Software implementation and hardware acceleration of retinal vessel segmentation for diabetic retinopathy screening tests.

Screening tests are an effective tool for the diagnosis and prevention of several diseases. Unfortunately, in order to produce an early diagnosis, the huge number of collected samples has to be processed faster than before. In particular this issue concerns image processing procedures, as they require a high computational complexity, which is not satisfied by modern software architectures.

[Measles, mumps, rubella and varicella: antibody titration and vaccinations in a large hospital].

The occurrence contagious diseases such as measles, varicella, mumps and rubella in the hospital open creates situations of alarm, due to the potential involvement of workers, but most importantly for the oftentimes harmful consequences for critical patients, such as pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals. In 2007 antibody titration was initiated in our hospital for four infectious diseases, also pursuant to the Lombardy Region Resolution N. VIII/1587 of 22-12-2005 "Decisions regarding vaccinations in children and adults in the Lombardy Region" which indicate the departments in which a priority exists: maternity-neonatal and infectious illnesses.

[Restrictions on night work: analysis of case studies in a large Lombardy Hospital].

A high percentage of the division's doctors and employees work at night to guarantee urgent assistance and diagnostic services to patients. Night work is not recommended for persons with rather serious case histories due to the disruption of circadian rhythms or the increased workload required of certain operators during nighttime hours. All of the evaluations of health operators with a limited capacity to work on the night shift in our hospital were analysed, except for female workers restricted from night work during pregnancy or puerperium, as provisioned by the regulation that protects working mothers.

[Exanthemic diseases (measles, chickenpox, rubella and parotitis). Focus on screening and health surveillance of health workers: results and perspectives of a multicenter working group].

Background: Nosocomial transmission of varicella-zoster virus, certain paramixovirus and rubivirus might pose a risk of morbidity for varicella (V), rubella (R), mumps (Mu) and measles (Me) in health care workers (HCW), patients and coworkers. International literature and European legislation recommend preventive interventions to minimize the risk.

Methods: A literature review and a seroprevalence study were carried out in 9 hospitals located in north and central Italy, in order to evaluate risk assessment, health surveillance and fitness for work of HCW exposed to V, R, Mu and Me.

[Focus on coverage and promotion of anti influenza vaccine in health workers: results and perspectives of a multicenter working group].

Introduction: The influenza illness is a concern for health care workers (HCW) due to the potential nosocomial transmission and sickness absenteeism. Immunization and Isolation Precautions might be effective preventive measures.

Aims: To formulate recommendations on vaccination in healthcare settings.

[Tuberculosis. Focus on risk assessment and health surveillance in health workers: results and perspectives of a multicenter working group].

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is still a threat for healthcare workers (HCW), due to the non decreasing incidence, the spread of drug-resistance, the introduction of new tests for the screening, the relevant costs of surveillance of exposed subjects. These issues implicate a revision of activities to prevent TB in health-care settings.

Methods: A multidisciplinary working group, led by occupational physicians, examined the activities to prevent TB performed in 9 Italian hospitals and reviewed the literature, with the aim to formulate evidence-based procedures.

[Focus on health surveillance of health workers exposed to blood-transmissible biological agents: results and perspectives of a multicenter working group].

The biological risk from exposure to bloodborne pathogens in health care environments represents a frequent and widespread risk, involving a large number of exposed workers. On the basis of the available scientific innovations, the recent legislation regarding health and safety of workers and the experiences of SIMLII guidelines on health surveillance (HS) workers exposed to biological risk, a multicenter study was carried out, involving nine relevant hospitals and about 32 000 healthcare workers (HCW). A review of the literature was performed, with particular reference to the last 10 years.

[Focus on risk assessment in health environments: results and perspectives of a multicenter working group].

The hospital risk assessment (VdR) is certainly a relevant issue concerning the activities of prevention for the health of healthcare workers in relation to biological risk. The aim of this paper is to provide an up-date of the issue, based on the suggestions of recent literature about the rules ratified by the new legislative decree and data supplied by the Group of 10 Hospitals participated in this multicenter study. From the analysis of data on healthcare settings (HCS) participating in the project the following considerations can be formulated: i) All HCS considered VdR from biological agents.

