scholarly journals Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations before and after Antibacterial Treatment in Patients with Mycobacterium abscessus Pulmonary Disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiji Fujiwara ◽  
Fumiko Uesugi ◽  
Koji Furuuchi ◽  
Yoshiaki Tanaka ◽  
Takashi Yoshiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Mycobacterium Abscessus ◽  
Antibacterial Treatment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations ◽  
Before And After

The MICs of isolates from 86 patients with Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS); 46 with Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus (Mab), and 40 with Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense (Mma) were retrospectively analyzed. The main findings are as follows: i) Mma were significantly more susceptible to clarithromycin and azithromycin than Mab, and both subspecies tended to be more susceptible to clarithromycin than azithromycin. ii) Most isolates were susceptible to amikacin (93.0%), and over half to linezolid (55.8%). iii) Fifty-one isolates (59.3%) had MIC values of less than 1 μg/mL for sitafloxacin, and 65 (75.6%) had less than 0.5 μg/mL for clofazimine, which seems worth clinical investigating. iv) Among nine cases analyzed chronological changes, only two patients showed obvious MIC result changes even after the long-term multidrug treatment.

A multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis of housing market: a role of financial crises in developed economies

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Ali Raza ◽  
Nida Shah ◽  
Muhammad Tahir Suleman ◽  
Md Al Mamun
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Housing Market ◽  
Market Efficiency ◽  
House Price ◽  
Fluctuation Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Before And After

Purpose This study aims to examine the house price fluctuations in G7 countries by using the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) for the years 1970–2019. The study examined the market efficiency between the short-term and long-term in the full sample period, before and after the global financial crisis period. Design/methodology/approach This study uses the MF-DFA to analyze house price fluctuations. Findings The findings confirmed that the housing market series are multifractal. Furthermore, all the markets showed long-term persistence in both the short and long-term. The USA is identified as the most persistent house market in the short run and Japan in the long run. Moreover, in terms of efficiency, Canada is identified as the most efficient house market in the long run and the UK in the short run. Finally, the result of before and after the financial crisis period is consistent with the full sample result. Originality/value The contribution of this study in the literature is fourfold. This is the first study that has examined the house prices efficiency by using the MF-DFA technique given by Kantelhardt et al. (2002). Previously, the house market prices and efficiency has been investigated using generalized Hurst exponent (Liu et al., 2019), Quantile Regression Approach (Chae and Bera, 2019; Tiwari et al., 2019) but no study to the best of the knowledge has been done that has used the MF-DFA technique on the housing market. Second, this is the first study that has focused on the house markets of G7 countries. Third, this study explores the house market efficiency by dividing the market into two periods i.e. before and after the financial crisis. The study strives to investigate if the financial crisis determines the change in the degree of market efficiency or not. Finally, the study gives valuable insights to the investors that will help them in their investment decisions.

scholarly journals Bacterial Community Shift and Coexisting/Coexcluding Patterns Revealed by Network Analysis in a Uranium-Contaminated Site after Bioreduction Followed by Reoxidation

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Li ◽  
Wei-Min Wu ◽  
David B. Watson ◽  
Erick Cardenas ◽  
Yuanqing Chao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Oak Ridge ◽  
Α Diversity ◽  
Before And After

