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Abstract Background Hospital admissions due to asthma are a reliable source of information on the morbidity of the disease which, after the increase observed in the last quarter of the last century, shows a declining trend in the last few years. The aim of this study was to look at hospital admission trends due to asthma in our community and analyze some of its associated factors. Methods Retrospective analysis of all hospital admissions involving adults aged 15 years and older with asthma as the primary or secondary diagnosis (if the first diagnosis was respiratory failure or respiratory infection) in Public Health Service hospitals in the Galician region of Spain between the years 1995-2009 (total 24,766 admissions). Results The majority of patients admitted were female (71%), over 60 years of age (64%), and admission occurred predominantly in the winter months. The hospitalization rate due to asthma tripled over the period studied, this being mainly accounted for by women aged over 60 years. Mean hospital stay was 9.2 days, longer in older patients or those admitted over the weekend. Conclusions A significant increase in hospital admissions due to asthma over the last few years has been observed in our community, mainly involving older women. The mean stay seems long, increasing with patients' age and admission over the weekend.

Nuestro objetivo ha sido elaborar un documento de posición sobre el papel del calcio y la vitamina D en el tratamiento de la osteoporosis, identificando y valorando el grado de evidencia que apoya las recomendaciones. Para ello, se revisaron los estudios publicados sobre aspectos de farmacocinética del calcio, y la utilidad del calcio y la vitamina D en la reducción del riesgo de fractura por fragilidad, tanto administrados solos como, más comúnmente, utilizados conjuntamente con otros fármacos, elaborándose tras su análisis las presentes recomendaciones. Éstas se efectuaron tras un proceso pre-especificado y reproducible, que incluyó un modelo aceptado para la evaluación y la cita de la evidencia que las apoyaban. El documento, una vez elaborado por los coordinadores, fue revisado y discutido por todos los miembros del panel, elaborándose las recomendaciones definitivas. El calcio y la vitamina D por sí mismos han mostrado su utilidad en la reducción del riesgo de fractura tanto vertebral como no vertebral y de cadera. Administrados conjuntamente con diferentes fármacos también reducen el riesgo de nuevas fracturas osteoporóticas. Todos los tratamientos indicados para la osteoporosis deben administrarse con un suplemento de calcio y vitamina D. Para asegurarse una absorción óptima, el calcio y la vitamina D debe administrarse en dosis divididas a lo largo del día. La sal de calcio más utilizada es el carbonato de calcio y con la que existe mayor experiencia, siendo además la más económica. El carbonato de calcio debe administrarse en mitad de las comidas para que la absorción sea mejor. No existen estudios pivotales con fármacos utilizados para el tratamiento de la osteoporosis, realizados con otras sales de calcio. El carbonato de calcio incrementa ligeramente el riesgo de urolitiasis. El citrato cálcico está indicado en los pacientes con aclorhidria y reduce el riesgo de urolitiasis, estando indicado como fármaco de primera elección en estos pacientes.

This work presents the study of dissipation factor (tanδ) for ash prepared from a power plant coal. Values of tanδ were measured for samples of coal ash with additive of biomass and kaolinite, sintered at various temperatures up to 1100°C. Procedure of direct tanδ measurement is described and the results of loss factor as a function of frequency are shown. Quantitative and qualitative changes of tanδ were observed for the different tested samples. The measurement data is compared with SEM microscopic images of the samples sintered at the maximum temperature. The results suggest that direct measurement of tanδ can be a useful tool for slagging and fouling risk assessment.

