How effective are face coverings in reducing transmission of COVID-19?

In the COVID–19 pandemic, billions are wearing face masks, in both health care settings and in public. Which type of mask we should wear in what situation, is therefore important. There are three basic types: cotton, surgical, and respirators (e.g., FFP2, N95 and similar). All are essentially air filters worn on the face. Air filtration is relatively well understood, however, we have almost no direct evidence on the relative role played by aerosol particles of differing sizes in disease transmission. But if the virus concentration is assumed independent of aerosol particle size, then most virus will be in particles µm. We develop a model that predicts surgical masks are effective at reducing the risk of airborne transmission because the filtering material most surgical masks use is highly effective at filtering particles with diameters µm. However, surgical masks are significantly less effective than masks of FFP2, N95 and similar standards, mostly due to the poor fit of surgical masks. Earlier work found that of the air bypasses a surgical mask and is not filtered. This highlights the fact that standards for surgical masks do not specify how well the mask should fit, and so are not adequate for protection against COVID-19.Copyright © 2022 American Association for Aerosol Research

Idiopathic anomalous congenital band causing small intestinal obstruction in a 5-month-old dog

A 5-month-old, intact male, yellow Labrador retriever was presented with a 24-hour history of anorexia and vomiting. Abdominal imaging revealed the presence of a mechanical obstruction in the jejunum and peritoneal effusion. Cytologic evaluation and culture of the effusion prior to surgery identified a suppurative exudate with bacteria consistent with septic peritonitis and suspected to be related to the intestinal lesion. An exploratory laparotomy was performed, and a segment of jejunum was circumferentially severely constricted by an off-white, fibrous band of tissue. Resection and anastomosis of the strangulated segment of jejunum and excision of the constricting band provided resolution of the clinical signs. The dog made a complete recovery. Histologic evaluation revealed the band to be composed of fibrovascular and smooth muscle tissue, consistent with an idiopathic anomalous congenital band. No other gastrointestinal lesions were observed, either grossly at surgery or histologically in the resected segment of intestine. To our knowledge, a similar structure has not been reported in the veterinary literature.Copyright © 2022 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. All rights reserved.

A Review on Recognition of Disguise Face Mask Using Novel Deep Convolutional Neural Network

Object recognition establishes a connection of different objects present in images or videos. Nowadays, this technology is widely used in transportation management systems, intelligence systems, military equipment acquisition, and also in surgical equipment to obtain a surgical guidance, etc. Wearing a facemask has become a mandate in public places to control the spread of coronavirus. This research study has developed a novel facemask detection model based on a single-shot detector (SSD) to collect real-time images. This process has been implemented in three modules: 1) A network of simple error correction features will be introduced based on SSD and partition in order to achieve a better access speed and satisfy the real-time requirements;2) Feature Enhancement Module (FEM) is used to strengthen the in-depth features learned by CNN models to improve the visibility of minor substances;3) A COVID-19-mask will be finally created by considering a large database of face mask images. Test results generate high accuracy while utilizing real-time acquisition and realization of the proposed algorithm. © 2022 IEEE.

Ultrasonic Sterilization

Sterilization of hospitals is one of the major concerns when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness especially during a pandemic situation. The existing methodologies include ultraviolet disinfection or hydrochloride spraying for sterilizing hospital rooms and chemical treatment for surgical and medical equipment. However since COVID strains are developing at a rapid rate, it is necessary for more efficacy and accuracy in sterilization. According to the August 2021 census collected by NCBI, 87 percent of virus transmission is only because of improper sterilization. The following paper proposes efficient and proven ultrasonic sterilization methods that can be preferred to ultraviolet and chemical sterilization in sterilizing not only hospital rooms but also any crowded regions like malls and schools. The Cremant's formula helps in determining the appropriate and effective sterilization ultrasonic frequency level. Using machine learning algorithms, the approximate location, and the number of droplets per second present in the room will be calculated and treated with ultrasonic waves. This demonstration is proved using micro silicon balls which are similar in properties of COVID - 19 viruses. Simulation results are displayed to show the working of the same. © 2022 IEEE.

