Developing innovative crutch using IDeS (industrial design structure) methodology

The present study wants to bring to light a new type of crutch designed for a chronic patient with perennial limited mobility, who must use this support every time a move is needed. The main purpose of the project consists in recommending a correct use of the crutch through technology, limiting the damage normally caused by a bad use of crutches and giving a support both for the patient and for the doctor. All of the features of the crutches were defined through relationship matrices and a benchmarking, which helped us for defining the requirements; other important features were defined, taking a look to the technological progresses applied to new, patented crutches. The result is a sensorized crutch, functional and oriented to meet the user's needs in order to prevent an incorrect use of the support avoiding the growth of other pains

Focused ion beam-nanomachined probes for improved electric force microscopy

Nanomachining and beam-assisted Pt deposition by a focused ion beam (FIB) was used to modify AFM probes for improved electric force measurements.. Si3N4 cantilevers have been endowed with a nano-electrode at the tip apex to confine the electro-sensitive area at the very tip. This action results in both a marked decrease of the parasitic capacitive effect and in an improved electric force microscopy (EFM) contrast and resolution, with respect to usual, full metal-coated cantilevers. This fabrication approach is suited to the development of innovative electro-sensitive probes, useful in different scanning probe techniques

Voriconazole activity against clinical yeast isolates: a multicentre Italian study

The activity of voriconazole was tested in vitro against 1996 clinical yeast isolates collected in 20 Italian microbiology laboratories. Voriconazole susceptibility testing was carried out with the broth microdilution (NCCLS M27-A2), Etest and disk diffusion methods. The minimum inhibitory concentrations at which 90% of the isolates were inhibited (MIC90) obtained with the NCCLS method were 0.03 mg/L for Candida albicans, 0.5 mg/L for Candida non-albicans and 0.25 mg/L for other genera; those obtained with Etesting were, respectively, 0.032 mg/L, 0.125 mg/L and 0.125 mg/L. With the disk diffusion method, the majority of isolates (92.3%) showed inhibition zone diameters between 21 mm and 40 mm. Using a tentative MIC cut-off of 1mg/L as indicative of in vitro susceptibility, 98.1% of the isolates tested in our study would be classified as susceptible, and only 28 (1.4%) of the isolates, with MICs higher than 2mg/L, would be classified as resistant to the drug. Our findings confirm the broad-spectrum in vitro activity of voriconazole against yeasts, including Candida species that are generally less susceptible to other azoles

Understanding Factors Associated With Psychomotor Subtypes of Delirium in Older Inpatients With Dementia

Objectives: Few studies have analyzed factors associated with delirium subtypes. In this study, we investigate factors associated with subtypes of delirium only in patients with dementia to provide insights on the possible prevention and treatments. Design: This is a cross-sectional study nested in the \u201cDelirium Day\u201d study, a nationwide Italian point-prevalence study. Setting and Participants: Older patients admitted to 205 acute and 92 rehabilitation hospital wards. Measures: Delirium was evaluated with the 4-AT and the motor subtypes with the Delirium Motor Subtype Scale. Dementia was defined by the presence of a documented diagnosis in the medical records and/or prescription of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors or memantine prior to admission. Results: Of the 1057 patients with dementia, 35% had delirium, with 25.6% hyperactive, 33.1% hypoactive, 34.5% mixed, and 6.7% nonmotor subtype. There were higher odds of having venous catheters in the hypoactive (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.18-2.81) and mixed type of delirium (OR 2.23, CI 1.43-3.46), whereas higher odds of urinary catheters in the hypoactive (OR 2.91, CI 1.92-4.39), hyperactive (OR 1.99, CI 1.23-3.21), and mixed types of delirium (OR 2.05, CI 1.36-3.07). We found higher odds of antipsychotics both in the hyperactive (OR 2.87, CI 1.81-4.54) and mixed subtype (OR 1.84, CI 1.24-2.75), whereas higher odds of antibiotics was present only in the mixed subtype (OR 1.91, CI 1.26-2.87). Conclusions and Implications: In patients with dementia, the mixed delirium subtype is the most prevalent followed by the hypoactive, hyperactive, and nonmotor subtype. Motor subtypes of delirium may be triggered by clinical factors, including the use of venous and urinary catheters, and the use of antipsychotics. Future studies are necessary to provide further insights on the possible pathophysiology of delirium in patients with dementia and to address the optimization of the management of potential risk factors