Adult Intracranial Ependymal Tumors: Results of TROD Neurooncology Group 07-009 Study

[No Abstract Available

A quantitative approach to analyse linkages between antimicrobial resistance properties in Salmonella

This study used statistical methods to investigate linkages in phenotypic resistance profiles in a population sample of 321 Salmonella Typhimurium isolates from sporadic salmonellosis cases in Lower Saxony, Germany, collected during 2008–2010. A resistance index was applied to calculate the conditional probability of resistance to one antimicrobial agent given the resistance to one or more other antimicrobial agent(s). A susceptibility index was defined analogously. A contingency plot, which visualizes the association between resistances to two antimicrobial agents, facilitated the interpretation. Linkages between minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were analysed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and jittered scatter plots. Applying these methods provided a compact description of multi-resistance and linkages between resistance properties in large datasets. Moreover, this approach will improve monitoring of antimicrobial resistance dynamics of bacteria in human or animal populations by identifying linked resistance to antimicrobial agents (cross- or co-resistance) with a non-molecular method

Second hand smoke exposure and the risk of invasive meningococcal disease in children: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Invasive meningococcal disease remains an important cause of serious morbidity and mortality in children and young people. There is a growing body of literature to suggest that exposure to passive smoke may play a role in the development of the disease, therefore we have performed a systematic review to provide a comprehensive estimate of the magnitude of this effect for smoking by any household member, by individual family members, and of maternal smoking before and after birth. Methods Four databases (Medline, Embase, PsychINFO and CAB Abstracts database) were searched to identify studies (to June 2012) and reference lists scanned for further studies. Titles, abstracts and full texts were checked for eligibility independently by two authors. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using random effect models, with heterogeneity quantified using I2. Results We identified 18 studies which assessed the effects of SHS on the risk of invasive meningococcal disease in children. SHS in the home doubled the risk of invasive meningococcal disease (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.63 to 2.92, I2 = 72%), with some evidence of an exposure-response gradient. The strongest effect was seen in children under 5 years (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.51 to 4.09, I2 = 47%). Maternal smoking significantly increased the risk of invasive meningococcal disease by 3 times during pregnancy (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.52-5.66) and by 2 times after birth (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.54-3.31). Conclusions SHS exposure, and particularly passive foetal exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy, significantly increases the risk of childhood invasive meningococcal disease. It is likely that an extra 630 cases of invasive meningococcal disease annually in children under 16 are directly attributable to SHS exposure in UK homes

ANTECEDENTES DA INTENÇÃO DE RECOMPRA DE UMA MARCA DE SMARTPHONES

A intenção de recompra possui grande importância no contexto acadêmico e empresarial e, por este motivo, diversos pesquisadores salientam que há lacunas para aprofundar o conhecimento sobre os seus construtos antecedentes. Compreender o fenômeno que leva o consumidor a ter a intenção de recompra de certo produto e/ou serviço de uma marca é um aspecto chave para o sucesso das empresas. Diante disso, o presente estudo analisou a influência do valor percebido, do comprometimento afetivo, do comprometimento normativo e da propaganda boca a boca positiva sobre a intenção de recompra de smartphones de uma determinada marca. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa quantitativa, por meio da aplicação de uma survey. A análise dos resultados foi feita através de estatísticas multivariadas, utilizando-se a técnica da Modelagem de Equações Estruturais para observar e analisar as variáveis que compõem o modelo teórico proposto, através da realização do teste das hipóteses levantadas. A amostra foi composta por 411 consumidores de uma das marcas líderes de mercado de smartphones. Os resultados confirmaram as sete hipóteses testadas, evidenciando o valor percebido, o comprometimento afetivo, o comprometimento normativo, a propaganda boca a boca positiva como antecedentes da intenção de recompra de um smartphone de uma marca específica. Assim, os resultados do presente estudo possibilitam refletir sobre algumas contribuições relevantes do modelo teórico testado em relação à intenção de recompra