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Does solar ultraviolet radiation play a role in COVID-19 infection and deaths? An environmental ecological study in Italy.

ABSTRACT: A significantly stronger impact in mortality and morbidity by COVID-19 has been observed in the northern Italian regions compared to the southern ones. The reasons of this geographical pattern might involve several concurrent factors. The main objective of this work is to investigate whether any correlations exist between the spatial distribution of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the different Italian regions and the amount of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the Earth's surface. To this purpose, in this environmental ecological study a mixed-effect exponential regression was built to explain the incidence of COVID-19 based on the environmental conditions, and demographic and pathophysiologic factors. Observations and estimates of the cumulative solar UV exposure have been included to quantify the amount of radiation available e.g., for pre-vitamin D3 synthesis or SARS-CoV-2 inactivation by sunlight. The analysis shows a significant correlation (p-value <5 × 10^-2) between the response variables (death percentage, incidence of infections and positive tests) and biologically effective solar UV radiation, residents in nursing homes per inhabitant (NHR), air temperature, death percentage due to the most frequent comorbidities. Among all factors, the amount of solar UV radiation is the variable contributing the most to the observed correlation, explaining up to 83.2% of the variance of the COVID-19 affected cases per population. While the statistical outcomes of the study do not directly entail a specific cause-effect relationship, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that solar UV radiation impacted on the development of the infection and on its complications, e.g. through the effect of vitamin D on the immune system or virus inactivation by sunlight. The analytical framework used in this study, based on commonly available data, can be easily replicated in other countries and geographical domains to identify possible correlations between exposure to solar UV radiation and the spread of the pandemic.

SUBMITTER: Isaia G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7678486 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:UV radiation (UV) alters secondary metabolism in the skin of Vitis vinifera L. berries, which may affect on the final composition of both, grapes and wines. We compared berry skin transcriptome and phenolic composition between Tempranillo berries grown in the presence or absence of solar UV in a mid-altitude Tempranillo vineyard. By analysing two different ripening degrees, expression of 121 genes was significantly altered. Functional enrichment identified that, principally, secondary metabolism-related transcripts were induced by UV, including VvFLS1, VvGT5 and VvGT6 flavonol biosynthetic genes induction. Concurrently, flavonol accumulation was the most evident impact of UV on the berry skin phenolic composition. Monoterpenoid biosynthetic transcripts were also up-regulated by UV, whereas induction of stilbenoid biosynthetic transcripts and stilbenes accumulation was probably induced by the joint action of UV and other condition under the UV-blocking filter, likely higher temperature. Among regulatory genes, VvMYBF1, VvMYB24 and three bHLH transcription factors were up-regulated by UV. Homologs to Arabidopsis UVR8-dependent UV-B-induced genes were also induced, including VvHY5-1, VvHY5-2 and VvRUP UV-B signalling genes. This suggests that the UV-B-specific signalling pathway is activated in the skin of grapes grown at low-medium altitudes. The biosynthesis and accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds that are appreciated for winemaking were almost specifically triggered, which indicates that viticultural practices increasing solar UV incidence may improve grape features important to wine production. A total of 12 samples were hybridized. Grape skin RNA from berries ripening under a UV-transmitting filter (FUV+) and a UV-blocking filter (FUV-) was compared. Berry skin of two different ripening stages was analysed on each UV treatment. All samples were harvested simultaneously and a NaCl series was used to select the ripening degree in a non-invasive way. Three biological replicates were analyzed for each sample.

Project description:Nations are imposing unprecedented measures at a large scale to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. While recent studies show that non-pharmaceutical intervention measures such as lockdowns may have mitigated the spread of COVID-19, those measures also lead to substantial economic and social costs, and might limit exposure to ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB). Emerging observational evidence indicates the protective role of UVB and vitamin D in reducing the severity and mortality of COVID-19 deaths. This observational study empirically outlines the protective roles of lockdown and UVB exposure as measured by the ultraviolet index (UVI). Specifically, we examine whether the severity of lockdown is associated with a reduction in the protective role of UVB exposure. We use a log-linear fixed-effects model on a panel dataset of secondary data of 155 countries from 22 January 2020 until 7 October 2020 (n = 29,327). We use the cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths as the dependent variable and isolate the mitigating influence of lockdown severity on the association between UVI and growth rates of COVID-19 deaths from time-constant country-specific and time-varying country-specific potentially confounding factors. After controlling for time-constant and time-varying factors, we find that a unit increase in UVI and lockdown severity are independently associated with - 0.85 percentage points (p.p) and - 4.7 p.p decline in COVID-19 deaths growth rate, indicating their respective protective roles. The change of UVI over time is typically large (e.g., on average, UVI in New York City increases up to 6 units between January until June), indicating that the protective role of UVI might be substantial. However, the widely utilized and least severe lockdown (governmental recommendation to not leave the house) is associated with the mitigation of the protective role of UVI by 81% (0.76 p.p), which indicates a downside risk associated with its widespread use. We find that lockdown severity and UVI are independently associated with a slowdown in the daily growth rates of cumulative COVID-19 deaths. However, we find evidence that an increase in lockdown severity is associated with significant mitigation in the protective role of UVI in reducing COVID-19 deaths. Our results suggest that lockdowns in conjunction with adequate exposure to UVB radiation might have even reduced the number of COVID-19 deaths more strongly than lockdowns alone. For example, we estimate that there would be 11% fewer deaths on average with sufficient UVB exposure during the period people were recommended not to leave their house. Therefore, our study outlines the importance of considering UVB exposure, especially while implementing lockdowns, and could inspire further clinical studies that may support policy decision-making in countries imposing such measures.

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Does solar ultraviolet radiation play a role in COVID-19 infection and deaths? An environmental ecological study in Italy.

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