Impact of COVID-19 on ophthalmic surgery in Australia

Purpose : The effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on ophthalmic surgical case numbers in Australia and globally remains poorly characterised. Increased incidence of COVID-19 in Australia between March and April 2020 led to a national lockdown and elective surgery restrictions. The aim of this population-based study was to quantify the early impact of COVID-19 on ophthalmic surgery in Australia, comparing surgical service rates in 2019 and 2020. Methods : Retrospective analysis of the number of ophthalmic surgical services in 2019 and 2020 in all Australian States and Territories, as recorded by Medicare (Australian Government-funded universal health insurance scheme subsidising healthcare costs for Australian residents). Monthly surgical service rates were calculated and Poisson regression was used to compare the change in service rates between months. Results : Between March and April 2020, surgical service rates decreased for: cataract surgery (by 71%, 95% CI: 70-72%), cataract surgery with minimally invasive glaucoma surgical device insertion (by 71%, 95% CI: 65-75%), pterygium removal (by 67%, 95% CI: 60- 72%), corneal transplantation (by 31%, 95% CI: 9-48%), and collagen crosslinking for corneal ectasias (by 35%, 95% CI: 18-48%). Comparatively, service rates for these surgeries did not differ or decreased less between March and April 2019. Interestingly, glaucoma filtration surgery rates decreased between March and April in 2020 (by 44%, 95% CI: 29- 56%) and also in 2019 (by 45%, 95% CI: 31-55%), whilst retinal detachment surgery rates were unchanged between these months in 2020 (crude decrease 9%, 95% CI: -28 to 16%) and 2019 (crude decrease 11%, 95% CI: -26 to 9%). Conclusions : Despite relatively low rates of COVID-19 community transmission in Australia in 2020, ophthalmic surgical service rates decreased during months in lockdown and with restrictions, largely for non-time-critical conditions. These data may have health planning implications as the pandemic continues, with future lockdowns and restrictions possible, especially as COVID-19 variants emerge.

Analysis and Improvement in Healthcare Operation Utilizing Automation

The development of various medications, vaccines and surgical methods in healthcare has been significantly contributing to longer life expectancy. However, there are still various challenges that need to be addressed in the healthcare system. One of the biggest challenges in streamlining processes is that medical staff are required to do various repetitive tasks manually. This study aims to examine how automation and robotics can be utilized to improve the efficiency of healthcare/biomedical services. The high-end collaborative robot, the 'YuMi' robot is proposed to modify and streamline biomedical lab operations to work side-by-side with biomedical lab technicians to assist various repetitive and routine tasks. Four potential frameworks (i.e., aged care, sorting and dispensing medicines, assisting at surgical operations and sample collection) are developed to identify potential applications of the Yumi robot. With the Covid-19 pandemic situation, there is an immediate need for safe sample collections and patient interaction to mitigate the outbreak of the virus. In this study, a framework for the sample collection and testing of Covid-19 is also proposed to minimize the risks of medical staff and local transmissions. Samples testing of suspected patients, travellers, and those in close contact with Covid-19 patients will proceed without direct interactions with healthcare workers, eventually, minimizing exposure and spread of this communicable disease. © 2022 IEEE.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Contamination in the Operating Room and Birthing Room Setting: Risks to Attending Health Care Workers

Objectives: The exposure risks to front-line health care workers (HCWs) who are in close proximity for prolonged periods of time, caring for COVID-19 patients undergoing surgery or obstetrical delivery, is unclear. Understanding of sample types that may harbour virus is important for evaluating risk. The objectives are as follows: to determine if SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA from patients with COVID-19 undergoing surgery or obstetrical delivery is present in: 1) the peritoneal cavity of males and females 2) the female reproductive tract, 3) the environment of the surgery or delivery suite (surgical instruments, equipment used, air or floors) and 4) inside the masks of the attending health care workers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, conducted at 2 Toronto hospitals, 32 patients with COVID-19 underwent urgent surgery or obstetrical delivery and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in patient, environmental and air samples was identified by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Air samples were collected using both active and passive sampling techniques. The primary outcome was the proportion of HCW masks positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 20/332 (6%) patient and environmental samples collected: 4/24 (16.7%) patient, 5/60 (8.3%) floor, 1/5 (1.9%) air, 10/23 (43.5%) surgical instruments/equipment, 0/24 cautery filters and 0/143 (95% CI 0–0.026) inner surface of mask samples. Conclusions: While there is evidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the surgical and obstetrical operative environment, the finding of no detectable virus inside the masks worn by the medical teams would suggest a low risk of infection for our health care workers using appropriate personal protective equipment. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA;PPE;exposure risk;health care workers;real time RT-PCR;environmental and air sampling;operating room exposure;delivery room exposure

