Frequency of Developing COVID-19 Pneumonia in Patients Who Were Vaccinated Double-Dose CoronaVac: Data of the Pandemic Authorized Hospital in Northern Cyprus.

Background: RT-PCR is the leading method used in the diagnosis of COVID-19, caused by 2019-nCoV. CT applications also provide a fast and easy diagnosis for detecting pneumonia caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The current study, aimed to compare the lung involvement of vaccinated (two-dose CoronaVac) and unvaccinated patients in the early stage of COVID-19 disease. Methods: In the current retrospective study, which included patients diagnosed with RT-PCR COVID-19 positivity (n=651) between 01 July 2021-15 September 2021, patient information was obtained from the authorized hospital of the pandemic. Data included patients' chest CT scans and whether patients had been vaccinated (two-dose CoronaVac) information. Results: The ratio of vaccination with double-dose CoronaVac in positive patients was 74.3%. The ratio of patients with normal lung appearance was 61.8%. It was determined that the ratio of involvement in both lungs of patients who were vaccinated with a double dose was significantly lower than the ratio of involvement in patients who were never vaccinated (p <0.001). Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that pneumonia cases were less common in individuals vaccinated with double-dose CoronaVac. In this study, it was also determined that the protection of the vaccine was higher in females than in males and that the protection of the double-dose CoronaVac vaccine was higher in the 50-60 age group compared to 60 older patients.

Engineered mixed oxide-based polymeric composites for enhanced antimicrobial activity and sustained release of antiretroviral drug.

Here, pH-responsive engineered polymeric composites were fabricated from sodium alginate and mixed Cu/Zn oxides. The resulting alginate-CuxZn1-xO composites were characterized by FTIR, SEM and XRD, then used as an efficient carrier for the antiretroviral drug (zidovudine, AZT) and exhibited remarkable antibacterial properties. The resulting polymeric composites had specific surface areas of 185.2-198.6 m2/g as confirmed by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The metal oxide distribution within the alginate matrix was confirmed from the X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses. The zidovudine, an antiretroviral drug was encapsulated in 30 mg of alginate-Cu0.7Zn0.3O with 68% encapsulation efficiency. The release of AZT in simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4) was studied, a slow and sustained release of AZT (~96.2%) was observed. The AZT release kinetics is sufficiently described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model and follows the Fickian transport profile. Results herein demonstrated that A-Cu0.7Zn0.3O, A-Cu0.3Zn0.7O and Cu0.5Zn0.5O exhibited excellent bacterial devastation property. A dose of 8 µg/mL A-Cu0.7Zn0.3O and 13 µg/mL A-Cu0.3Zn0.7O are sufficient to completely killed E. coli DH5a and S. aureus NSUHS-151 within 24 h.