A High-Resolution Human Contact Network for Infectious Disease Transmission

The most frequent infectious diseases in humans - and those with the highest potential for rapid pandemic spread - are usually transmitted via droplets during close proximity interactions (CPIs). Despite the importance of this transmission route, very little is known about the dynamic patterns of CPIs. Using wireless sensor network technology, we obtained high-resolution data of CPIs during a typical day at an American high school, permitting the reconstruction of the social network relevant for infectious disease transmission. At a 94% coverage, we collected 762,868 CPIs at a maximal distance of 3 meters among 788 individuals. The data revealed a high density network with typical small world properties and a relatively homogenous distribution of both interaction time and interaction partners among subjects. Computer simulations of the spread of an influenza-like disease on the weighted contact graph are in good agreement with absentee data during the most recent influenza season. Analysis of targeted immunization strategies suggested that contact network data are required to design strategies that are significantly more effective than random immunization. Immunization strategies based on contact network data were most effective at high vaccination coverage

Awareness of health risks related to body art practices among youth in Naples, Italy: a descriptive convenience sample study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Body art practices have emerged as common activities among youth, yet few studies have investigated awareness in different age groups of possible health complications associated with piercing and tattooing.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated perceptions of and knowledge about health risks. To highlight differences among age groups, we gathered data from students at high schools and universities in the province of Naples.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 9,322 adolescents, 31.3% were pierced and 11.3% were tattooed. Of 3,610 undergraduates, 33% were pierced and 24.5% were tattooed (p < 0.05). A higher number of females were pierced in both samples, but there were no gender differences among tattooed students. Among high school students, 79.4% knew about infectious risks and 46% about non-infectious risks; the respective numbers among university students were 87.2% and 59.1%. Only 3.5% of students in high school and 15% of university undergraduates acknowledged the risk of viral disease transmission; 2% and 3% knew about allergic risks. Among adolescents and young adults, 6.9% and 15.3%, respectively, provided signed informed consent; the former were less knowledgeable about health risks (24.7% vs. 57.1%) (p < 0.05). Seventy-three percent of the high school students and 33.5% of the university students had body art done at unauthorized facilities. Approximately 7% of both samples reported complications from their purchased body art.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results indicate a need for adequate information on health risks associated with body art among students in Naples, mainly among high school students. Therefore, adolescents should be targeted for public health education programs.</p

Use of SEM/EDX methods for the analysis of ambient particulate matter adhering to the skin surface

Background The skin is exposed to numerous particulate and gaseous air pollutants. The ones that need particular attention are the particles that adhere to the skin surface, which can later cause direct skin damage. This study aimed to characterize air pollution (AP) particles adhered to the human skin by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with X-ray dispersive energy spectrometry (EDX). Methods Tape stripping was performed from six healthy volunteers exposed to urban AP to collect stratum corneum samples from the cheeks and forehead. The samples were analysed using SEM equipped with EDX system with a silicon drift detector at an accelerating voltage of 20 keV. After the preliminary examination, the particles were located and counted using 1000× magnification. Each particle was analysed, increasing magnification up to 5000× for precise dimension measurement and elemental composition analysis. At least 100 fields or a surface of approximately 1 mm2 were examined. Results Particles adhered to the skin were identified in all samples, with a particle load ranging from 729 to 4525. The average area and perimeter of all particles identified were 302 ± 260 μm2 and 51 ± 23 μm subsequently, while the equivalent circular diameter was, on average, 14 ± 6 μm. The particles were classified into ten groups based on morphology and elemental composition. Chlorides were the most numerous particle group (21.9%), followed by carbonaceous organic particles (20.3%), silicates (18%), carbonates (16.4%), metal-rich particles (14%), and a minor number of bioaerosols, quartz-like, and fly ash particles. Conclusion The SEM–EDX analysis provides evidence of the contamination of exposed skin to various airborne PM of natural or anthropogenic origin. This method may provide new insights into the link between exposure to AP and AP-induced skin damage

Close Encounters in a Pediatric Ward: Measuring Face-to-Face Proximity and Mixing Patterns with Wearable Sensors