Lariat Loop

Insertion of nasogastric tube is one of the commonest clinical procedures. However, very rarely, the tube can coil on itself to form something called a Lariat loop. This is a knot that can cause the tube to get stuck inside the pharynx and can precipitate emergencies like laryngeal obstruction or esophageal rupture. A brief discussion of a case along with the causes and prevention of this complication has been done.

AI/ML enabled decision making in facilitating Robotic surgery

Technological advancements have the potential to help every surgeon to enhance the quality of world-wide surgical care. Robotic surgery is currently at its inception stage but is expected to bloom with parallel advancements in computer science and artificial intelligence. The objective of this paper would be to understand the present and future scope of robotic surgery utilizing AI/ML techniques. The study will revolve around how next-generation surgical robots will be inherent in optimizing a surgeon's skills productively, to achieve the pinnacle of precision during complicated surgical procedures. It will focus on how AI/ML helps in Robotic Spine Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery techniques, and ophthalmic surgeries. It will talk about the current limitations of robotic surgery and how with latest technological advancements it will be possible to overcome the shortcomings. © 2022 IEEE.

Analysis of microstructure and protective performance of melt-blown materials for medical protective masks

Since the end of 2019, the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a surge in the use of all kinds of medical supplies, especially surgical masks. Based on the microstructure and anti-virus mechanism of melt-blown materials used for medical masks, this paper introduces the research status of nonwoven filter materials used for protective masks. At the same time, the surface interface structure of four disposable medical protective masks from different manufacturers was analyzed by scanning electron microscope, and the difference of melt-blown materials of these masks was studied. The results show that the fiber diameter of melt-blown mask with better protective effect is fine and compact, and the aperture formed between fibers is smaller. This reasearch provides new ideas for further research and development of non-woven materials for medical masks.

Leveling up your mask game to respirators in the 6th wave of COVID

Vox.com/the-goods/22868641/chicago-school-closings-omicron-covid-remote-learning cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html tinyurl.com/WS-GuardMaskNerd tinyurl.com/WS-MaskNerdYT tinyurl.com/WS-FordFdnFilter tinyurl.com/WS-MinPhyMask1 tinyurl.com/WS-MinPhyMasks2 We are now entering the sixth upsurge of the U.S. COVID pandemic infections as we move back into often poorly ventilated indoor winter classrooms with stressed-out teachers, understaffed schools, and unvaccinated or partially vaccinated kids, and it's time to use the immense masking insights we have gained since fall 2020. There is no longer any reason for teachers (or anyone) to wear a cloth mask, a vented mask, or a paper surgical mask - we have much better alternatives. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Physics Teacher is the property of American Institute of Physics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Instruments of health and harm: how the procurement of healthcare goods contributes to global health inequality.

Many healthcare goods, such as surgical instruments, textiles and gloves, are manufactured in unregulated factories and sweatshops where, amongst other labour rights violations, workers are subject to considerable occupational health risks. In this paper we undertake an ethical analysis of the supply of sweatshop-produced surgical goods to healthcare providers, with a specific focus on the National Health Service of the United Kingdom. We contend that while labour abuses and occupational health deficiencies are morally unacceptable in the production of any commodity, an additional wrong is incurred when the health of certain populations is secured in ways that endanger the health and well-being of people working and living elsewhere. While some measures have been taken to better regulate the supply chain to healthcare providers in the UK, further action is needed to ensure that surgical goods are sourced from suppliers who protect the labour and occupational health rights of their workers.