Influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations are not associated to COVID-19 outcomes among patients admitted to a university hospital

In order to reduce the burden on healthcare systems and to support differential diagnosis with COVID-19, influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations were strongly recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in vulnerable groups. However, no univocal and conclusive evidence on the relationship between influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations and COVID‐19 outcomes exists. We evaluated the association between such vaccinations, COVID-19 hospitalization, intensive care unit admissions and deaths in a cohort (N = 741) of COVID-19 patients who had access to the emergency room of a large Italian University hospital between March 1, 2020 and June 1, 2020. Results show that influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations did not affect hospitalization, intensive care unit admission and deaths in COVID-19 patients in the overall sample and in those ≥65 years. The same pattern of results was confirmed considering timing of influenza vaccine administration, vaccination type, and number of uptakes in the last five vaccination campaigns. In conclusion, our study does not support an impact of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations on COVID-19 outcomes

Covid-19 seroprevalence among healthcare workers of a large covid-19 hospital in rome reveals strengths and limits of two different serological tests

Healthcare workers are at the forefront against COVID-19, worldwide. Since Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli (FPG) IRCCS was enlisted as a COVID-19 hospital, the healthcare workers deployed to COVID-19 wards were separated from those with limited/no exposure, whereas the administrative staff were designated to work from home. Between 4 June and 3 July 2020, an investigation was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies among the employees of the FPG using point-of-care (POC) and venous blood tests. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were determined with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction on nasal/oropharyngeal swabs as the diagnostic gold standard. The participants enrolled amounted to 4777. Seroprevalence was 3.66% using the POC test and 1.19% using the venous blood test, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). The POC test sensitivity and specificity were, respectively, 63.64% (95% confidence interval (CI): 62.20% to 65.04%) and 96.64% (95% CI: 96.05% to 97.13%), while those of the venous blood test were, respectively, 78.79% (95% CI: 77.58% to 79.94%) and 99.36% (95% CI: 99.07% to 99.55%). Among the low-risk populations, the POC test’s predictive values were 58.33% (positive) and 98.23% (negative), whereas those of the venous blood test were 92.86% (positive) and 98.53% (negative). According to our study, these serological tests cannot be a valid alternative to diagnose COVID-19 infection in progress

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ∼ 1.7 {{s}} with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of {40}-8+8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 {M}ȯ . An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ∼ 40 {{Mpc}}) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One-Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ∼10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ∼ 9 and ∼ 16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC 4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta.</p

3,6-Disubstituted 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles: synthesis and evaluation for antimicrobial and antiviral activity. III.

A series of novel 3,6-disubstituted 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole derivatives was prepared and tested to evaluate their antimycotic, antibacterial and anti-HIV-1 activities. The reaction of thiocarbohydrazide with carboxylic acids at the melting temperature allows an improved preparation of the 5-substituted 4-amino-3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole heterocycles which in turn allows an easier preparation of the 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b] [1,3,4]thiadiazole ring system. All tested compounds didn't show any significant activity

Indagine sull'efficacia di un modello di comunicazione del rischio correlato all'indoor air quality in luoghi destinati ad attività fisica.

