Evaluation of Smallpox Vaccination Coverage and Attitude towards Monkeypox Vaccination among Healthcare Workers in an Italian University Hospital.

(1) Background: In 2022, monkeypox (Mpox) was declared a public health emergency. The European Medicines Agency has authorized the use of Imvanex/Jynneos, a smallpox vaccine, for coverage against pox. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are all considered by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to be at risk, but in Italy, vaccination was offered only to laboratory personnel.

Low-Cost Pocket Fluorometer and Chemometric Tools for Green and Rapid Screening of Deoxynivalenol in Durum Wheat Bran.

Cereal crops are frequently contaminated by deoxynivalenol (DON), a harmful type of mycotoxin produced by several species fungi. The early detection of mycotoxin contamination is crucial for ensuring safety and quality of food and feed products, for preventing health risks and for avoiding economic losses because of product rejection or costly mycotoxin removal. A LED-based pocket-size fluorometer is presented that allows a rapid and low-cost screening of DON-contaminated durum wheat bran samples, without using chemicals or product handling.

Smartphone-Enabled Colorimetry.

A smartphone is used as a colorimeter. The performance characterization for colorimetry is presented using both the built-in camera and a clip-on dispersive grating. Certified colorimetric samples provided by Labsphere are considered as test samples.

Bluetooth-Connected Pocket Spectrometer and Chemometrics for Olive Oil Applications.

Unsaturated fatty acids are renowned for their beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. The high content of unsaturated fatty acids is a benefit of vegetable fats and an important nutraceutical indicator. The ability to quickly check fat composition of an edible oil could be advantageous for both consumers and retailers.

Antimeningococcal Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Workers in an Italian University Hospital.

Following an outbreak of meningococcal epidemic in 2015 and 2016 in Tuscany, we registered a higher demand for antimeningococcal vaccination (anti-Men ACWY) by Healthcare Workers of the University Hospital of Pisa [Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana (AOUP)]. The purpose of this work is to analyze and discuss data on vaccination coverage resulting from this vaccination campaign. We conducted a monocentric study about anti-Men vaccination in the healthcare workers of the AOUP following the outbreak of meningococcal meningitis that occurred mainly in the population of the Tuscan provinces of Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, and Florence.

A Study of Overripe Seed Byproducts from Sun-Dried Grapes by Dispersive Raman Spectroscopy.

Overripe seeds from sun-dried grapes submitted to postharvest dehydration constitute a scarcely investigated class of vinification byproduct with limited reports on their phenolic composition and industrial applications. In this study, Raman spectroscopy was applied to characterize a selection of overripe seed byproducts from different white grapes (cv. Moscatel, cv.

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Unlabelled: «Analysis of survival at cardiac arrest in events occurred in work environments in the territory served by an operations center of the 118 of Tuscany».

Background:: The global incidence of cardiac arrest is nearly one person in 1,000 per year, a rate which also applies to Italy; a great deal of these events is likely to strike people outside their homes. Objectives: To analyze a cohort of cardiac arrest events occurred in various public spaces and workplaces across an area under the responsibility of an Emergency Unit related to the national emergency number (118) and to assess the efficacy of first-aid intervention and the usage of a defibrillator while handling an acute cardiac event.

[Effects of the work limitations on the career path of a cohort of health workers].

Background: The median age of the workforce, and of healthcare workers in particular, is increasing, resulting in a reduced work capacity. This may prompt the occupational physician to issue fitness for work limitations.

Objectives: To examine the health surveillance data collected over 20 years on the employees of a large healthcare institution to identify the effects of the limitations imposed on their career paths.

Hydrogen Adsorption Properties of Carbon Nanotubes and Platinum Nanoparticles from a New Ammonium-Ethylimidazolium Chloroplatinate Salt.

Self-supporting membranes built entirely of carbon nanotubes have been prepared by wet methods and characterized by Raman spectroscopy. The membranes are used as supports for the electrodeposition of Pt nanoparticles without the use of additional additives and/or stabilizers. The Pt precursor is an ad hoc synthesized ammonium-ethylimidazolium chloroplatinate(IV) salt, [NH3 (CH2 )2 MIM)][PtCl6 ].

Fluoroalkylsilanes with Embedded Functional Groups as Building Blocks for Environmentally Safer Self-Assembled Monolayers.

The fabrication of silane-based fluorinated self-assembled monolayers (FSAMs) on indium tin oxide (ITO, a transparent electrode) was carried out making use of the following fluoroalkylsilanes (FAS): 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-undecafluoro-N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]hexanamide (1; R(F) = C5F11) and 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluoro-N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]butane-1-sulfonamide (2; R(F) = C4F9), containing an embedded amide and a sulfonamide group, respectively, between the short perfluoroalkyl chain (R(F) with C < 6) and the syloxanic moiety. The obtained FSAM-modified/ITO systems were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle (CA), surface energy measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and compared to ITO modified with a 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyltriethoxysilane (3; R(F) = C6F13), with the perfluoroalkyl group linked to the syloxanic moiety through a simple hydrocarbon chain. The results obtained show that the presence of the -NHCO- and -NHSO2- groups have a different mode of action and, with the former, despite the short perfluoroalkyl chain, the ITO-1 system presents a CA (Θ(water )= 113.

