Deammonification in biofilm systems: population structure and function

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 223-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Helmer-Madhok ◽  
M. Schmid ◽  
E. Filipov ◽  
T. Gaul ◽  
A. Hippen ◽  
...  

For the development of alternative concepts for the cost effective treatment of wastewaters with high ammonium content and low C/N-ratio, autotrophic consortia of micro-organisms with the ability to convert ammonium directly into N2 are of particular interest. Several full-scale industrial biofilm plants eliminating nitrogen without carbon source for years in a stable process, are suspected for some time to harbor active anaerobic ammonium oxidizers in deeper, oxygen-limited biofilm layers. In order to identify the processes of the single-stage nitrogen elimination (deammonification) in biofilm systems and to allocate them to the responsible micro-organisms, a deammonifying moving-bed pilot plant was investigated in detail. 15N-labelled tracer compounds were used as well as 16S rDNA libraries and in situ identification of dominant organisms. The usage of rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes (FISH) was particularly emphasized on the ammonium oxidizers of the β-subclass of Proteobacteria and on the members of the order Planctomycetales. The combined application of these methods led to a deeper insight into the population structure and function of a deammonifying biofilm.

Cephalalgia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1473-1482 ◽  
Author(s):  
JS Brown ◽  
G Papadopoulos ◽  
PJ Neumann ◽  
M Price ◽  
M Friedman ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of topiramate vs. no preventive treatment in the UK. Model inputs included baseline migraine frequency, treatment discontinuation and response, preventive and acute medical cost per attack [2005 GBP (£)] and gain in health utility. Outcomes included monthly migraines averted, acute and preventive treatment costs and cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Topiramate was associated with 1.8 fewer monthly migraines and a QALY gain of 0.0384. The incremental cost of topiramate vs. no preventive treatment was about £10 per migraine averted and £5700 per QALY. Results are sensitive to baseline monthly migraine frequency, triptan use rate and the gain in utility. Incorporating savings from reduced work loss (about £36 per month) suggests that topiramate would be cost saving compared with no preventive treatment. This analysis suggests that topiramate is a cost-effective treatment for migraine prevention compared with no preventive treatment.


Author(s):  
Ye. V. Polukhina ◽  
◽  
M. V. Vlasenko ◽  

Purpose: to assess the impact of foliar nutrition with soluble fertilizers Plantafol and Boroplus on economic and biological indicators and the efficiency of cultivation of table grape varieties in dry conditions under irrigation. The relevance of research is due to the problem of ensuring food security at the national and regional levels. Materials and methods. The subject of research was the grape varieties Codryanka (early), Rizamat (medium) and Moskovsky (late). The studies were carried out in the period 2015–2017 in Astrakhan region. Irrigation was carried out depending on the phase of development at a rate of 500–2250 cubic meters per hectare. The timing of the fertilization treatment was tied to the development phases, and the rates were in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. The methodological basis was M. A. Lazarevsky and B. A. Dospekhov methods. The calculation of economic efficiency was carried out on the basis of actual costs associated with technological operations, fertilization, irrigation, protective measures, collection of main and additional products. Results. The most cost-effective is the combined use of soluble foliar fertilizers Plantafol and Boroplus on grape plantations. The Rizamat variety was distinguished. Conclusions. The economic efficiency of the soluble foliar fertilizers application on grape plantations on average for 2015–2017 is the most significant in all three varieties Kodryanka, Rizamat and Moskovsky during combined application of fertilizers, especially in the Rizamat variety, when growing and receiving grape products of which the cost price decreased by 24.6 %, reaching a minimum value of 14947.4 rubles/t, profitability increased to 234.5 %, and the payback up to 3.35 rubles/rubles.


2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-9
Author(s):  
Karen P. Scott ◽  
Sylvia H. Duncan ◽  
Petra Louis ◽  
Harry J. Flint

Research into the microbial community within the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) has developed from investigating micro-organisms that cause disease to trying to establish those that are important to maintain health. Thus we are now at a point where the bacterial community in healthy individuals has been well characterized, emphasizing the huge interindividual variation that exists. Molecular advances have also facilitated initial studies on establishing the composition of the viral and eukaryotic communities. In this article, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge, illustrating the structure and function of the gut microbial community.


