28 research outputs found
Living Alone: Associations with Diet and Health in the Spanish Young Adult Population
Eating together as a family has important health benefits, as the diet is more balanced and
of a higher quality. Eating together is also a factor in the prevention of diet-related diseases. The
promotion of family and shared meals is currently a public health strategy. The aim of this research
was to study the eating habits of the Spanish young adult population and their impact on health. An
observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out using surveys. A questionnaire was
designed and validated to explore a set of variables related to food and health. The dissemination was
carried out through social networks by means of an online form, using non-probabilistic snowball
sampling to obtain a sample of 17,969 subjects aged between 18 and 45 years. We found statistically
significant differences between people living in a family home compared to people living outside a
family home in the healthy eating index for the Spanish population, fish consumption, and fried food
consumption. This suggests that the nutrition of people living in a family home is healthier, although
their BMI is higher. People living together have a statistically higher healthy eating index value than
people living alone; consume fast food, fried food, and ultra-processed food less frequently; and eat
fish more often. On the other hand, people who live in a family home or are accompanied are more
likely to have a sedentary lifestyle and are less physically active. It was concluded that people living
alone have a worse healthy eating index than those living with company, which seems to indicate
that nutritional interventions should pay attention to people living alone as a variable to be taken
into account in future analyses.Medicin
Social Vulnerability and COVID-19 Vaccine in Spain
Different analyses show that the design of vaccination policies should especially protect
the most vulnerable social groups, since the level of acceptance is determined by the population’s
knowledge, attitude and concerns about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. The objective of this work
will be to detect the most socially vulnerable groups with respect to COVID-19 and to analyze the
factors that influence predisposition to vaccination. This is a cross-sectional study using data from
the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) on the Effects and Consequences of Coronavirus
(Study 3346 of December 2021). Sociodemographic variables (sex, age, employment status, studies
and subjective class identification) were extracted, as well as the answers to the questions indicating
the attitude towards vaccination, corresponding to questions 7,8,10 and 11 of the study. The most
vulnerable group was lower class women (self-perceived), under 45 years of age with lower educational
level, unemployed or performing unpaid work in the home. Most of them are not predisposed
to vaccinate only because of the obligation to do so, mainly due to lack of belief in the power and
efficacy of vaccines, as well as fear of health risks/collateral side effects. The lower vaccine uptake in
this vulnerable population group may be due to a lack of awareness and lower trust in the authorities,
as well as the benefits of the vaccine, which could be related to a lack of policy targeting the most
socially vulnerable populations.The results of this article are part of a project funded by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) through the call “Subvenciones para formación e investigación en materias de interés para el organismo para el año 2022”. Call code: BDNS: 609943.Psicologí
Are the Growth Standards of the World Health Organization Valid for Spanish Children? The SONEV Study
Background: The use of different growth tables to assess the population’s nutritional
status has given rise to a series of limitations arising from the lack of consensus and
uniform methodological criteria. This leads to a disparity of results that prevent an
accurate and reliable diagnosis of whether a child is overweight or obese.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop growth references for weight,
height, and body mass index for Eastern-Spanish children from 6 to 16 years of age.
Methods: The final sample used to fit the growth curves was made up of 1,102
observations. The 2007 WHO curves are currently used for Child Health Service Cards.
Therefore, tomake the comparison of the internal values obtained as realistic as possible,
the same construction method has been used for the internal curves, modeling age as
a continuous variable and simultaneously adjusting the curves, smoothing them using
cubic splines and further smoothing the edge effects by means of data extending above
or below the upper and lower age limits.
Results: Growth curves for percentiles were constructed for both sexes and higher
values were noticeably found to set as growth-standard compared to WHO-standards.