In the present work the incorporation of two model drugs, sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) on the Li-fluorohectorite (LiFHt), synthetic clay mineral was evaluated. Understanding the interactions established between these two antibiotics – which are complementary forms from the pharmaceutical point of view – and LiFHt, allows to develop new drug delivery formulations with both drugs in the same support. The quantification of both drugs was followed by ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. For the interaction clay mineral-drugs, different physical-chemical parameters−pH, drug initial concentration, temperature and interaction time−were studied. The results showed that, for both drugs, the best clay mineral-drug nanocomposites were obtained at acid pH, room temperature during 1 h, and initial drug concentration of 3 mg/mL. The resulting clay mineral-drug nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy and thermal gravimetry (TG). It was corroborated by XRD that the TMP was truly intercalated into the clay mineral. However, SMX seems to be adsorbed onto the clay mineral surface. For the LiFHt-TMP nanocomposite, IR suggested clay mineral-drug interactions via amine groups of the TMP. No significant changes in the IR spectrum for the LiFHt-SMX were observed. The drug release profiles showed to follow the pharmaceutical standards, and suggested the possibility to design formulations of drug delivery using LiFHt as carrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Obesity has been related to iron deficiency (ID). Impaired iron absorption due to an inflammatory state, higher requirements and a poor nutrition are been investigated as contributors. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the iron dietary intake accordingly to the RDA and iron status in a subpopulation of obese-overweight compared to normoweight pregnant women participants in the PREOBE Study. Methodology: 59 participants were classified accordingly to pre-pregnancy BMI (obese-overweight-BMI a 25 kg/m², n = 14; normoweight-BMI < 25 kg/m²; n = 45). Dietary iron intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire at 34-weeks gestation. Iron supplements use during pregnancy was reported quarterly. Maternal and umbilical cord blood samples were collected at 24'", 34m week and at delivery for iron status assessment. Iron, transferrin and ferritin levels were obtained using the Cobas System Analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM-SPSS V20.0. Results: 63% of obese-overweight and 87% of normoweight had a total daily iron intake, from food and supplements, below RDA values for pregnant women (27 mg/day) However, non of them achieved the RDA levels with iron intake from diet alone. Obese-overweight women and their babies showed a worse iron profile than controls. There was a significant direct correlation between total iron intake and maternal serum iron and transferrin saturation index. These results suggest that supplement use is important in achieving the RDA for iron during pregnancy and those obese pregnant women and their babies are at a higher risk of iron deficiency. Further investigations including larger population are needed and nutritional guidelines for obese pregnant women could be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Maternal genetics and feeding before and during pregnancy, different maternal metabolic pathologies, as well as nutrient intakes of newborns in their first months of life may be involved in the obesity aetiology and its long-term consequences. The possible role of these and others factors, the mechanisms and the effects on the metabolism, and the development of this disease need further research. Objective: To acquire more knowledge about foetal adipose tissue development and the influence of genetic, dietetic and environmental factors on the risk to suffer from obesity. Methodology: Four study groups have been established with 30 pregnant women in each one: 1) control group; 2) mothers with glucose intolerance/gestational diabetes; 3) women with low weight gain during pregnancy, and 4) women with overweight/obesity at the beginning of the pregnancy. The magnitudes to be studied are: 1) dietary intake; 2) life-style habits; 3) physical activity; 4) anthropometry and body composition; 5) haematological study; 6) biochemical study (lipid and metabolic biomarkers); 7) immune function profile related to nutritional status; 8) psychological profile; 9) genetic biomarkers, and 10) microbiological markers; all of them in relation to the development of the foetal adipose tissue in the first stages of life and the risk of suffering from obesity in the future. Conclusion: This project, coordinated by the Department of Paediatrics of the School of Medicine in the University of Granada, and with the collaboration of well-known and expert research groups, tries to contribute to the knowledge about the obesity aetiology in infancy and its subsequent development in later periods of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal genetics and feeding before and during pregnancy, different maternal metabolic pathologies, as well as nutrient intakes of newborns in their first months of life may be involved in the obesity aetiology and its long-term consequences. The possible role of these and others factors, the mechanisms and the effects on the metabolism, and the development of this disease need further