The M phenotype is by far the most common mechanism of erythromycin resistance among Streptococcus pyogenes isolates in Spain. A geographic analysis of the relationship between within-country differences in the prevalence of M-type resistance to erythromycin in S. pyogenes and the level of consumption of 14-and 15-membered macrolides within different provinces was carried out. From 1998 to 1999, a nationwide multicenter surveillance study yielded 2,039 consecutive pharyngeal isolates of S. pyogenes. Data on antibiotic consumption for the same period were gathered from IMS Health, and the corresponding daily defined doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day were calculated according to the Anatomic Therapeutic Classification index. Macrolide use was subdivided into dosages given three times a day (TID), twice a day (BID), or once a day (OD). Spearman nonparametric correlation coefficients (R) were calculated, and variables proving to be significantly associated (P < 0.1) were introduced into a linear regression model. The total consumption of macrolides presented a significant correlation with the prevalence of resistance (R ؍ 0.527; P ؍ 0.032). Neither TID nor BID macrolide consumption showed significant correlations. Only OD consumption had a significance below 0.1. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that only the total consumption of macrolides influences the local rates of M-type erythromycin resistance in S. pyogenes, and subgroups of macrolides seem to have an additive rather than a selective effect by contributing to increasing the final amount of macrolides used. Local variations in total consumption were associated only with BID consumption (R ؍ 0.849; P ؍ 0.004). The simple linear regression with total macrolide consumption showed a considerable determination coefficient (R 2 ؍ 0.678; P ؍ 0.006). The model explains up to 68% of the measured variation and is clearly better as a predictor of the prevalence of resistance than the mere mean is. By solving the regression equation, the resultant value of 2.2 defined doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day fits with the existence of a critical threshold of selective pressure.
Growth curves have been developed for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) in several countries. However, in order to facilitate the preparation of clinical guidelines it is necessary to verify the eligibility of these curves. The search was conducted according to the PRISMA method (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses). It was conducted between July 2012 and June 2013 in MEDLINE/PubMed and BIREME. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to identify the studies and a total of 16 relevant articles were selected. The aspects analyzed in the articles consisted of sample size, number of observations, age group, anthropometric variables, standard deviation scores (SDS), type of study, collection and analysis of data, participants, inclusion/exclusion criteria and outcomes. The mean, standard deviations (SDs) and percentiles for sex and age were used to develop the curve of weight, height, and head circumference. The individuals with DS presented growth between -0.4 and -4.0 SDS in comparison to healthy controls. The variation in these observations can be explained by genetic differences, secular trends in growth and disease status. Regarding the limitations identified, it was observed that most of the studies did not provide data concerning the number of individuals and observations, mean values and respective SDs by sex and age. In addition, most studies did not use LMS methods to evaluate asymmetry, the median and data variability. In conclusion, the results of this review demonstrated that in order to avoid false diagnoses in children and adolescents with DS new growth curves must be developed.
The worldwide epidemic of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae appears to advance inexorably and the measures taken to date to contain its progression have not been successful. Consideration should be given to the complex relationship between antibiotic consumption and resistance to the drug administered and also to other agents in the same and other antibiotic groups. We propose an integrated triple strategy that maximizes the use of the current antibiotic arsenal and is designed to curb the spread of resistance in S. pneumoniae. There are three main parts to this strategy: (i) reduction of prescribing, with particular emphasis on those drugs whose consumption has been shown to correlate strongly with resistance; (ii) development of new formulations or dosing schedules of those drugs whose pharmacodynamic parameters are better suited to cope with highly resistant strains; and (iii) encouragement of the use of antibiotics with the maximal capability of bacterial eradication. We believe such a strategy would reduce the spread of resistance both in the current ecological situation and in the post-pneumococcal vaccination era to come. Of all current antibiotics amoxicillin meets the above requirements, and seems to be the least ecologically disturbing oral antibiotic with regard to resistance in S. pneumoniae.
A obesidade é considerada uma epidemia, que acomete também crianças e adolescentes com síndrome de Down. Contudo, como não há um parâmetro consensual para diagnosticar obesidade nessa população, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão crítica de artigos que estudam índices antropométricos, para avaliação do estado nutricional de crianças e adolescentes com essa síndrome. O levantamento dos artigos foi realizado nas bases de dados PubMed, MedlLine, Lilacs e SciELO, dando-se importância aos parâmetros antropométricos e sua relação com a obesidade. De 83 artigos iniciais, foram selecionados 11 para análise crítica. Nos Estados Unidos, estabeleceram uma curva de normalidade para peso e estatura de crianças e adolescentes com síndrome de Down e, quando compararam os seus valores com as curvas do National Center for Health Statistics, observaram que houve um padrão menor de crescimento em estatura. Em estudos europeus, observou-se o mesmo fato. No Brasil, Mustacchi desenvolveu índices de peso/idade e estatura/idade e observou deficit importante de estatura, quando comparou estatura/idade com as curvas do National Center for Health Statistics e com as curvas de Cronk et al. Em CONCLUSÃO:, os dados antropométricos disponíveis em curvas pôndero-estaturais são considerados relativos a uma determinada população e revelam suas características específicas, porque expressam a influência dos fatores ambientais e determinantes genéticos. Portanto, há necessidade de se definir curvas de padrão de referência para crianças e adolescentes com síndrome de Down em diferentes faixas etárias, regiões e etnias, para se diagnosticar corretamente seu estado nutricional.
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