Human neural stem cell transplantation in ALS: initial results from a phase I trial

We report the initial results from a phase I clinical trial for ALS. We transplanted GMP-grade, fetal human neural stem cells from natural in utero death (hNSCs) into the anterior horns of the spinal cord to test for the safety of both cells and neurosurgical procedures in these patients. The trial was approved by the Istituto Superiore di Sanit\ue0 and the competent Ethics Committees and was monitored by an external Safety Board

El rol de la clase social, la educación y el desempleo parentales en el desarrollo cognitivo infantil

Objective: Assessing the association between socioeconomic gradient and cognitive development among children of a Spanish birth cohort aged 5-6 years from a gender perspective. Method: Cognitive development was assessed on 525 children aged 5-6 years in the INMA-Valencia cohort, with the Global Cognitive Score (GCS) from McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities. Information on social class, education level and employment was collected for both parents in addition to other sociodemographic factors, parental, family and child characteristics. The relationship between maternal and paternal socioeconomic gradient and cognitive development was assessed by linear regressions and comparing the variance explained by each indicator measured in the mother and father. Results: Maternal socioeconomic gradient indicators explained more variance on GCS than paternal. Maternal education and paternal social class had an important individual effect that stayed after adjusting by other parental, child and family determinants. In the multivariable analysis, maternal education, age and intelligence, paternal social class and the child’s age and sex were significantly associated with cognitive development. Conclusions: Diverse socioeconomic gradient factors have an important influence on cognitive development, maternal education being the strongest determinant. Policies should be implemented to mitigate the negative effects of this gradient on child development.Objetivo: Evaluar la asociación del gradiente socioeconómico y el desarrollo cognitivo en ni˜nos y ni˜nas de una cohorte espa˜nola a los 5-6 a˜nos de edad desde una perspectiva de género. Método: Se evaluó el desarrollo cognitivo en 525 ni˜nos/as de 5-6 a˜nos de la cohorte INMA-Valencia, mediante la Puntuación Global Cognitiva (PGC) de las Escalas McCarthy para ni˜nos y ni˜nas. Se recogió información de ambos progenitores sobre clase social, nivel de estudios y empleo, además de otros factores sociodemográficos, características parentales, de la familia y del ni˜no o la ni˜na. La relación entre el gradiente socioeconómico materno y paterno y el desarrollo cognitivo se evaluó mediante modelos de regresión lineal y comparando la varianza explicada por cada uno de los indicadores medidos en la madre y en el padre. Resultados: Los indicadores de gradiente socioeconómico de la madre explicaron más varianza del índice de PGC que los del padre. La educación materna y la clase social paterna tuvieron un importante efecto individual, que se mantuvo tras ajustar por otros determinantes de los progenitores, del ni˜no o de la ni˜na, y del entorno familiar. En el análisis multivariante, la educación, la edad y la inteligencia maternas, la clase social paterna, y la edad y el sexo del infante se asociaron significativamente con el desarrollo cognitivo. Conclusiones: Distintos factores del gradiente socioeconómico tienen influencia en el desarrollo cognitivo, siendo la educación materna el determinante más fuerte. Deberían implementarse políticas para paliar los efectos negativos de este gradiente en el desarrollo infantil

Gustavo Pittaluga i l'expedició sanitària al golf de Guinea ( Maig-Novembre, 1909)

Gustavo Pittaluga i l'expedició sanitària al golf de Guinea ( Maig-Novembre, 1909

La sanitat pública a Catalunya entre 1885 i 1939

En el període de cinquanta anys transcorreguts entre dues emergències sanitàries: una epidèmia de còlera i la Guerra Civil espanyola (1885-1936), Catalunya experimentà una profunda transformació en tots els àmbits de la vida. Es manifestà un desvetllament i una ànsia de modernització i de recuperació de la seva personalitat nacional. En els primers vint-i-cinc anys, coincidents amb l’etapa modernista, la societat catalana prengué consciència de la seva situació — també de la sanitària— i inicià l’assaig de solucions des de la base: la societat civil i els municipis. En la segona etapa, amb la creació de la Mancomunitat de Catalunya, començà la construcció d’un «estat regional» que, amb moltes limitacions, planificà i inicià la millora de les condicions sanitàries de tot el territori, sota la influènciadel Noucentisme

