Global Policy Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of the ICOH Survey

Rondinone, Bruna M.,Valenti, Antonio,Boccuni, Valeria,Cannone, Erika,Boccuni, Fabio,Gagliardi, Diana,Dionisi, Pierluca,Barillari, Caterina,Iavicoli, Sergio Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2022 Safety and health at work Vol.13 No.2

Background: On the basis of its role for the development of occupational health research, information, good practices, the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) launched the present survey to collect information on public health and prevention policies put in place by the governments of the countries in the world to contain the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire focused on COVID-19 data, public health policies, prevention measures, support measures for economy, work, and education, personal protective equipment, intensive care units, contact tracing, return to work, and the role of ICOH against COVID-19. The questionnaire was administered to 113 ICOH National Secretaries and senior OSH experts. Collected data refer to the period ranging from the beginning of the pandemic in each country to June 30, 2020. Results: A total of 73 questionnaires from 73 countries around the world were considered valid, with a 64.6% response rate. Most of the respondents (71.2%) reported that the state of emergency was declared in their country, and 86.1% reported lockdown measures. Most of the respondents (66.7%) affirmed that the use of face masks was compulsory in their country. As for containment measures, 97.2% indicated that mass gatherings (meetings) were limited. Regarding workplace closing, the most affected sector was entertainment (90.1%). Conclusion: The results of this survey are useful to gain a global view on COVID-19 policy responses at country level.

Covid-19 Occupational Risk Incidence and Working Sectors Involved During the Pandemic in Italy

Boccuni Fabio,Rondinone Bruna M.,Buresti Giuliana,Brusco Adelina,Bucciarelli Andrea,D'Amario Silvia,Persechino Benedetta,Iavicoli Sergio,Marinaccio Alessandro 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 2023 Safety and health at work Vol.14 No.4

Background: Starting from March 2020 until December 2021, different phases of Covid-19 pandemic have been identified in Italy, with several containing/lifting measures progressively enforced by the National government. In the present study, we investigate the change in occupational risk during the subsequent pandemic phases and we propose an estimate of the incidence of the cases by economic sector, based on the analysis of insurance claims for compensation for Covid-19. Methods: Covid-19 epidemiological data available for the general population and injury claims of workers covered by the Italian public insurance system in 2020–2021 were analyzed. Monthly Incidence Rate of Covid-19 compensation claims per 100,000 workers (MIRw) was calculated by the economic sector and compared with the same indicator for general population in different pandemic periods. Results: The distribution of Covid-19 MIRw by sector significantly changed during the pandemic related to both the strength of different waves and the mitigation/lifting strategies enforced. The level of occupational fraction was very high at the beginning phase of the pandemic, decreasing to 5% at the end of 2021. Healthcare and related services were continuously hit but the incidence was significantly decreasing in 2021 in all sectors, except for postal and courier activities in transportation and storage enterprises. Conclusion: The analysis of compensation claim data allowed to identify time trends for infection risk in different working sectors. The claim rates were highest for human health and social work activities but the distribution of risk among sectors was clearly influenced by the different stages of the pandemic.

Pitfalls of whole exome sequencing in undefined clinical conditions with a suspected genetic etiology

Moresco Giada,Rondinone Ornella,Mauri Alessia,Costanza Jole,Santaniello Carlo,Colapietro Patrizia,Micaglio Emanuele,Marfia Giovanni,Pesenti Chiara,Grilli Federico,Rinaldi Berardo,Prada Elisabetta,Scuv 한국유전학회 2023 Genes & Genomics Vol.45 No.5

Background Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) is a valuable tool for the molecular diagnosis of patients with a suspected genetic condition. In complex and heterogeneous diseases, the interpretation of WES variants is more challenging given the absence of diagnostic handles and other reported cases with overlapping clinical presentations. Objective To describe candidate variants emerging from trio-WES and possibly associated with the clinical phenotype in clinically heterogeneous conditions. Methods We performed WES in ten patients from eight families, selected because of the lack of a clear clinical diagnosis or suspicion, the presence of multiple clinical signs, and the negative results of traditional genetic tests. Results Although we identified ten candidate variants, reaching the diagnosis of these cases is challenging, given the complexity and the rarity of these syndromes and because affected genes are already associated with known genetic diseases only partially recapitulating patients’ phenotypes. However, the identification of these variants could shed light into the definition of new genotype–phenotype correlations. Here, we describe the clinical and molecular data of these cases with the aim of favoring the match with other similar cases and, hopefully, confirm our diagnostic hypotheses. Conclusion This study emphasizes the major limitations associated with WES data interpretation, but also highlights its clinical utility in unraveling novel genotype–phenotype correlations in complex and heterogeneous undefined clinical conditions with a suspected genetic etiology.

