Pulmonary Hypertension in COVID-19 Pneumoniae: It Is Not Always as It Seems.

A patient affected by COVID-19 pneumonia may develop pulmonary hypertension (PH) and secondary right ventricular (RV) involvement, due to lung parenchymal and interstitial damage and altered pulmonary haemodynamics, even in non-advanced phases of the disease. This is a consequence of hypoxic vasoconstriction of the pulmonary circulation, the use of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in mechanical ventilation, pulmonary endothelial injury, and local inflammatory thrombotic and/or thromboembolic processes. We report the case of a young man admitted with a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumoniae with PH unrelated to viral infection and in whom partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (PAPVD) was eventually diagnosed. LEARNING POINTS: COVID-19 patients, even if previously well, can have pulmonary hypertension due to other causes.The cause of pulmonary hypertension should always be sought and not assumed, even in COVID-19 patients.

Safety of surgical masks during physical activity evaluated with graded cycle ergometry test.

BACKGROUND: At the time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wearing surgical mask (SM) is recommended for the prevention of contracting or exposing others to airborne transmission of COVID-19. It is somewhat controversial whether wearing SM during exercise affects performance and health status and/or may influence the results. In order to give an answer we planned a prospective, randomized, crossover study to evaluate the effects of wearing a SM or no-SM in 33 (17 male) physically active healthy subjects during a graded exercise cycle ergometry test. METHODS: The two tests were performed in random order in the same subjects. The participants were all tested the same day, after a recovery time of at least of one hour, in order to avoid interferences on physical performances. Arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate and arterial blood pressure were assessed throughout the exercise tests every step of two minutes, at the end of exercise, performed at the same time with and without mask. RESULTS: Wearing SM had no effect on performance, since the duration of cycle ergometry test with SM and without SM median, respectively, was 14.2 (lower-upper quartile 13.9-14.8) versus 14.3 (13.9-15.5) minutes (P=0.094), and median peak power was 150 W (150-180) versus 150 W (120-180) (P=0.754). CONCLUSIONS: When expressed relative to peak exercise performance, no differences were found between wearing or not wearing SM regarding arterial oxygen saturation, or heart rate at any time during the exercise tests. Wearing SM during vigorous exercise had no detrimental effect on cardiovascular parameters, as well as on exercise metrics in all participants. No ventricular repolarization abnormalities and no arrhythmias were reported on the electrocardiograms.

Waste Face Surgical Mask Transformation into Crude Oil and Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers.

A novel route for the valorization of waste into valuable products was developed. Surgical masks commonly used for COVID 19 protection by stopping aerosol and droplets have been widely used, and their disposal is critical and often not properly pursued. This work intended to transform surgical masks into platinum group metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as well as into crude oil. Surgical masks were subjected to controlled-temperature and -atmosphere pyrolysis, and the produced char was then converted into electrocatalysts by functionalizing it with metal phthalocyanine of interest. The electrocatalytic performance characterization towards ORR and HER was carried out highlighting promising activity. At different temperatures, condensable oil fractions were acquired and thoroughly analyzed. Transformation of waste surgical masks into electrocatalysts and crude oil can open new routes for the conversion of waste into valuable products within the core of the circular economy.