ABSTRACTA site in Oak Ridge, TN, USA, has sediments that contain >3% iron oxides and is contaminated with uranium (U). The U(VI) was bioreduced to U(IV) and immobilizedin situthrough intermittent injections of ethanol. It then was allowed to reoxidize via the invasion of low-pH (3.6 to 4.0), high-nitrate (up to 200 mM) groundwater back into the reduced zone for 1,383 days. To examine the biogeochemical response, high-throughput sequencing and network analysis were applied to characterize bacterial population shifts, as well as cooccurrence and coexclusion patterns among microbial communities. A pairedttest indicated no significant changes of α-diversity for the bioactive wells. However, both nonmetric multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarity confirmed a significant distinction in the overall composition of the bacterial communities between the bioreduced and the reoxidized sediments. The top 20 major genera accounted for >70% of the cumulative contribution to the dissimilarity in the bacterial communities before and after the groundwater invasion.Castellaniellahad the largest dissimilarity contribution (17.7%). For the bioactive wells, the abundance of the U(VI)-reducing generaGeothrix,Desulfovibrio,Ferribacterium, andGeobacterdecreased significantly, whereas the denitrifyingAcidovoraxabundance increased significantly after groundwater invasion. Additionally, seven genera, i.e.,Castellaniella,Ignavibacterium,Simplicispira,Rhizomicrobium,AcidobacteriaGp1,AcidobacteriaGp14, andAcidobacteriaGp23, were significant indicators of bioactive wells in the reoxidation stage. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that nitrate, manganese, and pH affected mostly the U(VI)-reducing genera and indicator genera. Cooccurrence patterns among microbial taxa suggested the presence of taxa sharing similar ecological niches or mutualism/commensalism/synergism interactions.IMPORTANCEHigh-throughput sequencing technology in combination with a network analysis approach were used to investigate the stabilization of uranium and the corresponding dynamics of bacterial communities under field conditions with regard to the heterogeneity and complexity of the subsurface over the long term. The study also examined diversity and microbial community composition shift, the common genera, and indicator genera before and after long-term contaminated-groundwater invasion and the relationship between the target functional community structure and environmental factors. Additionally, deciphering cooccurrence and coexclusion patterns among microbial taxa and environmental parameters could help predict potential biotic interactions (cooperation/competition), shared physiologies, or habitat affinities, thus, improving our understanding of ecological niches occupied by certain specific species. These findings offer new insights into compositions of and associations among bacterial communities and serve as a foundation for future bioreduction implementation and monitoring efforts applied to uranium-contaminated sites.

The short-term and long-term impacts of the procedural justice training

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 689-705
Author(s):  
Mengyan Dai ◽  
Xiaochen Hu ◽  
Lindsey Thomas ◽  
Robert Kenter
Keyword(s):  
Procedural Justice ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
Police Training ◽  
Community Relations ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Training Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Attitudinal Differences ◽  
Before And After

PurposeThis study examines the short- and long-term changes in officers' attitudes toward four elements of procedural justice (i.e. trustworthiness, respect, neutrality and voice) after a department-wide procedural justice training program.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized the pretest–posttest, single-group design to evaluate the training with two waves of officer surveys and conducted multivariate analyses to assess the factors that could have an impact on the training effects.FindingsThe training was effective in increasing officers' support for all four elements of procedural justice immediately, and the effects remained significant over 18 months. In addition, the analyses found that there were racial differences in officers' attitudes before and after the training, and the immediate supervisors' priority played an important role in the training effects.Originality/valueThere has been limited systematic research on police training. This study contributes to the understanding of how procedural justice training can help improve police-community relations and reduce the attitudinal differences between White officers and minority officers.

scholarly journals Outcomes in patients with Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease treated with long-term injectable drugs

2011 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 781-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiwon Lyu ◽  
Hang Jea Jang ◽  
Jin Woo Song ◽  
Chang-Min Choi ◽  
Yeon-Mok Oh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Mycobacterium Abscessus ◽  
Injectable Drugs

An old picture … or is it? The relations between business and political networks in Hungary

IMP Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tibor Mandják ◽  
Judit Simon
Keyword(s):  
Market Economy ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Market Socialism ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Networks ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Research Findings

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address two questions: how do business and political (i.e. party politics and state) networks relate? What are the consequences of the relations between these two networks for the behaviour of the actors involved? Design/methodology/approach The research design consists of the historical approach based on relevant literature sources of the past, a relatively long period – from 1968, the beginning of the era of market socialism, until the first decade of the twenty-first century, by which time the market economy had been established for more than 20 years. The authors analyse the behaviour of economic and non-economic actors in Hungary based on cases and historical data, applying the IMP network approach. Findings Research findings demonstrate the long-term influence of the relation between business and bureaucratic networks on managerial and organizational network behaviour. The old and new pictures of the economic system are different, but the background to the pictures and the movement in the two pictures are quite similar. Research limitations/implications The historical illustrations and cases the authors have presented cannot be too widely generalized: the characteristics of the Hungarian mode of transition from market socialism to market economy impose important limitations on the generalizability of the findings. Practical implications The study offers lessons to policy makers: policy decisions can have long term, unanticipated impacts on non-target areas as well. Social implications The results confirm that the informal networks of socialism can replicate themselves and network structures can be repurposed in the system after the transition as well. Originality/value One contribution of the paper is related to the second network paradox: the cases illustrate non-business relationships with non-economic factors, particularly relations with bureaucracy. The other contribution is the description of how the transition from socialism to capitalism affected the networks that firms were embedded in before and after the transition.

