Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Two-Week Course of Aquatic Therapy and Thalassotherapy in a Mild Post-Stroke Population

Strokes are a leading cause of disability in developed countries. Patients with disabilities need rehabilitation to improve their physical functioning, mental status, and quality of life. Currently, no high-quality evidence can be found attesting the benefits of any of the interventions that are nowadays used. Water-based exercise may improve the physical conditions and quality of life of people in the post-stroke phase. The objective of this study is to test whether aquatic therapy in an enriched environment at the seaside (a thalassotherapy center) could play a role in this condition. A quasi-experimental prospective study consisting of a specific program assessed 62 patients with a mild-moderate disability pre- and post-2 weeks of intensive treatment. They followed a thalassotherapy regimen including aquatic therapy in a sea water pool at 32-34 degrees C for 45 min daily five times a week. The outcomes measured were the Berg Balance scale, the Timed Up and Go test, the 10-meter walking test, the 6-min walking test, the Pain Visual Analogue Scale, the WHO Well-being index, EuroQoL VAS and EuroQoL 5D. We observed a significant improvement in all outcomes measured (p < 0.001, except mobility EuroQoL p < 0.05), except in the other four dimensions of the EuroQoL 5D and 10-metre walking test (NS). Conclusion: A two-week intensive course of aquatic therapy and thalassotherapy may be beneficial in the short term by reducing pain and improving the functional status and overall well-being of post-stroke patients

Viruses: Friends or foes.

Importance of viruses for biotechnological processes

Biopatología eritrocítica en la hipoxemia arterial sistémica crónica de la obstrucción crónica al flujo aéreo

Univ. de Granada. Leída 198

Estimación de la prevalencia de hipotiroidismo según diferentes métodos: dosis diaria definida, dosis diaria prescrita y registro de pacientes en tratamiento

Background: Hypothyroidism (HT) is a common condition in clinical practice. There is a paucity of recent data on its prevalence in Spain, suggesting the need for an updated estimate and therefore the aim of this study was to determine its prevalence in the province of Cádiz. Methods: We obtained data relative to medical prescriptions for group H03AA drugs issued in primary care centers attached to the Andalusian Health Service in the province of Cadiz in 2012. Prevalence was estimated on the basis of the defined daily dose (DDD), the prescribed daily dose (DDP) and treated patient records (TPR). We present the estimated prevalence and odds ratio by gender, with a confidence interval of 95%. Results: Prevalence of HT in 2012 in the population aged 15 years and over in the province of Cadiz was 1.36% (CI95: 1.33%-1.38%) based on DDD; 2.60% (CI95: 2.54%-2.66%) based on DDP; and 3.10% (CI95: 2.85%-2.93%) based on TPR. Median age was 56 years (IQR: 43 to 68). Prevalence (TPR) by gender was 0.75% in men and 5.36% in women [OR 7.26 (CI95: 7.02-7.52)]. The greatest prevalence, 9.35%, was found in the group of women aged 51 to 70 years. Conclusions: Prevalence of HT in Cadiz is high, mainly affects women. Current prescribing systems allowed us to obtain TPRs, which have been shown to be a more valuable tool than DDDs for estimating HT prevalence.Fundamentos: El hipotiroidismo (HT) es una patología frecuente en la práctica clínica diaria. No existen datos recientes sobre su prevalencia en España. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer su prevalencia en la provincia de Cádiz. Métodos: Se estudió el consumo del grupo terapéutico H03AA realizado en receta oficial por las unidades de Atención Primaria (AP) de Cádiz, durante el año 2012. La prevalencia se estimó mediante tres métodos: la Dosis Diaria Definida (DDD), la Dosis Diaria Prescrita (DDP) y el Registro Pacientes en Tratamiento (RPT). Los resultados se presentaron según sexo y edad con intervalos de confianza del 95%. Resultados: La prevalencia de HT durante 2012 en población mayor de 15 años de la provincia fue del 1,36% (IC95: 1,33%-1,38%) mediante DDD, del 2,60% (IC95: 2,54%-2,66%) mediante DDP y del 3,10% (IC95: 2,85%-2,93%) mediante RPT. La mediana de edad fue de 56 años (rango intercuartílico 43 a 68 años). La prevalencia (RPT) por sexo fue de 0,75% en hombres y 5,36% en mujeres [OR 7,26 (IC95: 7,02-7,52)], siendo del 9,35% la correspondiente a mujeres de 51 a 70 años. Conclusiones: El método de estimación por RPTdemuestra ser una herramienta más válida que el método DDD para evaluar la prevalencia de HT. El HT muestra, en nuestra provincia una prevalencia elevada con mayor afectación del sexo femenino

