1,660 research outputs found
Ge-Doped microstructured multicorefiber for customizable supercontinuum generation
Supercontinuum generation in a multicore fiber in which several uncoupled cores
were doped with dissimilar concentrations of germanium was studied experimentally.
Germanium doping provided control over the separation between the zero-dispersion
wavelength and the 1064-nm wavelength of a Q-switched Nd:YAG pump laser. Supercontinua
generated independently in each core of the same piece of fiber displayed clear
and repeatable differences due to the influence of germanium doping on refractive index and
four-wave mixing. The spectral evolution of the subnanosecond pump pulses injected into
the different cores was accurately reproduced by numerical simulations
Impact of communicative and informative strategies on influenza vaccination adherence and absenteeism from work of health care professionals working at the university hospital of palermo, Italy: A quasi-experimental field trial on twelve influenza seasons
Every year, about 20% of health care workers (HCWs) acquire influenza, continuing to work and encouraging virus spreading. Influenza vaccination coverage rates and absenteeism from work among HCWs of the University Hospital (UH) of Palermo were analyzed before and after the implementation of several initiatives in order to increase HCWsâ awareness about influenza vaccination. Vaccines administration within hospital units, dedicated web pages on social media and on the UH of Palermo institutional web site, and mandatory compilation of a dissent form for those HCWs who refused vaccination were carried out during the last four influenza seasons. After the introduction of these strategies, influenza vaccination coverage went up from 5.2% (2014/2015 season) to 37.2% (2018/2019 season) (p<0.001), and mean age of vaccinated HCWs significantly decreased from 48.1 years (95% CI: 45.7â50.5) to 35.9 years (95% CI: 35.0â36.8). A reduction of working days lost due to acute sickness among HCWs of the UH of Palermo was observed. Fear of adverse reactions and not considering themselves as a high-risk group for contracting influenza were the main reasons reported by HCWs that refused vaccination. Strategies undertaken at the UH of Palermo allowed a significant increase in vaccination adherence and a significant reduction of absenteeism from work
Hydropinotherapy with sulphurous mineral water as complementary treatment to improve glucose metabolism, oxidative status, and quality of life
Hydropinotherapy is a salus per aquam (Spa) treatment suitable as a complementary approach to treat several diseases, which strongly affect the quality of life (QoL). Hydropinotherapy with sulphurous mineral water exerts benefits thanks to components, such as hydrogen sulphide, which is considered mainly responsible for antioxidant and hypoglycaemic effects. Such properties, linked from each other, could favour an improvement in patientsâ QoL. However, data on humans are scarce. This study aimed to investigate whether a cycle of sulphurous hydropinotherapy was able to modify plasma levels of glucose and reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) and improve QoL in patients suffering from several chronic disorders. A prospective, observational study involved patients with gastrointestinal diseases who received a prescription of a cycle of sulphurous hy-dropinotherapy (S-HT). Age-and sex-matched control group was enrolled (No S-HT). Glycaemia and plasma concentration of ROMs were measured in all subjects. The impact of spa treatment on the QoL was assessed using the Short Form 36 Health Status Survey questionnaire (SF-36). All parameters were measured at baseline and at the end of a 2-week treatment. Between the groups, no differences were found in glycaemia and ROMs at baseline. In the S-HT group, a reduction in glycaemia and ROMs, both in respect to baseline (p = 0.005 and p = 0.031, respectively) and to control group, as shown by the delta value calculated, as the difference between the values at 2 weeks and baseline (p = 0.0009 and p = 0.0001, respectively). In the S-HT, delta ROMs was the best predictor of delta glycaemia with a direct linear correlation (beta = 0.559, 95% CI 0.471 to 0.647, p < 0.0001). In the S-HT, the SF-36 total score was improved both when compared with baseline (p = 0.002) and with No S-HT (p = 0.001). Sulphurous hydropinotherapy induces a decrease in glycaemia and ROM levels, also ameliorating the patientsâ QoL. Therefore, it could be considered a useful complementary therapeutic approach
Yield, impact and fracture performance of injected metallic looking polypropylene parts
Innovation, cost and weight reduction are some factors for the replacement of metals by plastics.
Plastics continue to offer attractive solutions for design engineers. The metallic effect obtained by incorporation
of metal particles in polymers by injection moulding has the advantage of eliminating postprocessing
techniques reducing production cost and time. Nevertheless, undesired defects in the final appearance
of parts are common. These defects occur due to inhomogeneous orientation and anisotropy of the metal
particles. Very few studies are reporting the influence of metallic particles on the morphology development of
PP parts. Therefore, this study is focused on the production of parts made of PP/metallic pigments (aluminium)
by injection moulding in order to understand the influence of metallic particles on the aesthetic, morphological
and mechanical properties of the parts
A novel stepwise micro-TESE approach in non obstructive azoospermia
Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate whether micro-TESE can improve sperm retrieval rate
(SRR) compared to conventional single TESE biopsy on the same testicle or to contralateral multiple TESE, by
employing a novel stepwise micro-TESE approach in a population of poor prognosis patients with non-obstructive
azoospermia (NOA).
