CORONA: A Study Using DeltaRex-G Gene Therapy for Symptomatic COVID-19
COVID-19Cytokine Storm1 moreCOVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. COVID-19 causes life threatening complications known as Cytokine Release Syndrome or Cytokine Storm and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. These complications are the main causes of death in this global pandemic. Over 1000 clinical trials are on-going worldwide to diagnose, treat, and improve the aggressive clinical course of COVID-19. The investigators propose the first, and so far, only gene therapy solution that has the potential to address this urgent unmet medical need. Rationale There are striking similarities between the damaged lung environment of COVID-19 induced ARDS and the tumor microenvironment (exposed collagen from tissue destruction by invading tumor or by the virus-induced immune response, and presence of activated proliferative cells (cancer cells and tumor associated fibroblasts or activated T cells, macrophages and pulmonary fibroblasts in COVID-19); DeltaRex-G is a disease-seeking retrovector encoding a cytocidal dominant negative human cyclin G1 as genetic payload). When injected intravenously, the DeltaRex-G nanoparticles has a navigational system that targets exposed collagenous proteins (XC proteins) in injured tissues (e.g. inflamed lung, kidney, etc.), thus increasing the effective drug concentration at the sites of injury, in the vicinity of activated/proliferative T cells evoked by COVID-19. Our hypothesis is that DeltaRex-G then enters the rapidly dividing T cells and kills them by arresting the G1cell division cycle, hence, reducing cytokine release and ARDS; Intravenous DeltaRex-G has minimal systemic toxicity due to its navigational system (targeting properties) that limits the biodistribution of DeltaRex-G only to areas of injury where exposed collagenous (XC) proteins are abnormally found; and DeltaRex-G is currently available in FDA approved "Right to Try" or Expanded Access Program for Stage 4 cancers for an intermediate size population. To gain this approval, FDA requires DeltaRex-G to have demonstrated safety and efficacy in early clinical trials.
The Hilo Pilot -Trial to Assess Feasibility
Premature InfantRespiratory Distress SyndromePreterm birth, or birth before 37 weeks' gestation, is increasingly common, occurring in 8% of pregnancies in Canada. Preterm birth is associated with many health complications, particularly when the birth happens before 29 weeks' gestation. At this gestational age, the lungs are not fully developed and it is not uncommon for infants to have problems breathing at the time of birth. One complication that can arise is when an infant stops breathing and needs to be resuscitated. When preterm babies need to be resuscitated doctors must take special care because of the small infant size and the immaturity of the brain and lungs. Oxygen is used to resuscitate babies who need it, but unfortunately there is disagreement about the best oxygen concentration to use. Oxygen concentration is important because both too much and too little oxygen can cause brain injury. Our research aims to fill this knowledge gap by participating in an international clinical trial to compare the effects of resuscitating babies less than 29 weeks' gestational age with either a low oxygen concentration or a high oxygen concentration. The oxygen concentrations have been selected using the best available knowledge. During the first 2 months of the clinical trial we will treat all babies less than 29 weeks' gestation who need resuscitation with the oxygen concentration we are randomly assigned. Then in the next 2 months, we will treat babies using the other oxygen concentration. After the trial, we will determine whether the babies resuscitated with low oxygen or those resuscitated with high oxygen have better survival and long-term health outcomes. Our research fills a critical knowledge gap in the care of extremely preterm babies and will impact their survival both here in Canada and internationally.
Decision Support System to Evaluate VENTilation in ARDS
Acute Respiratory Distress SyndromePatients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) residing in the intensive care unit (ICU) often require support for their breathing from a mechanical ventilator to provide adequate gas exchange, and although it is life-saving in this setting, it is also known to contribute to the morbidity and mortality in the condition. Mechanical ventilation delivers a volume and pressure of gas for each breath and can vary oxygen levels. Selecting the correct oxygen, pressure and volume levels is important, as incorrect levels can harm the patient, and result in an increased time connected to the ventilator. Recently, a system has been developed (the Beacon Caresystem) which advises the healthcare practitioner by the bedside as to how to best set the ventilator. This system is based on mathematics which describes the patients disease and may therefore provide ventilator settings which better suit the individual. The purpose of this study is to compare mechanical ventilation in ARDS patients following advice from the Beacon Caresystem to that of standard care to investigate whether the use of the system results in improved ventilation in all severities and phases of ARDS and thus reducing morbidity in ARDS. The investigators plan to recruit 110 patients (50 in the UK and 30 in each of the other 2 sites). The study also aims to examine the biological and physiological factors that determine the worsening of ARDS and the processes involved in recovery from ARDS with the aim to develop new therapies to help detect the condition and improve recovery. The investigators will utilise all raw data will be collected from the Beacon Caresystem to physiologically characterise the progression and resolution phases of ARDS. Additionally blood and Urine samples will be taken from healthy volunteers (100 in total) as a control comparison group for the biological analyses carried out in the DeVENT study.
