How to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in the Agri-Food Industry during the First Pandemic Wave: Effects on Seroprevalence

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many workplaces were forced to interrupt their activities or alternatively had to prefer a smart way of working, if this was compatible with their activities, to contain the spread of the virus. Some production activities, on the other hand, continued, such as those belonging to the agri-food sector. The aim of the study was to investigate seroprevalence in the workers of an Italian agri-food company following prevention interventions developed in concert with an occupational physician. An observational cohort study was conducted on a population of 328 (100%) workers of a company in the agri-food sector, located in the Sicilian region, which specialized in the production and distribution of citrus fruits. Only one worker was infected with SARS-CoV-2, which later also developed the immune response. No other worker contracted the infection. In conclusion, the measures implemented identified the positive subject for SARS-CoV-2 at an early stage. This made it possible to avoid contagion between the positive subject and the other workers. The occupational physician was also, in this case, essential in decoding and implementing the rules and guidelines useful for the protection of the health and safety of the worker.

NEUROCOGNITIVE STATUS IN INDONESIAN HIV-INFECTED REPRODUCTIVE WOMEN

Introduction: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) was emerging with the deficits inclusion of psychomotor, memory, attention, and verbal fluency. This situation could increase the burden of an HIV-positive subject in daily activities, either the economic or social burden. However, the cases were more likely isolated without exact prevalence data.Objective: This study aims to find the prevalence of HIV-HAND in Indonesia.Methods: This was an analytical research with cross-sectional design to assess neurocognitive status in reproductive age mothers who took regular ARVs for more than 6 months. Neurocognitive impairment in AIDS is diagnosed with the International HIV dementia scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0Results: In this study, no subjects were diagnosed with had neurocognitive impairment. Only 1 of 29 subjects (3.4%) with CD4>350/mm3 had slight psychomotor disorders.Conclusion: This study showed that no subject with HIV infection in had dementia or neurocognitive impairment.

Variability of the Pressure Measurements Exerted by the Tip of Laryngoscope During Laryngeal Sensory Testing: A Clinical Demonstration

Purpose Clinicians often test laryngeal sensation by touching the laryngeal mucosa with the tip of a flexible laryngoscope. However, the pressure applied to the larynx by using this touch method is unknown, and the expected responses elicited by this method are uncertain. The variability in pressure delivered by clinicians using the touch method was investigated, and the subject responses to the touches were also reported. Methods A fiberoptic pressure sensor passed through the working channel of a laryngoscope, with its tip positioned at the distal port of the channel. Two examiners each tested 8 healthy adults. Each examiner touched the mucosa covering the left arytenoid 3 times. The sensor recorded the pressure exerted by each touch. An investigator noted subject responses to the touches. From the recorded videos, the absence or presence of the laryngeal adductor reflex in response to touch was judged. Results Pressure values obtained for 46 of the 48 possible samples ranged from 17.9 mmHg to the measurement ceiling of 350.0 mmHg. The most frequently observed response was positive subject report followed by the laryngeal adductor reflex. Conclusion Pressure applied to the larynx by using the touch method was highly variable, indicating potential diagnostic inaccuracy in determining laryngeal sensory function.

Probability analysis of compassion: Enhancing compassionate care in psychiatry through mirror neurons

IntroductionThe probability that psychiatric care becomes compassionate is higher when individual subjects, groups or organizations utilize mirror neurons to attune with the emotional world of their clients.ObjectivesTo create an algorithm for compassionate care in mental health by attunement of mirror neurons.AimsTo predict the probability of the occurrence of sympathetic care in mental health.MethodsNaturalistic observation of health care organizations identified the major nodes-agents of the organizational-neural network leading to a compassionate care (events A): individual, group, organization and society. Negative influences on compassionate care are (events B) subjective and collective acts.ResultsThe probability that compassionate care occurs as a result of a single mediator's action was only 0.167 (16%). The probability that compassion results from training mirror neurons were as follows:.Multiple event probability formula:– probability of event A that occurs P(A) = 0.667 (66%) [positive subject + group + organization + society)];– probability of event B that occurs P(B) = 0.333 [negative individual and group];– probability that both the events occur P(A∩B) = P(A) × P(B) = 0.222 [inhibitory influence];– probability that either of event occurs P(A∪B) = P(A) + P(B) − P(A∩B) = 0.778.ConclusionsThe probability of organizational compassion (PA) is high when all the agents interact. As compassion is reinforced by mirror neurons, a reduction in the number of people involved in compassionate care also means the final outcome is less likely to appear.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Emotional labor in hospitality: Positive affective displays in service encounters

The study used web-based simulated hospitality scenarios to examine cultural differences in emotional cognition of facial expressions among Chinese and American subjects in an exploratory study. Results indicate that the two cultural groups interpreted smiling and direct eye-gaze similarly. Although a smiling face elicited positive emotional affective responses from both cultural groups, smiling alone was not sufficient to stimulate more positive subject reactions: Smiling needs to be accompanied by direct eye-gaze to fully elicit positive reactions from subjects. Study results suggest that global hospitality standards should reflect findings of psychological research on emotional labor and also that business normative guidelines should encourage the display of smiling faces along with direct eye-gaze to motivate a positive customer experience. No support was found for tailoring facial expressions related training to customers’ cultural backgrounds.