Prevalence of inducible clindamycin resistance among community-associated staphylococcal isolates in central Serbia

The emergence of resistance to most antimicrobial agents in staphylococci indicates the need for new effective agents in the treatment of staphylococcal infections. Clindamycin is considered to be one safe, effective and less costly agent. We analysed 482 staphylococcal isolates. Detection of inducible clindamycin resistance was performed by the D-test, while the presence of methylases genes: erm (A), erm (B) and erm (C), as well as, macrolide efflux gene mef was determined by polymerase chain reaction. Inducible clindamycin resistance phenotype was significantly higher in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains then in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). Among analysed S. aureus isolates, the predominance of the erm (C) gene, followed by the erm (A) gene were detected. These results indicate that the D-test should be routinely performed on each staphylococcal isolates

Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial

Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Elastinost Demand and Revenues of Companies in Full and Monopoly Competition

Impact of price changes and income changes in the intensity of demand, and thus the Company is not the same and is not equal for all companies in different market structures. The aim of the empirical research of elasticity of demand and its impact on the income of companies in different market structures is that, using different economic methods obtain relevant information about the tested categories, based on which companies can plan their economic development. However, regardless of all the difficulties of theoretical and practical nature, the analysis of the concept of flexibility some scientific circles, aim of this work is just to show the theoretical role and importance of the concept of elasticity of demand on the formation of the income of companies in full and limited competition, monopoly and oligopoly. The company's business policy, among other things must take into account changes in the sales and income that occur because of the effect of price changes on the changes in the amount of sales products. Coeffcient elasticity of demand is especially important for the policy of price because the company provide the basic elements for planning and realization of the maximum total revenue

Internationalization of the Ethnic Food Industry

Small companies from newly emerging markets are usually limited in their growth strategy by lack of market in their own countries. This is mainly due to low purchasing power of the population in their countries. Therefore the companies seek possibilities to grow by establishing themselves on foreign markets. However, due to insufficient resources, the SMEs are not in a position to do enough research on the nature of the new environment they will be faced with. As a result, they do not actually know how to position themselves strategically in terms of marketing efforts. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the ethnic food segment of food industry and to analyze how a small foreign company manufacturing ethnic food can position itself strategically on the Swedish market. We have used a South African SME -- Ethnic Cuisine Investment Ltd (ECI) as our case company. In order to analyze the elements of importance in ECI’s strategy, we briefly investigated the macro-environment in order to identify the drivers in this industry. However, our main focus is on the ethnic food segment of food industry, in order to understand its logic. We also scrutinize the firm’s resources and capabilities, so that we can identify the gaps that need to be filled in order for it to succeed in the Swedish market. The complexity and dynamism of the Swedish market for ethnic food poses several challenges to a small foreign actor. Thus to act efficiently, the company will need to be very committed and goal oriented. The success of the small actor entering this market will depend on how well the company can organize itself in order to achieve effectiveness in its operations

The role of banking reform policy in transition economies: delayed reforms for the case of Serbia

While Serbia had initiated the establishment of the two-tier banking system earlier than most of the South East European (SEE) countries (in 1965), the banking reform actually began later than these countries (after 1999). The main reasons to account for that were: 1) very adverse initial conditions of the country's economy; 2) dramatic economic decline; 3) disguised and mixed transition paths that have been followed, imposition of sanctions, severe regional instability, mismanagement and corruption. However, just six years after the implementation of reform, the overall functioning of the banking sector in Serbia in 2005 has witnessed a substantial improvement.Serbia; banking systems; financial sector; financial intermediaries; banks; transition economies; planned economy; emerging economies; banking reform; reform policy; delayed reforms.

Achieving a Superhydrophobic, Moisture, Oil and Gas Barrier Film Using a Regenerated Cellulose–Calcium Carbonate Composite Derived from Paper Components or Waste

It has been a persistent challenge to develop eco-friendly packaging cellulose film providing the required multiple barrier properties whilst simultaneously contributing to a circular economy. Typically, a cellulosic film made from nanocellulose materials presents severe limitations, such as poor water/moisture resistance and lacking water vapour barrier properties, related primarily to the hydrophilic and hygroscopic nature of cellulose. In this work, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) and starch, both eco-friendly, non-toxic, cost-effective materials, were used to achieve barrier properties of novel cellulose–calcium carbonate composite films regenerated from paper components, including paper waste, using ionic liquid as solvent. AKD and starch were applied first into the ionic cellulose solution dope mix, and secondly, AKD alone was coated from hot aqueous suspension onto the film surface using a substrate surface precooling technique. The interactions between the AKD and cellulose film were characterised by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) showing the formation of a ketone ester structure between AKD and the hydroxyl groups of cellulose. The presence of calcium carbonate particles in the composite was seen to enhance the cellulose crystallinity. The initial high-water vapour and oxygen transmission rates of the untreated base films could be decreased significantly from 2.00 to 0.14 g m−2 d−1, and 3.85 × 102 to 0.45 × 102 cm3 m−2 d−1, respectively. In addition, by applying subsequent heat treatment to the AKD coating, the water contact angle was markedly increased to reach levels of superhydrophobicity (>150°, and roll-off angle < 5°). The resistance to water absorption, grease-permeation, and tensile strength properties were ultimately improved by 41.52%, 95.33%, and 127.33%, respectively, compared with those of an untreated pure cellulose film. The resulting regenerated cellulose–calcium carbonate composite-based film and coating formulation can be considered to provide a future bio-based circular economy barrier film, for example, for the packaging, construction and agriculture industries, to complement or replace oil-based plastics.Peer reviewe