Late-onset fungal sepsis in very low birth weight newborns

Gljivama uzrokovana kasna novorođenačka sepsa u novorođenčadi rodne mase (RM) <1500 g je češća nego se prije znalo, odnosno, vjerojatno je učestalost narasla uz veće stope preživljavanja ove djece. Unatoč tomu, u nekim istraživanjima pokazano je smanjivanje učestalosti gljivične sepse zadnjih godina. U svakom slučaju, gljivičnu sepsu u ove djece treba očekivati i za njom aktivno tragati. Opisani su rizični čimbenici, osobitosti obrane od infekcije, osobitosti pojedinih vrsta gljiva, klinička slika, načini liječenja, osobitosti lijekova, te komplikacije i prevencija gljivične sepse ove novorođenčadi. Naveden je i plan dijagnostike diseminirane bolesti i kriteriji izlječenja. Predložena je i profilaksa gljivične infekcije/sepse u novorođenčadi RM <1500 g flukonazolom. Razmotrena je i situacija u Hrvatskoj u pogledu kasne novorođenačke gljivične sepse i moguće preventivne i profilaktičke mjere.Late-onset fungal sepsis in very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns (BW <1500 g) is more common than it was known before, the incidence possibly increased over time due to higher survival rate of these infants. In spite of that, some research have shown a decrease of such infections in the last years. However, late-onset fungal sepsis should be expected in these infants, and active investigations should be performed. The paper describes risk factors, defense mechanisms, particular fungal species, clinical presentation, modalities of treatment, characteristics of the drugs, complications and prevention of fungal sepsis in these infants. Also, the diagnosis of disseminated sepsis and criteria of successful treatment are presented. Prophylaxis of fungal colonization/infection by fluconazole in VLBW infants is proposed. Situation in Croatia concerning late-onset fungal sepsis in VLBW infants and possibilities of preventive and prophylactic measures are discussed

Estado del Arte en Cambio Climático, Agricultura y Seguridad Alimentaria en Costa Rica

El cambio climático ha provocado numerosos efectos en el medio rural de Costa Rica; es por esto que el Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería de Costa Rica (MAG) en colaboración con el Programa de Investigación de CGIAR en Cambio Climático, Agricultura y Seguridad Alimentaria (CCAFS) en América Latina y con apoyo del Consejo Agropecuario Centroamericano (CAC) presentan el “Estado del Arte en Cambio Climático, Agricultura y Seguridad Alimentaria en Costa Rica”, que incluye el marco gubernamental y actores involucrados en torno a esta temática. El documento evidencia, los múltiples esfuerzos que en acciones de mitigación frente al calentamiento global viene realizando Costa Rica, convirtiéndolo en país líder en la región de América Central. Buena parte de los avances han sido obtenidos en el sector agropecuario

Bolivian capitalization and privatization: Approximation to an evaluation

The wave of privatizations Latin America experienced during the 1990s was integral to stabilization programs and a general reordering of states’ roles in the regional economy. Over the past few years, however, these privatizations have come under increasing fire. Their purported adverse effects range from higher utility prices to aggravating—or even causing—the current regional recession. In short, privatization shares in the criticism directed at the entire liberalization process. Within this context, accurate knowledge of privatization’s real consequences can be of considerable value. While research has been conducted on certain economic effects, less is known about privatization’s broader social consequences. This chapter attempts to fill some of those gaps as they concern Bolivia.Privatization; Industrial Organization and Regulation; Firm Performance; Consumer Welfare; Political Economy

L’accaparement des terres au Costa Rica : le cas des entreprises productrices d’ananas

