Efficacy of Violet-Blue (405 nm) LED Lamps for Disinfection of High-Environmental-Contact Surfaces in Healthcare Facilities: Leading to the Inactivation of Microorganisms and Reduction of MRSA Contamination.

Effective disinfection procedures in healthcare facilities are essential to prevent transmission. Chemical disinfectants, hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) systems and ultraviolet (UV) light are commonly used methods. An emerging method, violet-blue light at 405 nm, has shown promise for surface disinfection.

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

Introduction: UV-C has proven to be an effective virucide and microbicide, and its cost-effectiveness allowed it to spread as a disinfecting procedure in different environments.

Methods: The study aims to determine the microbicide activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and SARS-CoV-2 of the UV-C Boxer by Cartoni S.p.

Wind of change: Better air for microbial environmental control.

Background: The COVID19 epidemic highlighted the importance of air in the transmission of pathogens. Air disinfection is one of the key points to reduce the risk of transmission both in the health sector and in public, civil and industrial environments. All bacteria and viruses tested to date can be inactivated by UV-C rays.

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.

Early prenatal and late prenatal escitalopram exposure differentially impacts behavioral flexibility and anxiety-related behaviors in adulthood.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are medications commonly used by pregnant women. While SSRIs have been considered safe during pregnancy, there is limited understanding of the long-term consequences of prenatal SSRI exposure on adult behavioral processes. Recent human studies have demonstrated prenatal exposure to some SSRIs in humans may increase susceptibility to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delays.

Safer school with near-UV technology: novel applications for environmental hygiene.

Systems capable of disinfecting air and surfaces could reduce the risk of infectious diseases transmission. Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness of near-UV LED ceiling lamps, with a wavelength of 405 nm, in improving environmental hygiene. Between November and December 2020, we conducted an experimental study having a pre-post design in a kindergarten room in Siena where 4 ceiling lamps with 405 nm LED technology were installed.

Impact of specific serotonin receptor modulation on restricted repetitive behaviors.

Restricted, repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are commonly divided into two behavioral categories, lower-order and higher-order RRBs. Individuals displaying lower-order motoric RRBs may express repetitive hand flapping behaviors, body rocking back and forth movements, and continuous body spinning. Higher-order RRBs most commonly cover the behavior inflexibility and cognitive rigidity commonly found in disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Disinfecting Slush Machines by an Innovative Near Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode (UV LED) Technological System.

Background: Microbial contamination of food and beverages is a topic of great interest. The most innovative technologies take advantage from UV light. This study aimed to evaluate a possible configuration of a nUV LED device at a wavelength of 405 nm installed on slush machines in order to reduce the microbial contamination.

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.

Impairments in operant probabilistic reversal learning in BTBR T+tf/J male and female mice.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents with two core symptoms, impairments in social communication and the presence of restricted, repetitive behaviors (RRBs). RRBs are commonly linked to a lack of behavioral flexibility, having a significant negative impact on daily functioning for ASD individuals and their caregivers. Commonly utilized tests of behavioral flexibility employ a traditional deterministic reward approach where choices are either correct or incorrect throughout testing.

Acute serotonin 1B/1A receptor activation impairs behavioral flexibility in C57BL/6J mice.

Pharmacological activation of the serotonin (5-HT) 1B and 5-HT1A receptors has been shown to induce OCD-like perseverative circling and locomotor stereotypy in rodents. Although, several studies have examined how activation of these receptors facilitates these motor-associated OCD-like behaviors, it is not known how acute 5-HT1B and 5-HT1A activation impacts behavioral inflexibility, a common trait related to OCD. The current study examined how acute 5-HT1B/1A receptor agonist RU24969 treatment at 0.

Impact of specific serotonin receptor modulation on behavioral flexibility.

Serotonin (5-HT) is known to play a critical role in regulation of essential neural processes, whereas more recent research highlights serotonin's modulatory effects on cognition and executive functioning. Current examinations have identified specific serotonin receptors for their direct impact on behavioral flexibility. Providing definitive evidence for the impact of specific receptor targets on behavioral flexibility is difficult, due to the range of behavioral tests used.

An Emerging Innovative UV Disinfection Technology (Part II): Virucide Activity on SARS-CoV-2.

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has become a global health burden. Surface sanitation is one of the key points to reduce the risk of transmission both in healthcare and other public spaces. UVC light is already used in hospital and laboratory infection control, and some recent studies have shown its effectiveness on SARS-CoV-2.

