Clinical medicine (London, England)
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Contemporary sensitivity troponin (cs-cTn) concentrations above the upper limit of normal (ULN) are seen in a wide range of clinical conditions and evidence is growing that suggests cs-cTn may be a biomarker of future morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Increasing cs-cTnI concentrations are associated with higher short-term mortality as well as length of stay. As such, cs-cTnI measurements may provide useful prognostic information.
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Here, we advocate a highly favourable opportunity for the treatment of COVID-19 disease by repurposing a long-serving medical agent with an excellent history of clinical use, namely heparin. Heparin is best known as an anticoagulant, but it also exhibits direct antiviral activity against many enveloped viruses and has anti-inflammatory activity. The high incidence of thromboembolic events in COVID-19 patients suggests that coagulopathy plays an important role in the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. ⋯ We demonstrate here in vitro that heparin does indeed inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. The three concurrent modes of activity of heparin (antiviral, anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory) against SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 form a unique therapeutic combination. Thus, repurposing of heparin to fight SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 appears to be a powerful, readily available measure to address the current pandemic.
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Observational Study
How COVID-19 has changed the unselected medical take: an observational study.
COVID-19 has had a profound effect on the NHS. Little information has been published as to how the unselected medical take has been affected. ⋯ COVID-19 patients had worse clinical outcomes and increased healthcare use compared to non-COVID-19 patients. Our study highlights some of the challenges in healthcare provision faced during this pandemic.