Thermal lens in diode-pumped square-section rods of Nd-doped phosphate glass and 0.5%Nd:5%Lu:CaF2 crystal: simulations and experiments.

We performed simulations and experiments of wavefront distortions induced by propagating through diode-pumped square-section amplifying laser rods of Nd-doped phosphate glass and 0.5%Nd:5%Lu:CaF2. We observed that depending on the material, wavefront distortions' profile can vary from a circular lens-like distortion to a complex astigmatic distortion. We showed that this difference comes from the relative sign of piezo-optic tensor coefficients.

Synthesis of phenothiazine derivatives as potential inhibitors of phospholipase C.

In order to study the structure-activity relationships of phenothiazine derivatives inhibiting phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), the synthesis of some phenothiazine amide, amine and ester derivatives was performed mainly by reacting 10H-phenothiazine-10-propanoyl chloride with some amines and alcohols; the resulting amides were reduced with borane to yield the corresponding amines. Starting from 2-chloro and 2-trifluoromethyl-10H-phenothiazine-10-propanoyl chloride two amides were synthesized. The inhibiting activity on PI-PLC from human platelets is reported.

[Hand hygiene in intensive care]. / "Mani pulite" in terapia intensiva.

Hand hygiene represents the main way to prevent and/or at least reduce nosocomial infection incidence. In this paper we discuss this "hot topic" through both the analysis of CDC guide lines and the data resulting from a questionnaire survey sent to health care workers, eventually corroborated by their direct observation. From literature data and our survey result analyses, we are more than convinced that the winning strategies for a slow but progressive improvement of hand washing practice and compliance are (i). using a product able to decontaminate hands very quickly and without needing water; (ii). the health care worker awareness of hand hygiene and compliance feed-back importance. From our questionnaire survey as well as from our direct observation, we found a very low (5.6%) compliance of our hospital health care workers to CDC guidelines for hand washing. This may be justified above all by ward logistical and structural problems, as only 55% of sinks are located inside patient rooms, but also because there is a lacking of knowledge of new CDC suggested practices and decontaminating products. Health care worker specific training and the choice of an alcoholic antiseptic disinfectant, allowed us to significantly increase their compliance to proper practices in hand washing and hygiene, showing their interest in such an important and delicate matter.