1,721,317 research outputs found
Epidemiology of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in Europe
No full textMethicillin-resistant staphylococci are mostly resistant not only to all β-lactams but also to a wide range of other antibiotics, and have emerged as major nosocomial pathogens during the past two decades. Considerable variations in the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) exist between institutions and between geographic areas. In Europe, in general, a north–south gradient is observed, MRSA strains being rare in Scandinavian hospitals (<2%) and far more prevalent in Mediterranean hospitals (>40%). Whether low or high, the rates of MRSA prevalence in European countries have remained approximately the same during the last decade. Recent findings suggest that MRSA might also be emerging as a community-acquired pathogen. The first stage in the emergence of MRSA is its acquisition by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, and the integration into its chromosome, of the mecA gene, which, together with the other mec genes, is carried on a mobile genetic element, the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec). The origin of SCCmec elements as well as the mechanisms of their acquisition remain unknown. Molecular epidemiology studies using different techniques clearly indicate that the massive geographic spread of MRSA results from the dissemination of relatively few highly epidemic clones. Five major lineages (the so-called Iberian, Brazilian, Hungarian, New York/Japan and pediatric pandemic MRSA clones) have been defined. In Europe, the Iberian clone has been reported in several countries; the Brazilian, pediatric and Hungarian clones have also been detected, but less frequently. A unique Italian clone is predominant in Italy. As with S. aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) represent a serious concern in hospital-acquired infections. Despite marked geographic variations, in some areas of Europe high proportions (60–70%) of CNS are methicillin resistant. The formation of biofilm is a key virulence factor of S. epidermidis, the prominent CNS pathogen, which is the most common cause of bacteremia in device-related infections. Another emerging nosocomial pathogen, S. hemolyticus, is characterized by a tendency to develop multiple antibiotic resistances, with a unique predisposition to glycopeptide resistance
Gender ideology and fertility: evidence for a curvilinear hypothesis
No full textResearch on the relationship between fertility and gender ideology revealed inconsistent results. In the present study, we argue that inconsistencies may be due to the fact that such a relationship may be nonlinear. We hypothesize a U-shaped relationship between two dimensions of gender ideology (i.e., primacy of breadwinner role and acceptance of male privilege) and fertility rates. We conducted a cross-national analysis of 60 countries using data from the World Values Survey as well as the World Population Prospects 2019. Controlling for gross domestic product, we found support for a U-shaped relationship between gender ideology and fertility. Higher levels of fertility rates were found at lower and especially higher levels of traditional gender ideology, while a medium level of gender ideology was associated with the lowest fertility rate. This curvilinear relationship is in agreement with the phase of the gender revolution in which the country is located
Etiology, resistance and diagnostic techniques inskin and skin structure infections [Eziologia, antibiotico-resistenza e diagnostica microbiologica delle infezioni della cute e dei tessuti molli]
No full textSkin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are common and, generally, uncomplicated at the time of initial presentation. However, these infections can worsen quickly when there are delays in diagnosis and treatment. The clinical presentation of most SSTI is the culmination of a microbial three-step process as follow: 1) bacterial adherence to host cells; 2) invasion of tissue with evasion of host defences; 3) elaboration of toxins. Even if the microbiology of wounds has been actively investigated in recent years, there is still much to be learned about the microbial mechanisms that induce infection and prevent wound healing. There are also several means by which bacteria penetrate the skin barrier. The most common route is through a break in the barrier (lacerations, bite wounds, scratches, instrumentations, pre-existing skin conditions, wounds or ulcers, burns and surgery); other routes of penetration include contiguous spread from adjacent infections (e.g. osteomyelitis), entry of water into the skin pores, and, rarely, haematogenous seeding (i.e septic emboli). From what it was said, many microrganisms, above all from the normal skin microbiota, can be involved in these often polymicrobial infections, with Gram-positives such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium spp being predominant. Many other aerobic and anaerobic species, including Gram-negative bacilli, can also be involved. Even if the diagnosis of most SSTI is based on clinical examination, laboratory investigations, guided by clinical information, can help to confirm the diagnosis and elucidate the characteristics of specific pathogens. These microbiological investigations may include blood cultures, tissue swabs with culture, and needle aspiration. In rapidly progressing infections, empirical therapy is essential, although microbiological data are important in confirming subsequently that the chosen regimen is appropriate. Furthermore, the number of microrganisms becoming resistant to many usual drugs and the changing microbial epidemiology of these infections, such as the emergence of CA-MRSA, required a constant cooperation between the microbiology lab and the clinician in order to address microbiological aspects that can be critical to the successful management of SSTI
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Color Doppler appearance of penile cavernosal-spongiosal communications in patients with severe Peyronie’s disease.
No full textAppropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Treatment of post-traumatic priapism by means of autologous clot embolization. A case report.
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