Pain in Paget's disease: a retrospective study of treatment efficacy.

The authors addressed the role and the management of pain in Paget's disease by a retrospective study. The objectives were: to assess the presence of pain in Paget's disease; to look for a relationship between pain and the levels of total alkaline phosphatase (total ALP); to verify if the most commonly used drugs in Paget's disease, calcitonin and bisphosphonates, were able to reduce the pain and the levels of total ALP. The study analyzed 107 Italian patients with Paget's disease who were hospitalized at the same Institute between 1970 and 2010; all patients affected by severe arthritis were excluded.

Visible and near-infrared absorption spectroscopy by an integrating sphere and optical fibers for quantifying and discriminating the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany.

Because of its high price, extra virgin olive oil is frequently targeted for adulteration with lower quality oils. This paper presents an innovative optical technique capable of quantifying and discriminating the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil caused by lower-grade olive oils. An original set-up for diffuse-light absorption spectroscopy in the wide 400-1,700 nm spectral range was experimented.

[Psychiatric support of healthcare workers undergoing periodic health assessment].

Introduction: An integrated mental health surveillance program was developed by the department of occupational medicine at S. Chiara University Hospital in Pisa, Italy, in order to better assist and treat hospital staff suffering from psychiatric disorders in a preventive medical setting.

Material And Methods: During the occupational medical surveillance of 4000 employees of S.

Thyroid function and exposure to styrene.

Background: Many natural substances and drugs have long been known to cause goiter or thyroid dysfunction. More recently, several environmental pollutants, such as pesticides and industrial compounds, have been investigated for their thyroid-disrupting activity and related adverse effects on human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of styrene on the thyroid axis in occupationally exposed workers.

[Management of latex allergy in the Pisa University Hospital: analysis of data deriving from the Registry filing both allergic patients and employees].

Recently, Tuscany regional government has promulgated (Regional law n. 464/07) guidelines for setting up suitable sanitary rooms for patients allergic to latex. These guidelines enforced the managers of the Tuscany Local Health Units to promote educational activities and a correct methodology for the safe management of both health workers and patients who need latex-free diagnostical and/or therapeutical procedures.

[Evaluation of a series of serum mesothelin in patients with pleural malignant mesothelioma].

Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive neoplasm with a poor survival rate, hard diagnosis and treatment. The incidence of MM in Western Europe countries is expected to increase drammatically in the next 10-15 years. In spite of this drammatic scenario, at this time the only instruments for screening and early diagnosis are based on radiological tests with evident ethical and economical problems.

Innovative Sensors for Environmental Monitoring in Museums.

Different physical and chemical factors, such as light, temperature, relative humidity, pollutants and so on, can affect works of art on display. Each factor does not act individually, but its effect can be enhanced or accelerated by the presence of other factors. Accordingly, an evaluation of the impact of the whole environment on art objects is recognized as an essential requirement for conservation purposes.

Optimization of a glucose biosensor setup based on a Ni/Al HT matrix.

An amperometric glucose biosensor was developed using an anionic clay matrix of hydrotalcitic nature (Ni/Al-NO3 HT) as enzyme support, which was electrochemically synthesized at -0.90 V versus SCE, using a rotating disk Pt electrode to assure homogeneity of the electrodeposition suspension. The biorecognition element was glucose oxidase (GOx) immobilized on HT during the electrosynthesis, which was followed by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde vapours to avoid the enzyme release.

Electrodeposited glucose oxidase/anionic clay for glucose biosensors design.

An amperometric glucose biosensor was developed using an anionic clay matrix (layered double hydroxide (LDH), Ni/Al-NO3) for the immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOx). The biofilm was prepared by electrodeposition of the clay and GOx and subsequent cross-linking with glutaraldeyde. The Pt surface modified with the Ni/Al-NO3 shows a much reduced noise, giving rise to a better signal to noise ratio for the currents relative to H2O2 oxidation, and a linear range for H2O2 determination wider than the one observed for bare Pt electrodes.

[Experience of a centre for the study of occupational adjustment disorders referred to psychological harassment-related diseases at the workplace].

Background: The rising awareness of psychological harassment at the workplace means that it is ever more important to collect clinical data and test tools to assess psychiatric disease connected with this phenomenon.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the experience gained by the centre for work maladjustment of the University Hospital of Pisa on a sample of patients, using the methods proposed by the centre at the Clinica del Lavoro "Luigi Devoto".

Materials And Methods: The patients were submitted to a diagnostic protocol consisting of work history, medical examination, psychological assessment, psychiatric examination, subjective questionnaires, mood scale and Neutest.

Clinical evaluation of patients treated by resection of bone tumor in the limbs with reconstruction.

A system for the functional evaluation of reconstructive procedures after surgical treatment of tumors of the musculoskeletal apparatus is presented. A total of 8 parameters from 0 to 5 were graded with points assigned. Each parameter has a number of functional criteria to better assess the result.

Fibre-optic sensors in health care.

Biomedical fibre-optic sensors are attractive for the measurement of physical, chemical and biochemical parameters and for spectral measurements directly performed on the patient. An overview of fibre-optic sensors for in vivo monitoring is given, with particular attention paid to the advantages that these sensors are able to offer in different application fields such as cardiovascular and intensive care, angiology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, oncology, neurology, dermatology and dentistry.