Methods: Sixty-four poor prognosis NOA men undergoing surgical testicular sperm retrieval for ICSI, from March
2007 to April 2013, were included in this study. Patients inclusion criteria were a) previous unsuccessful TESE, b)
unfavorable histology (SCOS, MA, sclerahyalinosis), c) Klinefelter syndrome. We employed a stepwise micro-TESE
consisting three-steps: 1) single conventional TESE biopsy; 2) micro-TESE on the same testis; 3) contralateral multiple
TESE.
Results: SRR was 28.1 % (18/64). Sperm was obtained in both the initial single conventional TESE and in the
following micro-TESE. The positive or negative sperm retrieval was further confirmed by a contralateral multiple
TESE, when performed. No significant pre-operative predictors of sperm retrieval, including patientsâ age, previous
negative TESE or serological markers (LH, FSH, inhibin B), were observed at univariate or multivariate analysis.
Micro-TESE (step 2) did not improve sperm retrieval as compared to single TESE biopsy on the same testicle
(step 1) or multiple contralateral TESE (step 3).
Conclusions: Stepwise micro-TESE could represent an optimal approach for sperm retrieval in NOA men. In
our view, it should be offered to NOA patients in order to gradually increase surgical invasiveness, when
necessary. Stepwise micro-TESE might also reduce the costs, time and efforts involved in surgery
Evaluation of the burden of HPV-related hospitalizations as a useful tool to increase awareness: 2007â2017 data from the sicilian hospital discharge records
In light of the implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention strategies, epidemiological studies in different geographical areas are required in order to assess the impact of HPV-related diseases. The purpose of the present study was to describe the burden of HPV-related hospitalizations in Sicily. A retrospective observational study estimated 43,531 hospitalizations attributable to HPV from 2007 to 2017. During the observed period, there was a decrease for all HPV-related conditions with a higher reduction, among neoplasms, for cervical cancer (annual percent change (APC) = â9.9%, p < 0.001). The median age for cervical cancer was 45 years old, with an increasing value from 43 to 47 years (p < 0.001). The age classes with greater decreases in hospital admissions for invasive cancers were women aged 35 years or more (APC range from â5.5 to â9.86) and 25â34 years old (APC = â11.87, p < 0.001) for women with cervical carcinoma in situ. After ten years for vaccine introduction and sixteen years for cervical cancer screening availability, a relatively large decrease in hospital admissions for cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases in Sicily was observed. Some clinical characteristics of hospitalization, such as increasing age, are suggestive clues for the impact of preventive strategies, but further research is needed to confirm this relationship
Mental Health of those who care: how can epidemiology help address the burden of depression?
Depression is one of the most prevalent mental disorders with a high burden of disease, affecting one in fifteen adults (6%). Moreover, because the COVID-19 lockdown has highly impacted on mental health, in each strata of the population (from the most to the least vulnerable, also including health professionals), projections estimate that depression will become the leading cause of disease burden in 2030. COVID-19 increased the emotional burden on health professionals working at the forefront, including the one involved in the public health field. Furthermore, although the etiology of depression is still not well known, multiple risk factors have been associated with it. How do these several factors interact and have an impact on depression? How has the COVID-19 pandemic played a role on health professionals mental health or even on informal caregivers, especially considering that during the pandemic many healthcare activities have been postponed, further burdening them? The workshop Aims to reply to these still open questions by bringing together experts in public health, epidemiology, statistics, and quantitative social sciences with topic knowledge on depression. The workshop will be structured as follows: we will first set the scene with an introductory presentation. We will then deepen the theme by focusing on two different topics, each presented by two speakers. This will allow us to compare different perspectives and stimulate the final debate. Audience participation will be encouraged with live polls, quizzes or word clouds. The introductory presentation will move from a quick overview of the past, present and future of Public Mental Health. It will then focus on the stigma of psychiatric pathology and the impact of the pandemic on it. Finally, it will approach the theme of mental health among health professionals, residents and students taking cues from the SMS-ME project (Sicilian Medical Student MEntal Health). In the first contribution, we will present data from the Italian and European surveys among Public Health Residents deepening the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their mental health. These two surveys were conducted respectively by the working groups on âPublic Mental Healthâ from the medical residents Assembly of the Italian Society of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine and from the European Network of Medical Residents in Public Health (EuroNet MRPH). The second contribution aims at discussing the most recent evidence on how several lifestyle and socio-economic factors are associated with prevalent and incident depressive symptoms among the general population. A specific focus on the role of social support and informal caregiving will be discussed. Data presented will come from The Maastricht Study, a large population-based cohort study, and from evidence of the literature. Identifying risk factors of depression could guide preventive strategies with the final aim of reducing its high morbidity. We hope that the final debate will lead to a fruitful discussion on the data presented, also aimed at understanding how to inform policy makers about health and economic consequences of the high burden of depression
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