Spread of a SARS-CoV-2 variant through Europe in the summer of 2020.

Following its emergence in late 2019, the spread of SARS-CoV-21,2 has been tracked by phylogenetic analysis of viral genome sequences in unprecedented detail3–5. Although the virus spread globally in early 2020 before borders closed, intercontinental travel has since been greatly reduced. However, travel within Europe resumed in the summer of 2020. Here we report on a SARS-CoV-2 variant, 20E (EU1), that was identified in Spain in early summer 2020 and subsequently spread across Europe. We find no evidence that this variant has increased transmissibility, but instead demonstrate how rising incidence in Spain, resumption of travel, and lack of effective screening and containment may explain the variant’s success. Despite travel restrictions, we estimate that 20E (EU1) was introduced hundreds of times to European countries by summertime travellers, which is likely to have undermined local efforts to minimize infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results illustrate how a variant can rapidly become dominant even in the absence of a substantial transmission advantage in favourable epidemiological settings. Genomic surveillance is critical for understanding how travel can affect transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and thus for informing future containment strategies as travel resumes. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Composite thin films of nanoporous silicon/green synthesized silver nanoparticles as antibacterial surface

This work is about the fabrication of composite thin films of nanoporous silicon/green synthesized silver nanoparticles and their potential use as antibacterial surfaces. To obtain the composite layers, silver nano particles were synthesized using leaf extracts of P. boldus , and subsequently integrated on nanoporous silicon matrix. The achieved samples were characterized microscopically (TEM and AFM), and physiochemically (UV-vis spectroscopy, LIBS, and XRD). Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the composite layers was studied using different strains of Gram-positive (S. aureus and S. epidermidis) and Gram-negative (K. pneumoniae , E. coli , and P. aeruginosa) bacteria. The experimental results showed the potential of these composite thin films as antibacterial surfaces for biomedical applications

Green synthesized silver nanoparticles decorated on nanostructured porous silicon as an efficient platform for the removal of organic dye methylene blue

In the present work, nanostructured porous silicon (nPSi) thin films were used as a substrate for the deposition of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Different kinds of AgNPs were green synthesized by using Peumo extract and changing AgNO3 concentration. UV-vis spectroscopy confirmed the success of the synthesis, and TEM characterization showed AgNPs with a like-spherical shape and an average diameter, which ranges from 4 to 25 nm, depending on the AgNO3 concentration used. Then, AgNPs were introduced into the nPSi layer with a mean pore diameter of 46 nm and 75% of porosity by capillary suction. Hybrid layers nPSi/AgNPs were characterized by SEM, XRD, and RBS, confirming that AgNPs were introduced into nPSi layers. The catalytic activity of the hybrid layer in the reduction of organic dyes in water was studied using methylene blue (MB) as a model dye. Experimental results showed a high catalytic activity in comparison with other hybrid systems. The kinetic reduction could be fitted to the first-order equation obtaining the best degradation rate of 8.6 min(-1) with AgNPs synthetized with 2 mM of AgNO3. In addition, the reusability of these layers was demonstrated after five cycles, showing promising results for their use in wastewater management

Green Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles Using Leaf Plant Extracts of South American Endemic Cryptocarya alba

Background: Due to their extremely small size, large surface area, and magnetism, magnetite nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)NPs) have distinct chemical and physical properties, enhancing their suitability for a variety of medical, biosensing, electronic, and environmental applications. Methods: Magnetite nanoparticles were easily obtained by green synthesis using leaf extracts of the South American endemic Cryptocaria alba (Peumo) tree. FeNPs were characterized by using UV-visible spectrophotometry, Transmission Electronic Microscopy (TEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Results: Fe(3)O(4)NPs were successfully synthetized, and they showed crystalline nature, primary dry diameter means between 12 nm and 15 nm, spherical apparent shape, and good stability in aqueous suspension. Additionally, preliminary studies indicated that low concentrations of magnetite nanoparticles (1000 times lower than the literature reported) reduced chemical oxygen demand (COD), apart from concentrations of total phosphates and nitrates from pisciculture wastewater samples incubated for 24 h. Conclusion: Green synthesis of Peumo iron nanoparticles is an easy, fast, and viable eco-friendly bioprocess under certain conditions of fabrication to obtain nanometric and stable iron particles with promising removal properties of nitrates, phosphates, and COD from wastewaters

Antibacterial Activity and Kinetic Release of Laureliopsis philippiana (Looser) Essential Oil from Nanostructured Porous Silicon with Surface-Functionalization Alternatives

In this work, the antibacterial activity of Laureliopsis philippiana (Looser) essential oil was studied, and its kinetic release performance using different surface-functionalized nanostructured porous silicon (nPSi) was analyzed. Experimental results showed the high inhibitory effect of Laureliopsis philippiana essential oil against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In addition, the essential oil was successfully loaded into different kinds of functionalized nPSi. FTIR measurements indicated the formation of stable complexes in the nPSi functionalization process. Specifically, chemical oxidized nPSi (nPSi-Ox), 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane functionalized nPSi (nPSi-APTS), undecylenic acid-functionalized nPSi (nPSi-UAc), chitosan (nPSi-Chi) and beta-cyclodextrin (nPSi-beta CD) polymer functionalization on nPSi were studied. nPSi-Ox, nPSi-APTS, and nPSi-UAc were covalent functionalization, and nPSi-Chi and nPSi-beta CD were obtained by electrostatic attachment. The kinetic study demonstrated a controlled release of up to 4 h for all the samples following a quasi-Fickian diffusion mechanism. Moreover, the use of functionalized nPSi-APTS and nPSi-UAc structures allows a more controlled kinetic release of Laureliopsis philippiana essential oil in comparison to the rest of the functionalization, increasing its availability and exposure to the environment

Ultraviolet laser patterning of porous silicon

This work reports on the fabrication of 1D fringed patterns on nanostructured porous silicon (nanoPS) layers (563, 372, and 290nm thick). The patterns are fabricated by phase-mask laser interference using single pulses of an UV excimer laser (193nm, 20ns pulse duration). The method is a single-step and flexible approach to produce a large variety of patterns formed by alternate regions of almost untransformed nanoPS and regions where its surface has melted and transformed into Si nanoparticles (NPs). The role of laser fluence (5-80mJcm-2), and pattern period (6.3-16µm) on pattern features and surface structuring are discussed. The results show that the diameter of Si NPs increases with fluence up to a saturation value of 75nm for a fluence ˜40mJcm-2. In addition, the percentage of transformed to non-transformed region normalized to the pattern period follows similar fluence dependence regardless the period and thus becomes an excellent control parameter. This dependence is fitted within a thermal model that allows for predicting the in-depth profile of the pattern. The model assumes that transformation occurs whenever the laser-induced temperature increase reaches the melting temperature of nanoPS that has been found to be 0.7 of that of crystalline silicon for a porosity of around 79%. The role of thermal gradients across the pattern is discussed in the light of the experimental results and the calculated temperature profiles, and shows that the contribution of lateral thermal flow to melting is not significant for pattern periods =6.3µm