53 research outputs found

    Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

    Get PDF
    Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

    Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

    Get PDF
    Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

    Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

    Get PDF
    Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

    Peripheral location of the human late X and homologous association of autosomes numbers one, two and three

    No full text
    By application of the "centroid" method of Barton, David and Merrington to a number of H3-thymidine radioautographs, it was determined that the human late-replicatingX chromosome lies towards the periphery of the metaphase in a significant number of cases. Further, in agreement with earlier findings by other authors, the centromeres of chromosomes 1, 2 and 3 were found to lie closer together than is to be expected on a random hypothesis

    Beating heart surgery using the Octopus tissue stabilizers: initial experience including triple vessel disease and high-risk patients.

    No full text
    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate initial results in beating heart coronary artery bypass grafting performed on patients with multivessel disease, using suction-based tissue stabilizers. METHODS: Forty patients (mean age 65.5 years, range 39-83) underwent beating heart coronary bypass by median sternotomy, with the use of the Octopus 1 (n = 27) and Octopus 2 (n = 13) devices. Twenty patients had unstable angina, four had pulmonary oedema, and four required preoperative intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. Five interventions were repeat procedures. Mean ejection fraction was 54.4%(range 20-82%). Eighteen patients had triple-vessel disease, 18 patients had double-vessel disease and > 50% left main stem stenosis was present in six patients (isolated or in association). The average number of distal anastomoses was 2.5 (range 1-5, total 101). A mean of 1.5 (range 1-3) anastomoses was achieved with arterial grafts (45 mammary and 12 gastroepiploic arteries). RESULTS: Immediate graft patency was evaluated by Doppler flowmeter and five anastomoses were successfully corrected, based on an occlusion pattern. The perioperative myocardial infarction rate was zero. Transient episodes of supraventricular arrhythmias were detected in 19 patients. The administration of dobutamine at an inotropic concentration > 5 gamma-1 kg-1 min-1 was required in one patient. There were two in-hospital deaths (one non-cardiac-related). Overall survival and cardiac event-free rate at 20 months were 92.4% +/- 4.2% and 81.8% +/- 11.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfactory results can be achieved in multivessel disease high-risk patients with beating heart coronary bypass surgery

    Beating heart surgery using the Octopus (TM) tissue stabilizers: Initial experience including triple vessel disease and high-risk patients

    No full text
    Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate initial results in beating heart coronary artery bypass grafting pet-formed on patients with multivessel disease, using suction-based tissue stabilizers. Methods : Forty patients (mean age 65.5 years, range 39-83) underwent beating heart coronary bypass by median sternotomy. with the use of the Octopus(TM) 1 (n = 27) and Octopus(TM) 2 (n = 13) devices. Twenty patients had unstable angina. four had pulmonary oedema, and four required preoperative intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation. Five interventions were repeat procedures. Mean ejection fraction was 54.4%(range 20-82%). Eighteen patients had triple-vessel disease, 18 patients had double-vessel disease and > 50% left main stem stenosis was present in six patients (isolated or in association). The average number of distal anastomoses was 2.5 (range 1-5. total 101). A mean of 1.5 (range 1-3) anastomoses was achieved with arterial grafts (45 mammary and 12 gastroepiploic arteries). Results : Immediate graft patency was evaluated by Doppler flowmeter and five anastomoses were successfully corrected, based on an occlusion pattern. The perioperative myocardial infarction rate was zero. Transient episodes of supraventricular arrhythmias were detected in 19 patients. The administration of dobutamine at an inotropic concentration > 5 gamma (-1) kg(-1) min(-1) was required in one patient. There were two in-hospital deaths (one non-cardiac-related). Overall survival and cardiac event-free rate at 20 months were 92.4% +/- 4.2% and 81.8% +/- 11.6%, respectively. Conclusions : Satisfactory results can be achieved in multivessel disease high-risk patients with beating heart coronary bypass surgery
    corecore