Health
Preventing airborne infection without impeding communication with ions and electric field
Newswise — A novel device developed by researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, and Chiba University in a new study utilizes ions and an electric field to effectively capture infectious droplets and aerosols, while letting light and sound pass through to allow communication. The innovation is significant in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, since it shows promise in preventing airborne infection while facilitating communication.
Airborne infections, such as H1N1 influenza, SARS, and COVID-19, are spread by aerosols and airborne droplets. While the droplet/aerosol transmission can be prevented using acrylic partitions or, as with the COVID-19 pandemic, by imposing lockdowns in severe cases, these countermeasures can significantly impede communication. This, in turn, can lead to unintended consequences.
For instance, lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic led to severe economic losses as well as a rise in cases of mental illness like depression and suicide around the world. Therefore, as we prepare for a potential future pandemic, it is necessary to develop more sustainable countermeasures that do not disrupt economic activities and daily face-to-face interactions.
To this end, a research team including Kaito Kanda, a graduate student at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) at the time of research, Assistant Professor Tetsuya Yamada, from the Institute of Innovative Research at Tokyo Tech, and Professor Takeo Fujiwara from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) and Chiba University researchers, has now developed a device that successfully captures droplets and aerosols while allowing the transmission of light and sound for effective communication.
Their work, which presents a novel solution for preventing the transmission of airborne pathogens, including the coronavirus, was published in Volume 13 of Scientific Reports on 26 August 2023. “While traditional partitions play a role in preventing airborne infection, they have been known to obstruct smooth communication by affecting the visibility of facial expressions and blocking voices. Recognizing these issues after experiencing limitations in communicating with my grandfather in a partitioned meeting area at a nursing home, we decided to tackle the challenge of reconciling airborne infection prevention and communication,” explains Mr. Kanda.
Subsequently, during a symposium hosted by the Consortium for Post COVID-19 Society in 2021, students and researchers from the union of four universities in Tokyo, including Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Hitotsubashi University, engaged in a group discussion concluded that partitions should be further improved. The students in the group had created a prototype for new partitions at Tokyo Tech, and researchers from the TMDU, actively involved in COVID treatment, conducted validation experiments in the clinic.
To enable unimpeded communication, a device must allow the transmission of sound and light. At the same time, it must capture the sources of infection, i.e., airborne droplets and aerosols. The researchers found a solution by harnessing pre-existing ion and electric field-based aerosol capture technologies utilized in air purifiers. “As a verification step, we first captured incense smoke near an ion and electric field generator. In regions where no ions or electric field were present, the smoke rose naturally, while it was drawn downward in places where the device was operational,” adds Dr. Yamada.
It was also critical to ensure that the ions and electric field did not hinder the transmission of sound and light. Notably, conventional six-mm-thick acrylic panels used in partitions reflect light, limiting the perception of facial expressions during conversation. In contrast, ions and electric field demonstrated high light transmittance—equivalent to that of air. Similarly, while acrylic panels interfered with sound, ions and electric field allowed sound to pass through like air. These results showed that ions and electric field enabled the transmission of light and sound while capturing aerosols.
Encouraged by these results, the researchers created a device that generates ions and an electric field (Figure 1). The ozone concentration generated in it was below 0.001 ppm, and the electric field strength at a distance of 30 cm from the device ranged from 10–45 kV, undetectable by humans.
By introducing aerosols simulating a light cough to the proposed device, the team demonstrated that it could block 89% of the droplets at an opening height of 16 cm (Figure 2). Finally, a prototype was installed in hospital rooms where patients infected with COVID-19 had been admitted. “The device successfully captured aerosols, including the coronavirus, reducing the viral load in the room,” highlights Prof. Fujiwara.
The present study demonstrates the effectiveness of the newly developed device in blocking out droplets and aerosols while allowing for communication. Let us hope that this innovation will find its way into our lives and will enable safer communication by not only preventing the spread of new outbreaks of COVID-19 but also other infectious diseases.
About Tokyo Institute of Technology
Tokyo Tech stands at the forefront of research and higher education as the leading university for science and technology in Japan. Tokyo Tech researchers excel in fields ranging from materials science to biology, computer science, and physics. Founded in 1881, Tokyo Tech hosts over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students per year, who develop into scientific leaders and some of the most sought-after engineers in industry. Embodying the Japanese philosophy of “monotsukuri,” meaning “technical ingenuity and innovation,” the Tokyo Tech community strives to contribute to society through high-impact research.
https://www.titech.ac.jp/english/
Source: Tokyo Institute of Technology
Health
Mill Creek’s Frontier Dermatology Is First in Washington to Offer Nonsurgical Treatment for Common Skin Cancer Using Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy
BURR RIDGE, Ill. /PRNewswire/ — SkinCure Oncology, the world leader in providing a comprehensive model for the delivery of Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy (Image-Guided SRT), a nonsurgical treatment with the highest cure rate for common skin cancers, today announced its availability in Washington at an event at Frontier Dermatology in Mill Creek. This is the first medical practice in the state to offer this GentleCure™ treatment experience.
