86,715 research outputs found
CXA-101 - Cephalosporin antibiotic
No full text(Chemical Equation Presented) CXA-101 is a novel broad-spectrum cephalosporin active against highly resistant clinical isolates and laboratory strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including isolates resistant to ceftazidime, multidrug-resistant isolates, AmpC-hyperproducing clones and highly resistant cystic fibrosis isolates. Activity appears not to be affected by efflux mechanisms, porin deficiency or altered penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs). CXA-101 is very stable and not substantially affected by mutation-mediated mechanisms of resistance. It conserves activity against some extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-expressing isolates, but not against metallo-β-lactamases. The activity profile for non-pseudomonal isolates is comparable to that of third-generation cephalosporins. CXA-101 is administered i.v. and more than 90% of the unmodified drug is secreted via the kidneys. The plasma half-life is approximately 2 h. No drug accumulation occurred in subjects receiving multiple doses of the drug. Phase I and II safety analysis showed that CXA-101 is well tolerated. A randomized phase II trial in patients affected by complicated urinary tract infections has been recently completed. Current available data on CXA-101 are promising and endorse further clinical development of this agent. The drug is foreseen to be further investigated and developed in combination with the β-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam (CXA-201)
The Integral Theory System Questionnaire: an anatomically directed questionnaire to determine pelvic floor dysfunctions in women
No full textAnatomical damage to pelvic floor structures may cause multiple symptoms. The Integral Theory System Questionnaire (ITSQ) is a holistic questionnaire that uses symptoms to help locate damage in specific connective tissue structures as a guide to reconstructive surgery. It is based on the integral theory, which states that pelvic floor symptoms and prolapse are both caused by lax suspensory ligaments. The aim of the present study was to psychometrically validate the ITSQ.Established psychometric properties including validity, reliability, and responsiveness were considered for evaluation. Criterion validity was assessed in a cohort of 110 women with pelvic floor dysfunctions by analyzing the correlation of questionnaire responses with objective clinical data. Test-retest was performed with questionnaires from 47 patients. Cronbach's alpha and "split-half" reliability coefficients were calculated for inner consistency analysis.Psychometric properties of ITSQ were comparable to the ones of previously validated Pelvic Floor Questionnaires. Face validity and content validity were approved by an expert group of the International Collaboration of Pelvic Floor surgeons. Convergent validity assessed using Bayesian method was at least as accurate as the expert assessment of anatomical defects. Objective data measurement in patients demonstrated significant correlations with ITSQ domains fulfilling criterion validity. Internal consistency values ranked from 0.85 to 0.89 in different scenarios.The ITSQ proofed accurate and is able to serve as a holistic Pelvic Floor Questionnaire directing symptoms to site-specific pelvic floor reconstructive surgery
Variations on the Author
No full text“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
Finafloxacin for the treatment of urinary tract infections
No full textIn the past decade, the indiscriminate use of fluoroquinolones in the prophylaxis and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) has led to an increase of antibiotic resistance patterns. Finafloxacin is a new generation fluoroquinolone with interesting preclinical characteristics and pH-related efficacy.
AREAS COVERED:
This review summarizes finafloxacin's safety profile and prospectively evaluates its specific use in the treatment of UTIs. This article was based on a Medline English literature search.
EXPERT OPINION:
In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that finafloxacin expresses its full antibacterial activity in acidic environments and is able to exert significant bactericidal effects in difficult-to-treat infections. Finafloxacin has a broad antibacterial spectrum and efficient pharmacokinetic absorption. Moreover, it undergoes extensive tissue distribution, resulting in good antibacterial activity for daily dosages from 400 to 800 mg. This novel compound has also been successfully tested on biofilm-related Escherichia coli. Finafloxacin has demonstrated a good safety and tolerability profile in humans when administered orally or intravenously and is thus an interesting compound for the treatment of UTIs. However, further prospective randomized clinical trials will be necessary to confirm these preliminary results before definitive conclusions can be made
SEMEN QUALITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS GENITAL INFECTION TREATED CONCURRENTLY WITH PRULIFLOXACIN AND A PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC AGENT.