INTRODUZIONE: L’influenza dei fattori ambientali sulla salute umana è da tempo all’attenzione della comunità scientifica. In particolare, la qualità dell’aria negli ambienti confinati costituisce un importante campo di ricerca, in quanto l’ambiente indoor, in cui la popolazione vive, lavora e trascorre il suo tempo libero, svolge un ruolo importante sulla salute e sul benessere, anche se l’impatto specifico rimane difficile da quantificare in quanto influenzato da numerosi potenziali inquinanti, in quantità modesta e spesso sinergica. Questo studio, finalizzato alla valutazione di efficacia di uno strumento di informazione/formazione riguardante l’Indoor Air Qualiy (IAQ), è pensato per le palestre, in quanto l’aspetto benefico connesso alle attività sportive praticate in spazi confinati è inscindibilmente legato allo stato di salubrità e alle condizioni di carattere igienico-sanitario e di sicurezza dell’ambiente in cui queste vengono praticate. MATERIALI E METODI: Lo strumento di formazione utilizzato, un breve video-filmato di circa 3 minuti, ha avuto come scopo quello di sottolineare, attraverso l’utilizzo di nuove strategie di comunicazione, le criticità, le peculiarità e i problemi ambientali relativi agli ambienti confinati al fine ultimo di incrementare, su base scientifica, le conoscenze e le competenze dei partecipanti. La sequenza delle immagini utilizzate per ogni tema trattato (IAQ, Microclima, Miceti, Anidride Carbonica, Radon, Formaldeide e Legionella), era finalizzata a descrivere: cos’è? quali effetti sulla salute può provocare? cosa si può fare per evitarli? (es. Figura 1). La valutazione dell’efficacia dell’intervento formativo è stata effettuata attraverso un questionario di 7 domande a risposta multipla somministrato prima e dopo la visione del video-filmato. I questionari sono stati analizzati mediante il software SITA Versione 1.0 (Sistema per l’Item Analysis) realizzato dall’Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Il confronto pre-post è stato valutato complessivamente attraverso t-test per dati appaiati e per le singole domande attraverso il test del CHI2. RISULTATI: Il questionario è stato somministrato a 179 persone (98 femmine e 81 maschi, frequentatori di palestre), con età compresa tra 16 e 55 anni. La popolazione oggetto di studio, che mostrava una discreta preparazione di base degli argomenti trattati (media[DS]=3,9[2.2]), ha evidenziato un significativo miglioramento delle conoscenze (6,2[1.0]). Prima della formazione, il tema più conosciuto era quello relativo alla CO2 (Q4), mentre erano meno conosciuti il “rischio Formaldeide”(Q6) ed il “rischio Legionella”(Q7) (Figura2). Per tutti i temi trattati, l’intervento formativo è riuscito ad incrementare significativamente le conoscenze specifiche, con un incremento percentuale medio di circa il 30%. CONCLUSIONI: Il problema degli ambienti confinati destinati ad attività sportive a ridotta mobilità (palestre, sale fitness, ecc..), è ancora oggi ampio e spesso determinato da errori nelle scelte progettuali (design), edilizie (materiali) o impiantistiche (sistemi di ventilazione/riscaldamento) o, ancor peggio, da errate determinazioni delle destinazioni d’uso o loro repentina variazione. Ciò, purtroppo, è spesso correlato con la mancanza di una adeguata informazione e formazione culturale generale e/o specificatamente finalizzata alla salute ed al benessere, in grado di ridurre gli eventuali rischi presenti negli ambienti indoor. Il modello formativo proposto e valutato nel presente studio si presenta come di facile somministrazione, ampia possibilità di diffusione ed elevata efficacia nella trasmissione di messaggi essenziali per l’informazione degli utenti delle palestre. Se adeguatamente implementato e a seguito di ulteriori studi che vadano a dimostrarne l’impatto in termini di efficacia reale, ovvero di cambiamenti nei comportamenti/abitudini che possono amplificare i rischi negli ambienti indoor, potrebbe rappresentare un importante strumento per la diffusione di informazioni basate sull’evidenza, rendendo più facile la scelta di comportamenti salutari. Inoltre, il modello potrebbe essere facilmente esportato in ambiti più ampi dell’igiene ambientale, in cui la velocità e la diffusione delle corrette informazioni alla popolazione rappresentano una importante sfida di Sanità Pubblica (vaccinazioni, screening, prevenzione del rischio cardiovascolare, etc)

Health promotion for the aging workforce in Poland

Objectives: The aging of the workforce is an issue that calls for concrete measures to promote the health of older workers. This study reports on the results of the European \u201cProHealth65+\u201d research project interventions conducted in Poland in relation to workplace health promotion for older workers (WHPOW) and the institutions involved in these programs. Material and Methods: A three-stage search of peer-reviewed and grey literature on the WHPOW in Poland. Results: A total of 59 WHPOW programs were retrieved in Poland in the observation period (2000\u20132015). Most of these aimed at improving the Qualification and Training or at the Work Climate and attitudes toward older workers. The promotion, organization, and funding of these activities were carried out mainly by supra-national and governmental bodies, enterprises and employers, and educational and trainee institutions. Conclusions: Although there is great commitment to the medical surveillance of workers on the part of the Polish occupational health service, our search detected a relatively low number of the WHPOW initiatives. Greater efforts should be made to introduce strategies for addressing aging of the workforce