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Foot infections in diabetic patients are predominantly caused by gram-positive cocci, many of which are now antibiotic resistant. Because linezolid is active against these pathogens, we compared the efficacy and safety of intravenous and oral formulations with that of intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam and intravenous and oral amoxicillin-clavulanate given for 7–28 days in a randomized, open-label, multicenter study of all types of foot infection in diabetic patients (ratio of linezolid to comparator drug recipients, 2 : 1). Among 371 patients, the clinical cure rates associated with linezolid and the comparators were statistically equivalent overall (81% vs. 71%, respectively) but were significantly higher for linezolid-treated patients with infected foot ulcers (81% vs. 68%; P = .018) and for patients without osteomyelitis (87% vs. 72%; P = .003). Cure rates were comparable for inpatients and outpatients and for both oral and intravenous formulations. Drug-related adverse events were significantly more common in the linezolid group, but they were generally mild and reversible. Linezolid was at least as effective as aminopenicillin/β-lactamase inhibitors for treating foot infections in diabetic patients.

Corn and soybean prices do not differ significantly among farms participating in the Illinois farm business farm management (FBFM) program from 1996 through 2005. While consistent with the literature, the finding is inconsistent with farmers' opinion of the importance of price. A conundrum exists. However, the study also finds that price and profit per acre are positively related when a given farm is examined over time. Thus, the conundrum can be explained as a difference in perspective: researchers examine variation between price and profit across farms at a point in time while farmers examine this variation within his/her farm over time. Nevertheless, the relationship a farmer observes is likely due to market supply and demand factors, not the farmer's managerial control over the price received.

This review covers four areas: the use of prophylactic antibiotics in orthopedic surgery not involving prosthetic devices; the use of prophylactic antibiotics in prosthetic joint implantation; the use of antibiotic-containing cement in prosthetic joint surgery; and the use of prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures in individuals with implanted prosthetic joints. The major conclusions are as follows: (1) Prophylactic antimicrobial agents lower the rate of wound infection following surgery for closed hip fractures. (2) Antimicrobial prophylaxis reduces the frequency of deep wound infection following total joint replacement; operating rooms with ultraclean air have a similar effect. (3) Antibiotic-impregnated cement is as effective as systemic antibiotics in preventing early infection following total joint replacement. (4) For routine dental work in most patients with total joint replacement, there is insufficient evidence to support antibiotic prophylaxis; for such individuals with periodontal disease or potential dental infection, antimicrobial prophylaxis seems indicated.

Because of the marked variability in presentation and management of osteomyelitis in patients, research with animal models that mimic the human disease offers a more controlled approach. Presently available animal models have been used to study pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of osteomyelitis. Each model has advantages and disadvantages. Although it seems improbable that an ideal model of osteomyelitis will be achieved in the near future, further efforts to develop new experimental models and innovative research with present models are clearly needed.

The efficacy of rifámpin alone and in combination with sisomicin, cephalothin, sisomicin and cephalothin, or trimethoprim was measured in an experimental model of chronic osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus aureus in rabbits. Single-drug regimens used for 28 days were relatively ineffective (bone sterilization rate, 5%-55%). Combinations of rifampin with other agents were more effective (bone sterilization rate, 75%-100%). The combination of rifampin, sisomicin, and cephalothin given for only 14 days sterilized the bones of all treated rabbits. Staphylococci isolated from the bones of rabbits that had received rifampin alone or in combination with other antibiotics were highly resistant to rifampin; in contrast, these organisms remained sensitive to the other agents used. Results of in vitro studies of synergy correlated with in vivo results in some but not all instances. The results obtained with rifampin in the treatment of experimental chronic osteomyelitis caused by S. aureus suggest that clinical trials of this agent for the treatment of osteomyelitis in humans are warranted.

The risk and return on capital markets is well documented in the academic literature. A well known model to examine the risk and return of capital markets is the capital asset pricing model. This model investigates risk as diversifiable risk and non-diversifiable risk. To apply this model to the production agriculture capital market, this study analyzed the relative risk and return of a sample of 398 farms in Kansas from 1985 to 2005. Beta coefficients, which represent the degree of non-diversifiable risk associated with an individual farm, were calculated against a market index created for this study. The market index was created to represent a completely diversified capital market of bonds, equities, and agricultural assets in the form of farm land. The beta coefficients calculated were used in the capital asset pricing model to compute a cost of equity for the farms. A weighted average cost capital was calculated using an average cost of debt for the farm multiplied against the percent of debt on the farm, plus the cost of equity calculated times the percent of equity for the farm. Results indicate that the average farm in the sample had a beta of 0.070 and a weighted average cost of capital of 6.015% across the 20 year study. This suggests that investment in an agricultural firm from a pure investment objective would result in little added risk to a well diversified portfolio and a low weighted average cost of capital. Capital invested in production agricultural equity earns a lower return on average across the 20 year study than Treasury securities, Municipal securities, corporate bonds, and the S&P 500, but a higher return than a pure investment in agricultural land.