The real-world effectiveness of fluvoxamine therapy in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients; A historical cohort study (Fluvoxa Trial).

BACKGROUND: Fluvoxamine (FVX) has been proposed as a potential treatment for severe COVID-19 by the σ-1 receptor agonist, which can reduce cytokine production. However, the efficacy of FVX remains controversial. METHODS: A historical retrospective cohort study was conducted in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients, 2:1 ratio of standard of care (SOC) and FVX treatments to assess the effectiveness of FVX in preventing deterioration by the fifth day of treatment. RESULTS: Of 752 eligible patients, 234 received FVX while 518 received SOC, and there was no significant difference in the effectiveness of FVX and SOC in preventing clinical deterioration. On the fifth day after treatment, 86.1 % of patients in the FVX-treated group did not experience clinical deterioration compared to 78.7 % in the SOC group. Notably, the FVX group had higher rates of pneumonia development and hospitalization, requiring more oxygen supplementation while showing less reduction in viral shedding than the SOC group. However, no difference in mechanical ventilation use, ICU admission, and survival was observed. CONCLUSION: Fluvoxamine treatment is failed to demonstrate effectiveness in preventing deterioration in mild to moderate COVID-19 and may lead to a higher incidence of pneumonia, hospitalization, and oxygen supplementation, necessitating careful consideration before prescribing the drug for COVID-19.

Early switching of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in HIV-infected patients with TDF-induced nephrotoxicity: a prospective study.

Background: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) can induce proximal renal tubulopathy (PRT) and necessitate changes in treatment regimen. This prospective study aimed to compare tubular function recovery following early switching versus late switching of TDF in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with TDF-induced PRT.Methods: For this prospective study, conducted during 2017-2019, we enrolled HIV-1-infected, virologically suppressed adults undergoing TDF-containing combination antiretroviral therapy. Patients were separated into a late-switching group (LSG) and an early-switching group (ESG). The LSG included patients having an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decrease ≥25% from the pretreatment level or Fanconi syndrome. The ESG included patients having ≥2 of the following indicators of PRT: fractional excretion of phosphate (FEUP) ≥10%, low tubular maximum reabsorption of phosphate (TmP)/GFR, or uricosuria; fractional uric acid excretion ≥10%; urine protein-creatinine index (UPCI) ≥500 mg/g creatinine, normoglycemic glycosuria, or decrease in eGFR of 15%-24%. Recovery of proximal tubular function at 6 and 12 months after TDF discontinuation was assessed. Complete recovery was defined as normalization of all abnormal tubular markers.Results: Thirty-three HIV-infected patients were enrolled (70% male). Except for tubular function markers, baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. The proportion of patients having complete recovery was significantly higher in the ESG (p = 0.007, log-rank test). FEUP improved significantly in the ESG after TDF discontinuation; improvements of eGFR and UPCI were greater in the LSG. An eGFR change of 10% from baseline was the only independent predictor of failure to achieve complete recovery after switching. After median follow-up of 2.25 years post-trial, sustained recovery of eGFR within 5% of pre-TDF eGFR was achieved only in the ESG.Conclusions: Early-switching of TDF in HIV patients with PRT may allow complete recovery of proximal renal tubular function.

Orbital and Pulmonary Actinomycosis: The First Case Report and Literature Review.

Orbital actinomycosis is a very rare clinical manifestation of orbital infection caused by Actinomyces species, anaerobic Gram-positive filamentous bacteria. We report herein a case of a 58-year-old man who presented with chronic progressive course of total ophthalmoparesis in association with productive cough, leading to the diagnosis after extensive investigation. In addition, all reported cases of orbital actinomycosis in the literature are reviewed.