID-19.

Enclosed is an update about the current treatments and potential ones for COVID-19 prepared by Harvard Medical School.

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 infection

COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Infected people have had a wide range of symptoms reported – from mild symptoms to severe illness.

Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. The CDC recommends that people with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

•          Fever or chills
•        Cough
•       Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
•        Fatigue
•        Muscle or body aches
•        Headache
•        New loss of taste or smell
•       Sore throat
•        Congestion or runny nose
•        Nausea or vomiting
•       Diarrhea

Look for emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately

•     Trouble breathing
•        Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
•        New confusion
•        Inability to wake or stay awake
•        Bluish lips or face

Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

It is helpful to have a plan in place in case one becomes sick. Identifying a caregiver and staying in touch with family, friends, neighbors, and healthcare professionals during the pandemic through email or phone, especially if some lives alone is important. If one is aware of an exposure or are experiencing symptoms such as a sore throat, dry cough, fever, and/or shortness of breath, seek medical help as soon as possible. Trying to contact one’s care team over the phone before coming into a medical center can facilitate their care.

COVID-19 May Be a Blood Vessel Disease. Learn more about this

Many of the infection’s bizarre symptoms have one thing in common. This article is by Dana G Smith.  

Months into the pandemic, there is now a growing body of evidence to support the theory that the novel corona virus can infect blood vessels, which could explain not only the high prevalence of blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks, but also provide an answer for the diverse set of head-to-toe symptoms that have emerged.

In a paper published in April in the scientific journal The Lancet, Mehra and a team of scientists discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect the endothelial cells that line the inside of blood vessels. Endothelial cells protect the cardiovascular system, and they release proteins that influence everything from blood clotting to the immune response. In the paper, the scientists showed damage to endothelial cells in the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, and intestines in people with COVID-19.

Click to read the whole article. 

COVID-19 virus and blood cells