Design of TENS electrodes using conductive yarn

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duygu Erdem ◽  
Sevil Yesilpinar ◽  
Yavuz Senol ◽  
Didem Karadibak ◽  
Taner Akkan
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Subjective Test ◽  
Electrical Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Textile Electrode ◽  
Conductive Hydrogel ◽  
Washing Process ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Conductive Yarn

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop textile-based transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) electrodes using conductive yarn to bring a solution to uncomfortable feelings and hygiene problems of conventional conductive hydrogel electrodes. It proposes washing process, resistance measurements and subjective tests to evaluate the performance of the developed textile-based electrode. Design/methodology/approach – In this study, six different textile electrode pairs were designed and produced with different patterns. Designed electrodes were washed for ten times. In order to evaluate the effect of pattern differences and washing process on electrode performances, two different tests were realized before and after washing. The first of these tests is resistance measurement with a multimeter, and the second one is subjective test carried out on subjects. Findings – The results obtained from resistance measurements indicated that the pattern differences cause resistance values of electrodes to change. It is reported that subjects had electrical stimulation from all electrode samples in conducted trials and it is noticed that washing process does not cause any stimulation problems. Originality/value – In this study, textile-based TENS electrodes having different patterns were produced by machine stitching technique and their long-term usage behaviors were examined with repeated washing processes and trials on the subjects.

Disease Activity and Adverse Events in Patients with ANCA-Associated Vasculitides Undergoing Long-Term Dialysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1665-1675
Author(s):  
Maëlis Kauffmann ◽  
Mickaël Bobot ◽  
Thomas Robert ◽  
Stéphane Burtey ◽  
Grégoire Couvrat-Desvergnes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Failure ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
National Health System ◽  
Dialysis Initiation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Kidney Impairment

Background and objectivesKidney impairment of ANCA-associated vasculitides can lead to kidney failure. Patients with kidney failure may suffer from vasculitis relapses but are also at high risk of infections and cardiovascular events, which questions the maintenance of immunosuppressive therapy.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsPatients with ANCA-associated vasculitides initiating long-term dialysis between 2008 and 2012 in France registered in the national Renal Epidemiology and Information Network registry and paired with the National Health System database were included. We analyzed the proportion of patients in remission off immunosuppression over time and overall and event-free survival on dialysis (considering transplantation as a competing risk). We compared the incidence of vasculitis relapses, serious infections, cardiovascular events, and cancers before and after dialysis initiation.ResultsIn total, 229 patients were included: 142 with granulomatous polyangiitis and 87 with microscopic polyangiitis. Mean follow-up after dialysis initiation was 4.6±2.7 years; 82 patients received a kidney transplant. The proportion of patients in remission off immunosuppression increased from 23% at dialysis initiation to 62% after 5 years. Overall survival rates on dialysis were 86%, 69%, and 62% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Main causes of death were infections (35%) and cardiovascular events (26%) but not vasculitis flares (6%). The incidence of vasculitis relapses decreased from 57 to seven episodes per 100 person-years before and after dialysis initiation (P=0.05). Overall, during follow-up, 45% of patients experienced a serious infection and 45% had a cardiovascular event, whereas 13% experienced a vasculitis relapse.ConclusionsThe proportion of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis in remission off immunosuppression increases with time spent on dialysis. In this cohort, patients were far less likely to relapse from their vasculitis than to display serious infectious or cardiovascular events.PodcastThis article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2021_11_08_CJN03190321.mp3

scholarly journals The need for a long-term mindset when measuring the effects of lean on health-related quality management values

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pernilla Ingelsson ◽  
Ingela Bäckström
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects a lean initiative has on the health-related quality management (QM) values, “Leadership Commitment” and “Participation of Everybody,” as well as on perceived co-worker health in the public sector. Design/methodology/approach A case study was carried out at a municipal division that had been working with lean for approximately 18 months. A questionnaire was used to measure the effect on health-related QM values both before and after the initial 18 month period. Documents from the intended lean implementation were studied at the starting point and after 18 months; this was followed up by examining new documents. The results from the questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS and the documents were analyzed by means of document comparisons and consensus discussion in the research group. Findings The effects on the health-related QM values; “Leadership Commitment” and “Participation of everybody” in this study showed that the values still permeated the organization to a relatively high extent after 18 months but that no statistical differences can be shown between the two measurement points. When measuring what effects a lean initiative has on values, a period of 18 months might be too short, if significance changes are expected. None the less, the results can be a way of monitoring the development of these softer values. Something that is equally important is to see if there have been any major changes, as a way of keeping the work with building a new culture alive and in focus. The results strengthen the assumption that a long-term mindset is needed when QM initiatives such as lean are applied within an organization especially when changes to values and workplaces are expected. Originality/value This study has further explored the QM in relation to lean in the respect of how the QM values “Leadership commitment” and “Participation of Everybody” are effected by a lean initiative.

