scholarly journals Determining the most effective common household disinfection method to reduce the microbial load on domestic dishcloths: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 101-106
Author(s):  
Emily Gillies
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Confidence Intervals ◽  
High Power ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Lemon Juice ◽  
Foodborne Illness ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Disinfection Methods ◽  
Significant Difference

The domestic dishcloth has been shown to be the most contaminated item in the domestic kitchen, reported to contain up to 108 bacteria for up to 48 hours. Their smooth texture and large surface area allow bacteria to be transferred to kitchen surfaces easily, presenting a greater risk of cross-contamination and potentially contributing to foodborne illness. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the most effective method to decrease the aerobic colony count (ACC) present on contaminated dishcloths. Dishcloths were inoculated in a beef slurry for 48 hours at room temperature. Contaminated dishcloths were subjected to 1-minute treatments of 10% bleach solution, lemon juice, vinegar, tap water, and microwaving. Serial dilutions were plated and incubated at 37°C overnight. Three replicates were produced, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Although treatments of 10% bleach solution and vinegar showed reduced ACC growth, no growth was identified after microwaving dishcloths for 1 minute on high power. There was no significant difference identified between the tap water and lemon juice treatments. Given that this is the first study conducted directly comparing different disinfection methods for dishcloths, microwaving dishcloths on high power for 1 minute can be recommended to disinfect domestic dishcloths and reduce cross-contamination within the home.

scholarly journals Telemedicine Chronic Viral Hepatitis C Treatment during the Lockdown Period in Romania: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3694
Author(s):  
Irina Paula Doica ◽  
Dan Nicolae Florescu ◽  
Carmen Nicoleta Oancea ◽  
Adina Turcu-Stiolica ◽  
Mihaela-Simona Subtirelu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Therapy Monitoring ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Item Score ◽  
Hcv Therapy ◽  
Viral Hepatitis C ◽  
Significant Difference

The COVID-19 pandemic is currently delaying the process of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) eradication, since most of the chronic diseases are neglected. Thus, there is a need for alternative programs for HCV therapy implementation and disease monitoring. Our aim was to provide a multidisciplinary approach, so that HCV-infected patients from distant locations may benefit from HCV antivirals during the COVID-19 outbreak and within the lockdown period in Romania. Previously diagnosed HCV patients willing to participate in this telemedicine pilot study were included. Patient characteristics and medical adherence were assessed and compared to the year preceding the pandemic. We proposed a multidisciplinary approach by using a telemedicine program for HCV therapy monitoring. Patients also received a satisfaction questionnaire after delivering the sustained virologic response (SVR) result. A total of 41 patients agreed to participate in this study. The medication adherence was 100% for patients included in the telemedicine group, with a statistically significant difference from the medication adherence of the patients treated in 2019. The satisfaction item score was 4.92 out of 5 and our results (r = −0.94, p < 0.0001) suggested that older patients embraced the telemedicine program less, but with the same success in terms of SVR (100%) and medication adherence (100%). Our pilot study offers the first example of a telemedicine program in Romania for HCV therapeutic management. During the lockdown period, telemedicine has served as a reliable tool and novel alternative for conventional monitoring of patients treated with direct antiviral agents and should be further considered even following the pandemic.

Endoscopic prediction of submucosal invasion in Barrett’s cancer with the use of Artificial Intelligence: A pilot Study

Endoscopy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alanna Ebigbo ◽  
Robert Mendel ◽  
Tobias Rückert ◽  
Laurin Schuster ◽  
Andreas Probst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
White Light ◽  
Submucosal Invasion ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Endoscopic Images ◽  
Barrett’S Cancer ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Background and aims: The accurate differentiation between T1a and T1b Barrett’s cancer has both therapeutic and prognostic implications but is challenging even for experienced physicians. We trained an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system on the basis of deep artificial neural networks (deep learning) to differentiate between T1a and T1b Barrett’s cancer white-light images. Methods: Endoscopic images from three tertiary care centres in Germany were collected retrospectively. A deep learning system was trained and tested using the principles of cross-validation. A total of 230 white-light endoscopic images (108 T1a and 122 T1b) was evaluated with the AI-system. For comparison, the images were also classified by experts specialized in endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of Barrett’s cancer. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, F1 and accuracy of the AI-system in the differentiation between T1a and T1b cancer lesions was 0.77, 0.64, 0.73 and 0.71, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the performance of the AI-system and that of human experts with sensitivity, specificity, F1 and accuracy of 0.63, 0.78, 0.67 and 0.70 respectively. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates the first multicenter application of an AI-based system in the prediction of submucosal invasion in endoscopic images of Barrett’s cancer. AI scored equal to international experts in the field, but more work is necessary to improve the system and apply it to video sequences and in a real-life setting. Nevertheless, the correct prediction of submucosal invasion in Barret´s cancer remains challenging for both experts and AI.