[Risks of repetitive movements in health personnel].

To date, scant attention has been devoted to the occupational risk related to repetitive movements in health personnel. Using three database, PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE, we found 57 papers on this topic, and on possibly related upper limb symptoms and diseases. In these studies, evaluation of the risk, e.

[Job fitness management regarding university school of nursings students: our experience over three years (2005-2007)].

Based on definition of worker according to D.Lgs.626/94, art.

[Vaccination and immunization in healthcare workers, towards specific infections: measles, varicella, rubella and mumps. The experience in a hospital in Lombardy].

Lombardy Region, with the Deliberation NoVIII (22-12-2005), about vaccinations in childrens and adults, suggest to offer to the healthcare workers (HCW) of 'Infectious diseases' and of 'Obstetrics and 'Pediatrics' Department, the vaccines for varicella and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). We performed in 120 HCW of our hospital the dosage of antibodies versus these infectious diseases, in order to protect both workers and critical patients. The study results show that more than 80% of the HCW was immune to all the four infectious diseases.

[Carpal tunnel syndrome in handicraft planning].

The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a group of bakers and to evaluate the presence of a biomechanical risk for upper limbs in the technological cycle. Health assessment (history, clinical examination, upper limbs electromyography) and risk evaluation through Check List OCRA (Occupational Repetitive Actions - Colombini / Occhipinti) have confirmed the initial hypothesis, placing this profession between those at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Manual lifting of patients: experience at the Riuniti di Bergamo Hospital].

The manual lifting of patients is a risk factor in the working activity of hospital nurses and it causes a high prevalence of low-back pain in these workers. The evaluation of risk has been performed in various Occupational Units of our hospital in accordance with art. 4 of Legislative Decree 626/94.

[Exposure to the risk of the manual lifting of patients and the results of a clinical study in 4 hospital establishments of northern Italy].

The paper reports the results of a study carried out in four hospitals in northern Italy to assess exposure to patient handling and the consequent risks for the lumbar region of the spine. The methods proposed by the EPM Research Unit were used. Altogether, in the four hospitals there were 148 wards and 5596 staff.

[Repetitive movement of the upper limbs: results of exposure evaluation and clinical investigation in wood sanding in Bergamo].

The authors report their findings regarding a risk assessment study and clinical tests carried out among a group of 121 workers whose job was to sandpaper and buff timber products. The results of the risk assessment indicate that the job in question is at significant risk for the development of WMSDs in relation to the principal risk factors (repetitiveness, force, posture, short recovery periods). The clinical tests, undertaken by medical staff, complied with the anamnestic models proposed by EPM.

Cobalt excretion in urine: results of a study on workers producing diamond grinding tools and on a control group.

A study was carried out on cobalt (Co) excretion in the urine of 12 workers exposed to known cobalt concentrations in the stone cutting diamond wheel production and in six volunteers: four of these were exposed in the same work environment for a whole workshift and the other two were exposed to cobalt in a cabin under experimental conditions. The kinetics of the urinary excretion was multiphase: (i) a first stage of rapid elimination (T 1/2' = 43.9 h); (ii) a second phase of slower elimination (T 1/2'' = 10 days); (iii) a longer period of retention, of the order of years, in subjects with higher exposure.

Occupational exposure to metallic cobalt in the Province of Bergamo. Results of a 1991 survey.

The results of a survey on workers potentially exposed to cobalt in the Bergamo Province are reported. Its aim is to assess the number of workers at risk of developing respiratory disease due to the inhalation of metallic cobalt. Interest was shown after an examination of 11 cases of 'hard metal disease', which we diagnosed, in workers who came from different production areas and had different degrees of exposure.

Cobalt exposure in 'hard metal' and diamonds grinding tools manufacturing and in grinding processes.

Cobalt is considered to play a major role in the development of 'hard metal' interstitial lung disease, asthma and other adverse health effects. A survey of occupational exposure of workers is a fundamental step to obtain exposure-response information and for preventive action. Process related exposure assessment was performed before and after technical control in small and medium size factories in a large surveillance programme.