https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119469

The association of airborne particulate matter and benzo[a]pyrene with the clinical course of COVID-19 in patients hospitalized in Poland

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113651

Air pollution might affect the clinical course of COVID-19 in pediatric patients

The study was designed to prepare pure curcumin nanoparticles in rapid and simple way for target specific drug delivery to kill bacteria lying deep down within the alveoli of lungs via inhaler. Three different methods including evaporation precipitation of nanosuspension (ENP), solid dispersion (SD) and anti-solvent precipitation (ASP) were selected to prepare nanocurcumin in pure form in very simple way. This was done to compare their efficiency in terms of particle size obtained and water solubility and bacterial toxicity of as prepared curcumin nanoparticles. In this comparative study, curcumin NPs obtained from three different methods having particles size 65.3 nm, 98.7 nm and 47.4 nm respectively. The NPs were characterized using various techniques like SEM, XRD, UV-Visible and FTIR for their particle size determination and solubility evaluation. These particles were screened off against five bacterial strains causing lung diseases. AB3 prepared by ASP method, being smallest sized nanostructures, showed maximum solubility in water. These nanoparticles can be used as drug directly via inhaler to the target area without using any support or nano-carrier. In this way minimum dose formulation is required to target bacteria. 

Sustainable, economical and rapid treatment of multiple lung diseases using therapeutic potential of curcumin nanoparticles.

Background The aim was to outline a methodology to monitor the impact of vaccinations in different countries comparing in two different time within countries and between countries the frequency of new cases and Covid-19 related deaths and the percentage of vaccinations conducted. Design and methods The 25 countries with the largest increase in SARS-CoV-2 cases on 8 August 2021 were evaluated. In each nation was calculated the proportion of Covid-19 deaths divided per new cases x 100 and the proportion of new cases per 1.000 inhabitant on 10 January 2021 (before vaccinations’ distribution) and 8 August 2021 (when large percentage of the population had been vaccinated in many countries). Results The study shows that in the countries with the highest number of cases as of 8 August 2021, the proportion of vaccinations carried out in the population correlates negatively with both the proportion between Covid-19 dead people x100 infected people and with the rate of new cases. However, the proportion of vaccinations does not correlate with the differences in the two same indicators considered in the weeks observed, thus additional factors seem to play an important role. Conclusions This work indicates that mass vaccination is associated with a lower spread of the pandemic and, to greater extent, with a lowering of mortality in infected people.

https://www.jphres.org/index.php/jphres/article/download/2665/1157

Covid-19 vaccines work but other factors play a relevant role: A data analysis on spread and mortality in 24 countries

• The effect of 19 environmental factors on the CoViD-19 pandemic is tested. • Predictive statistics and Impact multipliers are used as Indicators of causality. • Multiple input ARX models with complex Subset dynamic structure are identified. • Robust M-type estimators are used to avoid the bias of outlying observations. • Human factors are identified as the most significant to explain the Pandemic spread. The effects of environmental factors on the spread of the CoViD-19 pandemic have been widely debated in the scientific literature. The results are important for understanding the outbreak dynamics and for defining health measures of prevention and containment. Using multivariate autoregressive (AR) models and robust statistics of causality, this paper analyzes the effect of 19 time series (10 physical and 9 social) on 3 daily CoViD-19 series (infected, hospitalized, deaths) in the Milan area for about 16 months. Robust M-estimation shows the weak effect of climatic and pollution factors, while authority restrictions, people mobility, smart working and vaccination rate have a significant impact. In particular, the vaccination campaign is important for reducing hospitalizations and deaths. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heha.2022.100026

C. Martinez-Boubeta

Papers

Airborne magnetic nanoparticles may contribute to COVID-19 outbreak: Relationships in Greece and Iran.