Prevalencia de hipotiroidismo en Andalucía según el consumo de hormona tiroidea en 2014

ABSTRACT Background: Hypothyroidism is the most common condition linked to a hormone deficiency, nevertheless data on its prevalence are scarce in Spain. For that reason, we have estimated its prevalence through the registration of patients who had used thyroid hormones in Andalusia (South Spain). Method: data of patients who had withdrawn levothyroxine under the public system during 2014 from the base of the Andalusian Health Service were considered. Prevalence were calculated with confidence intervals of 95% for each management area, stratified by sex and age groups, and differences between them were evaluated. Results: 321,368 people (98% older than 18 years and 83% female) were identified as levothyroxine users and a prevalence of hypothyroidism of 3.95% (95%CI:3.94-3.96) was estimated for the general population. The condition was more common in females, in the older 18 years 7.81% (95%CI:7.80 to 7.82) compared to males 1.75% (95%CI:1.73-1.77) with a ratio of 4.5-fold. It increases in the population of women older than 45 years, 10.32% (95%CI:10.30-0.32) and in the over 60 years 11.37% (95%CI: 11.35-11.40). The prevalence in adult women in the western provinces is 7.38% (95%CI:7.36-7.40), in the eastern provinces 8.59% (95%CI:8.57-8.62) and in coastal areas 6.70% (95%CI: 6.68-6.72) compared to the mountainous ones, which is 8.91% (95%CI:8.88-8.94). Conclusion: The results denote a high prevalence of hypothyroidism in the adult population of Andalusia compared to the nearby countries, with a clear increased associated with females and age. Furthermore, the prevalence of the illness presents also a geographically-related variability.RESUMEN Fundamento: El hipotiroidismo es la condición más común ligada a un déficit hormonal. A pesar de ello existe una escasez de datos en España sobre su su prevalencia. El objetivo fue estimar la prevalencia en Andalucía a través del registro de pacientes que consumieron hormona tiroidea durante el año 2014. Método: Se recuperaron los datos de las personas que habían retirado de la farmacia levotiroxina con cargo al sistema público durante 2014 de la base de datos del Servicio Andaluz de Salud. Se calcularon las prevalencias con sus intervalos de confianza del 95% para cada Área de Gestión, estratificadas por sexo y grupos etarios. Resultados: Se identificaron 321.368 personas (98% mayores de 18 años y 83% mujeres) consumidoras de levotiroxina y se estimó una prevalencia de hipotiroidismo del 3,95% (IC95%: 3,943,96) para población general. La condición era más común en la mujer, en mayores de 18 años un 7,81% (IC95 7,80 a 7,82) comparada con el hombre 1,75% (IC95 1,73 a 1,77) con una razón de 4,5. Aumenta en la población de mujeres mayores de 45 años, 10,32% (IC95 10,30 a 10,32) y más en las mayores de 60 años 11,37% (IC95%: 11,35 a 11,40). La prevalencia en mujer adulta de las provincias occidentales fue 7,38% (IC95%: 7,36-7,40), en las orientales de 8,59% (IC95%: 8,57-8,62) y en las áreas costeras fue de 6,70% (IC95%: 6,68-6,72) frente a las montañosas que fue 8,91% (IC95%: 8,88-8,94). Conclusión: Los resultados indican una elevada prevalencia de hipotiroidismo en la población adulta de Andalucía, con un claro predominio de la mujer y un incremento con la edad. Además, la prevalencia de la enfermedad también presenta una importante variabilidad geográfica

Integrated modeling of labile and glycated hemoglobin with glucose for enhanced diabetes detection and short-term monitoring

Summary: Metabolic biomarkers, particularly glycated hemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose, are pivotal in the diagnosis and control of diabetes mellitus. Despite their importance, they exhibit limitations in assessing short-term glucose variations. In this study, we propose labile hemoglobin as an additional biomarker, providing insightful perspectives into these fluctuations. By utilizing datasets from 40,652 retrospective general participants and conducting glucose tolerance tests on 60 prospective pediatric subjects, we explored the relationship between plasma glucose and labile hemoglobin. A mathematical model was developed to encapsulate short-term glucose kinetics in the pediatric group. Applying dimensionality reduction techniques, we successfully identified participant subclusters, facilitating the differentiation between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Intriguingly, by integrating labile hemoglobin measurements with plasma glucose values, we were able to predict the likelihood of diabetes in pediatric subjects, underscoring the potential of labile hemoglobin as a significant glycemic biomarker for diabetes research