UV and violet light can Neutralize SARS-CoV-2 Infectivity.

We performed an in-depth analysis of the virucidal effect of discrete wavelengths: UV-C (278 nm), UV-B (308 nm), UV-A (366 nm) and violet (405 nm) on SARS-CoV-2. By using a highly infectious titer of SARS-CoV-2 we observed that the violet light-dose resulting in a 2-log viral inactivation is only 10 times less efficient than UV-C light. Moreover, by qPCR (quantitative Polymerase chain reaction) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) approach we verified that the viral titer typically found in the sputum of COVID-19 patients can be completely inactivated by the long UV-wavelengths corresponding to UV-A and UV-B solar irradiation.

Ultraviolet C lamps for disinfection of surfaces potentially contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 in critical hospital settings: examples of their use and some practical advice.

Background: UltraViolet-C (UV-C) lamps may be used to supplement current hospital cleaning and disinfection of surfaces contaminated by SARS-CoV-2. Our aim is to provide some practical indications for the correct use of UV-C lamps.

Methods: We studied three UV-C lamps, measuring their spatial irradiance and emission over time.

UV-C irradiation is highly effective in inactivating SARS-CoV-2 replication.

The potential virucidal effects of UV-C irradiation on SARS-CoV-2 were experimentally evaluated for different illumination doses and virus concentrations (1000, 5, 0.05 MOI). At a virus density comparable to that observed in SARS-CoV-2 infection, an UV-C dose of just 3.

Early detection of colorectal adenocarcinoma: a clinical decision support tool based on plasma porphyrin accumulation and risk factors.

Background: An increase in naturally-occurring porphyrins has been described in the blood of subjects bearing different kinds of tumors, including colorectal, and this is probably related to a systemic alteration of heme metabolism induced by tumor cells. The aim of our study was to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) classifier for early detection of colorectal adenocarcinoma based on plasma porphyrin accumulation and risk factors.

Methods: We measured the endogenous fluorescence of blood plasma in 100 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients and 112 controls using a conventional spectrofluorometer.

Different pixel pitch and maximum luminance of medical grade displays may result in different evaluations of digital radiography images.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of display pixel pitch and maximum luminance on intra- and inter-observer reproducibility and observer performance when evaluating chest lesions and bone fractures.

Materials And Methods: This was a multi-institutional study for a retrospective interpretation of selected digital radiography images. Overall, 82 images were selected by senior radiologists, including 50 cases of chest lesions and 32 cases of bone fractures.

How Does the Display Luminance Level Affect Detectability of Breast Microcalcifications and Spiculated Lesions in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) Images?

Rationale And Objectives: This study evaluates the influence of the calibrated luminance level of medical displays in the detectability of microcalcifications and spiculated lesions in digital breast tomosynthesis images.

Materials And Methods: Four models of medical displays with calibrated maximum and minimum luminance, respectively, ranging from 500 to 1000 cd/m and from 0.5 to 1.

A survey of sources of incoherent artificial optical radiation in a hospital environment in accordance with European Directive 2006/25/EC: evaluation of the related exposure risk.

The evaluation of incoherent artificial optical radiation (AOR) exposure in hospital environments is a complex task due to the variety of sources available. This study has been designed to provide a proposal for the precautionary assessment of the related risk. This survey suggested that, in our Institution, at least three kinds of AOR sources required specific investigations: ambient lighting, theatre operating lighting and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) sources.

Colorectal cancer detection by means of optical fluoroscopy. A study on 494 subjects.

In the present work we investigated the possible role of the native fluorescence of blood plasma in the management of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its feasibility as a new tumor marker. Sample of blood was collected from 248 asymptomatic blood donors and from 246 CRC patients. The native fluorescence of blood plasma was measured using a conventional spectrofluorimeter.

Natural fluorescence spectroscopy of human blood plasma in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer: feasibility study and preliminary results.

Aim And Background: Fluorescence spectroscopy of biomolecules is considered a promising method to discriminate in vivo normal tissue from malignant tissue at various sites including breast, cervix, lung, and colon. However, only few studies have been reported on the feasibility of exploiting fluorescence spectroscopy of blood to characterize pathological changes usable in diagnostic oncology. In this study, the fluorescence characteristics of human blood plasma have been studied in the visible spectral range in an attempt to discriminate patients with colorectal cancer from subjects of a control population.

In vivo evaluation of melanoma thickness by multispectral imaging and an artificial neural network. A retrospective study on 250 cases of cutaneous melanoma.

Aims And Background: Noninvasive diagnostic methods such as dermoscopy, sonography, palpation or combined approaches have been developed in an attempt to preoperatively estimate melanoma thickness. However, the clinical presentation is often complex and the evaluation subjective. Multispectral image analysis of melanomas allows selection of features related to the content and distribution of absorbers, mainly melanin and hemoglobin, present within the lesion.

Target coverage in head and neck cancer treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy: a comparison between conventional and conformal techniques.

Aims And Background: We designed a comparative planning study aimed at quantifying the advantages of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) over the conventional 3-field technique (3FT) and a 5-field conformal technique (5FCT) for head and neck (HN) cancer.

Methods: We selected 9 patients treated at our institution with curative radiotherapy for a HN cancer. For all cases 4 plans were generated: 2 plans using the "standard" techniques (3FT and 5FCT), a third plan using IMRT, and a fourth "mixed" plan using IMRT followed by a conventional boost.

Automated segmentation of pigmented skin lesions in multispectral imaging.

The aim of this study was to develop an algorithm for the automatic segmentation of multispectral images of pigmented skin lesions. The study involved 1700 patients with 1856 cutaneous pigmented lesions, which were analysed in vivo by a novel spectrophotometric system, before excision. The system is able to acquire a set of 15 different multispectral images at equally spaced wavelengths between 483 and 951 nm.

Automated melanoma detection with a novel multispectral imaging system: results of a prospective study.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the performance of a new spectroscopic system in the diagnosis of melanoma. This study involves a consecutive series of 1278 patients with 1391 cutaneous pigmented lesions including 184 melanomas. In an attempt to approach the 'real world' of lesion population, a further set of 1022 not excised clinically reassuring lesions was also considered for analysis.

Automated melanoma detection: multispectral imaging and neural network approach for classification.

Our aim in the present research is to investigate the diagnostic performance of artificial neural networks (ANNs) applied to multispectral images of cutaneous pigmented skin lesions as well as to compare this approach to a standard traditional linear classification method, such as discriminant function analysis. This study involves a series of 534 patients with 573 cutaneous pigmented lesions (132 melanomas and 441 nonmelanoma lesions). Each lesion was analyzed by a telespectrophotometric system (TS) in vivo, before surgery.

Melanoma detection. A prospective study comparing diagnosis with the naked eye, dermatoscopy and telespectrophotometry.

Background: Successful treatment of melanoma depends directly on early diagnosis. Such a diagnosis is based on clinical examination and dermatoscopy. Recently, automated instruments for melanoma detection are under development.