ABSTRACT
Few population-based studies have examined long term cognitive trajectory, and these studies were conducted in high income countries. We investigated the association of age, gender and education with 10-year cognitive trajectory in a well-defined population of elderly using data from the Bambuí Cohort Study of Aging, in Brazil. Cognition was measured using the Mini- Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cohort members underwent annual follow-ups. This analysis was based on 12,206 MMSE measurements from 1,461 (91 percent) baseline participants. We used mixed effects models to study MMSE as outcome. The key findings from this analysis are that women and people with a higher schooling level at baseline had high scores of MMSE, while older participants started off lower. Regarding cognitive decline, women, older people and those with a higher schooling level declined faster.
Poucos estudos de base populacional examinaram a trajetória no longo prazo do declínio cognitivo. Os estudos existentes foram conduzidos em países de alta renda. Nós investigamos as associações entre idade, sexo e escolaridade e o declínio cognitivo em uma população idosa bem definida, utilizando dados de 10 anos de seguimento da coorte de Bambuí, Minas Gerais, Brasil. A cognição foi aferida anualmente por meio do Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM). Essa análise foi baseada em 12.206 medidas do MEEM de 1.461 (90 por cento) participantes da linha de base. Foram utilizados modelos de efeitos mistos, considerando-se o escore do MEEM como variável de desfecho. As mulheres e os indivíduos com maior escolaridade apresentaram resultados mais altos no MEEM na linha de base, enquanto que os idosos mais velhos apresentaram pontuações mais baixas. Com relação ao declínio cognitivo, participantes do sexo feminino, com maior escolaridade e mais velhos, apresentam reduções mais rápidas dos escores do MEEM.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Aging/physiology , Cognition Disorders , Age Factors , Brazil , Cohort Studies , Cognition Disorders , Cognition Disorders , Educational Status , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
Background: Meropenem is a broad-spectrum carbapenem widely used in the treatment of critically ill patients. A generic meropenem product has recently become available in South Africa and we aimed to compare the generic product with the innovator product using established in vitro microbiological testing methods.Method: Comparative minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for 115 clinically relevant isolates using the broth microdilution reference method. Comparative analysis of MIC was done using categorical and essential agreement. A subset of isolates was evaluated using minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) testing. Results: The overall essential agreement exceeded the international standard of 90. A single major error and six minor errors were detected in 230 comparative MICs. For the 55 Enterobacteriaceae isolates tested; the MIC50 and MIC90 were 0.03 ?g/ml and 0.06 ?g/ml respectively; with no difference between extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase producers (ESBL) and non-ESBL isolates. Bactericidal activity was demonstrated for both generic and innovator products in all isolates tested. For eight of the 11 isolates; the MBC was only twice the MIC.Conclusion: Reference method MIC and MBC testing of a large sample of clinically relevant microorganisms against meropenem has demonstrated comparable in vitro activity between the innovator and generic products. Low MICs and bactericidal activity at concentrations close to the MIC indicate that meropenem remains a useful agent in the treatment of infections caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae
Subject(s)
Carbapenems/microbiology , Meropenem , Patients , TherapeuticsABSTRACT
A hydride-generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method was developed for the analysis of total Hg in liquid matrices of mercury-rich plants and mine tailings samples. The detection limit for this method was as low as 11.4 ng/mL. The reproducibility of the mercury signals (in terms of relative standard deviation) was 4.6 percent. Accuracy of the method was verified by analyses of deionised water samples spiked with HgCl2 and HgNO3. Recovery values for total mercury ranged from 88.5 to 94.3 percent for both mercury species added. An external certified laboratory validated the analytical method with a maximum discrepancy of 15 percent. Optimal analytical response of the equipment for Hg analysis of plant samples was achieved when the sample volume added to the reaction vessel was 0.25 mL.
Um protocolo para análise do mercúrio (Hg) em amostras líquidas de solo e tecidos vegetais enriquecidos com Hg foi desenvolvido com base na técnica de geração de hidretos. O limite de detecção para este método foi de 11.4 ng/mL. A reproducibilidade do método (calculado com base no desvio padrão relativo) foi de 4.6 por cento. A precisão do método foi verificada pela análise de amostras de água deionizada contendo HgCl2 and HgNO3. Os valores de mercúrio total recuperados variaram de 88.5 a 94.3 por cento para ambas as espécies testadas. O método analítico foi validado por um laboratório externo certificado com discrepância máxima de 15 por cento. O desempenho analítico do equipamento para análise do mercúrio em tecidos vegetais foi considerado ótimo para volumes de amostra de até 0.25 mL.