COMPONENTS AND INDICATORS OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT ACCORDING TO SUB-DISTRICT NON-FORMAL AND INFORMAL EDUCATION CENTRE STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

The research aims to study components and indicators of education management according to Sub – District Non – Formal and Informal Education Centre Standards for Excellence. The researcher studies principles, concepts, and theories from documents, textbooks, and related research both domestically and internationally. Then gather information analyze and synthesize data. To obtain the components and indicators of educational management according to the Sub – District Non – Formal and In-Formal Education Centre Standards for Excellence. The tools used for data collection were document recording forms and a form to assess the suitability of components and indicators by confirming the elements and indicators from the 9 experts. The results of the study showed that 1) the Components and Indicators of Education Management according to Sub-District Non-Formal and Informal Education Centre Standards for Excellence consisted 7 components: (1) Organizational Leadership, (2) Strategic Planning, (3) Learner and Stakeholder focus, (4) Measurement, Analysis, and Knowledge Management, (5) Personnel focus, (6) Process management, and (7) outcomes. 2) Organizational leadership elements and indicators. It is most appropriate. 3) Strategic planning elements and indicators. It is the most appropriate. 4) Elements and indicators of learner and stakeholder focus are most appropriate. 5) Elements and indicators of measurement, analysis, and knowledge management are very appropriate. 6) Composition and indicators of personnel focus. It is very appropriate. 7) Process management elements and indicators. It is the most appropriate

Has VZV epidemiology changed in Italy? Results of a seroprevalence study

The aim of the study was to evaluate if and how varicella prevalence has changed in Italy. In particular a seroprevalence study was performed, comparing it to similar surveys conducted in pre-immunization era. During 2013–2014, sera obtained from blood samples taken for diagnostic purposes or routine investigations were collected in collaboration with at least one laboratory/center for each region, following the approval of the Ethics Committee. Data were stratified by sex and age. All samples were processed in a national reference laboratory by an immunoassay with high sensitivity and specificity. Statutory notifications, national hospital discharge database and mortality data related to VZV infection were analyzed as well. A total of 3707 sera were collected and tested. In the studied period both incidence and hospitalization rates decreased and about 5 deaths per year have been registered. The seroprevalence decreased in the first year of life in subjects passively protected by their mother, followed by an increase in the following age classes. The overall antibody prevalence was 84%. The comparison with surveys conducted with the same methodology in 1996–1997 and 2003–2004 showed significant differences in age groups 1–19 y. The study confirms that in Italy VZV infection typically occurs in children. The impact of varicella on Italian population is changing. The comparison between studies performed in different periods shows a significant increase of seropositivity in age class 1–4 years, expression of vaccine interventions already adopted in some regions

Developing Methodology for the Creation of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Rare Diseases : A Report from RARE-Bestpractices

Date of Acceptance: 29/05/2015 The research leading to these results has received funding from the (FP7/2007–2013), under grant agreement n 305690 (RARE-Bestpractices project). The opinions, presented here reflect only the authors’ views. The European Union is not liable for any, use that may be made of the information contained herein.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Patient Satisfaction in the Spanish National Health Service: Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling

The aim of this article was to determine which key indicators influence patient satisfaction with the Spanish NHS to provide useful information for policy decision-making. A total of 33 variables for each of the 17 Spanish autonomous communities were collected from the statistical portal of the Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services, and Equality between 2005 and 2016. A cross-sectional study was applied using Partial Least Squares to a Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM). The influence of expenditures, resource allocation, and safety were hypothesized about patient satisfaction. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and life expectancy were used as control variables. Moreover, the influence of resource allocation on use was tested. The model explained 57.1% of patient satisfaction with the Spanish NHS. It was positively influenced mainly by resource allocation and expenditures, followed by safety and life expectancy. Additionally, resources directly influenced the level of use. The number of hospital beds, hemodialysis equipment, rate of adverse drug reactions, and expenditure positively influenced patient satisfaction. In contrast, the number of posts in day hospitals, the hospital infection rate, and the percentage of pharmacy spending negatively influenced patient satisfaction