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Aim: The purpose of this study was to analyze the organizational models of home enteral feeding used in 5 local health authorities (LHAs) in the Veneto region (Italy). By comparing these models with the main guidelines, the authors have attempted to determine the "minimum standards" to be adopted at an organizational level. Materials and Methods: This 3-stage study analyzes procedures, precoded actions, and recordable processes. Stage 1: objectives were defined, work methods selected, and reference guidelines chosen. Stage 2: flowcharts were drafted to show the actions and work paths taken for the 5 LHAs. Stage 3: flowcharts were compared with data from the literature. Results: The study shows that very different organizational models exist. For instance, by comparing organizational processes with the procedures prescribed by the guidelines, it can be seen that the mean percentages of actions taken by the 5 LHAs, for patients in both rest homes and nursing homes, rarely exceeds the threshold of 50% (on a scale from 0% to 100%). Conclusion: This study shows that home enteral feeding & neither optimized nor uniform in the 5 LHAs and that standardized methods are not used for clinical monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to provide suitable microbiological criteria (MC) for Campylobacter in broiler carcasses and a sampling plan to verify compliance with such criteria. Data were gathered in the presence and concentration of Campylobacter in broiler carcasses collected in three different Italian slaughterhouses, labelled as A, B and C. The sampling plan to be validated in each slaughterhouse included the analysis of three different carcasses collected immediately after chilling from 30 different lots, for a total of 90 samples per slaughterhouse. The number of positive samples containing above 100CFU/g and above 1000CFU/g throughout the 30 tested lots was determined to estimate between-lot variability. Based on this information, the performance of four MC was evaluated for lot compliance: i) n=3; c=0; m=100CFU/g; ii) n=3; c=0; m=1000CFU/g; iii) n=3; c=1; m=1000CFU/g and iv) n=3; c=2; m=1000CFU/g. Positive Campylobacter samples were found in 60% of the lots tested in slaughterhouses A and C and in 73.3% of lots from slaughterhouse B. The differences among the three slaughterhouses in the mean Campylobacter levels found in positive samples were not significant and were used to evaluate the performance of the MC. The level of lot compliance to different MC was calculated and for the most stringent one (n=3; c=0; m=100CFU/g) was 40% at slaughterhouses A and C but only 26.7% at slaughterhouse B. The results of this study show an alternative approach to establish MC for Campylobacter in broilers. According to (1) Campylobacter prevalence and concentration in Italy, (2) applied experimental plan and (3) selected slaughterhouses, the number of compliant lots to the suggested MC ranged between 26.7 and 100%. The selection of the fit for purpose MC is a risk manager decision, based on a reasonable balance between public health and cost for poultry industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess if photobiomodulation (PBM) improves the efficiency of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance during the alignment stage. Methods: Eighty-nine subjects were included in this trial and randomly assigned for treatment with fixed appliance and PBM group or with fixed appliance only (control group). Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) age between 13 and 30 years, (2) permanent dentition, (3) class I malocclusion, (4) lower 6-6 mild crowding measured on dental cast, (5) no spaces or diastema in the lower arch, (6) no ectopic teeth, (7) nonextractive treatment plan, and (8) no previous orthodontic treatment. PBM was administered in the PBM group every 14 days using the ATP38 ® (Biotech Dental, Allée de Craponne, Salon de Provence, France) (72 J/cm 2 of fluency for each session). Dental alignment was assessed by visual inspection, and treatment time was defined in days as T2 (date of assessment of complete dental alignment)-T1 (date of brackets bonding). The number of monthly scheduled appointments was also recorded. All the data underwent statistical analysis for comparison between groups. Results: Treatment time was significantly shorter ( p  < 0.001) in the PBM group (203 days) compared with the control (260 days). Consequently, control visits ( p  < 0.001) were lower in the PBM group (7) compared with the control group (9). Conclusions: The present findings would confirm that PBM can be used to enhance the efficiency of orthodontic treatment during dental decrowding.