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Economic burden of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is recognized. Few studies have documented such burden in adults stratified by age, risk status, and by care setting. Spanish data available is scarce. A retrospective, multicenter study in seven regions of Spain (2017–2019) was conducted. Patients ≥18 years with a primary all-cause CAP episode diagnosis were identified. Episode-level variables included risk-stratum based on presence of an immunocompromising/chronic condition, age, number and length of hospitalized and outpatient episodes, and CAP-related healthcare costs/sick leaves were included. 7,108 episodes [mean age (SD): 59.2 (19.6), 50.42% male, 31.0% hospitalized] were analyzed. Low-risk group accounted for 47.7% of all CAP episodes, 31.5% moderate-risk and 20.8% high-risk. Pneumococcus was identified in 42.2% of cases. Mean CAP episode length was 22.9 days for hospitalized and 13.7 days for outpatient episode. Total healthcare cost for episode was higher in inpatient vs. outpatient: €3,955 vs. €511, p < 0.001, with higher sick leave cost (€3,281 vs. €2,632, p < 0.001), respectively. CAP required hospitalization cost is high regardless of age or comorbidities for the Spanish NHS. Given that almost half of the patients in this study did not have traditional risk factors for CAP, better preventative strategies should seriously be considered.

Convergence of emerging technologies (e.g. biotechnologies, information and cognitive technologies) has opened new perspectives for progress with regard to human health. However, these technologies also open new possibilities for interventions on human beings, which may be more invasive, and possibly affect and modify individuals. Established practices in the field of biomedicine are also evolving in a way that exerts pressure on existing protective mechanisms. Thus, consideration is required as to whether existing human rights provisions are still fit for purpose or whether there is a need to re-examine, clarify or re-enforce them or even a need to identify new human rights and protective measures. This article gives an overview of the main issues considered by the Committee on Bioethics of the Council of Europe to develop a Strategic Action Plan aimed at ensuring appropriate protection of human rights in the developments in biomedicine, promoting thereby progress for human health.

Objective: The aim of the study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics and factors related to outcome in Streptococcus pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP). Methods: A 3-year prospective observational epidemiological case study of HCAP was conducted in seven Spanish hospitals. Microbiological and patient characteristics and outcomes were collected and classified by causative pathogen into 4 categories: "S. pneumoniae", "MRSA", "Others" and "Unknown". Patients were followed up 30 days after discharge. Results: A total of 258 (84.6%) patients were enrolled (170 were men [65.9%]). Mean age was 72.4 years ± 15 years (95% CI [70.54-74.25]). The etiology of pneumonia was identified in 73 cases (28.3%): S. pneumoniae in 35 patients (13.6%), MRSA in 8 (3.1%), and other microorganisms in 30 patients (11.6%). Significant differences in rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p < 0.05), previous antibiotic treatment (p

A new infrastructure is urgently needed at the global level to facilitate exchange on key issues concerning genome editing. We advocate the establishment of a global observatory to serve as a center for international, interdisciplinary, and cosmopolitan reflection. This article is the second of a two-part series. Keywords: CRISPR; genome editing; bioethics; science policy; science and technology studies; ethics.

A new infrastructure is urgently needed at the global level to facilitate exchange on key issues concerning genome editing. We advocate the establishment of a global observatory to serve as a center for international, interdisciplinary, and cosmopolitan reflection. This article is the first of a two-part series.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents remarks on viruses, phanerogram, cryptogram, and gymnogram. It discusses various characteristics of the families of viruses. Viruses are defined by the sum of the distinctive traits of the virion. These distinctive traits are as follows: (1) presence of a single nucleic acid; (2) incapacity to grow and to divide; (3) reproduction from the genetic material only; (4) absence of enzymes for energy metabolism; (5) absence of ribosomes; (6) absence of information for the production of enzymes in the energy cycle; (7) absence of information for the synthesis of the ribosomal proteins; and (8) absence of information for the synthesis of ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA. The viral infectious particle presents a great diversity in composition and structure. Order could be achieved only through a classification, which is a system of order. The goal of biological classification is to group together organisms presenting certain analogies and certain affinities and, if possible, to also bring out phylogenic relationships. The conceptions relative to the methodology of taxonomy, which is the science of classification, are diverse. A virus may have evolved from a given sector of DNA within the host cell. It could also very well have derived from the corresponding RNA messenger that contains the same information, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Therefore, theoretically, different viruses could have originated from nucleic acids of different but complementary nature. The nucleic acid of viruses is either single- or double-stranded. Viruses, as is generally accepted, derive from the nucleic acid of their host. Thus, RNA viruses could possibly have their origin in the RNA messenger.

Le principe d’interdiction du profit, etabli par l’article 21 de la Convention sur les droits de l’Homme et la biomedecine, exige que « le corps humain et ses parties ne [soient] pas, en tant que tels, source de profit. Ce principe a ete repris a l’article 3 de la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’Union europeenne. Le principe du don volontaire et non remunere est inscrit dans plusieurs directives de l’Union europeenne, notamment celle relative au sang et aux composants sanguins humains. Enfin, l’interdiction du profit est egalement affirmee dans les principes directeurs de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Sante. Le guide sur l’interdiction du profit a ete developpe par le Comite de Bioethique (DH-BIO) du Conseil de l’Europe, en cooperation notamment avec des membres du Comite europeen sur la transplantation d’organes (CD-P-TO) et du Comite europeen sur la transfusion sanguine (CD-P-TS). Il vise a clarifier le principe d’interdiction du profit afin d’en faciliter la mise en œuvre. Le guide precise notamment les notions pertinentes telles que celles de « indemnisation » et « remboursement », ainsi que le paiement pour la realisation d’actes medicaux et de prestations techniques connexes compatibles avec le principe d’interdiction du profit. Il fait egalement reference aux mesures acceptables pour la promotion du don a la lumiere du principe d’interdiction du profit. Le Guide est destine aux decideurs politiques, aux autorites competentes, aux professionnels dans le secteur de la sante, ainsi qu’aux donneurs et receveurs, et a tous ceux concernes ou impliques dans le prelevement et l’utilisation ulterieure de materiaux provenant du corps humain.