Phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms: potential promoters of agricultural and environmental engineering.

Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) are known as bacteria or fungi that make insoluble phosphorus in soil available to plants. To date, as beneficial microbes, studies on PSMs indicated they have potential applications in agriculture, environmental engineering, bioremediation, and biotechnology. Currently high cost and competition from local microbe are the most important factors hindering PSMs commercialization and application as for instance biofertilizer, soil conditioner or remediation agent, etc. There are several technical strategies can be engaged to approach the solutions of these issues, for instance mass production, advance soil preparation, genetic engineering, etc. On the other hand, further studies are needed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of PSMs in solubilizing phosphates, promoting plant growth, soil remediation preferably. Hopefully, PSMs are going to be developed into ecofriendly tools for sustainable agriculture, environment protection and management in the future.

Cirugía de las hernias: efectividad y coste para el sostenimiento del sistema sanitario / Hernia surgery: effectiveness and cost for the maintenance of the health system

Resumen Introducción: Las hernias son patologías muy frecuentes en un Servicio de Cirugía General (SCG); su tratamiento y costes son muy diferentes, dependiendo del cirujano, si hay hospitalización (CH) o cirugía mayor ambulatoria (CMA). Objetivo principal es el estudio de costes-resultados y de coste-efectividad de las hernias de pared abdominal (no pericolostómicas) realizadas por el SCG. Materiales y Método: Estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, observacional y retrospectivo. Intervenidas 370 hernias de pared abdominal, del 1 de octubre de 2015 al 30 de septiembre de 2016; seguimiento postquirúrgico hasta el 30 de octubre 2016 (1 a 12 meses). Resultados: 79,4% varones, media 59,95 años, 51,90% ASA II, 55,8% anestesia local, 59,72% hernias inguinales, 36,94% hernias inguinales unilaterales indirectas, 55,17 minutos por intervención, 54,44% por CMA, 4,77 días de estancia media en ingresados. Complicaciones perioperatorias 2,3%, tempranas 4,8% (5 reintervenciones) y tardías 12,8% (3 reintervenciones por recidiva). Altas 95,41%, tiempo medio 6,59 semanas. Coste de material de 109,87 € (hernia inguinal simple) hasta 370,41 € (eventración). Coste mediana quirófano 338,80 €. Coste/día CMA 807,30 € y con ingreso 1056,03 €. Mediana coste de hernia inguinal simple 422,69 € y de eventración 709,89 €. Mediana coste por complicación de hernia inguinal 1405,81 € y de eventración 8350,88 €. Mediana coste por proceso con CMA 1213,98 € y con ingreso 3689,80 €. Conclusión: Intervenciones de hernia inguinal unilateral simple, crural y umbilical, con técnica libre de tensión, material protésico, sin drenaje, CMA, anestesia local (con/sin sedación) y sin complicaciones resultan las más coste-efectivas (mejor relación coste-benefcio y coste-efectividad).

Introduction: Hernias are very frequent pathologies in a General Surgery Service (GSS); its treatment and costs are very different, depending on the surgeon, if there is admission (SH) or major outpatient surgery (MOS). A) Main objective. Study costs of (non-pericolostomic) abdominal wall hernia surgical procedures in the GSC (cost-outcome ratio and the cost-efectiveness). Materials and Method: Descriptive, longitudinal, observational and retrospective study. Abdominal wall hernias treated between 1st October, 2015 and 30th September, 2016; after surgery follow up until 30th October, 2016 (1 to 12 months). In total 370 hernia surgeries were performed. Results: 79.4% of males, mean 59.95 years, 51.90% of ASA II, 55.8% local anesthesia, 59.72% inguinal hernias, 36.94% indirect unilateral inguinal hernias, 55.17 minutes for surgeon, 54.44% for MOS, 4.77 days of average stay in admitted patients. Perioperative complications 2.3%, early 4.8% (with 5 reoperations) and late 12.8% (3 reinterventions due to relapse). 95.41% discharge, mean time 6.59 weeks. Material costs vary from €109.87 (simple inguinal hernia) to €370.41 (eventrations). Median surgery room cost €338.80. Cost/day MOS €807.30 and with income €1056.03. Median cost of simple inguinal hernia €422.69 and eventration €709.89. Median cost due to inguinal hernia complication €1405.81 and eventration €8350.88. Median cost per process MOS € 1213.98 and that of SH €3689.80. Conclusion: The interventions of simple unilateral inguinal hernia, crural and umbilical, using a tension-free technique, prosthetic material, without drainage, MOS, local anesthesia (with/without sedation) and without complications are the most cost-efective (better cost-beneft and cost-efectiveness ratio).