International audienceBackground Nosocomial infections place a substantial burden on health care systems and represent one of the major issues in current public health, requiring notable efforts for its prevention. Understanding the dynamics of infection transmission in a hospital setting is essential for tailoring interventions and predicting the spread among individuals. Mathematical models need to be informed with accurate data on contacts among individuals. Methods and Findings We used wearable active Radio-Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) to detect face-to-face contacts among individuals with a spatial resolution of about 1.5 meters, and a time resolution of 20 seconds. The study was conducted in a general pediatrics hospital ward, during a one-week period, and included 119 participants, with 51 health care workers, 37 patients, and 31 caregivers. Nearly 16,000 contacts were recorded during the study period, with a median of approximately 20 contacts per participants per day. Overall, 25% of the contacts involved a ward assistant, 23% a nurse, 22% a patient, 22% a caregiver, and 8% a physician. The majority of contacts were of brief duration, but long and frequent contacts especially between patients and caregivers were also found. In the setting under study, caregivers do not represent a significant potential for infection spread to a large number of individuals, as their interactions mainly involve the corresponding patient. Nurses would deserve priority in prevention strategies due to their central role in the potential propagation paths of infections. Conclusions Our study shows the feasibility of accurate and reproducible measures of the pattern of contacts in a hospital setting. The obtained results are particularly useful for the study of the spread of respiratory infections, for monitoring critical patterns, and for setting up tailored prevention strategies. Proximity-sensing technology should be considered as a valuable tool for measuring such patterns and evaluating nosocomial prevention strategies in specific settings

Application of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery with Navigation system in Medical University - Pleven: Pilot results

Background: Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), supported by a navigation system, is a modern minimally invasive method for diagnosis and surgical treatment of nasal polyposis, acute and chronic sinusitis, benign and malignant tumors of the nasal cavities and skull base, congenital anomalies, severe epistaxis, and a number of other pathological processes in these anatomical areas. Advantages of the method are the improved orientation through navigation, reduced blood loss, sparing of neighboring tissues and structures, optimization of postoperative results, reduction of recovery period and pain as well as the optimized quality of life of the patient.Aim: Presentation of pilot results from the first surgical interventions under Work Package 3 “Endoscopic sinus surgery, supported by a navigation system, in ENT practice”, performed in the “Integrated Interdisciplinary Operating Unit with Navigation and Telesurgery Systems” built under the project BG05M2OP001–1.002–0010 “Center of Competence in Personalized Medicine, 3D and Telemedicine, Robot-assisted and Minimally Invasive Surgery” funded by the“Science and education for smart growth” Operational Program and the European Regional Development Fund.Results: The surgical interventions were performed without intraoperative and early postoperative complications; the recovery period was smooth. During the follow-up examinations, we observed good local postoperative status, optimal period of healing and absence of subjective complaints reported by the patients.Conclusion: Our pilot results support the advantages of navigated FESS for safer, more precise and sparing radical treatment of diseases of the nose and nasal cavities. Extended multidisciplinary studies are forthcoming within the project for overall assessment of the significance and applicability of the introduced method in different groups of patients

Oil-soluble vitamins: illegal use for lip augmentation.

Fillers for lip augmentation have become more and more popular in recent years and seem to be indispensable in the cosmetic market nowadays. A series of six young females is presented who developed massive swellings and pain after vitamins A and/or E lip augmentation. The vitamins were extracted from gelatinous capsules (Gericaps [Adipharm EAD, Sofia, Bulgaria], Geritamins [Actavis EAD, Balkanpharma-Dubnitsa AD, Bulgaria], or vitamin E yellow gel capsules) and injected by unprofessional physicians and beauticians in different cosmetic centers. Physical examination revealed firm indurations of the lips and perioral skin, tenderness, erythema, and hard dermal nodules. Histological analysis revealed numerous round-to-ovoid cavities of varying sizes, resulting in a Swiss cheese-like appearance, consistent with lipogranulomas. The patients were treated with systemic and intralesional triamcinolone injections and broad-spectrum antibiotics with good clinical response. In conclusion, these cases demonstrate the danger of the use of unregistered products as fillers injected by unprofessional physicians and beauticians