scholarly journals Force detection of high-frequency electron spin resonance near room temperature using high-power millimeter-wave source gyrotron

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 022407
Author(s):  
Hideyuki Takahashi ◽  
Yuya Ishikawa ◽  
Tsubasa Okamoto ◽  
Daiki Hachiya ◽  
Kazuki Dono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Spin Resonance ◽  
Millimeter Wave ◽  
Electron Spin ◽  
High Power ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Force Detection ◽  
Wave Source ◽  
Spin Resonance ◽  
Millimeter Wave Source

scholarly journals The Effect of Alcohol on Telomere Length: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Evidence and a Pilot Study during Pregnancy

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 5038
Author(s):  
Andrea Maugeri ◽  
Martina Barchitta ◽  
Roberta Magnano San Lio ◽  
Maria Clara La Rosa ◽  
Claudia La Mastra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Potential Association ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Periconceptional Period ◽  
Using Data

Several studies—albeit with still inconclusive and limited findings—began to focus on the effect of drinking alcohol on telomere length (TL). Here, we present results from a systematic review of these epidemiological studies to investigate the potential association between alcohol consumption, alcohol-related disorders, and TL. The analysis of fourteen studies—selected from PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science databases—showed that people with alcohol-related disorders exhibited shorter TL, but also that alcohol consumption per se did not appear to affect TL in the absence of alcohol abuse or dependence. Our work also revealed a lack of studies in the periconceptional period, raising the need for evaluating this potential relationship during pregnancy. To fill this gap, we conducted a pilot study using data and samples form the Mamma & Bambino cohort. We compared five non-smoking but drinking women with ten non-smoking and non-drinking women, matched for maternal age, gestational age at recruitment, pregestational body mass index, and fetal sex. Interestingly, we detected a significant difference when analyzing relative TL of leukocyte DNA of cord blood samples from newborns. In particular, newborns from drinking women exhibited shorter relative TL than those born from non-drinking women (p = 0.024). Although these findings appeared promising, further research should be encouraged to test any dose–response relationship, to adjust for the effect of other exposures, and to understand the molecular mechanisms involved.

scholarly journals Is There Pathological Uniformity between the Periphery and Center of a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor?

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 687
Author(s):  
Seong Ji Choi ◽  
Kwan Hong Lee ◽  
Chan Kyoo Yoo ◽  
Jai Hoon Yoon ◽  
Ki Seok Jang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Stratification ◽  
Mitotic Index ◽  
High Power ◽  
Malignant Potential ◽  
Mitotic Count ◽  
Pathological Diagnosis ◽  
High Power Field ◽  
Gastric Gists ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are mesenchymal tumors and have some malignant potential. Mitotic count is important for predicting the malignant potential of GISTs. Proper treatment of GISTs requires accurate pathological diagnosis. In general, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and deep biopsy are used for pathological diagnosis of GIST before making decisions about surgery. This study sought to evaluate the pathological uniformity of gastric GISTs for mitotic index of the center and periphery of the GIST. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 37 gastric GIST patients who underwent wedge resection at Hanyang University Hospital. We used Armed Forces Institute of Pathology criteria to classify gastric GISTs. To determine the pathological uniformity of gastric GISTs, we compared GIST risk stratification between the center and periphery of GISTs. Results: The mean size of GISTs was 3.56 ± 2.10 cm. Three lesions were located in the antrum, 11 in the fundus, 9 in the cardia, and 14 in the body. The mean age of patients was 58.65 ± 9.44 years; 18 patients were male and 19 were female. Thirty-five patients (94.6%) showed the same level of risk stratification between the center and periphery of gastric GISTs, while two patients (5.4%) presented different levels of risk between the two sites. No significant difference in mitotic count was observed between the two sites (kappa value = 0.863; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Mitotic index category (either more than five mitoses per high-power field or five or fewer mitoses per high-power field) of GISTs showed good concurrence between the center and periphery.

The Effect of Reflexology on Lactation in Women Who Had Cesarean Section: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sevde Aksu ◽  
Pelin Palas Karaca
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cesarean Section ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Breast Pain ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Right ◽  
Documentation Tool ◽  
And Control