Image-Guided SRT is the only treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancer (basal and squamous cell carcinoma) that uses ultrasound imaging to help clinicians direct low-level x-rays to targeted areas of the skin, killing cancer cells without bleeding, pain, surgical scarring or need for reconstructive surgery. A study published in the journal Oncology and Therapy showed that Image-Guided SRT produces a 99.3 percent cure rate for early stage nonmelanoma, making it just as effective as traditional surgical treatment.
Dieter Schmidt, M.D., FAAD, FACMS, of Frontier Dermatology, noted, “More than 68,000 Washingtonians are expected to be diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer this year alone. It is essential for them to have information on all available treatment options, both surgical and nonsurgical, so they can make informed decisions about their care. Image-Guided SRT is one of the most exciting technological innovations in dermatology today. We call it the GentleCure experience, and we are proud to be the first in Washington to offer it.”
Joining Dr. Schmidt at the event was Mill Creek Mayor Brian Holtzclaw, who said, “We are a community of nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts here in Mill Creek, and whether you’re swinging a driver at Mill Creek Country Club, a paddle on the pickleball courts at Heron or Highlands Park, or simply just taking in the scenery on one of our many nature trails and community parks, it’s critical that we take the necessary steps to protect ourselves from the sun’s rays. In those cases where exposure to the sun or other factors leads to a cancer diagnosis, patients now have more treatment options, including the new, nonsurgical standard of care called GentleCure. I want to thank Dr. Schmidt and Frontier Dermatology for bringing GentleCure to our city and state. It’s a proud moment for us all.”
“We at SkinCure Oncology are delighted to partner with Frontier Dermatology to offer this highly effective, noninvasive treatment option for their patients,” said Kerwin Brandt, Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago-based company. “Patients everywhere should have the choice of curing their nonmelanoma skin cancer without surgery.”
About SkinCure Oncology
SkinCure Oncology is the world leader in providing a comprehensive model for the delivery of Image-Guided Superficial Radiation Therapy (Image-Guided SRT), the most advanced nonsurgical treatment for common skin cancer. The company partners with quality-focused dermatologists, Mohs surgeons and other physicians to bring cancer center-level radiation therapy treatment to private practices. Presented to patients as the GentleCure™ experience, Image-Guided SRT is available from some 500 physicians nationwide, with more than 75,000 patients having been treated. Learn more about the company at SkinCureOncology.com, and visit GentleCure.com for helpful consumer and patient information.
SOURCE SkinCure Oncology
5 strategies to combat stressful triggers
(Family Features) Stress, the physical or mental response to external causes like overwhelming work assignments or difficult life moments, can add unnecessary pressure to your day to day. While everyone feels stress from time to time, when left untreated or unrecognized, it can begin to wreak havoc in the form of anxiety.
In honor of National Stress Awareness Month, consider these strategies to combat stress from the National Institutes of Mental Health.
Learn Your Triggers
Different events and situations cause stress for different people. Knowing what triggers your stress to kick in – mounds of office paperwork, important financial decisions or hectic mornings, for example – can help you plan and prepare for stress-inducing moments.
Exercise and Eat Right
Maintaining physical health can be beneficial for mental health, too. Find time to do exercises you enjoy like walking, jogging, yoga or playing a sport. Identifying activities that bring you joy can make it easier to fit 30-60-minute workouts into your schedule without adding even more stress. Complement your workout routine with nutritional meals that help you stay on track with your fitness goals.
Practice Relaxation
Whether you find inner peace through journaling, breathing exercises, reading or some other form of slowing down, find what works for you and prioritize fitting it into your daily schedule. Relaxing activities help you slow down the pace of life, providing a chance to reset by doing something you enjoy.
Get Enough Sleep
A lack of quality sleep can add to stress. Creating a bedtime routine can increase your sleep habits and help you achieve the expert-recommended 7-9 hours per night. Put away electronics, which can interfere with your ability to calm your mind, and find an activity that puts you at ease like reading a book or listening to relaxing music. Ensure your bedroom is optimized for comfort by making it cool, dark and quiet.
Create a Network of Support
Everyone experiences stress. Reach out to family members and close friends you can lean on in stressful and frustrating moments. Share your feelings and encourage others to do the same, which can increase trust and help everyone in your circle cope in a positive way.
Find more ways to combat stress and care for your mental health at eLivingtoday.com.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
SOURCE:
eLivingtoday.com
(Family Features) For those with asthma, understanding what can trigger symptoms is a part of getting the condition under control. Some of the same things that cause allergies can worsen symptoms, but not every allergen is a trigger for everyone with asthma. The places where you live, learn, work and play can expose you to common asthma triggers like pet dander, dust mites, pests like rodents and cockroaches, mold, cigarette smoke, pollen, air pollution and more. Managing triggers is just one part of controlling asthma, however. Work with your health care provider to make an asthma action plan and keep track of your symptoms and where you are when they occur. Learn more at nhlbi.nih.gov/BreatheBetter.
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