Conclusion: Our analysis shows that the WHO 2007 standard references are not
suitable for Eastern-Spanish children. The standards shown in this study are much more
realistic and current, and we believe that their use will help healthcare professionals more
effectively combat the current epidemic of overweight and obesity.Nutrición humana y dietétic
Older Adults and Positive Mental Health during the Second and Sixth COVID-19 Waves in Spain
The spread of the COVID-19 virus was a worldwide phenomenon, which was unprecedented
in modern times. The restriction measures can be perceived as a heavy burden for mental
health during this period, particularly for some groups. The aim of this study is to examine a positive
mental health model across ages, where a moderated mediation model is proposed involving sex
differences and confidence in coping with COVID-19. Two independent samples were studied during
the second and sixth waves in Spain: n = 2861 and n = 2462, respectively. The main conclusions
can be described as follows: (i) while age was not related to mental health during the second wave,
a positive relationship was found between it and the sixth one; (ii) age was positively related to the
confidence in coping with COVID-19 during both of the waves; (iii) women showed worse scores for
the variables in the study than the men did during the second wave, but this pattern was reversed in
the sixth one; (iv) after a moderated mediation model on the relationship between age and positive
mental health in terms of confidence in coping with COVID-19 and sex, an interaction was found for
the second wave but not for the sixth one. These results suggest that older adults and women would
develop more strategies and resources for a positive mental health across time.The results of this article are part of a project funded by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) through the call “Subvenciones para formación e investigación en materias de interés para el organismo para el año 2022”. Call code: BDNS: 609943.Educació
Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab Combination Therapy in the Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Cancer
Liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma, is a global concern. This study focuses
on the evaluation of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab combination therapy as a promising alternative
in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The objectives of this systematic review
include evaluating the efficacy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab combination therapy compared
to conventional therapies with Sorafenib and other conventional therapies, analyzing the associated
adverse effects, and exploring prognostic factors in the setting of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
A systematic literature review was carried out using the PubMed and Web of Science databases.
Fifteen related articles were included and evaluated according to their level of evidence and
recommendation. Results: The combination therapy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab, along with
Sorafenib, showed positive results in the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Significant adverse effects were identified, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, arterial hypertension,
and proteinuria, which require careful attention. In addition, prognostic factors, such as
transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and vascular invasion, were
highlighted as key indicators of hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Conclusions: The combination
of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab is shown to be effective in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular
carcinoma, although it is essential to take into consideration the associated adverse effects.
The prognostic factors identified may provide valuable information for the clinical management of
this disease. This study provides a comprehensive overview of a promising emerging therapy for
liver cancer.Medicin
Differences in Classification Standards For the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically all over the world in recent years. While obesity in adults can be easily measured using the BMI calculation, determining overweight and obesity in children is more controversial. The aim was to compare the three most used international classification systems (WHO 2007, CDC 2000 and Cole-IOTF) to determine overweight and obesity in infant and adolescent populations. We performed a systematic review in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines of articles comparing any of the three classification systems. The main findings were that the WHO 2007 criteria show the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the child and youth population. The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity was determined to be higher in boys than in girls in most studies, when analysing the classifications of the WHO 2007, CDC 2000 and Cole-IOTF together. However, there was a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in girls than in boys when only the CDC 2000 and Cole-IOTF criteria were considered. Both the results of the review and the great heterogeneity found in the meta-analysis show that it is necessary to unify the criteria for the classification of childhood overweight and obesity. International standards are insufficient for working with the current population. A working group should be created to address this issue and agree on the unification of a gold standard, taking into account the geographical region, the ethnic groups and the age groups of the child and youth population and above all, the secular growth.Catholic University of Valencia for their contribution and help in the payment of the Open Access publication under grant number 2022-275-002. Likewise,Medicin
Analysis of the Psychosocial Sphere of Older Adults in Extreme Poverty in the Peruvian Amazon
The situation of social exclusion in which older adults live in extreme poverty is a problem that leads to psychological alterations such as depression or cognitive deterioration. Our objective was to analyze the living conditions and the psychosocial sphere of older adult people living in extreme poverty in Requena del Tapiche in Peru. This was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. Sixty participants between 60 and 100 years of age of both sexes were included who gave their informed consent. Sociodemographic variables were analyzed, and the Gijón, family Apgar, Yesavage, and Pfeiffer scales were used. The sample was composed of 55% women and 45% men, with a mean age of 79.2 years (SD 6.67). More than half live alone or with their spouse. Fifty-seven percent sleep on the floor or on wood, and about 82% do not have safe water. Family dysfunction is found in 40%, and 98% are at social risk or with an established social problem and a precarious economic situation. More than 60% suffer from depressive symptoms, which are more frequent in women. We conclude that older adults perceive deficient family support, observing a deteriorated social situation. Most of them are at risk of social exclusion and loneliness, making them more vulnerable. They show sadness, with a high rate of depression. People with more cognitive impairment live alone, and those in social exclusion suffer a higher degree of depression. More cooperative projects and health promotion interventions developed in the peripheral neighborhoods of Requena del Tapiche are needed to improve the impact on the health of older adult people in extreme poverty.The publication costs of this work have been financed by the Catholic University of Valencia under grant 2023-275-001.Medicin
Distance learning ects and flipped classroom in the anatomy learning: comparative study of the use of augmented reality, video and notes
Background: The establishment of the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) is one of the pillars of the European
Space of Higher Education. This way of accounting for the time spent in training has two essential parts, classroom
teaching (work with the professor) and distance learning (work without the professor, whether in an individual or
collective way). Much has been published on the distance learning part, but less on the classroom teaching section.
