Our Pandemic Response Has Changed the Air. And More New Science Journal Info

Compiled by veteran medical journalist Brian Owens, this roundup of some of the newest science on the COVID-19 pandemic, straight from the scientific journals, is presented by Hakai Magazine in partnership with The Tyee.

Pandemic response has caused major changes in air quality

Levels of two major air pollutants have dropped dramatically since lockdowns began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but another pollutant has increased. Nitrogen dioxide, a gas produced in industrial and vehicle emissions that can damage the lungs, has decreased by as much as 60 per cent over northern China, western Europe, and the United States. Particulate matter pollution — solid particles and liquid droplets small enough to enter the lungs — has fallen by 35 per cent over northern China. But the drop in nitrogen dioxide has caused an increase in a secondary pollutant, ground-level ozone. Ozone, which is harmful to humans at ground level, is formed when sunlight and high temperatures cause chemical reactions in the lower atmosphere. It is normally destroyed by nitrogen dioxide.

Geophysical Research Letters, May 8, 2020

Geophysical Research Letters, May 11, 2020

Stroke evaluations drop during pandemic

The number of people evaluated for signs of stroke at U.S. hospitals has fallen by almost 40 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The drop was large even in places where there were few cases of COVID-19, so patients should not have found it difficult to get treatment. The researchers are concerned that people experiencing strokes may not be seeking life-saving medical care.

New England Journal of Medicine, May 8, 2020

Organ donations have also dropped

There has been a huge reduction in the number of organ donations and transplants since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of the beginning of April the number of procedures dropped by 91 per cent in France, and 50 per cent in the U.S., compared with one month earlier. Much of the decline is because of the reduction in kidney transplants, which have been postponed in many areas. However, there was also a steep drop in heart, lung and liver transplants. The number of organs available from deceased donors has decreased as well, as most transplant centers are not using organs from donors who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

The Lancet, May 11, 2020

Triple antiviral drug combo shows promise

A combination of three antiviral drugs — interferon beta-1b, lopinavir-ritonavir, and ribavirin — is safe and effective at reducing the duration of COVID-19 in people with mild or moderate disease, according to early stage clinical trials. Larger phase three clinical trials are now needed to evaluate how effective the treatment is, and whether it is useful in people with severe symptoms of the disease.

The Lancet, May 8, 2020

Children are at risk of severe complications

Children and young adults are at greater risk for severe complications from COVID-19 than previously thought, particularly if they have underlying conditions. Researchers studied 48 children that had been admitted to pediatric intensive care units in the U.S. and Canada and found that more than 80 per cent had chronic underlying conditions such as suppressed immune systems, obesity, diabetes, seizures, or chronic lung disease. More than 20 per cent experienced failure of two or more organ systems, and nearly 40 per cent required a breathing tube and ventilator. Two of the children admitted during the three-week study period died.

JAMA Pediatrics, May 11, 2020

Why does COVID-19 cause a loss of the sense of smell?

One puzzling symptom of COVID-19 is that it sometimes causes people to lose their sense of smell, even if they have no other symptoms. Now researchers working with mice have discovered a possible explanation. They found that the two proteins SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter cells, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, are found in sustentacular cells — the cells in the nose that help transfer smells from the air to neurons. So when the virus disables these cells, it can damage the sense of smell. They also found that older mice have more of the proteins in nasal cells than younger mice.

ACS Chemical Neuroscience, May 7, 2020

Close virus relative gives more evidence of natural origin

Some of the speculation that SARS-CoV-2 was created in a laboratory has focused on an unusual string of four amino acids in the virus’s RNA. These four amino acids affect the virus’s spike protein — the feature that the virus uses to enter cells. But a recently identified bat coronavirus that is closely related to SARS-CoV-2 also has a similar change, suggesting that this type of change can occur naturally in coronavirus evolution.

Current Biology, May 10, 2020

COPD and smoking are associated with higher risk of death from COVID-19

In a study of patients admitted to an intensive care unit, smokers and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have an increased risk of severe complications and death from COVID-19. Patients in the ICU with COPD have a 63 per cent risk of severe disease and a 60 per cent risk of dying, compared to a 33 per cent chance of severe symptoms and a 55 per cent change of death for patients in the ICU who do not have COPD. Current smokers are 1.45 times more likely to have severe complications compared with former smokers and those who have never smoked.

PLOS One, May 11, 2020

Bowel abnormalities seen in COVID-19 patients

As well as a lung infection, people with COVID-19 can have bowel abnormalities including reduced blood flow, blood clots and cell death. Bowel abnormalities are more common among sicker patients who were admitted to an intensive care unit.

Radiology, May 11, 2020

AI can predict COVID-19 diagnosis without testing

An artificial intelligence diagnostic algorithm can predict whether someone is likely to have COVID-19 based on his or her symptoms, without an actual clinical test. This may help in places where access to testing is limited. The algorithm uses data from the COVID Symptom Study app to predict COVID-19 infection by comparing people’s symptoms and the results of traditional COVID tests. Two clinical trials meant to validate the AI system are due to start shortly in the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Nature Medicine, May 11, 2020