Search

A high percentage of the division's doctors and employees work at night to guarantee urgent assistance and diagnostic services to patients. Night work is not recommended for persons with rather serious case histories due to the disruption of circadian rhythms or the increased workload required of certain operators during nighttime hours. All of the evaluations of health operators with a limited capacity to work on the night shift in our hospital were analysed, except for female workers restricted from night work during pregnancy or puerperium, as provisioned by the regulation that protects working mothers. Forty-two cases were considered (six physicians and 36 operators in the division) out of a total of 2676 employees assigned to night work and the conditions that led to the formulation of the decision are divided as follows: 16 Mental disturbances currently subject to treatment (depression, [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of contagious diseases such as measles, varicella, mumps and rubella in the hospital open creates situations of alarm, due to the potential involvement of workers, but most importantly for the oftentimes harmful consequences for critical patients, such as pregnant women or immunocompromised individuals. In 2007 antibody titration was initiated in our hospital for four infectious diseases, also pursuant to the Lombardy Region Resolution N. VIII/1587 of 22-12-2005 "Decisions regarding vaccinations in children and adults in the Lombardy Region" which indicate the departments in which a priority exists: maternity-neonatal and infectious illnesses. In 2011 a vaccination campaign was launched for unprotected operators in the Health and Medical Management departments: after an interview with the competent physician of reference, the subjects voluntary submitted themselves to vaccination. The protective antibody data encountered over the years are similar to that reported in the literature, with coverage percentages greater than 93 % for varicella and rubella, over 89% for measles and over 85% for mumps. Approximately 80% of the operators are protected against all four diseases. However, the dramatic consequences of potential contagion lead us to strongly recommend vaccinations for non-protected subjects. At present 37 operators have been vaccinated with the trivalent MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) and 14 for Varicella. The antibody response was verified in all cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the case of a 26-year-old female patient presenting with immediate contact hypersensitivity to pomegranate fruit. Prick test results; Clinical characteristics; Localization of allergy.

This article presents a case study related to contact urticaria. A 22-year-old mate cook had no personal history of skin diseases or atopy, though he had a sister with seasonal rhinitis and positive prick test. He presented with a clear history that every time he handled fresh uncooked calamary. He developed erythema, oedema, itching and burning on his hands. An open test with fresh calamary, performed on the extensor aspect of the right arm, provoked an intensely itchy erythematous-oedematous reaction within a few minutes. Subsequently, a prick-by-prick test on the other arm gave an artificial reaction with pseudopodia.