Drug resistance in community-acquired respiratory tract infections: role for an emerging antibacterial

The nasopharynx is the ecological niche where evolution towards resistance occurs in respiratory tract isolates. Dynamics of different bacterial populations in antibiotic-free multibacterial niches are the baseline that antibiotic treatments can alter by shifting the competitive balance in favor of resistant populations. For this reason, antibiotic resistance is increasingly being considered to be an ecological problem. Traditionally, resistance has implied the need for development of new antibiotics for which basic efficacy and safety data are required prior to licensing. Antibiotic development is mainly focused on demonstrating clinical efficacy and setting susceptibility breakpoints for efficacy prediction. However, additional information on pharmacodynamic data predicting absence of selection of resistance and of resistant subpopulations, and specific surveillance on resistance to core antibiotics (to detect emerging resistances and its link with antibiotic consumption in the community) are valuable data in defining the role of a new antibiotic, not only from the perspective of its therapeutic potential but also from the ecologic perspective (countering resistances to core antibiotics in the community). The documented information on cefditoren gleaned from published studies in recent years is an example of the role for an emerging oral antibacterial facing current antibiotic resistance in community-acquired respiratory tract infections

Devaluation Beliefs and Debt Crisis: The Argentinian Case

Throughout the year 2001 the Argentine real GDP fell by 20 percent and the Investment Rate decreased by more than 20 percent of the GDP. The government made several announcements on changes in exchange rate policy in order to assist the recovery of the economy. At same time, the Trade Balance produced a huge surplus and the Argentine External Debt over GDP ratio increased so much that it forced the Argentinian government to default and, afterwards, devalue the peso 40 percent. We explore the relationship between default and the expectations on devaluation. We find that depending on the level of debt and given an expectation of devaluation two types of crises can arise: if the level of debt is low the government devalues but does not default; for a higher level of debt, the government devalues and defaults to cancel the future cost of repaying the debt. We have calibrated our model to match the main features of the Argentine crisis and we show that the External Debt over GDP ratio was in a crisis zone where the government found it optimal to default and to devalue.Debt crisis, Devaluation, Argentina

Bisemivalues for bicooperative games

We introduce bisemivalues for bicooperative games and we also provide an interesting characterization of this kind of values by means of weighting coefficients in a similar way as it was given for semivalues in the context of cooperative games. Moreover, the notion of induced bisemivalues on lower cardinalities also makes sense and an adaptation of Dragan’s recurrence formula is obtained. For the particular case of (p, q)-bisemivalues, a computational procedure in terms of the multilinear extension of the game is given.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Update on the clinical utility and optimal use of cefditoren

This article reviews and updates published data on cefditoren. The in vitro activity of cefditoren and its potential pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic adequacy to cover emerging resistance phenotypes in the present decade is reviewed. Cefditoren’s in vitro activity against most prevalent bacterial respiratory pathogens in the community and its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile suggests a significant role for cefditoren in the treatment of respiratory tract infections. Clinical trials (in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia, pharyngotonsillitis, and sinusitis) performed during clinical development outside Japan, mainly in adults, are reviewed, together with new clinical studies in the treatment of pharyngotonsillitis, sinusitis, and otitis media in children, mainly in Japan, for efficacy and safety assessment. The results of these studies support the adequacy of cefditoren for the treatment of community-acquired respiratory tract infections with a safety profile similar to previous oral antibiotics. From the data reviewed, it is concluded that cefditoren is an adequate option for the treatment of mild-to-moderate community-acquired respiratory infections, especially in geographical areas with a reported prevalence of phenotypes exhibiting nonsusceptibility to common oral antibiotics

Mejora integral del cultivo del azafrán del Jiloca

Proyecto INIA PET 2007-14-C05-0

Incidencia de la modificación de reglas y sistema de competición sobre los niveles de satisfacción en jugadores de baloncesto under 14

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la opinión y la satisfacción de los jugadores de baloncesto tras la aplicación de un torneo en el que se modifican y adaptan tanto el reglamento como el sistema de competición. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas a 44 jugadores de categoría infantil (under-14) masculino. A partir de un análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo de los datos se obtuvieron los siguientes resultados: a) Los jugadores respondieron antes del torneo que las reglas que conforman el reglamento actual son relativamente adecuadas, señalando como reglas a modificar las relacionadas con el incremento del tiempo de juego y de la eficacia en el lanzamiento; b) tras la aplicación del nuevo torneo, los jugadores señalan elevados niveles de satisfacción con las nuevas reglas, especialmente las relacionadas con el incremento de la participación y de la eficacia en el lanzamiento (altura de la canasta, la posibilidad de jugar situaciones de 4x4 y de 1x1); c) a pesar de mostrarse especialmente satisfechos con la estructura del nuevo torneo, la mayoría de ellos prefieren un torneo normal (5x5), aunque las razones expresadas no se basan en aspectos exclusivamente deportivos, sino organizativos.The objective of the present study was to analyze the opinion and satisfaction of the basketball players after the application of a tournament in which both the rules and the competition system are modified and adapted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 44 male and female players (under-14). From a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data, the following results were obtained: a) The players responded before the tournament that the rules that conform the current regulation are relatively adequate, indicating as rules to modify those related to the increase of the time of Play and effectiveness at launch; B) Following the implementation of the new tournament, players indicate high levels of satisfaction with the new rules, especially those related to increased participation and efficiency at launch (basket height, the possibility of playing 4x4 situations And 1x1); C) Despite being especially pleased with the structure of the new tournament, most of them prefer a normal tournament (5x5). The reasons given are not based on exclusively sporting aspects, if not on organizational aspects