PHARMACON ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 968
Author(s):  
Monica D. Lestari ◽  
Gayatri Citraningtyas ◽  
Hosea Jaya Edi

ABSTRACTPneumonia is an infectious disease in the lower respiratory tract that affects the lung tissue. Ceftriaxone and Gentamicin antibiotics are the most numerous and good for use in the treatment of pneumonia, but of the two antibiotics is not yet known the options for more cost effective treatment, so it needs to be done the cost effectiveness analysis in order to facilitate the selection of more cost-effective treatment options especially in toddler. This study aims to determine which therapies are more cost-effective than the use of antibiotics Ceftriaxone and Gentamicin in pneumonia patients in the January-December 2018 period in the Bhayangkara Manado Hospital using descriptive research methods with retrospective data collection. The sample in this study were 22 patients, 12 patients using ceftriaxone antibiotics and 10 patients using gentamicin antibiotics. The results showed that pneumonia treatment in infants using Ceftriaxone antibiotics was more cost-effective with ACER ceftriaxone value of Rp. 503,872 / day and ICER value of Rp. 145,588 / day. Keywords : Antibiotics, CEA (Cost-Effectiveness Analysis), Pharmacoeconomy, Toddler Pneumonia. ABSTRAKPneumonia merupakan penyakit infeksi pada saluran pernapasan bagian bawah yang mengenai jaringan paru. Antibiotik Seftriakson dan Gentamisim yang paling banyak dan baik untuk digunakan dalam pengobatan pneumonia, namun dari kedua antibiotik tersebut belum diketahui pilihan terapi yang lebih cost-effective, sehingga perlu dilakukan analisis efektivitas biaya agar dapat mempermudah dalam pemilihan alternatif pengobatan yang lebih cost-effective khususnya pada balita. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan terapi yang lebih cost-effective dari penggunaan antibiotik Seftriakson dan Gentamisin pada pasien pneumonia rawat inap periode Januari-Desember 2018 di Rumah Sakit Bhayangkara Manado dengan menggunakan metode penelitian deskriptif dengan pengambilan data secara retrospektif. Sampel pada penelitian ini sebanyak 22 pasien yaitu 12 pasien menggunakan antibiotik Seftriakson dan 10 pasien menggunakan antibiotik Gentamisin. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan pengobatan pneumonia pada balita menggunakan antibiotik Seftriakson lebih cost-effective dengan nilai ACER seftriakson sebesar Rp. 503,872/hari dan nilai ICER sebesar Rp. 145.588/hari. Kata Kunci : Pneumonia Balita, Antibiotik, CEA (Cost-Effectiveness Analysis), Farmakoekonomi


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ohanube A.K. Goodluck ◽  
Obeta M. Uchejeso ◽  
Ikeagwulonu R. Chinaza

An accurate diagnosis gives leeway to cost-effective treatments. However, many diseases continue to evolve; hence, their etiology is sometimes missed due to the procedures used during diagnosis. Protein-related diseases include proteopathies (proteinopathies) such as neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic disorders like protein-energy malnutrition and some hormonopathies. Hormonopathies are associated with the change in the production of hormones. Diabetes mellitus, a type of hormonopathy, is reviewed in this work alongside neurodegenerative diseases and protein-energy malnutrition. This chapter aims to elucidate more on the diagnosis of these diseases considering the structure and function of their proteins viz-a-viz their deficiencies and hyper-production in man. Their pathogenesis and the principles underlying their diagnosis are further discussed to optimize the management of these diseases among patients.


Author(s):  
Amir Hashemi-Meshkini ◽  
Hedieh Sadat Zekri ◽  
Hasan Karimi-Yazdi ◽  
Pardis Zaboli ◽  
Mohammad Ali Sahraian ◽  
...  

Background: Pegylated (PEG) interferon beta 1a has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) as an alternative to interferon beta 1a for multiple sclerosis (MS). Due to its higher price, this study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of PEG-interferon beta 1-a compared with interferon beta 1a from an Iranian payer perspective. Methods: A Markov model was designed according to health states based on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and one-month cycles over a 10-year time horizon. Direct medical and non-medical costs were included from a payer perspective. Results: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated around 11111 US dollars (USD) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained for the PEG-interferon versus interferon regimen [with currency rate of 29,000 Iranian Rial (IRR) to 1 USD in 2016]. Conclusion: Considering the cost-effectiveness  threshold in Iran [three times of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita or 15,945 USD], PEG-interferon beta 1-a could be considered as a cost effective treatment for Iranian patients with MS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 544-552
Author(s):  
Julian F Guest ◽  
Karen Staines ◽  
Nina Murphy