In this work, the authors investigate didactic strategies and associated aids for distance learning work in a concept
based on flipped classroom where transmitting information is carried out with aids that the professor prepares, so
that the student works in an independent way before the classes, thus being able to dedicate the classroom
teaching time to more complex learning and being able to count on the professor’s help.
Methods: Three teaching aids applied to the study of anatomy have been compared: Notes with images, videos,
and augmented reality. Four dimensions have been compared: the time spent, the acquired learnings, the
metacognitive perception, and the prospects of the use of augmented reality for study.
Results: The results show the effectiveness, in all aspects, of augmented reality when compared with the rest of aids.
The questionnaire assessed the acquired knowledge through a course exam, where 5.60 points were obtained for the
notes group, 6.54 for the video group, and 7.19 for the augmented reality group. That is 0.94 more points for the video
group compared with the notes and 1.59 more points for the augmented reality group compared with the notes
group.
Conclusions: This research demonstrates that, although technology has not been sufficiently developed for education,
it is expected that it can be improved in both the autonomous work of the student and the academic training of
health science students and that we can teach how to learn. Moreover, one can see how the grades of the students
who studied with augmented reality are more grouped and that there is less dispersion in the marks compared with
other materials.Financial support of the Foundation “Prevere Bernat Beny”.Pedagogí
Recommended from our members
Mantenimiento de la lactancia materna exclusiva a los 3 meses posparto : experiencia en un departamento de salud de la Comunidad Valenciana
Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de la lactancia materna exclusiva (LME) a los 3 meses posparto, y conocer las causas que contribuyen al abandono precoz. Diseño: Estudio observacional y restrospectivo. Emplazamiento: Departamento de Salud de la Ribera, Valencia, España. Participantes: Niños nacidos entre diciembre de 2012 y enero de 2017. Mediciones principales: prevalencia de lactancia materna al alta y de LME a los 3 meses. Motivos de abandono de LME. Determinación de Chi-cuadrado entre variables categóricas. Metodología: Las mujeres fueron entrevistadas en el posparto y a los 3 meses posparto, teniendo en cuenta las variables asociadas al inicio de la lactancia y su continuación. También se recogió información sobre las características socio-demográficas y obstétrico-neonatales. Resultados: Un total de 1.338 mujeres fueron seleccionadas. La prevalencia de lactancia materna al alta se situó en el 68,2% (913) y a los 3 meses descendió al 46,7% (625). La duración de la LME fue de 68,7 ± 32,7 días (IC 95%: 66,9-71,2). Encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el tipo de lactancia al alta y las variables, ano del estudio, país de origen y paridad (p < 0,001; p = 0,005 y p = 0,05, respectivamente). La hipogalactia (21,8%) y el aumento de peso del recién nacido inferior al recomendado (14,9%) fueron los factores más frecuentes que motivaron el abandono precoz
Association between ribs shape and pulmonary function in patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta
The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that ribs shape changes in patients with OI are
more relevant for respiratory function than thoracic spine shape. We used 3D geometric morphometrics
to quantify rib cage morphology in OI patients and controls, and to investigate its relationship with forced
vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), expressed as absolute value and as percentage
of predicted value (% pred). Regression analyses on the full sample showed a significant relation
between rib shape and FEV1, FVC and FVC % pred whereas thoracic spine shape was not related to any
parameter. Subsequent regression analyses on OI patients confirmed significant relations between
dynamic lung volumes and rib shape changes. Lower FVC and FEV1 values are identified in OI patients
that present more horizontally aligned ribs, a greater antero-posterior depth due to extreme transverse
curve at rib angles and a strong spine invagination, greater asymmetry, and a vertically short, thoracolumbar
spine, which is relatively straight in at levels 1–8 and shows a marked kyphosis in the
thoraco-lumbar transition. Our research seems to support that ribs shape is more relevant for ventilator mechanics in OI patients than the spine shapeThis project was funded by grants of the Fundacion Eresa (grant
number: BF14_005), the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness
(grant number: CGL2015-63648-P), the Care4Brittlebones
Foundation (grant number: OTR2016-15543INVES), and
the University of Valencia (grant number: UV-INV_AE18-773873)