Obtención de ácido eicosapentaenoico de alta pureza a partir de la microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum mediante un proceso de tres etapas

Número de publicación: ES2120898 A1 (01.11.1998) También publicado como: ES2120898 B1 (16.05.1999) Número de Solicitud: Consulta de Expedientes OEPM (C.E.O.) P9602090 (04.10.1996)El ácido eicosapentaenoico (EPA), de alto interés para la salud humana, ha sido obtenido de la microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum mediante un proceso de tres etapas: extracción de los ácidos grasos por saponificación directa de la biomasa húmeda; concentración de los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados (PUFAs) por el método de la urea y purificación del EPA por cromatografía liquida de alta resolución (HPLC). La extracción de los ácidos grasos se ha llevado a cabo con koh-etanol (96% v/v) (1h, 60 c) extrayéndose el 90,9% del EPA presente en la biomasa. La relación urea/ácidos grasos ha sido 4:1 p/p, la temperatura de cristalización 28 c y se ha utilizado metanol como disolvente de la urea, obteniéndose un rendimiento del 78,6% en EPA. La purificación del EPA se ha realizado en una columna de 4,7 cm d.i. X 30 cm, fase inversa c18 y utilizando metanol-agua (1% ACH) 80:20 p:p como fase móvil; el 97,3% del EPA cargado en la columna se ha recuperado con una pureza del 95,8%. El rendimiento global del proceso es del 69,5%. La producción de EPA de alta pureza es de 2,46 g/día, determinada por la producción de biomasa de phaeodactylum tricornutum de un fotobiorreactor tubular externo (100 g/día). Este mismo proceso puede aplicarse a otras microalgas y a la obtención de otros PUFAsUniversidad de Almerí

Posibles actuaciones psicológicas para reducir la conducción bajo los efectos del alcohol y viabilidad de su aplicación en España

María Teresa Cortés Tomás. Departamento de Psicología Básica. Facultad de Psicología. UV E-mail: [email protected] recientes modificaciones en la legislación sobre Tráfico y Seguridad Vial (Ley 19/2001) reflejan la necesidad de clarificar los posibles procedimientos a realizar con los conductores sancionados por conducir bajo la influencia del alcohol. Tras verificar la reducida efectividad de las medidas aplicadas en España y revisar las actuaciones realizadas en otros países, destacamos los programas educativos y terapéuticos por ser las intervenciones más estructuradas y con resultados más favorables. En este trabajo, presentamos una descripción de estos programas así como una serie de recomendaciones sobre la mejor manera de insertarlos en nuestra legislación. Entre las directrices que probablemente contribuirán a mejorar la efectividad de estas intervenciones destacamos, por ejemplo, su aplicación inmediata tras la infracción cometida, una vez agrupados los participantes en función de su patrón de consumo y de su estilo de vida. Esto nos lleva a proponer los programas educativos, más centrados en la conducción, para aquellos infractores con menor problemática de consumo y los programas terapéuticos para los infractores dependientes. Si bien, insistimos en la necesidad de no disponer de programas cerrados sino de adaptar la intervención a las necesidades de los asistentes. Asimismo, destacamos la importancia de contar con monitores especializados en temas de tráfico y con conocimientos básicos sobre adicciones como responsables de los programas educativos, y con profesionales especializados en adicciones que trabajen en coordinación con los centros asistenciales convencionales, de modo que el infractor reciba un tratamiento bio-psico-social junto con el programa terapéutico. En ningún caso se considera que el programa terapéutico sea suficiente para evitar la reincidencia.Recent modifications to the legislation on Traffic and Road Safety (Act 19/2001) reflect the necessity of clarifying the possible procedures to be followed when dealing with drivers penalised for driving under the influence of alcohol. After verifying the limited efficacy of the measures applied in Spain, and after reviewing actions in other countries, we highlight educational and therapeutic programmes as being the most structured and having the most favourable results. In this work, we present a description of these programmes as well as a number of recommendations on the best way of inserting them in our legislation. Among the guidelines that would probably contribute to improving the efficacy of these interventions, we highlight, for example, their immediate application following an infringement, once the participants are grouped in accordance with their consumption pattern and lifestyle. This leads us to propose educational programmes, based more on safe driving, for those offenders with minor consumption problems, and therapeutic programmes for alcohol-dependent offenders. Even so, we stress the need for not being restricted to closed programmes but to adjust interventions in accordance with the needs of those concerned. In addition, we stress the importance of having instructors specialising in road safety matters and with basic knowledge of addictions as the ones responsible for the educational programmes, and with specialized professionals in addiction to coordinate work with the conventional treatment centres, in such a way that the offender receives a bio-psycho-social treatment together with the therapeutic programme. In no case is the therapeutic programme considered to be sufficient, on its own, in preventing a repeat of the offence