A new UV-LED device for automatic disinfection of stethoscope membranes

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“Every cockroach is beautiful to his mother’s eyes”? A multicentric study on the perception of child’s health status according to the parent.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity is a social health problem in the Western World and an important goal is to analyze and correct risk factors. However, part of the problem could be determined by a different perception of the weight. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In October 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional study in which a questionnaire was administered to the parents of primary and secondary school children in South-East Tuscany, Italy. The aim was to determine the association between children’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and the parent’s perception.RESULTS: Analysis was carried out on 1,405 complete questionnaires. We found that most parents wrongly perceive the weight of their children. 88.3% of parents with obese children believe that their children are of normal weight or only “a little overweight”. 67.6% of parents who have overweight children think that their children are of normal weight (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a misperception of the weight of the children in the parents eyes. The acquisition of healthy behaviour during childhood is extremely important for health in adulthood and for avoiding the onset of associated diseases. Therefore, food education becomes a crucial objective. Children and parents need to increase consciousness of the correct weight and diseases resulting from bad nutrition

BACTERIAL LYSATES (OM-85 BV): a cost-effective proposal in order to contrast antibiotic resistance

Background Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the most frequent pathologies in which antibiotics are used because 50% of the exacerbations are attributable to a bacterial infection. The aims of our study were: i)to perform a meta-analysis on the efficacy of the bacterial lysate OM-85 BV in preventing acute exacerbations in patients with COPD; ii) to evaluate whether this preventive treatment can lead to significant savings for the National Health Service (NHS).   Methods A systematic research was conducted in the electronic database MEDLINE (PubMed) in June 2017-July 2020, collecting evidences without time restrictions. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The keywords used were "OM 85 BV AND chronic bronchitis" and "OM 85 BV AND COPD". We realized the cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) considering the costs for a treatment with OM-8BV, the costs for the treatment of an acute exacerbation and the number of prevented exacerbations.   Results 59 publications were found, but the meta-analysis was conducted on 13 studies conducted between 1981 and 2015.OM-85 BV is responsible of a statistically significant reduction in the mean number of COPD exacerbations (p <0.01; WMD -0.86;CI 95% -1.38, -0.34) and in the days of antibiotic therapy (p <0.01; WMD -9.49;CI 95% -11.93, -7.05). The cost-effectiveness ratio with a negative value is in favor to treatment.      Conclusions OM-85 BV is effective in reducing exacerbations, and could lead to significant savings for the NHS. Moreover, reducing the number of exacerbations it avoids an over-use of antibiotics and the consequent antibiotic resistance

Effectiveness of near-UVA in SARS-CoV-2 inactivation

This experimental study aimed to determine the activity of a near-UVA (405 nm) LED ceiling system against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The ceiling system comprised 17 near-UVA LED lights with a radiant power of 1.1 W/each centred at 405 nm wavelength. A 96-multiwell plate, fixed to a wooden base, was inoculated with suspensions of VERO E6 cell cultures infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus and irradiated at a distance of 40 cm with a dose of 20.2 J/cm(2) for 120 min. The collected suspensions were transferred to VERO cell culture plates and incubated for 3 days. The maximum measurable log reduction obtained, starting from a concentration of 10(7.2) TCID50/mL, was 3.0 log(10) and indicated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication by the near-UVA LED ceiling system. Near-UVA light at a 405-nm wavelength is emerging as a potential alternative treatment for localised infections and environmental decontamination because it is far less harmful to living organisms' cells than UV-C irradiation

light emitting diodes as alternative light sources effects of ultraviolet frequencies on microbial replication

Hospital acquired infections (HIAs) are a major global problem as they increase morbidity, mortality, hospitalization length and the cost of care for hospitalized patients [1,2]

