3,585 research outputs found
A 2-year point-prevalence surveillance of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in Ferrara University Hospital, Italy
Background: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) represent one of the leading issues to patient safety as well as a significant economic burden. Similarly, Antimicrobial Use (AMU) and Resistance (AMR) represent a growing threat to global public health and the sustainability of healthcare services. Methods: A Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) following the 2016 ECDC protocol for HAI prevalence and AMU was conducted at Ferrara University Hospital (FUH). Data were collected by a team of trained independent surveyors in 2016 and 2018. Risk factors independently associated with HAI were assessed by a multivariate logistic regression model. Results: Of the 1102 patients surveyed, 115 (10.4%) had an active HAI and 487 (44.2%) were on at least 1 systemic antimicrobial agent. Factors independently associated with increased HAI risk were a "Rapidly Fatal" McCabe score (expected fatal outcome within 1 year), presence of medical devices (PVC, CVC, indwelling urinary catheter or mechanically assisted ventilation) and a length of hospital stay of at least 1 week. The most frequent types of HAI were pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections. Antimicrobial resistance to third-generation cephalosporins was observed in about 60% of Enterobacteriaceae. Conclusions: The survey reports a high prevalence of HAI and AMU in FUH. Repeated PPSs are useful to control HAIs and AMU in large acute-care hospitals, highlighting the main problematic factors and allowing planning for improvement actions
A1 and A2a receptors mediate inhibitory rffects of adenosine on the motor activity of human colon
Experimental evidence in animal models suggests that adenosine is involved in the regulation of digestive functions. This study examines the influence of adenosine on the contractile activity of human colon. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed A(1) and A(2a) receptor expression in colonic neuromuscular layers. Circular muscle preparations were connected to isotonic transducers to determine the effects of 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX; A(1) receptor antagonist), ZM 241385 (A(2a) receptor antagonist), CCPA (A(1) receptor agonist) and 2-[(p-2-carboxyethyl)-phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethyl-carboxamide-adenosine (CGS 21680; A(2a) receptor agonist) on motor responses evoked by electrical stimulation or carbachol. Electrically evoked contractions were enhanced by DPCPX and ZM 241385, and reduced by CCPA and CGS 21680. Similar effects were observed when colonic preparations were incubated with guanethidine (noradrenergic blocker), L-732,138, GR-159897 and SB-218795 (NK receptor antagonists). However, in the presence of guanethidine, NK receptor antagonists and N(omega)-propyl-L-arginine (NPA; neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), the effects of DPCPX and CCPA were still evident, while those of ZM 241385 and CGS 21680 no longer occurred. Carbachol-induced contractions were unaffected by A(2a) receptor ligands, but they were enhanced or reduced by DPCPX and CCPA, respectively. When colonic preparations were incubated with guanethidine, NK antagonists and atropine, electrically induced relaxations were partly reduced by ZM 241385 or NPA, but unaffected by DPCPX. Dipyridamole or application of exogenous adenosine reduced electrically and carbachol-evoked contractions, whereas adenosine deaminase enhanced such motor responses. In conclusion, adenosine exerts an inhibitory control on human colonic motility. A(1) receptors mediate direct modulating actions on smooth muscle, whereas A(2a) receptors operate through inhibitory nitrergic nerve pathways
First CNGS events detected by LVD
The CERN Neutrino to Gran Sasso (CNGS) project aims to produce a high energy,
wide band beam at CERN and send it toward the INFN Gran Sasso
National Laboratory (LNGS), 732 km away. Its main goal is the observation of
the appearance, through neutrino flavour oscillation. The beam
started its operation in August 2006 for about 12 days: a total amount of
protons were delivered to the target. The LVD detector, installed
in hall A of the LNGS and mainly dedicated to the study of supernova neutrinos,
was fully operating during the whole CNGS running time. A total number of 569
events were detected in coincidence with the beam spill time. This is in good
agreement with the expected number of events from Montecarlo simulations.Comment: Accepted for publication by the European Physical Journal C ; 7
pages, 11 figure
On-line recognition of supernova neutrino bursts in the LVD detector
In this paper we show the capabilities of the Large Volume Detector (INFN
Gran Sasso National Laboratory) to identify a neutrino burst associated to a
supernova explosion, in the absence of an "external trigger", e.g., an optical
observation. We describe how the detector trigger and event selection have been
optimized for this purpose, and we detail the algorithm used for the on-line
burst recognition. The on-line sensitivity of the detector is defined and
discussed in terms of supernova distance and electron anti-neutrino intensity
at the source.Comment: Accepted for pubblication on Astroparticle Physics. 13 pages, 10
figure
Muon `Depth -- Intensity' Relation Measured by LVD Underground Experiment and Cosmic-Ray Muon Spectrum at Sea Level
We present the analysis of the muon events with all muon multiplicities
collected during 21804 hours of operation of the first LVD tower. The measured
angular distribution of muon intensity has been converted to the `depth --
vertical intensity' relation in the depth range from 3 to 12 km w.e.. The
analysis of this relation allowed to derive the power index, , of the
primary all-nucleon spectrum: . The `depth -- vertical
intensity' relation has been converted to standard rock and the comparison with
the data of other experiments has been done. We present also the derived
vertical muon spectrum at sea level.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, to be published on Phys. Rev.
Study of single muons with the Large Volume Detector at Gran Sasso Laboratory
The present study is based on the sample of about 3 mln single muons observed
by LVD at underground Gran Sasso Laboratory during 36500 live hours from June
1992 to February 1998. We have measured the muon intensity at slant depths from
3 km w.e. to 20 km w.e. Most events are high energy downward muons produced by
meson decay in the atmosphere. The analysis of these muons has revealed the
power index of pion and kaon spectrum: 2.76 \pm 0.05. The reminders are
horizontal muons produced by the neutrino interactions in the rock surrounding
LVD. The value of this flux is obtained. The results are compared with Monte
Carlo simulations and the world data.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in "Physics of Atomic
Nuclei
CALIS - CAncer Literacy and Information Seeking: a study in the setting of colorectal screening : Danilo Cereda
Upper Limit on the Prompt Muon Flux Derived from the LVD Underground Experiment
We present the analysis of the muon events with all muon multiplicities
collected during 21804 hours of operation of the first LVD tower. The measured
depth-angular distribution of muon intensities has been used to obtain the
normalization factor, A, the power index, gamma, of the primary all-nucleon
spectrum and the ratio, R_c, of prompt muon flux to that of pi-mesons - the
main parameters which determine the spectrum of cosmic ray muons at the sea
level. The value of gamma = 2.77 +/- 0.05 (68% C.L.) and R_c < 2.0 x 10^-3 (95%
C.L.) have been obtained. The upper limit to the prompt muon flux favours the
models of charm production based on QGSM and the dual parton model.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, RevTex. To appear in Phys. Rev.
ATHENA Detector Proposal — A Totally Hermetic Electron Nucleus Apparatus Proposed for IP6 at the Electron-Ion Collider
ATHENA has been designed as a general purpose detector capable of delivering the full scientific scope of the Electron-Ion Collider. Careful technology choices provide fine tracking and momentum resolution, high performance electromagnetic and hadronic calorimetry, hadron identification over a wide kinematic range, and near-complete hermeticity. This article describes the detector design and its expected performance in the most relevant physics channels. It includes an evaluation of detector technology choices, the technical challenges to realizing the detector and the R&D required to meet those challenges
- …