Objective: To estimate whether thigh-administered intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) could potentially afford the UK's National Health Service (NHS) a cost-effective intervention for the management of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers (VLUs). Method: A Markov model was constructed depicting the management of hard-to-heal VLUs with IPC plus standard care or standard care alone over a period of 24 weeks. The model estimated the cost-effectiveness of the two interventions in terms of the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained at 2019/20 prices. Results: Treatment of hard-to-heal VLUs with IPC plus standard care instead of standard care alone is expected to increase the probability of healing by 58% (from 0.24 to 0.38) at 24 weeks and increase health-related quality of life over 24 weeks from 0.32 to 0.34 QALYs per patient. Additionally, the cost of treating with IPC plus standard care (£3,020 per patient) instead of standard care alone (£3,037 per patient) has the potential to be cost-neutral if use of this device is stopped after 6 weeks in non-improving wounds. Sensitivity analysis showed that the relative cost-effectiveness of IPC plus standard care remains <£20,000 per QALY with plausible variations in costs and effectiveness. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the addition of IPC to standard care potentially affords a cost-effective treatment to the NHS for managing hard-to-heal VLUs. However, a controlled study is required to validate the outcomes of this analysis.


1987 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 575-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Sasaki ◽  
John M. Eisenberg

AbstractWe analyzed the cost-effectiveness of nonemergent treatment for esophageal varices commonly used in Japan (endoscopic injection sclerotherapy, nonshunting direct interruption procedure, and selective shunt). We assessed the cost per survivor from the perspective of the Japanese government and other payors. Epidemiologic and economic data from published Japanese literature and from Japanese hospital-cost information were applied in decision analysis. While sclerotherapy is the most cost-effective treatment, the popular surgical procedures save the most lives, thus raising difficult ethical issues regarding trade-offs of cost and quality.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (13) ◽  
pp. 1125-1141
Author(s):  
Soyoung Kim ◽  
Adrian Yit Reen Ooi ◽  
Thomas Stephens ◽  
Hongsi Jiang

Aim: Therapy for lupus nephritis (LN) requires treatment with immunosuppressive regimens, often including intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCY), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine. Additionally, tacrolimus (original form or generic) is recommended to treat LN patients in Asia, including China. However, the cost–effectiveness of tacrolimus therapy has not previously been assessed. We aimed to estimate the cost–effectiveness of tacrolimus in the treatment of moderate-to-severe LN versus standard therapies in China. Materials & methods: This cost–effectiveness model combined a decision-tree/Markov-model structure to map transitions between health states during induction and maintenance treatment phases. Induction with tacrolimus, IVCY or MMF, was followed by tacrolimus, MMF or azathioprine maintenance. Results: According to the model, during induction, complete remission rates were higher with tacrolimus versus IVCY (relative risk 1.40 vs IVCY [deterministic sensitivity analysis minimum 0.92, maximum 2.13]) and time to response was shorter. Relapse rates were lower with tacrolimus versus azathioprine or MMF during maintenance. Tacrolimus induction and maintenance was the most cost-effective regimen, incurring the lowest total costs (CN¥180,448) with the highest quality-adjusted life-years. Conclusion: The model demonstrated that tacrolimus use in both induction and maintenance therapy may be an efficacious and cost-effective treatment for LN in China.


2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (14) ◽  
pp. 3019-3031 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Koeser ◽  
V. Donisi ◽  
D. P. Goldberg ◽  
P. McCrone

Background.The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England and Wales recommends the combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for the treatment of moderate to severe depression. However, the cost-effectiveness analysis on which these recommendations are based has not included psychotherapy as monotherapy as a potential option. For this reason, we aimed to update, augment and refine the existing economic evaluation.Method.We constructed a decision analytic model with a 27-month time horizon. We compared pharmacotherapy with cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) and combination treatment for moderate to severe depression in secondary care from a healthcare service perspective. We reviewed the literature to identify relevant evidence and, where possible, synthesized evidence from clinical trials in a meta-analysis to inform model parameters.Results.The model suggested that CBT as monotherapy was most likely to be the most cost-effective treatment option above a threshold of £22 000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). It dominated combination treatment and had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £20 039 per QALY compared with pharmacotherapy. There was significant decision uncertainty in the probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses.Conclusions.Contrary to previous NICE guidance, the results indicated that even for those patients for whom pharmacotherapy is acceptable, CBT as monotherapy may be a cost-effective treatment option. However, this conclusion was based on a limited evidence base, particularly for combination treatment. In addition, this evidence cannot easily be transferred to a primary care setting.


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