Low frequency noises are predominant in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Some studies affirm that neonates can perceive noises from 113 Hz, and can therefore be affected by sound sources with high spectral content at low frequencies (e.g., incubator engine, air fan). Other studies suggest that reverberation amplifies noise within incubators. In this paper, the reverberation time (T, T 30) within an incubator with standard dimensions was measured in one-third octave bands. To get reliable results, the T was measured in 15 positions at the neonate’s ear height, in a room with low T values (to reduce the influence of the room in the results), using an impulsive sound method. Results show a heterogeneous T distribution at the neonate’s ear height, with maximum average T differences between positions of 1.07 s. The highest average T of all microphone positions is 2.27 s at 125 Hz, an extremely high mean value for such a small space. As the frequency of electrical devices in America is 60 Hz, some harmonics lay within the one-third octave band of 125 Hz, and therefore may create a very reverberant and inappropriate acoustic environment within the audible spectrum of neonates. As the acoustic environment of the incubator and the room are coupled, it is expected that the results are higher in the NICUs than in the room where the measurements were conducted, as NICUs are more reverberant. Therefore, it is recommended that the T will be limited in the international standards, and that incubator designers take it into account.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection spreads through droplet and aerosols. Household contacts have a high risk of infection and transmission outside the home can occur at closed and open locations. We studied the transmission risk at open environment among contacts of construction laborers.

Close contacts of 18 SARS-CoV-2 infected construction laborers were assessed for symptomatic or asymptomatic infection. Contacts were classified as a) persons at residence of index case b) persons at workplace (open and closed environment), and c) persons outside the index case residence or workplace who are traceable. Relative risk of infection among contacts at different locations and observed parameters were compared between them.

Four hundred and ninety-six contacts were assessed. The secondary transmission rate was maximum among household contacts (n=28, 43.7%) followed by contacts at closed environment at workplace (n=44, 26%), traceable other contacts (n=8, 15.7%) and contacts at open environment at workplace (n=3, 1.4%). Relative risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among household contacts was 30.9 (CI 9.7-98.3, p<0.001) compared to open environmental work contacts and 1.68 (CI 1.15-2.44, p=0.006) compared to closed environmental work contacts. Relative risk was 18.3 (CI 5.8-58.2, P<0.001) among closed environmental work contacts compared to open environmental work contacts. One index and one secondary case died.

The low secondary transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection among open environmental contacts emphasizes the fact that free air flow has the ability to dilute or probably blow away the virus particles and lowers the transmission risk substantially.

The low secondary transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection among open environmental contacts emphasizes the fact that free air flow has the ability to dilute or probably blow away the virus particles and lowers the transmission risk substantially.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to a global pandemic among patients of all ages around the world. A new delayed inflammatory syndrome, with potentially severe evolution, has been described in the pediatric population, a population previously considered to be less vulnerable to the severe forms of COVID-19.

We describe the first clinical case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in a 7-year-old child of the Ternopil region, Ukraine. Our clinical case fulfills the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health definition of MIS-C temporarily associated with COVID-19 -systemic disease with long-term fever, multiorgan dysfunction, laboratory evidence of hyperinflammation, positive SARS-CoV-2 tests, and the absence of an alternative cause that would explain the clinical picture. The patient was treated according to the treatment guidelines and subsequently was discharged with the resolution of his clinical symptoms.

This clinical case draws the attention of general practitioners and pediatricians to the importance of timely diagnosis of a rare, but potentially severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporarily associated with COVID-19 in children.

This clinical case draws the attention of general practitioners and pediatricians to the importance of timely diagnosis of a rare, but potentially severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporarily associated with COVID-19 in children.

At present, strongyloidiasis is considered by the World Health Organizaiton (WHO) as one of the most neglected diseases.

A husband and a wife, both born in the Moscow region and never having traveled, initially presented with fever and unexplained peripheral eosinophilia. Parasitological examination revealed

in feces samples. Helminth infection was strongly associated with poor sanitary conditions. Caspases apoptosis While albendazole was ineffective, after the treatment with ivermectin, both patients were asymptomatic, their ELISA tests were negative, and no larvae of

were found in the feces.

We concluded that patients with unexplained eosinophilia must be checked for the presence of parasites before steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. These patients, if infected, may develop the highly fatal hyperinfective syndrome. The cases reported here raise concern about possible hidden strongyloidiasis in the Moscow region and re-emergence of this infection in this and other temperate regions in Russia.

We concluded that patients with unexplained eosinophilia must be checked for the presence of parasites before steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. These patients, if infected, may develop the highly fatal hyperinfective syndrome. The cases reported here raise concern about possible hidden strongyloidiasis in the Moscow region and re-emergence of this infection in this and other temperate regions in Russia.