Researchers in France aim to test if nicotine patch could help prevent COVID-19 after initial observations showed that an ingredient in tobacco, probably nicotine, could put smokers at a lower risk of getting the disease.
The researchers are awaiting approval from French authorities to start clinical trial of nicotine patch on hospitalised patients and the general population at the Pitie Salpetriere hospital.
The initial study conducted at Pitie Salpetriere, part of the Hôpitaux de Paris, found that daily smokers have much lower probability of developing symptomatic or severe SARS-CoV-2 infection as compared to the general population.
According to the results, only 4.4 per cent of about 350 coronavirus patients hospitalised were regular smokers and 5.3 per cent of 130 homebound patients smoked. In the French population, the daily smokers rate was 25.4 per cent, said the study published in the journal Qeios.
The researchers also theorised that nicotine could help prevent the virus from infecting cells or that nicotine was preventing the immune system from overreacting to the virus.
"In order to prevent the infection and the retro-propagation of the virus through the CNS ( central nervous system), we plan a therapeutic assay against Covid-19 with nicotine (and other nicotinic agents) patches or other delivery methods (like sniffing/chewing) in hospitalised patients and in the general population," proposed researchers from Hopitaux de Paris, Paris and Pasteur Institute, Paris in a study which is also published in Qeios.
As the pandemic of COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is still under progression, the identification of prognostic factors is a global challenge.
Among epidemiological risk factors, the role of smoking, till date, is not clear.
Smoking has been initially found associated with adverse disease prognosis of COVID- 19, although this finding remains controversial.
Reported rates of current smokers among SARS-CoV-2-infected patients are heterogeneous, ranging from 1.4 per cent to 12.5 per cent.
The rates of current smokers remain however strikingly low for the middle-aged population.
A study in China, where the pandemic began, showed only 6.5 per cent of COVID-19 patients were smokers, compared to 26.6 per cent of the general population.
Additionally, these studies included mostly hospitalised patients, and the low rate of current smokers may be related to high rate of patients with comorbidities (smokers having been advised to quit) and thus resulting to COVID-19 severity.
The study also claimed of not advocating anyone to start smoking, as cigarettes have fatal health risks.
20 Company jawans of TSR to go Himachal Pradesh and Odisha for poll duty
The Tripura State Rifles (TSR), renowned as an elite counter-insurgency force, is currently gearing up for election duty in various regions across India. Recent reports indicate that 20 companies, totaling 1,600 personnel,
Club Secretary murder row: Court sends two to four days Police Remand
The Chief Judicial Magistrate Court of West District has remanded two individuals, including a woman, to police custody until May 7 in connection with the murder of Durga Prasanna Deb, also known as Viki, who served as the secretary of the Bharat Ratna Sangha club in Agartala which is the largest social club of Tripura.
Two held for involving in human trafficking case in Tripura
Speaking with reporters on Saturday, Officer-In-Charge of Government Railway Police Station, Tapas Das, stated that the arrests were made based on the interrogation of six Bangladeshi nationals who were detained on April 30 at Agartala Railway Station after illegally crossing the international border.
Mini School Bus mishap leaves driver critically injured, children slightly hurt
In a harrowing incident today, a mini school bus belonging to a private school met with a grave accident in the vicinity of Paschim Dewan Pasha Gram Panchayat.
Rs 1.22 crore power infrastructure destroyed in thunderstorm struck Tripura
A thunderstorm that struck Tripura on Thursday has destroyed power infrastructure worth Rs 1.22 crores, including 166 km of crucial transmission lines, 235 electric poles, and 30 transformers suffering irreparable damage.
Mayor distributes water, fruits to common people
In a thoughtful gesture to combat the scorching summer heat, Ward No. 35 of Agartala Municipal Corporation extended a refreshing hand to the common people.
Youth Congress demands resignation of TSCB MD after fatal bus accident
The delegation representing Pradesh Youth Congress managed to enter the premises of the bank and held discussions with the acting Managing Director, in the absence of the MD.
30 BJP leaders from state to campaign for Lok Sabha in West Bengal
Around 30 leaders, including Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, along with other MLAs and ministers from the state, will campaign for BJP in West Bengal for the Lok Sabha elections.