Visible blue light inactivates SARS-CoV-2 variants and inhibits Delta replication in differentiated human airway epithelia.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants that evade host immune responses has prolonged the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the development of an efficacious, variant-agnostic therapeutic for the treatment of early SARS-CoV-2 infection would help reduce global health and economic burdens. Visible light therapy has the potential to fill these gaps.

Visible blue light inhibits infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 at doses that are well-tolerated by human respiratory tissue.

The delivery of safe, visible wavelengths of light can be an effective, pathogen-agnostic, countermeasure that would expand the current portfolio of SARS-CoV-2 intervention strategies beyond the conventional approaches of vaccine, antibody, and antiviral therapeutics. Employing custom biological light units, that incorporate optically engineered light-emitting diode (LED) arrays, we harnessed monochromatic wavelengths of light for uniform delivery across biological surfaces. We demonstrated that primary 3D human tracheal/bronchial-derived epithelial tissues tolerated high doses of a narrow spectral band of visible light centered at a peak wavelength of 425 nm.

Calls made to the Poisons Information Centre reveal need for improved risk management of cleaning agents in the workplace.

. This study aimed to investigate chemical injuries caused by cleaning agents and disinfectants by reviewing poison control data. .

Potential pharmacobezoar formation of large size extended-release tablets and their dissolution - an in vitro study.

Objective: Extended release (ER) tablets/capsules in massive ingestion overdoses are prone to form pharmacobezoars potentially increasing the risk of late-appearing toxic effects and prolonged symptoms. Oral activated charcoal is often sufficient to prevent drug absorption, but in a recent massive ingestion of highly toxic substances, prior orogastric lavage might be considered. The disintegration characteristics of ER preparations in overdose situations is valuable to understand if the time line and course of the intoxication might be prolonged, but information on these characteristics are unavailable.

Characteristics and outcomes of e-cigarette exposure incidents reported to 10 European Poison Centers: a retrospective data analysis.

Background: The use of e-cigarettes has increased during the past few years. Exposure to e-cigarette liquids, whether intentional or accidental, may lead to adverse events our aim was to assess factors associated with e-cigarette exposures across European Union Member States (EU MS).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of exposures associated with e-cigarettes reported to national poison centers was performed covering incidents from 2012 to March 2015 from 10 EU MS.