Factors related to long-term outcome after decompressive surgery for ossification of the ligamentum flavum of the thoracic spine

2003 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naohisa Miyakoshi ◽  
Yoichi Shimada ◽  
Tetsuya Suzuki ◽  
Michio Hongo ◽  
Yuji Kasukawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Recovery Rate ◽  
Ligamentum Flavum ◽  
Neurological Status ◽  
Decompressive Surgery ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Simultaneous Surgery ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Factors related to long-term surgical outcome of thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) have not been fully investigated. To evaluate these factors, the authors reviewed medical records obtained in patients who had undergone decompressive surgery for thoracic OLF. Methods. Thirty-four patients in whom decompressive surgery was performed for thoracic OLF (mean follow-up period 8 years) were recruited. Fourteen patients underwent simultaneous decompressive surgery for cervical or lumbar lesions. Patient age, duration of symptoms, OLF type, dural adhesion, neurological status classified by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale before and after surgery (1 month postoperatively and at final follow up), and recovery rate were reviewed. The ossified ligamentum flavum was classified into five types according to Sato's classification by assessing preoperative computerized tomography scans. The mean preoperative JOA score (5) was significantly improved at 1 month after surgery (7.1) and at final follow up (7.9) (p < 0.05). Recovery rates at 1 month and at final follow up were 34.6 and 44.2%, respectively. No significant correlations were found between age, OLF type, and neurological status before and after surgery. In patients with dural adhesion, which was observed in cases of larger-type OLF (p < 0.02), lower JOA scores were observed compared with those in patients without dural adhesion both preoperatively and at 1 month after surgery (p < 0.05) but not at the final follow-up examination. Higher JOA scores and recovery rates were demonstrated in patients who had undergone simultaneous surgery than in those who had not undergone simultaneous surgery at 1 month (p < 0.05) but not at the final follow up. Using multiple regression analysis, the authors identified the duration of preoperative symptoms as the most important predictor of a high JOA score and recovery rate at the final follow up. Conclusions. Duration of preoperative symptoms represents the most important predictor of long-term surgeryrelated outcome in patients treated for thoracic OLF. The type of ossified ligamentum flavum, dural adhesion, and simultaneous surgery for coexistent cervical or lumbar lesions do not appear to influence the long-term postoperative prognosis.

scholarly journals Serodiagnosis ofMycobacterium abscessuscomplex infection in cystic fibrosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 707-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tavs Qvist ◽  
Tania Pressler ◽  
David Taylor-Robinson ◽  
Terese L. Katzenstein ◽  
Niels Høiby
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Diagnostic Algorithm ◽  
Mycobacterium Abscessus ◽  
Serological Method ◽  
Before And After ◽  
History Of ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Antibody Kinetics

Early signs of pulmonary disease withMycobacterium abscessuscomplex (MABSC) can be missed in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). A serological method could help stratify patients according to risk. The objective of this study was to test the diagnostic accuracy of a novel method for investigating IgG activity against MABSC.A prospective study of all patients attending the Copenhagen CF Centre was conducted by culturing for MABSC during a 22-month period and then screening patients with an anti-MABSC IgG ELISA. Culture-positive patients had stored serum examined for antibody kinetics before and after culture conversion.307 patients had 3480 respiratory samples cultured and were then tested with the anti-MABSC IgG ELISA. Patients with MABSC pulmonary disease had median anti-MABSC IgG levels six-fold higher than patients with no history of infection (434versus64 ELISA units; p<0.001). The test sensitivity was 95% (95% CI 74–99%) and the specificity was 73% (95% CI 67–78%). A diagnostic algorithm was constructed to stratify patients according to risk.The test accurately identified patients with pulmonary disease caused by MABSC and was suited to be used as a complement to mycobacterial culture.

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