The current worldwide pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had alerted the population to the risk that small microorganisms can create for humankind’s wellbeing and survival. All of us have been affected, directly or indirectly, by this situation, and scientists all over the world have been trying to find solutions to fight this virus by killing it or by stop/decrease its spread rate. Numerous kinds of microorganisms have been occasionally created panic in world history, and several solutions have been proposed to stop their spread. Among the most studied antimicrobial solutions, are metals (of different kinds and applied in different formats). In this regard, this review aims to present a recent and comprehensive demonstration of the state-of-the-art in the use of metals, as well as their mechanisms, to fight different pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

PurposeTo analyze and quantify the prevalence of six comorbidities from lung cancer screening (LCS) on computed tomography (CT) scans of patients from developing countries.MethodsFor this retrospective study, low-dose CT scans (n=775) from patients who underwent LCS in a tertiary hospital between 2016 and 2020 were examined. Age and sex- matched control group was obtained for comparison (n=370). Using the software, coronary artery calcification (CAC), the skeletal muscle area (SMA), interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs), emphysema, osteoporosis, and hepatic steatosis was accessed. Clinical characteristics of each participant were identified. t-test and chi-squared test were used to examine differences between these values. Interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Interobserver agreement (assessed by calculating kappa coefficients) were calculated to assess the correlation of measures interpreted by two observers. p values<0.05 were considered significant.ResultsOne or more comorbidities were identified in 86.6% of the patients and in 40% of the controls. The most prevalent comorbidity was osteoporosis, present in 44.2% of patients and on 24.8% of the controls. New diagnoses of cardiovascular disease, emphysema, and osteoporosis were made in 25%, 7%, and 46% of cases, respectively. The kappa coefficient for CAC was 0.906 (p<0.001). ICCs for measures of liver, spleen, and bone density were 0.88, 0.93, and 0.96, respectively (p<0.001).ConclusionsCT data acquired during LCS led to the identification of previously undiagnosed comorbidities. The LCS is useful to facilitate comorbidity diagnosis in developing countries, providing opportunities for its prevention and treatment.

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