Communication dans le cadre du 5e Forum Mondial des Droits de l'Homme et de l’atelier du programme Lascaux "Le droit et l’accaparement des terres dans les pays du Sud", à Nantes le 23 mai 2013El fenómeno del acaparamiento de tierras, tal como se presenta en otras regiones del mundo e incluso en algunos países latinoamericanos, hasta ahora, no se percibió como un problema relativo a Costa Rica. Sin embargo, esta acta no permite descartar la presencia en este país de otro fenómeno muy cercano y cuyos límites con el del acaparamiento siguen siendo ambiguos: el de la concentración de las tierras agrícolas. Este artículo tiene por objeto estudiar la concentración de las tierras por empresas productoras de piña que presenta, en Costa Rica, colores de acaparamiento de las tierras, el papel importante del Estado como facilitador de este fenómeno, y por fin los medios jurídicos a disposición de los municipios para enfrentar.Le phénomène de l’accaparement de terres, tel qu’il se présente dans d’autres régions du monde et même dans certains pays latino-américains, n’a pas, jusqu’à présent, été perçu comme un problème concernant le Costa Rica. Pour autant, ce constat ne permet pas d’écarter la présence dans ce pays d’un autre phénomène très proche et dont les limites avec celui de l’accaparement restent ambigües : celui de la concentration des terres agricoles. Cet article vise à étudier la concentration des terres par des entreprises productrices d’ananas qui présente, au Costa Rica, des teintes d’accaparement des terres, le rôle important de l’Etat en tant que facilitateur de ce phénomène, et enfin les moyens juridiques dont disposent les municipalités pour y faire face

Adaptive capabilities, pathdependence and institutional change: insights from an empirical work on rural producers organizations

During the last twenty years, the evolution of public policies in Southern countries has been characterized by the implementation of liberalization processes, which can be analyzed through Douglass North's institutional change approach. In Costa Rica, liberalization processes, that mainly consisted in State withdrawal and frontiers' opening, led to private actors' empowering and induced different strategic behaviors among rural producers' organizations. In this paper, we carry out a comparative study of four farm sectors (coffee, milk, black bean and pineapple), based on a dynamic approach of behaviors in relation with institutional changes occuring during the liberalization process. We highlight organizations'capacities to adapt and participate to institutional changes by (i) implementing economical activities and (ii) acting upon public policies. We underline the fact that rural producers organizations play a key role in farm sectors' efficiency and sustainability, permiting both producers' market insertion (acces to domestic and world markets) and political participation (obtention of public suppports). We show that the conditions for success of collective action depend on organization's mental models and organization's resources endowment, and are in line with pathdependent logic. More generally, our study allows us to get a better understanding of institutional and economic dynamics. (Résumé d'auteur

Regulation of the Electricity Industry in Bolivia: Its Impact on Access to the Poor, Prices and Quality

This paper takes stock with the results of utility privatization in Bolivia. This paper deals with the process of structural reforms in this country and the specific results that have to date been accomplished in the electricity industry. It is mostly interested in exploring whether the reformation of this industry contributed to lessen poverty levels and whether in light of the obtained results, a reversal or a continuation of the reform process should take place. The paper shows that coverage of electricity users has grown faster in urban areas ever since the establishment of regulation. Although it is not argued that regulation has caused the increase in electricity consumers, the data does show that a comparatively faster urban growth rate of users takes place after 1995. In this sense, it seems plausible that regulation of the electricity industry has indeed lessen poverty levels in urban Bolivia by making this utility more accessible to larger segments of the urban population. The same cannot be said, however, about rural Bolivia. The results show that coverage has remained about the same in the last 10 years, with no discernible improvement after the transformation of the industry in 1995. When rural Bolivia is divided into income groups, the data shows that some of the poorest groups have indeed experienced a decline in coverage during the regulation period, which sheds doubts about the purportedly positive effects that structural changes in this industry were to have in the livelihoods of the poorest people in the country. Alternative ways which may improve the poverty reduction outcome of electricity regulation are explored.Regulation, Poverty Reduction, Bolivia, Food Security and Poverty, Public Economics, L51, O20, O54,

Public Policies Still Alive Within a Liberalized Environment: Insights From Costa Rica

