Effects of Spoken Phones and Patient Characteristics on Respiratory Aerosol Emission.

Objectives: This study investigates how the production of three different phones ([a], [o], [r]), as well as breathing, coughing, and individual characteristics, influences respiratory particle emission.

Design: Experimental study.

Methods: Particle size distribution and sound pressure levels (SPL) were measured in 41 infection-free participants under controlled conditions.

Linearized boundary control method for density reconstruction in acoustic wave equations.

We develop a linearized boundary control method for the inverse boundary value problem of determining a density in the acoustic wave equation. The objective is to reconstruct an unknown perturbation in a known background density from the linearized Neumann-to-Dirichlet map. A key ingredient in the derivation is a linearized Blagoves̆c̆enskiĭ's identity with a free parameter.

Superspreading of SARS-CoV-2 at a choir rehearsal in Finland-A computational fluid dynamics view on aerosol transmission and patient interviews.

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the role of aerosol transmission and the importance of superspreading events. We analyzed a choir rehearsal in November 2020, where all participants, except one who had recently earlier recovered from COVID-19, were infected. We explore the risk factors for severe disease in this event and model the aerosol dispersion in the rehearsal room.

Effect of Vocalization on Human Aerosol Dynamics: Whispering Produces More Aerosols than Speaking.

Objectives: Sound pressure and exhaled flow have been identified as important factors associated with higher particle emissions. The aim of this study was to assess how different vocalizations affect the particle generation independently from other factors.

Design: Experimental study.

Taking the beat of the Arctic: are lemming population cycles changing due to winter climate?

Reports of fading vole and lemming population cycles and persisting low populations in some parts of the Arctic have raised concerns about the spread of these fundamental changes to tundra food web dynamics. By compiling 24 unique time series of lemming population fluctuations across the circumpolar region, we show that virtually all populations displayed alternating periods of cyclic/non-cyclic fluctuations over the past four decades. Cyclic patterns were detected 55% of the time ( = 649 years pooled across sites) with a median periodicity of 3.

High-volume evacuation mitigates viral aerosol spread in dental procedures.

Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) are subjected to microbe-containing aerosols and splatters in their everyday work. Safer work conditions must be developed to ensure the functioning of the healthcare system. By simulating dental procedures, we aimed to compare the virus-containing aerosol generation of four common dental instruments, and high-volume evacuation (HVE) in their mitigation.

Virtual visits at the Helsinki Head and Neck Center during the COVID-19 pandemic: patient safety incidents and the experiences of patients and staff.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care had to find new ways to care for patients while reducing infection transmission. The role of telemedicine role has grown exponentially.

Methods: A questionnaire on experiences and satisfaction was sent to the staff of the Head and Neck Center of Helsinki University Hospital and to otorhinolaryngology patients treated remotely between March and June 2020.

Comparison of aerosol generation between electrocautery and cold dissection tonsillectomy.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 can spread through aerosols produced by surgical procedures, but knowledge of the extent of aerosol production and the risk posed by many common procedures does not exist. This study analysed aerosol generation during tonsillectomy and how it differs between distinct surgical techniques and instruments. The results can be used in risk assessment during current and future pandemics and epidemics.

Safe use of PHI6 IN the experimental studies.

Surrogate viruses theoretically provide an opportunity to study the viral spread in an indoor environment, a highly needed understanding during the pandemic, in a safe manner to humans and the environment. However, the safety of surrogate viruses for humans as an aerosol at high concentrations has not been established. In this study, Phi6 surrogate was aerosolized at high concentration (Particulate matter: ∼1018 μg m) in the studied indoor space.

Working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in primary and tertiary healthcare: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has globally affected healthcare workers' (HCWs) health and wellbeing. Most studies on COVID-19 have focused on tertiary healthcare. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge on the effects of the pandemic on working conditions in tertiary and primary healthcare.

Rhinological procedures result in minimal generation of aerosols.

Background: COVID-19 and other respiratory infections spread through aerosols produced in respiratory activities and in certain surgical procedures considered as aerosol-generating procedures (AGP). Due to manipulation of the upper airway mucosa, rhinosurgery has been considered a particular risk for spread of respiratory infections. Our aim was to assess staff exposure to aerosols during common rhinosurgical procedures METHODS: Staff exposure to generated particle concentrations and size distributions between 0.

" Healthcare workers' perspectives on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed several risk factors to healthcare workers' (HCWs') emotional distress. The purpose of the study was to enhance understanding of the experiences and feelings of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with specific reference to infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and guidance, focusing on the quality and availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), guidelines, and management. With a qualitative approach, we aimed to enable a wider narrative; to gain a more detailed understanding related to PPE use and identify experiences that can be overlooked in forced-choice questionnaires.

Combining Phi6 as a surrogate virus and computational large-eddy simulations to study airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a restaurant.

