Background: Algae-derived nutraceuticals, such as spirulina, have been reported to have biological activities that may minimize clinical consequences to COVID-19 infections.
Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether spirulina is an effective treatment for high-risk patients with early COVID-19 in an outpatient setting.
Methods: The TOGETHER trial is a placebo-controlled, randomized, platform trial conducted in Brazil.
Importance: Matched placebo interventions are complex and resource intensive. Recent evidence suggests matched placebos may not always be necessary. Previous studies have predominantly evaluated potential bias of nonmatched placebos (ie, differing on dose, frequency of administration, or formulation) in pain and mental health, but to date no systematic examination has been conducted in infectious disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Previous trials have demonstrated the effects of fluvoxamine alone and inhaled budesonide alone for prevention of disease progression among outpatients with COVID-19.
Objective: To determine whether the combination of fluvoxamine and inhaled budesonide would increase treatment effects in a highly vaccinated population.
Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, adaptive platform trial.
Lancet Reg Health Am
February 2022
Background: Observational studies have postulated a therapeutic role of metformin in treating COVID-19. We conducted an adaptive platform clinical trial to determine whether metformin is an effective treatment for high-risk patients with early COVID-19 in an outpatient setting.
Methods: The TOGETHER Trial is a placebo-controled, randomized, platform clinical trial conducted in Brazil.
Lancet Glob Health
January 2022
JAMA Netw Open
April 2021
Importance: Data on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine or lopinavir-ritonavir for the treatment of high-risk outpatients with COVID-19 in developing countries are needed.
Objective: To determine whether hydroxychloroquine or lopinavir-ritonavir reduces hospitalization among high-risk patients with early symptomatic COVID-19 in an outpatient setting.
Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in Brazil.
The present study compares the profile of NK cells in an in vitro re-exposure by Vaccinia virus (VACV), in groups that have had a previous vaccination or natural infection. Our data suggests that stimulation with VACV triggers a cytotoxic response by NK cells marked by an increase of NCRs: NKp30, NKp44, and NKp46 in infected (vaccinated and unvaccinated) subjects and in non-infected vaccinated patients, when compared with non-infected unvaccinated individuals. However, the degranulation and secretion processes are inhibited in infected (vaccinated and unvaccinated) subjects and in the non-infected vaccinated patients, when compared with non-infected unvaccinated individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study evaluates the immune response of memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from patients following a natural Vaccinia virus (VACV) infection. A total of 42 individuals were involved in the study being: 22 previously infected individuals (vaccinated or not against smallpox) and 20 non-infected individuals (vaccinated or not). A short-term in vitro stimulation with UV-inactivated VACV of whole blood cells was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccinia virus is responsible for a zoonosis that usually affects cattle and human beings in Brazil. The initial clinical signs of the infection are focal red skin areas, fever, and general symptoms similar to those of a cold. Then, pustules and ulcerated lesions surrounded by edema and erythema follow, as well as local lymphadenopathy that can last for weeks.
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