We carry out a comparative study of four farm sectors in Costa Rica, based on a dynamic analysis of behaviors regarding institutional changes occurring during the liberalization process. We highlight organizations' capacities to adapt and contribute to institutional changes by implementing economical activities and participating to policy making processes. We show that organizations play a key role in the regulation of farm sectors, and that their success depends on the institutional and organizational thickness they have contributed to create in each sector and responds to a path-dependent logic. ...French Abstract : Nous menons une étude comparative de quatre filières agricoles au Costa Rica, qui repose sur une analyse dynamique des comportements des acteurs des filières au regard des changements institutionnels liés à la libéralisation économique. Les organisations de producteurs agricoles, qui jouent un rôle clé dans la régulation des filières, ont opté pour des comportements stratégiques différents. Nous mettons en évidence les capacités de ces organisations à s'adapter mais également à contribuer aux changements institutionnels en mettant en place des activités technico-économiques de transformation et commercialisation et en participant aux processus de négociation des politiques. Nous montrons que leur succès dépend de la densité institutionnelle et organisationnelle qu'elles ont contribué à créer au sein de chaque filière et s'inscrit dans une logique de dépendance au sentier.ORGANIZATIONS; POLICIES; INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE; PATHDEPENDENCY; ORGANISATIONS; POLITIQUES; CHANGEMENT INSTITUTIONNEL; DEPENDANCE AU SENTIER

Meningitis

Meningitis ili preciznije objašnjeno upala moždane ovojnice je vrlo opasna bolest jer zahvaća vitalni dio organizma. Meningitis je infekcija moždane ovojnice i tekućine koja prekriva mozak i leđnu moždinu. Napada organizam u trenu, a može iza sebe ostaviti dugoročne posljedice, može biti i smrtonosan. Meningitis dolazi u dva oblika virusnom i bakterijskom. Virusni meningitis je sezonski pa se najčešće javlja u rano ljeto ili ranu jesen. Manje je opasan od bakterijskog i ne liječi se antibioticima. Iako također vrlo bolan, ne prijeti dugoročnijim oštećenjima na mozgu. Bakterijski meningitis se liječi antibioticima i cjepivom, ali može ostaviti traga na mozgu. Medicina redovito izbacuje nova cjepiva na tržište, a kod nas još uvijek dio cijepljenja nije obavezno već ga možete zatražiti svojom voljom. Kod beba i djece najčešći izvor zaraze jest bakterija Escherichia coli. Simptomi mogu biti različiti kod svakog pojedinca. Neki mogu osjećati sve simptome, dok neke osobe mogu patiti od samo nekih. Početni i najprepoznatljiviji simptomi su ukočenost vrata i glavobolja te preosjetljivost na svjetlo ili zvuk. Popratni, ali skoro uvijek prisutni, simptomi jesu i povišena temperatura (preko 39°C), razdražljivost, mamurluk i povraćanje. Kod djece se meningitis očituje u odbijanju jela, grčevitim pokretima ili nemogućnosti stajanja na nogama. Osim kliničkim pregledom tijela i stanja u kojem se organizam nalazi, meningitis se dijagnosticira na prilično bolan način lumbalnom punkcijom. Tim se postupkom dolazi do tekućine iz moždine koja otkriva što se događa s mozgom. Vrlo je važno na vrijeme reagirati i primijetiti simptome i znakove ove bolesti, pravovremena reakcija može spriječiti potencijalne komplikacije uzrokovane ovom opasnom bolešću

Capitalization and Privatization in Bolivia: An Aproximation to an Evaluation

The paper describes the privatization process in Bolivia, placing emphasis on the particularities of the capitalization mechanism that was used for this purpose, and the regulatory framework introduced as its essential complement. With this background, the paper then details the changes in the industrial organization and ownership patterns in the electricity, oil and gas, telecommunications, transportation, and water industries. The discussion then turns to these processes’ economic and social consequences. In the first case, the key issues are which agents benefited from the transfer of assets, and the effects on firm-level variables like investment, profitability, and transfers to the State. With regards to social outcomes, we focus on the effects on employees and consumers. For the first, interest centers on what happened to employment and wages in the sectors affected; for the second, what occurred to access and prices for privatized utilities, and to welfare more generally. This paper touches on all these issues, although in several cases a full treatment is not possible due to data limitations.Privatization; Regulation; Economic Impact