Acute Upper Respiratory Infection

Researchers are evaluating the safety and immune response of an influenza virus split vaccine in adults aged 60 years and older through a randomized, double-blind, controlled phase I clinical trial. The study includes 120 participants divided into three groups to compare an experimental vaccine dose, a control vaccine dose, and a placebo. This research aims to understand how well the vaccine works and its side effects in this age group. Participants receive one injection of either the experimental influenza vaccine (0.7 mL), a control vaccine (0.5 mL), or a placebo, each administered into the upper arm muscle. Forty individuals are randomly assigned to each group in equal proportions. Laboratory tests are performed before vaccination and on the fourth day after vaccination to monitor immune response and safety. During the study, participants are closely monitored for any side effects for up to 30 days, including both expected and unexpected adverse events. Serious side effects are tracked for six months after vaccination. Researchers measure immune responses 30 days post-vaccination by checking antibody levels and rates of immune reaction. The study involves follow-up visits to assess safety and vaccine effectiveness, with participation lasting several months.

Researchers are conducting a long-term observational study to understand the characteristics and outcomes of people infected with the Omicron variant of COVID-19, including those without symptoms and those diagnosed with the disease. The study aims to explore how the virus affects various organs like the heart and lungs and to monitor changes in social and psychological health over time. Participants in this study are individuals who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The study involves a follow-up period extending up to 10 years, during which participants' health status is observed without any specific treatment interventions. This extended observation allows researchers to gather detailed information on the progression and long-term impact of COVID-19. Throughout the study, participants will be monitored for changes in their clinical conditions and social and psychological well-being. The main focus is on assessing long-term outcomes and shifts in health characteristics over a decade. Data will be collected regularly to track these aspects, helping to provide a comprehensive understanding of the disease's effects over time.

Researchers are conducting a long-term observational study across Europe to understand acute respiratory infections (ARI) in adults and children visiting primary care. The study aims to describe how ARI presents and is managed in community care, including infections caused by known and emerging respiratory pathogens. This research will help prepare for future clinical trials by building a research-ready infrastructure in primary care settings. Participants in this study may be part of one of three study protocols: POS-ARI-PC AUDIT, POS-ARI-PC CORE, or the embedded POS-ARI-PC-001 study. The AUDIT protocol involves anonymous registration of ARI cases presenting at primary care facilities. The CORE protocol includes detailed observational study with patient sampling and 28-day follow-up. The embedded POS-ARI-PC-001 study focuses on older adults or those with long-term health conditions and includes swab collection and follow-up procedures. During participation, patients will complete questionnaires about their symptoms and provide throat/nose swabs for analysis. They will be asked to report daily on their health status for up to 14 days using online or paper diaries. Researchers will also review clinical outcomes and hospital referrals up to 28 days after enrollment. Some participants may join optional interviews to share their experiences. The study collects data on illness severity, diagnosis, management, medication use, and return to daily activities to better inform future care and research.

This research aims to learn more about vitamin C deficiency in patients with either acute or chronic diseases. It focuses on understanding how symptoms change over time and how well patients tolerate treatment. The study involves patients diagnosed with vitamin C deficiency either by lab tests or based on symptoms such as fatigue, infections, bleeding gums, joint pain, and poor wound healing. The study observes patients treated with Vitamin C Injektopas® 7.5 g, given for an expected average of about 3 weeks for acute diseases or 12 weeks for chronic diseases. Two groups are included: those with acute underlying diseases and those with chronic underlying diseases, both receiving this vitamin C therapy during the study period. Participants will be followed to assess changes in general and disease-specific symptoms, as well as treatment tolerability and overall effectiveness from the patient's perspective. Researchers will also record the number of vitamin C infusions and measure quality of life for chronic disease patients. The study duration ranges up to approximately 12 weeks, with evaluations at the last visit to understand symptom improvement and treatment impact.

This research aims to develop and test a modified minimally invasive surgical technique for sinus floor augmentation in patients with a residual bone height of 3 to 6 millimeters. The goal is to create a reliable implant bed of at least 10 millimeters in height after a healing period of 3 to 5 months. The study also seeks to reduce patient stress compared to traditional methods. Participants will undergo the sinus floor elevation procedure, which is being evaluated to improve outcomes and comfort. This surgical technique is studied on a pilot group of 12 patients, with no placebo or comparative treatments involved. The procedure targets the maxillary sinus area to enhance bone structure for dental implant placement. During the study, participants will be monitored to measure the height of bone augmentation after 4 to 5 months of healing. The research team will assess the surgical results and patient recovery, including any side effects or complications. The total duration includes the surgery followed by the healing and evaluation period to determine the procedure's effectiveness and patient impact.

