
Hospital COVID-19 Surge and Associated Mortality Risk
Volume Outcome Relationship Among COVID-19 Inpatients in US HospitalsA retrospective cohort study will be conducted using a large administrative database of U.S. hospitals to understand the volume-outcome relationship among patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Clinical Trial Evaluating the Effect of BCG Vaccination on the Incidence and Severity of SARS-CoV-2...
Covid19BCG Vaccination Reaction1 moreCountries that have not carried out universal mass vaccination against tuberculosis (BCG) have been shown to have higher incidence and death rates due to COVID-19 than countries with mass, long-term BCG immunization programmes. The aim of the study is to answer the following questions: Does BCG vaccination affect the course of COVID-19 (number of cases/deaths/severity of symptoms)? Will the course of COVID-19 be milder among subjects with a negative TB skin test (PPD RT 23 SSI) after an additional dose of BCG than in case of non-vaccinated subjects? Do people with a positive TB skin test have a milder course of COVID-19 infection than people with a negative test result? A multicenter, randomized, partially blinded, placebo-controlled study will be conducted in Rzeszow/Krakow/ Katowice/Warsaw on a group of 1000 volunteers, health care workers according to the following schedule: V 0-1: inclusion/informed consent/interview; V2: administration of TB skin test/anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG test/serum banking*; V3: TB skin test (TST) interpretation and subjects' division into three groups: (I) positive TST - observation; (II) negative TST- BCG-10 vaccination; (III) negative TST - placebo. Division into groups II and III based on randomisation; V4: serum banking*. Parallel beginning from V3, weekly telephone monitoring participants' health status; In case of COVID-19 symptoms a nasopharyngeal swab to confirm SARS-CoV-2 infection + serum banking*. V5: 3 months after vaccination at the end of the study: history/anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG test, serum banking*. Statistical analysis - comparison of the course of COVID-19 in groups: (I) with positive TST + observation, (II) with negative TST + BCG, (III) with negative TST + placebo - should demonstrate whether mass BCG vaccination has an impact on the incidence and course of COVID-19. * to measure the level of cytokines involved in cell-mediated immunity process

The Impact of COVID-19 on Surgical Practice in Jordan During the Second Outbreak
Covid19Background: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory pandemic with no available effective antiviral treatment or widely available effective vaccine. Surgical practice has faced widespread problems due to the pandemic including viral transmission risk and cross-infection, staffing problems, prioritizations of surgical procedures and lack of beds due to occupancy of hospitals and ICU beds with COVID-19 patients; Methods: A survey was conducted between October 31 to November 4, 2020, through google forms. The questionnaire involved 16 questions sent to consultants and specialists of all general and special surgical specialties and subspecialties in Jordan;

Silent Hypoxia and Awake Proning in COVID-19 Patients
Covid19HypoxemiaThe Investigators want to examine patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 for the phenomenon "Silent Hypoxia", which is clinically significant hypoxia without corresponding degree of dyspnea. The patient population is infected individuals without any serious symptoms and is at home. The participants will be equipped with a pulse oximeter and a PEF-measurement device. Four times daily the participants will register saturation, degree of dyspnea and PEF. If the participants experience desaturation or increasing dyspnea, physiotherapy is to be performed, and if that doesn't relieve symptoms or increase oxygen saturation, the hospital should be contacted for admission. The first part of this study is a feasibility study, and if found feasible, the investigators will expand the study to more participants.

Effect of Favipiravir on Mortality in Patients With COVID-19 at a Tertiary Center Intensive Care...
MortalityIntensive Care UnitEffect of Favipiravir and Lopinavir-Ritonavir on Mortality in a Tertiary Center Intensive Care Unit: Single Center Experience

