Exposure to endotoxin has been associated with increased respiratory symptoms and decrements in lung function in occupational settings but little is known about the health effects of domestic exposure in adults. Here, we describe the association of respiratory disease, immunoglobulin (Ig)E sensitisation, bronchial reactivity and lung function with mattress endotoxin levels in adults, and determ...

This article reports the findings of a small evaluation audit which compares the Dyna-Form Mercury Advance Mattress to that of the Softform Premier Active Mattress (a foam mattress with dynamic underlay). A small group of patients with similar co-morbidities who were an emergency admission were recruited to an evaluation audit. Their median age and Waterlow score indicated that these patients w...

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to compare the stability and comfort afforded by the long spinal board (backboard) and the vacuum mattress. METHODS Nine volunteers wearing standardised clothing and rigid neck collars were secured on to a backboard and vacuum mattress using a standard strapping arrangement. An operating department table was used to tilt the volunteers from 45 degrees head u...

The use of forced-air warming is associated with costs for the disposable blankets. As an alternative method, we studied heat transfer with a reusable gel-coated circulating water mattress placed under the back in eight healthy volunteers. Heat flux was measured with six calibrated heat flux transducers. Additionally, mattress temperature, skin temperature, and core temperature were measured. W...

BACKGROUND In the present study, we compared changes in body temperature and the occurrence of shivering in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia during warming with either a forced-air warming system or a circulating-water mattress. METHODS Forty-six patients were randomly assigned to either the forced-air warming system (N = 23) or circulating-water mat...

Abstract Approximately 10% of hospitalized patients develops decubitus ulcers that quickly degenerates into chronic illness reduces the quality life and requires expensive clinical management. The use an anti-decubitus active mattress, automatically redistributes pressure loads, occurrence new lesions promotes healing pre-existing ones. aim this work is to design develop two tools support mattr...

BACKGROUND : Immobilization of the spine in patients with trauma at risk of spinal damage is performed using a rigid long spineboard or vacuum mattress both during prehospital and in-hospital care. However, disadvantages of these immobilization devices in terms of discomfort and tissue-interface pressures have guided the development of a new soft-layered long spineboard. We compared tissue-inte...

Pressure ulcer prevention is expensive and at times difficult to achieve. Formation, or the potential formation, of pressure ulcers can lead to delayed patient discharge, particularly when the appropriate equipment is unavailable on the day of discharge. This article reviews the potential of Repose, an inflatable mattress overlay, to be an inexpensive and clinically effective alternative to alt...

In the manufacturing industry, there are claims about a novel system or paradigm to overcome current data interpretation challenges. Anecdotally, these studies have not been completely practical in real-world applications (e.g., analytics). This article focuses on smart (SM), proposed address inconsistencies within that often caused by reasons such as: (i) realization using general algorithm, (...