Researchers are evaluating the LIAISON NES FLU A/B, RSV & COVID-19 assay used on the LIAISON NES instrument for detecting and distinguishing influenza A, influenza B, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 viruses in patients showing symptoms of respiratory tract infections. This test is designed to help in the differential diagnosis of these infections in a professional laboratory setting, but negative results alone should not guide patient management as they do not rule out infection. The study is interventional and involves multiple sites. The trial involves collecting clinical specimens, mainly nasal swabs, from symptomatic patients. These specimens are collected prospectively by healthcare professionals, with up to 40% possibly self-collected under supervision. Nasopharyngeal swabs may also be collected by professionals, especially in children 13 years or younger. The assay uses real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect viral RNA directly from dry nasal swabs without the need for nucleic acid extraction. Participants will provide nasal or nasopharyngeal swabs preserved in specific transport media, which are tested on the LIAISON NES instrument within one to two hours of collection. The study measures the diagnostic accuracy and clinical performance of the assay. Specimens are carefully stored and handled to maintain quality. The trial monitors conditions including influenza A, influenza B, RSV, and COVID-19 infections and is expected to complete by May 2025.

Coughing is a common and distressing symptom for people with interstitial lung disease (ILD), affecting daily activities, work, and social life. This research explores a non-drug cough control therapy combined with pulmonary rehabilitation to see if it is practical and helps reduce chronic cough lasting more than eight weeks in ILD patients. The study aims to assess how well patients accept this therapy and whether it improves quality of life, cough symptoms, and fatigue compared to standard pulmonary rehabilitation alone. Participants will join a pulmonary rehabilitation program involving aerobic and strengthening exercises, disease-specific education, and self-management as usual care. Two weeks before finishing this program, they will receive four virtual sessions of 45 to 60 minutes each, focusing on cough control education and techniques. These sessions include assessing cough, learning suppression methods, breathing retraining, and reinforcing strategies to manage cough in daily life. During the study, researchers will track enrollment and attendance to measure feasibility, along with various clinical outcomes like cough severity questionnaires, fatigue scales, breathlessness ratings, and patient satisfaction interviews. The intervention is delivered online via Zoom, allowing remote participation. The total study duration averages one year, with ongoing assessments to understand the therapy's impact and participants' experiences.

Researchers are evaluating the safety, tolerability, and how the body processes (pharmacokinetics) single and multiple intravenous doses of a drug called BWC0977 in healthy adult volunteers. This Phase 1 study involves a total of 64 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 years and is designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with multiple dose groups. The study focuses on measuring any treatment-emergent adverse events and serious adverse events to understand the drug's safety profile. Participants will be divided into two main groups: single ascending dose (SAD) and multiple ascending dose (MAD) cohorts. In the SAD phase, volunteers receive one intravenous infusion of BWC0977 or placebo over 2 hours at doses of 750 mg or 1500 mg. In the MAD phase, participants receive multiple intravenous infusions of BWC0977 or placebo over 30 minutes to 2 hours daily for 7 to 10 consecutive days. Dose levels will increase sequentially based on safety and tolerability data collected during the study. During the study, participants will undergo various assessments including physical exams, vital signs, ECGs, laboratory tests, and blood sampling at specific times before, during, and after infusions to monitor safety and measure drug levels in the body. Researchers will track adverse events for up to 8 days after single dosing and up to 16 days after multiple dosing. Volunteers must comply with study visits and requirements throughout the trial, which lasts until August 2026.

Researchers are evaluating two investigational COVID-19 booster vaccines called CoTend-s3BXBB and CoTend-BXBB in healthy adults aged 40 to 64. The CoTend-s3BXBB vaccine includes a component named "s3" designed to enhance the body's immune response, while CoTend-BXBB is the same vaccine without this component. The study aims to determine if the vaccines are safe and whether the "s3" component generates a stronger, broader, and longer-lasting immune response. Participants will receive a single injection of one of the vaccines at varying doses, or a placebo. The vaccines are delivered as intramuscular shots, with doses ranging from 1x10^6 to 1x10^10 viral particles in a 0.5 mL volume. There are multiple study groups receiving different doses of either CoTend-s3BXBB, CoTend-BXBB, or placebo. Participants will be randomly assigned to these groups in a blinded manner. During the study, participants will be closely monitored for any side effects for up to 28 days after dosing and for serious events through longer follow-up visits up to 104 weeks. Samples of saliva, nasal secretions, and blood will be collected to measure immune responses, including antibody levels and T cell responses, through various timepoints up to two years. Safety assessments include tracking local and systemic reactions, adverse events, and medically attended issues.

Researchers are evaluating the antiviral effects of various treatments in adults aged 18 to 60 with early symptomatic influenza. This phase 2, multi-centre, adaptive platform trial compares several licensed influenza antiviral drugs and others with potential activity against the virus. The study aims to provide clear comparisons of antiviral activity to help guide treatment decisions and policy development. Participants may receive one of several antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir, favipiravir, zanamivir, baloxavir, molnupiravir, peramivir, laninamivir, or combinations of these medications. There is also a control group that receives no antiviral treatment except paracetamol for fever. Dosages and administration routes vary by drug and include oral, inhaled, and intravenous methods. The trial uses randomization to assign treatments, with at least 20% of participants assigned to the no treatment group. During the first five days, researchers will monitor the rate of viral clearance to assess antiviral activity. Additional measures include symptom relief and fever duration over 14 days. Participants will be closely followed up, with assessments including rapid antigen or PCR tests for influenza, symptom tracking, and safety monitoring. The total study period covers initial treatment and observation up to two weeks after starting treatment.