Clinical usefulness and economic implications of continuation/maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in a Spanish National Health System public hospital: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Continuation/maintenance electroconvulsive therapy has been shown to be effective for prevention of relapse in affective and psychotic disorders. However, there is a limited nubber of studies that investigate clinical management, associated costs, and perceived quality variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A series of 8 cases included during the first 18 months of the Continuation/Maintenance Electroconvulsive Therapy Program of the Psychiatry Department at 12 de Octubre University Hospital is presented. Clinical variables (Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale, length of hospitalization, number of Emergency Department visits, number of urgent admissions) before and after inclusion in the continuation/maintenance electroconvulsive therapy program were compared for each patient, as well as associated costs and perceived quality. RESULTS: After inclusion in the program, 50.0% of patients reported feeling « much better ¼ and 37.5% « moderately better ¼ in the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale. In addition, after inclusion in the continuation/maintenance electroconvulsive therapy program, patients were hospitalized for a total of 349 days, visited the Emergency Department on 3 occasions, and had 2 urgent admissions, compared to 690 days of hospitalization (P = .012), 26 Emergency Department visits (P = .011) and 22 urgent admissions (P = .010) during the same period before inclusion in the program. Associated direct costs per day of admission were reduced to 50.6% of the previous costs, and costs associated with Emergency Department visits were reduced to 11.5% of the previous costs. As regards perceived quality, 87.5% of patients assessed the care and treatment received as being « very satisfactory ¼, and 12.5% as « satisfactory ¼. CONCLUSIONS: This continuation/maintenance electroconvulsive therapy program has shown to be clinically useful and to have a favourable economic impact, as well as high perceived quality.

Costo-efectividad de la ketanserina vs sulfadiazina de plata micronizada ehn el paciente con pie diabético / Cost-effectiveness of the ketanserin vs sulfadiazine on the patient with diabetic foot

Objetivo. Determinar el costo-efectividad de la ketanserina vs sulfadiazina en el paciente con pie diabético. Material y método. Estudio de costo efectividad en pacientes con pie diabético, se integraron dos grupos, los manejados con ketanserina (n=50) y los manejados con sulfadiazina (n=30), se incluyeron a todos los que acudieron al servicio. El costo contempló los insumos para la curación y el medicamento. La efectividad se midió con la reducción de la lesión medida en centímetros y el porcentaje de pacientes curados. Se realizó análisis incremental. Resultados. El costo del centímetro cuadrado de curación en ketanserina es de $22,43 US y en sulfadiazina $120,44 US. La proyección del costo a 5000 pacientes con una lesión de 10 centímetros es $1.121.651 US en ketanserina y $6.021.787 US en sulfadiazina de plata. Conclusión. En el manejo del pie diabético la relación costo-efectividad de la ketanserina es mejor que la sulfadiazina.

Objective. Determine the cost-efectiveness of the ketanserin vs. sulfadiazine on the patient with diabetic foot. Methodology. Study of the cost efectiveness on patients with diabetic foot, there were integrated two groups; the ones managed with ketanserin (n=50), and the ones managed with sulfadiazine (n=30), all that came to the service were included. Te cost contemplates the inputs for the cure and the medication. Te efectiveness was measured with the reduction of the injury measured in centimeters and the cured patient’s percent. Sensitivity and incremental analysis was performed. Results. Te cost of square centimeter of healing in ketanserin is $22.43 US and in the sulfadiazine $120.44 US. Te cost of 5000 patients whit an 10 centimeter injury is $1,121,651 US in ketanserin and $6,021,787 US in sulfadiazine. Conclusion. Te relation cost-efectiveness of the ketanserin is better than the sulfadiazine one in the management of the diabetic foot.