One-Pot Process in Scalable Bath for Water-Dispersed ZnS Nanocrystals with the Tailored Size

Jung, Hyunsung,Phelps, Tommy J.,Rondinone, Adam J.,Jellison, Gerald E.,Duty, Chad E.,Han, Kee Sung,Moon, Ji-Won American Scientific Publishers 2017 Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Vol.17 No.5

<P>Well-dispersed ZnS nanocrystals with tailored size in aqueous solutions were synthesized by employing cysteine-sulfur (Cys-S) complexes with low molecular weight in a scalable anoxic vessel. High yield production of water-dispersed ZnS nanocrystals on a 10-L scale was demonstrated in an aqueous solution process. The average crystallite size of ZnS was controlled by changing the ratio of the cysteine to sulfide in the applied Cys-S complexes. A decrease in the crystallite size of ZnS likely resulted in both the blue shift of peak positions and the relative variation of peak intensities in the photoluminescence properties. Additionally, the pH-dependent stability against aggregation of ZnS nanocrystals was investigated to reduce agglomeration.</P>

Work-Related Stress Risk Assessment in Italy: A Methodological Proposal Adapted to Regulatory Guidelines

Persechino, Benedetta,Valenti, Antonio,Ronchetti, Matteo,Rondinone, Bruna Maria,Tecco, Cristina Di,Vitali, Sara,Iavicoli, Sergio Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2013 Safety and health at work Vol.4 No.2

Background: Work-related stress is one of the major causes of occupational ill health. In line with the regulatory framework on occupational health and safety (OSH), adequate models for assessing and managing risk need to be identified so as to minimize the impact of this stress not only on workers' health, but also on productivity. Methods: After close analysis of the Italian and European reference regulatory framework and workrelated stress assessment and management models used in some European countries, we adopted the UK Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Management Standards (MS) approach, adapting it to the Italian context in order to provide a suitable methodological proposal for Italy. Results: We have developed a work-related stress risk assessment strategy, meeting regulatory requirements, now available on a specific web platform that includes software, tutorials, and other tools to assist companies in their assessments. Conclusion: This methodological proposal is new on the Italian work-related stress risk assessment scene. Besides providing an evaluation approach using scientifically validated instruments, it ensures the active participation of occupational health professionals in each company. The assessment tools provided enable companies not only to comply with the law, but also to contribute to a database for monitoring and assessment and give access to a reserved area for data analysis and comparisons.

Evaluation of in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Bacillus anthracis strains isolated during anthrax outbreaks in Italy from 1984 to 2017

Viviana Manzulli,Antonio Fasanella,Antonio Parisi,Luigina Serrecchia,Adelia Donatiello,Valeria Rondinone,Marta Caruso,Sabine Zange,Alina Tscherne,Nicola Decaro,Carmine Pedarra,Domenico Galante 대한수의학회 2019 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.20 No.1

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, is a non-contagious infectious disease that affects a wide range of animal species (primarily ruminants) including humans. Due to the often-fatal outcome in humans, quick administration of definitely effective antimicrobials is crucial either as prophylaxis or as a clinical case therapy. In this study, 110 B. anthracis strains, temporally, geographically, and genetically different, isolated during anthrax outbreaks in Italy from 1984 to 2017, were screened using a broth microdilution method to determine their susceptibility to 16 clinically relevant antimicrobial agents. The strains were isolated from various matrices (human, animal, and environmental samples) and were representative of thirty distinct genotypes previously identified by 15-loci multiple-locus variable-number of tandem repeats analysis. The antimicrobials tested were gentamicin, ceftriaxone, streptomycin, penicillin G, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, linezolid, cefotaxime, tetracycline, erythromycin, rifampin, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and trimethoprim. All isolates were susceptible to most of the tested antimicrobials, with the exception of trimethoprim for which all of them showed high minimal inhibitory concentration values. An intermediate level of susceptibility was recorded for ceftriaxone and cefotaxime. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the use of doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, penicillin G, and amoxicillin for treatment of human cases and for post-exposure prophylaxis to anthrax spores, this study shows a high degree of in vitro susceptibility of B. anthracis to many other antimicrobials, suggesting the possibility of an alternative choice for prophylaxis and therapy.

Work-Related Stress Risk Assessment in Italy: A Methodological Proposal Adapted to Regulatory Guidelines

Benedetta Persechino,Antonio Valenti,Matteo Ronchetti,Bruna Maria Rondinone,Cristina Di Tecco,Sara Vitali,Sergio Iavicoli 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 2013 Safety and health at work Vol.4 No.2

Background Work-related stress is one of the major causes of occupational ill health. In line with the regulatory framework on occupational health and safety (OSH), adequate models for assessing and managing risk need to be identified so as to minimize the impact of this stress not only on workers' health, but also on productivity. Methods After close analysis of the Italian and European reference regulatory framework and work-related stress assessment and management models used in some European countries, we adopted the UK Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Management Standards (MS) approach, adapting it to the Italian context in order to provide a suitable methodological proposal for Italy. Results We have developed a work-related stress risk assessment strategy, meeting regulatory requirements, now available on a specific web platform that includes software, tutorials, and other tools to assist companies in their assessments. Conclusion This methodological proposal is new on the Italian work-related stress risk assessment scene. Besides providing an evaluation approach using scientifically validated instruments, it ensures the active participation of occupational health professionals in each company. The assessment tools provided enable companies not only to comply with the law, but also to contribute to a database for monitoring and assessment and give access to a reserved area for data analysis and comparisons.