Haptic Human-Human Interaction During an Ankle Tracking Task: Effects of Virtual Connection Stiffness.

While treating sensorimotor impairments, a therapist may provide physical assistance by guiding their patient's limb to teach a desired movement. In this scenario, a key aspect is the compliance of the interaction, as the therapist can provide subtle cues or impose a movement as demonstration. One approach to studying these interactions involves haptically connecting two individuals through robotic interfaces.

Evaluation of UVC Excimer Lamp (222 nm) Efficacy for Coronavirus Inactivation in an Animal Model.

The current pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has encouraged the evaluation of novel instruments for disinfection and lowering infectious pressure. Ultraviolet subtype C (UVC) excimer lamps with 222 nm wavelength have been tested on airborne pathogens on surfaces and the exposure to this wavelength has been considered safer than conventional UVC. To test the efficacy of UVC excimer lamps on coronaviruses, an animal model mimicking the infection dynamics was implemented.

Latent Ergonomics Maps: Real-Time Visualization of Estimated Ergonomics of Human Movements.

Improving the ergonomy of working environments is essential to reducing work-related musculo-skeletal disorders. We consider real-time ergonomic feedback a key technology for achieving such improvements. To this end, we present supportive tools for online evaluation and visualization of strenuous efforts and postures of a worker, also when physically interacting with a robot.

Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (delta) variant in a nursing home 28 weeks after two doses of mRNA anti-COVID-19 vaccines: evidence of a waning immunity.

Objectives: To describe a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.617.

dTap vaccination uptake during pregnancy: Pregnant women-focused and health professionals-focused predictors in the Veneto Region (Italy).

Background: Despite recommendations, the uptake of dTap maternal vaccination is still low in many countries. The reasons for this must be investigated both on the patient's and the healthcare professionals' sides.

Methods: A record linkage study was performed linking Birth Assitance Certificates and dTap mothers' vaccination records (5183 deliveries) to describe the influence of socioeconomical and obstetrical-gynecological factors after the recommendations concerning dTap vaccination in pregnancy issued by the Italian Ministry of Health (August 2018).

Occupational exposure to crystalline silica in artificial stone processing.

Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) is a hazardous substance with known effects that can be well correlated with exposure levels that still persist in many traditional sectors, such as construction or stone processing. In the past decade, exposure scenarios for RCS have been found in the sector of artificial stone processing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the levels of RCS in facilities specialized in the production of artificial stone countertops and other accessories for the furnishing of kitchens, bathrooms, and offices after the introduction of some preventive technical measures such as wet processing or local exhaust ventilation systems.

Upper and Lower Respiratory Signs and Symptoms in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Flour Dust.

A group of 142 bakers was studied in order to investigate the relationship between higher/lower respiratory signs/symptoms and inflammation biomarkers and occupational exposure to flour dust. A complete upper and lower respiratory tract evaluation was performed. Seven percent of bakers complained of lower respiratory symptoms, while 22% of them complained of upper respiratory symptoms.

Occupational Exposure to Flour Dust. Exposure Assessment and Effectiveness of Control Measures.

The adverse effects associated with exposure to flour dust have been known since the 1700s. The aim of the study was to assess the occupational exposure to flour dust in Italian facilities, identify the activities characterized by the highest exposure, and provide information to reduce workers' exposure. The study was performed in different facilities such as flourmills ( = 2), confectioneries ( = 2), bakeries ( = 24), and pizzerias ( = 2).

Correction to: Assessment of intratumor immune-microenvironment in colorectal cancers with extranodal extension of nodal metastases.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s12935-018-0634-8.].

How to improve performance and prevent burnout in safety representatives.

Background: The present work is part of a greater research project, aimed to examine Safety Representatives' (SRs) role, twenty years after the appointment of this figure.

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the role of some personal and organizational dimensions in the promotion of SRs' well-being, in terms of reducing burnout and improving performance.

Methods: The study involved 455 SRs operating in North East Italy.

Assessment of intratumor immune-microenvironment in colorectal cancers with extranodal extension of nodal metastases.

Background: No data is available on the molecular background of the extra-nodal extension (ENE) of lymph node metastasis (LN) in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: A series of 22 ENE-positive CRCs was considered and three samples per case were selected (the primary CRC, an ENE-negative and an ENE-positive metastatic LN). Samples (n = 66) were analysed by immunohistochemistry for PD-L1, CD4, CD8, CD68 and CD80.

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) is up-regulated during Barrett's carcinogenesis and predicts esophageal adenocarcinoma resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (SCCA) is consistently overexpressed in many different solid tumors, and has been associated with both tumor aggressiveness and chemoresistance. No data, however, is currently available on SCCA expression during esophageal Barrett's carcinogenesis, nor on SCCA expression's role on esophageal adenocarcinoma chemoresistance. The SCCA immunohistochemical expression was assessed in a series of 100 biopsy samples covering the whole histological spectrum of Barrett's oncogenesis.

