Ischemic heart disease and primary care: identifying gender-related differences. An observational study

Background: Gender-related differences are seen in multiple aspects of both health and illness. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a pathology in which diagnostic, treatment and prognostic differences are seen between sexes, especially in the acute phase and in the hospital setting. The objective of the present study is to analyze whether there are differences between men and women when examining associated cardiovascular risk factors and secondary pharmacological prevention in the primary care setting. Methods: Retrospective descriptive observational study from January to December of 2006, including 1907 patients diagnosed with ischemic heart disease in the city of Lleida, Spain. The clinical data were obtained from computerized medical records and pharmaceutical records of medications dispensed in pharmacies with official prescriptions. Data was analyzed using bivariate descriptive statistical analysis as well as logistic regression. Results: There were no gender-related differences in screening percentages for arterial hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipemia, and smoking. A greater percentage of women were hypertensive, obese and diabetic compared to men. However, men showed a tendency to achieve control targets more easily than women, with no statistically significant differences. In both sexes cardiovascular risk factors control was inadequate, between 10 and 50%. For secondary pharmaceutical prevention, the percentages of prescriptions were greater in men for anticoagulants, beta-blockers, lipid-lowering agents and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers, with age group variations up to 10%. When adjusting by age and specific diagnoses, differences were maintained for anticoagulants and lipid-lowering agents. Conclusion: Screening of cardiovascular risk factors was similar in men and women with IHD. Although a greater percentage of women were hypertensive, diabetic or obese, their management of risk factors tended to be worse than men. Overall, a poor control of cardiovascular risk factors was noted. Taken as a whole, more men were prescribed secondary prevention drugs, with differences varying by age group and IHD diagnosis

Exposición a sustancias químicas y salud humana: avances en la política de control del riesgo químico

Advances on the politics of chemical risk control. Observed deficiencies on the management, elimination and recirculation of chemical products. Therefore, some of the main challenges for the scientific research, environmental health, nature preservation and the environmental management are closely related to the development of validation system of the impact on the environment and on health as well as prevention and elimination techniques of the pollution dumped of the aquatic and terrestrial environment.Avances en la política de control del riesgo químico. Deficiencias observadas en el manejo, eliminación y recirculación de los productos químicos. Por esta razón, los principales retos para la investigación científica, la sanidad ambiental, la conservación de la naturaleza y la gestión medioambiental, están íntimamente relacionados con el desarrollo de sistemas de valoración del impacto en el medio ambiente y en la salud, así como técnicas de prevención y eliminación de la contaminación vertida al medio acuático y terrestre

Regulation of young-adult neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation by neural cell adhesion molecule 2 (NCAM2)

Adult neurogenesis persists in mammals in the neurogenic zones, where newborn neurons are incorporated into preexisting circuits to preserve and improve learning and memory tasks. Relevant structural elements of the neurogenic niches include the family of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), which participate in signal transduction and regulate the survival, division, and differentiation of radial glial progenitors (RGPs). Here we analyzed the functions of neural cell adhesion molecule 2 (NCAM2) in the regulation of RGPs in adult neurogenesis and during corticogenesis. We characterized the presence of NCAM2 across the main cell types of the neurogenic process in the dentate gyrus, revealing different levels of NCAM2 amid the progression of RGPs and the formation of neurons. We showed that Ncam2 overexpression in adult mice arrested progenitors in an RGP-like state, affecting the normal course of young-adult neurogenesis. Furthermore, changes in Ncam2 levels during corticogenesis led to transient migratory deficits but did not affect the survival and proliferation of RGPs, suggesting a differential role of NCAM2 in adult and embryonic stages. Our data reinforce the relevance of CAMs in the neurogenic process by revealing a significant role of Ncam2 levels in the regulation of RGPs during young-adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus

Sistemas de vigilancia de riesgos ambientales para la salud. Sistemas de toxicovigilancia

A study of the Clinical Toxicological Section, about the Epidemiological Surveillance in Emergency Services, in relation to chemical products intoxications during the 1999-2003 period, is presented. This work is a result of an agreement between the Spanish Toxicological Association (AETOX) and the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumption, and was presented in the National Congress of Environment (CONAMA) within the “Health Environmental Risks Surveillance Systems” working group.Se presenta el estudio de la Sección de Toxicología Clínica, sobre vigilancia epidemiológica en los Servicios de Urgencias, que tienen como causa intoxicaciones por productos químicos en el periodo de 1999-2003) y dentro del convenio de Asociación Española de Toxicología (AETOX) con el Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo; trabajo presentado en el Congreso Nacional de Medio Ambiente (CONAMA) en el Grupo de trabajo “Sistemas de Vigilancia de Riesgos Ambientales para la Salud”

Tratamientos psicológicos empíricamente apoyados para adultos: Una revisión selectiva