COVID-19 has highlighted the need for indoor risk-reduction strategies. Our aim is to provide information about the virus dispersion and attempts to reduce the infection risk. Indoor transmission was studied simulating a dining situation in a restaurant.

Aerosol concentrations and size distributions during clinical dental procedures.

Background: Suspected aerosol-generating dental instruments may cause risks for operators by transmitting pathogens, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The aim of our study was to measure aerosol generation in various dental procedures in clinical settings.

Methods: The study population comprised of 84 patients who underwent 253 different dental procedures measured with Optical Particle Sizer in a dental office setting.

Mental well-being of healthcare workers in 2 hospital districts during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Finland: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unseen pressure on healthcare systems in many countries, jeopardizing the mental well-being of healthcare workers. The authors aimed to assess the mental well-being of Finnish healthcare workers from 2 hospital districts (Helsinki University Hospital [HUS] and Social and Health Services in Kymenlaakso [Kymsote]) with differing COVID-19 incidence rates during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020.

Material And Methods: A total number of 996 healthcare workers (HUS N = 862, Kymsote N = 134) participated in this prospectively conducted survey study during summer 2020.

Aerosol Generation During Otologic Surgery.

Objective: To assess whether aerosol generation occurs during otologic surgery, to define which instruments are aerosol generating, and to identify factors that enhance safety in protection against airborne pathogens, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Study Design: An observational prospective study on aerosol measurements during otologic operations recorded between August and December 2020.

Setting: Aerosol generation was measured with an Optical Particle Sizer as part of otologic operations with anesthesia.

Blood and saliva SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in self-collected dried spot samples.

We examined the usefulness of dried spot blood and saliva samples in SARS-CoV-2 antibody analyses. We analyzed 1231 self-collected dried spot blood and saliva samples from healthcare workers. Participants filled in a questionnaire on their COVID-19 exposures, infections, and vaccinations.

A machine learning approach to predict resilience and sickness absence in the healthcare workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) have faced unprecedented workloads and personal health risks leading to mental disorders and surges in sickness absence. Previous work has shown that interindividual differences in psychological resilience might explain why only some individuals are vulnerable to these consequences. However, no prognostic tools to predict individual HCW resilience during the pandemic have been developed.

Aerosol generation during coughing: an observational study.

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 has highlighted the lack of knowledge on aerosol exposure during respiratory activity and aerosol-generating procedures. This study sought to determine the aerosol concentrations generated by coughing to better understand, and to set a standard for studying, aerosols generated in medical procedures.

Methods: Aerosol exposure during coughing was measured in 37 healthy volunteers in the operating theatre with an optical particle sizer, from 40 cm, 70 cm and 100 cm distances.

Effect of RNA quality to SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR detection from saliva.

Saliva is an alternative sample material to nasopharyngeal swab in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. We investigated possible aspects to improve the reliability of SARS-CoV-2 detection from saliva. Saliva was collected from asymptomatic healthy subjects (=133) and COVID-19 patients (=9).

Aerosol generation during general anesthesia is comparable to coughing: An observational clinical study.

Background: Intubation, laryngoscopy, and extubation are considered highly aerosol-generating procedures, and additional safety protocols are used during COVID-19 pandemic in these procedures. However, previous studies are mainly experimental and have neither analyzed staff exposure to aerosol generation in the real-life operating room environment nor compared the exposure to aerosol concentrations generated during normal patient care. To assess operational staff exposure to potentially infectious particle generation during general anesthesia, we measured particle concentration and size distribution with patients undergoing surgery with Optical Particle Sizer.

Microdebrider is less aerosol-generating than CO laser and cold instruments in microlaryngoscopy.

Objective: COVID-19 spreads through aerosols produced in coughing, talking, exhalation, and also in some surgical procedures. Use of CO laser in laryngeal surgery has been observed to generate aerosols, however, other techniques, such cold dissection and microdebrider, have not been sufficiently investigated. We aimed to assess whether aerosol generation occurs during laryngeal operations and the effect of different instruments on aerosol production.

Finnish Version of the Eating Assessment Tool (F-EAT-10): A Valid and Reliable Patient-reported Outcome Measure for Dysphagia Evaluation.

Our aim was to validate a Finnish version of the Eating Assessment Tool (F-EAT-10) for clinical use and to test its reliability and validity in a multicenter nationwide study. Normative data were acquired from 180 non-dysphagic participants (median age 57.0 years, 62.

Speech Characteristics and Oromyofunctional Outcomes in Two Bimaxillary Face Transplantation Patients in Helsinki.

Objectives/hypothesis: Facial functional restoration is one of the main goals in face transplantation. We report the oromyofacial function outcomes of two bimaxillary face transplantation (FT) patients in Helsinki.

Study Design: Outcome Study.