Clinical Research Directory

Antiviral Clinical Trial for Long Covid-19

The trial will test if two repurposed HIV antivirals can reduce symptom burden in adult participants with Long Covid compared to placebo. Viral infection and viral reactivation have been documented in Long Covid. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive antivirals, Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine, TDF/FTC, Group 1) or Selzentry (Group 2), or a placebo (pill) (Group 3), taken daily for 90 days.

Lumbrokinase for Adults With Long Covid, Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This will be a pilot multi-arm clinical trial investigating the feasibility of Lumbrokinase (LK) as an intervention in three clinical cohorts: * Long Covid (LC) * Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) * Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

The Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on Cognitive Functions and Brain Networks for Long COVID

Background of study: Long COVID(LC) is a prevalent sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 infection and can affect multiple organ systems. Cognitive dysfunction is one of the most common symptoms in LC with 22% prevalence. It can persist for years and significantly reduce patients' quality of life. Brain network is the neural basis underlying human cognitive processes. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) research has revealed that alterations of network characteristics were associated with cognitive impairments across attention, memory, executive function and language in LC. Currently, there is no accepted therapy for cognitive impairment in LC. Acupuncture, as a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy, has potential to improve cognitive deficits for LC. However, research focusing on the impact of acupuncture on cognitive functions in LC is rare. Additionally, no one has evaluated the mechanism of acupuncture improving cognitive functions in LC. Objective of the study: This study aims to assess the effect of acupuncture treatment on cognitive function and explore the central mechanism of acupuncture therapy in improving cognitive function for LC using cognitive assessments, DTI and resting-state fMRI. Study design: A prospective, three-armed, randomized controlled trial with DTI and rs-fMRI. Adults with LC will be randomly assigned to acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waitlist control group in a 1:1:1 ratio, receiving 8-week intervention or waiting. Cognitive function and topological attributes of brain networks will be examined at baseline and 8th week. Study population: Patients fulfilling World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for LC will be included in this study.

Whole-Body Electrostimulation for Functional Recovery in Post-COVID Syndrome

Post-COVID syndrome is a condition that affects some people after recovering from the acute phase of COVID-19. Common symptoms include persistent fatigue, reduced physical capacity, and difficulties performing everyday activities, which can significantly impact quality of life and independence. At present, there is limited scientific evidence on effective rehabilitation strategies for this population. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the use of a whole-body electrostimulation suit can improve fatigue, physical performance, and functional independence in people with post-COVID syndrome. Whole-body electrostimulation is a non-pharmacological technique that uses low-frequency electrical impulses to activate multiple muscle groups simultaneously and has shown potential benefits in other clinical populations. This is a randomized, double-blind, controlled pilot clinical trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which will receive active whole-body electrostimulation during functional activities, or a control group, which will follow the same sessions using the electrostimulation suit with minimal stimulation (placebo condition). Neither participants nor outcome assessors will know which group each participant belongs to. The intervention will consist of 12 supervised sessions conducted once per week. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention, with an additional follow-up assessment three months later. The main outcomes include fatigue levels, functional capacity, physical performance, and independence in activities of daily living. Safety and tolerance to the intervention will be monitored throughout the study. The results of this study may help to determine the feasibility and potential effectiveness of whole-body electrostimulation as a rehabilitation tool for people with post-COVID syndrome and provide preliminary data for future larger-scale clinical trials.

Periodic Fasting for Treatment of Long Covid in Adults: a Pilot Study

Background: Long COVID, characterized by persistent symptoms following acute COVID-19 infection, has emerged as a significant public health concern. Symptoms range from fatigue, cognitive impairments, to respiratory difficulties, affecting patients\' quality of life. Dietary interventions, particularly fasting, have historically been used to modulate immune responses and improve health outcomes in various conditions. The Buchinger-Wilhelmi method represents a structured and medically supervised fasting approach. Given the inflammatory nature of long COVID, fasting may offer therapeutic benefits by modulating the immune response, enhancing cellular repair mechanisms, and resetting metabolic processes. Objectives: This clinical trial aims to assess the feasibility of a 7-day ambulatory fasting intervention using the Buchinger-Wilhelmi method on long COVID patients as primary objective. As secondary objectives, the study will investigate the potential beneficial impact of fasting on clinical, biological, and psychological parameters over a period of 4 weeks, offering insights into potential therapeutic avenues for long COVID management. Study timeline: The research will span a period of 4 weeks Study population: This study aims to recruit around 20 participants, who will all receive a fasting intervention using the Buchinger-Wilhelmi method. Biological sample and data collection: Participants will undergo various data and sample collection procedures, including blood draws of up to 90 42 ml per visit, collection of peripheral mononuclear cells, stool samples, and completion of questionnaires in a smartphone-based Application (MyCap). Sample analysis: The collected samples will be subjected to a range of analyses, including the assessment of serological markers for routine blood chemistry, evaluation of inflammation markers, and examination of stool samples.