Serotonin 6 receptor modulation reduces locomotor activity in C57BL/6J mice.

The serotonin 6 receptor (5-HT6) is a more recently identified therapeutic target for several neuropsychiatric disorders. While the 5-HT6 receptor has gained interest as a target for novel therapeutics, determining the basic sex differences is lacking in the literature. To address this, the present study examined the effects of 5-HT6 receptor modulation on locomotor activity and open field measures of anxiety in C57BL/6J mice.

Serotonin 6 receptor blockade reduces repetitive behavior in the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by the expression of restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) and impairments in social recognition and communication. Previous studies have found that specific serotonin (5-HT) receptor modulation can attenuate repetitive behaviors expressed in specific mouse strains. The present study examined how 5-HT6 receptor blockade impacts the expression of repetitive behaviors in two different mouse strains that demonstrate elevated restricted, repetitive behavior and impairments in social behavior.

Rapid detection of Legionella spp in water samples by ScanVIT method: comparison of acid vs heat treatment.

Background: A rapid detection of Legionella bacteria in water samples is crucial to minimize the risk of acquiring infections, especially in health care facilities. Different detection methods and different decontamination procedures have been reported to affect the recovery of Legionella spp. Our goal was to test the recovery of Legionella pneumophila and Legionella non-pneumophila species using a kit based on non-specific and species-specific probes to treat water samples after two different decontamination procedures.

Acute serotonin 2A receptor activation impairs behavioral flexibility in mice.

Serotonin 2A (5-HT) receptors are the primary site of action of hallucinogenic drugs and the target of atypical antipsychotics. 5-HT receptors are also implicated in executive function, including behavioral flexibility. Previous studies showed that 5-HT receptor blockade improved behavioral flexibility in rodent models related to autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.

Differences in the expression of restricted repetitive behaviors in female and male BTBR T + tf/J mice.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by the expression of restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) and impairments in social recognition and communication. Epidemiological studies demonstrate males are three times more likely than females to be affected. Although this is the case, more recent studies suggest females may be underrepresented in these numbers due to standard clinical measures of RRBs and social behaviors.

Maternal immune activation impairs cognitive flexibility and alters transcription in frontal cortex.

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia is increased by prenatal exposure to viral or bacterial infection during pregnancy. It is still unclear how activation of the maternal immune response interacts with underlying genetic factors to influence observed ASD phenotypes.

Methods: The current study investigated how maternal immune activation (MIA) in mice impacts gene expression in the frontal cortex in adulthood, and how these molecular changes relate to deficits in cognitive flexibility and social behavior, and increases in repetitive behavior that are prevalent in ASD.

On the Role of Protocol-Driven Resilience in Coupled Infrastructure and Natural System Resilience.

Lifeline infrastructure systems have always been crucial to the social, economic, and military security of societies. Because lifeline systems are critical to societal coherence and economic operations, assessing and mitigating risks to lifeline system operations is crucial. However, attention has shifted from risk assessment to resilience assessment due to the exceptionally large adaptation and mitigation needs implied by the geographic and temporal scope of natural and man-made hazards.

5-HT6 receptor agonist EMD386088 impairs behavioral flexibility and working memory.

Serotonin 6 (5-HT6) receptors are primarily expressed in the central nervous system and to an even further extent brain regions responsible for learning and memory. Recent studies have demonstrated 5-HT6 receptor involvement in pathophysiological processes highlighting their therapeutic possibilities. Most research concerning the effects of 5-HT6 receptor modulation has focused on blockade despite paradoxical findings that 5-HT6 agonists and antagonists can both have pro-cognitive effects.

The adenosine A receptor agonist, CGS 21680, attenuates a probabilistic reversal learning deficit and elevated grooming behavior in BTBR mice.

Unlabelled: Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a defining feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To date there are limited options for treating this core symptomology. Treatments that stimulate adenosine A receptors may represent a promising approach for reducing RRBs in ASD.

Colonic stasis and chronic constipation: Demystifying proposed risk factors for colon polyp formation in a spinal cord injury veteran population.

Background And Aims: Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) suffer significant morbidity from neurogenic bowel. Chronic constipation has long-been a proposed risk factor for polyp development. We performed a retrospective cohort study in veterans with SCI to assess polyp presence in the setting of colonic stasis.