Articles: coronavirus.
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As the Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) pandemic is going through its second year, the world is counting more than 4.9 million lives lost. Many repurposed immunomodulatory drugs have been tried and failed to treat COVID-19. The only successful treatments that improve survival are systemic corticosteroids and tocilizumab, by targeting the systemic inflammatory cascade. ⋯ We also discuss safety issues as well as therapeutic considerations and clinical implications of the use of ICS in COVID-19. Four randomized controlled trials (RCT) with more than 3000 participants suggest that ICS may lead to earlier clinical improvement and lower rate of hospitalization in patients with mild COVID-19, while 9 ongoing RCTs are anticipated to provide more evidence for the use of ICS in COVID-19. Recent evidence has shown promise that ICS could provide tangible benefits to patients suffering from COVID-19.
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Practice Guideline
Clinical Practice Guidelines From the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB): COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma.
Coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent plasma (CCP) has emerged as a potential treatment of COVID-19. However, meta-analysis data and recommendations are limited. The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) developed clinical practice guidelines for the appropriate use of CCP. ⋯ CCP is most effective when transfused with high neutralizing titers to infected patients early after symptom onset.
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The present study aimed to identify associations between extremes in body weight status (underweight and excess body weight) before a COVID-19 diagnosis and clinical outcomes in patients infected with SARS coronavirus type 2. ⋯ Being underweight and excess body weight were not independently associated with clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 in the herein analyzed cohort. This finding indicates that the association between these variables may be confounded by both age and comorbidities.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inpatients may acquire infections from other pathogens during hospital admission. This is the first research on this subject to be reported from Taiwan. ⋯ Our study revealed the unique local epidemiology of hospital-acquired infections among COVID-19 inpatients in Taiwan. These patients were associated with increased mortality and prolonged hospital admissions.