Water resources management in southern Europe: clues for a research and innovation based regional hypercluster.

European countries are facing increasing pressures on their water resources despite stringent regulations and systematic efforts on environmental protection. In this context, research and innovation play a strategic role reinforcing the efficiency of water policies. The present study provides a multilevel assessment of research and innovation practices in the field of water resource management in southern European countries and regions (more specifically; Cyprus, Albania, Poitou-Charentes in France, Andalusia in Spain and the North of Portugal). The analysis was based on a strategic framework aimed at gaining an insight of the current constraints, as well as of the existing and future technological solutions for a better water resource management. The triple helix model proved to be a useful analytical framework for assessing the efforts of different groups towards a common goal. The analysis proved the existence of a significant evolution in the use of technological tools to assist decision-making processes in integrated river basin management in all regions. Nevertheless, the absence of formal channels for knowledge and data exchange between researchers and water resource managers complicates the formers involvement in the decision-making process regarding water allocation. Both researchers and consultants emphasize the low availability of data, together with the need to advance on water resource economics as relevant constraints in the field. The SWOT analysis showed similar concerns among the participating regions and provided a battery of effective projects that resulted in the preparation of a Joint Action Plan.

Avaliação do teor de óleo essencial de Baccharis trimera (Less. ) DC. em diferentes embalagens durante o armazenamento / Assessment of Baccharis trimera (Less. ) DC. essential oil content in different packages during storage

O uso de plantas medicinais como fonte terapêutica é milenar e nos últimos anos o seu valor tem aumentado, tanto para a população quanto para a ciência. Várias empresas nacionais e internacionais empregam matéria-prima vegetal na elaboração de seus produtos, o que torna indispensável o cultivo comercial e o beneficiamento pós-colheita destas espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o teor de óleo essencial de carqueja [Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC.], em três embalagens diferentes ao longo de um ano de armazenamento. Observou-se que ao longo do armazenamento, a embalagem de papel Kraft foi a que melhor preservou a integridade de certas características físicas e químicas do produto, assim como, manteve o teor de óleo ao longo de um ano de armazenamento.

The use of medicinal plants as therapeutic source is ancient and has increased in value in recent years for both the population and the science. Several national and international companies use raw plant material in the preparation of their products, making essential the commercial cultivation and the post-harvest processing of these species. The aim of this study was to evaluate the essential oil content of [Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC.] in three different packages over one year of storage. During storage, Kraft-paper package best preserved the integrity of some physical and chemical characteristics of the product and maintained the oil content for one year of storage.

Evaluación del Sequential Organ Failure Assessmente (SOFA) score para predecir mortalidad en los pacientes críticos, y comparación con los scores APACHE II Y SAPS II / Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Assessed (SOFA) score to predict mortality in critically ill patients, and comparison with APACHE II scores and SAPS II

Objetivos: 1) Determinar la utilidad del SOFA score y sus variables derivadas como predictores de mortalidad 2) correlacionar la mortalidad estmada por el SOFA score y derivadas, con la predicha por APACHE II y SAPS II. Materiales y métodos: Diseño: cohorte prospectiva. Lugar UTI polivalente de un hospital escuela. Pacientes: los ingresados desde el 1/5/01 al 14/4/03. Al ingreso se calcularon los scores pronósticos APACHE II y SAPS II y SOFA inicial, y diariamente (hasta 30 días de internación), el score SOFA con los peores valores del día anterior. Adicionalmente se calcularon las siguintes variables derivadas: SOFA medio: valor promedio de la internación; SOFA total: suma de todos los valores diarios; delta SOFA 48hs: diferencia entre el SOFA inicial y a las 48 hs del ingreso; y SOFA máximo: el valor más alto registrado. Análisis estadístico: primeramente, se calculó el área bajo la curva ROCd (AUC) correspondiente a las 5 variables citadas, a APACHE IIy a SAPS II, y luego se compararon con refencia a la que presentó mayor AUC en el procedimeinto anterior...

Once-daily, low-cost, highly effective Helicobacter pylori treatment to family members of gastric cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori eradication in family members of gastric cancer patients is now widely accepted, although problems related to costs and compliance persist. AIM: To compare the efficacy, tolerability and long-term re-infection rates of two once-daily regimens for the eradication of H. pylori in family members of gastric cancer patients. METHODS: 106 first-degree family members of gastric cancer patients were recruited and submitted to the 13C-urea breath test (UBT) to detect H. pylori. If positive, they were randomly allocated to receive a combination of lanzoprazole 30 mg, clarithromycin OD (extended-release formulation) 500 mg and furazolidone 400 mg, once daily, in the morning, for 7 days (Group A) or the same regimen with only 200 mg furazolidone (Group B). Eradication was confirmed by urea breath test performed 6 weeks after treatment. 13C-urea breath test was repeated at 944 (784-1258) days after treatment in successfully treated participants to look for re-infection. RESULTS: Twenty-five participants were H. pylori negative and two H. pylori-positive individuals refused to sign the informed consent and were excluded. Therefore, 79 participants were studied. Forty participants were allocated to Group A and 39 to Group B. All participants completed treatment. Adverse effects, mostly mild, were observed in 18% of Group A and 18% of Group B (N.S.). The intention-to-treat eradication rate was 87.5% in Group A and 61.5% in Group B (P = 0.006). The mean annual re-infection rate was 3%. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of lanzoprazole 30 mg, one tablet of clarithromycin OD (extended release formulation) 500 mg and furazolidone 400 mg, once daily for 7 days, constitutes an inexpensive, safe and effective alternative for anti-H. pylori therapy in family members of gastric cancer patients.