A new method to assess foveal morphology with optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE

To measure foveal morphology using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODS

Three examiners classified normal subjects and patients with macular edema and epiretinal membranes from a normative database (299 OCT scans) and a study sample (80 OCT scans) on the basis of the foveal depression appearance (reference classification). The following parameters were measured for each OCT scan: Central Foveal Thickness (CFT), Central Subfield Thickness (CST), Central Subfield Volume (CSV), Centrofoveal Index (CI), Parafoveal Index (PI), and Foveal Indices (FI1, FI2, FI3). Foveal depression of OCT scans in the study sample were classified based on the values of OCT parameters using Bayesian statistics (test classifications).

RESULTS

Agreement between reference and test classifications was of 70% for CFT, 58.7% for CST, 60% for CSV, 80% for CI, 72.5% for PI, 88.7% for FI1, 96.2% for FI2 and 97.5% for FI3.

CONCLUSIONS

IF3 seems to provide a reliable measure of the foveal morphology.

Field study in an urban environment of simultaneous self-cleaning and hydrophobic nanosized TiO2-based coatings on stone for the protection of building surface

Titanium dioxide based nanocomposites for stone coating have been found to be promising in laboratory conditions to obtain manifold protective actions against pollution and weathering affecting the outdoor built heritage. Lasting performances in real conditions of these multifunctional coatings have been scarcely examined, although this is a key issue in evaluating their potential for applications in a real building context and their optimization. This paper illustrates a field study aimed at investigating simultaneous hydrophobic and self-cleaning effectiveness, on the medium-long run, of TiO₂ NPs/fluoropolymer coatings applied on a limestone. The samples coated with the nanocomposites were exposed for one year in an urban environment and their surface was monitored. Hydrophobic properties were checked through contact angle measurements and a capillary water absorption test, while self-cleaning efficiency was evaluated by a photodegradation test of Rhodamine B. Optical microscopy observations and colour measurements were also performed. In addition, the contents of Ti and water-soluble ions on the sample surfaces were determined by X-ray Fluorescence and ion chromatography, respectively. The overall findings showed that TiO₂ NPs did not affect the ability of the polymer to protect the stone surface against water penetration. The coatings were able to preserve the surfaces from dirt. However, photocatalytic efficiency progressively decreased, due to the loss of the photocatalyst from the coating surface, which may be attributed to a polymer modification by ageing. The embedding of nanosized titania within the polymer limited the adsorption and accumulation of soluble salt ions on the coated surface, which may increase the stone damage risk. The study supports that TiO₂ NPs embedded in a fluoropolymer host matrix to appropriate amounts may be a suitable option to obtain stone coatings with both barrier effects against water penetration into the stone and photocatalytic ability, and provides useful knowledge for the improvement of these nanocomposites.

Field study in an urban environment of simultaneous self-cleaning and hydrophobic nanosized TiO2-based coatings on stone for the protection of building surface

Titanium dioxide based nanocomposites for stone coating have been found to be promising in laboratory conditions to obtain manifold protective actions against pollution and weathering affecting the outdoor built heritage. Lasting performances in real conditions of these multifunctional coatings have been scarcely examined, although this is a key issue in evaluating their potential for applications in a real building context and their optimization. This paper illustrates a field study aimed at investigating simultaneous hydrophobic and self-cleaning effectiveness, on the medium-long run, of TiO₂ NPs/fluoropolymer coatings applied on a limestone. The samples coated with the nanocomposites were exposed for one year in an urban environment and their surface was monitored. Hydrophobic properties were checked through contact angle measurements and a capillary water absorption test, while self-cleaning efficiency was evaluated by a photodegradation test of Rhodamine B. Optical microscopy observations and colour measurements were also performed. In addition, the contents of Ti and water-soluble ions on the sample surfaces were determined by X-ray Fluorescence and ion chromatography, respectively. The overall findings showed that TiO₂ NPs did not affect the ability of the polymer to protect the stone surface against water penetration. The coatings were able to preserve the surfaces from dirt. However, photocatalytic efficiency progressively decreased, due to the loss of the photocatalyst from the coating surface, which may be attributed to a polymer modification by ageing. The embedding of nanosized titania within the polymer limited the adsorption and accumulation of soluble salt ions on the coated surface, which may increase the stone damage risk. The study supports that TiO₂ NPs embedded in a fluoropolymer host matrix to appropriate amounts may be a suitable option to obtain stone coatings with both barrier effects against water penetration into the stone and photocatalytic ability, and provides useful knowledge for the improvement of these nanocomposites.

[Smoking habit among workers in Campania region]

Smoking is still now the main avoidable cause of disease, disability and mortality in industrialized countries. This habit is still very common in workplaces, where anti-smoke efforts seem to be less incisive than among general populations. The study analyzed the diffusion of smoke habit in 8111 male workers in Campania region, employed in different work activities (white collars, blue collars, drivers, cleaning civil servants, porters), so as to evaluate work related features, affecting its assumption and maintenance. Among all workers, smokers prevalence (42.7%) was higher than national male population. Percentages of smokers were highest among drivers (60.7%) and civil servants (52.5%), slightly lower among industry workers (47.3%) and lower among white collars (36.4%). The highest prevalence were found in 41-50 years age group (46.8%), but only among white collars aging was associated with higher smokers prevalence. Lower education degrees and two working variables, shifts and handwork, have been related with significantly smoking habit assumption. Results emphasized that health promotional programs are necessary to reduce smoke habit among workers, particularly among professionally and culturally unqualified subgroups.

[Not allergic dermatitis as occupational diseases: a suggestion for an evaluation method]

Aim of the study was to propose a method to define the relationship of not allergic contact dermatitis with chemical risk factors in workplace. This method evaluates the skin response to simultaneous chemical and mechanical stimulation, made with a soft bristle brush. The method has been used on 9 cases of not allergic skin diseases, observed from 2000 to 2006 in Occupational Medicine Division of "Federico II" University of Naples. The greatest part of pathologies had the polymorphous pattern of skin inflammation, characterized by subintrant erythema, suspected of occupational origin. In 6 cases a stronger reaction to both chemical and mechanical stimulation was highlighted, confirming a possible occupational etiology. In 1 case the occupational origin was excluded, while in 2 cases the skin response was uncertain. The method does not define all cases of occupational skin pathologies, but it seems to be very useful to diagnostic and insurance needs.

[Health status of women at work: work risks and living conditions]

The increase of women at work calls for a new attention to a full health protection, besides the fertility and reproduction. Health Surveillance in workplaces can give much information about health state of women and men, when the evaluation takes into account physiological and social differences between the sexes. The study reports the health data from a working population, 675 women and 7991 men, employed in different work activities. The results showed no significant difference of health state between women and men, except a greater prevalence of the respiratory pathologies in men and psychosomatic disorders in women. Prevalence of muscle-skeletal diseases, psychosomatic disorders and recurring headache have been higher in married than in unmarried women. among married women, prevalence of pathologies have been related to number of children. No difference have been found between unmarried and married men, except a greater prevalence of psychic disorders in youngest. Results confirm the interaction between domestic and working load on health state of women. Under the same work conditions, women are subjected to a higher physical and mental load that reduces the endurance of strain and stress and increases the prevalence of some pathologies, as musculoskeletal chronic degenerative diseases and psychological disorders.