Smoking, respiratory symptoms and likely asthma in young people: evidence from postal questionnaire surveys in the Wythenshawe Community Asthma Project (WYCAP)

BACKGROUND: Although it is recognised that smoking is a major risk factor for subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is associated with respiratory symptoms, there is less agreement concerning the relationship between asthma and smoking. This study aims to examine the relationship between cigarette smoking and asthma prevalence. METHOD: Data were used from two postal questionnaire surveys (1999 and 2001) in two general practice populations, using a respiratory questionnaire based on the ECRHQ and a generic quality of life questionnaire (EQ-5D). Only subjects less than 45 years old were included in the survey. An empirical definition of likely asthma was used based on respiratory questionnaire responses. Smoking was examined according to three categories, current smoker, ex smoker and never smoker. RESULTS: Almost 3500 subjects were included in the analyses. Current smokers had a higher prevalence of likely asthma compared to never smokers, odds ratio (OR) 1.59 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24 to 2.04). and also compared to ex smokers OR 1.79 (CI 1.25 to 2.56), but there was no difference between ex smokers and never smokers (OR 1.00 (0.75–1.35)). Current smoking was also positively associated with all symptoms but not with a history of hayfever/eczema. CONCLUSION: Although the positive association found between current smoking and obstructive airways disease is likely to be due to the effect of cigarettes on asthma, it could reflect an association with early COPD (GOLD stages 0 or 1). Smoking cessation has a beneficial effect on the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and is therefore of paramount importance among these young adults

XXVI Congreso Nacional y II Congreso Internacional de SEDEM

Organizan: Sociedad Española de Educación Médica y Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU)Comunicaciones aceptadas en el XXVI Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Educación Médica, celebrado en Bilbao del 28 al 30 de noviembre de 2024

FORMACIÓN Y DIVULGACIÓN DE LA NANOTECNOLOGÍA DESDE LOS SEMILLEROS DE INVESTIGACIÓN

La Nanotecnología involucra la caracterización, fabricación y/o manipulación de estructuras, aparatos o materiales que tienen por lo menos en una dimensión, tamaños entre 1 y 100 nm. A esta escala, el material que resulta exhibe mejores propiedades significativamente diferentes a las que presenta el mismo material a escala macroscópica, contribuyendo de esta manera al mejoramiento de nuestra calidad de vida, esencialmente en el diagnóstico y terapia médica, producción de energía, computación molecular y material estructural. Es por ello, que cada vez más, grupos pertenecientes a sectores académicos (universidades y colegios), y la comunidad en general, están interesados en conocer acerca de la Nanociencia y la Nanotecnología, que día a día van ganando espacios a nivel nacional e internacional. Una de las vías de contribuir a la divulgación y formación en estas áreas es desde las universidades, mediante la creación de semilleros estudiantiles de investigación en áreas de la Nanociencia y la Nanotecnología, vinculados a grupos de investigación que trabajan en estas temáticas. En este trabajo se presenta la experiencia del Semillero de Investigación en Materiales Magnéticos Nanoestructurados, adscrito al grupo de investigación Ciencia y Caracterización de Materiales del programa de Física de la Universidad del Atlántico, en su actividad de divulgación y formación en Nanociencia y Nanotecnología. Se analiza la estructura, las temáticas principales del semillero, su misión y sus objetivos. Se hace énfasis en las actividades de formación, socialización e investigación del semillero, así como en los resultados de divulgación y de investigación del mismo.Nanotechnology involves the characterization, manufacture and / or manipulation of structures, devices or materials, which have at least one dimension, sizes between 1 and 100 nm. At this scale, the resulting material exhibits better properties significantly different from those presented by the same material on a macroscopic scale, contributing in this way to the improvement of our quality of life, essentially in the diagnosis and medical therapy, energy production, molecular computation and structural material. That is why, increasingly, groups belonging to academic sectors (universities and colleges), and the community in general, are interested in learning about Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, which day by day are gaining national and international spaces . One of the ways to contribute to the dissemination and training in these areas is from the universities, through the creation of student research seeds in the areas of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, linked to research groups working on these areas. This paper presents the experience of the Nanostructured Magnetic Materials Research Seedling, assigned to the Science and Characterization of Materials research group of the Physics program of the Universidad del Atlántico, in its diffusion and training activity in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. The structure, the main topics of the research seed, its mission and its objectives are analyzed. It is emphases on the training, socialization and research activities of the research seed, as well as on the dissemination and research results of itself