<b><i>Aim:</i></b> The research was conducted as a randomized controlled pilot study to evaluate the effects of reflexology on lactation in mothers who delivered by cesarean section (CS). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A single-blind randomized controlled experimental study was conducted with a total of 60 postpartum women in the reflexology application (<i>n</i> = 30) and control groups (<i>n</i> = 30). After the CS, the mothers in the control group were given approximately 3-h routine nursing care after recovering from the effects of anesthesia; the introductory information form was applied, and the Breastfeeding Charting System and Documentation Tool (LATCH) and visual analog scale (VAS) for the signs of the onset of lactation were implemented on the first and second days. Reflexology was applied to the women in the intervention group after an average of 3 h following the mother’s condition had become stable and she had recovered from the effects of anesthesia. Reflexology was applied a total of 20 min – 10 min for the right foot, 10 min for the left foot – twice a day with 8-h intervals on the first and second days after CS. After the last reflexology application, the LATCH and VAS for the signs of the onset of lactation were applied. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the women, 70% breastfed their babies within 60 min after delivery; 46.7% of the mothers received breastfeeding training and 81.7% needed support for breastfeeding after the CS. The LATCH breastfeeding scores of the women in the intervention group on both days were significantly higher compared to those of the women in the control group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). On the first day after the CS, apart from breast pain, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of breast heat and breast tension (<i>p</i> &#x3e; 0.05). On the second day after the CS, apart from breast tension, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of breast heat and breast pain (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). In the study, women in the intervention group were found to have higher scores in terms of all three symptoms compared to the control group (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> In the study, it was determined that LATCH scores and signs of the onset of breastfeeding increased in the mothers who received reflexology after CS.

scholarly journals Determination of essential and non-essential element contents of drinking water and baby water for infant’s nutrition

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 194-202
Author(s):  
Funda Demir ◽  
Meral Yildirim Ozen ◽  
Emek Moroydor Derun
Keyword(s):  
Water Samples ◽  
Infant Nutrition ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Local Market ◽  
Drinking Waters ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Element Contents

Abstract In this study, essential (Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, Zn), and non-essential (Al, Ni, Pb) element contents of the drinking and baby water samples which are sold in the local market and tap water samples in Istanbul were examined. It was determined that elements of Cr, Cu, Fe, P, Zn, Al, and Ni were below detection limits in all water samples. Among the non-essential elements analyzed in water samples, Pb was the only detected element. At the same time, the percentages that meet the daily element requirements of infants were also calculated. As a result of the evaluations made, there is no significant difference in infant nutrition between baby waters and other drinking waters in terms of the element content.

A New Tunnel-Type V4O9 Cathode for High Power Density Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaoran Wang ◽  
Tianjiang Sun ◽  
Shibing Zheng ◽  
Lin Li ◽  
Tao Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Density ◽  
Vanadium Pentoxide ◽  
High Power ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Zinc Ion ◽  
High Power Density ◽  
Tunnel Structure

The mixed valences V4O9 with tunnel structure and room temperature metallic properties are prepared via partially reducing vanadium pentoxide. The unique tunnel structure and metallic characteristics are beneficial to the...

scholarly journals 0588 Ring Pulse Oximeter for Screening of Moderate to Severe OSA: A Pilot Study

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A225-A225
Author(s):  
J Xue ◽  
R Zhao ◽  
J Li ◽  
L Zhao ◽  
B Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Pulse Oximeter ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Receiver Operator Characteristic Curve ◽  
Oxygen Desaturation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Acceptance Range ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Two Parameters

Abstract Introduction To evaluate the utility of the ring pulse oximeter for screening of OSA in adults. Methods 87 adults were monitored by a ring pulse oximeter and PSG simultaneously during a nocturnal in-lab sleep testing. 3% oxygen desaturation index (ODI3); Mean oxygen saturation(MSpO2), Saturation impair time below 90% (SIT90) derived from an automated algorithm of the ring pulse oximeter. Meanwhile, the parameters of PSG were scored manually according to the AASM Manual. Correlation and receiver operator characteristic curve analysis were used to measure the accuracy of ring pulse oximeter and its diagnostic value for moderate to severe OSA (AHI≥15). Results Among the 87 participants, 18 cases were AHI&lt;5, 17 cases were diagnosed with mild OSA (AHI:5-14.9), 25 cases were diagnosed with moderate OSA (AHI:15-29.9) and 27 cases were diagnosed with severe OSA (AHI≥30). There was no significant difference between PSG and ring pulse oximeter in regard to ODI3 (23.4±23.5 vs 24.7 ± 21.7), and SIT90 (1.54%, range 0.14%-8.99% vs. 3.20%, range 0.60%, 12.30%) (P&gt;0.05], Further analysis indicated that two parameters from the oximeter correlated well with that derived from PSG (r=0.889, 0.567, respectively, both p&lt;0.05). Although MSpO2 correlated significantly (r=0.448, P&lt;0.05), the difference was remarkable [95.9%, range 94.0% to 97.0% vs. 94.5%, range 93.3% to 95.7%, p&lt;0.05]. Bland-Altman plots showed that the agreement of these three parameters was within the clinical acceptance range. The ROC curve showed that the sensitivity and specificity of the ring pulse oximeter when the oximeter derived ODI3 ≥12.5 in the diagnosis of moderate to severe OSA were 82.7% and 74.3%, respectively. Conclusion The pilot study indicated that ring pulse oximeter can detect oxygen desaturation events accurately, therefore to be used as a screening tool for moderate to severe OSA. Support The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81420108002 and NO. 81570083).

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