Using Whatsapp for the Consultation
Covid-19Telephone, internet-connected devices (phablet, pc), chat platforms, mobile applications (Skype, Facebook messenger, Whatsapp, to name a few) can be exploited for telemedicine applications. Whatsapp and similar applications are widely used to facilitate clinical communication between physicians, too. Moreover, Whatsapp is used between ED physicians and consultant physicians during ED consultations in which medical information is exchanged. This platform is regarded as a useful application in the consultation of dermatological and orthopaedic cases. Preventing the overcrowding in the ED is key to reducing the transmission risk, and teleconsulting practice is thought to be effective in the diagnosis, treatment and reduction of the risk of disease transmission, most notably in the Covid-19 pandemic process. Video consulting is highly recommended in some countries on the grounds that it is likely to reduce the risk of transmission. Whatsapp-like applications are one of the video-consulting platforms assumed to reduce the risk of contamination by minimizing the patient-doctor contact. This study thus sets out to investigate the effect of Whatsapp video consultation upon patient admission and discharge times in comparison to bedside consultation in the evaluation of potential Covid-19 patients visiting the Covid-19 outpatient clinic during the pandemic period. The subjects who presented to ED Covid-19 outpatient clinic between March 11, 2020 and May 31, 2020 and for whom an infectious diseases (ID) physician was consulted (via Whatsapp or at bedside) will be included in the study in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eventually, 54 patients whose consultations were made via Whatsapp and 90 patients whose consultations were made at bedside will be in this study.

Predicting Severity and Disease Progression in Influenza-like Illness (Including COVID-19)
InfluenzaSARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)7 moreRespiratory infections such as colds, flu and pneumonia affect millions of people around the world every year. Most cases are mild, but some people become very unwell. Influenza ('flu') is one of the most common causes of lung infection. Seasonal flu affects between 10% and 46% of the population each year and causes around 12 deaths in every 100,000 people infected. In addition, both influenza and coronaviruses have caused pandemics in recent years, leading to severe disease in many people. Although flu vaccines are available, these need to change every year to overcome rapid changes in the virus and are not completely protective. This study aims to find and develop predictive tests to better understand how and when flu-like illness progresses to more severe disease. This may help to decide which people need to be admitted to hospital, and how their treatment needs to be increased or decreased during infection. The aim is to recruit 100 patients admitted to hospital due to a respiratory infection. It is voluntary to take part and participants can choose to withdraw at any time. The study will involve some blood and nose samples. This will be done on Day 0, Day 2 and Discharge from hospital, and an out-patient follow-up visit on Day 28. The data will be used to develop novel diagnostic tools to assist in rational treatment decisions that will benefit both individual patients and resource allocation. It will also establish research preparedness for upcoming pandemics.

EFFECT OF COVID-19 DISEASE IN SMELL AND TASTE OF PATIENTS WITH MILD, MODERATE OR SEVERE SYMPTOMATOLOGY...
Olfactory and Taste Dysfunction in SARS-CoV2 InfectionThis is an observational data and recording study. The aim of our study is to investigate the effect of SARS-COV2 infection on patients' sense of smell and taste, through quality control measurements using optic analogue scale (VAS) in hospitalized and in home-quarantined patients.

The REnal Patients COVID-19 VACcination Immune Response (RECOVAC IR) Study
Covid19Chronic Kidney DiseasesRationale: COVID-19 is associated with severely increased morbidity and mortality in patients with severely impaired kidney function, on dialysis or alive with a kidney transplant. Therefore, effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccination would be of great clinical importance in these patients. However, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination studies have excluded patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) so-far. Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with CKD stages 4/5, on dialysis or alive with a kidney transplant as compared to controls. Study design: prospective, controlled multicenter study Study population: 175 patients with CKD stages 4/5 (eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73m2), 175 on dialysis , 300 alive with a kidney transplant and 200 controls (partners or sibblings of patients) Intervention: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination according to standard of care. Blood will be drawn at 4 different time points (baseline and at day 28, month 6 and in a subset 28 days after a third vaccination). Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary endpoint is the antibody based immune response on day 28 after the second vaccination. Participants will be classified as responders or non-responders based on a spike (S)1 specific antibody levels of >=10 or <10 BAU/mL. The percentage of responders of each patient cohort will be compared with the percentage responders in the control group. Safety is a secondary endpoint which will be reported in terms of percentage of solicited local and systemic adverse events (AEs)graded according to severity. Other secondary endpoints include longevity of the immune response at 6 months, antibody respons 28 days after a third vaccination and levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific T and B cell responses.

Impact of Vitamin D Level and Supplement on SLE Patients During COVID-19 Pandemic
Covid19Aim of the work Impact of serum vit D level in SLE patients with COVID-19 disease on severity of infection, duration of COVID-19 disease course, fatigue development as a complication for both SLE and COVID-19 and assess impact of prior chloroquine on COVID-19 disease outcomes Patients and methods 38 SLE patients previously diagnosed and on different lines of lupus management. Participants were presented to chest outpatient clinic and emergency hospital, Mansoura University with manifestation suggesting COVID-19 infection. Serum vit D was measured in serum by ELISA.