Antecedentes: los tratamientos psicológicos han mostrado su eficacia, efectividad y eficiencia para el abordaje de los trastornos mentales; no obstante, considerando el conocimiento científico generado en los últimos años, no se dispone de trabajos de actualización en español sobre cuáles son los tratamientos psicológicos con respaldo empírico. El objetivo fue realizar una revisión selectiva de los principales tratamientos psicológicos empíricamente apoyados para el abordaje de trastornos mentales en personas adultas. Método: se recogen niveles de evidencia y grados de recomendación en función de los criterios propuestos por el Sistema Nacional de Salud de España (en las Guías de Práctica Clínica) para diferentes trastornos psicológicos. Resultados: los resultados sugieren que los tratamientos psicológicos disponen de apoyo empírico para el abordaje de un amplio elenco de trastornos psicológicos. El grado de apoyo empírico oscila de bajo a alto en función del trastorno psicológico analizado. La revisión sugiere que ciertos campos de intervención necesitan una mayor investigación. Conclusiones: a partir de esta revisión selectiva, los profesionales de la psicología podrán disponer de información rigurosa y actualizada que les permita tomar decisiones informadas a la hora de implementar aquellos procedimientos psicoterapéuticos empíricamente fundamentados en función de las características de las personas que demandan ayuda. Background: Psychological treatments have shown their efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency in dealing with mental disorders. However, considering the scientific knowledge generated in recent years, in the Spanish context, there are no updating studies about empirically supported psychological treatments. The main goal was to carry out a selective review of the main empirically supported psychological treatments for mental disorders in adults. Method: Levels of evidence and degrees of recommendation were collected based on the criteria proposed by the Spanish National Health System (Clinical Practice Guidelines) for different psychological disorders. Results: The results indicate that psychological treatments have empirical support for the approach to a wide range of psychological disorders. These levels of empirical evidence gathered range from low to high depending on the psychological disorder analysed. The review indicates the existence of certain fields of intervention that need further investigation. Conclusions: Based on this selective review, psychology professionals will be able to have rigorous, up-to-date information that allows them to make informed decisions when implementing empirically based psychotherapeutic procedures based on the characteristics of the people who require help

The Hidden Side of NCAM Family: NCAM2, a Key Cytoskeleton Organization Molecule Regulating Multiple Neural Functions

Although it has been over 20 years since Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule 2 (NCAM2) was identified as the second member of the NCAM family with a high expression in the nervous system, the knowledge of NCAM2 is still eclipsed by NCAM1. The first studies with NCAM2 focused on the olfactory bulb, where this protein has a key role in axonal projection and axonal/dendritic compartmentalization. In contrast to NCAM1, NCAM2’s functions and partners in the brain during development and adulthood have remained largely unknown until not long ago. Recent studies have revealed the importance of NCAM2 in nervous system development. NCAM2 governs neuronal morphogenesis and axodendritic architecture, and controls important neuron-specific processes such as neuronal differentiation, synaptogenesis and memory formation. In the adult brain, NCAM2 is highly expressed in dendritic spines, and it regulates synaptic plasticity and learning processes. NCAM2’s functions are related to its ability to adapt to the external inputs of the cell and to modify the cytoskeleton accordingly. Different studies show that NCAM2 interacts with proteins involved in cytoskeleton stability and proteins that regulate calcium influx, which could also modify the cytoskeleton. In this review, we examine the evidence that points to NCAM2 as a crucial cytoskeleton regulation protein during brain development and adulthood. This key function of NCAM2 may offer promising new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of neurodevelopmental diseases and neurodegenerative disorders

Chemical compounds exposure and human health: advances on the politics of chemical risk control Exposición a sustancias químicas y salud humana: avances en la política de control del riesgo químico

Advances on the politics of chemical risk control. Observed deficiencies on the management, elimination and recirculation of chemical products. Therefore, some of the main challenges for the scientific research, environmental health, nature preservation and the environmental management are closely related to the development of validation system of the impact on the environment and on health as well as prevention and elimination techniques of the pollution dumped of the aquatic and terrestrial environment.<br>Avances en la política de control del riesgo químico. Deficiencias observadas en el manejo, eliminación y recirculación de los productos químicos. Por esta razón, los principales retos para la investigación científica, la sanidad ambiental, la conservación de la naturaleza y la gestión medioambiental, están íntimamente relacionados con el desarrollo de sistemas de valoración del impacto en el medio ambiente y en la salud, así como técnicas de prevención y eliminación de la contaminación vertida al medio acuático y terrestre

Chemical compounds exposure and human health: advances on the politics of chemical risk control

Avances en la política de control del riesgo químico. Deficiencias observadas en el manejo, eliminación y recirculación de los productos químicos. Por esta razón, los principales retos para la investigación científica, la sanidad ambiental, la conservación de la naturaleza y la gestión medioambiental, están íntimamente relacionados con el desarrollo de sistemas de valoración del impacto en el medio ambiente y en la salud, así como técnicas de prevención y eliminación de la contaminación vertida al medio acuático y terrestre.Advances on the politics of chemical risk control. Observed deficiencies on the management, elimination and recirculation of chemical products. Therefore, some of the main challenges for the scientific research, environmental health, nature preservation and the environmental management are closely related to the development of validation system of the impact on the environment and on health as well as prevention and elimination techniques of the pollution dumped of the aquatic and terrestrial environment