Pre-operative Carriage of Respiratory VIRUSes, and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome After Heart...
Heart; SurgeryHeart1 moreThe main objective of our study is to determine whether asymptomatic influenza virus carriage is associated with an increased risk of post-operative Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) after cardiac surgery. Cardiac surgery patients are particularly at risk of developing ARDS with an estimated incidence of 5-10% based on the most recent data.
Impact of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) Treatment for an Atypical Acute Respiratory Distress...
Acute Respiratory Distress SyndromeAt the beginning COVID-associated lung injury was considered as typical ARDS, hence respiratory and nonrespiratory treatments were delivered according to general principles for this kind of illness. There is hypothesis that in predisposed individuals, alveolar viral damage is followed by an inflammatory reaction and by microvascular pulmonary thrombosis. The investigators suggest that thrombolytic therapy may be beneficial when compared to standard care in patients with SARS-CoV-2 and severe respiratory failure.
The Role of Sustained Inflation on Short Term Respiratory Outcomes in Term Infants
Respiratory Distress SyndromeNewborn2 moreSustained inflation (SI) has been reported to be effective for reducing the need for intubation and/or invasive ventilation in preterm infants. However, it has also an important role to support the initial breaths and liquid removal from the airways. Therefore, the investigators hypothesized that SI performed just after birth may help to facilitate the transitional period and decrease the incidence of early respiratory morbidities such as transient tachypnea in term infants.
Effect of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on The Pharyngeal Swallow in Neonates
Deglutition DisordersRespiratory Distress Syndrome In Premature Infants3 moreOral feeding of neonates while on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) is a common practice in many neonatal intensive care units (NICU) all over the country. However the safety of such practice has never been established. The Investigators hypothesize that mechanoreceptors, which should perceive sensory input from the liquid bolus, may be altered by the reception of pressurized airflow provided by the NCPAP, hence increase risk of aspiration. In this study, changes in the pharyngeal phase of swallowing were identified using video fluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) for infants while on NCPAP as compared to off NCPAP.
Vitamin A Supplementation for Extremely-Low-Birth-Weight Infants
InfantNewborn12 moreThis multi-site, randomized trial was conducted to determine the safety and effectiveness of a higher dose of vitamin A and determine if this would increase the rate of survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and reduce the risk of sepsis. Infants with birth weights from 401-1000g and who were on mechanical ventilation or supplemental oxygen at 24-96 hours of age were enrolled. Subjects were randomized to either the Vitamin A or a control group. Infants in the Vitamin A group were given a dose of 5000 IU (0.1 ml) intramuscularly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for four weeks. Control infants received a sham procedure rather than placebo injections.
Antenatal Late Preterm Steroids (ALPS): A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
PregnancyRespiratory Distress Syndrome2 moreThis is a randomized placebo controlled trial to evaluate whether antenatal corticosteroids can decrease the rate of neonatal respiratory support, thus decreasing the rate of NICU admissions and improving short-term outcomes in the late preterm infant. The use of antenatal corticosteroids has been shown to be beneficial in women at risk for preterm delivery prior to 34 weeks but has not been evaluated in those likely to deliver in the late preterm period
The Use of Heliox Via Nasal CPAP to Prevent Early CPAP Failure in Premature Infants: A Feasibility...
Respiratory Distress SyndromeNewbornThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and utility of using heliox gas in combination with nasal CPAP in premature infants. The investigators hypothesize that using heliox gas in combination with nasal CPAP will results in decreased early nasal CPAP failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation.