0000000000202397
AUTHOR
Christian Witt
Regional and global contributions of air pollution to risk of death from COVID-19
Abstract Aims The risk of mortality from the coronavirus disease that emerged in 2019 (COVID-19) is increased by comorbidity from cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Air pollution also causes excess mortality from these conditions. Analysis of the first severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) outcomes in 2003, and preliminary investigations of those for SARS-CoV-2 since 2019, provide evidence that the incidence and severity are related to ambient air pollution. We estimated the fraction of COVID-19 mortality that is attributable to the long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate air pollution. Methods and results We characterized global exposure to fine particulates…
High efficacy of face masks explained by characteristic regimes of airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus abundance
Abstract Airborne transmission is an important transmission pathway for viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Regions with a higher proportion of people wearing masks show better control of COVID-19, but the effectiveness of masks is still under debate due to their limited and variable efficiencies in removing respiratory particles. Here, we analyze experimental data and perform model calculations to show that this contrast can be explained by the different regimes of abundance of particles and viruses. Because of the large number of particles exhaled during human respiration and vocalization, indoor environments are usually in a particle-rich regime which means that masks cannot prevent the inhal…
Face masks effectively limit the probability of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Masking out air sharing The effectiveness of masks in preventing the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has been debated since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. One important question is whether masks are effective despite the forceful expulsion of respiratory matter during coughing and sneezing. Cheng et al. convincingly show that most people live in conditions in which the airborne virus load is low. The probability of infection changes nonlinearly with the amount of respiratory matter to which a person is exposed. If most people in the wider community wear even simple surgical masks, then the probability of an encounter with a virus particle is even fur…
Outcomes of Donor-Recipient Gender Mismatched Lung Transplantation in the Eurotransplant Area
Purpose An effect of donor-recipient gender mismatching on long-term survival outcomes following organ transplantation has been postulated but remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the influence of gender mismatches on long-term survival after lung transplantation in the Eurotransplant area. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre study in the Eurotransplant area, all lung transplants performed from DBD lungs in the period from 01.01.2000 until 31.12.2015 were included. A total of 7688 lung transplant recipients (≥ 14 years old) for long-term survival and the effect of gender mismatches (Kaplan-Meier, multivariate regression). Results More men (4079; 52 %) were transplanted comp…
S2K-Leitlinie zur Diagnostik und Therapie der idiopathischen Lungenfibrose
Die idiopathische pulmonale Fibrose (IPF) ist eine schwerwiegende und in der Regel zum Tod fuhrende Erkrankung, die bisher nur unzureichend behandelt werden kann. Empfehlungen zur Diagnostik und Therapie wurden erstmals im ATS-ERS-Statement im Jahr 2000 publiziert 1 . Seither haben sich die diagnostischen Standards geandert und es liegen zahlreiche Therapiestudien zu diesem Krankheitsbild vor, die es erforderlich machten, die bestehenden Empfehlungen zu uberarbeiten und eine wissenschaftlich begrundete Leitlinie zu erstellen. Diese wurde von einer internationalen Expertengruppe in den Jahren 2006 – 2010 erarbeitet und publiziert 2 . Die folgenden Ausfuhrungen beinhalten eine Ubersetzung wes…
Exceptional LAS Requests in Eurotransplant: Analysis of an 8-year Effort to Improve Lung Allocation for Precarious Patients
PURPOSE: Following introduction of the lung allocation score (LAS) in 2011, Eurotransplant member centers can apply for an exceptional LAS (eLAS) if the calculated LAS insufficiently reflects the perceived transplant benefit for a patient, specifically in case of primary pulmonary hypertension group 1 and 4; combined lung+non-renal transplantation; rare diseases; or extracorporeal support. Each eLAS proposal is evaluated by a LAS Review Board, consisting of ≥3 lung transplant experts, which subsequently declines or approves the eLAS request in consensus of ≥3 votes. In case of a lower than accepted score, predefined business rules to assign LAS percentiles are used. METHODS: A retrospective…