[Investigation on the health effects of traffic-related air pollution from Mestre motorway (Veneto Region, Northern Italy)].

Objectives: to evaluate whether living near motorway A57 (Mestre motorway, Veneto Region, Northern Italy) might have affected the residents' health status.

Design: longitudinal cohort study.

Setting And Participants: 148,673 residents on the mainland in the Municipality of Venice (Mestre) who never changed their residence during the follow- up period (2002-2009).

[Environmental indicators in EpiAir2 project: air quality data for epidemiological surveillance].

Objective: construction of environmental indicators of air pollution suitable for epidemiological surveillance in 25 Italian cities for EpiAir2 project (2006-2010) and presentation of the results from a 10 years of surveillance system (2001-2010) in 10 Italian cities.

Design: data on particulate matter (PM10 and its fine fraction PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3), measured in the 2006-2010 calendar period, were collected.

[The surveillance of occupational risks. Problems and perspectives of the recent legislative framework after the national preliminary survey].

Background: Legislation in Italy concerning health, safety and prevention at the workplace recently established a new data communication standard

Objectives: The findings are reported of a specific survey on 18 Local Health Units (ASL) over the entire Italian territory, aimed at identifying the critical points in data management and analyze the available information.

Methods: The occupational health physician for each company must collect and transmit information on the number of workers submitted to health surveillance protocols to the Local Health Unit. Information must be divided by risk factor and gender Local health Units then transmit the data to the Regions and finally to the Italian National Institute for Occupational Safety and Prevention (ISPESL).

Updated definitions of healthy ranges for serum alanine aminotransferase levels.

Background: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, the variable most commonly measured to assess hepatic disease, fails to identify many patients with hepatic injury. Current standards for "normal" ALT level were defined by using populations that included persons with subclinical liver disease.

Objective: To update definitions of healthy ranges for serum ALT level.

Blood donors with 'medium' or 'minor' risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus infection: are they eligible for donation?

Background And Objectives: We conducted a longitudinal prospective study to assess the eligibility to blood donation of donors with 'minor' risk factors (i.e. minor surgery, professional exposure, cohabitation with 'high risk' people, occasional use of light drugs) or 'medium' risk factors for human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infection (i.

Sustained response to interferon-alpha2a monotherapy of young blood donors with minimal-to-mild chronic hepatitis C. The Donor Surveillance Study Group.

Subjects with minimal-to-mild chronic hepatitis C may suffer long-term consequences of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Nonetheless, they are not candidates for antiviral treatment, mainly because little data are available concerning the efficacy and safety of therapy. Thirty-two HCV RNA positive individuals aged 18-45 years, who had a histological activity index score < or = 8 and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels < or = 1.

Clinical evaluation of percent free prostate-specific antigen using the AxSYM system in the best analytical scenario.

Objective: Percent free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a promising tool for prostate cancer (CaP) diagnosis. However, its diagnostic performances have not yet been established. The present study was carried out with the aim of evaluating percent free PSA in the most favourable analytical conditions.

Percent free prostate-specific antigen in assessing the probability of prostate cancer under optimal analytical conditions.

Although general consensus exists that percent free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is superior to total immunoreactive PSA for prostate cancer (CaP) detection, its diagnostic performance is not yet well established. Analytical problems may account for difficulties in evaluating percent free PSA because the free PSA concentration is substantially lower than that of total PSA. The aim of the present study was to establish the diagnostic performances of the IMMULITE percent free PSA assay from Diagnostics Products Corp.

Prostate cancer probability after total PSA and percent free PSA determination.

Unlabelled: The percent free PSA value is a promising diagnostic tool for prostate cancer. However, its actual role has not yet been established because of the widely diverging sensitivity and specificity values. This could depend at least in part on analytical difficulties, since the free PSA concentration is much lower than that of total PSA.

Influence of different hepatitis C virus genotypes on the course of asymptomatic hepatitis C virus infection.

Background & Aims: The association of liver disease with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes mainly refers to patients with serious liver damage; little information is available on symptomless carriers. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of genotypes with clinical course, risk factors for infection, and antibody to HCV reactivity in asymptomatic subjects.

Methods: One hundred nine viremic blood donors with at least 1 year of follow-up were studied; 41 underwent liver biopsy.

Hepatitis C virus RNA and liver histology in blood donors reactive to a single antigen by second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay.

The clinical significance of single band reactivity (indeterminate pattern) at anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) second-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-2) was investigated in symptomless subjects with normal liver function tests to obtain data for their counseling and clinical management. Serum and hepatic HCV RNA were determined by the nested polymerase chain reaction, and liver histology was evaluated in 40 symptomless blood donors with stable indeterminate RIBA-2 pattern, including 38 reactive to c22-3. All but one had normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.