Emanuel EJ, et al. NEJM 2020.
This article addresses the difficult issue of how to allocate overstretched resources during a pandemic and proposes six recommendations based on principles of equality and maximising benefits.
Preserving clinical trial integrity during the coronavirus pandemic. McDermott MM, Newman AB. JAMA 2020 (On-line 25 March 2020)
The coronavirus has caused havoc in organisation and conduct of clinical trials. This article discusses the relevant considerations for researchers including balancing risks, prioritising outcomes and adjusting protocols.
Clinical, laboratory and imaging features of COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rodriguez-Moralez et al. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease 2020 (On-line publication 13 March 2020).
This meta-analysis of 656 patients from mostly Chinese observational studies reported that 89% experienced fever, 58% cough and 46% dyspnoea. Common laboratory findings were decreased albumin (76%), high CRP and ESR (58% and 42%), high LDH (57%) and lymphopenia (43%). Ground-glass changes were seen on chest imaging. Twenty percent required intensive care and 14% of hospitalised patients died.
by Marialuisa Zedde and Francesco Cavallieri