Dispositivo per l’igienizzazione di strumenti medici

La presente invenzione si riferisce ad un dispositivo per l’igienizzazione di strumenti medici, in particolare di stetoscopi. In particolare, la presente invenzione riguarda un dispositivo di igienizzazione o sterilizzazione (1) di uno stetoscopio (S) comprendente un involucro (2) che alloggia dei mezzi di igienizzazione o sterilizzazione (3, 3’, 3”), un’unità di comando e controllo (4) ed una batteria (5), detto dispositivo (1) comprendendo mezzi di aggancio allo stetoscopio (S) da igienizzare o sterilizzare, detti mezzi di aggancio essendo mezzi di aggancio magnetico o elettromagnetico (12), mezzi di aggancio meccanico (13) o una combinazione di essi, caratterizzato dal fatto che detto involucro (2) presenta verso l’esterno una rientranza che forma un cono (11) rovesciato, la cui base è aperta e sostanzialmente a livello della superficie esterna dell’involucro (2), detti mezzi di igienizzazione o sterilizzazione (3, 3’, 3”) essendo disposti in corrispondenza di detto cono (11). (FIGURA 1A

Can a UV-C box help the cinema industry by disinfecting video cameras?

UV-C has proven to be an effective virucide and microbicide, and its cost-effectiveness allowed it to spread as a disinfecting device in different environments. The study aims to determine the microbicide activity on S. Aureus, E. Coli and Sars-CoV-2 of the UV-C Boxer by Cartoni S.p.A. Three separate experiments were performed to assess the effectiveness of the UV-C disinfection by the box on different materials, on surfaces of a videocamera and on a specific carrier for Sars-CoV-2. In all three experiments, a significant abatement of bacterial and viral contamination was reached after 60 seconds on carriers and after 3 minutes on all examined surfaces of the video camera, with a higher reduction on glass carriers. UV-C devices may be a valuable tool to implement in the working routine to achieve a higher level of safety in work environments

Efficacy of violet–blue light to inactive microbial growth

The increase in health care-associated infections and antibiotic resistance has led to a growing interest in the search for innovative technologies to solve these problems. In recent years, the interest of the scientific community has focused on violet–blue light at 405 nm (VBL405). This study aimed to assess the VBL405 efficiency in reducing microbial growth on surfaces and air. This descriptive study run between July and October 2020. Petri dishes were contaminated with P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, K. pneumoniae and were placed at 2 and 3 m from a LED light source having a wavelength peak at 405 nm and an irradiance respectively of 967 and 497 μW/cm2. Simultaneously, the air in the room was sampled for 5 days with two air samplers (SAS) before and after the exposition to the VBL405 source. The highest microbial reduction was reached 2 m directly under the light source: S. typhimurium (2.93 log10), K. pneumoniae (2.30 log10), S. aureus (3.98 log10), E. coli (3.83 log10), P. aeruginosa (3.86 log10). At a distance of 3 m from the light source, the greatest reduction was observed for S. aureus (3.49 log10), and P. aeruginosa (3.80 log10). An average percent microbial reduction of about 70% was found in the sampled air after 12 h of exposure to VBL405. VBL405 has proven to contrast microbial growth on the plates. Implementing this technology in the environment to provide continuous disinfection and to control microbial presence, even in the presence of people, may be an innovative solution

Food related risks during pregnancy: how much do women know about it?

Aim Infection with Toxoplasma gondii and Listeria monocytogenes during pregnancy can lead to severe illness in the foetus but it can be prevented by simple hygienic measures. This study evaluated the knowledge that women have about food related risk and the information sources used. Methods We surveyed pregnant women and new mothers in[Removed for blind peer review], using a questionnaire approved by health direction, processed by an optical reader and analyzed using χ² test and Odds Ratio. Results 149 women responded to the survey, 78.5% of them received information from the gynaecologist, 45% from internet and then books/pamphlets. 67.8% felt well informed about food-related risks connected. 94% of them knows Toxoplasma; 39.5% ignore Listeria instead. From our results it’s evident  that graduated women tend to identify all foods as less secure and had better attitudes on cleaning refrigerator, on respecting temperatures, on avoiding consumption of undercooked foods, on protecting food before consumption. Conclusions Pregnant women have good awareness of food-related risks. However there’s a high confusion, due to the use of internet and other not reliable sources. This study demonstrates that it’s necessary to improve the organization of nutritional education by adequately trained health personnel