Safety & Efficacy of Apixaban vs Enoxaparin for Preventing Postoperative VTE in Surgery for Gynecologic Malignant Neoplasm
Association B/n Steroid-Sparing Therapy & Risk of Perianal Fistulizing Complications Among Young Patients With Crohn Disease
COVID-19 : Dexamethasone Trial Confirms Its Benefits in Treatment
Full results of a randomised clinical trial into low-dose dexamethasone confirmed earlier preliminary findings that it could save the lives of up to a third of hospitalised patients with severe respiratory complications from COVID-19.
The RECOVERY (Randomised Evaluation of COVid-19 thERapY) trial led by the University of Oxford found that the use of dexamethasone resulted in lower 28-day mortality among those receiving either invasive mechanical ventilation or oxygen alone.
However, there was “no clear effect” of dexamethasone for patients who were not receiving respiratory support.
In the controlled, open-label trial, 2104 patients were randomly assigned to receive 6 mg of oral or intravenous dexamethasone once daily for up to 10 days, while 4321 patients were assigned to receive usual care.
COVID-19 : Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine ‘Triggers Strong Immune Responses’
A phase I/II trial of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 being developed by the University of Oxford has found that the vaccine is safe, causes few side effects, and induces strong immune responses.
The early stage results, published in The Lancet, found that the candidate vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, provoked a T-cell response peaking 14 days after vaccination, and an antibody response within 28 days.
Andrew Pollard, chief investigator on the study, and professor of paediatric infection and immunity at Oxford University, described the results as “encouraging”. He told a briefing convened by the Science Media Centre on Monday that it was “a really important milestone on the path to the development of the vaccine”.
In the Commons, the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, hailed the results for taking us “one step closer to finding a vaccine that can potentially save lives, all around the world”.
The trial, which has so far involved 1077 healthy adults, caused minor side effects when compared with a control group given a meningitis vaccine. Fatigue and headache were the most commonly reported reactions.
However, there were no serious adverse events from the vaccine, the researchers said.