FIRST RESULTS ON THE PRESENCE AND THE MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ANISAKID NEMATODES IN MARINE FISH CAUGHT OFF NORTHERN SARDINIA

Anisakidosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by nematodes of the family Anisakidae, belonging to the genera Anisakis, Contracaecum and Pseudoterranova. Molecular studies have shown that Anisakis larvae comprise a number of sibling species, which have different genetic structures, hosts and geographical distribution. A great variety of fish species can harbour infectious third stage larvae of this nematode. The preliminary results of a study carried out to evaluate the occurrence of this parasite in commercial fish caught off northern Sardinia are herein reported. From October 2008 to November 2009, 599 specimens of 8 commercial fish species were examined for anisakid larvae through visual inspection of body cavity and peptic digestion of the muscle. Isolated Anisakis sp. larvae were observed at light microscope and identified as Type I or Type II (sensu Berland, 1961). Out of 599 fish examined, 239 (40%) were infected by 1187 anisakid larvae, belonging to the genera Anisakis (1169 Type I and 18 Type II) and Hysterothylacium (692). The molecular identification of Anisakis spp. was carried out on a subsample of 30% of Type I larvae and all Type II larvae. Specimens were firstly examined using a species-specific PCR, with primers designed for Anisakis pegreffii (APEF) and Anisakis physeteris (APHF), and ITS-2 of nuclear rDNA. The results were confirmed by the analysis of the ITS region of nuclear rDNA (ITS-1, 5.8S and ITS-2) using the restriction enzymes HinfI and HhaI in PCR-RFLP. Type I larvae examined were all identified as A. pegreffii, and Type II were all A. physeteris. This is the first contribution to the epidemiology and molecular characterization of Anisakis spp. in commercial fish caught off Sardinia

MICROBIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL TESTING OF FOOD SNAILS MARKETEDS IN SARDINIA

A total of 29 samples of snails belonging to the species Helix aspersa, Helix aperta and Helix vermiculata were analysed for the presence of Salmonella spp. and Clostridium perfringens; Cadmium and Lead concentrations were determined by ICP-MS. One sample contained Salmonella sp.; Clostridium perfringens were not detected. The means of toxic metals (expressed as mg/Kg wet weight) were the following: Cd 0,995, Pb 0,274. Key word

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ANISAKID NEMATODES IN FISHES OF NORTHERN SARDINIAN SEA

The authors report results of analysis carried out during 2008-2010 for identification and molecular characterization of larval Anisakis nematodes isolated from fishes of the northern Sardinian sea

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Verifica sperimentale e proposta di correlazioni per il coefficiente di scambio in pool boiling su tubi orizzontali in acqua: influenza del materiale e dello stato superficiale

Il presente studio è finalizzato all’ottimizzazione di uno scambiatore di calore immerso in piscina con tubi, disposti orizzontali. In particolare, viene studiato l’effetto della rugosità superficiale e del materiale sul coefficiente di scambio termico per ebollizione nucleata. E' stata realizzata all'uopo una sezione di prova costituita da un tubo scambiatore immerso in una piscina a pressione atmosferica nella quale avviene l'ebollizione. I materiali sottoposti a prova sono: acciaio inossidabile, alluminio ed ottone, con diverse rugosità superficiali. I dati ottenuti sperimentalmente sono stati confrontati con alcune correlazioni proposte da vari autori per lo scambio termico con ebollizione in piscina. Le correlazioni sottoposte a confronto sono state scelte in funzione delle condizioni sperimentali di riferimento, che sono state ricercate il più possibile simili a quelle in cui si è operato nelle prove. Nell'articolo vengono riportati i risultati sperimentali di una campagna di prove, illustrati i risultati della applicazione delle suddette correlazioni e proposte delle modifiche alle stesse, che consentono di interpretare meglio i risultati sperimentali ottenuti

Design of highly transparent organic photodiodes

In this brief, various approaches for the realization of transparent photodiodes based on bulk heterojunction blends of poly-3-hexylthiophene and [6,6]-phenyl C-61-butyric acid methyl ester are studied. The choice of the constituents of the device is discussed concerning transmittance and light-detecting properties as dark current and external quantum efficiency (EQE). Blending several light-absorbing materials makes tailoring of the transmittance spectrum possible. Transmittance of 36% of the incident light together with 46% EQE at a wavelength of 530 nm are promising results and show the potential for highly transparent, photodiodes based on organic layers