research. Objective: To acquire more knowledge about foetal adipose tissue development and the influence of genetic, dietetic and environmental factors on the risk to suffer from obesity. Methodology: Four study groups have been established with 30 pregnant women in each one: 1) control group; 2) mothers with glucose intolerance/gestational diabetes; 3) women with low weight gain during pregnancy, and 4) women with overweight/obesity at the beginning of the pregnancy. The magnitudes to be studied are: 1) dietary intake; 2) life-style habits; 3) physical activity; 4) anthropometry and body composition; 5) haematological study; 6) biochemical study (lipid and metabolic biomarkers); 7) immune function profile related to nutritional status; 8) psychological profile; 9) genetic biomarkers, and 10) microbiological markers; all of them in relation to the development of the foetal adipose tissue in the first stages of life and the risk of suffering from obesity in the future. Conclusion: This project, coordinated by the Department of Paediatrics of the School of Medicine in the University of Granada, and with the collaboration of well-known and expert research groups, tries to contribute to the knowledge about the obesity aetiology in infancy and its subsequent development in later periods of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pluripotent hematopoietic cells from adult bone marrow may give rise not only to neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes after transplantation into newborn brains, but also to neural stem cells (NSC). These NSC localize to both the ventricular epithelium and subventricular zone, persist in the transplanted brain, and may generate neurospheres 1 month after transplant, which after in vitro expansion differentiate into the different neural lineages. Furthermore, the bone marrow-derived NSC differentiate in vivo into functional oligodendrocytes and neurons following demyelinating lesions, thus, demonstrating the ability of adult bone marrow progenitors to generate self-renewing, functional neural stem cells, validating this approach as an alternative source of long-lasting neural stem cells with therapeutic implications in neurodegenerative diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of this study was evaluated the possible health risks associated with the content of heavy metal and microorganisms in the alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) juice. Thirteen samples from 33 different markets of Quito-Ecuador were purchased f and analyzed the commercial quality (soluble solids pH, titulable acidity, relative density and humidity), heavy metal (lead, cadmium, copper, chromium and nickel) and microorganism (Aerobic mesophiles and parasites). The results showed that the concentration of lead ranged between 1.40 to 2.49 ppm. These exceeded the maximum limits allowed by CODEX. In addition, in most cases cadmium (0.07 ppm) and copper (0.47 ppm) did not exceed the allowable limits, while chromium (traces) and nickel (0.52 ppm) did not have regulations for their respective comparison. On the other hand, the microbial quality of most of the samples of alfalfa juice showed contamination with mesophilic aerobic microorganism (3.50E+03 UFC/g) and parasites (positive). These finding provide valuable information that can funding food safety decisions, and confirm that the vast majority of vegetables available on Quito's markets present a problem in terms of bacteriological hazards and heavy metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Este artículo tiene como objetivo realizar una revisión de la evidencia disponible en relación con la presencia de una "doula" durante el parto. Llamamos "doula" a una mujer que acompaña a otra durante el trabajo de parto y parto, brindando apoyo emocional continuo durante este periodo. Desde hace 25 años se han realizado múltiples estudios randomizados controlados para evaluar el efecto del acompañamiento de una "doula" en el parto. Los resultados son sorprendentes, significativos y consistentes en relación con aspectos obstétricos como menores tasas de partos operatorios (cesáreas y fórceps), menor necesidad de uso de analgesia durante el trabajo de parto y parto, menor duración del trabajo de parto. También se han evaluado aspectos psicológicos como mejor percepción de la vivencia del parto, mayor autoestima y menores tasas de depresión postparto e incluso se ha visto que ayuda a mejorar el apego madre hijo y las tasas de lactancia materna. Dado los resultados de esta revisión, creemos que es de gran importancia establecer iniciativas para extender esta prácticaThe goal of this paper is to review the evidence related to the effect of a "doula" during labor and delivery. A "doula" is a woman who offers continual emotional support to another woman during labor and delivery. Over the past 25 years, numerous randomized, controlled studies assessing the effect of the doula have been published. The results are surprising, important and consistent in the reduction of the duration of labor and reduction of obstetric interventions such as forceps delivery, cesarean section, and use of analgesia and anesthesia Psychological results include improved subjective experience of the delivery, improved self-confidence, less postpartum depression, improved mother-infant bonding, and increased and duration of breastfeeding. Given the success of this intervention, it is important to extend this practice