No full textChronic prostatitis (CP) due to Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection has a significant impact on young male fertility, and eradication of Ct infection after antibiotic therapy does not always result in recovery of semen quality. The study aim was to evaluate the effects on fertility parameters of L-arginine, L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, and ginseng extracts (FERTIMEV) associated with prulifloxacin in patients affected by CP and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia due to Ct infection. Two hundred and six patients with proven Ct genital infection and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, and controlled study. Prulifloxacin (600 mg) was administered daily for 14 days, and patients were divided into 2 groups: group A: antibiotic therapy alone; and group B: antibiotic therapy and additional therapy with FERTIMEV (1 vial daily for 6 months). Microbiological and semen parameter analyses were performed both at enrollment and after 6 months. National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index and International Prostatic Symptom Score questionnaires were applied. Of the 206 patients, 109 were assigned to group A and 97 to group B. At the enrollment time, no differences were reported with regard to clinical, instrumental, and laboratory data. Six months after treatment, statistically significant differences were demonstrated between both groups in terms of sperm concentration (21.3 ± 13.2 millions/mL vs 11.5 ± 13.2 millions/mL) (Cohen's d = 0.61) (P < .001, df = 2, F = 62.10) and percentage of motile sperm (42.4% ± 5.2% vs 29.3% ± 11.0%) (Cohen's d = 1.52) (P < .001, df = 2, F = 91.48). In this study treatment with FERTIMEV together with prulifloxacin improved semen parameters in patients with Ct genital infection and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia compared to treatment with prulifloxacin therapy alone
Cost-effectiveness analysis of ceftazidime/avibactam compared to imipenem as empirical treatment for complicated urinary tract infections
No full textCeftazidime/avibactam (CAZ-AVI) is a novel, fixed-dose combination antibiotic that has been approved in Europe and the United States for patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) based on results of a Phase III, randomized, comparative study (RECAPTURE study). The present analysis evaluated cost-effectiveness of CAZ-AVI as an empirical treatment for hospitalized patients with cUTIs from the Italian publicly funded healthcare (third-party payer) perspective. A sequential, patient-level simulation model was developed that followed the clinical course of cUTI and generated 5000 pairs of identical patients (CAZ-AVI or imipenem as empirical treatment). The model included additional impact of resistant pathogens; patients who did not respond to empirical treatment were switched to second-line treatment of colistin+high dose carbapenem in both groups. The time horizon of the model was five years, with an annual discount rate of 3% applied to both costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). The analysis demonstrated that an intervention sequence (CAZ-AVI followed by colistin+high dose carbapenem) compared with a comparator sequence (imipenem followed by colistin+high dose carbapenem) was associated with a net incremental cost of €1015 per patient but provided better health outcomes in terms of clinical cure (97.65% vs. 91.08%; ∆ = 6.57%), shorter hospital stays (10.65 vs. 12.55 days; ∆ = 1.90 days), and QALYs gained per patient (4.190 vs. 4.063; ∆ = 0.126). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was €8039/QALY, which is well below the willingness-to-pay threshold of €30 000/QALY in Italy. The results showed that CAZ-AVI is expected to be a cost-effective treatment compared with imipenem for cUTI in Italy
[Newspaper Clipping: Author Claims Evidence of Second JFK Assassin #1]
No full textNewspaper article titled "Author Claims Evidence of Second JFK Assassin." The article states that author Richard J. Whalen concluded "that there is circumstantial evidence to support the theory of a second assassin in the shooting of President John F. Kennedy.
National institute of health chronic prostatitis symptom index (CPSI) symptom evaluation in patients with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome - A multinational study in 1,563 patients
No full textSexual dysfunction: a critical component of the new UPOINT Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome phenotyping system.
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